Saturday, May 27, 2023

Daytime Reading

Dear Ladies,
I am expecting to get busier than I ought to be at The Manse, and so, with a few moments of quiet before the rush, I have been getting ahead with broadcasts. I hope they are suitable for you!

While the day was relatively pleasant I reenacted one of the habits of my youth, and did some reading outside.


Today I read part of the ending of Wives and Daughters, where Mr. Hamley is encouraging his son to ask Molly Gibson to consider accepting him.  Dr. Gibson is also in favor of it but wants Roger to tell Molly himself.  I liked that Elizabeth Gaskell used the word "undeceived" to describe informing someone of the truth. 


I also read this list, which occurred in church bulletins since ever I can remember:

Questions to Ask Before Making a Decision
~Will it glorify God? 
~Will it help or hinder my growth and influence as a Christian?
~Will it uphold God's principles or compromise them?
~Will it harm my body or mind?
~Will it lead to an unhealthy addiction?
~Will it draw the lost to Christ?
~Would I want others to follow my example?
~Will it disappoint my family?
~What will my parents say?
~What are my real motives for doing this?
~What is the wisest thing to do?
~What would Jesus do?

You might be interested in The Language of Flowers, which I have read about in previous broadcasts. This is a beautiful site with good Victorian graphics of "floriography" from old publications.

Please enjoy your home while you listen:

               

8 comments:

Lydia said...

Dear Lydia,

You are so very kind to deliver 3 messages to us in quick succession. I have been enjoying all the advice on reducing and eliminating harmful stress on our bodies. Yes, God only gave us one body to serve Him with, so it’s crucial we learn more about being good stewards as we care for them. The more vital I become, the less I feel like doing activities away from my home. Like you, I have tried to make my home a place that I desire to spend time in, away from the stress out there. Lately, even running errands and grocery shopping makes me want to hurry back quickly to the calm and peaceful atmosphere at home. Thank you for the scripture encouragement from Philippians 4. May the Lord bless you and give you wonderful peace at the Manse. Many thanks for producing these beautiful broadcasts.

❤️Holly

Flossy said...

Hi Lydia - funny that you mention about the old vinyl records as my husband has just purchased an old stereo unit and some records as he's missed the sound quality of them... the newer technology seemed to lack what these old recordings had!! Amazing how much they are to buy now though..... if only we knew - I would have kept all of our old albums.... people are paying top dollars for them now!! Cheers from sunny Brisbane!! xx

Lydia said...

Flossie I know you g people who start listening to their parents vinyl records on their stereo players who say the sound is wonderful I suspect when we were unable to play those records on the good players we gave up a bit of soothing comfort and didn’t know we were without a mental buffer against stress. The new players and phones didn’t have the surround sound that sounded so nice all over the house. I used to put on a record — anything from Mozart to Mancini, in the morning. My children grew up with that happy sound . The music was more than the tune or the rhythm. There was a a feeling of all being well.

Lydia said...

Dear Lydia, loving your broadcasts and I also really love the paintings by

Robert Payton Reid and Barbara Mock on your blog!

Sincerely,
Carolyn

Hanah said...

I so appreciate the decision-making questions! And I love that bright, vibrant, plaid blanket. Also, family is so important, but if one must depart from family of origin, I've found these 3 scriptures (and all of God's word) comforting, reassuring, and validating:

-And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it. Luke 8:21
-When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. Psalm 27:10
-And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. Mark 10:29-30

*Also "The Saint Must Walk Alone" by A.W Tozer*

Janine said...

I enjoyed the reading and hope we will hear more! My son likes doing geocaching. There's a website where you find hidden items. Near his grandma's there's a large rock in a park and someone discovered a part of the rock could be removed and they put in a tin with a golf pencil and paper for people who find it to write their names. We added some Jesus loves me stickers to the tin for an extra surprise for people to take. I think I read about letter bixing in Readers digest a few years ago. Great video!

Lydia said...

I was thinking, since we dont have close access to public place where letter boxing is available, we might try that with our grandchildren on our own premises, in the yard and under places.

Laura Jeanne said...

Thank you for this lovely talk, Lydia. I always appreciate when you remind us of the things we can do to relieve stress. I like the idea of sitting next to a record player and doing nothing but listening. Everything is multitasking these days, but that is not very relaxing. You know, you can buy record players again, and vinyl records also. Plus, thrift stores are good places to find old vinyl records - as long as you check to ensure they are in good condition.

I recently inherited quite a large collection of old records that used to be my grandfather's. They're mostly classical, or hymns. I don't have a record player, but I'd like to get one now, so I can enjoy the same records Grandpa listened to back in the 1970s. :)