Taking Stock, vol. III / Links

Making : muffins. I've made five batches this week: three of lemon chia-seed, one of blueberry, and one of pumpkin. 
Cooking : tomatoes in the oven. I just had a brilliant, late-night idea that I'm sure someone else has already done. I sliced a fresh tomato, topped it with cheese, and put it in the oven for five minutes. Teeny pizzas!
Drinking: smoothies. Blueberries, pineapple, kale, carrots, lettuce--they all go in.
Reading: all. the. time. Fortunately, we have a treadmill. I've set up a "treadmill desk" and walk while I read. Otherwise I'd probably fall asleep on the coach or chair.
Wanting: a kitten. There, I said it.
Looking: forward to youth group! I've never been part of a regular youth group, but after YXL I wanted to get involved with one.
Playing: "Think of Me" (Jackie Evancho's video). I'm singing this for voice lessons, but the timing is a little tricky. 
Wasting: tea. I'll often make a big travel mug-full for choir or voice lessons, and then I only drink half of it.
Sewing: still nothing. I'm knitting that fox scarf, though. Hopefully it will be ready for Christmas. 
Wishing: We could make it out the Central Market more often.
Enjoying: the feeling of accomplishment. My online Veritas classes started this week, and I decided I was going to concentrate on school all day, and then in the evenings I could check blogs, instagram, etc. It's worked out well, and I don't have those distractions that last ten minutes instead of five.
Waiting: for approval from my teacher to take a class off. Then I can go with my choir to see "Amazing Grace" on Broadway! Love our annual NYC trips.
Liking: pictures of the cutest nieces in the world, as well as pretty pictures my talented friends take.
Wondering: How some people have the time to do stuff outside of school.
Loving: Little Women all over again. I watched the movie on Thursday (I laugh and want to cry pretty much every time. never gets old) and started rereading the book yesterday. If you haven't done either, DO IT NOW!
Hoping: September starts to cool down and we'll have a snowy winter (because I don't have to drive...yet).
Marveling: At the beauty of the crows that have been hanging about. They are not very pretty birds by themselves, but seeing them glide across a still, grey sky is wonderful.
Needing: to cry. Sometimes I get that need-to-shed-some-tears-and-get-out-this-pent-up-emotion feeling. Happens about once a week, haha.
Smelling: a lot of wet mornings. It rained all day today and the poor chickens were soaked.
Wearing: lots of skirts, since I'm doing Skirtember. 
Following: Smitten Kitchen, Caroline Potter, and Urban Poser instagram accounts. Because food! And pretty pictures!
Noticing: the mornings are getting cooler. Maybe it is wishful thinking.
Knowing: everyday is a new day.
Thinking: about all the things I should have done, should be doing, should do. 
Feeling: fairly at peace about above thoughts.
Bookmarking: nothing much. Too much school to do any research, and I use pinterest for all my recipes.

In His plan

"Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood,
    who draw sin as with cart ropes,
who say: “Let him be quick,
    let him speed his work
    that we may see it;
let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near,
    and let it come, that we may know it!”
Woe to those who call evil good
    and good evil,
who put darkness for light
    and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
    and sweet for bitter!
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
    and shrewd in their own sight!"
-Isaiah 5:18-21

I'm working my way through Isaiah using this Bible study. One of the questions asked which of the "woes" in chapter 5 struck me the most. Verses 18-21 were what got me. The people described in this passage are impatient and think they know best. They run along their sinful way, and demand the Lord adhere to their plans, times, etc. They think their plan is best. 

I often stumble into this way. I have a plan as to what my life should look like. I think I know what is best, and it does not include any trials I may be going through. I wonder if God really has my best interests in mind. Does He really love me? If so, why would He give me this?

I'm also reading the Westminster Confession of Faith for school (yay Omnibus), and it is constantly stressing the perfection of the Lord's counsel. He is wisest, strongest, mightiest, highest, and yes, He does love me. I am in His plans, His wondrous, incomprehensible  plans.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts."-Isaiah 5:8-9