Some Pleasant Thoughts

In Summer

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Oh, summer has clothed the earth 

In a cloak from the loom of the sun! 

And a mantle, too, of the skies' soft blue, 

And a belt where the rivers run.  

And now for the kiss of the wind, 

And the touch of the air's soft hands, 

With the rest from strife and the heat of life, 

With the freedom of lakes and lands.  

I envy the farmer's boy 

Who sings as he follows the plow; 

While the shining green of the young blades lean 

To the breezes that cool his brow.  

He sings to the dewy morn, 

No thought of another's ear; 

But the song he sings is a chant for kings 

And the whole wide world to hear.  

He sings of the joys of life, 

Of the pleasures of work and rest, 

From an o'erfull heart, without aim or art; 

'T is a song of the merriest.  

O ye who toil in the town, 

And ye who moil in the mart, 

Hear the artless song, and your faith made strong 

Shall renew your joy of heart.  

Oh, poor were the worth of the world 

If never a song were heard,— 

If the sting of grief had no relief, 

And never a heart were stirred.

So, long as the streams run down, 
And as long as the robins trill, 
Let us taunt old Care with a merry air, 
And sing in the face of ill.

I am enjoying the gardening season and simply wish for more time out in the sun. Work never ends, beginning at sunrise, ending at sunset. Yet Creation is vast, and to be enjoyed vastly. May you all enjoy the season upon us.

Bed in Summer
by Robert Louis Stevenson
In winter I get up at night And dress by yellow candle-light. In summer, quite the other way, I have to go to bed by day. I have to go to bed and see The birds still hopping on the tree, Or hear the grown-up people’s feet Still going past me in the street. And does it not seem hard to you, When all the sky is clear and blue, And I should like so much to play, To have to go to bed by day?

Who We Pray To

I read this poem the other day that had a helpful reminder to me.

Not in my fancy now I search to find thee;

Not in its loftiest forms would shape and bind thee;

I cry to one whom I can never know,

Filling me with an infinite overflow;

Not to a shape that dwells within my heart,

Clothed in perfections love and truth assign thee,

But to the God thou knowest that thou art.

~George MacDonald

When we pray there is a tendency to create an a idea of the "who" we pray to. We tend to visualize something that our finite minds can grasp: grandfather in the sky, light, empty space, clouds, etc. I am reminded of what Screwtape tells Wormwood in C. S. Lewis's book "The Screwtape Letters."

"If you examine the object to which he[the Christian] is praying you will find it is a composite object containing many quite ridiculous ingredients. I[Screwtape] have known cases where what the [man] called his 'God' was actually located - to the corner of the bedroom ceiling or inside his head. But whatever the nature of the object, keep him[the Christian] praying to it - the thing he has made not the Person who has made him."

Another quote: "May it be the real I who speaks. May it be the real Thou who I speak to."

Our finite minds long for something concrete to pray to. But reality is more than fallen man can handle. Another poem I like says,

Eternal light! Eternal light!

How pure the soul must be

When, placed within Thy searching sight,

It shrinks not, but with calm delight

Can live and look on Thee!

Oh how shall I whose native sphere

Is dark,whose mind is dim,

Before the Ineffable appear,

And on my naked spirit bear

That uncreated beam?

~Thomas Binney excerpt from "Eternal Light"

What do we want to know of God? Asking will be difficult and change all preconceived notions. But I would rather pray to the true God than to an image or notion I invent. Because when I pray to who He really is, then I am more effective in promoting His kingdom on earth.

Praying for you all,

Caitlin

For Today

Right now the snow is falling thick and fast. I have shoveled once today, but may need to do more. All good things come with a certain amount of work. The new year has come and everyone demonstrates renewed fervor for schoolwork, housework, exercise, or whatever other goals they may have set. Our ice rink has yet to reach completion, due to complications in warming trends (Yikes! Global warming). So life continues and we all grow up.

As I have been thinking about the various young ladies of my acquaintance all growing up around me (I have maintained some superiority in height ;-) and how to encourage them I came across a poem I wrote a couple years ago. I hope it brings some encouragement to you all as you grow into godly womanhood. (This really applies to all of you who like to cook and sew.)

Which Apron?

This is a day and age when woman must be strong

To fight the spiritual battle the world does send along.

To a worldly woman the apron symbolizes

Slavery to home, drudgery, unwilling sacrifices.

This woman longs to glory in wealth and fame and power,

And feels her family is a hindrance to her hour.

To a godly woman the apron symbolizes

The freedom she has gained through loving sacrifices.

This woman here does glory in forming heavenly treasure,

Raising children for the Lord is her delight and pleasure.

So many battles fought, on so many different fronts

There is no task too hard, her courage will not daunt.

How will you wear your apron? Will it be with shame?

Or will it be with pride, as woman once again?

~Caitlin Carstensen~

A Word

"Before Action"

By all the glories of the day

And the cool evening's benison,

By that last sunset touch that lay

Upon the hills where day was done,

By beauty lavishly outpoured

And blessings carelessly received,

By all the days that I have lived

Make me a solider, Lord.

By all of man's hopes and fears,

And all the wonders poets sing,

The laughter of unclouded years,

And every sad and lovely thing;

By the romantic ages stored

With high endeavor that was his,

By all his mad catastrophes

Make me a man, O Lord.

I, that on my familiar hill

Saw with uncomprehending eyes

A hundred of Thy sunsets spill

Their fresh and sanguine sacrifice,

Ere the sun swings his noonday sword

Must say goodbye to all of this;

--By all delights that I shall miss,

Help me to die, O Lord.

~W. N. Hodgson~

This poem was written by a soldier in World War 1. As Christians who daily are in a spiritual battle it is a faithful saying and encouraging reminder not to shrink from the tasks which we know are ahead. God will give us the strength for the battle.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might...Stand firm."

Ephesians 6

Caitlin

Bonjour

Good Morning to you all! I hope I was not the only one up with the sun this morning. Actually before the sun, since he comes much later. I took some pics of the sunrise this morning only catching the tail end of the colors. I always enjoy watching the color-filled sky in the early morning. Sunsets as well. I cannot decide which I enjoy more.





He who binds to himself a joy
Doth the winged life destroy.
He who kisses the joy as it flies,
Lives in eternity's sunrise.
~William Blake~



If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Thy hand will lead me, and Thy right hand will lay hold of me.
~Psalm 139:9,10~



May radiant joy shine thru your life.
May fruitful bounty grow.
May you feel the pleasure of Gods' smile
When you sit before His throne.

When your patience seems exhausted
May you still go on your way.
When your world falls down about you
Make faith in Christ your stay.

In your service for His Kingdom
May you be full of cheer and love.
Work with others all around you
Toward the kingdom that's above.
~Caitlin Carstensen~




O Lord, our Lord, how majestic it Thy name in all the earth.
~Psalm 8:9~

One of My Poems

I decided it is time to throw a wrench in the stream of tags coming in. So whether you like it or not here is a poem I have written.


The Crystal Bowl
By Caitlin Carstensen

The light of sun diffused
Sends glimmering rays around
The sparkling, dancing drops
Scattering darkness from the ground.
This the same as the joyous Christian
Scatters the light of the Holy Son.

Only water pure and clear
From the earth, the deepest wells
Wash the crystal clear and shining
To catch the beauty no one sells.
This the same as the joyous Christian
Cleansed in the holy water of Life.

May the bowl be filled with fruits
Of the sweetest, crispest kind
From all manner giving, sharing
Heaped to brimming every time.
This the same as the joyous Christian
Filled with the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Like the Crystal Sea of heaven
Radiant in the glorious light
Stretching out into the distance
Always full and glimmering bright.
This the same as the joyous Christian
A crystal bowl diffusing Christ.


I hope you were blessed.

Caitlin