Science Museum ~ The Dead Sea Scrolls

Due to the fact that the scrolls are 2,000 years old and the frailty of them, picture were forcefully frowned upon.  This is as good as I got for you.  :)

Water display.  The air pressure would move the bubbles up and down.

Happy Sheets ::'~

Here is a happy picture for your day.  Also, I'd like to give Olivia a warm welcome over at  Run the Earth and Watch the Sky. 

 

 

 

 

 

More to come...

There are more pictures if you go to my Photography blog... HERE!

Perfect Peace

stay close by my side
keep your eyes on me
though this life is hard
i will give you perfect peace

in this time of trial
pain that no one sees
trust me when i say
i will give you perfect peace

and you'll never walk alone
and you'll never be in need
though i may not calm the storms around you
you can hide in me
burdens that you bear
offer no relief
let me bear your load
cause i will give you perfect
stay close by my side
and you'll never walk alone
keep your eyes on me
and you will never be in need
though this life is hard
know that i will always give you perfect peace
i will give you perfect peace

Sugar Creek Gang

   The first thing I did when I got home was to slip into our bathroom and lock the door and take a good look at myself in the mirror.  Or perhaps I should say, a bad look.  I certainly was a sight, and I think that I actually looked meaner than the little red-haired, mean-faced Till boy.
   I didn't like to have my parents see me like that, but of course they did.  I washed my hands and face carefully and combed my hair.  When I came out of the bathroom, Mom, who was getting upper, gasped and said, "What on earth!"
   I hated to mention the fight, so I said, trying to be indifferent, "Oh, I just got too close to a bumblebee who didn't like me very well." I knew that before long I'd have to tell her about the fight though.
   Mom stood there with a teakettle in one hand and a potato peeler in the other, and with astonishment all over her face.  She said, "It certainly looks like you got too close to two bumblebees!" There was  a twinkle in her eyes though.  She knew boys pretty well and was used to having me come home with a sore toe or a worn shirt or with a new bump on my head were I'd fallen down somewhere.
   Mom turned around and poured water out of the teakettle into something she was cooking, then she said, using the same tone of voice I'd been using, "What were you trying to do? Use the bumblebees for binoculars?"
   She didn't scold me for getting stung 'cause she figured maybe I couldn't help it. Besides, getting stung and having your eye swell almost shut, is enough punishment. I certainly would know enough to be careful next time without being told.
   I went in to see Charlotte Ann who was getting cuter every day and who had the sweetest smile.  We'd do most anything to get her to smile, such as tickling her under the chin or touching her pink toes or making funny faces, and sometimes she wouldn't, but would just lie there with her big blue eyes open wide and look innocent.  Then her little arms and legs would start going like four windmills, and she would coo and act awful smart.
   Well, when I came in with my swollen eyes, she started smiling right away.  "How do you like your big ugly-faced brother?" I asked her, and those four windmills started going and she looked like she was so happy she could talk, only she couldn't.
   I picked her up carefully like Mom had taught me to and held her a while, being especially careful to hold her so her little head wouldn't bob around too much.  Then we went and stood in front of our big mirror in Mom's bedroom.
   I tell you she was a grand little sister.  Something in me just bubbled up kind of like the water does down in the spring, and I kissed her on top of her curly, black head and called her Charlie and said, "We're going to be pals when you grow up, aren't we?"
   That bubbling up kept going right on inside of me.  Oh, I tell you she was wonderful! Grand! Great! Astonishing! Perfectly swell!
   I put Charlie down in her bassinet and went out into the kitchen, gave Mom a hug and went galloping out of doors yelling "Whoopie" forgetting all about my swollen eyes, except that I couldn't see very well. I started helping dad with the chores.

The Killer Bear by Paul Hutchens pg. 97-99

Favorite Devotionals...

Come Forth as Gold #30

1 John 3:2-3

...The picture of the Refiner is stright from Eastern life.  The Eastern goldsmith sits on the floor by his crucible.  For me, at least, it is not hard to know why the heavely Refiner has to sit so long.  The heart knows it's own dross.
"How do you know how long to sit and wait? How do you know when it is purified?" we asked our village goldsmith.
"When I can see my face in it," he replied.
Blessed be the love that never wearies, never gives up hope that, even in such poor metal our Father may at last see the reflection of His face.

My Father, if you are working into me some traits I would not have chosen to work on myself (for example, patience!), then I ask for your grace to carry me through.
"Purify" me of everything but perfect acceptance in you.....

EXTREME Smile
Day 207

Romania: Milan Haimovici

The cold, dark prison cell was crowded with Romanian Christians who were determined to bring the light of Jesus into the darkness.  One of these prisoners was a Jewish believer names Milan Haimovici.
One day, Milan began a discussion with another cell mate who was a great scientist but a godless man.  Milan was not of the same intellectual and cultural level as this professor, but he told him about Jesus.  The professor scorned him, "You are such a liar.  Jesus lived two thousand years ago.  How can you say that you walk and talk with him?"
Milan replied, "It is true that he died two thousand years ago, but he is also resurrected and is living even now."
Then the professor challenged Milan, "Well, you say that he talks with you.  What is the expression on his face?"
Milan answereed." Sometimes he smiles at me."
"Such a lie," the professor laughed. "Show me how he smiles." Milan graciously conceded.  he was horn and only skin and bones, with dark circles around his eyes.  Hews missing teeth and was wearing prisoner's uniform, but such a eautiful smile appeared on his lips.  his dirty face shone.  There was so much peace, so much contentmetn, and so much joy on his face.
The godless professor bowed his head and admitted, "Sir, you have seen Jesus."

Learning How to Breath...


The Will of God is Good...

Pledging Her Allegiance to Christ

Graduation 2010

At the beginning of the video I am saying that I am going to be taking a video to show those of you who weren't able to make it around my church.  :)

Decorations

Parents with Roses and Diploma

FOOD! :)

Friends

More decorations

Board

Display Tables

Gift/Card table

Great-Grandma Mary with Josiah

Psalm 18:1-3

I love you, O LORD, my strength. 

 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; 

       my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. 

       He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my 

stronghold. 

 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Here is some cuteness from a week ago.  They were both looking outside for their Dads.  :)

Josiah is here! :)

I haven't had a chance to take any good pictures, so I will just direct your attention to those who did.  :)

Katie- The Mommy herself

Auntie Ana

She was SO excited to see Josiah!! :) 

She actually tried snapping this one herself, but I slightly intervened. 

Okay, so I took this one. =)

Little Sunshiny Smile

Happy Saturday!! 

XOXO

Learning How to Breathe

• If your hunger and thirst for Scripture has waned in recent days, chances are you have enjoyed a season of prosperity and blessing that has resulted in the beginnings of a plateauing faith.  One way to work up an appetite for God's Word is to take an honest look at where you are with the Lord.  So where are you??  Check your schedule and carve out a good half-hour to come before him.  Begin your time with God by thanking him for everything good in your life right now.  Next, ask God to bring to mind those values and behaviors that have started to slide as a result of the way you have managed his blessings.  Listen for what he will say.

•  Where is your Bible?  What steps do you need to take to begin a program of regular Bible Study?

• Nothing primes the pump of a well like a little water.  God ahead and dip into the Bible for verses you have preciously underlined or highlighted. Read them and rediscover the truth of a particular passage that caused you to underline that verse in the first place.  With each verse, ask, "Now what?" In other words, write specific ways that you can put that verse into practice in your life.

• Follow Hallelujah Hal's example and commit to memorize large portions of Scripture.  Begin by writing down all the Bible verses you know from memory.  Then add to your total by memorizing a verse a week.

• On another day, read Psalm 119 in one sitting.  Make note of the number of times the psalmist cites "the Law of the Lord" (God's Word) as the source of wisdom, blessing, or some other attribute you desire.  Then thank God for his Word and ask him to create in you a hunger for it. 

Make reading, studying, and applying God's Word a regular part of your daily schedule. 

-From Heroic Faith by Voice of the Martyrs page 57-58-

The Will of God is Good

The will of a good God cannot help being 'good'-- in fact, it must be perfect; and, when we come to know this, we always find it 'acceptable'; that is we come to love it.  I am convinced that all trouble about submitting to the will of God would disappear, if once we could see clearly that his will is good.  We struggle and struggle in vain to submit to a will that we do not believe to be good, but when we see that it is really good, we submit to it with delight.  We want it to be accomplished.  Our hearts spring out to meet it.

-Hannah Whitall Smith-

Rearranging ::~

What's ↑

Hello all you faithful followers.  :) I apologize for the long-time-no-post.  I just wanted to give you all a REALLY quick update on my life at the moment.

As of 8:51am today I am a graduate!!!!!!!!!!! =) BOOYA!   But, I won't actually feel like I'm graduated until July.  Dumb. 

As for softball, we won our first playoff game so we are now going to regionals! This is huge folks. Like Elephant huge. Like skyscraper huge.  Like... well you get the idear.  As far as I can remember we have never won our first playoff game and made it this far.  God is sooo good!! We were actually ranked 3 in our conference of about 10 or so teams. That, good people, is also huge!!! Huge-er if it was an actually word.  We move on to the place where I have ALWAYS dreamed of playing softball.  The Softball-metropolis of.. well according to their website... the United States. I, personally, think they're probably a tad bit bias.  Don't cha think?   That takes place on Saturday at 11am to be exact.  I am completely PUMPED!!! If we lose our first game we are done. But, if we win we play again at 3pm and then we are in the double-elimination round.  Those of you who aren't very familiar with softball ... that is a GOOD thing.  :) That means we have to lose 2 games instead of 1 to be sent home.  A very good thing.  :)

As for things that are going on around the house, all is well.  I have a beautiful garden which consists of Potatoes, Carrots, Mammoth Sunflowers, Metallic Corn, and Rainbow Peppers.  A thing of beautiful if you as me.  :)  Mama's garden is a complete haven!  It's just bursting with all different kinds of flowers and colors! I wish you could all see it in person.   The weather has been a bit on the warm-ish side here.  But at least it's not FREEZING!  :D

God continues to show me the blessings that He has given to me each and every day.(Ephesians 1:3)  It's dazzling.  What a GREAT and AWESOME God we serve!!  Lord willing I will be able to post another update soon (with pictures!).   Thank you all for me so patient.  :)

The Perfect House

This house makes me very happy, it's exactly what I want ::~

red.house: Gotland house

Esther-ordinary Day

::~ Gorgeous Queen Esther

::~Mr. and Mrs. King
::~Sisters!

Peace! Be Still

Matthew 8:23-27

23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25And they went and woke him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing." 26And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?"

Mark 4:35-41

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." 36And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" 39And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" 41And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

Luke 8:22-25

22 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side of the lake." So they set out, 23and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. 24And they went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?"

---------------------------------------------------------------

To start this post off I'll explain a couple things that have been going on so that you will better comprehend my complete LOVE of these passages.

Softball has been going pretty well, actually it has been going REALLY well. The attitude has been great (over all) and the girls have really been putting in the effort (over all). It has been quite an enjoyable season so far.

That is until....well until one of the girls that has been sitting on the bench decided to post some things on FB about her frustration with the coach and whatnot... just completely uncalled for. So, being Leah, I stuck my neck out a bit and told her that I thought she was wrong for posting it and that if she had a problem that she should go talk to the coach about it instead of posting it on FB. Ahem. Needless to say it went over about as well as if I had shot her in the foot. Not good. Not good at all. It didn't stop there with her being angry with me one of her friends from softball decided that she didn't like what I had to say either so she commented... and commented...quite a bit actually about how wrong I was to tell her that, etc. BUT what I found encouraging is that different girls from the softball team commented and supported me in it and said that I was right and others that didn't comment on FB told me at the game that day. So I thought that was a good step forward!! Anywhos. So they were mad at me, and if you know me at all you know that I don't do well when people are mad at me. I just don't like making people mad at me. But, this was an exception. I knew that what I did was right so it made it a little easier, but my personality was still there making me queasy.

Yesterday we had to ride a bus to get to our game, now don't get me wrong...I LOVE THE BUS. I don't know what it is but I just LOVE riding the bus. Yesterday, not so much, because I knew that I was going to have to sit right next to the two girls that were mad at me. So yes, my stomach did all kinds of acrobats and such...very annoying if you ask me... and I started to lose heart. I started to doubt what God was doing. But praise the Lord I had brought my Bible with me so I was able to read while we rode the bus. And ya know what?! It really wasn't bad at all! One of the two girls actually talked to me and the other girls on the bus seemed all right with me as well. That was a blessing from God!!

Okay, to get to my point of this post. I was reading my Bible on the way to the game and the Matthew passage is what I read, and it jumped out of the page and hit me. Thankfully not literally, but you get what I'm talking about. I read it and I was just like WOW! That's just like me. I doubted just like the disciples. I doubted God's complete control of things. I said in my heart "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" Don't you care that I am uncomfortable here on the bus? Don't you care that these girls are mad at me? I lost my perspective. Completely lost it. Out the window. I read down a little farther and read Jesus response. It was so blunt. So amazing! First He calms the storm "Peace! Be still!" and then He asks the disciples a question "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" I gasped as I read this. He was speaking to me! "Leah, be still. Why are you afraid? Have you no faith? Don't you know that if I can control the storm that I can control your lack of comfort on this bus?" I seriously think my jaw dropped. Right to the floor with a loud thud. I was like the disciples "And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?"

I had gotten so wrapped up with my life and my circumstances that I had failed to look up to Christ. I had failed to have faith that God knows exactly what He's doing. But it doesn't just pertain to softball. It's everything. something that I had planned that didn't work out. God has control, be still my soul! If I get mad at a family member, be still my soul!! No matter WHAT it is! Things as small as a recipe not turning out the way that I want it to, BE STILL MY SOUL God is in control.

To continue with the story, we lost our game in the last inning after we were ahead 8-5. It was due to some things that I did. I missed a grounder, threw to a base that my coach didn't want me to. I tried to tag a runner while she stole to second and she ran into ball and it popped out of my glove, etc. Just a normal day for Leah. Needless to say I was completely CRUSHED. I started crying while we were still on the field after they tied it 8-8. I think I am emotionally challenged. I cried through shaking their hands. I cried taking my spikes off. I cried getting onto the bus and a good deal of the way home. See, I told you, I have problems. And I must admit that the whole time my heart was just screaming for Jesus. "Where are you?! Why couldn't we win? I prayed while I played and I tried to glorify you. I wanted it SO bad!" And also being Leah, I turned on my MP3 player and started listening to music that really didn't help my mood any. Beautiful songs, but being me I couldn't control my tears. This is what I heard:

"Faithful"
-Brooke Fraser-

There's distance in the air and I cannot make it leave
I wave my arms' round about me and blow with all my might
I cannot sense you close, though I know you're always here
But the comfort of you near is what I long for

[CHORUS]
When I can't feel you, I have learned to reach out just the same
When I can't hear you, I know you still hear every word I pray
And I want you more than I want to live another day
And as I wait for you maybe I'm made more faithful

All the folly of the past, though I know it is undone
I still feel the guilty one, still trying to make it right
So I whisper soft your name, let it roll around my tongue,
knowing you're the only one who knows me
You know me

[CHORUS]

[BRIDGE]
Show me how I should live this
Show me where I should walk
I count this world as loss to me
You are all I want
You are all I want


and then:

Untitled Hymn
-Chris Rice-

And like a newborn baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk
Sometimes we fall...so
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live!

Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain, then
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live!

I continued to wipe my tears off all the way home. After I got home I was still overwhelmed by the loss. Like I said before, I lost my perspective and I still really hadn't gotten it back. Perspectives are flighty things aren't they? I then checked on FB before I went to bed and the drama had continued with the same girls commenting and "chewing me out". I tried not to let it bother me. I had done the right thing. Right? That's when I started to doubt myself. Again, emotionally challenged. Was I right to comment and confront her. Was I right to defend my coach. Of course I was!! I continued to read on FB and it just looked like a battlefield. About half of my team is frustrated with the same girls that I am and the other half is frustrated with the first group.

I went and talked to dad for a little while before going to bed. Then I went upstairs and plugged my phone in only to find a... well... lets see...quite a.. harsh text from the girl that I confronted. Two of them actually. I plugged my phone in and went to bed. The days events whirling around in my mind. Thoughts of what I should say to the girls, how I should respond. All of them wrong. I was thinking of a way to defend myself. I didn't need to do that. I had done what was right in the Eyes of the Lord and He would defend me in due time.

So this morning my mom talked to me. She said she heard about the texts that I got and she said that I should be glad that I was suffering. *Blank stare* *blink, blink*
"You should count it a pleasure to suffer for Christ. A joy that He finds you worthy to suffer for Him." I hadn't thought of it that way. Again, the lack of perspective is showing here peeps. I have always wanted to have Jesus find me worthy to suffer for Him, but this... how could this be suffering for Jesus? Mom said that if you are doing what is right and with the motive of wanting to glorify God, then you are suffering for Christ.

My heart started to fill with joy. Really? I was suffering for Christ? This is when the rest of the Untitled Hymn Lyrics come in :

O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside, then
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live!

I had just thought of it as doing what was right and people were just mad at me. I thought that if I was going to suffer for Christ that it would be because I was a Christian and that the persecutors would just come right out and say it that way, then I would have seen it as suffering for Christ. But here I was, doing what was right BECAUSE I am a Christian and I was being persecuted for doing it. Oh the joys of all joys!!!!!!!!!! I AM WORTHY TO SUFFER FOR CHRIST! No award in the world could compare to this. No amount of softball games that we have won could compare to this. No state tournament could compare to this. No national games could compare to this. Hey not even an Olympic medal could compare to this!!! Jesus found me worthy.

You might think that I am proud now and that I am boasting. On the contrary. I am so surprised and in awe of His power like the disciples "27And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?" I am speechless... well... not exactly speechless I guess if you have read this far. :) I am just.... yea. I can't describe it.


So, be still my soul. Be still... God is in control of EVERYTHING! =)

Here are some songs that I was thinking of when I wrote this.

Be Still- Kari Jobe

Be Still My Soul

Captivate Us

Your face is beautiful
And Your eyes are like the stars
Your gentle hands have healing
There inside the scars
Your loving arms they draw me near
And Your smile it brings me peace
Draw me closer oh my Lord
Draw me closer Lord to Thee

(chorus)
Captivate us, Lord Jesus
Set our eyes on You
Devastate us with Your presence
Falling down
And rushing river, draw us nearer
Holy fountain consume us with You
Captivate us Lord Jesus, with You

Your voice is powerful
And Your words are radiant bright
In Your breath and shadow
I will come close and abide
You whisper love and life divine
And Your fellowship is free
Draw me closer O my Lord
Draw me closer Lord to Thee

(chorus)

Let everything be lost in the shadows
Of the light of Your face
Let every chain be broken from me
As I’m bound in Your grace
For Your yoke is easy, Your burden is light
You’re full of wisdom, power and might
And every eye will see You

(chorus)


(Click on the photo to be taken to Amazon to hear a sample of the song.)

How Sweet...

How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds

based on Song of Solomon 1:3

“Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth.”

Words by John Newton

1. How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
In a believer's ear!
It soothes his sorrow, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.

::~ 2. It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
'Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary, rest.

3. Dear Name, the rock on which I build,
My shield and hiding place,
My never failing treasury, filled
With boundless stores of grace!

4. By Thee, my prayers acceptance gain,
Although with sin defiled;
Satan accuses me in vain,
And I am owned a child.

5. Jesus, my Shepherd, Brother, Friend,
My Prophet, Priest, and King,
My Lord, my life, my way, my end,
Accept the praise I bring.

::~ 6. Weak is the effort of my heart,
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art,
I'll praise Thee as I ought.

7. 'Til then I would Thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath,
And may the music of Thy name
Refresh my soul in death.

::~ My favorite verses...