A Summer of Weddings

“It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him” Genesis 2:18.

Signing the Register by Edmund Blair Leighton

Recently there has been a flurry of engagements and weddings among my friends from church and school and even in my own family! Two of my cousins and my own dear brother have each entered into the sacred covenant of marriage this summer and one more cousin will follow this fall.

The first wedding was in May. My dear little cousin Courtney married Chad Phelps, a godly young man whom she met while attending school up at Maranatha. The wedding was beautiful! I am so happy for them and excited to see how God will use them as they serve Him together.

Kenny and Hannah (photo courtesy of Jana and Janene Brackbill)

My brother’s wedding was on July 6. Last August/September, at the close of Kenny’s leave, my mom suggested that Ashley and I “introduce” Kenny to some of the sweet girls we know via facebook. He was quite taken with one of the profiles I showed him…the one of my friend Hannah Potter. I met Hannah a number of years ago at Mount Calvary, the church where I was a member during my time at BJU. The Lord enabled us to renew our acquaintance a couple of years ago when I returned to BJU to finish my degree. After a note of introduction (warning Hannah that she would soon receive a friend request and note from my brother) their correspondence began. After a month or so of writing, a meeting was arranged and Kenny and Hannah met in person for the first time. Not long after, the Lord made it clear that He intended them for each other. In February, approximately six months after the first letter, Kenny, with her father’s full blessing, asked Hannah to be his wife. The wedding was a glorious celebration of all that God has done! They plan to spend the first two years of their marriage in Korea, Kenny’s next duty station.

Two of my other cousins, Josh and Caleb, will also be married very soon. Josh is getting married this afternoon and his brother Caleb this fall.

It is exciting to see how God has worked and brought each couple together for His glory. May each of these marriages grow to become radiant pictures of Christ and the church!

 

Cranberry-Nut Muffins

Many projects have filled our days and nights over the past month or so. After working tirelessly for weeks on end, we were exhausted! So, this past Wednesday, with my dad’s blessing, my mom, sister, and I took a “girl holiday.” After seeing my dad off to work (I wish he could have enjoyed the “holiday” with us!), we baked a (double) batch of our favorite Cranberry-Nut Muffins and watched BBC’s Return to Cranford on Youtube. What a delightful day! Admittedly, it was a mistake to double the recipe–we ended up eating far too many of these delicious muffins!

It is difficult to find wholesome movies, so we were very glad to stumble upon this one and are happy to be able to heartily recommend it for your enjoyment. Return to Cranford, the sequel to Cranford (which we watched sometime last year), is a delightful tale of small-town life, based upon the writings of Elizabeth Gaskell (the author of Wives and Daughters and North and South).

Below you will find our muffin recipe which is adapted from Deborah Madison’s Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone, p. 636.

Yield: approximately 20 medium size muffins

2 Cups raw cranberries (we buy extra during the holidays and freeze them for later use)

1/2 Cup turbinado sugar

Zest of one orange plus 1 Tablespoon orange juice

6 Tablespoons soy margarine (We use Earth Balance)

1/2 Cup sucanat

1/3 Cup turbinado sugar

Egg Replacer for 2 eggs (we use Ener-G Egg Replacer)

1 Cup vanilla soy milk

2 1/2 Cups pastry flour

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 Cups chopped pecans and walnuts

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and prepare muffin tins

• Combine the cranberries, 1/2 Cup turbinado sugar, orange zest and juice in a saucepan and cook over high heat for approximately 5 minutes, until berries pop and sugar is dissolved. (This makes a most delicious concoction–a cranberry marmalade–that would be wonderful on its own!)

• Cream together soy butter, sucanat, and remaining 1/3 Cup turbinado sugar.
• Mix egg replacer (follow manufacturer’s instructions) in a separate bowl then pour it into the sugar and butter mixture, beating until smooth.
• Add soy milk.
• In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients (except the nuts) and then add half of this mixture to the batter.
• Add cranberry mixture and nuts and then fold in remaining flour mixture.
• Spoon batter into prepared muffin tins and bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean.
• Allow to cool and then enjoy with a cup of your favorite tea!

I am linking up with Designs by Gollum‘s Foodie Friday.

 

Glimpses of Spring!

After one of the snowiest winters ever (for this part of the country), it is exciting to know that spring is right around the corner! Not willing to wait for its official arrival, we have been adding glimpses of spring all around the house.

We spruced up the couch with spring pillows.

These cute little bunnies were found at the thrift store.

The chair by the piano received a newly recovered seat.

Each year when the daffodils bloom, I am reminded of a favorite poem I learned as a child.

The Daffodils

William Wordsworth

.

I wander’d lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o’er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host of golden daffodils,

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the Milky Way,

They stretch’d in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

.

The waves beside them danced, but they

Outdid the sparkling waves in glee:—

A poet could not but be gay

In such a jocund company!

I gazed, and gazed, but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

.

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

.

God is so good to graciously give us such delights with each new season!

Are there any among the idols of the nations who give rain? Or can the heavens grant showers? Is it not You, O LORD our God? Therefore we hope in You, For You are the one who has done all these things.”

Jeremiah 14:22

 

The Breastplate of Righteousness

This evening, while struggling under the weight of spiritual attack, my heart was greatly encouraged through meditation on Scripture and beautiful, uplifting hymns. Fear finally fled away and peace filled my heart as I listened to the following two hymns which focus on Christ’s righteousness and His atoning work.

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Stand therefore, …having on the breastplate of righteousness” Ephesians 6:11, 14.

His Robes for Mine by Chris Anderson, arr. Dan Forrest

His robes for mine: O wonderful exchange!
Clothed in my sin, Christ suffered ‘neath God’s rage.
Draped in His righteousness, I’m justified.
In Christ I live, for in my place He died.

Chorus:

I cling to Christ, and marvel at the cost:
Jesus forsaken, God estranged from God.
Bought by such love, my life is not my own.
My praise-my all-shall be for Christ alone.

His robes for mine: what cause have I for dread?
God’s daunting Law Christ mastered in my stead.
Faultless I stand with righteous works not mine,
Saved by my Lord’s vicarious death and life.

His robes for mine: God’s justice is appeased.
Jesus is crushed, and thus the Father’s pleased.
Christ drank God’s wrath on sin, then cried “‘Tis done!”
Sin’s wage is paid; propitiation won.

His robes for mine: such anguish none can know.
Christ, God’s beloved, condemned as though His foe.
He, as though I, accursed and left alone;
I, as though He, embraced and welcomed home!

My Jesus, Fair

My Jesus, fair, was pierced by thorns,
By thorns grown from the fall.
Thus He who gave the curse was torn
To end that curse for all.

Chorus:
O love divine, O matchless grace-
That God should die for men!
With joyful grief I lift my praise,
Abhorring all my sin,
Adoring only Him.

My Jesus, meek, was scorned by men,
By men in blasphemy.
“Father, forgive their senseless sin!”
He prayed, for them, for me.

My Jesus, kind, was torn by nails,
By nails of cruel men.
And to His cross, as grace prevailed,
God pinned my wretched sin.

My Jesus, pure, was crushed by God,
By God, in judgment just.
The Father grieved, yet turned His rod
On Christ, made sin for us.

My Jesus, strong, shall come to reign,
To reign in majesty.
The Lamb arose, and death is slain.
Lord, come in victory!

(Both hymn texts were written by Chris Anderson. More information is available here.)

 

Forget None of His Benefits: A Meditation on Psalm 103:1-5

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits” Psalm 103:1-2.

God’s blessings are incalculable; yet how prone we are to forget His benefits and instead dwell on our own petty grievances and wallow in self-pity. This day of Thanksgiving should be one of recalling His blessings, remembering and blessing Him for all His benefits.

He pardons all our iniquities–all of them.

“I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins” Isaiah 43:25.

“The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” I John 1:7b.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” I John 1:9 (KJV).

All of our wickedness, unbelief, pride, self-righteousness, unkindness, bitterness, anger, evil-speaking — all of our sin — is freely pardoned through the blood of Christ. What a glorious truth! What a benefit for which to give thanks!

He heals all our diseases.

This is sometimes a difficult truth to grasp. How can it be true that God heals all our diseases when so many of His people, even the most godly, get sick and die? We must remember that sickness and death are consequences of sin. “All have sinned” (Romans 3:23) and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). However, God offers eternal life to all who put their faith in Christ Jesus. Ultimately, all believers, no matter what their infirmities in this life, will have complete and perfect healing in the next.

Oftentimes, however, God does choose to physically heal His children, for a time, during this life. Eleven years ago my mom was diagnosed with cancer. Having just watched a dear friend suffer tremendously and die while undergoing the conventional cancer treatments, my parents prayed and sought the Lord for direction concerning her own treatment. The Lord graciously directed us, through research and the helpful advice of friends and relatives, to change our diets to a mostly raw, vegan diet (no meat or dairy products). The diet helped rebuild my mom’s immune system which in turn battled the cancer. What at first seemed a terrible trial, turned out to be a great blessing from the Lord. This diet has been His means of healing us from all our physical diseases.

He redeems our life from the pit.

“The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned” Psalm 34:22.

“And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” Revelation 5:9.

We deserve hell because of our sin. Yet Christ has redeemed us — bought us back — not with silver and gold, but with His own precious blood (I Peter 1:18-19).

He crowns us with lovingkindness and compassion.

“The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness” Lamentations 3:22-23.

Every day He offers fresh lovingkindness — mercy — and compassion to crown His children. No matter how wretched and ill we behave, even when we are unfaithful to Him, in His goodness He draws us to repentance and shows mercy and compassion. How much we must praise Him!

He satisfies our years with good things so that our youth is renewed like the eagles.

This is certainly true in my life. My years have indeed been satisfied with good things! God has blessed me with a godly family and friends, a lovely home, a good church, a wonderful education, and many rich resources and opportunities.

Bless the LORD, O my soul!

This simple meditation on God’s benefits just begins to scratch the surface of all that God so freely bestows upon His children. May the Lord help us to remember and give thanks for our many blessings!

“When all thy mercies, O my God, my rising soul surveys,

transported with the view, I’m lost in wonder, love, and praise.

Ten thousand thousand precious gifts my daily thanks employ,

nor is the least a cheerful heart that tastes those gifts with joy”

(Joseph Addison, When All Thy Mercies, O my God).

 

God Answers Prayer

“In the day of my trouble I shall call upon You, For You will answer me” Psalm 86:7.

Throughout my family’s life the Lord has repeatedly shown Himself strong on our behalf by answering countless prayers. We had occasion to review some of these experiences during our friend Tulip’s visit. We sat around the table rejoicing over the times that God has provided food when the pantry was bare and money to pay bills when our resources fell far short. God hears His children and is faithful to provide, we encouraged our friend.

Just a day or so later, while driving Tulip back to Greenville, God vividly demonstrated His willingness to answer prayer. As we approached Atlanta we heard a strange noise coming from our van. Our concern was aroused, but when we changed lanes the noise stopped and we assumed it must simply have been some grating in the road. Not giving the noise another thought, we decided to stop in Marietta for a bite to eat and some shopping. After our break, we got back on the road and drove almost all the way through Atlanta when suddenly we heard that strange noise again, this time much louder. It only took a couple of seconds for us to realize that something was terribly wrong with our tire. Thankfully traffic was relatively light, and the Lord cleared the way for us to limp across approximately six lanes to the wide shoulder on the other side of the road. Upon inspection we discovered the mangled remains of our ruptured tire. None of us girls (only my mom, Tulip, little Sarah, and I were on the trip) know how to change a tire, so we started praying. My mom pulled the spare tire out of its hold but the jack was nowhere to be found and we could not reach my dad on the phone to ask him where else to look. Tulip wanted to try to flag someone down, but I explained that it could be potentially dangerous for just anyone to stop. Instead we simply needed to pray for the Lord to send someone trustworthy to help us–a policeman or a nice person.

Just a few minutes later, while we continued to pray and survey our situation, someone did stop. A pick-up truck pulled off the road in front of us and a dark, solidly built man with an island accent climbed out. The man, whose bumper sticker led us to suspect he was an off-duty state trooper, kindly yet very firmly took command of the situation, warning us to not get near the edge of the road. Still unable to locate our jack, he dug his out, only to discover that it was incompatible with our wheel.  After a moment’s thought, he decided to get the proper tool from an auto parts store off the next exit and promised to return. Shortly after he left, Daddy returned our call and told us to find the jack hidden in a side panel of the van, which, in our excitement, we had completely overlooked.

Just minutes later, another man stopped–a very nice person with a little girl buckled in the backseat. He was able to quickly change the tire and gave us directions to the nearest Wal-Mart where we could purchase a new tire. Meanwhile the other man returned and my mom, running over to his truck, thanked him, giving him a tract and some money for his trouble. We very much appreciate his kindness!

The second man refused any remuneration, taking only the tract and saying that maybe one day someone would help his little girl. About five minutes later we pulled off the exit he had instructed us to take and were debating upon which way to turn, when suddenly we realized that the man was still in front of us. He graciously led us all the way to the Wal-Mart (about a mile down the road), pointing out the auto center before going on his way. How kind of him to make sure that we found the place safely! How good of the Lord to so thoroughly and specifically answer our prayers!

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me” Psalm 50:15.

 

Semester Summary

“For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations” (Psalm 100:5).

By God’s grace, after many hours of intense study and very little sleep, my final semester of college is complete!

Ashley and me after Commencement (There was a mix-up with the BFA hoods. They accidentally handed me a white hood instead of a dark brown one to match my tassel. I exchanged it later, but, unfortunately, the new pictures did not turn out.

The semester opened with my senior art exhibit.

It seldom snows in Greenville, so this unexpected snowfall (on March 1) and the resulting half-day of classes was a delightful surprise.

Once every four years, the University enjoys a special day of games and activities called Gold Rush Daze. The unseasonably warm weather took everyone by surprise and nearly the whole campus ended the day with a bright red sunburn.

My roommate Emily and me enjoying Gold Rush Daze 2009

Enjoying the lovely weather the first day of Bible Conference

My friends Ji Woo and Bora

The last month of school was especially difficult. I had to work night and day to finish papers, projects, and paintings. God was faithful to provide grace and strength and enabled me to finish the race.

A beautiful rainbow gracing the sky after all my exams were complete

Melinda and I enjoyed a lovely picnic in the Gazebo in celebration of finishing all of our exams

The last few days of school before Commencement were spent packing, cleaning, and attending various award ceremonies, recitals, and concerts.

Cleaning under the mattress

Emily cleaning

My friend Katie and me after our final Artist Series

With Elissa after Thursday morning's sermon contest and honors recital (I found it quite amusing that Lizzy, a friend from my home church of whom I saw very little all semester, just happened to make it into this picture.)

The six BFA candidates at commencement rehearsal

It was a treat to have Ashley attend the Commencement Concert with me

After Commencement

Graduation Party at Aunt Sarah's house

After graduation, my friend Tulip came home with us for a week. (We are taking her back to BJU a little bit later this morning.) We had a wonderful time showing her the sites and learning many fascinating things about Chinese language and culture.

Tulip with Timmy and Sarah

Sarah's sidewalk portrait of Tulip

Tulip and Mama on the Walnut Street Bridge

In Coolidge Park

Tulip and Ashley riding the Incline

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

 

Art Exhibit Preparations

Since Christmas, my family and I have been working hard to complete the final details for my senior art exhibit, which will be on display at Bob Jones University (Greenville, SC) in the Sargent Art Building from January 18-February 6. (Anyone in the area during that time would be welcome to come view the exhibition.) This art show, the last major requirement for my degree (outside of classwork), has been a huge undertaking! I’m so thankful for my dear family and all the work they are putting in to make this show a reality. Our house resembles a frame shop at the moment! While I have been finishing several paintings, my dad and brother have been building beautiful frames, which my mom is now staining, and my dear sister has been running errands and helping to keep the whole operation running smoothly. I am indeed blessed to have such a wonderful family! There is still much to be done, but I trust that, with God’s gracious enablement, all will be in place when the show opens on the 18th.

 

Home for Christmas

French News Cast--Vida and Laura

These past few months have been a whirlwind of activity! After five years of working and waiting on God’s perfect timing, the Lord very suddenly made it possible for me to return to Bob Jones University to complete my final year. Just a week or so before the fall semester opened we received a phone call regarding a scholarship for which I had applied months ago. Previously I had been notified that I would not be receiving this scholarship, but now they were calling to inform me that I had been chosen as a runner up and would be receiving it after all. It was a scramble to complete all the paperwork and packing, but somehow the Lord helped us accomplish everything and within a very short time I found myself enrolled as a student at BJU. The Lord blessed me with a wonderful roommate, excellent teachers, and a number of good friends. By His grace all of my classes, as well as my internship, went well.

The last couple weeks of school were extremely busy. For the final project in my French Conversation class we were required to put together and film a news broadcast in French. My team members and I worked very hard writing our scripts, practicing our lines, and filming our stories. We were right on schedule to begin editing when we ran into major technical difficulties. We had used two cameras for our filming, one that belonged to the school and the other to one of our teammates. Apparently the two cameras were not compatible. The media center staff spent several hours trying to remedy the problem, but in the end we had to re-film everything that was shot on one of the cameras. This major set-back left us working feverishly night and day down to the very last minute. God gave much grace and we were very thankful to have a finished product to turn in at the exam!

Danae filming Laura

More filming--Danae and Maria

Maria and Natalie editing

Editing down to the very last minute

After three and a half months of very hard work, it is wonderful to be home again! Kenny came home on leave Sunday night. What a blessing to have everyone home for Christmas this year!

This final week before Christmas has been very full. Tuesday we held our annual Happy Birthday to Jesus Christmas Bible Club Party. Approximately twenty-five children plus several adults were in attendance. It was a blessing to have Miss Patti Anderson come again to teach the Bible lesson. The children enjoyed meeting her special friend Lenny.

Miss Patti teaching Bible Club

Miss Patti introduced the children to Lenny.

Ashley led the singing.

children singing christmas carols

Little Sarah (the girl my family tutors) is spending Christmas with us again this year. On Christmas Eve she and my dad worked together to build a charming little gingerbread house.

Reading The Gingerbread Baby after building the gingerbread house

Christmas morning Ashley made a scrumptious batch of pancakes for breakfast, including one in the shape of a gingerbread boy for Sarah.

While the rest of us were savoring the food and fellowship, Sarah could hardly wait to get through breakfast and family devotions. When the approval finally came, she made a mad dash for the tree and it was all we could do to get her to wait for everyone else before opening presents. Sarah has been praying for an American Girl doll for a long time and was absolutely delighted to receive one from her parents.

We spent an enjoyable afternoon with family and friends and closed the evening with music and a good time of family discussion.

“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” Luke 2:10-11, 14.

 

Bible Club Week, Summer 2008

Each summer my family hosts a week long neighborhood Bible Club.  (Last year we began holding one in my grandparent’s neighborhood as well.)  With all the extra pressures of a month of summer school, my independent studies course, and a number of other responsibilities, we did not have time to adequately prepare for the clubs.  So the Lord graciously sent Miss Patti Anderson to help teach.  This left me free to paint and relieved a lot of stress for Mama and Ashley.  The clubs ended up being some of the best ever!  Praise the Lord!  Between the two clubs, we had fifty different people (kids and a few parents) attend over the course of the week.  One little girl prayed to receive the Lord as her Savior.   

~Bible Club at Grandpa and Grandma’s House~

~Bible Club at Our House~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~Solomon Strings Rehearsing for Church~

~Painting~