For those of you who are on my mailing list, I'm so sorry for cluttering your inbox...

*this was copied from TemplateTidbits-- my template blog* 

As some of you may know, I was pondering whether I should close TemplateTidbits or not. I put up a poll to see what the majority of my readers thought, and here are the results:

No, please don't!= 32%, 7 votes

It's up to you...= 55%, 12 votes

I don't really care.= 9%, 2 votes

Yes, but finish my template first.=0%, 0 votes

Yes.= 5%, 1 vote

There you have it. But I didn't base my decision on that poll. The poll was just for me to see what others thought. Without further ado, I will tell you my decision! *crowd cheers*

I will not be closing TemplateTidbits permanently or temporarily, but will have some rules regarding templates.

1.  No movie themed templates,

2. I will only be working on 2 templates at a time,

& 3. Please understand that I'm going to be extremely busy this coming year and won't be able to get your template done as quickly as I could. Those who have been through 7th grade probably know how I feel. ;-)

momtoplhni, ReadsAlot92, & Scooter, I haven't heard from y'all in a while, do y'all still want templates? IMPORTANT! If I do not hear from y'all in the next week, I will disregard your order, because I need those spots to make templates for others who want them.

There you have it, my final decision...

 

Hello, everyone! Here are some pictures from last night's fireworks! It last a total of 32 minutes! Enjoy!

Posted in Tags

I will be posting 4th of July pictures later this evening or tomorrow, but until then, here's something that will knock your SOCKS off. (you'll have to see question 30 in order to get the joke)

DO YOU SNORE?	Gosh... I'm not really sure.
ARE YOU CRAZY?	Why you askin' me? If you asked anyone, it should be my friends!
WHAT'S YOUR WORST FEAR?	Being proven wrong.
AS A KID, WERE YOU A LEGO BUILDER?	Kinda'...
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF "REALITY TV"?	I never really have understood the concept of "reality TV."
DO YOU CHEW ON YOUR STRAWS?	Yeah!!
WERE YOU A CUTE BABY?	Why you askin' me? If you asked anyone, it should be my parents! And of course, their answer would be yes.
HOW IS THE SINGLE LIFE FOR YOU?	Good for now. Gosh, I just realized something... I'm only 12 YEARS OLD!
WHAT COLOR IS YOUR KEYBOARD?	Grayish-white with a blue border up top.
DO YOU SING?	Yes. I'm in a choir-- two of them, actually.
HAVE YOU EVER BUNGEE JUMPED?	Not yet. ;-)
ANY SECRET TALENTS?	They're secret.
WHAT'S YOUR IDEAL VACATION SPOT?	Dude ranch all the way. Hear that mom and dad?
HAVE YOU EATEN SUSHI?	Does an egg roll count?
HAVE YOU SEEN THE MOVIE "DONNIE DARKO"?	Huh? Donnie Darko? Does that answer your question?
ARE YOU A TREE HUGGER?	No. I don't believe in global warming, either.
HOW MANY LICKS DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO THE CENTER OF A TOOTSIE POP?	Mr Owl: "A 1, a 2, a 3... CRUNCH!!"
CAN YOU SING THE ALPHABET BACKWARDS?	Yep!
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ON AN AIRPLANE?	When I was a baby...
DO YOU LIKE THE COLOR YELLOW?	Nope.
WHAT'S YOUR STAND ON HUNTING?	I think it would be fun, but I live in the city so I can't do it. Yet...
IS MARRIAGE IN YOUR FUTURE?	Only God knows for sure.
DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?	Yeah, though my mom doesn't. Mostly because she can't read it.
WHAT ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO?	I'm sensitive to Sulfa Antibiotics (I get little red dots everywhere!), and DEATHLY allergic to Asparagus.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAID, "I LOVE YOU"	Toda-- Yester-- I can't really remember. JK! I said it a few minutes ago to my cat.
IS ELVIS STILL ALIVE?	I don't think so, though many people like to think so.
DO YOU CRY AT WEDDINGS?	Uh... no. And I don't cry at movies either.
HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR EGGS?	In a cake, thank you! I can't stand 'em scrambled, boiled, or devilled.
ARE BLONDES DUMB?	Not neccessarily... Though from my experience, yes.
WHERE DOES THE OTHER SOCK END UP?	Stuck in the laundry room, left in the washer, lost in space, over the rainbow... Nobody ever really knows.
WHAT TIME IS IT?	4:49 central time.
DO YOU HAVE A NICKNAME?	Skippy-- given to me by my friend, all because I put a little *hop in my step* at camp.
IS MCDONALD'S DISGUSTING?	Their fries, burgers, and ice creams aren't, but their iced coffee/coffee is. Of course, I don't like coffee, so that's to be expected.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE IN A CAR?	This afternoon.
ARE YOU A PIRATE?	No, but I AM part viking. Argh, my harty!
IS SANTA CLAUSE REAL?	No, but my parents are. ;^)
ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?	N-- Yes.
WHAT ARE YOU ADDICTED TO?	Oh lots of things... OH LOOK! A BLOG! *ahem* anyways...
CRUNCHY OR CREAMY PEANUT BUTTER?	Cr*eamy... *roll the "R".
HAVE YOU EVER RIDDEN IN AN AMBULANCE?	Thank the Lord that answer is no!
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BRUSHED YOUR TEETH TODAY?	Once.
IS DRUG FREE THE WAY TO BE?	Yes. No matter what that guy in the black ski mask, shirt and pants tells you!
ARE YOU WEARING SOCKS?	No, in fact, I haven't worn socks since yesterday!
HAVE YOU EVER HITCH HIKED?	No. Thank the Lord!
WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR EYES?	Brown... Almost black.
WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?	I almost cried this afternoon... ALMOST!
DO YOU LIKE YOUR LIFE?	Yes, though parts of it could be changed. Like maybe I could have a horse, and I could maybe love school a little more...
WHOSE LIFE IS BETTER?	Between whose and whose?
ARE YOU WEIRD?	Didn't you already ask basically the same thing in number two?
HAVE YOU READ "CATCHER IN THE RYE"?	What's that? Now you've got me curious...
DO YOU PLAY ANY INSTRUMENTS?	Yes-- piano, flute, and recorder.
CAN YOU SKATEBOARD?	Sure-- No. I can only stand on the skateboard. Embarassing, I know!
DO YOU LIKE CAMPING?	Yes! It's so much fun!
DO U SNORT WHEN U LAUGH?	No. In fact, when I laugh so hard I cry, I don't even produce any sound.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC?	Not really... I just believe in miracles.
IS A DOG A MAN'S BEST FRIEND?	No. Jesus is.
YOU BELIEVE IN DIVORCE?	No, I don't think it was the way that God intended things to be, but if you're in a dangerous situation-- like, DEADLY situation and it hasn't gone away, then I think divorce is neccessary for your own safety.
CAN YOU DO THE MOONWALK?	I can PLAY on the moonwalk, but I can't DO the moonwalk.
DO YOU LIKE THE WORD "QUIRKY"?	Oh, yeah! Though I never use it... Ironic, isn't it?
WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?	Healthy or unhealthy?
DO YOU WEAR NAILPOLISH?	No, I don't like it one bit. It gets so annoying. Then when you lick your fingers after you've eaten Cheetos® it tastes bad.
DO YOU LIKE SOMEONE RIGHT NOW?	Sure! But not in the way you're thinking.
WHAT'S THE MOST ANNOYING TV COMMERCIAL?	Those info-mercials are pretty bad.
DO YOU SHOP AT AMERICAN EAGLE?	No. And I don't even know what that is.

Let's see... Anyone who... Anyone whose favorite color is yellow. ;^)

 

 I wanted to post, but had nothing to post about, so decided to lull y'all to sleep with these interesting facts of life. Please read them--you're bound to find one that applies to you... I did.

⇒Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting dead?

⇒Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient funds' when they know there is not enough money?

⇒Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

⇒Why doesn't glue stick to the bottle?

⇒Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?

⇒Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

⇒Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?

⇒Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

⇒Whose idea was it to put an 'S' in the word 'Lisp'?

⇒If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?

⇒Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?

⇒Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?

⇒Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?

⇒Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?

⇒Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the end on your first try?

⇒How do those dead bugs get into those enclosed light fixtures?

⇒Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?

⇒In winter why do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?

⇒How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?

⇒The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends -- if they're okay, then it's you.

I did it! I made a three-columned template all by myself! (no help from anyone)

I was just so happy that I needed to tell y'all!

If you would like to check it out, here's the link: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/emmastemplates/  Please ignore the fact that it's "emmastemplates!" My sister wanted a place to test templates but has only used it once. ;-)

Also, this post was written completely in HTML! It was super fun and not very hard at all!

Posted in Tags

This is a very interesting tag. Thanks, Blue~Jane!  

~How long have you homeschooled? Unless daycare counts as school, since day one!

~What grade did you start homeschooling? Technically, Pre-K, but that's not really a grade. =P

~What grade are you in now?  Sixth.

~How old were you when you started? 0. ;-)

~Do you like homeschooling? Yes, though sometimes it's hard when I'm around my public-schooled friends and they start talking about things that I can't really relate to. But overall, definetely.

~Have you ever gone to school? Not a single day. =D

~How long did you go to school? Homeschool-- 8 years. Public school-- 0 years.  

~Do you intend to home school your kids when you grow up? It really all depends. I would like to, but if God doesn't want me to, then I won't.

~What are two things that you like about homeschooling?  The fact that if you have a dentist appointment, or you're on vacation, then you don't have to have a note. Plus I get to learn about creation instead of *gulp* ... evolution.

~Do you totally go against public schools? Not totally, I mean, some kids' parents don't have enough time or money to homeschool them or send them to private school, though I don't agree with everything the public schools instill in the children.

~Do you have friends who are not homeschoolers? Yes, all of the girls in my Sunday School class go to public school except for two, and one of them goes to half private, half homeschool.  

~ Is it hard to get along with public school friends? Sometimes... 'Cause they'll start talking about homework and *Stacey* or something like that and I can't really join in... Plus I don't really get along with anyone IRL. ;-) 

~What is the first thing other people say when they find out that you homeschool? If it's a kid, "Lucky! You can sleep in and you don't have any homework!" or something like that. If only they knew... ;)

 ~Who are you going to tag? Anyone and everyone whose hair is red.

Please keep in mind that the kids who go to public school have bad influences all around them, and all too often some of them return home to an empty house with a television and a computer all to themselves. Some of the kids that go to public school are really nice, and they have godly parents that teach them about the Bible and the right things to do, but tempation is very strong! That's why we must be lights to the world to those that don't have godly parents/guardians to teach them about the Lord.

 I'll try to get some picture of horse camp up soon... Hopefully.

No, I haven't forgotten y'all, and no, I'm not sick... Let me explain!

Last week (June 9-14) was choir camp. I was a *special helper* and I got to be in the show. Without me and the two other *special helpers* the camp couldn't have happened. =^) It was titled Truth Works and we had to learn it in 4 days. But we learned it in 3... Pardon my bragging. ;-) It was very fun, and time consuming, so I wasn't able to blog much! Or reply to comments... *honestly sorry*

Last night (June 15) was amazing! Our church held a family comedy night at the local Performing Arts Center, that was open and free to the public! There was a Hawaiin Shirt Contest, and we hired a comedian-- Brad Stine. He was wonderful! Please note-- He was a Christian comedian!!! Even better! He was so funny... Here's the schedule of events from last night--

5:00pm-6:00pm--event started, with a dunking booth, target practice, bouncy thing-a-ma-gig, and horse rides! We also ate dinner. (sandwhiches, cookies and drinks; free to everyone!)

6:00pm--childcare opened! My mom and I helped get kids signed in. They had this neat system where the parent would write their kid's name, their name & location, and their cell phone number on a tag that was stuck on the kid's back. Then the parents had a tag with the same number as the one on the kids back. Only with this tag could the parents pick up the kids! It was really cool!

6:30pm--the show began with our church band BOOM-Chick! BOOM-Chick means *Bunch Of Old Men and One Chick*! They played for about 15 minutes. Then the announcer guy person got up and told us 10 things that your dad would never say. =P It was really funny! Then Mrs. R stood up and announced the winner of the Hawaiin Shirt Contest! The second place winner was a good friend of our's dad-- he has nine kids and they all signed his shirt! (by the way, he homeschools all nine) I thought that was cool.

There was a man and his daughter who performed "Who's On First?" Here's a video of the inventors...

 It was really funny! And after that a different band sang three songs that were really pretty, then it was the grand finale--Mr. Stine! Here's a link to his website-- http://www.bradstine.com/

Overall, it was an AMAZING night! I just wish y'all could've been there!

Sadly, I won't be able to get on for the next 3 days, because I'll be at horse camp! Hopefully I can get tons of pictures to share with y'all!

Addios for now, amigos,

 Attention! I have decided that it might be time to close TemplateTidbits... It is quite sad, but it's true. My life has become too hectic to be worrying over templates. So I've set up a poll to see what y'all think. Please remember--ALL ORDERS THAT WERE PLACED BEFORE 5-7-08 WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN!!!

 

Should I close TemplateTidbits?
	No, please don't!
	It's up to you...
	I don't really care.
	Yes, but finish my template first.
	Yes.
pollcode.com free polls

Please note that if I do decide to close TemplateTidbits, that the blog will not be deleted, I just won't be accepting any more orders.

This is really hard for me, since I love making templates, but I just don't have time anymore! School is more important-- way more important.

Thank you for understanding...

Posted in Contests, Challenges, and Drawings!

Hmm... Why Did I Choose HSB?

                    I first heard of HSB through melarooski, who would always sign her name with a link to her blog underneath it. I was a frequent reader and commenter (at the time, I was ten) and one day decided that I wanted a blog, because it looked fun. Not a very good reason, I know, but I was only ten.

                    My mom wasn't sure if I was capable of writing posts that were somewhat interesting, so she let me use microsoft publisher to make a *fake* blog. Lo and behold, I did a fine job keeping up with it (or so she said) and was allowed a blog on HSB.

                    Here a problem arose, what should it be called? My *fake* blog had been called HorseCrazy, but that was already taken, so I started thinking, and thinking, and thinking some more, and crochetcrazy popped into my head. It has nothing to do with horses! was my only complaint, but it was the best I could come up with, so it stuck.

                    Once I'd made my blog, I notified all of my friends in real life, and here's my first post, entitled "Hello!":

Hi, my name is Renee and I'm going to tell you a little bit about myself! I am a Christian, Homeschool girl who loves God, my mother and father, my sister, my cats, horses and crochet! I am 11 and currently in 6th grade. My favorite verse is Romans 5:8- But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. I believe that the only way that anyone can get to heaven is by faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.                                                                                                                                    Thank-you for taking time out of your day to read this, I really appreciate it!                             Renee  

                     There you go, my first post. I've posted over a hundred entries already, and have received over five hundred & fifty comments!

                    When I first started this blog, my goal was to make lots of friends and receive lots of comments. My new goal (since I've already met my previous goal ;-) is that I may bless those who read my blog.

                Thank you all for being such lovely friends, and for helping me grow in my walk with the Lord. I am truly blessed by all of you, and will continue to read your blogs! ;-)

#############################

If you would like to join Ebell1993 in her contest in honor of her blogiversary, go to her blog and read the rules, then write your post about why you choose HSB. After that, sign Mr. Linky and leave a comment.

 

Posted in Tags

 I've been tagged by luvdogs07! Here goes...

1. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF? Beethoven "Spring" Sonata For Violin and Piano: Allegro

2.WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU? The Mission [Newsboys]

3.WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN? Awaken [Natalie Grant]

4.WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU? Over My Head [Brian Littrell] (I've never even listened to that song!)

5.WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? Beethoven Symphonoy No. 5 In C Minor: Finale

6.WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE? Find Your Wings [Mark Harris] (shoo!  ;-)

7.WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND? Your Love Is Better Than Life [Newsboys](hmm... that's interesting!)

8.WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE? Beethoven "Pathetique" Symphony In C Minor: Adagio Cantabile (oh, that's a classic! pathetique!)

9.WHAT SONG WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR WEDDING? By His Wounds [Glory Revealed]

10.WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL? Ask Me [Amy Grant] (they won't be able to ask me anything because I won't be here!)

11.WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR? Schubert Ave Maria

12.WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET? The Letter (One of A Kind) [Newsboys] (uh-oh... ;-)

13.WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS? Stay For Awhile [Amy Grant]

14: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF TAGGING 5 PEOPLE? Simple Things [Amy Grant] (peice of cake!)

I don't know who all has an iPod/MP3 player, so I tag everyone who has an iPod/MP3 player!

Hello, all! A few months ago, we (my dad, sister, grandfather and I) went to go look at my Uncle's new plot of land. I took about a million, ba-jillion pictures! So I thought I'd share a few of them with y'all!

(these are only 11 out of the million ba-jillion pictures that I took ;-)

 "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

--Romans 1:20

 

 

Awarded by Abbypie3000!

I'll award...

Jocelyn Dixon,

littlebrowngirl,

and emilyemilyemily!  

===============================

Jocelyn Dixon is hosting a giveaway! 

Here's a short description of the giveaway I copied from Jocelyn's blog:

..............................................................

Pondur offers infant creepers and lap tees that are 100% Certified Organic cotton with low impact dyes and printed with water-based ink. The inside is tagless and the back says “pondür”. The creepers and tees come in four different prints and colours.

So would you like to win one of these tees for a sweet baby you know? Well, I’m giving one away and it’s easy to enter!

..............................................................

Just go to Jocelyn's blog, and leave a comment, letting her know which shirt you'd like! 

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,
Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us as a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

----------------------------------------------------------------

This melody was first published in England circa 1780 as To Anacreon in Heaven. The melody was probably written by British composer John Stafford Smith. The words to that song were written by Ralph Tomlinson. Both were members of the Anacreontic Club of London. To Anacreon in Heaven was their theme song. The Anacreontic Club was a group of wealthy men who met to celebrate music, food and drink.

The melody was particularly popular in America during the War of 1812 and several Americans wrote patriotic songs to it. The most famous of these was Francis Scott Key, an American lawyer.

While aboard an English ship trying to secure the release of a friend, Francis Scott Key witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry. When the bombardment was over, the American flag was still flying. He wrote a poem The Defense of Fort McHenry, which was first printed anonymously on a broadside in 1814. On September 20 it was published in The Baltimore Patriot. Key's brother-in-law suggested he set the words to the tune To Anacreon in Heaven. When the sheet music was published in 1815, the name was changed to The Star Spangled Banner. The song was first adopted by the army and navy as the national anthem. It was officially recognized as the American National Anthem in 1931 by an act of Congress.

----------------------------------------------------------------

   

In Flanders Fields John McCrae, 1915.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

Words to Taps (Note: there are no "official" words to Taps below are the most popular.) Day is done, gone the sun, From the hills, from the lake, From the skies. All is well, safely rest, God is nigh. Go to sleep, peaceful sleep, May the soldier or sailor, God keep. On the land or the deep, Safe in sleep. Love, good night, Must thou go, When the day, And the night Need thee so? All is well. Speedeth all To their rest. Fades the light; And afar Goeth day, And the stars Shineth bright, Fare thee well; Day has gone, Night is on. Thanks and praise, For our days, 'Neath the sun, Neath the stars, 'Neath the sky, As we go, This we know, God is nigh.

Listen to TAPS: Midi format (2 Kb) MP3 format (298 Kb) Real Audio format (79 Kb) WAV format (410 Kb)

http://www.contemplator.com>

http://www.usmemorialday.org/>

 

Okay, this is out of control, but in a good way! I've been awarded the "Fun Blogger Award" by Jeremiah2913, Erica for short.  

I'll award...

magg93,

 vintagegirl,

& Blue~Jane!

 

I'll award...JessieMarie,brittanyrose,and Jo!  I'll Award...ChristLover,TulipsCorner,and fiddlesticks!    

I'll Award...

casaluceprincess,

Goingyeep,
And Vicki!

I'll award...

Pennies From Heaven!
(Josie, Melanie, Sarah and Felicity's group blog)

BrennaM

And Roseleona!

I'll Award...

GraceElizabeth,

BookLover,

And Desi!   

The award won't show up. Please just use the very first award in this post.

 Isn't this the same as the one above? Oh well! Here goes!

rjdjohn316,

Enilarwyn,

And Uruviel!   

I'll Award...

melarooski,

Katherineleigh,

And Narniagirl!

  

Posted in Notes From Church

I am so sorry for taking an unannounced bloggy break... I hope it will never happen again, but we had two plays to put on this week, two nursing home tours (for choir) and we have a concert/dress rehearsal tonight. AHH! I think my head is going to explode!

*okay, Renee, take a deep breath or two... (or 3 or 4... ;-)*

* takes a deep breath*

I missed y'all all so dearly! Here are my sermon notes from Sunday:

"10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

 11Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

 16So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no sin to be sin^[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

--2 Corinthians 5:10-21

• Jesus said that He didn't come to remind the members, but to tell the sinners.
• The symbol of the church is the cross.
• Any church can lose its life, but every church can gain it.
• How can we sustain that sense of missions?
• We're called to lose our lives in Jesus Christ.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

        1. (11)The fear of the Lord

• (10) Judgement seat of Christ
• Christians won't experience judgement of sin, because Christ was condemned for sin.
• We need to deliver the message of Christ.

        2. (14) Christ's love compels us...

• ...to tell others about the Lord.
• ... to bea light to the world.
• (14-15) Reconcile =to be friends after being enemies.
• Compel=hold together
• How can we drive down the street and thing afresh of our neighbors?
• (16) Stop looking at the world from a world standpoint! Look at it from a godly one.
• We no longer think from a wordly perspective.

The love of Christ will compel you!

       3. (14b) Paul has a conviction= One died for all, so all have died.

• Conviction --> deep belief that guides your life.
• We died to living for ourselves.
• There is no portrait of Jesus, yet we know what He looks like...

I'm assuming that y'all are wondering why I changed my template, correct? Well, here's why:

It all started yesterday when I was going to fix something on my template. I clicked "Edit Template" and I scrolled down to make sure the "Preview Changes, Save Changes, and Reset Changes" buttons where there. They were, but so was my whole right sidebar. I don't know how it happened, but you could see my whole right sidebar underneath the edit template portion of my weblog.

So until I get this problem fixed, I won't have any templates that are too fancy.

Thank you for understanding!

EDIT! The problem has been fixed! It was just something on my template that HSB didn't like... Queer, I know, but the problem is now fixed and I shall stick with this template just because I like it so much!

Also, it came to my attention that this is my 100th entry! Yes, and it's about reporting a problem I have with HSB... How embarassing!

 

Posted in Hymns

Time for another hymn, don't you think?  It's only been a few months!

Take My Life and Let It Be

Words: Fran­ces R. Ha­ver­gal, Feb­ru­a­ry 1874.

Music: Messiah, Lou­is J. Hér­old, 1830; ar­ranged by George Kings­ley, 1838 (MI­DI, score).

I went for a lit­tle vi­sit of five days (to Are­ley House). There were ten per­sons in the house, some un­con­vert­ed and long prayed for, some con­vert­ed, but not re­joic­ing Christ­ians. He gave me the pra­yer, “Lord, give me all in this house!” And He just did. Be­fore I left the house ev­ery one had got a bless­ing. The last night of my vis­it af­ter I had re­tired, the gov­ern­ess asked me to go to the two daugh­ters. They were cry­ing, &c.; then and there both of them trust­ed and re­joiced; it was near­ly mid­night. I was too hap­py to sleep, and passed most of the night in praise and re­new­al of my own con­se­cra­tion; and these lit­tle coup­lets formed them­selves, and chimed in my heart one af­ter ano­ther till they fin­ished with “Ever, On­ly, ALL for Thee!”

Havergal Manuscripts

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Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.

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Al­ter­nate tunes:

• Hendon, Hen­ri A. C. Ma­lan, 1827; har­mo­ny by Low­ell Ma­son, 1841 (MI­DI, score)
• Hollingside, John B. Dykes, 1861 (MI­DI, score)
• Mary Magdalene (Sullivan), Ar­thur S. Sul­li­van, 1872 (MI­DI, score)
• Mo­zart, ar­ranged from Wolf­gang A. Mo­zart (1756-1791) (MI­DI, score)
• Nottingham, ascribed varoiusly to Mozart and Wen­zel Müller (1767-1835) (MI­DI, score)
• St. Bees, John B. Dykes, 1862 (MI­DI, score)
• Yarbrough, Will­iam B. Brad­bu­ry (MI­DI, score)

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(all info taken from {and you can listen to it} here)

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“I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”

 --Romans 12:1

I've been awarded the "Lovely Friend Award" by GraceElizabeth! Here it is!

I'm awarding...

JessieMarie-- I first met Jessie when Amy (BookLover) told me about her. (Thanks, Amy!) She is a very kind girl and I'm so glad to have met her! She enjoys crocheting just as much; if not more than I do, and she never lacks a kind word.

Desi-- Sarah is my friend in real life, and I am blessed to know her! She absolutely loves horses (as do I!) and is one of my very best friends! Her upcoming move to Washington is a great opportunity (boy I wish HSB had a spell-check...), but she will be greatly missed.

BrittanyRose-- Brittany Rose is a wonderful young lady, I'm very glad I met her! I enjoy reading her posts and It is so fun to message her! ;^) I know that if I knew her in real life, she would always have a hug and be ready to give it.

BrennaM-- Brenna is an amazing friend (as are all of you!) and I'm so happy to have met her! I enjoy messaging her and her posts are full of joy!

emilyemilyemily-- I haven't known her for as long as the others, but I can tell that she strives to be a godly young lady! While she's one of the youngest people on my friends list, she manages to write inspiring posts. =^) Keep it up!

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I wish I could've awarded this to all my friends, they all deserve it!

Posted in Contests, Challenges, and Drawings!

I'm proud to announce that the winner of my first ever template drawing is...

servingtheKingofkings!

Congratulations!

Now-- in order to make this post longer than two sentences, I will post my Thoughtful Thursdays also!

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