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Characteristics of faith

Posted on April 6, 2009 by Barbara Harper

I’m thinking out loud here…

I’ve mentioned that for our ladies’ luncheon this year, instead of a speaker giving a devotional, we’re having a lady do a dramatic presentation of Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose, an autobiographical book about her confinement in a Japanese prison camp while serving as a missionary to the Philippines during WWII. I read it years ago: it’s a tremendous book. So I was excited to hear that this lady did this presentation.

In determining the theme and theme verse for the luncheon, I’ve been dipping in and rereading parts of the book. You can’t read much of it without the theme of faith becoming prominent. What I don’t want to happen, though, is for people to walk away from the presentation thinking, “Wow, how inspirational. She had such great faith. I could never do what she did, but what a great story.” I don’t think she would have wanted people to magnify her, or even her faith. In her acknowledgments, she wrote,

“More than ten years ago I began to write the story of my experiences during World War II for Bruce and Brian, my sons. I wished them to know, if ever difficult circumstances came into their lives, that their mother’s God is still alive and very well, and His arm has never lost its ancient power.”

She would want God, the object of her faith magnified, not the size of her own faith.

That reminded me of the time the disciples asked the Lord Jesus to increase their faith. He didn’t give them a three point formula for increasing faith. He responded in Luke 17: 6: “If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.” You have probably heard it said that the mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds. He seems to be saying, “It’s not the size of your faith that matters: just exercise what you have.”

Another passage that has been coming to mind in connection with Darlene’s story is from I Peter 1:

⁶ Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

⁷ That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

⁸ Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory…

One idea for a theme for the luncheon was “Golden Faith” — a faith tried, purified, and precious.

It seems that what is more important to the Lord is not the size of our faith, but its purity, from the above verses, and it’s simplicity, from Mark 10:

¹⁴ But when Jesus saw it [that they were turning away the children], he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

¹⁵ Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

¹⁶ And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

Heaven is even sweeter now

Posted on April 5, 2009 by Barbara Harper

We found out early this morning that one of the dear saints at our church passed away. She was a good friend, one of the first people here to invite us over. She had myriad physical problems but never had a self-pitying attitude. She volunteered long past the age that people retire to their rocking chairs.

There are always such strange mixed feelings when a believer dies. There is joy that she is without pain any more and in the Lord’s presence. Yet there is the feeling of loss, the missing of her presence, the renewal of loss each time you think about calling her only to remember she is gone.

It’s funny how the Bible says life here is but a vapor, yet we’re so surprised when it actually does end. She had been seriously ill so many times and bounced back, we just kept expecting that to be the pattern even though she was growing feebler.

Not long after hearing the news, the hymn “Jerusalem the Golden” came to mind, one of my favorites. The Bible doesn’t tell us very much about heaven. Elisabeth Elliot says that’s because, if we knew how wonderful it was, we would never get anything done here for thinking about it.

Jerusalem the golden,
with milk and honey blest,
beneath thy contemplation
sink heart and voice oppressed:
I know not, oh, I know not,
what joys await us there;
what radiancy of glory,
what bliss beyond compare!

They stand, those halls of Zion,
all jubilant with song,
and bright with many an angel,
and all the martyr throng:
the Prince is ever in them,
the daylight is serene;
the pastures of the blessèd
are decked in glorious sheen.

There is the throne of David;
and there, from care released,
the shout of them that triumph,
the song of them that feast;
and they who with their Leader
have conquered in the fight,
for ever and for ever
are clad in robes of white.

Oh, sweet and blessèd country,
the home of God’s elect!
Oh, sweet and blessèd country,
that eager hearts expect!
Jesus, in mercy bring us
to that dear land of rest,
who art, with God the Father,
and the Spirit, ever blest.

By Bernard of Cluny, 1145; translated by John Mason Neale, 1851, 1859

I have on a CD somewhere a beautiful men’s choral version of it that I was hoping to find online, but couldn’t. I found this version with the organ — not my favorite instrument, generally, but this is nice. And then I found this — I don’t know these folks and the words are a little hard to hear, but at least you can get an idea what this lovely hymn sounds like.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. John 11:25.

End of a long day

Posted on April 4, 2009 by Barbara Harper

Poetry Friday

Posted on April 3, 2009 by Barbara Harper

Poetry Friday is hosted at ayuddha.net today.

I have two springtime poems today. One by Robert Frost is one of my favorites — I think I have posted it every April.

Spring

The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You’re one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
A cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
A wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you’re two months back in the middle of March.

– Robert Frost

cloud1

windy

This second one is fairly new to me though it is an old hymn by John Wesley drawing parallels between springtime in the land and our need for spring-like renewal in our hearts.

Waiting For Spring

Though cloudy skies, and northern blasts,
Retard the gentle spring awhile;
The sun will conqu’ror prove at last,
And nature wear a vernal smile.

The promise, which from age to age,
Has brought the changing seasons round;
Again shall calm the winter’s rage,
Perfume the air, and paint the ground.

The virtue of that first command,
I know still does, and will prevail;
That while the earth itself shall stand,
The spring and summer shall not fail.

Such changes are for us decreed;
Believers have their winters too;
But spring shall certainly succeed,
And all their former life renew.

Winter and spring have each their use,
And each, in turn, his people know;
One kills the weeds their hearts produce,
The other makes their graces grow.

Though like dead trees awhile they seem,
Yet having life within their root,
The welcome spring’s reviving beam
Draws forth their blossoms, leaves, and fruit.

But if the tree indeed be dead,
It feels no change, though spring return,
Its leafless naked, barren head,
Proclaims it only fit to burn.

Dear LORD, afford our souls a spring,
Thou know’st our winter has been long;
Shine forth, and warm our hearts to sing,
And thy rich grace shall be our song.

-John Newton, 1779, from Olney Hymns, vol. 2, hymn 31

spring-basket

Today is an extremely busy day, so it might be awhile before I catch up with some of my blog friends today, but I’ll be by eventually.

Happy Friday!

(The top graphic is from Microsoft Clipart, the bottom one from Graphic Garden.)

Booking Through Thursday: Library Week

Posted on April 2, 2009 by Barbara Harper

The weekly Booking Through Thursday question for today is:

Suggested by Barbara:

I saw that National Library week is coming up in April [12-18], and that led to some questions. How often do you use your public library and how do you use it? Has the coffeehouse/bookstore replaced the library? Did you go to the library as a child? Do you have any particular memories of the library? Do you like sleek, modern, active libraries or the older, darker, quiet, cozy libraries?

Thanks for using my question!

I remember the thrill of getting my very own library card in elementary school. I don’t remember going to the library other than through school. When my children were small I wanted them to have that “thrill,” too. We went to the library from the days they were toddlers, took out heaps of books that they then wanted me to read to them the rest of the day. I loved it. They got library cards when they were old enough to clearly print their names. We went to some of the special programs (meeting Mr. McFeely at one. Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood was their main childhood program, so that was fun). We participated in every summer reading program.

They loved to be read to when they were younger, and my oldest loved to read for himself, but the younger two left off reading for pleasure. That makes me so sad — I think they’d enjoy it if they tried it again, but they both say they’re not a “reading kind of guy.” 😦 But, consequently, somewhere along the way we gradually stopped going to the library.

I worked in the university library while in college. I enjoyed studying there, particularly since I had access to a couple of quiet spots away from the crowd, but it was too busy then to wander around looking at books for pleasure. I do remember when I was being trained for the reference room that I was pretty scared of the responsibility of helping students find resources they needed (in the day before the Internet), but I also discovered the library had a wealth of resources that were probably unknown to most people. In my senior year they began building the new library, so it’s not recognizable to me any more.

I don’t go to the library much these days unless I am looking for a classic or trying out a new author. I read mostly Christian fiction, and most libraries aren’t current in that genre except for the best sellers, like the Left Behind and Mitford series.

There is something cozy about the older, darker libraries. If I were going to the library to sit down and read, I would prefer the old-fashioned kind. The sleek modern ones were a little intimidating to me at first — they just seemed so busy and bright and scattered. But I have gotten more used to them now and I love the efficiency of them. They still don’t seem very inviting to me, though. They seemed designed more to get your business done and get out.

My oldest likes to go to the coffeehouse bookstores. To him that’s a pleasant evening out. I haven’t really gone to them to sit down and read — I guess I am still not used to being able to take coffee over to a chair and pick out a book to read there. I’d be expecting someone to tell me food and drink aren’t allowed where they could be spilled on the merchandise (do they have a “you spill, you buy” policy, I wonder?), and I keep expecting someone to tap me on the shoulder and tell me if I am going to read the book, I need to go ahead and buy it. Usually when I go I know what I want, and I get it and leave. But if I wanted to check a book or author I was unsure of, I’d welcome the opportunity to sit down and read a little more extensively before deciding to buy the book. In that case I probably would check the library first.

I’ve just realized that I’ve lost that pleasurable strolling through aisles of books and discovering treasures. I remember finding books I really enjoyed just by looking around within a certain category. I should probably try that again — after I get my to-be-read stack whittled down.

There is another special memory the library holds for me: that’s where I met my husband. ♥

O Baby!

Posted on April 1, 2009 by Barbara Harper

(My ABC Challenge post is here.)

I saw at Linda’s 2nd Cup of Coffee that Rachel at In His Hands is having a picture carnival called O Baby, asking people to post pictures of themselves as babies and little ones.

This is one of the earliest I have. I was maybe 6 months old there, with my mom and dad. In all of my “posed” baby pictures my hair is combed like that — must have been the style for babies then?

They both had all that curl and my hair is straight as a board.

Actually, here is an even earlier one with my grandparents. I wonder why I didn’t inherit their skinny genes?

image0-2

In this one I am about three. I’m told they couldn’t get me to smile for the picture til they gave me some pennies.

image0-23

I’m with my little brother here one Easter. I must’ve been about 5 or 6 or so, and he would have been 1 or 2.

This is one of my favorites from 4th or 5th grade.

cimg1276

That was all before color was invented. 🙂 This one from 6th grade is, I think, the first colored photo I have of myself. I had to sleep in rollers and Dippetty Doo to get even that little bit of wave!

You can join in the fun or see others’ photos from childhood at In His Hands.

Melli’s ABC Challenge: U and V

Posted on March 31, 2009 by Barbara Harper

It’s time again for Melli’s ABC photo challenge. We’re supposed to look for letters in common everyday things or in nature without actually manipulating anything to make the letter and without photographing the letter itself in a word or sign. We’re doing two letters a week, and this week it is U and V.

I think U has been the hardest letter for me so far. At first the only thing I could find that remotely looked like a U was this sideways one on my husband’s bicycle:

And I saw a lot or arches all over town, which I considered as an upside-down U, but I wanted to find a “real” right-side up one. Finally yesterday I noticed this planter at my mother-in-law’s place was in a U shape.

It will probably look a lot nicer in a few weeks — things are just starting to bloom and green up here.

Then I also noticed the pocket on this little sewing caddy also looked like a U:

My mom gave that to me many years ago.

I noticed a lot of windows with these types of Vs in an arch:

This heart-shaped metal door decoration also is in a V shape, at least along the two outer sides:

And I think the hearts on these shelves look like stylized Vs:

…but that may be stretching it a bit. I could have used that for S, too!

You can visit Melli’s for links to the other players to see what they came up with, or to join in.

Works-For-Me-Wednesday: Towel Fuzz

Posted on March 31, 2009 by Barbara Harper

Works for Me Wednesday is a “backwards edition” this week, wherein we can ask a question for all the experienced experts out there.

My question is this: some of the new towels I buy sprout fuzz balls over over themselves and everything else in the washer the first several times they’re washed. Sometimes after repeated washing and drying it finally stops doing so, but some of them just keep on. I don’t know if it has to do with the quality of the towel: I’ve gotten them at three different places, and it hasn’t seemed to have made a difference. Any ideas?

Works For Me Wednesday is now hosted at We Are That Family.

Mmmm, mmmm, good?

Posted on March 30, 2009 by Barbara Harper

I was surprised recently to see this sign in front of a place of business:

caterer

I guess that’s not so unusual in itself, except the place of business was this:

cimg26081

I wonder what kinds of food a gas station caters? Hot dogs? Pre-made sandwiches in little plastic boxes?

Somehow I don’t think I’ll be calling them for the ladies’ luncheon. 🙂

Plop!

Posted on March 29, 2009 by Barbara Harper

That’s the sound of me hitting my chair after a very busy weekend. I don’t know that I have ever gone 48 hours without posting since I started this blog.

About a week ago we were asked if we would host a fellowship for the teen guys Sunday night if their sponsors provided the food for it. It happened to be right in between other tasks and seemed like a good time, so we agreed. I had been wanting to host one of the teen fellowships (sometimes they are all together, sometimes it’s just guys or girls or just jr. or sr. high), but kept thinking I wanted to get the curtains done for the family room plus this, that, and the other. But there will always be house projects lined up. And guys probably won’t notice those things.

But having people over — even teen guys — led to a day of cleaning yesterday. We “divided and conquered.” I always feel a little guilty when Jim helps to clean because he leaves for work early and gets home late and just about doesn’t have time for anything else during the week. I hate for him to spend his weekends cleaning. But he saw my master list of things I wanted to get accomplished this weekend and just pitched in. He even told the boys to take on one more “job” than what I has assigned to them. One thing on my list was to take the little grate at the bottom of the refrigerator off and clean it and then to clean the top of the refrigerator. Jim got started on that, and in the “one thing led to another” department, went above and beyond and ended up taking everything out of all the shelves and racks and cleaning out the whole thing. I have to say it did make me smile today to open the refrigerator and see everything gleaming.

It’s especially nice to have everything all caught up in the cleaning department because the next few weeks are going to be really busy: ladies newsletter/booklet this week, then gearing up for the ladies’ luncheon at the end of April. Our school is hosting a yard sale this weekend that I hope to get some things sorted out for: it’s a good place to sell outgrown school uniforms, if nothing else. Then Jason is in a special program at his school in April, plus Easter is coming up, plus a bridal shower next week.

One funny thing in the midst of all the cleaning yesterday: Jason had vacuumed the living room floors, and just a short time later there were several dark specks on it that looked like someone’s sock fuzz. He said something like, “It is so aggravating to see stuff on the floor when I just vacuumed it.” I thought, “Welcome to my world, dear.” 🙂

Then, I had been wanting to use some Christmas money from my step-father and my husband’s mother to get an end table for the living room, and just got to that yesterday. I had seen one in a store months ago and went back to look at it. I wanted it in white, and they only had one. The drawer seemed to have a little warped place in it and what looked like a crack, but it seemed stable — we likely won’t be putting anything heavy in there. Now, if my husband had been with me, he would have asked right off the bat if they’d take some off the price for the defect. It used to embarrass me to death when he did, but quite often he would get things marked down. I’m the type of person who gets embarrassed just trying to make a return to a store to to tell a waiter my food isn’t right. But this time I just plunged in and asked if they’d take anything off the price. Well, they said, it’s already a good price, and, the good thing was if you closed the drawer you wouldn’t be able to see it…and I just kept standing there. And finally they gave me $20 off. I thought, “Jim would be so proud of me!”

Back to the fellowship (yes, I’m rambling…) it was very nice. The guys played the Wii and ate meatball subs and cupcakes. When they sang and then were asked to share a verse or a testimony, I was very pleased that there were no awkward silences or staring at the floor — they seemed to jump right in. And it was neat to see Jesse in that setting. Of course, he’s had friends over many times, one or two at a time, but I wondered how he did in the group as a whole, and he seemed to do ok.

One other exciting thing this weekend — I think I’ve found my “mother of the groom dress.”

motg-dress

What do you think? It’s funny how it’s almost exactly like what I had pictured in my mind. It’s more than I would normally spend…but how often does a son get married? To find something I like, in my size…I’m thinking I’ll go ahead and order it in the morning. I tend to overthink catalog purchases until the item is no longer available — probably a good thing, most of the time, but I’d hate for that to happen with this.

So…those are my “stray thoughts” from this weekend. I think I am going to go wind down with a book.