{These are Blessings Indeed!}

I must say, I've been blessed. Truly, truly blessed. You all have blessed me! God has smiled on me.
And I don't say that in a cliche "ohymgoodness" sort of way....I really mean it.

The fact that I'm even alive today is a miracle.
The fact that I have a supporting circle of loving people is a true, real gift.
That fact that I have a loving family, and a beautiful, safe home to live in is worth celebrating too!

But today, what I'm thinking of the most is the hearts of the those.....my friends and family....who decided that the dream God gave me of going to Romania, and loving on those lovely, needy people was worth sponsoring.
Worth praying for.
Worth believing in me for.

It's amazing to me!
Because, really, even if I told everything I know and feel about Romania, and what God has said so far to me about it....and even if I admitted that I don't know exactly why I'm going or what will come of it.....it doesn't seem matter to you all!

I'm not talking just about monetary giving for my trip here. (No, but in that respect, I've been extremely blessed as well! Everything has been provided for! Many, many thanks...) I'm thinking of the love, the kind words, the prayers that these folks have given me....each was special!

And I think I'm just standing in awe of God right now.
How He works things out and, how he worked this out for me.
I feel so special! and yet so little, and unworthy of this trip, at the same time!
I promise I will try not to worry about my abilities because "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" and I promise to carry myself well in Romania, and serve with all my heart, soul, mind & strength! As would befit someone who has been so, so blessed....

I must thank you, my friends, my family & my church.
Love in Jesus,
~Hannah

a Little Update (Books, Violets & such things)

......the violets have absolutely come out this week!....they are just so pretty.....
and I finished three books yesterday......

The Children of Hurin By J.R.R. Tolkien &  

Lies Young Women Believe: And the Truth that Sets Them Free & 

Home: A Memoir of My Early Years.

.......good books all of them!....
Well, I'm off to try and get more things done today yet.

Enjoy the beautiful spring day everybody!

Quiet Days

Quiet days.
Full of this -- and that
or -- this and that things.

Much of nothing,
nothing of much.
Soft and hard,
long and slow.
In and up,
out and down.

Quiet days.
They do so much
when we do so little.

Book Review: "Same Kind of Different As Me"

I've read this book recently, and I just can't get it out of my head. It touched me and moved me. It opened my eyes too...
Slavery was 'abolished' officially with the publication of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, but did you know that not all the former slaves were free after that? Many of them kept living and working in the same conditions, for years, even up until the 1940s and 50s. Even if they were no longer slaves in name, they lived just like their forefathers and met up with their own walls of seemingly impossible challenges of their times in the quest for true freedom and equality.
This story is about how God took a son of a slave, named Denver, and used a couple called the Halls to change many, many lives. It's a redemption story. And it will make you cry in unbelief, and weep for joy.

I highly recommend the reading of it.

~Hannah

On Trial {God's Refining Fire For Our Faith}

    I love the "Aha!" moments. Those times when something just clicks and things get 'brighter' inside. :-) That happened to me this morning, while talking with Mom, and I thought the subject was important enough to share.

Have you ever heard those verses from the Bible that talk about trials and temptations?
You know: the "hold fast to the faith", "stand strong", and "whenever you face trials" verses?
Well, James 1:2-18 contains a good many things to be said on the subject of trials and temptations.
And where they come from and how to handle them. (Mom was studying James in her personal time this morning, and then she read James 1 aloud to me.) Here are two special verses that caught my attention, but their very juxtaposition:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. (vs. 2-3)


When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. (vs. 13&14)

 The first thing I noticed as Mom was reading through it aloud (sometimes hearing a passage brings it out to our ears more than reading silently would) was that trials and temptations are not the same. Not at all. I suppose I 'knew' this, but I did not realize it! But yes, it is true. Think of Job. God was not tempting him, He was trial-ing him, if you will. Job was on trial! Why? For his faith. It's like God was saying, Job, "How much faith do you have in Me? Through how much will you 'stick' to Me?"  Because,

"In this you [should] greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ..." (1 Peter 1:6&7)

This chapter in James talks about trials and how whenever I face them, I need to remember with joy that they will produce perseverance, because they are testing my faith! To my normal human thinking, this does hardly seem something to be happy or joyful about. :( Trials always puts me in mind of Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof. He has these bad things happen to him over and over again, often right at a time that would have been otherwise joyful! His act of looking to the heavens with a sort of, "Really, God? Was that necessary?" attitude is something we all feel like doing once in a while at least...
And yet. And yet, I am to welcome trials! Why? Why is that, and, how could I?
I can do just that, and rise above the temptations and make it through the trials because I know that:

• Trials from God are refining me & my faith in Him! He is making my faith stronger and stronger; He is refining my trust & hope in Him until it is a beautiful and true as gold!
• Temptations never come from God, always from the Devil and I am tempted only because my flesh wants to be. My spirit is God's and in communion with Him, so temptations can't touch that! But I must resist the temptings, and stay on the narrow path.
• The greatest (i.e. the most faithful) of Christians from history and time were able to be and do what they did because they knew that through the trials and even in the temptations, God was with them. He never ever left them, and  still promises this to us: 

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." (1 Cor. 10:13)

So there you have it. I really learned something today. Something about God (He is so merciful, and thoughtful!) and something about myself (if I trust God, I can overcome!)  :-)

Happy St. Lucias Day, Everyone!
~Hannah

- - - - - - - - - - - - - * Merry Christmas! *

This Inspires Me! :)

"[Possible] Careers for English Program Graduates" *

The following represents some careers for English majors.

Account Executive
Actor/Actress
Administrative Assistant
Administrator
Advertising Copywriter
Analyst
Artist
Analyst
Attorney
Author - Fiction Non-Fiction
Assistant Scientific Writer
Bank Officer
Biographer
Book Critic
Business Manager
Circulation Assistant
City Manager
College Professor
Columnist/Commentator
Comedy Writer
Communications Manager
Congressional Aide
Copywriter
Corrective Therapist
Creative Writer
Critic, Art/Book
Crossword Puzzle
Curator
Customer Service
Desktop Publisher
Director
Radio-TV Commentator
Radio-TV Newscaster
Reading Consultant
Reporter
Research Assistant
Researcher/Pollster
Retail Sales
Technical Consultant
Technical Writer
Training Specialist
Editor, Film/Video
Editor, Magazine
Editor, News
Editor, Newspaper
Editor, Publications
Editor, Publications
Editor, Writer
Editorial Assistant
Education & Training
Educational Program Specialist
Entertainment Agent
Fashion Merchandiser
Foreign Correspondent
Freelance Writer/Consultant
Fundraiser
Greeting Card Writer
Hearing Officer
Hotel & Motel Manager
Human Resource Specialist
Human Service Practitioner

Humorist/Comedian
Information Abstractor
Insurance Agent
Interior Designer
Interpreter & Translator
Investment Counselor/Manager
Journalist
Labor Relations Specialist
Lawyer
Legal Assistant
Librarian
Sales Representative
Sales/Service Manager
Script Reader
Singer/Voice
Teacher
Social Welfare Examiner
Social Worker
Translator
Underwriter
Video Scriptwriter/Producer
Literary Agent
Loan Officer
Lobbyist
Magazine Writer
Management Trainee
Manuscript Reader
Market Research
Marketing Specialist
Marketing Writer
Mass Media
Media Planner
Medical Records
Narrator
Novelist
Paralegal
Paralegal Assistant
Personnel Manager
Playwright
Poet
Politician
Probation and Parole Officer
Product Manager
Program Manager
Proofreader
Property Manager
Public Administrator
Public Relations Specialist
Public Speaker
Publicity Assistant
Publisher
Publishing Assistant
Special Events Coordinator
Speech Writer
Sports Writer
Stockbroker
Talent Agent
Teacher (all levels)
ESL Teacher
Writer
Documentation Specialist
* Source: Penn State Mont Alto's English Major Webpage


Isn't it just INSPIRING? :)
So many options for an English major!
(I put my favorite in bold.)

Here's To The Future!
;)

Quiet...

He got up, 

rebuked the wind 

and said to the waves, 

“Quiet! Be still!” 

Then the wind died down 

and it was completely calm.

{Mark 4:39}

I just need Jesus to speak that over my life right now,

Quiet, Hannah, be still.

I Never Thought I'd See the Day...




{Actress Claire Foy}

 

Heard that phrase before?
"I never thought I'd see the day when..."
I can think of two ways it can be said. One way, there's a smile too be found at the end, when you look up at the speaker's face and see that they are proud of something, or something you did. Or, there can be a tiny hint of disgust or disappointment found in the saying of it: "I never though I'd see the day when my own children would [do this or that.]" That's when the phrase is sad, very sad. And that's when using it hurts.

I can think of many things I could use this phrase for now, both ways, too. {We don't always like to mention the negative--or, conversely, we dwell on it too much-- but you know, life is not always sunshine & roses. There's real issues and words that aren't sunny and happy, too.}

So I'll start by sadly, mournfully noting that:

I never thought I'd see the day when...
...so few people think about God. Even remotely. {Like He is no even there...}
I never thought I'd see the day when...
...the use of electronics became balls & chains and gods to the users.
I never thought I'd see the day when...
..."liking" and accepting so many secular, evil things (even if evil only "in part") becomes normal amoung God's people.
And I certainly never thought I'd see the day when...
...everyone would become so preoccupied with everything else, it would feel like God did die.

But.
And here's where I stop with the negatives, to also note that:

I never thought I'd see the day when...
...so many beautiful miracles of God are taking place!
I never thought I'd see the day when...
...more and more of my whole family is serving, and worshipping, and loving the Lord!
I never thought I'd see the day when...
...I would be blessed with SO MUCH, beyond (far beyond!) what I need!
I never thought I'd see the day when...
... my siblings and I would not only get along, but deeply love & respect one another!
And I never thought I'd see the day when...
...my Jesus, God Lord of all Creation, would become so real to me.


To tell the truth, I never really thought I'd see this day. :)

It Will Be Worth It

You say: It’s impossible
God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)
You say: I’m too tired
God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: Nobody really loves me
...God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 13:34)
You say: I can’t go on
God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalms.91:15)
You say: I can’t figure things out
God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)
You say: I can’t do it
God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)
You say: I’m not able
God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: It’s not worth it
God says: It will be worth it (Romans 8:28)
You say: I can’t forgive myself
God says: I FORGIVE YOU (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: I can’t manage
God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)
You say: I’m afraid
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)
You say: I’m always worried and frustrated
God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)
You say: I don’t have enough faith
God says: I’ve given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)
You say: I’m not smart enough
God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: I feel all alone
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

~~~

It's easy to feel like giving up. I admit I wondered halfway through the day why I even got out of bed! But then I remember, I'm living now because I'm meant to be, and I live in Christ now & as long as I do stay here on this earth to be a light. To bring some joy, some kindess and love as I can to others.

I'm going to keep doing just that. Especially on the days when I need it most myself...
What resonated with you today, or this week? Was there a truth, or a thought that lifted you up out of the ordinary into the bigger picture of things? I'd love to hear it. :)