In the advent of autumn, I have always reveled in the new stationary items that flood the house - whether they were bought for me, or now for my kids. I love the feel of fresh colored pencils (or pencil crayons, depending on your nationality), or the waxy smell of crayons, or even the potential of all those lovely blank notebook pages!!
This year, as Buddy gets all of his gear in order, I have ordered a special item for myself. This item, though, requires a tiny bit of a back story:
I have finished my 52 book resolution! As it is not even September, I have decided to take on another self-improvement style resolution : improving my handwriting/learn calligraphy. This is kind of an open ended resolution, but, I am resolving, nonetheless.
This resolution came directly out of being inspired by a video that's been floating around the internet which a friend of mine tagged for me to watch. It's incredible....and here it is : here . I LOVE his talking about how writing things down engraves things in our brains. It also struck a chord with me in that, I really am failing in my other resolution of memorizing James. I have the first chapter done, and am about 10 verses in to the second, but I don't know if I'll be able to get through the other 2 and 3/4 chapters by December if I don't switch up my method.
SO! Back to my special purchase! I ordered myself a beginner fountain pen! It's a gorgeous Faber-Castell Loom - which, according to the research I've done, is the best quality for people who are just getting into the art. There are others out there, but they have some pitfalls that this one seems to not have. Hooray!
I also got the book Mastering Copperplate Calligraphy!
With practicing my handwriting, I've already started - I've been copying out James, and then doing it from memory. Once a day (or every other day) I write out the verses I'm working on, and then once a week, I do all of the ones I have to keep them solidly in my brain. It's SO awesome. Two birds, one stone!
What are your plans for the fall?
XO,
J
Soli Deo Gloria!
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Friday, August 21, 2015
The Job Precipice
This summer I have been mulling over the last few chapters of the book of Job. I have always loved the questions that God poses, as it displays his power. Lately, though, I realized, it's to Job that God is speaking, not the friends who make a mess of things.
Job, the man who had all of his wealth and family (save a wife who complained) stripped from him. The man who had sores so bad he was scraping himself with broken pottery. The man whose friends decided it was HIS fault that all these things descended upon him. Seriously, Job was in a messed up situation.
The thing is, in all of it, Job remained righteous, so why does God tell Job to 'dress for action like a man?' and 'I will question you, and you will make it known to me' ? Not just once, but twice, once after Job realizes his mistake and literally puts his hand over his mouth!
It's amazing. At first, it made me feel that God was not being kind, but being a belligerent oaf who kicks Job when he's already down.....but that's not God. He is kind, He is love, He is slow to anger. The picture in my head just didn't jive. What WAS going on? I had to look further.
It's not about Job. That's what's going on. The book of Job is not about Job. It is about God and his glory. God was showing Satan how good He is - that even when all of Job's life crumbles around him, Job will remain faithful. God IS that good.
I think that God is reminding Job at the end of this book that Job was right to do as he did - remain faithful to such a great and awe-filling God. Not only that, God reveals MORE of himself to Job - so much so that righteous Job realizes the tininess of himself and repents in the presence of so much glory. This opportunity is so amazing, so astounding....it leaves me breathless.
God didn't talk to Job to comfort him in human terms whatsoever. (Though, God does restore Job's fortune, health and family later) He makes himself more fully known, and that is enough to shake Job into fearful praise."I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted" - wow. WOW. Being able to say that after what Job went through?! It means that he got it. He understood it wasn't about him. That is a gift.
People generally quote Job's initial response to the disaster - naked he came, naked he'll go....but that's not the sentiment I want to take away this time. I want to have God's power seared into my heart, to have the knowledge that GOD can do ALL things and no purpose of His can be thwarted branded into my mind.
If it is a part of me, then I will not fear whatever might come next.
If it is a part of me, then I have opportunity to take the next step.
If it is a part of me, then praise becomes my native tongue.
I'm standing on Job's precipice, and I think I'm going to dive off....heart first.
Join me?
XO,
J
Soli Deo Gloria
Job, the man who had all of his wealth and family (save a wife who complained) stripped from him. The man who had sores so bad he was scraping himself with broken pottery. The man whose friends decided it was HIS fault that all these things descended upon him. Seriously, Job was in a messed up situation.
The thing is, in all of it, Job remained righteous, so why does God tell Job to 'dress for action like a man?' and 'I will question you, and you will make it known to me' ? Not just once, but twice, once after Job realizes his mistake and literally puts his hand over his mouth!
It's amazing. At first, it made me feel that God was not being kind, but being a belligerent oaf who kicks Job when he's already down.....but that's not God. He is kind, He is love, He is slow to anger. The picture in my head just didn't jive. What WAS going on? I had to look further.
It's not about Job. That's what's going on. The book of Job is not about Job. It is about God and his glory. God was showing Satan how good He is - that even when all of Job's life crumbles around him, Job will remain faithful. God IS that good.
I think that God is reminding Job at the end of this book that Job was right to do as he did - remain faithful to such a great and awe-filling God. Not only that, God reveals MORE of himself to Job - so much so that righteous Job realizes the tininess of himself and repents in the presence of so much glory. This opportunity is so amazing, so astounding....it leaves me breathless.
God didn't talk to Job to comfort him in human terms whatsoever. (Though, God does restore Job's fortune, health and family later) He makes himself more fully known, and that is enough to shake Job into fearful praise."I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted" - wow. WOW. Being able to say that after what Job went through?! It means that he got it. He understood it wasn't about him. That is a gift.
People generally quote Job's initial response to the disaster - naked he came, naked he'll go....but that's not the sentiment I want to take away this time. I want to have God's power seared into my heart, to have the knowledge that GOD can do ALL things and no purpose of His can be thwarted branded into my mind.
If it is a part of me, then I will not fear whatever might come next.
If it is a part of me, then I have opportunity to take the next step.
If it is a part of me, then praise becomes my native tongue.
I'm standing on Job's precipice, and I think I'm going to dive off....heart first.
Join me?
XO,
J
Soli Deo Gloria
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