"And seeking for no other footsteps. . ." | a few wintery things

Ely church

“Be guided, only by the healer of the sick, the raiser of the dead, the friend of all who were afflicted and forlorn, the patient Master who shed tears of compassion for our infirmities. We cannot but be right if we put all the rest away, and do everything in remembrance of Him. There is no vengeance and no infliction of suffering in His life, I am sure. There can be no confusion in following Him, and seeking for no other footsteps, I am certain!” 


It had hardly been my intention to take a month-long break from blogging leaving off in the middle of a blog-party and all that, but I have discovered this past month just how much a three-week trip overseas can wreak havoc to any of one's orderly plans :). I will definitely be sharing more about that, in my next posts (how could I not?), but for now, I am going to write a few random wintery things I am up to to get me back into the rythme of things (I feel like I have been away from the internet for so long!). Also part of this post is to share the upcoming release of the planetary fantasy novel, "Plenilune" by Jennifer Freitag, which I am very much looking forward to. So with the preliminaries out of the way, here we go:


The fate of Plenilune hangs on the election of the Overlord, for which Rupert de la Mare and his brother are the only contenders, but when Rupert's unwilling bride-to-be uncovers his plot to murder his brother, the conflict explodes into civil war. To assure the minds of the lord-electors of Plenilune that he has some capacity for humanity, Rupert de la Mare has been asked to woo and win a lady before he can become the Overlord, and he will do it--even if he has to kidnap her.

                                                   En route to Naples to catch a suitor, 
                            Margaret Coventry was not expecting a suitor to catch her.

                                                                               *****
Since 2012, I have been following Jenny's blog, The Penslayer; I read and was inspired by her wonderfully stirring debut novel, The Shadow Things early on, and from then on I eagerly kept up to date with the magical bits and pieces she's shared of the works she has been penning on her blog- we've been waiting for her to share her full work, and now the day has finally come! Plenilune, a planetary fantasy novel, by Jennifer Freitag (author of The Shadow Things) is coming out on October 20th, 2014. Mark the date on your calendars; keep your eyes peeled for the cover-reveal too! 

                                                                         {writing}
Want the truthful answer? Well, I have written very little in the past few months. Nothing to be perfectly frank - I have jotted down a few scanty notes for A Love that Never Fails, and ideas for an entry in Anne Elisabeth Stengl's Beauty and the Beast retelling - still toying with the ideas and seeing if I can manage to fit something like that into my crazy busy days ;). But I have attended a writer's workshop during July which was really good, and it has inspired me to get back into writing seriously on my novel, and to stop "dabbling"; with God's help, I can do this. . . Hopefully this feeling will help me stay motivated through the next few months of schoolwork to fit the time for serious writing. (Fingers crossed!)

                                                                         {reading}

Ah, yes. I am right now near the finish line of "Little Dorrit" by Charles Dickens - yay! I have actually really enjoyed reading this classic work, and am gaining a whole new appreciation of Charles Dickens' writing, in comparing it to some of his other books "A Tale of Two Cities" and "A Christmas Carol". I am quite looking forward to reading more of his works too, especially "David Copperfield" and "Great Expectations" in the coming months, Lord willing. 

For devotional, I have just started "The Moral Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ" by J. G. Ballett, which I've borrowed from Dad's library; it is one of those books he's highly commended for me to read, so I think that will be really good! 

Having finished Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis recently, and hearing an amazing dramatized reading of his powerful article "Weight of Glory" I've wanted to read more of Lewis' books so I have some more of his non-fiction books in my pile right now, as well as George MacDonald's "The Princess and the Goblin" and "Phantastes"; some modern authors I am eager to dig into in the coming weeks are Davis Bunn, Kim Vogel Sawyer, Anna Schmidt, Melanie Jeschkie and Janette Oke. We'll see how much "modern fiction" I can take for a bit ;).
                                                                         {listening}
I haven't listened to music in a few days. . . dear me, that's bad. I remember recently putting on a YouTube playlist for Sons of Korah, and also listening to some classical music on the plane-trip but that's about it. *frowns and shakes head*
                                                                         {watching}
Well, first of all, there was the "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" teaser trailer which I got to see while I was sick with a tummy bug. It made me feel almost immediately much, much better- it also made me want to cry, because it is the end of the trilogy, and some of my favourite characters are going to die, and dear Bilbo will be so scarred and sad. . . *tears up* I am so full of anticipation, how must we wait till December to see it? Thus, feeling very much in a hobbit-ish mode, I watched "The Desolation of Smaug" again last week - that was great. There was also a clip from the extended edition which is coming out soon; did you all see that. . .? 
 And also I saw the Disney animation "Brave" for the first time. . . 
It was strangely captivating. and weird. and I loved the Celtic stuff!
                                                                         {the weather is...}
The weather is quite cool and sunny - lots of people are having colds though, so we're all trying to stay warm and cozy. . . 
                                                                         {looking}
I am looking at the things in my life right now, the lessons I am learning, the people I interact with, the experiences I am going through, and then looking back from where I was and where the Lord is bringing me to - treasuring it up, learning from the mistakes and quietly meditating on what God is doing in my life - I then look ahead and see that the paths in my life are so full of possibilities, hopes and fears and dreams. . . and I realize I must lay it all up at the feet of the Lord Jesus and look to Him for my all. It is a daily thing, this learning to look unto Him. . . 
                                                                         {learning}
There are so many constant lessons I am learning, it is really hard to pin it down to one thing - also I am a very bad student in my walk with the Lord, and keep having to repeat the lessons given to me, struggling with things over and over again. But I have a very patient and loving Teacher, and that gives me hope.
                                                                         {feeling}
A little tired, physically and mentally, but mostly thankful and refreshed in spirit, praise the Lord.
                                                                         {anticipating}
Hmm. Many things that I am very much looking forward to, Lord willing,in the coming months - completing my school-goals, finding time to sit down and write, taking up driving lessons maybe, reading more books, completing my violin exam, Christmas-time with all its joys, and the last Hobbit film, of course. (you knew that was coming.)
                                                                         {wishing}
Wishing I had more time to do everything I would like to do. . . 
                                                                         {loving}
I am loving the fact that God surprises us with the unexpected things - we have our made-up plans and worrying over them so much, but He really knows what is best and does everything so beautifully in His perfect time. . . it is wonderful! 
{praying}
And now. . .  it comes to the really painful part. But we have to share it - it is the sufferings and persecution of the Christians in Iraq right now. Oh! What horror our brothers and sisters in Christ are enduring. . . how we need to pray for them! Such suffering that can hardly be named, - it is so, so terrible, and the world is so silent. Articles like this one, just break my heart. There are really no words to say - only to cry out to God, and pray "Lord, have mercy".

 "When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed." (Revelation 6:9-11 NKJV)

Why the Arabic letter 'n'? "In the Koran, Christians are called Nassarah. Islamic militants single out Christians in Iraq for attack by spraying the Arabic letter ‘N’ for Nassarah on their homes. Join us by changing your Facebook/Twitter profile picture to the ‘N’ icon found on this page." 
-Voice of Voice of the Martyrs Australia

Comments

  1. Lovely post, Joy!! That's so awesome that you're writing a story for the Five Enchanted Roses contest!! I've been thinking about entering...I just haven't gotten anything on paper yet!

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  2. You know, I was thinking the other day I wouldn't mind seeing "Brave". I've heard it's different to Tangled and Frozen, but I am really liking the new style of Disney. :)

    Ohhh! What Kim Vogel Sawyer and Janette Oke books are you reading? Those two are in my top five authors - I *love* their books!

    I haven't read too many Dickens, but have enjoyed the ones I have read. My favourites are Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol. You've inspired me to go and find Little Dorrit now! :D

    Looking forward to hearing more from you - I missed you while you were gone! Sounds like you had a great time in England. God bless you! :)

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  3. The animation in Brave is incredible, and it's definitely a unique story. The triplets are the best. :)

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  4. The minute I saw the title of your blog I knew I'd like it, and then I saw all your wonderful LOTR quotes along the sides of your blog and I just squealed inside and clicked 'follow'. Can't wait to read more from you :) :)

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  5. Hi Emily,

    Thanks! It is lovely to see you on Fullness of Joy blog :). Actually, I have been doing quite a bit of thinking, and I will probably not enter the Five Enchanted Roses contest after all. I am so busy these days with schoolwork, chores and violin-playing, it is crazy to try and fit anything else in, much as I would love to :). All the best with the publication of your novel, by the way.
    Blessings, :)
    Joy

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  6. Emily (with a D!), I liked Brave, but not nearly as half as much as I liked Tangled and Frozen. It has a bit of magic/Irish folklore that rubbed me the wrong way, and a lot about changing your fate, etc, which wasn't my favourite. But it was fun, and the animation is awful cute :).

    I haven't started reading Kim Vogel Sawyer's novels yet, but I am hoping to read "My Heart Remembers" and "With Every Heartbeat" sometime soon =). I just finished reading the first two books for "Love Comes Softly" and I have loved them a lot - they are so good, and I liked them better than the movies too. I look forward to reading the rest of the series =).

    Do read "Little Dorrit" if you can, Emily, I think you will really love it. Also the BBC tv adaption is pretty wonderful too. You should check it out and tell me how you liked it (book/movie), okay? :) <3

    Aw, thank you, dear Emily! I missed chatting with you too. . . yes, I had a lovely time in England and can't wait to share more about the trip on Fullness of Joy soon. Thank you so much for your sweet comment, dear.

    God bless!

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  7. Thank you so much, dear Esther! You put a big smile to my face. It is such a blessing to have such lovely blogging followers/friends like you <3
    God bless!

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  8. Lydia, thanks for stopping by! Aw, yes, the triplets are so, so funny :). The animation in brave is pretty spectacular, especially the landscapes, though I am personally more fond of Frozen and Tangled in story-line.

    Many blessings :).

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  9. Hi Chloe! Thank you for visiting my blog amd following my blog too; I am always so pleased to meet a new face on Fullness of Joy and hope you enjoy what you find there, though I am not an awfully good or regular blogger, to be honest. I love Lord of the Rings, I find it so inspiring and I am glad you liked those quotes <3 :)

    Many blessings!

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  10. The Love Comes Softly series is soooo good! I re-read it recently. You know you're on a good series when you can read it over and over and not get sick or tired of it! :) I also really like the Women of the West series by Janette Oke, although I haven't read all of them. The three I would especially recommend are "The Calling of Emily Evans", "A Bride for Donnigan" and "A Gown of Spanish Lace". *sigh* they are so lovely! :)

    I'll see it I can find and start "Little Dorrit" this afternoon - I almost always read the book before watching the movie. ;) I will most certainly let you know how I like it. :D

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