As the Breathing of Our Souls

In the experience of God's people, it is often found that when their outward condition is troubled, their inward state is full of perplexities and fears. In affliction, Satan seeks to make a breach between us and God. He is most malicious with those with whom he has little hope of victory, as in Job's case.

If he cannot run us on a rock, he will seek to upset us with a tempest. If he cannot rob us of grace, he will seek to disturb our peace and comfort. Believers can expect inward and outward troubles because we have married Christ with His cross. We are delivered from the curse indeed but are appointed to the cross.

Outward afflictions may be many and heavy and come upon the neck of another. We may feel the hard brunt enough to exercise our whole strength of faith and patience. Inward afflictions are far more heavy than afflictions of the body, for a wounded spirit who can bear? It is not unusual though, that both of these rods come upon us at once, as a load on a broken back.

What shall we do? We must take a hold on God by renewed acts of faith. Faith is used not only for our entrance into grace, but also for our continuance and progress through all temptations and difficulties. Faith and prayer must be as the breathing of our souls to keep the heart alive. We must trust the Lord in every change and condition of life. I will lay the weight of my sinking spirit on the free grace of Christ. I will renew my hold, life, and expectations there.

This is the path. I will never be turned from it. A trusting Christian in this strength may challenge all the gates of hell. "When I am afraid, I put my trust in You." (Psalm 56:3). Afraid? Who is not? But what course will you take then? Believe. Use faith always, and have it now.
~Elias Pledger, Puritan Sermons 1659-1689
Voices From the Past

Today's Impression: Smashed Bug on a Windshield

Give This One Wrapped in a Hug and a Kiss

My Beloved doesn't ask for much. At this time of year, when I'm begging him to tell me what he'd like to find under the tree, he has to work at an answer. And even then, there aren't any big items that are simply unthinkable.

Meanwhile, he wants to make sure that my gifts outnumber everyone else's. It's just his way of honoring me, and the children have picked up on that, too. On Christmas day, when we're opening our gifts one by one, I'm usually the last one to finish. It's a bit embarrassing.

A dear loved one offered me enough Christmas money that I could actually think of redecorating our very small kitchen. New paint. Painted doors. Curtains. Hardware. I was dreaming big in my mind. And as frugally as possible.

Of course, then there's my Amazon wish-list. It's mostly books.

I couldn't decide.

So, I asked my Beloved what I should do. I was surprised that he said to go for the books, and we'd do the kitchen soon. My oldest sons guessed right away that that's what he said. I have a feeling they'll treat their wives like princesses, too.

It doesn't take long to think about all of the ways our husbands give to us every day. Too often our gratitude for those little things they do gets lost in the midst of our busy days, and we forget to sing out praises for our husbands.

"Praise is better than wheat germ for even the least vain of men, and every wife ought to keep a supply in her pocket ready to scatter like manna."
~Phyllis McGinley

So, this year why not make a lovely list of all the things your husband does to make your life richer. And have your children do this, too. (And then make a list for each of your children.) I think it will be one of the most favorite gifts under the tree.

But don't stop there. Resolve in the new year to praise your husband and children every day for at least one thing.

His faithfulness. His protective care over you. His leading your family in worship. His wrestling with the boys. His never making you put gas in your car. His adoration for your cooking. His never asking what you've done all day. :)

Their helpfulness. Their initiative. Their giving a soft answer. Their doing a job diligently. Their love for the Word.

Praise and encouragement wrapped up in hugs and kisses. One size fits all. Perfect gifts anytime of the year.

With love,
Trisha


***C.J. Mahaney encourages us to look for evidences of grace in each other. I love that term. And if you think it's easy, try it for a day. You'll notice that our flesh tends to focus on everything a person doesn't get right instead of the few things he does. In our home, we even ask each other to share the evidences of grace seen in each other that day, and sometimes we struggle to come up with one. We've learned that the praise muscle is one that must be exercised daily and blessed with God's grace to see Him at work in each other.

The Dangerous Nightstand

Am I the only one who could potentially suffer a head injury because of what's on my nightstand?

Say it isn't so.

Coffee Pot Cider and Death All Around Us

I know. Only I would combine the two and create such a morbid title. My oldest son, the wise Ink, says I'm morbid these days. (This comes from the same guy who wants me to watch fight scenes from Ip Man, a martial arts film. And he thinks I'm the morbid one? ) Yet, my four year old, writes me notes describing me as a "happy Mama." Who are you gonna believe?

Perhaps I'm not morbid. I just have sharper vision and a better understanding of the brevity of life. AND, I know what hymns I want sung at my funeral, and I know that I want everyone to wear a shade of pink. :)

On to the happy thought, first.

I'm a tea girl myself, BUT, there's something wonderful about the aroma of cider floating through the house. I love that this version can be done in the coffee pot.

We even invested in an extra one to use only for cider. I made a second pot using the same mix, and it still tasted great. You can always add a bit of sugar to the mix the second time around if you prefer.

Fill water reservoir with 2 quarts apple cider. In basket lined with filter, place (yes, all of this fits!)

an orange, cut in wedges
 1/4 c. brown sugar,packed
 1/4 tsp. salt
 1 cinnamon stick
1/2 tsp. whole allspice
1 tsp. whole cloves
dash of nutmeg

and BREW away.

Now to the sadder part....it's ok if you leave now. I won't hold it against you.

Today is the 6 month anniversary of my Dad's death. Sunday was the 2 month mark since Michele died, and yesterday was 2 months since I miscarried. I feel a bit sheepish about posting something so common as a recipe...BUT, I know my Dad would have loved to have tasted this cider, and Michele, well, she would have been making this one for her family. And me..I'm fighting for that JOY, and making cider in a coffee pot is just one way I'm doing it.

Death has always been all around me. It's around all of us. I just see it more clearly now. We're all dying every day. Some faster. Some slower.  It's everywhere I look.  But there's that fleshly part of me that wants to ask the LORD if we can pause for a minute, that wants to make the case that I've met my death quota for the year (and maybe next year, too).

 And yes, I know that He doesn't give us more than we can bear, and I know that these precious saints are with Him and rejoicing. These thoughts have kept me centered many days.

Just remember that all of your everyday moments are gifts. Making your bed and changing diapers and washing clothes and cooking dinner, and yes, brewing some warm apple cider for the ones you love. So, enjoy sipping some of this with your own sweethearts and thank God for the gift of the little things that we'll later look back on and realize were very big things.

"Let all those that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee: let such as love Thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: Thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God."
~Psalm 40:16, 17

Much love,
Trisha

An Awesome Giveaway and Interview

Please visit my sweet friend and sister in Christ, Christina Langella. She's done an amazing interview with author Simonetta Carr, who has written some wonderful biographies about men and women in church history.

The bonus is a giveaway of three of Simonetta's books!

With love,
Trisha

Modern Day Moses

I don't have to create photo opportunities in this house. They just happen.

Cap'n decided he'd make do with a basket since he wasn't getting a recliner any time soon. The pillow was already waiting for him, courtesy of his thoughtful sisters, and the Babies book? His choice.

And while he won't be watching God part the Red Sea, we do wonder if he's got a bit of preacher in him. Last night, while leafing through his sister's Bible, he paused a bit to pound his fists on the table. I kid you not.

But he was smiling while he did it.

How God Transforms Our Weeping and Praying

Our Pastor shared with us yesterday that Denise Sproul, wife of R.C. Sproul, Jr., needs chemotherapy or hospice care. Yet, this dear mother of eight is too weak for the chemo right now. This news pressed heavy upon me, and I simply had to leave the room.

Sitting in our little "cry room," I gave it new meaning as I cradled my little one in my arm and rocked and cried for this family and for every loss we ourselves have known this past year. You see, the grief is still there, and it's right near the surface most every day.

And I prayed, hard and tear-filled prayers. I prayed like someone does when you know a glimpse of another's struggle. I prayed like I did when I just knew God was going to heal Michele. I prayed like I did when I realized God might be taking away the very baby we had prayed for and rejoiced over. And I prayed like someone who knows very well that God's best is often what we fear most.

Had I not ever seen Michele sick, without hair, counting medicines, trying to keep her food down, too weak to walk a flight of stairs....just battling this cancer (and these were all good days), my ability to weep with her would have been such an impoverished offering compared to walking along with her, even for a few days, and witnessing what her life was like.

When I hear of a Mama who's suffered a miscarriage, I'm cut to the core. I weep for the one I don't even know, and I pray for her. Hard.

Yes, we still weep with those who weep even though we haven't known their sorrow, but when God moves us, through our own suffering, from "That must be a horrible thing to go through," to "That is a horrible thing to go through," we comfort and we pray in a different way.

And that's what I thought about as I stood at my kitchen sink, remembering R.C. Jr.'s words this morning that he was weary, but he knew Jesus was watching over his wife and children. I've never even met this family, but I have wept this morning for them, and I'm sure, for me, too. It reminded me of what the body of Christ should be like and how often I fail to make it that way.

Suffering transforms our praying from a quick, "Lord, please heal this woman and comfort this family," to passionate, tearful pleas, to wrestling, to praying with a fervency that only comes as we pass through our own God-ordained fiery trials.

Suffering transforms our tears, too. I remember sharing about my Dad's death and God's providence in that whole affair with some brothers and sisters in Christ, and not of them wept with me as I shared. I felt exposed and very alone. Because sometimes the best gift we give to someone who is grieving is to simply cry with them, and sometimes the only way we're able to do that is to have suffered ourselves.

I'm not saying that our tears and prayers aren't important if they don't come from a heart that has suffered like someone else has. Every tear and every prayer for our brothers and sisters in Christ is such a gift!

I am saying it is a gift from God that He transcends our sufferings beyond our own four walls and hurting hearts and uses them as instruments to minister with deep compassion to our fellow saints. We can remember this and praise Him for it, giving Him glory as we weep and pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

With love,
Trisha


***I thank you in advance for your prayers for this dear family.

By the Light of the Snowman