The 3 Day Quote Challenge, Day 1

Hello!
Today, I have something a little different for you. I was nominated by Katie from Concealed Foundation  for the 3 Day Quote Challenge. Thank you very much for nominating me, Katie!
Okay, here's the rules:

Rules:
-Thank the person who nominated you
-Nominate 3 new bloggers everyday
-Post a new quote everyday for 3 consecutive days



And here is my quote today:

I nominate:
Bonnie from Bonnie's Blessings
Ellie from A Bounce in Your Step 
Allie from Sincerely AllieD.


See you tomorrow for the next quote!

Presenting Poetry, March Edition

Hello, readers!
Today is the first post in my new feature, Presenting Poetry. (Thank you very much  to Hosanna Emily for suggesting the name!)
Once a month, I'll be posting a new poem for you all, with a little review or commentary. If you ever have suggestions for some good poems, please comment and tell me!
So without further ado, here's this month's poem.


If Jesus Came to Your House
by Lois Blanchard

If Jesus came to your house
To spend some time with you,
If He came unexpected,
I wonder what you'd do.

Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room
To such an honored guest
And all the food you'd give to Him
Would be the very best.

And you would keep assuring Him
You're glad to have Him there—
That serving Him in your home
Is joy beyond compare.

But when you saw Him coming,
Would you meet Him at the door
With arms outstretched in welcome
To your heavenly visitor?

Or would you have to change your clothes
Before you let Him in
Or hide some magazines
And put the Bible where they'd been?

Would you hide your worldly music
and put some hymn books out?
Could you let Jesus walk right
in, or would you rush about?

And I wonder—if the Savior
spent a day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing, the
things you always do?

Would you go right on saying, the
things you always say?
Or would life for you continue
as it does from day to day?

Would you take Jesus with you
everywhere you go?
Or would you maybe change your
plans for just a day or so?

Would you be glad to have Him
meet your closest friends?
Or would you hope they stay away,
until His visit ends?

Would you be glad to have Him
stay forever on and on?
Or would you sigh with great
relief when He at last was gone?

It might be interesting to know,
the things that you would do,
If Jesus came in person, to spend
some time with you.



What did you think when you read this? At first, I was just like "Oh, well that's nice. I like that poem". Then I read it again, and it really struck me. If Jesus really could come to my house, would I act the same? That really got me thinking. I may not run to hide any carved idols I have, or change my plans from some that are simply ungodly, but would every action be the same? Our first reaction, mine included, would be "No, of course I wouldn't change anything!" But the more you think about it, it's all the little things that we would most likely be ashamed of, if Jesus came to our house. Our reaction to our annoying younger sibling, to our misplaced school paper, to our day that hasn't gone anything like what we planned. Remember, Jesus always sees us, even if we don't see Him!
We are called to be different from  the world around us, and that means being like Christ all the time-- not just on Sunday morning at church. Anyone, at anytime, should be able to tell that we are different! This poem really convicted me to think about that more.
So there's my ramblings for that poem. :D
Did you enjoy this poem? What did you think of it? Tell me below!

Man of Sorrows, Lamb of God

Man of sorrows Lamb of God

By His own betrayed

The sin of man and wrath of God

Has been on Jesus laid

Silent as He stood accused

Beaten mocked and scorned

Bowing to the Father's will

He took a crown of thorns

On that rugged cross

My salvation

Where Your love poured out over me

Now my soul cries out

Hallelujah

Praise and honor unto Thee

Sent of heaven God's own Son

To purchase and redeem

And reconcile the very ones

Who nailed Him to that tree

Now my debt is paid

It is paid in full

By the precious blood

That my Jesus spilled

Now the curse of sin

Has no hold on me

Whom the Son sets free

Oh is free indeed

See the stone is rolled away

Behold the empty tomb

Hallelujah God be praised

He's risen from the grave!

I hope that you will remember what this Easter season is all about as you read the lyrics to this song.
We sing it in church a lot, and I never really noticed how beautiful the words are, or how relevant they are to Easter until now! If you have never heard this song sung with music, I would encourage you to look it up and listen to it.
Have a blessed Easter Sunday, celebrating our risen Saviour!

New Features!

Hello, Readers!
You probably have noticed that my blog has a new look now.  Allie D. has kindly made me this wonderful design, and I am so excited! Please be sure to check out her design blog if you ever need a a custom blog design. :)

There will also be some other changes coming up. For one, I would like to have a regular feature of some sort every other week. But that's were you wonderful readers come in! I have come up with
a few ideas for features, but I need your vote on it! Below are my ideas:


Poetry Day--
Twice a month, I will post a poem with a short review. The subjects will vary from faith, nature, inspirational, or any other subject that I come across that's interesting. I may even share some poems that I have written....if you can bear it. :P And if you want this feature, please suggest a better name for it!! ;D


The Guessing Game--
Okay, I need help with that name as well! The idea for this one is a post that contains a short selection from a book. It could be a classic, a more modern book, or anywhere in between. Readers will guess in the comments which book they think the selection is from. There won't be a prize for this, it;s just a fun little game. I will announce the winner's names, however!


Some other features that would be lovely to have would be:

Monthly Highlights--
At the end of each month, I would post about the random things I've done, books I've read, music I listened to, etc.


Blog Recommendations--
Probably the thing I love the most about being a blogger is all the wonderful friends you can make! With blog recommendations, I would share blogs and Christian websites that I read and love, and that I hope you will too!


Christian Living Posts--
Posts about what I'm learning in my walk with Christ, and other encouraging, faith-filled tidbits!



Other New Features--
Other things that I can include on a regular basis  would be favorite recipes, book/series recommendations,and book reviews (yes, I know I have a tab for it already, but if you really want to read book reviews, then tell me and I'll be inspired to actually write one!)


If you have any other ideas that you might like me to do, please tell me! And please suggest some better names for them! :)

Please comment and tell me which of the above features you would like to see on A Purpose and a Promise! 

Have a great weekend!

Choose Joy!

Hello, friends! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend with your family.
Lately, the weather has been very rainy and gray, and it can just make you feel down sometimes. Combine that with an already busy and stressful day and a million things on your mind that you have to do, well, it's hard to be joyful at times like that. Before you know it, you are walking around with a gloomy face and your family is wondering what's wrong with you! In times like that,we need to be reminded that God is still good, and that our joy is not dependent on the circumstances around us. 1 Thessalonians 5 :16 says to "Rejoice always", not just when things are going great.
In case you're having a day like that, here's a few reminders about joy. And even if you're not having a bad day, enjoy them anyway!  (Hey, I made a pun! :P)

Have a joy-filled day!

The Liebster Award

Hello, readers!

Loren nominated me for the Liebster Award!! This is the first time I've ever done an tag/award, so please bear with me. :)

Here's her questions that I am answering:

What is the first long word you can think of?
Exasperated, if that's long enough :) 

Dream job?
For a career job, I'd have to say, owning a bakery 

Last movie you watched?
Where the Red Fern Grows (yeah, my brother's choice) :D

If you could give any advice to your younger self, what would it be?
(Ack, this question makes me feel really old!) Probably to stop worrying so much and just trust God.

Favorite fan art? 
Ummmm.............

Guilty blogging habit?
I tend to publish my posts to quickly, without "sitting on it" a few days, like I probably should. :O

If you could have a major role in any movie, what would it be?
I've never really thought about it! 

Which do you prefer, snail mail (letters) or email?
Oh...... I  like both, but there's something about getting a letter that I really love.

Are you in a scouting group? 
Yes, I am in American Heritage Girls, a faith-based scouting group for girls. 

Have you ever made an ATC?
No, not that I can remember 

Do you have any social media accounts?
Goodreads and Google +. 


Thanks for nominating me, Loren! 

I tag...........Hannah @ Completely for Him| Emma @ Picture Perfectionist| Jessica @ Living Joyfully| GPL @ Lord's Girls | Emma @ Drawn to Writing | Katie Grace @ A Writer's Faith | Hosanna Emily @ Having a Heart Like His| Eden @ Literally My Life| Brooklyn @ Blue | Ashley @ Creating Precious Moments | Allie @ Spreading My Joy | 

RULES: 

• Link back to the person who tagged you
• Answer a 11 questions
• Tag 11 bloggers who have less than a thousand readers 
• Ask them 11 questions
• Let them know you've tagged them through social media

My Questions:

What's the first word you can think of that starts with R?

What is the last song you listened to?

What is your favorite thing about blogging?

Is there a story behind your blog's name?

Tea or hot chocolate?

Which do you prefer, snail mail (letters) or email?

Guilty blogging habit?

Do you have any social media accounts?

What is the next book you want to read? 

Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?

What is your favorite website (not a blog)? 

Have fun! =)