Otherwise Doomed to Futility

The interesting thing is, it's pride to think that any of our finite attempts at greatness will actually be great. We are doomed to futility, except God chooses to bring glory to Himself through our words, causing what we have made to transcend into a realm of eternal significance. Not because we are great...Not because we do a single impressive thing. But because we are empty vessels and He fills us with Himself--so that the surpassing greatness of the power would be from Him and not from ourselves.

...God is sovereign. Let's not fight Him for our futures.

Yet this isn't an excuse for apathy. I'm reminded of Jacob who wrestled with the pre-incarnate Son of God. When he discovered the identity of his opponent, Jacob then exclaimed, “I won't let You go unless You bless me!” That took guts, and God honored his initiative, blessing Jacob; but the blessing wasn't entirely what Jacob bargained for, being also blessed for the rest of his life with a dislocated hip. I think God instilled that “thorn in the flesh” as a reminder--Jacob was a finite human being who benefited from the blessing of an all-powerful, holy God...and with every labored step he took throughout his life, he could never forget the power that ultimately ruled over him.

So take the initiative. Work. But...it's God --it really, really, really is God-- who supplies results.

from Beauty from the Heart

Two Belated Posts

The draft feature is great... it's downfall might just be however that posts sit there so long they start to make it their home instead of right here where they can be seen.

Two posts that have been making a home elsewhere until today are right below this =]

[have a whimsical wednesday]

22 Words

This blog just got added to my Google Reader. 

To describe what I read on it: novel, edifying, Biblical, thought-provoking. 

Why four words? Because that's how many I wanted to include. 

This post contains more than 22 words... 

Distraction from the Remarkable

I believe they are everywhere--remarkable signs of God's sovereignty, if we only have eyes to see them.

What if everywhere around us is an unfolding story that we cannot see, because we are too distracted by the movies, the television, the gossip and little stressers of the day? What if we are, in fact, on a grand adventure, but we cannot see the immortal view because we are too easily entrapped by more boring things?

Every day, we awaken to a far greater drama than we can imagine. We live with the reality that God died for us. We exist with a knowledge that He is currently preparing a home for us to live in with Him. Unlike so many others, we have the opportunity to delve into a personal friendship with our Maker. What could possibly be more splendid? What could possibly induce us to forget it?

authorship of Beauty from the Heart

ET- Feminism Series

credit Empowered Traditionalist

Real life connection: 

Last night at forensics, we were discussing a bill that circled around whether women should be permitted to fight in front lines combat in the armed forces. Most of the girls were citing "women's rights" and "equality" as to why they thought it right. I stood con to the idea, but admitted it was on personal belief and not any legal basis. 

Is it feminine to fight war on  front lines, in the trenches? 

Someone brought up the point: Women are affected by the results of what happens on the front lines. Why not allow them to do something about it by fighting? 

I read the series conclusion today and the term "gender neutrality" jumped out in relation to the discussion last night. 

Guest Post for Forthright Fixation

This post is to let you know that I don't plan to post anything today because you can go read this.
...it's a long one.

Empowered Traditionalist Blog

I just spent a chunk of time browsing here. Real and useful fashion information, challenging questions and Biblical truth are all in abundance. It's now a favorite.

Q: Is Character, intelligence, and personality more important than physical beauty?

A: “There is one that is more in love with you than any man can ever be. You are incredibly valuable to Him, and you never need question His commitment…He thinks you’re beautiful in the morning without your makeup, and He’ll think you’re just as beautiful when you’re 80. He is Christ. There is no need to attract a man to you- Christ will lead the right man to you. And when someone that loves you as much as Christ, arranges a marriage, you may rest assured it will be far better than anything you could have done. You are His-be content there.”

From the Modesty Survey

With God at the center like the sun satisfying a woman’s longing for beauty and greatness, truth and love all the planets of food and dress and exercise, cosmetics, posture and countenance will fall into their proper orbit.

John Piper, The Godward Life

When we look to Him, we put ourselves in proper perspective. As His love, and glory and holiness are magnified in our eyes we suddenly feel so ingsinificant, but we are also feel most at peace. I am most content and most satisfied when all of my selfish motivations are cast aside; and I stand in awe of this glorious King who crushed His Son...because He loved me. Isaiah 53- He bore our sins. Girls Preach the gospel to yourself, proclaim it to your soul!!

Christa Taylor, Empowered Traditionalist blog

A Favorite Blog- Go Read It!

Some recent posts:

• On the topic of evangelism. 
  
• This post down to the very scriptures fits right in with who and where I have been for the past months and still am, I think. 
  

photo credit The Rebelution & Forthright Fixation

HTML gone slightly haywire

The addition of an 'I like Mike' banner among others and my inability to simply add one thing without throwing the whole mess of code out of wack (unintentionally!) ...the blog's a little topsyturvy.

the regeneration magazine banner's not working due to the site not working.

When I get the chance go fool around and fix it, it shall be fixed. My apologies in the meantime ;-)

Questioning the Worth of these Past Words

Why do I write this blog?
What do I have to say that is truly of worth?



I have a post on New Years in draft (seems like lately for every post I publish there's been one waiting), but only the links to other blogs that I took something away from reading are worth publishing.

Looking through the post archive, I realized I've posted some boring and badly written stuff over the past year. Yet a few posts stuck out as truly valuable. I would rather publish less and have the posts be worthy of whatever time spent writing and reading then publish much of little admiration. Simple thought, but important.

You'll hear from me when I come up with something of meaning to post... whether my own thoughts of those of others which have affected my own in one way or another.

When I've accomplished something, then I'll talk about it, but not before. Words without action are useless, dead. All the talk in the world about the finished product, position, goal, assignment doesn't get you one inch closer to having accomplished it or up and over the hurdle. Even worse, you dont get any closer to the next hurdle in line; you stay consumed with the one you're facing until you shut your mouth and do something.

I'm not about to connect the original question of why I blog (which I never intended to answer in this post anyway) with the above paragraph, but it was on my mind, as is now the thought of my soft pillow.

Coming...

So I've got a few posts from over the past two weeks or still each in draft edition. Stuff has happened and I've had thoughts on it. I've typed out half to three-fourths of a post and then had to do something else or be somewhere or whatever. I dont want to travel down the road of making excuses for myself since doing so would be an utter waste of time... so in short-

There'll be posts & pictures soon =)

EDIT: see here & here & here

Oh the Weather Outside... is delightful

Well the timing on the wishing for snow post couldnt have been better.



That's the view to my left as I sit at the diningroom table doing schoolwork... the snow is gently drifting down the same way a sheet rides on the wind as it descend after you've throw it into the air. It's as if you're watching an innumerable amount of tiny feathers float and then fall, gently covering everything in the process with fluffiness.

Note the doorless but built! shed.

Linkage & Impromptu

one two three

Hmm. This post has no apparent direction from the getgo other than the posting of those links.

We have now put aprx. 180 empty boxes on the curb. The approximate is due to the fact that the last garbage day, the boxes were on the curb before I counted them and though I'd done it before, I wasnt in the mood to go out to the end of the driveway to count them up. I instead looked out the window and guessedimated it.


Guess which one's ours?

We are quite zealous nowadays when it comes to Christmas celebrations. Yet, we're zealous in a unique way I think.

We now have a shed in the backyard and a "new room" again. I heard one of the boys running around called the addition/transformed back porch "the new room" and it felt nice... that's what we called it at the old house. I remember a conversation with The Boss about what to call that room in the listing. Mum Dad and I looked at each other. The only thing we'd ever called it was "the back room" or "the new room"... How about, "The Great Room," he said, because it's great!

I'm counting the days until Christmas break. Attempting to come up with/resurrect some piece of something to submit to the accreditation magazine/newspaper as well.

Me Mum and the littliest guy have stuffy noses and coughs. We were warned about getting sick after moving. Here it is.

And so I believe I shall wrap up this no-purpose post having simply told of a few current events in our lives. Have a Happy Saturday December 1st... there's twenty-four days to Christmas...

Google Has Failed

I can find mix-match quotes or facts on Charles Brower, but can find no indication of any of his work by Googling. I'm looking for a book, speech, or short writing [not sure which] called "Dare to be Square." There was a quote from it in my speech text, and I am wanting to read it.

Help of any sort, anyone?

Oh, and if you know how the code for putting an image into the description bar and wouldnt mind passing it along, I'd be greatly appreciative!

POSTS

OK. So as of Saturday morning [11:51 am],
3/4's of all the pictures that needed to be posted are. I have to get off of here & get ready for theater practice, so the other 1/4 will be posted either tonight, tomorrow night, or sometime this week.

I've still got to tweek a few pictures so that they're small enough for the main menu of the homepage is back in its right spot. Its really annoying how the pictures [if they're too wide] kick the menu down to the bottom of the page....

Also, the slideshows are being stubborn. Sometimes they load, sometimes they dont. It's odd.

Mrs G....the above mentioned posts are dedicated to you =)