Pax Christi

Hello, all!

I hope all is well in your neck of the woods. It's been far too long since I've posted on here. I fear I'm breaking my promise, but with getting my brother college oriented and set to go for August, well, there just hasn't been a lot of time. Perhaps the imposed structure of the coming school year will help with that. Discipline has never been a strong point of mine (don't worry, a post on that will be coming shortly).

I've been thinking about languages a lot lately. Possibly because of my impending English class in the fall, or perhaps because of the lack of French in my life the past while (oui, c'est vrai). Maybe it's because the gift of my every burning fire for the missions field.

But, in any case, I found myself pondering common Latin phrases this morning (I know, could I be more a homeschooler or what?).

We live in a culture filled with Latin. Consider the phrase "Carpe Diem." We see it everywhere, on t-shirts, bumper stickers. Or another common phrase, "Et Cetera," or, as we know it, "etc." And every Christian homeschooler knows the publishing house, "Soli Deo Gloria." Or the phrase on the seal of the United States, "E Pluribus Unum."

We live in a nation and speak a language filled with terms used by so many before us.
And, and just as we speak a language that is filled with the things of times past, so do we also live in a nation and a culture that is filled with the customs and erroneous philosophies of times past.

It seems that, over the course of the last hundred years or longer, we have been moving backwards.
In ancient Rome, it was not at all uncommon for a girl to get married at the age of 14 or 15, the groom usually being in his early twenties. In the state of Florida, you can now stay in high school until you're 21 years old. That means that 21 year old men are going to school with 14 year old girls. Homosexuality was also very prevalent, as it is today.
In ancient Rome, if a child was unwanted, it would be put out in the trash heaps. Now we "merely" abort them.
In ancient times there were many who believed in becoming one with the universe, in finding your inner light and, through that, finding happiness.
Sound familiar? That's right: the philosophy that we know today as part of "new age" religion is nothing new at all.

In many ways, our nation very much resembles the ancient world, be it in our morals, faulty philosophies, or even our, at times, crumbling government. And, just as our world resembles that of Rome, the plight of the modern church is quite like that of the early church.

It says in Ecclesiastes 1:9, that "the thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun."
Should not we, then, look to what they in the early church did? Should we not "Carpe Diem" (seize the day) and use these times, however great the trials and persecutions, to "et cetera" (in continuation) do all things to give "Soli Deo Gloria" (to God alone the glory)?
And should we not, as men and women of God, look not only for "Pax Lux" (peace and light), but for "Pax et Lux" (peace in light)? For it is in the light of Christ that we shall find peace in a world of chaos and it is through His light, and living in His light alone, that we shall lead others out of the darkness.
 For though they were few, our brothers and sisters before us they stood tall through the strength that can come only from Him (Philippians 4:13). And so shall we, too, I pray, and that we would be "E Pluribus Unum" in Christ.

"Gratia Domini nostri Jesu Christi cum omnibus vobis" (the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all)

Amen.   


In His,

Julia

A House of The Lord

Hello, all!

Well, life is starting to wind down a little. My classes are coming to an end, my outside activities are drawing to a close by the end of next month, and I should be able to do some more posting here soon. I also have another website that I'm going to be doing with two young men from my writing class. I'll post the link once we have everything up on it.

Home. What a wonderful place to be. It is the place where we know that we will always be safe and be loved. It is the thing that little girls hope and pray to have as their own one day, and the place that the weary traveler thinks of each and every day of their journey: the thing that keeps them going, that makes them keep walking, that makes them persevere.
It is this place that we call home.

There is something about home that brings back memories of days gone by; of afternoons spent lulling around the house with a book and a warm dog or running around the backyard playing army men with your big brother, waiting for Mom to call you in for a fresh baked batch of molasses cookies. It is these memories mixed with the joys of times gone by that remind us of the home that Christ procured for us by his shed blood and has gone to prepare for us and of the time when we will stand before His Face.


With a brother about to graduate from high-school and to go off to college in the fall, these things have often been on my mind lately.

My brother and I were blessed enough to be homeschooled, him since the first grade and I from preschool on. I would attempt to express the beauty of all of those days spent curled up on the back of the couch while my mom and brother read the "Chronicles of Narnia" aloud, or the treasures that are hidden in the mornings spent learning our catechism, from memorizing the books of the Bible to reading books of theology and of life and wisdom, but there is a certain kind of loveliness in those moments that no words could express. I would try to tell you all of the things that I have learned, not just through academics and through reading, but through learning to, not just get along with others, but to be kind and gracious in brotherly love. I have learned the grace of manners and the goodness of working your hardest. And I have learned to not just to work, but to serve, and not merely to serve my fellow man, but to serve my God and my Creator.

Some think that an education is merely learning one's arithmetic and reading the greats of literature, but I know that an education is so much more. It is learning to be a person, and not just any person, but the person the Good Lord made you to be. It is learning to discover the world and the glories of God's Creation and seeing it for the testimony it is: a testimony to His Glory.
An education is not just learning to discover and to be in the world, but to stand up and go against the tide. And, more than this, it is learning think and to hold every though captive, that we might spend every moment wisely to the Glory of our Father above.

Home. I can think of no better place to learn.


Thank you for reading! God bless you! You all are always in my prayers.

A servant of His,

Julia 

A Ripple Effect

Bonjour, tout le monde!!!! Hello, all!!!!

Hope you all are doing well. I apologize for not posting in so long. Life seems to have been racing by the past few weeks. I hope to get back on track with things within the month, though, but (whether that happens or not) you should be hearing a little more from me soon.

Happy Belated Easter, everyone!!!

Well, yesterday was quite an interesting day for me. My family is between churches right now, so we visited Christ Fellowship Church at their 2 pm service, quite a change from the service times that my family is used to.
Being used to mostly smaller churches, usually with a maximum of 400 people, it was amazing to me to even worship in a building of that size! It was so fun to get to sing praises to the Lord with so many people, the cameras streaming live to ABC News (10:00 am every Sunday), the music, the big screens, the clapping and cheering, and all to the glory of the Lord!
The theme for their Easter service this year was "Coming Home," which they had printed on signs every where within the building. They said that the reason for it was because they wanted everyone who entered the building to know, without a doubt, that as they await their eternal home in Heaven with the Lord, sojourning here on this earth, they can always find, while temporal, a loving home in that family which is both made up of His children and that is His Bride: His church.

I've been doing a lot of thinking about my life the past year or so, and yet more the past while. As I'm getting on in years now, I've been trying to put my focus on things above, rather than things here on earth. I've been working at and praying that my life would be one that was directed, point blank, on the reason I am here, and that everything that I do is, without exception, a thing that will last.
For, when the risen Christ ascended into heaven, He set a ticking time bomb. He is coming back.

In truth, everything that we do lasts forever, in a way, either for better or for worse. We all only have so much time, and the seconds are ticking by, the way we spent our time being set in stone which is hardening even you are reading this. This moment will never come again, nor will the next. And indeed are we not just as guilty for the things that we do, than the things that we do not?
Yes, these thoughts may seem gloomy, but, when you think of it in light of the word of the Lord, though "the days are evil", the future is filled with light. Every moment, every passing second, is a bright new opportunity for you to make a difference, even if it is just giving a smile to that person on the subway, or holding the door for that old woman behind you.
Maybe the way you will change the world is simply by saying thank you to that person at the grocery store to brighten their day. Even a moment or simple word of kindness can change a persons life.
Or maybe if you are a parent, the way you will change eternity is through those little footsteps going down the hallway right now.
Either way, the choice that you make, whether to do or not to do, will change the world forever.

I remember the first year I did the Shelby Kennedy Foundation Bible Bee (2013, fourth year!! Go seniors!!) I watched a video on their website that spoke about the young woman that the foundation was started in memory of. In the video, many of her friends and family members talked about who she was and about her heart for the Lord.
The thing that stuck with me, though, was when one of her friends brought the camera man to a lake that she and Shelby used to spend time at, having fun and studying the word of God. She said that she and Shelby used to skip stones on the water.
She said that one day Shelby threw a stone into the center or the lake, letting in go straight into the water, rather than simply skipping across, creating a ripple effect, the small waves that it created reaching even to the very edge of the lake.
Shelby explained that that was what she wanted her life to be like; to have ripple effect, to reach and touch everyone that God has put her in contact with, to reach people that she didn't even know, and to touch the hearts of people that she had never met: to leave a legacy.

I, too, pray that my life will be a legacy that touches many, that my smiles to people on the subway, my holding doors for people at the grocery store, my saying thank you and for people to have a good day, will make a difference. I pray that I would show others that temporal home that we have here on earth, God's church, and love them with the Love that can only come from Him. I pray that I would impact lives of people that I won't meet until that throne, and that every second, maybe even this one, would impact someone else's eternity. And I pray that my life would be one lived in the light and life that was given me by the Man who died upon that tree.
Because that Man who came among us and lived, and died, and rose again, and is now at the right hand of the Father will be coming again.

And I pray that each and every one of us would be able to give a good report, and that each and every one of us would be able to look back at our life and see a life in which every moment was used to the full, a life that was lived with the spirit of the life that Christ granted us with His blood. I pray that we might each we able to look back on our lives and see more than just small circles like those made by skipping stones, but a ripple effect: an earthly life that's effects will last for ever, for better and not for worse, and glorifying the Name of the One above.

Will yours?

For Christ is Risen!
He risen indeed!  

God bless you all!!! You are always in my prayers.

Until He returns,

Julia      

Stage Fright.

Happy belated  New Year, everyone!!! A new year, a new day. I know I'm a little bit late getting this New Year's post in, but, well, that's life. Anyhow...

It's something that every musician has been faced with at some point in time, something that I myself have been faced with the past while. It is something that does not just affect musicians, but pretty much every one that is alive on this earth: We all have our insecurities and frailties and we all want to do and be our absolute best. So this thing called stage fright spares no one, even the smallest of things, like that cheeky little comment you made last night that you thought to be quite funny and that everyone else didn't know what to say to, or simply not tripping on the way into the room.

 

These sorts of feelings seem to be taking the "center stage" the past while (no pun intended). With New Years resolutions having been  made and the corks beginning popped to launch us into a new year, 3/10s of the way through this fairly new decade, people are wondering what precisely this year might bring, and how in the world they are going to keep those resolutions.

Every year we make resolutions and every year after a short while we stop them. They always end on a low note, and suddenly. I do take some shame in admitting that I've been one of those people the past few years. Not so this year.
Many people like to make resolutions like "run around the block every day," or "spend less time on the internet," or "cut down on desserts." But this year, along with two other resolutions that I have, I'm proposing a different sort of new year's resolution.

This year, and the past few years, people have been looking at our world wondering what happened. There is a failing economy, rising violence, and ultimately a changing mind set among the American people, especially our young people.

Many of our children are no longer being taught to try to climb to the top, to be the best they can be. Now a days everyone gets a trophy, even if you lose. We live in a feel good country.

The thing with feel good countries is that once people get into "feel good mode," it becomes nearly impossible to snap them out of it. It takes something big, presented in the right way, the only way: through the prism and light of the Word of our God.

Indeed, my dear friends, this world seems to be going up in smoke, and the body of Christ is the only thing that can change it.
And, while it may be because I'm young and foolish, I still believe that there's a chance for this country. I believe that there is hope for this nation of which 40% are atheist or agnostic. Let's call them "nones." Many of the "nones" are so because they are searching.

We live in a thirsty country that is searching for wealth in this broken economy, that is grasping for love in a cold world, while neglecting to look in the one place that true Love can be found. there are little girls who are not even familiar with the simplest of traditional values like sitting "like a lady."

And so, I believe that the time has come in this country for the Christians to get real and start living with one intention and goal in every part of their lives: that of boldly and powerfully declaring the truth of the Gospel, regardless of the responses from others. America was once renowned for being a boldly Judeo-Christian country. Why should we not be so again? I believe, no I know, that God has great things in store for the Christians that choose to stand up and weather the storm, that choose to forsake this world that they may win their own souls, and not only that, but the souls of others. Because that is what we are fighting for; and if one hasn't the courage to stand up to this World and stand with Christ, were they ever really with Him to begin with?

Thus  my dear friends, all of this is to make, rather than a New Years resolution, but rather a New Years declaration. And that being to live my life boldly and with strength, God willing.

After all, my dear reader, in the words of William Shakespeare, "All the world's a stage." And just now there ain't no room for nerves.


Thank you for reading!!! I'll try to get another post in for Valentines and  for Fat Tuesday.
God bless you!!! And Happy belated New Year!!!!!!!

Your writer,

Julia

P.S. Be sure to check out my new poll at the bottom of the page, as well as the ones on the Your Turn to Play page!!!

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen....

...Let nothing you dismay;
Remember Christ our Savior
was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray!
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy,
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy!


Joy. That is the word that can be seen every which place during the holiday season. It's everywhere, on posters, ornaments, wrapping paper, we even sing of this thing called joy.

And why? I cannot help but think that this is often the question that enters the minds of believers and non-believers alike. For you look around this world and is indeed feelings of everything but this thing called joy.

Each day there are murders, and tragedies like what happened in Connecticut, in all four corners of this earth.

Looking to the east, one finds war and violence, and starving peoples. Look to the west, and one sees yet more violence fueled by struggles with a failing political system and mindset. To the north, one sees politicians, jumping at the chance to try to take away yet more of our freedoms. And to the south, one sees, again, more violence prompted by drugs and the cartels that are trafficking and smuggling them. Indeed, looking over the entirety of the earth, of joy you will find but little. 

And again, why?  Why is there such unrest? Why is there no peace to be seen? Where are the angels singing, "Peace on earth, goodwill to men?" Why is there no peace and, to some it may seem, no goodwill of God to men? The answer lies in the end of the verse to the carol quoted at the beginning of this post, the very reason Christ came:

"To save us all from Satan's power,

When we were gone astray."

And so, my dear friends, in the midst of this unrest, this perpetual cacophony that this world seems to be in, have peace in remembering that this world is not for us. We are not here to stay. And for the time that we are here, let us remember the lyrics to a song from Handel's Messiah that is often sung at this time of year:

"Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigns,

King of kings, and Lord of lords,
And He shall reign,
And He shall reign forever and ever."

"'Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,' says the LORD, who has compassion on you." Isaiah 54:10

And so, through all, this is how we may yet have joy, and a truer joy than any human could imagine, this Christmastide and for all time.

For tis at Christmas that Joy came down to earth.

"Oh, now sing praises to the Lord,

All you within this place!

And with true love and brotherhood

Each other now embrace!

For this so Holy tide of Christmas,

All other doth deface, 

Oh, tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy,

Oh, tidings of comfort and joy!"

God bless and rest you, my dear friends and readers.

Your Writer,

Julia

Moment of Silence

A moment of silence. Thought, tears, weeping. This is how we acknowledge and remember the losses that we have suffered. Countless tragedies, attacks, and deaths have been honored in this way, as we take a moment to reflect and perhaps to piece things together in our minds as such that we can relate to what these people have gone through. We take a moment to be still and take a voice that is, in a way, like unto the one that those who have been lost now take ownership of: that of silence.

But, as I think of those families who lost precious little ones, I know that while they, and many others, may be silent on the outside, their hearts are screaming. Screaming, weeping, shrieking, "Why? Why?" In pictures that you see, some parents and surviving children are merely crying quietly, others weeping openly, but the emotion of all of them is the same: that of anguish. Emotions are raw, whether internalized or not.

The searing pain, the empty desks that are going to be there come the end of Christmas break. The presents under the tree that are never going to be opened, the little empty beds, the toys that will never be played with again.
The loss is the same to any parent that losses a child, whether through an illness or a tragedy like what occurred on Friday. The pain is equal, the hearts just as broken, but the shock, while perhaps the same as with an illness such as cancer, may not seem quite so with a tragedy; There are no good-byes.

I know that this blog is where I'm supposed to voice my opinion and speak my thoughts, but Proverbs 10:19 says that "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise." (A verse that brings to mind many situations in which that advice would have proven helpful.) Thus the only thing further that I will post on this matter is a prayer.

My heart goes out to the families of the children and of the gunman. May God comfort you in your grief. I know that your loss is a void that can never be filled, but know that we are grieving with you and always will be. Your precious children will be forever in our hearts, and, I know that I can speak for the entirety of this nation, that we shall always be there for you. May God use you and us and use this, somehow, to bring glory and honor to His Name.

Please pray this prayer. It is dedicated to all who were lost on Friday.

"Dear Father,
'Why?' That is the question that everyone has been asking.
Lord, you know what these families are going throw, losing precious little children, because, Lord, You Yourself lost a child, Your Only Son.
You know what it was like for those children, their fear, their pain, because you, too, died a violent death.
You know what it is like for the family of the gunman, because You, too, know what it is like to have some one who was once close to you turn into someone you could hardly recognize, like King Saul. You know what it is like to have someone that you loved, and you thought loved you, take their life, but not before doing horrors.
You know what it is like for those of us who are essentially bystanders witnessing this horror, because You were there when Herod committed his massacre.
Lord, I pray for the families of these little ones, as well as the teachers, that were lost. I pray that You would bring them comfort in their grief, yet let them know that it is okay to grieve.
Lord, work in the hearts of those parents, because both You and I know that in each of those hearts there is a Jack, or a Grace, or a Madeline, or Emilie sized hole that can never be filled. Lord, I pray that You would somehow bring them peace, God.
I pray that those that don't know You and have been impacted by this horrible tragedy would come to know You through it. I pray for the salvation of each of the little boys and girls, and women, who died on Friday knew You, Father. I pray that I would meet each and every one of them at Your Throne, that I might hold those little hands and look in those little eyes and see them filled with pure joy, just as their parents had the blessing of seeing everyday of their children's lives.
Lord, I pray over those empty desks and empty beds, and those presents under the Christmas tree, that Lord you would use those empty spaces, some how, some way, to help those of us who did not lose children to be more thankful for the spaces in our lives that are not empty, and Lord, that those who lost children, would know that those empty spaces in their home are only there, because their little one is at home with their Heavenly Father. I pray that each and every family would have reassurance of this.
Father, I pray for the family if the gunman, that they, too would be comforted in their grief and confusion, and just plain shock at what their own flesh and blood did. Father, be with them. Work in their hearts, that they may some how see You through this.
And lastly, Father, I pray that you would help those of us who are bystanders, that, though we may never understand what these families are going through, that we would be able to grieve with them, and show them Your Love this week, Lord, even if only by crying with them and praying for them.
I just noticed that the main term that I have used in this prayer is "Some how." That, indeed, is my prayer. Use this, Lord.
Some how.

It's in Your Name I pray,

Amen." 

Your friend,

Julia     

Black is the Day

But white is the light that "shineth in the darkness," though "the darkness comprehendeth it not." (John 1:5)

Well, I finally got to cross off one of the things on my bucket list: I got to go shopping on Black Friday. (!!!)

Firstly, let it be stated that my Black Friday experience was doubtless a little bit different than the majority of Black Friday shoppers, in that I went shopping in the afternoon rather than early in the morning (a smart move; we didn't have to brave any lines hardly at all), and that I only got to go to the fabric store of all places. But if shopping is involved, count me in. Spending money is one of my favorite pass times. Doubtless why I have none. : ) I'm joking, of course. (not)
(Probably something that will have to change if I'm going to be a journalist; money is not often a thing of abundance)

It's no secret that many of the bargain hunters that were out this Friday were doing early Christmas shopping (you know who you are).
But it does seem that we live a culture where the gifts and the shopping is made out as more important than the people that are giving or receiving them. Just take a look at the self-gifters
(I mean, an awesome concept, but come on). 

We take great pains to find just the perfect thing for that special someone, and spend a boat load on it, and then the next moment we are on Facebook while they sit there ignored.
Parents spend hundreds of dollars on presents every year for their children, yet they don't take the time to teach their children why they are receiving them. Perhaps they were never taught themselves.

We live in a very materialistic culture, where often among the younger generations the clothes you're wearing can matter more than who you are, and your cell phone more than what you stand for.

Thus I pray that this year (though it is already past) and the next that the Lord's light would shine through Black Friday and show the people of this nation who their true master should be, "for you cannot serve both God and money." (Matt. 6:24)


I'll try to post a story or a poem sometime soon. I have some ideas for some advent serial stories, so we shall have to see.
I have a draft due for my writing class, so I'll be scrambling til Wednesday. Time management is NOT one of my fortes (another thing I'll have to work on).

You guys are always in my prayers.

A servant of His,

Julia