Psalm 27 (KJV) ~

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the 
strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 


2  When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my 
flesh, they stumbled and fell. 


3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war 
should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 


4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in
 the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, 
and to enquire in his temple. 


5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his 
tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 


6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: 
therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing 
praises unto the LORD. 
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 
8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, 
will I seek.

9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my
 help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

12  Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up
against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land
of the living.

14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait,
I say, on the LORD. 

The Golden Cross By Angela Elwell Hunt

I recently finished reading The Golden Cross. It is the second book in The Heirs of Cahira O'Connor series. The book over all was okay. I would really not recommend it because there were a few iffy parts in it. Now, as far as the first book goes, that is a must read.... but I am not here to talk about that one. :)

There are a few things that I do want to pull from the second book that are good lessons for life.

Here is what the back of the book says:

"Aidan O'Connor was raised among pickpockets and prostitutes in a Duch colony on Java, Indonesia. But when a world-famous cartographer discovers her natural artistic talent, she is given a chance to leave her troubled life behind. Disguised as a boy, Aidan joins her benefactor at sea and begins the work of drawing the flora and funa of the new world. This fresh beginning leads her into adventure- and to a great love. But can this love survive the force of Aidan's past...and her ambitions for her future?"

That does not sound too bad.... The thing that I did not like was that the life of the wharf played a HUGE part in the book. (I am not going to go into any details. :P) Another thing that bothered me was that this was a romance book. To tell you the truth, those kind of books are not my favorite to read.

Anyhow, I did not post this just to tell you that. I wanted to tell you something that I picked up in the last words of the book and that was a theme through out the whole book.

It was this: "Aidan twined her arms about her husband's neck, then turned to see a crowd of curious guests watching from a discreet distance. She closed her eyes, wishing them away, and Sterling's hands slipped under her arms and wrapped around her waist. A delightful shiver spread over her as she remembered another time she had danced on the beach. In starlit dreams she had danced in a burgundy satin dress like this one, her partner conjured by girlish fantasies and longings.

How much more wonderful to dance with the man God had brought into her life! Sterling was more than she could have ever imagined, more than she had dared to hope she might deserve."

The book started on a...... well, lets just call it an interesting note, but it ended on a beautiful note. God took Aidan's filthy, dirty rags and turned them into something beautiful. Aidan was a daughter of a processor, but married a doctor.

He can take us as dirty, filthy, stained rags, and make them in to something more than we deserve. I have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but I pray that my wedding will be a beautiful one.

Aidan worked in a tavern by the sea. It is not really the best place for a young lady of the age of 20 to be working. Aidan managed to keep herself pure for her husband. As you can see from the excerpt from the book, Aidan was glad that she did. Even though I said that this book was too romantic for me earlier (and I am keeping to that and not going back), it opened my eyes to yet another reason why I need to save myself for my husband. From the image that the author gave, the love can be so much more vibrant between a husband and wife, when the wife has saved herself.

Colossians 3:18 says, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord."

If we do not save ourselves, we will not be able to submit to our husbands. It will be harder because we gave our  heart away to another man and that part will always love him. After you have done that, you will never completely submit to your husband.

Now, I am not trying to say I am perfect, because I am not. I am far from perfect. These are just some thoughts I had while  reading this book and thought I would share.

2010 School Pictures and My Senior Pictures

I can't believe it is that time already. This year has really flown by. School pictures this year were a lot of fun. :) Taylor got a new camera, so were were able to take all of our pictures here at home. :) We had a lot of fun trying different poses, as you will see.

I guess I will start with my senior pictures.....



Taylor had some fun taking some pictures with my medieval dress that I made for the Winter Ball and my flute.

I think this one is my favorite











I think you have already seen this one. :P






Now on to the family photos, or should I say, the pictures of the four of us? : p










*laughs* Like I said, we had some fun with the poses. That was only my senior pictures and the group photos, there are four of the singles.... but there are some 'behind the scenes' photos. :P










The 'behind the scenes' or the extra ones that have no category. :)















Pictures by: In His Name Photography

The old... improved!

I have been working for some time on changing the name of my blog. With a good friend's help, we came up with a name and a new design! It is still Daughers Arise, but with a different name and design. :P I hope that you all enjoy it. :)

The Greatest Love

He prayed in the garden asking that the cup He was about to drink, would be taken away. He knew that His father’s will must be done. He did not plead otherwise.

This is the greatest love

When questioned before the council, He was silent. He let them mock and accuse Him. He remained silent.

This is the greatest love

After He was beaten, He was hardly recognizable as a man. He bore his cross thought mocking crowds. Still, He was silent.

This is the greatest love

He was nailed to the cross without a word. He died with such agony and pain. He took away the sins of the whole world. Through Him we have life.

This is the greatest love.

For me He died. For me He shed his blood. For me He suffered to give me eternal life.

This is the greatest love.

Am I worthy of such a love? His love broke the chains that held me captive. His love lasts forever.

This is the greatest love

Family

The love of a family no one can surpass.

The kindness of a family is like a wild flower forever in bloom.

Their understanding is like a gentle breeze on a lake.

They are always there to pick you up when you fall.

There is a river of joy constantly overflowing.

How can you ask for anything more?

When you are with your family, there is no reason to fear anything.

You can ask for a hug without feeling silly.

There will never be an emptiness when you are with family.

You never need to ask for help, they always seem to know.

They will always give you support when you need it.

How can you ask for anything more?

Family- Someone, or multiple people, who you can love, trust, depend on, enjoy and run to in time of need.

This weekend my family spent time with some friends of ours (post soon to come) and there I found one definition of family. A family does not have to be your blood relation. Through the Lord, it could be a church body or close friends. I have been learning that for the last year, but it hit me hard this past weekend. Because of Jesus Christ, I have a sister in England and two Aunts here. I also have a fellowship that loves me and who I would not trade for anyone in the world. I have brothers and sisters all over the world. We all have the same Father. I count it an honor to be related in the Lord to the family we spent the weekend with, my church group, and my immediate family members. I love you all!

The Promise of A Sunrise

The Promise of A Sunrise

This last school year, my sister and I started a writing program called One Year Adventure Novel. As you can tell by the title of the program, it is not your average writing program. Daniel Schwabauer, the teacher, teaches how to write an adventure novel. It is a very fun program. :) There is a student forum where you can meet other kids from across the country.... I mean across the world, who also love to write.

Anyhow, I have been wanting to post some of my novel for awhile. Here is a small summary of what I have written. In The Promise Of A Sunrise, Margaret is reading the following letter:

Dear Captain Taylor,
I am writing to tell you that everything is going as planned. I need you to write to my sister, Margaret Kennedy. On the little sheet of paper I have enclosed, is her address. No one must see this address except for you. I fear my family is in danger. I looked around the desk to see if there was a little scrap of paper, but to no avail. Captain Taylor must have hidden the paper. I continued to read. She needs to know what is going on. Do not tell her the plan in your letter. I have 8 other siblings, who sometimes can be very nosy. You are a smart man, Zachary, find a way to get her to the camp. Then take her far away... away somewhere were she will be safe. You know what to do after that.

Second Lieutenant M. Kennedy


P.S. Don’t worry about the rest of my family right now. I will take care of them. Margaret is the one who is in the most danger.


When I finished reading the letter, a thousand questions spun in my head. ‘What does Matthew mean by ‘everything is going as planned’? What plan was Matthew talking about and why hasn’t Captain Taylor told me anything about it yet? Once Captain Taylor got me to the camp, then what? How is our family in danger? What danger am I in?’





Stay tuned for more......