Can you tell I am loving it here? :)

Another poem....

So quick to stray,

to walk away;

Where are You, Lord?

No, truly, where am I?

So quick to turn, 

so slow to learn;

How is it that

I've run from You again?

Quick to forget

Your face, and yet,

What else is it

that I am looking for?

Don't let me go

for Lord, You know

It's You I want, 

though I may wander so. 

Picturesque-ness in The Netherlands

The church next to the building where I am staying

Journal entry from 8/24

I am learning to appreciate the process of living, instead of just wishing I could fast-forward to the end result.

That's what life is-- a process and journey of learning and growing, and getting to know my Creator in a more true way.

It takes a lot of time and work, but much of the richness is in its unfolding.

The tide comes in right up to the buildings in Bosham, England.

A lovely footpath in Greatham, England.

Guess where I've been!

Before I headed off to The Netherlands a few weeks ago, I spent one whirlwind day in a very famous city.   From the pictures, it shouldn't be to difficult to tell which one I mean. :)

Note to self:  one day is hardly long enough to experience anything, especially such a bustling and diverse metropolis. Rumor has it that there is plenty more to see, including a lovely palace. Oh well, I think I did pretty well for one day. 

A certain famous bridge, which bears the name of the city. 

The fountains at Trafalgar Square

A very well-know clock tower

Westminister Abbey
The highlight of the day was Evensong at 5:00 pm.

One of the "back doors" of Westminister Abbey

A varied assortment of photos

A table that I set for lunch at L'Abri

Self-explanatory :)

Romsey Abbey

Deep in discussion at breakfast

Choir practice

L'Abri again



Enjoying "high tea" on Sunday evening

Our group at the end of the term. I am amazed at how many countries are represented in this picture: the UK, the states, Holland, South Africa, Austrailia, South Korea, Ukraine, etc.

Josh and I were some of the many people who helped build a duck island in the pond.

 

I played at the local church almost every Sunday while I was there.

 

Myself, Comfort, and Eveline

Pictures of L'Abri... finally!!!

 The front gate

View from the back. My bed was directly under the middle floor windows on the right.

 Tea time:  always outside if the weather was at all decent.

Studying...

 Many thanks to Martin and Tim for sharing some of these photos with me.

Friends and coffee...

Cara, myself, Ruth, and Anna at a lovely little cafe in Petersfield, England.

A new song I learned...

God of grace, amazing wonder
Irresistible and free
Oh the miracle of mercy
Jesus reaches down to me.
God of grace, I stand in wonder
As my God restores my soul.
His own blood has paid my ransom
Awesome cost to make me whole.

God of grace, who loved and knew me
Long before the world began.
Sent my saviour down from heaven
Perfect God and perfect man.
God of grace, I trust in Jesus
I'm accepted as His own
Every day new grace sustains me
As I lean on Him alone.

God of grace, I stand astounded
Cleansed forgiven and secure.
All my fears are now confounded
And my hope is ever sure.
God of grace, now crowned in glory
Where one day I'll see Your face.
And forever I'll adore You
In Your everlasting grace.

Mythopoeia

In Paradise perchance the eye may stray
from gazing upon everlasting Day
to see the day-illumined, and renew
from mirrored truth the likeness of the True.
Then looking on the Blessed Land 'twill see
that all is as it is, and yet made free:
Salvation changes not, nor yet destroys,
garden nor gardener, children nor their toys.
Evil it will not see, for evil lies
not in God's picture but in crooked eyes,
not in the source but in malicious choice,
and not in sound but in the tuneless voice.
In Paradise they look no more awry;
and though they make anew, they make no lie.
Be sure they still will make, not being dead,
and poets shall have flames upon their head,
and harps whereon their faultless fingers fall:
there each shall choose for ever from the All.

An excerpt from "Mythopoeia," by J.R.R. Tolkien

A poem I wrote...

Let me Your glory see:
in Thee my Source
of living be. 

Teach me to look for You:
in wilder hues,
in deeper blues.

Teach me to seek Your face:
in tree and leaf,
in every place.

Teach me Your hand to take:
in those innate
whom You create.

This world, though not as it should be,
holds wonder, glory, hope for me.

A quote

"The gods we worship will write their names on our faces; be sure of that. And a man will worship something-- have no doubts about that, either. He may think that his tribute is paid in secret in the dark recesses of his heart-- but it will out. That which dominates will determine his life and character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping, we are becoming.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, quoted in Heaven Is Not My Home, by Paul Marshall

Thoughts...

An excerpt from my journal:

I need to stop thinking that I can come to a place where I have figured everything out and solved all my problems. My relationship with the Lord is not as if He is at the end of a long, dark tunnel, and I am trying to reach Him. He is walking beside me, and the tunnel is getting lighter and lighter as we go along. Little by little, I am beginning to see Him, and my true self, more clearly.