Book Review: Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

All I have to say about this book is that it will change your life and make you re-examine yourself. I'm nearing the end of it, but it has made such an impact on me that I can't wait until I finish to tell you about it!
Screwtape Letters is about a temptor/ devil, Screwtape, writing to his nephew Wormwood, a new temptor, about how to tempt and capture humans. Each devil is assigned to a human to tempt. Wormwood's man is a new Christian convert, so Screwtape is sharing his expertise and sure-fire strategies on temptation.
Probably the most incredible thing about this book is that C.S. Lewis put himself into their place to write it. He tried to get inside the mind of the devil and understand how he operates. Lewis says in the preface that writing Screwtape Letters was one of the hardest things he has ever done because of having to think how the devil and his helpers would think.
Many of the methods Screwtape recommends to Wormwood for tempting the man are things you and I might never think of, pick up on, or admit to. While reading through the book, I am convicted over and over, because it reveals instances Satan has used to attack me. While this is a scary thought, it also makes me all the more thankful for Holy Spirit and Christ's power in me.
Screwtape Letters gets five stars from me and a very high recommendation!

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  Ephesians 6: 11-14

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 1 Peter 5: 8-9

Easter Island

Hey this is Emmy!

     I don't know what it is, but something about Easter Island just fascinates me.
Maybe it's the mystery behind why those giant statues were carved, or why they border the small island.
Who carved them? How did they get there?
I hope to visit there one day. It's an amazing mystery.

By the way, Happy Easter! Do you think they celebrate Easter, on Easter Island? ;)

New York, New York!!

Hi everyone! This is Emmy! This is my first post to write on this blog!

Libby had mentioned something earlier in the blog about my trip to New York City!
Well, the trip has come and gone, and it was a blast! Me, the 2 other girls, and my ballet teacher had a great time touring, sight seeing, and enjoying the city! It was an unforgettable trip and experience. 

More details on the trip and pictures will be coming soon! (:

The End is Near!

No, this is not some post about the End Times, you can relax. :) The end I'm thinking about is graduation. At co-op today we took our Sr. group photo for the yearbook with our "Class of 2011" shirts and got our cap and gowns. I can't believe that in 3 months, my school career will be ended- but not my learning career. Such a drastic change like this will be weird, exciting and cool, but weird. As I get ready to "go out into the real world" (I really don't like that term, is it saying where I live now isn't real or something?!) I still haven't decided what I'm going to do yet about continuing education. I have too many choice, and time is running out. As I have been seeking God's guidance, another alternative came to my mind and I pray that it is His plan that has been revealed to me. It seems like it would be the perfect plan and I would get to do some great work for Him with my best friend! Like Dori says in Finding Nemo, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming", I have to "Just keep praying, just keep praying"! With graduation approaching, and deadlines for notifying colleges about my choice I humbly ask for prayers that God will clearly make known to me the best route for my next steps in life.
Other noteworthy happenings, one of my very best friends is coming TOMORROW!  And the lovelyTexas bluebonnets are in bloom! Praise God! I think they are my favorite of His beautiful flowers.

He first loved us

Yummy Valentine's Day cookies that got eaten up before the actual day!

Happy Valentines Day, dearies! I hope this day finds you all surrounded by a loving family, and sharing your love with others. As we think about today, the holiday for love, let us not forget the Greatest Love of all.

Love. It's crazy! What is it? Is it an emotion, a choice, a lifestyle? It is multi-faceted. Love for family, for friends, for spouses, for God. We even find different kinds of love, if you will, in the Bible. However, I think the best way for us to define love and how it relates to us is this: 

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.  In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.                                   (1 John 4:7-11)

I like to call that the "love chapter." 1John 4 is absolutely terrific! In that passage it gives the message of the Gospel: God loved us and sent us his only Son so we can live. It reminds us that we are sinners, and that we did not love God, but He loved us. Notice how it uses the word beloved. John's use of the word means: very dear, esteemed, favorite, and worthy of love. Wow! Continuing on in the chapter we see what life is like when we have the love the Lord and His Spirit living in us:

 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.  We love Him because He first loved us.  (1 John 4: 17-19 emphasis is mine)

That last sentence gives love a whole new meaning to me. We learn in just eight simple words that the source of all love is from God. He created it, and gave it to us. That is the only way we can love, and we learn from Him. 

Dear friends, on this "love" day let us not get so wrapped up in mushy cards, candy, chocolate, and flowers that we forsake our First Love like the church in Ephesus did (Revelation 2:4). On the contrary, we should remember constantly the ultimate source for love- our Heavenly Bridegroom Jesus- and share His love with those who need it. 

Love your secret admirer, Libby (well I guess it's not a secret anymore!) :D

Howdy Friends!

It seems that since 2011 has been upon us, I haven't posted yet! The new year so far has been full of many new blessings and changes. I have also realized that I am terrible at taking pictures, as I hardly have any to share of our recent happenings. 
Some fun news is that we have been honored to receive the Stylish Blogger Award from Miss Frannie over at Authentic Virtue ! Thank you Frannie!
If y'all can wait just a second, I'm going to go get my camera and put the pictures on the computer to see if I have any worth sharing.  :P

Alright, I found some! 

Auto-timer, take 1...looks like I'm dancing!

The temps dropped on Christmas night so we bundled up for a walk!

I got to go visit my elementary school....happy memories!

Dad and I went to OKC to celebrate my lovely Grammy's birthday!

Hmmm...wonder what they could be....

I know these are overdue, but I was so excited with how they turned out I just had to share them!

 

Well with the New Year, here's what's happenin':

1. Co-op started! Emmy has: basic Chinese, Personal Finance, and study hall . I help teach 1st grade art, Drama, and Study Hall
2. I started helping on Mondays and Wednesdays at a Christian school where a sweet lady from my church is the principal. I help in the 3rd grade class, mostly with a little girl who lost her leg in a car accident and needs help getting caught up. It's such a blessing to get to spend time there and I hope I can be a blessing to the teacher and the 3rd graders. (there are only about 15!)
3. Emily is learning choreography for Beauty and the Beast ballet and getting ready for a trip to New York!
4. I have been reading 1 Samuel-2Kings in order to get ready for a mission trip to Arizona next month.
5. Last Saturday, we visited Medina Children's Home and had a wonderful time of fellowship and service with the teens there. (we picked up trash along the highway, and found some interesting rubbish such as a cowboy boot and a skull of some animal. [: )
6. And the most important news of all.....

             .....WE ARE MOVING! To Colorado Springs. Daddy had to go early so he left on Monday, but we won't be going until sometime in June. He'll be able to come back a few times. As much as I wish we could just up and leave, because i'm so excited, we must stay behind a while longer for co-op graduation and to sell the house. 
This move is such an answer to prayer. The Lord couldn't have chosen a better location for us to move. We have always loved His creation up in Colorado. The honor, praise, and glory all goes to Him for His unfailing faithfulness. Have a blessed week my friends! I'll try to post more often!

Homeschool and schedules!

Good afternoon folks! Today we are going to be talking about....schedules. Okay maybe not just that, we'll talk about other fun stuff too! Anyway, back to the schedule thing. For the homeschooled readers out there: What do your days look like? Is it structured with a daily schedule of when to wake up, do English, eat lunch, etc? Or do you use your homeschool freedom to the fullest extent by just doing whatever, whenever, as long as your work gets done everyday? I have some friends who say they wake up early to do their math, and others who tell me that they sleep til 10 a.m. and "go to school" in their jammies! So just for fun, I'd love to hear back about what y'all do!
At our house, we go by a loose schedule. By that I mean we wake up at a decent hour, have breakfast, and start the day. Some mornings we wake up earlier than others. We usually have lunch around noon, depending on what time we ate breakfast. The school work tends to wrap up around 2 or 3. And we hardly ever work in our pj's.

Also friends, I was wondering if anyone had any tricks to remembering when to use who and whom. I'm learning about it in English Comp. and I mostly have a grasp on it, but it still takes me a while to figure out which pronoun to use.

Hope the week is good and that everyone learns something new! Many blessings, Libby