Shakespeare and Springtime :)

Spring, oh Spring. Wherefore art thou, dear Spring? Summer, hence thou be thrown off no longer. Tarry none. Prowl thither and shake from thee Winter's dull mantle. Toss forth thine head in glorious triumph. Reign once more: victor.

I think Shakespeare has warped my mind . . . lol. :) We are reading "King Lear" (a Shakespearean tragedy) in Bristish Literature. I haven't finished it yet, but there has been one major question in my mind throughout this book: Why couldn't we have read a Comedy? ;) But wait! I think this could lead to an interesting thought . . .

Yes. I really do want spring - or summer. or something with warmth, an array of colors, and sunshine.

But you know what?

Even though I would love those things right now, guess what I am going to be wanting come August...

Yep. A cold winter's day; a cozy fire casting an iridescent glow on the couch, a cup of tea with wisps of steam pervading the rim, snow falling lazily aloft a frozen ground.

Are we ever truly grateful for what we're given right now? Even if we are, how long does it last? Sure, we may enjoy what we've just been handed. . . .until it gets old or a trial arises. Take, for instance, my second paragraph. The one about the tragedy vs. the comedy. Why couldn't we have read the other one!? Why do we have to do this!? Argh, I'm so tired of this! (Read in high-pitched whiny voice for added effect.) Instead of complaining about this and exasperating everyone around me, I could look at it like this. How grateful I am that God is allowing me to take this class! Wow, this book is really expanding my mind to be able to read different things! I'm so thankful that I have the ability to read!

Anyway, that's just one example, - and not a very good one at that - but you get the point. :)

Just a little thought to leave you with today. Instead of complaining and griping about our circumstances, let's find the things to be grateful for in each situation and praise the Lord for His goodness toward us! :)

"Do all things without murmurings and disputings:" Philippians 2:14

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

Catching Up :)

Guess what!? I've had my blog for just over a year!! and I've only posted like, fourteen times. That's pretty pitiful. lol. I would say that I am pondering a New Year's Resolution to blog more, but I'm not. And they don't usually work, so . . . forget that. ;)

Let's see...first the most exciting thing!!! :D My brother is officially courting a girl!! I'm sooo excited for them! They're super cute together, if I do say so myself. lol...maybe I'm also stoked because my brother is the first one in our family to actually be in a "facebook official" relationship. :D Happy days!

Anyway, life here is Hardin Lane is speeding busily along! Jerusha and I are in a homeschool co-op with two other families that meets every Wednesday. We just had our last class on Wednesday, so it's Christmas break for those subjects!! :)

Orchestra/Choir has also finished for the year. On December 3rd we had orchestra from 8:30-4:00, and then we had two performances that evening. I played violin in our Orchestra performance at Winterfest (we play background music at Hammons Hall while people shop at different booths). Then we went from Winterfest to Evangel University where our Concert and Bel Canto choirs sang in their Christmas Performance. The next day, December 4th, was our orchestra/choir's Christmas concert!

Here's a picture of our concert. :)

Okay, so in my last post I mentioned those cookies I was about to make...they were okay. I mean, we ate them and everything...but they definitely tasted better frozen. :) My most recent experiments are scones, (Yummy!!) Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, Fudge, Chocolate Coconut Balls, and Broccoli Cheddar Bacon Soup. *sigh* Cooking is so relaxing. :) Hm...from that list it looks like almost everything I bake is sweet. . . lol :)

Last week, my sister Jessica took Jerusha and I out to dinner
at a local restaurant called "Aviary Cafe and Creperie". A-mazing!!! We absolutely loved it! Plus, I love hanging out with my sisters, so that made it all the more fun!! <3 On a more serious and pertinent note, in the past week and a half or so I've been learning a lot from my personal devotions with Jesus. <3 I thought I might share a little of what I've been learning. One night a couple weeks ago I was really struggling with something the Lord was teaching me. He brought this verse to my recollection.

Hebrews 12:11 "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."

I couldn't remember the exact wording of it right then, but I remembered something like "No chastening right now seemeth joyous, but in the end it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness." (yes, dramatic rewording :))
Peaceable fruit of righteousness...that phrase was the one I could actually remember accurately, and the one that kept coming back to me.

I think to really understand this verse, though, you need to back up to verses six and seven.

"For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?"

As Christians, we are God's sons and daughters. Members of HIS family. Sometimes His children mess up, though, and that's when God has to discipline us. Just like an earthly parent should correct their child in love (not anger), so God always rebukes us lovingly. Knowing that He has our ultimate good in mind, and is molding us like Himself.

So while our present chastening may seem hard or unfair, it is really God's correction in our lives as a Father. Repentance from our disobedience to Him, and a right heart attitude should be our response to His corrections. Not disbelief, anger, or a hardening of our hearts.

Yesterday we were blessed to be able to go to Silver Dollar City with the Carr family! It was a blast! SDC's Christmas decorations are so pretty...I had never really noticed before how many lights they put up...and how long it must have taken them to put all the lights up!! (And I thought our Christmas tree took a while to put up...lol)

Lord willing I'll do another blog post before Christmas. . . :) Until then, May the Lord bless you and keep you!

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38-39

Backwards could work . . .

I've tried reading through the Bible a few times . . . starting in Genesis and going to Revelation. Well, 'round about Genesis 19 or so, I'd either get behind in my reading, or just forget completely! After this happened several times, I decided to start again . . . except backwards. I still wanted to save Revelation for last, so I started in Jude. 1 Peter is almost completed and then it's on to James! I kind of like this arrangement . . . although if reading the Bible "forwards" isn't even necessarily chronological sometimes, reading it backwards will be really non-chronological. However, it could be like a negative times a negative equals a positive type thing. :)

Anyway... :) Mom, Jerusha, and I are leaving for New York to visit our relatives in a few days! Because of this impending trip, Josiah decided about a month ago that Jerusha and I could have his old netbook. (He was buying a new laptop for himself...) Regrettably, I destroyed the old netbook before it was even totally ours yet! Not-regrettably, Josiah (with the help of one of his friends) bought us a new one!! And it's an amazing shade of red! ;) I could hardly believe it when he set a box on the table and said "This is for you girls." He's such a great big brother!!!! :)

Recently I've been really enjoying going through our hymnals and sitting outside singing them. Sometimes I just pick a random one and try to sight-read it . . . it's at those times that I'm glad our cat is the only one outside! :p  The one song that has stuck out to me in the past few days is called Give of Your Best to the Master.

Give of your best to the Master; Give of the strength of your youth;

Throw your soul's fresh, glowing ardor Into the battle for truth.

Jesus has set the example; Dauntless was He, young and brave;

Give Him your loyal devotion, Give Him the best that you have.

Chorus:

Give of you best to the Master; Give of the strength of your youth;

Clad in salvation's full armor, Join in the battle for truth.

Give of you best to the Master; Give Him first place in your heart;

Give Him first place in your service, Consecrate ev'ry part.

Give, and to you shall be given; God His beloved Son gave;

Gratefully seeking to serve Him, Give Him the best that you have.

Chorus:

Give of you best to the Master; Give of the strength of your youth;

Clad in salvation's full armor, Join in the battle for truth.

 

Give of your best to the Master; Naught else is worthy His love;

He gave Himself for your ransom, Gave up His glory above:

Laid down His life without murmur, You from sin's ruin to save;

Give Him your heart's adoration, Give Him the best that you have.

Chorus:

Give of you best to the Master; Give of the strength of your youth;

Clad in salvation's full armor, Join in the battle for truth.

 

Although it has a nice tune, I really like this song because of it's words. It reminds me that I truly need to give every single part of myself to my Master; to HIS service. Nothing less than everything is worthy His love.
I am required to give Him all my heart's adoration. When I hear this song, why wouldn't I want to give Him everything? ...It's all the distractions in life that keep me from loving Him wholly. All the things to whom I give little pieces of my heart, when all of it should belong to my Saviour.

Mark 12:30 "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment."

Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

Wisdom in Proverbs

Yesterday morning as I was doing my personal devotions, I read Proverbs 15. Most of the time my morning Bible time is rushed - plus I'm not quite top-notch coherent yet - and I don't usually take the time to really think about the words and let God speak to me through them. This time, however, I wanted to really ponder and get my mind focused on the Word.

As I started the first few verses of the chapter, I began thinking about 1 Peter 3.
I'd better explain. I think of Proverbs as sort of a godly guideline of living wisely. Proverbs 15:1 says "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."
How true these words are to me. I remember a couple years ago I would get really frustrated with my siblings (usually if they were violating what I thought to be my "rights"). My anger would soon boil over and I'd treat them very poorly. Then I started applying this verse to my life when I felt provoked or angry. I'd say it to myself in my mind and just keep quiet.. And you know what? It usually worked! Of course, sometimes it was my own fault that I was angry or I had started the whole fight, and then it was better if I didn't get bitter but just apologized right away. :)

Other verses in this passage speak to me of using my tongue wisely and for the glory of God, listening to the instruction and reproof of my parents (or those in authority over me), following in the path of righteousness, having a merry heart, getting counsel and advice when planning, thinking right and pure thoughts, and fearing the Lord.
So what is the "end result" (at least on earth) of these things? This is where I think of 1 Peter 3.

"But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which  is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." 1 Peter 3:4

This Scripture is actually talking about how wives are supposed to act and how to present themselves, but can't this be applied in other situations as well? I think that by following the instructions in Proverbs - listening to the leadership and reproof of those in authority, thinking holy and pure thoughts, having a reverence for the Lord, and speaking wisely (to name a few) - we can be well on our way to obtaining "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price" 1 Peter 3:4b (italics added) As I was writing, the last part of that verse popped out to me. (See? God shows you new things all the time!)
"...which is in the sights of God of great price." Who wouldn't want to have a spirit of great value in God's eyes?? I sure would!  By having a "meek and quiet spirit", we can point others to God by our example . . . which brings me to the next verse: 1 Peter 3:15.

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"

What do I do if someone does ask me about my faith? or about the "hope that is in you [me]"? 
I looked up this verse in a Bible program we have and glanced at some different commentaries. This is part of one by John Wesley. (The Scripture is in red and his commentary is in blue.)

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts - Have an holy fear, and a full trust in his wise providence. 
The hope - Of eternal life.

With meekness - For anger would hurt your cause as well as your soul. 
And fear - A fear of offending God, and a jealousy over yourselves, lest ye speak amiss.

In other words, if we have a holy fear and a full trust in HIS wise providence, then we should want to always be ready to give an answer to anyone that asks us a reason of the hope (the hope we have of eternal life) that is in us. We should be able to talk to people about Christ with meekness and fear (of God).

Anyway, those were just some of my thoughts I wanted to share with you'll today!  :)  My apologies if I didn't write it in a clear manner. Getting my thoughts out in words is not really my forte. Ah well...  :)

Lord willing I'll write more some . . . but until then, on with the life of a busy high-schooler!  :)