George sat on his bunk, a lonely air in the room. He looked to the spot where Lennie had broke Curley's hand and he smiled, a bitter smile full of pain, like an old soldier who has seen too much death already, and has to add one more soul to the tally.
Memories flooded into his mind. Him telling Lennie about the dream. Their bus ride here. Lennie's Aunt Clara. Those memories made up his mind. He would work and save his money to build that ranch. There would be rabbits, and alfalfa, and vegetables, and when it rained, he and Old Candy, and maybe Slim too, would just sit and listen to the rain.
And that was what the lonely man did. He worked for several months and bought the ranch. Candy moved in, and a few years later, Slim did as well. They raised cattle, sheep, pigs, and rabbits and the vegetable garden flourished red, green, yellow, and orange when the crops came in.
And when it rained, they sat around a fire and never went to work. Years passed. Eventually, George married a woman named Kate, and they had three children. One named Jonathan who was the eldest, next a daughter named Jessica. But the youngest, he was the one whom George secretly favored. His name was Lennie, and he loved to care for animals and one day did just that. He became a veterinarian.
Now, fifty-and-some-odd years later, George is old and gray, with his family and friends all around him. And he is...strangely content. His life had not been all for naught, as he had predicted long ago, but instead it was fruitful, and it was good. He had been blessed with a successful job, a loving family, and the best friends a guy could ask for.
So George lived a long life, but he never forgot, oh no, he never forgot, the tale Of Mice And Men.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Christ is All You Need
Hey! I've never done a song story before, so bear with me if it isn't good!
Lyrics by Steven Curtis Chapman
Love,
Jen
--
Lay your head down tonight
Take a rest from the fight
Don’t try to figure it out
Just listen to what I’m whispering to your heart
‘Cause I know this is not
Anything like you thought
The story of your life was gonna be
And it feels like the end has started closing in on you
But it’s just not true
There’s so much of the story that’s still yet to unfold
She's the one who ran her race, and finished last. Her career was over. All the pressure that was on her caused her to start to drown in expectations. She was going to quit.
And this is going to be a glorious unfolding
Just you wait and see and you will be amazed
You’ve just got to believe the story is so far from over
So hold on to every promise God has made to us
And watch this glorious unfolding
God’s plan from the start
For this world and your heart
Has been to show His glory and His grace
Forever revealing the depth and the beauty of
His unfailing Love
And the story has only begun
He was done. He was tired and worn. He worked hard all day, 24/7, trying to be both dad and mom to his kids, and now they were going to be taken away from him. "What is my life worth?"
And this is going to be a glorious unfolding
Just you wait and see and you will be amazed
We’ve just got to believe the story is so far from over
So hold on to every promise God has made to us
And watch this glorious unfolding
We were made to run through fields of forever
Singing songs to our Savior and King
So let us remember this life we’re living
Is just the beginning of the beginning
Of this glorious unfolding
We will watch and see and we will be amazed
If we just keep on believing the story is so far from over
And hold on to every promise God has made to us
We’ll see the glorious unfolding
Just watch and see (unfolding)
This is just the beginning of the beginning (unfolding)
And they both turned on their radios, flipping through all the anger, anxiety, and bitterness that was the message of the pop stars. One drove west from Nevada, the other north from San Jose, and they stopped on one small radio station 103.9, also called The Fish. There Glorious Unfolding came on.
As she listened, the girl drove to the side of the highway and pulled into a small side street, just listening as her heart broke. She had worth, she had a purpose. How long she stayed there, she didn't know, the only clock being the rising winter sun.
He pulled out of courthouse, tired and alone. His ex had won and she had custody of the kids. Not knowing what to do he just sat and broke down. "Why?!" He screamed, not knowing who he was screaming at. Alone in his house, the radio playing, an old and worn out book caught his attention. His book of quotes. Randomly, he flipped to a page and there was only one quote on it. It said: "You'll never know that Christ is all you need until Christ is all you have" (Corrie TenBoom).
Lyrics by Steven Curtis Chapman
Love,
Jen
--
Lay your head down tonight
Take a rest from the fight
Don’t try to figure it out
Just listen to what I’m whispering to your heart
‘Cause I know this is not
Anything like you thought
The story of your life was gonna be
And it feels like the end has started closing in on you
But it’s just not true
There’s so much of the story that’s still yet to unfold
She's the one who ran her race, and finished last. Her career was over. All the pressure that was on her caused her to start to drown in expectations. She was going to quit.
And this is going to be a glorious unfolding
Just you wait and see and you will be amazed
You’ve just got to believe the story is so far from over
So hold on to every promise God has made to us
And watch this glorious unfolding
God’s plan from the start
For this world and your heart
Has been to show His glory and His grace
Forever revealing the depth and the beauty of
His unfailing Love
And the story has only begun
He was done. He was tired and worn. He worked hard all day, 24/7, trying to be both dad and mom to his kids, and now they were going to be taken away from him. "What is my life worth?"
And this is going to be a glorious unfolding
Just you wait and see and you will be amazed
We’ve just got to believe the story is so far from over
So hold on to every promise God has made to us
And watch this glorious unfolding
We were made to run through fields of forever
Singing songs to our Savior and King
So let us remember this life we’re living
Is just the beginning of the beginning
Of this glorious unfolding
We will watch and see and we will be amazed
If we just keep on believing the story is so far from over
And hold on to every promise God has made to us
We’ll see the glorious unfolding
Just watch and see (unfolding)
This is just the beginning of the beginning (unfolding)
And they both turned on their radios, flipping through all the anger, anxiety, and bitterness that was the message of the pop stars. One drove west from Nevada, the other north from San Jose, and they stopped on one small radio station 103.9, also called The Fish. There Glorious Unfolding came on.
As she listened, the girl drove to the side of the highway and pulled into a small side street, just listening as her heart broke. She had worth, she had a purpose. How long she stayed there, she didn't know, the only clock being the rising winter sun.
He pulled out of courthouse, tired and alone. His ex had won and she had custody of the kids. Not knowing what to do he just sat and broke down. "Why?!" He screamed, not knowing who he was screaming at. Alone in his house, the radio playing, an old and worn out book caught his attention. His book of quotes. Randomly, he flipped to a page and there was only one quote on it. It said: "You'll never know that Christ is all you need until Christ is all you have" (Corrie TenBoom).
Saturday, January 24, 2015
What Would It Be Like If We Tried-School Edition
This is dedicated to my dad and all of you who are teachers or tutors out there. Your work is amazing. Thank you for what you do.
Love,
Jen
--
Pulling teeth, caring teachers, students with technology addictions, unused resources, abandoned books, this is what school is.
Willing hands, teachers who learn while still caring, students with learning addictions, frequently used resources, books with folded and dog-eared corners, this is what school should be.
If we put down our cellphones, raised our hands, listened to our teachers, actually used what was available, and read to learn more, what would school look like if we just tried.
Love,
Jen
--
Pulling teeth, caring teachers, students with technology addictions, unused resources, abandoned books, this is what school is.
Willing hands, teachers who learn while still caring, students with learning addictions, frequently used resources, books with folded and dog-eared corners, this is what school should be.
If we put down our cellphones, raised our hands, listened to our teachers, actually used what was available, and read to learn more, what would school look like if we just tried.
Beautiful
Hello,
I wish you all a blessed week and a happy evening.
Love to you all,
Jen
--
"We were meant to live for so much more, but we lost ourselves," I listened to the sound of Switchfoot's lead singer, John Foreman's, voice. Sitting there, I thought about my weekend. I had gone to a youth conference with my church's high school youth group girl's retreat and listened to four speakers, three bands, and had an awesome time bonding with friends, even those whom I had only met that Friday, and I already loved like sisters. The speakers had encouraged me to run my race, to be the generation that changes the world, and to see people the way God sees them.
For a long time, I have struggled with bullying and teasing remarks. Even when I didn't know that they were bad, they still hurt, and I have carried that weight around in the back of my mind for as long as I can remember. I know I'm fat, I know I'm different, and trust me, I've tried to change. I've tried reading what others like, listening to their music, watching their shows, and I've tried to be normal, and all I've come to learn from it is this: there is no such thing as normal.
"Charm is deceptive and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears The Lord shall be greatly praised." (Proverbs 31:30) This has been a personal mantra that I have repeated to myself, just to keep going; to keep living the life of a teenager who loves God. And do you know what happened? The Lord fulfilled his promise. I was finally told who I am, not what I looked like or talked like; someone who barely knew me loved me for who I am. And guess what? I don't need to be thin. I don't have to listen to disgusting music. I don't have to change.
The Lord made me who I am today. And I am beautiful. Only I can change that by conforming to what is considered "normal".
I wish you all a blessed week and a happy evening.
Love to you all,
Jen
--
"We were meant to live for so much more, but we lost ourselves," I listened to the sound of Switchfoot's lead singer, John Foreman's, voice. Sitting there, I thought about my weekend. I had gone to a youth conference with my church's high school youth group girl's retreat and listened to four speakers, three bands, and had an awesome time bonding with friends, even those whom I had only met that Friday, and I already loved like sisters. The speakers had encouraged me to run my race, to be the generation that changes the world, and to see people the way God sees them.
For a long time, I have struggled with bullying and teasing remarks. Even when I didn't know that they were bad, they still hurt, and I have carried that weight around in the back of my mind for as long as I can remember. I know I'm fat, I know I'm different, and trust me, I've tried to change. I've tried reading what others like, listening to their music, watching their shows, and I've tried to be normal, and all I've come to learn from it is this: there is no such thing as normal.
"Charm is deceptive and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears The Lord shall be greatly praised." (Proverbs 31:30) This has been a personal mantra that I have repeated to myself, just to keep going; to keep living the life of a teenager who loves God. And do you know what happened? The Lord fulfilled his promise. I was finally told who I am, not what I looked like or talked like; someone who barely knew me loved me for who I am. And guess what? I don't need to be thin. I don't have to listen to disgusting music. I don't have to change.
The Lord made me who I am today. And I am beautiful. Only I can change that by conforming to what is considered "normal".
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Filia Dei Psalm
Hey, I hope that these words that come from my own heart touch yours this night.
Love you all,
Jen
--
Lord my God, I come to you in a prayer of thanksgiving and need. I humble myself down before the Living God, and ask not in my own righteousness, but that of the Son's. Lord, You brought out of the harmful pastures a sheep, and another off of the wicked road. For as they were once lost, as was I and all my forefathers, and we are now Your sheep of which You are the Shepard. A thousand songs are not enough to speak of the miracles that you work. Psalms alone can only speak so much praise.
The Lord makes himself holy, deserving of praise and adoration, for all our days. Now I come to You, humbly, asking for a miracle of which I am not deserving. I ask that You call another sheep into the pasture in which we are grazing. This sheep stands alone with many others, outside of Your pasture, thinking that they are inside Your courts. Alone, yet not alone may they be, but I beseech The Lord who hath made the heavens and the earth, and all that lives within them, I beseech Him to open up the gate of the pasture and let that lost sheep be one of Your's, no longer without a Shepard. Amen.
Love you all,
Jen
--
Lord my God, I come to you in a prayer of thanksgiving and need. I humble myself down before the Living God, and ask not in my own righteousness, but that of the Son's. Lord, You brought out of the harmful pastures a sheep, and another off of the wicked road. For as they were once lost, as was I and all my forefathers, and we are now Your sheep of which You are the Shepard. A thousand songs are not enough to speak of the miracles that you work. Psalms alone can only speak so much praise.
The Lord makes himself holy, deserving of praise and adoration, for all our days. Now I come to You, humbly, asking for a miracle of which I am not deserving. I ask that You call another sheep into the pasture in which we are grazing. This sheep stands alone with many others, outside of Your pasture, thinking that they are inside Your courts. Alone, yet not alone may they be, but I beseech The Lord who hath made the heavens and the earth, and all that lives within them, I beseech Him to open up the gate of the pasture and let that lost sheep be one of Your's, no longer without a Shepard. Amen.
Alone yet not Alone
Hey, I hope these lyrics by Joni Erickson-Tada make you feel secure this holiday weekend!
--
I'm alone, yet not alone.
God's the light that will guide me home.
With His love and tenderness,
Leading through the wilderness,
And wherever I may roam,
I'm alone, yet not alone.
I will not be bent in fear.
He's the refuge I know is near.
In His strength I find my own.
By His faithful mercies shown.
That so mighty is His shield
All His love is now revealed.
When my steps are lost.
And desperate for a guide,
I can feel his touch,
A soothing presence by my side.
Alone, yet not alone.
Not forsaken when on my own.
I can lean upon His arm,
And be lifted up from harm.
If I stumble, or if I'm thrown,
I'm alone, yet not alone.
When my steps are lost.
And desperate for a guide,
I can feel his touch,
A soothing presence by my side.
By my side!
He has bound me with His love,
Watchful angels look from above.
Every evil can be braved,
For I know I will be saved.
Never frightened on my own,
I'm alone, yet not alone.
I'm alone, yet not alone.
--
I'm alone, yet not alone.
God's the light that will guide me home.
With His love and tenderness,
Leading through the wilderness,
And wherever I may roam,
I'm alone, yet not alone.
I will not be bent in fear.
He's the refuge I know is near.
In His strength I find my own.
By His faithful mercies shown.
That so mighty is His shield
All His love is now revealed.
When my steps are lost.
And desperate for a guide,
I can feel his touch,
A soothing presence by my side.
Alone, yet not alone.
Not forsaken when on my own.
I can lean upon His arm,
And be lifted up from harm.
If I stumble, or if I'm thrown,
I'm alone, yet not alone.
When my steps are lost.
And desperate for a guide,
I can feel his touch,
A soothing presence by my side.
By my side!
He has bound me with His love,
Watchful angels look from above.
Every evil can be braved,
For I know I will be saved.
Never frightened on my own,
I'm alone, yet not alone.
I'm alone, yet not alone.
Home
Home
a Christian Fiction take on HTTYD2
"Lord God, why did you bring me here? First Camelot where I didn't believe, and now Berk four hundred years later, where they worship false gods almost constantly!"
The young girl of eighteen years was tired. Tired of life with those who didn't believe. How she longed for her home in California a thousand years in the future. There she could talk about The Lord freely with her father, and live a normal life.
"Maybe this is all a dream." She mused silently to herself as she walked through the forest. "But I know it is not. The Lord put me here for a reason, and one day I shall live with him in paradise, when my life is complete."
Dawn was quickly approaching as the young woman walked, talking to The Lord about her troubles, not knowing that she was being followed.
Chief Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third and his best friend Toothless the Alpha of the Dragons were walking side by side through the forest, tracking their friend. Ever since the battle where his father died, she had not been herself, spending hours training, or walking in the woods, or simply in her house alone.
But somehow, he knew she was never alone. Astrid thought him ridiculous and that their friend was simply grieving over the loss of her father figure, but Hiccup just couldn't believe that. She mourned yes, that was obvious, but her mourning went much deeper than that of the loss of a father, she seemed to grieve even for the living.
It didn't make sense. He already knew that she didn't worship any of the Viking gods, but she did worship a god. He had no name, no temple, no statues, no shrines, no nothing, but her faith in him was stronger than that of even the tribe's elder.
She didn't worship like the others. She didn't worship Thor because she was half-mad with bloodlust, nor Loki because she was a liar, even though she constantly struggled with that concept. She didn't worship money like the traders, or love like so many other women of the tribe.
And she wouldn't bow down to any other god. Not the god of healing when she was sick, not Freya when she needed advice, no, she always went to her god. She prayed, and prayed, and prayed.
And it drove him mad. He was madly in love with the girl, and he knew she was madly in love with him as well, but she wouldn't give him the light of day, all because he didn't worship her wretched god.
She clung to her faith; never letting go. Yet at the same time, it seemed as if she had peace throughout her chaotic life, an inner peace of which he craved. Even though she had been in the war with Drago with him, and countless other battles, and helped him with running the tribe, and got sick numerous times with an incurable disease, she had peace, a fact which drove him up the wall, yet left him craving for more.
Lately he had been having trouble sleeping. He would look at the practices of his "girlfriend" and his "friends" and want to leave for it disquieted him. His spirit was wrestling with something in side him, something unknown and mysterious, something so desired yet unattainable. He would bow down at Loki's feet and use all of his strength not to immediately run out the door.
He was at odds with life, and he knew it. The world sickened him, yet he knew no peace. It was like he was blind and now he had seen. Something, or someone, had opened his eyes.
Now he followed this girl whom he had known for seven years and she strangely gave him peace. Yet at the same time, he knew it wasn't her who did anything. She reflected something, like the moon reflecting sunlight, yet she had an effect on him, the ability to calm his restless spirit.
Toothless rubbed his head against Hiccup's hand, trying to comfort his long time best friend. He knew the restless sprint inside of his master, he himself felt it, but neither new how to quench this thirst. Or at least, this was what Hiccup thought was going on.
Finally, the dawn rose, and she turned around to head back, her soul calm from the knowledge that she was where God wanted her, and his purpose would be fulfilled. There she saw Hiccup. She blushed at the sight of the handsome Viking, and then innerly berated herself for having such feelings for the chief. "I can't marry him, I can't love him, I can't be anything more than a friend to him. He still believes in the false idols."
She had been praying unceasingly for all her friends in the Hairy Hooligan tribe. For Gobber, Stoick, Valka, Fishlegs, Astrid, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, Snotlout, and Hiccup. She prayed that their eyes would be opened, that they would see that their stone idols did nothing for them, except take away their freedom.
Oh, how she had prayed that Stoick would recover, that she would get there to at least speak to him one last time, to tell him that death was not a sunset but a sunrise. But The Lord had not chosen him, and it made her weep. The man was the closest thing to a father that she had in this time and she would never see him again. He would never know what an awesome God He is.
And the others, oh how they made her heart ache. She saw them slave their lives away trying to do something to gain the favor of their idols, so that they might be better warriors, or be better writers, or mothers, or whatever else you could think of.
She grieved at the fact that none of them knew that all of that was just pure and utter nothingness. There was no healing, no inspiration, no wisdom from those stones; just emptiness, and that emptiness would lead to a meaningless life.
That was all it was, meaningless. She shook her head, clearing away the thoughts and focusing on the present, not the unchangeable past.
"Hiccup, what are you here for?" There was no aggravation in her tone, no annoyance, only curiosity and a bit of exhaustion. Not the physical kind, Hiccup noticed, but the spiritual kind.
"I couldn't sleep, and I saw you heading out here and I thought you could give me some answers."
Oh, how her heart raced at the thought of him wanting her advice, but she quickly shoved those feelings down. "Answers given will depend on the question, Chief. What troubles you?"
Hiccup moved into Toothless's side and motioned for her to join him because of the bitter cold that never seemed to bother her. She complied as he spoke. "Lately I have had trouble sleeping-"
"Shouldn't you see the healer for that?" The comment broke free from her lips before she could register the fact that she had said it.
Hiccup chuckled. "Not from pain, well at least not physical pain. I have been looking at the world through a different view. I see all this pain, and suffering, and loss, but there is no hope. Days just run together, repeating themselves, never once with any purpose in life. And the gods are just stone idols. Thor nor Loki nor Freya, nor Odin mean a single thing. And all I see appalls me. People slaving their lives away for absolutely nothing, and it disgusts and disturbs me, the practices of this world."
And he was off, venting his feelings to his friend who sat, listening to everything he said, with a joyful heart. His eyes had been opened. "Oh Lord," She prayed silently, "you have answered my prayers. His eyes are opened Lord, but he still hasn't received you. Give me the words that you wish to convey to him. Speak to him, let him know that there is hope. O Abba, he is the answer to my prayers, and my heart leaps with joy. Please, let him be one of your chosen."
By now, Hiccup's voice had come to a halt, but the emotion was still there. "Hiccup," She spoke softly to him, placing a hand on his shoulder to let him know that she understood all that he was saying. "How do you feel?"
He knew that she was not asking about his physical health; she was asking about how all this made him feel. "Sad, angry, depressed, and at odds with life, like none of this means anything and it is incredibly frustrating."
Her heart soared. "You are at odds with life because you are no longer of the world. Your eyes have been opened." And with that, Hiccup's attention was captured.
"No longer of the world? My eyes have been opened?"
"It means that you can see the brokenness of this world, and how we need someone to save us."
Hiccup looked up, shocked that she knew exactly how he felt, and there was no fake empathy. His friends had never known how he had felt. This restless energy, this unquenchable thirst for something more. Not his dad, not Gobber, not Fishlegs, not even Astrid knew how he felt, and this young woman who he had known for no more than seven years, most likely less, knew exactly how he felt and what he thought.
"That's exactly what I see. There is no hope."
The wide smile that had appeared on her face dimmed a bit at this statement. "But there is hope."
Hiccup's laugh was bitter and bleak. "What hope? There is no one who can save us from ourselves."
"Jesus Christ, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, who suffered under Pontius Pilate, who was crucified, died and was buried, who on the third day rose and ascended to heaven, where He is seated at the right hand of the Father and He will come to judge the living and the dead. Hiccup, there is hope. God, the true living God, who created the heavens and the earth loved us so much that he sent his only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not parish but have eternal life."
"There is no god who would do that. None."
"The Lord loves us, his creations. He loved us so much that he was willing to send his Son to die for us, even though the world turned against Him. He loves us, and He loves you, and He is asking you to let him into your heart, to change you into the image of Christ. He is asking you, will you let Him in?"
Hiccup looked at her, his gaze forlorn. "But I have done things unforgivable. God would never forgive me."
She shook her head. "God already has. On the day that Jesus was crucified, He took all the sin of the whole world upon his shoulders, a man who lived a blameless life, in favor with both God and man, and now we are free. No longer does sin rule us, but we have true freedom. Hiccup," She takes his hands in his without breaking eye contact and he can see truth shining in them. "Hiccup, God is merciful and He is willing to forgive you. All you have to do is ask. Say yes to Him, and he shall set you free."
Hiccup looked to Toothless only to find nothing in his place. The dragon had left. "The dragons, they were only illusions weren't they?"
She shook her head. "They only had the power that you bestowed upon them. They were just tools to make you loose sight of the truth. There was a time, not long ago when I too believed in the dragons. Little did I know that they didn't exist."
The sadness that Hiccup expected to feel was not there. In fact, all that was there was a yearning. A yearning for the truth. Taking a breath, he answered the question God was asking him. "Will you accept me as your one and only Lord and Savior? Will you ask for forgiveness?"
And he knew his answer. "Yes." He said aloud. "Yes, I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. There is no other. Forgive me Lord for I have sinned and am in need of a savior."
In an instant, he felt free and joyful. His heart was carefree and the thirst that he had always felt was quenched and he was finally at peace.
Her arms were around him, hugging him tightly. "Oh, how I prayed that this day would come! Praise The Lord!"
He returned the hug, smiling. "Indeed. Praise The Lord!"
His shout of joy rang through the forest. "Oh!" He looked up. "You must be baptized." And so he was. Right there in the spring close by. As he was raised up out of the water, he again felt so light of heart, he felt like he could burst.
Right then and there, he kissed the love of his life, and she let him for they were now equally yoked. He pulled back and smiled, thanking God for the gifts he had been given.
It was midday by the time they made it back to Berk. Soon enough, everyone noticed the change in Hiccup. He was filled with joy, unending joy, even after breaking up with Astrid immediately upon arrival. There were those who scorned the couple because of their new religion, one of those being Astrid. And there were others who wanted to know everything they could.
Eventually, Hiccup's chiefdom was removed and he, his long time friend and now wife, his mother, and a few others who believed were exiled, never to be seen again. The only thing that Hiccup's wife had left of her original time period was her Bible that she had been given when she was ten years old.
Hiccup's son was named Stoick after Hiccup's father and he was raised in the ways of The Lord. He had been given a zeal for the Word of The Lord just like his mother, and he resolved to copy all of the Bible before his mother's book wore out.
On one of the many uninhabited islands they had set up a village of their own, and they invited anyone who pleased to join them. There they started a church, a small one that grew over the long life of the couple. As Hiccup held his firstborn grandson, he gave thanks to The Lord and let out a breath of relief. After several years spent searching in the dark, he was finally home.
a Christian Fiction take on HTTYD2
"Lord God, why did you bring me here? First Camelot where I didn't believe, and now Berk four hundred years later, where they worship false gods almost constantly!"
The young girl of eighteen years was tired. Tired of life with those who didn't believe. How she longed for her home in California a thousand years in the future. There she could talk about The Lord freely with her father, and live a normal life.
"Maybe this is all a dream." She mused silently to herself as she walked through the forest. "But I know it is not. The Lord put me here for a reason, and one day I shall live with him in paradise, when my life is complete."
Dawn was quickly approaching as the young woman walked, talking to The Lord about her troubles, not knowing that she was being followed.
Chief Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third and his best friend Toothless the Alpha of the Dragons were walking side by side through the forest, tracking their friend. Ever since the battle where his father died, she had not been herself, spending hours training, or walking in the woods, or simply in her house alone.
But somehow, he knew she was never alone. Astrid thought him ridiculous and that their friend was simply grieving over the loss of her father figure, but Hiccup just couldn't believe that. She mourned yes, that was obvious, but her mourning went much deeper than that of the loss of a father, she seemed to grieve even for the living.
It didn't make sense. He already knew that she didn't worship any of the Viking gods, but she did worship a god. He had no name, no temple, no statues, no shrines, no nothing, but her faith in him was stronger than that of even the tribe's elder.
She didn't worship like the others. She didn't worship Thor because she was half-mad with bloodlust, nor Loki because she was a liar, even though she constantly struggled with that concept. She didn't worship money like the traders, or love like so many other women of the tribe.
And she wouldn't bow down to any other god. Not the god of healing when she was sick, not Freya when she needed advice, no, she always went to her god. She prayed, and prayed, and prayed.
And it drove him mad. He was madly in love with the girl, and he knew she was madly in love with him as well, but she wouldn't give him the light of day, all because he didn't worship her wretched god.
She clung to her faith; never letting go. Yet at the same time, it seemed as if she had peace throughout her chaotic life, an inner peace of which he craved. Even though she had been in the war with Drago with him, and countless other battles, and helped him with running the tribe, and got sick numerous times with an incurable disease, she had peace, a fact which drove him up the wall, yet left him craving for more.
Lately he had been having trouble sleeping. He would look at the practices of his "girlfriend" and his "friends" and want to leave for it disquieted him. His spirit was wrestling with something in side him, something unknown and mysterious, something so desired yet unattainable. He would bow down at Loki's feet and use all of his strength not to immediately run out the door.
He was at odds with life, and he knew it. The world sickened him, yet he knew no peace. It was like he was blind and now he had seen. Something, or someone, had opened his eyes.
Now he followed this girl whom he had known for seven years and she strangely gave him peace. Yet at the same time, he knew it wasn't her who did anything. She reflected something, like the moon reflecting sunlight, yet she had an effect on him, the ability to calm his restless spirit.
Toothless rubbed his head against Hiccup's hand, trying to comfort his long time best friend. He knew the restless sprint inside of his master, he himself felt it, but neither new how to quench this thirst. Or at least, this was what Hiccup thought was going on.
Finally, the dawn rose, and she turned around to head back, her soul calm from the knowledge that she was where God wanted her, and his purpose would be fulfilled. There she saw Hiccup. She blushed at the sight of the handsome Viking, and then innerly berated herself for having such feelings for the chief. "I can't marry him, I can't love him, I can't be anything more than a friend to him. He still believes in the false idols."
She had been praying unceasingly for all her friends in the Hairy Hooligan tribe. For Gobber, Stoick, Valka, Fishlegs, Astrid, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, Snotlout, and Hiccup. She prayed that their eyes would be opened, that they would see that their stone idols did nothing for them, except take away their freedom.
Oh, how she had prayed that Stoick would recover, that she would get there to at least speak to him one last time, to tell him that death was not a sunset but a sunrise. But The Lord had not chosen him, and it made her weep. The man was the closest thing to a father that she had in this time and she would never see him again. He would never know what an awesome God He is.
And the others, oh how they made her heart ache. She saw them slave their lives away trying to do something to gain the favor of their idols, so that they might be better warriors, or be better writers, or mothers, or whatever else you could think of.
She grieved at the fact that none of them knew that all of that was just pure and utter nothingness. There was no healing, no inspiration, no wisdom from those stones; just emptiness, and that emptiness would lead to a meaningless life.
That was all it was, meaningless. She shook her head, clearing away the thoughts and focusing on the present, not the unchangeable past.
"Hiccup, what are you here for?" There was no aggravation in her tone, no annoyance, only curiosity and a bit of exhaustion. Not the physical kind, Hiccup noticed, but the spiritual kind.
"I couldn't sleep, and I saw you heading out here and I thought you could give me some answers."
Oh, how her heart raced at the thought of him wanting her advice, but she quickly shoved those feelings down. "Answers given will depend on the question, Chief. What troubles you?"
Hiccup moved into Toothless's side and motioned for her to join him because of the bitter cold that never seemed to bother her. She complied as he spoke. "Lately I have had trouble sleeping-"
"Shouldn't you see the healer for that?" The comment broke free from her lips before she could register the fact that she had said it.
Hiccup chuckled. "Not from pain, well at least not physical pain. I have been looking at the world through a different view. I see all this pain, and suffering, and loss, but there is no hope. Days just run together, repeating themselves, never once with any purpose in life. And the gods are just stone idols. Thor nor Loki nor Freya, nor Odin mean a single thing. And all I see appalls me. People slaving their lives away for absolutely nothing, and it disgusts and disturbs me, the practices of this world."
And he was off, venting his feelings to his friend who sat, listening to everything he said, with a joyful heart. His eyes had been opened. "Oh Lord," She prayed silently, "you have answered my prayers. His eyes are opened Lord, but he still hasn't received you. Give me the words that you wish to convey to him. Speak to him, let him know that there is hope. O Abba, he is the answer to my prayers, and my heart leaps with joy. Please, let him be one of your chosen."
By now, Hiccup's voice had come to a halt, but the emotion was still there. "Hiccup," She spoke softly to him, placing a hand on his shoulder to let him know that she understood all that he was saying. "How do you feel?"
He knew that she was not asking about his physical health; she was asking about how all this made him feel. "Sad, angry, depressed, and at odds with life, like none of this means anything and it is incredibly frustrating."
Her heart soared. "You are at odds with life because you are no longer of the world. Your eyes have been opened." And with that, Hiccup's attention was captured.
"No longer of the world? My eyes have been opened?"
"It means that you can see the brokenness of this world, and how we need someone to save us."
Hiccup looked up, shocked that she knew exactly how he felt, and there was no fake empathy. His friends had never known how he had felt. This restless energy, this unquenchable thirst for something more. Not his dad, not Gobber, not Fishlegs, not even Astrid knew how he felt, and this young woman who he had known for no more than seven years, most likely less, knew exactly how he felt and what he thought.
"That's exactly what I see. There is no hope."
The wide smile that had appeared on her face dimmed a bit at this statement. "But there is hope."
Hiccup's laugh was bitter and bleak. "What hope? There is no one who can save us from ourselves."
"Jesus Christ, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, who suffered under Pontius Pilate, who was crucified, died and was buried, who on the third day rose and ascended to heaven, where He is seated at the right hand of the Father and He will come to judge the living and the dead. Hiccup, there is hope. God, the true living God, who created the heavens and the earth loved us so much that he sent his only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not parish but have eternal life."
"There is no god who would do that. None."
"The Lord loves us, his creations. He loved us so much that he was willing to send his Son to die for us, even though the world turned against Him. He loves us, and He loves you, and He is asking you to let him into your heart, to change you into the image of Christ. He is asking you, will you let Him in?"
Hiccup looked at her, his gaze forlorn. "But I have done things unforgivable. God would never forgive me."
She shook her head. "God already has. On the day that Jesus was crucified, He took all the sin of the whole world upon his shoulders, a man who lived a blameless life, in favor with both God and man, and now we are free. No longer does sin rule us, but we have true freedom. Hiccup," She takes his hands in his without breaking eye contact and he can see truth shining in them. "Hiccup, God is merciful and He is willing to forgive you. All you have to do is ask. Say yes to Him, and he shall set you free."
Hiccup looked to Toothless only to find nothing in his place. The dragon had left. "The dragons, they were only illusions weren't they?"
She shook her head. "They only had the power that you bestowed upon them. They were just tools to make you loose sight of the truth. There was a time, not long ago when I too believed in the dragons. Little did I know that they didn't exist."
The sadness that Hiccup expected to feel was not there. In fact, all that was there was a yearning. A yearning for the truth. Taking a breath, he answered the question God was asking him. "Will you accept me as your one and only Lord and Savior? Will you ask for forgiveness?"
And he knew his answer. "Yes." He said aloud. "Yes, I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. There is no other. Forgive me Lord for I have sinned and am in need of a savior."
In an instant, he felt free and joyful. His heart was carefree and the thirst that he had always felt was quenched and he was finally at peace.
Her arms were around him, hugging him tightly. "Oh, how I prayed that this day would come! Praise The Lord!"
He returned the hug, smiling. "Indeed. Praise The Lord!"
His shout of joy rang through the forest. "Oh!" He looked up. "You must be baptized." And so he was. Right there in the spring close by. As he was raised up out of the water, he again felt so light of heart, he felt like he could burst.
Right then and there, he kissed the love of his life, and she let him for they were now equally yoked. He pulled back and smiled, thanking God for the gifts he had been given.
It was midday by the time they made it back to Berk. Soon enough, everyone noticed the change in Hiccup. He was filled with joy, unending joy, even after breaking up with Astrid immediately upon arrival. There were those who scorned the couple because of their new religion, one of those being Astrid. And there were others who wanted to know everything they could.
Eventually, Hiccup's chiefdom was removed and he, his long time friend and now wife, his mother, and a few others who believed were exiled, never to be seen again. The only thing that Hiccup's wife had left of her original time period was her Bible that she had been given when she was ten years old.
Hiccup's son was named Stoick after Hiccup's father and he was raised in the ways of The Lord. He had been given a zeal for the Word of The Lord just like his mother, and he resolved to copy all of the Bible before his mother's book wore out.
On one of the many uninhabited islands they had set up a village of their own, and they invited anyone who pleased to join them. There they started a church, a small one that grew over the long life of the couple. As Hiccup held his firstborn grandson, he gave thanks to The Lord and let out a breath of relief. After several years spent searching in the dark, he was finally home.
Christmas Gift
I know this is late, but I love my parents and want them to know that.
----
Hi Mom and Dad! Merry Christmas! Emmanuel has been born. I know I never got you a gift. I didn't want to buy you something. I wanted to write you something. In my own hand.
Mom and Dad, at times I may be the single most annoying person in the world. I may be rude, insensitive, obnoxious, loud, arrogant, and prideful. But even though I am all these things and more, I love you and you are the best parents I could ask for.
You never had to take me in. You had a choice. And you made one that changed my whole future from orphan to daughter. When you didn't feel like putting up with me, you did. You drove me to gymnastics for five years, to all my play dates, to all my friend's parties. You cooked dinner when you didn't feel like it. You cleaned when you were tired, and you put up with my tantrums, of which I know there were many. You went to all of my productions, plays, concerts, and recitals. You winced as I just started playing recorder or flute or piano and I wasn't very good. And you were there for me when I needed it. You took me out of public school, and spent a good thousand to two thousand dollars per year on my schooling. And you continue to put up with my senseless rambling about everything and nothing.
I know that I didn't have to do this, I could have just bought you guys a gift, but I wanted to do something meaningful. I love you Mom. I love you Dad. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do.
Your loving daughter,
Jen
--
For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in. (Psalm 27:10 ESV)
The Declination of Rome: What Does Freedom Mean?
This is a fictional account from Decimus, an Ephesian aristocrat, taken from A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers. This account is on the lives his children lead and the declination of Rome.
~
"'What has happened to virtue, honor, and ideals? Marcus believes nothing is true and anything is permitted. Julia thinks the only thing that matters is her own pleasure. I've worked my entire life in order to give my children everything I never had at their age—wealth, education, position. And now I look at them and wonder if my life is simple vanity. They are selfish, without the least restraint upon their appetites. They haven't the smallest fiber of moral character...They want complete control over their lives. They want to be free of the old standards. Whatever feels good is right. Whoever stands in the way of their pleasures, they want destroyed. They demand the moral chains be removed, never understanding that it's moral restraint that keeps men civilized...I am ashamed.
~
"'What happens to society with all restraints are removed? I see our children consumed with watching blood be spilled in the arena. I see them seeking an unending diet of sensual pleasure. Where does it all lead? How can intemperate minds be free when they are slaves to their own passions?'... Rome tolerated every abominable practice, embraced every foul idea in the name of freedom and the rights of the common man. Citizens no longer carried on deviant behavior in private, but pridefully displayed it in public. It was those with moral values who could no longer freely walk a public park without having to witness a revolting display. Whatever happened to the public censors that protected the majority of citizens from moral decadence? Did freedom have to mean abolishing common decency? Did freedom mean anyone could do anything they wanted, without consequences?"
~
What does freedom mean? This passage makes me think of the phrases: "Panem et circenses" which means bread and circuses, and relates to the fact that Romans only cared about pleasure, and the phrase "All roads lead to Rome." What does this mean to you? What answer do you have for either question? Answer in the comments below!
Thanks,
Mercy and peace to you,
Wolf of the Lion
~
"'What has happened to virtue, honor, and ideals? Marcus believes nothing is true and anything is permitted. Julia thinks the only thing that matters is her own pleasure. I've worked my entire life in order to give my children everything I never had at their age—wealth, education, position. And now I look at them and wonder if my life is simple vanity. They are selfish, without the least restraint upon their appetites. They haven't the smallest fiber of moral character...They want complete control over their lives. They want to be free of the old standards. Whatever feels good is right. Whoever stands in the way of their pleasures, they want destroyed. They demand the moral chains be removed, never understanding that it's moral restraint that keeps men civilized...I am ashamed.
~
"'What happens to society with all restraints are removed? I see our children consumed with watching blood be spilled in the arena. I see them seeking an unending diet of sensual pleasure. Where does it all lead? How can intemperate minds be free when they are slaves to their own passions?'... Rome tolerated every abominable practice, embraced every foul idea in the name of freedom and the rights of the common man. Citizens no longer carried on deviant behavior in private, but pridefully displayed it in public. It was those with moral values who could no longer freely walk a public park without having to witness a revolting display. Whatever happened to the public censors that protected the majority of citizens from moral decadence? Did freedom have to mean abolishing common decency? Did freedom mean anyone could do anything they wanted, without consequences?"
~
What does freedom mean? This passage makes me think of the phrases: "Panem et circenses" which means bread and circuses, and relates to the fact that Romans only cared about pleasure, and the phrase "All roads lead to Rome." What does this mean to you? What answer do you have for either question? Answer in the comments below!
Thanks,
Mercy and peace to you,
Wolf of the Lion
My Friend, This Is Who I Am
My dear friend, you ask me why I write to you instead of texting or emailing you. You ask me why I write stories by hand, and then spend hours reading when I can just as well talk, text, sleep, exercise, play, or whatever else you can think of. You ask why I am a writer and a reader, not a socialist and an athlete. You ask one simple question, but you never expect an answer. You expect me to change because you ask me to, not because God is changing me. You expect me to fit into your "normal". And the answer to your question simple. I don't want to.
It is good to feel comforting pages, a steady pen, and a creativity that is bound by our imagination. I sigh, loving the feeling of writing to my hearts content. My soul sings with joy at such a simple task, one that is loathed by many around the world. But writing is a joyous art, one where there is only paper and ink, yet people fall in love, make friends, form alliances, start wars, enrage enemies, and get so wrapped up in a book that they forget it isn't real. Instead of imagining things, they become reality. Places, people, things, actions, thoughts, feelings; they become real. And when a book ends, we weep for those we lost, rejoice for those who survived, and at the conclusion of every story, no one, reader, writer, or character is left unchanged. And that, my friend, is the most beautiful art in the world.
It is good to feel comforting pages, a steady pen, and a creativity that is bound by our imagination. I sigh, loving the feeling of writing to my hearts content. My soul sings with joy at such a simple task, one that is loathed by many around the world. But writing is a joyous art, one where there is only paper and ink, yet people fall in love, make friends, form alliances, start wars, enrage enemies, and get so wrapped up in a book that they forget it isn't real. Instead of imagining things, they become reality. Places, people, things, actions, thoughts, feelings; they become real. And when a book ends, we weep for those we lost, rejoice for those who survived, and at the conclusion of every story, no one, reader, writer, or character is left unchanged. And that, my friend, is the most beautiful art in the world.
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