From The Mouths Of Babes

Carly sent this to her grandfather in response to his birthday request that everyone in the family send him a bible verse that meant a lot to them. Not bad for a 13 year old kid who at 12 lost her mom.....

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Happy birthday, Popsie! I didn't know you were turning 70 this year! I hope you had a good birthday, and that you've found a place to put all the chocolate. 

I would like to ask if the whole Bible can be my "favorite verse" because there are too many good ones to pick just one. But I suppose that I can just share a few that have really stuck with me. 

My verse for this year is Hebrews 12:1:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

This verse has really come to mean a lot to me, because I realized that I haven't really been doing my part in the Great Commission. So I am trying to look for opportunities that God has most certainly be providing me with. The question is just whether I see them. That is my verse for this year. However, I
really like Isaiah 41:10:

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

This verse just really comforts me. It's a reassurance that God is holding us close to him. It's the verse that comes to mind for me when I get scared because there are sketchy people at the Library (which is where I am volunteering, if you didn't know) or some other situation. It reminds me that God is with me, and I don't need to be afraid. This then brings to mind Matthew 10:28:

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

While it reminds you that you don't need to be afraid, it also brings a reverence for God that might not be on your mind just because. I don't know about you, but I've never experienced a feeling so great as fear of the Lord. 

I think that a verse that has really meant a lot to all of us is Philippians 1:21:

For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 

I think that this verse can be looked at as simple, but is easy to dive into and find something else hidden. Looking at the first part of the verse, to live is Christ, could be something that we overlook. But really, when you think about it, is living really "Christ"? Would you really describe your life as "Christ"? Some people say that they would, yet they complain all the time. It is clear that they aren't happy. I think that "living Christ" should mean contentment with what you have. Taken from another point of view, it could also mean to live in a Christlike manner. However, looking at the second part of the verse, it sounds like it should be "living Christ." 

Lots of people are afraid of death. Sometimes I feel like I am, too. But then I think, "What's to fear?" After all, we will be going to heaven, and it will be a million times better than Earth. Even better than that. I think that another thing that people fear is losing everything that they have on Earth. I guess they don't think about what's waiting for them in heaven. As said in Matthew 6:20:

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

What is what we have on Earth, compared to what we will have in heaven? And even so, what are we going to do with it? What will we need with it? God is everything that we need, so what else do we really need? On Earth, we would say food, water, clothes, shelter. All of which are essential to this life. But in heaven, what will we need? Nothing. Won't that be wonderful, to never need anything? Never be hungry, never be thirsty. In our culture, that isn't really a big deal. You're hungry? Okay, go pick up something from McDonald's. But think about those in Japan [after the earthquake], Africa, or in Haiti, who aren't afforded that luxury. How will heaven seem to them? It will certainly be gain. I'm not saying that we should all go commit suicide, because heaven will be so much better. It's just something to look forward to. Death is not something that we should fear.

-Carly :)