It is difficult to define Hiraeth, but to me it means the consciousness of man being out of his home area and that which is dear to him. That is why it can be felt even among a host of peoples amidst nature's beauty. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
. . like a Christian yearning for Heaven. . .
Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 03:43PM 
As you can see, they are not mine, they are Eve's grandpuppies. These pups are out of her son, Archee, who was born from the last litter she had before she was "retired." They are three days old in this picture. Aren't they sweet?
Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 09:35AM No quotes for me, the characters in my favorite books are "real" real to me! I love this meme; it was fun, thanks, Kim!
Name three characters (from books)...
1). You wish were real so you could meet them.
The Bishop from Les Miserables:
It seemed as if it were a sort of rite with him, to prepare himself for sleep by meditating in presence of the great spectacle of the starry firmament. Sometimes at a late hour of the night, if the two women were awake, they would hear him slowly promenading the walks. He was there alone with himself, collected, tranquil, adoring, comparing the serenity of his heart with the serenity of the skies, moved in the darkness by the visible splendors of the constellations, and the invisible splendor of God, opening his soul to the thoughts which fall from the Unknown. pg. 61
What was more needed by this old man who divided the leisure hours of his life, where he had so little leisure, between gardening in the daytime and contemplation at night? Was not this narrow enclosure, with the sky for a background, enought to enable him to adore God in His most beautiful as well as in His most sublime works? Indeed, is not that all, and what more can be desired? A little garden to walk, and immensity to reflect opon. At his feet something to cultivate and gather; above his head something to study and meditate upon; a few flowers on the earth and all the stars in the sky. pg. 62
Johnny Wainwright from A Prayer for Owen Meany. Johnny Wainwright is as haunting a character to me as Owen Meany is to most who have read this book. The great themes of this quirky but unforgettable book include Providence, the Sovereignty of God, Sacrifice and Redemption, among others. Johnny didn't get it. I'd love to share the gospel with him.
Mr. Bliss from Tolkien's Children's Tale, Mr. Bliss. Oh, I love children's tales and this is one of my favorites! Written and illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien for the amusment of himself and his children, this book is hysterically funny. I'm sure if I met Mr. Bliss I would have some rousing adventures. I just hope I wouldn't be "too bruised" by them all!
2). You would like to be.
Faithful from Pilgrim's Progress. The name sort of says it all.
Jean Valjean from Les Miserables. Oh, to live through what he lived through and to die in full faith!
We must forgive them. . .Such are the distributions of God. He is on high, He sees us all, and He knows what He does in the midst of the stars. . .I die happy.
I'm not sure I would've thought of it on my own, but I do like Lucy from The Chronicles of Narnia (thanks, Kim!)
3). Who scare you.
Right now the scariest would be Morgoth from The Children of Hurin. His curse against the Children of Hurin is so full of malice and rage and heartlessness that I found myself wincing as I read.
Next would probably be Javert, from Les Miserables. He's probably the scariest of all. To be so unyielding, to be so pitiless, to be so unapproachable:
~Now, if we admit for a moment that there is in every man some one of the species of the animal creation, it will be easy for us to describe the guardian of the peace, Javert.
The peasants of the Astrurias believe that in every litter of wolves there is a dog, which is killed by the mother, lest on growing up it should devour the other little ones.
Give a human face to this dog son of a wolf, and you will have Javert.
~This man was a compound of two sentiments very simple and very good in themselves, but he almost made them evil by his exaggeration of them, respect for authority and hatred of rebellion; and in his eyes, theft, murder, all crimes, were only forms of rebellion. . .He was stoical, serious, austere: a dreamer of stern dreams, humble and haughty, like all fanatics. His stare was cold and as piercing as a gimlet. His whole life was contained in these two words: waiting and watching.
Last, Stromboli, from Pinnochio. I loved the story of Pinnochio as a child but I was very frightened of Stromboli, the puppeteer. He, too, was without pity.
As I think about it, there is a common theme of the ones who scare me--lack of pity.
I'm tagging Ellen, Leslie, and Allyson
Kim from Hiraeth
So check it out: As always, Allyson's answers are drawn from her status as well-read and thoughtful. Check out her scary people. Ellen's answers are thoughtful as well, but I do disagree with her about Snape.
Leslie is another Tolkien fan who would love for Treebeard to be real. She, like me, doesn't like spiders.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 06:49AM 
April 25Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 09:04PM 
Well, if it's going to end up on the shelf with the rest of my beloved Tolkien books, you know it had to have it's own bookmark. . .
To celebrate the arrival of The Children of Hurin, I'm offering this bookmark, with two mounts of your choice of color, for $9; shipping included until May 1st.
Don't care about Tolkien? Well, have you visited the gallery lately? There are some new designs!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 05:02AM April 24
Condition of Blessing
Bring ye all of the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. (Malachi 3:10)
Many read and plead this promise without noticing the condition upon which the blessing is promised. We cannot expect heaven to be opened or blessing poured out unless we pay our dues unto the Lord our God and to His cause. There would be no lack of funds for holy purposes if all professing Christians paid their fair share.
Many are poor because they rob God. Many churches, also, miss the visitation of the Spirit because they starve their ministries. If there is no temporal meat for God's servants, we need not wonder if their ministry has been little food in it for our souls. When missions pine for means and the work of the Lord is hindered by an empty treasury, how can we look for a large amount of soul-prosperity?
Come, come! What have I given of late? Have I been mean to my God? Have I stinted my Savior? This will never do. Let me give my Lord Jesus His tithe by helping the poor and aiding His work, and then I shall prove His power to bless me on a large scale.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Monday, April 23, 2007 at 08:39PM Today was a happy, happy mail day!
Look what I got from my friend, Jill! A beautifully hand knitted scarf and a sweet note that made me cry! Thank you, Jill! I adore it and if I wasn't a scarf girl before, I am now!
And my copy of The Children of Hurin came this afternoon!
There it is, just to the right of The Silmarillion. Only it's not there any more, it is down from the shelf (where it posed for a picture only!) and is waiting for me to join my hubby and the dogs on the couch. 'Night, all. I'm off to the First Age. . .or perhaps before. Numenor, maybe? Can't wait to find out!
Monday, April 23, 2007 at 07:03AM The day has become increasingly dark. The rain is waiting nearby, hovering over our little cottage, gathering the shadows and nudging them back into the corners of the rooms, lulling the dogs to sleep.
I love rainy Mondays.
Kim from Hiraeth
I feel cheated. No rain. Shadows have retreated along with the rain clouds. The wind is up and a cool breeze has blown the rain elsewhere. . . clouds without water, carried about by the winds. . .
And yet the sun is nice and the breeze is fresh.
Rain, rain, went away. Come again another day.
Monday, April 23, 2007 at 06:33AM April 23
No Fear of Death
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; he that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. (Revelation 2:11)
The first death we must endure unless the Lord should suddenly come to His temple. For this let us abide in readiness, awaiting it without fear, since Jesus has transformed death from a dreary cavern into a passage leading to glory.
The thing to be feared is not the first but the second death, not the parting of the soul from the body but the final separation of the entire man from God. This is death indeed. This death kills all peace, joy, happiness, hope. When God is gone, all is gone. Such a death is far worse than ceasing to be: it is existence without the life which makes existence worth the having.
Now, if by God's grace we fight on to the end and conquer in the glorious war, no second death can lay its chill finger upon us, We shall have no fear of death and hell, for we shall receive a crown of life which fadeth not away. How this nerves us for the fight! Eternal life is worth a life's battle. To escape the hurt of the second death is a thing worth struggling for throughout a lifetime.
Lord, give us faith so that we may overcome, and then grant us grace to remain unharmed though sin and Satan dog our heels!
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Sunday, April 22, 2007 at 12:53PM O, Christian, antedate heaven for a few years. Within a very little time thou shalt be rid of all thy trials and thy troubles. Thine eyes now suffused with tears shall weep no longer. Thou shall gaze in ineffable rapture upon the splendour of Him Who sits upon the throne.
Charles Spurgeon,
quoted in Tabletalk, April 2007
Sunday, April 22, 2007 at 06:47AM April 22
Power to Raise
The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down. (Psalm 146:8)
Am I bowed down? Then let me urge this word of grace before the Lord. It is His way, His custom, His promise, His delight, to raise up them that are bowed down. Is it a sense of sin and a consequent depression of spirit which distresses me? Then the work of Jesus is, in this case, made and provided to raise me up into rest. O Lord, raise me, for Thy mercy's sake!
Is it a sad bereavement or a great fall in circumstances? Here again the Comforter has undertaken to console. What a mercy for us that one Person of the sacred Trinity should become the Comforter! This work will be well done since such a glorious One has made it His peculiar care.
Some are so bowed down that only Jesus can loose them from their infirmity, but He can, and He will, do it. He can raise us up to health, to hope, to happiness. He has often done so under former trials, and He is the same Savior and will repeat His deeds of lovingkindness. We who are today bowed down and sorrowful shalt yet be set on high, and those who now mock at us shall be greatly ashamed. What an honor to be raised up by the Lord! It is worthwhile to be bowed down that we may experience His upraising power.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Saturday, April 21, 2007 at 06:37AM I've always liked Peter. Of all the Apostles, I think he's the easiest to relate to. He was bold, brash, and enthusiastic. He didn't always think before speaking. He wasn't always faithful, but he always had faith. He was not afraid to be transparent before Christ.
When we read through the Gospels and the Book of Acts, we can see Peter growing in "the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ, our Lord." We can virtually see him changing from the one who betrayed Christ into the man who could stand up on the day of Pentecost and boldly proclaim, "Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."
We can see ourselves in Peter's weaknesses and failings and we gain hope from seeing his growth and the way God used Him for His Kingdom.
In today's reading I lingered over the first verse:
Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
(This post is one I wrote some time ago. I am republishing it today because I remembered it when I read my chapter a day this morning)
Saturday, April 21, 2007 at 06:34AM April 21
God Repays
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. (Proverbs 19:17)
We are to give to the poor out of pity. Not to be seen and applauded, much less to get influence over them; but out of pure sympathy and compassion we must give them help.
We must not expect to get anything back from the poor, not even gratitude; but we should regard what we have done as a loan to the Lord. He undertakes the obligation, and, if we look to Him in the matter, we must not look to the second party. What an honor the Lord bestows upon us when He condescends to borrow of us! That merchant is greatly favored who has the Lord on his books. It would seem a pity to have such a name down for a paltry pittance; let us make it a heavy amount. The next needy man that comes this way, let us help him.
As for repayment, we can hardly think of it, and yet here is the Lord's note of hand. Blessed be His name, His promise to pay is better than gold and silver. Are we running a little short through the depression of the times? We may venture humbly to present this bill at the bank of faith, Has any one of our readers oppressed the poor? Poor soul. May the Lord forgive him.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Friday, April 20, 2007 at 07:07AM April 20
By Faith Not Feeling*
The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17)
I shall not die, I can, I do, believe in the Lord my God, and this faith will keep me alive. I would be numbered among those who in their lives are just; but even if I were perfect I would not try to live by my righteousness; I would cling to the work of the Lord Jesus and still live by faith in Him and by nothing else. If I were able to give my body to be burned for my Lord Jesus, yet I would not trust in my own courage and constancy, but still would live by faith.
Were I a martyr at the stake
I'd plead my Saviour's name;
Intreat a pardon for His sake,
And urge no other claim.
To live by faith is a far surer and happier thing than to live by feelings or by works, The branch, by living in the vine, lives a better life than it would live by itself, even if it were possible for it to live at all apart from the stem. To live by clinging to Jesus, by deriving all from Him, is a sweet and sacred thing. If even the most just must live in this fashion, how much more must I who am a poor sinner! Lord, I believe. I must trust Thee wholly. What else can I do? Trusting Thee is my life...
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
*This is my favorite of all the daily devotionals I have posted. Let the words sink in deep; it is like an anthem.
Thursday, April 19, 2007 at 10:16AM 
by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien
His story, released today by Houghton Mifflin, is a publishing event: It is the first new book by the creator of "The Lord of the Rings" in 30 years. The publisher calls it the culmination of an effort to bring to the public the vast body of work J.R.R. Tolkien had left unpublished, and largely unfinished, when he died in 1973.
Tolkien began writing "The Children of Hurin" 99 years ago, abandoning it and taking it up again repeatedly throughout his life. Versions of the tale already have appeared in "The Silmarillion," "Unfinished Tales" and as narrative poems or prose sections of the "History of Middle-earth" series.
(from ABC News )
(I ordered it! Yippee!)
Thursday, April 19, 2007 at 06:51AM Bloggers of Bloglandia Unite! Today is the day Rebecca is hosting a Blogger's Recipe Round-up! This is a great way to share our easy supper recipes and get lots more recipes for your "quick fix" arsenal. But here's the thing: YOU NEED TO POST YOUR RECIPES TODAY! Follow the link to Rebecca Writes and you'll get all the details of how you can participate.
Quiches are my ace in the hole. You can make a quick dinner with whatever you have on hand if you get in the habit of keeping a couple of prepared pie shells in the freezer. The ingredients are so common: eggs, milk, cheese--most of us keep these staples in the 'fridge at all times.
Ham and Cheese Quiche
As soon as you think "quiche" turn on the oven to 350 degrees.
1 prepared pie shell (I use Aldi brand)
1 c. cooked ham
1 1/2 c. sharp cheese (I usually use whatever I have on hand or a combination of cheeses)
4 eggs
1 c. milk
salt and pepper
Sprinkle ham over crust and cheese over ham. Stir eggs, milk and salt and pepper together until mixed but do not over mix. Pour over cheese. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean. You've got time to throw a quick salad together while it's baking.
Let the quiche cool while you are setting the table and pouring drinks. Dinner is served.
Now, let the substitutions begin! Some substitutions I have made:
Bacon and Swiss
Broccoli and Cheddar
Crab and Spinach with Fontina
Pepperoni with mozzerella and provelone (dice a tomato and throw in a small handful) garnish with pizza sauce.
The sky is the limit as long as you keep the milk, eggs, cheese proportion the same. Choose seasonings that go along with your meat and cheese choice. If you don't have meat on hand, throw in an extra handful of cheese, sprinkle on some dried parsley, and maybe a little onion.
Kim from Hiraeth
MissM suggests tomato and basil--yum! Which gives me an idea; if you have a favorite quiche combo, post it in the comments and I'll add it to the list!
Rosemary adds "mushrooms, onions, spinach and bacon together. Saute the mushrooms and onions in butter, then drain on paper towel to absorb moisture. Thaw frozen chopped spinach, then wring it in a clean kitchen towel until totally dry. Cook bacon until crisp, then crumble. Stir all into the egg mixture. Mmmm. Thinly sliced Roma tomatoes are good on top of quiche because they don't have a lot of juice in them. Top with Parmesan cheese, and it works well."
Susie says, "Ham and cheese is our favorite with green bell pepper, onion and mushrooms. (sort of a denver omelet taste). Where I come from we call it a Western Omelet--and we call it delicious!
Violet is thinking Greek: "I wonder if a Greek quiche would work - Feta cheese, tomatoes, olives."
Thursday, April 19, 2007 at 06:20AM April 19An Expert Searcher
For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. (Ezekiel 34:11)
THIS He does at the first when His elect are like wandering sheep that know not the Shepherd or the fold. How wonderfully doth the Lord find out His chosen! Jesus is great as a seeking Shepherd as well as a saving Shepherd. Though many of those His Father gave Him have gone as near to hell-gate as they well can, yet the Lord by searching and seeking discovers them and draws nigh to them in grace. He has sought out us: let us have good hope for those who are laid upon our hearts in prayer, for He will find them out also.
The Lord repeats this process when any of His flock stray from the pastures of truth and holiness. They may fall into gross error, sad sin, and grievous hardness; but yet the Lord, who has become a surety for them to His Father, will not suffer one of them to go so far as to perish. He will by providence and grace pursue them into foreign lands, into abodes of poverty, into dens of obscurity, into depths of despair; He will not lose one of all that the Father has given Him. It is a point of honor with Jesus to seek and to save all the flock, without a single exception. What a promise to plead, if at this hour I am compelled to cry, "I have gone astray like a lost sheep!"
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Wednesday, April 18, 2007 at 11:16AM There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.
J.R.R. Tolkien
I went up to the attic this morning to bring down the box in which I store my Easter decorations. While I was poking around in the "decorations station" I came across a box of old decorations that I no longer use. I pulled out a basket that I hadn't seen in years and discovered these:
Kim from Hiraeth
I just realized, you really can't tell that each one of these images were cut out of construction paper and pasted together; constructed by a third grader, one by one.
