If God has called you to be really like Jesus, He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands of obedience, that you will not be able to measure yourself by other Christians; and in many ways He will seem to let other good people do things which He will never let you do.
Other Christians and ministers who seem very religious and useful, can push themselves, pull wires and work schemes to carry out their Christian goals, but these things you simply cannot do. Others may boast of their work or their writings or their success, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, and if you ever try it, He will lead you into such deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.
Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, but most likely God will keep you poor, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence on Him and the joy of seeing Him supply your needs day by day out of an unseen Treasury. The Lord may let others be honored and keep you hidden and unappreciated because He wants to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade. He may let others do a work for Him and get the credit for it, but He will make you work on and on without knowing how much you are doing; and then, to make your work still more precious, He may let others get the credit for the work which you have done, and thus make your reward ten times greater when Jesus comes.
The Holy Spirit will rebuke you for little words or deeds or even feelings, or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem to be concerned about.
But you must make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign and He has a right to do whatever He pleases with His own. He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in the way He deals with you, but if you will just submit yourself to Him in all things, He will wrap you up in a jealous love and bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those who are very near to His heart. Settle it, then, that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem to use with others. Now, when you are so possessed with the living God that your secret heart becomes pleased and delighted with this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit over your life, then you will have entered the very vestibule of heaven itself.
~G. D. Watson (1845-1924)
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Thanksgiving...A year-round sport
I love thanksgiving! It used to be mostly because of the fall colors, the change of weather, football, decorating and cooking. But as I get older (and hopefully wiser) it is the intangible that captivates my heart. I have soo much to be thankful for!!
I was just reading some of my sons lyrics. He has an amazing talent. God has blessed him and will use him to proclaim His glory.
I watched my daughter make a wise decision that was very difficult, and she is still getting grief from her peers for it. But it was a mature decision. She was listening to God and not her peer group! She will lead many to Him.
I think that the things I am most thankful for are delivered to me through things and circumstances that I definitely DON'T want or like. The most precious gifts are gifts that I naturally would reject. But when I don't, when I embrace them and accept them even when they hurt or cost me, I am richly blessed.
For example:
When we first started down the long road of remodeling (years ago now), I remember sitting there sobbing on the floor staring at the ugly insides of our dining room wall. Studs standing naked, wires hanging out everywhere. I was begging God to make my husband hurry up and finish. I was sick of looking at the insides of my wall. How hard is it to slap up drywall, mud it, paint it and get on with life? But my husband, the consummate planner and perfectionist, insisted that we "do it right" which of course, meant replacing bad studs, all new electrical, new insulation, etc. This was NOT what I wanted! Nobody is going to see the inside of the wall! Who cares, just make it look nice!
I distinctly remember God speaking to me (no, not audibly) in the midst of my complaining. He directed my attention to His dwelling place (my heart). I was immediately and keenly aware of how I was prone to slap up a pretty "wall", and not waste time on the inside. I was convicted to the core. He DWELLS on the inside! The integrity of the house is internal, not external.
That naked wall, in this once-a-perfectionist's home, was a gift from God. A tangible reminder to be concerned about the things that matter-the things that God is concerned about. Craftsmanship take time. Not because God is slow, but because growth is a process, that has seasons.
I am thankful for my seasons. My falling down seasons, my empty seasons, my seasons of regret, seasons of victory, seasons of sorrow, seasons of joy, my care-free seasons, my seasons of hard struggling. I am thankful because each season produces.
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Cor.12:9.
I was just reading some of my sons lyrics. He has an amazing talent. God has blessed him and will use him to proclaim His glory.
I watched my daughter make a wise decision that was very difficult, and she is still getting grief from her peers for it. But it was a mature decision. She was listening to God and not her peer group! She will lead many to Him.
I think that the things I am most thankful for are delivered to me through things and circumstances that I definitely DON'T want or like. The most precious gifts are gifts that I naturally would reject. But when I don't, when I embrace them and accept them even when they hurt or cost me, I am richly blessed.
For example:
When we first started down the long road of remodeling (years ago now), I remember sitting there sobbing on the floor staring at the ugly insides of our dining room wall. Studs standing naked, wires hanging out everywhere. I was begging God to make my husband hurry up and finish. I was sick of looking at the insides of my wall. How hard is it to slap up drywall, mud it, paint it and get on with life? But my husband, the consummate planner and perfectionist, insisted that we "do it right" which of course, meant replacing bad studs, all new electrical, new insulation, etc. This was NOT what I wanted! Nobody is going to see the inside of the wall! Who cares, just make it look nice!
I distinctly remember God speaking to me (no, not audibly) in the midst of my complaining. He directed my attention to His dwelling place (my heart). I was immediately and keenly aware of how I was prone to slap up a pretty "wall", and not waste time on the inside. I was convicted to the core. He DWELLS on the inside! The integrity of the house is internal, not external.
That naked wall, in this once-a-perfectionist's home, was a gift from God. A tangible reminder to be concerned about the things that matter-the things that God is concerned about. Craftsmanship take time. Not because God is slow, but because growth is a process, that has seasons.
I am thankful for my seasons. My falling down seasons, my empty seasons, my seasons of regret, seasons of victory, seasons of sorrow, seasons of joy, my care-free seasons, my seasons of hard struggling. I am thankful because each season produces.
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Cor.12:9.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Back to the Beginning…The Theology of Sunday School Songs
There are two blogs that I visit often--to read only. One I will call the North and the other the South. They earn these pseudonyms for the most obvious reason. They are in a Civil War. You see, both authors are theologians that vehemently defend their representation of Christendom. Yet they are polar opposites! They line up in direct opposition on almost every point of (relevant) theology (and some non-relevant!).
I let you know this because I have made a decision to NOT read either one of them anymore-at least not regularly. It amazes me how cruel and petty these people can be, and how they can prattle on, ad nauseam, the merits of their camp and the ludicrousness of the other. But my real problem with them is this. When one takes such a staunch and unyielding stance on these seemingly paradoxical views in Scripture, something extremely dangerous happens. The most obvious outcome in trying to “explain” these God-truths in a way that makes sense to our limited and finite minds, is the gross distortion of the point that one sets out to defend and “prove”.
Take, for example, the argument of the South. Grace is completely free (I won’t tell you what the South calls this position, but both words are in this sentence). They go to such great lengths to support this that any Scripture that has to do with working out your salvation, or producing, or persevering, or overcoming has to be watered down or misrepresented in order to fall in line with what they have chosen to defend.
The North is just as bad. They focus so much on the working of your salvation and the human responsibility that they also distort God’s word.
The fact is, the Scripture is full of apparent contradictions. Men have been arguing them for centuries. And Lord knows I have absolutely nothing farther to contribute! No matter how hard man tries, we can never understand the infinite mind of God. And this is actually quite comforting. If I could understand the mind of God, what would I need Him for?
So, this is where I love to rest on these lofty doctrines. I believe both sides 100% (not the man-made distortions). Were we chosen before the foundation of the world? Absolutely. Does man have free will to accept or reject God? Absolutely. Is Salvation a free gift? Yes. Are we told to work out our salvation with fear and trembling? Yes. Is there only one God? Yes. Are there three distinct persons in the Godhead? Yes. Do those who reject God still bring Him glory? Absolutely. Did God choose to love us in our wretchedness? Yes. Is God absolutely just? Yes. Is God absolutely merciful? Yes. Etc…
I rest in the fact that I don’t know. I agree more and more with the simple songs I learned as a child. Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.
There are two blogs that I visit often--to read only. One I will call the North and the other the South. They earn these pseudonyms for the most obvious reason. They are in a Civil War. You see, both authors are theologians that vehemently defend their representation of Christendom. Yet they are polar opposites! They line up in direct opposition on almost every point of (relevant) theology (and some non-relevant!).
I let you know this because I have made a decision to NOT read either one of them anymore-at least not regularly. It amazes me how cruel and petty these people can be, and how they can prattle on, ad nauseam, the merits of their camp and the ludicrousness of the other. But my real problem with them is this. When one takes such a staunch and unyielding stance on these seemingly paradoxical views in Scripture, something extremely dangerous happens. The most obvious outcome in trying to “explain” these God-truths in a way that makes sense to our limited and finite minds, is the gross distortion of the point that one sets out to defend and “prove”.
Take, for example, the argument of the South. Grace is completely free (I won’t tell you what the South calls this position, but both words are in this sentence). They go to such great lengths to support this that any Scripture that has to do with working out your salvation, or producing, or persevering, or overcoming has to be watered down or misrepresented in order to fall in line with what they have chosen to defend.
The North is just as bad. They focus so much on the working of your salvation and the human responsibility that they also distort God’s word.
The fact is, the Scripture is full of apparent contradictions. Men have been arguing them for centuries. And Lord knows I have absolutely nothing farther to contribute! No matter how hard man tries, we can never understand the infinite mind of God. And this is actually quite comforting. If I could understand the mind of God, what would I need Him for?
So, this is where I love to rest on these lofty doctrines. I believe both sides 100% (not the man-made distortions). Were we chosen before the foundation of the world? Absolutely. Does man have free will to accept or reject God? Absolutely. Is Salvation a free gift? Yes. Are we told to work out our salvation with fear and trembling? Yes. Is there only one God? Yes. Are there three distinct persons in the Godhead? Yes. Do those who reject God still bring Him glory? Absolutely. Did God choose to love us in our wretchedness? Yes. Is God absolutely just? Yes. Is God absolutely merciful? Yes. Etc…
I rest in the fact that I don’t know. I agree more and more with the simple songs I learned as a child. Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.
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