Hmmm…

I posted this first on this day two years ago. In my morning devotion time today I came across this Spurgeon entry again. The thought struck me how quickly the last two years have added themselves to the long line of “hitherto.”  I hope you enjoy this a second time as we charge into 2011. Happy New Year!  -Alison

Today I’m sharing something from my morning prayer time.  Have you read any of Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening?  I’ve found it to be a treasure.  No, he doesn’t talk like we do today…using words like “hitherto,” but like any great spiritual writing, it’s timeless. His writing proves lyrical and beautiful.

I don’t have to tell you that this has been a hard year for many people everywhere.  Savoring Spurgeon’s thoughts brought encouragement.  I hope it does for you, too.

“Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.” 1Samuel 7:12

The word “hitherto” seems like a hand pointing in the direction of the past. Twenty years or seventy, and yet, “hitherto the Lord hath helped!” Through poverty, through wealth, through sickness, through health, at home, abroad, on the land, on the sea, in honour, in dishonour, in perplexity, in joy, in trial, in triumph, in prayer, in temptation, “hitherto hath the Lord helped us!” We delight to look down a long avenue of trees. It is delightful to gaze from end to end of the long vista, a sort of verdant temple, with its branching pillars and its arches of leaves; even so look down the long aisles of your years, at the green boughs of mercy overhead, and the strong pillars of lovingkindness and faithfulness which bear up your joys. Are there no birds in yonder branches singing? Surely there must be many, and they all sing of mercy received “hitherto.”

But the word also points forward. For when a man gets up to a certain mark and writes “hitherto,” he is not yet at the end, there is still a distance to be traversed. More trials, more joys; more temptations, more triumphs; more prayers, more answers; more toils, more strength; more fights, more victories; and then come sickness, old age, disease, death. Is it over now? No! there is more yet-awakening in Jesus’s likeness, thrones, harps, songs, psalms, white raiment, the face of Jesus, the society of saints, the glory of God, the fulness of eternity, the infinity of bliss. O be of good courage, believer, and with grateful confidence raise thy “Ebenezer,” for–

He who hath helped thee hitherto

Will help thee all thy journey through.

When read in heaven’s light how glorious and marvellous a prospect will thy “hitherto” unfold to thy grateful eye!

- Charles Spurgeon

Do you ever feel like you’ve learned everything there is to know about the Christmas story, the very night he was born?  Well, at least everything that we can know this side of heaven?

So many of the characters and scenes breed sweet familiarity: You have your shepherds, angels, Joseph and Mary, serene little Baby Jesus of course, and you might even catch a glimpse of a little boy drumming near the manger.

We know and love them all.

I remember several years ago, though, when the wife of my pastor made a statement about Christmas. “Each year I pray that God will show me some new aspect of the Christmas story,” she said. That stuck with me. And now each year I do the same.

So I wasn’t too surprised when God brought a new thought to my mind a couple of Christmases ago. It was the thought itself, however, that gave me pause.

I was gazing at tiny little Jesus in my nativity scene on the mantle. “You see a fragile, passive child when you look at Him here,” He whispered to my soul. “I see my warrior Son charging from heaven down to earth – passionate fire in His eyes – to save everyone. Including you.”

…Wow. That got my attention.

I thought about that as I looked at Him there, letting it marinate in my heart and mind. And sure enough, over time I’ve come to see Christmas in that way. Jesus, sent by His Father, took earth by storm…for us. Our knight in shining armor, if you will. We just didn’t see the storm coming quite like this.

Kinda reminds me of – stay with me here – Westley from the movie “The Princess Bride.”  Before he leaves to make his way in the world and be worthy of her love, he solemnly promises his beloved that they will be together forever.  “I will always come for you,” he insists.  Yet as time goes on she collects plenty of reasons to doubt: his reported death, an inconceivable kidnapping, screaming carnivorous eels, etc. Every reason to despair.

But, in time, valiant Westley proves faithful as he fights to reunite with Buttercup.  Love is triumphant. He proves his oath true, even when all hope is gone.

And so it is with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. On an infinitely larger scale, of course. He has and will always come for us! We need only receive Him and trust His promise.

Even in those peaceful moments of this Christmas with Jesus resting in the manger, I pray that we catch glimpses of the brave hero who rescued us before we knew we needed saving. Merry Christmas.

I’m reminded of this passage…

In my distress I called to the LORD;

I cried to my God for help.

From his temple he heard my voice;

My cry came before him, into His ears.

He parted the heavens and came down;

Dark clouds were under his feet.

He mounted the cherubim and flew;

He soared on the wings of the wind.

The LORD thundered from heaven;

The voice of the Most High resounded.

He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy,

With great bolts of lightning he routed them.

He reached down from on high and took hold of me;

He drew me out of deep waters.

He brought me out into a spacious place;

He rescued me because he delighted in me.

Psalm 18:6,9-10, 13-14, 16,19

I love fall.  We shake off our summer heat-induced lethargy, the air turns crisp, trees shower natural confetti, and the smell of scrumptiousness fills our kitchens.

So when my sister-in-law Christi ran an idea past David for a fall family photography website, I thought, “Hmm…” for only a split second before taking the leap. Come see what’s going on!  Autumn Challenge 2010

Ahhh, Pride and Prejudice by the amazing Jane Austen. One of my all-time favorite books. A Wicker book, as a few of us friends now call it.  (It seems that the husband of a dear friend – you know who you are – thinks that all such Jane Austen-ish movies and books feature the same type of women conversing while sitting on wicker furniture. Only the backgrounds need change. Thus the World of Wicker came to be.)

Despite such ribbing, I shamelessly hold this story dear to my heart. If only I could tell Jane Austen herself how much I like it. How much the world has embraced and revered it.

…But wait. What am I hearing? It almost sounds like Miss Austen herself.

Rolling in her grave.

Uh oh. I think she may have caught wind of the latest “tribute” to her work. Brace yourself to meet… Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

Yes, you heard me. …aaaand Zombies. Have you heard of this? I wouldn’t be surprised if you have. The 2009 novel battled its way to a spot on the New York Times’ Bestseller List, and even a movie is in the works.

But what is it?  Elizabeth Bennett, meet Zena, Warrior Princess. Or something like that.

The original P&P text is there, but with…um, enhancements.  Now instead of only fighting the social quandaries of her day, Elizabeth and the gang hone their skills in fierce battle with zombies.  People are prized for their prowess in combat, not just for bowing and curtsying at balls. Warriors yearn for practice time between social engagements to spar and improve their zombie killing.

So, given that, what do you think? Is this a travesty against one of the greatest novels of all time? Against Miss Austen herself?  Or, does the spotlight shone on P&P&Z usher her back into the limelight for new readers to admire?

As for me, I have to admit that my heart warmed to hear David say, after reading P&P&Z, that he wanted to watch the mini-series again. Hmm…that can’t be all bad for Alison.  And I have to remember that Jane Austen sported a sharp sense of humor and didn’t take herself too seriously.

Perhaps that rolling in the grave we hear isn’t from her horror, but from her rolling with laughter.

Well, I guess Josie’s not too angry that I shared her personal journal. She showed me another part of it  – a couple of very personal entries. I’ll probably keep sharing her journal here unless she gives me the silent treatment.

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, check out the previous post.

July 3, 1937

I am numb. Not sure I can put two words together.

July 24, 1937

The flood came.

I went to town with Johnny to get supplies for the week. It was hot, and I was a touch weary but tried not to let on. When we were done we went down the street to McLemore-Bass for ice cream, like usual. And like usual I smiled as I walked in, the bell on the door ringing. It always smells so good in there.

But something was wrong. I stopped.

Then I remembered for the 1,000^th time. Mitch wasn’t there, and he wouldn’t ever be there again.

Johnny noticed even before me that I wasn’t moving past the doorway. When he turned to look at me, I saw his smile turn to a frown. He looked worried. I didn’t know what he was looking at until I looked down and saw tears dripping down onto my shirt. Big, fat ones. I gritted my teeth…I would not cry right there – in the middle of Abilene, for Pete’s sake.

I waited until we were in the truck and on the way home before I let those stupid tears have their way. And it hurt so bad that Mitch wasn’t there to wipe them away with his ratty blue kerchief. He always said it was his good luck charm.