hope

"Though the fig tree may not blossom,

Nor fruit be on the ines;

Though the labor of the olive may fail,

And the fields yield no food;

Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,

And there be no herd in the stalls -

Yet I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The LORD God is my strength;

He will make my feet like deer's feet,

And He will make me walk on my high hills.

Habakkuk 3:19

Oh that this was constantly the cry of my heart - no matter what I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! Or like Job that I would cry "Though He slay me, still I will trust in Him."

Think of the indication of this passage from Habakkuk - these people relied on the land to live. If there was no crop, no animal in the stalls, no blossoms on the trees...the writer would soon starve to death. But instead of wallowing in grief and worry he says "yet I will joy in the God of my salvation." God. The Sovereign God of the universe.

The God of Abraham - giving life to the barren womb

The God of Isaac - providing atonement at just the right time

The God of Jacob - fulfilling His promises

This is the God who created Heaven and earth - will we doubt Him? Will we seek men to meet our needs instead of the One who has created all things?

"Shall we indeed accept Good from God,

and shall we not accept adversity?"

Job 2:10b

"The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;

Blessed be the name of the LORD."

Job 1:21b

Why do we get so caught up in the things of this world? Like Paul may we die daily to our selfish desires and do battle with our flesh. May we be able to stand with Job and with Habakkuk and say we "joy in the the God of my salvation."

Without question.

Without looking back.

Without desiring to have things go "my way."

Oh that my sole source of joy would be Him and Him alone.

"The Simple Life"

Due to a random trip to the library and taking out a book on tape, I've been lost in PA Dutch country via my imagination for the past couple weeks.

There's something strongly appealing (yet, I make my disclaimer - theologically wrong..I'm not endorsing the Amish religion here...) about these people who live on dirt roads, working the land and surviving without electricity, indoor plumbing, "worldly" entertainment, etc. Yes, I dare say the thought of living in a close community raising a slew of kiddos and working the land has a strong appeal to this city girl. My hubby would like growing a beast of a beard too!
Perhaps it's just my desire to escape the reality of an ever-changing world. To me waking up every morning, putting on the one style of dress I own and going about house chores, not worrying about whether or not my bonnet is of the latest fashion or what I'm going to do to occupy my time (or my toddler) today, it sounds like a dream life. Living close to family and friends, cooking, baking, quilting and taking care of my hubby and kiddos.
Ah, yes, my dear hubby has said it a million times - we were both born in the wrong century. (though I do enjoy indoor plumbing...)
So I'm off to finish the last book in the series...while my supper cooks in the crock pot and the bread machine kneads my dough for supper rolls. Funny how we can imagine and desire certain things but don't put too much effort into making it a reality.

Oh well. Maybe someday, if it's the Lord's will, my darling will be able to work the land around our log bungalow while, barefoot and dressed in a flowing cotton dress, I hang clothes on the line and chase pigs and chickens back to the barn. So much for the city girl I always thought I wanted to be.
But for now I'll let the Bread Machine work and enjoy the ease with which I live...might be easier to dream about these things than actually try to live them.

Two Peas in a Pod

Ah, yes. The old saying describes us well, my love and I. In lieu of the upcomming pink festival, I thought I would dedicate this blog to my darling hubby. So here is a humorous, yet loving top ten list of things I love about my dearest in no particular order:

1. He looks up to three men who were all great theologians, named John and had enormous beards: John Calvin, John Knox and Jonathan Edwards. He studies their writings and studies the Scripture and seeks to apply these truths to His life. I admire his dilligence.

2. If I make him something - he will wear it.

3. If I cook something - he will eat it.

4. He has a rustic creativity and on a whim he'll be carving faces into twigs (bearded men, of course) or building a bent willow chair - without practice or training, he just has an eye for creating things with wood.

5. He delights in being a father to our crazy little girl. He chases her around the room or hides in the corner so she's all giggles when she finds him. She used to chant "Daddy" constantly when she didn't know any other words!

6. I've always been a sucker for that red hair!

7. He would rather be outdoors than anywhere else. This makes for long walks through the woods or camping overnight somewhere. And he can start a fire without lighter fluid!

8. He uses his skills and talents to glorify God whether it's plumbing or playing guitar he sees his whole life as serving HIM.

9. He loves me unconditionally.

10. He loves the Lord fist and foremost and is following the Biblical pattern of leadership for our home.

And of all these things I know he would say "Only by the grace of God I am what I am - praise the Lord, not me." It's been almost nine years since I met my love and every day is better than the last.

I love you!

2 Timothy 2:15

"Study to show yourself approved unto God,

a worker who does not need to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the Word of Truth."

When Paul wrote these words, he was writing to a young pastor named Timothy. He was instructing him with how to deal with his flock. Another verse that stands out is I Peter 3:15

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts,

and always be ready to give a defense

to everyone who asks you a reason

for the hope that is in you,

with meekness and fear.

Peter here was writing to a group of believers who were suffering horribly on account of their faith. In both cases above, it is blatantly obvious what we are called to do - study so that we can know what we believe and why! I just finished reading a letter on a friend's blog from a teen in his youth group (he is a leader). It made me sad to see the emptiness there. The writer of the letter had no knowledge of why church was of any importance, and no knowledge of the true character of God.

As adults it is our responsibility to study these things - to know what and why we believe what we believe so that we can "give a defense for the hope that is within" us! As I read the blogs of many "church" teenagers I see the same emptiness. Oh they go to church, some are children of pastors. Some go to Christian schools. But most are empty. Many have no faith - no grounding. Is it their own fault? Perhaps...we are all responisible for our choices that go against God. But what of parents? What of youth pastors and leaders? What of pastors? What of Christian school teachers? Are we giving them the "reason for the hope" that is within us? Or are we giving them a list of "distinctives" or "dos & dont's" without really giving them the why? Do we know ourselves why we believe and do the things we do?

We cannot wait until tomorrow, the next generation is here - is passing us by every day. If you don't give them the answers they are looking for - if you don't know the what's and why's they will look somewhere else. They are already looking somewhere else.

Molasses

Mmmmmm....

That was what little E kept saying as she watched me mix the ingredients for "Ginger Chews" this morning. She'd been rather whiny all morning, so in a last-ditch effort to make her cheerful, I handed her the measuring cup and spatula with the remaining molasses. She giggled and giggled as her face, hands, bib and sleeves became covered in the sticky brown goo. She finally handed me the cup & spatula and said "aw duh" (all done). And yes, every reachable bit of molasses was licked, scraped or spilled from them. Then she danced around the room as cheerful as can be, driving her cars up the wall and singing the "yah yah" song.

So there you have it - molasses. Works like a charm.

Ginger Chews
1 c. butter or margarine
1 1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup molasses
2 2/3 cup flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/3 teaspoon each of cinnamon, cloves and ginger
extra sugar

Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and molasses, beat well. Mix dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture, mixing well. Roll by teaspoon into balls, then roll in additional sugar. Place on greased baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 11-12 minutes. Cookies will puff up and then flatten.

Unless the LORD builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the LORD guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one's youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them,
They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
Psalm 127

Time for a REAL boycott!!

Ok, people. Can we all agree that much of television is a great waste of time?

If you question that statement, please click here .

It seems to me the entertainment industry is reaching for new ideas and hitting rock bottom. Do they think we're all a bunch of bumbling idiots who will laugh at anything? No wonder 100 years ago a 6 year old child could quote poetry, learn latin and sit still for more than 2.5 seconds. "Entertainment" ususally was also educational...not mind numbing!

Instead of boycotting NBC, CBS, CNN, TBC, OLD and DUL why don't we just buy more books? Listen to more classical music? Or, oh no, this one's a duzzie - speak to each other audibly - face to face! Amazing!

Ok, so I've been rather sarcastic. But really, these producers must think people my age (beacuse that's who they're aiming at) are stupid. I say we are NOT - now I'm off to learn latin and play croquet....