Quote

From The Treasury of David by Spurgeon.

On Psalm 24, verse 1:
'St. Chrysostom, suffering under the Empress Eudoxia, tells his friend Cyriacus how he armed himself beforehand...."I thought, will she banish me? 'The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.' Take away my goods? 'Naked came I into the world, and naked must I return.' Will she stone me? I remembered Stephen. Behead me? John Baptist came into my mind," etc. Thus it should be with every one that intends to live and die comfortably: they must, as we say, lay up somethng for a rainy day; they must stock themselves with graces, store up promises, and furnish themselves with experiences of God's lovingkindness to others and themselves too, that so, when the evil day comes, they may have much good coming thereby.' - John Spencer.

Links And Things

I'm late in posting this, sorry! The Reformation 500 audio is on sale (50% off) until tomorrow. Click here! I would prefer video, but I'm not sure they will sell that.

And I just heard about this site, which sells modest clothing for women: New Creation Apparel. Mostly too expensive for me, but there are some really nice skirts...inspiring me to make some of my own. ;)

~~
I've had some struggles lately, and one of my friends gave me this encouraging link, which includes a great quote from Spurgeon.

Quote by William S. Plumer

Here's another quote from Spurgeon's book, The Treasury of David. It was encouraging to me.

'Whole Psalm [23].--Some pious souls are troubled because they cannot at all times, or often, use, in its joyous import, the language of this Psalm. Such should remember that David, though he lived long, never wrote but one twenty-third Psalm. Some of his odes do indeed express as lively a faith as this, and faith can walk in darkness. But where else do we find a whole Psalm expressive of personal confidence, joy, and triumph, from beginning to end? God's people have their seasons of darkness and their times of rejoicing. - William S. Plumer

Kept Alive By Christ...

Quote by Spurgeon in The Treasury of David:
(On Psalm 22:29b)
'The Spirit of God moved over our deadness, and breathed into us the breath of life. My soul became a living soul. But was this enough? God's word says, No. "None can keep alive his own soul." My heart says, No. Truth must ever answer to truth. I cannot (ah! have I not tried, and failed?), I cannot keep alive my own soul. We cannot live upon ourselves. Our physical life is kept up by supply from without--air, food, warmth. So must the spiritual life. Jesus gives, Jesus feeds us day by day, else must the life fade out and die. "None can keep alive his own soul." It is not enough to be made alive. I must be fed, and guided, and taught, and kept in life. Mother, who hast brought a living babe into the world, is your work done? Will you not nurse it, and feed it, and care for it, that it may be kept alive? Lord, I am this babe. I live indeed, for I can crave and cry. Leave me not, O my Savior. Forsake not the work of thine own hands. In thee I live. Hold me, carry me, feed me, let me abide in thee.'

Here's a post that should get you thinking, at least if you've never thought about it before. It's so true (at least for some feminists)...and sad! Feminist Hypocrisy

And here's a good and encouraging interview with the Botkin sisters.

Independence

Our country has fallen in many ways, and was never perfect, but I am thankful for it and the freedoms that God has yet allowed us to retain.

'How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!' ~Thomas Jefferson

This Little Box

by Melissa M.
July 3, 2009

The bane of my existence
Seems to be this little box.
I can read and write and chat
And then I can play with blocks.

Watch movies and TV shows,
See how pictures have amassed,
Take quizzes and read journals,
'Til midnight's long gone past.

Yet good can come from this--
The friendships and the love,
The learning and the laughter
Are gifts from up above.

So perhaps the problem here
Is not the computer screen
But the one who uses it--
Yes, this is clearly seen.

So discipline my heart, Lord,
And duly reprimand--
I know things are best meted
By Your dear, loving hand.

Grief and Gladness

We have gotten together with family & friends a few times this week. First we had lunch at the Sarratts' house with my sister, Grace, and her kids, which was lovely. They served a delicious strawberry and lettuce salad with poppy-seed dressing and baked potatoes with rosemary and toppings such as bacon bits and cheese. We chatted and did some crochet and played with the kids, watching them blow bubbles and pop them. We sat on their porch, and it was surprisingly tolerable, though it was upwards of 95 degrees. There was a bit of a breeze. My littlest niece enjoyed the bubbles, but she was most excited by the fluffy caramel-colored dog, Poochy, crawling around after her and flailing her little hands at the dog.

Some of our friends are up in Boston at the Reformation 500, which looks like a wonderful event. (See even more about it here, and some pictures of reenactors in costume, some of which people we know and love.)

Well, I shall end with some quotes from Spurgeon's The Treasury of David, Vol. 1, shorter nuggets. I've really been profiting from and enjoying the book, and the commentary on Psalm 22 is great in helping me to see the amazing love of God through Christ.

"They shoot out the lip, they shake the head." These were gestures of contempt. Panting, grinning, shaking of the head, thrusting out of the tongue, and other modes of derision were endured by our patient Lord; men made faces at him before whom angels vail their faces and adore. The basest signs of disgrace which disdain could devise were maliciously cast at him. They punned upon his prayers, they made matter for laughter of his sufferings, and set him utterly at nought. Herbert sings of our Lord as saying,--

"Shame tears my soul, my body many a wound;
Sharp nails pierce this, but sharper that confound;
Reproaches which are free, while I am bound.
Was ever grief like mine?"

"I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee." (Psalm 22:22)

We mention our sorrows readily enough; why are we so slow in declaring our deliverances?

"All they that go down to the dust shall bow before him." (Psalm 22:29, in part)
There is relief and comfort in bowing before God when our case is at its worst; even amid our dust of death prayer kindles the lamp of hope.

Quick Quote

From Spurgeon's The Treasury of David, on verse 1 of Chapter 21, though not the full commentary.

"The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!"

"The Man of Sorrows is now anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows. Returned in triumph from the overthrow of all his foes, he offers his own rapturous Te Deum in the temple above, and joys in the power of the Lord. Herein let every subject of King Jesus imitate the King; let us lean upon Jehovah's strength, let us joy in it by unstaggering faith, let us exult in it in our thankful songs. Jesus not only has thus rejoiced but he shall do so as he sees the power of divine grace bringing out from their sinful hiding-places the purchase of his soul's travail; we also shall rejoice more and more as we learn by expeience more and more fully the strength of the arm of our covenant God. Our weakness unstrings our harps, but his strength tunes them anew."

~~~

That isn't just a lovely saying, but I've been finding it to be true. How often my "strings" are gone awry and utter a terrible noise! Only by God's grace do I ever "play in tune."

Music and Learning

Music
This might not be the best playing of it I've ever heard, but it's still excellent, especially for the young age of the performer. The second part is especially impressive, though I actually prefer the first part. Makes me want to try it, while the second is beyond my ability.

Chopin Andante Spianato & Grand Polonaise Brillante I by George Li

Chopin Andante Spianato & Grand Polonaise Brillante II by George Li

Another sweet Mozart Sonata. The 3rd movement is especially cheerful.

Mozart Sonata in C major K330 M2 by George Li

Mozart Sonata in C major K330 M3 by George Li

Learning with Friends
We had some friends over this week to teach them to crochet. They are talented quilters and they caught on quite quickly to crocheting. First we went to Hobby Lobby with them, then had lunch, then did some crocheting. It was a fun afternoon. I hadn't done much crocheting before, either, but this time I enjoyed it more than usual and actually want to finish the blanket I started.

For Your Inspiration

When possible, I'd like to share inspiring links and things, perhaps every Saturday at least for a time.

Music
I've seen so many amazingly talented young people, and here is the first I'd like to share with you. George Li is a boy of 13 or 14 years. I love to listen to music like this. It's so joyful.

George Li plays a beautiful Haydn piece with violin and cello (M. 1)
Movement 2
Movement 3

Projects
This is my refurbished little dresser that we bought at a yard sale. It used to be a dingy yellowish color with a scratched, brown wooden top. One of the handles was broken. The added paint and new knobs really helped it out. (Don't have a before picture, though.) Buying old things and fixing them up is a good way to save money, if you know ahead of time what you need and know it's a feasible project.


Hair
Braid instructions
This didn't quite work on my longer hair, but it inspired me to try something with braids, anyway.