Comfort

With all that is happening in our world today, it is such a comfort to me to know that God is in complete control of EVERYTHING!

Our family had the great opportunity to travel to the Creation Museum in Kentucky with some very dear friends of ours. And can I say what a blessing it was!! I am so thankful that God gave someone the means to establish such a place... and to openly declare the Lord's wonderful power and salvation.

After we visited the planetarium that was in the museum, I was astounded at how small our world truly is. The universe is infinite and as humans, we cannot completely grasp in our minds the vastness of God's creation.

And I was comforted.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoseover believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

The Lord knows today, tomorrow and a week from now what is going to happen. HE KNOWS. I should not worry or be afraid, since I am His and saved by grace. We are such a small world and He cares...so very much.

It is so nice not to have to worry--what a relief.

Just a thought I had today.
~Sarah

One more quick thought...

A few Sundays ago our Pastor had an interesting comment. Of course, I forgot to write it down until now.

I know everyone is worried about our future and uncertain about how events are going to unfold. Our Pastor said that he likes to read mystery novels, especially ones by Agatha Christie. He noticed that the hero in the books always seems to get into so much trouble and so Pastor wonders if everything will turn out ok. So...he looks at the ending and sure enough everything works out all right for the hero.

Well, we should not be worried about our future (eventhough it is so hard sometimes). As a Christian I know the ending to our story through the Bible and everything is going to be fine (if you have accepted Christ as your personal Saviour).

Crickets

It has been a good weekend. So, far we have almost one other room finished with fresh new paint! It looks so much better than the other color the previous owners had. Also, since it was so nice out, we finally got our flowers planted. My garden is smaller this year, but I really don't have as much time to take care of it.

Let's see...nothing else to say right now. Oh! I would only request that Leo and Vangie Seraphinoff and Delbert and Dorothy Arend would be kept in prayer. Leo has recently had knee surgery and is in pain. Delbert had hernia surgery about a week or so ago and is slowly recovering. I am sure both families would appreciate the prayer!!

While at work today I got to watch a bicycle race. They were having it across the street from where I work. So, every few minutes a whole pack of bicycles would go whizzing by. They were traveling so fast I thought for sure someone was going to fall off! The bikes nowadays are so slim and light. I saw several people just pick them up easily and sling them over their shoulders. How far technology has come! (Although I am not sure if that is a good thing in some cases.)

All right, have a good night. The crickets are chirping and it is one of those peaceful summer nights. AHHH.

~Sarah B

Verse of the day...

Because thou has kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Revelations 3:1o

Yes!

School is over! Yahooo! I am very happy. What a relief--whew.

~Sarah

San Diego II

The back neighbor's trees were loaded with oranges!

Just relaxing.

My dad reading a paper of some sort.

This was a view from the local library parking lot. Beautiful where ever you go.

A cute little lizard. We saw these guys everywhere, so you have to watch where you sit!!

Making tangerine juice. Yummy and messy.

From left to right ( Mama Dorothy, Papa Delbert, my mom, Aaron, and me) I really miss Mama Dorothy and Papa Delbert. They were so generous enough to open their home to us!

The profits from our work. In the left bucket oranges, on the floor grapefruit, in the right bucket tangerines.

A picture with Papa Delbert. He has the funniest sense of humor. He was constantly making me laugh. (By the way...those are lemons in my hands.)

No, that is not a grapefruit! That, my friend, is a California orange!! It was huge to say the least. And of course that is me. :)

A weird looking tropical flower called Bird of Paradise. Kinda pretty.

The ocean shore.

Aaron and I. The day we went it was windy, cool, and rainy. :( But it was still wonderful scenery. It was the kind of day that Lake Michigan seems to have often.

Another view, with my mom's shoulder in the bottom left hand corner. ;)




That's all for now! Back to homework I go.

~Sarah

San Diego

Here are some pictures of out trip from San Diego. We have so many so I am starting with a few at a time. This one is from the driveway of the friends we were visint. What a view!

Another shot from their front yard.

And another...

They have a grapefruit and an orange tree in their front yard. The orange tree was covered with creamy white blossoms. You have never smelled anything so heavenly!

This was my first little palm tree that greeted us at LAX.

This is veiw from the air (obviously) as we were heading for Los Angeles. I believe this is the Rocky Mountains over Utah.

I think this might be Arizona? Not sure about that thought. The desert looked beautiful.

And this is the Grand Canyon. Kinda blurry though. The Captain anounced we were flying over it so I made sure to get a good picture.

This is early on our way to Los Angeles. We had just taken off from Indianpolis. (Sorry the photos are out of order I am still trying to figure out how to post them).

Another beautiful view of the mountains with snow. As I was seeing this scenery before me the hymn 'I Sing the Mighty Power of God' came to mind.

That is all for now! Will post some more soon!
~Sarah

Quiet Evening

It has been awhile since I wrote anything, because I have been quite busy. One highlight is that my family was able to go on a trip to San Diego, California to visit some dear friends of ours. It was very enjoyable and we made some special memories together. We stayed for 5 days. It was kind of cool and there was a downpour of rain one day, but overall it was nice weather. However, it was not warm enough to get a tan, so I am still quite a paleface. :) Hopefully I will get some pictures up. The scenery was so beautiful! It was just as pretty as I imagined it to be. If I had the chance to spend the summer there, I would go lickety-split. (I would just have to find another way to get there other by plane. Flying is NOT my favorite.) And just so everyone knows, for those unbelievers ;), the ocean is truly salty. Honestly, I thought people had been making that up all along! Just kidding.
I had better get going. I have a lot to do before morning comes. *Sigh* Goodnight.

~Sarah

Aaron's Birthday

Yup, today is the day! My brother Aaron turns 17 years old. I cannot believe how old we are getting--I never thought we would reach theses ages! Recently, he obtained his driver's license and is quite proud of this accomplishment. From what I have experienced, I have concluded he is safe to drive with. ;) Aaron really likes coffee and right now we have this old percolator that spits and rumbles when he makes coffee every morning, so... I bought him a Mr. Coffee! (Hopefully he will not read this before tonight) He should like that.

Yesterday I read a wonderful hymn story and I thought I would share it.

Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For sinners such as I?

Was it for sins that I have done
He suffered on the tree!
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut His glories in,
When Christ, the great Redeemer, died
For man the creature's sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt mine eyes to tears.

But drops of grief can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away--
'Tis all that I can do.

~Isaac Watts

"We never know how deeply our actions affect the lives of others. This hymn by Isaac Watts has certainly touched the hearts of millions through the centuries. After drawing the stark contrasts between the sacrificial death of the mighty Maker and the unworthiness of the sinful creature, he concludes with the consecration, 'Here, Lord, I give myself away--'tis all that I can do.'

A thirty-year-old blind woman heard a revival choir sing this simple hymn. Stanza after stanza stirred her heart, but when the choir came to the final line, 'Here, Lord, I give myself away," she gave herself away to the Lord as well. That blind woman was Fanny Crosby, who went on to become the greatest writer of gospel songs in the past century. We never know how deeply our lives will touch the lives of others."

He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. Isaiah 53:5-6

I thought that was a wonderful story and that hymn truly make you grateful for what the Lord did! Well, I have class in about 45 minutes, so I better get going.

~Sarah~

A sunny spring day

I just went for a walk outside and boy, was it nice! All the robins and cardinals were singing--it feels like spring. The only exception is the weather. It is still chilly out, but that doesn't matter. At least it is March. :)

I am thankful to have my job still. Several other employees that were hired about the same time I was, have now been laid off. So, the Lord has been watching over me. The only problem is...they transferred me to another branch. This new branch is closer to me, but I really enjoyed the people at the other place. Learning to work with these new people is going to be quite a struggle. I am going to be praying so hard about this. I really need the Lord's help! That's all for now.

~Sarah