excerpts.

Quotes taken from An Old-Fashioned Girl, by Louisa May Alcott, written 1870.

[Perhaps, upon reading, you shall come to sympathize with me in fondness for this book, and enjoy its timeless wisdom and insight. -a.]

"Fashionable"

p. 12- That night she saw one of the new spectacles which have lately become the rage, and run for hundreds of nights, dazzling, exciting, and demoralizing the spectator by every allurement French ingenuity can invent, and American prodigality execute. Never mind what its name was, it was very gorgeous, very vulgar, and very fashionable; so, of course, it was much admired, and everyone went to see it.

"Rich"

p. 34- ...But he was a busy man, so intent on getting rich that he had no time to enjoy what he already possessed.

"Simplicity"

p. 42- "...The old fashion of simplicity is best for all of us. I don't want my Polly to be loved for her clothes, but for herself. The least of us have some influence in this big world; and perhaps my little girl can do some good by showing others that a contented heart and a happy face are better ornaments than any Paris can give her." -Mother.

"Young Men"

p. 171- Young men often often laugh at the sensible girls whom they secretly respect, and affect to admire the silly ones whom they secretly despise, because earnestness, intelligence, and womanly dignity are not the fashion.

"Sincerity"

p. 172- "Well, whatever you do, Will, don't have a great, costly church that takes so much money to build and support it that you have nothing to give away. I like the plain, old-fashioned churches, built for use, not show, where people met for hearty praying and preaching, and where everybody made their own music instead of listening to opera singers, as we do now. I don't care if the old churches were bare and cold, and the seats hard, there was real piety in them, and the sincerity of it was felt in the lives of the people. I don't want a religion that I put away with my Sunday clothes, and don't take out till the day comes round again; I want something to see and feel and live by day by day, and I hope you'll be one of the true ministers, who can teach by precept and example, how to get and keep it." -Polly. [emphasis mine]

"Service"

p. 172- "I am glad to give my best and brightest son to the service of God. I shall let my boys follow the guide that is in them, and only ask of them to use their gifts conscientiously, and be honest, useful men." -Father.

"Popularity"

p. 230- "My children, beware of popularity; it is a delusion and a snare; it puffeth up the heart of man, and especially of woman; it blindeth the eyes to faults; it exalteth unduly the humble powers of the victim; it is apt to be capricious, and just as one gets to liking the taste of this intoxicating draught, it suddenly faileth, and one is left gasping like a fish out of water," and Kate emphasized her speech by spearing a sardine with a penknife, and eating it with a groan. -Kate King, authoress.

hospitality.

"Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
distributing to the needs to the saints, given to [pursuing] hospitality."
Romans 12:10-13

this verse has come to my attention several times in the past few years; generally i thought of it as a commendation to those who were of a hospitable nature, not necessarily a command to all believers. but that's precisely what it is- hospitality is a ministry: one which pleases the Lord and blesses believers and nonbelievers alike. i figured i probably didn't have this "gift" but since Paul is referring to everyone here, i realized it definitely included me. so in the past few months especially, i have been praying about this off and on, whenever it came to mind. i also began to observe how others practiced this ministry, and the simplicity in which it could be done.

one of the greatest examples to me was a certain friend who consistently practices this gift, gives regardless of personal abundance or lack, gives the best things freely, and takes no end of joy in so doing and so giving. i began to see beyond my little personal scope of "give what you have to and sigh in relief when you get the rest" and into the joy and blessedness of giving, and of serving, and of showing hospitality.

"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: ... he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Romans 12:6,8

how thankful i am for that grace, so freely given to us; for those gifts, imparted so perfectly and individually to each of us; and for the Spirit indwelling us, and producing such good fruits in us. i love how He works things into us that were before such impossibilities, such contradictions to our nature- and so naturally works them out in our lives, much to our amazement. how grateful i am for the fruit of the Spirit! when we see Him producing each new thing in our lives, we can once again be assured of His working within us, and for such assurance i am entirely grateful. To be found abiding, that is our goal- and when found abiding, such joy and thanksgiving and praise wells up within our hearts! what a loving and gracious Heavenly Father we have.

so, as i've been practicing the ministry of hospitality lately, i have been abundantly blessed each time i give, each time i serve, each time i step out in faith, each time i try something i've never done before! truly it is more blessed to give than to receive, and to obey the Word of the Lord is to take hold of Life Abundant! let us all seek to become more conformed to His image, more renewed in our minds, and more sensitive to His Spirit- and become ministers of His gracious hospitality.

"He has put a new song in my mouth- Praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord.
Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered."
Psalm 40:3-5

sometimes..

we really need to quit fighting. we come to the point where we're all-consumed by seeking for one particular answer that we can't sit still for two seconds together, and we can receive nothing but the answer we think we want. it is at that point when realization dawns upon our stubborn minds and we perceive that perhaps our All-Consuming Thought is not truly the main point. and so, by surrendering our hearts and minds to the Lord [which consists largely of flesh-mortification], we humbly ask that something, anything, be spoken to us- for without vision, the people perish.

and speak He does.

the simple Word refreshes us, washes us. and in it He confirms the things we tended to doubt when first spoken; He speaks new life into our bones and says, "Live!"; He gives us vision for the future; He gives us strength for the day. and in His simple, wonderful way that far exceeds our human ways or comprehension, He brings it to pass.

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble. 2 Peter 1:10

let us press on to completion, and be found walking worthy of His calling.

oh saints, He is so good! let us throw ourselves upon His grace, and walk, not by sight, but by faith.

behold,

children are an heritage from the Lord. Psalm 127:3

this entire day was completely overrun by children. running, screaming, yelling, crying, laughing, hollering children, of every imaginable age and size.
following several hours with them after church, i expected to have a quiet day at home. but my hopes were in vain, for our house was overrun with big, running, stomping, excitable, rubber-band-gun-shooting boys.
said boys were joined by three more children overtaking my house, and last but not least, demanding my utmost attention for the remainder of the evening.

it's been kids, and hardly anything else, since i woke up.

but you know, after i got over the desperate urge to flee for my sanity, i was completely captivated by two small souls, each talking several miles per minute, seeking my attention and approval while parents talked in other rooms.

it was all worth it, and i knew it to be true, as i watched a tenderhearted little boy pour out all his love for his new friend- 'the yiddo bear'.
how little it required of me, besides encouraging words and smiles, and how content he was.

indeed, children are an immeasurable heritage from the Lord.

a.w. tozer

"Lord, how great is our dilemma! In Thy Presence silence best becomes us, but love inflames our hearts and we are constrained to speak."

wunderschön!

two of the most beautiful things:

#1- reconcilation/restoration!

#2- homemade applesauce! [with lovely honeycrisp apples]


[obviously they aren't particularly related, but both have struck me today with their inherent loveliness! but i suppose if a connection must be made, both are a little unpleasing on first observance, but so beautiful when made your own.]

balance.

"Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon." Nehemiah 4:17

"The battling of the Christian must never replace the building. We must be armed for our warfare ... [but] the wall has got to go up; the final answer of the Christian to the world is that the wall is being built, that the temple of the Holy Spirit is visible."

-excerpts from Alan Redpath's Victorious Christian Service: Studies in the Book of Nehemiah.
i am currently reading this book, and by it being immensely blessed. if you haven't read it, please put it on your to-read list!