Helen Keller Quote

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.  Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved."

-Helen Keller

The Reason for the Hope Within Us

Often Christians are asked what makes them seem so different from everyone else they observe around them.  The radiant joy and astounding peace of Christians makes unbelievers curious.  They wonder why they don’t share the same disposition, and how the Christian has attained it.  “Maybe that Christian has the ideal job, designer clothes and a luxury car, and that gives them their happiness,” muses the unbeliever.  However, this is never the case.  The Christian finds his/her joy and peace resting in the Savior’s Arms. This kind of joy cannot be bought, sold, or traded, and is only attained by knowing Him.  We know these simple truths, but how can we share them with others?  The answer: live a life filled with His joy, peace, and love.  You see, when we live like this it attracts attention because it is not what the world is used to seeing.  People notice our joy and peace, and want to know what sets us apart.  A quiet Christian life attracts more attention than standing on a street corner yelling how much people need Jesus.  Model it for them.  You will be the only Bible some people will ever read.  Pray for opportunities to witness to those around you who are curious where you find your strength.  In a society that promotes love and tolerance everywhere you turn, the most loving thing you can do for a person is point them toward Jesus.

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect.” -1 Peter 3:15 NIV

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” -1 Thessalonians 4:12 NIV (emphasis added).

We will be asked as Christians to explain our reason for hope - it’s part of our job description!  But as Peter says, do it with gentleness and respect, and you cannot possibly go wrong.

Peter Marshall Quote.....

I have copied this quote into my journal time and time again.   I hope it encourages you as well.

“Godly womanhood.....the very phrase sounds strange in our ears.  We never hear it now.  We hear about every other type of women: beautiful women, smart women, sophisticated women, career women, talented women, divorced women.  But so seldom  do we hear of a godly woman - or of a godly man either, for that matter.  We believe women come nearer to fulfilling their God-given function in the home than anywhere else.  It is a much nobler thing to be a good wife, than to be Miss America.  It is a greater achievement to establish a Christian home than it is to produce a second-rate novel filled with filth.  It is a far, far better thing in the realms of morals to be old-fashioned, than to be ultra-modern.  The world has enough women who know how to be smart.  It needs women who are willing to be simple.  The world has enough women who know how to be brilliant.  It needs some who will be brave.  The world has enough women who are popular.  It needs more who are pure.  We need women, and men, too, who would rather be morally right than socially correct.”

Books I Read During High-School

This is a list of books I read in their entirety during high-school.  Some were for fun and some were for school.  A few were ones I read aloud to my siblings.  It's inevitable that I've left a few out.  What are your thoughts on any of these you have read?

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
The Scarlet Letter by Nathanial Hawthorne
Mary Jones and Her Bible (Lamplighter)
Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss
A Lantern In Her Hand by Bess Aldrich
The Seventeen Second Miracle by Jason Wright
Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard
Mountains of Spices by Hannah Hurnard
Elsie Dinsmore books #1-7 by Martha Finley
All Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Anne of Green Gables books #1-3 by L.M. Montgomery
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
You Have a Brain by Dr. Ben Carson
Christy by Catherine Marshall
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Willow Falls books #1-5 by Wendy Mass
Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
The Autobiography of Ben Franklin
Gladys Aylward: The Little Woman by Gladys Aylward
The Life and Diary of David Brainerd by Jonathan Edwards
The Deeper Christian Life by Andrew Murray
With Christ in the School of Prayer by Andrew Murray
Living as a Christian by A.W. Tozer
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
The Pearl by John Steinbeck
Silas Marner by George Eliot
Heidi by Johanna Spyri
Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge
The Awakening of Europe by M.B. Synge
In His Steps by Charles Monroe Sheldon
The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A. Kempis
The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis
The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
The Screwtape Letters by C.S Lewis
The Pursuit of God by C.S. Lewis
The Confessions of St. Augustine
The Story of the Treasure Seekers by E. Nesbit
How To Be A Lady by Harvey Newcomb
So Much More by the Botkin sisters
Live Original by Sadie Robertson
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
Gifted Hands by Dr. Ben Carson
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
In My Father's House by Corrie Ten Boom
The Small Woman by Alan Burgess
One Nation by Dr. Ben Carson
I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist by Turek and Geisler
The Red Badge of Courage by Steven Crane
Illustrious Americans: Clara Barton by Marshall Fishwick
The Story of Inventions by Frank Bachman
The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia Maclachlan
Killingsworth Cove at Hurricane Creek by Joe Floyd Broyles
Dancing Through Life by Candace Cameron Bure
Little Farm in the Ozarks by Roger L. Mcbride
Little town in the Ozarks by Roger L. Mcbride
The Divine Dance by Shannon Kubiak
The Lightkeeper's Daughter by Colleen Coble
Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli
The Basket of Flowers by Christoph Von Schmid
Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray
Under the Lilacs by Louisa May Alcott
War Room by Chris Fabry
George Muller by George Miller
The Joshua Generation by Michael Farris
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Teddy's Button by Amy Le Feuvre
Christie's Old Organ by Mrs. O.F. Walton
Side-By-Side by Isabella Alden
Questions Jesus Asks by Israel Wayne
Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot
The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
Created and Called by Chelsia Harris
Mother by Kathleen Thompson Norris
Start Here by Alex and Brett Harris
Carry on, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham
10 P's in a Pod by Arnold Pent III
Saved at Sea by Mrs. O.F. Walton
Probable Sons by Amy Le Feuvre
The Princess Adelina by Julie Sutter
The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel
A Lamp for My Feet by Elisabeth Elliot

Inspirational Quote for Today.....

"My father always told us that if we will let God, He can use even our disappointments, even our annoyances to bring us a blessing.  There's a practical way to start the process too: by thanking Him for whatever happens, no matter how disagreeable it seems."

-Alice Henderson from the novel Christy

Gladys Aylward

Gladys Aylward is one of my favorite people in history.  "The Little Woman" by her is an amazing book, and I would recommend everyone read it.  Below is more information about her.  This is my original writing from a homework assignment a few years ago.  I share for educational purposes only.  Please do not copy or reproduce the following in any way.

Gladys Aylward was born on February 24th, 1902 in Edmonton, London.  She came from a working class family and her father was a mailman.  At the age of 14 she became a maid.  When she was 18 years old, she received God's call to mission work.  She applied to the China Inland Mission Center in her twenties, but was rejected and told she was "too old" to learn the Chinese language and become a missionary.  Undaunted, she started saving every penny and eventually saved enough money to go to China by herself.  She heard of a woman named Mrs. Jeannie Lawson who was looking for someone to work alongside her and eventually take over her place in mission work.  With only her one-way train ticket, passport, and her Bible, Gladys set off towards China.  The trip to China just about ended in failure many times, with the Soviet Union and China in an undeclared war.  Gladys encountered many problems and setbacks on her journey.  While traveling through Siberia she was practically not allowed to leave because she was wanted as a factory worker.  Finally, she reached Yangcheng, China, where Mrs. Lawson was waiting for her.  Mrs. Lawson and Gladys started an inn for traveling mule caravans - "The Inn of Eight Happinesses."  Gladys's first mission assignment involved shouting "We have no bugs.  We have no fleas.  Good, good, good.  Come, come, come!"and grabbing a mule and dragging it into the courtyard of the inn.  Once the travelers were inside, they sat around the fire hearing Bible stories and of Jesus' love for them.  Within a year, Gladys could make herself understood in the Chinese language.  She was approached by the government to help enforce a new law against food binding, a Chinese tradition.  She agreed, but only under the condition that she could share the Gospel while doing it.  A few years later she adopted her first child, Ninepence.  Her home quickly grew, and she was soon taking care of more than one hundred children.  She was given the name "Ai-Weh-Deh," which means "Virtuous One."

In 1936, she officially became a Chinese citizen.  In 1940, when the Japanese soldiers invaded their town, Gladys led over one hundred children to safety.  They sang hymns to keep their spirits up on the trip.  In 1953, she opened an orphanage in Taiwan, and worked there until her death in January of 1970.  The movie, "The Inn of the Sixth Happinesses," based on her life and mission work was released in 1958.

Gladys Aylward was a courageous woman for the Lord, had a heart for children, and was very bold about her Christian beliefs.  She taught the children she took care of to have a strong faith and to trust in the Lord.  My favorite story about her life was when her adopted son came to her saying he wanted to go back to his home country to preach the Gospel.  Gladys was not very keen on the idea and worried for his life.  The son told her he felt God's calling there, and asked her to pray for a stethoscope for him (he had been trained by a doctor for many years).  A few days later, Gladys visited a lady's house and saw a wooden box.  She asked the lady for it, and in the box was some old food, a few books, clothes, and in a little pouch, a stethoscope. Gladys never saw her son again, but several years later a man came to her saying: "Where I come from I have watched nine people being baptized in the river.  When I asked how they had the courage to do this when it was forbidden by the Communists, they said it was because they had Christ in their hearts...because there is a wise young man, who has a curious instrument with which he listens and knows all that goes on inside.  He has told them about Jesus."

A few quotes by Gladys Aylward:

"Oh God, here's me, here's my Bible, here's my money.  Use us, please, use us."

"I wasn't God's first choice for what I've done in China.  There was somebody else.  I don't know who it was - God's first choice.  It must have been a man - a wonderful man, a well-educated man.  I don't know what happened.  Perhaps he died.  Perhaps he wasn't willing.  And God looked down and saw Gladys Aylward."

"These are my people, God has given them to me, and I will live or die with them for Him and His glory."

"If God has called you to China or any other place and you are sure in your own heart let nothing deter you...remember it is God who has called you and it is the same as when He called Moses or Samuel."

Quote by Clara Barton

"People should not say that this or that is not worth learning, giving as their reason that it will not be put to use.  They can no more know what information they will need in the future than they will know the weather two hundred years from today."
-Clara Barton, Founder of American Red Cross

An Interview With A Real-Life Homeschooler: Elisabeth

Age: 14

Grade: 8th

What is your favorite school subject? “Probably either math or history, but I do like science, too”

What are your hobbies/interests?  “My hobbies include playing piano and composing piano pieces, ballet, and ballroom dance.  I also like listening to classical music and I might want to learn to play the violin.”

What do you love about being homeschooled?  “I can sleep in and do schoolwork anywhere in the house, whether it be on my bedroom floor or outside, as opposed to sitting at a desk all day.  I can also choose curriculum based on my likings and interests.”

What benefits do you have since you’re homeschooled?  “I am raised in a Christian worldview and have my parents as my teachers - academically and spiritually.  My siblings and I also have more time for family, unlike the average school kid who’s always booked up with homework.”

What are your thoughts on the homeschooling myth/lies such as socialization, for example?  “I can see this concern because public-schooled kids are around kids their age all day long.  But homeschooled students have multiple options for socialization such as church and church gatherings, dance, sports, etc.  Just because they aren’t around kids their age all day doesn’t mean they are not socialized.”

What would you tell someone who is thinking about homeschooling, but is not quite sure?  “Do it!  Pursue it!  It is much better than being in public school where the kids are separated from the whole family five days a week for many hours.  There, the child is not learning the Christian worldview that you could be teaching at home.  Don’t stress about it; it’s not that complicated.  Public schools are failing, but by more people homeschooling it can become something big and wonderful used for God.”

Many thanks to Elisabeth for her honest and thoughtful answers!

Teddy's Button

I recently read Teddy’s Button by Amy Le Fouvre.  What a sweet story!  Teddy, a young boy, has one aspiration: to be a soldier.  His father was a soldier who died in battle, and Teddy has the button from his uniform.  Teddy loves to tell others the story of the button which earns him the name “Button-Boy.”  Teddy discovers he doesn’t have to be a grown boy before he can fight in battle - he can enlist in God’s army.  He finds he fights a real battle against the Enemy.  When a military regiment comes to town, Teddy helps organize a gathering for the soldiers and implores them to enlist in God’s army.  In a harrowing experience, Teddy loses his prized button, but regains it through quite a display of Providence. Teddy’s pure childlike faith is sweet and refreshing. It was a quick read and I highly recommend it.  My brothers, ages 11 and 8 absolutely loved the book as well.  As a plus, it’s free on Kindle.  Here’s the link.

Happy reading!

Quote by Andrew Murray

"Do not strive in your own strength; cast yourself at the feet of the Lord Jesus, and wait upon Him in the sure confidence that He is with you, and works in you.  Strive in prayer; let faith fill your heart - so you will be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might."

-Andrew Murray

Top Five Christian Classics Every Young Lady Should Read

Christian classics are so wonderful!  They are so rich and full of wisdom.  These are the five I believe are crucial for every young lady to read.

Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss.  This is a sweet story of a girl’s trials and victories in her Christian walk and life as recorded in her journal.  She starts her journal at sixteen, and continues it throughout her whole life.  The mother in this book is so sweet!  Katherine, the main character, has a hard time enjoying praying, but learns how wonderful a privilege it is.  Elizabeth Prentiss is the one who wrote the hymn “More Love to Thee, O Christ.”

Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard.  This is an allegorical tale of a girl through the refining mountains and valleys she passes on the way to her new, transformed heart and life.  It could not be more beautiful!   The sequel,  Mountains of Spices, is my all-time favorite book.  I have read these two over and over again and they never lose their charm.  My copies are well worn, and I could not recommend them more!

Gladys Aylward: The Little Woman by Gladys Aylward.  This book chronicles the life of Gladys Aylward, a missionary who over one-hundred children called “mom.”  Her life was dedicated to serving the children of China and bringing the gospel to them.  It will give you chills!  It is incredible!

The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence.  This book encourages a life of living in the presence of God, and continual conversation with Him.  Brother Lawrence’s love of God is contagious and so refreshing.

In His Steps by Charles Monroe Sheldon.  In this fictional tale, a town’s pastor challenges his congregation to ask themselves “what would Jesus do?” before every action for a year.  Of those who participated, the results were dramatic.  Many lost or gave up what they had, but were so fulfilled with what they were doing.  This is a wonderful read!

An Interview With A Real-Life Homeschooler: Ethan

Age: 11

Grade: 5th

What is your favorite school subject? “Science.”

What are your hobbies/interests?  “Programming Lego robotics, making and flying model rockets, and designing and flying paper airplanes.”

What do you love about homeschooling?  “My schedule is flexible and customized to me, and I can spend time on things I like doing.”

What benefits do you have since you’re homeschooled? “My schoolwork is made for my likes and interests.  If there’s something I’m interested in learning about, it can count towards school.  I also don’t have to eat cafeteria food.”

What are your thoughts on the homeschooling lies/myths such as socialization, for example?  “That’s all wrong!  You can finish schoolwork faster so you have more time to be with other people at activities and such.”

What would you tell someone who is thinking about homeschooling, but isn’t quite sure? “Scheduling is awesome!  You can spend time learning about what you are interested in, and still have plenty of time to spend on other activities and hobbies.  You can also work ahead and finish earlier than planned!”

Many thanks to Ethan for his time and honest answers!