Tapanga's Writing

brynn camdyn tapanga kelly jason pixie
brittany kelly matt grandma grandpa keya
in Virgina

(Tapanga's typing after 20 minutes. She wanted to type since I was so I had to be a nice aunt. What a cutie!!)

Thanks-giving Originated

Each year in November we all gather with our families and eat turkey, dressing, pumpkin pie, and plenty of other traditional foods. But, why do we celebrate Thanksgiving? And, how many of us know exactly how Thanksgiving originated? Most Americans think they have a pretty good idea, but its always nice to go over the beginning of Thanksgiving to remind us why we give thanks and how it all really started.

Interestingly enough there are several ideas of how Thanksgiving originated. The most common one is discussed below.

The common idea is that Thanksgiving originated with the Pilgrims. Most Americans have this idea that when the Pilgrims landed in America and settled themselves they wanted to give thanks and appreciation for making it through the long journey. Also, they ended up sharing their feast with the Native Americans. Or did they?

The fact is that the first Thanksgiving was shared between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians in 1621. The celebration was more of a harvest festival with sports, games, food, dancing, singing, and revelry. When it comes to the food they ate the menu wasnt much like todays. Instead, it consisted of venison, fowl, and other foods prepared by the pilgrims.

Interestingly enough the first Thanksgiving as we know it did not create a yearly tradition among the pilgrims. Partly because the following year was a poor one and because many new settlers had arrived, Thanksgiving became a celebration that was only observed occasionally over the following centuries. However, thanks to the Revolutionary War all of America celebrated Thanksgiving together in 1777. But, that still didnt get the tradition going like it is today. It wasnt until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November Thanksgiving that the tradition really became part of Americas culture. The only other change was when Franklin Roosevelt changed the date to the fourth Thursday in 1939.

from http://www.thelaboroflove.com/articles/how-did-thanksgiving-originate/

Still remember to give thanks for those things which you are thankful for...even the little things. :) because little things add up. Have a Happy Thanks-giving Day!!

18 Inches To Heaven

"If you were asked how far is it to heaven, what would you say? When I first heard the question I thought, "it's far away, up in the sky somewhere." But in reality it is about 18 inches away! How could this be, you ask?..."

Tim Pitcher's article "18 Inches To Heaven" struck me as very interesting. He brings up some good things to ponder on, so check out his article and see what you think.

http://www.beyondtheultimate.org/18-inches-to-Heaven.aspx

Just Stop and Think

Francis Chan--Just Stop and Think

Life is Meaningless??

Ravi Zacharias on Life is Meaningless

A Prayer

Lord, I am not satisfied with where I am when there is so much more of You that I can receive and You can give. I am asking You, out of an intensity of spirit that You have given me,to come upon us, Lord. Don't let us just talk about the revivals of old and what You have done in the past to bring reconciliation. For this is the day that You have made. Don't let us compare ourselves any longer to other Christians whom we know, those whom we may even perceive as being serious. But let us see Your face and get Your approval and get Your rebuke and Your intentions, so that You can bring the transformation necessary for us to do the job in this hour, through the help of the Holy Spirit.

Break the yoke of all distractions. Help us to become masters of self-control. Where cities have been known for negativism in the past, restore the places that have become desolated. Let the stumbling blocks of the past become stepping stones to a new move of God and to a new intensity to see You move.

Raise up the churches. Give them the spirit to be serious. In these latter days, let them be the latter rain, my Father, that comes upon the earth before the harvest of souls in this generation. Open the floodgates of heaven. Pour out Your Spirit upon us. There is something in the heart of the Lord. There is something in the Holy Ghost. There is a move coming. Don't let us talk about running away from the trouble, but let us talk about something that You are stirring inside of us to go to the trouble.

Let every person say with conviction "Lord, use me." Let them not just look to someone else who is being used, but let them say in their own hearts, "Use me even if no one else will be used." Grant that, Lord, I pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.


"The Low Road to New Heights" Wellington Boone

Train

I was sitting in a middle school classroom because I had to get observation hours for one of my graduate level classes (which I hate doing). This time I was able to observe three periods (or classes), two 8th grade classes and one 7th grade class. Each class did the same thing so after the first class my mind started wondering in a different direction. I saw a verse written on my folder (Proverbs 22:6) so I looked it up which made me start to think about it because it fit so well with me being in a school and what I want to do.

Proverbs 22:6 "Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it."

This verse is not directed just towards teachers but towards everyone. Over my 24 year old life, so far I have noticed that people (especially those younger than you) will pick up on everything you do whether you intend for them to or not. After reading the verse a couple times, my eyes were focused on the word train. Then a few more words popped into my head that goes along with train...teach, guide (direct), and instruct.

Train: (v.) create by teaching and directing; undergo training or instruction in preparation for a particular role, function, or profession; to coach in or accustom to a mode of behavior or performance.

Teaching: (v.) to impart or provide knowledge or skill to; to cause to learn by example or experience

Teaching does not have to be done in just a classroom setting. A person can be teaching without even realizing it because many people learn from someone's actions (and a lot of the time it happens when we least expect it). Jesus provided us with numerous examples of teaching through His actions. He has demonstrated love towards many people (even those that we probably could not imagine). John 15:9-13 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love....My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

Guiding: (v.) to assist (a person) to travel through, or reach a destination in, an unfamiliar area; showing the way by conducting or leading

Guiding is another way of training someone and leading them on the right path which can help them in their days to come. A person might be questioning what way to go in their life, so taking the time to guide and instruct them could play a big part in someone's life. It is hard to walk the path alone or know which way is right (not to ourselves but to God). I think we need to have a person or two or three that are able to help up (keep us accountable) for staying focused and on the right track. Satan throws us so many curveballs in life which we think we are able to face and conquer on our own; however, we all come to a point where we become weak and fall down. Having someone who is accountable can help lift you to your feet and focused again.

Instructing: (v.) to form by communication of knowledge; to inform the mind of; to impart knowledge or information to; to enlighten; to provide with knowledge, especially in a methodical way

Instructing to me is through the verbal form of communication whether spoken or written. I have had many people instruct me throughout my life and I had to decide how I was going to use this information. If I was going to take it for what it is worth or toss it a side and go on with what I have always been doing. A prime example of an instructor is Jesus. He instructed His disciples to go out and deal with the evil opposition with few instructions. In Exodus 4:12, He says "now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say." The Father has equipped us all (in different ways) and will be with us when we go instruct one another.



Colossians 3:15 "Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way."

Not To Us

Not To Us by Chris Tomlin

The cross before me the world behind
No turning back, raise the banner high
It's not for me, it's all for You

Let the heavens shake and split the sky
Let the people clap their hands and cry
It's not for us, it's all for You

[Chorus:]
Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory
Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory

Our hearts unfold before Your throne
The only place for those who know
It's not for us, It's all for You

Send Your holy fire on this offering
Let our worship burn for the world to see
It's not for us, It's all for You

[Chorus]

The earth is shaking, the mountains shouting
It's all for You
The waves are crashing, the sun is raging
It's all for You
The universe spinning and singing
It's all for You
The children dancing, dancing, dancing
It's all for You, It's all for You

My all for You
Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory
My all for You
Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory
My all for You
Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory

Friends-Surprise!!

So it was 8:05 p.m. Monday and I was sitting at my kitchen table doing school work when I had a random surprise walk in my front door. :) I could not stop smiling for the next hour. I had no idea that my one friend was helping another friend surprise me for my birthday. All I have to say is I have some pretty amazing friends.

Once in a lifetime, you find a friend who touches not only your heart but also your soul.
Once in a lifetime, you discover someone who stands beside you, not over you.
Once in a lifetime, if you are lucky you find someone as I have found you.
Very special people we can be ourselves with, talk with, laugh with, hope with and believe with...

I thank God for blessing me with some wonderful people!!

Quotes

"One of the secrets of a long and fruitful life is to forgive everybody, everything, every night before you go to bed."
-Bernard M. Baruch

"All you need is deep within you waiting to unfold and reveal itself. All you have to do is be still and take time to seek for what is within, and you will surely find it."
-Eileen Caddy

"Don't measure a man's success by how high he climbs but how high he bounces when he hits bottom."
-General George S. Patton

"I know God promises not to give me more than I can handle. I just wish he didn't trust me so much."
-Mother Teresa

While I'm Waiting

While I'm Waiting by John Waller
I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I’m waiting
I will serve You
While I’m waiting
I will worship
While I’m waiting
I will not faint
I’ll be running the race
Even while I wait

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it’s not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting on You, Lord

Psalm 5:3 "In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."

Psalm 27:14 "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

Psalm 33:20 "We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield."

Psalm 37:7 "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes."

Psalm 38:15 "I wait for you, O Lord; you will answer, O Lord"

Psalm 40:1 "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry."

Psalm 130:5 "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope."

Lamentations 3:24 "I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.'"

ARE YOU WILLING TO WAIT PATIENTLY FOR GOD??

Trials

So...I'm sure this is going to a ramble of things. Things happen, good and bad, and we have no idea why. I know God has a plan for each one of us and yes, there will be bumps along the way.

James 1:2-6, 12-14 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind...Blessed is the man who perseves under trial, because he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone, but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed."

When faced with a trial or temptation in life, you might want to give up or take the easy path. God's road is not always the easiest path to take but it is the most rewarding. Wellington Boone's book The Low Road to New Heights says "there is only one road to true success and this (God) is it." Along this road we need to learn how to practice Christian views (a few are humility, obey Him, spiritual maturity, serve others, help lead others to Christ). Even along this road we will go over potholes and have to climb mountains and we might question why we are presented with this. However, God already has a plan which is mapped out perfectly and we need to do our best to stay focused on Him through all the road blocks. Life is not always a happy go lucky path (which I'm sure we all would like it to be), but in some cases we stumble and fall and not want to get back up. In these cases, we need to look to God for strength and perseverance.

Isaiah 40: 29-31 "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength..."

I know I ask God the question "why?" more than I should. Why did this happen? Why can't it go this way? Why this and why that? I may never know the answer to a lot of my questions, but I need to have faith that what has happened is because of God and in His great plan. Sometimes the trials and temptations I face in life get my mind wondering in a direction that it should not go...negative thoughts, feelings, emotions and even actions. This is not a way to live for Christ and show him to other people. But I do thank those that have let me divulge these issues and help me get back on the right path again.

It is hard when you think you or another is doing good for yourself and others then God presents a BIG trial for you to climb over. Sometimes they even cause tension and turmoil in other's lives and it is hard not to jump to radical conclusions. I pray that all of those who are facing some sort of trial that they cry out to You that much more for guidance, strength, and comfort. Itis in Christ that all things are possible.

Psalm 18:1 "I love you, O Lord, my strength."

Psalm 25:1-5 "To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my god. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me...Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in your all day long."

Hidden Hero(s)

What is a hero?

Hero: (noun)
1. A person noted for special achievement in a particular field
2. A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life
3. A man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities
(Dictionary.com)

I was reading "Cast of Characters" by Max Lucado last night and the word hero caught my eye so I started to chew on it. Many times when you hear the word hero numerous things pop up in your head like the tv show Heroes :) or a fictional character. I, myself, even thought of Hercules and yes the Disney character. At first, the picture that crossed my mind was this big, physically strong, vigorous guy. However, that can be a false picture of what a true hero is.

Referencing back to the movie Hercules, he starts out looking like a typical civilian. Until later, he is faced with the eye catching physical features and some trials to go through to show is real heroism. People probably think that Hercules is a great hero because he is so strong. Thou, I think there is much more to a hero than his strength. A quote from the movie I liked is "A true hero isn't measured by the size of his strength, but by the strength of his heart."




Thinking more deeply on the word hero, here are a few adjectives I would use to describe a hero: someone who shaped history, extraordinary, courageous, defender, guardian, visionary, protector, the will for self-sacrifice, and stood against the crowd. The book "Cast of Character" referenced Paul as a hero (Paul shaped history and would die in the jail of a despot). Taking a quick look at the journey Paul went through I am sure many of us would not classify him as a hero because he was so "noble, but passing; courageous, but small; and radical, yet unnoticed" (Lucado). Before he was a Christian leader he was a Christian-killer and he introduced himself as the worst sinner in history. Max Lucado also mentions that Paul's heart was so heavy at times, his pen would drag itself across the page and wrote "what a miserable man I am! Who will save me from this body that brings me death?"

Heroes are not always people that stand out in a crowd and some times are hard to identify. "For that reason, a hero could be next door and you wouldn't know it" (Lucado). Have you ever thought of the guy who changes your oil, the baby-sitter, parole officer, teacher, deacon, or even Paul as a hero. In most cases these people do not fit the mold of a hero because they just look too normal. For all those heroes who are in the spotlight, I am sure there are many more that are in shadows. These people usually do not get the press or crowds or care to get them.

Now, here's some questions:
Do heroes know when they are herioc?
Have you ever thought of Jesus as a hero?
In what ways do heroes seldomly look like a hero?
Now, what is your picture of a hero?



Psalm 16:1-3 "Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge. I said to the Lord, 'You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.' The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them!" (NLT)

Isaiah 42:13 "The Lord will march forth like a mighty hero; he will come out like a warrior, full of fury. He will shout his battle cry and crush all his enemies." (NLT)

At The Foot Of The Cross

At the foot of the cross
Where grace and suffering meet
You have shown me Your love
Through the judgment You received

And You've won my heart
Yes You've won my heart
Now I can

Trade these ashes in for beauty
And wear forgiveness like a crown
Coming to kiss the feet of mercy
I lay every burden down
At the foot of the cross

At the foot of the cross
Where I am made complete
You have given me life
Through the death You bore for me

And You've won my heart
Yes You've won my heart
Now I can

Trade these ashes in for beauty
And wear forgiveness like a crown
Coming to kiss the feet of mercy
I lay every burden down
At the foot of the cross
(repeat)

And You've won my heart
Yes You've won my heart
Now I can

Trade these ashes in for beauty
And wear forgiveness like a crown
Coming to kiss the feet of mercy
I lay every burden down
I lay every burden down
I lay every burden down
At the foot of the cross

I'm laying every burden down
I'm laying every burden down
(At The Foot of The Cross--Kathryn Scott)


Psalm 55:22 "Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall."

Matthew 11:28 "Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."

The first time I listened to this song I could feel something inside of me twist and turn because the words from this song really hit home for me. It speaks wonders how we can take every burden to Him and "trade those ashes in for beauty." Who else can you take something that is heavy on you and give it all to them. If we lay our burdens to the Lord (at the foot of the cross), He will let us "wear forgiveness like a crown." I'm sure back in the day we all wanted to wear the crown to be the little prince or princess; however, this crown is far greater than any other crown we can imagine. It is incredible what Jesus Christ has done for all to give us the life that makes us truly complete. My suggestion is to listen to this song with no other noise around and really take in the words, emotions, and feelings of it all.

How Great

Stars and sunsets...can you get much more beautiful than this. On my long journey home from a fun, random weekend, I looked out the passenger window to see a gorgeous sunset. The sky had turned a bright orange from this massive ball in the sky which shown upon all the lines from the jet streams. While I was taking in by how amazing this picture was, it made me think about the Louie Giglio tour "How Great is Our God."


Genesis 1:14-19

"And God said, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.' And it was so. God made to great lights--the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And there was evening and there was morning--the forth day."


Psalm 33:6 "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth."


It's incredible to think what God has created by the breath of his mouth. I feel like we take those astonishing things around us for granted sometime (like the mountains, stars, sunsets, oceans, and much much more). Here's a look at some numbers and visuals of "How Great" and immeasurable our God truly is.


*A light year is 5.88 trillion miles away. (trillion = one followed by 12 zeros--1,000,000,000,000).

4 Stars
1. Sun

• 10000˚F on the Sun

  93 million miles from Earth (93,000,000)

  8 minutes for light from the Sun to get to Earth

  Sun has a radius 100 times that of the Earth

  If the Earth was a golf ball, the Sun would be 15 feet in diameter.
  -960,000 golf balls could fill the Sun
  *Enough to fill a school bus

2. Betelgeuse (Beteigeuze)

• 527 light years away
• Twice the size of the Earth's orbit around the Sun
• If the Earth were a golf ball, Betelgeuse would be the height of the 6 Empire State Building on top of each other.
  -262 trillion Earth's
  *Could fill up the Superdome 3,000 times with golf balls

3. Mu Cephei (My Cephei)

• 3,000 light years away

  If the Earth were the size of a golf ball, Mu Cephei wold be the length of 2 Golden Gate Bridges end to end.
  -2.7 quad trillion Earth's
  *Million x 1000 = Billion
  *Billion x 1000 = Trillion
  *Trillion x 1000 = Quad trillion

4. VY Canis Majoris

• If our Sun were replaced with VY Canis Majoris, its surface would extend to the orbit of Saturn

  If the Earth were the size of a golf ball, Vy Canis Majoris would be the height of Mt. Everest (6 miles about sea level).
  -7 quad trillion Earth's
  *Cover the state of Texas 22 inches deep in golf balls