Rachel's Reasoning

11:46, Friday, May 2, 2008

20 Day Prayer Challenge - Praying For China and America

Bible Verse of the Day
Psalm 6:9
9The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.

I have decided to pray for China during the 20 Day Prayer Challenge that Miss Kylie and Miss Jocelyn are doing. It is National Prayer Day. I am going to be praying for China. Here is the flag of China:

Though I don't know much about China, I know enough to know that they need a lot of prayer. Some don't know what the religion in China is, so I will tell you. It's Buddhism and Taoism. Buddhism was introduced from India and Central Asia during the Han dynasty and became very popular among Chinese of all walks of life, embraced particularly by commoners, and sponsored by emperors in certain dynasties. Taoism is an indigenous religion of China and is traditionally traced to the composition of Lao Zi's Tao Te Ching (The Book of Tao and Its Virtues) or to seminal works by Zhang Daoling. The philosophy of Taoism is centered on "the way"; an understanding of which can be likened to recognizing the true nature of the universe. As we know, both of these religions is not the way to heaven.

I am hoping to learn a lot more about China as I pray for it's people and country.

I will be praying steadfastly everyday for China and her people to see the Light. As Christ said unto us,

Mark 16:15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Amanda did an article for this month's Growing In Grace Magazine about World Press Freedom Day. She did a really good article about World Press Freedom. She talks about how the government in China,

"Even though China has made promises of reform, the Chinese authorities have not kept their promises, they also have intensified their strangulation of free press, they have oppressed the journalists, and other who seek to exercise their rights to freedom of expression!

Go check out her post. It's great!

Along with China, I am going to be praying for my own country, America. I think our country needs as much prayer as China. Living in America, I know what it is like. Our country will need to turn back to God before it is too late. Help me as I pray for our country.

I found these verses that I thought went a little with praying:

Romans 10:18
But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

Psalm 6:9
9The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.

I love those verses... I hope you will join us in praying for other countries.As Miss Kylie said in her post, "Let's make the Gate of Hells shake as they did when Jesus rose again as King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Who's going to join us? Sign your name/link to the list!"

Rachel

I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country."You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13

Posted in 20 Day Prayer Challenge •2 comments •Leave a Reasonable Comment! •Link

06:40, Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Yes... We are the Blogger-Meeters!

This past weekend has been a lot of fun. Thursday night we tore up the carpet in the kitchen. Finally! We were all so excited about that. Dad brought tile squares home to lay down. The prep-work was the time-consuming part. We tore the carpet, then the stuff underneath it, that foamy stuff. Once we got that out, we removed all the tack-strips and staples. We couldn't move the stove and the fridge at that time so we cut around it.

Dad, Eric, Hannah and I sanded almost the whole floor Thursday night. We kids had a piece of sandpaper, while Dad used the sander. It was hard and tiring work. It made my back and my arms ache. Plus I got some of the dust in my throat. I coughed a few times while I was in bed.

Friday, we moved the fridge and sanded under it. Eric and the girls did most of that. When Dad got home, we moved the stove and got all the tack-strips and staples out of the floor. Then I sanded it with the sander. After we did that, we had to make the tiles we lined up straight. I started having a headache while we laid the first two tiles. I laid down on the couch for a bit, then took a shower. I went to bed right after that.

When I got up on Saturday morning, it was weird walking through the kitchen. I expected carpet, and the was a nice tile. It's great! Why would people in their right minds put carpet in the kitchen? And it was a white-and-brown sort of carpet. Oh, boy, was it gross. The one time us kids spilled an entire 5-gallon bucket of hot water on the floor. It was a mess. But it's gone now. It's easier to clean, and look very nice. Almost looks like stone.

Time passed on Saturday, and we were rushing to get everything cleaned up for when Sprittibee and her kids came. The time passed quickly. Pretty soon, we were still cleaning but took a break. The girls and Mom watched a movie about Queen Elizabeth. I got on the computer since it was free to do whatever I needed to.

On Sunday morning, everyone was excited about getting to meet Sprittibee. We rushed around all day. I bet we cleaned the counters in the kitchen every ten minutes. We wanted everything to be perfect. It was so funny when they pulled into the driveway. Sprittibee was taking pictures out the window, and they were driving very slowly.

They came in and dinner was done. We ate. It was so good. Amanda made mashed potatoes with a chicken noodle gravy on top, with green beans and peas. Oh it was good! Sprittibee had to take some picture of a plate, Morgan's to be exact. It was funny. I had her camera some of the time. It was fun taking pictures of her kids, herself, and her mom, Chicki.

Sprittibee downloaded all of the 800-some pictures she took on the way down here. There were so many! She had two cards and they were both full of pictures. Some of the pictures were really cool. Then, around 12:30am, we went upstairs so Dad could sleep on the couch. We talked until 4am, just random stories, talking about things. It was really fun. Poor Morgan tried to stay awake with us but she fell asleep by 2:30am. I had to sleep in my little brother's bed with Hannah so Mom could sleep in mine. I was sort of scrunched but I slept good, because I was so tired!

Got up around 10:11am yesterday morning. They had already done chores... so there was nothing for me to do but stand around and help with whatever I needed to. They got all their stuff packed and into the car. Then Sprittibee suggested we go to Chipotle's for lunch. We had been talking about it the night before. I had never been there before. We went and got lots of pictures. When we were leaving Sprittibee needed all of us in a picture, so we got all of our pictures taken. There was also this beautiful cherry tree surrounded by these orange and yellow flame-looking tulips. Oh, it was so pretty. We stood in front of it so that was the background for the pictures. She also got some pictures of Lucy and the flowers. Lucy *loves* flowers. Practically adores them!

But soon, too soon, it was time for them to leave. We gave and got hugs and "See you in Texas". Eric and Hannah were thinking of stashing away in their van, but they were forced into our own van. There were many goodbyes, and finally we drove off. We went to Wal-Mart, and they followed us. I thought maybe they needed help getting out of town. Nope, they were just getting gas. That was the last time I saw them. :(

Mom and I went into Wal-Mart and got some fruit to eat on the home for the kids. Then we got Mom, Jocelyn and me a pop from the machines. We got the Littles a can of Twist Up to share. I got a cherry coke. They didn't have anything else I wanted. Amanda didn't want anything. Then we got to get some ice cream at Dairy Queen. That was a good treat. I got an Oreo blizzard. It was great! I got a small, but it was enough. Hannah could barely finish hers.

We got home and did the regular stuff. We had such a fun time with Sprittibee and her kids, and her mother. Just a fantastic time. I can't wait to see them again! Sprittibee said she would send us some of the pictures she took. I can't wait to get them. She has a really nice camera. I really liked it. All in all, we had a wonderful time with them, and I can't wait to see them again!

Rachel

hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country."You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13

Posted in My Daily Life •4 comments •Leave a Reasonable Comment! •Link

08:24, Saturday, April 26, 2008

Saturday Psalm & Praise - Battle Hymn Of The Republic

I just learned the entire song a few weeks ago. But, it has always been a favourite, even if I am off-tune when I sing it! :o)

Battle Hymn Of The Republic
by Julia W. Howe, 1819-1910

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord,
He is tramping out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed His fateful lightening of His terrible swift sword,

His truth is marching on.

Glory, glory hallelujah!
Glory, glory hallelujah!
Glory, glory hallelujah!
His truth is marching on!

I have seen Him in the watchfires of an hundred circling camps,
They have builded Him an alter in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps,
His day is marching on.

Glory, glory hallelujah!
Glory, glory hallelujah!
Glory, glory hallelujah!
His day is marching on!

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me;
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
God is marching on.

Glory, glory hallelujah!
Glory, glory hallelujah!
Glory, glory hallelujah!
God is marching on!

I am thinking this song was put to fit into the future battle where the devil will be defeated. I know that the first verse was from Revelation, "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord, He is tramping out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He hath loosed His fateful lightening of His terrible swift sword, His truth is marching on." The Sword that came out of His mouth; the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored... hmm... Look it up. :)

I hope you are participating in the Saturday Psalm & Praise Meme. It's so easy to participate in a meme; you just post a post!

Rachel

I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country."You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13

Posted in Carnivals, Contests, Memes, Giveaways •1 comments •Leave a Reasonable Comment! •Link

04:47, Monday, April 21, 2008

My Recipe Box - Mom's Recipe For French Toast

I thought you would all like to make breakfast on Sunday for your family and so I am giving one of the recipes Mom made to fit us, being the organic-home-grow-it-make-it-better-for-us people we are. :) Hope you enjoy it as much I do. My little brother, Eric, made some yesterday morning for a late breakfast. He does a pretty good job on them. If you do make 'em, tell me how they turned out. I love to hear about them. :)

French Toast
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
6 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1 Tbsp. honey
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsps. vanilla
2 tsps. flax seed
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg

And...the directions: Whip eggs with fork. Mix in flour, water, vanilla and flax. Stir in honey. Add milk. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
Soak each slice of bread for a few seconds, coating it. Put in slightly greased iron skillet. Flip when bread lifts easily from pan.

Rachel

I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country."You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13

Posted in My Recipe Box! •1 comments •Leave a Reasonable Comment! •Link

01:13, Thursday, April 10, 2008

What a Weekend!

Well, I am sorry I have not been able to post for awhile. We have been quite busy with getting everything ready for LucyLillie's party that was Monday. On Sunday, my Grt. Grandparents and Mom's dad came over for awhile to spend time together. Lucy got a couple presents and then we just spent time talking. Jocelyn showed Grt. Grandma the icon she made for the Feelin' Feminine Challenge using the picture from their wedding. She was thrilled when she saw it. That picture is one of my favourites, if I may say so myself. :)

Monday was a whirlwind of fun! I got up around 9:30am to do chores with Eric and make sure everything was spick and span for when the company arrived. We did two or three tubs of dishes before lunch, and then when lunch was done, there was two more tubs to do! Oh... dishes accumulate so quickly. :( The only bad thing was that Lucy-Goosey wasn't feeling too well. We think she is cutting a new tooth, but she was kind of warm all day. Grouchy... poor baby. She had a fun time wit her presents though!

Around three Breezy, Emily Rose, and their Mom got here. It was kind of awkward for the first fifteen minutes because we didn't know what to say. Haha. Like it always is with meeting new people. Emily Rose got out he camera to take some pictures and Eric and Hannah wanted it. There are more of the Emily Rose and Breezy with the Littles than of Lucy!

Our neighbour also came by for awhile. We ate a delicious dinner of spaghetti, with green beans and peas for vegetables. Oh and don't forget the delicious garlic bread too! Everyone enjoyed it. Jocelyn and Amanda made it, the famous Dixon Chefs. After that, Jocelyn frosted the cake. Amanda had Dad pick up some strawberry frosting and she decorated the sides of the cake with that and wrote on the top. It was a pretty nice homemade birthday cake. We ate it with some Neapolitan ice cream. The funny thing about the ice cream was that the girls hadn't thought of scooping it across the entire tub, getting all three kinds at once. We joked about that for awhile.

While we ate our ice cream and cake, Lucy opened her gifts. she got the same dresses from Breezy and Emily Rose as she got from my Grandma Starr. it was funny. But now we have two, so if one gets dirty, she can wear the other! Haha. They are so cute though. Ones green and ones pink. They are both dresses too. She also got a purple sweater that is the cutest ever from the B's.

After that we hung around. Breezy and Emily Rose went outside for a little while. Breezy played football-catch with Eric and Dad for a bit and Emily Rose and I talked. We went in for awhile, and Emily Rose showed Jocelyn how to do a few tricks on PhotoShop. I sat on the swing set for a little bit pushing Caleb and watching Eric and Dad play catch. When I came in, Eric and Emily Rose went and fed the chickens. Mrs. B also came down to the barn while we did the chores. I gathered the eggs, and fed Pemberly. They all loved the goats and we spent about fifteen minutes down there petting them and talking. After that it was getting dark, so they had to leave. :( I was sad about that. We took some 'farewell' pictures before they left. We could have stalled a little longer, but they really had to go. They left around nine.

All in all, it was a good day. Lucy wasn't feeling well for most of it... poor dear... :( She ate some crackers and ice. Just not a good day for her birthday! Well, maybe she will be better tomorrow. Oh and we also got a call from Auntie Christina. They all sang happy birthday to Lucy on the phone. It was so sweet.

Guess who's birthday is coming up next? Yep, Jocelyn. She is having a grand party with lots of things.. not exactly sure what is going to happen. I know she sent out lots of invitations. We are hoping that Breezy and Emily Rose will be able to come with both their parents. It will be fun anyways... :)

Ok, well, I had better go comment now. Hope you all have a lovely day! God bless you.
Rachel

I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country."You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13

Posted in Birthdays •1 comments •Leave a Reasonable Comment! •Link

02:32, Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Growing In Grace Magazine, April Issue!

We’ve just published our third and latest edition of Growing In Grace Online magazine. A lot of work went into this edition magazine with the writing and putting together the format. Right now we’re a free online magazine, but we are now in PDF format and we’re looking into publishing in print so GGM can be sent right to your door! Please pray for the Lord’s hand to be in that area of GGM.

Does the cover look beautiful? Very bright and springy? This month’s featured young lady is Miss Joy, which many of you may know. Is she lovely? I got the opportunity of interviewing for this issue: GGM Interview:Miss Joy. With

As we go along GGM just keeps getting better and better. A few NEW columns were added to GGM this month, including Emotion Commotion, Blessed Girlhood, and Snuggle Up With A Good Book. My columns and articles are below.

Vanilla Wafers Recipe by Lady Rachel

Emotion Commotion: 'Turn The Other Cheek' Lady Rachel *NEW THIS MONTH*

Snuggle Up With A Good Book: 'Kingdom's Dawn' Lady Rachel *NEW THIS MONTH*

And as it will be every month GGM has a NEW layout, new icon, and new calendar graphic! If you already had these on your blog they should change automatically, and if you haven’t gotten them… GO! Just look on the GGM sidebars and you’ll find the images and the codes!

“Growing in Grace Ministries is a magazine that desires to bring inspiration to young Christians ladies who are striving to live a virtuous life and grow in God’s grace."

Also new at GGM:

Photography Contest:

The GGM Calander for this month

Rachel

I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country."You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13

Posted in Growing In Grace Magazine •3 comments •Leave a Reasonable Comment! •Link

11:47, Friday, March 21, 2008

The Trip Down to the Suarez's and Takin' a Detour to North Carolina!

Ok, so I am sitting here. Doing nothing. In fact, there is nothing to do. So, I'll tell you about the trip down here, and why we got here at 4am when we left at 6:33pm.

Dad got home around 5:30, and he got everything ready to go. He rented a car to drive down instead of the van.We stopped once in Kentucky. We were making good time until we got into TN. Then Amanda saw a sign for White Pines. We went all the North Carolina! She thought that White Pines was in TN. So we went about 50 miles and then Dad and Amanda realized we weren't in the right state. And the bad of it was we were almost on E! That was really scary. Amanda was freaking out about it. Plus the roads were so curving, oh boy, it was nuts!

We stopped in the next town coming back and got gas. Then we were on our way again. We didn't get there until 4am, but we made it. Paulie and Levi were up waiting for us. We came in and went upstairs and set all of our stuff down. Then Amanda got on the computer and did some stuff. Paulie and Levi 'tested' the games they are going to be playing. :)

Levi was working on an entry. Paulie wouldn't let him when we got here. Levi wanted to stay up all night but Paulie told him they would need at least some sleep. So they went to bed around 5:30am and got up around 10:30-something. We got up and Levi and Luke were up. Then Dad took a shower and then we talked for about a bit about Schooter and how naughty he has been. Levi did the dishes that were in there, then he made some coffee.

The three boys got to open their birthday gifts. They were all pillow cases. Paulie's has a Tux on it. Luke's has a chess king on it. Levi's was just a camping background that matches his blog. :) They had fun with it. Ok, that is all. Amanda and Paulie want to get on and learn how to play this game...

Sincerely,
Lady Rachel Posted in Bloggers •5 comments •Leave a Reasonable Comment! •Link

09:02, Monday, March 17, 2008

The 41st Homesteading Carnival: The Presentations Carnival!

Welcome to the March 17, 2008 edition of The Homesteading Carnival, the Presentations edition! I am sorry I am so late in getting this up. I wrote it up once, but something happened and it was gone. Eeek! So without further adieu here is this week's carnival...

Jesse Moran presents Teach Your Children to Handle Their Money posted at CompGifts - The Frugal Way of Living. This generation of children don't know how to spend their money wisely, but as Jesse gives a few tips on how to make children earn their money so they handle it well.

"The debt for young people is rising, more than ever before as younger people are getting more and more credit card offers in the mail."

Rose Denson presents Grandma Rosie's Texas Home - Prodigal Gardens..Great site posted at Grandma Rosie's Texas Home. As always Rose has some great tips and advice!

Erica Burgan presents Healthier and More Natural Health and Beauty Products posted at The Sojourner. Ever thought of using olive oil as a moisturizer? Well, Erica sure has and it works great! Another way to use something completely natural.

Jess presents Fancy Feet posted at Growing In Grace Online. Jess gives some wonderful ways to care for your feet, which include some homemade soaking mixes!

Flossie presents The Funny Farm - Getting Fit!!! Mentally, Physically and Spiritually posted at The Funny Farm. A family activity to get rounded all on corner...

Dora Renee Wilkerson presents Y-2K Hippie: 06/18/07 posted at Knitting, horses, and my family, saying, "Easy cottage cheese!" Not only does Dora give some great info on making cottage cheese, but also on how she made soap!

"I made Cottage cheese for the first time today (I had no clue what I was doing but it turned out tasting like what I recall cottage cheese tasting like."

Jennifer in OR presents Maragas Winery: An Oregon High Desert Experiment posted at Diary of 1. Complete with beautiful pictures, Jennifer shares her Oregon homestead experiment...

"The first vines are now springing forth with new buds, a hopeful sign of an agricultural breakthrough that will someday soon christen Central Oregon as wine country."

Autumn Beck presents My Top 5 All-In-Ones posted at All About Cloth Diapers, saying, "All-in-One clot Caleb fell asleep h diapers are one of the simplest and convenient cloth diapers on the market. Here's a list of my favorite all-in-ones."

Jacque presents On the Upswing - Spring is in the Air! posted at Seeking Rest in the Ancient Paths.
Ah spring certainly is in the air. The birds are singing and the weather has been nice! So nice that Jacque is getting to get some things going!

Robin presents I Almost Died and Would Have Missed the Blog Party posted at Heart of Wisdom. With a little humor Robin, after experiencing heart-problems, gives an extensive overview of the heart and how to care for it.

Amanda presents Exhausting Excitement! posted at The Daily Planet. Amanda has been busy with grocery shopping and visiting with family, and it's been exhausting, but definitely exciting!

Miss Jocelyn presents Finding Mr. Right posted at A Pondering Heart. While she's cleaning up the house and carin' for the goats, she's relying on God to bring her Mr. Right to one day keep the homestead for.

HowToMe presents How to Make a Hamburger Patty Stay Flat posted at HowToMe, saying, "Why poke a central hole in raw hamburger patty? Good question with a good answer!"

Stephanie presents Garden Planning - Taking Inventory of My Pantry posted at Stop the Ride!. Getting ready for the spring garden planning and planting, Stephanie shares with us a little of what she's doing.

Emily Rose presents Kefir - Update posted at the time that has elapsed. Ever used Keri is your food? Emily Rose is just trying it out and found some ways to enjoy it.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of the homesteading carnival thc using our carnival submission form, which will be held at A Pondering Heart.

Posted in Carnivals, Contests, Memes, Giveaways •4 comments •Leave a Reasonable Comment! •Link

01:45, Saturday, March 15, 2008

A Funny Picture

This picture was taken when we first put our chickens down into the barn:

***Ain't he a tough one? He's scared of everything now. He won't even stand up to a hen most times. He will fight with the roosters occasionally.***

It is one of our roosters. His name is Paint because he has so many different coloured feathers. He is a big baby when you go near him he'll run away, but he is tough among his hens!

Here is another one that has Angelwings:

***Angelwings is the white one; the rooster is the black and white one, with the Professor in the back with another Americauna and a Rhode Island Red.***

Angelwings is a hen. She is called that because when she first was loosing her fluff, only her wings were white. She is mine. :) It also has one of our other roosters, one of out Americaunas. He is a salt-and-pepper-coloured rooster. We have two that look almost the same. It also has one of our other favourite Americaunas in it: Professor Kirke. That was before we found out she was a hen. We haven't named her anything else yet. Still trying to name her. :)

Hope you enjoyed the post and pictures. I am gonna go comment now. :)

Rachel

I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country."You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13

Posted in Our Chickens, and Chicken Eggs •4 comments •Leave a Reasonable Comment! •Link

02:49, Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Pumpkin Chip Cookies

I got this recipe from my dear friend Kylie, aka All4Him, awhile back. I must admit, I have not made them yet, but I will soon! When you make them, tell me how they turned out, and then leave Kylie a comment telling her. I hope they are good. Pumpkin is one of my favourite kinds of deserts things. Please enjoy!

Pumpkin Chip Cookies
1 1/2 cups butter
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1 15 oz. can pumpkin
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
4 cups flour
2 cups oats
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Here are your directions: Heat oven to 350*. Cream butter and sugars. Beat in the pumpkin, egg, and vanilla. Combine the flour, oats, soda, cinnamon, and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in morsels. Drop by tablespoonfuls about two inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for about 12 minutes.

Hope you enjoy the recipe,
Rachel
I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country."You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13 Posted in My Recipe Box! •3 comments •Leave a Reasonable Comment! •Link

01:49, Friday, March 7, 2008

Cleaning Out Stalls...

The last two weeks have been very tiring ones! With everyone being sick, Eric and I have been doing most of the chores by ourselves. Jocelyn has been sick and since Amanda sold the horses, she hasn't gone down. That leaves Eric and me to do all the barn chores.

Anyway, last week I noticed that the chicken stall floor was a lot higher inside the stall than outside the door. I'm not sure how high it was compared to the outside, but it was probably about a foot high. Yes, if you can believe I would let it get that high and filthy. We put the chickens in there in the beginning of August last year. Eric had cleaned it out a few months back when some people came to look at the horses. The goats used to be in that stall. So when we cleaned it out, the smell was almost unbearable. Mom was down there helping us clean it out. Dad and the girls helped a bit but it was mostly Mom, Eric and I who cleaned it out.

When I saw how tall it was to the regular floor, the concrete one, I was surprised. The first morning, I started cleaning it out after we finished the chores. Eric came and helped me, but I was soon tired. We only cleaned out a little of where you walk in. The next day I went out around 4:30-5:00pm. We cleaned out the entire stall by 6:30pm. Jocelyn came down and was amazed at what we had did. Then she said, "Now you want to clean out the goat stall?" with a smile. The next day she couldn't get out of bed. I was tired from cleaning out the chicken stall so I put off cleaning out the goat stall for about two days.

Mom and Amanda have been getting things we plan to get rid of out of rooms and soon there was a pile of boxes in the kitchen that needed to be gotten out. I put that off for a couple of days too. Finally I remembered I needed to take it out to the garage. I took Blondie out there with me to keep me company for awhile. She loved it. I'd call her and she would come to where I was. She found a tennis ball and wanted to play. I was busy working, so I couldn't play with her. She had a fun time nosying around the garage. I got a lot of it cleaned out, picked all the shoes and toys up, and stacked the tubs that were out there. I got a lot of stuff cleaned up. Eric helped me to get the boxes out of the kitchen and put it out in the garage. The kitchen seems so much bigger now that there isn't a bunch of stuff in the middle of the floor.

Well, I got a little of the goat stall cleaned out a few days ago. I haven't done anymore. It snowed here a few days ago. We got about 8-9 inches of that white stuff on the ground. I am hoping it will melt but then Dad said we are supposed to get about six more inches by Saturday. Blah... blah... blah... I hate Indiana weather! Well I hope we get some fair weather soon... I'm sick of the cold weather. I want to walk outside and sink my toes into nice, new fresh Spring grass... oh well, it will come soon!

All right, that is all for now. I am going to go comment now. I am sorry if I haven't answered comments on here. I have been meaning to! Have a lovely week! Many blessings to all who read this... :)

Rachel

I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country."You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13 Posted in My Daily Life •4 comments •Leave a Reasonable Comment! •Link

01:02, Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Proverbs 23...

Bible Verse of the Day:
Proverbs 23:14
14Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

My booklist for Growing In Grace Magazine will be coming soon. I hope you all enjoy this Bible chapter for now, until it is finished. I will post it probably on my next blog day, Friday. Enjoy!

Proverbs 23

1When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:

2And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.

3Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

4Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

5Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

6Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:

7For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

8The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.

9Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

10Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:

11For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.

12Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.

13Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

14Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

15My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.

16Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

17Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

18For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

19Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.

20Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:

21For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

22Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

23Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

24The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

25Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.

26My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

27For a ***** is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.

28She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.

29Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

30They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

31Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

32At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

33Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

34Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

35They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

Rachel

I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country."You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13 Posted in Bible verses, chapter, and discussions •0 comments •Leave a Reasonable Comment! •Link

03:44, Friday, February 29, 2008

Psalm 64 - For my SP&P and My Blog Post!

For today, I thought I would post something out of Psalms. I hadn't been able to post my SP&P for last week, so I am putting this as it for tomorrow as well. Enjoy!

Psalm 64

1Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

2Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:

3Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:

4That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

5They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

6They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.

7But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.

8So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.

9And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.

10The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory!

Rachel

I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts of a thirteen-year-old girl from the country."You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13 Posted in Bible verses, chapter, and discussions •2 comments •Leave a Reasonable Comment! •Link

10:21, Tuesday, February 26, 2008

I Apologize...

For not posting in so long. I have a few reasons I have not been able to post before now though. One, as you have probably read on one of my family's blogs, we have been sick again. Dad was the first one to get sick. Isaac got sick a few days after Dad. He got better two days after that. Hannah was sick for about five days. Then poor baby Lucy was sick for three days. Dad woke me up a few days ago to hold her at 7:30 in the morning. She just laid her head on my shoulder. She was so sick... poor Luli! She is better now. Caleb is still sick. He hasn't thrown up in a few days though. He wants to get up but Mom won't let him. He need to rest more so he can get well. Please pray for him. Jocelyn also is not feeling well today. Please pray for her also.

I wasn't feeling good a couple days ago. I have taken four showers these past three days. My ear is really what has been bothering me. Mom said she thinks I have an ear infection. I noticed it when I got out of the shower a few days ago. It felt like there was water in it. But I knew there wasn't. I have been taking medicine, and rubbing goot on my ear. (Goot is garlic olive oil treatment. It works GREAT.) I had a headache when I woke up this morning. Mom gave me a spoonful of honey to eat. It made me feel better at once. After a bit, I came downstairs. I took some cold and cough medicine (I still have a cough) and Mom put some more goot on my ear. My throat is still sore. When I cough, it hurts my chest and throat. I would like you to pray for me.

In other news: We got our DSL hooked up! We now have two computers online. Soon to have three. We need something else for our older computer to get it online. Paulie was so excited when we got it hooked up because it was the first DSL he has hooked up. Thank you Paulie! It has been so much fun though. Mom and one of the girls have been talking back and forth on IM. It is so funny to sit and watch them. They are one room apart! How funny! It's a blessing from the Lord... :)

Animal News: We sold the horses. Yes, we did. The lady who bought them came and got them today. She bought both of them. Amanda posted about selling them on her homestead blog, My Learning Experience. We don't have horses now. I hope if we do get another horse, or two even, that we get one that is fully trained! Actually the lady who bought them is going to train them and she said if she gets them trained enough until summer, we could come over and ride them. She has seven or eight other horses. She just got a new one too. That will be so cool to ride them... :) When Amanda talked to her a bit ago, she said they were so happy to be out in a pasture. I bet they loved it.

Goats: Jocelyn thinks Heidi is pregnant. She thinks she will kid. She didn't noti

e it before. When she kidded last time, it didn't turn out so good. She lost two kids. Keci (her only kid) Jocelyn thinks is pregnant too. She thought she was pregnant before Heidi. Well, Keci is the smallest of all the goats. She may have a hard birth. We are keeping an eye on them. Checking on them every once in awhile. If Heidi or Keci kid in the next two weeks, Jocelyn won't be able to go to Paulie's 18th birthday party... haha. Well, just pray that if they do, they will have a smooth birth, the both of them.

I have not forgotten about the chickens! They are well. Since we got about eight inches of snow last night, they were not out in the yard at all. But yesterday they were out all over! Since I have been sick, I haven't been able to go to the barn. Seeing them out is so fun though. We are still getting TONS of eggs from them. Our second fridge is full of egg cartons. Anyone want to buy any eggs? Farm fresh! We did have the owner of a market-type store we shop at every week ask us for eggs. He said he would pay about $1.50 for a dozen! Whoa. Sure no one wants any? :o)

I am also having a bit of trouble with Blondie. Not about her paw; that is completely healed. I don't have to take her out with a plastic bag over it anymore. No, it's about her eating. About four months ago, Mom read some stuff about dry dog food online. She found that it was better to feed dogs raw foods rather than dry foods. I have been feeding them oatmeal mixed with eggs and bacon for breakfast. I would feed them raw chicken every other night. That would balance them a lot better. Pemberly will eat anything you give him. He even chased down a cottontail and was playing with the head. Blech... Anyway, Blondie won't eat her breakfast. This has been going on for about a week now. I feed her, she'll eat a little and leave the rest until night. She won't even eat it then. Mom said that she might be pregnant and that may be the cause. I am still not sure. I do sometimes give her scraps but Pemberly is usually the one who gets the scraps. She eats the chicken but not the eggs and oatmeal. She does eat a little of it, then doesn't eat anymore and has to go out. Well, just pray for her too.

Book News: I am still reading The Return of the King. I am almost done with it though, about five or six more chapters left. I am on the chapter where they have decided on going to Mordor to draw out Sauron's army so Frodo and Sam have a safe passage through the Land of Shadow. I also read Little Faith by Mrs. O.F. Walton. It is about a little girl named Faith. It's a small book but I loved it. I did a review on it for Growing In Grace Magazines online. I am doing book reviews on the site. I was thinking of reading over Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan again. I very much enjoyed that book. Thanks to the encouragement received from Auntie Christina on "holding on, it gets less confusing." I am so glad I held out though. I must say, though that I enjoyed reading bout Pilgrim's wife's journey to the Celestial City rather than Pilgrim's. Maybe I will think differently when I read it again. Does anyone have any good books to recommend to me that they enjoy? I am still making up a list of books! :)

Baby News: Lucy is getting a top tooth in. Yes, now she will have a top tooth. I will try to post on her blog. I know she hasn't posted anything new on it in awhile. She loves listening to You Are My Sunshine song though. Amanda got this cute little flower kind of person that sings it. She got it when she was born. She loves to listen to it. When you start singing it, she will look around for it. It's funny to watch her try to mouth the words to sing with you. Such a little doll! :)

Ok, was that post long enough for you? haha. I try to post long posts so you can read a little and then come back and read more when I don't post in awhile. Thanks for bearing with me to the end of it though. I will truly try to post more often. I have kind of gotten out of the habit of posting on my actual blog days, haven't I? I am the worst at commenting right now. And Levi, no you aren't bossy most of the time. Only a little bit of the time. :) I do look at your blog when the girls and Mom have it open, so I kind of keep up with you. :) TIME FOR COMMENTING NOW!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!

Rachel
Ps. I will link people later.. to many to link!

I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts of a thirteen-year-old girl from the country."You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13 Posted in My Daily Life •1 comments •Leave a Reasonable Comment! •Link

12:13, Friday, February 8, 2008

Fruit of the Spirit Friday - All The Fruits...

Bible verse of the Day:
Galatians 5:22 & 23
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

I am again participating in Mrs. Sampson's Meme, The Fruit Of The Spirit Friday. I forgot to do it last
week, sorry. Onto the post!

The Fruit of the Spirit are so simple, and so easy to follow. It is easy to love someone. It is easy to have joy everyday. What about being peaceable with everyone you live with? Longsuffering? It's also easy to be gentle to one who is not being gentle to you. Goodness, easy to be good to someone too. Faithful, c'mon, help me out here! Meekness, the same as being humble. Temperance: you can control your temper, and can control your own actions.

This week's lesson is being peaceable with everyone, because "a soft answer turns away wrath," as the Bible clearly tells us. Proverbs 15:18 says, "A wrathful man stirreth up strife, but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife." Also, if you go to chapter three, verse 30, it says, "Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm." So, if you don't have a good reason (which most of the time no one has a good reason for arguing) there shouldn't be any strife or contention in your house.

Proverbs 21:9 says "It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house." If you want peace in your home, you are to "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceable with all men." That is Romans 12:18. What about James 3:18? "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." "The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention before it be meddled with." Proverbs 17:14. Also, check out Proverbs 18:19, where it says that an offened brother is harder to win than a strong city. Ephesians 4:26, don't let the sun do down with your anger. Matthew 5:39-41, don't insist on rights.

Since I have given you a few verses to look at and ponder, you can decide for yourself if you have peace in your home, and if not, how to accomplish having peace. In case anyone here has never read the entire verses of the Fruit of the Spirit, here they are: "Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance: against such there is no law." That is in Galations 5: 22-23. Read the verses above those ones to get a better understanding of what Paul is talking about.

I admit that I haven't been some of the above with Blondie lately. Since she cut her paw, I have gotten a lot more frustrated with her for not holding still while I put her bandage on or put a plastic bag over it to keep it from getting wet. I think it would qualify for these Fruits: Love, Longsuffering, Gentleness, and Temperance. I need to have more love for her, than just thinking she is being a pain in the backside with her paw. Longsuffering would be for dealing with her instead of getting mad every time she gets her bandage off. I need to be more Gentle with her when I am dealing with her. Controling my temper is one of the worst things I need to work on right now. I haven't been feeling very well these past couple of days, and I am afraid that I haven't been a very kind and gentle, including meek and loving sister to my siblings. Or the animals for that matter. But I am not perfect, and so I falter in many things. Everyone needs prayer, and so do I. :o)

Thank you for reading this week's Fruit of the Spirit Friday Meme.
Rachel

I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country."You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13

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03:04, Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Sad Happenings...

Well, I have a lot to write about. Mostly sad, and some even frustrating happenings. I'll start out with telling you about my Great Grandmother dying.

My Dad's grandma died on Saturday. She was in her 80's, and she knew the Lord. Two weeks before she fell, and bled a lot. She was taken to the hospital and then taking home. She had fallen at the nursing home she was at. The people said she only had two weeks to live after her fall. She didn't live another week. :( Dad was heartbroken because he hasn't seen her since 2005, when Amanda, Jocelyn and he went down there. He really wanted to see her before she passed away. He cried and cried when we found out. When Eric heard that she died, he ran out of the room crying. Although I don't remember much about her, I know enough that it made me cry as well. And seeing Dad cry, it was too much. :(

So, he is now on his way down there to go to the funeral that is tomorrow. He left this morning, around 5 something. He took a plane. He will probably be down there for two or three days. Please pray for him while he is down in New Mexico. His grandma was like a mother to him. He spent so many nights at her house that it was his home too. Please pray...

Another sad thing that happened was partly my fault. Let me explain what happened. Yesterday morning Pemberly (our barn dog) was off his leash. We let him off while he eats to go to the bathroom. Well, Eric came out the door and since we have been taking Blondie out without a leash, she ran out the door. Of course, like a dog would, she ran for Pemberly. They ran all over the yard and out in the field. I called her and him, but they wouldn't come. So after ten minutes of trying to catch one of them, I finally caught hold of her. Eric took Pemberly down to the barn and put him back on his leash. I was hot and sweaty, and tired from chasing her.

Then, after a few hours, Blondie barks to go out. I looked outside to make sure Pemberly hadn't gotten off again, (which he does slip his collar off sometimes), so that they wouldn't run again. I hadn't seen him because he was down in the barn yard standing there behind our crab apple tree. So, as I always did, I called Blondie to the door, and we went out. But, I was too late in seeing that he was off, but Blondie wasn't. She ran straight for him again!

I take her out by the field on the side of the house. They are fields on three sides of the property, and then the road is the other side. They ran down the field, and headed for the road. I ran as fast as I could to see where they were going. Jocelyn and Amanda had already told Mom, who wasn't up yet, what was happening. Eric had run down in front of the barn to call them. By the time Mom and I were in the van, Eric had Blondie, because she had come when he called. Pemberly came back too, but when he saw Mom, he knew he was in trouble big time. With his tail in-between his legs, he cowered into the barn.

Then Eric shouted, "Mom! Blondie is bleeding!" He took her to the house, and we drove back. When we got back, everyone was telling us, "Mom, she is really bleeding a lot," and "She is dripping blood." Want to know what happened? She had stepped on a broken beer bottle on the rocks. It had cut her on her right front paw, under the knobby toe up by her shin. The cut was about 1 1/2 inches deep and was very wide. We got it to stop bleeding, and put iodine on it to clean it. Then we put some ointment and wrapped it in cotton (with something over it), and tied a rag around it to keep it from coming off. Then she hobbled out to the living room where she could be watched so she didn't try to get the bandage off. Amanda got some sticky wrap to hold the bandage on from the store, and now she has an orange paw. She can walk on it, but we don't allow her more than a few steps. We don't know how long this will take to heal, but please be praying that we don't have to take her to the vet, and that she doesn't get an infection. Another thing is that she may be pregnant, because Pemberly, being a boy dog, was trying to get on her. So, please pray, (we are not sure if she is) that if she is, she will be fine. She is just a year old in December. Now, instead of her running beside me, I have to carry her out to go potty. :( And carry her everywhere else... so...please pray...

Everyone else here is fine. Lucy is doing good. She is learning how to stand up on things by herself. She can do the 'n' for 'nurse' when she wants to nurse. It's so cute! She loves playing with legos, and loves animals. Oh, while I am speaking of babies, can you believe that Susanna was two months old on Sunday? I can't! It is CRAZY!

If anyone else on here needs praying for, please let me know. I will add you to my prayer-list. :) Thank you for reading this long post!

Oh, and I was asked by All4Him if I had an icon for my blog. I didn't but I made one to use for now, at least until we can make one on our program. So, if you would like the code, tell me and I will give it to you! I will upload it to photobucket and get the code for you all.

Rachel

I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts of a thirteen-year-old girl from the country."You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13

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03:35, Friday, January 25, 2008

Fruit Of The Spirit Friday Meme - Temperance and Gentleness

Bible Verse of the Day:
Galations 5:22-23
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, kindness,
23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

I am participating in the Fruit of the Spirit Meme by Robin Sampson.

I am going to tell you a story that goes with one of the Fruits, and tell me if you think that it goes with it or a different one.

Temperance, and Gentleness. I'm not always these things, as it may be hard to believe from seeing and reading my blog. My blog has a quiet sense to it. It gives off the reflection that I am well-mannered, very ladylike girl who always obeys her parents, and is kind and loving to her siblings. Well, that is not the way it is.

I'm not always kind to my younger siblings, or my older ones for that matter. I get bad attitudes just like everyone else. I may be mad at someone and not want to have anything to do with them, which only leads to strife. The reason it leads to strife is because if one is mad at the other, when the first tries to talk to the mad, the mad is mean, and hurts the firsts' feelings by talking in a mean way. Therefore, you have two mean people who don't want to have anything to do with each other, and are mean to the other children. So, you end up with a house full of mean kids.

Only yesterday I was not loving and kind, now this morning when I was frustrated with Isaac and Caleb because I wanted to finish writing in my journal. But I will tell you of an example that would agree with the paragraph above this one.

The bucks had knocked out their light, as did the does when we went down to feed them yesterday morning. When we came up, and I had just gotten all of my barn clothes off, and put my nice blue skirt on, Eric comes and tells me that we needed to put new lights in. I got angry because I didn't want to go out in the cold again and smell like the barn anymore. So, as a result, I was in a bad mood. We had to see if we could find two 60-watt bulbs in the addition because the darn goats had broken all of the ones we put it there. After not finding not one, we took a 40-watt down there, and since I was in a bad mood, I wasn't listening to Eric about how we needed one for the bucks as well.

When I thought I would be able to go in, Eric tells me, "I need another light." I got angry about this as well. (I had a headache from hitting my head on the garage door, which I couldn't see because of my hood.) I was upset, and wanted to go in. I stood on our porch while he got another light bulb.

While I was waiting for him to finish installing the new bulb, I was feeling rather sad at the way I was acting toward my brother. I knew it wasn't his fault that I had hit my head, and not his fault I hadn't wanted to go back down there. It was mine and mine alone. I usually feel sick when I am mean to my younger siblings and I know I shouldn't be, as I did then. I was not paying attention to how Eric might be feeling, just my own selfish feelings. I wasn't loving my brother with a Christian love; I was loving myself and nursing my own selfish feelings, hateful words and actions.

Last night, before Mom prayed with us, she asked us to ask the people we had offended to forgive us. I asked Eric to forgive me for the way I had been treating him. Then I asked God to forgive me for the way I had been acting toward my brother. It made me feel better knowing that I would have another chance to be kind and loving to my brothers and sisters tomorrow, and that I had not only been given forgiveness from my brother, but from the Lord also. Why don't we reflect on this verse: "25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." You can read the entire Fruit of the Galations 5:22-23

Rachel

I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts of a thirteen-year-old girl from the country."You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13

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11:50, Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Have You Read Psalm 22?

Psalm 22:31
"31They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this."

I was reading my Bible this morning, about fifteen minutes ago, and I didn't know what I was going to read. I thought a Psalm would be good for a Bible read today, so I found Psalm 22 to go with the date. I read this to my brother Eric who happened to be in the same room as me.

I did not, however, realize who David was talking about until I got to the middle part. Can you guess? Here, read it for yourself, and try to figure out who he is talking about.

1My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

2O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

3But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

4Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.

5They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.

6But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

7All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

8He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

9But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.

10I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.

11Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.

12Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.

13They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.

14I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

15My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

16For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

17I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.

18They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

19But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.

20Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.

21Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

22I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

23Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.

24For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.

25My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.

26The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

27All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

28For the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations.

29All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.

30A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

31They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.

He is talking about Jesus Christ being crucified by the Romans, and His hands and feet being pierced, which is what happened. And they didn't have crucifixion when David was alive.

Rachel

I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts of a thirteen-year-old girl from the country."You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13

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01:53, Saturday, January 19, 2008

Saturday Psalm & Praise - Psalm 19

Psalm 19
1The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.

Mom, at 1am last night, posted her SP&P, and I was reminded to do mine. I am doing Psalm 19 because that is today's date.

Psalm 19
1The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.
2Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3There is no speech now language, where their voice is not heard.
4Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tabernacle for the sun,
5Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the end of it: there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13Keep back they servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression
14Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

If you would like to participate in the meme, pick a praise song or Psalm, post it, sign the Mr. Linky on Mom's post, and leave a comment telling her you did it.

I was reading my Bible today, in Revelation. I have a fascination with prophecies and predictions of what is to come in the future years. The Seven Seals, what Christ told John to say to the Seven Churches of Asia, the coming of the Beast and what would happen before, after and during his reign, what will be loosed from the Bottomless Pit. I feel very sorry for those who will have taken the Mark of the Beast and those who will still be here during the time when God pours out His wrath on the people and the earth. I was very interested in the types of Angels that would be coming down to earth, and the four and twenty saints that sit around God’s throne. It is very interesting. I think all Christians should read it at least once and study it. I think you will find some very important information in those small 22 chapters of Revelation!

Sincerely,
Lady Rachel
It wouldn't let me link anything, so I will do that later. :)

I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts of a thirteen-year-old girl from the country."You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13

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11:42, Friday, January 18, 2008

St. Valentine --- Cupid's Arrows or a Saint?

John 15:13-14

13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Since Valentine's Day is coming up in a short while, so I thought I would give you a brief explanation of who St. Valentine really was and how the whole celebration of Valentine's Day started.

Every year on the 14th of February, people celebrate Valentine's Day. They give each other heart candies, and Cupids are all over the store windows, and cards and flowers being passed around. But do you know who this man who the day was named after really was?

There were two Christian men by the name Valentine, and they lived in and around Rome in the third century. Sadly, like so many other Christians of that time, they were martyred for their faith. The day they were killed? February 14th, A.D. 269. See where we get the date from?

One of the Valentines was supposed to be beheaded in Rome, and the other wa is thought to have died in Interamna, a town that was about 60 miles from Rome. The Valentine of Rome was a priest. In 350, a church was built in his honour, and his bones were buried there.

I'm not very sure who the other Valentine was. Some scholars think there really was only Valentine, and that the church's records were mixed up in the place of where he died --- making it appear that there were two Valentines. But no one knows for sure.

You are still wondering what the tradition of pink hearts and Cupid have to Valentine's Day? Nothing, really. But February 15th happened to be the date of the Roman festival of love. On this feast day, (which was called Lupercalia), the Romans honoured Juno, the supposed goddess of women and marriage. They also honoured Pan --- believed to be the god of nature.

During the fesival of Lupercalia, young men and women would draw names out of a box for a partner. The couple would spend time together and exchange gifts. Some of the couples would marry as a result of the courtship. Somehow, Cupid was believed to be involved. According to Roman mythology, Cupid was the "god of love" and the son of Venus, the supposed "goddess of love." It was thought that a shot from one of Cupid's arrows made a person fall in love. To this day he (Cupid) is despicted as a chubby little boy with golden wings, usually holding a bow and arrow.

You can imagine how difficult it was for the Christians in Rome to deal with all the pagan holidays that surrounded them. Christians didn't believe in the fanciful gods of the Romans. They certainly didn't believe true love came from an arrow from Cupid's bow either! So in 495, Pope Gelasius decided to declare February 14th as Saint Valentine's Day to replace the pagan festival of Lupercalia on the 15th. It was a gesture to Christianize a pagan tradition. (Early Christians did the same with Halloween. I will post about it when it comes up.)

Was Pope Gelasius very successful in changing it from a pagan tradition to a Christian one? Did he change the Roman tradition? For a time, his plan probably worked. I imagine that for centuries Christians spent time on February 14th remembering the siants and praying for those who were persecuted. But almost 2,000 years later, one trip to the drug store in early February will tell you very differently of how we ended up in his plan. Instead of remembering the saints, we are bombarded with pink hearts, candies in the shape of hearts, and greeting cards with flowers. And you see Cupid everywhere!

It's not that it's bad to express love and friendship and give out gifts on February 14th. I kind of think it's what Christ would want us doing. It's just a shame that St. Valentine, as a martyr, isn't better remembered for what he and the hundreds of other saints endured. I believe it to be important to reflect on the hardships they endured and sacrifices they made. Maybe this Valentine's Day, besides sending sweets and notes to people, you'll remember what Jesus said about love: "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you." (John 15:13-14)

Rachel
Ps. This was taken out of the Mystery of History by Linda Lacour Hobar. I put it in my own words though. :)

I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts of a thirteen-year-old girl from the country."You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13

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