The Source of Joy

“Even the youth shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up on wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:

            What do you wait for? A spouse? Honor? Heaven? Vacation? Relationships? Strength? Our desires often run so deep we feel our lives are insufficient without their fulfillment.   We think that not having what we wish for is what is making us unhappy-but it isn’t. Our sins are the ultimate cause of our unhappiness.

            The answer to our problem is not getting what we want but understanding the source of true joy. Only those that wait on the Lord comprehend true happiness. As youths we tend to be confident in our own strength. We think, “If only I try harder I will be content.” Yet, no matter how hard we try, we cannot find contentment. Only by waiting on the Lord-putting our entire trust in him-can we revive our strength.                

            Have you ever been tired of the battle? How often does it seem the enemy’s unrelenting attack will never end? Are you tired of trying to be good, tired of attempting to reach the standards put before you? Come to the Fountain of Life and He shall revive your strength.

            Imagine being able to fly the height of an eagle. You could see the world for what it is-a mere speck in a vast universe. No longer would the journey of life be drudgery. Instead, you would be free to fly within the bounds of your Creator.  Even more, you could see the Kingdom of God grow in far more places than your little community.

            Through Christ we can fly. Not physically, of course, but spiritually. Instead of seeing the law as a chain bound around us by a cruel master, we can see that flying only happens by means of the freeing bounds of the commands of God. The psalmist explains this well in Psalm 119:103-104. “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth. I gain understanding form your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.”

-Jewel

Dieum declectare, Dieu laudes decorare

From my Reading Notebook...

               Recently I discovered the idea of keeping a notebook for writing thoughts, quotes, or ideas I discover while I’m reading. I found a 9” by 6” binder with pockets so I can keep letters, pens, etc. If you glance through my notebook you will find everything from notes on hunting elk, to table settings for a formal meal, to books I would like to read. Here are some of the notes I’ve taken on recent books.

                 “One day, as he (John Adams) and Benjamin Rush sat together in congress, Rush asked Adams in a whisper if he thought America would succeed in the struggle (against Britain). “Yes,” Adams replied, “if we fear God and repent our sins.” (John Adams-David McCullough, pg. 160)

                “I believe nature has assigned each sex its particular duties and sphere of action, and to act well your part.”-Abigail Adams (John Adams-David McCullough, pg. 171) Imagine saying that today! People think the founding fathers (and mothers) agreed with their egalitarian ideas!

                “(These are) times that tried women’s souls as well as men’s…”-John Adams, after the birth of their stillborn daughter. (John Adams, David McCullough, pg. 172) Sometimes we think that the “old days” were somehow better than today. “If only we lived in the time of the American War for Independence!” It’s hard to realize that all of time has been blotted by the malevolent effects of sin.

                 “Improve your understanding, for acquiring useful knowledge and virtue such as will render you an ornament to society, an honor to your country, and a blessing to your parents…and remember you are accountable to your Maker for all your words or actions.”-Abigail Adams to John Quincy before his departure for Europe. (John Adams, David McCullough, pg. 177)

                 “Popularity was never my mistress, nor was I ever, or shall I ever be a popular man.”-John Adams to the Warren family (John Adams, David McCullough)

                 “As non-theists, we begin with humans, not God, nature, not deity…While there is much that we do not know, humans are responsible for what we are or will become. No deity will save us, we must save ourselves.” (The Humanist Manifesto, quote from The American Covenant, Marshall Foster and Mary-Elaine Swanson) Sometimes we need to know the antithesis!

                “To wield music well in the fight for joy we should be filled with the Word of God, so that the minds are shaped by biblical truth. If our mind and heart have been molded by the contours of God’s character and humbled by the grace of the gospel, we will discern better what sounds reveal and correspond to the varied glories of God. And since this depends so much on cultural contexts and personal backgrounds, we will need not only a grasp of musical richness, but also a deep theological grounding in God-centered truth, and cultural sensitivity, and an awareness of the dynamics of the heart, and a profound love for people of all kinds. We must make it our aim that the joy awakened by music be a joy in God. Not all pleasures of music are pleasures in God. Then the efforts to delight in God through music will involve a prior shaping of the mind by the Word, so that the structures of sound that do not conform to God’s character are not pleasing in the first place. Then, the efforts to delight in God through music will involve a thoughtful testing after the music has already awakened joy. Is this joy, we ask, rooted in something good about God? Is it shaping my emotions into a Christ-exalting configuration? Is it stirring desires to know Christ better and love him more, and show him to others at the cost of my own comfort? So before and after music has its immediate effect, we pursue the goal that music make us more glad in the glory of God.”-John Piper, When I Don’t Desire God, ­pg. 194

-Jewel

Diem declectare, Dieu laudes decorare

               

College Part 2

I realize my article What about College? wasn’t very clear on what my family and my convictions on this subject are. First of all, I don’t believe college is wrong for women at all.  If a woman can live in an environment where she is under godly authority and in covenantal relationships, college may be a good option.  God’s pattern for accountability has always been the family.  It has only been in the last 50 years or so that it has become normal for a woman to leave the family environment and go out “on her own.”  It is not higher education that it is the issue; it is the living out of the independent, unaccountable lifestyle that is wreaking havoc upon women in our culture.  Women are to use their minds, but this can be done within the protected environment of my family and church.  We as Christians need to examine the culture around us and determine if the norms in our society are really based upon biblical principles.

            Secondly, we follow Scripture, not the world. Our first priority is the specific commands of Scripture for women (Love husband and children, wash the saint’s feet, etc.) If we have time to learn and do what the Scripture says and still have time to gain some form of higher education, that’s great. In fact, I should have made it more obvious previously that I will consider getting a college degree at home (whether by online programs or taking CLEP tests, etc.) if I have time after learning the more important things.
            Thirdly, my goal is to use my gifts to glorify God and further His kingdom operating in the Biblical pattern for women. If college or some form of higher eduation will further that purpose, I will pursue it. The picture is much larger that "being a homemaker." Many people imagine stay-at-home women to be bound-to not be able to accomplish their full potential. Far from it, God's pattern frees up women so that we can accomplish far more through God's grace. When a women goes out into the world without protection, she binds herself to people that might want to hurt her, to guilt, to bitterness...the list goes on and on. Instead, when a women is protected she is able to fully express the gifts God has given her. Yet she can only do so within the liberty of God's law.  

            College and homemaking can compliment each other. I know many young ladies who have been able to attend college while still living under the protection of their families and are great homemakers. I’m just not sure that that will work out for me. I think it’s possible as well for a woman to have a job and still be under God’s will. Some single moms have to get a job to support their families. However, such a case is an exception, not the norm. I think So Much More by Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin explains this issue well.

            Like all of us, I am constantly being sanctified and “renewing my mind in the blood of Jesus.” The last few days I’ve had the opportunity to clarify with my parents what we believe about this issue.

-Jewel

Dieum declectare, Dieu laudes decorare

           

           

What about College?

            My family and I were at our local caucus last night. I was sitting in the back sewing when a lady leaned back in her chair. “Where are you going to go to college?” she asked. It wasn’t a bad question. Seeing that I am in my high-school years, it is a normal question to ask to get a conversation going. For me, however; the question hit like a hammer. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t thought about the matter before. I knew my answer.   It was at that moment that I realized my long-hidden thoughts would have to become words.

            “Well, I’m actually not going to college…” I tried to explain softly so as not to distract the meeting. “I’ll be pursuing some of my own study as well has helping some ladies in our church. My goal is to be a homemaker...” Thinking back, I probably could have explained it better. Yet, it caused me to think about a better answer for the future.

            Why am I not going to college? It’s not that I would be unable to enter one. With the privileges of home education, receiving a scholarship would be no difficult task. The question is, would going to college help me in my goal to achieve my life purpose as a woman of God? Would I have time if I were to go away to college to prepare more important skills in homemaking?  In Titus, Paul specifically calls the younger women to be “keepers at home.” How can I be a keeper at home if I’m out in the workforce every day? The Proverbs 31 women works mainly at home; her husband is in the gates. This does not mean I will not be working. Far from it, raising a family is a full time job.

            Some have raised the question of home education. Wouldn’t college enable me to teach my children better? I’m not so sure. I believe I can learn more at home studying what really matters. Most likely my children will take a different course in life that I will. If I were to receive a degree in Chemistry, say, what if my children decide to become musicians? In addition, there are hundreds of resources out there to help me teach my children should they decide to go into a specific field.

            Our modern culture has turned college into a place to hang out and try life on your own instead of a positive learning atmosphere. Youth are so excited to leave for college so they can be “on their own” without the authority of their parents. However, while away, many foolish choices are made that will bruise these youth for the rest of their life. Following the biblical model of a women staying under the authority of either her father or husband helps avoid many of these mistakes.

            What am I to do with my time? The years between high school and marriage are an opportunity many women miss to serve their families and churches and to grow in their relationship with Christ. Being a help-meet to our mothers and fathers will train us to be good helpmeets for our future husbands. The time we are able to spend building relationships with our siblings will greatly edify our relationship with our own husband and children someday. These years are a great opportunity to further our education at home as well, whether it’s reading, online courses, or attending some classes at a local community college. Even more, the churches of today are sorely lacking young women to help young mothers, organize events, and encourage the younger generation. This time-period is also an opportunity for building our own skills, whether it’s music, writing, cooking, art or whatever. Someday our husbands will greatly appreciate our gifts as we use them to support their dominion work.

            I have also known many young ladies who have been able to start their own entrepreneurial endeavors or work for their fathers’ or brothers’ businesses. Although I hate math, I have a feeling I’ll be the one doing the bookkeeping and accounting work for my brother’s construction business. (I already am helping him some…today I was out there in the 30 degree weather helping him raise framing for our house’s extension!)

            I’m not saying college is inherently sinful. I believe it is fine for men to pursue brick and mortar colleges if it will help them provide for their families and if they are accountable to a solid church or family. Neither do I think it is sinful for women to go to college unless they refuse to be held accountable. Yet, I firmly believe women can attain something much higher by embracing God’s pattern of life.

            Well, I’m afraid such an answer will not due for caucus meetings…I’ll have to think of something shorter…!

Why I Write

               Some people write to express their political views, while some write to express their emotions. Some write just because they have to, others because they enjoy it. Some people have a revolutionary idea to express; others have a lot of words without saying anything in particular. Some write to anger people, some to humor, some to sober. Amongst an innumerable amount of vastly different books, papers, articles, and magazines, why do I write?

                I write because I enjoy it, but my purpose is far larger. God has given each of us gifts, and I believe one of mine is writing. God desires that we use our gifts for him, and to the fullest extent possible. Why waste what God has given us? I write for my King, and I write for others’ edification. Although I was reminded this Sunday by my pastor’s sermon not to rely on others’ words of encouragement but rather on Christ, many times the encouragement of others has helped me greatly. During a period of time when I was extremely discouraged about music some friends of ours wrote a note to us explaining how much my piano playing had encouraged them. I was reminded once more that my skills don’t have to be perfect to help others.
                I remember the first time I began to write on my own. When I was about eleven or twelve I decided to write a book about pioneers. A young lady from the church encouraged me to write and even sat down with me and listened to the story. When I read it now I realize there were a lot of mistakes she could have corrected me on, but instead she realized that her job was to encourage me- the grammar would come later. When I was finished, my Aunt helped me edit it (believe me, it needed a lot!) and typeset it and we took it to the office store and had them spiral bind it. The best part of the book were the illustrations done by my brother. The story was about an eighteen-year-old girl named Becka Forsythe (what did I know about eighteen-year-olds?) and her family who traveled west in a covered wagon (of course!). On the way out to Kansas they meet a buffalo stampede and just barely escape by jumping onto a mesa type rock. Because their wagon was ruined, they settled there, near Lecompton, Kansas. Most of the family is captured by the Ute Indians in the Walker War and are freed by Becka and her brother Peter. Just when they arrive home, their older son who was away studying law shows up and they live happily ever after. Anyway, I remember being disappointed that it was only sixty-one pages long and you could read it in less than an hour!
                I’m not sure in what ways God will enable me to use writing to advance his kingdom. Right now it may only be writing for Joyfully Jewel and The Prairie Times, a local magazine I have recently been involved in. Whatever it is, being in God’s will is the best place for me to be.
                So many girls I talk to enjoy writing, but are afraid to show their work to anyone. That’s sad. Sometimes failing a few times in front of others teaches you a lot more than hiding your skills. Remember, our goal is not to make a good reputation for ourselves, but to showcase God’s glory. Writing is a great way to share the gospel and encourage others, most of all pointing them to Christ. So I write on, for Christ and His kingdom!

Let it Snow!

                How many times have you watched the snow fly outside while sitting by the hearth or taken a single snowflake in your hand and examined its intricate design? Snow is one of the many wonders of God’s creation; a wonder that far exceeds the power of the pen. In the wild recesses of your mind, could you ever come up with something so wonderful, so beautiful, yet so useful a substance as snow? Not only does it store water in an almost dry element, allowing for more precipitation without flooding and washing away earth, it protects the earth by allowing only a steady melt of water to soak the plants below it and seep into the earth’s groundwater. So where does this snow come from?

               Snow begins in a process called the Bergeron Process. The Bergeron process takes place in cold clouds, or clouds with below-freezing temperatures thus clouds subsisting of ice. When water condenses out of the atmosphere and gathers in the cold cloud, at a certain point, the ice crystals in these clouds weigh too much to stay suspended in the air. As the ice crystals begin to fall through the air, they pick up more water which freezes and continues falling. When they become too large they break, creating even more crystals falling through the air. When they reach the lower troposphere they either melt causing rain, or stay frozen, depending on the temperature.  

               The intricate design of snowflakes is caused by the ice crystals breaking, collecting more ice, and then breaking again numerous times. Although it’s not impossible for two snowflakes to be identical, it’s highly unlikely due to the vast number of possibilities.

                Next times you see snow, remember God’s amazing creativity in designing the snowflake. Whether you’re caught outside in it, or watching it swirl from your window, don’t forget to thank God for creating such a beautiful and useful substance as snow. God could have made the earth all brown and dull, but that wouldn’t be any fun, would it?

Living on the Land

            A few years ago, my father caught a vision for taking dominion of the creation by learning how to live a more rural lifestyle.  The problem was we lived in suburbia. So, we decided to work with what we had.  Instead of impractical green grass, woodchips, and shrubs, we began to recreate the landscape on our ¼ acre to include a large vegetable and herb garden. Our first animals to get were two rabbits. They provided great fun and good composting manure until one day we didn’t close the cage properly and they escaped. That was the end of our rabbits.

            Next we went to the feed store and bought six fluffy chicks-one for each in the family. Not long after we had brought them home we became the neighborhood petting zoo. It started with letting one child hold the birds, and he told his friends, and they told their friends...and you get the point.

            But our real goal was to have some land where we could raise as many animals as we liked. After two stressful moves within five months of each other and a providential set of events, we finely found a homestead that fit us perfectly. We had waited for this for years! Jumping right in, and before we had even unpacked the house, we started working on the garden and orchard.
            First, we constructed a seven foot tall fence out of landscaping timbers to keep out the deer. We then wrapped a hodgepodge of fencing around to help with the rabbits. In his excitement to get started, my dad bought twenty-four fruit trees at a sale to plant in between the garden rows. Talking about a lot of fruit! In our old house, we tilled the garden by hand, but we weren’t so keen on breaking 300 square feet of thick sod by hand. So, we started researching rototillers. We came a across a pretty-good sized rototiller at a used sale. Thinking that bigger could only be better, we bought it. The giant size still works well for breaking up clay-like dirt, but it’s not so easy to push!
            Now, two years later, looking back I am glad we followed the principle found in Proverbs 24:27: “Prepare your outside work, make it fit for yourself in the field, and then build your house.” Our garage may not be completely unpacked, but we are two years farther into getting fruit from our trees.
            Yet, we have found homesteading a lot harder than it looks in the books! After all that hard work of putting in the garden that first summer, our farm was hit with an intense hail storm. We came back from vacation to find the garden in a miserable condition. Nevertheless, we now know to put hail guards over some of the more sensitive plants before leaving town!
            Over the last two years, our farm has grown to include milk goats, chickens, and egg-laying ducks. There is nothing more satisfying than coming in from feeding the animals and enjoying fresh eggs, milk and produce. We also have the fulfillment of knowing where our food comes from and what nutrients are on our plate.
            Some of my father’s goals in originally moving us to some acreage were to be able to teach us children to work hard, to serve others, and to take dominion for Christ’s kingdom. Having animals that must be fed no matter what the weather has definitely taught us to get out of bed in the morning! Even more rewarding are the countless people from all stages and walks of life that have found our homestead to be a welcome rest from the toils of this world. Many children who might not otherwise get to experience farm life have been able to help feed goat kids, gather eggs, or harvest the garden. Through the creativity the farm life has brought, my siblings and I have been able to prune our skills and use them to further Christ’s kingdom. Whether it’s building a swing for a local ministry, writing, music, or hospitality, I hope we will be able to tell others about the gospel through our example. I know not what new animals we will be able to work with or what new adventures we will add to our little farm in the coming years. Whatever they are, I hope we can use them to bless others and most importantly, to glorify God.

Face Your Troubles-They're There for a Reason!

               Face your troubles- they're there for a reason!   This idea really came alive to me after listening to The Hedge of Thorns today. We tend to think of trials as bad things-but they’re really  for our good. God is not only teaching us a lesson, He is protecting us from something.  How many times have I been upset that God has not allowed me to go somewhere or do something I wanted to do.  I cannot even imagine what God was protecting me from; I will probably never know.

                Most of our trials aren’t glorious. Someone isn’t going to pat me on the back for facing another day of math with a good attitude. Those are the circumstances that really count though. Some big trials like losing your job or getting martyred for the faith are hard, make no mistake, yet it is the daily difficulties that teach us to place our hope in God.

                A lot of that difficulty includes battling down our flesh. It’s like Paul said in Romans six, “For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do practice; but what I hate, that I do…but now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” Sometimes it’s much harder to deal with self than anything else.

                I’m talking to myself more than anyone else. It’s those little troubles that are so hard to deal with-loving others, facing your work with a joyful attitude, etc. Go…and face your trials for the Lord!

(By the way-you can get The Hedge of Thorns from Lamplighter in either book or audio format. If you ever have or ever will deal with difficulties, I highly recommend it!)

Busy...

I’ve simply been too busy to write in the last week. I’ve been busy cooking for my family; busy trying to figure out negative numbers. I’m busy plodding through physical science without the math necessary to do even the most basic physics problems. I’ve been busy trying to meet the demands of learning two instruments, and learning that half an hour a day doesn’t cut it when it comes to learning some of the harder pieces! I’m busy teaching my sisters piano, even when it means going overtime to explain the difference between common time and 6/8. Sometimes it’s frustrating when you sit down to read at the end of the day and get interrupted every other sentence! I’ve been busy trying to make sense of life, spending time with siblings, and learning from my mistakes. Busy thinking of articles to write with no time to write them! But, it’s not necessarily bad to be busy…as long as you’re busy doing the right things.  After all, it says, “That they may teach the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.” (Titus 2:4) I’d better go, my sister is calling me to come teach her piano…

Do justice, Love mercy, Walk humbly with your God

Jewel

Dieum declectare, dieu laudes decorare

Oh the Joy to be Jewel!

            Are you content to just be who God made you to be? I know I’m not always. Sometimes I wish I were a different age, have gifts other people have, or live somewhere else. But there’s a reason God made us each with different gifts and abilities. Jeremiah learned this lesson in the potter’s house.

            “And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? Saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.” Jeremiah 18:4-6

            I’ll never forget the drawing my grandfather did to illustrate this point. Walking down a long gravel path, there was a lady carrying two buckets of water. One of the buckets was perfect, no leaks or holes could be seen. The other bucket; however, had a  leak at the bottom allowing a steady stream of water to fall out. The lady thought the bucket was useless. But in reality, it was watering the beautiful flowers alongside the path. Because of the imperfection in the bucket, it was able to make a different and much larger impact on its surroundings.

            It is the same for us. Sometimes we wonder why God allows us to have suffering, imperfections, or differing talents. But without these blemishes, we wouldn’t be able to perform the work God has for us.

            You know, sometimes I wish I had the drawing talent my brother has, or the straight brown hair I’ve always wished for. But the older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve realized how wonderful it is to have curly blonde hair. A lot of people pay a pretty fine price to get the curls I have by just wetting my hair!

            What if the whole body of Christ was, say, only good at writing.  There would be no one do the speaking, editing, art, cooking, serving, nursing, etc.

            “For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body as it hath pleased him. And if they wee all one members m where were the body?..And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members, of the body, which seem more feeble, are necessary.” I Cor. 12:14-22

            This seems to be a hard concept for everyone to grasp, but especially us women. It seems that our men are doing all the important work. What good is the day-in day-out washing dishes, cleaning bathrooms, or changing diapers? Yet, we have been given an equally, if not more important job: raising the next generation.

            It starts getting exciting when the body of Christ can compliment each other’s talents. I play piano and violin, but I can’t do both at the same time. (Although I have tried but that’s another story!) I’ve had a blast playing music with others. That’s where brothers and sisters in Christ can compliment each other with our various skills.

            Furthermore, I really enjoy studying the English language, but I’m not very good at fiction. When a friend of mine finished a novel she was writing, I was able to edit it for her. I couldn’t have come up with a very good story line, but together we were able to come out with a quality product.

            So in the end, I’m glad God made me Jewel. Now the exciting part begins as He shows me the plan He has for me…and the gifts he has given me.

Thoughts on Music

            Scarcely a Sunday goes by where I do not have two pages of notes for the sermon. One, a giant slash recall of the sermon itself, and the other, my thoughts. The exposition of the Word not only brings together scriptural passages in my mind, but suddenly everything I have been thinking on makes sense.

            Music has been an area of thought recently. I have always understood that Christians are to take dominion of the music by composing, arranging, and inventing. But today was the first day it occurred to be that we are also cast off the imaginations of the world, or rather bring not only our music, but the whole world’s under the submission of Christ’s law. The Word describes the purpose of music as, to praise of God, and to root and ground Christians in the faith. Therefore, when people hear our music, it must:

1. Sound and say nothing like the world’s music
2. Remind the listener of the majesty of God and our incapability
3. Express and encourage the worship of God, not our emotions
4. Root and ground the listener in good theology. The modern practice of repeating one simple phrase for the entire three minute song simply doesn’t cut it.
5. Contain a proper musical resolution in the key specified
6. Turn our thoughts to God and His Word
7. Be multi-generational friendly

What music we listen to is important because it works its way into our attitudes, our clothing, and our purpose. There are numerous examples of “good” children who have been ruined mentally due to listening to the wrong music. Music has a way of entering us without going through our minds. We must take all caution then, because it is much easier to accept wrong thinking if it is sung than if it were bluntly told to you.

-Jewel

Diem declectare, Dieu laudes decorare