Monday Memory

Where shall I start? Perhaps with some of my earliest memories. We lived in upstate NY...you know, not the city. We had a few acres, lots of woods, a garden, etc. It was a great place to play and build tree forts. Of course, I was too little for building, but I tagged along with my siblings when I could. We had two or three tree swings--one hung from a great big tree by our house, one from another big tree out back (which I think eventually got cut down), and another in the woods on a sloping tree, which my siblings liked to jump out of while sitting on the swing seat. I was too scared to try it.

Anyway, I remember one day hearing the far-off howling and yelping of beagles. Maybe I was a timid child, but the sound echoed and haunted and chilled me. I sat wide-eyed on a folding chair. Perhaps we were picnicking in the woods or just sitting. Would the dogs get me?

Another time, nearer our house, I believe, I heard a dog barking, and perhaps saw it, too. A big, black menacing dog, or at least so my imagination went. We did have one like that cross our yard on occasion, I think. Sitting on the swing near our house, I hastily climbed up the rope which had several knots in it and a second seat above. I sat up there, only feeling safe when I pulled the bottom rope and seat up around me, out of reach of any dogs.

Children tend to exaggerate things in their minds, to feel things more deeply and personally. We should be careful what children hear and how we explain things to them. And in some ways we should be more like children. To simply trust in Jesus to save us from the dogs that may howl about us, clinging to Him like a rope, though He is stronger than any rope man can make.

'And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.' - Matthew 18:2-4

Friday Favorites

"The love of learning, the sequestered nooks,
And all the sweet serenity of books." - Henry Longfellow

1. books and chairs 2. yellow shoes 3. pine cones
4. closer mystery 5. quilt 6. bird's-eye view of new york city
7. parlor floor 8. the queens and the hive 9. guest room

~

A light-studded breeze,
The scent of old books,
Shoes tiptoe there.
And up above
In the attic so full,
Memories hide
'Neath timbers and gloom.
Behind the pale door
With a knob marble-round,
There lies a quilt
Of each cheery hue.
Fireplace and chair,
Lamp glowing warm,
Old books and pictures
And flower-print charm.
The place I call home
May look like that,
But even if not,
I'll thank God for this:
He knows me and loves me,
And I'm safe by His side.

-Melissa M.
8-29-09

Thursday Thankfulness

I decided to try doing a day-by-day schedule on here, though of course I may have to miss a few days at times. Here's my idea for what might be going on throughout the week. If you have any other ideas, let me know.

Lord's Day: Lament/praise - Or just rest, more likely
Monday: Memory
Tuesday: Tips ? Things I've Been Working On
Wednesday: Weekly update
Thursday: Theological quotes, Thankfulness
Friday: Favorite Photos or Paintings
Saturday: Sonnet, Story, or Song

So, I'm going to write a list of things I'm especially thankful for right now. :)

* Friendship. Friends lend a beauty to life, in their encouragement, laughter, and love. The Bible says that to have friends we must ourselves be friendly. I've always struggled with being friendly, thinking maybe it meant being outgoing. And while being outgoing helps, we shy people can definitely have friends. A little effort and a helpful, cheerful attitude go a long way, even if we don't say a lot.

* The time of conversation and enjoyment with friends we had today. The lunch and everything went off smoothly, and we really enjoyed being with two sweet, friendly ladies as they talked, shared, and worked with Mom's hair. And tomorrow, Lord willing, we'll see them again, along with some other friends, for a night of games and fellowship. Earlier this week some of our dear friends showed us how they grind wheat and make beautiful bread with it.

* My talents, and that I can use them for the Lord. I need to use them more for Him, too. But I'm thankful that He gave me such enjoyable talents to work with, such as art and music.

* That my watercolor painting wasn't ruined when I spilled water on it! (The water landed on the light part of the sky.)

* This lovely house that we are able to rent.

* The strength to clean and cook, and the desire to do so, which is a slowly-growing thing. I used to pretty much hate working, but the Lord has put a new heart in me. I still lack some motivation and discipline (and have lapses), but thank the Lord I am changing at all.

* The Word of God, both the literal words written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit, and the living Word Himself, Jesus. He is a very present help, the only way to the Father, the Redeemer of our souls. He is glorious in all His ways!

Mosaic

1. i can't get enough, 2. 1931 - jimmy and helene, 3. at the col de la louze, 4. kitchen wall, 5. Walking in daydreams, 6. cute shoes, 7. old bridge, 8. Lucy, 9. more oatmeal, 10. {film.301}, 11. barrow, 12. Summer 2009 005, 13. pansy chain necklace, 14. little purples, 15. tyler park, 16. white iron bed

I suppose I should do this on Monday and call it "Mosaic Monday," but I'll probably not be able to stick to a schedule, although I may try after this. I've seen this done on other blogs, and thought it was neat and wanted to share some of my favorite photos I've found on flickr lately. And to add something a little more personal and thought-provoking, I decided I'd try to add a Bible verse, quote, or reason I liked each picture (at least this time). Hopefully, the photos themselves will be inspiring, too.

1. Lilacs ~ My favorite flower.
"As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more." - Psalm 103:15, 16

2. This couple looks happy and loving of one another.
"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." - Proverbs 17:22
"Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith." - Proverbs 15:17

3. I just liked the colors on this one, and the girl is cute, though not so happy looking.
"It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth." - Lamentations 3:27

4. I liked this creative and cheerful arrangement.

5. Dreamy looking, good idea for a picture, to use a reflection.
"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;" - Ecclesiastes 12:1

6. Just thought they were cute with the buttons on them.

7. "And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies." - 2 Samuel 22:12

8. Cats are probably my favorite animal.
"Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:
Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:
Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:
Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:
Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven." - Psalm 148:7-13

9. I love the old look here, and the light streaming. However, there can be too many books, or too much vain reading, as the following verse says.
"And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh." - Ecclesiastes 12:12

10. "For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." - Isaiah 55:12, 13

11. "The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house." - Psalm 104:16, 17

The rest I shall just say that I liked how they looked. :) I could have arranged them better, though.

Legacy
by Melissa M.
About my dear dad, gone home to heaven.

He left a legacy of volumes,
Shelves and boxes full.
Thoughts of writers deep
From which we can cull.

He left a volume of legacy,
Prayers and actions full.
His life very strong,
His mind never dull.

Even when his last breaths were taken,
Painful yet made clear,
He asked to stand up
For his Lord was near.

Will our actions be remembered here
As pure or defiled,
Graced by love of God,
Or with fear and spite?

Giveaway

If you want to enter to win a prize from Little Lamb Design (lots of nice cards, address labels, etc.), click here and follow their rules. :)

Giveaway for Bread-Making DVD

To enter to win a copy of The Art of Making Bread DVD, click here and comment!

The Lord's Day

We found this little book among my dad's old books, and I wanted to share a few good quotes. The author may not have been sound in all his doctrine, but these seem to be fine. Some of the prayers are very much taken from Scripture, though the ones I'm quoting are not so much. From The Private Devotions of Lancelot Andrews (Translated by John Henry Newman):

Prayer for the First Day of the Week:

'Introduction

Through the tender mercies of our God
the day-spring from on high hath visited us.
Glory be to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Creator of the light,
and Enlightener of the world,--
of the visible light,
The Sun's ray, a flame of fire,
day and night,
evening and morning,--
of the light invisible,
the revelation of God,
writings of the Law,
oracles of Prophets,
music of Psalms,
instruction of Proverbs,
experience of Histories,--
light which never sets.
God is the Lord who hath shewed us light;
bind the sacrifice with cords,
yea even unto the the horns of the altar.

O by Thy resurrection raise us up
unto newness of life,
supplying to us frames of repentance.
The God of peace,
who did bring again from the dead
the great Shepherd of the sheep,
through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
perfect us in every good work,
to do His will,
working in us what is acceptable before Him,
through Jesus Christ,
to whom be glory for ever.

Thou who didst send down on Thy disciples
on this day
Thy Thrice-Holy Spirit,
withdraw not Thou the gift, O Lord, from us,
but renew it in us, day by day,
who ask Thee for it.'

From Confession

'O remember, what my substance is,
the work of Thine hands,
the likeness of Thy countenance,
the cost of Thy blood,
a name from Thy Name,
a sheep of Thy pasture,
a son of the covenant.
Despise not Thou the work of Thine own hands.'

'And more, and still more,
pierce Thou, rend, crush my heart;
and remit, forgive, pardon
what things are grief to me,
and offence of heart.'

"As the Deer" Tutorial Review

As The Deer Tutorial

The above tutorial is very good compared with most. The camera is steady, and the piano keys and the man's hands are quite clearly seen. He also knows what he's talking about in regard to notes and chords, with a few possible exceptions. His descriptions and demonstrations are usually clear and helpful for musicians, going beyond a mere playing through and list of notes.

I believe the chord he claims is like a "raised fifth" or "suspended fifth" is actually an augmented fifth, which matches the "raised fifth" description quite well, but is not a "suspended fifth." He also slips up and cites a G as a G#. All the rest of his chords and notes I believe to be accurate, at least after he corrects himself. There is one place he says he's going to play two A's in the right hand as he plays an F in the left hand, but later he changes the timing on this, apologizing briefly for his mistake.

Some of his talking is a little rushed and hard to understand (and the "that there" gets a little redundant). Near the ending, especially, he hurries through it, not telling what the ending notes are. The clip could have been cut into two videos if he was worried about time and space.

Overall, though, it was one of the best tutorials I've seen so far, with a pretty song to boot.