Beautiful North

My family spent the last few days visiting friends, at their lovely place a few hours north of here. I've never experienced so much in three day's time, and it was all fascinating. To put it simply, a lot happened.

These are of the cabin we stayed in. It's a rustic, vintage-y place, built in the 40's and filled with odd and ends and books and beds. And so very cozy.

The bed that my sister and I shared the first night. It's built into the wall in the loft, the wall is all windows looking into the forest. I love it!

The lake is spectacular . . . clear, mostly cold, and deep. Wednesday night, I managed to swim across it!

And the fishing's alright, too, much to my brother's contentment.

We went to the nearby state park for some adventures . . .

Lack of a swimsuit didn't stop our little pal from playing in the river!

It was the perfect day - warm, sunny. Perfect for us tourists! *snicker* We ran all over the trails, gawked at the tallest trees, climbed the fire tower (100 feet is higher than it sounds!), and snacked on candy bars.

My friend took me to the county fair that evening. It was small, unlike the two fairs I usually go to, and I loved the environment.

The horse talent show was really fun to watch. I'd never seen a drill team prior to that night, believe it or not! And this pony was very cute - very perky and happy to show off.

I want a horse of my own. Badly.

The midway was definitely a highlight for me - the few rides we went on were splendid, and the evening light paired with the neon light was wonderful.

Quick question: Am I the only one who is heavily reminded of Charlotte's Web when at a county fair?

As for food . . . well, I'm just gonna say that mint malts, lemonade, and cheese curds are as good as it gets.

That night, my friend and I spent the night in the library above one of the workshops.

We started in on "Much Ado About Nothing". Much laughter ensued, and not only because we were bushed!



Isn't it lovely? Don't you want to become a hermit and live there?

It was an altogether amazing trip. I wish everyone could experience one like it! I also wish I had my camera present when the seventy bagels we made came out of the oven. ;)

But the most amazing thing that happened while we were there? We met a new friend - and he met the world. My mom puts it way better than I could . . . this baby's birth is proof that prayer works, and that God loves life.

I can't wait to get back there. Good friends, beautiful places, and so much to see and do.
Thanks for reading, much love,
M

April 30

I realized that I neglected to tell you, my lovely readers, about something wonderful that happened a while ago.

I got a dslr.

(!!!!)

If you've been following since earlier this winter, you might remember some posts in which I either mentioned or fully expounded on my dreams about a big, nice camera. That dream came true about a month and a half ago.

April 30 was a rainy day. My dad took me to the camera store, where we met my grandparents, who were a big part of that good day. The salesguy brought out the box from the back room, the box full of the camera I had chosen a few days before. He set me up with a few accessories, the bill was paid, and home we went over the slick streets.

Arriving at home was when the fun really took off. I fetched my point and shoot to chronicle the event of unpacking, play by play.



I was sa-vor-ing that moment. Excitement was coursing through my veins, but I was happy to sit back, snap some photos, and enjoy the happy disbelief.





Ooooh....major excitement mounting!



I couldn't believe that this curious synthetic-wrapped black lump was mine. :)



The whole time, I felt slightly dazed. In the best way, of course! ;) I hadn't been expecting a camera like that, right then.

I was blessed with that camera. It's opened up so many possibilities. Sometimes, it feels unreal. I wasn't lucky when I got this camera; I was blessed.

Incredibly, amazingly blessed.

I'm indebted to so many people; the men and women who encouraged me, helped me financially, gave advice. I'm indebted to Jesus, who laid the foundation for everything good thing that has entered my life.

Thank you. Thank you.
~M

He Loves

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~Romans 8:38-39

I mess up all the time, every day. And God still loves.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
~Hebrews 13:8

My life changes, I change, all the time. God doesn't change.

He forgives. And He is good. All the time.

I don't quite understand it, this love of His.

But I am so glad for it.

I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, 'My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,'
~Isaiah 46:9-10

What just happened?

I say . . . is March over already?

It was beautiful. It was a blur, too. Time pulls pranks like that.

1. Novel


I finished the first draft of my first novel, and it was glorious. At least, it was for the first evening. The next day, reality struck and I realized that I should probably read it before designing the cover and crowing about this wondrous story to everyone I know. After a quick page through, I became subtle pretty quickly. I realized that the novel, all 97,000 words of it, were not exactly what I had in mind when I thought of Best Novel Ever.

So I am going to set it aside and wait to read it. Then I'll consider editing.

The same night I finished the novel, a new idea came to the beginning of its potential in my head. And that is what I work on while I wait to reach emotional stability with Cadish the White. (Don't worry, a new title is on its way!)

I am in the process of honest-to-goodness outlining for this new idea, which is something new for me. After hardly outlining for Cadish, I knew that I didn't want to go through the annoying, wandering process of writing a novel like that again.

So I am happily reading books on the craft of structure, thinking of plot twists and character backgrounds, and being generally relaxed as I iron out a new story to write. This is the photo that really reminds me of my new project:

I don't want to jinx myself, but . . . I am pretty happy with the prospect of the array of new people and places at the fingertips of my mind. And I love outlining. Just had to add that.

2. Random Photography

Misty and Daisy get reacquainted during Daisy's visit. Don't worry, attitudes improved from there.



Yesterday at grandparents' house, enjoying the April weather.

I visited my oldest brother's college for the first time last week, and this pretty cross was in town as well. Anybody know how to read old runes? I'd love to know what it says.

3. Adventures

I managed to not kill myself and the driving instructor during my first behind the wheel! I was having such a blast in the school's little Scion . . . compared to my family's big ol' van that I practice on, that car was a dream come true.

I also completed my lifeguard course from the Red Cross! *rejoicing* It was intense and challenging, but not so much that it was awful. The training videos were almost as funny as they were serious (I crack up every time I see an AED now), I got to know some fun people, and on top of that, I know how to lifeguard.

And . . . I got some new dreams for the future. My other brother's (Hmm, I think I called him James last time I mentioned him) collegefornextyear had a student/parent(sister) intro day, and I loved seeing the place and watching James get excited to go. It was so interesting. I could prattle for hours and hours and hours . . .

4. Goodness

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. ~2 Corinthians 4:16-18

I don't suffer as much "momentary affliction" as the people who read this first did, but it is good--so good--to know that my God is strong enough to strengthen me day by day, all the time, and that He has so much good in store for me. It's good to know that He loves me.

Enjoying springtime,

~Margaret

The Glory

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?
~Psalm 8:3-4

As I learn more about the worlds God created, including this one I live on and especially the entire universe it's in, these verses ring increasingly true.

The universe is so huge, so mysterious, and so complex. It's amazing that humans have managed to learn so much about it has they have, but what's so much more awesome is that it's even here. Some people believe in the big bang theory, but while that offers an explanation for the beginning of our earth, it doesn't even begin to say where the universe came from.

So where did it come from?

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen is not made out of things that are visible.
~Hebrews 11:3

God created the huge, majestic amazing universe. After He made something so incredible, He made humans that were supposed to be perfect. But they sinned, and... He still loves them. What is man that you are mindful of him?

So now I think, Here in the midst of that universe, in the presence of the Being who created it and so much more, what am I to do? I mean, read Ecclesiastes and you basically find the words Life Does Not Mean Anything. And it doesn't, without God. To be awake spiritually is to be alive.

As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
~2 Corinthians 4:18

So life in the soul and body has all the potential it needs for uselessness and death. But God can reverse that! He can let you live, here on earth and afterward in eternity. And can you imagine how wonderful eternal life with God will be? Look at what He has created. He Himself is more beautiful. What will He have us do for Him once there is an eternity or perfection before us?

I can't wait to find out.

Maranatha, Lord Jesus. Come quickly.

Faith

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ~Romans 5:1-2

Faith that only Jesus can save me has been on my heart lately. There is so much to understand about Him, and so much that I never will until heaven. But He loves me, He died for me, and I know that He is my savior. And that is all that matters. I have to have faith that He can forgive my sin, even though it may be a little hard for me to believe sometimes. But all I have to do is ask. Ask for the forgiveness that only, only God can give.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ~Philippians 4:6

~~~~

Hannah wrote a great post on faith that rather inspired to me get my thoughts into the blogosphere....you really should go read it!

This Christmas

December 1st! Christmas draws near! Everyone I know is excited. I am, too. I love Christmas. But this year, I think that I might be loving it in a different way.

Christmas is the celebration of Jesus' birth. Before it partially morphed into a day in December centered around buying stuff, decorating stuff, and doing stuff that you usually don't do {bringing trees indoors, etc.}, it was for remembering Jesus and the awesome things God used Him for. I have really lost sight of that. Of course, my family reads the Christmas story from the Bible each year and lights Advent candles and keeps it real, but it had become simple routine for me.


Due to changes in the family and such, this Christmas is probably going to be without lots of the usual trimmings, and now I see that God planned things thus so that I could get a really good perspective for seeing the real meaning of Christmas. The Jesus meaning. While family and thankfulness and love are nice themes to attach to Christmas, it is really for the remembrance of Jesus' arrival on earth.

So this year, I am going to look for God's Son everywhere.

~~~~

A quick post...

Here is a very well-known Bible verse I have taken for granted for a long time:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. -Philippians 4:4

I often forget about the remarkable gift God has given me in salvation. I can only see straight ahead, looking only for the mundanely annoying things in life's many imperfections. It is really easy to become bitter.

But the verse above says to praise God all the time, not only when life is good, because it has been bad and often will be! I was not promised a perfect when I became a Christian, but I have been promised God's eternal love. I have been given everything in it; how can I not be happy?

Image credit

Phillippians 4:19

Philippians 4:19- And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in the glory of the Jesus Christ.

At first glance, I thought of this verse as referring to needs like food, clothing, and the basic physical ones. But there is more meaning than that.

Notice the word 'every'.God cares for and is willing to provide the non-physical emotional needs, too. He can be the perfect friend that is always, always accessible and loving. He cares for every aspect of my life.

And He's the Creator of this exquisite world, too! Not my image, but I just had to share it.

Doubts

It was a dark and stormy night... just kidding, it was actually a quiet and grey morning, and I was not happy. I was sad, lonely, and far from home. I wanted to be home, but I knew I wouldn't be for a week. I picked up my Bible, looking for comfort. I thought, In all the missionary biographies I have read, they just start reading and find exactly the strength they need. Do they just open to a random spot?

I asked God to please show me something comforting, but I still had doubts. After some weighing of ideas of where to read, I just decided to pick up where I had left off in the Psalms a few days ago. I was on the 13th.

I started reading, barely expecting anything.

But God still cared about me, even when I was doubting His love. That 13th psalm epitomized the feelings of loneliness I had that morning and gave me back the knowledge that God is always, always watching and caring for me.

I will sing to the LORD, because he had dealt bountifully with me. -Psalm 13:6

Leaving

Today I leave for my first week of being a camp counselor. I would totally love it if you would pray...

1. ...that the kids will be open and receptive to the Gospel.

2. ...that the other counselors and I will form a great team.

3. ...for good weather!

4. ...that God will be glorified. I know He will be. :)

But Jesus called to them to him, saying, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a small child shall not receive it. -Luke 18:16-17

I love this verse. It reminds me that I do not need to get all technical and picky about God and my faith. I just need to love and trust Him.

A higher calling? Oh yeah.

I love heroes. Stories like The Lord of the Rings infatuate me. In those stories, the good guys are fighting with they got against a great, dark, evil enemy. Their purpose is noble: keep the world free and peaceful. And when I read the trilogy or other books like it, I want so badly to somehow get into the story, like go through Lucy's wardrobe or something, and experience it for myself. But, as I far as I've experienced, that isn't possible. So I would get rather sad. I thought that I was doomed to a life of wishful thinking and empty dreams.

But I am not.

God has given me, and all Christians, a chance to do something nobler than the heroes and heroines in fiction get to do: I get to help fight His battles:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. -Ephesians 6:12

God is allowing me to fight in a war which has an eternal outcome. We by ourselves are not strong enough to fight in this war, but God gives us the strength we need through the Bible and constant contact with Him. And this is not a war with a possibly hopeless and uncertain outcome; God is going to win this one.

They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is the Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful. -Revelation 17:14