Pride

Pride...

     ...begins with an unchecked thought of accomplishment. 

        

     ...takes root when you forget where success comes from. 

     ...the first signs of pride show in our relationship with God. 

     ...makes us do things that aren't right. 

     ...causes confrontation. 

Pride cometh before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 

        

Joy Cometh in the Morning

Psalm 30:1-12 

I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.

 O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. 

O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

 Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. 

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. 

And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. 

Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled. 

I cried to thee, O Lord; and unto the Lord I made supplication. 

What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth? 

Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper. 

Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; 

To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. 

My First Guest Post

My friend, Hannah, asked me to do a guest post on her blog for young ladies : All Things Lovely.  I've mentioned this blog a few times, some of you might follow it :)
The post I did is one that I posted on this blog a few years ago, but, even for me, it was encouraging to just go through and reread it.  Head over and read it :) All Things Lovely

New Update!!

I'm back!! I had an awesome trip, which I will be posting about later.  Right now, I just want to let ya'll know that I added new couples to my courtship stories post!  I was so excited when I started reading Iris' blog, it was encouraging to find another couple who have decided to court! And I was very happy for Maggie when she started courting, too!!
Have a great week!

Takin' A Trip

Today I flew from Chicago to Dallas to New Orleans. Once again we attempted to surprise Rachel with a trip to Alabama. This time she wasn't very surprised. This is the third year we've surprised her, and I think it's wearing off. 

Anyway, I'm looking forward to a week's vacation with my friends. 

Until I get home, have a great week! 

With All My Heart

If ever I loved thee, my Jesus tis now. 

In this quiet place with you, I now before your throne. I bear the deepest part of me to you and lay it down. I keep no secrets for there is no thoughts you have not known. I bare my best and all the rest to you, and lay it down. 

With all my heart, I want to love you, Lord. And live my life, each day to know you more. All that is in me, is yours completely. I'll serve you always, with all my heart. 

You faithfully supply my needs, according to your plan. So help me, Lord, to seek your face, before I seek your hand. And trust you know what's best for me, when I don't understand. And follow in obedience in every circumstance. 

With all my heart, I want to love you, Lord. And live my life, each day to know you more. All that is in me, is yours completely. I'll serve you always, with all my heart. 

 

...And the Last State of that Man...

Last night we had the opportunity to go to Parker Memorial Baptist Church to hear Dr. Phil Kidd. It was a blessing, and the sermon was amazing! He preached on Matthew 12:45 about how "the state of that man was worse than the first."  Then he went through and gave three points describing different men who had died in the Bible. 

1) The Fool- Abner died a fool. 

2) The Failure- Demus died a failure

3) The Fake- Judas died a fake. 

What if the flowers that will be placed on your grave are already in the flower store? What if your casket you will be buried in is already in the funeral home? 

If you were to die today, what would the end of your story be?  

Value Your Heritage

Jesse and I sang this song last Sunday in honor of the fourth. I had never heard it before she showed it to me and I really liked it. 

Faith of our fathers, holy faith. We will be true to thee. 

Value your heritage, of days gone by. Hold fast the memory of pure and holy lives. Who held the bloodstained banner, of Jesus Christ, God's son. The truth has been preserved for us through victories they have won. 

Value your heritage, hold doctrine dear. Brave ones who died in faith to keep our message clear. Burned forsaken martyrs, saints who've paid the price. Procure for us the word of God, a willing sacrifice. Whose faith and wisdom follow, stand firm and boldly be the future of tomorrow, a heritage to see. 

I pledge allegiance to the flag if the United States of America. And to the republic for which it stands: one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all. 

Value our heritage, in God we trust. Forefathers signed their names- securing life for us. To live and breathe in freedom, they fought for liberty. And took a stand, each boy and man, I make our country free. 

My country tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died. Land of the pilgrim's pride. From every mountain side...

Cast of the works of darkness, shine forth a life laid down. Our cause demands we give our all, to gain a heavenly crown. Our cause demands we give our all, to gain a heavenly crown. 

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my mom's birthday. She wanted to go back up to my grandparent's cottage up near Lake Michigan. So far it's been a good time with only *ahem* slight injuries :). Some 19 year old girl around here has a tomboy/risk taker streak in her. Usually ending up with some sort of something like this:

Beautiful, right?? 

Anyway

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM :) 

It Is Good...

It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. 

Psalms 119:71

Praise God that even in hard times there is a reason for everything. I saw this verse just tonight and it was a great encouragement to me!! 

Happy Fourth of July!!

(At the parade this morning)

Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend! 

Just Had To...

Share a picture of this little guy :) 

Isn't he a cutie?? 

I Love This!!

Update in Pictures... (And Photo Challenge, Finally!)

Memorial Day...

Our Dock at the Lake :) 

Day 9: Something From a Distance

Day 10: Whatever You Want...

There's a story behind this: Last time we were up at the Cottage, I kept putting my phone in a ziplock bag to keep it safe from accidently dropping in the water.  The morning we were getting ready to head out, I was inside talking to my mom, and my phone slipped out of my hand and landed right in my dog's water bowl :( Fortunately with a bag or rice and 24 hours, it still works :)  

Day 11: Black and White ;) 

btw, that little dot is a helicopter ;) 

We went to the famous Cherry Republic (At least I think it's fame worthy, and this is coming from someone who doesn't like cherries all that much) 

They had a nice place for pictures

Unfortunately the boys weren't very cooperative.  

Day 12: Same Shot, Different Light (With following picture)

Sorry it's sideways :/

Lol, I made my brother stop right in the middle of the road and messed around with different 'scenic road pictures' 

VBS...

Leading music... we had a military theme, and some of us got uniforms to wear... There's a lady in our church who was in the Marines when she was my age, and her uniform fit me. It was fun to get dressed up :)
 

Cheering for the Penny Drive

Remodeling Jimmey and Jesse's New House...

The girl's room

Jimmey and Jesse's Room

The catwalk... sorry about the backlight

The firewalk in the living room from the catwalk

The stairwell... I'm very proud of this stairwell... I had to paint it with a paint brush taped to a broom pole :)














The wall in the living room... I love the colors!!
 
A blurry picture of the outside of the house, and a free advertisement to Shuster Computer Services and Repair ;)  lol
Well, that's about it.  I've been busy with stuff in the church and tutoring/two piano students... I've got two more students coming too!!  I'm looking for more tutoring/babysitting/piano lessons too...