Knitting in the Lord's Army

Hello, Blogger Friends.

<-- Here is a picture of me with my second-to-lastest knitting project: a boys scarf. That went good, and now I am onto a matching beanie. I am thinking about putting the word out there to people asking if they have any wool they don't need and want to donate to the cause of getting knitted up into something warm to be given to a child with Operation: Cover-Up .
  Doing knitting for the Operation has been pretty rewarding, and I recommend that if you live in Australia to get in touch with Operation Cover Up people and get knitting, or there are lots of other projects that help people. I think sometimes we can become so caught up in our little worlds that we forget we have thousands of brothers and sisters in the Lord suffering for being a Christian, and that there are thousands of children whose parents have died or abandoned them, so many families struggling to get by, and that is just the tip of the iceberg.
 I think I have said it before, and I will say it again: ask God what He wants you to be doing to change the world. One thing I can tell you needs to be done first: spending alone time with God each day to get on track and make sure you are doing what He wants you to be doing. It is so easy to go off on our own tangents and get down the track to realize we have wasted weeks, months, or even years on things that don't matter. Making time for God each day is not easy, but it is a requirement for being a Christian. We are part of the Lord's Army, and we can't afford to be sleeping while the fight is raging on.

Listening to My Own Advice

  You know how it feels when you are inspired and you just want to get out there and do SOMETHING? Well... that is how I feel almost every day. I have been inspired, and that inspiration just keeps on coming. Even when I feel discouraged and have mood swings, etc, I still want to get out there and change the world.
  But I gave some advice to a girl today, and I feel that it is good advice. Now, I just have to start doing it myself.
  The advice was that prayer is so important. I already know that. But more than that, I told her that instead of just getting out there and trying to change the world, we should first of all pray and ask God exactly how He wants us to do this, how He wants to use us to bring change in the world, and what He wants us to do. Because when we just go out there and don't see what God really wants, then we like give out all we have and it doesn't really seem to change anything
  So what I said we should seek God's will first, and then once we know what He wants us to do... DO IT. Because when we are doing what God wants, then He will bless what we are doing. When we have gotten our instructions from God, we know what we are doing is what He wants and we don't have to be offended by what other people think, because we know. And we can have faith that He will bring out the best.
  So... I am going to do this. Keep me accountable.
  Ruby.

Encouraging News

  Some exciting news I have to share.
  Last night I got home from youth group and went on the computer to check my emails. I noticed that there is one from the fundraising site, with the subject title telling me there was a donation. I opened the email and wow... I was shocked! Someone had donated $1,700.00 to OAI through my fundraising page!
  Wow.....
  Praise God is all I can say. He is so good to make someones heart so generous. I have a couple of ideas as to who it could be... but I don't mind leaving whoever it was anonymous. I don't have a huge idea who it is though, so it could be anyone. Either way, if you are reading this... thank you very much. And let this be an encouragement to those other people out there... it doesn't matter how big or small you give as long as you know it is the amount God wants you to give.
Love,
Ruby.

James: It is Finished

  Wondering about the title of my blog? Let me explain...
  Over the past few weeks (from the 28th of February until today's date of March 20) I have been memorizing the book of James. And today I finished it! I am really excited about this, because now I can rememorize it (to reaffirm it in my mind so that I don't forget the truth I have read) and move onto memorizing another book of the Bible. Any suggestions?
  In 2010-2011 I memorized 1 Timothy, 2 John, and 3 John, but the main reason I wanted to memorize them was to be able to say, "Look at me, I just memorized three books of the Bible." That is not at all the right attitude to have. Now I have a different reason to memorize it... because I want to have God's Word in my heart to take it with me where I go in life.
  And a plus side of memorizing things is that it opens up your memory. It has been helping make learning my Russian easier, that I am sure of. But the main reason that my Russian is going good is because God is helping me do it and cause I have a reason and a goal I am working towards.

Life with God is an adventure.

  До свидания

 Love, Ruby.

Some Exciting News!

здравствуй

Wow, I have some exciting news. Orphans Aid International (a lady named R, who Sue had asked to ring me so we could discuss fundraising ideas, etc) rang me this afternoon. We chatted about some interesting things, and then R brought up the exciting news. "Sue wanted me to tell you that next year there is a trip to Russia for one of the centers camps." I was a bit shocked. "Am I aloud to go over with them?" I asked, not sure whether that was what she was meaning or not. "I am pretty sure that's what Sue meant when she said it," she replied.

Спасибо, Бог.

Mum suggested today that I should be journalling all these exciting things that God is doing in my life. I think she is right. I am writing it down in different books, etc, but I think I need a set book: "Journey to Russia" or something along those lines.

My learning of Russian is going well. I am able to pick up words the guy the Russian channel (we get Russia Today on our TV) is saying. Like "Thank you," and "Good-bye."

Please keep praying for me so that you can join in on the exciting things God is doing.

Love,
Ruby.

Long time, no type

  I know I haven't written in a while. Life has been reasonably busy with starting back at school (especially since this is my last year, yay!), babysitting at least once a week, trying to stay on top of my emotions (which is hard, but I am getting better at it), and numerous other things. Bibles in Schools is starting back in a couple of weeks so things will get even busier!
  I have found an accountability partner, though, which is great. Her name is Mum, and she is my mother. Some people probably wouldn't want to have one of their parents as their accountability partner, but I guess I am not like most people. I know that Mum is the one (apart from Dad) who cares the most about me and who has the highest expectations of me. She believes that I have a purpose in life, and she does not want me to be any less than the person God has created me to be. And that is what I need (among other things) from my accountability partner.
  Keeping on top of my emotions. That has been made easier by spending alone time with God each day. Not easier, I mean, but has made it... better. Life is not easy with God, but I have Him to help me which makes the burden of my emotions lighter.
  Over about the last month (or half a month) I have been learning the importance of praying. Not just for in general things, but for specific things I want and expect to see happen. So I have been setting aside a few minutes in the morning, middle of the day, and at night each day to pray about things. Some of things I pray for are these: evolution to stop being taught as fact in schools in my town (ad throughout NZ), the child abandonment statistics in Russia to drop significantly, for my future husband (if he exists, which I am still not sure about), my unsaved friends to hear and fully understand the Gospel message and God to draw them into Himself, etc. Some of those things may seem random or unlikely to happen, but I want to see my world and community change for the better, and I am prepared to pray for those things and see them happen.
  Love,
  Ruby.

Here is my life mission statement

  Last night God showed me the passage of Scripture that is going to become my mission statement.
  Taken from 1 Timothy 4:12-16, and modified slightly for me:
  "I will not let anyone look down on me because I am young, but I will set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I go to Russia, I will devote myself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. I will not neglect my gift, which was given me through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on me. I will be diligent in these manners; giving myself wholly to them, so that everyone may see my progress. I will watch my life and doctrine closely. I will persevere in them, because if I do, I will save both myself and my hearers."
  And that is how it goes. I think it is good for everyone... so the thing is, how are we going to live out this statement. Give this blog a comment to let me know how you are living your life to these standards. :)

Teen Websites

  I have two websites that I have made for teenagers. One is for Christian girls, and the other is for Christian teenagers (girls and boys). If you want to look at them and fill out some forms to help me make them better (or just look at them, it's up to you) then check them out.
  The reason I have made these sites is because they are both fun to create and I would like to think I am putting some food-for-thought out there to other teenagers around my age. The time to stand up and follow God is now, not in the future. Us Christians need to rise up and follow Jesus with our actions as well as our words. I have made these sites to encourage teenagers to do just that.

Accountability

  I think it is very important to have someone who is an accountability partner. I had one for a short time, but then she moved back to England so I don't have one anymore. But I want to find another lady who I can be accountable to in keeping my standards high and living my life for God and not going off in my own selfish ways.
  So why is it important to have an accountability partner? Why is important to be held accountable to someone you trust?
  It is important and needed in every Christians life because when you are accountable to someone you are less likely to do something you will later regret because you will have to explain to someone else why you are doing what you are doing. It is needed because they can keep an eye on you and you have given them the right to say when they are thinking you are doing something that goes against you're values and what is written in the Bible.
  There are many more reasons, but these are just a few I have thought of.

Amish Grace: Movie

  I am just watching the movie, Amish Grace, now. It is very sad. I have not finished watching it yet to know if it has a good outcome.
  The saddest thing is that this movie is based on a true story. To think that someone could do that is... horrible. Unthinkable. In the movie the guy who killed those Amish girls in the schoolhouse had his own children of around the same age.
 And yet, this is not the first time that something like this has happened. The world is fallen, and yet this movie shows us that harboring hatred and bitterness will not solve any problems. Unless we forgive men, no matter how hard it may be, then how can we expect God to forgive us.
  But such a hard thing it would be to do.
  "Hate will eat up your heart and leave no room for love," one man whose daughter died said.
  I watched the end of the movie. It was a good movie, sad, and inspiring through the tears.

Hola From New Zealand

  It is an interesting experience to talk with someone that you like, and to use your influence to encourage them in the things of God instead of pursuing and romantic relationship with them.
  I won't go deeper into the subject, but I would suggest that any single women out there that are wondering how they can relate to the opposite gender while remaining respectful, and keeping their standards and morals high, and enjoying a friendship I would recommend reading P.B. Wilson's book "Your Knight in Shining Armor." My friend Sarah and I did this book as a study together and we got a lot out of it.
  I got it from the Christian Bookshop, and I don't regret buying it.
  Have not had any donations in a while, but I think that the fundraising is still coming along good. But the more money that Orphans Aid gets, the more they can give to the orphanages they have set up and the more they can do in the countries where they work. The more homes they can set up or extend. The more orphans that can be cared for. The more staff that can be hired to look after the children and love them. So do not stop donating. Continue on supporting my fundraising goal and Orphans Aid in prayer and through donations.
Thank you,
  Ruby.

PS: I did my data entry work today and that went well. Only took 4 and a half hours to do it this week. Last week it took seven hours.

BlogBuster

  I am a little bored, so I thought I would write a blog and let you know how things are going with the fundraising and events I have planned and so on.
  Before I go on to tell you whats been up, I wanted to let you know of a good, inspiring, family movie by the name of "Christmas Angel." Christmas is over now as you well know, but the movie is good for any time of the year.
  How things are going with the fundraising: Things are going well. I have raised $720 since I started, but I don't want to stop there. By the time I am seventeen I want to have reached far far above the goal I have set for three thousands dollars, because if I am going to Russia then this year may well be my last year I will be able to fundraise for them before all the money I have goes into running an orphanage. So don't think that everything is running along smoothly so you don't have to donate... because you do. God said for Christians to look after the orphans and widows. So don't back down from following what God has told us to do. Get out there and, as I like to say, "Get active about your faith!"
  How things are with the fundraising events: I have not come too far along with any of the events I am wanting to do, but I am forming an idea in my mind about speaking in my church and giving a little bit of a talk about what I am doing, why I have chosen to support Orphans Aid, and about the fundraisers I am planning. I will have to ask my pastor before I can get up and do the talk, but the ideas are still forming. I have emailed Sue van Schreven because we keep in touch and asked if there is a trailer ( short movie advertisement) for the documentary Someone, Somewhere Loves Me.
  I don't just want peoples money. I want to get them inspired, involved, and active about calling themselves Christians.

  Ruby

Someone Somewhere Loves Me

I am going to be doing some fundraisers in my town sometime soon. One of them, if I get the all clear from Sue, will be screening the documentary about her work setting up Orphans Aid International and what OAI does over in Romania.
  My parents got me the documentary for my birthday (which was today) and I watched it this afternoon. A very truthful, sad, and inspiring documentary videoed by Rob Harley.
  Another two ideas I have had for fundraisers in my town will be to have a games night and also a quiz night in my church or maybe at my home, whichever works best. What would be really good is for me to find some other girls (or like minded people my age) to help me organize such events. So, please be praying for that for me, because that would be great. God answers prayers, I have seen many times.
  Also could you leave a comment if you think of something else that I could do as a fundraiser that is thinking a little outside the box. Thanks,

Ruby.

Fundraising Days

  The fundraising is going well. I have raised $410 so far, and I started on Thursday! But I cannot claim the glory for getting people to donate, only God can make someones heart generous to give to a good cause. So thank you Lord!
  Praise is an awesome thing. Not only does it glorify God and worship Him, it also lifts up our hearts and makes us joyful. In my book, praise is a good thing all around!
  Feel free to promote my cause to any of your friends and family, because my goal is to reach $3000 by January 5, 2013. And remember, a blessing comes with giving generously. I know there are four people so far who are being blessed for giving to Orphans Aid International through my fundraising site.

First Blog of 2012

  So today has been going well. Going good. Going great!
  The new year is holding new and exciting things for me. Well, actually, it is not the new year that holds the excitement, being when you think about it... the new year is just another year. It is God that is getting me excited, because I know I can do all things through Him, and I am looking forward to the amazing things we will do together this year.
  The fundraising is going good. So far I have had a donation each day. You can check out the progress and my little blog that goes along with it on: www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/RubyHunt.
  I did another computer science test today. On the first go I got less than 50% (and I needed 80% at least to pass). So on the next go I asked God (well, more I plead with him) to help me do it. We went back over the questions together and decided on which the most likely answers were, and then I resat it. I passed. Praise the Lord, because He helps us succeed even when it looks like we'll fail.
  For the new year, how about you make one of your resolutions to ask yourself, "What would Jesus do?" before you make each decision. I think we should all do it together, because I know that when a step of faith is taken, things change in us, and then the world begins to change around us. But we have to bring the change. Don't put it off thinking someone else will do it. God is calling you and me to be the change, so lets be it together.
  Ruby.

I Prayed; God Answered

 Like the title says, I prayed and God answered... in the form of a Christmas present.
  Yesterday I got given a book by my mother. It is called Rescue, written by Sue van Schreven, who is the founder of Orphans Aid International, along with her husband. The book is really inspirational, and apart from that it has answered my question of how I am going to get to Russia. I can go under the umbrella of Orphans Aid International, or that is what I am thinking now. They have an orphanage set up in Kostroma, Russia, and I could start off there. But whatever God does to get me to Russia, I do not mind. But this has given me hope and renewed inspiration to fulfill my dream. And fulfill the purpose God has for my life.
  Check out the site and find out ways you can help the orphans in different countries. Don't be lulled into thinking that things are fine, because in the world we lived in orphans are being forgotten and neglected. Please do your part.  http://www.orphansaidinternational.org
 Ruby.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

THE HIGHLIGHTS OF 2011:
A.C.E Student Convention. The boys in suits, the girls in skirts and blouses, the office-ness of it. I love office wear. Anyway, it was spiffin. Seeing a certain someone again and trying to decide yet again whether I liked them or not. Still not confident on the answer to that question. Hanging out with Sarah and getting on each others nerves. Good times.

Going on long as bike rides with Ian. The Ben Morven Track, and trying to bike to the Rowing Club.

Here is Ian trying to cross the river. I was videoing him because I thought it would end with him being in the river, but it didn't work out that way. A real bummer.
Girls Group. The awkward discussion about sex and things that girls need to know. Learning about integrity, confidence, courage. Learning to trust one another. It is still a work in progress, but our little group of girls is becoming more tight knit.
Excel Touring Team.  We billeted two girls, Reg & Lil, and it was really cool having them here. Reg was shy and afraid of Jake (our dog), but Lil and I had some mean jamming and singing sessions outside at like 10pm. Each year we billet two girls, and each year they seem to get better and better. =)

Drumming for Church Band. At times I would call this a highlight, and at other times I would say it was part of the year I did not like. But it is all a learning curve, and the things that are harder to do and take longer to accomplish are usually the things that are worth while.
The cousins coming to NZ. This was both a good and bad time of the year. I enjoyed their company, but the boys got on my nerves a bit. Joe was all right because he is more placid, but Issac was flipping mean and annoying at times. Emily was pretty good, although she does bring out the eleven year old in me.

 Jet and Phil's wedding. This was the one time of the year when both sides of my family came together to celebrate one thing. Usually it is a couple on one side, or a few over from the other side. But it was all the family (well, a lot of representatives) over for at least the weekend. And then everyone was under one roof for the classic and much-loved Uncle G's big breakfast cook-up which was held at brunch time on Sunday morning. That was grand.

Me and Jet getting ready for the wedding

Making up random songs. For this guy in my life that is now going away, I have written two songs. It's funny, cause I don't like him that much, but I have liked him for a year and a while. I'm not sure why I wanted to write two songs about him, but I guess its because he took me on an emotional rollercoaster (but I think thats just his personality, haha) and my way of dealing with his being great one minute and confusing the next was to write a song about it. One song I wrote was annoyance, and the next was happy go lucky. And now I am somewhere in the middle. I have also written some songs about God, who is becoming my True Love. I get told that I have a nice singing voice... but I'll take their word on it. =)
Doing the To-do list with Sarah. What a great time. We still haven't done everything on the list, but there are a few days left in the year to get them completed. For more information about the to-do list, look at the page I have devoted to the list only. (Look up the top of the page. It goes Home (I think), Ruby Through the Ages, and then The To-Do List

In His Steps

  Last night I began to read the book, In His Steps by Charles M. Sheldon for the second time in my life. The first time it was a book I had to read for my schoolwork, and it has been one of the few books that I have so enjoyed that I wanted to read it again. It was the only book that I liked so much I brought a copy of it for myself.
  The reason I love this book is because it is honest. It lets us know that living life for Christ is not easy. We will be misunderstood by others who claim to be Christians, persecuted, and probably branded as being radical. But what a purpose to live for. It is not something that goes along the lines of the modern Christianity "Come to us. You don't have to give up any of your old, sinful ways. Just tack Christianity onto every other bad thing you do. It won't cost you a thing, but it will give you love, joy, peace..."
  What a lie.
  True Christianity is realizing that Jesus didn't come to earth, live a perfect life, then die on a cross for our sins, and not only that, but rise from the dead so that we no longer have to go to Hell when we die, but we can become God's children and go to Heaven when we die. It is realizing that it will cost us our lives, but what is this life anyway? If you give up your life, you will gain it, but if you hold onto it, you will loose it. I want to live with a purpose, not just say I am a Christian and live a life that denies that statement.
  What has God called us to do? Has he called us to go to an upper class church and worship Him with our lips and by raising our hands when the moment feels right? No! He has called us to worship Him by working together to bring God's truth to the world. He has called us to love our neighbors, whether they are rich or poor, by action as well as by telling them the truth about God. (If you want to know the Gospel message put in simple ways, go to by blog The Good (and Bad) News, or take the Way of the Master course by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron).
  Will you join me and pledge to not make any decision, big or small, before first asking the question, "What would Jesus do?" And then, once we know the answer, we act on it, doing what Jesus would do.
  I encourage you to get a copy of In His Steps by Charles M. Sheldon and reading it for yourself. You won't be sorry that you did.

Missionary Conversations

  Today I worked at the Christian Bookstore in the morning for four hours. Then I helped out at ReMix, which was the last for the year. ReMix is like Bibles in Schools, but for the whole school instead of just one class.
  After ReMix was finished, Mum drove past the school, picked me up, and then we drove down to the farm to pick my grandparents up before we drove half an hour up a windy road in the middle (kinda) of the bush, to get to this ladies house. Mum and I met her on Sunday at Christmas at the park, but Nan and Pop had heard her talk at church the previous Sunday.
  The lady, Monica, is a missionary to China, same as her husband who isn't back from China yet.
  We talked about being a missionary, because she found out at Christmas in the park that I want to go to Russia as a missionary. It was good to have that conversation and be encouraged.
  When we got home I got stuck into my schoolwork, then had dinner. And then did a lot more computer science. I got a lot done today, same as yesterday, and I am pleased with how much God helps me accomplish when I get to work and plan out what I need to get done in a day.
  Oh, and I figured out what I am going to give Pop for a Christmas present. I am going to print off heaps of photos of the family of this year. Then I am going to put them in a photo book.
  One of the valuable pieces of information that Monica told me was to pray about where God wants me to go in Russia. So I will be praying for that while I am home.
  Love,
Rubs.

Womanhood Journal and To-Do List

  I made another to-do list today, and I have accomplished everything... well, everything accept for one thing and things that could not be accomplished, or the time to accomplish them had gone (like picking strawberries when I was at a certain place, and mowing my grandparents lawns (it rained)). Here was my to-do list for today.

• Finish Sarah's Christmas present (homemade)
• Wrap up Sarah's Christmas present (homemade)
• Do section in computer science
• Do assessment in computer science
• Finish work at Ruvi's
• Knit a black stripe in the scarf
• Knit a gold stripe in the scarf
• Write in diary
• Write in womanhood journal
• Start new section in computer science
• Figure out what I'm going to give Pop for a Christmas present

  The last thing on my to-do list is underlined and bold because I still haven't done it. It is coming closer and closer to Christmas and I still haven't figured out what I'm going to give my grandfather. It would be easy if I could just buy him some chocolates, but on my wall I wrote a goal of that I would not buy anymore Christmas presents, but use what I already have or make it. I might have to break that goal as the days are ticking by and I can think of nothing to give to him... but I'll try my best. I don't like failing the goals I set in place.
  You might be curious as to what my "Womanhood Journal" is. What it is is a journal that I have to write in each day and say what I have learned, or things that have happened in the day. It is documenting my passageway through being a teenager and then entering into being a woman. I figure that if I keep one for each day of the years to come, then I'll have it to look back on if I have children of my own, and if not, then to better understand my adopted children in Russia when I am working at an orphanage and have been there for a number of years and am feeling out of touch with my childhood. Or I can give it to my parents when I go away to remember me by. There is a whole lot of reasons to keep one. The main thing it documents in how I walk with God along life's path.
  Oh and the reason that Sarah's present wrapping paper, and the card (which I did yesterday) are all homemade is that for our to-do list we had to make homemade Christmas presents from scratch. I think I have stuck to it very well. I hope she likes her present...
  Love,
Ruby.