A Book to Ponder During Lent

If you're looking for a book on Jesus Christ to read during Lent, I highly recommend The Life & Teaching of Jesus Christ by James S. Stewart. I came across Stewart's book when I was looking for such a one to read during Advent. I found his writing to be engaging, scholarly, and filled with personal passion for knowing his beloved Savior. 

Several years ago I had determined to know more about my Redeemer and so began to study Him in more depth in the Scriptures as well as through the insights and study of authors who have a supreme regard for Him. Stewart's book was a slow but delightful read in this regard. Slow because his insights drew me to ponder and consider Jesus Christ in ways I had not previously. I needed to savor the narrative.

James S. Stewart was a Scottish preacher, born in Dundee in 1896 and was viewed by some as the greatest preacher of the twentieth century. He was also Chair of New Testament Language, Literature, and Theology at New College, Edinburgh University and chaplain to King George V and later to Queen Elizabeth. He died in 1990. 

As one biographical author has commented, "In summary, Stewart fused scholarship and evangelism in a style and delivery that was bold, stirring, positive, lyrical, joyous and often exhilarating." I haven't heard Stewart preach, but I found this to be true in his writing of The Life & Teaching of Jesus Christ.

Finding Jesus

I had heard about Nabeel Qureshi's book Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus shortly after his death in 2017. People were talking about how untimely his death seemed to be because his testimony of coming to faith in Jesus Christ was so remarkable and was a lamp out of Islam for fellow Muslims. We received the book as a gift, and so I recently pulled it off the shelf to read after the new year. It's a book from the heart and pen of this former devout Muslim who sought to verify his faith in Islam, yet found his faith in Christianity. 

The book begins as Nabeel describes his upbringing in the Islam faith as one of devoted familial love as well as love and care for others in their faith, particularly those in their local mosque. I found this section of the book quite helpful as it gave me an understanding of the Muslim mindset. 

As Nabeel continues to tell his story, we're introduced to a Christian classmate, David Wood, who became Nabeel's college friend--a friendship that lasted throughout the remainder of Nabeel's short life. God used this relationship as the vehicle to challenge Qureshi's thinking about Islam and Christianity. Because Nabeel was a truth seeker, he sought answers for the questions David was asking. In his search he found the undeniable truth about Muhammed the prophet and the undeniable truth about Jesus the Christ. To embrace Jesus, however, meant to be disowned by his family and Muslim community, a difficult choice that Qureshi wrestled with for many months. 

The book impacted me in a couple of ways. First, as I mentioned, it gave me an understanding of how a Muslim thinks about Muhammed and Allah. Another was understanding that God sometimes speaks to them through visions and dreams to draw them to Himself, which seems to be different than how He draws the Western heart and mind. 

A further aspect of the book is that his friend David was God's agent for reaching into the heart and mind of Nabeel Qureshi for the sake of his soul. We never know when God wants to work through us for the sake of another. Nabeel died from stomach cancer when he was 34, about the same age as Jesus at His death. While God allowed death to take Nabeel, his writing about his encounter with Christianity continues to lead other Muslims to Jesus Christ and saving faith. To God be the glory.

All Our Losses

The First Grief
by Daniel Ridgeway Knight

These covid-19 weeks are filled with loss for many, and with that loss often comes unrecognized grief. Grief is typically thought of in the death of a loved one, yet there are losses of many kinds. While some losses are, indeed, losing loved ones during this period (some covid-19 related, some not; my own dad died a little over a month ago), other losses come to mind--loss of a job, loss of opportunity, loss of routine, loss of familiarity, loss of human touch, loss of relationships, loss of identity whether through job or family. These aren't trivial losses, and grief more often than not will accompany them. For a great number of people, children as well as adults, multiple losses are compounding their experience.

It's important to recognize that each loss can give rise to grief. As I talked with someone yesterday, she told me that her friend is experiencing a compounding of loss right now, and is very troubled in spirit, listless, lethargic, with a deep gnawing vagueness, and yet she can't put her finger on exactly why she is so downcast in her soul. This is the experience of grief.

All of these loss experiences are separation losses. What is loved has been lost. It hurts to be separated from what and whom we love. The more we've loved, the greater the grief in losing it or being separated from it. We may not know exactly what we're feeling and why, but we know that something just is not right. 

During these difficult and fatiguing days, let us care for one another, being tenderhearted and compassionate toward one another, and bearing one another's burdens. There may be many family, friends, and neighbors who are grieving losses, even though they may not realize it. Maybe they just need a listening ear, someone to care and acknowledge that they have lost something or someone they love deeply.

While there is hope in our current situation (for we all hope to go back to how things were), there will necessarily be a new normal to get accustomed to. Some of our losses will be restored. Some will not. Some cannot. One of God's good graces has been more time for contemplation. Now is a good time to contemplate what lies beyond. What if our loss isn't restored or at best is limited? What replaces it?

I had earlier recommended All Our Losses, All Our Griefs by Mitchell and Anderson, a book that was required reading in my counseling program. I recommend it again if you are feeling rather ambivalent and downcast in your soul, or if you know someone who is, and they don't really know why. Acknowledging grief is the first step to healing. I've given several of these books to friends myself.

All Our Losses was a healing balm to my own soul when I read it a couple of years ago. I had been grieving a loss for several years, but didn't realize why so much seemed so shadowy and nebulous. It was grief, gnawing grief that wouldn't let go. God used this book to free me and give me hope. 

image ~ Wikimedia Commons

1892, public domain

Face to Face

Several years ago I decided that I wanted to know more about Jesus, so for the past several years during Advent and Lent particularly, I've read books that give me a deeper, broader understanding of  my Savior. Doing so has not only enhanced my celebration of His coming to earth, but has also given me a deeper appreciation of who He is and the Father's desire for His children to be conformed to the image of His Son.

Currently, I'm reading Face to face with Jesus: Seeing Him as He really Is by Randy Alcorn. It's a daily devotional with 200 entries. It's intended to be read throughout the year, so it will take me past Christmas and into the New Year. I thought I would read a few entries each day, but I'm finding that I prefer to read a couple entries and pause to ponder.

God made us, and we were made for God. It's God we long for, and Jesus, God's Son, brings the Father to us. Ultimately, God's greatest gift is himself. We need the savior, and he has a name: Jesus (meaning "God saves.")      ~ Randy Alcorn

From the Book Shelf ~ Loss and Grief

A required reading in a biblical counseling Bereavement course that I'm taking this month is All Our Losses All Our Griefs by Kenneth Mitchell and Herbert Anderson. It's one of those books that I wish I had read many years ago. It would have saved me a lot of bewilderment in my grief. I had a significant loss in the past, but I didn't recognize my feelings as grief, and it took me many years to move on. Had I recognized it for what it was, the time of grieving could have been lessened.

The book considers six types of losses that have significant influence on our lives: loss of relationship, material loss, functional loss, loss of social/familial role, systemic loss (loss of that part someone plays in a group rather than the person himself), and intrapsychic loss (death of a hope/dream/purpose/perception of oneself).

All of these losses cause us to grieve to some extent, some more than others. Grief can take on a feeling of emptiness, loneliness, or isolation and can be a sense of loss of self. Recognizing our feelings as grief is essential to being able to move forward. The authors also make the point that administration of calming medication tends to suppress the pain and its necessary expression, which often results in longer, more intense grief. The sooner grieving can begin, the less intense and lengthy it may be.

The authors emphasize the personal ministry of caring, that the Christian community is the primary source of comfort as they care for the grievers. Significant loss can often cause us to question God's goodness in our suffering, and those who come alongside, through their benevolence and words of care, bring comfort and acknowledgement of the faithfulness and goodness of God that brings hope to the bereaved to move forward in life.

Some of the book goes into some psychological explanations of the origin of loss and grief that may not be necessary to understand or agree with; however, the book has great value beyond that, and I highly recommend it. You may find yourself somewhere in the book as I did. I've ordered three more copies for family members. I know it will help them to understand their feelings a little more and strengthen their faith when they face their own times of significant loss.

Grief Exposes Our Faith

“God has not been trying an experiment on my faith or love in order to find out their quality. He knew it already. It was I who didn’t. In this trial He makes us occupy the dock, the witness box, and the bench all at once. He always knew that my temple was a house of cards. His only way of making me realize the fact was to knock it down.” 

~ C.S. Lewis, written through his grief after his wife Joy's death

We've begun a study in our women's Sunday School class on 1 Peter, and yesterday the discussion was on trials and the testing of our faith. As was pointed out, trials are varied for each of us in our own unique situations and life experiences. We each have our own. We all experience grief, sorrow, suffering at some time. It is inevitably universal.

Perhaps you can relate to the thought C.S. Lewis expressed. Sometimes suffering finds us as laws of nature unfold. There is much sorrow and suffering in our world that is also the result of its brokenness and sinfulness. Often it is not our own sinfulness, but we are sometimes the target, or we are impacted by its ricochet.

How do we respond to the suffering? What good can come from our trials and sorrows and grief? They all show us if our faith in Jesus Christ is genuine, for trials always test our faith. Even though trials may be outside of us, they test what is inside of us. God already knows whether or not our faith in Him is genuine, but the trials and sufferings of life let us know for ourselves of its certainty.

And we are thankful that He sent the Comforter when Jesus went back to heaven, for He is the one who knows how to comfort in all our trials and grief.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:6-9).

From the Book Shelf ~ The Art of Aging

Today's post rides on the heels of the last couple of posts that are somewhat along the same vein. I hadn't intended it that way, but we attended Dr. Eyrich's seminar on The Art of Aging today at our church, and I wanted to recommend his book by the same title. We found the seminar to confirm much of what we've experienced in helping to care for my aging parents.

Dr. Eyrich has degrees in gerontology, theology, and has been in the biblical counseling field for many years, holding related positions at colleges, universities and churches. The Eyrichs have additional experience in caring for a parent who had alzheimers, so there was also that aspect to his presentation.

Throughout the seminar, Dr. Eyrich reiterated the need to be today what we want to be in our later years and emphasized that God is active in a person's life and gives purpose as long as we live. In that way, the seminar spoke to all age levels looking forward. This book covers much of what was said today.

From the Book Shelf ~ Running Scared

Recommending Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest by Edward Welch. It was required reading for a biblical counseling class, and I'm ever glad it was! Welch is writing from experience and wisdom. A brief excerpt from the preface:

Like most writing projects, this book is aimed squarely at myself. Although I can be angry or melancholy, I am a fear specialist. In this I have found that I am not alone. Not everyone is a fear specialist, but there is no doubt that every single person who ever lived is personally familiar with fear. It is an inescapable feature of earthly life. To deny it is...well...to deny it.

Welch discusses how natural fear and worry can be and shows us how to recognize it. He says there are themes that run through our fears, and he gives instruction on how to face them. Danger and vulnerability are key aspects, and this is where spiritual realities come to light. Welch shows us how to turn to God when fear and worry prevail, how we can find freedom and have peace reign in our hearts and minds.

I have only one negative about the book--I don't particularly like the cover design. Kind of petty, I realize. I had seen the book before, but I was put off by the cover. That was not a good decision. I would have missed Welch's deep insight. Goes to show that you can't judge a book by its cover. I should have looked beyond the cover because anything written by Ed Welch is a treasure trove of wise counsel. However, I would recommend a new cover design on the next edition. :-)

From the Book Shelf ~ Depression: Looking Up from the Stubborn Darkness

Recommending a book to you today that I read in the past that was a great benefit to me as I was going through a time of struggle. It has recently been updated with more current and relevant examples and retitled just a bit. It was required reading in a class I just completed on depression and anxiety, and it was good to read through and absorb once again, to refresh my mind and heart.

Ed Welch knows depression, and his winsome way of walking us through it, either for ourselves or for understanding someone we love, is rich in the grace of the gospel. The outstanding takeaway for me was that we need to consider the reality of God, because it is at the intersection of one's belief and daily life that responses to trials meet. An understanding of Jesus' compassion, of God's attention to needs, and of His goodness are all essential. Welch builds upon these foundational truths to help those who suffer in this way to look up from the stubborn darkness of depression.

Welch explains the scope of depression and gives direction to those who are caught in its despair, as well as direction to those who want to help them find a way out. He presses the point throughout the book that how one thinks about God is the key issue from moving from hopelessness to hopefulness.

Ed Welch is a licensed psychologist and biblical counselor for Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF). To watch a brief youtube video clip of Welch discussing depression, you can click here.

From the Bookshelf ~ Jesus 365

One of my desires is to know more of Jesus, so for the past few years I've been choosing a book about Him to read as we approach Resurrection Sunday. Our daughter gave My Beloved Jesus 365 a couple years ago for Christmas, and this year I pulled it off the bookshelf to read myself. It's a devotional book compiled by Ed Stewart of the account of Jesus while He was here on earth. I'm not reading it as a daily devotional, but rather reading several entries at a sitting. There are notes along the way with insights into the cultural and historical context of the time.

The subtitle is Experiencing the Four Gospels as One Single Story. It's a chronological blending of the actions of Jesus, written in narrative form that walks with Him through His earthly ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, and His ascension back to the Father.

Jesus knows where His path is taking him. The blending and chronology of the book gives broader insight into what His walk has given us.

The Widow's Hope

Thinking this evening about a sister in Christ who very recently lost her husband to death and is now grieving her loss. Tomorrow is one of the 'firsts' that she'll be facing--making a trip alone. She needs prayer in the transition to her aloneness, of making plans and decisions herself that before were shared tasks. There are many 'firsts' that must be faced with prayer and God's enablement, so those who care about her pray for her strength and wisdom, that she will rest her hope and trust in the God of her salvation.

I recalled a discussion a few years back on Revive Our Hearts between Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Margaret Nyman, whose husband had died from cancer. They talked about the struggles a widow faces in those first months and the 'firsts' that one must face alone. Margaret also talks about how others reached out to her and what was helpful. I listened again this week to the discussion, and it helped me to understand a little of how to reach out to my friend. I also gained a glimpse of what may lie ahead for myself someday.

If this sounds like something you'd be interested in listening to, you can find the discussion here. It's a 5-part series, about 25 minutes each. Margaret has written a devotional book entitled Hope for an Aching Heart: Uplifting Devotions for Widows. I gave a copy of the book and CD to my friend and pray that God will use Margaret to comfort and encourage her.

Recommending - Forty Autumns

I just finished the book Forty Autumns by Nina Willner. It's the story of her mother's family behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War. Her mother was able to escape when she was twenty years old, but was separated from her family for forty years afterward. It's a story that shows the harsh reality of life under socialism and communism. It's also a story of a family's love for one another that kept hope alive.

Two thoughts kept drifting through my mind throughout the book. The first was the value of extended family. Had they not stood together, they would have suffered apart. They were each other's loyal support and defense, while many others became informants under the pressure. Children played a necessary part in the midst of oppression as well, for they brought normalcy and joy to the daily drudgery and duties of life.

The other thought that trailed me throughout the book was the power of the media. It controlled what the people thought through messages about how grand and glorious East Germany was in protecting its own people. They had no contact with the outside world to know any different, yet how similar, but paradoxical, it is here in America. We listen to and watch whatever we choose, but are constantly bombarded with messages that shape our thinking. We think we are free to make choices, and we are. Yet we, too, are being socially engineered by the elite who control the media.

The book was recommended to me by a friend, and I recommend it to you and its many sub-themes that run through it. It's a poignant picture of life in a country without God.

The TimeChart of Biblical History

I truly enjoy the Sunday School hour at our church as a variety of different classes are offered each quarter. I'm taking a class this quarter on studying the Bible, and one topic brought up in discussion today was suggested resources for studying the historical context of a book or passage. A friend in the class recommended the Time Chart of Biblical History, which I've also found to be a very helpful resource.

It's handy to keep by my quiet time/study area where I can refer to it as I'm reading. It's 18 inches tall (so it doesn't fit in the bookcase, for sure!) and opens accordion-style to about 17 feet. It provides a visual representation of over 4000 years with charts, maps, lists and chronologies. You can see who's living and what's going on in the known world during the same time period.


If you've wanted to connect the dots in biblical history, the Time Chart of Biblical History would be a great addition to your own home library.

Weekend Daybook

Charles Dana Gibson, 1911

Outside My Window...

Someone mowing the lawn next door. May be getting new neighbors soon. The realty sign is gone.

Noticing the sound of...

Thunder in the distance

Thankful...

My brother, who was in the Air Force in Vietnam, was visiting a few days for Dad’s 91st birthday and took him to see the B-17 bomber Sentimental Journey while it was at a nearby airport on the Flying Legends of Victory Tour. Dad was allowed to get up into the plane (with help), and he and my brother spent some time reminiscing about their military days. It was a good day for them both. 

Brought a smile...

Thinking about my dad getting into the Sentimental Journey B-17
 
The fruit of my hands...
Took the meal for Dad's birthday. We had planned to have the party here, but My Beloved hasn't been doing well in the evenings for awhile.

Thinking...

That it will be a blessing to have Dad's devotional journal for the grandchildren when he completes it.

Hoping to...

Find out why My Beloved has been feeling bad for the past several weeks. Should be getting the report from his CT scan in a couple of days.

Learning...

How to find public domain images. The site I had been using had allowed use of their images with link backs, but it appears they've changed ownership and that has changed. I noticed that the site was functioning differently recently and dug deeper. I began to wonder why it was okay for people to pin the same images to Pinterest. Hmmm. Seems that's not so. Found this article. I've used some of my blogging time to replace some images. I think images enhance the message, but it's slow going.

Pondering...
"A durable yearning for learning characterizes all those who are truly wise."

Donald S. Whitney in Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. p.279

Tomorrow is our last class in this book. Much food for thought.

In the Kitchen...

White Bean and Ham soup simmering on the stove

In the Sewing Room..

Began a new pattern this week for a little girl dress. Don't really care for the sleeves, though, so I'll look for something different.

Around the house...

Not much going on except for typical keeping the pathways clear.

 

Reading...

Reaching the hearts of children isn't just for parents. This is a great resource for parents, grandparents, and anyone who has the privilege of touching a child's heart with gospel principles. If you click on the image, you can read the introduction and first chapter.

Weekend Daybook

Outside My Window...

Our neighbors are moving, so we thought now is a good time to put up a few sections of privacy fence. We've been here a year and a half and have great neighbors at present, but our backyard is adjacent to both neighbors' front yards and driveways. We hope to do a planting on the other side soon for a little more natural look. Looking forward to some quiet time on the back porch.

Thankful...

For great neighbors. We've had wonderful neighbors all through the years. You never know when you move into a neighborhood how the neighbors might be, or when someone new moves in. 

Noticing the sound of...

My Beloved working on the front doorbell. Been hearing about intruders forcing their way in when the front door is opened, so we're installing a doorbell camera.

Pondering...
Remembering when people were more honest and moral when Christianity was taught in the schools and was part of America's culture and way of thinking. Today's millenials have no idea what a nation's life is like when lived in a Christian context. Sad to say, coming generations probably won't either.

Brought a smile...
Overheard a grandmother talking with her two young granddaughters at lunch today. They were planning to go to the Botanical Gardens. Such a sweet conversation.

Looking forward to...
Meeting our daughters and their families soon at a cabin in the Kentucky mountains.

Thinking...
That reading is a good thing in that it broadens our horizons and gives us new thoughts to ponder. But I listened to a podcast this week on using the library with children and was reminded that it's so very important to be discerning in what we allow them to read. I know it's just as important for us adults to be discerning in what we read as well. My Beloved and I went to our city library's huge book sale today, and seeing the boxes of books that people were carrying out made me wonder how discerning they were being in what they had chosen. Fiction, especially, is reflective of pop culture. It shapes our thinking and normalizes the author's philosophy of life. There's much in our culture today that is anti-God, immoral, and demoralizing. I think we would do well to be more discerning in what we allow to shape our thinking.

Around the house...

Just a simple touch, but I added a small bouquet that I got on clearance for next to nothing to the bathroom vanity. Our little Anna calls this the "fancy bathroom." That's the one she always wants to go to and take a bath in our big garden tub. She's a fancy sort of little girl. :-)  Elijah prefers the bathroom with the cabin wall quilt. Good memories.







In the kitchen...
My mother asked for a bean recipe that I had served not long ago when they were over for supper. Sharing it with you today as well.

Apple Bean Pot  from Fix It and Forget It
Slow Cooker Recipe (Makes 12 servings)

Mix the following together in slow cooker.
Low 3-4 hours, then High 30 minutes

53-oz. can baked beans, well drained
1 large onion, chopped
3 tart apples, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup ketchup or barbeque sauce
1/2 cup firmly packed brown suger
1 pkg. ham chunks

Learning...
To make 18-inch doll clothes with flat seam construction. So much easier!

The fruit of my hands...

I had some extra fabric from one of the little dresses I had made, so I made an 18-inch doll dress to match. Going to make one for my little Anna to match the dress I had made her recently.














Reading...

I found this book for $1.00 on the clearance table at our local bookstore. I've just begun to read it, and it is delightful.

From the back of the book cover...
From her published books, many now out of print, the former Archbishop of York and Lady Blanch present their personal selection of prose and poetry, prefaced by a reminiscence of this remarkable woman who all her life learned of God and shared this with others.

Nobody Like Him

We are at the point in our Bible Study in Mark of Jesus' last week before His crucifixion. I've been drawn into the study more these past few weeks as it coincides with the weeks leading up to the rejoicing of Resurrection Sunday. The study reinforces in my mind and heart that Jesus is truly the Son of God and has authority over everyone and everything. You, me, my life, your life. Government and nations. Relationships. Life's choices. If we neglect that authority, it is to our detriment. If we embrace it, it is to our welfare, both now and forevermore.

For the past few years I've wanted to learn more and more about Jesus, so I've been choosing a book with Jesus as the central theme to bring Him into closer focus for the Lenten season. This year I've chosen The Incomparable Christ by John Stott. I had previously read another book with the same title by J. Oswald Sanders, and it was a favorite read for that year, drawing me closer to comprehending the impact of Jesus' death and resurrection. The book by Stott is somewhat more academic, viewing Jesus from four aspects:

(1) The Original Jesus--How does the New Testament bear witness to Him?
(2) The Ecclesiastical Jesus--How has the church portrayed Jesus down through the centuries?
(3) The Influential Jesus--What influence has Christ had in history?
(4) The Eternal Jesus--What should Jesus mean to us today?

As the author states,

My hope is that these studies in the Bible and church history will be able to justify the title, The Incredible Christ. There is nobody like him; there never has been, and there never will be.

I do hope you know that to be true, dear one. It is He who leads us Upward and Homeward. I hope to see you there someday.

Recommending ....

If you're like me, you try to get news from various angles. That means looking beyond the mainstream media. Recommending to you today World Magazine. Their mission statement:

To report, interpret, and illustrate the news in a timely, accurate, enjoyable, and arresting fashion from a perspective committed to the Bible as the inerrant Word of God.

It's that perspective that I especially look for. In addition to news articles, their Voices articles by a variety of writers give much food for thought, and their book reviews help direct me to further reading. I could do without their music and movie reviews, but I realize there are some who are still stuck in the muck of current culture.

We've subscribed to World for many years, going back to when our daughters were still at home. There are special issues just for children, which aids parents/teachers as they help their children sort through the chaos of the culture. World Magazine was a tremendous resource when we were homeschooling high school. It continues to be our go-to for a biblical perspective on our crazy world.

You can click on the image above to take a look for yourself. You can also check out the World Radio site at wng.org/radio.

From the Book Shelf ~ The Civil War Diary Quilt

Read some journal entries this evening in The Civil War Diary Quilt by Rosemary Youngs. The book contains 121 entries penned by women during the Civil War (or War of Northern Aggression as some referred to it) and quilt blocks that Rosemary was inspired to make relevant to the journal entries. The blocks are nice, but the journal entries touch the heart.

These were all brave women. Their lives were very difficult, but a common thread seems to have been their faith in God, no matter which side of the conflict they were on. The best and worst of people seep out in times of hardship, and that's seen in sometimes admirable, yet often atrocious conduct of the soldiers on both sides. Those women whose faith sustained them were granted inner strength amid the turmoil.

This evening's reading was journal entries by Isabella Buchanan Edmonson. Belle was a confederate spy, smuggling letters and supplies to the rebel forces. Her mother had died in 1861, when Belle was 21. Belle was 23 when she penned these entries. Leaning heavy into the strength of her Redeemer.

Father of justice and mercy, crown our armies with victory, drive the wicked tyrants from our Sunny land-we humbly crave thy pardon and blessing-oh! give us peace-guide my Bros., keep them from harm. ~ March 28, 1864

Oh! Heavenly Father, we pray and beseech thee to hear our prayers - drive the enemy from our soil and give us peace. ~ June 30, 1864

Oh! my heavenly redeemer, guide me, teach my heart forbearance, and for pity lighten my trials. ~ July 26, 1864

Belle died unexpectedly and suspiciously at age 33, July 1873.

A Farmer's Wife?

A dear friend from back home recently sent me The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt by Laurie Aaron Hird, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It's partly a book of quilt block patterns, and I was first attracted to it because of that. As I began to read, though, I was drawn to it time and again because it's a book from the heart of farm wives--about how farmers' wives in the 1920s liked being who they were.

The first part of the book contains letters that are in response to this question posed by The Farmer's Wife magazine in 1922: "If you had a daughter of marriageable age, would you, in light of your own experience, have her marry a farmer?" Well, I'm not a farmer's wife, so I began to wonder about their responses. Another dear friend said she always wanted to be a farmer's wife, and she waited until one came her way. They were truly meant for one another. I guess she knew what, I suppose, most of us don't.

More than 7,000 women in the 1920s would agree with her, for that's how many responses The Farmer's Wife magazine received. These women were dead serious about what they thought about that question. And it, undoubtedly, required taking more time than we would have to give it today to sit and compose their thoughts by hand--no emails, no texting, no cut and paste. They wanted to be heard.

The book made me think about what I'd want for my own daughters as I considered my own life. What have I given so much of my life to that I'd want my daughters to do likewise? What would I be so motivated about to handwrite a response to a national magazine? I know immediately...I'd want my daughters to educate their children at home--to be a stay-at-home, home schooling wife and mother. Perhaps another day I'll expand more fully on that response, but suffice it say right now that my grandchildren are enjoying and reaping the benefits of education in the home. We and they are truly blessed.

Oh, about the quilt blocks in the second part of the book.... There are 111 six-inch quilt blocks, with cutting directions and assembly diagrams, and instructions for making a sampler quilt in any traditional size: lap, twin, queen, or king. I've seen some blogs that talk about being part of an online group that's working on The Farmer's Wife blocks. Now I know what they're referring to.

But the best part to me was the letters.

From the Bookshelf ~ Seeing With New Eyes

Sharing a brief excerpt with you this evening from a favorite book, Seeing With New Eyes by David Powlison. God used this book to open my eyes and open my heart--to see past the rosy, the jaundiced, the bluesy, the sometimes mirrored lens as Powlison so expressively explains it. Yes, God does "make madmen sane."

"To think Christianly is "to think God's thoughts after him." Of course, our thinking is both finite and distorted. We never see it all; and we often misconstrue what we do see. We see in a glass darkly, skewed reflections in a battered bronze mirror--but we do see. God, who sees all things directly in full daylight, enlightens the eyes of our hearts. We see surfaces, catching glimpses of interiors; God sees to the inky or radiant depth of every heart, all the way down to fundamental hate or fundamental love. Our glasses are sometimes rosy, sometimes jaundiced, sometimes bluesy, sometimes mirrored on the inside of the lens (so that all we can see are the turbulent contents of our own interiors). The madness in our hearts generates warped spectra. But God sees all things in bright, clear light--and this God is the straightener of crooked thoughts. He makes madmen sane."

Painting ~ A Bit of Sunlight, Mary Hayllar, 1885