reading

what i've been up to:

a basket of summer fruit by susannah spurgeon (the wife of c.h.s. himself),

compilation and book design by my good friend carrie anne.

such a good, heavy read.

it takes a long time to get through because of all the good, thick gospel truths that are packed into every sentence.

i've been reading it every morning after i've read my Bible, and its been so beneficial to my soul.

what may be the most random christmas eve post ever

i'm sooosooosooo excited about christmas tomorrow!

the whole christmas season is amazing because everywhere we turn we are reminded of the sacrifice Jesus made - coming down in human form so that he could die for our sins.

it is shocking to me that even in the world this holiday is celebrated, and christian songs are played on the radio.

now i have a confession to make. i hate christmas music. like truly, sincerly hate it.

its just too flowy and smooth and - i think - fakely happy and just gross. :)

now i have no idea what gives me this impression... most people love it and have it playing all year round. i love christmas carols that have meaning and are about Jesus.

but songs like:

"chesnuts roasting over an open fire"

or

"baby its cold outside"

... the lyrics just seem pointless and nostalgic.

like all you need to keep you feeling happy and warm is good old memories from your childhood, when you were innocent and young and everything was cheerful.

the world knows that nothing will leave them fully happy and satisfied. but instead of turning to Jesus, many of them land on one thing that they think will work. so they listlessly remember their childhood or they try to be happy by spending time with family, being a good person, you name it.

now please understand. God gave us family to enjoy, and to point us back to himself in worship. i am sooooo super thankful for my family. we laugh till we cry, we sing at the top of our lungs while running through the below freezing streets of d.c., we talk about everything and nothing like there's no tomorrow, we gather around our fireplace and toast s'mores... God made us to enjoy these things. and heck, yeah. we do!

but none of these things satisfy. ultimately, we need God. no matter what that one thing is that we think will make us happy, in the end we'll just be empty and miserable again. and i'm talking to myself when i say this.

i don't like christmas music because of the way it can sometimes portray everything as innocent and happy.

but i looooove christmas carols like the following:

hail the heaven-born prince of peace

hail the sun of righteousness

light and life to all he brings

risen with healing in his wings

our savior comes humbly, taking on the form of the creatures he made.

he alone can bring us light - since we walk in the darkness of our sins - and life - since we are dead in our wickedness and rebellion.

o come let us adore him

o come let us adore him

o come let us adore him,

Chist the Lord

we don't just adore him because he's a little cute baby.

we still adore him for his purity and righteousness and love and perfection.

how beautiful is our sinless Savior.

no more let sin and sorrow grow

not thorns infest the ground

he comes to make his blessings flow

far as the curse is found

far as the curse is found

far as, far as the curse is found

not only is Jesus sinless, but he has come to reverse the effects of sin.

every curse that has come as the result of our purposeful, rebellious sin, he takes on himself, and he gives us the blessing of eternal joy in heaven with him.

glory to God!

this season is about him.

it is for his fame.

he loves us.

we don't deserve it.

but he loves us.

merry christmas!

and we'll close with charlie brown :)

faith & christmas

You did not wait for me
To draw near to you
But you wrapped yourself with frail humanity
You did not wait for me
To call out to you
But you let me hear your voice calling me

And I'm forever grateful to you
I'm forever grateful for the cross
I'm forever grateful to you
That you came to seek and save the lost

http://therohwering20s.blogspot.com/2010/12/blog-post.html

praying for amy

[ http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/amycalderone/journal ]

So I will trust in You,

So I will trust in You.

When fears are great,

And comforts few,

We hope in mercies ever new.

We trust in You.

//

Into the darkness You shine

Our of the ashes we rise

There's no one like you,

None like you

Our God is greater,

Our God is stronger,

God you are higher than any other,

Our God is healer,

Awesome in power,

Our God, Our God.

sailing into glory - charles h. spurgeon

"Suppose, dear friend, the thought of departing from this world to the glory-world should ever startle you.[...] Your vessel is in the pool, as it were, or in the dock; she is going out on her voyage; oh, but you will not go alone, nor have to track your course through paths unnavigated or unknown before![...] The Atlantic that severs us from Canaan is white with the sails of the vessels that are on voyage thither. Fear not, they have not been wrecked; we hear good news of their arrival - there is good hope for you. There are no icebergs on the road, no mists, no counter currents, and no sunken vessels or quicksands; you have but to cut your moorings, and with Christ on board you shall be at your desired haven at once."

I absolutely love this quote. Our voyage takes trust - "cut your moorings" - but it will always be completed, because God is a perfect and gentle captain. We have nothing to fear.

ellie's sorta sweet sixteen

back in april, my best friend ellie had her sixteenth birthday.

now things got crazy and school and cross country started, and she still hadn't found a chance to have her party.

but did she let that stop her? duh! no! she went right on and had a party in late october.

it was a little chilly, but that didn't deter her big group of girl friends from gathering outside to talk and laugh.

we gathered around the bonfire and played a game or two.

then we continued to talk and laugh, very very loudly... about everything, anything, and nothing... and as the result of this night many awkward, inside jokes have continued to flourish to this very day... :)

it was SUCH a fun party, probably one of the best ever!!

[i would insert a "happy birthday ellie" here... but it was in april, and the party was in october... soooo. ummmm. hahahaa.]

lllooooveeee yooouuu elliiieee!!

pc: http://www.imkristensblog.com/

ice skating

there are several remarks i would like to make about ice skating.

first off. it is very dangerous. there is a great risk of falling.

second. you do not wish to fall backwards, therefore it is best to lean forward at all times.

third. leaning forwards too far will make you fall over.

fourth. as you try to catch yourself from leaning over too far, there is always the risk of jerking

back to far and falling flat on your back.

fifth. always wear hockey skates. not over your dead body should you ever accept a pair of figure skates.

sixth. do not go on a crowded day, or strange men will come and slam into you. or tap you awkwardly on the shoulder. or pick you up. yes i said pick you up. very, very awkwardly.

seventh. if any of the above things happen to you, immediately tell an older brother or older brother figure. he will be happy to beat up the strange man in question.

seventh, never stray too far from the wall or you may get stranded and not be able to get to an exit before the cute zamboni driver runs you over.

eighth, always have a moving buddy so that you can hold their hand while ice skating. it does not matter if this person is a guy or a girl, or if they are good at skating or not. preferable this is someone you were already acquainted with, but its good to make new friends too.

ninth. never hold someone else's hand, because they will probably pull you down with them. or vice versa.

tenth. expect that the next day your shoulders will be very sore from leaning forwards, and that your knees will be a dark shade of purple from leaning forwards.

eleventh. it is normally best to not skate if the ice has not been smoothed for a while. the ice will be too bumpy and you will fall.

twelfth. it is normally best to not skate if the ice has just been smoothed, because it will be too slippery and you will fall.

thirteenth. always go with a big group of friends so that you will have much fun(ny / awkward memories).

fourteenth. never go with people who are good at ice skating because they will make you look and feel bad. even though you probably are.

fifteenth. never go with people who are bad at ice skating or no one will be able to do anything and you will stand or fall around looking at each other.

sixteenth. if you are in any way clumsy, uncoordinated, nonathletic or otherwise impaired, it is best not to go too fast.

seventeenth. the greatest risk involved in ice skating is with those who are good and therefore go too fast. they will most certainly fall while racing.

eighteenth. everyone will fall at least once.

nineteenth. it is best if at all possible to avoid ever trapping yourself in a cold room inside of a building that is filled with ice and small children, and to avoid wearing funny looking shoes with a knife on the bottom that will give you very little balance and leave you completely helpless. it is best, in my opinion, to not ever do any of the above. however it is fun.

the end.