Hymn - Wonderful Peace

Wonderful Peace   

Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial strains it unceasingly falls
O’er my soul like an infinite calm.

Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!

What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace,
Buried deep in the heart of my soul,
So secure that no power can mine it away,
While the years of eternity roll!

Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!

I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;
For I’m kept from all danger by night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul!

Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!

And I think when I rise to that city of peace,
Where the Anchor of peace I shall see,
That one strain of the song which the ransomed will sing
In that heavenly kingdom will be:

Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!

Ah, soul! are you here without comfort and rest,
Marching down the rough pathway of time?
Make Jesus your Friend ere the shadows grow dark;
O accept of this peace so sublime!

Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!

Verse - Deuteronomy 6:12

Proof for a Creator

Man after researching the body God has made has learned that.......

Hymn - Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms  

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;

What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

Proof of a Creator

The Bible says in Genesis 1:27, "So God CREATED MAN in his own image, in the image of God CREATED He him; male and female CREATED He them."

Man after researching the body God has made has learned that.......

The Story Behind the Picture

The story behind the picture

   Often times we see a picture, that little glimpse into a moment of time, and find it interesting or captivating. However, to the person behind the lens, or the person in the picture,they know there is more  the photo than meets the eye.

 Take this picture for example.

   You see an American girl and a young African boy posing for a picture; it seems like a typical, straightforward picture. But there is a story that goes with this picture. I am not certain I can adequately the story behind the picture, but I will give it a shot.

   It was July 4^th, 2014, when the picture was taken, but the story goes back a bit farther. You see the boy’s name is Yusif. He is a 9-year-old boy, full of energy and without the capacity to sit still very long, like not at all! Yusif was one of the children who came each week to Sunday School. If a piece of flannel graph fell to the ground, or was not laying smoothly on the board, Yusif was quick to help pick up or smooth out the pictures. At first, he caused me frustration; he was constantly in disagreements with one boy or another or with his sister, moving from seat to seat or some other means of exerting energy.

   I cannot pin point when, but at some point everything changed. Maybe it was because he started meeting me as I walked through town. Perhaps, it was the grasping of my hand as we walked. It could have been when I saw his behavior to others, how sweet and gentle he was with his little brother. I honestly do not know when I lost my heart to that little boy, but I soon realized I had.   

   After our walks through town, Yusif and I would come to the boundary where he was not allowed to follow me home, but he would always ask if he could come. All the kids wanted to be able to come up the hill, but the compound where I lived has two dogs. Goodness and Mercy, are two great dogs, but not overly friendly to strangers.a Yusif knew he was not allowed to come up the hill, but he would still ask.

   One day I found Yusif playing at his Auntie’s house. I was soon roped into playing Tic Tac Toe! After a time I extracted myself and as usual, Yusif grabbed my hand to walk me home. Everything was as normal down to Yusif asking, “Today I da go up wit you, yah?” Only this time he was surprised to hear me say, “Yes.”

   WE began walking up the hill, his hand in mine. I ask him if he is afraid of the dogs and the brave little boy said no, with great confidence. Well, not five steps later, one of the dogs has heard us and is coming to investigate. As Mercy starts toward us, I feel Yusif’s hand grip mine much tighter and while I know, he is afraid, it hits me that he trusts me. He knows that I will protect him, I will not let the dog come to close, and he trusts me! I am not this boy’s mother, I am no family to this boy, my skin is different from his, yet he knows that I will not let anything happen to him.

   The whole purpose of Yusif coming up was so I could have a picture taken with him. As Laura takes the first couple pictures, he was rather stiff and uncomfortable. Yet when I wrapped my arm around him and teased him, his precious toothy smile popped out and with a snap of the camera one y favorite pictures was captured.

   
That young boy who will turn 12 years old on August 12^th, 2016. I met many children, probably, no definitely more children than adults, during the time I was in Sierra Leone, but none made quite the impression on my heart as Yusif did.

Hymn - Come Thou Almighty King

Come Thou Almighty King

Come, thou almighty King,
help us thy name to sing;
help us to praise.
Father, all glorious,
o'er all victorious,
come, and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.

 Come, thou incarnate Word,
gird on thy mighty sword;
scatter thy foes.
Let thine almighty aid
our sure defense be made,
our souls on thee be stayed;
thy wonders show.

 Come, holy Comforter,
thy sacred witness bear
in this glad hour.
Thou who almighty art,
now rule in every heart,
and ne'er from us depart,
Spirit of power.

 To thee, great One in Three,
eternal praises be
hence evermore!
Thy sovereign majesty
may we in glory see,
and to eternity
love and adore.