1:28 AM
Who am I? That is something hard to define, (as one realizes when trying to do a profile!). Who I am should be defined in the light of the love of God, and in the same light I should see everyone else on earth. Furthermore, it is easy to talk about things like faith, grace, and love, but aren't they hard to define? I have collected what I deem some of the best definitions, gleaned from favorite authors, and will gladly share them with you hoping you will be blessed, but would like to ask that you do me a favor and contribute any excellent definitions you can come up with to add to the list. Will you do that?
DEFINITIONS
LOVE
(1) The passion of self-giving
(2) The overflowing result of one person in fellowship with another.
FAITH
(1) Taking God at His word
(2) The open hand receiving Christ
(3) The faculty of realizing the unseen
(4) Saying "amen" when God says something
GRACE
(1) The other word for love, speaking of the initiative of God
THE GLORY OF GOD
(1) His love; perfected love
FORGIVENESS
(1) The fragrance a flower leaves on the heel that crushes it
PATIENCE
(1) The principle of delayed gratification
(2) Staying in God's crucible until His purification is finished
MEEKNESS
(1) The inwrought nature of Christ which qualifies him that possesses it to share the throne of the Lamb
HUMILITY
(1) The natural response of being in the Presence of God
JOY
(1) Not the absence of trouble, but the Presence of Christ
(2) The sign that we are really living in God's wonderful love, and that love satisfies us
12:59 AM
Here is a quote I ran across: "America, you have aborted your children, now your children will abort you." That's clear enough, and I wonder..... what of China with the cry of its abandoned unborn?
On a different note, I've been researching a little on some heroes of the past, and want to ask if any of you have, or have read, a book about Ernest George Fenton Hall, a WW1 fighter pilot turned missionary to the Amazon Indians of Brazil...a "corn of wheat" that early " fell into the ground and died". I would like to read his journals.
All I have been able to find was one quote, which indicates something about his character: I have sometimes a sort of fear,"Well, if I surrender everything I know to him, I won't have anything left to surrender!" (Speaking, of course, about things spiritual, points in which we find ourselves not surrendered.) But somehow there always seems to be something new to give Him, and when you get into the habit of it, there's nothing so joyful as hauling out some skulking Agag and hewing him in pieces before the Lord (it sounds a bit bloodthirsty, but I'm sure Samuel enjoyed it--even if Agag didn't!) Well, anyhow, these " Agags" have nothing to be said for them. They are a bad old crew. Many of them are very moral and respectable Agags. Some of them are very laudable and pious Agags. But all of them are kings of Amalek--Amalek, the flesh, the first enemy that attacks God's people when they escape from Egypt!"
Highly interesting is the account I have just read of William Threfall (Born 6-6-1799), a Methodist missionary martyr. I must give his testimony as a 17 year old: I verily found that I was altogether unlike God; and that it was impossible for me to live or die happy except my sins were pardoned, and my soul converted from a love of sin to a love of God. I thought if any were reprobated to that place "where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched" I was surely one of them. I was often led to wish I had never been born or had died in infancy. I frequently strove to stifle my sensibility of danger by associating with the gay and careless, or by reading plays and novels. This had the effect of hardening my heart and darkening my mind. It was the way to endless ruin; it led me farther and farther away from God and from happiness. But still I knew there was a day fast approaching, a day of trial which I could not escape; and this was a sting to all my sinful pleasures and foolish diversions, even when my companions thought me the most jovial of the party. But the Lord called a relative at a few minutes' notice into the invisible world to give account to his Maker. This awful providence had a powerful effect upon my mind. I thought, "If the Lord were to call me to account suddenly, I am sure to perish for ever and ever. my feelings were aroused and I began to pray..."if I am not indeed out of the reach of Thy mercy, look down upon me and save me, for if you call me hence I shall be lost to all eternity. If Thou canst, soften my heart, break down my pride, subdue my stubborn will, and make me a new creature..." I was much tempted to give up praying, but I thought again "I cannot but hope there may still be mercy; therefore I will never cease praying and if I perish, I perish." My heart still hard, I heard a sermon on the Prodigal Son. I thought his prayer would just suit me. When the preacher came to speak of the compassion of the Father, I could hold out no more for weeping, my hardness gave way, and my soul was dissolved in penitential tenderness. While he spoke of the love of God to poor sinners, my soul was set at liberty. I felt and saw God was reconciled....He was my Friend; neither was I afraid for the Lord was my Refuge and Strength.
The next year he wrote in his journal :"I dedicate myself afresh to the great I Am this solemn moment for Thee to live and for thee to die. William Threfall age 18 years and 18 days." In Africa near the end of his short, adversity-packed life, he wrote: "As I have rejoiced in past perils, I go triumphant to meet my future foes. My way is clear, my victory is sure. Like the Hebrew children, I cannot be burned." With what courage he faced martyrdom! There is much in this account of blessing for youth (and the rest of us). Do you identify with any of this? God has not changed; The God of Elijah (who answers by fire!), of the three Hebrew children and of William Threfall (and countless other victors) still lives!
7:28 PM
Lizzie and Justin:
May your wedding day be all roses; (Song of Sol. 2:1-4)
Mem'ry pictures all sweet poses; (Eccl. 11:7)
Your love be all Christ discloses; (1 Cor. 13)
Your blessing be Asher's from Moses. (Deut. 33: 24, 25, 27)
Grace and peace from God the Father,
Grace and peace be thine.
May His image, glorious radiance
Ever in thee shine.
Love and joy of Christ the Saviour,
Love and joy be thine;
Manifesting to a lost world
Love better than wine.
Faith and hope grow through the Spirit,
Faith and hope be thine,
Savoring Christ's invitation,
"Dear ones, come and dine."
In reading this morning in the Bible of a wedding, I sensed that God waits to be gracious and turn our water into wine! We can't hope to "live happily ever after" in this world, "for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth", nor will all our dreams come true---still He gives what is better in fulfilling His will, fulfilling His joy!
On home life, the periodicals that are tops are Above Rubies, Keepers at Home, and An Encouraging Word. Above Rubies Website is great too. Enjoy!
1:33 AM
My verse of late has been "Until the day break and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense. " (Song of Songs 4 : 6) Right there is so much to meditate on .....
Finally.... we introduce you to our apartment in Light House. The fifth photo above shows the entrance way, while another shot shows Annelisa holding my prized flowers in front of the two hidden rooms ( they remind me of The Hiding Place and I sometimes wonder if we will have occasion to hide anyone in them). The rest show the exterior of the building and a couple shots of our little park (which, typically, takes the place of a yard for most of us in Asian Village). In the park by the pond where goldfish were busy, I saw an old woman looking frail, painfully thin, and deeply despondent. I smiled and nodded in passing. Twenty minutes later I had forgotten her as I crossed on the stepping stones through the water to where she still sat. She raised a bony finger and described circles with it (not sure what that meant) so I struck up a conversation as she arose eagerly, face lighting as we exchanged pleasantries. I had a curious sense of God laying foundations for a bridge to this pathetic soul.....most rewarding! I reflected on the danger of being so preoccupied with my own issues that I fail to see the pain and need of others. Publish Post
PRAYER
Give me an undivided heart,
An undistracted mind,
To ever choose the better part,
Thy matchless Presence find.
12:47 AM
Apparently pictures of "Light House" upload invisibly.....we're back to that. A picture-free pause..... Well,though nothing momentous seems to be occurring, I want to note the tiny blessings of life. (1.) My "blue" (looks more purple to me) hyacinth is in full bloom and smells heavenly. (2.) Out by the exercise equipment I got a little surprise when an unidentified wild creature scampered by, then turned and came toward me before vanishing. Wild-creature sightings are rare enough to be pretty note-worthy here, but this was unique in that it was a little yellow fellow the size of a thin squirrel.... a new species?
(3.) Next some cute little boys caught my eye. "Are they twins?" I asked Annelisa. "Yes- -no! Triplets!" They were identical and dressed identically, and I was impressed that the mother, with whom I spoke, managed the little trio so well. Onlookers coping with their tots were amazed, remarking that one is all they could ever expect to manage, and that was hard enough. "The little Emperor" syndrome caused by the one child policy bears much evil fruit; it is always refreshing to see a "large" family (meaning more than one!)
(4.) This last one is not classed as a small blessing.....it's BIG! I've been reading a couple of marvelous books : Living Water by Heavenly Man (every page seems to flow with grace abundant) and Rowland Bingham : Into Africa's Interior (my special love for missionary biographies aside, this account portrays the absolutely amazing potential in one life lived for God.)
10:54 PM
Before we go on to pictures of Light House, it is best to show these scenes taken out the window of, or around our Gudang apartment. The white dog is Chicken, who is deeplly devoted to us, though he spent only a few weeks of his babyhood as our puppy.
A country couple who had had nothing to eat for two days met Christian and Annelisa and asked for help. When taken to a restaurant and asked to choose what they wanted, they demured, saying whatever was cheap. It was a blessing to be able to buy their meal!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)