On Confidence and Faith

I have lately noticed something.
My confidence fails me most in the areas where I most want it. I am often confident in my little vanities, but when it comes to the valuable things, I crumple up and back and into a corner.
Have you ever thought about the word "confidence"?

1. The mental attitude of trusting in or relying on a person or thing; firm trust, reliance, faith.
2. Feeling sure or certain of a fact or issue; assurance, certitude; assured expectation.
3. Assurance, boldness, fearlessness, arising from reliance (on oneself, on circumstances, on divine support, etc.).
4. The confiding of private or secret matters to another; the relation of intimacy or trust between persons so confiding; confidential intimacy.

I believe that, somewhere, everyone has confidence. The question then is, where does your confidence lie? Can you trust or confide in yourself? Do you have a reliable friend that you have confidence in? Do you have confidence in God?

Having confidence in God is a somewhat sticky business....at least for me. However, I can hardly be set as an example to anyone in terms of confidence. It seems it would be easy to put your confidence in God. If I were doing it right, I would see that God is perfect. I would know that He is the only one truly worthy of my confidence, the only one who will never let me down. It would be a simple decision: in Him I would fearlessly place my faith and trust daily. In Him, I would confide.

However, we often do the opposite. We know, somewhere in our human heads, that God is perfect and faithful, but we put that aside ("for now," we tell ourselves.) We march along the road that looks so long but isn't, and we sprinkle our trust in various places here and there.

Perhaps you put all of your faith in people. Perhaps you put all of your faith in your family, class, country, past, knowledge or your own two hands. No man is faithless who closes his eyes at night. Even the atheist puts his faith somewhere...we all believe in things we cannot see or touch.

But even the best of friends will fail us, even the most tested patterns of our pasts will change. Even the money in the bank will be stolen and the health of an athlete altered. Even the family will shift and crumble, even the knowledge will fade or lack. Faith only belongs in one place and that place is Heaven, or it's Maker.

So why, if we understand that He is perfect, would placing our faith in God be so daunting a task? And what does it look like to daily trust God?

Well, the obvious reason to the first question is that we are sinners.
I am not afraid to state that God created millions and millions of failures, losers, disappointments. This, however, has nothing to do with what He originally instilled in us. It has everything to do with the snake in the garden, the bite of fruit between Eve's teeth and the angel with the flaming sword.

We are imperfect and flawed now and rarely get anything right. But with this specific task, I believe it hard because we are close-minded. We see our own reflections in the mirror and we see the work of our own hands and rarely reflect on God or the fact that all good works are of His hands. We put the credit in the wrong place because we are simply ignorant.

Have you ever met anyone who is beautifully humble? Like a lovely rose which blooms behind thistles and cares nothing of being picked and admired. Like a president putting his hand over his heart at the sight of his country's flag. Like a king in a manger, humility is beautiful.

On the other hand, have you ever known anyone who was shamefully insecure? They face conversations like a dog with its tail between its legs. They quietly complain about themselves...they are ugly, unintelligent, unsuccessful, unwanted, everything negative they see in themselves. They make you feel guilty for anything good God has given you (looks, money, talents) and actually glorify themselves with their own sob stories. They cannot accept compliments, they seem to think that they are smaller and weaker than everyone else in the world. By and by, they become what they see in the mirror.

Do you see now the difference between humility and insecurity?

The man who knows God well ("...the relation of intimacy or trust...") is fearless! He knows where to place his faith. He acts confident, but not because he has overestimated himself. He acts confident because He has accurately estimated his God. When this person speaks, shakes a hand, smiles, they are unworried about the opinions of others because they have not placed their faith in mere people. They are not constantly worried about disappointing people or embarrassing themselves and they are not on a quest for value. They know that they were once a disappointment but that God has given them the ultimate value, eternal worth and that they are truly loved by The King of Kings. For them, this is enough.

The trick is to make sure you're not giving yourself the glory. Also, this is not to say that you should not trust friends. I wrote a whole series on how trust and sacrifice are part of love. The key is to "store up your treasures in Heaven" and to always keep in mind that you always have someone to confide in, a "strong tower" to run to and a future to rely on.

Everly

Christmas Lullaby

The great Cary Grant only recorded one song in his lifetime. He was a great actor, but had no singing voice, however, this song is well-worth listening to. It was written and recorded for his new baby and is such a sweet tune. Listen up, enjoy the season,

Everly

Happy Saint Lucia's Day!

To those of Swedish decent (like myself) and anyone else who cares to celebrate, Happy Saint Lucia's Day! In my household, we start of The Twelve Days of Christmas by getting up in the morning and making my great-grandmother's doughnut recipe which her parents brought over from Sweden. It is a delicious tradition! The eldest daughter (Sabrina, in our case) wears the crown of candles (*cough, cough* battery-powered *cough*) and serves the doughnuts to the rest of the family. We all eat at the table with Christmasy candles lit all around and enjoy our breakfast with coffee or milk. Then, over the past few years (since our family doubled at least,) we have exchanged our sibling-gifts on Saint Lucia's Day as to not have them all lost in the hubub of Christmas morning. This part is really fun. We all open our gifts from Jubilee first and then all of the gifts from Willin etc. It is an exciting and special time. This year I got some really soft socks, a few very exciting books, some typewriter ribbon, a 1940's style hat, wint-o-green mints, stationary etc. I feel spoiled already, but I love the giving part of this whole tradition. My favorite part (though I feel somewhat nervous beforehand) is my turn, when I get to see everyone tear the brown paper off of the gifts which I selected for them and watch their faces.

Happy Day to you, friend!

Love, Everly Pleasant

Oh, and speaking of giving, go here to enter a neat-o giveaway!

Festivity

We have a Christmas party at Eyrie Park tonight.
It is just our Bible study girls and a Chinese Christmas, Peppermint Mochas and "White Christmas" on DVD.
Are you hosting or attending any Christmas parties this year? Tell me about them!

Everly

A Frosty Evening at Eyrie Park

We had left-over frozen from Thanksgiving, so we "re-celebrated" tonight. We're all around the fire place now. The rest of the evening will hold homemade chocolate chip cookies and a movie (perhaps "It's A Wonderful Life"?) and then some good hard sleep under lots of covers. We had a light snow shower today! It wasn't cold enough to stick (though now it would be) so we just enjoyed watching them flutter down to earth and then melt.
So, we are enjoying the transition from Autumn to Winter and anticipating Christmas.
How 'bout you?
:) Everly

A quiet perspective

"Do not be rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in Heaven and you are on earth.

Therefore, let your words be few."

(Ecclesiastes 5:2 ESV)

"...an armful of gnarled oak-wood..."

This excerpt is from one of my favorite books; Little Men; and is hereby dedicated to my friend who likes to chop wood when he's been up to too much thinking.

" "If you want something to wrestle with, I will give you a tougher specimen than Jack," said Mr Bhaer and, leading the way to the wood-yard, he pointed out certain roots of trees that had been grubbed up in the spring, and had been lying there waiting to be split.
"There, when you feel inclined to maltreat the boys, just come and work off your energies here, and I'll thank you for it."
"So I will'; and, seizing the axe that lay near, Dan hauled out a tough root, and went at it so vigorously, that the chips flew far and wide, and Mr Bhaer fled for his life.
To his great amusement, Dan took him at his word, and was often seen wrestling with the ungainly knots, hat and jacket off, red face, and wrathful eyes for he got into royal rages over some of his adversaries, and swore at them under his breath till he had conquered them, when he exulted, and marched off to the shed with an armful of gnarled oak-wood in triumph. He blistered his hands, tired his back, and dulled the axe, but it did him good, and he got more comfort out of the ugly roots than anyone dreamed, for with each blow he worked off some of the pent-up power that would otherwise have been expended in some less harmless way. "

(Very) Random Musings

I was very surprised to find out the heights of some famous, classic movie stars and dancers.

It seems that short was much more popular back in the days of men and women tap-dancing across newly colored films.

Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly were both 5 foot 7. As a matter of fact, so were Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn and Grace Kelly!

Fred Astaire was 5 foot 9 along with Paul Newman and Steve McQueen.

Dean Martin is said to have been 5 foot 11.

Leslie Caron was a very tiny ballerina it seems, at just 5 foot 1.

Marlon Brando was 5 foot 11.

Elizabeth Taylor was 5 foot 4.

Marilyn Monroe was 5 foot 5 1/2.

However, Jimmy Stewart was 6 foot 3 along with Gregory Peck, and John Wayne was supposedly 6 foot 4!

Humphrey Bogart was 5 foot 10 1/2.

Cary Grant was 6 foot 1 1/2.

Ingrid Bergman surprised me by being 5 foot 10!

Everly Pleasant is somewhere between 5 foot 3 and 5 foot 4. :)

Everly Pleasant

On getting published

A real writer is like a good parent, devoted and interested in their child every step of the way with a passion for their well-being.
Someone who is only interested in becoming a published author, is like a parent who is only interested in attending their child's high school graduation.
e.pleasant

Thank you; God; 100 times!

1. Being raised in a Christian home.

2. Gaining salvation and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

3. Being born into a big family and watching it grow.

4. My mom (no words.)

5. My dad.

6. Siblings who love me!

7. Eyrie Park.

8. Our Church.

9. Joining college Bible study this year.

10. A friend moving here last September!

11. Another moving here soon!

12. Babies! Particularly cousiny ones.

13. The new pantry and the hard work and talent that's gone into it.

14. Seeing all four of my grandparents over the holidays.

15. Joey being home again.

16. Ballroom dance classes.

17. Pottery class, a good teacher.

18. Firepit fires.

19. Christmas gifts.

20. Inspirational reads.

21. Warm showers.

22. Wildflowers.

23. Walks.

24. Good news.

25. My Bible.

26. Good company.

27. Music.

28. Car rides.

29. Good health.

30. Sunday School.

31. Moments captured by cameras.

32. Down comforters.

33. Movie nights.

34. Meteor showers.

35. Family pets.

36. Letters.

37. Sunshine.

38. And rain too.

39. Facebook (really!)

40. Online shopping.

41. Homeschooling.

42. Delicious food...always enough.

43. Sabrina coming home from class or work.

44. People who make me laugh.

45. Modern modes of transportation.

46. Clean laundry.

47. Enlightening discussions.

48. Learning from the wisdom of other family members.

49. The way Jubilee goes around checking on everybody, passing out hugs.

50. Flutterby.

51. American soldiers.

52. People placed in your life just when you need them.

53. Cousins.

54. Space to do lessons now.

55. The internet.

56. New clothes.

57. Prayer.

58. Forgiveness.

59. Energy.

60. God's promises.

61. Daddy's days off.

62. Compassion.

63. Opportunities.

64. Accomplished tasks.

65. Free time.

66. The pilgrims.

67. Sharing a room with my sister(s).

68. Never being alone.

69. Encouragement.

70. The fact that we live out in the country, but not too far out.

71. God's plans for me that I have no clue about.

72. Patient listeners.

73. Like-mindedness.

74. Being able to help.

75. Progress.

76. Unexpected acts of kindness.

77. AC/Heaters.

78. Medicine.

79. Learning.

80. Memories.

81. Sisters.

82. Stories.

83. Sleeping well.

84. Friendly strangers who brighten your day.

85. Things going smoothly.

86. That I'll be home at Christmas with my whole family.

87. Jane (my piano.)

88. Merryrose (my laptop.)

89. A clean house.

90. My siblings' friends.

91. Genuine smiles.

92. Things to look forward to.

93. Season changes.

94. Missionaries.

95. Art.

96. Good leaders.

97. Scripture that God leads you to just when you need it.

98. My parents' marriage, their love and example.

99. Good things that come from hard times.

100. You!

A Public Report from Eyrie Park

Well,

The holidays are just around the corner and even now I cannot believe my words. Even though I just came home from major grocery shopping...purchasing all of the traditional ingredients for holiday dishes, I cannot believe that they are coming. Holidays are too good to be true, seems to me.

But before the purely good part, there is the part of crazy dashing around and chaos and unbearably long to-d0 lists. Here at Eyrie Park, like most homes, we are taking on the busyness which comes before the play.

I have been spared just a moment and a glass of cold tea before jumping into another task, so I thought I'd let you all know that all is well "on the home-front" and that I'll be writing more after Thanksgiving Day.

We have lots of family coming beginning tomorrow, so we are cleaning, doing yard work, shopping, cooking, baking and (for the grand finale) building a pantry. Which is supposedly going to be done before everyone arrives.

So it is rather...active around Eyrie Park.

Also, the 20th was Sam's 11th birthday, we have friends coming into town Sunday...lessons have not come to a stand-still entirely either. We've been making Christmas gifts too! Lots of them. Oh, the joys of being busy with something you enjoy! Nothing compares...

But I miss writing and look forward to more free time in which to do so! Do tell me how your holiday preparations are coming along!

Everly

travel bible

I have trouble studying my study Bible. It's my travel Bible that takes me places.
Small, black pseudo leather cover, silky ribbon, pages with stripes of ink and gold edges.
A crease down the middle from being bent and pressed and folded and squeezed during so many desperate prayers and uncomfortable testimonies and aggravated searches for direction.
The "reader's help" with its categories so familiar: "You struggle with laziness," "you desire to learn how to pray," "you need to control your tongue." With the lists of scriptures to look up following close behind. Some verses seem to look back at me like: "You're reading me again? When will you learn?"
Every single one on selfishness has been read again and again and copied onto paper. If you ever really want to know how many that is, just ask...
Yet, this small Bible which has been so used and abused and perused since my baptism some six or seven years ago still takes me places.
It is my travel Bible and it is faithful.
What else can you eat again and again?
What fruit can be picked, eaten, picked, eaten and never killed?
Only the living Word from the living God.
Much like the living water.
We must open our mouths and eat the book.
We eat the bread of life, the living bread and we are never hungry again.
But this bread inside us which we have been fed is alive.
It is "living and active." It can never die, it can never fail.
It will always feed you, always live, always teach, always take you places.
He is faithful, He is alive. His Word is faithful, His Word is alive.
Where will we go next?
e.pleasant

Spending today...

Preparing home and heart for Thanksgiving.
Blessings to you and yours,
Everly Pleasant

a nosegay of links...

I am not usually one to blog about fashion or clothing trends, but today I'm feeling inspired on the subject. I went shopping with three of my sisters and my mother yesterday for some much needed dress clothes and shoes (various pieces for all of us) and came home with one very pleasing conclusion: flowers are making a come-back.

Yes, the mall was a bouquet of them...particularly in our favorite stores. We don't have a great mall, but we do have Gap, New York and Company, Forever 21, Dillards etc.

I just love the stand-out flowers that are being stitched to cardigans, blouses and formals. The prints are sometimes really lovely too, and the headbands are quite tempting!

Here are some I've found:

Antique-button Flower Cardigans from NYandCompany

Double Rosette Headband from Gap

Chiffon Floral Hair Pin from Forever21

Silver Foxglove Necklace from Anthropologie

Buchanan Cloche from Anthropologie

they know his voice

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice." (John 10:1-4 ESV)

One-and-a-half slices of toast...

It is Saturday morning and my heart is spilling over with words...too many words. "Too many" is a blessing, you know. People say "you can have too much of a good thing" but what about great things? What about words? Words are great, and mine bubble up and spill over on sunny Saturday mornings as I sit and munch my cinnamon toast, never able to finish that last half-slice. It was too much for me, this morning, too much of a good thing. However, my chocolate milk was great...
The three youngest are in the backyard throwing the football around as they have been since I first sat up in bed and found them framed in my curtain-less window, many yards out and down in the midst of trees and falling leaves.
Our two little dogs are sounding their gruff alarm at the sight of my mother driving up after dropping Birdie off at ballet lessons. Have they never seen her before? Don't they know the sound of her car, the image of her face? It is silly...they obviously bark for the fun of it. Now they're jumping and landing against the glass door in the front. Oh dear.
But I can't help thinking, even in this morning racket, about "too much, too much, too much."
God never grants us too much trouble. He promises not to give us any hardship we cannot handle, yet sometimes I feel that He...gives us too much good. Have you ever felt this way?
Many of my favorite passages of favorite novels have been cruelly chopped in half as I begin to read and then, before I know it, without bookmarking my place, slap the covers together and put the book away to be finished another day. Or an exceptionally beautiful picture, or even an exceptionally beautiful day! I sometimes can't handle so much beauty in every direction. So often that is my feeling towards God.
Sunday night:
It's a pretty night...beautiful even. Just from the car to the door was enough. I detected it, my senses picked it up. A beautiful night.
Tomorrow there is going to be a meteor shower. I'm excited, already trying to get a ride to a soccer field around eleven to watch the show. But then again, it could be too much for these eyes. God is great. We are worthless. We are precious in His sight and only in His sight. We are a broken toy at a garage sale with a four billion dollar price sticker. We are chosen, adopted, given love and grace we don't come near to deserving.
When God opens my eyes, I see too much. Too much beauty, too much grace, too much good, too much love. Too much for me to handle, yet not enough for me to grasp the rest.
Rich dessert is not for babies nor Shakespeare for children and I can't handle God. To see Him in His glory would surely be blinding and fatal. In a sense, He is sparing us from the best...saving it for last. For now, I'll just eat my toast and watch the stars race and do my best with what He's allowed me to see.
Everly