Weekend Words

 (I'm sorry the print/spacing may be a bit hard to read, but I'm still having intermittent problems with my laptop and had to type the post up in pdf form.  Hope you are still blessed by what you read)

From A Year’s Journey with God…

Blocked Goals

I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. (Philippians 4:11-13)

Gerhard Tersteegen lived in the 1700s and gave up life as a successful businessman to live completely alone with God in an isolated cottage. He hoped for a life of solitude in which to find peace for prayer and writing hymns and books. Obviously that was not God’s plan for his life! In 1727 the revival for which Gerhard had earnestly prayed actually broke out, and suddenly people started coming to his hideout in their hundreds, seeking spiritual help. Before long he was giving personal counsel from morning to night and eventually had to move to larger premises to make room for so many visitors. Life had become the very opposite of what he had hoped for, but something he wrote gives us a clue to how he reacted:

Oh take this heart that I would give,

Forever to be all thine own;

I to myself no more would live, -

come, Lord, be Thou my King alone.

God tells us that He has wonderful plans for all our lives (Jeremiah 29:11), but sometimes they are far from the plans we would have chosen! This faces us with a choice: we can either try to manipulate God into changing He ideas, feel resentful and sorry for ourselves, or react as Gerhard did.

From Behold the Lilies…

“...that there be no complaining in our streets. Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.” - Psalm 144:14-15

Are you one of the happy people or are you a person who complains? God’s Word has much to say about the common sin of ungratefulness.

The children of Israel complained when they were thirsty and there was no water. They murmured against Moses when the water was bitter and undrinkable. They complained because they grew tired of manna to eat. There were those God punished with death because of this.

I have to ponder how I would have responded. More important, I need to think about how I respond to my present unpleasant situations. As I consider how God so bountifully blesses and cares for me, I know why ingratitude displeases Him.

In Matthew 20 we see employees murmuring against their employer. They thought they were unfairly paid. Do we sometimes think that life is unfair? If we see someone with more of something than we have, can we rejoice or are we covetous? Maybe we think the past was better, and we forget to count the blessings of today.

The queen of Sheba’s testimony of King Solomon’s kingdom was, “Happy are thy men, happy are thy servants, which stand continually before thee” (1 Kings 10:8). Is this the testimony of those who observe our walk of life? Can they see our faith in God and a calm, quiet happiness? The queen of Sheba also said to Solomon, “Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee” (1 Kings 10:9). We must express contentment and gratitude so people can say the same of us and our God.

From Water My Soul…

Happiness Is

John 13

Everyone is seeking happiness in some way. The U. S. Declaration of Independence, written in 1776, promises “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” to every citizen and permits each of us to decide how to find it.

Where do you look for happiness? Where do I pursue it? Is it found in having lots of money? If it is, why are some of the wealthiest people also some of the unhappiest?

Is it found in fame and popularity? If so, why have so many famous people, perhaps in an attempt to flee the profound emptiness of their existence, taken their own lives?

Some believe power and authority translate into happiness. Others think good looks and many possessions will make them happy. Still others search for some sense of happiness in addictions that leave them more miserable than fulfilled.

I searched my Bible and found a different understanding of happiness. In John 13:17, Jesus says, “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”

It’s the only place I can find where Jesus made any promise of happiness to his followers. The verse tells us that if we know the things he asks us to do (they’re in the Bible) and we do them, we’ll be happy. And this happiness comes quietly as peace, tranquility, and hope.

I found only a few more references to happy in my King James Version. Here are three:

Behold, we count them happy which endure. (James 5:11)

But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye. (1 Peter 3:14)

If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you. (1 Peter 4:14)

Obviously, as Christians seeking to be citizens of heaven someday, our understanding of happiness is not quite that which we find in any dictionary – or the Declaration of Independence.

We’re happy … if we endure to the end, for that is when the crown of life will be presented.

We’re happy … if we suffer for righteousness’ sake. Instead of turning away from God, how much am I willing to suffer?

We’re happy … when reproached for the name of Christ. Will I stand strong for my convictions even when serving Jesus Christ would cause me to suffer as the earliest Christians did?

Some translations use the word blessed instead of happy in these verses.

So to be happy, to be called blessed, we endure. Whether it’s suffering or reproach or ridicule o something else entirely. We endure to the end.

Jesus endured the cross for me. I endure for him whatever he ask of me.

Prayer: Lord, when I want to be happy, remind me to seek it in your way, and not necessarily mine.

Weekend Words

From Our Daily Bread...

Search My Heart, God

Read: 1 Samuel 16:4-12

"People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

To reduce food waste, a supermarket chain in Singapore sells slightly blemished fruits and vegetables at lower prices.  In one year, this initiative saved more than 850 tons (778,000 kg) of produce that previously would've been thrown out for not meeting aesthetic standards.  Shoppers soon learned that outward appearances - scars and quirky shapes - don't affect flavor and nutritional value.  What's on the outside doesn't always determine what's on the inside.

The prophet Samuel learned a similar lesson when he was sent by God to anoint the next king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:1).  When he saw Eliab, the firstborn son of Jesse, Samuel thought he was the chosen one.  But God said: "Do not consider his appearance or his height .... People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (v. 7).  Out of Jesse's eight sons, God chose the youngest, David - who was tending his father's sheep (v. 11) - to be the next king.

God is more concerned with our hearts than with outward credentials - the school we attended, what we earn, how much we volunteer.  Jesus taught His disciples to focus on purifying their hearts of selfish and evil thoughts because "what comes out of a person is what defiles them" (Mark 7:20).  Just as Samuel learned not to consider outward appearances, may we, with God's help, examine our hearts - our thoughts and intentions - in all that we do. 

-Jasmine Goh

From Be Still and Know...

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6).

What do we do if we are hungry?  We eat.  What do we do when we are thirsty?  We take a drink.

Jesus used the everyday experience of eating and drinking to illustrate a spiritual desire.  Jesus said, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness."

Very little happiness is registered on the faces of people today.  An emptiness in their lives has not been filled, and they are hungering and thirsting for something more than what they have.  The accumulation of things, material possessions, or attainment of position in society cannot satisfy the heart.  "Happy are those who are hungry and thirsty for true goodness, for they will be FULLY SATISFIED!" (Matthew 5:6, Phillips).

This verse promises that our inner hunger and thirst can be filled, but only filled with the righteousness of God.  Phillips calls it the "goodness of God."  Righteousness is being right with God.  It is being right with God through Jesus Christ.  In 1 Corinthians 1:30 we read of Christ that "He made unto us ... righteousness."

Some fill their lives with possessions, homes, family, clothes, bank accounts, fame, talent.  But none of these things satisfy.  Satisfaction and fulfillment come to those who fill their lives with the righteousness (or goodness) that only God gives.

The psalmist wrote, "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee; my soul thirsteth for thee" (Psalm 63:1).

Paul reviewed his life, sharing that which gave it reality and satisfaction when he said, "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ" (Philippians 3:8).

Only in turning to Him can our lives be fully satisfied.  Jesus said, "I am the Bread of life: he that cometh to ME shall never hunger; and he that believeth on ME shall never thirst" (John 6:35).

Are you hungering for peace and contentment?  Are you longing for joy and satisfaction?  Then let Him fill you with Himself today. 

 "O taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8).

From In Green Pastures...

Grace for the Day

God does not give us his grace as he gives his sunshine - pouring it out on all alike.  He discriminates in spiritual blessings.  He gives strength according to our need.  His eye is ever on us in tender, watchful love, and what we need at the time he supplies.  He gives us grace for grace.  When one grace is exhausted another is ready.  The grace is always timely.  It is not given in large store in advance of the need, but is ready always on time.  It may not always be what we wish, but it is always what we really want.

What God Hath Promised

God hath not promised skies always blue, flower strewn pathways all our lives through;

God hath not promised sun without rain, joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

God hath not promised we shall not know toil and temptation, trouble and woe;

He hath not told us we shall not bear many a burden, many a care.

God hath not promised smooth roads and wide, swift, easy travel, needing no guide;

Never a mountain rocky and steep, never a river turbid and deep.

But God hath promised strength for the day, rest for the labor, light for the way,

Grace for the trials, help from above, unfailing sympathy, undying love.

- Annie Johnson Flint

Weekend Words

From Be Still and Know...

"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." (Ephesians 5:19)

Have you experienced a day when you had the "blues"?  You seemed weighed down with the cares of life?  Suddenly you heard someone singing or whistling and your spirits were lifted.  What therapy music is!

When Jesus Christ enters a heart, along with a new relationship comes a new song.  It may not be an outward song, but it is a song of joy that comes from the heart.  Even though we may not be able to sing aloud, the inward song of the heart will lift our spirits and the melody of it will catch the ear of the listening God.

The hearts of the early Christians were full of song because the presence of the Saviour was so real in their lives.  Paul and Silas were able to sing this song when in prison.  "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and SANG PRAISES unto God: and the prisoners heard them" (Acts 16:25).

We are to make melody to the LORD.  This turns the eyes of our heart to Him.  One of the blessings of the Christian faith is that it enables Christians to sing under all circumstances.  Our song of the heart comes from the confidence we have of knowing God is adequate in spite of outward circumstances and He is in control regardless of our situation.

Every Christian should have a song of joy overflowing from the heart as a fountain of joy.

Are you a member of the heavenly "singing company"?  Is your heart singing and making melody to the Lord?  If not, begin singing even though you may not feel like it.  Soon His song will well up and overflow from your life, blessing those about you.  "O for a thousand tongues to sing my great redeemer's praise; the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of His grace."

"Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments], making melody with ALL your HEART to the LORD" (Ephesians 5:19, Amplified).

From Behold the Lilies...

"Take therefore no thought for tomorrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself." - Matthew 6:34

One time I was sharing with a friend my concerns about a situation I was facing.  I was afraid that real problems would develop from that situation.  She merely smiled and said, "Just take one day at a time."  What good advice!  I quickly discovered that I could cope with the situation - today.  What happened with the problems I felt could develop in the future?  The Lord took care of the situation and the potential problems, and proved there was no need for me to worry.

All the challenges and responsibilities of life are much easier to handle one day at a time.  After all, today is God's gift to us.  He has not yet given us tomorrow, and if He does, He will see to it that it will be a good gift.  So, let's thank the Lord for today and trust Him for tomorrow.

I owe the Lord a morning song of gratitude and praise,

For the kind mercy He has shown in length'ning out my days.

He kept me safe another night; I see another day;

Now may His Spirit, as the light, direct me in His way.

From In Green Pastures...

Finding the Good in God's World.

Thankfulness or unthankfulness is largely a matter of eyes.  Two men look at the same scene: one beholds the defects, the imperfections; the other beholds the beauty, the brightness.  If you cannot find things to be thankful for today, every day, the fault is in yourself, and you ought to pray for a new heart, a heart to see God's goodness and to praise him.  A happy heart transfigures all the world for us.  It finds something to be thankful for in the barest circumstances, even in the night of sorrow.  Let us train ourselves to see the beauty and the goodness in God's world, in our own lot, and then we shall stop grumbling, and all our experiences shall start songs of praise in our heart.

Weekend Words

My internet has been down (all fixed now), and I also have the flu (slowly getting better), hence no Weekend Words last weekend.

From Beside the Still Waters...

Show and Tell - Read: Titus 2

"Let no man despise they youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." - 1 Timothy 4:12

School students are sometimes asked to prepare for a session called Show and Tell.  They bring items from home to show their classmates and tell something about these articles.  The students may tell how the things are made, how they function, or how they were obtained.  If the item is an animal, the student may explain its habits.

The Christian life is a continual Show and Tell exercise.  We should show by our words and our works what God expects of His children.  We should not only tell others about salvation through Christ, but also show how saved people live.  The four Gospels describe a paramount Show and Tell session with Jesus as the example.  From Him we learn how to conduct our own Show and Tell.

The verb tell has two basic aspects to be considered.  First, we proclaim the Gospel to tell others how to be saved and live for Christ (Matthew 28:19-20).  Second, we tell others "how great things the Lord hath done" for us (Mark 5:19) - as Jesus directed the man who had been possessed of demons.  In Luke's account, Jesus is quoted as saying, "Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee" (Luke 8:39).  So the account in Mark uses tell, and the account in Luke uses shew.

These two, show and tell, to together.  In God's sight they are inseparable.  But the emphasis in our day seems to stress telling at the expense of showing.  Jesus' way of witnessing included both showing and telling, and we should make it our obligation to follow His example.  Each soul converted through learning from our Show and Tell is one more individual who can conduct his own Show and Tell!

Dennis Martin - Smithville, TN

From Amish Peace...

Be My Disciple

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.  And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." - John 8:31-32

What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ?  It means to believe what He says, to trust in His son Jesus, to accept His presence, and to follow His way.  To be a disciple takes discipline.  It means no matter how old you are, you're still a pupil and, like the Amish, still passing on what you believe.  Author Steven Nolt writes,

"With their rejection of automobile ownership, public utility electricity, and the fads and fashions of Madison Avenue, they annually attract countless tourists and academics who see in Old Order people everything from images of nostalgic conservatism to icons of postmodern environmentalism.  Yet the Amish are really none of these things.  They are not timeless figures frozen in the past, nor the poster-children of political activists.  Taken on their own terms, the Old Order Amish are a living, dynamic church - a committed Christian community whose members have taken seriously the task of discipleship and group witness."

How seriously do you take discipleship?  Do you consider yourself to be a pupil of Christ?  The purpose of discipleship is to replicate the one you are following.  It's to embrace truth in order to share it.  The Amish live within the confines of their community, and as Christians we live within the confines of what can seem like "rules and laws".  Yet when we choose to follow God's way, we discover unexplainable freedom.  We can live pure lives, and we are free from guilt, shame, and painful consequences.  And when we live with frugality and simplicity, we can get free of debt and clutter.

Discipline takes commitment and focus, but the reward is freedom and right living.  Only a good God could come up with something as balanced and wonderful as that.

Dear heavenly Father, the more I follow, the more I walk in freedom.  Thank you for not leaving me alone but for allowing me to follow in Your steps and be filled with Yourself for the journey.

From In Green Pastures...

Divine Discontent

The ideal Christian life is one of insatiable thirst, of quenchless yearning, of divine discontent, wooed ever on by visions of new life, new joy, new attainments.  The trouble with too many of us is that we are too well satisfied with ourselves as we are.  We have attained a little measure of peace, of holiness, of faith, of joy, of knowledge of Christ, and we are not hungering for the larger attainments.  O pray for discontent!  With all the infinite possibilities of spiritual life before you, do not settle down on a little patch of dusty ground at the mountain's foot in restful content.  Be not content till you reach the mountain's summit.

A turbulent sixteenth century...

 Started reading this (off my bookshelf)...

"In the early 1500s a number of political and economic woes troubled Western Europe.  For more than 50 years a population explosion had outstripped the continent's ability to feed itself.  Inflation in prices and rents drove land-owning peasants into poverty, while in the towns and cities a growing group of powerful and wealthy merchants and craftspeople challenged the rule of hereditary nobles.  University scholars grew sharply critical of state corruption.

The menacing power of the Ottoman Turks to the east threatened feelings of national security.  Kings struggled not only to wrest power and authority from local nobles, but also against rival monarchs across Europe.  Anxiety only grew as the printing press shrank the European world.  No longer were events in Paris and Vienna so distant; the printed page relayed messages of doom, destruction, and social unrest from city to city in a matter of days.  Free from direct state control, the new press circulated ideas and arguments in a way that often increased anxiety and discontent." (page 6)

Not much has changed, except today, we don't even have to wait 'days' for the gloom and doom messages!

Weekend Words

 From Beside the Still Waters...

The Presence of God - Read Isaiah 43

"Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." - Matthew 28:20

While camping in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon, I became acquainted with two friendly young hunters who were trying to fill their elk tag.  They seemed quite puzzled that I was not hunting, but simply hiking off-trail through the forest to enjoy God's beautiful creation.  Why would someone walk around in the mountains, at risk of getting lost or meeting a bear or a cougar, and not even carrying a firearm?

"But what do you do?"  That was a difficult question to answer, for my only goal was to relax and revel in God's presence without any distractions.  Jesus said, "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while" (Mark 6:31),

It is just as beneficial for His disciples to do this today as it was two thousand years ago.  However, awareness of God's presence should never be confined to times of isolation in some remote region.  Nor should it be solely at Sunday services, prayer meetings, or home devotionals.  Thanksgiving, praise, worship, and communion with our Lord should be continual in our daily life.  Awareness of His presence should be foremost in our thoughts regardless of circumstances.  "Know ye not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16).  If this is so, all our daily decisions will be guided by a desire to do His will and to honor His name.

Years ago it was common among professing Christians to ask, what would Jesus do?  Seldom heard anymore, this question is still relevant to all who sincerely desire to maintain a constant awareness of God's presence.  Will you join me in making a commitment to that?

Pete Lewis - Halsey, OR

"Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence." - Psalm 140:13

From Be Still and Know...

"And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him" (Colossians 3:17).

God Has given us a guiding principle for our lives - doing everything as His representative.  "And whatsoever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, and come with Him into the presence of God the Father to give Him your thanks" (Colossians 3:17, LB).  This covers every area of our daily living; in our homes, our business world, our neighborhoods, wherever we are, whatever we do.  "And whatever you say or do, let it all be done with reference to the Lord Jesus" (Williams).  Don't leave Him out of anything.

When we do all in His name, representing Him, our desire will be to please Him.  "Make it our ambition, whether in our home or away, to please Him" (2 Corinthians 5:9, Weymouth).  Is this your ambition?

We will do everything for His glory. "Whether wherefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).  Everything in our lives, regardless of how small, ordinary, or insignificant, should be for His glory.  Is this your desire?

All we do will be with the right motive.  It has been said, "His name is our standard of perfection.  When all is done in His name, there is never a mis-taken step, a mis-spoken word, or an act rescinded."  Do you make periodic checks to see if your motives are right?

Sometimes we feel if we were taken out of our present environment, it would be easier.  But the standard is, "WHATSOEVER ye DO (and that includes WHEREVER YOU ARE) through His strength and power you can do ALL in His name."

Does this seem an impossible attainment?  It is.  We can't do it in our own strength, but God enables and empowers us for it through the Holy Spirit.

"For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey Him, and then helping you do what He wants" (Philippians 2:13, LB).

Our Glad Thanksgiving

To thee, O Lord Jehovah, We hymn our grateful praise,

For all Thy lovingkindness, The wisdom of Thy ways.

Blest tokens of Thy mercy, To sinful host appear,

And with Thy matchless goodness Thou crownest all the year.

For hope of joys eternal, For pardon through the blood,

And for Thy Holy Spirit, We thank Thee, O our God.

Ye saints, go tell of Jesus Till earth triumphant rings,

Till every creature bowing, Shall praise the King of kings.

Snippets from home...

 Winter has arrived!  Very cold nights and early mornings, but some nice sunny calm days...

a rare foggy morning

Good working in the garden weather...

preparing the raised garden bed Marnie brought over from her garden

Read these recently...

from the Mennonites (Rod and Staff publishers)

And I'm halfway through this one, set in Paraguay...

also from Rod and Staff

And these two from the library...

Recent op shop finds...

the little dish (that actually says 'jam') is for my salt

Working on this sleeveless vest for granddaughter Hazel for her birthday in August...

And a plethora of unfinished projects... (interestingly the word plethora came to mind.  I sort of knew what its meaning was, but I looked it up just to be sure...)

Plethora: a very large amount of something; overabundance; excess; especially a larger amount than you need, want, or can deal with.

Haha!!!  Spot on!

In the meantime, I continue to try and get some things finished before I start something else...

This was a bag of 50 new crocheted squares from the op shop for $5.  I thought I'd sew them together.  Now I know why they were at the op shop!  Not that there is anything wrong with them, except that there are 50 of them, and they are edged in black, which is very hard to see to sew up.  But I'll persevere... 

This is my 'Deloriane blanket' which I work on when I need a break from one of the other projects...

This will also be a lap blanket.  Eventually...

And this one for Wrap with Love charity just needs a few more ends woven in and a border done.  Maybe if winter last for a couple of years, I'll have enough longer winter evenings to work on them all and get them finished...

And I won't even mention the sewing projects on the go!! (sigh)

Looking very wintery down at the river the other day...

I often feel the urge to re-read the Little House books in winter...

"Next day another blizzard came.  Again that low, dark cloud rolled swiftly up from the north-west till it blotted out the sun and covered the whole sky and the wind went, howling and shrieking, whirling snow until nothing could be seen but a blur of whiteness.

Pa followed the rope to the stable and back.  Ma cooked and cleaned and mended and helped Mary and Laura with their lessons.  They did the dishes, made their bed, and swept the floors, kept their hands and faces clean and neatly braided their hair.  They studied their books and played with Carrie and Jack.  They drew pictures on their slate, and taught Carrie to make her A B C's.

Mary was still sewing nine-patch blocks.  Now Laura started a bear's-track quilt.  It was harder than a nine-patch, because there were bias seams, very hard to make smooth.  Every seam must be exactly right before Ma would let her make another, and often Laura worked several days on one short seam..."

(from On the Banks of Plum Creek)

 

And this From the Prairie: A Child's Memories: by Joan Vibert, (unfortunately I can't get the link to work, but it's on Amazon)

January 4, 1883  I hate snow.  I went out with Pa this morning to feed the chickens.  the snow was so deep that Pa had to carry me sometimes.  My scarf blew away and Pa had to run and get it.  I was in the chicken house all by myself and the chickens were pecking at me and flapping their wings.  I ran outside to call Pa.  He was at the food bin and I could not find Him.  The wind was so loud and Pa could not hear me.  I hate chickens too!

(by 8 year-old Sarah Jane)

So much to do and so little time...

I think I need a cup of tea :)

xx