There Is Hope

This has been an emotional morning for me. I have had feelings of anger- righteous anger, the kind Jesus had when he knocked over the money tables- mixed with sadness. A friend of mine, someone I care about deeply, is going through a very difficult time right now. Her husband is the cause of her pain. Someone she has loved, trusted and respected so much has deeply pierced her beautiful heart:) This makes me sad for her, but I also feel angry. Angry at what has happened to her and her family, and angry at how Satan has attacked women and continues to do so.

I love men. I believe with all my heart that the male gender offers to the world God's character as only they can do. I believe the same for women. But lately I have heard too many stories from my friends of how the men in their lives are treating them, and mistreating them. It saddens my heart so. I cannot even put into words what I am feeling.

After Adam and Eve sinned, God said that there would be enmity between the woman and Satan. Now I know that Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy both man and woman. But I agree with what John Eldridge wrote in his book "Captivating" that it is obvious Satan has a special hatred for woman. (She is a life-giver whereas he comes to kill; she is God's most beautiful creation whereas he once was and in his pride fell...)

Just look at women in history and notice how women are still treated in many parts of the world today.

BUT GOD.





My friend Heather captured this amazing shot of the sunrise. I have never seen anything like this. God is just so awesome and beautiful.

BUT GOD.

When we look at Jesus, we have seen God's heart and character. Jesus cared deeply about women and loved them tenderly. Even more proof of God's heart toward women lies in his commands to their husbands. God told husbands to "love" their wives, "cherish and nourish" them, "honor" them, and "live with them in an understanding way."

Yes, that's our God. He loves. He cherishes. He honors. He understands. He created a woman's vulnerable, tender, and feminine heart and so He knows what we need. He wants our husbands to care for us the way we so desire to be cared for; that is why He told them exactly how to do so.

But each man has his own will. If he chooses to disobey God...there is still Someone with outstretched arms waiting to hold us. God Himself. He will cherish us. He will nourish us. He understands and honors us.

In His precious word, He has said that a godly wife is her husband's crown. He has said that she is more valuable than rubies. He has said that such a wife is from the Lord Himself and a man who finds such a wife obtains favor from the Lord. And He has said that a woman with the inner beauty of trust is very precious to Him:) Why did He include all these affirmations for wives in the Bible? The same is not listed for husbands. I will leave that question in the air and let my readers ponder the answer. I think there a few possible reasons.

God loves women so gently. He knows the value of a godly wife. Any woman, any wife, who is hurting out there- run into the arms of the only One who will never fail you, who loves you enough to write those affirming and tender words in His book to all mankind. God has created within you a heart that is soft, vulnerable, warm and open. A feminine heart that reflects His own character. Lean on Him when it is hurt and fight the battle by not allowing your heart to become hard and cold and bitter. Let God into the pain to replace it with His love and care for you, His woman.

Lean on God and then lean some more. He is right there waiting to hold you.

Scriptures that speak of how God sees you and how He loves you:

"Who can find a virtuous wife? For she is more precious than rubies." (Proverbs 31:10)

"An excellent wife is the crown of her husband..."(Proverbs 12:4)

"He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord." (Proverbs 18:22)

"A prudent wife is from the Lord." (Proverbs 19:14)


Ephesians 5-
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.


1 Peter 3:7
7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

1 Peter 3:4
"...the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God."

Inspiration

This is a photo of "Eowyn" from the Lord of the Rings' "Return of the King."

Man, I really love this photo...it has really inspired me as I continue to lose weight. I believe, without a doubt, that inner beauty is so much more important! So much! If you are not beautiful inside, any figure or makeup or fashion will leave a woman lacking in beauty.

That said...

Wow. I want to look like this. No, of course, not exactly like her. I am me, and I am glad for that. I do not want to be her...but I do desire to be the ideal me! And I was once that weight...I can have that figure again:) It just takes a lot of hard work! But I am determined to get there again.

Oh, and I also love the dress (not that I'd wear one out and about- imagine the looks I'd receive LOL!) and the loooong beautiful hair! (((Sigh)))

Wordless Wednesday

Wearing my son's knight helmet, and trying not to smile, but failing:)

For more Wordless Wednesday pics, visit 5 Minutes for Mom

A Little Blessing

Today I have been caring for a very tiny and precious little girl. She is the size my twins were when they were born:) It has brought back many memories, of a baby sleeping almost all day and feeding them those 2oz bottles. She is a miracle baby who was born under two pounds and breathing within 24 hours.

The preemie I am caring for:


My twins around that age:







Holding her and caring for her today opened up my thoughts to pondering adoption. Not for now, but maybe one day.



God has adopted us...what a beautiful thing to show the, perhaps, unwanted children that they are indeed wanted.

So Thankful for Real Education

I just have to write a "homeschooling blog" today because I am so very thankful that the Lord has introduced me to the methods of Charlotte Mason, and to Ambleside Online. Now, I know that last spring I made up a homeschooling blog, but that I have decided will be for reference. I want to keep all my blog posts here.

If you look at my sidebar you will see some info on Charlotte Mason and Ambleside Online. These methods of education are rich and full.

Well, today I read a "fairy tale" to the children as they ate lunch. Yes, a fairy tale. They can be SO wonderful for teaching our little ones morals. Not preaching morals at them...but letting them think about how these morals are worked out in stories and therefore in their lives.

Today's tale was called "Prince Darling" and you can...and I recommend you do...read the entire story here online: Prince Darling This is true literature for children. Stories that are both well written with vocabulary that stretches them, and with morals and lessons within the tale. And there were SO many in today's reading!! This story was perfect to read to my six year old. One of the many great stories in The Blue Fairy Book.




Well, reading the above tale today, just made me thankful again for the curriculum I am using, which is based on Charlotte Mason's methods. Earlier today, we also read a wonderful Bible story (about Jacob's dream and how he knew God was his friend) and a fable from Aesop. You know Aesop - the boy who cried wolf, the tortoise and the hare...those are just two of the many fables he wrote. Each one is short and has a moral or lesson taught. After I read the fable, Sarah told it back to me in her own words, which I wrote down and she then illustrated. As I read the Bible story the children colored a picture of it. We put all those into their Bible notebook. Bible time is my daughter's absolute favorite time!!



So many wonderful books are scheduled in Ambleside Online's Year 1 curriculum. Story books faithfully teaching history and science and more. Parables of Nature is another excellent resource...and I mean EXCELLENT. Jesus taught in parables. Using nature to teach is just awesome! Read this first story in the parables book and you will get a taste for just how rich this book is: A Lesson of Faith



Ambleside has scheduled the book Pilgrim's Progress Book 1 to be read over two years. Year 2 and Year 3. So in September, I will begin that with my children, but I may use the unabridged audio version. To prepare them, I am currently reading Little Pilgrim's Progress to them, which is written for children. They LOVE it! LOVE IT! I am doing this in order to get them familiar with the storyline before we move onto the original version written in the original language.

Some may wonder about this- the original language you ask? Yup! Listen to the advice from this one mother:

"I bought my children -- when they were very young (five and seven) -- the Orion's Gate cd's of this book, and they have listened to them all the way through at least once a year since then. They are now 13 and 16, and both insist that listening to this book when they were young, and in the original language, was the most character forming literary experience of their early childhood. There are long passages of this book that they can quote at length in the original. Phrases from this book float through their heads and out of their lips frequently.

I do not, for one minute, believe that they would be quoting those passages now if they had heard them in stale modern English!

It's the richness of the language in which these great thoughts are conveyed that captured their imaginations back then, and that's what keeps them coming back to it now."

Also, I will never forget what was shared in the book For the Children's Sake regarding the original Pilgrim's Progress:

"All children should have an excellent diet of mind-food to be nurtured on...let us apply this principle to the actual detailed practice in schools or homes. A seven year old happens to need a short period of phonic practice, followed by reading a story out loud to you haltingly every day. He then laboriously concentrates on learning the machanics...this does not mean to say that his mind should be left "frozen" at the level of his skills. When the essential, regular, practice has been completed, the child puts all his little books and papers away, and turns his full attention to the adult. She will now be the medium through which he can "read" real books...

Perhaps she reads a short portion from Pilgrim's Progress. She must, of course, be a person who wants to understand and enjoy this herself...Pilgrim's Progress will be read perhaps twice a week...by the time such educated children are nine or ten they will, of course, have been reading for themselves a long time...they will enjoy and understand a really rich diet of books, letters, essays, plays and poetry. They will have thought, discussed, and shared these ideas...is it idealistic? Does it work? The answer is, yes.

I had a child of six, Kirsteen, in a bright little school. She was happy enough and learned to read and write after a fashion...when she came home, she sometimes talked about something that had happened. But there wasn't much to discuss. Kirsteen's older sister, Margaret, was faring worse, at ages nine and ten. She...had no interest in education. One January day, God opened a door for them into a school where true education was going on...After the first day, Kirsteen came home glowing with life and interest. "We had the most exciting story today, but Mrs. Norton stopped at just the wrong place. I can't wait to hear the next part of the story!" And what was this exciting, vitalizing story? To my astonishment it was Pilgrim's Progress, read to them in the original.

The quite electrifying change in those two children is truly indescribable. They had so much to talk about! A wealth of literature, history, art, which was so glorious to work through. Their eyes became brighter, their minds alert. We had grand discussions, again and again...Some people were incredulous. "It's not possible", they responded. "Children just aren't up to that." But they are-if the door is opened. There is only one problem that I can see. The adult...has to be able to enjoy and understand what he or she is reading with the children."

There you have it.

I love this method of education. And it is not all reading, so don't think that. It is also based on real life experiences...getting outside to watch nature as the most important science. We watched the transformation of caterpillars to butterflies firsthand...and will do so with tadpoles, etc.

Wintertime Poetry

Although it has been cold this week, for Florida, I still cannot claim that it feels like winter. But it is indeed winter, and most people in America are feeling the chill and seeing the bare landscape.

Would you like to look at winter through a poet's eyes? Read these poems to your children, have fun with the rhymes, but most of all learn how to appreciate wintry delights:)

"February Twilight" by Sara Teasdale

I stood beside a hill
Smooth with new-laid snow,
A single star looked out
From the cold evening glow.

There was no other creature
That saw what I could see--
I stood and watched the evening star
As long as it watched me.

"The Sledding Song" by Norman C. Schlichter

Sing a song of winter,
Of frosty clouds in air!
Sing a song of snowflakes
Falling everywhere.
Sing a song of winter!
Sing a song of sleds!
Sing a song of tumbling
Over heels and heads.
Up and down a hillside
When the moon is bright,
Sledding is a tiptop
Wintertime delight.

"Snowflakes" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Out of the bosom of the Air,

Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken,

Over the woodlands brown and bare,

Over the harvest-fields forsaken,

Silent, and soft, and slow

Descends the snow.

"Daisies" by Frank Dempster Sherman

At evening when I go to bed
I see the stars shine overhead;
They are the little daisies white
That dot the meadow of the night.

And often while I'm dreaming so,
Across the sky the moon will go;
It is a lady, sweet and fair,
Who comes to gather daisies there.

For, when at morning I arise,
There's not a star left in the skies;
She's picked them all and dropped them down
Into the meadows of the town.

"Good Night" by Jane Taylor

Little baby, lay your head
On your pretty cradle-bed;
Shut your eye-peeps, now the day
And the light are gone away;
All the clothes are tucked in tight;
Little baby dear, good night.

Yes, my darling, well I know
How the bitter wind doth blow;
And the winter's snow and rain
Patter on the windowpane;
But they cannot come in here,
To my little baby dear;
For the window shuttest fast,
Till the stormy night is past;
And the curtains warm are spread
Round about her cradle-bed.
So till morning shineth bright,
Little baby dear, good night.

"Wintertime" by Robert Louis Stevenson

Late lies the wintry sun a-bed,
A frosty, fiery sleepy-head;
Blinks but an hour or two; and then,
A blood-red orange, sets again.

Before the stars have left the skies,
At morning in the dark I rise;
And shivering in my nakedness,
By the cold candle, bathe and dress.

Close by the jolly fire I sit
To warm my frozen bones a bit;
Or with a reindeer-sled, explore
The colder countries round the door.

When to go out, my nurse doth wrap
Me in my comforter and cap;
The cold wind burns my face, and blows
Its frosty pepper up my nose.

Black are my steps on silver sod;
Thick blows my frosty breath abroad;
And tree and house, and hill and lake,
Are frosted like a wedding cake.



"Picture-Books" in Winter by Robert Louis Stevenson

Summer fading, winter comes--
Frosty mornings, tingling thumbs,
Window robins, winter rooks,
And the picture story-books.

Water now is turned to stone
Nurse and I can walk upon;
Still we find the flowing brooks
In the picture story-books.

All the pretty things put by,
Wait upon the children's eye,
Sheep and shepherds, trees and crooks,
In the picture story-books.

We may see how all things are
Seas and cities, near and far,
And the flying fairies' looks,
In the picture story-books.

How am I to sing your praise,
Happy chimney-corner days,
Sitting safe in nursery nooks,
Reading picture story-books?

"White Fields" by James Stephens

In the winter time we go
Walking in the fields of snow;

Where there is no grass at all;
Where the top of every wall,

Every fence, and every tree,
Is as white as white can be.

Pointing out the way we came,
--Every one of them the same--

All across the fields there be
Prints in silver filigree;

And our mothers always know,
By the footprints in the snow,

Where it is the children go.

"Velvet Shoes" by Elinor Wylie

Let us walk in the white snow

In a soundless space;

With footsteps quiet and slow,

At a tranquil pace,

Under veils of white lace.

I shall go shod in silk,

And you in wool,

White as white cow's milk,

More beautiful

Than the breast of a gull.

We shall walk through the still town

In a windless peace;

We shall step upon white down,

Upon silver fleece,

Upon softer than these.

We shall walk in velvet shoes:

Wherever we go

Silence will fall like dews

On white silence below.

We shall walk in the snow.

"New Year Snow" by Edith Nesbit

The white snow falls on hill and dale,
The snow falls white by square and street,
Falls on the town, a bridal veil,
And on the fields a winding-sheet.

A winding-sheet for last year's flowers,
For last year's love, and last year's tear,
A bridal veil for the New Hours,
For the New Love and the New Year.

Soft snow, spread out his winding-sheet!
Spin fine her veil, O bridal snow!
Cover the print of her dancing feet,
And the place where he lies low.

"A Winter Night" by Sara Teasdale

My window-pane is starred with frost,
The world is bitter cold to-night,
The moon is cruel and the wind
Is like a two-edged sword to smite.

God pity all the homeless ones,
The beggars pacing to and fro.
God pity all the poor to-night
Who walk the lamp-lit streets of snow.

"There's snow on the fields" by Christina Rossetti

There's snow on the fields,
And cold in the cottage,
While I sit in the chimney nook
Supping hot pottage.

My clothes are soft and warm,
Fold upon fold,
But I'm so sorry for the poor
Out in the cold.

"A Comparison" by John Farrar

Apple blossoms look like snow,
They're different, though.
Snow falls softly, but it brings
Noisy things:
Sleighs and bells, forts and fights,
Cozy nights.

But apple blossoms when they go,
White and slow,
Quiet all the orchard space,
Till the place
Hushed with falling sweetness seems
Filled with dreams.


"Plum Trees" by Ranko

So sweet the plum trees smell!
Would that the brush that paints the flower
Could paint the scent as well.

I come to look, and lo,
The plum tree petals scatter down
A fall of purest snow.

Meet Broke Fraser

I love so many of her songs! My favorite is "Shadowfeet" of which I made a video for:

Walking, stumbling on these shadowfeet
Toward home, a land that I've never seen
I am changing: less and less asleep
Made of different stuff than when I began
And I have sensed it all along
Fast approaching is the day

[CHORUS]
When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
When the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you

There's distraction buzzing in my head
Saying in the shadows it's easier to stay
But I've heard rumors of true reality
Whispers of a well-lit way

[CHORUS]

You make all things new

[CHORUS]

[CHORUS 2]
When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
Every fear and accusation under my feet
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you

"C.S. Lewis Song":

If I find in myself desires nothing in this world can satisfy,
I can only conclude that I was not made for here
If the flesh that I fight is at best only light and momentary,
Then of course I'll feel nude when to where I'm destined I'm compared

[CHORUS]
Speak to me in the light of the dawn
Mercy comes with the morning
I will sigh and with all creation groan as I wait for hope to come for me

Am I lost or just less found? On the straight or on the roundabout of the wrong way?
Is this a soul that stirs in me, is it breaking free, wanting to come alive?
'Cause my comfort would prefer for me to be numb
And avoid the impending birth of who I was born to become

[CHORUS]

[BRIDGE]
For we, we are not long here
Our time is but a breath, so we better breathe it
And I, I was made to live, I was made to love, I was made to know you
Hope is coming for me
Hope, He's coming

"Hymn":

If to distant lands I scatter
If I sail to farthest seas
Would you find and firm and gather 'til I only dwell in Thee?
If I flee from greenest pastures
Would you leave to look for me?
Forfeit glory to come after
'Til I only dwell in Thee

[INSTRUMENTAL]

If my heart has one ambition
If my soul one goal to seek
This my solitary vision 'til I only dwell in Thee
That I only dwell in Thee
'Til I only dwell in Thee

"Mystery":

I wanna get your words stuck in my head
I wanna touch your soul with mine
I want to always be, be by your lead
Always

I wanna know that you hung the stars in the sky
So on lonely nights I would know your presence
I wanna feel your love under my skin, down through my bones

[Chorus]
Your love endures forever
Your love changes me
Your love makes me whole, makes me better
Your love endures

I wanna feel the wind and know that you're near me
And see in the seasons your mystery
I wanna feel your love flow through my veins

[Chorus]

I want to know how this could be
Yet your love remains a mystery
That's woven all the way
That's woven all the way
That's woven all the way through me

[Chorus]

"Indelible":

Walk along here, feel you move somewhere in front of me
I can't place you with these eyes for the doubt I can't see

How could someone so beautiful
Feel something for me?
Hold me and love me and touch me again
And show me why I believe

[Chorus]
That the first time I see your face
Everything else around me will fade to the background
And I'll be struck full by the truth in your gaze
As you work and indelible change in me

All I have and all I am and all I think and do
Can find it's purpose and meaning and life only in you

How could someone so beautiful
Feel something for me?
Won't you hold me and love me and touch me again
And show me why I believe

[Chorus x2]
[added]
An indelible change in me
An indelible change in me

"Faithful":

There's distance in the air and I cannot make it leave
I wave my arms' round about me and blow with all my might
I cannot sense you close, though I know you're always here
But the comfort of you near is what I long for

[CHORUS]
When I can't feel you, I have learned to reach out just the same
When I can't hear you, I know you still hear every word I pray
And I want you more than I want to live another day
And as I wait for you maybe I'm made more faithful

All the folly of the past, though I know it is undone
I still feel the guilty one, still trying to make it right
So I whisper soft your name, let it roll around my tongue,
Knowing you're the only one who knows me
You know me

[CHORUS]

[BRIDGE]
Show me how I should live this
Show me where I should walk
I count this world as loss to me
You are all I want
You are all I want

Set Your Love Upon God

For many days now, I have been meditating on the first sentence in Psalm 91:14: "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him..."

I have had an image in my head of myself taking all the love that is in my heart and setting it upon my God. "Here is all my love God...I give it to You." Setting one's love upon God means that God is the object of one's love, I have been thinking. My love is directed God's way; my eye is fixed upon Him. The answer to the question "What do you love?" or "Who do you love?" is God. He has my love. I have set it upon Him.

Now I am thinking about the song which says, "This is my desire...To honor You...Lord, with all my heart, I worship You...All that is within me, I give you praise...All that I adore is in You...Lord, I give You my heart...I give You my soul...I live for You alone."

That is setting your love upon God. All that I adore is in You. Everything that I love is in You. You created it all. All of it speaks of Your character. All the qualities I adore are in God- beauty, tenderness, freedom, affection, love....all of it is in Him.

Today I looked up the biblical meaning of the phrase "set his love upon Me".
It speaks of being attached to, having pleasure in, delighting in. Setting our love upon God speaks not of our will but our innermost heart, our desire. Is He the first object of our affection, our delight, our pleasure?

Psalm 27:4 "One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. "

Beauty of Nature Reveals a Beautiful God

Last night, my hubby and I watched the movie The New World together, which is the story of Pocahontas. I had been wanting to see this movie for a while, and I figured there was no better time than now, for I have begun reading the true story of Pocahontas to my children.

The character of this Indian Princess was a beautiful one. She was one of my favorite things about the movie. Pocahontas had such a beautiful spirituality about her. She wandered among God's creation with complete freedom.


Now I am not saying that she, or any of the Indians, worshiped the one true God, but they were indeed in touch with their spirits. They knew there was so much that we do not see with our eyes.

The real Pocahontas became a friend to Captain John Smith from England. In the movie, they are portrayed as falling in love. It was actually quite beautiful to watch...it brought to my mind images of Adam and Eve enjoying one another in the garden, before sin defiled their hearts. There is a song by Tom Petty that says: "You belong among the wildflowers; You belong in a boat out at sea; You belong with your love on your arm; You belong somewhere you feel free." Well, really we do. God made Adam, placed him in a gloriously beautiful garden, and then gave him Eve. Eve was made for that- to be among the wildflowers with her love on her arm, free and filled with God's presence.


I also loved how this movie had very poetic parts to it...the deep kind of poetic writing that beckons you to come and listen to it again in order to understand its depth. One of the best aspects of this film was the real nature sounds: birds, crickets, wind, etc.

My hubby and I try to take the children out into nature as often as possible, and we always leave feeling refreshed. To enjoy God's creation is to get a taste of His glory, and His beauty. Romans 1:20 says, "For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature."

It is through what God has made- the natural world- that we can learn about Him: his character, qualities, attributes. He has put these qualities of Himself in what He has made. That is why we feel so refreshed...nature is a taste of God! Psalm 19:1 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard." ALL of nature declares God's glory!

Some photos of the Florida heavens for my readers:


The above scriptures alone are proof of the importance of nature in our world, but I'll leave you all with a bit more to chew on:

"Beauty is everywhere...in white clouds against the blue...the lovely flight and beautiful coloring of birds, in the hills and valleys...in the wind-flower...what we call nature is all beauty and delight and the person who watches nature closely...has his beauty sense always active, always bringing him joy...The natural world is the expression of God's personality in a form that is within the reach of all of us to comprehend...is not the natural world one of the greatest proofs that there is a God?" (Charlotte Mason)

"Beauty is the essence of God...the first way we know this is through nature, the world God has given us. Scripture says that the created world is filled with the glory of God (Isa. 6:3). In what way? Primarily through its beauty. We had a wet spring here in Colorado, and the wildflowers are coming up everywhere- lupine and wild iris...the aspens have their heart-shaped leaves again, trembling in the slightest breeze. Massive thunderclouds are rolling in, bringing with them the glorious sunsets they magnify. The earth in summer is brimming with beauty, beauty of such magnificence and variety and unembarrassed lavishness, ripe beauty, lush beauty, beauty given to us with such generosity and abundance it is almost scandalous. Nature is not primarily functional. It is primarily beautiful...which is to say beauty is in and of itself a great and glorious good, something we need in large and daily doses (for our God has seen fit to arrange for this)...The whole world is full of God's glory... Oxford Bishop Richard Harries wrote, "It is the beauty of the created order which gives an answer to our questionings about God."...Questions born out of our disappointments, our sufferings, our fears. Augustine said he found answers to his questions in the beauty of the world." (from the book Captivating)

More quotes from the above book:

"I sit outside on a summer evening and just listen and behold and drink it all in, and my heart begins to quiet and peace begins to come into my soul."

"The whole world was made for romance- the rivers and glens, the meadows and beaches...God's version of flowers and chocolates and candlelight dinners comes from sunsets and falling stars, moonlight on lakes and cricket symphonies; warm wind, swaying trees, lush gardens, and fierce devotion. This romancing is immensely personal. It will be as if it has been scripted for your heart. He knows what takes your breath away, knows what makes your heart beat faster."

"Beauty is transcendent- it is our most immediate experience of the eternal. Sometimes the beauty is so deep it pierces us with longing for life as it was meant to be. Beauty reminds us of an Eden we have never known, but somehow know our hearts were created for. Beauty speaks of heaven to come, when all shall be beautiful. It haunts us with eternity. Beauty says: there is a glory calling to you. And if there is a glory, there is a source of glory. What great goodness could have possibly created this? What generosity gave us this to behold? Beauty draws us to God."

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." (Ecclesiastes 3:11 )