Without Him I am Nothing

My Beautiful Mare

2012-01-10T22:09:00.000-08:00

While doing her groundwork this afternoon, I decided to try and get some action photos. Here is the result:

Montana is becoming a very well trained horse. The more I do groundwork with her, the better she listens. I can now rider her with no tack, and she will listen all of the time in the rectangle where I work her. She knows she has nowhere to which to run in there. She will listen about 99.999% of the time with only a small strap around her neck. With the strap, she occasionally tries to buck, and can't do a side-pass very well yet; she can back up, and turn just fine, walk, trot, canter, and gallop, including a nice hard whoa, all with only a tiny strap around her neck (this is out in the big field, which has trees, geese, and other obstacles in it).

With a rope halter and lead rope, she will do everything that is asked of her quite well. She can side-pass proficiently, yield her head to the side, and give her face, as well as the above skills. I can take her out riding on the road with her halter and lead rope, and she listens well, even when she wanted to go see some other horses along side the road.

She is becoming more refined in the bridle with a snaffle bit. I'm working on getting her mouth softer than it was before, and she's making progress.

Love how her mane is blowing back in this one, and it's nice and wavy.

Preparing for a rollback (too bad this one's a bit blurry).

She's got a lovely trot! :)

Montana resting, with her wavy forelock. :)

Blackjack didn't want to miss out on the photoshoot. He pulled two loads of branches to the burn pile today. I'm so proud of him. He is very smart and very strong.

Thanks for reading!

~Grace

The Day Is Done

2012-01-09T11:26:00.000-08:00

The Day Is Done

- By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

THE DAY is done, and the darkness
Falls from the wings of Night,
As a feather is wafted downward
From an eagle in his flight.

I see the lights of the village	5
Gleam through the rain and the mist,
And a feeling of sadness comes o'er me
That my soul cannot resist:

A feeling of sadness and longing,
That is not akin to pain,	10
And resembles sorrow only
As the mist resembles the rain.

Come, read to me some poem,
Some simple and heartfelt lay,
That shall soothe this restless feeling,	15
And banish the thoughts of day.

Not from the grand old masters,
Not from the bards sublime,
Whose distant footsteps echo
Through the corridors of Time.	20

For, like strains of martial music,
Their mighty thoughts suggest
Life's endless toil and endeavor;
And to-night I long for rest.

Read from some humbler poet,	25
Whose songs gushed from his heart,
As showers from the clouds of summer,
Or tears from the eyelids start;

Who, through long days of labor,
And nights devoid of ease,	30
Still heard in his soul the music
Of wonderful melodies.

Such songs have power to quiet
The restless pulse of care,
And come like the benediction	35
That follows after prayer.

Then read from the treasured volume
The poem of thy choice,
And lend to the rhyme of the poet
The beauty of thy voice.	40

And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares, that infest the day,
Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs,
And as silently steal away. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow has got to be one of my favorite poets of all time. (Photo credit goes to me.) :)

The Rainy Day

2012-01-04T20:43:00.000-08:00

For those of you who also live in the Pacific Northwest, you can relate to this; everyone else, you just have to commiserate.

Enjoy!

The Rainy Day

By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains,and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.

My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains,and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the mouldering past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
And the days are dark and dreary.

Be still, sad heart, and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.

Good Quotes

2011-12-26T20:31:00.000-08:00

Just thought I'd share some encouraging quotes with y'all this evening...

These are some of my personal favourites:

Enjoy!

In all my affairs may I distinguish between duty and anxiety, and may my character and not my circumstances chiefly engage me. (don't remember who said this one)

Life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. —John Maxwell

A dog barks when his master is attacked, I would be a coward if I saw that God's Truth is attacked and yet would remain silent.

-John Calvin

It is impossible for us to think without words. Words are expressions of thought. -Dr. John Robbins

There is no other way by which any means of grace whatsoever can be of any benefit but by knowlege. -Jonathan Edwards

Discontent is an ungrateful sin, because we have more comforts than afflictions, and it is an irrational sin, because afflictions work for our good.

- Thomas Watson, "All Things Work For Good"

To reject logic is to reject truth. To reject truth is to reject God.

-Gordon Clark

Logos Chapel

Not one particle of dust moves on well travelled road, but God raises it, directs its motion, and directs it to the specific place he appointed for it. The strongest wind cannot move it from its appointed place. Man can be very confident that God exercises the most accurate providence over him and his affairs. Nothing comes to pass without our heavenly Father. -Ezekiel Hopkins

"Think it not hard if you get not your will, nor your delights in this life; God will have you to rejoice in nothing but himself."

-Samuel Rutherford

The Art of Artisan Cheesmaking

2011-12-22T11:16:00.000-08:00

I have been making cheese for quite a while now. Since we have dairy goats, I have had the privilege of such a great opportunity for making cheeses.
There are two different types of cheese, soft cheeses, (ricotta, cream cheese, cottage cheese, & mozzarella) and there are hard cheeses (Cheddar, Gouda, Brie, Bleu, Stilton, etc.).

I started with the soft cheeses, because they are quicker & easier.
Ricotta cheese has got to be the simplest cheese ever to make. You just have to heat your milk to 185F, and add tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice until the curds separate. Drain your curds in a cheese cloth, and put it in the fridge. This type of cheese is very versatile, as is cream cheese.

Mozzarella only takes about an hour to make; some say it is the hardest cheese to make, but I have found it to be quite easy.
It follows the basic cheese making process in the beginning, and ends with stretching the curds under hot water to create the stringiness characteristic to Mozzarella.

Hard cheeses are generally a longer process, and can take most of the day to complete.
Cheddar & Gouda take many, many hours for the curds to finish ripening.

Below are the basic steps for cheese making, accompanied by some photos I have taken.

Step one: heat your milk (usually to about 90-100F)

After you add your culture & rennet, let the curd form, then cut the curd.
The below photo is right after the cutting of the curd.

Stir the curds so they can separate, and raise the temperature slightly.

Keep stirring the curds, don't let them mat.

As you can notice, the curds get smaller as they cook. The more time cooking, the harder the cheese.

Drain off the whey.

Two gallons of milk yields about 2 lb. cheese, and 1 gallon of whey.

You can make ricotta cheese from whey from a cheese which uses mesophillic culture.

You can also feed whey to your chickens, pigs, dogs, & cats, as well as your plants.

Boiling pasta in whey results in tastier noodles than if you use water.

If you have any questions regarding cheese making, I will be happy to answer them.

Thanks for reading!

~Grace

The Arminian's Security (or lack thereof)

2011-12-18T13:37:00.000-08:00

Here is a poem I wrote a couple years back. It shows the fallacy of the Arminian's belief in free will. The credit for the topic goes to Jessica, my sister.

Romans 9:16

So Then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

I chose my Savior on my own

He could not choose me

It was I who took the step

I held my destiny

God was hoping I’d believe

His hands he wrung all day

I ran the race and fought the foe

The one He’d made from clay

And as I took that crucial step

God watched from the sky

I chose Him to be my God

Then he heaved a sigh

Even though I’ve chosen Him

I can still turn back

At any time I can use free will

And turn to sin so black

If I’ve done enough good works

I’ll never know for sure

My faith might barely miss the mark

And then I wouldn’t score

And yet, I say God’s sovereign

Of course, some Scriptures clash

How could all of them fit together?

I’m not really that rash

Why discuss the hard stuff?

Let’s have no creed but Christ

Why can’t we just love?

The scriptures can’t be diced

God loves me, that’s all I care

Because I chose this life

He has a wonderful plan for me

Let’s not have any strife

The wonderful plan God has for me

Is up to me alone

God is up in heaven

Waiting for me to come

How comforting that is

To know it’s up to me

That I hold my destiny

In my pocket is heaven’s key

This and any other of my poems are in a book that I published. You too, can buy it at this link.

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/in-a-dry-and-thirsty-land/11598456

Thanks for reading!

~Grace

The Road Not Taken

2011-12-12T22:04:00.000-08:00

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim

Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

—Robert Frost

Photo credits: Me :)

Coming up next...

2011-12-08T20:51:00.001-08:00

My next post will be on artisan cheese making. Tomorrow, DV I am going to make Mozzarella cheese, and I shall endeavour to take high quality photos of the process. These, accompanied by a detailed description of the process will appear on my blog in a timely fashion.

I Am A Farmer

2011-12-08T15:13:00.001-08:00

We have a farm so we can grow our own food.

This includes chickens, (around 40)

Jupiter & Comet, my Barred Rock pair.

"Mrs. Darcy" Dark Brahma hen

Ducks, 4 at present

Jake & Jemimah (White Pekins) Tyrone & Tulip (Chocolate Runners)

Geese, (5 at present)

Gustav, Fred, Heidi, Helga, & Herald

Pigs, (were just butchered this fall, more coming in spring)

"Piggiwig" & "Piggling Bland" (They are very tasty)

Dairy goats, (Nubians, to be precise, 4 at present)

Cinnamon with her tiny doeling Nutmeg

Ginger & her son Fergus

Cats (rodent patrol in the barn)

And our dog, (director of security, and she means it too!) Bonny is fierce and beautiful. She loves her family, and no one else.

This is the extent of the “useful” animals on our small farm. Now for the best animal (in my opinion)...

My horse Montana. I love her very much. I have trained her, and ride her nearly every day. She contributes nothing but joy to our farm.

This is my little black Nubian wether, Blackjack. He doesn’t contribute to the farm yet, but I am training him to be a harness goat, so he will be able to pull heavy things when he’s big enough, and pull a cart. He is very smart, and can already drive with reins and me walking behind him. I just have to wait for him to grow into his harness.

I love our farm, and will always want to live in a rural area, and raise animals. Thank you Lord for blessing me in this way.

Horsemanship & Training: Natural vs. Normal

2011-11-21T15:42:00.001-08:00

I claim, in the description of my blog, to be a horse rider & trainer. I don’t train horses for a living, but I have trained my horse, and have helped start a young filly under saddle as well. I hope to have the opportunity to start more young horses under saddle in the future.

You may or may not have heard of Natural Horsemanship before, but I shall endeavour to provide you with a brief overview of Natural Horsemanship, how it differs from Normal Horsemanship, and how it works better, and more naturally for you and your horse. To quote one very great Natural Horseman, Pat Parelli,

“Natural Horsemanship is so old, it’s new again!”

Natural Horsemanship is not so much training, as it is a way of thinking. In fact, it is training your mind to think like a horse. Sometimes it involves more training on the human’s part than on the part of the horse. Since horses are prey animals, they all are born with a built in flight reflex. Horses are born cowards, born claustrophobics, and born full-throttle-a-holics. One more thing that those without a biblical world view do not realize, is that horses (and all animals for that matter) do not, and never can have rational souls. Animals cannot reason. However, you can think like a horse to help your horse overcome his fear, and trust you as the leader. Horses do not naturally follow bullies, but leaders. Once your horse trusts you as his leader, he will do anything for you.

The Normal Horseman will use these tools:

Halters

Bridles

Whips

Longe line & cavesson

Spurs

Hobbles

Check rein

The Natural Horseman uses these tools:

Rope halters

Ropes (for communication)

Sticks (as an extension of your arm)

Bits (for riding refinement)

Spurs (as extensions of your legs)

How do you achieve the epithet of Natural Horseman?

There are six keys that are extremely important in the whole idea of successful Horse-Human interaction. These are taken from Pat Parelli’s book “Natural Horsemanship.”

Attitude

You must have a positive and progressing attitude, and you must understand the natural point of view of the horse.

2. Knowledge

You need to have the knowledge of how horses think and operate. Most people think like people, and that’s a whole different type of knowledge.

3. Tools

Tools that work naturally are essential. A Natural horseman is distinguished from a normal horseman by the tools he uses, as well as the tools he doesn’t and wouldn’t use.

4. Techniques

Natural techniques must be understood. For example, most people saddle a horse and get on, kick to go, and pull to stop. Instead of these normal ways to make horses go and stop, use natural techniques that produce snappy departures and graceful transitions.

5. Time

If you take the time it takes, it takes less time. Most people don’t have the time to do it right, but they always have the time to do it over and over. With respect to time, we have to understand the relevancy of time, the meaning of short-term time and long-term time, and the word “timing.”

6. Imagination

You have to exercise your imagination. Imagination is something children have that adults do not, or at least they lost the ability to use their imaginations effectively. Einstein said that imagination is even more valuable than knowledge.

These are the ingredients that are necessary to achieving excellence through Natural Horse-Man-Ship.

For more information on Natural horse training, please visit the websites of these great natural horsemen.

Pat Parelli

www.parellinaturalhorsetraining.com

Stacy Westfall

westfallhorsemanship.com

Below is a video of Stacy Westfall riding bareback & bridle-less in Freestyle Reining at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in 2006. She won, setting the current record for the highest score in the history of the All American Quarter Horse Congress. I think her score was 302.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-7v8Ck1crg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLrK5QTUywA

Test Post

2011-11-20T14:08:00.001-08:00

If this posts, YAY Blogger is working again!
Tomorrow, DV I will post my article I wrote about Natural Horsemanship & Horse training.
~Grace

What it means to be a servant of God

2011-11-07T21:48:00.000-08:00

Since in the description of my blog, I list many things that I am, I shall begin a short series of each of the things that I claim to be. This is most certainly the one thing in which I fall short the most of all.

To be a servant of God means submitting to His sovereign will in all things. How difficult and seemingly impossible it can be! Our sinful pride tells us that we know best, that God’s way couldn’t be the unrivaled way to go. But in John 12:26, Jesus says: “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”

We are to serve God, and be a good example to those around us: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” -Matthew 5:16

How then are we to receive the strength to humble ourselves and walk as servants before God? Prayer is the answer. By praying and meditating on the truths of God’s holy inspired word, He will give us the strength we need to be, and set an example to others of, a servant of God.

Below is a poem that I wrote some time ago:

May I Never Stray

Inspired by: “The Gospel Way” from “the Valley of Vision” Puritan prayers

How carnal flesh could contrive the Gospel

There’s not a single way

God, my Lord is the inventor

The one to whom I pray

Thou art the messenger and the message

In eternal grace

The hope that burns within me

Is to one day see Thy face

You know our trials, You’ve borne them all

In the same way, been tempted thus

You lived on earth and died on the cross

All because of us

We are not worthy to be called Your sons

We deserve the pains of hell

But instead You chose to save us

And will take us to heaven to dwell

Why You chose to save us

We surely cannot tell

When others just as wicked

Were sent straight to hell

You lived on earth that I might be freed

Ransomed, redeemed, vindicated

You died that awful death

And now I’m expiated

Eternal thanks to Thee, O Lamb

For opening this way

Praises without end to Thee

I sing every day

O glorious Trinity

Impress upon my soul

The wonders of the Gospel

In its wondrous whole

Until its virtue circulates

To every faculty

Let it be professed

That Christ is in me

Help my stubborn will

To overcome my faults

To assassinate each darling lust

Until my combat halts

Make me to submit my heart

My life and its command

To stick strictly to the Truth

And against all errors stand

Not departing from the Truth

No matter what befalls

If I meet with persecution

I’m safe within Thy walls

Strip me of everything

That could be counted as good

But keep my one true focus

On the One that I should

I have neglected thee too long

Often crucified Thee

By my own impenitence

You’ve been put to shame by me

I thank Thee my dear Saviour

That Thou hast been patient with me

You’ve borne with me so very long

While I think of mutiny

Unite me to Thyself

With bonds that cannot break

That nothing might ever part me

Not even flames or stake

Thanks for reading!

-Grace

As time allows...

2011-11-06T19:59:00.000-08:00

As time allows, and as Satellite internet allows, I shall endeavour to return to blogging weekly. I hope and pray that soon Frontier will get their fiber optic cables up to our house very soon.
Last week was spent enjoyably in Colorado visiting Estes Park and going horseback riding, going on a tour at Celestial Seasonings tea factory in Boulder, CO, hiking, bicycling in Loveland, and a multitude of other fun activities. I am glad to be home though, because I missed my family and all the animals (especially my horse Montana). Now I'm back to schooling, riding & training my horse, farming & making cheese. Oh yes, and don't forget music practice!

Not My Will, But Thine

2010-02-15T15:36:00.001-08:00

"Think it not hard if you get not your will, nor your delights in this life; God will have you to rejoice in nothing but himself."

-Samuel Rutherford

In this wicked world of self-centeredness

We only think of self

Figuratively speaking

We put God “on the shelf”

We do not dwell on His glory

But things to please the flesh

We think not of the judgement

When God’s reapers come to thresh

Think it not so hard

To live a life of toil

Even if you never get

Any of earth’s spoil

God’s glory is your end

That for which you’re made

Do not let the wicked

Make your mind be swayed

Dwell on God and Him alone

Leave alone the rest

If you do God’s bidding

He will see you blessed

Even if your blessing

Is not on this earth

You will surely have it

In your new birth

Let us rejoice in God

Our songs to Him raise

Our great God of glory

To him alone is Praise

I Shall Not Be Moved

2010-01-30T12:47:00.002-08:00

Psalm 27:1
The Lord my Light and Salvation is
Of whom shall I be afraid?
God is the strength of all my life
The wicked’s hands are stayed

Though hosts of wicked encompass me
My heart shall not fear
Though wars should rise against me
I do not dread the spear

The one thing that I desire
Is to dwell in his abode
And all the days of my life
To sing praises to me lord

For in my time of trouble
He will hide me in His tent
He’ll keep me in His safety
‘Till the enemy’s anger is spent

Now my head shall be above
All mine enemies
Therefore I will praise my God
For my deliverences

When my father and my mother
Forsake me along the way
You my blessed Saviour
Will carry me away

Teach me thy ways, O Lord
Lead me in thy path
Because of mine enemies
Who seek to vent their wrath

If I had not believed to see
The goodness of my Lord
I would have fainted
So I say, wait upon the Lord!

I Will Praise You

2010-01-30T12:47:00.001-08:00

Inspiration: portions of Psalm 139

O Lord, You have searched me
you know me full well
You know my weaknesses
And where I excel

There is not a ingle word
Uttered y my tongue
But you know it completely
What my mouth has sung

Where can I go
Where You are not?
Can I flee from Your presence
Or go where not sought?

If i go into heaven,
Behold You are there
If I bed down in hell
You still are there

If I say, “I can hide
Because of the dark
you can still see me
Light or no spark

I will praise Thee for I
Am most fearfully wrought
I’m wonderfully made
And with a price I’m bought

I was not hid
In the depths of the womb
When crafted in secret
Your Spirit did come

Your eyes did see my substance
However imperfect I be
All my members were written
you did fashion me

How precious are thy thoughts O God
How great a sum they be
If I should count them they’d count up
To more than sands of the sea

Thou wilt slay mine enemies
Depart, O evil ones!
God will slay the wicked
For we are precious sons

I hate thine enemies, my God
They take your name in vain
I hate them with a perfect hatred
You do just the same

Search my heart, O God and know
All my thoughts and ways
Lead me in the everlasting path
Throughout all my days

Heed Wisdom

2010-01-30T12:46:00.002-08:00

Inspiration: Portions of Proverbs 9

Written by me

Wisdom has built her house
Of seven pillars it’s bound
She prepares her table
Then cries aloud from the town

“If you are simple turn in here
If understanding you lack
Com and eat, forsake the fools
Retreat from sin so black

Reprove not a scorner
he will chastise thee
Rebuke, instead a wise man
it’s he that will love thee”

The start of wisdom
Is fear of the Lord
All else will come along
With wisdom life shall be extended
They years will be prolonged

A foolish woman is full of clamor
“Turn in here” says she
Come and eat my stolen bread
It will taste sweet to thee

Where fools are the dead are there
Do not heed their word
In the end they’re as bitter as gall
And sharper than a two-edged sword

Christ Is All

2010-01-30T12:46:00.001-08:00

There’s no comfort in enjoying
Anything but You
Everything else is meaningless
Without a proper view

My chief end is to serve you
Throughout all my days
To serve the one who saved me
By His perfect ways

Your will, it doth please me
No matter what the test
Since You are all-knowing
You always know best

I long to pay this debt back
But seeing there’s no way
I only can bless You
And thankful prayers pray

Every good work
That I have done
Is only by result
Of Jesus Christ your son

Oh, how can evil men speak
How great is man on earth?
When if we were not held back
W’d be of devil’s birth

You’ve taught me by trials
(How painful that has been)
That we are really powerless
Without You, slaves to sin

Author- Grace Kobilan

My One True Love

2010-01-30T12:45:00.002-08:00

God, please don’t let my focus
Be on things of earth
Spinning in my thoughts
Forgetting my heav’nly birth

you are my one true love
I was made for thee
Please don’t let me dwell
On things that I see

Call me from my earthly cares
Take me from the test
Call me to yourself
There, I know is rest

Why should I worry about the world?
I’m of heav’nly birth
My passions should be just for you
Not on things of earth

When I’m caught up in worldly cares
It seems, that’s all I know
And I forget my one true love
I let my Saviour go

Let earth and all it’s rackets
Be pulled far away
Drive away my worries Only joy will stay

Summon me to yourself
Where all my cares are gone
Safe under the wings
Of Jesus Christ Your son

Unconditional Election

2010-01-30T12:45:00.001-08:00

It is not I who chose thee
Because my darkened heart
Devoid of any goodness
Sought with right to part

You, O God have chosen me
And from my sin-stained past
Have brought me, given me life anew
Life that ever will last

You’ve always loved me even though
My heart is full of sin
You loved me when I loathed You
My heart, so black within

Then You gave me your righteousness
Imputed it to me
And now I live and glory
Only, all for Thee

By sovereign grace you called me
Which taught my growing mind
The world had so engulfed me
I was, to heaven, blind

There is none above you
Now I know this for sure
I thirst for thy rich grace
Which ever shall endure

Break My Heart, then Bind It Up

2010-01-30T12:44:00.002-08:00

Inspiration: One of the puritain prayers (can’t remember which one)

O God, destroy my lofty thoughts
Break my pride to a shred
Annihilate my self-righteousness
Bring down my pride on my head

Implant in me lowliness of mind
Throw me to the ground
Make me hate my wicked self
No good in me is found

Open the steam of penitential tears
Prepare me to live for thee
Break me, bind me up again
Make a slave of me

Come, dear blessed Jesus
With your healing hand
Descend and sanctify me
Your grace is as the sand

When you, O Lord are present
Evil cannot abide
There is fullness of joy
When I’m at your side

Under thy loving smile
Is peace of mind
By your glorious side
True peace and rest I’ll find

Of Thy glorious power
No one can excel
Nothing is too great
For You to do well

Nothing is too good
For thee to give
You gave us your son
We look to him and live

Thy might is infinite
Boundless is your love
Limitless in grace
As angels sing above:

Of sinners repenting
Prodicals restored
Backsliders reclaimed
T’was done by my Lord

Of blind eyes opened
Satan’s captives set free
Broken hearts bound up
Despondent, filled with glee

The self-righteous stripped
The formalist driven
Refuge from lies
And saints sent to heaven

We ask great things
But know they are sure
Our God is great
And ever will endure

Author- Grace Kobilan

Our Great Debt

2010-01-30T12:44:00.001-08:00

Inspired by Psalm 63:3

Let us sing loud anthems
To our Almighty King
In shouts of joy and singing
Our praises to Him bring

We come and kneel before Him
To thank him for his grace
His grace he gave to us
He drew us from a dark place

All praise to Him belongs
Our God Most High
Though He dwells in heaven
None escape His watchful eye

The powers of earth are in his hand
Beasts from great to small
He controls the universe
For he created it all

If we praised our Lord
One thousand times a day
Even that could not suffice
His mercy to repay

All that we can do
Is to humbly fall
And praise our God, our Saviour
Our Lord, our King, our All

Whom Shall I Fear?

2010-01-30T12:43:00.003-08:00

Psalm 27:1
The Lord my Light and Salvation is
Of whom shall I be afraid?
God is the strength of all my life
The wicked’s hands are stayed

Though hosts of wicked encompass me
My heart shall not fear
Though wars should rise against me
I do not dread the spear

The one thing that I desire
Is to dwell in his abode
And all the days of my life
To sing praises to me lord

For in my time of trouble
He will hide me in His tent
He’ll keep me in His safety
‘Till the enemy’s anger is spent

Now my head shall be above
All mine enemies
Therefore I will praise my God
For my deliveries

When my father and my mother
Forsake me along the way
You my blessed Saviour
Will carry me away

Teach me thy ways, O Lord
Lead me in thy path
Because of mine enemies
Who seek to vent their wrath

If I had not believed to see
The goodness of my Lord
I would have fainted
So I say, wait upon the Lord!

No Greater Love

2010-01-30T12:43:00.001-08:00

There is no greater picture
Of a father’s tender love
Than Jesus leaving glory
Coming down from Heaven above

The reason that he came
Was to lay down His life
For the sins of His elect
To give them eternal life

When I read in sacred Scripture
Of the sorrows He had to bear
I’m filled with grief and pain to think
That my sins put him there

He ran the race, ‘twas filled with pain
And walked to calvary
His cross he carried, mocked, derided
he did it for me

For the joy before Him
Jesus chose the cross
He did it for God’s pleasure
To save the needy and the lost

The son of man is lifted up
Before creation’s eyes
Mocked by soldiers, scorned by men
In our place He dies

Now in heaven He is risen
All praise to Him belong
Angels worship ‘round the throne
And nations sing His song

Let this blackened sinner now
Be saved by Your love
Cause me to want only You
Lift my heart above

Not Of This World

2010-01-30T12:42:00.001-08:00

My rest is in heaven
Not in this world
My soul belongs
To my Saviour, I’m told

The trials of life
How great they can be
They serve just to get me
Sooner to thee

I should not build up
Comforts or bliss
In such an awful
Place like this

I look for the city
‘Tis built by my Lord
He built it,
Then told me of it in His Word

Christ is in me,
So my glory is sure
On this I meditate
He will endure

While in sight of His love,
If afflictions abound
They turn into gladness
And make me more sound

The tears of a lifetime
Christ will wipe away
All fears will vanish
On that glorious day

Let satan’s minions
Come at me full force
The most it can do
Is to strengthen my course

Joys, sorrows and pains
Or whatever I meet
An hour with my Saviour
Makes everything sweet

Our rest is in heaven
On earth we must do
The work you have sent us
To tell men of You

Yes, I wrote this one too. It is comforting to think of these ideas during the day, especially when things aren't going the way you want them to. Just remember, it's for your strengthening that trials come. This has given me a good deal of comfort lately.

My Melted Heart

2010-01-30T12:41:00.002-08:00

The hills may rumble
And mountains shake
The hills be thrown
Into the sea’s wake

Nothing can melt
My heart of stone
Except the deed
That Jesus has done

Only You can melt
My heart of flint
Jesus,
Your life on earth You spent

Coming to earth
To die for me
So I would have
Heaven’s key

The tears come to
My eyes as I
Read how Jesus
Came to die

His cruel death
He died on earth
That I may have
A second birth

As I read
My iron heart doth melt
Repentant tears
Down my face do pelt

Right then and there
My stone heart’s reborn
Into a flesh heart
On this glad morn

Christ has melted
My heart of flint
The rest of my life
For His glory is spent

Someday I’ll go
And see his face
As I now see
It’s nought but by grace

Thou Art God

2010-01-30T12:41:00.001-08:00

Inspired by Psalm 90:2

Before the mountains
Were brought forth
Or ever you
Had formed the earth

Thou art God

You are the alpha and omega
The first and the last
On into the future
And ever in the past

A thousand years in Thy sight
Are only like a day
They are as a watch of night
And soon they pass away

You’re still God

A day is as the tender grass
Which in the morning doth sprout
It in the evening withereth
And it is gone without doubt

God is still unchanging
He cannot fade away
He is not like us worms
Forever He will stay

Our Almighty God

The Praise Worthy Woman

2010-01-30T12:40:00.002-08:00

A woman of virtue
Who can find?
Her worth excels jewels
Of any kind

Her husband trusts her
Day after day
No lack of gain
Will suffer to stay

She does him good
For all her days
And never turns
To evil ways

She has no fear
For winter storm
For all her house
Are clothed and warm

Her work is good
Her strength is great
Her husband is praised
In the gate

She speaks in wisdom
And many a kind word
And aid from her
Is readily heard

Her children rise up
And bless her name
Her husband also
Does the same

“Many daughters have done well,
But you exceed the best.”
Charm is vain and beauty fleeting
But blessed is the blest

A woman who fears God
Is worthy to be praised
Her light does not go out at night
Her heart to God is raised

For Yours Is the Kingdom Of Heaven

2010-01-30T12:40:00.001-08:00

Inspired by portions of Matthew 5

When Jesus saw the multitudes
He went up on a hill
The apostles came and sat by him
Then all the crowds were still

“Blessed are the poor in spirit”
Jesus spoke to start
“Heaven’s kingdom belongs to these”
Such words they took to heart

“Blessed are the mourners
They comforted shall be
Blessed are the meek
To the earth they’re free

Blessed are all they that seek
After righteous ways
They shall be filled with righteousness
Throughout all their days

Blessed are the merciful
For mercy’s not in vain
Blessed are the pure in heart
To see God is their gain

Blessed are the ones who make
Peace among their own
Children of God they are
They’ll sit around the throne

Blessed are those stoic souls
Who persecuted are
The kingdom of heaven
Belongs to them by far

Blessed are ye men
When men revile you
If it’s for my sake
The kingdom is for you

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad
Great your rewards will be
The prophets were reviled
Before you knew me

You are the salt of the earth
But if salt loses taste
How can it be seasoned?
It is so very base

It’s therefore good for nothing
Except for only when
It is thrown out in the dust
To be trampled by men

The light of the world you people are
A light shining you be
Be the lights that in the darkness
Make men glorify me

By Grace Alone

2010-01-30T12:35:00.000-08:00

Ephesians 2:8-9

If you were offered
A gift for free
You would take it
Unhesitatingly

If it were
Man’s own decision
Why would others
Mock it with derision?

You see, the Gospel
Is not free
To just anyone
That you see

Only some
Are chosen to be
God’s elect
For His glory

The elect are dead
In guilt and sin
But Christ made them
Alive again

We are not saved by works,
For no, that could not be
We’re saved by Christ’s own righteousness
By Him for His glory

Written by me again ;)

So I Long For Thee

2010-01-27T12:54:00.003-08:00

Inspired by Psalm 42:1-2
As the deer pants for the water
So my soul longs for you God
There is no other stay at all
In a thirsty land so broad

There is no help apart from you
The wicked are so great
The righteous few and far between
This world is filled with hate

And when I look around me
At utter wickedness
All people so immoral
With blatent lawlessness

I cry out to my Saviour
He supplies my needs
To read His Word is joyous
His plan always succeeds

O Lord I am so grateful
I was chosen by thee
Straight from the jaws of satan
By your own sure decree

Yes, I wrote this one too. :)

My Only Comfort

2010-01-27T12:54:00.001-08:00

My only comfort
In life and death
Is that I'm not my own

I with body
And with soul
Belong to Christ alone

He who with
His precious blood
Hath delivered me

From the power
Of the devil
He preserveth me

So, without
My Father's will
Not a hair can fall

My salvation,
It comes first
And Jesus did it all

The Holy Spirit
Assureth me
Eternal Life is mine

And makes me willing
And ready henceforth
To live for God Divine.

Author- Grace Kobilan

Where Your Treasure Is

2010-01-27T12:53:00.001-08:00

Do not store up for yourselves
Treasures of worldly spoil
Where thieves can easily rob you
And moth and rust will soil

You will not find direction
In cold unfeeling gold
You will have no comfort
When you grow quite old

Seek God's kingdom first of all
He will do the rest
Seek Him and his righteousness
No matter what the test

Do not store up worldly wealth
Knowing it will perish
For where your pleasure really dwells
That your heart will cherish

-Grace Kobilan

But You have chosen me

2010-01-27T12:52:00.000-08:00

Inspired by: John 15:16
Written by: Grace Kobilan

Before the making of the earth
When I did not exist
God chose me to be his own
My life was in his fist

I could not choose you on my own
I was a slave to sin
My being was so awful
Depraived, and black within

You snatched me from the jaws of death
Straight from Satan's clutch
You will not ever leave me there
Or let him me touch

Oh Jesus I'm so thankful
That you have chosen me
You raise me up, dear Saviour
To all that I can be

Author-Grace Kobilan

The Lord Is King

2010-01-27T12:51:00.002-08:00

The Lord is King
All nations rejoice
our King is here
Lift up your voice

He has come
To save us from hell
Sin is banished
Now all is well

Our old man is gone
And the new is here
Jesus has come
So have no fear

All glory be
To the Most High
For without him
To hell we'd fly

To heaven we get
To go someday
We can hardly wait
To fly away

Our Lord is there
Seated on His throne
Soon we will go
To our eternal home

Author- Grace Kobilan

All Things Work For Good

2010-01-27T12:51:00.001-08:00

When trials come to meet me
And troubles come to stand
Everything seems frightening
Without your guiding hand

Trusting in your grace
I can face it all

When my God is with me
I can scale a wall

Jesus comes to save me
He melts my heart of stone
Christ can surely save me
He, and he alone

Author- Grace Kobilan

A Comfort In the Darkness

2010-01-27T12:50:00.001-08:00

I love your law, O God
My guide for every day
Of course, it is still binding
It cannot go away

And when I try to keep it
And terribly go wrong
I suddenly remember
You did it all along

Right when I start to think
"I guess I'm doing alright!"
A humbling experience
Quickly comes to bite

It send me meekly flying
From this trying test
To your sacred Scriptures
There I will find rest

O, I am so joyous
That you gave us your word
To help us in our troubles
They do not go unheard

Your word, a lamp unto my feet
A light to guide my way
A comfort in the darkness
God is my only stay.

Author-Grace Kobilan

Lord, Please Remind Me

2010-01-27T12:49:00.000-08:00

Lord please remind me every day,
That every time I go astray
Every sin and every loss
Is nailed with spikes to the cruel cross

Lord why have I so soon forgot?
That your own son whom you begot
Has come to earth to die for me.
By your won hand and sure decree

.
Lord please remind me every day,
In every thought, and word I say
That every time I sinfully fall
Jesus came and bore it all.

Author- Grace Kobilan

Look To the Saviour

2010-01-27T12:48:00.000-08:00

See the blessed savior dying
On the cross for wicked man
Suffering up there without sinning
All a part of God's own plan

Hear him speak his final sentence
"Forgive them Father" is what he cries
One last word, he says "It's Finished!"
Then our precious savior dies

Even in the darkest moment
Jesus set his hope on God
We, like him should look to Scripture,
Set our hope on Christ and laud;

He who came and lived and died
All because of us
On our Rock, our LORD, our Savior
We alone must cling and trust.

Author- Grace Kobilan

Poem #1 "The Redemption of an Elect Sinner"

2010-01-27T12:45:00.000-08:00

I once was a sinner
totally depraived.
From sin and evil
Jesus me saved

With irresistable grace
I was drawn from that jail
Unconditionaly elected
His plan could not fail

For elect sinners only,
My savior he died
And promises always
With me to abide

Jesus you've saved me
From the deep pit of hell
For with out your sorvereignty
All things would fail

How thankful I am
That your sovereign decree
Would include such redemption

for a worm like me.

Author- Grace Kobilan

Sorry it's been so long!

2009-10-07T13:19:00.001-07:00

I'm sorry it's been so long since I posted anything on my blog. We have gotten settled into our new house, and are doing school again. We might be getting a kitten soon. My Spanish teacher has eight kittens, and sometime soon, we are going to go pick one out. My dad is going to pick it out. He doesn't want us to get any more than one. Last time we got cats, was in 1997. Mommy, and us kids went to pick out "1" kitten and came back with three. My dad says he doesn't want that to happen again. Mommy was sure that one of them would get eaten by coyotes, and that we wouldn't be as sad, if we had more than one kitten. All of the kitties lived almost 10 years each, and they were outdoor cats too. Marisa and I are going to be milking cows for the Coulimores while they are on a hunting trip.
iAdios!

Moving

2009-09-06T16:01:00.000-07:00

This picture is one that Andrew drew of Jessica making a chocolate cake.

We are moving into our new house this Friday. I we are all very excited. Please pray for us that this goes well. Most of our family are trying to get over a flu. I hope we will be recovered by Friday.

Happy LORD's Day everyone!

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We have been busy!

2009-09-03T13:42:00.000-07:00

Most of our family have a sickness that includes a sore throat, cough, and sometimes fever. We are still recovering. We always seem to get sick when we are moving. It must be the stress. Anyway, we are moving into our new house on September 11th. This time, we are having movers move all of our stuff. In the past, we have moved everything ourselves. This will be my 9th move so far. Please pray for us that the moving goes well, and that we recover soon.

A drawing by Andrew

2009-08-25T12:18:00.000-07:00

This is a picture that Andrew drew of me wiping the counters in our kitchen. He created it on a site called onemotion.com . It has a really neat program that you can make art with. It's really fun. I suggest you try it out.

onemotion.com/flash/sketch-paint/

That's the link above.

Enjoy!

Very Busy

2009-08-22T17:22:00.000-07:00

I have a very good reason for not posting stuff on my blog lately. We have been very busy remodeling our new house. We tore out the carpet, pulled up the carpet staples, and tack strips, primed and painted the walls, tore out tons of tile, linoleum, wood flooring, and particle board. My dad put texture on the walls of our bonus room, and the boys' room, and we primed those today. We have been trimming overgrown bushes, and cleaning, cleaning, and cleaning again. You clean one place, turn around, and it's dirty again. Hauling, pulling, pounding, chipping, cleaning, ripping, heaving, painting, etc (you get the idea). Our wood floor will be ready to be picked up on Monday, and then we will begin installing that. As you can see, we are all very busy. Please pray for us that we can get our remodel done soon so we can move into our new house before school starts. Thanks,

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Home at last!

2009-08-18T08:22:00.000-07:00

I am very happy to say that Daddy, Marisa, and Andrew have returned safely from Colorado. They had a really good time. Marisa had a good time at the Homeschool Alumni Reunion.

House work

2009-08-14T08:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we primed the walls, and today we'll be painting! The girls' rooms are going to be yellow, and... I have to go do the dishes right now, then we have to leave to go paint.

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Trip!

2009-08-10T17:19:00.000-07:00

Daddy, Marisa, and Andrew are going to Colorado tomorrow. Marisa is going to the Homeschool Alumni reunion. Daddy and Andrew are going to stay at Grandma Kobilan's house in Calhan CO, which is right outside Colorado Springs. Grandma has about 600 acres of land out there, and my aunt raises cattle on it. Please pray for them that they will have a safe trip!

Thank you,

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Sausage!

2009-08-10T17:16:00.000-07:00

Today, we (mostly my mom) ground up some meat for sausage. We used kidneys, and heart from Sir Loin, and Chuck (our steers that Marisa raised). It made us very hot and tired.

Pictures of our new house!

2009-08-08T10:30:00.001-07:00

Here are some new pictures of our new house. Enjoy!

Our new house!

2009-08-07T17:55:00.000-07:00

Today, we (my parents) signed the papers for our new house, so it is now officially ours! YIPEE!!!

We will get the keys on Monday, I think. We won't be able to move in right away, because we have to replace some of the flooring, and paint the walls. We also have to paint the outside, but that can wait till after we move in. I am really excited about getting animals. Does anyone know if there is a market for rabbit meat (pet food, or for people)? If anyone knows, please let me know. I'd like to raise rabbits for meat, but don't know if there is a market for it yet.

Fiddle Contest!

2009-08-02T18:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, my family and I went to a fiddle contest in Corvalis OR at the Benton County Fair.
Marisa played in the adult division, and got third place and $50.00, I played in the Junior division, and got fourth place, and $35.00. Heather, Jessica, and Andrew played in the Novice division for people who have never played in a contest before. Heather got 2nd place, and $30.00, Jessica got 6th place, and Andrew got ninth place. We were all pretty excited about that, and had a great time. We will be posting videos of the contest on You Tube as soon as possible. (That's Mr. Einstein in the picture, he wasn't there)

Hi Everyone!

2009-07-30T16:20:00.000-07:00

Today we have been packing, and packing, and packing boxes.

One nice thing about moving is that you find long lost or forgotten treasures! Marisa and my bedroom was pretty crowded before, but now that there's lots of boxes in it, there is only a tiny path to walk through!

We might be able to close on the sale of our house a week from tomorrow! (might)

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Shopping...

2009-07-29T13:30:00.000-07:00

We also went shopping this morning before it got really hot.

Dentist

2009-07-29T13:29:00.000-07:00

Today I went to the dentist because I had some pain in one of my 6-year-old molars. Happy to say, there was nothing wrong with the tooth, and I don't have a single cavity! I thank God for that.

Fiddle Lessons

2009-07-29T13:21:00.000-07:00

This afternoon, Marisa, Jessica, Andrew, and I have fiddle lessons in Portland. I hope all my many followers are staying cool, and not getting heat stroke. ;)

Stay safe!

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Horse Picture

2009-07-28T16:44:00.000-07:00

Here's a nice horse picture to cool y'all down...

Remember winter? It makes me want to go roll in the snow, doesn't it? ;)

Have fun y'all.

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Hot Weather

2009-07-28T16:38:00.000-07:00

Hot weather is nice, but it can be dangerous! Today when we were driving on the highway, our trip computer's thermometer said 107 degrees. Please don't leave musical instruments in hot cars while shopping. I hope everyone is staying cool today. Drink cold drinks, suck on ice cubes, eat popsicles, go swimming, etc. Have a good day!

Grace Kobilan

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We ARE moving!!!

2009-07-25T07:32:00.000-07:00

Praise the LORD! The roof on the house we are buying doesn't have any problems, other than needing to be power washed. We will be moving into our new house soon!!!

We might be moving soon!

2009-07-24T07:48:00.000-07:00

Today we are going to do an inspection on a house that we might buy. The bank that owns the house accepted our offer. The house might have a problem with the roof. In the plans for the house, it shows a 'comp' roof. The normal kind with regular tar shingles. But, the house has a slate roof. If they used the same kind of roof trusses as in the plans, the roof can't support the slate shingles. If this is the case, we can't get it. If they have put different roof trusses to support the slate shingles, it'll be okay.

Please pray for us, that the inspection will go well, and that no further problems will arise.

Thank you,

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Blue Days

2009-07-23T13:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we picked 49 pounds of blueberries at Majestic Farms. There were many berries there and it hardly took any time at all. It didn't get hot until we were done picking. We froze some, and have some fresh. Hopefully we can make a blueberry pie today.

Horse Picture of the day!

2009-07-21T08:45:00.000-07:00

A lovely Thoroughbred galloping through a field.

Horse Picture of the day

2009-07-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

Three beautiful thoroughbreds.

Horse Picture of the day!

2009-07-19T14:03:00.000-07:00

Here is the horse picture of the day: It is very lovely. I don't know what the breed of horse is, but I will try to tell you in future pictures. I will try to put a nice horse pic up every day but... you know how life is! I might not get to it every day. Please bear with me!

Love,

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Welcome to my blog!

2009-07-17T12:43:00.000-07:00

I hope you enjoy hearing about me on my blog. Sampa.com is no longer going to be offering free websites like I had. They are closing. :( Oh well. I'll try to put the same stuff on here as was on my site.
GK
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