Why I Blog // I want to be here for you

I've been thinking a lot about why I blog. The ultimate reason why I blog is to be a light for Christ. Talking face to face with others about Christ is something I always struggle with and while I still need to work on that I feel like I can do that on here much better.. I want to encourage and help people become closer to Jesus. And encourage me. Lol  most of the time I talk about a particular spiritual topic on my blog is because I NEED TO HEAR IT TOO.
   We all have struggles in life and I just want to be there for others and be an encouragement. I've had many instances where a little encouragement from a friend made sooo such a difference. It's funny how such a small deed means soo much more to that person than we think. I want to do that for others. I want to encourage them in their faith.
   I feel like I haven't been doing much of encouraging and uplifting on this blog lately. Well firstly, I feel like I haven't been blogging as frequently as I used to a year ago. I feel like whenever I finally post it's just about me and what's going on. And that's totally okay, but I've realized that's not my whole purpose in this blog. Although I love talking to you guys about my life and exciting things I want to do more. but I also want to help and encourage you. I want to get to know you better. I want to have a relationship with you. Be a friend to you. Help you with your relationship with God. And it not only helps you but me too.
    And even if I don't get much viewers I won't care. I'll be happy that I could give encouragement to just one person. Cause it means SOO much more than you think, ya'll.
    So there's my little rambling of what I've been thinking about lately. I'm thankful for every viewer and commenter on my blog. Let me just tell you, YOU BRIGHTEN MY DAY UP. Every comment means SOOO much. It encourages me soooo much. Thank youuuu!!
    I hope in exchange I can encourage you. If you just need someone right now, I'm here. I'm definitely not perfect, but my Father is. Everything I say is inspired by Him and He gives me all the words to say.

If you have any prayers or comments I'd love to hear them.

Thanks for reading guys!!
bouncing in to say bye,
                                   Bernie

Behold our God

Who has held the oceans in His hands?
Who has numbered every grain of sand?
Kings and nations tremble at His voice
All creation rises to rejoice
Chorus
Behold our God seated on His throne
Come, let us adore Him
Behold our King—nothing can compare
Come, let us adore Him

Who has given counsel to the Lord?
Who can question any of His words?
Who can teach the One who knows all things?
Who can fathom all His wondrous deeds?

Who has felt the nails upon His hands?
Bearing all the guilt of sinful man
God eternal, humbled to the grave
Jesus, Savior, risen now to reign

You will reign forever
Let Your glory fill the earth


yeah I know I've already did a post about this song but I just wanted to do it again :D cause I love this song.

I thank God for my love of the outdoors and it's mostly because of Him. I understand that for sure humidity is horrid, there's mosquitos, i'll sweat, etc. but how can you go outside and not be amazed? How would you not want to spend your whole life out there? And to know that my awesome God made it all with the power of his word is even more breathtaking.

Who can fathom all his wondrous deeds?

It grieves me to know that some people spend all of their time inside glued to their electronics. It honestly made me angry when people go outside and complain about how hot it is and use it as a excuse to go back inside, or whine about the bugs and how they're gross. Oh, and don't get me wrong, I've been caught doing this too. Sometimes we fail to understand that without some bugs it'd be even more annoying. Bees sting, (I just got a bee sting last week) but they're unique in how they all work hard to make honey, something that is delicious and we use a lot in foods. Oh my, spiders can be scary but they eat flies and without spiders eating flies our world would be swarmed with flies. 

What I'm trying to say is, let us be reminded about the importance of everything outside and enjoy it. How without the sun plants, flowers, and food could not grow. How everything would be dry and would die if it didn't rain every once in a while. 

Get outside. Stand in awe of the wonderful Creator who made it all. Praise him. Let His glory fill the earth. 

bouncing in to say bye,

                                  bernie

Your Love, Oh Lord

Every day I realize how indescribable God's love for us. I've been sitting here thinking of what to say but it's so hard to put into words.

People fail us. I've learned that sometimes friends became distant to you, there will be times when no one can help you because they're too busy,  and nothing on this world will never satisfy you. but don't worry my friend, I have good news. Jesus. He's always there for you. He's never too busy. He never doesn't care. He will NEVER fail you. He will never leave you hungry for more. He's satisfying. Loving. Caring. Forgiving.

Sunday, as I sat on my hammock watching my bro and dad play outside and my sis and mom sit out in the sun I was once again reminded how blessed I am. I have two godly parents who give all their energy for us kids. I have two siblings who've always erased my stress by making me laugh. I have a house. And food. A car (oh man that's very useful). Selections and selections of clothes and shoes. I'm so selfish to want more. To be disappointed and unsatisfied for more than what I have. I deserve none of what I have.

But he's loved me. He's poured out his love to me. He's forgiven me. He's cared for me. He's always there for me. He never fails me.

This song perfectly describes Jesus' character and of how we should respond to his love for us.

Your love, oh Lord
Reaches to the heavens
Your faithfulness stretches to the sky
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains
Your justice flows like the ocean's tide


I will lift my voice
To worship You, my King
I will find my strength
In the shadow of your wings

always remember that you are blessed in whatever situation you are in. i know sometimes life treats you wrong but you are alive. you have clothing to cover you. a house to keep you safe. family and friends. you are forgiven and loved by God. you're blessed.

bouncing in to say bye, 
                                    bernie

God Uses Evil To...

*All credit for these words and verses from my Pastor*
A few weeks ago at church our Pastor talked about the word compatibilism.


Compatibilism, sometimes called soft determinism, is a theological term that deals with the topics of free will and predestination.
Another way to describe this definition is: everything is determined and ordained by God.

A verse that shows God's great plan for our lives is Genesis 50:19-20. After being sold into slavery by his brothers and then put into prison Joseph told his brothers,

¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

God uses evil to...
I. To chasten God's people
So that his Spirit may be saved but his flesh destroyed.
1st Corinthians 5:1-5 says,
³ For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. ⁴ So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, ⁵ hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh,^[a][b] so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.


II. To fashion God's people
For my power is made perfect in weakness.
2nd Corinthians 12:7 say,
⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

III. To glorify God
He did this to make known the riches of his glory.
Romans 9:22-23 says,
²² What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? ²³ What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory—

III. The end of evil
The last enemy that he shall abolish is death.
1st Corinthians 15:24-26 says,
24Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Why this meant so much to me was because I knew it was true. That everything really is according to God's good plan for you. And even though it looks like the evilest of evil, it's God's plan for you. It's all to prosper you too. Isn't that awesome?!






So much this week I've been  reminded of how great God is. Last year I went through a tough thing, changing churches after being at my original church for all I can remember. I felt like we were doing everything wrong changing churches. Even that very hard time for me, he had a plan. Over the year we've been going to my new church, it's been so awesome. My walk with God has grown so much over the time that we started going here. I've done so much with my church. And I'm so thankful that God's got my life in his hands. Because if he didn't I would've stayed at my old church and I maybe wouldn't be the person I am now.






What I'm saying guys is, let God have your life. Like the song Take my Life and Let it Be. Give your  life to God. He's in control. He's got a plan. Trust in him and know that's he's got it all in his hands. Because he does.






I apologize AGAIN for not posting a lot. It's been busy around here (still not an excuse) and I just don't have a lot of inspiration. So even though this post might be a little rough, I hope you understand it.






Thanks for reading.
bouncing in to say bye,
                                   bernie

My Christmas

My Christmas Handstand ;P

Merry Christmas guys!!

On Christmas Eve we went to our grandparents house. It was different going there Christmas Eve because we usually go Christmas day, but our uncle had to work on Christmas. So we had a meal and then opened presents. It was awesome to receive stuff, but it was nice to give stuff too. All week me and Sarah were making cookies for our family. I was glad to give those cookies to them. I'm so blessed because our grandparents are so gracious to us. I got some sports slippers, jeans, leggings, pj's, a gymnastic books, and some other cool stuff. It's not all the time we spend time with EVERYONE in our family so it was very relaxing and enjoyable to spend time with them.

On Christmas day we got up, read the Christmas story, and then opened up presents from our parents. It's always a blast because we all buy presents for all our siblings and parents. I got my dad a tie and a shirt for work, my mom a calendar I made at shutterfly, my brother some pj's and a camo shirt, and Sarah a shirt that says "it is well with my soul" (I'm actually listening to that song RIGHT NOW lol). I got a gymnastics leotard, a Seahawks shirt, more gymnastics clothes, some weights, and other awesome stuff too. We also all got a Wi which we were definitely excited about. After we did that we got ready for church. It was so special to get to go to church on Christmas. When we got home we started preparing the meal. Our grandparents and great grandma came over too. It was special to see everyone there. This year we hosted Thanksgiving meal and Christmas meal which is different for us but very fun! :)

I'm just so blessed guys. I'm so thankful. And this year God taught be that even though things are different, that doesn't mean it's not going to be fun. Our holidays have been different. Thanksgiving meal we didn't spend at our aunts like usual. Our Christmas meal with our family was on Christmas Eve. But even though everything seems ruined, God helps us make new memories. Don't be discouraged when everything doesn't go like usual. Because God is good all the time.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas!! And remember that even though Christmas is over, it doesn't mean we should forget Jesus' birth. Keep celebrating it. Always be reminded of the true King, born in a manger, who came to save us all.

Have a lovely rest of the week!!

What was your favorite present?

What did you do for Christmas?

bouncing in to say bye,

                                bernie

What I Like About the Song Offering

The sun cannot compare to the glory of Your love
There is no shadow in Your presence
No mortal man would dare to stand before Your throne
Before the Holy One of heaven

It's only by Your blood
And it's only through Your mercy
Lord, I come

I bring an offering
Of worship to my King
No one on earth deserves
The praises that I sing

Jesus, may You receive
The honor that You're due
O Lord, I bring an offering to You
I bring an offering to You

I love this song because of the verse "No one on earth deserves the praises that I sing."

I love that verse because it's so true.

NO ONE

deserves

NO ONE

is worthy

of the praise that I sing

to my

AMAZING

Father.

This songs sings about how

HOLY

ALMIGHTY

POWERFUL

AND GREAT

he is.

I pray that we will go to Jesus today and thank him.

And praise him.

For all he has done for us.

bouncing in to say bye,

                                Bernie

What I like about the song At the Cross

Welcome to Good Apples Friday

Today I wanted to share this song called "At the Cross" by Chris Tomlin.

There's a place where mercy reigns and never dies

There's a place where streams of grace flow deep and wide
Where all the love I've ever found
Comes like a flood
Comes flowing down

[Chorus:]
At the cross
At the cross
I surrender my life
I'm in awe of You
I'm in awe of You
Where Your love ran red
And my sin washed white
I owe all to You
I owe all to You Jesus

There's a place where sin and shame are powerless
Where my heart has peace with God and forgiveness
Where all the love I've ever found
Comes like a flood
Comes flowing down

[Chorus]

Here my hope is found
Here on holy ground
Here I bow down
Here I bow down
Here arms open wide
Here You save my life
Here I bow down
Here I bow

I love this song so much. It's so peaceful.

I love the line "I'm in awe of you."

Whenever I think about Jesus dyeing on the cross I think about the sacrifice he gave up.  

How he died for the ones who were beating him to death.

He gave his life for us; the ones who constantly disobey and hate him.

"I'm in awe of you"

You are awesome God.

To die for us.

To die for them.

To love us so much that you would die for us.

And how do we apply to this message?

To this loving God who died for us.

How do we apply to this?

We bow down to him.

We follow him.

And we tell others about this amazing God.

Isn't God amazing?

Every single Good Apples Friday post I write I always leave saying,

"WOW. WOW. My God is so awesome. So amazing. So powerful. So loving. So caring. So forgiving."

I hope you feel this way to when you read about God.

Have a lovely week.

A great Reformation Day!

And that you may be reminded of how amazing God is every single day.

bouncing in to say bye,

                               bernie

Good Apples Friday // Is Belief in God Logical?

Welcome to Good Apples Friday

Although I do believe that belief in God is logical, I never really knew reasons that belief in God is logical until a couple of weeks ago. My youth group has been going through a book called "A Quest for Truth." A long time when the author Shannon Hurley was interested in God he had lots of questions. It was frustrating to not know the answers. This is why Shannon Hurley wrote this book. To help others understand the Bible more. This has definitely helped me especially chapter 2 which is what I'm about to talk about.

Is Belief in God Logical?

The four logical reasons are...

1. The complexity of the world demands the need for a designer.

In simpler words, "The world is so complicated that it must be a result of God."

This year in biology, I've been constantly reading about the most complicated things ever. I used to think that just animals and humans could move around and eat other things. This year I've learned that plants make food for other plants or animals. I've been learning about bacteria that can move and attack other bacteria for food. It's so complicated.

This world is so complicated it has to require someone so smart to have created it. So intelligent and powerful to have thought of all this. This world is so complicated that it couldn't of appeared. It demands the need for designer. 

In this book he says, "If there is no God what other possibility can there be for the creation of such a wonderfully complex universe?"

2.  A reproductive world demands the need for a pre-exist being.

"Since everything in the universe is produced from something that existed

beforehand, there must have been someone who has always existed.

I came in to existence when my parents had me, they came into existence when they're parents had them, when they're parents had them, and it goes on and on. Where did the first child come from? There had to be a creator. History and science have proven that animals can only be reproduced from it's own species. A cat has a cat as it's parent and it cannot have a dog as it's parent.


If there is no God, then how did this whole reproductive process begin?
3. Man's inward sense of right and wrong demands the need for a lawgiver.
"Since there is a universal desire to live morally, God must have been the one to have created that desire."
 How is there an universal knowledge of right and wrong? How do we feel guilty after doing some kind of wrong-doing? Everyone has a guilt in doing something wrong and try to do things right.
If mankind evolved do you think he would of evolved with moral standards or would he just come into existence?


If there is no God, who put this system of morality within mankind?


4. The need for purpose demands the need for a purposeful creator?
"Since everyone has the desire to live for something there must have been someone who put that desire to live into mankind."
This is saying two things: that there is a purposeful Creator and that Creator puts a purpose within mankind at creation. Every object has some kind of purpose. Just like clay was molded into a sculpture for a purpose. Everyone has a purpose for life. Everyday we wake up and have an aim and  purpose for the day.
Who put the desire in mankind to want to live with an aim for his day?
Who put the desire in mankind to make something of himself?
If there is no God, then who put this purposeful desire with mankind?




I hope you understand this whole post. I know it can be confusing, but once you understand it, it really makes sense.


I recommend you guys to read "Quest for Truth" by Shannon Hurley.


Please give me feedback on what you thought about this post. I love to hear you guys! :)


bouncing in to say bye,
                                   bernie

Good Apples Friday // My God is Amazing and Here's Why.

Seriously everybody my God is amazing!

 

Welcome to Good Apples Friday

 

I am here today to remind you of how great your God is. And how loving he is towards you.

 

 

Today for my bible study I had the joy of reading the last to chapter sadly of Live Smart. I recently posted about this book and how we should love the church a couple weeks ago and I'm here again with some other awesomeness from this book.

 

Know the Gospel

 

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2nd Corinthians 5:21

 

At first I didn't really get this verse, but now after hearing this chapter it really comes clear.

 

What do you feel like most of the time when you get very bad score on a test? I feel very discouraged. But what about this kind of score? What if I told you that every single day I pray to God saying, "God please let me obey you today. Please let me love others. Please let me have a good attitude and obey my parents." And after that I hate on others. I don't obey my parents and if I do I whine horribly about it. And that makes me feel so discouraged. So mad. That I can't go one hour without sinning against God. Without just saying two words after my mom tells me to do something. Yes mom. Why? And it makes me feel so sorry to God. I failed. I totally failed. That test was to see if I could obey my mom with a good attitude and I failed.

 

But God sees this and he is sorry for us. He loves us and he doesn't want us to go to hell. He wants us to be with him forever. So he looks at his son and his perfect score. Jesus, lived a perfect life. Absolutely no sins. And what reward does Jesus get for that perfect score. Would you take the blame for all of Ellie's sins and every ones sins and die for them. I get so mad when sometimes my dad said I meant to spill the water on the table when really it was just an accident. Imagine people hating on Jesus and making him die for something he never even did. But he loved us enough that he did that for us. He died for us. He took my blame. Okay thank you Jesus!

 

And it gets better too! Not only did Jesus take my blame, but he gave me his perfect score. I'm clean. You are clean guys! Jesus gave you his perfect score. His 100% on one of the hardest I mean hardest tests of your life. He gave it to you. oh boy girls you are loved. you are loved!

 

Martin Luther called this the "great exchange." You know what I deserve? Eternal death. You know what Jesus deserves? Eternal life with Jesus Christ. And you know what I received instead of what I deserve. Eternal life with Jesus Christ. And you know what Jesus received instead of what he deserved. death. And he did die. But he rose from the dead. And now we will have eternal life with him in heaven. Oh thank you Jesus. I do not deserve ANYTHING. But you gave me eternal life.

 

 

This is why my God is amazing.

And I hope you think that too.

 

Now spread this to everyone you see.

And let them see the joy that you have too.

 

That Jesus died for you and he is risen!

 

 

bouncing in to say bye,

                                bernie

 

 

P.S. I'm on vacation right now and I'm having a great time!