Looking Back

2008 has come to its end. It was a very good year for me. It had its ups, and most certainly had its downs, but overall it was a very good year. As I look back at all the tears I shed, all the times I laughed, and all the moments of joy and pain, I think of how God was there by my side through it all. I think I can safely say that this past year has been the best year of my life.

But I cannot hold on. I've seen what happens when I linger on the past so much that I cannot enjoy the present or think about the future. The year 2008 was wonderful, yes, but what is stopping these next few years—or the rest of my life, for that matter—from being just as wonderful? If I linger too long, I will lose some of the most precious moments that God gives me. I must step into my future. It will soon become my past. In this story called life, we come and we go. The earth spins and orbits the sun. The stars shine and go out. Everything is in motion. God remains the same.

Sincerely,
Miss S.

My Very First Tag

I feel kind of weird saying "so and so" tagged me, when they merely tagged "all who wish to participate", but…I've always wanted to do a tag, and I've got to start somewhere, so here goes! Let's say that Jasmine tagged me on her A Tag! post.

Rules:
* Post the six to ten things that you do on a daily basis.
*Link to the person who tagged you.
*Tag five other people.
*Leave a comment on the blog of the person that tagged you letting them know you posted this on your blog.

Here are my six things:

1: I journal. Every day I wake up, read some scripture, and then write in my two journals. Yes, two! One is for writing more spiritual stuff and the other is for writing more daily happenings stuff.

2: I listen to music, whether on headphones or on the speakers set up in the living room. I can't concentrate very well without it!

3: I dance very randomly in the living room (to the music playing, of course).Sometimes it's faking ballet, sometimes it's swing dancing at an imaginary 50's party, and sometimes it's waltzing with an invisible partner. : )

4: I walk. When the weather is decent, I walk outside. When it's not, I relish the opportunity to go to the grocery store!

5: I daydream. This is a habit which I wish to break (at least somewhat)…I think I daydream far too much. : )

6: I stare out the window, and look at the splendor of God's creation. It's truly a blessing to be able to see the beauty of nature!

I tag everyone who likes to frolic in the rain!

Sincerely,
Miss S.

"It Feels Like I Have a Uni-Leg!"

When I was twelve, I was well-known for going barefoot as often as I possibly could. When I wore shoes, I tried to wear exclusively flip-flops. The reason? I didn’t like socks. And likewise, I disliked every pair of shoes that I had to wear socks with. I didn’t like the feeling of my toes being together that much. When asked, I stated that it made me feel like I had a “uni-toe”. : )

Also when I was twelve, I had a great aversion to skirts. I wore pants, capris, and shorts…but very rarely skirts. When asked, you may guess my response. Yes, it made me feel like I had a “uni-leg”!

Then came that notorious day in August. Around three years ago in late August, I met a young lady who was two years older than me, and a beautiful dancer. She wore the prettiest skirts, and when she danced, they would flitter all over the place in a very pretty way. I decided I wanted to be just like her. So I asked my dad, (who just happens to be the Israeli dance teacher at our congregation) to teach me a few dances. And also, to the shock of everyone around me, I stated that I wanted to buy a skirt. Nobody knew why I made this turnaround, and it was several months later before I told anyone the reason.

After that, I decided that maybe skirts weren’t as bad as I thought. They didn’t seem quite as uncomfortable as before. I started wearing skirts a little more often. Around once, maybe twice a week. It was around two years later before I started wearing them daily. And even then, my reasons for doing so were not right. I wore them daily with the thought that I would be seen as a “good” girl, who took consideration to the way she dressed (even though in my heart, I knew I didn’t). After finding the Rebelution’s modesty survey, I saw modesty in a whole new light. I found that if the desire to dress modestly, femininely, etc. was not for the right reasons, then what good would it do? If I dress modestly, but act immodestly, I have failed to understand what modesty truly is. And also if I dress femininely, but act unfeminine, I have failed to understand what femininity truly is.

So now, over three years after first admiring the flowy skirts of the young lady who is now one of my closest friends, I wear skirts every day; not because I want to be seen as “good”, but because God has put it upon my heart to be a lady, and wearing skirts is, for me, very much a part of that.

Sincerely,

Miss S.

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is today, and there is so much to be thankful for that I don’t know where to begin! Lately I have been very thankful for the way God shows me that He has control. So many things have happened this past year that have shown to me His sovereignty. With a growing family, an almost frightening election, and a lot of eye-opening events (both physical and emotional), this past year has been anything but uneventful! But through easy times and hard, good times and bad, the Lord has always had His guiding hand around me, to protect me and to guide me. For that, I am forever thankful!

Sincerely,

Miss S.

A Lady's Heart--Purity

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
(Matthew 5:8)

Purity is a priceless gem. Once lost, it can never be regained. Purity of both body and heart are very valuable. Since this series is on a lady's heart, I will focus here on the latter of the two.

Purity of the heart is extremely important. Yet it often goes unnoticed. Often, a girl doesn't realize her emotional purity is fading away until it is too late. Imagine somebody gives you a beautiful charm bracelet with ten shining charms. Each charm is a perfect sapphire, emerald, or ruby. Every time you flirt (consciously or unconsciously) with a guy, or every time you fancy yourself in love, one of the perfect jewel charms is given to that guy. What shame! When you marry, you would only be able to give your husband nine or five or none of those jewels!

"…So it is with Purity. God has given you a special gift (purity) and He wants you to treasure it. When you steal looks at the dashing man in your corner of life, you're starting to corrupt the gift He's given you. When you start giving parts of your heart away to other men, you're giving away your purity as well…"

So how can losing our purity be avoided? Clearly we are unable to protect it by ourselves alone. Ideally, a girl would give her father her heart*. He would guard it diligently and keep it until the right man comes along. Since he is older and consequently gained more wisdom over the years he will know much better than us who is the "right man".

"…Set standards for your future husband. Have in mind what character traits you'd want to see. Just because a guy's "cute" doesn't mean that he's a nice guy. Or he just might be a nice guy but he might not be considerate to authorities, etc. If you have in mind what you want, you won't be as likely to fall into a crush. Ask your dad to scope the guy out if he's asking to court you. Let your dad know what qualities you're looking for. Most importantly, ask God if he's the right man for you…"

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word."
(Psalm 119:9)

Other scriptures to read and consider would be Psalm 24:3-4, Psalm 73:1, Proverbs 20:11, Proverbs 22:11, Philippians 4:8, 1 Timothy 4:12, and Titus 2:5.

Sincerely,
Miss S.

*I understand that not all girls are able to give their father their heart. Circumstances which separate the father and daughter, or the father being unwilling or unable to accept it would be sad. In such cases it is best for a girl to look to her mother or a mentor, and ultimately, as in everything, to God.

Note: All quotes in italics are taken from Pure Little Ladies Ministry's post What Is "Purity"?.

I'm Back!!

Thank you all for your encouragement as I stopped blogging for a while! I was making my computer far too important, and consequently, other things which should have been top priority (studying the bible and praying, for example) began to fall behind. I knew I needed to make drastic changes. So I shortened my computer time, focused on reading (another thing that had been forgotten), and waited until I was less stressed to begin writing again. Though I am sorry to have left you all with nothing new to read, I do not regret the choice I made. I will soon be posting my final post in the "A Lady's Heart" series, so stay tuned!

Most sincerely,
Miss S.

Taking A Break

I'm going to take a break from blogging. I find that I've been spending too much time on the internet, and consequently that my priorities have gotten kinda out of whack. Also, things have been rather busy lately, and I want to step back and take stock of everything that's going on right now. I'll still be approving comments, and still be checking up on all your blogs, but I don't think I'll be posting very much for a while. Looking forward to coming back!

Sincerely,
Miss S.

My Nephew!!!

Yay yay!! My nephew, Noah, was born today! He is 8 lbs. 8 oz., and 21 in. long. My first time being an aunt, and my parents' first time being grandparents! I am very very very very very happy! He's so cute!! I love him!

Sincerely,
Miss S.

Poll Results

The results are in…Elizabeth Bennet wins first place with 16 votes, Elinor Dashwood is second with 10, Fanny Price is third with 5, Emma Woodhouse is fourth with 4, Marianne Dashwood and Anne Elliot were tied for fifth with 3 apiece, and dear Catherine Morland is last with a mere 2.

Sincerely,
Miss S.

A 50's Girl at Heart

I admit, I'm a 50's girl. Almost everything from that era appeals to me. The fashions, the cars, the lifestyles…why do I like it so much? I recently made myself a 50's style dress. I plan on making another. I'm drawn to that whole "Housework in heels" look. I like their movies and music. I've been told I would fit in one or two hundred years ago, but I would feel much more at home fifty years ago. What is it about the 50's that intrigues me so much? Is anyone else drawn to an era, or is it just me?

Sincerely,

Miss S.

Long Time No Post ... And Scones!

Umm…sorry. I've been rather busy, with school starting up and the like. I also got the opportunity to work at the Scone Booth at the Western Washington State Fair! My mom would drop me off at the gate at around quarter to four, where I would meet up with two of my friends. We'd walk to the scone booth, sign in, grab an apron, wash our hands, put gloves on, and begin "sconing" at four. For those of you who are unaware as to what a scone is (don't worry, you're not alone, there were probably hundreds of people who came up to the window asking "What's a 'Fisher' Scone?") I shall tell you. A scone is a small-ish sweet biscuit with butter and raspberry jam. 'Fisher' is just the company name.

So here's the way it works. It all begins with a "Just add water" scone mix. The mixers mix it, the dough table kneads it, cuts it, and puts it on a tray, the baker slides a tray into the big oven and when the scones are cooked he slides it out and dumps the scones on the "hot table" where myself and five others butter, jam, and bag the scones in an assembly line manner.

Hot scones still on the tray

We did fun stuff like sculpting the butter when we had a free minute or two. This is a whale that we named Percy.

The hot table. First the butter person pops the scone open and adds butter. They slide the scone to the jammer who spoons a spoonful of jam into it. They then slide the scone to the bagger who puts the scone in the bag and places it on a tray.

Scones in their individual bags

This is our lovely booth

Again, I'm sorry for not posting in a while. At least this time I have an excuse! Until next time…

Sincerely,

Miss S.

A Lady's Heart--Modesty

Modesty is a touchy subject. However, it is a subject that needs desperately to be touched on. Many people equate modesty with looking frumpy and dull. Others think of modesty as a set of legalistic rules. True modesty is neither. True modesty begins with a modest heart. If your heart is truly modest, then a desire to dress modestly will spring forth from that.

Modesty has a lot to do with guardianship. Guarding our bodies, guarding our hearts, and in part, guarding the hearts of our brothers in Christ. We guard our bodies by saving what is intimate only for our husbands (or our future husbands); as opposed to flaunting what we've got. We guard our hearts by acting in a modest manner; as opposed to being flirtatious or beguiling. We guard our brother's hearts by not luring them into thinking impure thoughts; as opposed to being a stumbling block by the way we dress.

This last statement is the one I am going to focus on here. Men--good men--appreciate modesty. In their own words they state:

"For those of you trying to be modest, thank you, thank you, thank you! I certainly notice it and am grateful for it. For those of you who aren't sure about modesty, it is hard enough for us guys as it is; please don't make it harder."

"When a girl dresses modestly, it helps to cut down on temptation drastically. Physical purity for guys is just as hard as emotional purity is for girls. Modesty actually makes a girl more beautiful because it shows where her heart is before God."

"As a Christian guy, modesty is SO attractive. I don't mean attractive in a lustful way, but that to see a girl living out God's standards in her life really is beautiful. And you have no idea just how much you would be helping your Christian brothers by being modest. We're not trying to blame you for our impurity, that's between us and God, but you can do so much to encourage and help us in our battle by being modest."

So what is modesty? It's clear that it isn't merely covering a certain number of square inches, but there surely must be some guidelines. For me, if I feel fidgety or self-conscious in something, if it feels uncomfortably tight or short or low, if it draws to much attention to areas that should not draw attention, I consider it immodest. Each day I stand in front of my full length mirror and say to myself, "If I were a guy seeing a girl wearing this, would I stumble?" I ask this question of myself several times. There have been times when I answered yes, so I changed. My goal is to honor God by not causing my brothers in Christ to stumble in their walk with Him.

You can find several more articles pertaining to modesty here, here, and here.

Some scriptures to read and consider would be 1 Peter 3:3, Proverbs 31:30, and 1 Timothy 2:9.

Sincerely,
Miss S.

Note: All quotes in italics are taken from the Rebelution's Modesty Survey. A resource that I HIGHLY recommend.

A Lady's Heart--A Gentle & Quiet Spirit

"But let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God." 1 Peter 3:4

What does it mean to be gentle? There are different types of gentleness. There is gentleness of speech, and there is gentleness of actions. There is one who gently comforts when someone is sad, and one who gently soothes when someone is angry.

Let us take a moment to look up the word gentle. The Encarta Dictionary describes it as "having a mild and kind nature or manner" and "having a gracious and honorable manner".

It is a very disagreeable thing to see someone who is not gentle. You can almost tell by the tone of their voice that they are harsh or rowdy. For example (I like examples) let's say a little boy is crying. A very obnoxious girl comes up to him and says in a rough voice, "Stop crying you crybaby! Do you know how obnoxious that is?!?" Another girl would come up to him a moment later and tenderly say, "It's all right. You're going to be okay. Will you tell me why you're crying?" You see, the behavior of the first is hostile and unfavorable. On the other hand, the second is gentle and kind.

A gentle voice is a wonderful quality in a girl. In Proverbs 15:1 it says "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Here is a quote from the book Beautiful Girlhood:

"A girl is known by her words. Generally the first impression she makes upon strangers is made by her speech. Some remark falls upon their ears, and they form an opinion of the speaker founded upon the nature of that remark. If she is heard speaking considerately and sympathetically, they think of her as kind and agreeable; but if she is loud and boisterous in her speech, or if her remark is unkind and spiteful, they form the opposite opinion…Every girl should form the habit of speaking in a gentle tone. While she is young the vocal organs can be trained to give out soft tones. Who is it who does not admire a soft and tender tone in a woman's voice? I have always felt sorry for older women who have from childhood spoken in a loud or harsh tone of voice, for it is practically impossible for them to do otherwise now. But girls can have gentle voices if they will."

Other scriptures to read and consider would be Galatians 5:23, Ephesians 4:2, Philippians 4:5, Colossians 3:12, 1 Timothy 6:11, and Titus 3:2.

Stay tuned for the upcoming article on modesty.

Sincerely,
Miss S.

A Lady's Heart--Cheerfulness

It is often said that the mood you have affects those around you. And it is true! If you've ever been around me when I'm being a grump, you'll know what I mean. The same is true on the other side too. In Proverbs it tells us "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones." (Proverbs 17:22)

Here is an excerpt from the book Beautiful Girlhood on the subject of cheerfulness:

"Every girl owes it to herself and to her associates to be sunny. A happy girlhood is so beautiful that it cannot afford to be spoiled by needless frowns and pouts. There are clouds enough in life without making them out of temper. A girl who is full of smiles and sunshine is a fountain of joy to all who know her. The world has enough of tears and sorrow at best, and her sweet, smiling face can scatter untold clouds. Could a girl ask for a better calling than that of a joy maker for all about her?"

Now I'm not saying we have to be happy all the time, that is impossible for anyone, I'm only saying that in certain situations a cheerful smile and a kind word can stop in its tracks a feeling of impatience or frustration. Here is another quote:

"Every girl must meet her share of bumps in life. If they do not come soon, they must come late. It is impossible that she should pass through life in the sunshine all the time. She must have her share of shadow. She cannot escape it. But it is not the deep shadows that generally cloud a girl’s life and make her unhappy and sullen. It is the little things, insignificant in themselves, and which could have been passed by with hardly a thought if resisted one by one, that irritate the temper and mar the happiness. Every day our girl will meet with circumstances in which she has her choice between frowning and sending back a stinging retort, or smiling and passing them by with a kind word. If she can pass these little bumps and keep sweet, then she has mastered the art of being sunny."

I've found that even when I am out of temper, if I smile and say something soft or sweet, it almost always changes my mood. It makes both me and those around me feel happier and more at ease! A cheerful attitude makes such a difference!

Other scriptures to read and consider would be Job 9:27, Proverbs 12:25, 15:11, 15:15, Romans 12:6-8, and 2 Corinthians 9:7.

Stay tuned for the upcoming article on gentleness.

Sincerely,
Miss S.

A Lady's Heart--Honesty & Little White Lies

The ninth of the Ten Commandments states clearly, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." (Exodus 20:16)

In the book of Proverbs it says, "Like a club and a sword and a sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor." (25:18) it also says, "A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who tells lies will perish." (19:9)

It is clear that telling a lie is serious. To swear falsely in a court of law and bear a false witness would mean severe punishment for the person one is swearing against. But what about all of those "little lies"? It doesn't seem to be a big deal if I say I emptied the trash, but really didn't. Or if I say I'm reading a certain book, but I'm really not. Pretending to read a certain book doesn't sound bad at all. Especially when compared with testifying falsely in a court of law!

Though "little", these lies are big stumbling blocks when it comes to trust. If we can't even rely on our friends or family to tell the truth in "trivial" things, does that not affect our perception of what they say when it comes to important things? Also, it hurts to find out that our trust in a person is broken.

When we lie, even with something that seems insignificant, we must always examine our motives for lying. Are we lying to gain revenge? Vengeance belongs to God. Are we lying to hide our guilt? It is better to own it. Once we see what our "reasons" are, it is easier to see how wrong we are for lying.

So why am I equating such a big thing to such a little thing? Surely testifying in a court of law falsely isn't as bad as a little "white" lie, right? This is my reason. In God's eyes sin is sin. Whether murder or hatred, adultery or lust, big lies or little lies, it is all sin. It is a joy to God when we turn from wrong and follow Him.

Other scriptures to read and consider would be Proverbs 3:3, 8:13, 12:17-19, 14:25, Ephesians 4:25, Zechariah 8:16, and John 3:21.

Stay tuned for the upcoming article on cheerfulness.

Sincerely,
Miss S.

Kindred Spirit Award

I would very much like to thank Jasmine from Joyfully Home for presenting me with the Kindred Spirit award.

I would like to continue and present it to Sarah Kanz, Miss Jocelyn, and Christa Taylor. Your blogs have been a blessing and so encouraging to read!

Sincerely,
Miss S.

A Lady's Heart--Respect & Honor - Part Two

The second form of respect I want to talk about is respect for children. Though the bible speaks of kindness and consideration toward children, it doesn't directly command us to "respect" or "honor" them (as it does with authority and the aged). However, it is clear that children are not to be looked down upon. The Messiah Himself said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14)

Since the hearts, minds, and lives of children are so important, should we not do all we can to honor that importance? The amount of respect a child receives plays a significant role in how they view themselves when they become adults. For example, if a child, when talking about something they consider interesting, hears only a disinterested and sarcastic, "That's nice," it is obvious to them that what they are saying is dull to the person to whom they are talking. If this happens to them repeatedly, they will begin to think that all their interests are dull, and consequently that they themselves are dull. This way of thinking may continue into their adulthood. It could lead them to assume they have nothing important to add to conversation, or that they have nothing interesting to say to anyone. After all, if they think themselves dull, they wouldn't want to make anyone else's life dull by their company. Simple things we do can make a big difference in how a child views his or her self.

It is important to show respect and honor to elders, but children also need respect. The kind of respect we ought to give a child is the kind of respect we would have liked to have had as children. The aged need respect because of the wisdom they've gained and the experiences they've had. The children need respect because they have great potential to become wise, and to experience great things. With our encouragement and support, the children in our lives have a much greater possibility of reaching their potential.

Children are no less important than grown men and women. The only thing that sets them apart from adults is growth (physically and mentally) and age. The golden rule applies not only to those equal in age, but also to those younger and older.

Other scriptures to read and consider would be Luke 6:31, Proverbs 22:6, Proverbs 14:26, and Galatians 5:14

Stay tuned for the upcoming article on honesty.

Sincerely,
Miss S.

Home Again

You don't realize what a blessing a warm and clean home is until you spend a week without it. Camping was absolutely wonderful. I had a great time with my friends and family. We sat on the beach, climbed trees, and watched the sunset every night. The weather was wonderful. However, I wouldn't have complained if it was a little warmer. Every day was sunny and about sixty degrees (more or less). The scenery was lovely and the trails were gratifying. But despite the beauty of the seaside, I am very thankful to be home.

Sincerely,
Miss S.

Camping!!

I will be leaving on Sunday July 6th for a weeklong camping trip. During which time I will not be able to access the internet and therefore I will not be able to moderate comments or post anything new. Do not be alarmed if this blog is dormant for a while…I'll be back soon!

Sincerely,
Miss S.

A Lady's Heart--Respect & Honor - Part One

In 1 Peter 2:18 it says:

"Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable."

Respect is not always simply 'being nice', sometimes (many times, actually) in order to show respect, you must do what you are told to do, even if it is 'unreasonable'. I'll give an example. Let's say Alice is walking on the beach. She is thinking of how soft and warm the sand is when it squishes between her toes. After a while, Alice's sister comes up to her and says, "Alice, you need to put shoes on." This may seem ridiculous. After all, the sand is so soft and warm and clear. Alice asks a simple question, "Why?" Her sister replies, "Because mom said so." Alice should need no other command. Even though wearing shoes may seem ridiculous to her, her mother may have good reasons why she should. Though the command may appear unreasonable, it is a command and it should be followed.

So it is with nearly all authority. Not only with our parents or our political leaders, but with all those whose experiences have taught them what is better and what is worse. I'm not saying that everyone who is older is right, but when someone gives advice it should be carefully considered, and when someone gives a command, if it isn't contrary to the laws that God has placed on us, it should be followed.

In Proverbs 16:31 it says:

"A gray head is a crown of glory; it is found in the way of righteousness."

As I said above, those who have gone before us have gained a knowledge that nothing but experience can help them gain*. They've gone through much more than we have. They've had more sorrows and more joys. They can give better advice, because they've seen how things have turned out before. Their life and the information they've obtained in their life deserves recognition and respect.

Other scriptures to read and consider would be Exodus 20:12, Leviticus 19:32, Proverbs 4:1, 23:22, Ephesians 6:1, Titus 3:1, and 1 Timothy 5:1.

To be continued...

Sincerely,
Miss S.

*Please note that I am speaking in generalities here. I'm not referring to all the "gray haired" people in the world. I'm speaking mainly of those more elderly people who have lived a full life and who have a love for God. Their advice is indispensible.

Lightning!

Over the past few days we've been having lightning storms. Also, over the past few days I've discovered that I am fascinated with lightning! I sat staring out the window for a long time (well, it seemed like a long time) intent upon the streaks of electricity shooting down from the sky. Wow! God's overwhelming power is so visible in a storm.

Sincerely,
Miss S.

A Lady's Heart -- Introduction

I am going to begin a series on what character traits it is important for a biblical lady to have. Old-fashioned, biblical femininity is a passion of mine. It is something I like to pursue…so I thought I'd write about it! I don't know exactly where to begin, (that has always been a problem for me) and I don't know exactly what order to go in. I'm kind of a random "just winging it" kind of person, so we'll see how it goes.

Some of the things I'd like to write about include: modesty, truthfulness, purity, gentleness, respectfulness, and cheerfulness. I want to put a scripture or two (or three or four) to each one, and I want to also outline a lady's responsibility in each area.

Does this sound overwhelming to anyone else? I suppose not since none of you will be writing any of it. I'll do my best to post at least semi-regularly, (translation: once a week) but I make no guarantees. I hope my writing will encourage you either to pursue Godly femininity or to continue in it.

Sincerely,
Miss S.

I Am Not My Own

1 Corinthians 6:19
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

As I reflect on this verse I think of my body as a home, as a place where the Holy Spirit lives. I know that if I were to live in any home, I would want one that is clean and pretty. Surely no one would want to live in a house that is badly kept and in terrible shape. If my body is the "home" of the Holy Spirit, then I want to make it a well kept and lovely home. I want to nurture my mind with good books and good music, and I want to nurture my body with good food and good exercise. Knowing that my body is a place where God is makes me want to make it a better place. It's not my body, and I can't do whatever I want with it. Strangely, that is such a liberating thought.

Sincerely,
Miss S.

To Read or Not to Read

I stumbled upon this article a few days ago. I've often wanted to read those sorts of books and not known if I should. After all, they might be over my head, or I might not be interested in them. I'm glad I read this as it gave me encouragement. I have a feeling that I'll be reading more now. Goody! I love reading.

Sincerely,
Miss S.

Beautiful Girlhood

This is a book which has had a great impact on my life. If I'd had the opportunity to read it earlier, it may have had an even greater impact. It is a lovely book originally written by Mabel Hale in 1922. I haven't read the original, though I am sure it is lovely as well, so the version I recommend is the one that is revised by Karen Andreola.

It is geared toward girls who are experiencing coming into young womanhood. If I were asked to put an age on it, I would say 10-13. However, it has less to do with one's age and more to do with one's level of maturity. So, it is a book I would recommend to any girl of any age, young or old.

It is (I say again) a lovely book. Its chapters are each devoted to a specific character trait. The language may be a little old-fashioned, but the lessons taught very much apply in our world today. It touches on honesty, ambitions, home life, and friendships to name a few. I highly recommend it to any girl who is striving to be a biblical lady.

Sincerely,
Miss S.

Tree of Life

It is said of the Torah;

'She is a tree of life to all who grasp her, and those who support her are praiseworthy.'
(Proverbs 3:18)

And in Genesis it says;

'ADONAI, God, said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever"'
(Genesis 3:22)

I always thought of it as meaning we would live a more fulfilled life here in this world. But my mom and I talked a bit, and we realized that it has an even more complete meaning. Taking and eating from the tree of life, or being obedient to God by obeying his Torah (which includes the Living Torah), has eternal life as its reward. In James 2:24 it tells us that 'A man is justified by works and not by faith alone.' So you see, what we do is equally as important as what we believe. The two go hand in hand. A person can believe in the Messiah, but if he does not strive to be like Him, then he does not show himself to be justified. Our works show our faith. If we believe in the Messiah, and eat of, grasp, and support the tree of life, then we will live forever in the arms of our Savior.

Sincerely,
Miss S.

Legs Are Nice

Mom and Sally O'Sullivan both stated that they would like to read 'random' things. How's this?

I walked a ton yesterday, and I have four blisters on one foot and two on the other. I love to walk. I like to walk with people and I like to walk alone. When I walk I like to sort myself out. I think walking is very peaceful. Sometimes it inspires me and sometimes it strengthens me. Sometimes I find out something incredibly important while walking. I'm quite thankful that I have legs.

Sincerely,
Miss S.

An Update on Me

Do accept my fervent apologies for not posting anything for such a long time. I haven't been busy. I don't have an excuse. Time flies when you need to post. It's kind of like writing in your journal. You think of it, but you don't get around to it. The only difference is that nobody reads your journal, so you don't need to feel bad if you don't write in it for weeks or even months.

I have some questions for you, readers. I was thinking of posting weekly articles. You know, the same sort of article every week. For example, a recipe every week, or a poem every week, or a bible verse every week. How does that sound to you? Do you have any ideas? Is there anything you would like to see me write about? Post your ideas in the comment section, and I'll think about them.

Sincerely,
Miss S.

A Moment of Bliss

I am the sort of person who doesn’t like to wish for something unless there is a chance of it coming true. So when I think of a moment of bliss, I naturally think of something that I could conceivably have someday. With that knowledge I will tell you my moment of bliss.

I am sitting curled up in a chair on a beautiful summer’s day. The house is clean, the dishes are washed, and the clothes are ironed and put away. Cookies are baking in the oven and the sweet smell is floating pleasantly through the house. The sun shines through a window and onto me as I sit in my chair reading and sipping iced lemonade.

Whenever I think of this moment of bliss I think of myself in a quaint cottage somewhere by the sea. The house is decorated with soft blues and greens. Everything is crisp, fresh, and lovely.

Now my practical side comes in. The house would’ve had to have been cleaned, the dishes would’ve had to have been washed, the clothes would’ve had to have been ironed and put away, and the cookies would’ve had to have been made. I would’ve had to have done all that. Then I think, well it wouldn’t be so bad to do all that, after all the sun would be shining and the house would be so pretty…you get my point. Now my practical side pushes its way in. Where I live, unless it’s the summer, the weather is almost always rainy or cloudy. Also, why would I be anywhere besides my own home? So now I have to change my perspective a bit. After my practical side making my moment of bliss more of a reality, this is what it looks like.

I am washing dishes on a drab cloudy day. The house needs to be cleaned, the dishes need to be washed, and the clothes need to be ironed and put away. Cookies need to be baked. The sun stays behind a cloud as I stand and scrub oil off the frying pan.

When I think of this ‘moment of bliss’ I think of myself in my house. The house isn’t decorated with soft blues and greens. Everything is completely normal.

Now my practical side is completely satisfied. Of course, this isn’t very blissful. But this is reality. If I’m not satisfied with reality, what makes me think I’ll be satisfied with anything else? I’ve always been saying things like, “When summer comes…” or, “When my sister has her baby…” or, “When I graduate…” then I’ll begin doing stuff. Then my moment of bliss will come true. I can never seem to be satisfied with what I have here, now. There will always be days, even in the summer, when a cloud comes and blocks the sun. There will always be times, even after I graduate, when I will be too busy to get the dishes done early. If I learn to be happy on the drab cloudy days, how much happier could I be on the sunny days? If I learn to be happy when the dishes aren’t washed, how much happier could I be when they are? If I am happy now, why would I need a moment of bliss?

Sincerely,
Miss S.

The Rebelution

Howdy! Here is a website I found while doing…well…what was I doing? I must have been doing something or I wouldn’t have found it. But that’s beside the point. This website is by Alex and Brett Harris -- authors of ‘Do Hard Things’ and younger brothers of the author of ‘I Kissed Dating Goodbye’.
http://www.therebelution.com
I like it very much. If you visit it click on ‘The Blog’ at the top, then click on ‘About the Rebelution’ on the right. They can give you a better explanation of themselves than I can. However, I can give you some explanation. They are twin teenage brothers with a biblical worldview and a heart for Yeshua (They say Jesus, but it’s the same thing and I prefer to say Yeshua). Their articles are very interesting and (at least I think) very thought provoking. I hope you like it.

Sincerely,
Miss S.

Words, Nonsense, and Writing

Don't you hate being forced to write? When you are made to sit down at a desk with a blank computer screen in front of you and told to write, what are you supposed to do? Thankfully, this has never happened to me. (Didn't I fool you there?) I've made myself sit down at a desk with a blank computer screen in front of me and told myself to write, but nobody has ever actually forced me to. If words flow out of my fingers and onto the keyboard, then I write. However, if I simply stare at the screen until my eyes get fuzzy and my brain begins to shut down, I don't. Of course, I've never really had any real reason to write until now. Not that that has anything to do with being forced.

I can feel my eyes beginning to close.

Never mind!!! I'm awake!! What was I saying? Ah yes, I was saying nothing. Isn't that what usually happens? I can't write right now, my mind is too discombobulated. Maybe I can try again later.

Sincerely,
Miss S.

'Let Them Do This...'

A thought on Hebrews 13:17:

‘Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.’

My thought is on ‘Let them do this with joy and not with grief’. I believe this is not merely letting them be joyous, but striving to help make them joyous. And likewise, not merely letting them be without grief, but endeavoring not to give them grief. For when we distress and irritate them, it puts them in a bad humor. And when they are in a bad humor it affects the way they watch over us. This in the end affects us in an ‘unprofitable’ way.

Sincerely,
Miss S.

Spring Again

Outside, our fruit trees are blooming. Isn’t it incredible how God can take a completely bare tree and make it bloom? It is quite interesting to watch a blossom day by day in the spring. It begins with a little bump on the wood. The bump then grows into a bud. The bud then separates, forming three or four buds. These buds then blossom into flowers. Once the flowers die and all that remains is the stem, it becomes even more fascinating. The stem then appears to grow. After a while you realize it isn’t a stem anymore, but an apple or a plum! Isn’t God’s work amazing?

Sincerely,
Miss S.