Sarah Baughman's Blog, page 14
November 30, 2015
Mercy in Shawls
My four-year-old redefines stubborn. I thought his older brother was a strong-willed child, but next to G, A almost seems compliant. This morning, he really wanted to wear athletic shorts with his church polo shirt. As we live in East Texas, and the temperatures in November are cool, but not cold (according to our northern-born sensibilities), the hubby and I decided not to fight him on it. I even offered to bring a pair of pants in case he decided later that he wanted to change, but he declined.
About a third of the way through the church service, he crawled into my lap and I could feel his chilly legs. I knew he wasn't cold enough to be susceptible to illness or anything, but I could tell he was probably uncomfortable. I wrapped my warm shawl around him and let him warm up a bit.
As I sat with him on my lap, leaning against my heart, I couldn't help but think that we are a lot like him. How often do I suffer from some problem of my own making, but God still extends His mercy to me? To so many of us?
To the one who practices poor management of the things given him, and yet God still provides food for his table?
To the one whose life choices lead to poor health, and yet God still provides doctors and medicine?
To the one who does any number of things to result in suffering?
Now, not all suffering is a result of choices we make. Sometimes, suffering comes as a result of this sinful world in which we live. Sometimes it is Satan working to slow or stop the spread of God's Gospel in Christ. Sometimes it seems to have no reason.
Even so, God's mercy is evident in small things every day. Moreover, it is evident in Christ's life, death, and resurrection. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (II Corinthians 5:21)
God's mercy is new every morning, every day, every moment. Even when we do not want to hear it, He calls to us and brings us back to Him.
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:1-7)
Even when we refuse to wear long pants in 40-degree-weather.
About a third of the way through the church service, he crawled into my lap and I could feel his chilly legs. I knew he wasn't cold enough to be susceptible to illness or anything, but I could tell he was probably uncomfortable. I wrapped my warm shawl around him and let him warm up a bit.
As I sat with him on my lap, leaning against my heart, I couldn't help but think that we are a lot like him. How often do I suffer from some problem of my own making, but God still extends His mercy to me? To so many of us?
To the one who practices poor management of the things given him, and yet God still provides food for his table?
To the one whose life choices lead to poor health, and yet God still provides doctors and medicine?
To the one who does any number of things to result in suffering?
Now, not all suffering is a result of choices we make. Sometimes, suffering comes as a result of this sinful world in which we live. Sometimes it is Satan working to slow or stop the spread of God's Gospel in Christ. Sometimes it seems to have no reason.
Even so, God's mercy is evident in small things every day. Moreover, it is evident in Christ's life, death, and resurrection. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (II Corinthians 5:21)
God's mercy is new every morning, every day, every moment. Even when we do not want to hear it, He calls to us and brings us back to Him.
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:1-7)
Even when we refuse to wear long pants in 40-degree-weather.
November 23, 2015
Scraps for Dogs
Matthew 15:21-28 reads as follows (ESV):
And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
This passage has always resonated with me. I'm not entirely sure why--maybe because of the dogs being present in the discussion and I've been part of a "dog-family" from my early years. Maybe because as a pretty timid woman, I delight in seeing this woman boldly ask this Jewish Prophet and Teacher for help. Maybe because I am not a bold pray-er. Or anything.
Some might see Jesus' words to her as mocking. Unfeeling. Wrong.
Remember, though, that Jesus knows our hearts. He knew how this woman would hear His Words, and how she would respond. She was a strong woman to approach Him. She could hear His Words as He meant them, and not take undue offense, not be broken under His Words. Rather, she accepts His Word of challenge, of testing.
And she answers. Humbly and openly and acknowledging Him to be Who He is. Would that I might respond in such a manner to His Words!
And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
This passage has always resonated with me. I'm not entirely sure why--maybe because of the dogs being present in the discussion and I've been part of a "dog-family" from my early years. Maybe because as a pretty timid woman, I delight in seeing this woman boldly ask this Jewish Prophet and Teacher for help. Maybe because I am not a bold pray-er. Or anything.
Some might see Jesus' words to her as mocking. Unfeeling. Wrong.
Remember, though, that Jesus knows our hearts. He knew how this woman would hear His Words, and how she would respond. She was a strong woman to approach Him. She could hear His Words as He meant them, and not take undue offense, not be broken under His Words. Rather, she accepts His Word of challenge, of testing.
And she answers. Humbly and openly and acknowledging Him to be Who He is. Would that I might respond in such a manner to His Words!
November 22, 2015
Cornelius: Presumer of Hope
Penelope's brother is the Baron Claymore. When a man receives a title, whether by birthright or by having it bestowed on him, he gives up his family name in favor of the title. When Cornelius and Penelope's father died, Cornelius ceased to be Cornelius Drayton and took on the title of Lord Claymore, or Baron Claymore. For Americans unused to peerage systems, this can be confusing and difficult to understand at first. I found this website very helpful when I was working out the different ranks and how they are to be addressed.
In the Regency genre, there is often a peer, Lord So-and-So, who is the male protagonist. In Penelope's Hope, Cornelius (a bit of an antagonist) has been the Baron for some years, but he only recently reached his majority. Prior to a man reaching a certain age, his fortune was often held in trust, and he was only permitted full access upon his reaching a certain age. This is where Cornelius finds himself at the opening of Penelope's Hope.
Whereas Penelope has long been considering her future, it seems he has not. As a first son, and the one to eventually inherit, he would have believed nearly all his life that his future was secure. He was to inherit the title, the house, and the fortune of his father. His hope for the future was given to him.
Unfortunately, the temptation to think only of the privileges of his position and not of the accompanying responsibilities allowed some ill-behavior to manifest itself in Cornelius. I won't reveal more at this point, but you can judge for yourselves when you read whether Cornelius is the opposite of Penelope, or whether they might have more in common than even they suspect.
Hope is a powerful thing. Cornelius hoped in the assurance of his position and in the excitement and happiness that his gambling brought -- and possibly in the expectation of a bog win. The problem with hoping in these sort of things is that eventually, they'll fail us. Even a title cannot save someone from disgrace, and when no self-control is exercised, the rush of taking chances can leave us bereft. Hope in God's Word is hope for eternity. Even when earthly things disappoint, when difficult times come (because they will), His Word stands firm.
In the Regency genre, there is often a peer, Lord So-and-So, who is the male protagonist. In Penelope's Hope, Cornelius (a bit of an antagonist) has been the Baron for some years, but he only recently reached his majority. Prior to a man reaching a certain age, his fortune was often held in trust, and he was only permitted full access upon his reaching a certain age. This is where Cornelius finds himself at the opening of Penelope's Hope.Whereas Penelope has long been considering her future, it seems he has not. As a first son, and the one to eventually inherit, he would have believed nearly all his life that his future was secure. He was to inherit the title, the house, and the fortune of his father. His hope for the future was given to him.
Unfortunately, the temptation to think only of the privileges of his position and not of the accompanying responsibilities allowed some ill-behavior to manifest itself in Cornelius. I won't reveal more at this point, but you can judge for yourselves when you read whether Cornelius is the opposite of Penelope, or whether they might have more in common than even they suspect.
Hope is a powerful thing. Cornelius hoped in the assurance of his position and in the excitement and happiness that his gambling brought -- and possibly in the expectation of a bog win. The problem with hoping in these sort of things is that eventually, they'll fail us. Even a title cannot save someone from disgrace, and when no self-control is exercised, the rush of taking chances can leave us bereft. Hope in God's Word is hope for eternity. Even when earthly things disappoint, when difficult times come (because they will), His Word stands firm.
November 14, 2015
Pruning
Following is an excerpt from Penelope's Hope. Penelope and Violet are speaking about the garden in the back of Violet's brother's new house, and the plans Violet has for it.
"It is somewhat astounding that a plant can continue to thrive after having lost a part of itself." "Indeed," replied Violet. "But it is no more astounding than our own ability to thrive after the same." "You speak of a surgeon's work?" "No, I speak of God's work. Or part of His work, at least. Does He not use some times of our lives to prune away the parts of us which are not beneficial to our living and thriving?"I was working this spring on the shrubs in the front of our house. It's been hard work, my hands and wrists hurting from doing it by hand. After all the work, it looked neat and tidy; I was quite pleased with my work.
Less than a week later, though, and a few branches had grown past their bounds again. A couple of months later, and the bush has filled out again. It put me in mind of God's work in our lives. He shapes us, prunes us. We keep growing back. He cuts away what is not as it should be, what is not according to His plan.
He allows us to thrive, to grow and mature and be who He made us to be. But sometimes we put energy into an aspect of our lives that is not essential to who we are, to who He made us to be. At these times, God will carefully and deliberately prune what is not beneficial to us.
And we continue to grow.November 12, 2015
Timely Tools
Time stops for no one. Those of us with kids know this. Those of us with a spouse know this. Those of us with a job know this. Those of us who are human know this.
These days, it seems like I know this better than I have before.
How can I keep up with all of my kiddos' activities?
How can I keep up with all of my church and volunteer commitments?
How can I keep up with the writing schedule I've set for myself?
Never mind making time for my husband, for friends, for quality time in God's Word...
So what's the answer? Unfortunately, there isn't one answer that will solve this conundrum for everyone. We each need to find the right formula for our own lives, for the tasks God has given each of us. But here are some thoughts I've had (as I try again and again to figure this out myself).
1. Use the Time!
We all have a given amount of time which we can choose how to spend. Sure, some of my time must be used in making meals, doing laundry, and the like. But how many minutes are wasted checking social media sites on my phone because I feel like I need a break? Decide what's important, what takes a large chunk of time, what can be squeezed in here and there, what can be cut loose...and what really refreshes, rather than distracts. I'm working on this now, and working to reassign some of the chores to the children. They do some already, but can learn to do some more. When I use my time, it won't slip away from me.
2. Set Some Goals!
I'm not a goal-setter. Keeping my own schedule and not being responsible to an editor for when I finish writing projects is nice. But I also know that when a deadline (goal?) is imposed upon me, I am usually able to use that pressure to propel myself to meet the goal (deadline?). So I'm going to start setting more specific goals and make better use of the time that I do have. (I set a big one of having Book Two of my Regency Silhouettes series ready for publication this winter -- that's the end of February at the latest. Now I need to break up that goal into smaller goals so I don't feel so overwhelmed!)
3. Allow Support!
I love support, and I'd venture to say that not many would claim that they don't want any support at all. But when it comes down to it, I often fail to utilize some very important support. Last year, my husband and I figured out that his schedule allowed him to be home with our then-two-year-old for a few hours twice a week so that I could go somewhere else and write. For the first few days of that, I was feeling really uncertain -- both in my ability to write, and in the validity of my need to go elsewhere. So I stayed home and got no writing done. Finally, I made myself go (anyone else out there need a few weeks to talk yourself into going somewhere alone for the first time?) and I found that time, given to me by my husband, to be invaluable to the completion of Penelope's Hope. Now, I work harder to recognize possible supports and to offer that to others; a friend and I have even started trading our non-school-aged kids twice a week.
4. Get Out of Here!
I have to leave the house to write, either physically or mentally. I often go to a coffee shop when I'm in the middle of a project that needs to keep its momentum. At home, I tend to get distracted -- Oh, I'll just fold this load of laundry turns into Those pants need a patch on the knee, which ends up leading to I've really been putting off this sewing project; I'll just work on it for a few minutes before I start writing. And then the kids are getting home from school and I've written nothing. Setting aside time, either in a quiet room in my house (and refusing to be distracted!) or at a completely different location, really helps me to focus on the task of writing.
5. Write, Write, Write!
I won't say that I've found a perfect balance and am meeting my writing goals and the house is always clean and the laundry always done and the meals always prepped. This is still very much a work in progress. But so is my writing. And the more time I take to write, the more time it seems I have to write. When I write, that part of me comes alive and quickens to the assurance that this is part of God's plan for me, and that He will use me in this capacity. And I want to keep writing! He also gives me the wisdom to (I hope) balance it with the rest of life, and to find joy in all of it. But it sure would be nice if there were laundry fairies. ;-)
What do you do to make sure you have time for all the many things on your plate?
These days, it seems like I know this better than I have before.
How can I keep up with all of my kiddos' activities?How can I keep up with all of my church and volunteer commitments?
How can I keep up with the writing schedule I've set for myself?
Never mind making time for my husband, for friends, for quality time in God's Word...
So what's the answer? Unfortunately, there isn't one answer that will solve this conundrum for everyone. We each need to find the right formula for our own lives, for the tasks God has given each of us. But here are some thoughts I've had (as I try again and again to figure this out myself).
1. Use the Time!
We all have a given amount of time which we can choose how to spend. Sure, some of my time must be used in making meals, doing laundry, and the like. But how many minutes are wasted checking social media sites on my phone because I feel like I need a break? Decide what's important, what takes a large chunk of time, what can be squeezed in here and there, what can be cut loose...and what really refreshes, rather than distracts. I'm working on this now, and working to reassign some of the chores to the children. They do some already, but can learn to do some more. When I use my time, it won't slip away from me.
2. Set Some Goals!
I'm not a goal-setter. Keeping my own schedule and not being responsible to an editor for when I finish writing projects is nice. But I also know that when a deadline (goal?) is imposed upon me, I am usually able to use that pressure to propel myself to meet the goal (deadline?). So I'm going to start setting more specific goals and make better use of the time that I do have. (I set a big one of having Book Two of my Regency Silhouettes series ready for publication this winter -- that's the end of February at the latest. Now I need to break up that goal into smaller goals so I don't feel so overwhelmed!)
3. Allow Support!
I love support, and I'd venture to say that not many would claim that they don't want any support at all. But when it comes down to it, I often fail to utilize some very important support. Last year, my husband and I figured out that his schedule allowed him to be home with our then-two-year-old for a few hours twice a week so that I could go somewhere else and write. For the first few days of that, I was feeling really uncertain -- both in my ability to write, and in the validity of my need to go elsewhere. So I stayed home and got no writing done. Finally, I made myself go (anyone else out there need a few weeks to talk yourself into going somewhere alone for the first time?) and I found that time, given to me by my husband, to be invaluable to the completion of Penelope's Hope. Now, I work harder to recognize possible supports and to offer that to others; a friend and I have even started trading our non-school-aged kids twice a week.
4. Get Out of Here!
I have to leave the house to write, either physically or mentally. I often go to a coffee shop when I'm in the middle of a project that needs to keep its momentum. At home, I tend to get distracted -- Oh, I'll just fold this load of laundry turns into Those pants need a patch on the knee, which ends up leading to I've really been putting off this sewing project; I'll just work on it for a few minutes before I start writing. And then the kids are getting home from school and I've written nothing. Setting aside time, either in a quiet room in my house (and refusing to be distracted!) or at a completely different location, really helps me to focus on the task of writing.
5. Write, Write, Write!
I won't say that I've found a perfect balance and am meeting my writing goals and the house is always clean and the laundry always done and the meals always prepped. This is still very much a work in progress. But so is my writing. And the more time I take to write, the more time it seems I have to write. When I write, that part of me comes alive and quickens to the assurance that this is part of God's plan for me, and that He will use me in this capacity. And I want to keep writing! He also gives me the wisdom to (I hope) balance it with the rest of life, and to find joy in all of it. But it sure would be nice if there were laundry fairies. ;-)
What do you do to make sure you have time for all the many things on your plate?
November 5, 2015
Book Giveaway!
To celebrate the recent launch of my book, Penelope's Hope, I am giving away three autographed copes! You have a chance to win one of two copies through Rafflecopter or one copy through Goodreads.a Rafflecopter giveaway
.goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; background: white; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: inline-block; color: #181818; background-color: #F6F6EE; border: 1px solid #9D8A78; border-radius: 3px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; outline: none; font-size: 13px; padding: 8px 12px; } .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { color: #181818; background-color: #F7F2ED; border: 1px solid #AFAFAF; text-decoration: none; }
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Penelope's Hope
by Sarah Baughman
Giveaway ends November 12, 2015. See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter Giveaway
October 29, 2015
Violet: Hider of Hope
While Penelope is determined and bold, Violet is uncertain and shy. Ashbridge's sister, she is experiencing her first Season during Penelope's Hope. She dislikes crowds of people, becomes tongue-tied in the presence of most gentlemen, and has no talent for the polite yet artful conversation so essential to Society. She has no desire to make a brilliant match, as so many of the other debutantes do.What is such a girl to do in the midst of her first Season?
Violet attempts to hide. Finishing her whitework dress is a credible excuse for staying home when the family goes to meet people at Hyde Park. Sewing a dress for the poor is a slightly less credible, yet still viable, excuse to sit out a few rounds of visits. In the course of living with her retiring personality, however, Violet has learned to find great peace and comfort in the Word of God. She is able to hold onto hope in the midst of meeting new people that may or may not approve of a girl who has no significant connections. She is able to hold onto hope even when her family does not understand that hope.
Where is your hope?
Do you keep it hidden along with the rest of you, and only reveal it when someone draws you out? May God give us courage and strength to share the reason for the hope we have, and faith to hold onto that hope always.
October 23, 2015
Penelope's Hope
I am unbelievably excited to share this with you all. My novel, Penelope's Hope, is available!
Buy Penelope's HopeI love this cover so much! Light and hope-inspiring, yet a bit of darkness creeping in at the edges. I believe that if Penelope looked at it, she would say that it described her feelings through a great deal of the novel. Alex of Shaw Photography by Alex Shaw did a beautiful job with the photograph, and Brittany made a lovely Penelope. Melissa of Melissa Sue Photo and Design did a great job of formatting the cover and making all the little details that make this cover so lovely. I even was given a blurb for my cover by the very talented author Colleen Oakes!
Sometimes hope is a very difficult thing to hang onto. Bills pile up, news from the doctor is worse than we had expected, or a person very near and dear hurts us in a way that no one else could. Penelope has faced great sadness, and thinks she knows what she needs to be happy, to have hope for the future. Financial stability, good health, and good friends can only take us so far, though. When the bottom falls out from under our feet, how can we know that something will be there to catch us?
As Penelope's story progresses, she sees more and more that her own efforts will only do so much. Even if she gains everything she'd hoped to have, she will find something lacking. True hope can only be found in One Person. Even unseen, this Hope is living and eternal, and will not fade in the face of hardship or suffering. It will carry us through anything.
Stay tuned for information on an exciting event I have planned to celebrate the launch of Penelope's Hope - a book giveaway!
Buy Penelope's HopeI love this cover so much! Light and hope-inspiring, yet a bit of darkness creeping in at the edges. I believe that if Penelope looked at it, she would say that it described her feelings through a great deal of the novel. Alex of Shaw Photography by Alex Shaw did a beautiful job with the photograph, and Brittany made a lovely Penelope. Melissa of Melissa Sue Photo and Design did a great job of formatting the cover and making all the little details that make this cover so lovely. I even was given a blurb for my cover by the very talented author Colleen Oakes!
Sometimes hope is a very difficult thing to hang onto. Bills pile up, news from the doctor is worse than we had expected, or a person very near and dear hurts us in a way that no one else could. Penelope has faced great sadness, and thinks she knows what she needs to be happy, to have hope for the future. Financial stability, good health, and good friends can only take us so far, though. When the bottom falls out from under our feet, how can we know that something will be there to catch us?
As Penelope's story progresses, she sees more and more that her own efforts will only do so much. Even if she gains everything she'd hoped to have, she will find something lacking. True hope can only be found in One Person. Even unseen, this Hope is living and eternal, and will not fade in the face of hardship or suffering. It will carry us through anything.
Stay tuned for information on an exciting event I have planned to celebrate the launch of Penelope's Hope - a book giveaway!
October 20, 2015
Ashbridge: Pretending Hope
Mr. Ashbridge Wyndham is at a point in his life where he ought to be unequivocally happy. He is the master of his own estate. His sister Violet is about to make her come-out into Society, possibly establishing an advantageous connection with some titled family, if she were to catch the eye of some young baron or viscount. After all, an untitled family would certainly wish to connect themselves to as prestigious a family as it may. Even more, he has recently been contacted by an elderly marquess, who claims to have named Ash as his heir. While this practice is most irregular, Lord Ashbridge (same name . . . coincidence?) claims that he secured this inheritance through the appropriate channels.
Still, he is unhappy and -- quite frankly -- not at all hopeful when he considers the future. Ash was burned once by the fickle whims of a Society debutante, much as his sister Violet is now. But whereas Violet is kind and sweet, the one he thought he loved was grasping and insincere. If it was up to Ash, they would have remained on their small but profitable estate for the Season. But because the widowed matron of his family, Mrs. Wyndham, wishes to spend the time in London, Ash has brought her, his sister Violet, and his other sister Rose to a rented house in Town. From the time that Parliament opens its doors until they close near the beginning of summer, Ash is trapped, squiring the females of his family to various events and gatherings.
Ash wants to create a hope for himself. He thinks that if he can simply go through the motions of living in Town and performing his duties, he will survive. He wants to forget everything that is plaguing him -- the pestering of Mrs. Wyndham and Rose, the overly-meek attitude of his sister Violet, the memories of a lost love still haunting him. The trouble with ignoring something is that it does not always go away.
When something is pressing particularly hard on you, how do you deal with it?
God's Word, the Bible, has words of hope for all of life. He invites us to find Him there, in the telling of His care for His people, in the declaring of His love, in the promise of salvation for all who believe in His Son, Jesus. We have sure hope in Him.
The problem Ash has is that he just wants to ignore his problems and hope they go away. God calls us to trust in His care, to place our hope in Him. We don't need to pretend that our problems aren't there in order to get through in life. God uses those difficult times to grow us and to deepen our trust in Him, our hope in Him.
What effect does an eternal view have on your grasp of hope?
Still, he is unhappy and -- quite frankly -- not at all hopeful when he considers the future. Ash was burned once by the fickle whims of a Society debutante, much as his sister Violet is now. But whereas Violet is kind and sweet, the one he thought he loved was grasping and insincere. If it was up to Ash, they would have remained on their small but profitable estate for the Season. But because the widowed matron of his family, Mrs. Wyndham, wishes to spend the time in London, Ash has brought her, his sister Violet, and his other sister Rose to a rented house in Town. From the time that Parliament opens its doors until they close near the beginning of summer, Ash is trapped, squiring the females of his family to various events and gatherings.Ash wants to create a hope for himself. He thinks that if he can simply go through the motions of living in Town and performing his duties, he will survive. He wants to forget everything that is plaguing him -- the pestering of Mrs. Wyndham and Rose, the overly-meek attitude of his sister Violet, the memories of a lost love still haunting him. The trouble with ignoring something is that it does not always go away.
When something is pressing particularly hard on you, how do you deal with it?
God's Word, the Bible, has words of hope for all of life. He invites us to find Him there, in the telling of His care for His people, in the declaring of His love, in the promise of salvation for all who believe in His Son, Jesus. We have sure hope in Him.
The problem Ash has is that he just wants to ignore his problems and hope they go away. God calls us to trust in His care, to place our hope in Him. We don't need to pretend that our problems aren't there in order to get through in life. God uses those difficult times to grow us and to deepen our trust in Him, our hope in Him.
What effect does an eternal view have on your grasp of hope?
October 15, 2015
Penelope: Searching for Hope
Penelope is more than just her name. She's the daughter of a peer, or a titled nobleman, and therefore a bit higher in rank than some of the others of the upper classes of London. After the passing of her father, her brother takes on the title of Baron Claymore, but not much changes for Penelope at this point. The expectation around Town -- that is, London -- is that she would eventually marry a peer, perhaps even one higher-ranking than her brother. Or, failing a peer, at least a man who has extensive holdings of land and considerable wealth. It is no secret that her family's fortune is dwindling.
For herself, Penelope plans never to marry. In fact, she is rather weary of the entire mess which is called Polite Society. There was nothing polite about the manner in which her grief-stricken father failed in his parental duties. There was nothing polite in her brother's visiting only when he needs more blunt -- or cash. Even those who she might have hoped to call friends seemed ready to run at the first scent of scandal concerning her family. Is that polite?
Still, she cannot hope to live apart from Society. After all, at this time in London, there is very little financial stability or means of support apart from Society. If one is not a member of Society, one serves them--either as a merchant, craftsman, or as an actual servant. If one does not serve a member of Society, one is in the poorhouse or must leave London.
Penelope has very few options. She cannot live alone, but neither can she bring herself to trust many people. She needs a hope for her future.
Where do you find hope?
Penelope has been searching for hope within herself. She thinks that if she simply does enough to secure her future, everything will fall into place. Since childhood, she has been planning for her future. The entire focus of her life has been the plans she's made, changes, refined, and finally begun to execute. In spite of the godly influence of people like Aunt Essie and Violet in her life, Penelope refuses to to believe in a caring, compassionate God. Why would He have allowed such misery in Penelope's life?
When her plans meet with difficulty, and failure is on the horizon, where will Penelope turn?
Esther, Penelope's aunt, encourages her to turn to God for hope. Esther is also a woman of reduced circumstances. She is reliant on the generosity of her family to provide for her, but she has learned an important truth: Even when storms rage, grief weighs, or earthly hopes disappoint, God remains a faithful help. He beckons His children to come to Him in His Word, to find rest in this restless world.
How do you rest in God's Word?
