Love

Does God really love us?

I say look to the crucified Jesus.

Look to the old rugged cross.

By every thorn that punctured His brow.

By every mark of the back lacerating scourge.

By every hair of his beard plucked from his cheeks by cruel fingers.

By every bruise which heavy fists made upon His head.

God said, "I love you!"

By all the spit that landed on his face.

By every drop of sinless blood that fell to the ground.

By every breath of pain which Jesus drew upon the cross.

By every beat of His loving heart. God said, I love you.

::Billy Lobbs::

At the heart of the story stands the cross of Christ

where evil did it's worst and met it's match.

John W. Wenham

Guilty

I attended my church's (Harvest Bible Chapel) Good Friday service tonight. It was amazing. They had this walk through, with art and a tactile experience (instruments of torture that they would use in Jesus' time) Anyway, the last part of it was when two guys in black robes stamped your hand in ink, as they said "Guilty!" The next part was taking a red sharpie and writing your name on a huge cross and then taking communion, sitting down and meditating on what Jesus has done.

The part that struck me most about the service, was that I am guilty. Guilty of putting my sins on the one holy man in the universe. The only one who didn't deserve one speck of punishment. I put him on that cross. My own sin and failures kept him up there.

i.

am.

guilty.

Thanksgiving post

Yay! Finally, my Thanksgiving post is up!! :-)

Crazy Andrew

Grandpa!

So adorable!!

Me and Andrew :)

For mum

I think it cut some of it off. And the voice and video doesn't match up. Oh well. You get the point. HAPPY EARLY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Fourth of July

Fun Candids

And of course we had to have our annual incident. It never fails, something always happens! :)

Thank you Susan and Robert for the awesome homemade

ice cream and root beer. And the supper too. :)

She's on the go!

Paul was helping Elisabeth with her shoe. We concluded that she lost her shoe on purpose, just for him. [smile]

Reminder of Freedom

Fireworks

What a wondeful day to celebrate our freedom and blessings that God has given to us!

A late Mother's Day

I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.

~Abraham Lincoln

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Where would I be without my mother? I often wonder this. Where would I be without her prayers? Where would I be without her constant love for me? I don't know where I would be, but I'm very glad for what she gave me: a life, and a wonderful one at that.

Happy Mother's Day mom!! I love you!

Easter

I was able to be with one of my friend's, Joy, over Easter break and go to her house. I had a blast and was actually able to help out with the Sonrise service! :) Some sermon notes from Joy's dad:

Most people didn't value Jesus, even if they were really close to Him. In the same way, people today often don't value the cross. The climax of Easter was when Jesus cried out "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Jesus was utterly rejected. Rejected by the Roman soldiers. By the people He had come to save. By His disciples. By His own Father. Jesus endured rejection for us! He was mocked for not being able to save Himself, but as Robert Coleman says, "He didn't come to the world to save Himself, He came to save the world." And this rejected King became the Savior of the world. Have you praised Him for His willingness to be rejected?!

Who needs a title?

Sorry I haven't been here lately again. And I'm sorry for the webdings font on the last post! In Mozilla, it looks perfectly fine, but not so much in IExplorer. :) Let's see what has been going on lately? Homewor homework homework. I have a five page research paper due tomorrow at 11. We have a Piranesi assignment where we have to add onto his etching using our imagination. We have two weeks to complete it and it will be in pen and ink. Today in design, we made valentine's cards. Yup, that's right, valentines. We had to make it 3D, but it was really fun. Speaking of which, Happy Valentine's Day everyone!! In case you didn't read it last year, click here to read about why we celebrate this holiday. Remember to thank your true valentine today. For His eternal love for us.

Merry Christmas!!!

Well, Christmas is almost over, and I can't help but think how many blessings I have. And according to White Christmas, we are supposed to "count our blessings instead of sheep." To name a few: family, friends, fellowship, food. (I didn't even try to get everything to start with the letter f :-) Oh, and then there is faith! :D We opened our presents last night after the Christmas program at church. We've never opened them before Christmas, but we figured we can celebrate Jesus' birth when we want, right? ;-) Speaking of presents, I got the Hiding Place and another book about Corrie ten Boom (and The Penney by Joyce Meyer) from Trisha. So I'll be reading those for a while. :) Thanks Trisha!!

And don't worry about the background, we weren't drinking wine, just white grape juice. :)

It is so much fun to get people's reactions when they open their presents. =D

Recitations at the Christmas program

Joseph

I hope everyone had a merry Christmas full of fun enjoyed with your loved ones.

Exciting Fourth of July

We (mom, dad, the boys, Trisha and I) went to Susan's house for the fourth again this year -- so fun! Homemade ice cream. Homemade root beer (that can be a little strong!) Anyway, delicious!

The boys were in charge of lighting most of the fireworks. One of them tipped over (one of the fireworks not a boy) and was shooting sparks, etc. at us! This happened a different year, too. The last time it hit Susan, but it didn't hit anyone this time, just scared us! :-/ :-)

Then when we were almost done, Robert was lighting a sparkler (for one of the boys). But then all the stuff that was on his lap (other sparklers, etc.) lit!!!!! He threw it off his lap so fast! We were laughing after that, but for about four seconds we were all so scared!! After that, Susan, Trisha, Scott and I went in to play spoons. Andrew joined in for a game or two later. Then we all went home and went to bed. Well, not all of us...

Trisha and I stayed up until 4:45 watching movies. And talked probably until 5:30. When we saw the twilight streaming through the doors, we figured that maybe it was a sign we should go to bed! :-)

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Well, these are the top four pictures. Keep in mind that this is the first time I have attempted firework pics. But I gotta admit, I cropped some on the last one. :)

Still Glorious

The tears began to form as they began

to raise the flag.

The symbol of the freedoms we enjoy.

He thought of those who think it's just a

colored piece of rag.

He thought of times when he was just a boy.

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Back then no one would ever think to

burn or tarnish it.

It always stood so very strong and proud.

Back then whenever it was raised you would not

think to sit,

When it was being raised before a crowd.

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He understands it's just a symbol

``````for our freedoms here,

And it protects the rights that people have.

He understands the freedoms to deface it

or to cheer,

But that some do deface it makes him sad.

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He understands that right is one that

``````goes with all the rest.

Total freedom gives us all that right,

But seeing it defaced has always put him to the test,

And sometimes really made him want to fight.

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But he would never want to change what made

````this country great,

And why we celebrate July the 4th.

People fought and died in wars to seal

this county's fate.

To put this country on its freedom course.

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The thing he must remember as `old glory'

rises high,

It stands for freedom; always standing tall.

It is our choice to keep it sacred till the day we die,

Or you may not acknowledge it at all.

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He sees the colors flying high and

waving in the wind,

And wishes everybody felt this way,

But understands the freedom that it has

afforded them,

And that's what makes this country great today.

`

He's proud to be American; he's proud of

his homeland.

He's proud of that old flag that's flying there.

He only wishes when it's raised he could

`````salute and stand,

But now he is confined to his wheelchair.

`

It was a war so long ago when he was

young and brave,

When he had made his choice to go and fight,

But freedom for our country was what

`````they all had to save,

So now today we all enjoy that right.

`

So as you celebrate the 4th no matter

what your plans,

Remember what it took to keep us free,

And all across the world wherever our

````` `old glory' stands,

Remember it means rights for you and me.

`
`

~ James A. Kisner ~

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to a...

Happy Father's Day to

(emphasis on my)

(Dedication)

I want to be just like Daddy!

I love you, Daddy!!!

And happy Father's Day to every father!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy late Mother's Day!!

I love you Mommy!!!! Thank you for always encouraging me to do my best. And to remember to praise God. Thank you for a Godly home to grow up in. And thank you for preparing awesome food!!! You are missing out, if you haven't tasted her homemade pizza. Or clam chowder. Or spaghetti. Or,... well, the list goes on and on! :-) :D

She [the mother] prepared some tasty food.

~

Part of Genesis 27:14

Easter

My favorite (Easter) Hymn-- Christ Arose

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Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,

He arose a Victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever,

with His saints to reign.

He arose!

He arose!

Hallelujah!

Christ arose!

Good Friday!

Good Friday! What an absolutely perfect day to be a Jesus Freak!

How splendid the cross of Christ! It brings life, not death; light, not darkness; paradise, not its loss. It is the wood on which the Lord, like a great warrior,was wounded in hands and feet and side, but healed thereby our wounds. A tree had destroyed us; a tree now brought us life.

Theodore of Studios

They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

The Crucifixion

As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"
In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' " In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

The Death of Jesus

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah."
Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him."
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"



Matthew 27: 28-54

A poem

We are all valentines in God's sight,
He loves us every one with all His might,
He's better than chocolates tied with a bow,
He loves his children and lets them know.

Give of yourself to someone today,
It's more lovelier than a bouquet.
Don't wait till another year,
to bring someone you love, a smile, some hope, and cheer.

Mary Eldridge

St. Valentine, the martyr

St. Valentine was a priest near Rome in about the year 270 A.D. At that time the Roman Emperor was imprisoning Christians for not worshipping the Roman gods. During this persecution Valentine was arrested. Some write that he was arrested because he was performing Christian marriages, but others say it was for helping Christians escape prison.

During the trial they asked Valentine what he thought of the Roman gods Jupiter and Mercury. Valentine said they were false gods and that the God that Jesus called Father was the only true God. So the Romans threw him in prison for insulting the gods.

While in prison Valentine continued to minister. He witnessed to the guards. One of the guards was a good man who had adopted a blind girl. He asked Valentine if his God could help his daughter. Valentine prayed and the girl was given her sight. The guard and his whole family, 46 people, believed in Jesus and were baptized. Because these people had come to know Jesus, Valentine praised God right there in his prison cell. When the emperor heard about this he was furious that Valentine was still making converts even in prison, so he had Valentine beheaded.

(This was the closest I could get to a rose)

Valentine knew that he might get caught in his Christian activities. He knew that if he told the court the truth about the Roman gods that he would be thrown in prison. And he knew that if he continued to witness to Christ in the prison he would make his captors angry. But he continued, because he loved the Lord and his fellow humans. He was willing to risk his life to free the prisoners and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to those who needed to hear it.

God showed us this love by coming in Christ to die for our sins. And St. Valentine demonstrated this love when he died for his friends. This is the kind of love that Valentine's Day is really about.

I got the above information at: http://www.just4kidsmagazine.com/stvalentine.html



If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

~

I Corinthians 13:1-3

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
~Martin Luther King, Jr.~