Category: Personal

I Wear This Ring

Mihaela Echols3 Comments

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    The ring on my finger is not a wedding ring, or an engagement ring. It is a purity ring. I wear it to remind myself of two very important things, not only to remain loyal to my future husband, but also to be holy.

         Let me break it down.

        Purity: free from contamination.

        Contaminated: polluted.

        God commands us to be holy.

1 Peter 1:14-21

        ” As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.  But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;  for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

     Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.  For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.  He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.  Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.”

        So how do we remain pure?

Psalm 119:9

    “How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you. “

1 Corinthians 10:13

    “ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

    So yes I do wear it to be unpolluted by not having sex outside of marriage, but also by the world. I was talking with a friend and she wanted to show me a new lotion product. She suggested I should take my ring off so the lotion wouldn’t get in it. I did. On my wedding finger there is a permanent mark where my ring should be. I literally felt naked with out it. I know that if I stopped wearing it people would ask because I’ve had it for seven years. Some day, maybe, it will be replaced with a wedding ring. If not it will be resting on my finger making its mark forever.

For further reading: All The Single Ladies Put Your Praise Hands Up/First Kiss/True love waits…waits…and waits/Her Identity/ What If I Dont Marry?

Remembering The Important Thing

Mihaela EcholsLeave a comment

    People remember to be somewhere, to be on time, or to bring something to an event, that’s good. But I still think they are forgetting. I think if it is anyone who has the best memory it would be my younger siblings. All of them are adopted. Each with their own story to tell. I remember my mom was having one of my brothers memorize the fifty states for school. After they had studied for hours he had forgotten them all. But that doesn’t stop their hearts from singing.

Psalm 100:2

    “Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs”

    Why is that? Because they remember!

    They may not remember to put things away or something someone had just told  them. But they remember God’s love never fails! How do I know this? They walk around singing “Your love never fails it never gives up it never runs out on me.” through out the day. It is a song they’ve heard on the radio and at church by Jesus Culture: One thing Remains.  It stops me in my tracks every time I hear one of them singing what we all need to remember. Not just the appointment, or to turn in your home work for school tomorrow, but that God’s love never fails. 

Psalm 40:1-3

    “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.”

Courageous Child

Mihaela Echols37 Comments
 
 
                 Outward joy is when everyone can see the joy of the Lord spilling out everywhere.
 
      Four years ago I met this little girl. I loved her and still do. She is what people would call a walking miracle. With all the dirt, blood, tears and abandonment in her past she smiles. This little girl is my sister, Anissa. My family adopted her when she was five. When I look at her I see what she’s been through. But this is only because I know. If I were a stranger I never would have guessed it with the biggest smile she wears everyday and the most hopeful look in her eyes. Sometimes I think kids get it more than adults do. She doesn’t stop to think and frown at what had happened. Instead she loves her new life and embraces it everyday. How do I know this? She calls my mom, mom and believes it, she calls my dad, dad and believes it, and she calls Jesus, Jesus and believes it. She is always the one who has to pray at the dinner table. At her adoption July 15th 2011 there was a man who had helped with Anissa’s case and he said “I keep a picture of the old her to remind myself why I do what I do.”
Everyone of the social workers were amazed at how different of a child she was from the first time they’ve met her and who she is that day. A miracle? I know so. 
 
    Romans 15:13
“May the God of  hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the  Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
 
 
 
 

Elena’s Words

Mihaela EcholsLeave a comment

March 26, 2013

When she gets hurt and says “pray for me” she teaches me how God cares about every detail of our lives.

When she talks about the clouds she teaches me to look up and embrace God’s creation.

When she talks about the moon and asks “Do you see the moon?” I say “yes” and am reminded how small we really are.

When she talks about storms she reminds me of Gods power.

When she talks about choir she reminds me to sing even if there is no concert to practice for.

When someone says a bad word and she gets mad she teaches me how to hold my tongue.

When she talks about over coming her fears she teaches me to be brave.

When she asks “Do you love me?” about fifty times a day I am reminded of how many people ask the same question but only tuck it in their hearts

Even though these are the only things she talks about and you’ll probably hear them for the rest of her life STOP “Don’t get mad” as she would say and see what she says has meaning.

I love you Big Wayne!

-Mihaela