One Way. One Truth. And One Way to Win the Battle. 2 Timothy 2:3 says "Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus." Hardships? You didn't think you joined the Greatest Army ever and thought that there wouldn't be hardships, did you? Think again. And be quick about it. The arrows are flying, and the battle lines are drawn.
Due to various reasons (click HERE) UnderCover- The Online Magazine is cancelled. We are sorry if this causes an inconvenience to anyone. We will be using some of the articles sent in for UnderCover- The Online Magazine in our other magazine, Pure Little Ladies Ministry.
Again, we’re sorry for any inconvenience. Right now we don’t know exactly sure what will be done with UC, we may turn it back into a blog but again, we’re still not sure.
Please click HERE for more updates on UC’s Mag 09; it’ll give you the titles of articles we’re hoping to get, etc.
Guys are also welcome to send in articles, please don’t be offended by being sent to a "girly" site for the details on how to submit stuff. ^_^
And also, REMEMBER: UC won’t be able to last long if YOU don’t submit an article. The contents of the new magazine is mostly written by readers like you!
Hello to all the faithful readers of UnderCover! I thought it was about time I gave everyone an update on what’s going on at my place and at UnderCover.
As everyone knows, school is back in session and that consumes a lot of my day, leaving little or no time left to write devotional posts, unfortunately. My writing time (and my time for everything else I don’t have time for during the week) is usually on the weekends now, which is also packed with home fellowship and family time. Of course that means that UnderCover hasn’t been posting articles as fast as it did during the summer months when school was out. Not to worry, I’m still on top of things and I’m still posting articles on here, I’m just not as fast as I used to be a few months ago. ^_^
KeelCoolDude ( www.homeschoolblogger.com/keel0thoughts ) (former Knight of UnderCover) is still blogging and has been talking about posted on his blog but with his school, he hardly has time for that, too. But I assure you, he is very much alive. ^_^
My dad is still trying to get everything in order for his book to be published and as of now we’re trying to get a website set up. I’ll let everyone know when that’s done.
My mom is doing better and thank you SO MUCH to all those who were praying and are continuing to pray for her. Loosing Isaiah was a extremely tough thing to go through and we are SO THANKFUL that we had all of you!! As my dear friend Meggy says, "We’ve got your back!" Ya’ll truly backed us up with prayer through are difficult time; thanks SO MUCH!
As for me, I’ve decided to put novel writing on the back burner for now. Once my dad’s publishing house is up and running I’ll get Johanna’s Trust published but other than that all other books will be put aside as I pursue a different avenue: magazine writing. I’ve done some in the past and I’m hoping to do it more often now. I’m also in the process of starting up a ministry called Pure Little Ladies Ministry that I’m hoping the girls in my home church will run with me at one point, right now it’s all my articles. ^_^ I’ve set it up on Blogspotso it’s a whole new world to me but I’m enjoying it. PLLM is dedicated to "purity, modest, and loving the Messiah" and is geared more towards Torah observant Christians, and if you would like the link, comment me and let me know. As I’ve already said, it’s in the works so nothing’s perfect yet.
I’m also hosting a contest on my blog, www.homeschoolblogger.com/toria , check it out and enter!!! There’s 3 different prizes!!
Another thing that is going to be new at UnderCoveris that I’m accepting blog posts from YOU! Want to join UnderCover as a Guest Blogger? Comment this post and let me know. Don’t forget to give me your blog address, too! I’ll need to be able to contact you and give you my guidelines for writing. One more thing that might be coming to UnderCover is instead of posting spur-of-the-moment, I may change it to a monthly online magazine if I have enough young men and lady Believers to write for me. Ages 8-18 is what I’m looking for, although that may be subject to change, you never know with me. ^_^ But this’ll only happen once I see how many are interested in writing for me, I’ll need a handful of them in order to have enough articles. If you’re interested, comment and leave the same information asked if you want to be a Guest Blogger. I’m really excited to see how this goes!! Hopefully I’ll have enough writers and articles to start putting the first issue out January 1, 2009.
Before I go, Guest Blogger for UnderCover,Maiden Princess, just had a birthday and I totally flopped it, forgetting to send a card and post on my normal blog although I didn’t forget a gift. Unfortunately, no one knows when that’ll get to her. ^_^ But anyhow, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MP!!
I hope everyone has a blessed day, and keep close to the Master!
~*~Princess Croc Toria~*~
(also known on the blog-o-sphere as Lady Toria the Teaser, Croc Toria, and Miss Toria)
Co-founder of UnderCover and founder of Pure Little Ladies Ministry
How Deep The Father’s Love For Us:Part 1
By Maiden Princess
“But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
Lately, as I have been reading through the Scripture, I am amazed at how deep and wide and long is the love of God for His children- for me!To think that the Maker of the Universe loves me.He held me in His hands and knit me together in my Mother’s womb.He breathed life into me and gave me a destiny even before I was born. He created me to glorify Him and has given me the privilege to serve Him even after all I’ve done wrong.He gives me abounding grace and never stops loving me, even when I become very unlovely.I look at my life and say, why me? What does God see in me that He would love me enough to give His Son’s life in exchange for mine?I am not even near the child He was.I cannot comprehend this love He has for me.It makes me cry, laugh, and bow down in humility all at the same time.“And to know the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:19His love surpasses what I can even comprehend…amazing!So if you look at yourself today and think that you are alone and unloved remember that you have a God who created you, brought you into being, and loves you more than love can demonstrate.Truly, how deep is the Father’s love for us.
What Have I Done by Addie Camp
What have I done, Lord Jesus, to deserve Your endless love/ What have I done, Lord Jesus, to be worthy of Your grace/ What have I done, Lord Jesus, to be standing here with You/ What have I done, Lord Jesus,to be worthy of You/
Chorus: For I am nothing yet you love me/ I am no one yet You care/ You thought of me when You died/ What have I done to deserve this love
OOOOOOOOO….OOOOOOOOOOOO
And I lay down my will/ To do Yours until/ My life I give henceforth to live for You alone/ For I am nothing yet You love me/ I am no one yet You care/ You thought of me when You died/ What have I done to deserve this love
OOOOO….OOOO…OOOO
Repeat the first verse
You make me worthy of You/ You make me worthy of You
In every tree that turns color, in every ray of sun that warms my skin, in every gurgle and tumble the water takes, in the vast oceans and lakes, in the crashing waves, in the way the clouds float effortlessly across the sky, in the Cardinals and songbirds flitting here and there along there merry way, in thegreen grass that sways in the breeze,in the rain drops forming a symphony on the roof, in the bold lightning strikes across the dark sky, and the booming thunder shaking the house, in the blooming, blossoming flowers at my feet; all of this speaks of His love for me.Each His very own sticky note in my day reminding me of His unending love.And although I feel unworthy I embrace Him and know that I can do nothing but give my life for Him as a return token of my affection.He is worthy of no less!
May God be glorified in my life and yours forevermore.
Maiden Princess
Princess Croc Toria: Wildlife Warrior and Soilder of the Cross- It’s all for HIM
I never thought it would happen to my family.
All my life, I used to pray for another sibling…it didn’t seem fair that I prayed and prayed and prayed while other kids I knew had lots of other siblings, and they didn’t pray half as hard as I did for one. After 12 years, I gave up. What’s the use of praying when you don’t get answers? The hope for another sibling died out, like a candle blown out by the wind on a dark day. I thought that I believed God could do anything, but by giving up hope I was actually telling God that I thought He was no longer able.
Years went by, all hope of a baby vanished.
I never thought it would happen to my family.
On July 9th, 2008, my mom found out that she was pregnant.
We were all so happy, and I had a feeling in my heart that this baby would be apart of something bigger than real life, something amazing, a "really big God thing". All the people we called…all the excitement…all the debates over middle names…all the plans for the baby’s room…all unannounced to us that no baby would really be joining us; the time that we thought would be years with him would turn into only weeks.
Mom was having some pain about a week or two later, so she thought she should go to her doctor just to make sure everything was okay.
It wasn’t.
They saw no heartbeat, and her hormone levels didn’t double like they were supposed to. It rocked our world and our future we thought would be firm. So many people spent so much time praying for us and for our miracle baby, but even still we thought there would be no change as we walked into the doctor’s office once again on July 21st. We spent so many hours in prayer that weekend as we dreaded the 21st. But something happened…there was a Bible verse that spoke to us, from the book of Daniel. That’s when we knew it was a boy. We felt it deep down, a feeling I can’t explain. After hours of debating middle names, we knew it was to be Isaiah Daniel…but we didn’t know we would never hold him in our arms. We would’ve called you crazy if you told us that the Savior would be the One to give him his first kiss, that He would hold him in His arms instead of our arms. Crazy.
I never thought it would happen to my family.
I sat there in the waiting room with Keel, preparing myself for when the door would open and my mom’s tear-stained face would look into mine and say "He’s gone". But behind one of those closed doors back there, by dad was saying, "Isaiah, ARISE!" then turning to the ultrasound screen, he broke down in tears. Our miracle baby’s heartbeat was there. Our miracle baby was alive. It was one of the best days of my life. That day we would’ve called you crazy if you told us that our precious Isaiah Daniel would die just a few days after…and that we wouldn’t know until 3 weeks later.
I never thought it would happen to my family.
August 19th…we were at the doctor’s once again. And this time my mom’s tear-stained face met mine.
Why? Why my Isaiah Daniel, why the baby I prayed for all my life? Why our miracle baby? Why us?
I never…in my wildest dreams…would’ve thought it would happen to my family.
The only thing that kept me moving was the song that whispered in my ear as I walked down the hallway towards the door out of the dreaded doctor building…"You give and take away/You give and take away/My heart will choose to say/Lord blessed be Your Name" I told myself that just like in Job 2:10, we needed to accept the bad along with the good. Although we didn’t know what it was, God had a plan for taking our baby.
I was right when I knew that our baby would be apart of something great. Throughout the whole time, our baby touched lives. Isaiah gave hope to couples who had given up the hope of having another child, and through his death people marveled at our faith. God used Isaiah for things bigger and greater than I could’ve dreamed….he was used for real big God things. Although I’ll always carry that baby-shaped hole in my heart, I’ll always be thankful for what God did for my family.
Thank you to all of those who prayed for Isaiah, your prayers were not in vain. God brought our baby back to life that day on July 21st to show that He does answer prayer. Thank you to all those who sent (and are sending) cards or gifts, it means a lot to have something to remember our baby by.
Baby Dear, know that I love you and I can’t wait to meet you. You’re Home, in the Place where you belong…a Perfect Place, for a perfect miracle.
Blessed Be the Name
Blessed be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your Name
Blessed be Your Name
When I’m found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be Your Name
(Chorus)
Every blessing You pour out, I’ll turn back to praise
And when the darkness closes in, LORD, still I will say:
Blessed be the Name of the LORD
Blessed be Your Name
Blessed be the Name of the LORD
Blessed be Your glorious Name
Blessed be Your Name
When the sun’s shining down on me
When the world’s all as it should be
Blessed be Your Name
Blessed be Your Name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there’s pain in the offering
Blessed be Your Name
(Chorus)
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
LORD, blessed be Your Name
Blessed be the Name of the LORD
Blessed be Your Name
Blessed be the Name of the LORD
Blessed be Your glorious Name
(Repeat x 2)
~*~
You consume me, You consume me
Like a burning flame running through my veins
You consume me, You consume me
Any time any place You invade my space
You consume me, You consume me
( Consume Me, DC Talk)
~*~
God weeps too, God weeps too
Although we question Him for all that we go through
Still it helps me believe
And my pain it does relieve
When I think that God weeps too
( God Weeps Too, Eli)
~*~
He hasn’t left you out to dry
Even now
You haven’t left His watching Eye
Even now
So children sing it when you don’t see how
My Father’s worthy of my hope
Even now
( Even Now, Foolish Things)
~*~
I’m falling apart
I’m barely breathing
With a broken heart
That’s still beating
In the pain
There is healing
In Your Name
I find cleaning
So I’m holding on
I’m holding on
I’m holding on
I’m barely holding on to You
I’m hanging on another day
As to see what You will throw my way
I’m hanging on to the words You say
You said that I will be okay
( Broken, Lifehouse)
~*~
Then I’ll see Your Face
I know I’m finally Yours
I find everything
I thought I had lost before
You call my name
I come to Your in pieces
So You can make me whole
( Pieces, RED)
~*~
Be my Light in this darkened room
I’m on my face and I’m calling You
I can’t fathom all You’ve done for me
Every time it finds me on my knees
Like sunlight in the winter cold
And everything about You
It takes my breath away
Hallelujah
I tried this once without You
And it was my great mistake
( Everything About You, Sanctus Real)
~*~
Whatever You’re Doing
(Sanctus Real)
It’s time for healing
Time to move on
It’s time to fix what’s been broken too long
Time to make right
What has been wrong
It’s time to find my way to where I belong
There’s a wave that’s crashing over me
And all I can do is surrender
(Chorus)
Whatever You’re doing
Inside of me
It feels like chaos
But somehow there’s peace
And it’s hard to surrender
To what I can’t see
But I’m giving into something heavenly
UnderCover