Praise the Lord, it's Christ His glory

Praise the Lord, my song my story

Of the life that's found in dying

And the joy that comes by crying

Of the love that's shown

By laying down my life

It's of sorrow and suffering

Now known as joy and peace

Praise the Lord bless His name

I have been set free

~ R.A.~

Jesus is Beautiful!

And Jesus makes beautiful things in my life.

Something so small inside, but I know it is alive. It was planted long ago, Before the earth began it was there and I know it will always be. And each day I can feel it closer and closer and it draws me closer still. Like a breeze on the wind I can feel it stronger and sometimes less but still the same it is always there. Softly and quietly it comes to stay and I know it is there, even when I do not see it. It was given by your hand and I will cherish it forever. And when my life is over it will still go on and on. It is you and what you are. You come and make it known to me in your lovely way that you have always done. Your life though me, flows on forever, It touches lives and spreads on forever. How beautiful! How beautiful the hands that move and the feet that walk and the mouth that speaks and the eyes that see and the ears that hear. The life that lives in you. And moves in you. How beautiful! The beloved and the lover of my soul. The one who I run to. My rock. My high tower, the forever abiding never ending love of my life.

He gave us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that we might be trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Jesus is beautiful!

And Jesus makes beautiful things of my life!

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Psalm 16

Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You.

I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord;

I have no good besides You."

As for the saints who are in the earth,

They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.

The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied;

I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood,

Nor will I take their names upon my lips.

The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;

You support my lot.

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;

Indeed, my heritage

is beautiful to me.

I will bless the LORD who has counseled me;

Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.

I have set the LORD continually before me;

Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;

My flesh also will dwell securely.

For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;

Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.

You will make known to me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Psalm 30

¹I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.

²O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

³O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

⁴Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

⁵For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

⁶And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.

⁷LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

⁸I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.

⁹What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

¹⁰Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.

¹¹Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

¹²To 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.

And now abide faith, hope, Love, these three but the greatest of these is Love.

Love is not proud

Love does not boast

Love after all

Matters the most

Love does not run

Love does not hide

Love does not keep

Locked inside

Love is the river that flows through

Love never fails you

Love will sustain

Love will provide

Love will not cease

At the end of time

Love will protect

Love always hopes

Love still believes

When you don’t

Love is the arms that are holding you

Love never fails you

When my heart won’t make a sound

When I can’t turn back around

When the sky is falling down

Nothing is greater than this

Greater than this

Love is right here

Love is alive

Love is the way

The truth the life

Love is the river than flows through

Love is the arms that are holding you

Love is the place you will fly to

Love never fails you

~Brandon Heath

I Will Praise Him Still

When the morning falls on the farthest hill,

I will sing His name, I will praise Him still.

When dark trials come and my heart is filled,

With the weight of doubt I will praise Him,still

For the Lord our God He is strong to save,

From the arms of death, from the deepest grave,

And He gave us life in His perfect will,

And by His good grace I will praise Him still.

~FERNANDO ORTEGA~

An empty canvas waits for the Painter.

And waits to be the painting he must be.

Unto this end it rightly was created

To reflect rightly what the Painter sees.

Now I must wonder what His eyes are now beholding

As they surely turn their gaze to behold me

As my lips so often speak the name of Jesus.

Will the canvas hold His image within me?

Few be the lovers in this painting,

Few be the lovers of His cross.

Many will be joined at the Lords table

Beckoned there to feast or to dine.

Who among us still will be found faithful

To be the blest and to drink the cup of His wine?

Few be the lovers in this painting,

Few be the lovers of His cross.

Who will remain to cry in tribulation?

Who will remain as to hunger in the fast?

Who will remain to die to save another?

Who will be first as to be recorded last?

Few be the lovers in this painting,

Few be the lovers of His cross.

Isn't it the passion of His glory?

Isn't it the paradox of shame?

Isn't the beauty of this painting?

Oh but isn't it the power of His Name!

Few be the lovers in this painting, few be the lovers of His cross.

We were created in the image of the Father. Are we reflecting His glory?

He has not forgotten

When you think your dream is dying
He has not forgotten you
When your body aches from tryin'
He has not forgotten you

When you worry for tomorrow
Even though the sky is blue
See the sun is shining
He has not forgotten you

When July feels like December
He has not forgotten you
When it's painful to remember
He has not forgotten you

When it seems you can not win
And there is not much left to lose
He has got a plan
And He has not forgotten you

He is faithful
He is with you
He is listening
He is love

If your tired flesh has squandered
What your spirit would have saved
And your aimless feet have wandered
Far from all you truly crave

Turn and run toward your Father
Do not wait another day
See His arms are open
And He is calling out your name

And hope will spring eternal
In the homes of those who know
That loving arms will follow
Every where we go

And even in the darkness
His promises are true
Keep this in your heart
He has not... forgotten..... you.

A Passion For Thee

Set my heart, O dear Father,

On Thee, and Thee only,

Give me a thirst for Thy presence divine.

Lord, keep my focus on loving Thee wholly,

Purge me from earth; Turn my heart after Thine.

A passion for Thee;

O Lord, set a fire in my soul, and a thirst for my God.

Hear Thou my prayer, Lord, Thy power impart.

Not just to serve, but to love Thee with all of my heart.

Father fill with Thy Spirit, and fit me for service,

Let love for Christ every motive inspire,

Teach me to follow in selfless submission,

Be Thou my joy and my soul's one desire.

A passion for Thee;

O Lord, set a fire in my soul, and a thirst for my God.

Hear Thou my prayer, Lord, Thy power impart.

Not just to serve, but to love Thee with all of my heart.

As The Day Approaches I am wakened with a start

I cannot see it but for the eyes of my heart

There's a sound of victory and battle in the air

And the Captain of the host of heaven's there

And the Captain of the host of heaven's there

And the territory of God that's in our hearts

Will be fortified to quench the liar's darts

The day's upon us when the standard shall be raised

And Babylon will burn in a fiery blaze

And Babylon will burn in a fiery blaze

As for me and my family we choose to serve the Lord

And like Peter we step out on the sea

Looking to the Holy One who brings a brighter day

And the courage to say Count on me Count on me

Great wars were never won without sacrifice

So let us count the cost for we know He paid the price

The weapon He has formed is sharpest when We're on our knees

It's the contrite ones who'll slay the enemy

It's the contrite ones who'll slay the enemy

So love your children and cherish your family

Pray for your parents and take the victory

Mighty men of valor have longed to see this day

When the host of hell are chained and led away

When the host of hell are chained and led away

what I have been up to!

I thought you all might be wondering what I have been up to!

I have been practicing improving on my bread making skills:

Reading "Little Lord Fauntleroy" to my younger brothers:

Making popcorn balls with my younger brothers:

Making fresh chunky apple sauce :

Enjoying the snow

hanging up laundry in the guests house, cabin, and kitchen.

Reading a book called " Under the Lilacs"

Trying to Keep my room tidy!

Singing

Keeping my heart open to hear the word of the Lord.

And now I am off to my sister's----

Bye-Bye!

a song that I was blessed by yesterday:

Praise You In This Storm

I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

PROV. 31.

Who can find a virtuous wife?

For her worth is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband safely trusts her;

So he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good and not evil

All the days of her life.

She seeks wool and flax,

And willingly works with her hands.

She is like the merchant ships,

She brings her food from afar.

She also rises while it is yet night,

And provides food for her household,

And a portion for her maidservants.

She considers a field and buys it;

From her profits she plants a vineyard.

She girds herself with strength,

And strengthens her arms.

She perceives that her merchandise is good,

And her lamp does not go out by night.

She stretches out her hands to the distaff,

And her hand holds the spindle.

She extends her hand to the poor,

Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of snow for her household,

For all her household is clothed with scarlet.

She makes tapestry for herself;

Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates,

When he sits among the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them,

And supplies sashes for the merchants.

Strength and honor are her clothing;

She shall rejoice in time to come.

She opens her mouth with wisdom,

And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

She watches over the ways of her household,

And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and call her blessed;

Her husband also, and he praises her:

“ Many daughters have done well,

But you excel them all.”

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,

But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands,

And let her own works praise her in the gates.

This is what I desire the Lord to make me to be. I know I have a long way ahead of me and "many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand but I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand".

His strength keeps me going and I am pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus!

If I try to look ahead I can see nothing at all so I just keep my eyes on the one with me on this path that leads to life, He has given me Joy more than I have ever known before. This past year has been the most trying ever in my life but as I look back on all the thoughts and things that have went on in my heart I can only say:

" Your blessed will O Lord has been done and will be done I thank you for each thing that you have brought my way!" He is teaching me to be willing to serve Him in everything. My heart is learning contentment in Him. I want Jesus to have His own way in my life. I want my will to be lost in His. I can only find true happiness in knowing Jesus, Living His life, walking the path he has prepared for me.

"Clear Son of righteousness shine on my path show me

the way to the Father in Him there is no darkness at all

the night and the day are both alike the Lamb

is the Light in the city of God

Shine on my heart Lord Jesus!"