I had just finished Mark Buchanan's book, "The Rest of God". Little ones were doing Kindergarten with Mom in the next room; Joseph was mumbling numbers to himself as he worked on his algebra. Erin was deep in a book; David was grumbling over his handwriting.
It was a good book-all about how God created Sabbath for rest, how we need to slow down from our hectic schedules, so that we can listen to and for God. It reminded me of a Bible verse that goes, "Be still and know that I am God." It fit perfectly-the author must have been thinking about it as he was writing. Out of curiosity I flipped my Bible open to the concordance and began looking for the reference.
Ten minutes later I got up and fetched the concordance from the bookshelf (the one that is three inches thick and has the reference for every word in the Bible). The verse was being stubborn; it did not want to be found. Finally I went to Mom and asked her to use Google to find it. Ten seconds later she told me that the reference is Psalm 46:10.
With a sigh of relief I flipped to the page, scanned the verses, and began reading. No wonder I couldn't find it in the concordance! The NASB translates the first half slightly differently than it is commonly quoted-and I have never heard anybody read the second half.
"Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
All I could do was sit with my eyes glued to the first eight words. CEASE STRIVING. Not be still, be at peace, or relax, it's okay. CEASE STRIVING. Stop trying. Stop attempting to fix it. Know that God is God, and can fix the world without me interfering.
Wow.
Big difference, huh?
Then I looked first at the rest of the verse, then at the rest of the chapter. We all have done ourselves a huge disfavor by pulling this verse out on its own.
Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble.
Therefor we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains should slip into the heart of the sea;
Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.
Selah.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling places of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Selah.
Come, behold the works of the LORD, who has wrought desolations in the earth.
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire.
"Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Selah.
We all quote verse 10 as "Be still and know that I am God." So he's God, big deal. That doesn't help much when the three year old has snapped your expensive watercolor pencils and you need to get a grip.
But mountains falling into the sea, desolation being wrought, burning chariots and shattered weapons?
I personally can't help but stop in my tracks when I think about it. What are snapped pencils to shattered spears?
I have problems with getting so caught up in the here and now, in the ceaseless business and striving, that I can't hear God, much less glory in how great he is. No matter how hard I try, I can't get everything done that needs to be done. But that's okay. I don't need to keep working to fix the world, because I can't.
But God can, and in His own time He will.
Which leaves me a whole lot more time (now that I'm not saving the world from, well, I don't know what) for reveling in Him.
Care to join me?
May the peace of God go with you!
Rapunzel
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Monday, December 31, 2012
Merry Christmas!
Once upon a time, a long time ago (okay, only seven or so years), we the oldest four children of the Landon house in America would wake up before the sun, jump out of bed, plug in the Christmas tree, dance around it yelling in delight, and run to the bedroom to wake up our parents. They would, of course, promptly send us back to bed until seven, where we would wait in eager anticipation for the one and a half hour left.
Like I said, that was seven or so years ago-before I learned to love sleep and a warm bed with a cat.
This year, it was the four oldest of us who were stubbornly refusing to get out of bed until it was light out-despite the next five in line all bouncing about and knocking on doors, begging us to get up. In fact, the only thing that reconciled us to getting up was the news that daddy, too, was up.That and the knowledge that once upon a time, we too had plagued people who would much rather have stayed in bed.
I think that one of the best parts of Christmas this year was watching the face of the 11 month old as he tried to figure out WHAT on earth to do with the wrapping paper. For someone who likes wreaking havoc, he sure was puzzled with his presents!
A Merry Christmas to all! (There are twelve days of Christmas, you know!) And a very Happy New Year!
And a very merry un-birthday!
And whatever else I forgot to add!
Rapunzel
Like I said, that was seven or so years ago-before I learned to love sleep and a warm bed with a cat.
This year, it was the four oldest of us who were stubbornly refusing to get out of bed until it was light out-despite the next five in line all bouncing about and knocking on doors, begging us to get up. In fact, the only thing that reconciled us to getting up was the news that daddy, too, was up.That and the knowledge that once upon a time, we too had plagued people who would much rather have stayed in bed.
I think that one of the best parts of Christmas this year was watching the face of the 11 month old as he tried to figure out WHAT on earth to do with the wrapping paper. For someone who likes wreaking havoc, he sure was puzzled with his presents!
A Merry Christmas to all! (There are twelve days of Christmas, you know!) And a very Happy New Year!
And a very merry un-birthday!
And whatever else I forgot to add!
Rapunzel
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Pride and Prejudice
Last Sunday night we watched the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice.
I still remain convinced: the 1995 version is the best on film. And the 1813 novel is the best anywhere.
The book Pride and Prejudice is one of the most popular romance novels ever published-it is still in print 200 years after it was first published. It is also a witty and hilarious commentary on human nature. I absolutely love the difference in the English they spoke then and the English we speak now; even their insults are very sophisticated and polite!
The Bennets are a family of five girls, whose estate is to be inherited by a distant cousin when their father dies. None of them has any money of their own, so they have to marry rich men who don't mind the fact that their wives are penniless. Which is easier said than done. (This was in the days when it was scandalous for respectable young women to go out and earn their own living. And no rich man wanted to marry a woman with no means of increasing their personal fortune. Moral of the story, rich women attract men-just kidding! That's not the moral.)
No, I am not going to tell you what happens. Go wade through the 19th century English of the novel if you want to know. OR, if you are a spoilsport, go watch the 1995 BBC version, which is by far the best. True, I have only watched three of the videos out there-but the 1940's black and white version deviated greatly from the book. And while the 2005 version starring Keira Knightley is watchable, it is rushed and not very accurate to the period and changes some of my favorite scenes-not to mention the couple shots of nude statues and people in paintings. And Matthew Macfadyen just isn't a very attractive Darcy. Colin Firth is much better. And Jennifer Ehle is a much sweeter Elizabeth than Keira Knightley.
I like Jane Austen's writings. Can you tell?
I still remain convinced: the 1995 version is the best on film. And the 1813 novel is the best anywhere.
The book Pride and Prejudice is one of the most popular romance novels ever published-it is still in print 200 years after it was first published. It is also a witty and hilarious commentary on human nature. I absolutely love the difference in the English they spoke then and the English we speak now; even their insults are very sophisticated and polite!
The Bennets are a family of five girls, whose estate is to be inherited by a distant cousin when their father dies. None of them has any money of their own, so they have to marry rich men who don't mind the fact that their wives are penniless. Which is easier said than done. (This was in the days when it was scandalous for respectable young women to go out and earn their own living. And no rich man wanted to marry a woman with no means of increasing their personal fortune. Moral of the story, rich women attract men-just kidding! That's not the moral.)
No, I am not going to tell you what happens. Go wade through the 19th century English of the novel if you want to know. OR, if you are a spoilsport, go watch the 1995 BBC version, which is by far the best. True, I have only watched three of the videos out there-but the 1940's black and white version deviated greatly from the book. And while the 2005 version starring Keira Knightley is watchable, it is rushed and not very accurate to the period and changes some of my favorite scenes-not to mention the couple shots of nude statues and people in paintings. And Matthew Macfadyen just isn't a very attractive Darcy. Colin Firth is much better. And Jennifer Ehle is a much sweeter Elizabeth than Keira Knightley.
I like Jane Austen's writings. Can you tell?
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Elf-work Part 1
THE HOBBIT OPENED LAST NIGHT IN NEW ZEALAND! AAAAAAHH!
Sorry. I've been waiting on the edge of my seat for this since...well, since The Lord of The Rings came out. One trait you will see exhibited by all of my family: an avid love for anything Tolkien.
So my five year old sister has been begging for a Cinderella dress for months now, and guess who gets to make it for a Christmas present? I was just going to draft a pattern for it (come on, how hard could it be?), but Mom bought a pattern for it instead: http://www.simplicity.com/p-1739-costumes.aspx
Upon measuring Cinderella and comparing her measurements to the pattern, we discovered that I was going to have to do some drafting anyways. Let's just say, she's as tall as a size 5, but skinnier that a size 3. The skirt I left as is (it will just get gathered in fuller), but the bodice I had to redraft so that it is a size 3 in width, but a size 5 in height. Then I cut the back and front up the middle of each piece, adding on 5/8" seam allowance to the cut edge to princess seam it. (Fitting, no? Princess dress, princess seams?) From there I cut out the pattern pieces from a cheap muslin, to fit it with.
No, I didn't stop there. I'm actually done with the cutting it out. But I want to leave something here that tells me, "You didn't finish! Do that already!" That and drafting a pattern is a whole lot more fun to see and do than hear described.
I will be posting pictures! (As soon as I take them and put them on the computer!)
And I will be posting more elf-work. At least the elf-work for people who are not old enough to read yet. The siblings that can read will invariably be reading this. Which is why I can't put their Christmas presents on the internet.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
Rapunzel
Sorry. I've been waiting on the edge of my seat for this since...well, since The Lord of The Rings came out. One trait you will see exhibited by all of my family: an avid love for anything Tolkien.
So my five year old sister has been begging for a Cinderella dress for months now, and guess who gets to make it for a Christmas present? I was just going to draft a pattern for it (come on, how hard could it be?), but Mom bought a pattern for it instead: http://www.simplicity.com/p-1739-costumes.aspx
Upon measuring Cinderella and comparing her measurements to the pattern, we discovered that I was going to have to do some drafting anyways. Let's just say, she's as tall as a size 5, but skinnier that a size 3. The skirt I left as is (it will just get gathered in fuller), but the bodice I had to redraft so that it is a size 3 in width, but a size 5 in height. Then I cut the back and front up the middle of each piece, adding on 5/8" seam allowance to the cut edge to princess seam it. (Fitting, no? Princess dress, princess seams?) From there I cut out the pattern pieces from a cheap muslin, to fit it with.
No, I didn't stop there. I'm actually done with the cutting it out. But I want to leave something here that tells me, "You didn't finish! Do that already!" That and drafting a pattern is a whole lot more fun to see and do than hear described.
I will be posting pictures! (As soon as I take them and put them on the computer!)
And I will be posting more elf-work. At least the elf-work for people who are not old enough to read yet. The siblings that can read will invariably be reading this. Which is why I can't put their Christmas presents on the internet.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
Rapunzel
Friday, November 16, 2012
End of The Spear (and Joseph)
In Romans 8:28 it says, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
So why, if everything works for our good, do so many awful, horrible thing happen?
The answer lies in two stories.
The first is documented in the book, End of The Spear, by Steve Saint. When Steve was a boy, in 1956, his father and four other missionaries were speared by men of the Waodani tribe in Ecuador. His mother and several of the wives of the other missionaries brought their children to live in the jungle, as they taught the Waodani to "walk God's trail". In 1995, when Steve's own children were in highscool, God told him to go back to Ecuador and live with the Waodani. When his family came back to the United States a few years later, they brought with them two men, Mincaye and Tementa. Mincaye was one of the men who speared Steve's father; Tementa was the son of another. Together with Steve, they traveled, telling people how "We acted badly, badly until they brought us God's markings. Now, seeing those markings and walking Waengongi's (God's) trail, we live happily and in peace."
The second story is found in Genesis. Many, many years ago, a man named Jacob had two wives who were sisters. Between them and two concubines, he had twelve sons. His favorite was a boy named Joseph, who was the firstborn of the two sons of his favorite wife. Now Jacob was a very clever business man-if he wanted something, he usually got it. But he didn't have much tact as far as family goes. He made it plain as day that Joseph was his favorite, giving him a splendid coat and teaching him reading and writing, which were not common skills in those days. He was also rather proud of the fact that Joseph had a gift for interpreting dreams. Joseph had had several that indicated that one day he would be a great ruler.
Needless to say, Jacob's favoritism did not make Joseph popular with his ten older brothers. They hated Joseph so much that when they were away from home on a trip, finding pasture for their sheep, they sold Joseph as a slave and took his beautiful coat home to their father, covered in blood, and told Jacob that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal.
Joseph was sold to a man named Potiphar, who was a very important Egyptian official. Joseph worked so hard and so well, that Potiphar put him in charge of everything he owned, and never bothered checking up on him. Now Joseph was a very handsome young man (he was 17 when he was sold by his brothers), and Potiphar's wife decided that she liked him-a lot. She got horribly mad when Joseph ran away from her after telling her that he was not about to sin against his master and God by returning her affections-mad enough that she accused him of trying to rape her. Potiphar, of course, believed her, and Joseph was thrown into prison.
While he was in prison, Pharaoh threw his cupbearer and his chief baker into the same prison. They both had dreams, and when they asked Joseph what they meant, he told them that in three days Pharaoh would restore the cupbearer to his former position, but the baker was going to be hanged. Two years later, when Pharaoh had a dream his wise men couldn't interpret, the cupbearer remembered Joseph, and told Pharaoh about him.
When he was told the dreams, Joesph said that the dreams were from God; God was warning Pharaoh that the next seven years were going to have bumper crops like no one had ever seen before, but the seven years following were going to be a severe famine. He then told Pharaoh that the wisest thing he could do would be to appoint someone really smart to take all of the extra food from the bumper crop years and ration it out for the famine years, so that Egypt didn't starve. Pharaoh thought that Joseph was in such good standing with God that he was the only person who could possibly do the job right, and appointed him second in command over all Egypt.
Seven years passed, famine hit, and back in Canaan Jacob and his family ran out of food. Hearing there was food for sale in Egypt, Jacob sent his sons to go buy some so that they wouldn't all starve.
Now if I were Joseph, after going through all that, the minute I clapped eyes on my brothers I probably would have had them all beheaded. But Joseph obviously had learned a whole lot more than I have, because instead of having them killed he tested them, to see if they were sorry and had changed. When he found out they had, told them to bring Jacob and all of their families to live in Egypt. He got them settled in the delta land of the Nile, and everything was peaceful.
Joseph's brothers were obviously still on edge, because when Jacob died a few years later, they all came to Joseph and told him, "Just so you know, dad said that when he dies you aren't to take revenge on us for that incident when you were 17, 'cause we're really sorry for what we did then."
Joseph got so frustrated that they didn't understand that he started crying, and he told them,"Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive".
A lot of the time God lets really bad, horrible things happen so that through them really amazing, wonderful things can happen. If Nate Saint and his four friends had not died trying to teach the Waodani to "walk God's trail", many, many people would have missed God's call for their life, to go out and share His love with others who don't love Him. If Joseph's brothers had not sold him into slavery, then thousands of people would have starved to death in the famine. Although both of these things were horrible, God used them in amazing, wonderful ways.
And that's what Romans means when it says, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Rapunzel
So why, if everything works for our good, do so many awful, horrible thing happen?
The answer lies in two stories.
The first is documented in the book, End of The Spear, by Steve Saint. When Steve was a boy, in 1956, his father and four other missionaries were speared by men of the Waodani tribe in Ecuador. His mother and several of the wives of the other missionaries brought their children to live in the jungle, as they taught the Waodani to "walk God's trail". In 1995, when Steve's own children were in highscool, God told him to go back to Ecuador and live with the Waodani. When his family came back to the United States a few years later, they brought with them two men, Mincaye and Tementa. Mincaye was one of the men who speared Steve's father; Tementa was the son of another. Together with Steve, they traveled, telling people how "We acted badly, badly until they brought us God's markings. Now, seeing those markings and walking Waengongi's (God's) trail, we live happily and in peace."
The second story is found in Genesis. Many, many years ago, a man named Jacob had two wives who were sisters. Between them and two concubines, he had twelve sons. His favorite was a boy named Joseph, who was the firstborn of the two sons of his favorite wife. Now Jacob was a very clever business man-if he wanted something, he usually got it. But he didn't have much tact as far as family goes. He made it plain as day that Joseph was his favorite, giving him a splendid coat and teaching him reading and writing, which were not common skills in those days. He was also rather proud of the fact that Joseph had a gift for interpreting dreams. Joseph had had several that indicated that one day he would be a great ruler.
Needless to say, Jacob's favoritism did not make Joseph popular with his ten older brothers. They hated Joseph so much that when they were away from home on a trip, finding pasture for their sheep, they sold Joseph as a slave and took his beautiful coat home to their father, covered in blood, and told Jacob that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal.
Joseph was sold to a man named Potiphar, who was a very important Egyptian official. Joseph worked so hard and so well, that Potiphar put him in charge of everything he owned, and never bothered checking up on him. Now Joseph was a very handsome young man (he was 17 when he was sold by his brothers), and Potiphar's wife decided that she liked him-a lot. She got horribly mad when Joseph ran away from her after telling her that he was not about to sin against his master and God by returning her affections-mad enough that she accused him of trying to rape her. Potiphar, of course, believed her, and Joseph was thrown into prison.
While he was in prison, Pharaoh threw his cupbearer and his chief baker into the same prison. They both had dreams, and when they asked Joseph what they meant, he told them that in three days Pharaoh would restore the cupbearer to his former position, but the baker was going to be hanged. Two years later, when Pharaoh had a dream his wise men couldn't interpret, the cupbearer remembered Joseph, and told Pharaoh about him.
When he was told the dreams, Joesph said that the dreams were from God; God was warning Pharaoh that the next seven years were going to have bumper crops like no one had ever seen before, but the seven years following were going to be a severe famine. He then told Pharaoh that the wisest thing he could do would be to appoint someone really smart to take all of the extra food from the bumper crop years and ration it out for the famine years, so that Egypt didn't starve. Pharaoh thought that Joseph was in such good standing with God that he was the only person who could possibly do the job right, and appointed him second in command over all Egypt.
Seven years passed, famine hit, and back in Canaan Jacob and his family ran out of food. Hearing there was food for sale in Egypt, Jacob sent his sons to go buy some so that they wouldn't all starve.
Now if I were Joseph, after going through all that, the minute I clapped eyes on my brothers I probably would have had them all beheaded. But Joseph obviously had learned a whole lot more than I have, because instead of having them killed he tested them, to see if they were sorry and had changed. When he found out they had, told them to bring Jacob and all of their families to live in Egypt. He got them settled in the delta land of the Nile, and everything was peaceful.
Joseph's brothers were obviously still on edge, because when Jacob died a few years later, they all came to Joseph and told him, "Just so you know, dad said that when he dies you aren't to take revenge on us for that incident when you were 17, 'cause we're really sorry for what we did then."
Joseph got so frustrated that they didn't understand that he started crying, and he told them,"Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive".
A lot of the time God lets really bad, horrible things happen so that through them really amazing, wonderful things can happen. If Nate Saint and his four friends had not died trying to teach the Waodani to "walk God's trail", many, many people would have missed God's call for their life, to go out and share His love with others who don't love Him. If Joseph's brothers had not sold him into slavery, then thousands of people would have starved to death in the famine. Although both of these things were horrible, God used them in amazing, wonderful ways.
And that's what Romans means when it says, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Rapunzel
Once upon a post... the very first...
I've come to the conclusion that the hardest part of having a blog is writing the first post. I HATE writing introductions. And how are you supposed to write an introduction to something when you don't know exactly what it will become, anyways?
Anyhow, I'm going to take the advice of my cousin, Amy, and use this first post to write what I WANT to do with this blog. Here goes!
1) I want to glorify God with everything I post. If it is not God-honoring, I will not be posting it.
2) I want to record memories. I'm not much good with a diary (my last entry was about, two, two an' a half years ago?), and a blog will hopefully be something that I KEEP posting on, instead of just forgetting about it.
3) I will be posting the answers I've found in the Bible to all sorts of things I've been puzzling over. That will include things I just finally pieced together, and it will include things God told me through something. Any input on these things (like if I've got it wrong, please use the Bible to set me straight!) will be appreciated!
4) I will (on my Mom's insistence) be posting tutorials for crafts and sewing projects, pics of things I've sewn recently, and (here I'm wincing because this could be embarrassing) book report/essays-on-books that I've written for school. About one a week.
Other than that, I have no goals. Well, none that I can think of at the moment.
Now what?
Anyhow, I'm going to take the advice of my cousin, Amy, and use this first post to write what I WANT to do with this blog. Here goes!
1) I want to glorify God with everything I post. If it is not God-honoring, I will not be posting it.
2) I want to record memories. I'm not much good with a diary (my last entry was about, two, two an' a half years ago?), and a blog will hopefully be something that I KEEP posting on, instead of just forgetting about it.
3) I will be posting the answers I've found in the Bible to all sorts of things I've been puzzling over. That will include things I just finally pieced together, and it will include things God told me through something. Any input on these things (like if I've got it wrong, please use the Bible to set me straight!) will be appreciated!
4) I will (on my Mom's insistence) be posting tutorials for crafts and sewing projects, pics of things I've sewn recently, and (here I'm wincing because this could be embarrassing) book report/essays-on-books that I've written for school. About one a week.
Other than that, I have no goals. Well, none that I can think of at the moment.
Now what?
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