Saturday, January 31, 2009

Salt is His Righteousness

Salt only works when applied. Christians must not retreat from culture--trying to preserve our own purity. The Holy Spirit preserves us by the Grace of God. Retreating from our culture, we lose our effectiveness. What use is salt if it loses it's flavor? Jesus tells us we must salt the world, bringing flavor to the lost around us; giving them a taste of the His righteousness and a glimpse of His glory accomplished in part by our obedience to the great command: "Go into all the world..." And, leaving them with a hungering for more of Him and His righteousness.

Notes from Apologetics and Outreach, Lecture 10.

On Adversity

Our trials and sufferings are meant to remind us that we
are on probation and ought not to hope in any worldly thing.
~St. Thomas a' Kempis

Ahead of Her Time

Charlotte Mason never ceases to amaze me with her forward thinking.

In response to the "great idea" of her time, evolution, Charlotte states:


If parents take no heed of the great thoughts which move their age, they cannot expect to retain influence over the minds of their children. If they fear and distrust the revelations of science, they introduce an element of distrust and discord into their children’s lives.


Like a seer, she goes on to paint an accurate picture of what we now struggle with in the 21st century: Post Modern Thinking, which appears to be the "great idea " of our time:


If, with the mere neophyte of science, they rush to the conclusion that the last revelation is final, accounts for all that is in man, and, to say the least, makes God unnecessary and unknowable, or negligible, they may lower the level of their children’s living to that struggle for existence––without aspiration, consecration, and sacrifice––of which we hear so much.


At the dawning of this idea, she succinctly describes consequences of Postmodernism . That is exactly what our culture deals with: a struggle to live because everything is relative and nothing really matters. God and His ways are irrelevant to our Post Modern society. This mentality infects our culture like a plague; leaves many in hopeless despair. No longer thinking of heavenly things, people look to and imitate the natural world often relying upon mere basic animal instinct to sustain existence. Relationships and Community are fantasy ideas because without the example and standard of the Trinity we have no example nor standard.

But, wisely, Charlotte has a remedy:


If, lastly, parents recognise every great idea of nature as a new page in the progressive revelation made by God to men already prepared to receive such idea; if they realise that the new idea, however comprehensive, is not final nor all-inclusive, nor to be set in opposition with that personal knowledge of God which is the greatest knowledge, why, then, their children will grow up in that attitude of reverence for science, reverence for God, and openness of mind, which befits us for whom life is a probation and a continual education. So much for the nutriment of ideas laid on the table of the world during this particular course of its history.


Remembering that God is the Sovereign creator and Ruler of the universe liberates Christian parents and teachers to recognize His hand in everything from Science to Literature and everything in between. Knowing God and His truth is the only way to thrive in a world that doubts and rejects His throne.

How refreshing!

Sunday, January 25, 2009

A Day at the Beach

I had a great time going to the beach, at the beach and the drive back. It was the first time in forever I remember going any where of that distance alone.

The trip down was beautiful. Despite, the sun, bright and warm, the sky, Carolina blue with both puffy & wispy clouds all around, I did see quite a bit of snow left over from five days earlier. Thanks to my son's GPS, I found my way easily.











Arriving first at my mother's new apartment, I unloaded the car and shook off the road dust before heading over to Robin's home. We met up with Monica, Linda, Donna & her two sons.


Then we followed Robin to the Medieval Times Dinner Theatre for a night in the Royal Court with feasting and jousting. Followed by more visiting and catching up at Robin's home.


After a good night's sleep, plans were to visit Brookgreen Gardens, but scattered rain showers dampened those plans. Instead, we enjoyed a leisurely and long Continental breakfast and more conversation. Finally we decided on a little jaunt up to North Myrtle to scout out Fat Harold's. No time to dance this visit, hopefully next time!

We drove by Surside and witnessed the birds feeding on the water which had a heavy mist hovering over it. Reminded me of Genesis 1:1,2


In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

Too soon, it was time to depart. After hugs and more hugs I hit the road back home. I didn't pay much attention to the way I drove down and did not have a clue how to return, so I simply programmed the GPS but unfortunately, the battery died and I had to make my way back flying by the seat of my pants. Maps are still useful, thankfully I had printed one before leaving and I found my way home to my family who was very happy to see me.

Contrasting Message with Same Words Forward vs Backward

My sister in law sent this powerful video to me today.

This is awesome...

Click on this link, then, watch. Make sure your sound is on. Watch it all the way through as it reverses the message without changing the words!

Friday, January 23, 2009

Here Comes the Sun...

I'm off to the beach for a little warmer weather but especially to visit with my Mom and my dear friends from New York!

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

by Robert Frost (1923)


Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
~~~
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
~~~
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
~~~
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
~~~

Monday, January 19, 2009

Worship is a life....

A. W. Tozer once said,
"If you will not worship God seven days a week, you do not worship Him one day a week"
(THE TOZER PULPIT, 1:52).
From WQOTW.org

Saturday, January 17, 2009

The Hills are Alive....

with the sound of music, ah, chirping......






These pictures do not adequately capture the moment. Hundreds of these birds were pecking around in my yard yesterday. It looked as if the grass was moving and singing....
I made more bird treats.


Tuesday, January 13, 2009

The Day of Sienna

We started out baking homemade Chocolate Ginger cookies.

Then, we made treats for the birds.....

which we hung outside for our feathered friends ....


We ate Sienna's favorite dinner, Steak and French Fries...Delish! Then off to watch the boys' basketball game and we got to see my other sweet niece, Jaden. They adore each other.


By now it was getting late, so we settled in, got our PJ's on, popped some buttery popcorn, painted our nails and watched a movie.We even jammed a while...

After a full day, we snuggled togetherbefore bed and read another episodes in Elsie's life...

On Sunday, Sienna & Jaden were both in my Sunday school class and we worshipped together.

We finished off the weekend with birthday cake for my dear mother-in-law, then home.
It was a great time and I hope to have another soon. First, its Silas' turn for A Weekend Vist. Don't worry, you're next little buddy!

The following day I watched the bird feeders to see who came by........It worked, they have been a big hit.

Mr. Chickadee is enjoying the treat immensely. He stops by with Mrs. Chickadee every afternoon. They stay as long as possible until Mrs. Mockingbird swoops down on them to get her share.








Monday, January 12, 2009

I Can Hardly Wait......

Winnie-The-Pooh To Return In Authorized Sequel

By JILL LAWLESS
Associated Press Writer


LONDON -- The world's favorite "silly old bear" is back.

Publishers in Britain and the United States said Friday they will publish a new book of Winnie-the-Pooh adventures on Oct. 5. "Return to the Hundred Acre Wood" is the first authorized sequel to A. A. Milne's Pooh stories, which were first published in the 1920s. Continue here...

Saturday, January 10, 2009

"It worked!"



...exclaimed Lily when she discovered the birds
had eaten all the presents we made for them!