Welcome to my Weekend Musings!

They might be short, maybe long, perhaps even boring, but here they are. I am wanting if you will to make this a weekend habit as I am looking to write more. During the week, when I am at work and come home, my brain wants to do nothing more than go into vegetative state after a long day of being tormented by the demands of customer service. I am sure many of you know what I am talking about.

Yet, through those trying days, I want to write. The weekends are typically my best option as I a home and free from the stress of work and it’s demands. So, it is my goal, my prayer and wish to make this a habit.

Preparing to Move

I have been in Florida for about 7 years so, if memory serves me correctly. It has been good being here, having the beach and the small of saltwater touch your senes, but we have decided it is time to go. Sadly, with the influx of people moving here, the cost of living has risen. Property and rents are higher than Snoop Dogg. Over the past few years, I have seen the crowds here build and the streets get busier. It has been a good time here and we are thankful for the time the Lord has allowed us to have here, but we are now looking at a slower life and transplanting to Springfield, MO.

We are looking forward to the change of pace and of course, the affordability. I for one am looking forward to experiencing the seasons once more. My wife doesn’t miss the snow, but I do. I like the holidays and without the snow it is not the same. Seeing lights on a palm tree is just not the same as pine trees covered in snow and having a cup of hot chocolate while looking at the Christmas lights. I am looking forward to that part of things.

A new adventure awaits us and I am looking forward to it.

Social Media

The landscape of social media reminds of me of the apocalyptic landscape from Mad Max. Yet, hidden within social media are pockets of beauty and encouragement.I find myself on X, or as it was known, Twitter, simply because I have friends on there that I like to remain in contact with. Other than that, I am not on there much and barely do I post anything anymore.

While Social Media can be a blessing, it can also be a curse. Yet, blessing or curse is all how we use it. I have come to find for me, that it eats my time. I can spend too much time on it. I decided to unplug from it. I need a break from it, from the chaos, from the anger, from the depressing post that can be on there. I am thankful for friends that I have, but I need to be away from it.

Redeeming the Time

Time. It flies by, thats for sure. I am 48 years old. Relatively young, I know, but I am not getting any younger. Time does wait for us to make up our minds. How shall we spend the time that has been given to us. I must confess that I have wasted much of my youth pursuing sinful things. Even now, I waste time. I do not want to waste any more time. I want to make use of the time given to me. God has allowed me, by His grace to go on this long and I like to use the time that remains for Him.

It is my prayer and goal to read Scripture more, pray more and write more. I have had a heck of life of ups and downs, loss of loved ones, depression, anxiety and so forth. I want to take the experiences of my life and share them, in hopes that I can help some one out there.

Conculsion

So, in a nut shell, in simplest terms, I am making some resolutions to invest my time, wisely. The Lord has been good to me throughout the course of my life. I am undeserving of His grace. We all are. I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you all. I pray that I can encourage you, the reader in some way, shape or form.

Thank you!

Portraits of Faith

How often today, we forget the past. When people are brought into the church today, their Church history for them at least, begins with their pastor. Many are unaware of the rich history of our brothers and sisters of the past. It was said by the church father, Turtullian, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church”.

I have always had a love for church history and the stories of those that came before us. There are many and I want to touch some of them, from the most important to those that are not well known. I have decided to call this series, Portraits of Faith. These small essays are not meant to be exhaustive by any means, but a small snippet to get you to look more into the halls of Christian history.

So, with that said, let us have a look at Lady Jane Grey.

Jane

At a very young age, Jane was a very well a versed young lady with a Renaissances education. She was fluent in Italian, French, Greek and Latin. Her learning and studies caught the attention of her tutor, Roger Ascham. He was so impressed that he placed her in touch with the German Reformed, Martin Bucer and later, the Swiss Reformer, Heinrich Bullinger. She would often write them asking questions of spiritual significance and giving them thanks in helping her understand her faith more.

As for her family, at the age of ten, she was sent to live with Thomas Seymour, who was married to Catherine Parr, the widow of Henry the VIII, a widow who survived Henry’s bloody divorces. Catherine took interest in Jane as she herself was a devout christian. Jane’s faith grew deeper and stronger and this would be pivotal in what lied ahead for her.

The Nine Day Queen

Henry the VIII would eventually have the son he wanted, Edward, who was the same age of Jane when he reigned for a very short time. Ill and near death, Edward wrote up with the Privy Council revised the royal Succession. Edward did this as he feared his half sister, Mary Tudor, a staunch Roman Catholic and who would go on to be called, Bloody Mary, due her bloody persecution of those that opposed her and the Roman Catholic church. Edward did not want her to reverse of the effects of the Reformation that he brought on.

Hesitant, and with no political desires to be Queen, Jane was made the Queen of England. She was also married to Guildford, the son of John Dudly, the Duke of Northumberland. Dudly sought to secure his own royal dynasty with the marriage, but all this did not last long.

Mary Tudor was the next in line to be Queen and England at that time, revered the divine right of kings. Mary with forces opposed to Jane arrived in England and took over the Throne without fight. Immediately, Mary reinstalled Roman Catholicism and the mass.

Lady Jane and her husband were sent to the cold cells of the Tower of London, to await trial. Mary, at first was going to allow Jane to leave, but when Jane’s father joined the rebellion against Mary, Jane was not set free. Those that supported Lady Jane, her husband, Thomas Cranmer were found guilty of high treason and sentenced to death.

Lady Jane’s execution was set for February 9th.

Yet, Mary postponed her execution by three days sent her Chaplin, John Feckenham to try and convert the young Jane to Roman Catholicism. Jane’s conversation was written out by Jane herself. Jane’s knowledge of Scripture and her bold faith did not waver and she said to the much older Feckenham:

“I affirm that faith only saveth; but it is meet for a Christian, in token that he followeth his Master Christ, to do good works; yet may we not say that they profit to our salvation. For when we have done all, yet we be unprofitable servants, and faith only in Christ’s blood saveth us.” - Actes and Monuments, 416.

This sealed her fate. Yet, she remained steadfast.

One February 12th, 1554, her husband, Guilford Dudley was executed. Prior to his execution, she encouraged him to remain strong in the faith.

The night before her death, in the cold cell, she wrote a letter to her sister in the back of her Greek New Testament that she would leave behind.

As she stood at the gallows, before kneeling, she looked upon the crowd that watched:

“…I pray you all, good Christian people, to bear me witness that I die a true Christian woman, and that I do look to be saved by no other mean, but only by the mercy of God, in the blood of his only Son Jesus Christ: … And now, good people, while I am alive, I pray you assist me with your prayers.” - Actes and Monuments, 424.

Jane then knelt and recited Psalm 51 and and afterwards said, “Lord, into Thy Hands I commend my spirit”.

On February 17th, 1554, Lady Jane Grey entered into the glory of the Lord at the age of 17 years of age.

Sometime after her death, her letters would be share far and wide.

The Marion persecution would last 5 years and claim the lives of 280 Protestants who were burned at the stake for their unwavering faith. The testimonies of those that were executed for their faith can be found in Foxes Book of Martyrs.

As I conclude this first essay of many, I do hope and pray that the lives I share in these small Portraits encourage you study our history and may their stories and testimonies strengthen your faith, your walk in this life.

Lastly, I have included the letter that Lady Jane wrote to her sister the night before her death. May it encourage you as it has encouraged me.

‘I have sent you, my dear sister Katherine, a book, which although it be not outwardly trimmed with gold, or the curious embroidery of the artfulest needles, yet inwardly it is more worth than all the precious mines which the vast world can boast of: it is the book, my only best, and best loved sister, of the law of the Lord: it is the Testament and last will, which he bequeathed unto us wretches and wretched sinners, which shall lead you to the path of eternal joy: and if you with a good mind to read it, and with an earnest desire follow it, no doubt it shall bring you to an immortal and everlasting life: it will teach you to live, and learn you to die: it shall win you more, and endow you with greater felicity, than you should have gained possession of our woeful father’s lands: for as if God had prospered him, you should have inherited his honours and manors, so if you apply diligently this book, seeking to direct your life according to the rule of the same, you shall be an inheritor of such riches, as neither the covetous shall withdraw from you, neither the thief shall steal, neither yet the moths corrupt: desire with David, my best sister, to understand the law of the Lord your God, live still to die, that you by death may purchase eternal life, and trust not that the tenderness of your age shall lengthen your life: for unto God, when he calleth, all hours, times and seasons are alike, and blessed are they whose lamps are furnished when he cometh, for as soon will the Lord be glorified in the young as in the old.

My good sister, once more again let me entreat thee to learn to die; deny the world, defy the devil, and despise the flesh, and delight yourself only in the Lord: be penitent for your sins, and yet despair not; and desire with St. Paul to be dissolved and to be with Christ, with whom, even in death there is life.

Be like the good servant, and even at midnight be waking, lest when death cometh and stealeth upon you, like a thief in the night, you be with the servants of darkness found sleeping; and lest for lack of oil you be found like the five foolish virgins, or like him that he had not on the wedding garment, and then you be cast into darkness, or banished from the marriage: rejoice in Christ, as I trust you do, and seeing you have the name of a Christian, as near as you can follow the steps, and be a true imitator of your master Christ Jesus, and take up your cross, lay your sins on his back, and always embrace him.

Now as touching my death, rejoice as I do, my dearest sister, that I shall be delivered of this corruption, and put on incorruption: for I am assured that I shall, for losing of a mortal life, win one that is immortal, joyful, and everlasting: the which I pray God grant you in his most blessed hour, and send you his all-saving grace to love in his fear, and to die in the true Christian faith: from which in God’s name I exhort you that you never swerve, neither through hope of life, not fear of death: for if you will deny his truth, to give length to a weary and corrupt breath, God himself will deny you, and by vengeance make short what you by your soul’s loss would prolong: but if you will cleave to him, he will stretch forth your days to an uncircumscribed comfort, and to his own glory: to the which glory, God bring me now, and you hereafter, when is shall please him to call you. Farewell once again, my beloved sister, and put your only trust in God, who only must help you. Amen.

Your loving Sister.

Jane Dudley

Lady Grey Reference Guide