Me + Lord Of The Rings =

Sisters of Shortness! 

Midgets! 

My sisters. 

I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. 

A day may come, when the courage of step stools may fail, when we forsake our tall friends, and lose all hope of ever growing again. 

An hour of short jokes, and shopping in the kids' section, when the Age of climbing up on the counter just to get the peanut butter fails. 

But it is not this day, this day, we climb!

Thoughts In Church

Return to me.

Return to me.

Over and over without fail our Father calls to us to return to Him, even when we stray far from him. Time after time we find no matter what we do, if we repent we see God always forgiving and granting mercy to His people. Soon following that up with, "Return to me". 

He who watches over you does not slumber. Take joy and take confidence and peace in the fact that He is always watching over us and caring for us. He is there for us without fail every second of every day...every moment 24/7 and we are never a bother to Him. 

Pea's Quotes - Part 2

"Hang up your coat, please." Me

"No, you hang it up." Peas

"No, I hung up your scarf and hat and mittens." Me

"Oh, chicken poo nuts." Peas

"I was playing tricks on me." Peas

"Hey! No! Stop that! Here, have this you sleepyhead!" Peas

"I burped! Did you hear it?" Peas

"I'm making you lunch! Here...I made you elephant chicken." Peas

"Blow out your candles! It's your birthday and all your worst dreams will come true." Peas

"Let me get by butt out of here!" Me

"Ewwww" Peas

"What?" Me

"Butts are gross!" Peas

Quotes Quotes Quotes

"Unless I am convicted by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason, for I do not trust either in the popes or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradict themselves, I am bound to the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not retract anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. I cannot do otherwise, here I stand. May God help me; Amen."  --Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms; April 18, 1521

O send the day of joy and light,
For long has been our sorrow's night;
We wait until Thy help appears;
With us and with our sons abide,
In us let God be glorified,
In us let God be glorified.

"So unspiritual are many men's minds, and so unsavory their judgements  that they reckon men's happiness by their possessions, and suppose the catalogue of their titles to be a roll of their felicities, calling the proud happy and advancing in our conceits "them that work wickedness," Mal. 3:13; but God will one day come in with another reckoning, and make them know that all things without Christ are but as ciphers without a figure...of no value." --John Owen

Moral Support

Did you know the people who are the strongest are usually the most sensitive? Did you know the people who exhibit the most kindness are usually the first to get mistreated? Did you know the one who takes care of others all the time are usually the ones who need it the most and don't get it? Did you know the three hardest things to say are "I love you", "I'm sorry", and "Help me?"? Sometimes, just because a person may look happy, you have to look past their smile and see how much pain they may be in. Every is going through some issue at any given time. We all need positive intentions right now. 

We've all been there...the "lowest point of our lives". Maybe we had someone come along side of us and help us out. Maybe we were left there by ourselves. Either way, we experienced the strength of moral support, or the lack of moral support. Having someone there to listen and pray for you...to help you through whatever you're going through...to lift you to God above with supplication and love...that can mean the world to someone. 

Over the years, I've come to see that those with the biggest hearts are the ones who ache in private. Those who have the biggest smiles are the saddest at heart. Those who laugh the loudest cry the most in private. Those who love openly are those who have been hurt and may continue to be hurt regularly. People are rarely, if ever, what they truly appear to be on the outside. Who do we let in truly? Well, that answer should be God alone. But letting in a few other people to love and pray for you is never a bad thing.

Moral support. What it means to each of us may look like something different, but at the end of the day, it just means being there for one another. Loving selflessly. With no regard to our own interest, but to the interests of others. Everyone has problems, everyone can be stressed, everyone has bad days...moral support is always a welcome thing. Lately I've come to see this with two dear friends of mine: Amanda and Savannah. They are both such lovely ladies in Christ who have become so dear to me for their amazing moral support of me. 

Throughout our lives, people come and go. Everyone makes some mark on us. Either we see a person with characteristics that we yearn for and we seek to be more like them in that way, or we see people who we desperately don't want to end up being so we try to do everything in our power to be anything but that. Either way, we learn and grow from people...and then turn to share it with the world. So share yourself with those around you, today. Be yourself, be good, be glorifying. Be a moral support. 

Humility

There is not much that can quite tick me off as people who don't believe me...going as far as going to others to check and  see if I'm right. I'm being honest, okay? It is one of the biggest things that can truly anger me or make me instantly genuinely upset. Come on, people, it's rude. How would you like it if you state true information that you know to be a fact but people (or rather, a specific person) finds the need to always question it.

And not only just questioning it, but denying you could be possibly right. "There's no way that's true!" they say. So...are you saying there's no way that I could ever speak truth or be honest? It just boils down to trust and honesty. Now...if the person originally speaking is a well known liar and shows no interest in repenting from that, okay, maybe it would be a wise idea to question whether there is much validity behind their statements.

But that gives no good cause to always assume that you are 100%...always...always right. It's prideful. It's rude. How can you presume that you are always right and *everyone* is *always* wrong. How is that even remotely possible? Now, that's an extreme case. There are probably few (if any) who truly believe that they are consistently always right with no mess-ups. But it can come in many forms and in more subtle ways than that.

But really...if you're going to have a friend and be a friend...then you need to give and receive trust. Trust - to believe and take someone seriously. To give them a side of you that those outside of friendship don't get to see. It's another side of you. If I call you friend (and even if not) then I will, without a doubt, not just tell you something to make it seem like I'm right.

If we're arguing or discussing something I'm not going to make up false facts just so I can "win". First off, that's cheating. Second of all...that's lying! It's selfish, dishonest, and essentially prideful. Which then leads us to the issue of humility and how much a grain of that can get you when it comes to life...basically anything about life!

Humility...wow, I'm sure we've all run into people with some serious LACKING in humility. Those people are so puffed up with themselves that they refuse to see anyone else's good works. They are self-righteous...always thinking well of themselves, and when they know they're in the wrong they cannot stoop to apologize or admit their faults. They praise their virtues and ignore their faults.

There is not a single living being who does not need a bit of humility. I know firsthand that I am in sever need of it. Humility does not rank high on my list of virtues...if it's even on there! Who doesn't have difficulty in admitting their flaws...their shortcomings. But it's just needed! We're all humans...we all mess up...we all make mistakes. The best people know that and can find the humility to admit it and apologize for their faults when needed.

We have a God who knows that we mess up...we can't even hope to hide that from Him. He knows! You can't just expect to breeze over your sins (shortcomings) and pretend to be good. That is not the true Christian. The true Christian will come to the open house of mercy on his knees...mindful of the fact that we can do no good apart from Christ. All we do is like filthy rags to Him...until we see Christ and His greatest sacrifice for us on the cross.

That action, the sacrifice on the cross, it is a picture of the washing of our filthy rags so that once God comes to judge us He sees us as blameless...pure and holy. But we cannot pretend that it was anything that we did. It was, and always will be Christ. His work to us, it's what makes us look decent in the presence of our Father. We would always come up short if we tried to do it all on our own.

The moment we try to do it all on our own without any humility is the moment that we leave Christ behind us and seek to enter that room looking holy and pure on our own. That is the moment when we fail the worst we ever have in our life. Our best is mud...it's as filthy rags. It's once we bow the knee to Christ and look to Him for salvation that we are seen as righteous before our Judge.

So to wrap all of this up...humility goes a long way. It grants us 24/7 access to the throne of God. But humility also helps out with our earthly relationships. It can give us the ability to stand down and admit that maybe, our friends could be right. It empowers us with trust. We don't have to be always right! But if you are...stick to it.

The last thing we, as Christians, need these days are "nice Christians" who are willing to compromise the gospel of Christ for the sake of getting along! If someone denies Christ...then you can deny them...first try and seek to show the truth, but if their eyes are blinded and the Holy Spirit hasn't spoken to them yet, then move on! But don't ever seek to compromise the whole truth of God!

Speak truth boldly! Walk with confidence! Cover yourself with humility as Christ did! And always, live to the glory of our Father!

Despondency

This is not actually mine! But I really enjoyed reading it so ...copy and paste!

Recipe for warding off despondency

1.) Keep returning to the word of God.

2.) Cultivate a mindset of thankfulness

3.) Be familiar with the saints of old who fought the good fight and never surrendered. Realize that one day I will be in their company and keep in mind that I don't want to be shamed when I am among them.

4.) Remember the example I must set for my family .... for God's people.

5.) Recall that I am duty bound to be confident.

6.) Exercise vigorously daily. Remember there is a mind body connection.

7.) Keep in mind that postmillennialists have no reason to be despondent.

Most importantly

Keeping my eyes on Jesus -- the Author and Finisher of the Faith.

Blessed By Life

Life has kept me very busy these last few days...jumping back into life from the holiday break was exhausting. It's been interesting...plus I've been trying to re-orient my life better. Who hasn't, right? However...I still have the very big challenge of being able to shut off my computer and actually do school. It's so easy to be like, "Well, the wifi is actually on right now! If I don't take advantage of it right now then later when I'm actually FREE then it won't be on! I can't waste good wifi time!". BAD IDEA. Worst idea ever, to be honest. Just don't...don't ever get any technology device! Hide away in your cave and do intelligent things for the rest of your life. Take my advice now................except if you're reading this then it's obviously too late.

Anyways...I'm straying...I'm without coffee and it's late. I apologize. So...I've been working to cut back on stress. I'm a person who thrives off of stress. When I am freaking out and going nuts, yet somehow in control of a lot, then I am happiest. Let me tell you...Rachel's wedding was pretty much heaven for me. That's why...if I wasn't seriously wanting to go into occupational therapy I would be a wedding coordinator. SO, I've been trying to see more good than bad...because if I focus so much on the bad then it will be a huge stress on me and my health.

The other morning was just awful for me...I *know* without a doubt I set my alarm the night before for 8:30...and I went to bed at about 11 so it's not like it was late or I was exhausted! So anyways...alarm didn't go off...my mom came down at the time we were supposed to leave and asked if I still had work that morning...I did. Well, I rolled out of bed...no makeup, no cleaning up from the night, no shower, nothing with my hair..I really just pulled on jeans and a hoodie and grumbled out to the car. But that morning I just had Peas...she was it! And while she sat and played by herself for a few minutes I sat and wrote down bad vs. good...the good things of the day/morning and the bad things too. After a while it just turned to good things...my mind was so happy to find all these little "cheeries" (as I call them) that I didn't even think about any bad thing.

Watching 13 kids tonight for a couples' Bible study gave me a really good opportunity to practice focusing on the good...keeping my patience...and managing them all at one time. I was extremely grateful when Aimee showed up a few minutes early (she was my ride home) and helped keep the olders entertained. I got out of there and we stopped by Walmart and Meijers to pick up gluten/dairy free foods and some sugar for our movie marathon on Friday. So pumped. I really am. Good food, good show, all day, awesome friends...I'm really excited to be able to get away if only for a day.

Motto of the...month? So far week: STAY POSITIVE! FOCUS ON GOOD!

Peas's Quotes - The World From The Perspective Of A Three-Year Old

On Tuesday mornings I babysit for this ladies' group...they have a Bible study from 9-11 and so I watch any of their kids. It used to be Rachel and I...and we could get upwards to 7 or 8 kids. Well...Rachel had to quit because she got married and work would have been too far for her to drive...and the number of kids had been going down for a while. Well...it's gotten so bad that now today I got to watch just Peas. Her name is really Elizabeth...but her nickname is Peas (no one can remember why). So everyone calls her Peas! She's three...but her birthday is coming up on February 10th...she is such a smart little cookie...such a sweetheart and just plain adorable. I've got plenty of pictures of her on my picture blog...and lately she's taken to grabbing the camera and snapping shots of me. But she also has the tendency to saw the darnedest things! So I've begun to write all the funny/cute things that pop out of her mouth! There are a lot more than I ever thought possible! So here are some of them!

Peas - I love food!

Me - Me too!

Peas - Me three!

Peas - I have a little cough. I'm sick because I drank too much chocolate milk.

Me - Can I have my camera back?

Peas - No! Don't you know cameras are dangerous?

Peas - Show me your dragon face!

Peas - I'm a rock star! See...I just pull my jacket like this and now I can get warm!

Peas - Where's the lid?

Me - I don't know...where is the lid?

Peas - You're supposed to look behind my back!

Peas - Come chase me!

Me - Come chase you? Are you trying to tire me out?

Peas - Yes!

Me - I wish I had my camera so I could take a picture of your pretty shirt.

Peas - And I would take a picture of you and your pretty eyes

(Kids say the darnedest things!)

Peas - That one is super yuuumyyy pootie poot!

Peas - We can build a castle with so many stuff! Like so many toys!

Peas - We have to think so put on your thinking smarts. You have to sit just like this and tap your cheek with your finger.

Me - Ohh, what did you draw me?

Peas - Macaroni and big cheese and little cheese!

Peas - It's cheese.

Me - Yeah, cuz it's orange.

Peas - Yup, I think it's a girl.

Me - A girl?

Peas - Yeah, see? A girl shark.

Beautiful Song Lyrics That Encouraged Me Tonight

I can’t say that everything’s okay
‘Cause I can see the tears you’re crying
And I can’t promise to take the pain away
But you can know I won’t stop trying

[Chorus]
I’ll be the angel by your side
I will get you through the night
I’ll be the strength you can’t provide on your own
‘Cause when you’re down and out of time
And you think you’ve lost the fight
Let me be the angel
The angel by your side

I know it feels like you’re running out of faith
‘Cause it’s so hard to keep believing
But if I can bring a smile back to your face
If for a moment, you’ll forget all about it

[Chorus]
I’ll be the angel by your side
I will get you through the night
I’ll be the strength you can’t provide on your own
‘Cause when you’re down and out of time
And you think you’ve lost the fight
Let me be the angel
The angel by your side

‘Cause this won’t be the last time
You’ll need a little hope
But I want to be the first to let you know

[Chorus]
I’ll be the angel by your side
I will get you through the night
I’ll be the strength you can’t provide on your own
‘Cause when you’re down and out of time
And you think you’ve lost the fight
Let me be the angel
The angel by your side

Prayer For The Day

Oh God of all glory and power

Blessed be Your name forever

Grant us Your knowledge and wisdom

Shine Your light of love and forgiveness upon us, we pray

Guide us in Your straight paths of righteousness

Show us Your will

Help us make the right decisions

Give us grace when I stray or fail

Remind us of Your grace and everlasting mercy

Empower us with strength to follow Your law

May we always glorify Your name

And seek to bring You more fame

In Jesus Christ we pray this,

Amen

For All You NON-Morning People (Like Me!)

Book Quote

"We find ourselves living with a nagging hope for something better. We want something better than the churchianity of our parents and grandparents, something better than the vague and uncertain spirituality of our neighbors, something better than guilt-induced, holier-than-thou morality, something better than here-and-now, health-and-wealth promises, something more than going-through-the-motions religiosity or the latest-fad religious experience. We were hoping for something authentic—something worth opening our hearts to and filling our minds with and giving our lives for.

And there is something better. There is something better than living life with a merely sentimental, superficial spirituality. There is something better than going through life with a debilitating fear of death. Better than becoming bored and burdened by meaningless religious ritual, better than feeling like an unwelcome outsider or an unworthy hypocrite, better than being bound by shame and regret."

I don't know what the name of the book is...but I got this from a friend on Facebook and really enjoyed reading it!

He Is There

Do not lose hope. 

Focus on Christ, don't look away.

Don't let the past, present or future sway your love and faith in Him.

And if you sway, as we all do, flee to Jesus.

Flying away is one of the best things for pain, if you need it.

It is wonderful for joy and love and hope.

Sorrow, confusion, and peace.

Because He's there.

Of Carrots, Eggs, and Coffee

A young woman went to her grandmother and told her about her life and how things were 

so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. 

She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one 

arose.

Her grandmother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first, she 

placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and the last she placed ground coffee beans. 

She let them sit and boil without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed 

them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the 

coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her granddaughter, she asked, "Tell me what 

do you see?"

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they got 

soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it.

After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The granddaughter smiled, as she tasted its rich 

aroma. The granddaughter then asked. "What's the point,grandmother?"

Her grandmother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity--boiling 

water--but each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However after being subjected to the 

boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell 

had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside 

became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they 

had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her granddaughter.

"When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a 

coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft 

and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a 

fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I 

become hardened and stiff?

Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a 

hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very 

circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and 

flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change 

the situation around you.

When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate to another level?

AUTHOR UNKNOWN

. . .For when I am weak, then am I strong. 

see - 2 Corinthians 12:10

Meaningless Vanity

Sermon notes - Ecclesiastes 1:1-12 - Vanity/Meaninglessness

The purpose of the book of Ecclesiastes is to show that life apart from God is meaningless. The author of the book (unknown for sure) takes every pleasure possible in life to examine them and then ends each with emptiness or vanity or meaningless. Apart from God is loss. 

Apart from God all is loss

There is no meaning...all is dross

Only with God as King can we obtain

A place to stand to escape the stain

Of repeating that the world is vain

Vanity, in translated Hebrew, means Abel (huh...interesting!). Primarily though, it means air or breath or wind...the idea is that it leaves no real result behind and it is here and gone quickly. All works on earth can be applied to vanity.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 shows us where we will end up, but we must see and understand while reading this book that if you do not set your eyes always on God through this book you will end up in the pit of despair. It will be dark and without any meaning.

The world we live in is one that looks (and does not find) meaning. We find dark practices (drugs, for instance) to try and find that meaning somewhere. But we are seeking meaning in life apart from God and Scripture. We set up our own truth with no real foundation. People don't want to see truth or any standard from God or Scripture so that makes it more difficult. 

What the author seeks to do is reduce man's truth and meaning to show its emptiness and worthlessness to then end and say, "This is dark, empty, and without meaning...BUT...with God we have truth, meaning, and a real purpose." Christians know God defines all meaning...He is our great north star: without Him...take away the God of the Bible and we are lost. 

We cannot hope to find truth within ourselves. God is the one who gives meaning and truth. The author of this book knows how to work: by planting a nuclear bomb to blow a destructive man's world to pieces...to throw them to darkness...so that the light, truth, and meaning with God can shine through all the more. It is the approach where all you do is focus on all negative..all is vanity...all is empty...all is meaningless. 

Wisdom, pleasure, work, advancement, riches, and many other things are meaningless. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, but also the beginning of meaning. Those subjects I mentioned will be spoken on in coming weeks...all from the book of Ecclesiastes. 

Fearing God, finding meaning, and obeying God's law are the three points of this book. They are all inseparable and they all relate to one another. Fear God! Find meaning! Obey God! Ecclesiastes 12:13. I am the Way, Truth, and Life... Christ and His law are the only way with light, foundation and meaning. 

The fear of God is more of how we as sinners might soil the name of God with our sin and shame. That is what the fear of God really should be. 

We should pray that we do not become too comfortable with God...rather we remember how God is great and powerful...how awe-inspiring. If we fear God, we can have great assurance of finding solid meaning in life. One of those ways of fearing God is to pray to see how majestic He is and how lowly and simple we are. 

Suicide is a life lived apart from God. If you find no purpose and meaning in life, then there really should be meaning to live or not. Suicide is supposed to be an action of power, when in reality, it is an act of despair and hopelessness. A life apart from God is hopeless and dark...despair and sorrow. Any life apart from God is no life and you might as well kill yourself. You are living a dead life as it is. 

The other side to this, is the fact that Christians have great meaning and purpose along with a great foundation by which we live by. We have truth and a filling up within ourselves...we are not empty.

So either your life is one of despair, darkness, gloom, and ultimately a death life...or a life of light, joy, peace, truth, meaning, purpose, and salvation. 

Random Notes From Church

Fearing God is our duty. If we fear anything else then we are worshiping that thing. If would be a god before God. Whatever we fear it will influence and control our thoughts and actions. If we truly fear God then there is no other room to fear anything else. If we fear devils or demons or Satan, then that becomes our god that we worship. If we fear any man or men then we are worshiping him/them. Read Isaiah 8:13!

O send the day of joy and light,

For long has been our sorrow's night;

Afflicted through the weary years,

We wait until They help appears;

With us and with our sons abide,

In us let God be glorified,

In us let God be glorified.

"Those years, months, weeks, days, and hours, that are not filled up with God, with Christ, with grace, and with duty, will certainly be filled up with vanity and folly. The neglect of one day, of one duty, of one hour, would undo us, if we had not an Advocate with the Father." -Thomas Brooks

"Whatsoever we have over-loved, idolized, and leaned upon, God has from time to time broken it, and made us to see the vanity of it; so that we find the readiest course to be rid of our comforts is to set our hearts inordinately upon them." -John Flavel

Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards

I do promise that I have a personal New Years post coming...but until then here is a beautiful post I found from a friend of mine on Facebook.

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)

BEING SENSIBLE THAT I AM UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING WITHOUT GOD' S HELP, I DO HUMBLY ENTREAT HIM BY HIS GRACE TO ENABLE ME TO KEEP THESE RESOLUTIONS, SO FAR AS THEY ARE AGREEABLE TO HIS WILL, FOR CHRIST' S SAKE.

Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God' s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.

2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new contrivance and invention to promote the aforementioned things.

3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God. July 30.

9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances do not hinder.

12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.

13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.

14. Resolved, never to do any thing out of revenge.

15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger towards irrational beings.

16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

17. Resolved, that I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

18. Resolved, to live so, at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.

19. Resolved, never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.

20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance, in eating and drinking.

21. Resolved, never to do any thing, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him. (Resolutions 1 through 21 written in one setting in New Haven in 1722)

22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power, might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.

23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God' s glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.

24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then, both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

26. Resolved, to cast away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.

27. Resolved, never willfully to omit any thing, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.

30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.

31. Resolved, never to say any thing at all against any body, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution.

32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that, in Proverbs 20:6, A faithful man who can find? may not be partly fulfilled in me.

33. Resolved, to do always, what I can towards making, maintaining, and preserving peace, when it can be done without overbalancing detriment in other respects. Dec. 26, 1722.

34. Resolved, in narrations never to speak any thing but the pure and simple verity.

35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.

36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722.

37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent,- what sin I have committed,-and wherein I have denied myself;-also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec. 22 and 26, 1722.

38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord' s day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.

39. Resolved, never to do any thing of which I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or not; unless I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.

40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.

41. Resolved, to ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.

42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23.

43. Resolved, never, henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God' s; agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12, 1723.

44. Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. January 12, 1723.

45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan. 12 and 13, 1723.

46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eye: and to be especially careful of it with respect to any of our family.

47. Resolved, to endeavor, to my utmost, to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented and easy, compassionate and generous, humble and meek, submissive and obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable and even, patient, moderate, forgiving and sincere temper; and to do at all times, what such a temper would lead me to; and to examine strictly, at the end of every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5, 1723.

48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or not; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.

49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.

50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.

51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age, say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.

53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.

54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.

55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if, I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723.

56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether I have done my duty, and resolve to do it, and let the event be just as providence orders it. I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty, and my sin. June 9, and July 13 1723.

58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May 27, and July 13, 1723.

59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July 11, and July 13.

60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723.

61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, 1723.

62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty, and then according to Ephesians 6:6-8, to do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man: knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord. June 25 and July 13, 1723.

63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. January 14 and July 13, 1723.

64. Resolved, when I find those ‹groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those breakings of soul for the longing it hath, of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be weary of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this, all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness, of which I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton' s 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26, and Aug.10 1723.

66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.

67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what am I the better for them, and what I might have got by them.

68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. August 11, 1723.

70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak. August 17, 1723.