I had a lovely dinner tonight with two precious gals. We breezed through many topics; bewilderments, disappointments and complexities, and while the topics were vast, the solution stuck out as salient as a sail, and I land with all my thoughts in Ecclestiastes: "The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil." (12:13-14)I tremble when I first read these verses, but grace then enables my heart to stand aright and I am instructed considerably. This life, with its many complexities, snares, deceptions, and disappointments is simple when our eyes see through truth, but is devastatingly difficult when we attempt to discern events and our responses according to what we see, or how we feel.
I have been noticing more with time, that my life is enriched considerably when I take time to savor. I need not even make this more spiritual than it is, but I simply must stop to see, consider, and be changed. We are output oriented, but in order to produce anything beautiful, we must cultivate, nourish, and even allow our hearts to lie fallow for a time. No ground can sustain growth without rest and replenishment, and so neither can we. I am also convinced that seeing, considering, and savoring always leads me to thankfulness. The joy is supplanted into my life, and I am not looking around allowing envy to adhere to any of my members. If my Lord is mindful of sparrows -- and me, than I want to lean in to listen to their praise as He instructs me in mine.
Thankfulness, of course sows such gracious kernels that multiply contentment, conserve energy, and increase joy. Thankfulness is soil into which no bitter seeds can sprout, and this perspective can save and sustain a sorrowing heart. God's ways are right, His judgments inscrutable, and His wisdom in sovereignty -- far beyond our comprehension. I wrestle, falter, and fail, but coming back to my Maker each time, I see anew the vastness of His mercy, the purity of His commandments, and the enlightment that comes from seeing Him a little more as He is. While summer parades herself in the prodigious extravagance of bounty, draw away with me, and consider how each thing has received life, and what will supplement yours to greatest fruitfulness and abundance.
While summer boasts of prodigious days and ardent affections, I am inviting you to counter this output with the input of all that has been spoken. "The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed my heritage is beautiful to me." (Ps. 16:6)
Nellie, I have spent the last several days meditating on Psalm 16. It was so fun to read this and be reminded. I'm sad at how much energy I put into trying to find another way besides God's way. And... I'm sure you hear this all the time, but you are a beautiful writer =).
ReplyDeleteMiss Nellie, your faith journey is taking you to beautiful places. This is a truly lovely post.
ReplyDeleteYou write...I spend my days pondering the inlets to souls, and the respective tinctures to administer therein. I love people...God has given you a true love of people and the desire to win souls for Christ. In doing so, you need time alone to worship Him. "..a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in
ReplyDeletespirit and in truth." Jn. 4:23-24 Our worship satisfies His loving heart and is a joy to Him. He seeks true worshipers, but does not find many. The man who would truly worship God, who would find, know, possess, and enjoy God must be in harmony with Him and have the capacity for receiving Him. The knowledge and fellowship of Him alone is its own reward. The one who withdraws himself from all that is of the world and the flesh and prepares to wait upon God alone, the Father will reveal himself.
I believe, one of the many gifts God has given you is writing. For this gift to flourish, requires alone time with Him. The way of this world is rush, rush,rush. People are more often than not unable to "be still...".
It is also rare for people these days to be good listeners. We live in a self-centered world with tons of problems. When someone finds a good listener with good Godly advice; they've found a diamond in the rough (meant in a good way, not the original context). One of your other gifts is counseling...and plus...Godly counseling. You possess those truths and your counsel soothes their ever-hurting souls; it draws them to truth. Thus they desire more and more of you. It comes off as selfishness on their part. If
only they would fully seek comfort in Him and His word. "Seek ye first.." and don't compromise that time with Him. I pray God would reveal this truth to them also.
Love ya'...
The above post is in response to your prior reference to the bidding of your time. (June 22)
ReplyDeleteNow, to yesterday's post, I'm quickly reminded of 1 Thes.5-18..give thanks in all situations for this is God's will for your life. We tend to complain vs praise. We should thank God for His forgiveness and His grace to see us through the trials of life. While musing on this text, I am carried in spirit to my berry patch of blossoming beauties. The sun smiles down upon me through the half-born blueberries, black and red raspberries. I sit down on the bark bed, and hear the blessed birds piping out their love-notes and songs of thanksgiving. Should it be that the birds rejoice louder than we? The prior night's storm kept me momentarily awake, but it blessed us with much needed moisture and a beautiful humid-free day! Praise God, no humidity!
A grateful heart finds the countless blessings of God in the seemingly mundane everyday life.
Concerning Ecclesiastes..if you read the prior 2 verses: 11-12, Solomon writes, “The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.” He uses two memorable metaphors that refer to how Ecclesiastes should stimulate us to action. I once read that the “goads” were long wooden rods with an iron point used for driving oxen and other animals. A goad was poked at the animal to make him move in the desired direction. The goads represent moral guidance. Nails were used by shepherds to fasten their tents. They are hammered to keep something in place. Goads are designed to motivate the sluggish and nails are intended to secure the drifting. The Word of God “afflicts the comfortable and it comforts the afflicted.” If you are comfortable with your life, God’s Word acts as a goad to move you out of your comfort zone. It pushes you to do those things you ought to do. If you are burdened and tossed to and fro by the winds of life, it provides a haven of stability.
Ecclesiastes also teaches that the fear of God leads to life. “The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.” -Oswald Chambers A biblical fear of God will lead to life in this world and the world to come. Does the thought of judgment motivate or paralyze you? Will you respond to His goads and nails? Will you rest in your Maker and trust that He alone can satisfy you? Fear God and give thanks in all situations.