This is beyond neat...

I got chills while watching this. LOVE IT !!!! Can't you just imagine being there???!!!  Just a very infinitely small taste of the heavenly choir.                                                                                                             

P.S. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to turn off my music so that it does not interfere with the video *thanks*




Waiting for that day...
Philippians 2:10-11 ~  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

~Sarah~

My day off...

Yes, it was my day off today. Aren't you happy for me?? =)

 Today was the very 1st day for beginning piano lessons with Mrs. R. Let me just say it was wonderful. I must mention she has a...ahem...Yamaha baby grand! I was shocked. I have never ever had lessons on a baby grand before---so exciting!! Mrs. R is very lovely, godly woman. I am blessed to take lessons from her. Oh, and I play for church on Wednesday night sometime in January. Ugh. This will be nerve-wracking...but the Lord is with me through everything.

#2. We have been helping a couple at our church with organizing a ministry at their home. It is plain to see they love the Lord and love to serve Him. How refreshing! My mom and I helped most of the day with organizing book shelves, painting, and sorting. I so enjoy being around them both and gathering as much wisdom from them as I can!

What else?  ..... ?

I have not posting pictures in awhile. And of course, there are no people in these pictures. I am always getting picked on for not taking pictures of people. Almost every photo I take is a picture of God's marvelous creation. These three are from a month or so ago:

 taken at a dear friend's home

some pretty purple flower from a bouquet



a rose from a bouquet

And there you have it. A very brief and condensed update! There are so many other wonderful things to tell...but I do not have enough room on this page to type every detail!

One more thing...(I know this is random). Here are words to a song to get in the Christmas spirit!

A Christmas Wish

As we come to this special time of year,

May our minds still be focused, may our vision be clear.

As we ponder the meaning of this season,

We understand the reason that You came to earth as man. It was love.

It was love that made the sacrifice. It was love that paid the awful price.

Oh, may we not forget; Lord, help us to remember

That Christ came down to earth for more than just December.

His birth prepared the way for His work on Calvary.

Our Christmas wish is that we not forget God's love. Amen.

~Tim Fisher



~Sarah~

Oh yeah. It is winter out.

Yup. The first snow has fallen. Just a dusting...but I still love it! I am praying for no ice though. Life has been so very busy! I know it has been awhile since November 2. Yikes!! Hopefully, I will get a better update than this...however it will have to do. =)

Christmas is 25 days away!!!!!


~Sarah~

Election DaY and other miscellaneous items

I voted today! Did YOU?

Besides that...

I went to the Ladies' Bible Study at church. We are going through a newly published devotional book ( Divine Service ) written by a wonderful lady (Betty Henderson) who goes to my church as well. I am enjoying it very much and learning an incredible amount of information from the book of Mark. You can check out Divine Service here. I also believe it is on http://www.cbd.com/ too.

Anyway...

All the leaves are off the trees now. I am sad about that. The trees look very bare--but never fear Christmas will soon be here and that means---SNOW!! I know. I cannot wait!! =)

Hmmm...

Nothing else exciting is happening right now. EXCEPT! ! ! ! one thing. I am going to be playing for our music pastor's wife tomorrow night. She just wants to hear me play the piano in order to get a feel for where I would best fit in the church music program. Uhh...I am nervous! She is so very nice and patient. I am happy about that because I am going to be a wreck tomorrow night. =)

~SaRaH~

Uh-oh...the leaves are falling...

"October gave a party;

The leaves by hundreds came-

The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,

And leaves of every name.

The Sunshine spread a carpet,

And everything was grand,

Miss Weather led the dancing,

Professor Wind the band."

~ George Cooper, October's Party

Fall is definitely here!! I love this time of year...the smells, the tastes, the sounds....the time when God paints the trees with beautiful color.


~SaRaH~

Busy as a Bee (except I don't like bees...) maybe butterflies??

Life has been going by so quickly I can't keep up lately!! We just finished with a revival week at our church with the Steve Pettit Evangelistic Team. Let me just say it was fantastic!! The music was phenomenal, the preaching was convicting, and several people came forward each night to commit their lives to Christ! It was exciting to see the Lord work! I bought 3 CD's and one of their piano books. Each team member is incredibly talented--they are truly blessed. Their first night here (last Sunday) the ladies sang a song entitled 'God of Heaven'. It was so beautiful! They are doing a recording of it very soon. As soon as it is on CD I am going to buy it. I feel as if I am going to cry every time I hear it performed. The song is playing at the bottom of the blog--it is the first song. But honestly, this particular recording does not do it justice. Just the ladies by themselves is much better with a piano and violin accompaniment. I can't wait to hear it again!!!!!!! =)

School is going well. Not too much to report there. I do have HUGE final in Accounting 102 this week. I am very very very nervous about it, but inspite of my worries the Lord is with me at all times. Please pray for me though!

Hopefully, sometime I will get some fall pictures up here. The leaves are just starting to look pretty, but I have a feeling the wind will come and they will fall off before they really look beautiful. Oh, well. That's just the way it goes I guess. Until next time I blog....


~Sarah~

An Update !!! (don't get too excited)

I know I haven't posted in awhile, but life has been going very quickly for me and the days are just slipping by. Anyway, I'm not sure that anyone out there in cyberspace reads this poor little blog or not, but to those who do I will try to post later this week. It is going to be full week tho!!! I have to work just about everyday on top of school and running here and there for church activities. Inspite of of my busy days, the Lord is so good to me. He keeps me safe day and night, provides for all my needs (even little ones), and comforts me when I become discouraged (which seems to be more frequent with school). I have a great burden to grow in Him. I'm taking it day by day. The only thing is....it's difficult!! But, the Lord knows that all ready. I am thankful for His infinte understanding. What would I do without it???

An added thought: I have not posted any hymns in awhile, however I think next time I will post one!


~Sarah~ <3

My Violin

Patriot Day—September 11th

 

“This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and  peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time.

None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.

Thank you. Good night and God bless America.”

~President George W. Bush, Address to the Nation, September 11, 2001

Lisa Jefferson, the 911 operator who spoke with Todd Beamer on Flight 93:

“He said, in case I don’t make it through this, would you please do me a favor and call my wife and my family and let them know how much I love them. He told me he has two boys, David and Andrew. Then he said his wife is also expecting. So we talked.

When the plane was flying erratic he thought he had lost conversation with me. And he was hollering in the phone, ‘Lisa, Lisa.’ And I said, ‘I’m still here Todd. I’m still here. I’m not going anywhere, I’ll be here as long as you will.’

After that he had a sigh in his voice, he took a deep breath. He was still holding the phone but he was not talking to me, he was talking to someone else. And I can tell that he had turned away from the phone to talk to someone else. And he said, ‘You ready? OK. Let’s roll.’”

Moments later, screams, commotion.

“Then it went silent. I didn’t hear anything else from him. I kept the phone line open for about 15 minutes, hoping he would come back to the phone. I was calling his name. He never came back to the phone. About 10 minutes later, we had heard that the plane had crashed in Pittsburgh and I knew that it was his plane. It was United flight 93.”

An excerpt from my diary at 10:28 pm on 9/11/01:

“…I think we just made history today. Today at 8:49 am two jetliners crashed in the World Trade Center towers. Both towers have now crumbled to the [ground]. Also, the Pentagon has been attacked by a jet liner also. Another jetliner was on its way to Washington D.C. but crashed in Pennsylvania…Many think more is to come. Thousands were killed. May God protect us all.”

I am remembering September 11th, 2001 today. I remember distinctly where I was and what I was doing. I remember feeling afraid of what was happening to my country. I was 12 years old—I am now 21. In spite of that terrible, horrific morning and the weeks to follow, my Lord and Savior was still on the throne. He still is. He was in perfect control and was loving and sovereign that day. Guess what? He still is!

The saddest part of that moment in history? Not every person was prepared for facing death. Some thought they were, some didn’t care. Many did not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They had rejected Him. And then it was too late. It was a somber day and in ways it was even more so. Every day, every second, a human soul is danger of eternal separation from their Creator. What am I doing about it? Am I spreading the Good News? Reaching my friends and neighbors for Christ?

Not only is this a day that I remember those who lost their lives in the line of duty and as victims of terrorism, but also to reflect on what I am doing to tell others about Jesus Christ and what He did for them on Calvary. 

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

 

Flowers

Christina inspired me to do a post about flowers too. I LOVE flowers and gardening. Here are some of my favorites!!!

Pink and yellow snapdragons

Victoria Blue Savlia with a funny looking moth (kinda ugly in fact...)

my absolute favorites...

Heavenly Blue Morning Glories!

~Sarah~

Nothing much...

I just saw that I haven't posted in awhile. So...I thought I would give an update for anyone out there who reads this blog. School started for me Aug. 23rd. I was not looking forward to it much because of the type of classes I have to take. I am trying to not get discouraged--the Lord is with me. It's just that I have all ready had an issue with my Philosophy 102 class. I know that the Lord will give me grace to get through it!

It has been so busy with running between schools, work, church and soccer games. I can't keep up...and this is only the second week!! = ^) Anywhoo...I think that is it for now...

By the way, this is my 50th post!!!!! That doesn't sound like much, however, it is HUGE for me. Just because I don't keep up with things like blogs. I find other things to take up my time usually. So, YAY, for my 50th post! Maybe if I keep this blog and I get some more followers I'll do something more spectacular for my 100th post. Stay tuned...

~Sarah

Back home again...

This past weekend we enjoyed a wonderful trip back home to SW Michigan. We had the opportunity to stay with dear friends and then travel to the other side of Michigan to see family. It was a blessing! A big thanks to the dear friends who let us stay with them! :-)

Customize a digital collage

~Sarah

Give-a-ways!

I have always wanted to participate in a give-a-way! And thanks to a wonderful blogger (who also happens to be very talented, homeschooled, and a fellow sister in Christ) my dream can come true!! Yay! :-)

She has some beautiful hand bags and other items on her Etsy shop! The Lord has blessed her with a marvelous talent.

Check out her blog...

and take a peek at these lovely bags!!!!!! I LOVE them. Aren't they sooo pretty???

~Sarah

First day of August! (I just realized that...)

I cannot believe it is all ready August!! Summer seems to be coming to an end. :-( This Sunday has been a blessing. The message today was wonderful. Pastor Phelps spoke on Hebrews 12:1-4. Recently, we finished the "Hall of Faith"; Hebrews 11. This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible! Such a beautiful and powerful piece of Scripture...

Let's see... what else...I just finished whipping up a batch of sweet cinnamon  rolls. Yum. I'm a sucker for cinnamon rolls. You just can't beat them anywhere.

Hope everyone else had a lovely Lord's day.

~Sarah

Twenty-one

Theme: Rain drops

I love rain drops. They are so simple and beautiful.

Summer evening

Sunday!

Last night my family and I became members of Colonial Hills Baptist Church! We are very excited to see what the Lord has in store for us!!

When we finally arrived home, it was getting dark. I was greeted by these cute little tree frogs we have hanging around our house. (In fact, I counted 5 on one occasion). Anyway this little guy was stuck to our sidelight glass by our front door. It kinda looks like he is floating in mid-air!

He was still cute though.

Then we had a fantastic 4th of July! Our cousins came to visit from up North. I am so glad they were able to come. I had so much fun!

My brother, was in an annual 4th of July parade in the CAP Color Guard.

Then, my cousin and I (and Aaron) traveled to Falls Park to enjoy the beautiful day.

The water felt so good, we decided to step in.

 While we were wading, we noticed these tiny fish (minnows or something like that...they were not tadpoles). They were pretty easy to catch with our bare hands. So...we went fishing...without fishing rods!

Then we headed for Connor Prairie for Symphony on the Prairie, a patriotic concert with fireworks!

It was so crowded we had to sit on the side of a hill, which was pretty interesting.

We had a fairly decent view of the stage, although it was a little far.

Our view to the left...the prairie.

A hot air balloon flew right over us!!!

My cousin and I.

What is the 1812 Overture without cannons? And big, loud ones too.

And of course fireworks!! They are so difficult to take pictures of.

That was my 4th! Hope everyone else had a blessed time celebrating our country's birth!

"...and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." ~  II Corinthians 3: 17

Froggie

The Truth About Evolution

Excellent!! by Dave Woetzel

Storm

 

When I consider...

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?   ~Psalm 8: 3-4~

How wonderful to know that we are so loved by Christ, and yet in total relation to the universe we are so insignificant. That verse makes me thankful beyond belief that Christ gave His life for me so that I may be forever with Him someday. Just a thought that came to me today. Hallelujah! What a Saviour!

Pictures Prt. 2 ~~Sea World~~

I was so excited and thankful that during our visit we could explore Sea World! I loved Sea World!!!!

Shamu Show~The Stadium~

The guy who was part of the show...

...and of course some of the main stars...  :)

All lined up for the camera!!

Wow!! These animals are HUGE!! and so graceful.

The Lord is a marvelous Creator!!! What beauty.

Aww. Nice family shot a lady took for me. :)

Very sleepy sea turtles.

Next adventure... a ride in....

...a very tiny bucket... 

...on a very long, line. Yikes.

And, yes, I was very brave.

But, what a breathtaking view!

Then, we visited the shark tunnel.

Flamingo island.

Cute dolphin! I think he/she was smiling at me.

A sea-lion show, which was very funny.

Some very ugly eels. I could've stared at these guys for hours~ I could not believe how ugly they were!

Sorry to have to end with that picture, but I will have to post the remaining pics on yet another post (I can hear all of the yippees!).  :)  Until then,