Thursday, November 14, 2013

SILENCE

Sometimes we have a reason for silence and quiet.  We have a cross to bear or a duty to perform, or just living.  This morning I came across something that is so true.  I picked up a book after moving, from a box.  It had been in storage a long time. From the time I was a young Christian this author has been a mentor.  Now I am an older Christian woman myself.  Her wisdom and knowledge of living a Christian life have given me pearls of thought about Christ and our Christian lives over the years.  

From "God's Guidance-A Slow & Certain Light"

The taking up of the cross will mean sooner or later saying no to self.  But it is also a resounding yes.  It means saying yes when everything in us says no.  To decide to do the thing that we (and it will seem everybody else in the world) do not want to do because it is not "natural."  And in our giving of wholehearted assent, we find to our amazement that the impossible becomes possible and the things we were sure were beyond us are now within reach, for God's command is his enabling.  Never has he given an assignment that was not accompanied by the power to accomplish it.

The cross entails sacrifice, too.  There is no getting around this.  Christianity has been criticized and rejected by many as an "unnatural" religion, a life that denies living, a negation and not an affirmation.  Jesus never tried to make it look easy.  The principles he taught cut across the grain of human nature: lose your life in order to find it; be poor in spirit if you want to be happy; mourn if you want to rejoice; take the last place if you want the first.  The corn of wheat must first fall into the ground and die if it is ever to produce anything.
  
What we must not forget is that he traveled this road before us. He himself endured a cross and thought nothing of its shame:--not because he had a particular liking for self-denial and suffering but "because of the joy he knew would follow his suffering.  Think constantly of him enduring all that sinful men could say against him, and you will not lose your purpose or your courage. 

Here is a poem she learned in college and what she says about it.

A few lines I learned while a student in college have come back to my mind, beckoning me when more immediate rewards were attracting my attention:


I heard him call "Come follow."
That was all.
My gold grew dim, my soul went after him.
Who would not follow
If they heard him call?
 by Elisabeth Elliot

Sometimes when we are called by Christ to do a certain thing, and we know some will not understand, we must follow his bidding.  He has a purpose for the future and the people involved that we cannot see.  We may or may not see the reason to take up such a cross.  What we can do is TRUST HIM, for he has the bigger picture in mind. We are but a piece of that picture, if we humbly hear his Call and Follow.   "Taking up the cross", as Elizabeth said, involves sacrifices that we may never have even thought of.  Thanks be to Jesus Christ our strength comes from him to accomplish these things asked of us.
Nana




Saturday, August 10, 2013

UP A TREE



Luke 11:11  If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 
Luke 11:12  Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 

I heard an illustration the other day.  What if your child was in a tree and about to fall and hurt himself.  He cried Daddy help.  Would we first say I am sorry you did not make your bed today, you hit your sister, you did not eat your broccoli, your homework is not done, you got into the cookies without asking, etc. etc.  No because he is your child you go immediately to help him down.

Jesus knew human nature, he knew what we were thinking, he knew our hearts.  Yet he came to save us anyway.  I personally am so grateful that he came to save me a sinner.  That I am in his family.  Have I been a perfect sin free person since I was saved.  Of course not, but every single time I asked forgiveness I was forgiven. Every time my life got messy I cried, Abba Father (interpreted Abba daddy) Lord Help.  Every time He was there ready to help me.  Did it set anything I did or did not do right , of course not, but I knew where to turn.

Rom 8:28  And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose.

I knew who had the answers, who could tell me the truth.  Where I would get rest and peace.  Whom I could trust with my future.

Heb 4:13  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

God knows the hearts of us all and only God. He knows our motives and our thoughts for everything we do, or not do.  We can trust Him to help us and then lead us in the right direction.

Heb 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 
Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 
Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and  find grace to help in time of need. 

Jesus came to save and help sinners. I am so glad that God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit has not laid before me my sins, but come to my aid every time I was up in that tree. That He knows my heart, and still makes intercession for me.  How great a salvation we have.




Tuesday, July 30, 2013

STORMS OF LIFE


Sometimes life can take an unbelievable turn.  Things that happened you never could have imagined.  Loved ones turn on you, friends giving advice-good and bad.  Family offering to help. A Church that stands behind you and gives you encouragement and love.  Others just shocked at it all.
You end up changing your plans for your life.  You do what the Lord has called you to do.  Understanding or fixing it is not what you are asked to do.  
The Lord has asked you, to be the one unchanging thing in their lives.  To remain faithful to Him and not ask questions but to trust and be there for innocent ones caught up in the situation.  To be the same as you have always been.  What is the same.  A faith in my Lord and Savior to get us through and show us "His" way and not our own.  To be there for them when they do not understand, showing them your love for them never changes, your devotion to them never changes, and you will help them in any way you can to get them through and on the other side of it-turning to Jesus Christ the author of our faith.
Nina