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In Hubby’s recent readings of Patrick O’Brian’s books (Master and Commander, Far side of the World, Etc) He stubbled across this quote which we thought to share with our readers.
Not far into the second book of the Aubrey/Maturin novels by Patrick O’Brian, Stephen Maturin becomes acquainted with a young widow named Diana Villiers, who lives with her aunt and three cousins in the vicinity of the residence that Captain Aubrey and Stephen Maturin occupy. At a ball given by Diana’s aunt, Mrs. Williams, Stephen and Diana are engaged in a conversation, a portion of which revolves around Diana’s forceful comments:
“…You must know that married men are the worst enemies women can have…They offer what they call friendship or some stuff of that kind - the name don’t matter - and all they want in return for this great favour is your heart, your life, your future, your - I will not be coarse, but you know very well what I mean. There is no friendship in men….Listen, Maturin, I speak openly to you, because I like you; I like you very much, and I believe you have a kindness for me - you are almost the only man I have met in England I can treat as a friend - trust as a friend.”
“You have my friendship, sure,” said Stephen heavily. After a long pause he said with a fair attempt at lightness, “You are not altogether just. You look as desirable as you can - that dress, particularly the bosom of that dress, would inflame Saint Anthony, as you know very well. It is unjust to provoke a man and then to complain he is a satyr if the provocation succeeds…”
“Do you tell me I am provocative?” cried Diana.
“Certainly I do. That is exactly what I am saying. But I do not suppose you know how much you make men suffer. In any case, you are arguing from the particular to the general: you have met some men who wish to take advantage of you, and you go too far. Not all French waiters have red hair.” ………
~Post Captain By Patrick O’Brian page 50-51 ~
Typed out by David.
I have been like a dry well in my spiritual life recently. I have been extra focused on the daily living and the coming baby that much has been neglected. Many have said that when you first turn your day over to God, He will give you the time you need to acomplish the important tasks. I dare not say taht I have not found this to be true but it still seems like there is more acomplished when I set aside that time only for the brief 5 minutes before bed. However, the sweet communication between a Friend so near and dear begins to fade like the day. Each task still comes up anew each day and my life seems less meaningful. I question my vocation, I question my purpose in life, I question life itself. Where is God? He has not left me… I have left Him. Does a bride leave her groom at the alter?
The road is long and weary. I cannot deny this fact. But God has not promised a sweet meadow and cushioned feet. Christian had fallen into that snare in Pilgrims Progress. The wonderful meadow proved to be death to all that enjoyed it. The snare of being too content, to well satisfied, but not satisfied.
So, I trudge along, knowing that I should get up earlier, make more time for Him that has given me all time, and my life. But the old same old story comes, You get up and see something out of place and put it away and then your whole day is filled with cleaning up messes and wiping dirty faces and counters.
I sing hymns to keep me going through the day. But I remember how much more meaningful those hymns meant when I would think of a particular one after reading a chapter in the Bible, or a devotion. Quite often I find myself humming, “One Thing’s Needful, Lord this Treasure”. I can hear that gentle rebuke, Martha, Martha.
So is what I am doing so unecessary? So pitiful? So unworthy of my attention? Not at all! Or as Paul said, God forbid! We are called to do this! We are called to scrub the dishes, wipe the faces, vaccum the carpets, do the errands, etc. But when it becomes a question of, “Why”? Or “Is there any purpose in life?” It is time to dust the cover of the tear stained, blood stained Bible and repent.
It is during these times that I remember,
Down the pilgrim road I have tread;
Forgetting my constant companion,
I knelt and said,
“God why hast Thou forsaken me?”
A peirced hand was on my shoulder
A voice I knew too well said to me;
“My friend, since when dist thy heart turn colder,
Or when did you forget who died for thee?”
“Tis not that I have left thee,
But the cares of the present time has thrust itself forth
But thou in thy worries hast forgotten Me,
And forgotten the Pilgrim course.”
Oh what faithful wounds from a Friend,
The reminder of Truth and constancy,
Our fellowship is now amend.
and blissful life for eternity.
I may have forgotten His constancy but He has always been there. I have taken His presence for granted. I cling to the old rugged cross wherein is inscribed,
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteousness to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
This was actually suppose to be posted last week but life has a way of creeping by you, ya know?
So this week’s question was;
Name three people who had a personal (as in person to person) influence in your life and what that influece was.
This one is NOT going to be easy to write. Everyone to a certain degree makes some sort of influence in your life.
I would have to first say my Mother. She impacted me daily on her giving spirit, the times I would accidently walk in her quiet time and see her on the bed reading her worn Bible that she had since highschool (?). I remember the days when she would read to us from Elsie Dinsmore and while I really disliked Elsie I always wanted to read stories to MY children just like Mumsie did one day. When the years flew by other traits came out from my mother that I wanted to posess. Her biblical way of handling issues. The way she would agonize over a difficult decision because was it the best for her family? Was this what God wanted? They way she was a submissive wife. How she would chide me for not speaking respectfully of my Daddy. And so much more. As children we would always say, “I’m never going to be as harsh as Mommy! I’m going to be better!” But how little we knew of the parenting that takes so much out of us. My mother has a meek and quiet spirit but she knows her Bible well. I can always go to her for a biblical question even when I don’t put the question right because she just hand’s out scripture. It’s comforting.
My other influence would probably be my Mother-in-Law. I have never ever ever heard one bad thing about my mother-in-law. I have never heard her bad mouth anyone. Her love for her family is a sweet devotion but she does not hang so tight to them all. She does not mind handing out advice… Take it or leave it, it’s up to you. She has a way of frugality but you would never ever know. She is such a hard worker. Over 65 and still works from sun up to sun down. A retired school teacher (a sweet one) that never retired, just exchanged her priorities. She bakes, garden’s, helps her husband (pastor), clean a very large home, and still find’s time to visit those who are less fortunate about having family visitors. She is my influence as a Prov. 31 woman. No doubt.
The third influence is a hard one. I am not surrounded by those who love to visit me, nor do I seek out company. I would have to say the third person that influenced my life that I know would be my SIL, Sharine. As her husband went through boughts of depression as well she can understand the ”trouble, sorrows we’ve seen”. She can offer biblical advice and she is sooo active in making sure that the community recieves the gospel of Christ. Actually, her father’s story is a wonderful tale that I would love to share someday… Her love for her husband is so evident while her devotion and time for her children is always there. She has such well mannered children that talk so easily to us grown ups. And if I may be so biased, I know that they love their Aunt Challice. Humble pie inserted and eaten. What she has influenced me most would probably be her devotion to God that spills over into her family.
So I have a spiritual influence, a Prov. 31 influence, and a Christian (ie. spread God’s word to those) influence.
Yesterday marked our 2nd anniversary. In two years of marriage we have been blessed with 2 children (1 on the way and the other crawling around). I wrote last year on the wedding day prejitters, excitement, and a update. This year I would love to reflect on what marriage is.
22(AV)Wives, (AW)be subject to your own husbands, (AX)as to the Lord.
23For (AY)the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the (AZ)head of the church, He Himself (BA)being the Savior of the body.
24But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
25(BB)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and (BC)gave Himself up for her,
26(BD)so that He might sanctify her, having (BE)cleansed her by the (BF)washing of water with (BG)the word,
27that He might (BH)present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be (BI)holy and blameless.
28So husbands ought also to (BJ)love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;
29for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,
30because we are (BK)members of His (BL)body.
31(BM)FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.
32This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.
33Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to (BN)love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she (BO)respects her husband.
Ephesians 5:22-33 NASB
Here is a picture of the man and wife and Christ and His Church. How odd that marriage should be such a picture. Marriage MUST be highly reverened (? not sure this is the word I am searching for…) by God. But marriage was also instituded to, “fill and replenish the earth”. Well, if that’s God’s plan then we need no fear of all the common scientist conclusions on how there are jsut too many people for our earth. If God want’s us to fill the earth then by golly He will also give us the means. I am surrounded by empty land so there definetly is room. Hee hee.
Marriage is also to complete one another. Now, in my understanding this does not mean you need a man or a woman to complete you. God did not call all to marriage. But I cannot imagine my life without David. Sorry. I know that sounds absoluetly mushy and unrealistic, but I just can’t imagine. He makes life run smoothly. He makes my heart to beat (along with God of course 
) My day is just horrible when he is not home.
I remember one day my sister, Braelyn, asking Mumsie why she had such bad days when Daddy wasn’t home. She replied, “My other half isn’t here. Half of me is gone. I can’t function without that half.” It took me until I was married to really understand that. David is not only my other half, he is my better half. While it is my job to run the house, he makes it run more smoothly. While my job is the mothering, his is the fathering (you never hear God refered to as a Mother but always the Father ).
It works both ways too, God created ME for HIM! I was created to be David’s helpmeet. I take care of the womanly things while he goes to work every single work day and works his muscles weak, his eyes heavy, and he neck out from all the mechanical stuff. He has to put up with the language the fellow workers use (no curse free remote there) and he has to put up with awful lyrics from the local radio that is on all day. He has to go to work even when his depression is so bad. He has to go to work sharply even though he may have worked until 10pm the night before.
Me, as you can see, I can sit here at my little computer, while my baby play happily and write down a few thought. Women may have a 24/7 hard job, but I’d take it over what the men have to do. It’s what we were created for. I was NOT made to do what my husband does. I would be a frazzled rumpled creature. But I can wash dishes, change diapers, scrub toilets, do laundry, read daily, write hourly, etc. with a much lighter heart. If some things don’t get done, there is always tomorrow. No customers complaining in my ear.
So this is what our marriage is like. Each trial brings us closer together and closer to an Almight God. Each memory made is treasured. Each child given to us by God is our precious arrow for Him. God is so wonderful. He is so merciful. He is such a blessing to us. We are so blessed by Him. Marriage is wonderful. May I have many many more years. Lord take me home first! Let me live not one day here without my dearest Beloved.
Dear Son,
As long as you live under this roof you will follow the rules. In our house we do not have a democracy. I did not campaign to be your father. You did not vote for me. We are father and son by the grace of God. I consider it a privilege and I accept the responsibility. In accepting it I have an obligation to perform the role of a father. I am not your pal. The age difference make such a relationship impossible. We can share many things but you must remember that I am your father. This is a hundred times more meaningful than being a pal. You will do as I say as long as you live in this house. You are not to disobey me because whatever I ask you to do is motivated by love. This may be hard for you to understand at times but the rule holds. You will understand perfectly when you have a son of your own. Until then, trust me.Love, Dad
Christmas season, oh the joy it gives to all mankind. Certainly there are the moments when you are ready to pull your hair out and forget about the whole day but then the gentle reminder of a sweet babe gets the spirit rejoicing again. Maybe I have more of that gentle reminder since God blessed us with a sweet baby this Christmas.
As I dressed my Emma a few days ago in a bright red sweater given by a dear friend I reflected on the fact that red is a common Christmas color. Everyone wear’s red. You want a new sweatshirt for the season its usually red. Emma’s new baby Christmas outfit is red (thanks to her darling Aunt Braelyn ) I have a new red cordoroy skirt (or I would have if the blasted thing would fit my big hips), David loves his burgandy faux suede shirt. It struck me at this moment how we cover ourselves in red. So in the spiritual realm, we cover ourselves with the blood of Christ. That is after all a reason we celebrate Christmas right? Christ came to give his blood for us. To cleanse us so that we might be as white as snow. “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas” sings through my head and a smile dances on my lips. It got me to thining what other things do we use for Christmas that could show an anology?
Christmas lights, to symbol the star that showed the shepherds the way. Pretty packages, well, I havent come up with one for that. A tree, the family tree that made it’s way through the David line to Christ. Etc Etc Etc.
It is time for me to go worship and prepare my heart for the celebrating of Christ’s birth. Why do I find Christmas so important? Because without a birth there could be no death, without a death there could be no life!
MERRY CHRISTMAS to all my readers!
It was eleven years ago today. I was 8 years old. I remember that week. Sunday the preacher had given us an invitation as always to come forward and be baptized. For some reason it struck me more this week. I asked Daddy what it exactly meant on the way home. Why did he keep asking people to come and be baptized? Daddy explained it so I could understand. I read my bible a lot that week. I wanted to understand. I rememeber asking my Mother for different verses that Daddy had quoted. I believe it was on a wednesday (Clarinet lesson) that I went to Mumsie and said,
“I think I need to be baptized.”
“Why do you think so?”
“Cause Jesus said we should. I want to go to heaven someday.” I dont remember saying more but I am sure I did. I bet mumsie did think once or twice if I just wanted to partake in the communion which was grape juice and crackers. A real treat for us and maybe there was a part of me that did. I’d like to think it was entirely goodness or a desire to be on my part.
Daddy came home from work early after Mumsie explained the situation. She called Mr. Ennis and his wife who was like a grandma to me and we headed over to the church about 15 minutes away. My Daddy baptized me. Something really shocking is, I was baptized in pants! Yep, green or pink ones. Those were the only ones I had at the time. Daddy asked if I believed taht Jesus Christ was the Son of God. I nodded. Daddy pushed me all the way under. My feet popped up and he pushed those down too. Gotta make sure that she is truly dunked eh? I believe they sang, “oh Happy Day” probably like a funeral march to Mumsie’s delight…NOT.
So, 11 years later. I have come a long way. Emma was baptized 1 week and 1 day old. Interesting for me to think about. I have been purified so many times but each purification reveals another weakness or spot that needs refining. I often forget that I have been washed with crimson blood. I am being cleansed to be whiter than snow. The blood that has cleansed me and made me whole is from the one who is pure white, the unspotted Lamb!
It is near Christmas and Handel’s Messiah is being played all over. I can’t help but think that God opened me up at this time because each year at this time, Messiah has a deeper and deeper meaning.
