Surrendering My All

Milk Chocolate Love or Nursing Home Love?

2012-02-14T17:39:00.001-06:00

"So, do you have any big plans for tomorrow?"

Mom and I looked at each other. What was tomorrow? Oh. Valentine's Day. We turned back to the banker. "No, not really."

The older I get, the more prone I am to forget this holiday. Years ago you would have found me making Valentines for all the kids in my kindergarten class (at least my "friends" - definitely not Joshua the bully!). Then several years later, I'd be handing out Valentines to the kids in my homeschool co-op class (and especially treasuring that one I received from that certain boy). Then came the Valentine's Day when everyone was sick with influenza except Mom, Dad, and I, and I learned much about sacrificial love!

Three years ago? Wishing for a rose someday. Two years ago? Feeling a little left out. Last year? Too busy with a concert to really care.

And then, this year: I've almost forgot.

We saw a sign yesterday which stated boldly, "Roses + chocolate = love." Hmm...perhaps that's the reason I could really care less about this holiday and why I'm tempted to kiss Valentine's Day goodbye once and for all. Love.

Well, not true love. It's the milk chocolate love I'm talking about. The love which comes stuffed among a bouquet of flowers. The love scrawled underneath a cheesy Valentine. The sweet-heart candy love. It's so cliche. It's so...fluffy.

Okay. I should admit, I wouldn't mind a bit of fluffy love someday from that special someone. Really. But, that's not true love.

True love is the nitty-gritty side of marriage, of families, of friendships. True love is the something that will hold you through the battle. True love goes much, much deeper than "I love you."

This Sunday as our family was leaving church, my brother stopped to ask an elderly lady how she was doing. Her husband was recently diagnosed with lung cancer, among all his other numerous health problems. It's been a difficult ride for her and her family. Her response to Ben's question was, "I'm sticking in there."

That's true love. Sticking in there.

Take Harold for example, the ninety-something year old man who attends our church. His wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's several years ago and fears him at times, and then has bursts of anger sometimes when he visits her. Same thing with Bruce...except his wife doesn't even know him anymore.

Both are sticking in there. That's true love.

I don't think flowers are really going to demonstrate how much these people love their spouses. Their presence, their concern, their prayers, their dedicated daily care...these might somewhat reveal how deep their love goes.

So, do you love like that? Or is your love a milk chocolate love?

You may not be married (unlike the people above, and very much like me), but you probably have family. Dad. Mom. Siblings. Is your love toward them a milk chocolate love, or is it a nursing home love? Is it going to stick in there when the going gets tough, or will it just melt away? How about toward your friends?

True love is sacrificial. True love is forgiving. True love is faithful.

And you know what, to me, true love looks like a Savior dying, bloodied, broken, and bruised, stretched across a tree. True love looks like a Redeemer stepping out of His grave clothes and proclaiming victory over death, sin, and the devil. True love looks like a book covered with blood, blotting out the records of times I haven't had true love.

That's true love.

Though I'm tempted to altogether kiss Valentine's Day goodbye, I'm choosing to really consider my love, to evaluate what kind of love it is - fluffy milk chocolate love, or sacrificial nursing home love? Is my love as shallow as the world's, or it's like my Lord's?

"In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

(1 John 4:10-11 ESV)

Happy Valentine's Day.

In HIS Love,
Taylor

P.S. You may have noticed the lack of posts here; I have too! :) I have been concentrating on re-building Godly Girlhood and writing series for the new site. If you'd like to follow the progress, head on over to www.GodlyGirlhood.org. I will be putting a more concentrated effort on Godly Girlhood than Surrendering My All, so if the frequency of posting decreases here, don't worry, but head on over to GG.

Would You Still Be Thankful?

2011-11-28T12:43:00.001-06:00

I sent this Thanksgiving message to my friends via email, and thought I'd share it here as well (just in case I forgot anyone!).

Hello Friends,

"I am thankful for..."

Ah, the phrase we often hear around this time of year. We count our blessings, number off the things we are grateful for, and then celebrate over a feast of turkey and pumpkin pie. A generic list of blessings usually includes: family, friends, home, health, possessions, food, etc., and oftentimes, the "I'm thankful for" line turns into a cliche and is reduced to nothing more than holiday tradition.

But, I will ask, for the sake of asking, "What are you thankful for?" Take a moment, pause, consider what you are truly thankful for - the most precious treasures in your life. Have them in mind? Okay, good.

Now let me ask:

What if they were gone next Thanksgiving?

Perhaps, like me, the greatest blessing on your list is your family. The thought of my family - any member of my family - being absent next Thanksgiving is almost unbearable. How deeply would I miss my sweet siblings, my wonderful parents, and the precious times we have together. What would I do without them?

Could I still be thankful?

Another large item on my own list is health. Despite a few allergies and the occasional cold, I must admit I have been blessed with good health. What if next Thanksgiving finds me in a hospital bed, struggling to battle a precarious disease? What if I were given a few months to live? What if I am inflicted with continuous, excruciating pain from some illness?

Could I still be thankful?

Shelter and security. Huge item. How I take for granted a roof over my head, a warm bed to sleep in, the confidence of a house to "come home" to after long trips. What if a year from now I am without a home, without a safe place to sleep, or even without some sort of shelter of protection from the elements?

Could I still be thankful?

How about freedom? Imagine with me next year not being able to worship inside a church building, being banned from fellowship with other believers, not allowed to homeschool or be a traditional family. What if I'd be imprisoned for my "radical" beliefs, stripped of the religious freedom I hold so dear?

Could I still be thankful?

The list can be extended with further blessings: food, technology, music, etc. etc., and still the question remains: Could I still be thankful?

If everything was taken away from you, could you still find reason to be grateful? It is easy to be thankful when all your needs and comforts are fulfilled, but much harder to say "I'm thankful" when challenged by extreme trials. Oftentimes the definition of "Blessed by God" is dependent on our comfort level, rather than our contentedness.

So this Thanksgiving season, I challenge you to examine yourself: Are you really grateful? Are you really content or are you comfortable? If next Thanksgiving found you without the blessings you listed this year, could you still praise God and say, "Yes, Lord, I am truly grateful for Who You are and what You've done, and the blessings You have given me"? It's something we all must consider.

"...for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:11b-13)

"...giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ..." (Ephesians 5:20)

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

In His Love,

Taylor Garms

Vote for the New GodlyGirlhood.org!

2011-11-09T13:02:00.006-06:00

Finally! With the help and opinions of my best friends (Ben and Leesha, naturally) I have narrowed GodlyGirlhood.org's website design to two choices. Except now, I don't know which one I prefer! :) Okay folkies, it's your turn to share your thoughts!

Click here to vote!

Share this with your friends; the more input the better! Also, don't forget to follow GodlyGirlhood.org!

Someday I'll have to do a post with all the designs which never made it...

Lacheln!

Taylor

Tying Shoes

2011-11-01T17:00:00.000-05:00

"Can someone help me?"

"What?"

"Can you tie my shoes?"

"Sure."

The little voice rose from the entryway, and I had to go: there were not many more opportunities like this left. Seven-year old Caleb is growing up fast, and as he was telling me as I helped him tie his shoes, Dad was teaching him on to do it on his own.

As I double-knotted the little tennis shoe, I looked up into his darling blue eyes. "You know what?" I said. "What?" he replied, a small smile enlarging on his smooth face, his dancing eyes twinkling. "When you're big and old, and perhaps with a big Southern Gospel group someday," I began mischievously, "I'll come to one of your concerts and tell people, 'That's my little brother. I helped him tie his shoes.'" He grinned his broad 'Caleb' smile. "Mom and Dad would be really old by then!" he said, hunching over to demonstrate their way-future age.

I then began a walk down memory lane with him. "Yep, I used to help tie your shoes, help change your diaper, help feed you baby food. I was there when you started to crawl, when you started to walk. Ben was the first person to make you laugh." Caleb laughed as I told him stories of his babyhood and the times when Mom asked me to help out with him.

"Oh yes, and I used to put you to bed sometimes," I said with a hint of annoyance in my voice. "Did I make you tell lots of stories?" inquired Caleb, scrunching up his darling face. "No, we used to sing, and SING! You wanted to sing all the Cathedral songs. Your favorite was 'Roll Away Troubled River', and you would make me sing that over and over again. Your favorite part of the song was when George [Younce] would go down a scale like 'Rol-ol-ol-ol-ol away'. And you would sing along in your baby voice. I would leave you, and then pretty soon I'd hear you call for me to sing some more. And then I'd hear you singing to yourself after I finally said 'No more'."

Caleb looked down at me from the bench in the entryway, his little stocky legs swinging over the edge. "I'd ask you when I'd change your diaper, 'Who are your favorite Cathedrals?' And you'd say, 'Scott [Fowler], and George [Younce], and Glen [Payne], and Ernie [Haase], and Roger [Bennett].'" You wanted to be a bass singer even when you were little [two-years old], and you wanted to be like Scott and George." He laughed. (Ah, even now I can hear his little lisp!)

To some questions of his, there were no certain answers: "When was the first time I ate popcorn?" "Boy, I don't remember, Caleb!" :)

We sat there, brother and sister, in the foyer, just talking for perhaps 15 minutes. As he finally went out the door, I said, "Have fun outside!" He turned back in the doorway, and grinned his Caleb grin. "Okay! I will! And you have fun inside!" We both laughed, and I watched my little brother charge onto the deck, filled with youthful ambition and all the joys of childhood.

If I had said I was too busy to help him tie his shoes, I would have missed that beautiful time of investing and sharing in this precious life.

"Lord, help me treasure these times while I can."

Several months ago, during my nightly journal-wrting session, a song idea came into my head about celebrating younger siblings. It's been sitting in my desk for a while...along with so many other of my song ideas! While the word flow is still very rough and the music sketchy, I thought I'd share it anyway, as it fits so well with this post.

Vs. 1
He runs in the yard and falls in the dirt,
Getting mud all over his shirt.
He picks dandelions and asks to play ball;
Will he always be this small?
Then I think how fast it will go -
Watching the little boy grow -
I learn to be patient, I learn to be kind,
And suddenly I don't mind...

Chorus:
Treasure all these things in your heart,
Hold them tight in your hand;
The little boy will soon be a man;
Treasure it while you can.

Vs. 2
Our time here together will go all too fast
Soon these moments will pass.
I look o'er the faults and see all the smiles,
Counting them off with the miles.
There is no one I care for more -
Of this you can be sure -
So, God, help me to show it to him today
Before time slips through my hand...

Chorus:
Treasure all these things in your heart,
Hold them tight in your hand;
The little boy will soon be a man;
Treasure it while you can.

Tag:
Treasure it while you can.

("Treasure" - Copyright February 24th, 2011 Words and Music by Taylor Garms)

How can you "treasure" your siblings and family today?

Lacheln!

Taylor

[This post was first composed in April, and shortly after the completion of this post, my dear Caleb successfully tied his own shoes. What a bittersweet moment!]

My Purity Pact

2011-09-27T12:23:00.007-05:00

At 13 years of age, I made the decision to keep myself pure for my future husband and I chose not to date. Throughout the years, I have made boundaries for myself and have verbally told people my standards, but I recently realized I have never written precisely what they were. I did this exercise in my journal to set in stone my purity pact, and to make sure I have my commitments written down. I'm sharing them with you as inspiration if you have never set boundaries for yourself, or have never made a commitment to purity.

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September 21st, 2011

TAYLOR'S PURITY PACT

I am committed to courtship, and refuse to date.
I will not have solitary phone conversations with young men.
I will not be in a room alone with another man.
I will keep physical contact with young men (and guys in general) to a minimum: handshakes and "quick" hugs are acceptable, "long hugs", holding hands, patting back/arm, etc. are not allowable.
If I feel intimidated or am made uncomfortable by any guy (young or old), I will seek help, protection, and safety from my older brother, father, or another safe person.
Emails to young men are done through the family's email account for accountability purposes and generally will have an editor - unless it is a quick correspondence. My parents have access to all my email accounts, and business emails with men are focused on business.
I will not have in-depth personal conversations with young men.
No snail mail correspondence with any guy.
I will not ride alone in a vehicle with a young man, and generally not with any guy, unless out of great necessity.
As for me, I will avoid and shun flirtatious behavior. This behavior is appalling to me and definitely "unattractive".

Is it okay to be friends with young men? Yes, I believe it is all right to have brother/sister-in-the-Lord relationships. But there must be boundaries to keep the friendship pure and safe. It is so easy to go a step further than originally intended, so it is very important to have accountability (preferably through parents and siblings).

May I always treat young men as brothers - unless they are of such character so as to be avoided. From the times I have overstepped my boundaries, I move on with a freshly determined outlook, resolving not to compromise.

SIGNED:

Taylor K. Garms

September 21st, 2011

"Keep yourself pure..." 1st Timothy 5:22b

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What boundaries have you established for yourself? I urge you to deeply consider and pray about your own "purity pact"!

Lacheln!

Taylor

A Smorgasbord of Randomness

2011-09-06T16:44:00.016-05:00

Coming off a deep theological discussion like we recently had on my blog, I wanted to do a totally random post of things which may (or may not) interest you. :) Enjoy this "smorgasbord of randomness"! (Randomness is my specialty, by the way.)

- Eek! The kitchen reeks of pickles! An unidentified Lil' Adventurer (LA) just smashed a jar of pickles. Thankfully, the Garms Family First Responders have quickly cleaned up the scene of disaster. Ironically, this is the second pickle the LA dropped today (the first he was using to water a plant).

- Tuesday is always our Wal-mart raiding day (i.e. grocery shopping). We are glad to be home safely, as after we stuffed our provisions for the week in the Mercury Topaz's small trunk, Mom noticed the right back tire was almost flat (right underneath where I sit - and no, it wasn't my fault!). So, we got some air to get us home, and shortly after we arrived home, the tire went totally flat. We have more problems with tires this month than we have for years (don't ask)...

- Preparations for the Floyd Gospel Sing in Floyd, IA are underway! We have been looking forward to this for about a year, and we are thrilled to be part of it. If any of you are in Iowa, I/we would love to meet you there! Click here for more details. Also, we're so excited to see Ernie Haase and Signature Sound for the first time in five years this Thursday in Iowa! (We're calling it a mini-vacation for our family. :) ) Leesha and Jayme just came in and showed me an outfit idea for the concert - the excitement is building! (Oh, NO! What am I going to wear to the concert? I'd better start planning! :-D )

- I've officially adapted to the singer's schedule: stay up late, get up late. I'm getting a little tired (don't mind the pun) of going to bed around midnight each night, but there's always so much to do! (I'm actually more of a night person, anyway.) So, I am hoping to get to bed earlier, so I get up earlier and maybe accomplish more that way.

- Siblings are awesome. They are hilarious. On our way up to our concert in Aitkin, MN this Sunday, we had a side-splitting episode of "That's Us": two Australian friends, "Cooper" (me) and "Riley" (Leesha), and their occasional sidekick, "Andrew" (Ben). These Aussies entertained some small "joeys" (Sam, Jayme, and Caleb) as they toured a foreign country (northern Minnesota) and sang "Home, home on the Outback, where the dingoes and kangaroos play" (with pathetic Australian accents). [As I'm typing this, I am saying each word I type in "Cooper's" voice - oh, brother!] It is the joke of the week, I think! "Gidday, mates!"

- I added a Morgan Monroe MMS-8 mandolin to my collection of instruments recently. It was about time to upgrade (my former mando had chops which sounded like I was using a sustain pedal), and I absolutely love my "peach-blossom baby"! It's tone is impeccably beautiful, it's chops solid, and it's play-ability superb. Ingredients for a great mandolin, which thankfully didn't cost thousands of dollars!

Me and "Morgan"

- I am actually planning several giveaways (suppress your excitement and wait patiently, okay?) in the near future. I've never done a giveaway before, but it will be fun and a new experience!

- Well, I suppose I've been random enough. Let me close with a video of my "Favorite Quartet of All Time": the Cathedral Quartet. I was hoping to write a blog introducing y'all to my favorite music in August, but alas, in this I did not succeed. (I was planning to start a new holiday called, "Tell a Friend About Southern Gospel Music Day". :) ) But, if you've never experienced SGM, here's a good start, and you crave more, visit this link to immerse yourself in SGM:

(Ugh, just watched the entire video and realized they cut off the ending of the song! *sob* Well, enjoy what you see!)

Well, I have to get packing for the our Iowa trip and setting the table. (Last night I made a family favorite hotdish: "Club Day Chicken Casserole" and I'm enjoying it's wonderful smell as it cooks in the oven; someday I'll share the recipe.) Onward and forward, as Mom likes to say!

Enjoy the rest of the fleeting summer!

Lacheln!

Taylor

(Post Script: Obviously, this post was drafted earlier today!)

An Inclusive Response to "Once Saved, Not 'Forever' Saved"

2011-08-22T15:47:00.024-05:00

Thank you for waiting patiently for me to respond to your comments on "Once Saved, Not 'Forever' Saved". Instead of tackling each comment separately, I have decided to respond with an all inclusive post. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

After much searching through Scripture, prayer, and consideration, let me share with you my conclusions and address your comments...

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Daniel, I too believe "God, Who is soveriegn and omniscient, knows the future." He knows and searches the hearts of men (Psalm 139:1-4, John 2:24-25). He is the Creator, Ruler, and Sovereign Lord over all creation (Isaiah 40:28, Revelation 1:5). Nothing will ever surprise Him, whether it be the trials we experience (consider Job 1-2), the corruption of the church, the rise of evil rulers, natural disasters...or a person falling away from saving faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. I agree with the statement "if a person professes faith at one point in their lives, but that person will not profess faith at the end of their lives, I believe God already knows that."

Hannah, you quoted Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." To this I say: absolutely! Amen and amen! I wholeheartedly believe this verse! Salvation is not earned by any good works, as Galatians 2:16 (and many other portions of Scripture) also confirms: "yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified in Christ." Now, after we are reconciled to the Father through belief in Jesus Christ, we are to do "good works" and conform our lives according to Christ's life (James 2:14-26, Romans 12:1-2, 2nd Timothy 1:9, 1st Peter 1:14-16)), as Ephesians 2:10 goes on to say, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." But that's a different topic, of course.

We were dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1-3), but God, rich in love, mercy and grace, has provided the way of salvation through the death and resurrection of His perfect, sinless Son, Jesus Christ and has made us alive in Him (1st John 4:10, Ephesians 2:4-7, John 3:16, Colossians 2:13-15). (And yes, Amy, just praying a "sinner's prayer" does not save you.) This clearly dispels "decision theology" and "making a decision for Christ", but again, that's another topic.

We cannot "keep" our salvation by good works. God is the Author and Perfector of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). "And I am sure of this, He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6) Just as our good works or "righteousness" cannot save us, we cannot keep our salvation by it. It is only by the grace of our Lord and His work on our hearts which draws us to Himself; He sanctifies us through His Word as His Spirit works on our lives. But, we can harden our hearts and reject the salvation He so freely gives. We can fall away. Our precious Lord Jesus Christ even solemnly said, "I have said all these things to keep you from falling away." (John 16:1) [Emphasis mine throughout quoted Scripture in this post.]

The Bible clearly warns us time and again of this:

"Therefore, let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall." 1st Corinthians 10:12

"Therefore, we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard," Hebrews 2:1-3

"You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to eternity." 2nd Peter 3:17-18

"Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons," 1st Timothy 4:1

"The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful." 2nd Timothy 2:11-13

"...Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some." 2nd Timothy 2:17-18

"Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end." Hebrews 3:12-14

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He Who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23

Amy, you said "If a person 'falls from the faith', then it is evidence that he/she was never truly saved in the first place." Amy, an unsaved person cannot depart from the faith because they never had faith to begin with! As God's Word clearly says, a person who falls away from the faith previously believed, and as Jesus said in Luke 8, the cares, riches, pleasures, and trials of this life, as well as their own sinful nature, choke their faith, causing them to fall away. So to claim those who fall away from the faith weren't actually saved is not Biblically correct...or logically correct for that reason, either.

>>> "If this did mean you could lose your salvation, then it would mean when you do lose it you can never get it back again. That is a wimpy salvation."

Hebrews 6:4-6 is speaking of those who have hardened their hearts in unbelief and are unrepentant. Because they have turned away from the Lord - after knowing Him - and reject the gracious gift of salvation (thus blaspheming the Holy Spirit and sinning the 'unpardonable sin' [John 5:16, Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 6:29-30,), there is no forgiveness for them, as they are not seeking it. But if they eventually do come to repentance, there is forgiveness. Consider Peter; after he denied our Lord, but then repented, Jesus reinstated him in John 21:15-19, and also Romans 11:

"Then you will say, 'Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.' That is true. They were broken off because of their disbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again." Romans 11:19-23

>>> "A person can have a lot of knowledge of the truth and not truly be saved. Knowledge does not save you."

I will agree with the statement "Knowledge does not save you", as only belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will. But knowledge is part of belief and knowing is part of salvation.

Let me explain it this way: If I had just stumbled across your blog and read a post or two, I would believe you existed. But since I have met you personally, have talked with you on several occasions, and do try to keep up on your blog, I not only believe you exist, but know you exist and my knowledge of you grows as I get to know you better. This is what Scripture most often means when the words "know", "knowledge", or "knowing" are used to describe our relationship with Jesus Christ and salvation through Him. Consider God's Word:

"For I am not ashamed, for I know Whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me." 2nd Timothy 1:12

"This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1st Timothy 2:3-4

"...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith - that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19

"Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." Philippians 3:8a

"...and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus." 2nd Thessalonians 1:7-8

"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2nd Peter 1:5-11

Knowledge is part of sanctification and spiritual growth. When Hebrews 10:26-29 mentioned "the knowledge of the truth", the writer is speaking of those who have believed and have known Jesus, and have fallen away. How tragic for those who depart from the faith!

>>> "Some people make a commitment to Christ that is not genuine..."

Yes, I can agree with this statement. They are imposters, and fit well with the description of Jude 1-16.

>>> "1st Timothy 1:19b-20 ~ Apostates do just that."

The definition of "apostate" according to Webster's 1828 Dictionary is as follows: "One who has forsaken the church, sect or profession to which he before adhered, has abandoned his religion;" And "apostasy" means, "An abandonment of what one has professed; a total desertion, or departure from one's faith or religion." So yes, apostates, like Alexander and Hymenaeus, do reject their faith and fall away from belief.

And yes, Amy, nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God (John 10:27-29, Romans 8:33-35, 38-39) - as long as we continue to believe in Him. This is eternal assurance, not eternal security.

Does this seem unreasonable? Truly, the things of God do seem unreasonable to us human beings and at times "foolish" (Romans 1:18, Isaiah 55:8). We must only accept what He says, with faith like a child. "Oh the depths and riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and how inscrutable His ways!" (Romans 11:33)

Yankeegospelgirl, one point I do want to make is, yes, we are not condemned to hell by our sins; Jesus provided forgiveness for our sins. Sin does not condemn us; but it is unbelief that condemns us (Mark 16:16). We are saved only through the precious blood of our Savior Jesus Christ and God's amazing grace.

--------------------

This has turned into an extremely lengthy post. I have spent many hours of research and typing, but it has been worth it...for me, at least.

I have not written these words lightly, but with much consternation, concern, consideration, study, and prayer. I have been spurned to greatly search the Word of God and made to consider many things through your comments. This has driven me deeper into God's Word, for which I thank you. :) If God's Word can be proven wrong by God's Word, not by any interpretations or implications of man, I will gladly reconsider my beliefs. I do not desire to be deceived by misconceptions, and I strive to cling to God's Word above all things.

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one take you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ." Colossians 2:6-8

I pray you would consider God's Words and seek His truth above all things. I consider all of you friends and brothers and sisters in the Lord, and I trust you consider me the same.

This is good discussion. Let's do it again sometime!

Your sister in Christ,

Taylor

Once Saved, Not "Forever" Saved - Expanded

2011-08-19T18:35:00.000-05:00

[Since I had great time constraints yesterday, I did not write out the Bible references I shared. So, here this is the "expanded" version of this post.]

A few days ago, I read on a blog the story of a woman whose husband committed suicide. She is sure (well, mostly sure) he is in heaven because her pastor assured her that her husband had made a commitment to Christ in his presence just weeks previous, and thus he was saved forever. (Paraphrased.)

Yesterday I read a comment on a different blog which said thus: "...that once he is saved, neither he nor anyone else can do anything to change that."

And today I turned on the radio and heard a well-known preacher state: "Your sins are forgiven, you become a child of God, your name is written down in the book of life, and you are forever secure."

After hearing this three times, I decided to refute this misinterpretation on my blog, instead of fuming inside, as I generally do when I hear bad doctrine.

Once "saved", your salvation is not eternally secure.

Let me repeat: Once "saved", your salvation is not eternally secure. It is extremely dangerous to believe so, as this belief promotes the thinking of "Oh, I'm saved forever. I can do whatever I want and know it won't affect my salvation", thus causing many to neglect their faith and spiritual growth.

I won't spend much time with my own words, but will instead direct you to God's Words, as the Bible is the ultimate authority on all things which pertain to the Christian life! (If you can show me where in God's Word where I am wrong for refuting the doctrine of the "perseverance of the saints", then I'd gladly reconsider.)

Hebrews 6:4-6

"For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding Him up to contempt."

Hebrews 10:26-29

"For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sings, but a fearful expectation of judgement, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Holy Spirit?"

Ezekiel 18:24

"But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die."

Luke 8:13-14

"And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature."

1st Timothy 1:19b-20

"By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme."

Galatians 5:4

"You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace."

And consider Demas, who in Colossians, was a brother in the Lord and fellow worker to Paul:

"Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas." (Colossians 4:14); then in 1st Timothy 4:10a, Paul says thus: "For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica."

I am only sharing exactly what God's Word says, and will let God's Word stand.

Lacheln!

Taylor

Post Temporarily Down for Expansion

2011-08-19T18:15:00.003-05:00

Opps! While expanding my latest post: "Once Saved, Not 'Forever' Saved", I accidentally removed it from my blog. :) So, for those who may be looking for it, it will be up again soon, and I will respond to comments as time permits.

-Taylor

2011: A Year of Deepening

2011-08-01T12:43:00.013-05:00

2011 has been a year of growing and deepening.

Last year was a traumatic year for me, searching my heart and discovering what I truly believed. I despaired of faith and life; I wondered why I existed; I doubted God's presence and forgiveness in my life; I was depressed and went through each day burdened; I questioned, "Is marriage worth it? Is family worth it? Is life worth it?"

During that time, I had written a quick email to my pastor which summed up the period of confusion in my life:

God must really be working on my heart in someway, because it's hurting! Please keep me in your prayers as I question everything about life and wonder if it's (i.e. Christianity, family,

marriage, life) really worth the struggle. I have never felt so distant from God, so [kind of] rebellious, and have never felt such a battle for my soul. I feel on the verge, at a crossroads, in a way. Oh well...I'll get through it, I guess.

My pastor responded with an email which made me cry, especially this part:

"It's all worth it, Taylor: life, faith, God, love, marriage...all of it. Even when you can't see the tremendous blessing for what it is, it is and will remain a blessing in this life preparing us for life everlasting. It is my prayer for you that one day you will know the love of God reflected in marriage. I am so proud of you and your purity stance. I was checking out your website a couple of months ago and I like the analogy you used about handing your one-day husband a broken heart in pieces and saying "here you go...I know it's all busted up...but it should still work somewhat." Wait for that true love and life that God has planned for you. It will be a bumpy ride at times, but its beauty - the love of family, spouse and friends that reflects God's love in Christ - has no equal.

"Keep that chin up. When you feel down, I want you to go find a family member or friend and do something nice for them. Life is what you make it, and God created a beautiful world for you to celebrate that in. Live each day in His shelter and trust and comfort and rest. When you lay your head down on the pillow each night, have no regrets about how your day was spent and be excited about what a new day will bring because of the God-given newness of each day.

"Smile Taylor. Life is worth it. You're worth it. You mean so much to God that Jesus died for you. How cool is that?"

Through the encouragement and patience of my parents, my pastor, and others, I began to creep out from the shadows of my despair and started claiming foundational Biblical truths to be my own, really solidifying my belief in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

A friend at the time sent me a lengthy letter of encouragement when I confided my struggles to her. In it she wrote:

"Every young person comes to a point (usually over a few years span, not usually just over a few days) where they question everything they’ve learned, needing to know what they believe and why. You have to make convictions your very own and founded on God’s Word, the Word of Truth. If you don’t, you’ll stray away from those who love you most, from God, from Truth, wavering and unstable in everything, not knowing between right and wrong, etc."

That was exactly what was going on in my life. Our family has witnessed the ages 17-18 to be extremely critical in shaping a young person's life, worldview, and faith.

This year, my 18-19th year, I am deepening in my relationship with the Lord. I came to fully know I truly believed in Him last year, and now I am beginning to really KNOW Him. I am trying to daily spend personal time in the Word (motivated by Loving the Lord's Summer Pursuit Challenge), and have been examining areas of compromise in my life. It has been a year of deepening of my faith.

It has been so evident I need time with my Lord every day. I am so much more at peace and more purposeful during my daily tasks when I start my day with Him. My vision is usually more focused and I am apt to respond to situations more calmly and respectfully. Of course, I haven't been faithfully reading my Bible first thing in the morning (sometimes it's at 1:00 at night because of a given day's circumstances!), but I am learning to yearn for the quiet time of prayer, reading, and journaling.

Well, that's not exactly what I was planning to write today! But I felt I needed to share past words of encouragement shared with me, and also what I am learning currently. Perhaps someone needs to hear the words above.

I have more to write, but it is time to get out lunch! (*Edit: I obviously drafted this earlier today.) Catch y'all later!

Lacheln!

Taylor

P.S. Speaking of growing/learning: two weeks ago I published my first Dreamweaver-built, totally-designed-by-me, HTML/CSS/Flash website and customized my first Wordpress blog for a client. THAT was a challenge, and my brain is still a little fried from spending entire days working on computer! But if you'd like to see the results of my amateur attempts at web designing, visit here: http://www.4hislove.com. :)

I'm Back...Slightly

2011-07-06T16:05:00.004-05:00

I'm back.

It has been a month since I announced my hiatus from the blogosphere. A month of laughter, tears, long miles, late nights, deep discussions, and lessons. Time has flown by so quickly I can hardly believe it has been about four weeks from my last post. (Isn't it strange how when one is young, the days just drag by, but now the years go by so uncontrollably fast!)

And now, I'm inclined to continue my hiatus. Let me explain.

I've been evaluating my computer time, and while I absolutely love computer work (designing, blogging, website managing, correspondence, etc. etc.), I see how I am often distracted from assisting more around the home. Many of my responsibilities do revolve around the computer, because it is my forte, and I feel most productive when I am working on my computer tasks, be it designing, writing, video/photo editing...but am I getting sidetracked from my true responsibilities?

I feel I need to pull away more than just a simple blog hiatus. I need to regulate my time so computer work is not the focus of my day. Yes, I have responsibilities and I have specific gifts and interests in the area of computer and internet technology. But I cannot pursue them at the cost of wasting opportunities of serving my family.

Last September when the younger four started school, our family had a schedule, including me. It was great! I tried to limit my online time to about an hour and half and slipped in writing/designing projects in the afternoon. But somewhere between chicken pox and the increase of concerts, the schedule was lost in the ever changing atmosphere of our home. While we do have routine, the schedule has disappeared as uncertainties demand flexibility.

It's time for me to try to embrace as much of a schedule as I can in order to pull the largest amount of productivity from each day. I need to limit more of my computer time and look about the home, see what I'm missing out on, and how I can serve more.

A day without computer work makes me feel like I am wasting my time, but that's because I'm focusing on what I'm not getting done, instead of what I can be doing.

Instead of two hours of writing blog drafts, editing pictures, website hopping, designing...

- I could be trying out a new recipe (though nothing extravagant because of our limited income!) and searching for new recipes for my recipe box.

- I could be reading to my siblings (ugh, Jayme and I need to get back into reading "Elsie Dinsmore"!) or even playing with them.

- I could be taking a walk to keep myself in good health.

- I could be weeding my hosta garden (okay, something I don't necessarily enjoy, but it should be done!).

- I could be organizing piles of papers I've collected over the years. :)

- I could be focused on home-keeping tasks, and ways to assist my family, especially my mother.

- I could be spending more time in God's Word, praying, and seeking the Lord's will in everything.

Flexibility is a must to learn; I must embrace change and not be frustrated when MY plans fail and MY tasks are not accomplished. For who am I focused on? ME! If I surrender my plans, my responsibilities to the Lord and ask Him to direct me in HIS path and HIS will, then truly I will be dying to self, something I must daily do.

Does this mean I am throwing away my laptop and disconnecting the internet? No! I'm instead stepping outside my comfort zone and saying "no" to excessive amounts of computer usage. The Lord has given me gifts, abilities, and messages to share, and I will not ignore the venues (like computer and internet) He has given me. This is just a declaration of my turning, again, my heart toward home. I am going to fully examine my role as a daughter at home, for there is no higher calling at this time for me. It is truly a beautiful thing to serve one's own family and surrender one's all through ministry at home.

I will continue to blog, but blogging is not going to be a top priority. I will learn to manage my time wisely, and be productive in the little things around home. It is both exciting and worrying at the same time, but absolutely necessary.

So, how's the Lord been working on your life recently? Has He been drawing your heart to home and family, refocusing your priorities? I would love to hear of His work in your life! I have so much more to tell of the Lord's tender work in my life...but I'll share that when I have opportunity after I have served my family and re-prioritized. ;)

(Oh, I suppose you've noticed the new blog design by now! I'm in the midst of redesigning it, so be aware it is not finished yet! :) )

Lacheln!

Taylor

Article Featured on LYWB!

2011-06-09T18:35:00.006-05:00

Yes, yes, I know I said I was taking a hiatus, but I had promised I'd share when my writings were featured on LiesYoungWomenBelieve.com (an outreach of Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Revive Our Hearts)! (I had a feeling this would happen when I would take a break; things seem to happen this way...)

I checked my email this evening after a concert this morning and discovered LYWB used an article I had submitted to them as a guest post on their blog. How thrilling! (To read the full story of when my writing was first accepted, click here!)

But anyway, if you would like to read the article I wrote last year: "Goodbye, Crutches", click here. Hope you enjoy it and are challenged by it! (I know I was after almost of year of not reading it! God has a way of using my own writings to remind myself of His Truths.)

Well, so much for a blog hiatus. :)

Lacheln!

Taylor

A Blog Hiatus...With Exciting Things Coming!

2011-06-06T14:04:00.006-05:00

Overwhelmed.

I think that word describes me right now.

So many things call for my attention. So many tugs to do things I want to do. So many things I have to do.

*Deep breath*

In evaluating our family's crazy schedule and my pressing responsibilities, I am making the tough decision to take a hiatus from Surrendering My All till the end of the month.

Don't worry! I am not shutting down SMA, but stepping aside, taking it off my plate. I have, I believe, one of the most powerful blog series I have ever written coming up (oh, I'm so excited!) and a new design in the works. But I need to say "no" to some things in my life in order to re-prioritize and re-focus. If I don't, I know I'll burn myself out - I have before, and I don't want to again! (I have the tendency to take too many things upon myself and never get anything done; such is the life of an artistic ADD person!)

So, stayed tuned (so to speak). Exciting things are in store, but I need to purposely pull myself away from this non-essential item. I will continue to blog at my family's blog, as we have a lot going on right now, but my blog is secondary.

In closure to this blogging season here, let me share with you two things which I think are very profound and challenging:

First, a quote:

"The only thing a guy should want to change about a girl is her last name." :)

Second, two verses from the Bible I am memorizing:

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV)

I pray you all are well. Keep in touch!

Now, off to making bread, mowing the lawn, unpacking, cleaning bathrooms...etc. etc. etc. :-)

Lacheln,

Taylor

Possessiveness vs. Giving

2011-05-23T13:08:00.015-05:00

I will confess: I am an extremely possessive person.

Extremely.

My clothes are my clothes. "Ah, Jayme? Are you wearing my hoodie? Um, could you go put that back?" My pencil is my pencil. "Has anyone seen my pencil?" My time is my time. "No Caleb, I can't [er, won't] play ball right now; I'm busy with other stuff." My money is my money.

And how do you suppose I feel when my possessiveness is challenged?

Convicted. Uncomfortably convicted.

Recently, we've been going through The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn, and it's one of those books that makes you kind of squirm - well, at least I do. I'm not saying I am a tight-fisted Scrooge, and I do enjoy contributing to ministries/families I am blessed by or know could use some help financially...but my giving sometimes comes with reluctance out of the possessiveness I described above.

Randy Alcorn presents "Treasure Principle Keys" throughout the book, and the one which has (so-far) really grabbed my attention is number one: "God owns everything; I'm His money manager."

Ouch.

It's not my money? It's not my possessions? It's not my time? It's...God's?

I have totally grasped this with the gifts God has given me: music, writing, art, designing, etc., and I absolutely acknowledge God as the Giver and Owner of those, and I love giving them away for His Glory. But when I start examining other areas of my giving life, I've discovered I am more of a stickler - pretty selfish to be blunt.

But God has gently been moving me, prodding me to really examine my giving, and not only through The Treasure Principle...

- Our conversations around the table, in the kitchen, or anywhere :) often have been directed toward this new topic over the past few weeks. So together, we are all learning about giving, and of course, family conversations always jump start my interest in a particular subject.

- In the Revive Our Hearts Summer 2011 Newsletter, Nancy Leigh DeMoss had written about the things her father taught her and lived. One of the paragraphs stood out to me in particular:

"Don't spend your life. Invest it. We don't own anything; God owns everything, and we are merely stewards. One day we'll stand before Him and give account for what we did with everything He entrusted to us. The question will be, Did we invest our lives and resources for self or for the glory of God?" ("10 Things I Learned From My Dad" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss)

- Yesterday morning after our concert/worship service at Moose Lake, MN, the pastor came forward and spoke a few words. He shared that during our concert, these acronymns for our family and band came to him (I saw him writing something down during the concert): Great Adventure Gospel Band (GAGB) = Give Away, Get Back Garms = Give Away, Receive More (but he didn't know what to do with the "s"!). It was so ironic, especially to me, that both focused on giving. [Hint, hint, wink, wink.]

- Then there was this article in my email inbox today from Lies Young Women Believe, with this line jumping out at me:

"Why on earth do I hang on to my money (make that His money) so tightly when God makes such grand promises about how He'll provide everything I need when I give cheerfully and generously to others?" (emphasis mine)

Sometimes I just have to smile when these sorts of nudgings happen and say, "Well, thank You, Lord. I guess I should wake-up and pay attention to what You're trying to teach me!" :)

I am supposedly "financially intelligent" (according to CashFlow, a money game of which I am "champion" in our family ;) ), but when it comes to spiritual intelligence in finances, I am still a "baby". God is always bringing light to things which need attention and work in my life, and I guess it's time to begin looking at my possessiveness and selfishness.

It's time to start letting loose, letting go, and learning to give. It is my goal to start investing in spiritual matters instead of wondering if I should invest in stock, instruments, cameras, etc.; to seek how God would like me to use His money (I'm just His steward and the tool) and consult Him before I use it.

I'm going to get back to tithing. And I am going to challenge myself to give not only financially, but in every area of my life.

How about you? Is God tugging at your heart, convicting you in some way? Consider this post another nudge.

Ready? Set? Give!

Lacheln!

Taylor

How Are You Investing in Your Future Children?

2011-05-19T11:01:00.012-05:00

It is brown and black, with shades of brown, pink, and green as it's accent colors. The cover is reminiscent of a scrapbook, with a large butterfly and several embellishments adorning the front.

The little notebook was given as a gift from my foster sister for my birthday, because she knew it was "totally me" and I absolutely love writing and journaling. She knew I'd find some meaning for it, something special for its use.

And after much contemplation, I finally discovered it's purpose.

If you open the stiff cover, you discover my artistic writing covering the lined paper, beginning with the words:

"May 1st, 2011

Dear Daughters."

(And it continues...)

"I do not know you yet. I do not know what you look like, though I imagine your features and personalities. I like to think of you, and I do pray for you.

At this time, I know not what my future holds and what God has in store. In fact, I have no idea if I will actually have daughters - flesh and blood daughters - to present with this book of lessons. Indeed, who knows if I will even marry? So though while at this writing the mystery of your father's identity, and yes, your very existence is in question, I proceed with this little book.

As you turn the pages which contain numerous penstrokes of time, may you learn and heed the lessons I share from my heart.

I desire to reveal to you the accounts of the lessons I have been taught by the Teachers of Life: namely, Experience, Advice, and Observation. I pray you will give ear to the tears I have shed (shed from the pain of my mistakes), the laughter which results from godly joy (joy from doing right), and the hope in Jesus Christ which I have found to be my constant anchor.

I look forward to meeting you someday, and I anticipate some wonderful times of fellowship and learning together in the future.

But as I gaze over the blank pages, which stare so solemnly back at me, I tremble slightly at what hard lessons are before me. Yet I know that I learn not only for myself, but for those God places in my life to be taught [to teach].

'Listen my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.' (Proverbs 1:8-9)

Until next time.

With love,

your mommy,

Taylor

P.S. You don't know how odd it is for me at 19 to be signing off as 'mommy', but that is how I shall be to you. :) -TKG, 'Mom'"

So, how are you investing in your future children? What are ways you can invest in their spiritual lives and growth today?

"May 2nd, 2011

Dear Daughters,

It awes me somewhat to consider the fact this little book will someday be transmitted to your hands. To think of it's involvement with my future and your present...that is something so wonderful and thrilling that [it] is almost overwhelming and scary..."

Lacheln!

Taylor

What's Your Favorite Thing About Spring?

2011-05-18T11:10:00.005-05:00

Spring is here!

YES! I am tickled pink excited about the warmth and sunshine finally invading our land!

You know, one of my favorite things about spring is MOWING LAWN! Ben just informed me as I was typing up some blog drafts that the front lawn needs to be mowed. WAHOO! (Trust me, I don't use capitals unless I'm really excited!) I love zooming around on the small red lawn tractor, enjoying the bright sunshine and dodging bugs - well, I could do without that part! Usually my mind is barraged with creative and crazy ideas, and I'll end up composing many blogs, book drafts, seminars, and songs by the time mowing season is done. :) So many times the others will look out the window and see me driving around, my mouth moving as I speak passionately to the dandelions and bees about modesty or sing a huge ballad I just wrote to the blue sky, etc. etc. :) The only thing I do not appreciate about mowing is steep ditches, flying rocks, getting stuck, and having motor problems.

So, what's your favorite thing about spring? I'm curious! Let me know in the comments.

Well, I'd better finish my computer stuff so I can get mowing! Tootles!

Lacheln!
Taylor

P.S. Remember in a previous blog I mentioned I was even looking forward to the time when bugs ran into my face as a sign of spring? Well, it has officially happened several times now, and even last night as we kids rode bike, I had a bug crash into my eye - yuck! Oh well, such is the stuff of life! :-D

Mother's Day Musings

2011-05-16T17:17:00.009-05:00

Yes, Mother's Day has come and gone. And yes, I did not post any blogs around the day itself. But I've come to embrace the cliche: "Better late than never!" :) (Procrastination is one of my most prominent faults, if you haven't noticed.)

Last year the day slipped by uncelebrated on my blog, and I regretted it. I wrote up blog drafts in my head (I'm constantly composing blogs, songs, and stories/books throughout the day, especially while cleaning our church, mowing lawn, and doing mindless tasks - and yes, I am weird) and envisioned what it would look like, but I failed to actually do it.

This year I am resolved to at least say a few words.

My mother.

When I think of her, I smile. I hear her contagious laughter. I think of her funny stories. I remember all the interesting situations we've been through together. I think of all her blunt comments that she's not afraid to say.

Ah yes, the memories...

Fixing my hair for dance recitals...Setting a pizza aflame while on the phone with Dad...Pruning lilac bushes...Rocking crying babies to sleep...Helping us with school...Trying to teach me to how to count notes and play piano...Watching her emulate Signature Sound dance moves and figuring out how to choreograph one of our songs...Teaching me the right way to clean a bathroom...Seeing her cry when she felt like she couldn't go on...Persevering through heartbreak after heartbreak...Lying extremely ill on a hospital bed...Standing firm for the truth when no one else would...Listening to her rich alto voice, thinking she was better than Amy Grant and wondering why she didn't sing with Rich Mullins and Michael W. Smith...Singing "If We Never Meet Again" for one of the first times together...

Most of all, I remember these teenage years, the time I've needed her the most. Tears running down my face, rebellious feelings welling up inside, angry retorts spewing from my mouth, confusion about life, faith, and family, repentence and guilt...all these have come from me. And Mom has been there. We have had many heated conversations as my strong-will and her strong-will have often collided (with me being in fault, by the way!). There were times I doubted her love because I felt like a failure in everything, but time after time was proven wrong by her unconditional love.

She has pointed out my faults and inspired me to be better - to strive for godly ways. She has warned me of the pitfalls on the road of life and encouraged me to walk on holy highways. She has reminded me of my commitments and urged me to live as a godly young woman. Many times she has come alongside of me to inspire me, comfort me, and walk with me.

For an example of her teaching and relevant life's lessons, here's one of the most compelling lessons she has taught me (it's from several years ago, so please don't mind my poor writing/typos!): The Wheelbarrow Story. I am grateful for her teaching.

I have observed her for years making sacrifice after sacrifice for us kids. She selflessly says, "Oh, I don't want one" whenever there isn't enough dessert to go around. She demonstrates her love to us by serving through cleaning, care, and coaching. I am grateful for her sacrifice and servant attitude.

Several years ago I remember listening to her patiently helping Caleb with his school and thinking, "Wow, I would have lost it by now. She is so patient. I need to be like that." I am grateful for her patience.

She has boldly stood for truth when others may have been shy to take a stand. She reads God's Word and applies it to her daily life. Every day for as long as I can remember she has held daily devotions with us kids at the breakfast table and we have all explored God's Word through and through many times together. She openly struggles when she doesn't know what to do when confronted with stress and hard trials, and openly searches God's Word for guidance. I am grateful for her faith and faithfulness.

I have gone from fearing her as my worst critic (for years I hated - yes, I used the word "hated" - criticism and rebuke, but now have learned to embrace it as my dearest friend) to be my role model and source of encouragement. I can now say with confidence: I want to be a mom like her.

Well, I have become rather rambly, as usual. I love my mother more than ever and appreciate her more and more with each passing day. Yes, she is not perfect, but she lives as a sinner saved by grace. I am grateful for my mother.

I love you, Mom!

Lacheln,

Taylor

This Is It: 19...The "Ideal" Age

2011-04-22T13:23:00.012-05:00

The Three Taylors: 8th birthday, 14th birthday, and 19th birthday.

Dear Taylor, age 7:

Well, this is it.

19-years old. You so looked forward to this moment in time with all the eager aspirations of a young girl with big dreams. Was this how you imagined it would be? Am I who you wanted to be?

Already I know I'm not. Oh, yes, I know you'd like how I turned out appearance-wise, with my layered hair and (kind-of) stylish clothes. You would follow me around, trying to emulate my every move. But, one of the reasons you so desired this age is the fact I'd be far away from home, living on a college campus, filling my mind with books, boys, and independence. And the truth is, Not only am I not enrolled at any college, but I am still living at home on top of it all. Are you disappointed?

I can see your big blue eyes looking up at my now 5' 6 1/4" frame, meeting the gaze of my identical eyes, all your childish expectations dashed to the ground. I can hear your thoughts, "How will I become that famous artist I've always longed to be? How can I be a dance teacher without going to college? How will I meet a husband, anyway?" (Pretty "grown-up" femininistic dreams for only a seven year old, huh?)

Oh, little heart, there is so much more! Listen to me now: I am happier than I'd ever be at a campus somewhere. And I am that artist you wanted to be, but maybe not how you expected. As for the husband part...keep reading.

I remember the picture you cut out and taped into one of your school folders years ago. It was picture of a college graduate with luscious blonde hair, proudly holding her diploma and casting a beautiful smile into the camera. You showed it to your mother, saying, "That's what I want to look like some day." That was your ideal.

There are no college diplomas in sight for me, for I have no intention of getting a college education. I have been shown through God's Word and other godly sources that it is not my "curse", so to speak, to be the "breadwinner" for my family. God has greater things in store for me as a woman. God has lead me to a different path, showing me there is no need to spend four plus years at an university away from my family, learning things I don't really need to know, immersed in an atmosphere that is typically hostile to God and all my beliefs, surrounded by influences and peers that would tempt me into an ungodly lifestyle, and I do not need to spend thousands of dollars to have a piece of paper that will not even guarantee my future. It is not my role as a young woman to engage in a career, but rather focus on preparing for my future home and family. And in this period of my life, I need my home and family more than ever. God instilled in me, as He has in women everywhere, the desire to be a helpmeet to my future husband, to be his companion through the storms and battles of life, to help manage his home and further his business, ministry or vision, to raise the next generation of warriors for the Kingdom...and a college degree cannot prepare me for this amazing challenge.

By choosing to stay at home after my highschool graduation in August of 2010, I have the opportunity to practice the skills I will need to live with my husband and raise children. By learning to submit to my parents' decisions, I practice for the time when my husband makes final decisions for our family. By learning to bite my tongue when hurtful words want to fly from my mouth, I am practicing self-control for when I'd be tempted to spew at my husband and children when I feel my "rights" are offended. By learning to be patient with my younger siblings and investing in their lives, I am practicing for when I have the precious responsibility of raising my own children. When assisting in tasks around our home, I am learning home management and practical skills I will use throughout my life. All this I cannot learn at a college.

There is a saying which goes, "If you can get along with your family, you can get along with anyone in the world." And that's exactly what I'm learning. I am experiencing all sorts of personalities, abilities, and character traits. I have watched eight other people deal with conflict and joys, difficulties and fears, and have observed how I get along with people as well. (People have doubts about our homeschool "socialization"...let me assure them: there is no cause for worry!)

Okay, I have presented a small case for staying at home, but I'm certain the question still rises in your mind: "What about falling in love with a boy from college?"

A while ago a member from our church and I somehow got into a slightly heated conversation about this subject. "But you need to go to college to get an education! There is no other way to make it in the world!" she kept saying in a forceful voice. I was unmovable. Then she tried a different technique. "My daughter met her husband at college. How are you going to meet a husband?" I laughed inwardly. Sometime later, my pastor also asked in a playful tone and with a twinkle in his eye when discussing my upcoming graduation, "You aren't even going to college to get a MRS degree?"

Yes, even you, Taylor, at a young age, were dreaming of when a charming, heroic young man would save you from the evil bullies on the college campus, and you'd go on long walks and fall in love. (Strangely enough, marriage was never part of the story.)

As I type, the glitter on my left ring finger catches my eye, and I reminded myself, once again, of the day six years ago when I said to my mother, "I am choosing to remain pure for my future husband." The silver band, engraved with a heart, key, and graceful swirls, reminds me of this commitment. And, I am reminded of all the impure thoughts and choices I have made since that decision as well. Oh, how the blush of shame creeps up my face. I know how fickle my heart is, and I am sorry for my struggles with wrong thoughts. But I am getting ahead of myself...

I have never dated (probably much to the chagrin of you, seven-year old Taylor), and am saving all my dates for my future husband. I have been shown the biblical idea of courtship and purity. I am waiting for my future husband. "But how will you meet your husband?" I don't know...I'll leave that up to my "Match-maker": God, my Heavenly Father! There are times I have wanted to take the pen from His omniscient hand and add my own details, but I am learning to entrust it to Him. I have seen the heartbreak of wrenching the pen from God (in fact, I am listening to the story of a young woman who is entering great heartache, foolishness, and sin at this moment), and I do not want that for myself. God's ways are always best, and I know I would mess it all up, and I have already complicated matters.

I realize you may have many more questions, and feel free to talk to me about them. I could point you directly to the Bible and show you were in God's Word I have derived these stands. Please, don't feel disappointed in me and my choices. I am so happy with my decisions and very fulfilled here at home with my family. I am looking forward to what God has in store. I am not disappointed in who I've become (meaning the choices I have made).

Yes, I am now 19 - the ideal age in your mind. And yes, whatever age I am is the ideal age. And now, to 14-year old Taylor who thought 19 was the earliest age I'd be engaged and married by...so far, no Prince Charming is in sight, and that's fine with me - I have so much learning to accomplish before he shows up!

Lacheln!
Taylor, age 19

April Fool's Day: Do Something Radical

2011-04-01T11:46:00.024-05:00

EDITOR'S NOTE: I had previously encouraged you to read Philippians 3:1-17, but actually, I meant Colossians 3:1-17. Opps! I have always loved April Fool's Day ever since I was a little girl. The opportunity to think of a way to trick someone was something I craved, and I was always seeking to play a prank on any unsuspecting victim, especially my big brother. :) I clearly remember the fake spider prank I tried to pull on him, but alas, it did not succeed. Then I remember all my other failed attempts, and unfortunately I have not tasted victory for many years. But once, I did succeed, come to think of it. It was April Fool's Day several years ago, and Ben, my big brother, was still sleeping when breakfast time was approaching. Suddenly, I knew my chance had arisen! I raced into the boys' room, calling out in a panicked voice, "Ben! Ben! Get up NOW! It's almost noon! I can't believe it! It's time to get up!" (In reality, it was only around 8:30 a.m.) Ben jolted awake and leaped out of bed. (I amazingly was keeping a straight face and playing my part very well.) "What? Oh no!" he exclaimed in a worried tone. Then he looked at his clock, and knew I had got him good. :) This morning, I completely forgot it was April Fool's Day until Ben and Leesha reminded me while getting out breakfast. Immediately I thought, "What should I do? What should I do?", but my mind failed to produce anything (my brain does not work well in the mornings!). But, giving it some thought, I've decided to be on the look-out for something different. Something radical. Today I have resolved to be watching for opportunities, not to embarrass someone by making them feel "dumb", but to encourage them and step out of my comfort zone, doing something radical. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not an ultra chic trying using this term to appear "cool" (my mind automatically forms an image of a hippie-type person making a peace sign and saying, "It's totally radical, dude" - and that is not me!). Nor am I implying to be radical in a negative sense. I grabbed a small Webster's dictionary (not the well-loved 1828, but a 1963 version) and found this quick definition: "favoring extreme change". By encouraging myself and you to do something radical today, I am challenging you to step out of your comfort zone and start living as one who has been through an "extreme change", which you have been if you believe that Jesus Christ "died for me and shed His blood for me on the cross for the forgiveness of sins." (Luther's Small Catechism, 1943) Your life has been changed, and now you can live in freedom and point to Christ through your radical change. Consider these beautiful verses from 2nd Corinthians 5:17-21:
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconcilation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."
Truly, I say to you, if you believe in Jesus Christ as your precious Lord and Savior - live it out! Be radical! Can people tell when they observe you at home, at a friend's house, at church, at Wal-mart, at work, or to borrow at term from the ministry I'm involved with: on stage and off stage? You are presenting the radical message of Jesus Christ through your words and deeds, everyday, being an ambassador for Christ. In real life, this radical change means putting to death the desire to blow up at someone when you are annoyed (Phil. 3:8). This means stifling the wrong thoughts which plague your mind and focusing on godly things (Phil. 4:8). This means forgiving that long-held grudge and showing love (Matthew 6:14-15). This means stepping up to the plate and assisting others in a self-sacrificing way (Romans 12:10-13). This means associating perhaps with someone you generally avoid (Romans 12:18). Do something radical! And don't let it stop today. Be radical everyday. Sometimes it may be in smaller ways, or it may be in larger ways, but someone will always notice: you will! It's different to be a radical, and you know, it feels good to be radical...in a godly sense.
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2)
Will you read with me today Colossians 3:1-17? Unfortunately, because of time constraints, I cannot type the entire passage, but I strongly urge you to meditate on these words and take them to heart. Here you will find the radical change clearly laid out (oh, how I am convicted every time I read this chapter!). Pray to the Lord to work this radical change in your life (as I do as well), take hold of His strength, mercy and grace, and live it out in the radical life. Do something radical, this day and always. Happy April "Radical" Day! :-D Lacheln! Taylor

OUR CDS HAVE ARRIVED!!

2011-03-11T10:54:00.011-06:00

Good Afternoon, Friends!

I'm sorry, this is too good to not share with ya'll!

Our family band's debut project, "Thank You, Lord" is finally available!! To read a blog about the arrival, click here; to purchase your own copy of our CD, click here to go to our store.

My big brother Ben worked with my three youngest siblings, Sam, Jayme, and Caleb to create a demo / commercial of our band's first CD. It is SUPER cute, and will give you a taste of Great Adventure Gospel Band's debut project. FYI: You'll hear me sing the high harmony, play mandolin, fiddle, and piano on select songs.

Enjoy!

Lacheln,

Taylor

Poems from the Black Notebook: #1

2011-03-01T10:57:00.010-06:00

It's been on my mind for several weeks now to find my little black notebook. I started it last year in the middle of the night when I needed something to write down song ideas and thoughts. It was my constant friend for a while, until I misplaced it. A few days ago, I resolved to find it, as I had several song ideas I wanted to revive. I headed underneath my bed, which, though it has been in worse condition, was slightly unorganized (correction: messy). I struggled with pulling out an overstuffed tub, and when I opened the lid, there it sat, my little black notebook. "Boy, that was easy!" I thought, "Why didn't I do it before?"

I was breezing through it before I sat down at our computer desk, and discovered some neat poems and prayers from a struggling, searching girl. I want to take some time to share them with you, as you might relate to them. They are in no means in perfect prose or rhyme, so please overlook my lack of poetic perfection. So without further ado, here is "Poems from the Black Notebook: #1".

*This particular poem is actually part of a hymn/song I wrote.

"WHAT I ASK OF THEE"

Copyright 2010 Taylor Garms

"O This is what I ask of Thee, Out of Thy Love and Sympathy:

Make me clay in Thy Sweet Hands, Submit my will to Thy Great Plans.

O Bow my head so I may see, Yea, tis Thy Footsteps leading me.

Give me hope and strength today, Guide me thru this narrow way."

Lacheln, Taylor

On This Last Day of February

2011-02-28T12:46:00.011-06:00

FYI: The link on the below picture was switched from our website to our blog. My mistake!

Isn't interesting how when I do not write at least once a week, it feels as though I have abandoned my blog? :)

February has been an extremely busy and memorable month for our family. Our first CD was sent off to the duplicators last week, my oldest sister returned home, we had a total of six appearances for Great Adventure Gospel Band, school continuing to be in session for Leesha, Sam, Jayme, and Caleb...let's just say we keep busy with the routine tasks about the home and our individual responsibilities!

I have refrained from posting about my recent designing ventures and personal tasks, as I was convicted by this quote from an article I read recently:

"I used to pride myself on keeping so many plates in the air. It's a badge of honor for women today to say, 'Oh, I'm so exhausted! If you knew what I had on my schedule for today!' And we sort of play, 'Poor me!' But we really are bragging about it." ( "Phyllis Wallace: The Woman Behind Woman to Woman" - Lutheran Woman's Quarterly, Spring 2011)

Instead of focusing on my tasks and responsibilities, overwhelming you with my "stuff", and essentially focusing on me, I want to direct you to the Lord, and encourage you in your walk in life. I want to share things the Lord is teaching me in order to inspire you in your journey. Yes, sometimes I will interject personal and fun stuff about me and our family, to keep this blog from becoming "dry", but all in all, it's not about me. I do not desire to come across as "full of myself", but as a sister who shares similiar struggles and walks beside you.

In review, here is my personal mission statement, "To encourage the Body of Christ, especially Christian young women, to passionately serve God in every area of their life, and to give hope to those who are going through similar situations and trials I have experienced." I pray you are encouraged by your stays at my home on the web, and that this blog fulfills my mission statement.

Thanks for visiting, friends! Hope you had a wonderful February!

Lacheln,
Taylor

P.S. I have been writing extensively on our family's blog; if you are interested in Garms Family happenings, visit today and become a follower! (Click on the link banner below.)

I Can Do All Things...Through Christ

2011-02-16T11:40:00.003-06:00

"Urgh! I've got so much to do!" I complained one morning while reviewing my tasks for the day, thumping the bread machine on the counter with a little more umph than usual. Mom responded gently, singing a Bible verse set to music by Steve Green: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13. The song stuck in my mind as I combined the ingredients for bread, and I couldn't help but take it mentally a step further. I began to say to myself: "When I am...'I can do all things through...'", providing a redirecting contrast between what I cannot do by myself, but what can be accomplished through Christ's strength, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22).

When I am pressured by responsibilities and expectations and feel overwhelmed - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
When I am battling sinful thoughts and habits and feel I can't win the battle - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
When I am losing my patience with younger siblings and feel I will lose my calm - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
When I deal with bitterness and feel I should take revenge - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
When I face redirection and rebuke and feel like lashing out - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
When I confront uncertainty and feel that I cannot trust anyone or anything - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
When I struggle with surrendering my all - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Lacheln!
Taylor

The Little Brown Bible

2011-02-10T13:14:00.007-06:00

I love the little Gideon Bible in our bathroom, and then again, I can't stand it.

The cover is brown and turned out on the edges. The pages are crumpled and worn. But the truths are so relevant each time I open the small Bible, and God uses this book to get a hold of my life, to wake me up.

My daily journal time comes around after we've all said good night and headed to our bedrooms. I grab my journal and camp out in the bathroom for a while, pouring my heart out, telling of unique happenings, relating mundane routine around the home, etc. Some days my entries are several pages long, others, just a sentence or two. As I share my stuggles, and battles become stronger as I mull over the day, the Bible calls and I seem to hear: "Open the Bible."

It is often reluctantly I pick up that little brown book, but other times, my heart is yearning for a Word from the Lord. God moves my fingers and directs me to exactly what I need to read. Sometimes I don't like what I find, as God's Word is "sharper than a double-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12-13) and convicts me of sin I am dealing with at that exact moment. It always points me to what I truly need to be focused on: the Lord and living for Him.

Let me share with you a journal entry I wrote a while ago:

'Ugh, I go back and forth with my thoughts! I so want to go into my "room of
pictures" (Ezekial 8:12), but then I want to follow God's way. Seesaw, up, down,
round and round, yours or mine, up, down, seesaw. I'll see what God says... "You still the hunger of those You cherish..." (Psalm 17:14b) God can still the hunger in my mind and body for short-lasting pleasures, and fill me with true satisfaction and love, found only in Him. "...My people shall be satisfied with My goodness." (Jeremiah 31:14b) I will trust in Him to carry me through this trial, this tempting of my faith. "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He has anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." (2nd Corinthians 1:21-22) "Put on the full armor of God..." (Ephesians 6:11a)'

God always lovingly redirects me with His Word, patiently reminding me of Himself and what He has done for me through Christ. He speaks so clearly to me through just the right verses at just the right time.

Thank God for the little brown Bible.

Continually...

2011-02-07T10:36:00.021-06:00

While our vocal warm-ups are going on, I have a quick opportunity to write a little before we settle into a good practice session...

In 1st Thessalonians 5:17, the apostle Paul states "pray without ceasing" in the English Standard Version. When I was younger, I knew this verse as simply "pray continually" (from the New International Version), and it has bothered me. How could, and why would anyone pray continually...non-stop...without ceasing?

The image that forms in my mind is someone mumbling hurried phrases and absent-mindedly completing their every day tasks: "Be with Mary today at her doctor appointment and-opps! The telephone is ringing! Dear Lord, hello? Oh! Excuse me! Sorry, I was just praying." :) And how could they think of enough things to pray for? This, along with the thought of praising God continually in Heaven, made me wonder: Wouldn't it get, well, slightly "old"?

One day, while pondering such topics, the parallel of an engaged young woman came to my mind. Honestly, what (or WHO) does she talk about constantly? Her beloved fiance. How many of us have been in such a girl's presence and heard "his" name in almost every subject? I remember being at a family music festival several years ago, and while one family was introducing themselves, one of the girls barely said her name and age before she was talking about her engaged. "Anyone who wants to hear about him and our story, just find me later and I will tell you!!" Her enthusiasm made everyone smile.

*Well, have to go practice! Will be back soon!*

[Insert sounds of music, singing, loud instruments, and conversation.]

*I have returned* :)

Of course, I imagine the day when I will have the same glitter in my eyes (and ring finger!). Wouldn't my thoughts be filled with dreams of "him" and craving every opportunity to talk on the phone and treasuring the moments spent with "him"? Wouldn't I be talking about "him" to everyone I'd meet? :)

And here's the parallel with the topic at hand: if I truly am in love with the Lord (because He has first loved me), shouldn't my reactions be the same? Just as I would be seeking out time to spend with my future "special someone" everyday constantly, shouldn't I be doing the same with my Lord Jesus-to get to know Him more? And just like I would be "singing 'his' praise" to everyone I'd meet, why should I question praising the Lord constantly?

But of course, just as when you start a relationship with anyone, you have to learn to love them-it's a process. And I guess that's where I am at: still learning to love Jesus above everything. I am still learning to desire Him and His Word, and seeking out His presence in prayer. And as I get to know Him more, my desire to spend time with Him will grow, and thus, "pray[ing] continually."

I believe Paul also mentions "pray continually" not only out of a desire to spend time with Jesus, but as an encouragement to bring all our problems, joys, temptations, struggles, and praise to Him. When I spend time in prayer (if my mind doesn't start wandering), my focus is where it needs to be-on the Lord-and "the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His Glory and Grace". Temptations are lighter when borne with someone else, and joys are sweeter when shared together.

Praying continually is something I will continue to grow into as my relationship with my First Love blossoms. And the more it deepens, the more I understand "pray continually."

Lacheln!
Taylor

Hello World!

2011-02-01T11:05:00.018-06:00

Wow, it seems like it has been months since I last wrote! In reality, it has only been a few short weeks. Life has been busy (as usual) and January was filled with many interesting happenings.

"GAGBAND" HAPPENINGS:

First, in Great Adventure Gospel Band news, our first CD is almost done! The recording process completed and now we are in the final mixing stage. I know for many of you, this all means nothing to you, but this is big news! We are looking to have our CD done by late February. WAHOO! To read our recording stories, visit our blog: http://www.greatadventurefamily.blogspot.com/. The night when Ben first transferred all our recordings to CD for analyzing purposes, I grabbed a portable CD player and listened to the halfway-finished songs, just being blessed by what the Lord has given to us. I am so excited about our first album!

Part of the listening crew (analyzing our CD).

During the month of January, our family was interviewed for the local newspaper, the Isanti County News; to read the interesting article, click here.

Our family "posing" for the newspaper; Photo by Luke Reiter

Our 2011 concert schedule continues to fill up-Praise the Lord!-and we have roughly 19 appearances booked. This next week is going to be busy for the band, as we'll have four concerts in six days. (That can become tiring, but it sure is a whole lot of fun!)

MINNESOTA WINTER STUFF

Our "winter wonderland"

A while ago, I peeked outside a window and, discovering the clouds releasing their heavy snow burdens once again, I almost let out an exasperated yelp: "Oh, won't it ever stop!" While I do truly enjoy winter and beautiful snowfalls, I have had a hankering for a warm summer day, with the clear sunshine streaming through the sliding glass door, a cool breeze rustling the lucious green leaves of the trees, the occasional bug running into me in midflight (yep, I'm that desparate!), and...heat!

A friend from church reminded me that February was a short month and then we have March (which means mud and melting up here). That's technically spring, but what I want right now is a perfect June day. Mmmm! (Opps! I'd better brush up on my contentment!)

And yes, Christmas has come and gone, which meant we had to take down all our Christmas decorations. So long ornaments!

Most of my ornaments (note all the blonde hair!)

OTHER RANDOM NEWS

I have had several opportunities to use my graphic design skills, and am blessed to see doors open for Lacheln Designs. I am currently creating a website for my business, and continuing to grow and learn in this wonderful field.

GodlyGirlhood.org is almost completely designed, needs editing, and will someday soon be published. What exciting developments!

Again, life stays busy for the Triple F Ranch Crew, and we treasure this time together as family. God has great things in store and we continue to follow His leading in our lives.

Well, I feel better now. I have finally written and let you know I am still alive. I have many things to catch up on, and this was one of them. "Surrendering My All Blog": check!

Now...I'm going outside to play "clash swords" with Ben and Leesha, as it is a "heat-wave" (around 30 degrees)! Tootles!

Lacheln, Taylor

The Canvas of My Life

2011-01-12T14:43:00.016-06:00

*NOTE: This blog was written on January 12th, 2011.

Our past three years have started with a funeral.

In January 2009, a young man from our church died from traumatic injuries suffered from a horrific car accident. We had the honor to play prelude music for his funeral. In January 2010, a older member from our church passed away unexpectedly. The summer before she had requested my brother Ben to sing for her funeral, because she loved his "deep, rich bass voice" and it gave her goosebumps. And, this morning we attended the funeral of a church member's sister. Such solemn reminders as we have begun each new year.

As I watched the funeral home workers roll the coffin down the aisle this morning, I couldn't help but think, "What will my funeral look like?" Glancing at the small crowd of mourners, I wondered, "Who will be at my funeral?" Listening to the sermon, I pondered, "What would be said of me?"

Every thought, action, word, or deed will leave a lasting impression on those who are directly or indirectly affected by it. What picture will my words and deeds paint? Will the figurative brushes I use be smooth and delicate, or ragged and coarse? Would the colors of the painting be light, complementary pastels? Bold, bright and rich? Or dark, mellow and cold? The images portrayed on the canvas of my life, Would they be pleasant to behold, stirring up hope and love, thrilling the viewer's eye and soul? Or would my life be depicted by dismal figures of pain, bitterness, and regret?

Would a pastor, standing sheepishly in the pulpit and staring at some scribbled sermon notes, have to say the common phrases, "Um, she was a good person. She loved people (I think), and people...ah...loved her" with the knowledge that it wasn't true? Would the handful of mourners recall the times when I spoke out of turn, acted unjustly or immorally, injured relationships, and failed to be a good ambassador for the Lord?

While I am on this earth, I have the opportunity to live life to the fullest. I will make mistakes, hurt people, and continue to sin. This is inevitable. But I want people to remember me for getting through the tough times and mistakes, saying "I'm sorry" and turning 180 degrees, and battling sin (not caving into it). I pray people would say with certainty, "Yes, she loved the Lord with all her heart, and she loved us as well."

How I can help ensure that? Well, by living life according to God's Word. May His legacy become mine as I strive to follow His ways. One day, when my body is put into the ground, my soul will be in the presence of His glory, singing praises to Him, and His legacy will live, hopefully, through the remembrance of a girl named Taylor-through the canvas of my life.

Lacheln,

Taylor

A Comment on Comments...

2011-01-07T11:13:00.006-06:00

I love comments! In fact, I don't know anyone who doesn't enjoy comments. It always brightens my day when I find a comment you have written in response to my random writings; thank you!

One thing I enjoy about some blogs I have visited (some of which are your own) is the blogger's responses to comments; it adds such an interactive and welcoming feel to the whole blog-it's one of the differences of a dead blog and a live blog. (Kudos to you if you do this!) As a New Year's Resolution (looks like I'm adding another to my list already!), I resolve to respond to your input. If you have taken the time to comment, I can certainly take the time to jot down a response. Besides, it's fun! :)

Blessings on your day!

Lacheln,

Taylor

2011 New Year's Resolutions

2011-01-05T12:14:00.012-06:00

Last night, I finally wrote down some resolutions for 2011. I already have my #1 New's Years Resolution, but, of course, I wanted to write more for this grand new year of opportunity.

I want to share them with you.

(Boy, am I scared!)

Now I really have to make sure I follow through with them. :)

So, without futher ado, here they are...

Tada! Doesn't it make me seem motivated?

Well, to be honest, some of my goals are on this list because of my lack of motivation. For example: "Stick to a daily schedule." Mmm, didn't I already write about that? But, as my graphic design business grows and I realize my full potential as a grown (and graduated!) daughter at home, I see more and more of my need to stick to a daily schedule. Starting today. Or tomorrow...maybe. Well, let's just say I need to examine my former schedule and customize it- again. (Oh, Taylor!)

Who knows? I may yet add more resolutions. Or I may never get them all accomplished because of circumstances or my (ah, em) lack of motivation. But I'm going to try, give it my best shot.

Look out 2011!

Lacheln,

Taylor

Happy New Year from The Garms!

2011-01-03T10:56:00.010-06:00

#1 New Year's Resolution...

2011-01-03T10:56:00.009-06:00

Looking back on my 2010 resolutions, I discovered I accomplished most of my goals, at least personal ones:

Start a daily journal
Redesign GodlyGirlhood.org
Enter a few art contests
Purchase designing software
Get ears pierced
Work on mandolin
Learn swing fiddle
Learn "country"/Gospel piano

I accomplished all of them except entering art contests and learning swing fiddle. In some, I still have to continue my expansion of knowledge (i.e. mandolin and piano).

I did begin a daily (or nightly!) journal, writing pretty faithfully throughout the year of 2010...though I admit, I did miss a few days. :) This is something I am continuing into 2011, as I would sorely miss my "Journal Writing Sessions"! GodlyGirlhood.org is redesigned-thanks to the purchasing of designing/web building software-but not completely finished and published (I guess I did not add that to my list of goals!). And yes, I actually got my ears pierced for my 18th birthday!

And, let's say my spiritual goals can still apply to this year as well! (Hopefully more about them later.)

But as I begin writing my resolutions for this new year, I know what my "absolutely-positutely" (FYI: that's a Garms phrase!) number one goal is...

#1: To know and love my Lord Jesus Christ more and more every day.

Here is Philippians 3:8-10, my verses for 2011:

"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death."

This is my most important and "surpassing" goal for 2011, and should be for all of my life. Truly, this is what matters most.

Happy New Year!

Lacheln,
Taylor

Mary: A Different Perspective

2010-12-23T13:12:00.006-06:00

For years, one character in the Christmas story I could not stand was Mary. Honestly. She has been so elevated to such a high state of holiness, and so admired by countless numbers of people that I had a distaste for her seeming "perfection". She was one Bible character I could not relate to, and thus, kept my distance from her.

But this Christmas , I have a different perspective.

While reading the Christmas narrative this year, I was amazed at this young girl's maturity of character. We read in Luke 1:29 after the angel Gabriel greeted her: "But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be." Okay, first point of maturity. She thought before she did anything!

We have all heard the old adage, "Think before you speak", and that's exactly what Mary did. Mary considered things, weighed all options, and showed great discernment. Now, if I were in her shoes, and a great white angel appeared from nowhere, saying, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!", I would have probably started saying, "'Greetings?' Me, favored? Okay, what's going on here? Who are you, and what are you doing?" Or I would have been stunned into a complete brain freeze, or perhaps went into hysterics! (Well, maybe that's a little extreme.) Mary waited for the angel to continue, while a million different thoughts probably flashed through her head.

She quietly listened to Gabriel speak, probably feeling overwhelmed about being the mother of the Messiah...and then totally confused. "And Mary said to the angel, 'How will this be, since I am a virgin?'" (Luke 1:34). Mary was very practical. (Wow, she is reminding of my mom!) How could she be a mother to the Messiah if there was no father? Wow, she was practical. :) She had common sense and a good head on her shoulders.

Next, Mary showed the beautiful character qualities of submission, humility, servitude, and love when she replied to Gabriel in verse 38: "And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.'" She humbly submitted to her Lord's will, showing her love for the Lord, and a willing heart to serve Him out of that love.

Here was a young teenager, displaying more maturity than I'll probably ever have! I admire her heart and character, and have found a wonderful role model in this young lady.

So in review, Mary was

Discerning;
Practical;
Submissive;
Humble;
Serving;
and Loving.

What wonderful qualities; qualities I continue to work on, and pray the Lord would give me as I grow in His Word and Love.

I must continune to be discerning in my choice of words and actions in the relationships I have; I must continue to think practically (this can be a feat for blonde, you know!) in my home and in public; submission and humility go hand in hand, and I continue to humble my heart to God and my parents; serving, something that does not come easily to me, is a quality I still am working on; and may I always love the Lord and the people He places in my life.

Merry Christmas!

Taylor

He's a Personal Savior!

2010-12-16T10:44:00.005-06:00

In our morning Bible reading time yesterday morning, we read together as a family Luke Chapter 4. It struck me as we read about Jesus healing crowds of people that He actually took time out of His busy life and "laid His hands on every one of them and healed them." (Luke 4:40b). Wow.

Jesus could have stood at the entrance of Simon's house, stretched his hands over the multitude of sick who had gathered, and said, "Be healed!" The crowds would be healed, but something inside of them wouldn't be fulfilled. But what could they expect? Jesus was a busy rabbi, had places to go and people to see. But no, Jesus made a point to go to each individual who was ill or demon-possessed, place His hands upon them, look them in the eye, and establish a personal connection with them. He cared enough about them personally that He went from person to person, touching them, healing them. What a personal Savior!

And Jesus still takes time today to hear us, to heal us, to work on our hearts and intercede for us. He is still filled with the same love and compassion in our modern world He had years ago in the dusty countryside of Israel. He's a personal Savior!

Take comfort in this truth, my friends. I know I do.

Lacheln,

Taylor

Peace on Earth?

2010-12-15T14:25:00.004-06:00

I recently heard a line on a modern Christmas song that went something like this, "What if December looked different this year?" And pondering that lyric, I realized for many people December looks very different this year. Even for our family, December looks different in light of Dad's recent job loss. Unemployment, illness, death, financial insecurity, strife and conflict afflict families across the nation and world. Doubt, fear, stress, worry steal the joy of Christmas and rob us of "peace of earth". Some people feel like they have nothing to celebrate Christmas morning as they mourn the loss of a loved one or face frightening situations.

Where is peace on earth?

Well, to be truthful, there is no peace on earth. Look around you...wars, rumors of wars, divisions in the church, fighting between family and friends, the list goes on. There is no peace on earth.

But there can be peace within our hearts. God, our loving Father sent His perfect, holy, only Son to save us, to become one of us. Jesus gave it all up: all the comforts and honors of being the prize jewel of all creation. He put aside His kingly garments and clothed Himself with...flesh; He joined humanity and became man (yet was fully God) to give us peace on earth. He made a way to the Fatherthrough the cross and "peace that passes all understanding". (Philippians 4:7) He became our peace. "Therefore since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1) Through the gift of salvation purchased by Jesus' blood, the peace Christ gives dwells in our hearts.

When we trust God fully and cast our cares upon Him, truly the peace that passes all understanding is ours. Mom used to have this quote on the fridge: "Look at the world and be distressed. Look within, and be depressed. Look at God and be at rest." Yes, only in God can true peace can be found.

"May the peace of God that passes all understanding guard your hearts and minds this Christmas season and always. Amen"

Merry Christmas!

Lacheln,

Taylor

GodlyGirlhood.org is Nearing Completion!

2010-12-14T11:21:00.004-06:00

I have finally settled on a website design that I like, and I am truly satisfied with it. It is not the previous design I showed you, but a design I was playing with before it, and finally figured out how to create on Dreamweaver. I have multiple pages completed and more half-way done. I can't show the design right now, but here is a link banner:

Lacheln,

Taylor

"Tapestry"

2010-12-13T10:28:00.002-06:00

"I want my life to be a tapestry
Woven by You;
Pictures of Your Grace,
Colors warmed by Your embrace,
Intricately designed by the fingers of Your Love.
Images of patience tender upon my life.
Threads of time and lessons learned
Weaved together to create
A tapestry for Your glory."

Copyright November 2010 - Taylor Garms

Alzen Family DVD Giveaway!

2010-12-10T12:39:00.004-06:00

Last month, I had the privilege to be a part of a fun project: The Alzen Family Live in Concert.

Our friends, the Alzen Family are an extremely talented and polished bluegrass-gospel family group from Roberts, WI. They are a wonderful family and we really enjoy listening to and spending time with them whenever our paths cross. We recently did a fundraiser concert with them for the adoption of orphan two brothers from Ukraine. (For more info, visit their adoption blog: www.alzenadoption.blogspot.com.)

Mr. Alzen asked me to design a cover for their new DVD last month, and it was so fun to join them and Hannah Kenney in this project. We were able to finish the whole project in about a week before the fundraiser concert on the 19th of November-whew, talk about time crunch! We love the DVD, and I thought I might share an opportunity to win a copy.

Hannah Kenney, who did much of the filming and all the producing/editing (BTW: wonderful job, Hannah!) and also a new friend, is giving away a copy of the DVD at her blog, Glory and Grace. Click on this link for more details: http://gloryandgrace-hannah.blogspot.com/2010/12/giveaway.html.

If you enjoy bluegrass-gospel music, a lot of fun, and some Christmas music as well, you'll want this DVD. It doesn't get much better than this! :)

Lacheln,

Taylor

The Gift of the Scarf

2010-12-08T10:52:00.004-06:00

This past Saturday's concert provided me with a surprise.

After our concert was over, I was downstairs in the church, walking to the stairs to catch up with my family. I ran into a lady who was wearing a beautiful silver scarf/shawl and complimented her on it. She then shocked me by asking, "Do you want it?" I didn't know what to say! The lady said she hadn't worn it for a while, and didn't know if she'd wear it again. "Here you can have it," she said as she took it off and handed it to me.

It was a sweet gift, and I really like the scarf; it adds a classy touch to my outfits. It was a true example of giving the "shirt off of your back"-literally. I was very blessed. Thank you!

Lacheln,

Taylor

What is Lacheln?

2010-12-07T10:00:00.002-06:00

I have had many people ask me what "lacheln" means, as I often fail to make some mention of its meaning. No, it is not Russian, nor Welsh for "sincerely", nor an acronym for "Lost A Crazy Huge Earmuff Last Night" (these are true speculations by confused friends :).

Lacheln is German for "smile". Let me explain.

My family is very German. In fact, my dad's grandfather immigrated from Germany when he was about 16 years old, and came to America through Ellis Island in New York. Many of my parents' relatives also came from Germany and some still reside in that nation. Yes, we have other nationalities mixed-in, most interesting is our Cherokee Indian-but you can see the prominent German influence in us kids (take my blonde hair and blue eyes for example). That being said, I am proud of my heritage.

Now, if you know me, you know I generally like to smile. I have liked making people smile for years. When I was younger, my "card production company" was called "Smile Productions", and I would this title and smiley face logo on the back of every card I would make.

When I investigated starting my own graphic design business, I researched this name and discovered it was taken. Of course, I was sad, but then began to create different names. It evolved into "Taylor'D Designs", but unfortunately, this also was unavailable. Finally, I combined my heritage and former company name to create "Lacheln Designs".

I may not be completely correct in its pronounciation, but with the help of my dad (who can speak some German), I figure it is something like "la-Kiln". (I so want to learn how to speak this language!).

Lacheln is the closure to many of my emails and blog posts, encouraging people to smile.

There, now you know! Is your curiousity satisfied?

Lacheln, :)
Taylor

100th Blog Post!

2010-12-06T11:53:00.001-06:00

Let's celebrate! This is my 100th blog post on SurrenderingMyAll.blogspot.com!

I have enjoyed blogging on this site since November of 2008, even though I haven't been the most consistent blogger on the block! It has been much fun to share my thoughts and life with you; I truly hope you enjoy your visits and may benefit from my journey.

Looking back, so much has happened since this blog's beginning: Great Adventure Gospel Band has grown, siblings have come and gone, my dad lost his job, I've graduated, and more. But most importantly, I continue to grow and learn how to surrender my all to the Lord.

Thanks for reading my blog and stopping by. I pray you are blessed by what you find here and that God is glorified above all.

Lacheln,
Taylor

True Beautiful

2010-12-02T11:13:00.004-06:00

(Is this beautiful?)

A little background on this article: I wrote this essay earlier this year for a history project on beauty practices of different cultures. Lily Williams is fictional character, as well as Jonathan Friendly and the Truth Seekers Missionary Organization (Jonathan Friendly was the narrator for many of my projects). I hope you enjoy this perspective on true beauty.

Adventures with Lily Williams
TRUE BEAUTIFUL
By Taylor Garms
Streams of Civilization
Project 15, Chapter 15

Hi! I am Lily Williams, a volunteer at Truth Seekers Missionary Organization. I work with people like Jonathan Friendly in studying the past to enlighten the future. This report is about interesting beauty techniques that different cultures have tried to make their girls and women "beautiful." Jonathan thought it would be best if a girl wrote this article, so he asked me to share with you the unique ideas people have had about beauty.

Girls and women have always had the desire to be beautiful and attractive, because God designed us that way to please our husbands. But the notions and beauty tips concocted over the years have been interesting to say the least.

Let’s say I was a fashion specialist around 400 BC in Maya, located in Central America. You come to me for advice about beautifying your baby girl. I would tell you to wrap the baby’s head tightly with strips of cloth and small boards. This would make your baby’s skull longer and very attractive. Oh, and don’t forget to hang a string with beads from your baby’s forehead. This will make her eyes cross-eyed and especially pretty. She will be the fashion statement of the country! Now seriously, these were practices of the Mayan people and they thought their people were most beautiful.

Consider now the Chinese. For many years, Chinese women bound the feet of their baby girls, bending the toes underneath the foot. The soft bones of the babies soon became set in this uncomfortable position. The little girls would cry from the pain, but the parents did not take off the wrappings. Why? For the sake of attraction. You see, the Chinese thought that the smaller the woman’s feet, the more beautiful she was. Men would not want to marry a girl with large feet, the parents insisted. So China was filled with limping and stumbling girls and women, caused from the pain and instability of their deformed feet.

In England and the early years of America, corsets were very popular. What’s a corset? It’s a stiffened garment worn by women under their dresses with laces to fasten it tightly to shape the waist. It was very uncomfortable! In the Little House series, Laura Ingalls Wilder recalled how dreadful it would be to wear them:

'"I’m glad I don’t have to wear corsets yet," said Carrie. "Be glad while you
can be," said Laura. "You’ll have to wear them pretty soon." Her corsets were a
sad affliction to her, from the time she put them on in the morning until she
took them off at night. But when girls pinned up their hair and wore skirts down
to their shoe tops, they must wear corsets. "You should wear them all night," Ma
said. Mary did, but Laura could not bear at night the torment of the steels that
would not let her draw a deep breath. Always before she could get to sleep, she
had to take off her corsets. "What your figure will be, goodness knows," Ma
warned her. "When I was married, your Pa could span my waist with his two
hands."' -Little Town on the Prairie

Before you say that all these cultures were crazy, wait to you hear about this one. In this culture, girls heat metal to make their hair as straight as a board. They pierce their bodies with lots of earrings, tongue rings, nose rings, belly button rings, you name it, till it looks like they have fallen into a tackle box! If your hair has more color in it, the more beautiful you are. Women, and men, have specialized plastic added to their bodies to make certain parts of their bodies more attractive. Imperfections are removed from their appearance. In some cases, whole faces are transfigured to be made more beautiful. Girls starve themselves to make their bodies thin and slender. Heavy powers and liquids are used to transform faces, eyes, and lips, and to hide flaws.

If you haven’t caught on already, this example is today’s culture. Beautiful in our culture has become so crazy, no one knows what true beauty is any more. Magazines scream out with pictures of skinny women with wild make-up and lots of bare skin: "You have to look like this to be truly beautiful." The picture of the teen-age girl staring into nowhere and wearing miss-match clothing with skull earrings states, "This is true beautiful." How many girls are threatened with death and health issues because of their self-inflicted anorexia nervosa and bulimia? Do you know that 25% of girls diagnosed with anorexia die? That’s a lot! And think, all for the sake of the quest for true beauty.

True beauty should be more of the inner self, not the outward appearance. Beauty will eventually fade away, but a woman's character will last her her entire life. True beauty should consist of a quiet and gentle spirit, willing and helpful hands, a bright smile, cleanliness, and a love for God.

Well, I have a lot more I could say on this subject, but Jonathan says I should get off. Hope you have a different perspective now!

Your Sister in Christ,

Lily Williams
Truth Seekers

Writings Featured on LYWB.com

2010-12-01T10:25:00.002-06:00

I'm so excited!! This morning when I checked my email, I found an e-update from one of my favorite websites for young ladies, Lies Young Women Believe. The title was "Meet the New LYWB.com Writers", and I felt my heart skip a beat.

Lies Young Women Believe is a website dedicated to bring the truth to young women who are disillusioned about God, themselves, relationships, the media, and a whole variety of topics. It was started after the book by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Dannah Gresh, "Lies Young Women Believe" was published, and it has been a source of encouragement in my life since I discovered it earlier this year.

Now, I have the privilege to share what God has taught me on it.

A few months ago, LYWB.com extended an invitation to its readers to submit articles pertaining to the website and the book. My interest was piqued and I began to type, sharing some deeply personal stories. I edited them again and again, trying to make my wordy articles fit within the required word count. Finally, after having my mom read them over, they were sent off to LYWB. Then the waiting began.

I had forgotten about it, until I saw the e-update. Curious, I went to the website, and about fell out of my chair. There was my name among the list of writers!

What a honor, and a humbling privilege. I am so thankful for this opportunity to share what God has done in my life. I sincerely hope young women can be encouraged and learn from what God has taught me. I pray the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart are acceptable to God, and that He will use my stories for His glory.

To read the blog post, click here.

I will let you know when my articles are featured!

Lacheln,
Taylor

Broken Bridges

2010-11-30T12:18:00.003-06:00

Recently someone I love let me down, went back on her word, and left me hurt and numb to her constant rejection. How many times must my heart break? Words don't mean a thing when there is nothing to back them up. "Sorry" doesn't build broken bridges when there aren't actions to repair the damage.

I have to step back, though, and look deep at this person. There is hurt, confusion, self-loathing, emptiness and disillusionment. What can I expect from such a hurting individual? More of the same. Because I can see this person's own hurt, I can rise above mine and forgive her. There are times I haven't desired to forgive, but I must. Healing begins with me. We may never have a relationship like we had before, but I must forgive.

I can have compassion on her because of her struggles. "Lord, give me the eyes of Jesus to see beyond my near-sightedness, and to see the heart." She has a large, God-shaped hole, and I can continue pray the Lord would soften her heart and lead her to Himself, for that's Who she needs.

A while ago, I wrote a poem dedicated to this particular person.

"Seek, but you won't ever find someone just like God;
Who can take you in His arms and calm your hurting heart.
You may search your whole life long, but God will always remain the same.
He will love forever, reject you never.
Seek, but you won't ever find someone just like God."

Just some thoughts for the day.

Lacheln,
Taylor

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-24T21:41:00.002-06:00

To all my dear friends:
Just a quick post to tell all of you...HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Blessings and Joy in the Journey!
Taylor

Created for Him

2010-11-18T10:59:00.003-06:00

On Monday, Mom presented me with a sweatshirt she found at our local thrift store. Pink, with brown lettering, warm, and cozy. Fits my criteria for a comfy sweatshirt!

But the thing that made it an instant favorite were the words. Written in swirly (oh yes, another immediate selling point; I love swirlys!) letters are the words, "All things were created by Him and for Him" and Colossians 1:16: "For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him."

Earlier that morning, Mom and I had been discussing how I am to use my talents, and this was a perfect reminder for me. My whole self-mind, body, soul, talents-was created by the Lord, for the Lord. I am to use what He has given me wisely, and for His glory, not my own.

Now, when I wear my pink sweatshirt, I am reminded of who I am and Whose I am. I am created for Him, and for Him alone.

Lacheln,
Taylor

The Healing Touch

2010-11-17T10:28:00.003-06:00

He staggered along the road, pulling his cloak tighter around his face. "Unclean! Unclean!" The man's disfigured form was covered with a dirty, black robe, and at the sight of him, people turned their faces in horror, children ran or hid in their parents' robes. Detested. Shunned. An outcast.

It hadn't always been this way. Once the man was part of a family, an active partaker of society, worshipping freely at the temple and mingling with the people in the streets. Now he was experiencing a living death.

The white patches on his skin had started innocently enough, but when the priest later announced the dreaded word, leprosy, all his dreams, plans, and life fell apart.

For years, he was exiled into a community of "unfortunates", dying with those who were infected with the same disease. The man watched as fingers, toes, and skin rotted and fell off. Yet, he felt nothing. All sense of touch and feeling had died long ago, and perhaps that was the worst thing of all. He could barely remember his mother's touch, a friendly greeting in the street, the rocky sand under his bare feet, the sting from a slight cut. All feeling was gone, and so his hope for life.

When he heard of the Miracle Maker, a curious hope rose within him. The others saw his eagerness and laughingly scoffed, "It's impossible; stop your dreaming." They turned back to their living graves, while the man continue to hope.

He left quietly in search of the Healer. No one would miss him, and what did he have to lose? He had lost it all already. For days he traveled, hoping he would somehow find this Jesus along the roads of Judea.

His rotten feet bled from the stones and long walks, but he felt no pain. He pressed on, filled with desperate hope.

One day, a cloud of dust rose above the horizon. The man's heart jumped within him. They said great crowds followed the Healer. They said people brought their sick and demon-possessed to the Healer. He quickly picked up his stumbling pace. Then the man stopped. Crowds. Would the Healer have time to see him? Would He heal him? The man almost turned in humilation. What would make this Jesus different from everyone else? Why, leprosy was the most dreaded disease! He probably wouldn't even allow the man to come close to Him. Would He want to heal him?

But lo, the crowds were almost upon him. There was no turning back. He staggered forward. "Unclean!" he yelled in a raspy voice. His courage faltered as he saw the horror and fear. Where was the Healer? Then he saw Him.

He had to be Him. He stood still as the crowds receded in terror, His eyes watching the man with deep feeling. The leper made a few more unstable steps, then fell to his knees, covering his face. "If You will," he croaked, "You can make me clean."

With his face to the ground, he could not see the amazing expression of pity that spread across the Healer's face. The overwhelming silence continued, except for the crying of frightened children. The man's heart sank. Tears came to his eyes as embarrassment filled his inner being.

Suddenly, he felt it.

A touch. A human touch. Nerves that had been dead for years tingled at the hand's imprint on his shoulder. A warm flow swept through his rotting, decaying body, and he was immediately aware of the rocky stones underneath his knees and hands. He felt a dry breeze twist around his humble form. Feeling. Touch. A healing touch. He heard a soothing voice say, "I will; be clean."

He raised his face, his eyes wide. The Healer stood in front of him, compassion and love on His countenance. Quickly, he looked at his skin, his arms, his hands. He touched his face, feeling the stroke of his fingers against his smooth face. "I'm clean," he said softly, shocked. "I'm clean!" he said in a raised voice, unbelievable joy filling his heart. "I'm clean!" He danced on the road, soaking in the warm sunshine. "Clean! Clean!"

"And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, 'See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.' But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter." Mark 1:43-45

Snow, Snow, Snow!

2010-11-16T10:34:00.005-06:00

On Saturday, we all awoke to...a winter snow storm! While the child inside of me was excited to watch the big snowflakes tossing about in the wind, my mind knew it was too early for snow! Thankfully, we didn't have much snow, but our power did go out. We were a little worried as the power did not return all afternoon. God graciously provided for us, His children, when the power finally came on about 6:00 p.m. The adventures of a Minnesota winter!

Sam's snowman.

Meet Frosty!

"Merry Christmas!"

Lacheln,

Taylor

A Request...

2010-11-11T10:16:00.004-06:00

Hi Blogging Friends!

GodlyGirlhood has been under construction for quite a while, as I have waited for the opportunity to design GG in the way I have envisioned, using my own design and graphics.
At long last, I am now creating the new GodlyGirlhood.org! If you click on this link, http://godlygirlhood.org.previewyoursite.com/, you can view snippets of the upcoming website, and learn how you can be a part of the new GG.

Yes, I need your help. GodlyGirlhood.org is to be a website for girls by girls, filled with encouraging stories and articles from those who "have been there before". Sister to sister, inspiring each other to seek after God in every aspect of their lives. I want you to share how God has changed your life, how He has convicted you, and how you are still growing.

Young women of today need to hear the great things Jesus Christ has done in our lives; they need hope, refocusing, and encouragement. And who else is better equipped than godly young ladies like yourselves? Let's minister to a broken generation of young women!

GODLY GIRLHOOD IS LOOKING FOR ARTICLES ON TOPICS SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

Faith
-Your Relationship with your True Prince
-Conversing with the Father (Prayer)
-God's Word: What's the Big Deal?
-Lies and Truth

Modesty
-Why Modesty is Important
-Fashion Reformation
-Femininity in Dress and Manner

Purity
-Crushes/Emotional Purity
-How God Changed Your Prespective from Dating to Waiting
-Cultivating Contentment in the Single Years
-Boundaries with "Brothers"

Relationships
-Honor Your Father and Your Mother: Honoring Parents
-That's What a Gentleman Would Do: Encouraging Brothers
-Princess: Being a Role Model to Sisters
-Corner Pillars: Transforming Your Role in Your Family
-On the Subject of Friends

Femininity and Reformed Womanhood
-Graceful Girlhood: Refining Your Manners
-Homemaking: An Lost Art
-Becoming a Proverbs 31 and Titus 2 Woman

Ministry
-A Servants' Heart at Home
-The Least of These: Serving Your Church and Community
-Unexpected Ministries

Trials
-When Death Comes
-Handling Rejection
-Standing Strong for Your Beliefs

Submission Guidelines

Send your articles submissions in a Rich Text Format (.rtf) document (otherwise known as a WordPad document) to godlygirlhood@localnet.com with "GodlyGirlhood.org Articles" in the subject line. Articles should be at least 400 words, but no more than 2,000 words.

Articles may be edited for grammar and clarity. GodlyGirlhood.org may not use all submitted writings.

Writers must be mature Christian young women who agree with the below statement of faith. Older, married women who desire to encourage young women are certainly welcome to contribute as well. Writers may include a short bio about themselves and a JPEG/PNG picture of themselves.

Statement of Faith
We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth;

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty, from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

We believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy Christian church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; and the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. (Adapted from the Apostles' Creed)

We believe every word of the Bible is God's Word, and therefore the Bible is without error. God gave us the Bible to make us "wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus," and to train us in godly living (2nd Timothy 3:15-17).

We believe marriage is instituted by God (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5) and between one man and one woman. Children are a blessing from the Lord, and the family is the foundation of society (Psalm 127).

GET THE WORD OUT

If you are not comfortable with writing, but know of others who would, please share the word! Use the below button and above banner, write a blog post or email to friends, link them to http://www.godlygirlhood.org.previewyoursite.com/ or this blog post. I'll also have more contribution ideas coming soon.

Thank you for your help!

Lacheln,
Taylor Garms

GodlyGirlhood.org in the Works!

2010-11-08T11:06:00.004-06:00

Now that I have my long-awaited Adobe Dreamweaver, I have commenced work on GodlyGirlhood.org!

Wahoo!

If you have noticed, GG has been "under construction" for a long time, as I have been waiting to design it the way I have envisioned it. It's taking a lot of work and I have had to start over from scratch multiple times, but I am finally figuring out how to build my very own website.

Here's a snapshot...

How do you like it?

At this time, I am still liable to totally redesign it. I have so many drafts of GG on my computer; it is hard to decide what color scheme and layout I really want...and am I able to do.

FYI: All of the components have been designed on Photoshop CS5 (except for the menu bar, which is a Spry widget.)

Let me know your thoughts!

Lacheln,

Taylor

SPIDERS!

2010-11-05T10:09:00.002-05:00

My heart jumped slightly as I opened the cupboard: Eek! A spider! A nasty, icky, spindly, brown spider! It had made it’s home right inside the doorframe of the cupboard, and it started to squirm away from the light. My sudden fright turned into indignation. How dare a spider invade our cupboard and destroy the comfort and security of our home! I rushed to get a paper towel and swiftly exterminated the invader, proud of my victory. (Wasn’t I brave? :)

As I threw the dead spider away, my mind raced to the cupboards of my own mind. How many spiders could I find there? What spiders have invaded my heart and mind? As I searched my inner self, I could see the webs of bitterness, impurity, selfishness, and pride covering the corners of my heart. Eek! They had subtly invaded my mind-no, wait, I had subtly allowed them to invade my mind. Through careless guarding of my heart, I had given access to the spiders of sin and filth.

And what should be my attitude to these, these vile spiders of filth that affect my thoughts, words, and actions? Destroy them! Throw them away! Get rid of them!

I can’t help but think of 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." I am often entangled by the webs of sin and hindered by the spiders of shame. But, praise be to God, I DON’T have to live in fear of the invading spiders; I can tell them to leave and claim the victory through Jesus Christ. In fact, I don’t only have to, I can’t live with the spiders anymore. I am a child of God, saved, and set free from sin and shame (1st Peter 9-10)!

"Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:8b ESV).

Surrendering My All Series: Trust in the Lord

2010-11-03T10:43:00.004-05:00

God has been revealing areas in my life that need to be polished. A servant attitude, going the extra mile, singleness of heart, trust in the Lord, ministry in my own home, and most importantly, surrendering my all.

In this process of "surrendering my all", I have shared with you how God has shown me my most important "sphere of influence", ministry in my own home. Now let me share with you my learning to trust in the Lord. Here's a portion of an email I sent to a friend whose father lost his job a while ago in which I recount what I have learned during my own dad's job loss...

Thanks for your encouragement. Now I can sympathyze with your family's
situation even more! As you said, at first, it was really scarey, and I am sure
we will have more uncertain times ahead for our family, but I KNOW God will take
care of us, as He always has and always will. The day after Dad lost his job, I
went outside to spend time in God's Word. Feeling frightened at the future, I
opened up my Bible to Zephaniah 1:7 and found this verse, "Be silent before the
Lord!" I stilled my heart and just listened to the beauties of God's creation.
Hearing birds singing all around me, I was suddenly reminded of Matthew
6:25-34:

"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather
into barns and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value
then they?"

"Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What
shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these
things, and your Heavenly Father knows you need them all. But seek first the
Kingdom of God and His righteousnessm and all these things will be added to
you."

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be
anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

What promises and reassurance! I am confident we will get through this
trial, and am looking for what to learn in it. Also, we are excited to see what
God has in store! Just another part of our "Great Adventure!"

I've learned to trust in the Lord, no matter what comes our way, whether it be chicken pox, unemployment, or some unforseen change for our family. God takes good care of us and always has our hearts in mind. Looking back on the journey of our lives, I see the provision of our Father scattered all over the path. Life is not easy, nor will it ever be, but I know God has a better plan.

I love this encouraging song by the Greenes, "When God Has Another Plan":

Vs. 1
Forsaken by his brothers didn't fit the scene,
Being made a slave, was not what Joseph dreamed;
The coat of many colors was stained with blood and lies,
But from this divine appointment, a ruler would arise...

Ch.
When God has another plan - walk on and just say yes
When God has another plan - be assured that He knows best
If all your dreams are shattered, rest in His sufficient grace
We don't have to understand - when God has another plan.

Vs. 1
Alone and broken hearted, questions fill your mind
Changes can be hard, but come by God's design,
But if you could see tomorrow, with a view from Heaven's throne,
Every unexpected struggle, has led you closer home.

Ch.

Tag
If all your dreams are shattered, rest in His sufficient grace...
We don't have to understand - when God has another plan.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Lacheln,
Taylor

Election Day - November 2nd, 2010

2010-11-02T11:35:00.003-05:00

This is my first year to participate in our country's greatest freedoms: the freedom to vote and make my voice heard. But sometimes I wonder if my voice counts...

Earlier this year I was filled with political fervor as I entered grassroots politics, but the more I was involved, the more disgusted I became with our country's politics. The mudslinging I saw in the campaigning was disheartening and the low standards of some so-called conservative and even Christian candidates dampened my enthusiasm. The more I learned about our country's problems and darkening future, the more helpless I felt to do anything but stand and watch it crumble around me.

Is my voice important? Is there hope for our nation?

I'm only one voice, but I am a voice. I can still call for justice, godly morals, the protection of life, and the sanctity of marriage. While I have the ability to stand up for the Lord's ways, I will stand up. It is my duty as an American and a Christian to vote and protect freedom. The cry for freedom minus multiple"one voices" will slowly die out. Yes, my voice is important.

As for our nation...if we turn to the Bible as our guide and allow the Lord to rule our everyday lives, our families, our churches, and eventually our government, we can regain ground given to the devil. The revival of America needs to start in the individual lives and the home. Our government and country is made up of individuals who have homes, and if the heart and home is right with God, then our nation will be as well.

The future is unclear for America, but we can make our voices heard and start revival in our own lives and homes. That is where it all begins.

VOTE!

Lacheln,
Taylor

Demo CD Design and More

2010-11-02T10:59:00.009-05:00

We completed a demo CD for our band this month, and I had the privilege to design the insert and label. Want to see them?

Here's the CD insert. This, by far, is my favorite CD cover design for our group.

Here's the CD label. This was fun to make, but frustrating to print!

I created both of these on Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 (before I really made the transition from Elements to CS5). The whole package turned out nicely.

Here's some other designing projects I've done recently:

This is a poster I did for an upcoming Fundraiser concert with our friends, the Alzen Family. I did this on Photoshop CS5. Note the reflection techinque.

A CD cover I did for my brother Ben, who wanted a picture for his Lord of the Rings music on our Apple IMac. Again, this was done with Photoshop CS5. By the way Ben, PC is better than Apple! (We're love arguing about which computer is better.)

My most recent designing project. I created this header for the new Godly Girlhood website last night. I think I am satisfied with this color scheme and I like how the header turned out! (Photoshop CS5).

I love designing!

Lacheln, Taylor

Surrendering My All Series: Your Sphere of Influence

2010-11-01T12:33:00.001-05:00

Walks are the perfect time to think, refocus, pray, and of course, get some exercise. While I do not walk enough, I do enjoy strolling down our Quail Street and clearing my mind. It is so refreshing!

A couple of weeks ago, I needed to refocus my brain...and get some fresh air. Heading outside, I took off on our gravel road. As my feet moved swiftly, so did my mind. Engaging in "self-talk", I began, first quietly in my head, then gradually, outloud for the silent country road to hear.

"Who am I?"

"I am a daughter to my father and mother, a sister to Whitney, Ben, Uli, Leesha, Sam, Jayme, and Caleb, friend to Mal, a grandaughter, a great-grandaughter, a niece, a cousin, a friend, an acquaintance, an influence. This is who I am."

I then reminded myself of my responsibilities to each relationship, mainly, my immediate family relationships. Going through each member of my family and considering their individual personalities, needs, and love languages, I thought of ways to encourage them, to fulfill my duties as a daughter and sister, and to minister to them. It was rather overwhelming looking at how I have been, well, not failing, but lacking in my role as a daughter and sister.

These are the golden years of my life. Newly graduated, at home, unmarried, with many opportunities to grow and learn, healthly, able-minded, and impassioned to serve my Lord. All great ingredients to be the best corner pillar I can be for my family. Why waste these years dreaming of when "Prince Charming" stops by?

I may never be married and have a home of my own. But I am okay with that. "Seriously?" you ask. Yes, seriously. I am a daughter and sister to seven siblings! What a fertile field for me to work in! I dare not squander these precious years. Sam, Jayme, and Caleb will not be the tender young ages of 10, 8, and 7 for much longer, there may not be much time left with Ben and Leesha, and Whitney and Uli are already away from home. I have already wasted away years by not investing in my siblings lives. No more!

Also, what a great chance to assist my mom! After the many years of sacrifice and hard-work she has done for our family, I can step up and be a servant to her. Not a minute to lose!

And, I need to help bring my dad's visions to life, using my gifts and talents to further his goals for the family. It is my purpose as a daughter to be a blessing and joy to my parents.

What is your sphere of influence? Are you wishing your days away, while ignoring the greatest relationships in your life? Challenge yourself, examine your relationships. What's lacking? What do you need to be doing? Be who you are today. Just do it.

Lacheln,
Taylor

"Through the Valley"

2010-10-29T11:07:00.004-05:00

I like this song by the Isaacs. The words are relevant to me at this time in my life.

V.1
So you're looking for a way to quench your thirst
To ease your mind, to cool the burn
It's hard to face the road you're going down
And your tempted to turn around.
Don't give up, just keep on putting one foot in front of the other,
and just keep walking

Cho.
Through the valley , up the mountain,
Toward the river of sweet redemption.
It's a measure of strength, a shadow of grace, a matter of faith
That'll keep you going.
Just gotta keep on, gotta keep on movin'
Through the valley

v.2
Love is waiting on the other side
It calls your name, don't break your stride.
Freedom is gonna taste twice as sweet
When you get to where you need to be.
Don't lose hope, just hold on with all of your heart
And just keep praying

Cho.

Bridge:
It's a measure of strength, a shadow of grace, a matter of faith
That'll keep you going just gotta keep on, gotta keep on, gotta keep on movin'
Through the valley.

Crutches

2010-10-26T15:38:00.000-05:00

"Hey Stacie...wha-what?"

Michaela stood in the doorway to Stacie's room, staring at her younger sister. "What in the world? I thought your leg was better!" Stacie hobbled toward Michaela on a pair of crutches. "Yeah," said Stacie, looking at her crutches, "it is, but I just got so used to walking with these that I decided to use them again."

Okay, a little ridiculous, right? But how often do we act the same way?

When the Lord Jesus saved us, He gave us a new life, a fresh start. We are chosen, adopted, redeemed, and forgiven (Ephesians 1:4-8), but somedays we forget who we are. We go back to crutches, allowing our sin to cripple us. Yelling at our siblings, rebelling against our parents, succumbing to peer pressure, living totally opposite to God's Word...we almost go back to "crawling" sometimes.

Consider the man sentenced to 35 years in prison. When his time was up, he hesitated at the door to his cell, and then turned back, reluctant to leave the cold familiarity of the jail he'd lived in for so long.

Your friend hands you an ice cream cone (vanilla for me, thank you!). You push it away, saying, "Ah, not right now. I've got some delicious dirt I'd rather eat instead." What! Your friend may call the insane asylum! Yet we reject the freedom of new life in Christ for old ways of living and stubborn sin.

Many Christians today reject the freedom of Christ by continuing in their former lives. But though we come just as we are, sister, we can't stay the way we are. God is constantly beckoning us to higher places, to Himself, calling us to leave our crutches behind. "...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." (Hebrews 12:1b) He gives us the Holy Spirit Who works within us to say "no" to sin.

With the power of God, we can bite our tongues when we feel like yelling at our younger siblings. Through the strength of the Holy Spirit, we can submit ourselves to our parents' authority. And, reminded by God's Word, we can say to friends who encourage us to sin, "No way, I'm not who I was, I'm a child of God. I cannot do that anymore." God will provide what we need to stand. There is no need to use crutches any longer.

So say "goodbye" to crutches. You can walk, girl! Step outside your prison cell; you aren't locked up anymore. You are free, free to be a child of God, what you were meant to be.

"Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; lives as servants of God." (1st Peter 2:16)

Surrendering My All

2010-10-25T16:00:00.010-05:00

Our family posing at Arby's in Iowa.

We just returned from a trip to the Midwest Quartet Convention in Des Moines/Altoona, Iowa. What fun! Visit our family's blog to see pictures and read the stories.

Life continues to be busy, thank the Lord! We are doing well, free from health issues-finally!-and God is providing for us in this time when Dad does not have a job. God is opening doors with Great Adventure in ways we didn't think possible and we look back amazed at seeing His hand so intricately involved in our lives. The adventure continues!

I am still trying to utilize all my Adobe programs. Trust me, it's a little overwhelming! More news on plans for Lacheln Designs later.

It's been interesting to see all the lessons I have been learning these past monthes since my graduation. God has been revealing areas in my life that need to be polished. A servant attitude, going the extra mile, singleness of heart, trust in the Lord, ministry in my own home, and most importantly, surrendering my all.

After graduation, I unconsiously slipped into the mindset that, since I was done with school, I could have the free time to do anything I wanted. Are you shaking your head at me yet? It's totally the opposite that I should be doing! I need to be seeking how I can really help my family out! Serving, sacrificing...surrendering my all. This is truly what a young woman of the Lord should be doing. It's time I pursue ministry in my home, focusing on others. I believe this is a battle all of us Christians have to face (the dying of self), but I know I have to personally fight hard. Selfishness is a sorry sin, unbecoming to a girl striving to be a "true beautiful" woman.

Well, enough said. Life is quite the learning experience. I am grateful to see how God has been changing my life over these years. I know I have come a long way, thanks to Jesus Christ, and know I further still to go.

"Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." Philippians 2:4

Surrendering My All,

Taylor

Oh, To Be a Kid Again!

2010-10-22T10:21:00.001-05:00

> Decisions were made by saying "eeny-meeny-miney-mo."
> Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, "Do over!"
> "Race issue," meant arguing about who ran the fastest.
> Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in Monopoly."
> Catching fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening.
> It wasn't odd to have two or three "best" friends.
> Being old referred to anyone over 20.
> It was magic when Dad would "remove" his thumb.
> It was unbelievable that dodge ball wasn't an Olympic event.
> Having a weapon in school meant being caught with a slingshot.
> Nobody was prettier than Mom.
> Scrapes and bruises were kissed and made better.
> It was a big deal to finally be tall enough to ride the "big people" rides at the amusement park.
> Getting a foot of snow was a dream come true.
> Abilities were discovered because of a "double-dog-dare."
> "Oly-oly-oxen-free" made perfect sense.
> Spinning around, getting dizzy, and falling down would cause giggles.
> The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team.
> War was a card game.
> Water balloons were the ultimate weapon.
> Baseball cards in the spokes transformed any bike into a motorcycle.
> Taking drugs meant orange-flavored chewable aspirin.
> Ice cream was considered a basic food group.
> Older siblings were the worst tormentors but also the fiercest protectors.

Taken from the Gospel Greats Weekly E-newsletter

True Woman Story: Part Two

2010-10-20T10:16:00.001-05:00

This is part two of my "Journey to Freedom".

The young woman’s inner anger and disillusionment with herself began to show in intense rebellion against her parents and outbursts in her family. She planned to run away on a cold, dark night, never to see her family again and to throw away life as she knew it. She later changed her mind, but still the emptiness grew and the hidden sin gnawed at her heart. Satan had a stronghold, and the young woman was trapped. But, there was something she could do, and it was the only thing she could do: to start tearing down the walls.

The young woman knew the great distance between her and God, and her and her parents, had come about because of the secret idols in her heart. She had been trapped in a secret fantasy life, mastered by lies, and had been self-serving for many years. The young woman realized, with dread and shame, she had to confess her idols and sin to her parents. It was the only way to overcome the distance.

Through notes, long talks, and many tears, the story came out to her parents. They forgave her, encouraged her to delve into her Bible, reminded her of God’s promises, and supported her. This began a path of healing for her heart.

The young woman took steps to purge her heart of idols. The only thing to conquer her thoughts was to put new thoughts into her mind: God’s thoughts and words. She had to keep reminding herself that she was God’s child, a follower of Jesus Christ, and couldn’t go back to her former ways.

The young woman is me. This is my journey into freedom.

Some days I have victory, other days I relapse. But I have learned to live in God's grace and forgiveness daily. God teaches me new lessons in life and my relationship with my parents and siblings is growing. I am learning to be a servant and that life is not about me. I am learning to treat young men as "brothers" and cultivating "singleness of heart". I am learning to tell myself the truth always. I am grateful to Lord for showing me mercy and bearing with me through the years. He is continually smoothing the rough spots in my heart and making me a young woman of God.

I have embraced Ephesians 5:1-2 to be my life verse: "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Sisters, never give up hope. If you let God take total control of your life, you will see amazing things happen in your personal life and the lives of those around you. I can look back and see how the Lord has been changing my life. God is faithful. I wish for all of you to experience the peace I know now. I am praying for you and know God is working on your hearts. What's your journey to freedom? I'd love to hear how God has transformed your life!

An Undivided Heart

2010-10-19T10:17:00.001-05:00

{From earlier this year}

"I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:10-11

Do you ever have problems concentrating on one thing, and one thing only? I do! When I was still in school, my mind constantly wandered: I was always thinking of what I could be doing, or dreaming about the future. Or while I am doing work around the home, I’m liable to leave it unfinished as I scurry off to do another pressing task or write a brainstorm. In fact, I am writing this thought while I should be doing dishes!

In Jeremiah 32:38-40, God speaks of giving His people "singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them." Our hearts and minds are easily swayed and we get distracted from what we should be doing. Our thoughts often wander into worry, fear, bitterness, or impurity. We need new hearts, as our old, sick and dying ones are too weak to withstand temptation and the troubles of this world. We need to be focused on the one thing, the right thing. "I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 11:19

Are you ready for an undivided heart? I wasn’t, at first. I stubbornly held onto old thoughts and old ways. There were days I chose not to even try to battle myself. The lies I believed and sins I committed were difficult to shake because of their familiarity and comfort.

Honestly, God’s light of truth hurts our eyes and His Word cuts through our hardened hearts like a double-edge sword. Ouch! When the Master chips away at our sore and sinful hearts, the pain can be excruciating. This is why we like to avoid change in our hearts-it hurts! But until we lay our hearts bare or God wakes us by calamity, we will never become who He wants us to be in Him.

God knows we will never be satisfied apart from Him. He wants us to be focused on Him; He wants to give us an undivided heart. He wants our full attention! Our Loving Father desires to show us the way to go, but we often miss it because our thoughts are preoccupied with our own way.

Be aware this is not a easy road and the battles are long and difficult. But don’t get discouraged! Patience and perseverance pay off in the end. What takes your focus off the Lord? Lies? Stress? Guys? The past? Trace it, face it, and erase it. The Lord wants your "undivided attention". Are you paying attention?

ADOBE MASTERSUITE!

2010-10-15T12:04:00.002-05:00

The time of waiting is done, the time for learning has begun! Through my sweet aunt Janelle, I was able to get a WAY discounted price on the Adobe CS5 MasterSuite. This includes Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Flash Catalyst, InDesign, PremierPro, Soundbooth, Acrobat, etc. etc. This thing is "huge"! I am so excited to delve into all the cool programs and to start creating!

Can you imagine the big smile on my face?

Another goal for 2010 accomplished!

Lacheln, Taylor

Go Eagles!

2010-10-15T10:58:00.008-05:00

Last night, Mom, Leesha, Jayme, and I were able to attend my cousin Ashley's last "at home" volleyball game. I have attempted to play volleyball, I think, once. I say "attempted", because I know NOTHING about volleyball compared to Ashley, her team (The Eagles), or even my mom! What talent and stamina it takes to endure sports-that's something I don't have! It was fun to watch the Eagles play and to see my aunt and uncle and several cousins again.

Ashley

Leesha, Jayme, cousin Danielle, and I.

Ashley on the court-a fabulous player.

THE EAGLES WON!

Danielle and the ball she caught from the game. She got all the players' signatures. :)

Sisters! Mom and Aunt Janelle.

Me and my "little" cousin, Ashley. (I am several monthes older than her, but she is 6 ft and I'm 5' 6 1/4"!)

Lacheln!

Taylor

Join Me at LinkedIn!

2010-10-13T10:59:00.003-05:00

Hey Friends!

If any of you have a LinkedIn account, feel free to connect with me or our family!

Lacheln,

Taylor

You've Got Mail!

2010-10-13T10:19:00.002-05:00

You’ve got mail!

You know the feeling: opening the mailbox and finding an envelope addressed to, of all people, you! You snatch it up quickly and tear it open, only to find it’s an organization asking for money or a bank statement. Your heart sinks and your excitement dissipates. But, then it could be a response from a famous celebrity, or a note from your grandma, and perhaps a letter from your fiancé. Your heart beats even faster as your eyes scan the page to drink in every word and pen mark.

Consider the last example of a letter: a letter from your fiancé. The man whom you adore. The guy who you are always dreaming of. The man who loves you more than anything else in the world. This guy who is always seeking to win your heart. And he just wrote you a letter! Faint! Sigh! :) Don’t we all dream of that day when we find a love letter, for us only, from the "one and only"? I do! (Don’t mind the pun.)

Think with me for a minute. Don’t you already have a love letter, written just to you? The life story of your Prince, the who is so in love with you that He sacrificed His life so you could live with Him, forever? Now you are like, "Oh, I know what you mean. That story. But it’s not the same." No, it isn’t. It’s much more amazing, because Jesus’ love will always be forever. You may never get married, may never have "Mr. Right", and your man will not last forever. Jesus Christ will always be there with you, always wooing you, beckoning you to read what He has to say in His Word, to spend time with Him in prayer and conversation.

Get your Bible out and open it up. Feel the breath of God on your face as He speaks to you. Read the story of your salvation again, and soak in the promises of heaven and the marriage supper of the Lamb. Love has written you; you’ve got mail!

Lacheln,
Taylor

Pick a Few Flowers

2010-10-12T10:26:00.004-05:00

"Mom, we have some flowers for you!" my youngest brother called out to our mom. He and my other little brother stood in the foyer of our home, each boy carrying a flower in his hand. Because of their dirty shoes, they got down on their knees and "shuffled" to where our mom was in the kitchen. They proudly lifted their flowers to Mom and gave her one of the greatest gifts kids give their mothers.

It has always been touching when people gift me with flowers, whether it was the nine roses from my grandma on my ninth birthday, or the bouquet of daisies and wildflowers my parents gave me for my eighteenth birthday, or the dandelions my siblings give me occasionally. Each time I receive these beauties of nature, I am thrilled that someone cared enough to give me that gift.

Though, often times, I overlook the "flowers" my Heavenly Father sends my way, whether if it’s actual flowers spread out on the lawn during summer, or the little blessings throughout the day. We so often walk by flower beds of God’s goodness and don’t even realize His gifts. And if we do, how often we thank or praise Him for what He has done?

I challenge you today to look at the flowers around you and thank your Father and Creator for His provision in the small things of life. Also, pick a few flowers for someone today.

Lacheln,

Taylor

Countdown Till Thursday!

2010-10-11T10:58:00.003-05:00

I am counting down the days until...I GET MY SOFTWARE!! Adobe Master Suite CS5; photo retouching, graphic designing, web building, Flash creating, video editing, here I come! WAHOO!

Can you tell I'm excited?

Lacheln,
Taylor

Wish I Was Crafty...

2010-10-07T10:20:00.004-05:00

This Sunday, the church we sang at held a silent auction, and I participated, just for fun. :) There was a cute, silver crocheted/knitted scarf and hat set, and my bid was the winning bid. Yeah!

Aren't they pretty? Anyway, as I examined my new scarf and hat set, I began to remember when I crocheted. My grandma, aunt, and sister all taught me this art and I used to dream of starting my own crochet business. I created a special doll hat pattern, and wanted to someday market doll head-wear. I wanted to make baby blankets like my older sister and make clothing as well. But somewhere along the line, I lost my interest and now we have a basket, filled with yarn and needles, collecting dust.

Somedays I wish I was more "crafty". As I type, a warm, fleece blanket, a graduation gift from the women of our church, surrounds me. I wouldn't know how to make one for myself. Sewing, while I can do minor mending, is a nightmare to me, and knitting is a foriegn language. Is there something wrong with me?

On the other hand, I love to doodle and draw with pencil, pen, or mouse.

(These are some of my cartooning doodlings. :)

Well, I guess God has gifted me in other areas, though it is good to have knowledge in handywork. :) I admire and am truly amazed by the talents many women display through crocheting, sewing, knitting, quilting, etc. God has blessed them greatly!

Just some random thoughts for the day. :)

Lacheln,

Taylor

Spotlight on Visionary Daughters

2010-10-06T11:36:00.005-05:00

The most life-changing book I have read, except for God's Word, of course, has been So Much More by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin. Filled with amazing encouragement for today's young women, So Much More offers challenging principles from the Bible for Christian daughters and sisters.

Here's the review:

This book is not another Christian-teenage-girl “survival guide.” So Much More shows how Christian girls can wage war with the world and win. The Botkin sisters focus on how young women can rise above their God-hating culture and change it for the better.

Today, countless young ladies face difficult problems and challenging questions. While many long for godly purpose in their lives, their bewilderment mounts when they observe broken homes, distant fathers, overwhelmed mothers, degrading college courses, and a lack of spiritual guidance — both at home and at church. As hope for security and stability fades, it is no wonder that many young ladies feel orphaned, unprotected, and without hope for their futures.

Within the pages of this book, discover practical, biblical solutions for the young woman who wants to do so much more than just “survive” in a savagely feministic, anti-Christian culture. Find the answers a girl is not likely to get from her church, her peers, or her culture.

Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin

The Botkin sisters started a website several years ago and it is just as inspiring as their book. I love checking it out from time to time and finding an article that meets me just where I am. Their desire to present a picture of godly womanhood to all women is evident through their writings. The sisters are not afraid to stand on God's Word and clearly share their opinion on many subjects.

From the website:

In this new website, we would like to present a brave new vision for daughterhood. In light of the two views of womanhood subduing young Christian women — womanhood dedicated to useless ambition, and womanhood dedicated to useless langour — both leading girls to squander their youth — we would like to recall to daughters’ minds one of the defining aspects of biblical womanhood: useful womanhood.

The purpose of this site is to condone practical, purposeful, productive, dominion-oriented femininity.

Young ladies need to understand the significance of these years before marriage, because this unique season of life is a special gift from God.

You have but one lifetime to spend in our Lord’s service. How you spend these years of your life will touch the course of history and change it forever. We hope this site will give practical advice on how to be good stewards of these very important years.

So Much More was not a survival guide, and this site is not a service to provide survival tips to teenage girls. Visionary Daughters.com is dedicated to helping young unmarried women understand how they can wage war with the world and win.

We want to provide resources that will encourage and equip young women to do God’s work God’s way; in particular, to become greater blessings to their families, more effective arrows in the hands of their fathers, and better ambassadors for Christ.

I encourage you to visit their website and be inspired to be the visionary daughter you have been called to be. (Also check out the documentary, The Return of the Daughters; my sister and I just love it! What a encouragement!)

VISIONARY DAUGHTERS
www.visionarydaughters.com

Reflection Creation Revealed

2010-10-01T10:35:00.006-05:00

This post is for Miss Kathryn at www.maidensofvirture.com (and for anyone else who is interested), revealing the steps to creating yesterday's random Photoshop example. Enjoy it, Kathryn!

First, I put some text down on my canvas, choosing a bold font, Impact, for my artwork. Looks kind of boring, don't you agree?

Then I added from the Effects Palette on the right two effects: Translucent Glass and Drop Shadow. Makes the font come alive a bit, right?

Next, I added a gradient, using the Gradient Tool on the Tool bar to the left.

Using the key-shortcut "Control-J" or ("Command-J" on a Mac) to duplicate the text layer, I then flipped my new text layer upside down, below my original font.

I changed the opacity level (found in the Layers Palette) of the new text layer to 37% (you can tweak it to whatever fit your preferences).

Then, taking my Eraser tool, I erase the bottom (or top) of the new text layer, making it look like a reflection. Again, erase until you get the result you want. Wah-lah! The finished product!

I was not able to do it exactly as the book says, as I don't have the big program and the actual method requires layer masks, but I came close!

Any questions?

Lacheln,

Taylor

Random Photoshop Example

2010-09-30T10:37:00.004-05:00

Here is a cool effect I just figured out last night, with the help of my brother Ben (who actually read the directions :). This came from a brand new HUGE book I purchased at the Photoshop conference called "Photoshop CS4 Bible". It is full of great information and I love it! It will take forever to read it, but that it's okay-I want to learn!

Lacheln,

Taylor

Another Statistic?

2010-09-28T10:29:00.003-05:00

As most of you have probably read, my dad's job was terminated yesterday.

Wow.

We have become a statistic, another family whose provider has no means of providing. It is weird. I know some of you have experienced this before and have/are surviving, but this is still scarey...if I think about it too long. But then, if I consider all God might have in store for our family, I get excited. How mixed are my feelings!

It is odd to wake up on a Tuesday morning and find Dad here with our family. It is great, don't get me wrong...but I know Dad can no longer provide for our family like he used to, so that gives me a slight chill.

I think of all the families who have gone through this same trial before, and I know most of them make it, and they grow closer together through the hard times. I then think of the innovative ways we kids have come up with to cut costs. Take out light bulbs, unplug everything, eat bean soup for the rest of lives, etc. :) You know, really, this could be a neat adventure for our family.

Actually, the more I think about the future, the more excited I get, for I know God has great plans for our family. After Mom heard the news from Dad, she went to their bathroom and opened up the Bible she has in there. Unaware of where she turned, she began to read,

"Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 'Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I have sent you into exile." (Jeremiah 29:4-7,10-14)

What comforting words, so familiar, but so true. I will trust in the Lord and just buckle up my seatbelt: it's going to be an unforgettable ride!

Again, please pray for us. I know we will be okay, because we are the Lord's hands, but we certainly appreciate your prayers of support.

Lacheln,
Taylor

Good News, and Bad News

2010-09-27T17:39:00.003-05:00

I don't have time right now to explain what has all happened to our family over the course of this weekend, but I have written two important blogs at our family's blog: http://www.greatadventurefamily.blogspot.com/. Visit there to get an idea of the rollercoaster we've been on. Up, and down, and...

Lacheln,
Taylor

True Woman Story: Part One

2010-09-24T11:07:00.004-05:00

This series is based on a blog from Lies Young Women Believe. Erin Davis said, "In the meantime, I would love to hear your true woman story.What has God recently taught you about what it means to be a girl? What questions do you still have about His design for your femininity? What do you think He wants to change in your heart and life in the next ten years?" This is my true woman story...

She sat side-saddle on the fallen log, her blonde hair being tossed in the slight breeze, her blue eyes were turned toward the book in her hands. Her young, growing form was slightly pudgy, her face dotted with acne, her movements sometimes clumsy, but she dreamed of being beautiful, graceful, like a princess. The newly turned 14-year old was on the start of a new adventure that had just barely commenced the year before. It was the journey of true womanhood and discovering what God wanted for her life.

In her hands she held a challenging book, So Much More, by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin. The concepts and stories told in the book intrigued the girl and she found herself wishing to blossom into godly womanhood as described in the book. The ideas of purity and modesty weren't strange to her, but being a daughter thriving at home and cultivating a servant heart and submission were slightly foreign. Giving her heart to her parents? That was difficult to imagine. But she wondered, Was that possible?

As she read these wonderful ideas, taken straight from God's Word, she felt a desire to share these same concepts. But how? A website, of course! Hold on, what did she know about websites? Nothing, but she soon brought it up to her parents, and the rest became history.
Soon articles, poems, recipes and more popped up on the little website. The girl wrote with conviction, but her articles were unpolished and filled with typos. Even so, young women and mothers seemed to benefit from her writings.

But as the years went by, the girl was bothered by the growing unrest in her own heart. She fought her own temper, was plagued by subtle lies that dominated her thinking, bothered by her impatience with her siblings, troubled by her disrespect toward her parents, weighed down with bitterness toward certain people, filled with doubt and confusion about God, and struggled with hidden sin in her heart. Each time she wrote another blog about purity and crushes, her conscience was stung. One day would find her writing an article about helping mothers and then, the next day found her slacking in her responsibilites and provoking her own mom. Her heart was in doing good and living for the Lord, but she kept messing up and she felt like she wasn't worthy to be maintaining a website about godly girlhood.

She struggled with idols erected in her heart: guys, lies, wrong attitudes, and at the center, herself. The young woman knew they had to go if she was to be a true follower of Christ and they would only hinder her in her journey of true womanhood, but it was so hard to get rid of the idols that had ruled her life so long. God was beckoning to the young woman, and she knew what He offered, but the passing pleasures called louder.

Toward the end of her 17th year, the young woman was sinking into a depression. She had clutched so tightly at the things she thought satisfied, but now their gleam was dimming. It did not feel good to be always looking for true love and going from one guy to the next in her mind. It did not feel good to tell herself the old lies, "Nobody loves me. I'm not good enough. I'm always causing problems. The world would be better without me." It did not feel good to rebel and cause disruptions in her family. It did not feel good to be distant from her parents. It did not feel good to be so distant from God. What was wrong?

To be continued.

Another Photoshop Example (And New Blog Design)!

2010-09-24T10:15:00.008-05:00

Okay, all my photography/designing friends, here's another example of how great Photoshop and Photoshop Elements are...

First picture, not bad, but it could be lots better:

Second picture, edited with Photoshop Elements 7.

Using the Burn tool, color/ lighting correction using levels, the Blur tool, the Healing Brush tool, the Details setting on the Smart Brush Tool, I was able to create a nicely polished picture with a professional look (I think those are all my steps :). The only problem is that on our family's computer (which I am using now) it looks a bit too yellow-green. On my laptop it looks a bit different. But otherwise, I am pleased with the overall effect. What do you think?

If you love photography and want to make your photos look better, or want to start designing, get Photoshop Elements (version 7 or 8 will do just fine). It's typically around (if I remember correctly) $80, and worth the money if you know how to use it. Photoshop is definately for the serious user, as there is SO much on the program and it takes SO long to find out what it all is. Of course, this program is quite a bit more money, but I know I surely want to get it! Elements is simpler to use and easier to edit photos with, as Adobe provides some quick tools for fast editing. I have LOVED it and it has helped me grow my talents in this area.

By the way, how do you like my new blog design? The buttons, banners, and photos were all created and edited in Elements this past Wednesday. This is what I originally envisioned for my blog (I designed this on Elements Wednesday night too):

I like how my blog is now different, and not a generic looking spot in the blogging world. I like the elegance of the colors and fonts. GRAPHIC DESIGNING IS AWESOME! :)

Lacheln,
Taylor

Photoshop Workshop and Beyond

2010-09-21T10:30:00.010-05:00

I love graphic designing. It thrills me to see designs forming with the click of a mouse and tweaking of objects and pictures. I have loved art for years, doodling since I was just a little girl. And I liked showing and giving my art to people. Gifts to my family members, scribblings for friends, cards with relevant cartoons or designs for people, pictures in art contests, etc.

Somehow, someway I became interested in computer art. Probably around the time I started Godly Girlhood, I found I could edit photos and manipulate objects and text in such a way to create cool little buttons and things for my website. Then came our family band and we needed brochures and business cards. How fun! My first attempts weren't very good, but I learned a lot.

Here are some of my recent "buttons" for our family blog and FOGMA:

Anyway, I went to a Photoshop Workshop last Thursday and learned a lot! My brain was on overload and I was so excited to try out my new "skills" on my trial Photoshop CS5. There is SO much to learn about Photoshop and I've barely scratched the surface.

Here are some (poor) examples of what I can now do on Photoshop.

It kind of looks like I couldn't make up my mind on this picture! Using the masking technique, I layered different pictures of Jayme to a background picture and then changed the opacity levels. That is so cool!

"Auntie Em!" This technique makes Sam and Caleb look like they were stuck in a tornado! Using layers and selections, I was able to create this neat effect.

Dad and Mom twenty years younger! No, they always look that young! :) Using the Patch tool and the Healing Brush tool, I took away all their "wrinkles". I didn't do the best job, as it kind of made their skin look all splotchy. (BTW: These tools don't take away chicken pox!)

My favorite! Again, the masking technique with a watercolor brush, a butterfly brush and burning on the yellow shape, a diffuse glow filter on the photo (the photo had been edited previously), and opacity and drop shadow on the text. It looks SO pretty!

If you are interested in graphic designing and photo editing, get Adobe Photoshop! It is amazing and you will never learn it in your life time!

The sad news for me is, My trial just wore out, so I now have to purchase it. Ouch! But I can't wait!

Lacheln,
Taylor

Almost Recovered, But Now...

2010-09-21T10:09:00.003-05:00

Almost better! "Arm's Length Photography" this Sunday (Sept. 19th, 2010).

Praise God, I am almost fully recovered from the chicken pox! Except for healing scabs and faint red spots, my normal skin is showing again. Whew! I was worried I'd never look the same.

But now, get this: Leesha and Sam have both come down with chicken pox as well! Exactly two weeks after I was "afflicted", my younger siblings, both immunized against the disease, have started showing spots and running fevers. I can't believe it!

It will be tough, because our "Most Anticipated Night of the Year" (Legacy Five concert) is this Friday, and poor Leesha and Sam will probably be looking similiar to Ben and I. Now we know why we didn't have many concerts this month! :)

Okay Lord, we will follow You wherever You lead. We will continue to trust in You.

Lacheln,
Taylor

A Fresh Start

2010-09-20T11:13:00.002-05:00

The start of a new week. The beginning of a new day. A new breath. Another chance to live, to hope, to try, to learn, to succeed, to be all God wants me to be.

After two extremely long and painful weeks, I am glad for another opportunity to live life. To love God with my whole heart, my body, and my soul. To honor my father and my mother. To invest in my siblings' lives. To minister to Mal. To encourage those around me. To serve God in what He has given to me now. To prepare for whatever God has in store for me by following His guidelines laid out in His Word.

Live
Love
Honor
Invest
Minister
Encourage
Serve
Prepare

May I embrace these words, this attributes, these actions and live them out to the fullest.

Thank you, Lord for a fresh start. I ask for Your strength to accomplish all You want me to do. May I glorify You through my life. It is Yours. Again, I surrender it all to You. Use me as a vessel for Your ministry. Direct me in Your paths and enlighten me with Your truth. To You be all glory and honor forever.

Lacheln, Taylor

New School Year, New Schedule

2010-09-15T10:16:00.004-05:00

Sam, Jayme, and Caleb doing school.

A thrill of excitement ran through me as I heard the alarm go off this Monday morning at 7:30 am. Jayme stirred in the bed across our room and Leesha began to climb out of her bunk. The first day of school!

Then it hits me, I'm done with school. :( But the joy and excitement of Leesha, Sam, Jayme, and Caleb was contagious; I was excited! A brand new school year, with brand new books, and best of all, a brand new schedule! That is something I have always wanted: instead of just routine, schedule. And now, this year, we have it. Yeah!

I spent Monday morning crafting my schedule. Here it is:

7:30 am: Get-up / Get Ready / Make Bed and Clean-up Room
7:45 am: Personal Bible Study
8:00 am: Breakfast / Family Devotion
9:00 am: Home Clean-up / Finish Room / Getting Ready
9:30 am: Venture Academy / Business Training
10:00 am: Computer Time - Blogging / Email / Web Work / GA Stuff
11:30 am: Mal / Extra Time
12:00 pm: Correspondence - Letters / Notes of Encouragement
12:30 pm: Lunch / Clean-up / Vocal Workout
1:30 pm: Driver’s Ed
2:00 pm: Writing - Stories / Devos / Articles / Poetry / Songs
2:30 pm: Household Check / Clean-up
3:00 pm: Music (Practice, DVDs, and Books) - Mandolin / Fiddle / Piano / Guitar / Banjo
3:30 pm: Phy-Ed - Bike Riding / Walking / Exercises
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm:
Scrap-booking / Recipe Collecting / Foreign Language / Business Planning / New Skills (Crocheting / Sewing?) / Design Work / VDGC / Extra Time
5:30 pm: Help with or Prepare Supper
6:00 pm: Supper
7:00 pm: Great Adventure Gospel Band Practice
8:00 pm: Sugar Creek Gang Family Reading / Clean-up
8:30 pm: Free Time and Misc. Stuff / Take care of the cats
9:30 pm: Get Ready for Bed
10:30 pm: Bed-time

So far I haven't had a full day to see how this schedule really works, but today may be that day! I tried most of the morning activities yesterday, and it was nice. I have much to do, and I am grateful for it.

I am also trying to be aware of how I can be more of a servant in our home and to others. I automatically think, "What I can do for me today?", instead of, "How can I serve others today?" It is so hard to think of others first. Dad and Mom gave me a beautiful necklace several years ago; a pendant with three small diamonds hung on a delicate silver chain. I called it my "JOY" neckace: Jesus - Others - Yourself. I loved the reminder. (Unfortunately, one of my sisters accidently vacuumed the chain after it had fallen from my shelf and it has been un-wearable ever since.) Yes, Jesus needs to come first, others second, and me last. It's all about "surrendering my all", isn't it?

Well, I have blogging to do on Great Adventure's blog. How fun! Then, let's see, what's on the schedule next...

Have a great day!

Lacheln,

Taylor

Beauty Challenged

2010-09-14T10:35:00.007-05:00

This last week I was challenged by an ugly offender-chicken pox-which stole away something I highly esteem, my "beauty". The scabs and sores on my face completely changed my appearance and I was horrified at my own looks. I could barely make myself glance in the mirror, as it scared me to see such a condition. I was a beastly sight...and there was nothing I could do about it.

Saturday, before the concert.

Only a week before.

I've had pretty good "self-esteem" as some would call it, because I've learned to accept my face, hair, and body the way God created it. I have watched many girls fall, hard, because they loathe what God has given them and have succumbed to the deadly game of comparison. I've seen it, and haven't wanted that for my life. Yes, I have not been without my struggles, but God has allowed me to praise Him for what He has fearfully and wonderfully made.

But this week was hard.

Last Saturday I put on minimal make-up and tried to fix my hair in preparation for our concert in the evening. I couldn't believe I was actually going into public looking like I did. I kept praying, "Lord Jesus, I know I'm not very beautiful right now, so please let Your beauty shine through me."

At the church, I felt SO self-conscious. It seemed like everyone was watching me, thinking, "What's the matter with her?" Of course, this probably wasn't true, but my thinking was filtered by scabs and sores. It was difficult to stay focused on the Lord and His beauty.

When Dad announced during the concert that I had chicken pox, I wanted to fall through a hole in the floor. Now they all knew. They'd be afraid of me. But it wasn't so (mostly). I had a good time talking with people (those who were brave enough!) after the concert. When I shared my struggles about my appearance with a sweet lady, she sympathized with me and said something like, "Oh if you're this beautiful with chicken pox, you must be very pretty!" That was kind of her!

But it was tough. Looking later at the church bathroom mirror, the red sores and large scabs with red, infected eyes were a scarey sight. I kept asking, "God, why?" I know true beauty comes from within, from a heart of character and faith, but I do appreciate my normally clear complection!

What an humbling experience. It is amazing how something we place our worth in (like beauty) can be stripped away like that, and there is nothing we can do. Beauty, health, wealth, fame, friends, family, can all disappear, but the grace of our God will always remain. When I am "unbeautiful" on the outside, God is making me beautiful on the inside. When I am "unhealthy" on the outside, God is making healthy on the inside. When I am friendless, He is my constant Friend. When my wealth is gone, He is my riches. He is all I need, and in Him is true worth.

I know this has been a great heart beautifer. God has taken the purifying soap of trial and the "make-up" of His Word to beautify my heart. It takes the hard times to make us soft.

Anyway, I am doing SO much better, and my face is recovering. I won't be the same, may have scars for the rest of my life, but I have learned A LOT. True beauty isn't skin deep; it's what God has done that makes us truly beautiful.

A friend sent a Dayspring card that was so uplifting that I'd like to share it with you.

Hey sweetie, I am thinking of you and praying for you.
I know God is working in your life, his hand is upon you, and his healing touch
will sooth you. You are beautiful, Taylor, and it resonates from you where ever
you go. You are fearfully, wonderfully, and beautifully made. And I am so
incredibly blessed to have you as a friend. Over the years, I have seen God
working in your life to make you into his beautiful daughter, a woman after his
own heart. Because of His marvelous work, he has made you beautiful!

Lacheln,
Taylor

Drowning in the Sea of Pox and Itch...

2010-09-10T16:13:00.005-05:00

I looked into the mirror and almost yelped at what I saw. In a panic I rushed out of the bathroom, covering my face, crying out, "Don't look at me! I look horrible and feel horrible!" I crumpled on the floor near where Ben was playing guitar. Jayme and Caleb just stared at me with wide eyes while Ben quickly examined me.

It's amazing how one's appearance can totally change overnight.

On Saturday I had an odd cough, but thought little of it, as I wasn't sick. On Sunday I was pretty worn out, though we didn't have any concerts last weekend. Then on Monday, I knew something was wrong. My body ached all over, like I had been on a LONG bike ride. By mid-afternoon, I knew I had a fever. Mom told me to take some Airborne, but by that time, I was in for it. Ben suggested I may be getting the mysterious virus he had two weeks earlier. I hoped I didn't, because it came with some blistery spots. Yet, sure enough, I looked at my forehead that evening and found a bump, just like his. Ben just smiled. But I had no idea what was coming.

Tuesday, I was down and out, feeling pretty feverish. So far, not so bad. I spent a lot of my day thinking, praying, and reading my Bible-just a wonderful time of repentence, worship, and encouragement with my Lord. I started to get a few more spots, but nothing major. "This will blow over fast," I thought.

Then came Wednesday. My face, neck, and chest were totally covered with horrible red, blistery spots, and I was itching like crazy when I woke up. I freaked out (see the first paragraph), because even Ben's outbreak wasn't as bad as this was. I looked like a monster, and felt like one too!

Yesterday Thursday was the absolute worst day of the week! By then I had spots all over my body and no relief from the itching. This did not seem to fit the description of what Ben was diagnosed with (even the diagnosis Ben was given didn't fit what he had)-pityriasis rosea-but it reminded Mom and Dad of chicken pox. All of us kids had been vaccinated when we were younger, so it didn't make sense. I had even had a small pout of chicken pox, so was it even possible? I was SO miserable the entire day and cried many times, wishing for the itch and bumps to go away. I didn't get but an hour of sleep last night (I'm really feeling it right now!).

This morning I felt better, my face especially. Mom did some more research, and we became convinced Ben and I had chicken pox. She called the hospital, and the nurse agreed with her. How crazy is that? I have a severe case of chicken pox, but am now (kind of) on the mend. Praise God. I still look scarey, and we have a concert tomorrow night (ekks!), but thank God I getting through it. I was begging God to take away the pain yesterday, and was even getting mad at Him for letting me go through such misery. But with the gentle reminders from my Dad, I have begun to be more accepting of what God is letting me go through.

It's a weird outbreak, and I certainly can say I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, except if he was really, really bad and evil. :) Stay healthly, and I appreciate your prayers as I attempt to get my strength back and try to do a concert with my family tomorrow night. ("Unclean! Unclean!") That will be interesting. But right now, I NEED MORE BENEDRYL!

Lacheln!
Taylor

"Note to Self"

2010-09-02T12:45:00.002-05:00

Guess how God used the blog I wrote yesterday? He used it for me! I
have to laugh at how God likes to use the words I say to redirect
myself. Maybe I should title my blog "Notes to Self"!

Anyway, last night, while brushing my teeth, my mind was wandering into
not the best thoughts, and during my wandering, I suddenly was reminded
of the blog I wrote earlier that morning. Eek! I was tempted to
continue in my wrong thinking, not paying attention to my own words,
but I quickly wondered what God thought of my thoughts. I reached over
for the small New Testament in our bathroom and flipped it open. I am
continuely amazed at how the Bible is so relevant to my every day life,
and to what I am going through. The Lord always leads me to exactly
what I need to read or hear!

Here's what I read:

"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgement on someone
else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning
yourself, because you who pass judgement do the same things. So when
you, a mere man, pass judgement on them and yet do the same things, do
you think you will escape God's judgement? Or do you show contempt for
the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that
God's kindness leads you toward repentance?" (Romans 2:1, 3-4) Verses
1-16 were all so convicting and I totally resolved to really fight my
wrong thoughts.

I had victory and gave the glory to God.

How does God use His Word in your life?

Take This to Heart

2010-09-01T12:02:00.006-05:00

I only have less than 5 minutes left to write a quick blog, so I am trying to use my time wisely.

Let me share with you from the Word of God:

"Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord of God, so turn and live." (Ezekial 18:20b-32)

It has been impressed upon me to share these verses with you. Take them to heart, as I continue to as well.

God offers forgiveness and reconciliation to Himself (Romans 5:6-11); He promises to give us new hearts (Ezekial 36:26). He will make us clean from all our sin and impurity (1st John 1:9), in order to be clean vessels for His kingdom (2nd Timothy 2:20-21). Strive today to rid yourselves of the sin that so easily entangles (Hebrews 12:1-2) and be made free through the power of Jesus Christ (Galatians 5:1). We cannot live any longer in our old nature (Ephesians 4:17-24), as we are children of God, a chosen priesthood (1st Peter 2:9-10).

I pray this encourages you today!

Lacheln,
Taylor

2010-08-15T16:27:00.005-05:00

DONE!

After a whirl of activity, deep cleaning, food preparation, rummaging through old pictures, receiving guests, eating food, spilling raspberry iced tea on the floor, watching the soccer ball get stuck in a tree, playing violin, devouring the cake, opening cards and gifts, and then finally receiving the diploma and relaxing, my graduation party is over.

Wow.

What a milestone. After years of waking up each morning and getting out my school books to complete my studies for the day, after crying over math problems I didn't understand, after breezing through my favorite subjects (art, spelling, literature, and English) only to find I had my least favorites to finish (namely math and science), after learning many things through my textbooks, I am now done with another season in life. And it is about time!

I was enrolled in a private school for preschool through kindergarten until Dad and Mom made the decision to homeschool us. Already at my young age I was experiencing problems with bullies and peer pressure, so I am glad and very grateful my parents decided to bring me and my siblings out of that enviroment.

Homeschooling provides such a freedom and ability that I would have never found in public or private school. I believe because of the flexibility of homeschooling I was able to really pursue my talents in art, music, and most recently, graphic/web design.

I have so much I can write on this subject. Now that I am graduated, I hope to really devote more time to my own blog and emails (yes, I am SO behind!).

Next blog? Plans after graduation! I am so excited!

Lacheln,

Taylor

Quick Update!

2010-08-01T22:57:00.003-05:00

Welcome to my newly re-designed blog! (Not my design, but it's okay!) My other design "disappeared" (don't ask), so I had to redo it, quickly!

I hope to share more soon about the exciting things in store for my future, but be content with this...my graduation is set for August 14th! Wahoo! I can't wait to be done!

Lacheln,
Taylor

aka: "TK"/"Sunshine"/"TaylorTot" :)

Random Happenings...

2010-07-05T13:45:00.005-05:00

I know my last blog entry probably left you all wondering if we were swept away by the horrible storms several weeks ago, but FYI, we are just fine! There were strong winds, weird clouds, and LOTS of rain, yet the Triple F Ranch is okay and thriving. In fact, it's changed, not by twisters, but by our own hands. That's right, we finally spent last week cleaning and landscaping. My little hosta garden looks pretty good and the area around our house is weeded. Our garage, which is ready to fall down any day now, is nice and clean, swept out and organized. It's about time!

I have revamped our family's blog and am excited about the potential posts. Visit http://www.greatadventurefamily.blogspot.com for Great Adventure stories and pictures. (I'll try to write GA happenings there, not on my blog!)

I started to redesign my website recently, as some of you have noticed. But I want to put it on hold until I have purchased the software to design exactly what I envision for Godly Girlhood. I am so excited and my plans for the website keep growing! When I launch the new website, I think you will all really enjoy it!

Happy Fourth of July! I saw this phrase recently, "America, Bless God." Amen!

Lacheln,
Taylor

Tornado Watch...Could Be Bad!

2010-06-17T17:15:00.001-05:00

There is a tornado watch for our area and looking outside, I can see there could be a big, bad storm coming! My dad is on his way home, but wonders if he can make it home in time. Right now everyone is running around trying to get things settled for the storm, so I'd better go. I pray we will be safe!

The Sunshine Award!

2010-06-17T16:25:00.005-05:00

Rebekah from Beautiful Gems awarded Surrendering My All the Sunshine Award! How exciting! Did you know one of my nicknames is "Sunshine"? That explains my particular excitement about this award.

In response, I would like to award:

Alyssa at Among the Flowers

Chelsea at A Writer's Blog

Meghan at Just As I Am

Alyssa at Days to Remember

Amy at Pressing Toward the Goal

Ana at Everything Good

Mindy at Ben and Mindy

Melanie at Melanie's Blog

Hopeful at The Hope Chest

Congrats everyone! I consider your blogs a bit of sunshine in my life! (Sorry, it's only nine blogs, not twelve, but at least I got close!)

Now, here are the rules:

1. Post the logo on your blog and/or within the post.

2. Pass it on to 12 other bloggers.

3. Add links to these 12 bloggers within your blog.

4. Let them know they are receiving the award.

5. Share the link of the person from whom you received the award.

Thanks Rebekah!

Lacheln,

Taylor

June 2010

2010-06-14T13:22:00.006-05:00

Leesha and I singing during the Pro-Family Picnic in Pine City, MN - June 6th, 2010

Hey Everyone!

Life is busy at the Garms household! May was full of Great Adventure concerts (eight, in fact!) and June is pretty busy as well! We got home really late last night from a concert up in Duluth-what an awesome night!-and slept in late this morning. It was kind of wacky morning, as most of us woke up when the power went out and the doorbell was ringing. It interrupted a crazy mystery dream I was having and I was upset! :) I guess the power company shut off our power for a while, for whatever reason, and kindly stopped by to inform us. It eventually came on, and certainly got our morning going with an interesting start! Right now I am in the midst of working on the church's website, waiting for our slow dial-up internet to load web pages.

We are looking forward to recording a CD soon. Whoa! We recently purchased quality recording software and equipment (IMac computer, Presonus software, Presonus interface, etc.) with the funds we did have saved. We were so hoping to record at Stirling Sound here in Minnesota, but unfortunately, we don't have enough funds or weekends at this time, and the Lord has been pressing us (through many different ways) to record-now! So look for more stories on home recording. We like what we have done so far!

I am looking forward to graduating this year. I have only some Consumer Math and Drivers' Ed left and then I am DONE! I am so excited to be on to a new season in life, though it is sad and a little scarey to see this season of school pass. Life will not slow down for me, but will continue to speed on with its dizzy busyness. I am not planning to go to college (I don't have a need to go at all), but plan to launch my own graphic/web design business and further Godly Girlhood. And of course, how I can leave the family band? :)

Well, I really should go. I thought I'd write a quick blog, as I haven't written for almost two months. I hope ya'll are well and I hope to write more later.

Lacheln,
Taylor

Nebraska Pictures are Up!

2010-04-29T11:31:00.003-05:00

Back in March, our family ventured into Nebraska, the Corn Husker State! (No, we are not Husker fans, for your information!) We had three performances: at Trinity Lutheran School and Messiah Lutheran School on Friday, and Trinity Lutheran Church on Sunday. I have just started putting together a NE photo album for our website, and thought you might enjoy purusing through the album. Click here!

Lacheln,

Taylor

Like My New Backgroud?

2010-04-20T13:01:00.002-05:00

I just have a little bit of time to ask, Like the new look? I was getting tired of the common Blogspot template, so I joined the numerous bloggers who use "The Cutest Blog on the Block" stuff. I think this template is pretty; I love the baby blue and brown!

Well, my mac and cheese timer is buzzing, so got to go!

Lacheln,
Taylor

Purpose and Mission

2010-04-13T11:54:00.003-05:00

I admire people with mission and purpose. You look into their eyes and see a vision, a determination for their life. They aren’t aimlessly floundering for rhyme and reason in their existence. They know what they were put on earth to do, so they are going to do it. There are not many people with vision for their life, so visionaries, especially godly visionaries, are priceless, in my book.

Back in March, I wrote a mission statement for my life. I discovered several Bible verses I could claim for my life and was renewed in purpose. Let me share with you my mission:

To encourage the Body of Christ, especially Christian young women, to passionately serve God in every area of their life, and to give hope to those who are going through similar situations and trials I have experienced.

My defining Bible verses:

Romans 12 exemplifies my mission statement because…
1. It urges believers to live according to the Word and to be transformed through God’s power;
2. It encourages people to use gifts and lives for the glory of God;
3. It gives an example and "manual" for godly living.

Ephesians 5:1-2 ("Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.") is my life verse because…
1. It encourages me to be an imitator of God and live a Christian life always;
2. It reminds me I am a child of God;
3. It inspires me to walk in love;
4. It gives a picture of Christ’s love for me;
5. It reminds me my life should be a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God, just like Christ's.

Do you a life mission? What has God given you to do? What are your talents and abilities? As a Christian, you have been called to glorify God with your life; so what are you doing? I encourage you to sit down with your Bible and a notebook and identify your strengths, pulls, and abilities. Search for foundational verses that exemplify your life’s mission. What has God placed on your heart? Are there certain people you feel God calling you to minister to?

After you identify several things about yourself, then begin serving God in little ways. Do you have like to encourage people? Make someone the "Target of the Week" and send a note or card to them. You never know how God could use this outreach to touch someone‘s life. Do you enjoy serving people? Make a meal for a struggling family in your church or community, offer to help a member of your family in a certain task, or do something (like a chore) for someone else in your family. Is singing and music an ability of yours? Ask if you can sing at your church, or perhaps visit an assisted-living home or hospital and brighten someone's day. The opportunities for ministry are limitless!

If you have had tremendous hurt in your past, share how God has brought you through. Reaching out helps heal your own hurts, as you are able to concentrate on someone else and his or her needs. Have you helped certain groups of people (homeless, orphans, mentally ill, elderly, young)? Take the time to encourage someone else who is embarking on a similar path.

Don’t be like the rest of the world who are wasting their lives trying to fill up their holes and hurts. You have purpose in Christ-chiefly to glorify Him and make Him known to your world. Don’t hide your talents in a drawer; they were meant to shine for Jesus!

Go for it.

Lacheln,
Taylor