A Christian Home

Here is a poem written by Babara Hart:

*A Christian Home*

O give us home built firm upon the Savior
Where Christ is Head and Counselor and Guide
Where every child is taught his love and favor
And gives his heart to Christ, the crucified:
How sweet to know that through his footsteps waver
His faithful Lord is walking by his side!

O give us homes with Godly fathers, mothers,

Who always place their hope and trust in Him:
Whose tender patience turmoil’s never bothers,

Who calm and courage trouble cannot dim;

A home where each finds joy in serving others,
And love still shines, tho' days be dark and grim.
O Lord, our God, our homes are Thine forever!
We trust to Thee their problems, toil, and care;
Their bonds on love no enemy can sever
If thou are always Lord and Master there:

Be Thou the center of our least endeavor--

Be Thou our Guest, our hearts and homes to share.

-Barbara B. Hart

Braving La Luz!

If you would like to read about last years hike up this very same trail, make a quick stop by my brother, Josh's blog by clicking here.

Dad, Josh, Jeremiah, Jonathan and I decided to, once again, attempt to brave the 7 mile long La Luz trail  which leads us right up Mount Sandias.

The photo's are done by Jeremiah and I. :)

We started on the trail around 8:00, which was nice. (Earlier than last year's trek!) It was shady the first part up, but on the way down was a much different story! (aka: HOT!)   

Your's truly. :)

Makin' our way up and we came upon this sign:

This was the view around the beginning of the hike.

It was beautiful!

Our first "rest" of the trip.

Back on the trail!

The sun starts to peek it's way across our trail and works on heating the once shaded desert. (A bit to the hiker's chagrin!) :)

Time for a second break!

We're off, once again!

Okay, quick explanation here, (excuse) carrying the camera became a bit of a hassle with the scrambling up the mountain trail. (It was hanging on my neck, and swinging around quite a bit. I was afraid it would hit some of the rocks/trees and things, around us.) So, neither Jeremiah or I took many pictures after that, until I got to the top.

I was the slowest out of our little group of hikers, so Dad and I agreed that when we got near the top, he would go up the mountain with Josh and Jonathan, and Jeremiah was kind enough to volunteer and stay behind with me. I still made my way up, just not quite as fast as Dad and the others.  :)

 Anyways, long story short, Jeremiah and I took the wrong turn (Despite the sign in front of my face!) and after traveling down the trail (The wrong one) suspecting something weird, and asking some other hikers for help-we ran back to the place where we had gone off. Then, we came just in time to see Dad, coming down the mountaint to meet us there. Oops. I don't think I'll make that mistake again! It cost both we and Dad more trouble and energy! (I'm seeing a biblical application here, so don't leave too soon before you are able to take a look at what I'll add at the end of this post!)  In Jeremiah's defense, he had not gone with us up the La Luz trial before. I, on the other hand, had gone up before and not paid attention to the fact that we are supposed to veer of the La Luz trail and follow another. I just kept following the La Luz and it would have eventually led us to the tram.

And then- at last VICTORY!

We made it to the top before 11:00 .

Truly a spectacular sight! The pictures really don't do it justice, so bear with me as I try to give you a small glimpse of what it was like.

Dad spoke shortly with some cute kids who had come up as a group (From a public school), in a bus. The one you see speaking in the picture told Dad he could see the Ducks the pond from that view. Dad simply responded by saying: "Well, you have better eyesight then I have!"

We then made our way down which, for me at least, was a breeze compared to the hike up. (Hotter though!)

The Hikers!

Can't wait till next year!

Okay, as I said earlier, I notice a biblical application to mine and Jeremiah's story. Can you see it? We strayed onto the wrong path despite obvious signs telling us the way to go. Our mistake cost us our time and energy, as well as the time and energy of others. When we realized our mistake, we turned back however, and came to the place we made our mistake, meeting Dad there. As fellow believers and followers of Christ, we are to strive to follow Jesus and the Bible, God's word, is our direction. It works as the "sign's" in our life, telling us where to go. We, as humans, will make mistakes, but the important thing is, we repent and turn around and get back on the right path. God will see us through and although I know I make so many mistakes, he loves me and wants to forgive me anyways. What a mighty God we serve!

Hope you all have an excellent week!

Kelsey

Random Photo's

So what do you all prefer... Chess, or checkers? I would post pix of a checker game, only, I don't have any, since we're generally bigger fans of chess, and don't play checkers very often. I enjoy chess, but it's more fun if you actually win once-in-a-while! :) Josh,  Jeremiah and Mykaela love playing more then anyone, and their pretty good at it too! :)

 

Anyone up for a game of chess?

Why Eagles Fly, and Chickens Flutter

by DON WILDMON,
AFA founder and chairman emeritus

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, the eagle and chicken were very good friends. Everywhere they went, these friends went together. It was not uncommon for people to look up and see the eagle and chicken flying side by side through the air.


One day, while flying, the chicken said to the eagle, “Let’s drop down and get a bite to eat. My stomach is growling.”


“Sounds like a good idea to me,” replied the eagle.


So the two birds glided down to earth, saw several animals eating, and decided to join them. They landed next to the cow. The cow was busy eating corn but noticed that the eagle and the chicken were soon sitting on the ground next to her.

“Welcome,” said the cow. “Help yourself to the corn.”

This took the two birds by surprise. They were not accustomed to having other animals share their food quite so readily.


“Why are you willing to share your corn with us?” asked the eagle.


“Oh, we have plenty to eat here. Mr. Farmer gives us all we want,” replied the cow.


Well, the eagle and the chicken jumped in and ate their fill. When they finished, the chicken asked more about Mr. Farmer.

“Well,” said the cow, “he grows all our food. We don’t have to work at all.”


“You mean,” said the chicken, “that Mr. Farmer simply gives you all you want to eat?”


“That’s right,” said the cow. “Not only that, but he gives us shelter over our heads.”


The chicken and the eagle were shocked! They had never heard of such a thing. They had always had to search for their food and work for shelter.


When it came time to leave, the chicken and the eagle began to discuss the situation: “Maybe we should just stay here,” said the chicken. “We can have all the food we want without working. And that barn over there sure beats those nests we have been building. Besides, I’m getting tired of always having to work for a living.”


“I don’t know about all this,” said the eagle. “It sounds too good to be true. I find it hard to believe that one can get something for nothing. Besides, I kinda like flying high and free through the air. And providing for food and shelter isn’t so bad. In fact, I find it quite challenging.”
Well, the chicken thought it over and decided to stay where there was free food and shelter. But the eagle decided that he loved his freedom too much to give it up, and he enjoyed the consistent challenge of making his own living. So, after saying goodbye to his old friend the chicken, the eagle set sail for the wild blue yonder.


Everything went fine for the chicken. He ate all he wanted. He never worked. He grew fat and lazy.


But then one day he heard the farmer say to his wife that he was yearning for fried chicken. Hearing that, the chicken decided it was time to check out and rejoin his good friend the eagle. But when he attempted to fly, he found that he had grown too fat and lazy. Instead of being able to fly, he could only flutter. So the next day, the farmer’s family sat down to chicken dinner.


When you give up the challenges of life in your pursuit of ease and security, your ability to fly turns into a flutter.


And that’s the reason eagles fly and chickens flutter.

An Excellent Book Exerpt

I am currently going through a book I have mentioned before titled "Young Lady's Guide to the Harmonious Development of Christian Character "  By Harvey Newcomb. This book is not light reading, and as I'm going through it it seems to be a very well-written, biblically sound book. It covers many different topics such as doctrinal knowledge, reading and study of the Bible, health, prayer, and so forth. The topic being covered below is temptation.  I want to say real fast though, this book is not only for young ladies. I believe the entire family can greatly benefit from it. Fathers, Mothers, Young Lady's and Young Men. Please feel free to let me know your thoughts on the topic as well!

"Satan adapts his temptations to our peculiar tempers and circumstances. In youth, he allures us by pleasure,, and bright hopes of worldly prosperity. In manhood, he seeks to bury up our hearts in the cares of life. In old age, he persuades to the indulgence of self-will and obstinacy, in prosperity, he puffs up the heart with pride, and persuades to self-confidence and forgetfulness of God. In poverty and affliction, he excites discontent, distrust, and repining. If we are of a melancholy temperament, he seeks to sour our tempers, and promote habitual sullenness and despondency; if naturally cheerful, he prompts to the indulgence of levity. In private devotion, he stands between us and God, to prevent us from realizing his presence, and seeks to distract our minds, and drive us from the throne of grace. In public worship, he disturbs our minds by wandering thoughts and foolish imaginations. When we enjoy a comfortable and happy frame of mind, he stirs up pride in our hearts, and leads us to trust in our own goodness, and forget the Rock of our salvation.



Even in our deepest humiliations he makes the occasion of spiritual pride. Thus we fall into darkness, and thrust ourselves through with many sorrows. If we have performed any extraordinary acts of self denial, or of Christian beneficence, he stirs up in our hearts a vainglorious spirit. If we have overcome any of the corruptions of our hearts, or any temptations, he excites a secret feeling of self-satisfaction and self-complacency. He puts on the mask of religion. Often, during th solemn hours of public worship, he beguiles our hearts with some scheme for doing good; taking care, however, that self be uppermost in it. When we are in a bad frame, he stirs up the unholy tempers of our hearts, and leads us to indulge in peevishness, moroseness, harshness, and anger, or in levity and unseemly mirth."
 
-Harvey Newcomb
 

 
 
 
Psalm 119:105-112

Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.


I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
that I will follow your righteous laws.

I have suffered much;
preserve my life, O Lord, according to your word.


Accept, O Lord, the willing praise of my mouth,
and teach me your laws.


Though I constantly take my life in my hands,
I will not forget your law.


The wicked have set a snare for me,
but I have not strayed from your precepts.


Your statutes are my heritage forever;
they are the joy of my heart.


My heart is set on keeping your decrees
to the very end.

Hope you all have a great week!
God Bless,

Kelsey