Dreams

Man dreams and desires; God broods and wills and quickens.
When a man dreams his own dreams, he is the sport of his dream;
when Another gives it to him, that Other is able to fulfill it.
- spoken by "Mr Vane" in Lilith, by George MacDonald
chp. XLVII

I believe that:

stopping to smell the roses is highly underrated

How long has is been since you paused and knelt down to smell a flower?
Have you ever fully appreciated the beauty of a Queen Elizabeth rose? I haven't either.
But we should.
The scent of her bloom is simply exquisite, rich and light.
The color is vibrant.

The Queen Of Roses

Heart Of A Queen

If you ever come across one of these most marvelous of roses,
take a moment.
Pause.
Soak in her beauty,
drink in the scent of her heart.
I promise that you will be blessed.

Stuff

There is something I must confess. We killed something tonight. It is alright to say so, because it wasn't an endangered species (at least, I don't think it was). We hit a cottontail rabbit on the way home tonight. It made a funny little "thump" sound. We didn't mean to, we really didn't. It just kinda ran under the Bronco. It made me feel a bit sad. But, as Daniel said, "Ya know, they get smarter as we kill the dumb ones." Still, even the dumb ones are cute.


On a happier note, I found that old women aren't the only ones who like my hair!
Nope, young ones do too. Of course, I knew that already, but I found out tonight that young men like it, too.
I was standing in a exterior stairwell at school while I was finishing up a phone call, with my hair down and blowing freely in the wind. Some guy came up to me and said, "You have the most beautiful hair." Why, thank you very much! I think so too.


Another thing. My math teacher said that she will meet me before class to go over the last test I took. My last test score reflected the fact that I still don't understand a few of the things she has taught us, so she is willing to do a bit of tutoring. What a relief!

Feet

Twenty Toes, Ben & Julia

"For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for 'Whoever will call on the Name of the Lord will be saved.' How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!'"

- Romans 10:12-15

Do you have beautiful feet?


It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. ...
"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

- John 13:1-5,14-17

How do you "wash the feet" of those around you?

Sisters

Empty

"He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said."
- Matthew 28:6

He is risen indeed.

Easter Sunday: the LIGHT of the world, risen again

Death Valley, Easter Sunrise 2006

Love: Condemnation & Grace

When your partner feels sure that she can never be condemned by you for who she is, that no judgement can hurt her, God's grace has seeped into the fabric of your relationship - stopping the subtle and unhealthy marital pattern of your partner continually casting about for your approval.
- Drs. Les and Leslie Parrot, Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts, pg 84

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, ...
- Romans 8:1-3

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. ... There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, ...the one who fears is not perfected in love.
We love because He first loved us.
- I John 4:10-12,18-19

"Good" Friday: a day of darkness

Death Valley Natn'l Park, Easter 2006


... you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold
from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,
but with precious blood,
as of a lamb
unblemished
and spotless,
the blood of Christ.
- I Peter 1:18-19



As a result of the anguish of His soul,
He will see it and be satisfied;
By His knowledge the Righteous One,
My Servant, will justify the many,
As He will bear their iniquities.
Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,
And He will divide the booty with the strong;
Because He poured out Himself to death,
And was numbered with the transgressors;
Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,
And interceded for the transgressors.
- Isaiah 53:11-12



Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium
and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him.
And they stripped Him, and put a scarlet robe on Him.
And after weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they kneeled down before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
And they spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head.
And after thay has mocked Him, they took His robe off and put His garments on Him,
and led Him away to crucify Him.
And about the ninth hour
Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachtani?" that is,
"My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"
- Matthew 27:27-31,46

One A-penny, Two A-penny

Hot Cross Buns

If anyone wants this recipe (an Easter tradition in our house) you must ask. Yes, I know. But it is nearly mid-night, and there are still more coming out of the oven. Whoops, there's the timer ...... gotta run!

Artichokes!

The artichokes are ripe - already! They made a very nice - and delicious - addition to our dinner tonight.

Awakening Beauty

Sleeping Beauty by Jesse Wilcox Smith

The Prince sees Beauty, and is amazed.
He gazes, enthralled by her loveliness.
Now he must decide, will he continue to gaze upon her, watching her slumber? Or will he disturb her repose, awakening her, that he might know, in a fuller and more awake sense, the one whom he has adored from a distance?



A waltz when she walks in the room
She pulls back the hair from her face
She turns to the window to sway in the moonlight
Even her shadow has grace
A waltz for the girl out of reach
She lifts her hands up to the sky
She moves with the music
The song is her lover
The melody's making her cry
So she dances
In and out of the crowd like a glance
This romance is
From afar calling me silently

A waltz for the chance I should take
But how will I know where to start?
She's spinning between constellations and dreams
Her rhythm is my beating heart

So she dances
In and out of the crowd like a glance
This romance is
From afar calling me silently

I can't keep on watching forever
I give up this view just to tell her

When I close my eyes I can see
The spotlights are bright on you and me
We've got the floor
And you're in my arms
How could I ask for more?

So she dances
In and out of the crowd like a glance
This romance is
From afar calling me silently

I can't keep on watching forever
And I'm givin' up this view just to tell her
- josh groban, "So She Dances" from Awake

Doing

"There is one thing, Emma, which a man can always do, if he choose, and that is, his duty; not by maneuvering and figuring, but by vigor and resolution."
- Jane Austen, Emma, chp XVIII

"To live as ... authentic, ransomed, and redeemed [people] means to be real and present in this moment. If we continue to hide, much will be lost. We cannot have intimacy with God or anyone else if we stay hidden and offer only what we think we ought to be or what we believe is wanted."
- John and Stasi Eldredge, Captivating, chp XII

"And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary."
- Galatians 6:9

"... whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
- I Corinthians 10:31b

Do I live my life from the idea of just getting through, and getting through the easiest way possible? Or do I live from the idea of doing everything for God's glory, no matter the cost or pain?
Living from that "idea" is not always easy. It is not always fun. In fact, it can be downright painful and messy. But oh, the glory! "In due time we shall reap" ........... "if we do not grow weary". Other translations read, "if we do not lose heart."
It can be so easy to grow weary and lose heart when you are not sure of your mark, when you lose sight of your goal. Therefore, "[fix] your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith... Consider Him who has endured ... that you might not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:2-3). Not only is He the One we are glorifying, He is also our Example, the One we are to emulate and walk after.

Sometimes it seems as if this desert time, this waiting time, or this time of agony, anguish and heartache will never end. "Do not lose heart." It will end, it will pass. For everything there is a season, and seasons pass. Seasons change, and we are called to live in them, not looking back to what was or forward to what may be, but in them. In the "now", knowing that the "now" is temporary and passes in the blink of an eye.

Can you trust God with your "now"? Can you release it to Him and live to His fullest glory? Can I?

"Free" Time

There is nothing like having "free" time if you want to see it fill up!
The college is closed this week, as is the school we teach the CEF club at, due to "spring break" (i.e. Easter Vacation). Since Dad can't get this week off, we weren't planning on doing anything in particular. So far that "nothing in particular" has included a lot of yard work, starting in on attic organization, cleaning my room, baking ....................... the list goes on and on!
Spring break is a great time to get caught up on stuff!

"Vacation" might not happen, but, oh well. At least we are enjoying a clean(er) house and yard! And besides, who says you need to go somewhere to have a vacation? Or that you must relax? A vacation is simply a departure from the normal, necessary, hum-drum-ity of life. Right?

April 1

"the dow jones is down another thousand points, both polar icecaps have completely melted, and scientists are tracking two huge comets headed directly for idaho."
"the coffee maker's busted."

Our coffee maker didn't actually break, but when it does, people around here have the same reaction!