All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, NRSV.

The teacher of the truth should advance in knowledge, growing in grace and in Christian experience, cultivating habits and practices which will do honor to God and to His Word. He or she should show others how to make a practical application of the Word. Every advance we make in sanctified ability, in varied studies, will help us to understand the Word of God; and the study of the Scriptures helps us in the study of the other branches essential in education.

After the first acquaintance with the Bible, the interest of earnest seekers grows rapidly. The discipline gained by a regular study of the Word of God enables them to see a freshness and beauty in truth that they never before discerned. Reference to texts, when speaking, becomes natural and easy to a Bible student.

Above everything else, it is essential for the teachers of the Word of God to seek most earnestly to possess themselves of the internal evidence of the Scriptures. Those who would be blessed with this evidence must search the Scriptures for themselves. As they learn the lessons given by Christ, and compare scripture with scripture, to see whether they themselves bear its credentials, they will obtain a knowledge of God’s Word, and the truth will write itself on their souls.

The truth is the truth. It is not to be wrapped up in beautiful adornings, that the outside appearance may be admired. The teacher is to make the truth clear and forcible to the understanding and to the conscience. The Word is a two-edged sword that cuts both ways. It does not tread as with soft, slippered feet.

There are many cases where people who have defended Christianity against skeptics have afterward lost their own souls in the mazes of skepticism. They caught the malaria, and died spiritually. They had strong arguments for the truth, and much outside evidence, but they did not have an abiding faith in Christ. Oh, there are thousands upon thousands of professed Christians who never study the Bible! Study the sacred Word prayerfully, for your own soul’s benefit. When you hear the word of living preachers, if they have a living connection with God, you will find that the Spirit and the word agree.

—The Review and Herald, April 20, 1897.

i’m always looking ahead tomorrow,

to next week,

to whatever comes next.

but now it’s summer,

& instead of being busy studying i’ve now just been busy working.

but

i need to make time for

God

family

meaningful friendship time

& for me.

one of my all-time fave spoken word poems.

|| i have 2 jobs this summer, so i’ll be getting plenty of hours and saving up lots of $

|| my family is amazing. i love my family. my 2 sisters, 1 brother, and mom & dad are some of the funniest, most inspiring people you will ever meet. yeah they drive me crazy all the time, but i do love them.

|| the ability to read the Bible on my phone. i role over in my bed, pic up my cell and see the verse of the day :)

|| the verse - “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer” Romans 12:12

|| friends. and prayer.

girlwithcurves:

I’m not typically a short-shorts wearing girl, but for a day at the beach in 90 degree heat, showing a little more skin is necessary.

To maintain a sense of modesty, I layer sheer swimsuit cover-ups over shorter hemlines- preferably like this embellished one found on a recent Miami trip.

Embellished Swimsuit Cover-up: 6 Shore Road 
Tank: Forever 21
Bangles: Street Vendor, India
Straw Tote: Target
Shorts: c/o BeBop Clothing
Wedges: N.Y.L.A. via DSW (similar here in brown & here in black)

(via maelingtappphotography)

[pronounced “bah-bah yea-doo wah-ree koo-deng-ah”]

our father, which art in heaven.

this began my father’s prayer today,

as he prayed with the family that lost a mother/wife today.

funerals are…ah.

my friend lost her mom this morning.

honestly, i don’t know how people who aren’t zimbabwean get through death

or loosing someone.

because today, attending my like 3rd or 4th ever mourning thingy (not quite the funeral),

it dawned on me:

this is amazing.

tragic, yes.

heart wrenchingly sorrowful,

but ahh, the hymns that are sung are the most powerful things i ever did hear.

there is nothing 

more

moving 

than

a 

room

full

of 

mourning

zimbabweans.

|| heaven kisses earth in the form of the african song. || 

so.

until Jesus comes again,

and she is resurrected with all those who died in Christ.

i have no doubt she rests in peace.

my two absolute favorite poets.

1 done today.

3 more “real” finals (one tues, one wed, one on thursday)

+1 super easy one (show up and pass) on wednesday night.

i’m 3 days away from freedom!!!

i can practically taste it!
i’m soooooo sooooo sooooo ready to be done with my 3rd year of college! :D