More from Webster's 1828 Dictionary:

VEN'TURE, v.i.

1. To dare; to have courage or presumption to do, undertake or say. A man ventures to mount a ladder; he ventures into battle; he ventures to assert things which he does not know.

2. To run a hazard or risk.

On my own, joy seems such a venture.  But joy, rested in Christ, is not uncertain in it's success.  The joy of the Lord is our Strength.  And He never changes.

Rest well, in that knowledge!

Precarious Joy

My joy is precarious!

precarious PRECA'RIOUS, a. [L. precarius, from precor, to pray or entreat; primarily, depending on request, or on the will of another. 1. Depending on the will or pleasure of another; held by courtesy liable to be changed or lost at the pleasure of another. A privilege depending on another's will is precarious, or held by a precarious tenure. Well, according to the 1812 Websters Dictionary definition!   My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less By: Edward Mote My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteous; No merit of my own I claim But wholly lean on Jesus’ name On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand. When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace; In every high and story gale My anchor holds within the veil. On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand. His oath, his covenant, his blood Sustain me in the raging flood; When all supports are washed away, He then is all my hope and stay. On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand. When he shall come with trumpet sound, Oh, may I then in him be found, Clothed in his righteousness alone, Redeemed to stand before the throne! On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand. Hymn # 368 from Lutheran Worship Author: John Stainer Tune: Magdalen 1st Published in: 1836

Not exactly my way

When we know our Father is in charge, that the maker of the universe knows, cares and has a plan bigger and higher than ours......


This week I face a dream come true.  The details have not worked out the way I had dreamed for a decade.  Yet, I anticipate that that was of the Father's hand to answer another heart-cry.  Then illness threatened the whole thing for us.  Enemy attack or part of His plan?  Either way, my trust is in Him.


  What does the Father have in mind for this?  I do not know...yet.  Truth be told, I may not understand "why".  I do know that the God of the universe has given me a heart's desire, that I do not deserve, cannot earn, and cannot make happen myself.  So while it is dressed in clothes other than my choosing, I will be thankful, and by His grace, choose to believe it is His will, His best.

Mary, journeyed to the New World as a Pilgrim.  In the fictional account, Mary recalls the words of her mother after her father passes away before setting foot in their much-longed for home...

"'Tis far easier to embrace sadness than to reach for joy."  Her mother spoke truth.  From now on, I shall work to take to joy over sadness, Mary decided, as God is my strength."


Wendy Lawton's work Almost Home may be a work of historical fiction.  The truth is not.