Thursday, November 28, 2013

Thankful Thursday: From the Book

Traditions...


Every year, my mom gets out the traditional Thanksgiving photo album scrapbook. It's great fun to look back and see what family members wrote in previous years as to what they are thankful for. Family is a recurring theme. Here's my entry for this year:

In March, when Grandpa died, I realized how terrific a family I come from. I am thankful for each member. I'm also thankful for the gift of godly friends, the gift of a mandolin, and the gift of depending on Jesus daily. ~*~

Each year also features a different Bible verse or passage. Not coincidentally, this year's was the one I happened to be memorizing this morning:

Now therefore, our God,
We thank You
And praise your glorious name.
But who am I, and who are my people,
That we should be able to offer so willingly as this?
For all things come from You,
And of Your own we have given You.
For we are aliens and pilgrims before you,
As were all our fathers,
Our days on earth are as a shadow
And without hope.
(1 Chronicles 29:13-15)

Truly, I am thankful to be dependent on Jesus daily. Everything really does come from HIM. Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday, November 22, 2013

Thankful Thursday: Right-ness

True, today isn't Thursday, it's Friday. It was on Thursday, however, that I was meditating on Romans, chapters 9-11. In chapter 10, Paul talks about the difference between the righteousness of the law and the righteousness of faith. The Jews were pursuing the righteousness of the law. They had a list from God of what to do and not do - the law of Moses. If they did everything according to that law, they would be righteous, judged correct by the Holy God. “The man who does those things shall live by them.” (Rom. 10:5) If they stumbled in one point, however, they would be guilty of all. (James 2:10) Impossible! yet they tried. "For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge." (10:2)

God had a better way: Jesus Christ.   
"For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." (10:3-4)

Christ was righteous in every point. 100.000% Righteous. So what does God do? He sends Jesus to die our death, so that we may receive His righteous life, by faith.


For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. (Rom. 5:19)
 
The righteousness that comes by faith isn't inferior. It still passes God's impeccable eyesight. But it has a different testimony. (10:6-9) It doesn't say "Who's going to get Christ down from heaven?" or "Who's going to bring Christ up from the dead?" None of those actions are necessary.
 
 "But what does it [the righteousness of faith] say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (10:8-9) The word is near you... present tense! It's already here! And I can never read "word" without thinking John 1; "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us" (Jn. 1:14a) - Jesus!
 
We have some friends who are Mormon. Recently we visited their church when their 8-year-old daughter got baptized. Of course we were being really watchful to discern the substance of their doctrine. A lot of it is very similar to Christianity, so unless you know your Bible, it would be extremely easy to just go along with it. One of the things we noticed was how, although they recognize Jesus' death being an "atonement" for our sin, they emphasize the need to "do the best that you can" after you believe, as though we could repay God. Oh, thank you Jesus that your righteousness was sufficient, because I sure don't have any apart from you! And, you are in my heart. You haven't left me the same!
 

Monday, November 18, 2013

Quick quote


God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. 
There is no such thing.

- C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity


Friday, November 15, 2013

You didn't see me take these pictures!

Trail of History 2013

 
For the first and last time, we stayed overnight at the Trail. The night was cold, but the morning was beautiful, and I pulled out my not-historically-authentic camera. I got teased a little by our Highlander neighbor, but then he admitted to taking some himself, including one with the tipi-framed moon.

 Our neighbors on the other side included an incredibly social and adorable three-year-old.
Laura and David made their own haversacks, with a little help.

Michael went barefoot all weekend.

We volunteered at the Children's Dress Up site during the day on Saturday and slept inside the tent that night. We brought in the straw bales for a mattress and despite the freezing temperatures, most of us stayed warm enough. We had enough blankets!

.:The trail Sunday morning:.

.:Sunrise:.
 
 
David walked to the top of the kame with me.
.:View of the Valley Floor from the kame:.

.:Tents:.

The French voyageurs. I never did get to watch them do their canoe launch.

~

My mom took some more pictures of us, so I may post a few of those in the near future. 

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Thankful Thursday: Boredom is a Choice

I'm thankful for learning... learning domestic arts, learning mandolin, learning trigonometry, learning Advanced square dance calls, learning how to work with new situations, learning how good and faithful God is. The learning never stops, and I'm so glad!

And in keeping with the post title, here's proof that our home is never boring...


 
(learning how to make videos...)

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Thankful Thursday: Luv My Sweet Potato Lunch


Hello again!
Isn't November the perfect month to pull out Thankful Thursdays again?
~
This year I decided not to join my family at our homeschool co-op (though I did love teaching math), choosing instead to spend that day of the week on my own studies, chores, projects, and keeping an eye on our old dog. One perk to this arrangement is that I get to make personal lunches, healthy, filling, and yummy!

I have no intention of making this a food blog, but I am thankful for good food. The sweet potato I grew myself. The salad I did not, although my garden did include lettuce, peppers, and cukes. The kefir in the smoothie was homemade, and some of the fruit came from a neighbor's yard. The recipe came from Trim Healthy Mama, our go-to cookbook nowadays. (E meal, THM fans?) 


The Lord upholds all who fall,
And raises up all who are bowed down.
 The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
And You give them their food in due season.
 You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.
Psalm 145:14-16