Friday, May 30, 2014

Ascension Day.

     It's always on Thursdays. Jesus rose up to heaven in a cloud, and He won't come back until Judgement Day. But He is still around us and still hears us and sees us.
 
 
 
 
     On Sunday, my grandfather (the pastor of our church) said that the church year was organized by a Presbyterian minister to bring some order in the whole year (every church who follows the church year has the same Gospel and Epistle each Sunday).

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Damaris Growing Up. ...

     With 3 more teeth and the ability to crawl, Damaris is hard to keep out of anything. She has the run of the first floor, and she picks anything off the floor to stick into her mouth, as well as pulling out drawers and opening cupboard doors and making a mess of the contents. :) Still, she is cute, despite all that. And she is fairly happy.

The picture is a little blurry, because I was (sort of) in a hurry
                                                           
  


Friday, May 16, 2014

The Chronicles of Narnia.

        
     I have read the books, but I think them pure fantasy. I don't think of the lion, Aslan, as a picture of God. I like to read, The Horse and His Boy, as a book in itself.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Das Erste Hauptstück, Die Heiligen Zehn Geboten

Der text daß der pastor gelesen hat, war im 5.Mose, verse 1 bis 9.

Das Erste Gebot:
Ich bin der Herr, dein Gott. Du sollst nich andere götter haben neben Mir.
Was ist das?
Wir sollen Gott über alle dinge fürchten, lieben, und vertrauen.

Das Zweite Gebot:
Du sollst den Namen des Herrn deines Gottes, nicht unnützlich führen; denn der Herr wird den nicht ungestraft lassen derseinen Namen mißbraucht.
Was ist das?
Wir sollen Gott fürchten und lieben, daß wir bei seinem Namen nicht fluchen, schwören, zaubern, lügen oder trügen, sondern denselben in allen Nöten anrufen, beten, loben und danken.

Das Dritte Gebot:
Du sollst den Feiertag heiligen.
Was ist das?
Wir sollen Gott fürchten und lieben, daß wir die Predigt und sein Wort nicht verachten, sondern dasselbe heilig halten, gerne hören und lernen.

Das Vierte Gebot:
Du sollst deinen Vater und deine Mutter ehren, auf daß dir's wohlgehe und du lange lebest auf Erden.
Was ist das?
Wir sollen Gott fürchten und lieben, daß wir unsere Eltern und Herren nicht verachten noch erzürnen, sondern sie in Ehren halten, ihnen dienen, gehorchen, sie lieb und wert haben.

Das Fünfte Gebot:
Du sollst nicht töten.
Was ist das?
Wir sollen Gott fürchten und lieben, daß wir unserm Nächsten an seinem Leibe keinen Schaden noch Leid tun, sondern ihm helfen und fördern in allen Leibesnöten.

Das Sechste Gebot:
Du sollst nicht ehebrechen.
Was ist das?
Wir sollen Gott fürchten und lieben, daß wir keusch und züchtig leben in Worten und Werken und ein jeglicher sein Gemahl lieben und ehren.

Das Siebente Gebot:
Du sollst nicht stehlen.
Was ist das?
Wir sollen Gott fürchten und lieben, daß wir unsers Nächsten Geld oder Gut nicht nehmen noch mit falscher Ware oder Handel an uns bringen, sonder ihm sein Gut und Nahrung helfen bessern und behüten.

Das Achte Gebot:
Du sollst nicht falsch Zeugnis reden wider deinen Nächsten.
Was ist das?
Wir sollen Gott fürchten und lieben, daß wir unsern Nächsten nicht fälschlich belügen, verraten, afterreden oder bösen Leumund machen, sondern sollen ihn entschuldigen, Gutes von ihm reden und alles zum besten kehren.

Das Neunte Gebot:
Du sollst nicht begehren deines Nächsten Haus.
Was ist das?
Wir sollen Gott fürchten und lieben, daß wir wir unserm Nächsten nicht mit List nach seinem Erbe oder Hause stehen und mit einem Schein des Rechts an uns bringen, sondern ihm dasselbe zu behalten förderlich und dienstlich sein.

Das Zehnte Gebot:
Du sollst nicht begehren deines Nächsten Weib, Knecht, Magd, Vieh oder alles, was sein ist.
Was ist das?
Wir sollen Gott fürchten und lieben, daß wir unserm Nächsten nicht sein Weib, Gesinde oder Vieh abspannen, abdringen, oder abwendig machen, sondern dieselben anhalten, daß sie bleiben und tun, was sie schuldig sind.

Was sagt nun Gott von diesen Geboten allen?
Er sagt also: Ich, der Herr, dein Gott, bin ein starker, eifriger Gott, der über die, so mich hassen, die Sünde der Väter heimsucht an den Kindern bis ins dritte und vierte Glied; aber denen so mich lieben und meine Gebote halten, tue ich wohl in tausen Glied.
Was ist das?
Gott dräuet zu strafen alle, die diese Gebote übertreten; darum sollen wir uns fürchten vor seinem Zorn und nicht wider solche Gebote tun. Er verheißet aber Gnade und alles Gute allen, die solche Gebote halten; darum sollen wir ihn auch lieben und vertrauen und gerne tun nach seinen Geboten.

The First Part,The Holy Ten Commandments

     The prüfung was on Sunday, and, as we have not had a Confirmation for app.4 years, it went quite well. For the text (the Catechism is basically the sermon) the pastor quoted Deuteronomy 6, verses 1-9.

The 1st Commandment:
Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
What does this mean?
We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.
The 2nd Commandment:
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD, thy God, in vain.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may not curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.
The 3rd Commandment:
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.
The 4th Commandment:
Thou shalt honour thy father and thy mother, that it my be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may not despise our parents and masters nor provoke them to anger, but give them honour, werve and obey them, and hold them in love and esteem.
The 5th Commandment:
Thou shalt not kill.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may not hurt nor harm our neighbour in his body, but help and befriend him in every bodily need.
The 6th Commandment:
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may lead a chaste and decent life in word and deed and each love and honour his his spouse.
The 7th Commandment:
Thou shalt not steal.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may not take our neighbour's money or goods, nor get them by false ware or dealing, but help him to improve and protect his property and business.
The 8th Commandment:
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, nor defame our neighbour, but defend him, speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything.
The 9th Commandment:
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may not craftily seek to get our neighbour's inheritance or house, nor obtain it by a show of right, but help and be of service to him in keeping it.
The 10th Commandment:
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, not his cattle, nor anything that is thy neighbour's.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may not estrange, force, or entice away from our neighbour his wife, servants, or cattle, but urge them to stay and do their duty.

What does God say of all these Commandments?
He says thus: I the Lord, thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me, and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me and keep My Commandments.
What does this mean?
God threatens to punish all that transgress these Commandments. Therefore we should fear His wrath and not act contrary to them. But He promises grace and every blessing to all that keep these Commandments. Therefore we should also love and trust in Him and willingly do according to His Commandments.

Just by reading these, I know that I have failed to be perfect. I don't think that I have kept one single one of these.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Cathecism

     When I was 6 up until the age of 14, I had one week to learn selected Bible verses, parts of the Catechism, and songs in whole or part, and recite them at church on Sunday (usually in German) - "Gedichte" we called them. Like any other child, I wasn't too happy about that. 
     Now that my younger sisters Confirmation is quite near, I have been reviewing the Catechism for the Prüfung(examination) where all the youth over 14, young adults, and the ones that are getting confirmed will recite the books of the Bible, the church year, and the Catechism. Now, I am so glad that I learned it; I realize how good it actually is.
     The 5 main parts consist of the 10 Commandments, the Glaubensbekenntnis(Confession of Faith), the Lord's Prayer, the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, and the Sakrament of the Altar or the Lord's Supper and it gives an explanation of each. Because I learned them over and over when I was younger, I have the whole thing memorized, though in German (I did learn it in English, but only once through).
     For those of you who haven't read it or thought about it very much, it has a lot of good things to think on. For those you who don't particularily like memorization, it is good for your mind and will help you in school and lots of other things when you are older. Don't despise your parents for making you do it.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

The Beginning of May...

brings the thought of the day I was born. I wonder what this year of my life will bring for me. I really and truly hope to try to be better in everything and to believe and trust more in God. As a reflection from last year; I had some regrets, but I also think that it was a better year, because I really tried to live by God and His Word, and I succeeded better than other years. It does bring a lot of satisfaction. -Just a word of advice for all the readers, here.

This picture was given by a friend for my birthday. :)