This year I’m trying something slightly different from the “New Year’s Resolutions List”. I’m starting the first 100 days of 2012 with Ann Voskamp’s 100 day calendar. Click here to get your own printable calendar!
What will I be aiming to mark off my list every day?
1.Walking, stretching, breathing deeply of fresh air and good posture.
They all go hand-in-hand so well that it’s easier to view them as one entity. Some days I may just step out the back door for a gulp of fresh air and stretch, but for the most part I’ll skedaddle onto the treadmill, or even brave the winter weather!
2. Book Readin’ I was warned that as life became more busy, I’d have less time to read. At the tender age nearly-twenty-one, my life has already come to that. To keep my mind always limber and alert, ready to obtain knowledge and use that knowledge whenever it’s needed, is going to take an extra dose of self discipline!
3. Communication
To be honest, simple conversations, overcoming shyness (which is just plain selfishness), etc. can be more like mountain climbing than a walk in the park for me. But the label of “Introvert” is no excuse to not be a good communicator! I’m using Jeff Myers’ “Secrets of Great Communicators” though it is designed for public speaking, I’ve found that it’s helpful for even the (what should be) less nerve-racking forms of communication. : )
So, at the end of the 100 days I may start a new list!
Do you make resolutions? What do you plan to work on this New Year?
A few good books. Sometimes that’s all you need. You really only need God’s Word. But a few books on the side are helpful. I’ve heard some wise advice that when you’ve found a few good books and can’t seem to find anymore good books to read, go back and re-read the old ones.
“A Good Book” by Paul Fischer
“Of making many books there is no end,
and much study is a weariness of the flesh.“
Ecclesiastes 12:12b
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“Some books are meant to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.”
Do you think your rights as a responsible, loving parent are safe? Watch this fascinating docudrama online for free to discover the truth about the U.S. government’s view of parents and children:
(Official documentary, updated)
ParentalRights.org: Our goal is to pass the following amendment to the U.S. Constitution to protect the fundamental rights of parents in raising their children:
“SECTION ONE: The liberty of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children is a fundamental right.
“SECTION TWO: Neither the United States nor any State shall infringe upon this right without demonstrating that its governmental interest as applied to the person is of the highest order and not otherwise served.
“SECTION THREE: No treaty may adopted nor shall any source of international law be employed to supersede, modify, interpret, or apply to the rights guaranteed by this article.”
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Get involved: Sign the petition, follow them on Facebook here and here, spread
the word to your friends and family, write your newspaper, call your Congressmen.
“. . . There is a difference betweena hierarchy and an elite. The one is work oriented, the other privilege and leisure oriented. For a people to accept the fact of hierarchy means to accept a given variation of responsibilities in society. Paul speaks of this in 1 Corinthians 12:3-31; he speaks of the body as one with many members or parts, all sharing a common life and purpose in Christ. The unregenerate lack such a oneness except in sin. The redeemed are still given to the divisiveness of sin because of their imperfect sanctification, but they also have the Holy Spirit and His call to unity. Their being thus moves to this unity in Christ, and a recognition of the hierarchy of callings and functions in Him. . . .
“Because the world is God’s creation, it accomplishes God’s purposes. This is also true of the curse. The curse saves God’s eschatological movements in history by destroying man’s efforts to play god and by forcing men to a dependence on Him. . . .
“When work is God-centered, it moves in terms of the premise of Psalm 126:6, namely, that the God given order of creation, as well as the providence of God, works to further all efforts in His name and for His glory. . . . Because God made the world, He made all things good (Gen. 1:31), and all things holy, set apart for Him. Things are profane when men and their motives are profane. The clergy can be and often have been profane, and the same is true of every profession, calling, or variety of work. Work becomes holy when it is governed by God’s law word and eschatology. . . .
“The ecclesia [the church; 'In Ephesians and Colossians, ecclesia has a cosmic scope.'] can be a small group meeting in a home, and it is also a cosmic power. It is also a family, and the members are brothers and sisters and a kingdom under Christ the Lord.
“All the members have a function, a local function within the house congregation, and a function in the world, wherein they manifest the works of Christ in and through them. The body does not exist for the institution’s sake, but for Christ and His world-wide Kingdom. If the church has a false eschatology, its work will have a false focus. If a church is not governed by the dominion mandate and a call to victory, it will be governed by defeatism.
“Meanwhile, the elite will work for an elitist society in which they are everything, and the people are nothing. The “scientific” interest in cloning is elitist. The dream from Plato’s day has been to command cow-like masses who will serve the purposes of the elite. The dream of cloning is a hope to stamp out docile creatures who will serve the elites as their social slaves. This is a profane eschatology, and a dream of a man-made hell.” [Emphasis mine]
Autumn–this season always seems to surprise me. Woodsy, lush landscapes of green shift from living to dying, then dead, and it’s all somehow quite mesmerizing. It’s a reminder of the story of redemption, played out before our eyes year after year. We are dead in our sins, but when we die with Christ we are made alive with Him in His resurrection.
These Dahlias are from a dear friend. They are loving the cooler temperatures!
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My family and I are enjoying this new release, Music Inspired by The Story. Wow. This is Beautiful. It’s a series of songs based on people from the Bible (such as Adam and Eve, Job, David, Esther, Abraham and Sarah, etc.) sung by various Christian artists. The lyrics, the music, the artistic quality–just Wow. This gets ten out of five stars. Go buy yourself a copy. (Note: Not all the music styles are to our taste, but there are some that we really appreciate) ; )
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While I neglected my studio over the summer, the second law of thermodynamics made itself very evident. Peace and order are now being restored, and the top of the bookshelf is already looking quite nice. I was so pleased with the results, I had to share a picture:
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And here’s one of the pear trees in our back yard. We harvested quite a few, and they’re sweeter this year!
“All things were made by Him;
and without Him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3, ESV)
I can hardly believe it — two years ago today our paper dolls were ushered onto their own website and officially announced. Two years! Emily Rose is almost a year older than I was when we began our paper doll journey. Wow, does time fly!
In honor of the two-year anniversary, we’ll be having a 4 day sale for our entire product line. Be sure to stop by and grab up a few deals before the Christmas shopping rush begins!
Tonight we gathered in the living room, Emily Rose, Margaret and I. After years of dreaming about our own piano trio, an evening came where God abundantly provided the means. The Piano was open and lit, Emily took up her Violin, and Margaret set up her Cello. A shared music stand was loaded with Canon in D . . . Strings were tuned . . . and then suddenly . . .
Even when our own don’t exist, we young women like to talk about our future marriage, home, and children, don’t we? Simply put, we were made for that kind of life. And occasionally you might hear us ask each other with a hardly-suppressed grin,
“So, if you were married tomorrow and had a
home of your own, would you be ready?”
This question may send our thoughts to pondering the wonderful state of matrimony, setting up house, and taking on the world beside our husbands. The thought of sunshine streaming through the windows as little chubby feet pound and patter across the floor while I prepare a hearty midday meal just thrills. my. heart.
But what if we were asked,
“If your parents were ill needing your constant care, or were even in hospice, would you be ready to lay down your life to take care of them?”
Are you readying yourself for the disenchanting jobs life will bring? Are you prepared to care for a sick or dying man? Are you willing, eager, to sacrifice your life to show the love of Jesus Christ to a person whom the world deems useless and unwanted?
“Grandfather’s Little Nurse” by James Hayllar – image credit
There may be a bigger difference between the two answers than we’d like to admit. From my own blissful optimism changing to deer-in-the-headlight discomfort, they reveal my heart’s attitude toward showing true Christlike love. Marriage is a high calling most of us will find ourselves in, and it will require a life of sacrifice. We cannot sow to the flesh and expect to reap the Spirit — the true meaning of love must be rediscovered and lived out in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ who showed us what Love really looks like.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13, KJV)
As I wrote this post, I realized that there’s much to be said about fields and clouds and sunsets. They become a surprisingly large part of a person’s life. Since I’m sure you all can relate, I’ll be as concise as affection will allow and let these few humble pictures tell the rest of the stories for themselves.
↑ The Southwest view from the back yard. This is where we watch storm heads roll over us.
The North, north-east view from the backyard. It’s spacious for everything from large gatherings and a garden, to walking the dog and general delightfulness.
This next view is the North, north-west sky from our front porch. From there, one evening last summer, a dramatic sunset (not pictured) looked like a fleet of Viking ships sailing up to a rocky shore. Yes, it did, and it was probably the most grand cloud scene I’ve ever mentally recorded in my life so far (does anyone else do that?). This is also a good spot for watching local fireworks.
So that’s a glimpse of what the summer sky looks like around here. The weather’s always changing and therefore the clouds, but it’s always beautiful and it’s always home. : )
Some days “delighting in the Lord” is easier than other days. But most of the time it’s rather simple.
“Margaret Gretchen Strong” by Frank Weston Benson, 1909
Today could have become one of those “other” days — it’s overcast and nothing exciting is on the schedule. Summer’s ending and it feels like I have done the same thing a hundred times. But as I stood in the kitchen, doing what I’ve done a hundred times and then some, I had a bubbling thought –
There’s so much to adore about the Lord!
Finding Joy can be as simple as accepting His love toward me in spite of myself. I have to take my eyes off all my yuckiness that He’s already begun clearing away, and look up at Him in adoration. (I will often need to ask for His help to even get started.) Why get trapped in all my depressing introspection when there’s all this beauty and wonder and glory and soul-satisfying truth right in front of me?
"Be Thou my vision,
O Lord of my heart,
Naught be all else to me,
save that Thou art;
Thou my best thought
by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping,
Thy presence my light.
"Riches I heed not,
nor man's empty praise:
Thou mine inheritance
now and always;
Thou and Thou only
first in my heart;
High King of Heaven,
my treasure Thou art."
Vermeer’s Milkmaid
