These thoughts are from one of my most favourite books, Steps To Christ. May they bless you as much as they have blessed me.  These little pink flowers have been quietly blooming in the cold of winter against the side of my house, silently bearing witness of His Love to us.

The children of God are called to be representatives of Christ, showing forth the goodness and mercy of the Lord.

 

In every one of His children, Jesus sends a letter to the world. If you are Christ's follower, He sends in you a letter to the family, the village, the street, where you live.

Jesus, dwelling in you, desires to speak to the hearts of those who are not acquainted with Him. Perhaps they do not read the Bible, or do not hear the voice that speaks to them in its pages; they do not see the love of God through His works. But if you are a true representative of Jesus, it may be that through you they will be led to understand something of His goodness and be won to love and serve Him.

 

Christians are set as light bearers on the way to heaven. They are to reflect to the world the light shining upon them from Christ. Their life and character should be such that through them others will get a right conception of Christ and of His service.

 

If we do represent Christ, we shall make His service appear attractive, as it really is. Christians who gather up gloom and sadness to their souls, and murmur and complain, are giving to others a false representation of God and the Christian life. They give the impression that God is not pleased to have His children happy, and in this they bear false witness against our heavenly Father.

 

Satan is exultant when he can lead the children of God into unbelief and despondency. He delights to see us mistrusting God, doubting His willingness and power to save us. He loves to have us feel that the Lord will do us harm by His providences. It is the work of Satan to represent the Lord as lacking in compassion and pity. He misstates the truth in regard to Him. He fills the imagination with false ideas concerning God; and instead of dwelling upon the truth in regard to our heavenly Father, we too often fix our minds upon the misrepresentations of Satan and dishonor God by distrusting Him and murmuring against Him. Satan ever seeks to make the religious life one of gloom. He desires it to appear toilsome and difficult; and when the Christian presents in his own life this view of religion, he is, through his unbelief, seconding the falsehood of Satan.

 

Many, walking along the path of life, dwell upon their mistakes and failures and disappointments, and their hearts are filled with grief and discouragement.…Have there not been some bright spots in your experience? Have you not had some precious seasons when your heart throbbed with joy in response to the Spirit of God? When you look back into the chapters of your life experience do you not find some pleasant pages?

 

Are not God's promises, like the fragrant flowers, growing beside your path on every hand? Will you not let their beauty and sweetness fill your heart with joy?

 

The briers and thorns will only wound and grieve you; and if you gather only these things, and present them to others, are you not, besides slighting the goodness of God yourself, preventing those around you from walking in the path of life?

It is not wise to gather together all the unpleasant recollections of a past life,--its iniquities and disappointments,--to talk over them and mourn over them until we are overwhelmed with discouragement. A discouraged soul is filled with darkness, shutting out the light of God from his own soul and casting a shadow upon the pathway of others.

 

Thank God for the bright pictures which He has presented to us. Let us group together the blessed assurances of His love, that we may look upon them continually: The Son of God leaving His Father's throne, clothing His divinity with humanity, that He might rescue man from the power of Satan; His triumph in our behalf, opening heaven to men, revealing to human vision the presence chamber where the Deity unveils His glory; the fallen race uplifted from the pit of ruin into which sin had plunged it, and brought again into connection with the infinite God, and having endured the divine test through faith in our Redeemer, clothed in the righteousness of Christ, and exalted to His throne--these are the pictures which God would have us contemplate.

Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!

 

I have been studying meekness recently…the thoughts and words are not mine but those from the study guide that I have been using....and they are words that have added a new dimension and understanding of the word meekness for me….I have to share the blessing if you have time to read.

 

 

On the weekend I couldn’t resist going out and getting some photos of the signs of spring coming on the campus where I live…enjoy!

 

 

What is meekness? It’s an attitude of humility toward God and gentleness toward people—when we recognize that God is in control and that we can trust Him, even when things don’t go the way we would like, which is so often the case. To be meek, one needs confidence, not in oneself but in the Lord.

 

Meekness, rather, is the result of a per­son’s conscious choice to trust in God and lean on Him, as opposed to pushing for one’s own ways. Thus, meekness arises out of strength, not weakness.

 

Meekness is the absolute ceasing to fight for our agenda and believ­ing that God will fight on our behalf for His. Meekness is the opposite of self-assertiveness and self-interest. It stems from trust in God’s goodness and control over the situation.

 

The meek person is not occu­pied with self—an attitude that’s key to the promise of finding rest for our souls. After all, aren’t our turmoil and agitation so often due to seeking only for ourselves and what we want? In  the truest sense, then, a meek person is one who has learned to die to self, and that takes faith, courage, and perseverance.

 

 

Meekness will be manifested in how we relate to others. That is, it’s something that is active, something that will reveal itself in our words, attitudes, and actions.

 

 

Meekness is a fruit of the Spirit, it’s something that comes to us from God and not from ourselves. Nevertheless, we need the daily surrender to the Lord, the daily willingness to obey in faith, in order for meekness to be made manifest in our lives.

 

 

A meek person isn’t concerned with lifting himself up before men but rather lifting God up. As a result, God promises to exalt the one who is meek.

 

The peace of Christ, the peace of Christ—money cannot buy it, brilliant talent cannot command it, intellect cannot secure it; it is the gift of God. The religion of Christ—how shall I make all understand their great loss if they fail to carry its holy principles into the daily life? The meekness and lowliness of Christ is the Christian’s power. It is indeed more precious than all things which genius can create or wealth can buy. Of all things that are sought, cherished, and culti­vated, there is nothing so valuable in the sight of God as a pure heart, a disposition imbued with thankfulness and peace.

 

What are your thoughts?

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s the day of rest

Of peace

Of re-creation

The Sabbath

My most favourite day of the week

And it is quiet

The rain is falling gently outside

I am cosily tucked under my fluffy white comforter

Enjoying the silence and the rest.

 

It’s a time to reflect, to be thankful and a time to share…

This week didn’t turn out as expected…do they ever?

But it was full of unanticipated opportunities.

One was to hear a four part series shared in the chapel across the way from our home by Scotty Mayer of  www.littlelightministries.com called “Battlefield Hollywood, “ – a revelation of the truth about how easily we are deceived by someone who has been on the inside and now has found a living Saviour…if you are interested you can watch it at www.weimartv.com   There truly can be and is no marriage between darkness and light!

 

Another was unexpected time to rest…not because I wanted to but because it crept up on me and I found myself struggling with a really intense cold. It gave me time to think, to ponder, to plan, to pray.

 I read something that really leapt off the page at me and the main thought was this – we need to choose to be intentional – we will either know the pain of discipline or the pain of regret…which would you choose?  I certainly would pick the pain of discipline for with it comes the reward of success in the end.

As I was given this time of forced rest, it was a time to ponder and be thankful for the many blessings in my life:

 

The amazing man I am married to who came home over lunch to see how I was doing…seeing his smiling face looking at me right then was such  a comfort and joy to me…he has done so much to help take care of me and things around here while I have been sick.

 

My  children who have willingly helped me and the moments of conversation that we have been able to share.

Books that inspire me written by people who have travelled the path before me and that encourage me to focus on God and doing things His way.

The warmth of a home, hot  tea, a cosy bed, comfortable pillows, warm clothes, hot showers, the fragrance of my favourite coconut body wash given to me by a sweet friend.

A surprise gift in the mail from  another dear friend – a wonderful book on raw foods.

The taste of sweet juicy mandarins given to us by our “American mom”.

 Simply delicious strawberries and crunchy apples.  

 I have done nothing to deserve these blessings and so many in this world know nothing of these things….I am grateful…Lord show me how to bless others who are in need…

This morning early I slipped out of bed to make my dear husband a cup of ginger tea and myself a cup of hot lemon & pau de arco tea – not my usual choice but I am doing all I can to give my body the best chance of recovery.   I love the time that we share each morning studying His word together.  This morning found us in 1 Peter 5 and these are the thoughts that moved me…

We need to do God’s work willingly and with eagerness and not because of any reward we might receive.  Our lives need to be an example to those around us.  God’s work? Everything I do I need to be doing for Him, to His honor and His glory.  To have an happy heart  because I have the opportunities that God has given me – whether I am folding washing or cooking – thank you Lord for my family – or taking the time to give attention to a family member who needs me now, even thought it  might be inconvenient to me.  That I when I am at work talking to people on the phone that I will take the time and care to encourage them in the same way that I would want them to have encouraged me had I been in their shoes.

We need to be subject to eachother and clothed in humility – to respect others, their ideas and opinions even if you don’t agree with them.  Willing to realize that in the scope of eternity, does this really matter? Do they matter more to me than my being right or having my way matters to me?

God gives grace to the humble…if I am not humble I am not in a position to be able to receive His grace….humility….that is a whole study on it’s own! Lord teach me to be humble…

To be willing to submit to God’s plan for my life as that is the path to success…it’s not about what I think the plan for my life should be, but about His plan for my life and my heartfelt surrender to Him because I love Him and trust His judgement better than my own even though now the pathway  seems dark and I cannot see what the future holds….I just know that the safest place to be is holdng His Hand and following in His footsteps and letting Him lead me.  Casting all my cares on Him for He cares for me…He cares for me so much that He died for me on Calvary….if He loved me that much that He had to rescue me, surely He will provide for me.

Suffering is the path to glory – He allows us to go through times of suffering that we may realize how much we need Him, that we may learn to depend wholly on  Him,  that our security will be found in Him alone – and in the process we become like Him – perfect, established in the truth, strengthened in our faith and settled in Him.

In the words of one of my favourite authors: “Through conflict the spiritual life is strengthened.  trials well borne will develop steadfastness of character and precious spiritual graces.  The perfect fruit of faith, meekness and love often matures best amid storm, clouds and darkness.” Christ Object Lessons Pg 61.

Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled….He is always faithful to fill my hungering and thirsting soul….to inspire, motivate and encourage me…

 

 

As I am still not feeling that great and do not want to share my germs with others, we did not go to church this morning…I am always sad to miss out, but glad that my now grown-up children were able to go together and enjoy all the blessings of worshiping with others. 

But we didn’t miss out altogether as we were able to go to church at Pioneer Memorial Church (www.pmchurch.tv) in Michigan via The Hope Channel (www.hopetv.org) which we get free via satellite and were able to hear Dwight Nelson speak about God being in the heavenly temple and how that is relevant to me in 2010…that will be another blog post another day.

 

My husband made a wonderful suggestion that we take a drive up to Bear River as we have not been there in ages…a lovely drive along meandering country roads.  Being a cold day it was quiet at the river, the water flowing gently over the rocks and pebbles in the stream bed…and many things came to mind…a song that I learned in my childhood and then taught to my children in their childhood…”give said the little steam, give oh give, give oh give…” and of the part in Hinds Feet on High places where it talks of the steams that ever flow lower, always willing to give, bringing life to others….and of the water of life that God has promised to freely give to me that I might never thirst again. 

 

 

 

 

I love being outside, and I love being in nature, and I love being with my best friend….it was fun recording the moment.  And then the rain started to fall, and so after exploring a few more country roads we headed for home.

 

  

 

 

Surely His goodness and mercy follow me all the days of my life!

 

You know those moments of revelation, those defining moments that have a huge impact on you and broaden your picture of God and of life…

 

My son brought home a book called “God in Pain” by David Asscherick, read it and recommended it to me.

 

I have been reading it…and it has been speaking to my heart, so I can’t but share the blessing…

 

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose….What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?  Rom 8:28-32

 

The cross is our guarantee that God is on our side.

 

It is our guarantee that He is for us and not against us.

 

It is our guarantee that He is trustworthy.

 

The cross proves that God has not and will not abandon us. Not even in the worst of times.  How can we be so sure?  Here is our answer: “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani” (Matt 27:46)

 

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

 

Jesus didn’t just feel forsaken; He was forsaken.  And the fact that He was forsaken is the guarantee that you will never be.  We may (and often do!) forsake God, but He will never forsake us!  Here it is:  “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb 13:5)

 

Jesus:  forsaken

 

You:  unforsaken.

 

The latter is the guarantee of the former.

 

We may in our darkest, most painful moments feel abandoned. But there is a broad chasm between feeling and fact.  We must learn, as Paul apparently did, to bring our feelings, frustration and fright to the cross.  And there our feeling of abandonment and neglect begins to dissolve for we look upon one who was abandoned both in feeling and in fact.  We may not have every answer to every burning, aching question that haunts us, true, but we have the answer – the answer that gives us unalloyed confidence that every as yet unknown answer would be found satisfactory by us.  In other words, at the cross we learn to accept what we don’t know about God and His plans on the basis of what we do know.

 

If in the providence of God, we are called to endure trials, let us accept the cross and drink the bitter cup, remembering that it is a Father’s hands that holds it to our lips. Let us trust Him in the darkness, as well as in the day. Can we not believe that He will give us everything that is for our good?  Even in the night of affliction, how can we refuse to lift heart and voice in grateful praise, when we remember the love to us expressed by the cross of Calvary?

 

Are you in pain?

 

God was in pain.

 

Your guarantee of deliverance from pain was Jesus’ deliverance to pain.

 

 The reality of God in pain, then, paves the way for God to be with you in your pain.  Beside you.  He knows.  He understands.  He’s felt what you are feeling. He’s ached like you ache.  Bring your pain – all of it – to Him who knows better than you what pain is. Your pain may be great and terrible.  Your suffering insufferable.  But remember two words:

 

“All things.”

 

And remember their guarantor:  the God of the cross.”

It’s early and we walk hand in hand, contemplative and prayerful as the new day begins.  Bare branches are silhouetted against the blue-gray as we trample over the last few fallen leaves of winter. The aging, rain-soaked pavement glistens in the lamplight.  The potholes are now peaceful puddles, motionless and silent, reflecting the quiet and the glory of the morning after the rain-storms of the last twenty-four hours.

 

It is my desire that the potholes in my life today be filled with Him and that they will become peaceful puddles, where self is motionless and silent, and that all that is seen will be a reflection of Him.

 

Flames flicker

Creating a gentle light

In the darkness.

Shadows play across our faces

And warmth embraces us.

 

As the fuel is consumed

It gives its very existence

That we might have warmth and light.

Will I let self be consumed by Him

That others may experience

His warmth and His light?

 

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:28-29

 

 

With New Year’s Day this year came the most precious gift of time to spend with the one person who matters most to me in this world, my best friend, the love of my life, my husband.   Time for us to enjoy each others company and to communicate as we travel down roads together that we have never travelled before.

We take only what we really need – an overnight bag,  one or two items of food just in case,  cameras to document the adventure and a GPS to help us find our way.

Our preferred destination is programmed into the GPS and we faithfully follow every suggestion given by a gentle voice who because of modern technology knows the way better than we do.  Along winding, misty roads, the sound of the ocean in our ears until we reach the peaceful harbor and our place of rest.

 

 

This year in 2010 my preferred destination is still set to Heaven and spending and eternity with my Heavenly Father.  I know that the journey will take us along misty and winding roads this year, but it is our desire to just as faithfully follow His gentle voice each day of this new year.

Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.  Proverbs 4:26

Today our son turned 20 years old!

I can hardly believe it!

I am thankful to the Lord for His work in our son's life...

Not just recently but every day since he was born.

I am thankful that despite our imperfect parenting skills,

that He has blessed our efforts in raising him to know the Lord and

that he has turned out to be a fine young man who loves the Lord wholeheartedly...

He is such a blessing in our lives.

I am so grateful....thank you Lord!