The Things I Used to Take for Granted

There are many things I have taken for granted in my life, and I say this to my shame. It seems as though until you experience the lack, or whatever it may be personally effects your life, do you realize how much you took for granted, and how foolish it was.

Some things I take for granted are small and of little importance. For instance, running water. Last week I learned what a blessing it is to have water flowing out of the faucet when you turn it on. All my life I’ve known faucets to relinquish their substance of h2o when I turn the knob or lift the lever. It wasn’t until one morning I turned the faucet on and nothing came out of the spigot did I realize how much I took for granted the maze of plumbing pipes below me when they're in proper working order. That morning I had to melt snow to wash my face, I had to drink bottled water, and horror or horrors, I could not take a shower. In fact, the lesson of how much I take running water for granted stretched on for 2 days before the plumber could fix our problem. By then the message really got through to me.

Yes, I purposely put that really handy feature in today’s life under the not-so-important-things-I-used-to-take-for-granted. For there are things of much more intrinsic value. Running water I still deem a necessity, but when it wasn’t working, there were other avenues we were able to take. We had access to water through our kind neighbors and friends—all of whom have running water (I wonder if they know how blessed they are)—who wouldn’t allow us to live in thirst and dehydration. It was just a lot of extra work and hassle.

It seems like the most valuable treasures I possess in my life, I take for granted the most. One such treasure would be the Blood of Christ.. I forget how much Christ sacrificed for me that I might have eternal life. His nail-scars have a tendency to fade into the oblivion of day-to-day life. I don’t remember how precious He is. We were able to live without running water, yet if His blood had not flowed that day some 2000 years ago, we would be creatures without hope with nothing to live for.

There’s another element in life that I have taken for granted. It’s on a more American level. On 9/11 when firefighters and rescue workers gave their lives in a quest to save their fellow man, I took them and their families for granted. I thought their brave deeds were indeed heroic and honorable but I did not consider the personal sacrifice they made, the pain they suffered and the void they left. I honored and respected them for what they did, but didn’t take time to consider and appreciate who they were.

And then there were the brave men and women who were deployed to quench the terror of the terrorist, bring freedom to Iraqis and defend our own freedoms as a nation. Yes, I took them for granted too. The troops registered in my mind as the number I heard over the news. I confess that seldom did I stop to consider each number as a person, with families they had to leave behind, friendships they had to put on hold, and lives they laid on the line when duty called. Many sacrificed everything for the sake of my freedom and protection.

Not to say that the sight of a flag-draped coffin never insinuated a tear, or never caused my heart to beat to a patriotic rhythm. I guess I just thought of our soldiers more as brave extra-human super-heroes to respect and not so much as people to appreciate. It’s because I took them for granted.

I criticized the imperfections of our nation and focused more on the outrageous disgust of the sins and perversion that has taken hold of it. Our national heroes in the form of men in uniform were like faded background entities that I seldom considered.

The horrors of 9/11 had a different effect on my brother. The firefighters and rescue workers were his heroes. He joined the fire department as soon as his age would allow him. He took up EMT and pretty much lived for the sound of his pager. I ceased to take his work for granted as I heard the tales of fires he fought and lives he had saved.

9/11 also sparked an indignation against the destruction the terrorists employed that day, and the innocent lives they took. Being a firefighter and EMT wasn’t enough. He joined the army.

I’ve been dreading today for a long time. We have to say goodbye to Gabe as he takes his flight to Georgia for training. He will be gone for several months. His stay could be significantly prolonged if he is physically injured. Contact with him will be extremely limited. This is going to be a huge adjustment, and I’m going to really miss just being able to talk to him anytime I feel like it.

I can no longer find it in me to take our soldiers or their families for granted. I realize now what kind of sacrifices they make and I can’t help but appreciate them far more than words can say. No, our country is not perfect. But I do love it. It is the place God has blessed me to call home. And I can’t help but be proud of my brother, proud to be an American, and proud to truly know this nation as the land of the free and home of the brave. I thank God for the blessings for which I have for so long taken for granted.

To those of you who serve our country, I say a big thank you for the sacrifices you have made for those who usually just take you for granted. It's because of you and people like you that I can live in peace and freedom. And to your family members and friends, well, now I'm starting to know what your shoes feel like.

Where a child is hungry, where men have no homes
Where the powerless are yearning to breathe free
May we fight for justice, until there’s justice for all
And become what God meant us to be.

I pledge my allegiance to the grand old flag
And the promise of hope from sea to sea
Under God, one nation, undivided we will stand
Lift the banner of liberty.

Gloria Gaither

Quilting Resources

It doesn't take a whole lot of searching to collect a whole stash of information on the internet. If you're looking into making a quilt, check out some of these resources for instructions and ideas.

Double Irish Chain

A guide to Strip Quilting

Block Central

Free Quilt Block Patterns from McCall's Quilting

Free Quilt Blocks

Quilt Blocks Galore!

Scrappy Irish Chain
Diminish your stash of scraps with this pattern! My friend is working on this pattern with beautiful results!

The Fruit of Her Hands part II

The Quilt Top
pattern, fabrics and assembling

The possibilities and patterns for quilt tops are endless. There are countless websites with plenty of helpful tips and ideas and even free patterns. The library is also another great source for books and patterns. If you’re a beginner, keep in mind, the simpler the better. If you choose a complicated pattern, the chances of burning yourself out in this endeavor are greater. The particular one I’m featuring is the Double Irish Chain, consisting of 3 fabrics—1) cream muslin, 2) soft purple print, 3) dark plum. I wouldn’t call it the simplest pattern out there with all the seams to line up, but I know some quilters who have successfully started out with this.


Light 100% cotton is highly recommended for hand quilting, so choose your fabrics accordingly. The fabric is easier to push a needle through, and it lays so nice. I do allow at times a touch of polyester or rayon in one fabric of the quilt top. It adds a touch of flavor to the quilt once quilted.
The variety of fabric prints on a quilt adds to its charm. For an eye-pleasing quilt, there is one trick in coordinating the fabrics. Choose a print you want to use—preferably with the most colors--and use it as a color guide. Choose fabrics that have at least one of that print’s colors in it.
The strip method for cutting out and assembling this particular pattern works wonderfully. I have a penchant for tiny, so I cut my strips at 1 ½ inches wide, which results in 1-inch squares. It’s a fun pattern to quilt, because it allows for a lot of variety. If you’re a beginner, larger blocks are easier to work with.


When sewing your quilt top together, set your stitch length around 2. The smaller the stitch, the stronger the seam. Making a quilt top seldom requires anything other than straight seams. Simple, right? You’ll do great so long as your seams are straight and consistent with the ¼-inch seam allowance. I can’t stress straight seams enough. It’s very difficult to make your blocks line up if there are varying seam allowance widths, and that makes for a not so pretty quilt.


Don’t despair at the good use you may put to your seam ripper. I’ll let you in on a little secret: the seam ripper is among my own personal most-used tools in my sewing room. Certainly not my favorite, but it is necessary. And practice does make perfect, so in time your seam ripper will have more opportunities to collect a few stray flecks of dust as your sewing abilities increase.

Iron your seams well. The flatter the seam, the more attractive the quilt. Quilt seams can either be ironed open (looks nicer, but takes more time and makes the seam weaker) or to one side—usually the dark side.

Next week we’ll cover the basics on assembling the quilt: the backing, batting, basting and binding. In the mean time, you can start work on your quilt top [smile]. If you have further questions, please let me know!

[related article]

The Sleeping Tabbies

"In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust."

Psalm 4:3

Walk With Me

We all stumble on life’s journey, we all need a helping hand
From time to time we all wonder how we fit into Your plan.

Walk with me through the darkness
Hold my hand when I am lost
Carry me when the road gets rough
Pick me up each time I fall
When I’m in my darkest hour and I feel like giving up
Take this weight from off my shoulders fill my heart with Your love.

Let Your presence be here with me
Every day and every night
Walk with me through the darkness
Walk with me till I reach the light
--Randy Travis

Just for the record, for those of you who think we Wisconsin folks are enjoying beautiful weather... The photos above were taken earlier last week when we had a February interval of beautiful weather between the way-below-zero temperatures and the snow, snow, snow. The weekend deposited somewhere around 20-inches on us, and continues to snow as I speak.

He Knows Your Pain

The God on whom we rely knows what suffering is all about--not merely in the way that God knows everything, but by experience.

--D. A. Carson

Remembering Gramma

February 25, 2006

"Britt, Gramma’s having a heart attack."
No! God, not that!

"The ambulance just left."
Let her be okay. Please!

"It doesn’t look like she made it."
No God! Let them be wrong!

"That was the coroner. She’s dead."
Tears. Inside-out pain. She’s gone. No more.

A series of phone calls over what felt like an eternity, but really was probably nothing more than an agonizing hour. My brother, my dad, my mom, my cousin keeping me tuned to the tragic drama unfolding there at home. I was 530 miles away, alone in the big yellow house on 3rd Street with my niece and nephew tucked in their beds for a nap while their parents took a weekend getaway for their anniversary.

It was a shock. Gramma had experienced severe health problems and excruciating pain for many years. Her last hospital stay had ended because it was Christmas and there was nothing more they could do for her anyway. But as the weeks went by, her strength slowly returned and she was experiencing a good dose of health. Her humor was at its peak, her smile constant, her love of life vibrant.

I had just spoke to her the other day. I could hear her smiling voice plainly in my ears as the last words of our conversation echoed in my ears. "Bye, Honey, I love you!" I had no idea how final that goodbye was.

Though the grief I felt went to the very core of my being, God opened my eyes to the departure Gramma had just made. No longer leashed to an oxygen tank, no more hospital beds, no more swallowing handfuls of pills, no more pain.

"But then I saw with spirit eyes the entrance you must have made, running to the arms of Jesus finally Home to stay."

I could almost hear the way the very voice of Jesus sounded to Gramma when He whispered to her, "Come away, My Love." Taking her hand, she broke the chains of this life and soared beyond the blue.

She was free, and it would be cruel of me to ask her back. The moment she lived for had happened. She died here, but she was born into a life that is far more infinite and glorious than I can comprehend.

Gramma is, in my opinion, an unsung hero. In her unassuming way, she imparted to me a better understanding of the grace of God. Her heroic faith withstood the tempests in her life, and her eyes were fixed on the eternal hope she had. The example of her life is forever stamped on my own.

The color blue, the hummingbird, the scent of lilacs, the word "cute" pronounced with a strong Norwegian accent, Proverbs 3:5&6, and all the other little fragments of memory are now special little reminders of this dear woman. Not a day goes by in which I don’t think of her smile, remember her laugh, or treasure the many memories of times I got to spend with her. I will always love her, and will always miss her.

It’s been a year now, but her memories are as fresh as though I spent yesterday with her. Sometimes I have to wonder if I really have caught on with the fact that she is no more in this life. I still find myself thinking dialing "M. 3" will have her on the other line. And then I am painfully reminded again that she’s gone. But her "Bye, Honey, I love you" over the phone that day was only final for this life. There will come a day that I will see her again. Until then, I will miss her sweet presence in my life.

"And even though you’ve laid your armor down and passed the torch you are a hero of my faith, a strong soldier of the cross."

Love Suffers Long

True love comes as a gift from God. An incredible Love that not only fills our own hearts but serves to overflow, with currents that reach out to touch everyone in our lives. This love calls us to a higher realm of service. It’s a faithful love and stands strong when put to the test.

When you truly love someone, you accept them as they are for who they are. You will long endure evil and provocative manners because you love. This kind of love has power over the mind and flesh, and does not stoop to anger, hate, revenge, indignation or resentment.

This love equips your heart with a supply of patience, furnishing it to be capable of braving the heinous acts of one who is undeserving of such love.

It gives you the ability to wait willingly and uncomplainingly for the sake of the other. It is persevering and does not cease. It stands the test of time, patiently willing to love and love and waits to see the miracle of reformation. Such love gives resilience and tenacity to your soul, faithfully standing by, unquenched and loyal. It does not give way to a passion of anger. It does not withhold itself until the other becomes perfect.

You must not lose heart, even when everyone else does. In the strength of God, you can remain strong and steadfast, like a rock, with a stream of love gushing forth. By His grace you can bear offense and injury, and still be capable of shielding your heart from bitterness, distrust and hate. With a mild spirit, you can continue to faithfully love. Slow to anger, slow to revenge. Quick to forgive, and speedy to restore a relationship.

In this kind of love, your spirit will stretch its wings and soar above the circumstance. You won't be mindful of the hurts and betrayal, but cling instead to the promise of God that says, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." In that you can find your strength to love and love and love, even the most undeserving. With such a love, you will shine forth like a faithful beacon, proving steadfast loyalty and a beaming token to the Lover of your soul. Your love will stand the test of time, for love lasts long.

Ever Heard of the Guinea Whisperer?

The Fruit of Her Hands

I love quilts, in case you never noticed, and homemade quilts are definitely high on my "few of my favorite things" list. My sewing room has turned out a few such delights. The process of cutting, piecing, assembling, basting, binding and quilting is really a fascinating work.

There used to be a time when a girl at a very young age was schooled in intricate stitchery. She filled her hopechest with her beautiful work in preparation for marriage years before her wedding day. In those days, a quilt wasn’t something you could just order off the Internet, or walk into the local Wal-Mart and purchase the bed-in-a-bag. They were not readily available, so if she hoped to keep her family warm and comfortable, her fingers had to keep busy. But the home she had a home to look forward to was a home that would boast of the work of her very own hands.

In those days, quilting bees were the social events. Light refreshments, plenty of talking and busy fingers, huddled around the quilt frame. It’s hard to imagine now, but back in those days, this was the "in" thing to do, and completely natural.

Today however, we’ve lost that. Our society has become too industrialized. We lead lives that are so fast-paced we can’t take time to smell the flowers, much less even think about threading a needle. The hand-stitched thread invested into the woven cotton of the fabric has become a lost art of the past.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Consider the old ways. Women back then knew what it was like to experience the praise of the works of her hands.

Ever since I was a little girl I loved doing hand projects. I delved into crocheting, embroidery, cross-stitch, and hand-appliqué, to name a few. As I grew older, my patience in those areas began to deplete as I learned to immensely appreciate the expeditious whirring sewing machine instead.

Hand quilting is one thing though that I haven't allowed to slip from my grasp of enjoyment. Winter wouldn’t be complete without at least a couple quilting projects. It’s a great way to relax, and as Dad teases, "de-stress".

"Oh you’re so patient!" Some people declare. With needle in hand, I have to say that actually, I’m not. I’ve learned though that the best way to work on a project is on my terms. Fit it into my schedule. A snip here, a seam there, and a stitch every now and then. It shouldn’t be a race against time. That’s when patience gets exhausted and the project gets doomed to the (never) to-be-completed bin.

Some of you have inquired of my techniques, so I hope to, in future posts, share what I have found to work the best for me. In the mean time, consider the whole of Proverbs 31, not just the following excerpt:

"She works willingly with her hands… Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her."

Proverbs 31

Sewing Q&A

Is [the rag quilt] a project that you think could be tackled by a novice? As in, someone whose fabric prowess consists of crocheting scarves and assisting a friend in converting one of my pairs of jeans into a skirt? I use the term "assisting" loosely, as well. Or are quilts more of a wait-until-you've-got-a-little-more-experience-with-sewing sort of project?

For a sewing novice, ready to get her feet wet in the world of stitches and seams, I would say the rag quilt project is a perfect way to start. It's simple and basic, and so fun! All straight seams, with the "quilting" aspect easily variable (just sewing an X on the blocks looks cool).

I would recommend making a small lap quilt first--small enough to not be too overwhelming of a project yet large enough to use when watching a movie or curling up with a good book. Depending on your choice of material, this makes an adorable baby blanket as well.

Fabrics can vary for this project. If it's cotton, you can use it since cotton frays the best. Using lighter fabrics is easier on your machine.

My sister and I made a rag quilt for my nephew once by cutting strips about 10 inches wide, the length of the blanket. Airplane-printed cotton for the top, beige cotton for the bottom and stitched them together. No batting, no quilting, just straight seams and snipping. It was a snap and little Landon had a nice summer-time blanket to snuggle in.

Some Family Moments

Tabby made us some chocolate chip cookies

Tabby & Gabe

Hannah and I having one of our strange moments

Levi's latest career goal is photgraphy

Here's a collage consisting of our Valentines Day as a family

Wishing

I was wishing that my wishes were what God wished, and if my wishes were not what God wished, I wished that I could wish that my wishes would go away, but the wishes were still there.

Elisabeth Elliot

A Love Note

I find all kinds of little sentiments left on my desk by my 8 year-old sister. My favorite "recent" one says,

Dear Britt
I Love you
You Best sisters and so is Hannah
I Love you
Love Tabby
Daot Feb 41
23420000
Britt
Otterson
2+2+8+4

What Britt Needs

"Britt, where ya at?"

"I'm at Grampa's house."

"Can you come to our house? I want you to come to our house, Britt."

My favorite nephew called me this evening to talk and talk and talk and talk. We covered everything from driving Thomas the Train together (and not falling down) to getting bigger, just like a guy ("Are you getting bigger, Britt?"), and all the things in between such as "bunnypigs", airplanes to the trees, going to Georgia, Janae gagging all by herself, making eggs for breakfast...

In a deep discourse on what a good boy he is, and how much I love good boys he interjected a probing thought...

"Britt, you.... you.... you need...." he paused to better articulate his thought. "You need a boy, Britt."

What Is Love?

In our fallen world, any measure of love stems from a selfish motive. Love lasts as long as the feeling, and when the feeling is diminished, so is the love.

It takes what it can get, and when there's nothing more to obtain, it moves on without a backward glance.

Frustrate it, and it's gone. It has no time or patience for imperfection. It's demanding and pushy and unsatisfied. It's never fulfilled, and is easily quenched. It's disloyal and perforated with betrayal.

We live in an imperfect world, and what was once pure has become tainted. What our world calls love is something entirely different from what God calls love.

We think of it as something to derive pleasure from. It's colored with red and pink. It's heart-shaped. It comes in the form of chocolates and roses. It's fringed with poetry and eloquence. It's glowing with flickering tea lights, set with dainty china and exotic lace. It's romantic.

But it's also dispensable.

This is but a very, very small, miniscule fraction of the true depth of love. It is not just a thing of emotion, but a work of the heart.

Love will endure suffering, and is always kind. It does not stoop to envy or rivalry. It will never puff itself up with pride. It doesn't behave in an impossible and unseemly manner. It doesn't seek after its own pleasure and whims. It's not provoked easily. It refuses to think evil of someone. It never rejoices in wickedness, but takes great pleasure in the truth. It will bear all things to the end. Believing and trusting, never giving up hope. Enduring and faithful throughout all time, never failing for a moment.

This is love. Love that God has freely bestowed on us, and love we in turn give freely to others.

4 Years Ago Today…

...My sister said "I do" to the tall Nebraska boy she had experienced a bad case of love-at-first-sight with 4 months previously in the small town of Loveland.

4 years later she remains a happy little Mrs. Nelson with her man by her side. They have two of the cutest kids this side of heaven, soon to make it three, and one proud aunt on-call as a nanny.

Here’s to wishing the Mr. & Mrs. Toby Nelson a Happy and Blessed Anniversary.

Frayed Denim Tip

This comment was left on my post, Recycling Old Jeans.

A little question, though: Does it leave little strings from the raw ends? I made bean bags out of jean squares and left the edges raw, with the thought of a cool frayed look, but so far it just drops little strings all over. :( Just wondering if you had any suggestions for a "non-messy-frayed-look." :) Thanks!

These rag quilts drop strings until washed and dried. It's a trick though to keep all those strings that inevitably come off in the washer out of the septic system. My sister gave me the idea of washing the quilt in a pillow case (depending on the size of the quilt of course), which collects all the strings and lint.

However, washing bean bags might be a little more difficult {smile}. I would recommend washing and drying the little bag before filling it.

Hope that helps!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today celebrates a beautiful aspect of life called love. For many this means romance and recognizing it, or being reminded of the lack thereof. It also makes for a great opportunity to tell your friends and family how much you love and appreciate them. But I also like to consider it as a reminder to be especially mindful (like I should be everyday!) of the Creator of love who created and established our hearts to love and be loved.

Here's a couple Valentines posts around the web that I appreciated...

Bethany has a beautiful writing on Your Divine Valentine

A Valentine may love you for a lifetime,
but God loved you before you were born and will love you for all eternity!

And a beautiful poem is found at my dear friend's blog entitled, Not Yet, My Love

Last but not least, The Modesty Survey is completed! My hat's off to Alex & Brett, as well as all who put their time and effort into this project, not to mention the girls who asked and the guys who answered.

photo credit

Recycle Old Jeans

...Make a Rag Quilt!

Somehow I had accumulated a horrendous stack of old jeans that had seen better days. In my quest to conquer my sewing room, I found myself face to face with a tough decision: pitch the sacks (yes, sackS) of dirty jeans or recycle them. In a moment of weakness, I chose the latter.

Here's what my recycling method consisted of...

Splice the seams to open the jeans, and then cut them into 7-inch squares. Minor holes, paint drippings, stains, seams, pockets and any other irregularities I allowed for the durable masculine effect. With a hunk of brown plaid fabric for the back, cut squares the same size. Quilt batting can be trimmed to around 5 1/2-inch squares.

Layering plaid fabric right-side down, denim block face-up with batting sandwiched between, machine-quilt the blocks (for the plain blocks I stitched a 5-point star, while the blocks with seams or pockets, I stitched randomly to emphasize).

Placing plaid sides together, stitch the blocks with a 1/2-inch seam allowance, making strips the length of the quilt. Iron seams (either open, or to alternating sides), and then sew strips together--plaid sides matching, of course.

With a sharp pair of scissors, put a snip along the seam allowance every inch, and there's the finished product of a rag quilt.

But don't forget about the poor sewing machine. You might want to give it a good dusting once your project is completed (if not before!), or it'll really start complaining especially if it has this much lint in it!

Quilt Update

My favorite part of a quilt project is hand quilting. That particular element for the double Irish Chain quilt has now ensued and I'm rather enjoying the pricked fingers and callouses.

{- 45 such blocks to go!

Back corner -}

[See previous post: A Cozy Project]

"Time" is on Our Side

Time... something I take for granted far too often. I was blessed by an email newsletter I received today, and just wanted to share an excerpt of it.

We've all heard the saying, "the good things in life take "time," and it's true. There's no other way around it, it takes "time" to build or create anything of quality and value. It takes time to create a painting, a song, a garden. It takes time to build character, trust, a relationship. These things don't happen overnight, and would we really appreciate it if they did? In this busy world of ours we have so little "time," but "time" can really be on our side. We need to take some "time" to let our hungry souls be fed and not be filled up with so much stuff between the "Sabbaths" in our lives.
[...]
We all need to take the "time" to be good stewards of the talents and gifts the good Lord has given each one of us; and we need to take the "time" to use them for His glory to the best of our ability. Our Heavenly Father did not call us to live our lives by the expectations of others nor in bondage to the demands of "time."

Remember, you can't go back again, so roll down the window as you ride down the road of life and breathe in these chances to love and live life wide open!You will find that "time" truly is on your side, exactly the way God intended it to be!

--Ernie Haase

Slightly Contemplative

After uploading these pictures, I noticed I must've been in a reflective mood to shoot such contemplative shots. [big grin] Which one's your favorite?

8 year-old sister Tabby with the dog

O'Malley the cat

16 year-old brother Zack

Archie

Brothers Levi & Zack

He is Able

You shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

Isaiah 60:16

Therefore, since it is God, the almighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth, who is our Savior, there can be no question about His ability to save us. We may rest our case in His care without any anxiety or fear.

Hannah Whitall Smith

Fix Your Thoughts on Jesus

I love how Hebrews 3:1 is worded in the NIV:

"Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus."


A friend of mine pointed it out to me, and it made me stop and think.


I realized that a mind fixed on Jesus can not be inhabited by bitterness. Sin does not thrive in the essence of Christ; discouragement can not take up residence in His presence. The fruits of the Spirit can only be the natural outcome of a mind whose thoughts are transfixed on the Savior and His cross. When set on Christ, focused on His love, filled with His joy, the habitation of my heart is peace. Peace that surpasses any circumstance, soothes any hurt, comforts any pain.

When all else fails, there will always be One who remains. It is vital for me to fix my thoughts on Him.


But the plight of daily life can remove Him from my mind, and I forget to focus on Him. My friend and I came up with a solution:

["...bind them as a sign on your hand..." Deuteronomy 11:18]

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

Isaiah 26:3

Modesty Survey Petition Drive

The Modesty Survey has come to a close, and the Rebelution will release the results this coming Wednesday, Valentines Day. However there's one final step, and Alex and Brett are calling on all Christian Guys (ages 12 and up) to participate by signing the Modesty Survey Petition. [more details, read Announcing...]

I Love You

"I love you." Three simple syllables, but three of the most precious words in the English language.

Those were the words my sister whispered in my ear before I went down the aisle to stand in her wedding. Those were the words I read in a letter from a friend when I was hurting. Those were the words my brother told me when he called me from 500 miles away. Those were the words scrawled on a note and left where I would find it. Those were the words my parents ended every telephone conversation with. Those were the last words my gramma ever told me.
I love you.

There are not three words more efficacious. They are words that minister a balm to the hurt, lend tender comfort to the sorrowful, bring sweet repose to the troubled soul, softens the hardest-of-hearts, wipes clean a slate marked with distrust and bitterness…

Don't underestimate the power behind those 8 letters. They can not be overused or uttered too often, if they are spoken in truth and authenticity.

They are words that are necessary to be spoken, and they have the power to rectify relationships, heal broken trusts and release the hold of bitterness.

I love you.

It's like a fragrant candle whose aroma clings to the hearer, bringing peace and hope. The flame of it warming the heart and bringing light to a relationship.

And as the perfume of the rose clings to the hand that gives it, so does the ardor of the words, "I love you," warm the heart that gave it.

Through the strength of your Savior, let His love shine through you as a beacon within the lighthouse, a hope flickering in the darkness, with a wisp of His holiness penetrating some soul, lighting the obscurity of their heart.

Wissmann Family Makes News

Blade described the wreckage as "something from Baghdad." --The Mississippi Press

But for the grace, love and protection of God!

Modesty Articles

I really appreciate the series going on over at the Rebelution on modesty. They've recently posted several modesty-related articles that I find both balanced and challenging.

Here's a few excerpts...

Let’s be honest. We’re men, and we’re responsible for ourselves. We’re responsible for our thoughts, for our lusts, for our character. We won’t be able to blame the girls when we’re called to give account for it in the judgment day... But quite honestly, we’d rather do our battles with the world than with our sisters in Christ.

The Responsibility of Modesty (Part One)

In my opinion, modesty is no more about hiding the fact that a woman is a woman than having a parapet around a roof is about hiding the fact that the roof is a roof... You don’t have to hide the fact that your house has a roof or that you are a woman. You don’t have to build a nine-foot wall or wear a gigantic paper bag over your body. But you do have to do what you can to protect the lives of your guests and the purity of your brothers.

The Responsibility of Modesty (Part Two)

Henceforth, you shall wear clothing, not to conceal that you are not what you should be, but to confess that you are not what you should be.

John Piper: The Purpose of Clothing

But if you are a child of God, you will find great comfort and security in the fact that you do belong to God, that your body is His. It means that you can trust that God will take good care of His property. It also means that you have a responsibility to take care of it.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Free To Be Modest

Conserve Paper:

Write on Kleenex.

I found this sweet note in my bedroom last night. Spelling may not be her natural gift, but at least she knows how to write cursive Y's now.

John Piper on Our Underserved Gifts

One of the reasons we are not as Christ-centered and cross-saturated as we should be is that we have not realized that everything--everything good, and everything bad that God turns for the good of His redeemed children--was purchased by the death of Christ for us. We simply take life and breath and health and friends and everything for granted. We think it is ours by right. But the fact is that it is not ours by right. We are doubly undeserving of it.

1) We are creatures, and our Creator is not bound or obligated to give us anything--not life or health or anything. He gives, He takes, and He does us no injustice.

2) And besides being creatures with no claim on our Creator, we are sinners. We have fallen short of His glory. We have ignored Him and disobeyed Him and failed to love Him and trust Him. The wrath of His justice is kindled against us. All we deserve from Him is judgment.

Therefore every breath we take, every time our heart beats, every day that the sun rises, every moment we see with our eyes or hear with our ears or speak with our mouths or walk with our legs is, for now, a free and undeserved gift to sinners who deserve only judgment.

John Piper

I found it ironic that I should read this yesterday as I stood in awe at the love and care of God when He protected dear friends of mine when their bus collided with a semi (see previous post). Words cannot describe the goodness of God! How unworthy I am of His gifts.