Lady Jane Grey

            What should I say about Lady Jane Grey?  The book by Faith Cook is well composed.  It made me feel more historically knowledgeable about the Kings and Queens and how they came to be crowned in England.  A family tree not easily followed.  I am not much of a reader, especially of history (go ahead and judge me now), so I made myself keep reading through several sections.  The middle and end were the best (meaning most interesting and directly about Lady Jane).  I understand the necessity of giving background history and information about the surrounding people, and I    appreciate it also.  But my rebellious intellect almost did not. 
               The self-focused motives of basically every royal head lead to outright evil behavior.  If one person was not committing adultery, they were plotting how to accuse someone else of it, or of leaving the Catholic church (even though many hardly had any kind of actual religion except self worship), or being an illegitimate child, etc. Lady Jane Grey was an exception, but her parents were not.  They promised her hand to the future King Edward, who Jane was an equal to in intellect, faith and age, only later to sell her to Guilford who she later did marry. 
The Queen Mary and her sister Katherine were the rightful heirs in front of Lady Jane.  King Edward (the one Jane was suppose to marry and with whom she was friends) was a Protestant man, unlike the countless mass going royalties, who became King at age 9. But upon his deathbed, he signed an act that named Lady Jane to take over the throne.  Both Mary and Katherine had been labeled as illegitimate, Kind Edward affirmed that and declared Jane to be the next reigning royalty.  She fainted at the news of his death and her immediate future.  She had the option to reject it, but after praying on the spot and feeling as if the Lord could be giving her this position, she was crowned.  Lady Jane Grey was Queen Jane for 9 days.  Mary had been anticipating her reign and so had a large majority of the population.  Jane was overthrown.  Because she accepted the crown when it "rightfuly" was Mary's as well as her strong Protestant faith, the execution of Lady Jane was expected.  She was put under house arrest.  Queen Mary did not wish to do the fair lady harm.  If Lady Jane would recant her biblical beliefs and "return" to the Catholic faith she would be excused. 
           She is best known as the Tudor Pawn and that is exactly what she was.  Because of the people's strong dedication to King Henry VIII they wanted Mary as their Queen and that is what they got.  Lady Jane was executed like many other Queen's in the tragic and twisted ways of the throne. 
The story of her strong faith is why the book is worth reading.  The last part of the book was my favorite because it showed her faith was real and her wits were sharp (and she was sixteen).  Queen Mary sent Feckenham, the Catholic priest, to "save" her.  Their debate lead them to a deep but quick friendship.  He said that she could have been the teacher and him the student.  Neither convinced each other theologically and both confidently told each other of the others destination.  Fechenham was one out of a few that saw her for who she was with great respect.  Others who did were some reformed theologians who corresponded regularly with Lady Jane in her young years.  She was very well educated, perhaps the only good thing she recieved from her parents, and blessed to have a personal tutor who taught her the Scriptures leading to her strong belief in justification by faith in Christ alone.  Nothing, even her immediate execution would cause her to back down from the truth.
She watched her husband walk past her tower and be killed in utter fear.  She then walked the same path and laid her head down, alone, and met her Maker.  Her death was unjustifed but her soul was not.

5 Books in less than 100 hours

This goal might be a test of my little patience - I already wrote one blog and just as I was wrapping it up, I lost it.  So here is my second attempt to summarize my goal this week.

Going on vacation and super excited.  Rest is a good thing.  Especially in the middle of work.
I have set a goal to read 5 books this week....probably unrealistic, especially for me.  But my hardheadedness might be a good thing this time around in getting me through them all.  I hope to summarize or highlight something from each book for the solidification of them in my mind as well as the encouragement of others.  I suppose to encourage you to read also.  The mind is a tool given to us by our Good King.  I know mine needs to be sharpened and exercised and reading and writing I do believe is a main method to do this very thing.  Read and think with me.

Here are the pickings:

1) When People Are Big and God is Small, Edward T. Welch
2) Respectable SINS, Jerry Bridges
3) Lady Jane Grey - Nine Day Queen of Englad, Faith Cook
4) A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards, George M. Marsden
5) Fools Rush In - Where Monkeys Fear to Tread, Carl R. Trueman

I had summarized them from a pre-read status, but not the second time around....look them up and/or stay tuned for each post-read ramblings. :)

Also - the great theological book of Romans - I must return to memorizing it as I meditate on it.

“It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it.”
--Oscar Wilde

Welling Up

Dry.
At a stand still.
It wishes to never move again in hopes it will not feel.
Perhaps it will not continue to look the wrong way, and walk the wrong path.
Better to pluck it out than let it fall.

Taught.
Given the prescription to truly see.
Or is a new one altogether?

Overrun.
The waters encircle the circumference.
It has beheld the grace upon itself.
It cannot stand still.
It looks and responds.
What else has it been made to do?

There is a reality of the unseen that places the faith within.
The truth welling up its windows to the soul and no longer can the light be hidden.
Pour out of thine innards and splash the grace of the One who sees and knows and founds it all.

Compressed

Tight.
Burdened.
Sharp.
Compressed.

I did not know such a positive emotion could result in such pain.
I have heard the tales and read the thought.
Now this beating entity wishes to stand still.
Maybe then it would not thrust its pain with each passing moment.

Oh - now I know its real.
Now I know it does exist.
Oh - will another ever hold it dear and let me shower upon it also?

Beat. Beat. Beat.
Love.

Promptings

There are surroundings that lend themselves to prompt words.
Words of thought and sentiment
Words sung in delight
Words written to express

What is this thing within that makes me want to create
The incentives of a scenic reality is perhaps an echo of the ultimate truth.

There is a very real creation all around
My very cells were put together

The wreckage of depravity put the union to death
And now the cells move about in limited grace in a body prepared for wrath

But just as pure as the snow falls,
The grace of justification fell on me
The creature now worships the Creator

The peace of the white lace causes this heart to smile
To think of the new heart beating now in union with the Good King

There our surroundings of true art all around
That prompt a response to the greatest truth
The greatest story unfolding since the beginning, my new creation but an iota
The story is concluding, the consummation anticipated.