tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56699327453076237592024-03-14T04:53:24.848-07:00shine as lightsDeliberate, set-apart Christian young womanhood in the midst of a dark culture.Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-4882644542895041852011-02-02T11:51:00.000-08:002011-02-02T11:51:03.062-08:00in Christ alone<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="215" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bGeBY4tw_vA?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="330"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b>my hope is found.</b></span></div>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-91094594912393407652011-01-17T16:35:00.000-08:002011-01-17T16:35:07.041-08:00one word<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcYmQ8Q4iu1HaVcIEcMX9yoNrRO81GNnz383nvLEdgGJPYPAAzNsu21VntqzglbKL0Gh7y93ZCYJGgnfHpY4zCFkebcAhpl1ZO-FCKhsJ0i06p_HTPVLEdzGkWyo36q9OamvWQTUTsQ6Z/s1600/hope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcYmQ8Q4iu1HaVcIEcMX9yoNrRO81GNnz383nvLEdgGJPYPAAzNsu21VntqzglbKL0Gh7y93ZCYJGgnfHpY4zCFkebcAhpl1ZO-FCKhsJ0i06p_HTPVLEdzGkWyo36q9OamvWQTUTsQ6Z/s400/hope.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>even as we hope in you.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>Psalm 33:22</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">My "one word" for 2011 is <b>hope.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>Why are you cast down, O my soul,</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>and why are you in turmoil within me? </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>my salvation and my God.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>Psalm 43:5</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(I think this verse is extra-important, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">because it's repeated almost identically <i>twice </i>in chapter 42)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-81061394513689943512010-12-10T11:54:00.000-08:002010-12-10T11:54:56.866-08:00He Will Act<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQe9rV_mQtG2oUqv4tlNo16ryQdII4t4CKyVsNbuYDySeT8KP7yzpCqRONrl8r_MvpHskaNo4SSNzU-um44gLnQUrXI7WUbOiWgwwbq5N_D1_wQJ-fjPhCYgiXQhh7MqFz3Peu-qfF502/s1600/clouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQe9rV_mQtG2oUqv4tlNo16ryQdII4t4CKyVsNbuYDySeT8KP7yzpCqRONrl8r_MvpHskaNo4SSNzU-um44gLnQUrXI7WUbOiWgwwbq5N_D1_wQJ-fjPhCYgiXQhh7MqFz3Peu-qfF502/s400/clouds.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Fret not yourself</i> because of evil doers; </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">be not envious of wrongdoers!</div><div style="text-align: center;">For they will soon fade like the grass </div><div style="text-align: center;">and wither like the green herb.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Trust in the Lord, and do good; </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Delight yourself in the Lord, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and He will give you the desires of your heart.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Commit your way to the Lord; </div><div style="text-align: center;">trust in Him and He will act.</div><div style="text-align: center;">He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and your justice as the noonday.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>fret not yourself</i> over the one who prospers in his way,</div><div style="text-align: center;"> over the man who carries out evil devices!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Fret not yourself</i>; it tends only to evil. </div><div style="text-align: center;">For the evildoers shall be cut off, </div><div style="text-align: center;">but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Psalm 37:1-9, ESV</div>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-35908792461117211742010-11-23T22:19:00.000-08:002010-11-23T23:04:41.679-08:00Martin Luther<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s3prod.weheartit.netdna-cdn.com/images/5097197/tumblr_lcb1r3dDnu1qepg3ao1_500_large.jpg?1290460622" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://s3prod.weheartit.netdna-cdn.com/images/5097197/tumblr_lcb1r3dDnu1qepg3ao1_500_large.jpg?1290460622" width="200" /></a></div>I have held many things in my hands,<br />
and lost them all, but whatever I have placed in God's hands,<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">that I still possess</span>.<br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">image via we heart it</span></i>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-36281405156974165712010-10-24T08:31:00.000-07:002010-10-24T08:32:08.440-07:00In your name I will lift up my hands<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTZOLbF_-4DxFYPbfGJtswhtp78R2WxKOwDyme5VD7dM8BBRTRsSw-4kjv1XaQtDkN0WEL4f6Vkyh5WP72gNA_P9Tq3Q0E7aw2E6iIY8DcHM5oaoK5b8WD2ro5yvW65S8HLEt-gNig7Ec/s1600/necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTZOLbF_-4DxFYPbfGJtswhtp78R2WxKOwDyme5VD7dM8BBRTRsSw-4kjv1XaQtDkN0WEL4f6Vkyh5WP72gNA_P9Tq3Q0E7aw2E6iIY8DcHM5oaoK5b8WD2ro5yvW65S8HLEt-gNig7Ec/s400/necklace.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>O God, you are my God;</div><div style="text-align: center;"> earnestly I seek you; </div><div style="text-align: center;">my soul thirsts for you;</div><div style="text-align: center;"> my flesh faints for you,</div><div style="text-align: center;"> as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, </div><div style="text-align: center;">beholding your power and glory. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Because your steadfast love is better than life, </div><div style="text-align: center;">my lips will praise you. </div><div style="text-align: center;">So I will bless you as long as I live; </div><div style="text-align: center;">in your name I will lift up my hands. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Psalm 63:1-4</i></div>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-66174276018536988162010-10-13T23:04:00.000-07:002010-10-13T23:07:08.946-07:00Calvin on the power of music<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Excerpt to John Calvin's Preface to the Psalter.</div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">"Moreover, in speaking now of music, </div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">I understand two parts; namely the <span class="Apple-style-span">letter</span>, </div><div style="text-align: center;">or the subject and matter; </div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">secondly, the <span class="Apple-style-span">song</span>, or the melody. </div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">It is true that every bad word (as St. Paul has said) </div><div style="text-align: center;">perverts good manner, </div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">but when the melody is with it, </div><div style="text-align: center;">it pierces the heart much more strongly, </div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">and enters into it; in a like manner as through a funnel, </div><div style="text-align: center;">the wine is poured into the vessel; </div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">so also the venom and corruption is </div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">distilled to the depths of the heart by the melody</span>."</div></div></div></div>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-38343531122367770212010-09-13T11:16:00.000-07:002010-09-13T11:19:24.255-07:00Wait on the Lord<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alaska-in-pictures.com/data/media/4/bald-eagle-in-flight_860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://www.alaska-in-pictures.com/data/media/4/bald-eagle-in-flight_860.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.alaska-in-pictures.com/bald-eagle-in-flight-860-pictures.htm">{image source}</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Have you not known? Have you not heard? </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The LORD is</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 6px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the everlasting God,</span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> the Creator of the ends of the earth.</span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He does not faint or grow weary;</span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">his understanding is unsearchable.</span></span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He gives power to the faint,</span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and to him who has no might he increases strength.</span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Even youths shall faint and be weary,</span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and young men shall fall exhausted;</span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">but</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">they who wait for the LORD </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">shall renew their strength;</span></span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> they shall mount up with wings</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">like eagles;</span></span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">they shall run and not be weary;</span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> they shall walk and not faint.</span></span></div></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Isaiah 40:28-31 ESV</span></span></span></div>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-11794678880857243952010-09-11T09:30:00.000-07:002010-09-11T09:33:51.711-07:00Dug Down Deep ~ Joshua Harris<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLPQ3mK63yWWuv0iYw7XzmlLBjfSOfvWTdIHNyxtAm-cQGHd29PBgGrLB4XEtcE-ZP4MDA_rf6cLdrdbJwjhiyY9_0lhOy2N3ya2L0_JzY_g7OgzGsIdZhWOHX8U1WL52pLVqDDiGQyDy/s1600/dug+down+deep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLPQ3mK63yWWuv0iYw7XzmlLBjfSOfvWTdIHNyxtAm-cQGHd29PBgGrLB4XEtcE-ZP4MDA_rf6cLdrdbJwjhiyY9_0lhOy2N3ya2L0_JzY_g7OgzGsIdZhWOHX8U1WL52pLVqDDiGQyDy/s320/dug+down+deep.jpg" width="210" /></span></a></span></div></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Okay. I found yet </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">another </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">book everyone should read.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dug Down Deep </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">is Joshua Harris' brand-new book. He basically talks about his journey from not really taking hold of his parents' beliefs about the Christian faith, etc, to claiming them as his own. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Something he emphasizes in the book is something he calls "humble orthodoxy", which is basically learning doctrine so that you can know more about Jesus Christ. As opposed to getting all knowledgeable about theology so that you can one-up other people. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We should be learning more about God </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>because we love him and we want to be like him.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i>Makes sense, huh? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is another one of those books that I want to just cram into everyones' brain.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So go read it, if you please. ;-)</span></div>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-66312575113731663322010-09-07T22:21:00.000-07:002010-09-07T22:21:09.243-07:00Mark Driscoll on Twilight... among other things. ;-)So I'm not a fan of the <i>Twilight </i>franchise... and this was a really good Mark Driscoll sermon that covers a lot of topics... including the new genre of vampire and occult fiction. I thought it was excellent. :-)<br />
<br />
<object height="275" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.marshillchurch.org/v/9il8tkjb6ag9"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.marshillchurch.org/v/9il8tkjb6ag9" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" allowscriptaccess="always" height="275"></embed></object>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-48043540821303214392010-08-27T08:00:00.000-07:002010-08-27T08:00:06.422-07:00C.S. Lewis on Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/c0/c4695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/c0/c4695.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11.6667px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11.6667px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11.6667px; line-height: 18px;">"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11.6667px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11.6667px; line-height: 18px;">~C.S. Lewis, in <i>The Four Loves</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 11.6667px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">I read this book this summer... it was so good, I wanted to just memorize everything in it. It is definitely one I will go back to and read again. C.S. Lewis has such a gift of explaining complicated things in a surprisingly uncomplicated way.</span></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-22383326265038241102010-08-25T09:58:00.000-07:002010-08-25T09:58:24.808-07:00Beauty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBkf1yNWY32Ih6_E-o1Yzoa9lQwVd9L85KSDfODT_SnIk14iJFc31QfKBod5Am0EcnmoAz32RJNho6kCyRvfeEzguu-AuwkHGwCE8bW6UIV1Xl8K53gUqmqPKmpCWWDZmSqYSmtgseFwu/s1600/Animals+and+Flowers+204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBkf1yNWY32Ih6_E-o1Yzoa9lQwVd9L85KSDfODT_SnIk14iJFc31QfKBod5Am0EcnmoAz32RJNho6kCyRvfeEzguu-AuwkHGwCE8bW6UIV1Xl8K53gUqmqPKmpCWWDZmSqYSmtgseFwu/s320/Animals+and+Flowers+204.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our pastor preached a sermon on "Beauty in the Bible" on Sunday, which was excellent, and got me thinking about all kinds of stuff. I encourage you to listen to this sermon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Download or just listen </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://reformationcovenantchurch.org/sermon.asp?ID=2415">here.</a></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have read and heard many thoughts on beauty, but this sermon was just so clear and spot-on. Yesterday I also listened to a sermon by John Piper on why God delights in His creation, which really applied to a lot of what I have been thinking about. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Let me know your thoughts if you listen to the sermon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There will be another post (probably several) on this subject, as my thoughts on the whole thing coagulate. :-)</div>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-66761994618578429102010-08-18T12:48:00.000-07:002010-08-18T12:48:06.089-07:00His Rules<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.singlesmall.com/His%20Rules%20bk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.singlesmall.com/His%20Rules%20bk.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was also on my "20 Books This Summer" list, and I read it a couple weeks ago.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was different than I was expecting... it wasn't about courtship, really, but more about preparing for marriage--and not in the learn-how-to-sew-and-make bread kind of preparing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is written to both young men and young women, which seems like it would be hard, but they do a really good job...partly because it is written by a guy and a girl.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They had a lot of good things to say about the fact that your relationship with God is the most important thing in preparation for marriage. If Jesus isn't your all-in-all, then you'll try to make your spouse that, which is a recipe for disaster.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I <i>highly </i>recommend the book!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-21792526743168329972010-08-12T07:13:00.001-07:002010-08-12T07:14:26.140-07:00Mark Driscoll on Tolerance<object height="266" width="430"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/s_MLUuNKjZU?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/s_MLUuNKjZU?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="430" height="266"></embed></object>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-48239300605523135912010-07-29T17:54:00.000-07:002010-07-29T17:56:43.023-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.canada-photos.com/data/media/10/fundy-park-stream_359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://www.canada-photos.com/data/media/10/fundy-park-stream_359.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.canada-photos.com/data/media/10/fundy-park-stream_359.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.canada-photos.com/fundy-national-park-stream-359-pictures.htm&usg=__eG7CRtyJz26qkD7DwlumKqPHr3Y=&h=312&w=468&sz=60&hl=en&start=106&sig2=ZZtxi25Sf03QrbqHc0U1Ig&tbnid=kzlGOQ_LA3bYvM:&tbnh=158&tbnw=207&ei=nyFSTO77H4P68AbS46SiBA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dstream%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D683%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:10,3500&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=204&page=7&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:106&biw=1280&bih=683">{image source}</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">A dead thing can go with the stream, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">but only a living thing </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">can go </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">against it</span>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">~ G.K. Chesterton</div>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-72630647172423122502010-07-21T19:02:00.000-07:002010-07-26T13:41:57.127-07:00A Million Miles in a Thousand Years ~ Donald Miller<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/blogphotos/myadventures/jeffgoins/amillionmilesinathousandyears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/blogphotos/myadventures/jeffgoins/amillionmilesinathousandyears.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I <i>loved </i>this book. Not only was it a good wakeup call, but it talks about several things that I have been specifically thinking a lot about lately. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Donald Miller has written several books--his most popular being <i>Blue Like Jazz. </i>I read it a couple weeks ago, after my sister read it and loved it. (Read her review <i><a href="http://theerraticmuse.blogspot.com/2010/06/blue-like-jazz-donald-miller.html">here</a>.</i>) I liked it, but there were definitely things I disagreed with, and although the overall topics were good, they weren't as impacting to me. Mama read it after I did, and she loved it, so she ordered some more of Donald Miller's books, which included this one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">His writing his amazing. I know several people who aren't fans of his rather odd style, but I love it. He says things in very unusual and beautiful ways. I just want to memorize the whole book! :-) Although he has very different theological views, I think almost everything he said in <i>A Million Miles in a Thousand Years </i>was dead-on. It does have some content, so it is recommended for older readers. (Maybe 14+).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The gist of the book is this: Each of our lives is a story, and we should make the best story we can out of it. It really tied into what I have been thinking about lately, deliberate living. <i>Consciously thinking </i>about what we are doing, where we are headed, how we are impacting the world by what we do every day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I get so excited just thinking about the book. I want to read it all over again!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's a quote from the book--</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Once you live a good story, you get a taste for a kind of meaning in life, and you can't go back to being normal; you can't go back to the meaningless scenes stitched together by the forgettable tread of wasted time."</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I highly recommend the book--it is entertaining, convicting, and just plain amazing.</div><br />
Have you read it? What did you think?Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-72348016541041615012010-07-16T10:07:00.000-07:002010-07-29T11:55:17.841-07:00I Corinthians 13<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1WcS9O5azMTP0uz6aByrnJDdmJvqTjsF1CfhiuLBwIE0zZtYVTlMIjVbHwY2bCsskpn-HMoTgBms7F0a_YoqDiW2Qh-s5MD2YQacePpn7mRFC75x60zck73PUEoOuqNIJvDfUf4Rx-33/s1600/Still+Life+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1WcS9O5azMTP0uz6aByrnJDdmJvqTjsF1CfhiuLBwIE0zZtYVTlMIjVbHwY2bCsskpn-HMoTgBms7F0a_YoqDiW2Qh-s5MD2YQacePpn7mRFC75x60zck73PUEoOuqNIJvDfUf4Rx-33/s400/Still+Life+009.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Memorizing this was on my summer goals, and I finished it! I'm also almost half-way through my list of 20 books.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">but have not love,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I gain nothing. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">it does not rejoice at wrong-doing, but rejoices with the truth. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Love never ends. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease;</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> as for knowledge, it will pass away. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">For we know in part and we prophesy in part, </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">When I was a child, I spoke like a child, </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">but the greatest of these is love.</span></span></div>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-29225730829242848312010-07-15T10:31:00.000-07:002010-07-15T10:32:12.941-07:00"A Man Worth Waiting For" by Jackie Kendall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/_images/ISBNCovers/Covers_Enlarged/9780446699716_388X586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/_images/ISBNCovers/Covers_Enlarged/9780446699716_388X586.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This book contrasts Boaz, the godly, honorable man from the Bible, with "bozos" (lame guys), and encourages young ladies to hold out for a worthy Boaz instead of a jerk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are four parts to the book. Part 1 has three chapters. Chapter 1 is an in-depth study about Boaz from the book of Ruth, chapter 2 assures us that the man worth waiting for is <i>not </i>an extinct ideal, and chapter 3 talks about the characteristics of a bozo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Part 2 discusses the "essential elements of a man worth waiting for". I thought this was excellent--she wasn't saying he has to be perfect, but rather he has to be <i>striving </i>to be more and more like Jesus. She included lots of comments from men and women that had answered her questionnaire about what they thought the characteristics of an ideal man were. This helped me form my <i>official </i>list. :-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Part 3 talks about "your role in locating a bozo". Basically, your role is to become a "Ruth"! The last chapter talks about practical ways to guard your heart, grow in godliness, and be content where you are.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I really enjoyed the book, and definitely recommend it! Some of her standards about dating I didn't exactly agree with, so I would read this book at the same time as "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" to get a balanced view. :-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/_images/ISBNCovers/Covers_Enlarged/9780446699716_388X586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0446699713&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></a></div>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-12884791471605759262010-07-13T16:39:00.000-07:002010-07-30T09:59:30.461-07:00"Hold Me Jesus"<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="292" width="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WTDRjqVIyVY&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0&hd=1&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WTDRjqVIyVY&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0&hd=1&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="350" height="292"></embed></object></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></span></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So I climbed all the way to the top of Mt. St. Helens yesterday.</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Anyway, while I was in the car with several friends, we listened to this song, and the chorus was running through my head the whole time we were hiking up the mountain. Especially when I was pushing myself as hard as I could to get to the top.</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And then I came home and listened to it and thought that this part was interesting...</span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Well, sometimes my life</span></span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">just don't make sense at all</span></span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When the mountains look so big</span></b></i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and my faith just seems so small."</span></b></span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I didn't even notice that line when we were listening to it in the car, and I think it's pretty cool that song was going through my head the whole time I was climbing.</span></span></div></div></div></div></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Because that mountain looked so big.</span></div></span></div></span></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-42832282656040878252010-07-08T16:13:00.000-07:002010-07-08T16:13:11.865-07:00Prayer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8zFwAJgGle2ojREI4T09gGmvHLuuI81-u8SvNFDYMofD5s6ZQAeh_bOzVlQe17Y8Wwz93pB8tj83YHiL6GyuP800AqoTRndIhh8OOUGXk9y7sZk7DxRujr172V2Yf0NTCdbrq08xBNmS/s1600/tumblr_l2521ofsjV1qzcnnso1_500_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8zFwAJgGle2ojREI4T09gGmvHLuuI81-u8SvNFDYMofD5s6ZQAeh_bOzVlQe17Y8Wwz93pB8tj83YHiL6GyuP800AqoTRndIhh8OOUGXk9y7sZk7DxRujr172V2Yf0NTCdbrq08xBNmS/s400/tumblr_l2521ofsjV1qzcnnso1_500_large.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><i>Oh, magnify the Lord with me,</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>and let us exalt His name together!</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>I sought the Lord, and he answered me</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>and delivered me from all my fears.</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Psalm 34:3-4</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God gave it to us as a gift, and I think sometimes don't realize what an amazing blessing it is!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is clear in God's Word that prayer is a vital, effective part of the Christian life.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Personally, I have found that it is very easy to get lazy about, but once I start making a point of praying regularly, I get into the habit and do it automatically through out the day. Like many other things (worship, loving people, reading the Bible), you have to just <i>do it</i>, even when you don't feel like it, and your emotions will catch up eventually. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"></span></i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>And this is the confidence that we have toward Him,</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>that if we ask anything according to His will,</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>He hears us.</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>1 John 5:14</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Something that I think some people are jumpy about is asking God for "insignificant" things.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">It seems that God delights in giving us the desires of our hearts, as long as they aren't contrary to His word, or things that would not be good for us.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">I think one of the most important things that God tells us about prayer is that we have to trust Him to answer our prayers--whether it be in the exact way we want Him to, or in another way that is far better. If we're just praying out of duty, assuming that he's not really going to do anything about it, we aren't doing it right!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div></i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Confess your trespasses to one another,</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>and pray for one another, </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>that you may be healed.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The effective, fervent prayer</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>of a righteous man </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>avails much.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>James 5:16</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-63377443874597462952010-07-06T11:40:00.000-07:002010-07-06T11:41:58.346-07:00Set-Apart Femininity by Leslie Ludy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://the160acrewoods.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/setapart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://the160acrewoods.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/setapart.jpg" width="256" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">READ THIS BOOK!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I thought it was very, very good. It delved into a lot of topics that I have thought about, and helped me to cement my opinions and views on several things. One of the main things she emphasized is summarized in this quote from the book:</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"If you ever catch yourself "putting off" happiness until you finally get married, or thinking that when you finally meet your spouse all of your dreams will be fulfilled, that's a sign that Christ hasn't fully captured your heart. If Jesus Christ isn't enough right now, then he won't be enough after marriage either. And you'll always be seeking fulfillment from the wrong things--setting your marriage for disillusionment and tension."</span></i></span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
This is something I have been thinking about a lot recently-- it has to do with so many issues that young women face, like insecurity, boy-craziness, self-hatred, loneliness, and discontentment. If we make Christ our all-in-all, we won't have the driving desire to be married, have a boyfriend, or flirt with every guy that crosses our path.<br />
<br />
Not only will this keep us pure right now, it will save so many problems in marriage. In my <a href="http://brightshininglights.blogspot.com/2010/02/love.html">post on love</a>, I talked about this a little. When we think one person is all we need in life, we just set ourselves up to have the relationship fail.<br />
<br />
She also had some good thoughts on how to be friends with boys without it getting out of hand. There is a post brewing about this topic, too. :-)<br />
<br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0736922865&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-90976041103850120692010-07-05T11:53:00.000-07:002010-07-05T11:54:50.920-07:00Summer Goals 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvEAV7NDDjMgsze8Ar7Tmbo7GrkMv3clnJ85NDEs7uiuAeDv5wOySZNf_asm9AdOGytTklQg8wP20aXR4IQN8_gq6QDSj2J_EHLw9kKRLqzp7XIiTe_3p9pgWKlhIsEuGGibOLZwYGdom/s1600/Animals+and+Flowers+223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvEAV7NDDjMgsze8Ar7Tmbo7GrkMv3clnJ85NDEs7uiuAeDv5wOySZNf_asm9AdOGytTklQg8wP20aXR4IQN8_gq6QDSj2J_EHLw9kKRLqzp7XIiTe_3p9pgWKlhIsEuGGibOLZwYGdom/s400/Animals+and+Flowers+223.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Mama and I went to the beach last week for just one night, and amidst lots of eating, being on the beach, and laughing (read more about it <a href="http://www.fashionandmodesty.blogspot.com/">here</a>), I got my summer goals written up!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Summer Goals</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">finish reading the Bible</div><div style="text-align: center;">buy a camera</div><div style="text-align: center;">finish all of my sewing projects</div><div style="text-align: center;">learn to make bread</div><div style="text-align: center;">cook dinner once a week</div><div style="text-align: center;">finish memorizing I Corinthians 13</div><div style="text-align: center;">memorize four more Scripture passages</div><div style="text-align: center;">get 30 followers on both blogs</div><div style="text-align: center;">read 20 books</div><div style="text-align: center;">eat a poptart</div><br />
There's lots more stuff I have planned to <i>do, </i>but those are my specific goals. It's not a huge list, because I wanted it to be do-able. :-)Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-8328173510974343612010-06-08T11:03:00.000-07:002010-06-08T11:03:22.068-07:00Book Review ~ The Divine Dance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.inspire4less.com/productimages/9780764203435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.inspire4less.com/productimages/9780764203435.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I read this book a couple years ago and it really affected me. In a cleverly metaphorical style that is very fun to read and easy to understand, she teaches girls that instead performing for the world and begging for attention, they should be "dancing" for God alone. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Every girl wants to be beautiful. She wants to be admired and adored, and too often we morph into whatever we think those in the world around us want us to be. And we never feel fulfilled because God didn't design us to perform for other people, but rather to perform for Him. This is a very important point for girls to grasp, because it is integral to most issues we struggle with.</div><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0764203436&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
I recommend this book very strongly. I think it can be helpful to girls from below eleven or twelve, up to married adult women. It would be a good book to read and discuss with your mom. View Shannon Kubiak Primicerio's website <i><a href="http://www.beingagirlbooks.com/">here.</a></i><br />
<br />
Have you read "The Divine Dance"? What did you think?Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-65741247742580886212010-06-05T15:47:00.000-07:002010-06-05T15:55:14.295-07:00Deliberate Living<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9beqHUssfnv3CEwoNTg4cVPZzVjer7v0ajXMWauh3r5lVEAZXNrzhZ2UhxnZFOjvReinQk-3sCSUxgQv9voGNSFRzAJC45158Uo9fBWfqWGDHOL2VpNGqI2cYN2EFFV0D5ta3UskQD9xZ/s1600/girl_reading_book.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" height="242" name="graphics9" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9beqHUssfnv3CEwoNTg4cVPZzVjer7v0ajXMWauh3r5lVEAZXNrzhZ2UhxnZFOjvReinQk-3sCSUxgQv9voGNSFRzAJC45158Uo9fBWfqWGDHOL2VpNGqI2cYN2EFFV0D5ta3UskQD9xZ/s320/girl_reading_book.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br />
</div><div align="LEFT" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>de·lib·er·ate</b></i></span></span> </span></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>adj.</i></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.39in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>1. </b></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Done with or marked by full consciousness of the nature and effects; intentional</i></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.39in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>2. </b></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Arising from or marked by careful consideration: a deliberate decision.</i></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.39in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>3. </b></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Unhurried in action, movement, or manner, as if trying to avoid error.</i></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; padding: 0in; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>v.</i></span> <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>de·lib·er·at·ed</b></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>, </i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>de·lib·er·at·ing</b></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>, </i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>de·lib·er·ates</b></i></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>v.intr.</i></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.39in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>1. </b></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>To think carefully and often slowly, as about a choice to be made.</i></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.39in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>2. </b></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>To consult with another or others in a process of reaching a decision.</i></span></span></span></div><div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.39in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>3. </b></i><i>To consider (a matter) carefully and often slowly, as by weighing alternatives.</i></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: left; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Deliberate Christian living </i></span><span style="font-size: small;">is something that I have been thinking about recently. What I mean by this is living life consciously and intentionally, instead of rushing through, without set purposes and goals.</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: left; widows: 2;"><br />
</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: left; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think this is especially applicable to young people, because it is easy to think, as the world tells us, that these years are meant for partying, living it up, and having fun. Have you heard the song "So Young" by the Corrs? Here are a few of the lyrics.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br />
</div><div align="CENTER" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">We are taking it easy</span></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bright and breezy</span></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">We are living it up</span></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Just fine and dandy</span></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">And it really doesn’t matter that we don’t eat</span></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">And it really doesn’t matter that we don’t sleep</span></span></div><div align="CENTER" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: medium; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It really doesn’t matter, it really doesn’t matter at all</span></span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 11px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">‘Cause we were so young then</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We are so young, so young now</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And when tomorrow comes</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We’ll just do it all again</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is a good example of our culture's attitude toward youth. Youthful immaturity and irresponsibility is meant to be enjoyed and be extended into your adult life as much as possible. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">However, as Christian young people, we should be using these valuable years to serve God and further His kingdom where we are right now.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I think it is important to be thinking consciously about what we are doing with our time. Instead of just bumming around, getting by, racing through life and not really thinking about anything, we should be making practical, specific goals for this period of life and then deliberately pursuing those goals. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We shouldn't think that life begins when we get married. Even though it is important to prepare in specific areas for when we have our own families, we should realize that God has work for us to do here and now. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We should be actively finding ways to serve others, which starts with serving joyfully in our own homes. We should be <i>doing </i>things<i>, </i>not just coasting along. There are many ways to serve others--we should choose ones that will help us grow in areas that we would like to grow. Spending time with another family who has young children is a perfect opportunity to learn from a mother and also to be a servant to others.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What are some specific things you want to accomplish with this time of your life? Deepening certain relationships? Learning more about certain topics? Finishing reading a list of books? Can you make a list of achievable goals for this summer? I'll get a post up in the next couple of days with a list of my personal goals for this summer.</span></span></div></span></span></div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Let your eyes look directly forward, </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">and your gaze be straight before you. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Ponder the path of your feet; then all all your ways will be sure. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Proverbs 4:25-27</span></span></div></div>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-36129867765834411792010-05-24T18:22:00.000-07:002010-05-24T18:23:25.987-07:00Media<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=widgetsamazon-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1433502801&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We have been reading "Worldliness", a book with several chapters written by different authors, about worldliness various areas of life. One of the chapters is entitled "God, My Heart, and the Media", and I thought it was very good and an interesting topic to discuss. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Christians have </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">drastically </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">different standards regarding media, and most of us tend to think that other peoples' standards that differ from their own are either legalistic, or too liberal. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I thought that C.J. Mahaney's explanation of legalism was a good one.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Legalism is seeking to achieve forgiveness from God and acceptance by God through obedience to God. In other words, a legalist is anyone who behaves as if they can earn God's approval and forgiveness through personal performance. "</span></span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, having standards is not the problem in legalism, but rather our motivation. This is a really important point, because otherwise, you can run around screaming, "No standards! Standards are legalistic, and we want our Christian liberties!" </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I think personal standards for movie-viewing are important. It is very easy for us, because we have a ClearPlay filter. I recommend these very strongly, because there are so many movies that are good movies with good messages, but have random offensive things, which if you have a filter, just get edited out and you never even know they are there! You can visit their website </span></span><a href="http://www.clearplay.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">HERE.</span></span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Language in movies is one the main things that some people don't seem to think is a big deal. ClearPlay is nice for that because when you you're watching a movie, you can't very well skip or mute every single bad word. ClearPlay just edits it out, and while you can still sometimes tell what they are saying by their mouth movement, I think it really helps to not actually hear the word. I think bad language can have an effect on people more than they realize. If you hear that kind of stuff all the time, it's going to be more ready in your mind to just blurt out when you're angry or something. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One thing that we have needed to be careful about with ClearPlay is that we don't just watch lame movies because there won't be anything bad in them. Some movies are just not worth watching because of a bad message, etc. And, we have to be careful when we recommend movies or say that we loved a movie, because if someone watched it without ClearPlay, they could be horrified!</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Any thoughts on legalism connected to media? What are your standards? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><br />
</i></span>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5669932745307623759.post-87331974829464307752010-04-01T10:09:00.001-07:002010-04-02T08:39:37.597-07:00Good Friday<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I just love this song, and it is very appropriate for Good Friday. It is a different perspective on Christ's death, and I think it is very moving.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<object height="364" width="445"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/J7wEa8YTGhM&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/J7wEa8YTGhM&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object></div>Susannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506813451259448763noreply@blogger.com0