When We Have Something Nice To Share

When I was a Little, Mama had a whole set of "Rules of This House" coloring sheets that my siblings and I were habitually amused by coloring. Many of those pictures, and the rules they accompanied, are permanently stamped in my brain - "When we make a mess, we clean it up," "When someone is sorry, we forgive him," "When we open something, we close it" - that sort of thing. We said them while we colored. We said them when mama would quiz us on them. And we said them when they gave us authority to get something from another person {ugly sin nature, I'm afraid - just goes to show that rules without a renewed heart won't get you too far!}. Anyway, one of the most-repeated rules was "When we have something nice to share, we share it," and it is in the spirit of this well-learned rule, that I share these things with you today:

 

~ A Laugh ~

 This picture...it just...I mean...the longer you look at it, the funnier it is!



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~ An Article ~

I was really impressed and encouraged by this review of the the 'Hunger Games'. Most articles I've read before either angrily ranted against the story, or mindlessly defended the entertainment of the tale. Douglas Wilson sensibly analyzes the novel and it's moral implications ~ certainly worth reading!

~ A Song ~

This song is "The Megs'" favorite song at the moment. She roams the house singing it, requests to listen to it, and lip-sings along while it plays. Good thing it truly is beautiful! :)

 

A lovely weekend to you all!



Some Thoughts on Love

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Sometimes, life seems completely out of balance, with an overload of one idea drowning out all others.

Like a plate piled high with thick and rick chocolate cake and only a sliver of vanilla ice cream.

Irritating, confusing, and sometimes tragic, this state of affairs is not a surprise to the observant Christian, yet even he is susceptible. He is in danger of letting his guard down and failing to recognizing the inconsistencies. He is in danger of swinging far out toward the other extremes, in an attempt to escape the world's. Yet, to my mind, the greatest danger he is in is that of simply accepting the world's view and trying to superimpose God on top.

And when I say "he", I really mean "she."

Why? Because Thursday was Valentine's Day (for those of you living in a windowless hut in the jungle with no calendar), and, as such, I had the opportunity to hear, read, and see the thoughts of many young ladies with regard to the day.

Usually, the February 14th sentiments, conversations, and writings of single young ladies seem to be penned by one of three different authoresses: the historian, the romantic, or the lonely. Which categorizations tend to hold true regardless of the spiritual climate of the writer. Yes, those who are saved may find a different angle by which to travel, a fresh "waiting for my valentine" -type saying to coin, a new discovery to share about what true love is - but the seed of their thoughts often reveals a sad state. The world has brainwashed us to worship romance for a day.

Dear ones, why is this? Why have we, as Christian maidens, bought into the mentality that, for 24 hours a year, suddenly romantic love is god, instead of what we proclaim the other 364 days - that God is love? Why should princesses - chosen by the Father, redeemed by Jesus, sanctified by the Spirit - suddenly have a day dedicated to sighs, moodiness, and fruitless daydreams in the middle of the second month of the year simply because the world has chosen to worship love between two flawed individuals as though it were perfect on that day?

In the introduction to his book, The Four Loves, C.S. Lewis observes:



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Idolatry both of erotic love and of "the domestic affections" was the great error of nineteenth-century literature. Browning, Kingsley, and Patmore sometimes talk as if they thought falling in love was the same thing as sanctification; the novelists habitually oppose the "the World" not the Kingdom of Heaven, but the home.... The human loves can be glorious images of the Divine love. No less than that: but also no more....


Sweet sisters, if one comes to February 14th each year thinking of roses and chocolates and candle-lit dinners, and then attempts to superimpose God on top of that mentality with "Jesus is my Valentine"-type sayings (which, while to a certain extent true, drastically trivialize the magnitude and depth of the Sacrifice by equating it with a pink, lacy card covered in hearts) is this revealing a Christian World View, or a Christianized Worldly View?

It would be silly and illogical to praise and hold as excellent a beginning violinist who can barely scratch out "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in the presence of Itzhak Perlman. Certainly, one must acknowledge the Twinkler - encourage her, praise her, and admire her effort - but not to the snubbing or ignoring of the Maestro. Christ's love is a beautiful thing. Our love for each other - whether that of sibling, friend, spouse, mentor, or fiancee - is also beautiful. Who would contest these truths? Yet, to celebrate one to the nigh exclusion of the best is not a worthy action. Certainly to sigh over and wish for the lesser, ignoring the greater (except in an attempt to draw parallels between the two) is not worth our time.

Valentine's Day is a day celebrating love, the highest form of which an unsaved world knows being that of romance, but we have known a deeper, more beautiful, more praise-worthy kind. Should we not defer our raptures of greatest wonder and sighs of deepest amazement to this - Christ's love toward, in, and through us? When princesses of a Kingdom Not Seen choose for one day a year to sigh and fantasize for a prince they do not have, ignoring the love of a greater, deeper kind that they wholly possess, I see chocolate cake and wonder where the ice cream is.

Now, I am not calling for the abandonment of bon-bons, flowers, and romantic dinners on February 14th - dear me no! But to again quote the wise Lewis, "When first things are put first, second things are not suppressed, but increased."

Watch-It Wednesday: Genius

Are you a good person?

What are your morals?

 

Where do they come from?

 

 

If you could steal two million dollars and never get caught, would you?

"Genius" is Ray Comfort's newest video (if you haven't watched "180" yet, you can see it here) discussing the life of John Lennon and the morality of our culture today. With poignant questions designed to help the unsaved identify their need for a Savior, this movie serves as a powerful reminder to Christians of our need to be daily speaking the truth (even the "hard truth" of "you're a sinner") to others, in a loving way.

Two words: Watch This. It will be a well-spent half hour.

Note: if you're in the 13-and-under age bracket, please grab your parents before clicking 'play'.

 

Thanks to our Jesus for His redemption. Go out ready to speak boldly, this Wednesday

 

Life's Little Instructions

 

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From a list by one 95-year-old, William Snell, 1993 ~ These make me smile

 

~Sing in the shower~

~Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated~

 

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~Watch a sunrise at least once a year~

 

~Never refuse homemade brownies~

~Strive for excellence, not perfection~

~Plant a tree on your birthday~

~Return borrowed vehicles with the gas tank full~

 

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~Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them~

 

~Leave everything a little better than you found it~

~Keep it simple~

 

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~Think big thoughts, but relish small pleasures~

 

~Become positive and enthusiastic~

~Be forgiving~

~Say "thank you" a lot~

~Say "please" a lot~

 

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~Wear polished shoes~

 

~Remember other people's birthdays~

~Commit yourself to constant improvement~

~Have a firm handshake~

~Send lots of valentine cards, sign them~

 

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~Look people in the eye~

 

~Be the first to say hello~

~Return all things you borrow~

 

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~Make new friends, but cherish the old ones~

 

~Keep secrets~

~Plant flowers every spring~

 

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~Have a dog~

 

~Always accept an outstretched hand~

~Stop blaming others~

~Take responsibility for every area of your life~

~Wave at kids on school buses~

 



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~Be there when people need you~

 

~Don't expect life to be fair~

~Never underestimate the power of love~

~Don't be afraid to say, "I made a mistake"~

~Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know"~

~Compliment even small improvements~

 

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~Keep your promises, no matter what~

 

~Marry only for love~

~Rekindle old friendships~

~Count your blessings~

 

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~Call your mother

 

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And your dad, too~ 

Think About It ~ Quotes for a Wednesday

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It's a "cold and dreary" sort of Wednesday. The sort of Wednesday where pensive clouds and water droplets breathe almost imperceptibly in the stillness. The sort of Wednesday where "gloomy" lends a beautiful, cosy sensibility to the afternoon. The sort of Wednesday that makes you happy to pull on an extra sweater, steep a mug of tea, and just ponder life. My ponderings today focus mostly around a series of quotes I've been reading this week...

 

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"We are Americans. We must not allow, nor shall we tolerate, the actions of criminals, no matter how heinous the crimes, to prompt politicians to enact laws that will infringe upon the liberties of responsible citizens who have broken no laws." - Tim Mueller

 

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"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;" - I Peter 1:13

 

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"I was doing the wrong of never wanting or trying to be better. And now I see that I have been letting things go as they would for a long time. Whatever came into my head I did, and whatever didn't come into my head I didn't do." - Curdie from The Princess and Curdie

 

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"It is but a small thing for Me, your God, to help you. Consider what I have done already. What! Not help you? Why, I bought you with My blood. What! Not help you? I have died for you; and if I have done the greater, will I not do the less? Help you! It is the least thing I will ever do for you; I have done more and will do more....In helping you, I am giving you what I have bought for you already." - What? Not Help You!

 

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"Commit your way to the LORD,

Trust also in Him,

And He shall bring it to pass." - Psalm 37:5

 

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What are you pondering today?