Randombling

With A Quiet Spirit behind me, I had a vacant lot ahead.

Obviously, "A Quiet Spirit" didn't accurately express the contents of my blog; neither did it express what I wanted my blog to evolve into.

I previously posted on a variety of topics, rather than the one pursuit implied by the title.

However, if I'd posted everything I wanted to post, my blog would have been a totally random collection of ramblings. Random is just the way my brain works.

So, dear Triple W, I'm pleased to unveil a new blog (well, okay, for now it basically consists of the old posts, but that will change!).

Click the banner below to visit my new home on the web:

I'm Moving

Not geographically, of course.
I'm e-relocating from this blog, A Quiet Spirit, to Randombling.

Why? you ask.

I think it's part of my attempt to be real.
Dwelling under the banner A Quiet Spirit implies that each post (or at least most posts) will be about my pursuit of that meek and quiet spirit commanded in scripture. I so long to be adorned with the contentment spoken of in 1 Peter 3:4. But I found that the topic of a "quiet spirit" was the most difficult to write about. That may be surprising since I wrote a whopping grand total of one post about it.
Remember Heroes nearly a year ago, in which I wrote that the qualities I desire most for God's grace to grow in me are the hardest to put into words? At the time I began my blog and named it "A Quiet Spirit," I felt a huge need to try to pin down that "meek and quiet spirit" Peter wrote of. And I promise, I intended to fill my blog with posts outlining exactly what it was. But I've read a little and studied a bit, and I've realized that I have a hero in the area of said quality.
My mother is the best fulfillment I've ever seen of a "meek and quiet spirit," based on scripture and all the commentators I've read.
There's no way I am even going to attempt to put my amazing mother into words.
I also don't need words for it anymore.

Not that I ever actually got many words about 1 Peter 3:4 into my blog.

That's the "why" of the end of this blog.
See next post for the "why" of the beginning of the new one.

Now Reading

Realness

For a long time, I didn't understand what people meant when they said "keep it real" or talked about "being genuine."
That's because I was a fish who didn't know she was wet.
Now that I realize I'm swimming in insincerity, I'm tired of it in a thousand little ways.
I'm tired of making small talk when I'd rather converse about deeper things-- of saying, "How are you today?" when I really want to say, "Tell me your story." I'm tired of avoiding topics that challenge me or bring out uncomfortable emotions. I'm tired of saying trite things like "Oh well, everything will work out," because in this life, it doesn't. I'm tired of not saying cheesy things that I really mean, like "I love you" or "I'm glad you're my friend" or "I hope one day I can be a lot like you." I'm tired of being too embarrassed to answer the doorbell on those mornings when I've just rolled out of bed looking like a frightened chipmunk.
Now I figure, why not?
Not that I want to be inappropriate or rude or annoying. But if I'm avoiding something or hiding something simply because of embarrassment or fear of how it might affect me, then I'm not being real simply because I'm too selfish.
So in a way, I suppose that being real is like so many other traits I wish I could claim; it's rooted in humility.

The Best of Voddie Baucham

"Current statistics show we are losing between 75% and 88% of professing Christian young people by the end of the first year of college."
Dr. Voddie Baucham captured and kept my full attention as he addressed this problem in his message, The Centrality of the Home. His thoroughly Biblical solutions were practical. His presentation was intelligent, but somehow still down-to-earth. That was the first time I'd heard of Dr. Baucham.
Since then, I've read, watched, and listened to Dr. Baucham many times. Every time, I have learned something new from God's Word and had a clear picture of how to apply what I learned.
So far, the most informative, absolutely enjoyable, and Bible-soaked selection I've heard from Dr. Baucham has been a series of messages given at a church in Florida. These sermons are based on scriptures outlining God's plan for the church and the family. In them, Dr. Baucham hits topics such as child discipline, roles of husband and wife, youth groups, house churches... if it's interesting and it's connected to home or church, it's covered. As I listened in the order I've listed, I decided that each message I heard was better than the one before it.
Sometimes the best things in life are free. This is one of those times. MP3's of the five-part series are linked below:

1. Family Life in the Household of God
2. A Church's Guide to Young People
3. A Young Person's Guide to the Church
4. A Family's Guide to the Church
5. A Church's Guide to the Family

As a heads-up, this was a special event at a church; that's why you'll find about thirty minutes of music at the beginning of each MP3. Just fast forward to the preaching.

Or enjoy the beautiful song service; I did!

Thanks to Reforming My Mind MP3's, where I came across this excellent series.