[lots of pictures!]

Oh No! A stream! Whatever shall we do?

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials he multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

My grace is sufficient for you. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
"The other day I was riding home after a hard day’s work. I was very tired and deeply depressed, when quickly, and as suddenly as a lightning bolt, the verse came to me: “My grace is sufficient for you.” When I arrived home I looked it up in the Word, and it finally came to me this way: “MY grace is sufficient for you.” My response was to say, “Yes, Lord, I should think it is!” Then I burst out laughing.
Until that time, I had never understood what the holy laughter of Abraham was. This verse seemed to make unbelief totally absurd. I pictured a thirsty little fish who was concerned about drinking the river dry, with Father River saying, “Drink away, little fish; my stream is sufficient for you.” I also envisioned a mouse afraid of starving after seven years of plenty, when Joseph says to him, “Cheer up, little mouse; my granaries are sufficient for you.” Again, I imagined a man high on a mountain peak, saying to himself, “I breathe so many cubic feet of air every year, I am afraid I will deplete all the oxygen in the atmosphere.” But the earth says to him, “Breathe away, filling your lungs forever; my atmosphere is sufficient for you.”
O people of God, be great believers! Little faith will bring your souls to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your souls." –Charles H. Spurgeon

[one sixty two]
2.26.11

I am happy to report that we had a wonderful time in KC. Friday night we went straight to Karie's place for "Bible" study... we actually watched a video on racism from Answers in Genesis. Then we played some games before going home. Saturday morning we had to wake up early to go to the Voice of the Martyrs conference. I especially enjoyed the second speaker, Bob Fu. That afternoon we went for a walk in the woods and when we were coming back into the yard the boys ambushed us with snowballs! :{ Haha. Sunday the four of us made a cake for church and with writing icing made a heart with our names all around it, and then when we weren't watching Nathaniel and Gabe put their names on it too! The impostors! Then before going to church we sang together a little bit, and it was really fun!! I can't wait to see them so we can do it again =) And because I love them....

~Shaina

Bre killing Sam at the mound of the 300

[one sixty three]
2.27.11

[one sixty four]
2.28.11

[new dress]

[one sixty one]
2.25.11

 This is my dress that I made!! Finally got some pictures of it. I love Elsa in the background :) Done packing; got to go!!
Shaina

[all the animals]

[one sixty]
2.24.11

All the animals
Agree you and me
Should be a team

And they walk on parade
Say that we were made
To be a team
~Jewel, All The Animals

All the animals are almost as sad as me about the change in the weather. Also? When in doubt (or when your animals are falling off the window sill) use ductape. =D And besides that, I was going to use Kermit the frog, who's been just begging for an appearance in my three sixty five, but, alas, he was nowhere to be found. You will see him, I promise... I think.

Hahaha, you have to watch this; it's hilarious!!

 All my life I've heard the saying, as I'm sure you have, "God will never give you something you can't handle." I guess I never really thought about it. The truth is, it sounds nice, but it's not true. He intentionally gives us things we can't handle so that it will produce dependence on Him. If we never have a trial that tries us to our limit, we will never learn to depend solely on Him. If we don't have those earth shattering moments, we think that our puny little selves "can do it!" Guess what. We can't. My advice if you're going through something tough today? (actually it's my dad's but... I'll make it mine too =D) Look for what God is trying to teach you so you can learn your lesson as quickly as possible. Some people resist so much that they have the same trial for a very long time, because they won't learn what He is trying to teach them. But I do believe what my ring says: "If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it." Whole different ball game there :)

Lots of verse photos today because I'm behind on posting them here. Sorry! But now I'm caught up. :)
Today has been a miserably cold and wet day. Yesterday we had weather in the sixties, and today it's freezing. Nice. :P I've heard that Kansas City, where we're going TOMORROW(!) got five inches of snow. Stinkers! Plus, Sam and I watched Prince of Persia last night.. and we actually liked it quite a bit. It could have used better acting and special effects, but.. we've all seen worse of both of those. And I really enjoyed the story line and the costumes (well except some of the dancing girls.... :P) Anyway.
In Him,
Shaina

P.S. One of these days I will figure out how to make it so you can actually post in my guestbook... kind of defeats the purpose if you can't!

[epicness]

[one fifty eight]
2.22.11

 The dress is finished. Except I need to put a hook and eye on the top of the zipper, but other than that it's finished! I don't have a picture yet, but I will soon.. maybe ;) Sooo, anyway, today Sam and I tried some levitation.. the picture turned out great! You MUST click on it =D Sam is awesome, the dress is awesome, KANSAS is AWESOME for making the wind blow at just the right moment.. *sigh* Photoscape is my friend.. (although I'm sure I could have done a better job in Photoshop) but yeah. AND we're going to KC this weekend to see Breanna and Alyssa... *sigh* Welp, that's about it.

[one fifty nine]
2.23.11

~Shainabo~

[one fifty seven]

Oh thank you, Patty! I appreciate the "help."

First step of the day: Rip out stitches. Ok, maybe
not the *first*, but it was the second. And the fifth, and
the seventh, and so on....

Got the top put together!!

[evening glory]

[one fifty seven]
2.21.11
"Oh to Grace how great a debtor,
Daily I'm constrained to be.
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee."

The bodice and the midriff are together, whooo hoo!

So yesterday I spent all day working on my dress! It was tons of fun, and a lot of work! And a *lot* of ripping out stitches.

With the right sides together, we're ready to sew up the skirt!

[crazy love]

[one fifty six] 2.20.11

Me and Weider, sitting in the swing, k-i-s-s-i-n-g!!

"The fact is, I need God to help me love God. And if I need His help to love Him, a perfect being, I definitely need His help to love other fault filled humans. Something mysterious, even supernatural must happen in order for genuine love for God to grow in our hearts. The Holy Spirit has to move in our lives.

It is a remarkable cycle: Our prayers for more love result in love, which naturally causes us to pray more, which results in more love...

Imagine going for a run while eating a box of Twinkies. Besides being self-defeating and sideache inducing, it would also be near impossible-you would have to stop running in order to eat the Twinkies.

In the same way, you have to stop loving and pursuing Christ in order to sin. When you are pursuing love, running towards Christ, you do not have opportunity to wonder, "Am I doing this right?" or, "Did I serve enough this week?" When you are running toward Christ, you are freed up to serve, love, and give thanks without guilt, worry, or fear. As long as you are running, you are safe.

But running is exhausting-if, that is, we are running from sin or guilt, out of fear. (Or if we haven't run in a while) However, if we train ourselves to run toward our Refuge, toward Love, we are free-just as we are called to be.

As we begin to focus more on Christ, loving Him and others becomes more natural. As long as we are pursuing Him, we are satisfied in Him. It is when we stop actively loving Him that we find ourselves restless and gravitating toward other means of fulfillment.

When I read the Psalms, I witness an extreme intimacy that at times seem unattainable. I have to remind myself constantly that the psalms were written by people just like me. They enjoyed closeness with God that you and I can experience. We should be communicating these words to Him:

I am like a weaned child with its mother;

like a weaned child I am content.  (Psalm 131:2)

You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:7-8)

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalm 16:11)

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. (Psalm 28:7)

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90:14)

Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. (Psalm 119:11)

I don't want to make it sound deceptively easy; the psalms are filled with cries of pain:

Hear my prayer, O Lord, listen to my cry for help; be not deaf to my weeping. (Ps. 39:12)

Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. (Ps. 130:1-20) 

Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Life isn't perfect when you follow Christ wholeheartedly; you will have trouble, Jesus says-it is pretty much guaranteed.

"My lips will praise You, for You are holy;
My voice will ever rise before Your throne.
My heart will love You, for You are lovely,
And You have called me to become Your own.
~Twila Paris, My Lips Will Praise You

I officially hate this, but it's what I had time for today.
2.19.11

But He has overcome the world. So take heart, keep on, fight the good fight, pray continuously, and do not grow weary. There is nothing better than giving up everything and stepping into a passionate love relationship with God, the God of the universe who made galaxies, leaves, laughter, and me and you." (This last part is very meaningful to me)

--Excerpt from Crazy Love by Francis Chan.. again :) Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

~Shaina

[me myself and i]

[one fifty four] You guys are probably getting
tired of my cloning fling.. *shrugs shoulders*
I was uninspired today. 2.18.11

So. This morning I woke up and saw that yesterday's photo made it to Explore!!! This is sooo exciting!! You may be asking, "What precisely, *is* explore?" Explore is a Flickr feature with the intent of showing you "some of the most awesome photos on Flickr." Photos are automatically selected by computer according to a secret algorithm called Interestingness. So there you have it. Pretty cool, huh? I'm on cloud nine about it. And in my devotions I read a very relevant scripture:  

I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise will continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear it an rejoice.
O magnify the Lord with me,    

And let us exalt His name together.

~Psalm 34:1-3

Haha, God is pretty good at keeping us in our place, isn't He?  

(so all of a sudden my enters are going two down... arrrrggggg) Anyway, where was I? Yes, well. Then last night we went to Wichita to see the Princess Bride in theaters with my Uncle and his family, which was fully awesome! And it wasn't just any old theater, it was an *old* theater! It's called the Orpheum, and it's really old and decadent. It was cool. We listened to music on the way home and just had a good time. 

Annnd.. I discovered today that my additional pages (About Me and Guestbook) don't let you comment on them! Which is stinky... because that's kind of the whole idea of a guestbook. So I'm going to have to get that figured out.

[one fifty three]

[one fifty three] 2.17.11

"Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him,
My Savior and my God."

-Psalm 43:5

Is there ever any reason to be downcast? Actually, there are two reasons, but only two. If we were still unbelievers, we would have a reason to be downcast; or if we have been converted but continue to live in sin, we are downcast as a consequence.

Except for these two conditions, there is never a reason to be downcast, for everything else may be brought to God “by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving” (Phil. 4:6). And through all our times of need, difficulty, and trials, we may exercise faith in the power and love of God.

“Put your hope in God” (Ps. 43:5). Please remember there is never a time when we cannot hope in God, whatever our need or however great our difficulty may be. Even when our situation appears to be impossible, our work is to “hope in God.” Our hope will not be in vain, and in the Lord’s won timing help will come.

Oh, the hundreds, even the thousands, of times I have found this to be true in the past seventy years and four months of my life! When it seemed impossible for help to come, it did come, for God has His own unlimited resources. In ten thousand different ways, and at ten thousand different times, God’s help may come to us.

Our work is to lay our petitions before the Lord, and in childlike simplicity to pour out our hearts before Him, saying, “I do not deserve that You should hear me and answer my requests, but for the sake of my precious Lord Jesus; for His sake, answer my prayer. And give me grace to wait patiently until it pleases You to grant my petition. For I believe You will do it in Your own time and way.”

“For I will yet praise Him” (Ps. 43:5). More prayer, more exercising of our faith, and more patient waiting leads to blessings – abundant blessings. I have found it to be true many hundreds of times, and therefore I continually say to myself, “Put your hope in God.” -George Mueller

My friend posted this on facebook and I had to share it =) It goes along with these lyrics from Glad:

I wanna know where the bad feelings go,
when I'm depressed and I get down so low
And then I see you coming to me, and it's alright. 

Got to run... going to Wichita to see the Princess Bride in theaters with my Uncle and his family. Bye!

Shaina 

P.S. Don't forget to check out my about me page and my guestbook!

[one fifty two]

[one fifty two]

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
pleading for you and for me?

I'm just going to say... it's windy out today. =)

To get the full effect you really should

click on the picture :)
2.16.11

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
calling for you and for me;
see, on the portals he's waiting and watching,
watching for you and for me.

Come home, come home;
ye who are weary come home;
earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home!
Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not his mercies,
mercies for you and for me?

Went on a photo shoot with Sami today.. yes, I know *again*.

And while I was at it, I snapped some shots of the creek :)

[one fifty one]

[one fifty one][if I could save time in a bottle] 2.15.11

"I prayed that I should have this day...the same day we had today,
all the rest of my Iife."

~Nicolas Nickleby
Totally and completely inspired by this.
I half like/half don't like the way my shirt is all up on one side and down on the other. Oh well.. I can't change it now :)

Could I love Psalm 23 any more? Nope.

Horsey kisses :)

Reading classical books on horseback... it doesn't get much better than that.

[O the Deep Deep Love of Jesus]

[one forty nine] 2.13.11

 And behind two days on posting! Oh well. They've been full days; full of work and play and fun.
I got to play guitar with my uncle for the first time! It was great fun. Although my fingers hurt! I'm itching to get back to it and see if I can remember the chords =)
Catherine, you probably don't usually listen to the music on the blog, but you should listen to this one... you might like it =) It's really pretty.
P.S. Last night before we went to sleep, I told Sam, "Happy Single's Awareness Day. Are you aware of your singleness?" Hahahaha I'm not sure that's why they created the "Singles awareness" day. =D

"Playing" the guitar.

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches o’er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o’er them from the throne!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best!
’Tis an ocean full of blessing, ’tis a haven giving rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, ’tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!

[one fifty] 2.14.11
Can I just say that I love this hymn? Thanks.