The Sun Through the Leaves

This morning I and my sister woke up earlier than everyone else. We decided that we would take a walk through our large backyard while the sun was still rising and the grass was still wet with the morning's dew.  I put on my boots with my pajamas, while she put on her pretty robe with the red roses on it. Then we ventured out into the morning. It seems like every time I go outside our yard is more wild than it was before. At the bottom of the hill, by the creek, there was a large branch that touched the ground and made a wonderful green shield to hide behind, our apple tree was as big and blossoming as ever, and the creek bed had become a jungle of fallen tree branches and overgrown grass during my absence. 

Our creek bed runs all the way behind our neighbor's yard. It's hidden behind a thick wall of tall cane like weeds which you can't see through; in this shaded place we have discovered a perfectly wonderful path through an archway of leaves and sunlight. Today however, my sister proved herself to be much more of an adventurous person than I. She was in nothing but her nightgown and robe, with no shoes or socks on. If I had been like her, instead of having my comfy boots on, than I would have completely refused to trek into the woodsy wilderness behind our neighbor's yard. But she wanted to go down it more than I. The journey was well worth it. Several changes had taken place since I had last been down the rugged path; a few thick branches of trees had fallen across the creek bed, and the leaves had begun to fall. It was truly glorious to see the sun come shining through the roof of leaves overhead, it certainly is the most beautiful thing I have seen in a long time. We made it through the muddy path and into the open air once more, where the pretty fluffy weeds had overgrown the path to make a soft cushion for one's feet. At this point we decided to turn back just in case we were caught by one of our neighbors in our pajamas. But my, it was a beautiful sight! 

When we got back to our yard we picked some apples from the apple tree for breakfast, and weeded my sister's garden. She used the hoe, while I was gratified to use my bare hands. It's really amazing how the more weeds you pull up, the more there seems to be. My apple turned out to be quite delicious. And the day was set off with the glorious sunshine of early morning

Gretchen Emily Wolaver

Fight!

I'm asking for a miracle, nothing less. McCain is playing honorable, but is it really honorable to leave your country to a socialist lier? What kind of honor is that? Why won't McCain stand up and fight! Weren't the last words of his acceptance speech at the RNC, "Fight with me! Fight for this country!" Well, why aren't you fighting now, John McCain? Why aren't you fighting tooth and nail to defend this country from Barack Hussein Obama? It's like by trying to be 'honorable' he's handing the country over to Obama on a silver platter! Why won't the man wake up to facts? Doesn't he hear the people who are coming to his rallies, pleading with him to fight? If God doesn't put his hand out to save us, then I don't believe that we will win this election. And that's why I'm asking for a miracle.

Gretchen Emily Wolaver 

The Book of Hosea: Part Three

I finished the book of Hosea a good while ago, but haven't gotten around to writing my final blog on it until now. I'm now reading the book of Isaiah, which I will most likely be writing on as well, it's so magnificent! I've really enjoyed reading Hosea, it has some incredibly touching verses in it. There are some incredibly hard scriptures in there too; for instance:

9:11-12

Ephraim's glory shall fly away like a bird--- no birth, no pregnancy, no conception; if they bring up children, I will bereave till none is left. Woe to them when I depart from them. 

and:

9:14

Give them, O Lord----- what will you give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts. 

Those verses show in the clearest possible way why we fear God. Without his mercy and grace we are utterly and completely helpless. It's only through his mercy,  love, and guidance that we can be anything but wretched. This next verse was really moving to me. God's wrath has cooled and all that remains is grief, you can almost hear the tears in his voice. 

11:1-4

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. The more they were called, the more they went away; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them. 

The most touching part in that verse is when he begins to talk about teaching his son how to walk. I got choked up when I read that. It's so amazing how God uses human examples to put across his feelings to us. It just heightens our knowledge of the fact that every good thing on this earth is just a shadow of what is in Heaven. 

Through studying a bit deeper I finally figured out why Samaria and Assyria are mentioned so many times in the latter half of the book. Samaria took over Israel in the time of Ahaz; and the Israelites lived among them. Later on Assyria came down and fought with Samaria. Assyria won and they made Samaria pay them tribute. Through a sequence of events the King of Assyria grew to distrust the King of Samaria, and so he took over Samaria completely and the Israelites were scattered among the Samarians and Assyrians. I wonder if the Samarians of that time have any connection with the Samaritans of Jesus' time? or if they are two completely different peoples.

I only have three more verses that I want to write down here. The first is kind of a touching and interesting one:

13:14

Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from death? O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from my eyes. 

These final two verses are from the last chapter of Hosea. In the first one the Israelites are speaking. 

14:3

Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses; and we will say no more, "Our God," to the works of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy. 

I think that this last verse could be a prophecy about Israel at the end of time. It's really beautiful.

14:5-8

I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon; his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon. They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow; they shall flourish like the grain, they shall blossom like the vine; their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon. O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit.

Gretchen Emily Wolaver 

October Holiday!!

It's the first day of October, my favorite month out of the entire year. I think there should be some sort of celebration for October. Perhaps everyone should dress up in giant leaves of varying colors. We'd just be going back to our grass roots in Adam and Eve! =D I've actually gotten my coat out to wear this morning, it's chilly. Hallelujah! the sweat and gnats are through!

Gretchen Emily Wolaver