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. . .
Friday, September 25, 2009 at 08:11AM cavort
\kuh-VORT\ , intransitive verb:
1.
To bound or prance about.
2.
To have lively or boisterous fun; to behave in a high-spirited, festive manner.
No dog I've ever known cavorts better than Ivy. . .
Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 06:03AM eldritch
\EL-drich\ , adjective:
1.
Strange; unearthly; weird; eerie.
This word is totally new to me. Never seen it. Never read it. Never heard it. Have you?
Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 06:53AM tchotchke
\CHOCH-kuh\ , noun:
1.A trinket; a knickknack.
I've known (and used!) this word for years but I never had a clue how to spell it and apparently I didn't know how to pronounce it, either. I always thought it was CHOCH-key.
Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 06:44AM “We are invited to a knowledge of God, but not such as, content with empty speculation, merely floats in the brain, but such as will be solid and fruitful, if rightly received and rooted in our hearts.”
John Calvin (Institutes, 1.5.9)
Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 06:39AM JESUS, WITH THY CHURCH ABIDE
Jesus, with thy church abide,
Be her Saviour, Lord and Guide,
While on earth her faith is tried:
We beseech thee, hear us.
Keep her life and doctrine pure;
Grant her patience to endure,
Trusting in thy promise sure:
We beseech thee, hear us.
May she one in doctrine be,
One in truth and charity,
Winning all to faith in thee:
We beseech thee, hear us.
May she guide the poor and blind,
Seek the lost until she find,
And the brokenhearted bind:
We beseech thee, hear us.
Save her love from growing cold,
Make her watchmen strong and bold,
Fence her round, thy peaceful fold:
We beseech thee, hear us.
May her lamp of truth be bright,
Bid her bear aloft its light
Through the realms of heathen night:
We beseech thee, hear us.
Arm her soldiers with the cross,
Brave to suffer toil or loss,
Counting earthly gain but dross:
We beseech thee, hear us.
May she holy triumphs win,
Overthrow the hosts of sin,
Gather all the nations in:
We beseech thee, hear us.
Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 06:29AM Saturdays are a lot like Spring in my book. They hold out so much promise and they tantalize me with dreams of perfect days filled with whatever I want to do. But Spring is usually cold and rainy instead of warm and breezy and Saturdays are more often filled with chores and tasks rather than restful pursuits.
I guess the trick is learning that one's days are made up of Springs and Saturdays filled with the life you live instead of the life you imagine. And the true blessing one receives is learning that the life you live is the one God has given you and it's far better than any idyllic spring full of sunshine and flowers or any Saturday spent wasting time in more selfish pursuits.
The years teach much which the days never know. Emerson
Friday, September 18, 2009 at 08:01PM . . . or his uncles, or any other little one I have ever known: he learned to say 'yes' before he learned to say 'no.'
That's not to say he never communicates 'no'--he makes his wishes known with a determined shake of his head.
I wish you could hear him say it. It's so cute.
Oh, and he calls me "Ga"
Friday, September 18, 2009 at 06:46AM Forty-five degrees when I got up this morning. Poor Eve stood on the top step and whined to get in the house as if it was forty-five degrees below zero! She was shivering so hard. I think this winter is going to be hard on the old girl.
Ivy, on the other hand, seemed invigorated by the chilly air. She's as full of energy as ever.
We're losing a lot of leaves already, but very few have changed color. I think we may be in for a less than spectacular show of autumn color this year. I hope I'm wrong.
I'm feeling ready for fall; I bought my gourds and mums this week and I'm going to change my kitchen curtains and the plates on my plate rail this weekend. Pumpkins can't be far behind. . .
This morning I think I'll take Elliott to the park. I was going to take him yesterday, but he had a very runny nose and a slight fever. I hope his cold has gotten better rather than worse. If it's worse, we'll snuggle and read books.
He's here! I'll be back with pictures later!
Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 07:21PM 
Oh, the temptation to play with Grandma's laptop!
Choosing another book.
Off he goes!
Gingerly touching the dry, prickly seed heads.
Playing in the leaves.
Peeking out the windows.
His favorite, goofy 'puckie.'
Peeking out the front door.
Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 06:55AM efficacious
\ef-ih-KAY-shuhs\ , adjective:
1.
Capable of having the desired result or effect; effective as a means, measure, remedy, etc.
This is one of my favorite theological terms. It immediately brought to mind the chapter on the efficacy of Christ's atonement in Pink's The Satisfaction of Christ: Studies in the Atonement.
No lengthy argument is needed to establish the fact that the glory of God requires the mediatorial work of Christ should be completely efficacious, i.e., that it should infallibly accomplish all it was designed to effect. If there were any failure in the fruits or results of the Atonement, then the purpose of God would be foiled, His covenant broken, His veracity forfeited, His power defeated, His justice sullied, and His glory dishonored. Few seem to realize the fearful implications which necessarily follow the principles they hold and advocate. To predicate an Atonement which fails to atone, a Redemption which does not redeem, a Sacrifice which secures not the actual remission of sins, is a horrible reflection upon all the attributes of God. To make the efficacy or success of the greatest of all God’s works dependent upon the choice of fallen and depraved creatures, is to magnify man at the cost of dethroning his Maker.
The manifestative glory of God is bound up in the person and work of Christ. Our Lord Jesus revealed this plainly when, facing the crucial hour, He cried, "Father glorify thy name" (John 12:28). Again He declared, "Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him" (John 13:31). Compare also John 14:13. If Christ be dishonored, God is dishonored. But if Christ be glorified by the Father’s acceptance of His work and by the Spirit’s infallible application thereof, so that every effect is produced which it was intended to bring forth, then is God supremely glorified. Therefore we boldly declare that, before there can be the slightest failure in the Divine design of the Atonement, God must cease to have any respect for His own honor. But that can never be. A. W. Pink
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 07:43AM
lucubration \loo-kyoo-BRAY-shun; loo-kuh-\ , noun:
1.The act of studying by candlelight; nocturnal study; meditation.
2.That which is composed by night; that which is produced by meditation in retirement; hence (loosely) any literary composition.
Proverbs 63:6 when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;7 for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. 8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 06:00AM 'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take him at his word;
Just to rest upon his promise;
Just to know, thus saith the Lord.
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I've proved him o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more.
O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust his cleansing blood;
Just in simple faith to plunge me
'Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.
I'm so glad I learned to trust thee,
Precious Jesus, Saviour, Friend;
And I know that thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.
Trinity Hymnal #699
Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 01:27PM . . . I was hired to teach the Scriptures in required Bible courses at a Christian college. The president of the institution phoned me and said, "We need someone young and exciting, someone with a dynamic method who will be able to 'make the Bible come alive.'" I had to force myself to swallow my words. I wanted to say, "You want me to make the Bible come alive? I didn't know it had died. In fact, I never even heard that it was ill. Who was the attending physician at the Bible's demise?" No, I can't make the Bible come alive for anyone. The Bible is already alive. It makes ME come alive.
R. C. Sproul, Knowing Scripture
Deal bountifully with your servant,
that I may live and keep your word.
Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
Monday, September 7, 2009 at 05:51AM My mom is coming today for a week-long visit! I am SO looking forward to spending some special time with my mom. I've got a few things planned, but mostly I'm just looking forward to catching up over coffee, cooking together, laughing, taking walks, and enjoying being together.
Sunday, September 6, 2009 at 06:00AM
WITH GRATEFUL HEART MY THANKS I BRING
With grateful heart my thanks I bring,
Before the great thy praise I sing:
I worship in thy holy place
And praise thee for thy truth and grace;
For truth and grace together shine
In thy most holy Word divine.
I cried to thee and thou didst save,
Thy Word of grace new courage gave;
The kings of earth shall thank thee, Lord,
For they have heard thy wondrous word;
Yea, they shall come with songs of praise,
For great and glorious are thy ways.
O Lord, enthroned in glory bright,
Thou reignest in the heavenly height;
The proud in vain thy favor seek,
But thou hast mercy for the meek;
Through trouble though my pathway be,
Thou wilt revive and strengthen me.
Thou wilt stretch forth thy mighty arm
To save me when my foes alarm;
The work thou hast for me begun
Shall by thy grace be fully done;
For ever mercy dwells with thee;
O Lord, my Maker, think on me.
From Psalm 138
138:1 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;
2 I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.
3 On the day I called, you answered me;
my strength of soul you increased.
4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,
for they have heard the words of your mouth,
5 and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
for great is the glory of the Lord.
6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly,
but the haughty he knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.
8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.
Saturday, September 5, 2009 at 03:46PM II Tim. 1:3, "... that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day."
He either thanketh God on the behalf of Timothy for his gifts and graces, or else he blesseth God, that had put it into his heart daily to remember Timothy in his prayers, Philemon 4; by which expression he both lets us know the mutual duty of Christians to pray one for another, and also that when we find any inclinations to do our duty, we ought to acknowledge them to God, being not of ourselves sufficient to one good thought.
Matthew Poole
*Today's quote comes from my friend Carol, who searched out this quote in response to a discussion we had during our study of Hebrews this week.
Saturday, September 5, 2009 at 11:43AM Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.
John Adams