November

Squirrels raid the nuts on the ground as the crows caw all around. Sunrises come later and as the sun sets again in the early evening with the brightest, most vivid array of colors, the birds hush their singing and sleep sweetly in their nests until morning. The trees that were once clothed in lively green radiance are now stripped of their beauty and tossed about in the wind; the leaves they once bore now blanket the earth at their feet like treasured gold at the foot of a king's throne.

Tomorrow is the first day of November! Can you believe it? (It seems like we just had a November not too long ago!)

I love November. (Besides the fact that it's the wonderful month set aside specifically for creative introverts to hibernate and try to write a 50,000-word novel in thirty days... AKA: NaNoWriMo.) ;)

But there are just so many wonderful things to appreciate and admire about Fall.

November is one of my favorite months, because of the pretty changing colors of the leaves; the crisp, cool weather that's not too cold but just chilly enough that you can curl up next to a fire; hot cocoas and coffees and teas; watching college football on Saturdays; writing everyday; the beginning of the holidays.

November is the season of thankfulness. I think that's why I like it so much. Everybody seems happier than normal, and we get to be with our loved ones. Life isn't perfect, but everyone can forget their troubles and worries and just enjoy being together.

Count your blessings; chances are, you have way more blessings than you do troubles.

Be grateful; there are others in the world who are really happy with a lot less.

Love everybody, because "love makes the world go 'round."

Smile, and smile often.

Freeze the moments, because they'll become only faded memories far too soon.

I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Novembers.

What are some of your favorite things about November?

Peace

I've mentioned Stepping Heavenward (by Mrs. E. Prentiss) before, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good novel to read. Not only is it a good story, but it is also a good study book about humility, servitude, and contentedness. I was looking through it again the other day, and came across a section I had underlined. The preacher in the book had helpfully given the troubled main character a list called Four Steps That Lead to Peace. I think they're really great, and so I've decided to elaborate a little on each one.

1. Be desirous of doing the will of another, rather than thine own.

Servitude

We ought to desire better for others rather than always looking out for our own interests. This world does not revolve around me, not everything has to benefit me, and really, the last thing on my mind should be "me." In a generation that is all about ME, ME, ME, it may be hard to begin thinking of ourselves last and least, but this is the way God intended it to be. Even Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, was selfless and humble, always putting others before Himself.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind, regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:3-5) 

2. Choose always to have less, rather than more.

Satisfaction 

The saying, "Less is more" is really a true statement. We shouldn't desire to have things, always looking to attain more, more, more. God wants us to have everything we need (Matthew 6:28-32), but He also wants us to be grateful and content with the blessings He has given us. Paul had known both riches and poverty, and he said he had learned that no matter what happened to him, he could be content.

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.  (Philippians 4:11-13)

And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, "What will we eat?" or "What will we drink?" or "What will we wear for clothing?" For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. (Matthew 6:28-32)

So count your blessings, focus on being happy, and look heavenward! 

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:1-3)

3. Seek always the lowest place, and to be inferior to every one.

Selflessness 

This is probably one of the most unnatural characteristics to a human. It is completely normal to want what is best for ourselves, to take extra personal care for our well-being. But really, we oftentimes take this to the extreme. Yes, we should love ourselves; (we are made by a wonderful Creator!) but  the world today totally takes the "love yourself" idea way out of context. The world tells us to "do what makes you happy," to "love yourself first, and everything else will fall into place." But as imitators of Christ, we are dead to the world and to ourselves, and hidden in Christ. What people see in me should be a reflection of Him who lives in me. The world hated Him, and so of course they will hate us too if we're living right. But being inferior shouldn't scare us; it should motivate us to continue modeling ourselves after our Savior Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate example of humility and selflessness.

And He began speaking a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how they had been picking out the places of honor at the table, saying to them, "When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for someone more distinguished than you may have been invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give your place to this man,' and then in disgrace you proceed to occupy the last place. But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher'; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (Luke 14:7-11)

4. Wish always and pray, that the will of God may be wholly fulfilled in thee.

Submission

Remember Jesus' humility? Even He, THE Son of God, always desired God's will to be done above all else, saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." (Luke 22:42) 

It can be a hard thing to do, letting go of what we want, letting go of our worry, and letting God take care of things, but it brings true peace when we do wholly give Him the controls and begin to have faith in Him.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

We belong to God, and we should desire to do His will, to follow His plans, and trust in Him completely!

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2) 

Have a blessed day!
~Courtney

The Old Trunk In the Attic

Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night with something on your mind and you have to write it down or else you can't fall back to sleep? This morning, for whatever odd reason, I woke up at four-thirty with a poem in my head. I almost laid back down and dozed off again, but I knew if I didn't write down what I was thinking, I wouldn't remember it again when I got up later.

Yesterday I was going through my hope-chest, looking at all the old things I've saved (my great-grandpa's Bible, my first baby blanket, etc.) and so I guess that type of thing was on my mind last night. The poem I wrote is based on the idea that a young girl is going through an old trunk found in the attic. An old trunk filled with many stories. Generations of stories about her heritage, and her grandparents' hard-working ways, serving the Lord, and sowing love in the family for many years to come.

The Old Trunk In the Attic

Smells like mothballs seasoned with years,

But this trunk is filled with love and tears.

The family Bible is worn with age,

With yellow markings on every page

That show the time and care they took

To read and follow God's word in that Book.

Those shoes walked the narrow way

As Grandma followed God each day.

Grandpa's hat is rugged and worn;

Underneath it were many ideas born.

His gloves still bear that cold, hard dirt

That show he wasn't afraid to work.

Needles and thread now brittle with age

Are what Grandma sewed with night and day;

She always worked 'til the job got done,

But I still remember she was so much fun.

She and Grandpa are in my heart,

And the mem'ries in this trunk, to me, are years of art.

I know my grandparents have gone above and left all else behind,

But in this trunk up in the attic, stories of joy and love I find

Bits of Grandma and Grandpa's stories,

And how they gave God all the glory.

Have a blessed day!

~Courtney

(These pictures show me wearing my great-grandma's ring and housecoat.)

Eleven

Today is my sister's 11th birthday.

It amazes me how quickly time flies, and how fast we grow up. Seems like only yesterday I was that little, without a care in the world.

So, this morning I got to thinking: What do I remember most about being her age?

I LOVED being eleven! It was a wonderful year. I had fun playing with my siblings and cousins outside, and I learned a lot about a lot of things.

These are just a few highlights from my eleventh year:

-It was 2005
-I got a new baby brother!
-My cousins lived next door
-I had really long hair
-I still played with baby dolls
-I was in karate and art class
-I started "journaling" and have been doing it ever since
-My cousin and I wanted to start up a band
-I was in 5th grade
-I was still losing teeth >_<
-I read American Girl and Nancy Drew books all. the. time.
-I always wanted to solve a mystery (just like Nancy Drew!)

Eleven was great. But so were the years before that and 12, 13, 14... all the way to 19! Life just keeps getting better.

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!" (Psalm 118:24) 

 "My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle... Oh, remember that my life is a breath!" (Job 7:6-7)

Enjoy each day we're given; it is a gift from God!

Have a blessed day!
~Courtney