John 2. 5: Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.
Yesterday when I read these words, I thought how good it would be if all of us heard and obeyed them.
They were spoken just after our Lord Jesus had said, Let Me follow out My own course (this is what Westcott says is the meaning of the words He used to Mary)--if you love Me, trust Me.
Mary understood her Son and Lord. So she said very simply to the servants, Whatsoever He tells you to do, do it.
If there be love in our hearts, there will be confidence, and we shall be ready to say to ourselves just what Mary said to the servants (without any ifs or buts), "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it." --Edges of His Ways, Amy Carmichael
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Rejoicing in the truth
Standing at my window
Hidden by the night
Harboring the private wounds
Safe and out of sight
There's an agony in living
But there's a comfort in the truth
That no one knows my heart
Better than you
I can face a lot of people
With this sanguine act of mine
Guarded by the eloquence
I sometimes hide behind
But it's a veil of false pretenses
That you can see right through
'Cause no one knows my heart
Better than you
Part of me is reaching
Part of me holds back
But when it comes to you
I am a doorway
You're free to walk into
'Cause no one knows my heart
Better than you
There's an agony in living
But there's a comfort in the truth
That no one knows my heart
Better than you
--from the song "No One Knows My Heart" by Susan Ashton/Billy Sprague/Wayne Kirkpatrick
Hidden by the night
Harboring the private wounds
Safe and out of sight
There's an agony in living
But there's a comfort in the truth
That no one knows my heart
Better than you
I can face a lot of people
With this sanguine act of mine
Guarded by the eloquence
I sometimes hide behind
But it's a veil of false pretenses
That you can see right through
'Cause no one knows my heart
Better than you
Part of me is reaching
Part of me holds back
But when it comes to you
I am a doorway
You're free to walk into
'Cause no one knows my heart
Better than you
There's an agony in living
But there's a comfort in the truth
That no one knows my heart
Better than you
--from the song "No One Knows My Heart" by Susan Ashton/Billy Sprague/Wayne Kirkpatrick
Friday, August 21, 2009
I can't help but hope that
MAYBE
I don't want to be the one to say goodbye
But I will, I will, I will
I don't want to sit on the pavement while you fly
But I will, I will, oh yes I will
Maybe in the future, you're gonna come back, you're gonna come back
around
Maybe in the future, you're gonna come back, you're gonna come back
The only way to really know is to really let it go
Maybe you're gonna come back, you're gonna come back, you're gonna
come back to me
I don't want to be the first to let it go
But i know, I know, I know
If you have the last hands that i want to hold
then i know i've got to let them go
I still feel you on the right side of the bed
and i still feel you in the blankets pulled over my head
but im gonna wash away, oh i'm gonna wash away everything till you
come home to me
Maybe in the future, you're gonna come back, you're gonna come back
in the future, you're gonna come back, you're gonna come back
around
Maybe in the future, you're gonna come back, you're gonna come back
The only way to really know is to really let it go
Maybe you're gonna come back, you're gonna come back, you're gonna
come back to me
you're gonna come back to me
--Ingrid Michaelson
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Touching God's work presumptuously
"Neither know we what to do; but our eyes are upon thee." (2 Chron. 20:12.)
A life was lost in Israel because a pair of human hands were laid unbidden upon the ark of God. They were placed upon it with the best intent, to steady it when trembling and shaking as the oxen drew it along the rough way; but they touched God's work presumptuously, and they fell paralyzed and lifeless. Much of the life of faith consists in letting things alone.
If we wholly trust an interest to God, we must keep our hands off it; and He will guard it for us better than we can help Him. "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass."
Things may seem to be going all wrong, but He knows as well as we; and He will arise in the right moment if we are really trusting Him so fully as to let Him work in His own way and time. There is nothing so masterly as inactivity in some things, and there is nothing so hurtful as restless working, for God has undertaken to work His sovereign will.--A. B. Simpson
A life was lost in Israel because a pair of human hands were laid unbidden upon the ark of God. They were placed upon it with the best intent, to steady it when trembling and shaking as the oxen drew it along the rough way; but they touched God's work presumptuously, and they fell paralyzed and lifeless. Much of the life of faith consists in letting things alone.
If we wholly trust an interest to God, we must keep our hands off it; and He will guard it for us better than we can help Him. "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass."
Things may seem to be going all wrong, but He knows as well as we; and He will arise in the right moment if we are really trusting Him so fully as to let Him work in His own way and time. There is nothing so masterly as inactivity in some things, and there is nothing so hurtful as restless working, for God has undertaken to work His sovereign will.--A. B. Simpson
He lifted me
I will extol Thee, O Lord, for Thou hast lifted me up,
And hast not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O Lord my God,
I cried to Thee for help, and Thou didst heal me.
O Lord, Thou hast brought up my soul from Sheol;
Thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
Sing praise to the Lord, you His godly ones,
And give thanks to His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for a lifetime;
Weeping may last for a night,
But a shout of joy comes in the morning.
Now as for me, I said in my prosperity,
"I will never be moved."
O Lord, by Thy favor Thou hast made my mountain to stand strong;
Thou didst hide Thy face, I was dismayed.
To Thee, O Lord, I called,
And to the Lord I made supplication:
"What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise Thee? Will it declare Thy faithfulness?
"Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me;
O Lord, be Thou my helper."
Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing;
Thou hast loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness;
That my soul may sing praise to Thee, and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to Thee forever.
Psalm 30
And hast not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O Lord my God,
I cried to Thee for help, and Thou didst heal me.
O Lord, Thou hast brought up my soul from Sheol;
Thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
Sing praise to the Lord, you His godly ones,
And give thanks to His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for a lifetime;
Weeping may last for a night,
But a shout of joy comes in the morning.
Now as for me, I said in my prosperity,
"I will never be moved."
O Lord, by Thy favor Thou hast made my mountain to stand strong;
Thou didst hide Thy face, I was dismayed.
To Thee, O Lord, I called,
And to the Lord I made supplication:
"What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise Thee? Will it declare Thy faithfulness?
"Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me;
O Lord, be Thou my helper."
Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing;
Thou hast loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness;
That my soul may sing praise to Thee, and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to Thee forever.
Psalm 30
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
God's "Antiques Roadshow"
My message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
Yet [I] do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but [I] speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom. . . .
For to us God revealed [this wisdom] through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. . . . But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised (2 Cor. 2:4-14).
Yet [I] do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but [I] speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom. . . .
For to us God revealed [this wisdom] through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. . . . But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised (2 Cor. 2:4-14).
Monday, August 17, 2009
Who would claim that they are smarter than God?
For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written,
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside." [Isaiah 29:14]
Where is the wise man?
Where is the scribe?
Where is the debater of this age?
Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Cor. 1:18-25, New American Standard translation)
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written,
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside." [Isaiah 29:14]
Where is the wise man?
Where is the scribe?
Where is the debater of this age?
Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Cor. 1:18-25, New American Standard translation)
Friday, August 7, 2009
Make me
To Thee, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in Thee I trust,
Do not let me be ashamed;
Do not let my enemies exult over me.
Indeed, none of those who wait for Thee will be ashamed;
Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.
Make me know Thy ways, O LORD;
Teach me Thy paths.
Lead me in Thy truth and teach me,
For Thou art the God of my salvation;
For Thee I wait all the day.
Remember, O LORD, Thy compassion and Thy lovingkindnesses,
For they have been from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
According to They lovingkindness remember Thou me,
For Thy goodness' sake, O LORD.
Good and upright is the LORD;
Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in justice,
And He teaches the humble His way.
All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth
To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.
For Thy name's sake, O LORD,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
Who is the man who fears the LORD?
He will instruct him in the way he should choose.
His soul will abide in prosperity,
And his descendants will inherit the land.
The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him,
And He will make them know His covenant.
My eyes are continually toward the LORD,
For He will pluck my feet out of the net.
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
For I am lonely and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
Bring me out of my distresses.
Look upon my affliction and my trouble,
And forgive all my sins.
Guard my soul and deliver me;
Do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in Thee.
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
For I wait for Thee.
Psalm 25:1-21
O my God, in Thee I trust,
Do not let me be ashamed;
Do not let my enemies exult over me.
Indeed, none of those who wait for Thee will be ashamed;
Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.
Make me know Thy ways, O LORD;
Teach me Thy paths.
Lead me in Thy truth and teach me,
For Thou art the God of my salvation;
For Thee I wait all the day.
Remember, O LORD, Thy compassion and Thy lovingkindnesses,
For they have been from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
According to They lovingkindness remember Thou me,
For Thy goodness' sake, O LORD.
Good and upright is the LORD;
Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in justice,
And He teaches the humble His way.
All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth
To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.
For Thy name's sake, O LORD,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.
Who is the man who fears the LORD?
He will instruct him in the way he should choose.
His soul will abide in prosperity,
And his descendants will inherit the land.
The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him,
And He will make them know His covenant.
My eyes are continually toward the LORD,
For He will pluck my feet out of the net.
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
For I am lonely and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
Bring me out of my distresses.
Look upon my affliction and my trouble,
And forgive all my sins.
Guard my soul and deliver me;
Do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in Thee.
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
For I wait for Thee.
Psalm 25:1-21
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Cloud by day; fire by night
"Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." (Isa. 30:21.)
When we are in doubt or difficulty, when many voices urge this course or the other, when prudence utters one advice and faith another, then let us be still, hushing each intruder, calming ourselves in the sacred hush of God's presence; let us study His Word in the attitude of devout attention; let us lift up our nature into the pure light of His face, eager only to know what God the Lord shall determine--and ere long a very distinct impression will be made, the unmistakable forth-telling of His secret counsel.
It is not wise in the earlier stages of Christian life to depend on this alone, but to wait for the corroboration of circumstances. But those who have had many dealings with God know well the value of secret fellowship with Him, to ascertain His will.
Are you in difficulty about your way? Go to God with your question; get direction from the light of His smile or the cloud of His refusal.
If you will only get alone, where the lights and shadows of earth cannot interfere, where human opinions fail to reach--and if you will dare to wait there silent and expectant, though all around you insist on immediate decision or action--the will of God will be made clear; and you will have a new conception of God, a deeper insight into His nature and heart of love, which shall be for yourself alone--a rapturous experience, to abide your precious perquisite forever, the rich guerdon of those long waiting hours.--David.
perquisite n. an incidental payment, benefit, privilege, or advantage over and above regular income, salary, or wages.
guerdon n. a reward, a recompense, or requital
"STAND STILL," my soul, for so thy Lord commands:
E'en when thy way seems blocked, leave it in His wise hands;
His arm is mighty to divide the wave.
"Stand still," my soul, "stand still" and thou shalt see
How God can work the "impossible" for thee,
For with a great deliverance He doth save.
Be not impatient, but in stillness stand,
Even when compassed 'round on every hand,
In ways thy spirit does not comprehend.
God cannot clear thy way till thou art still,
That He may work in thee His blessed will,
And all thy heart and will to Him do bend.
"BE STILL," my soul, for just as thou art still,
Can God reveal Himself to thee; until
Through thee His love and light and life can freely flow;
In stillness God can work through thee and reach
The souls around thee. He then through thee can teach
His lessons, and His power in weakness show.
"BE STILL"--a deeper step in faith and rest.
"Be still and know" thy Father knoweth best
The way to lead His child to that fair land,
A "summer" land, where quiet waters flow;
Where longing souls are satisfied, and "know
Their God," and praise for all that He has planned.--Selected
When we are in doubt or difficulty, when many voices urge this course or the other, when prudence utters one advice and faith another, then let us be still, hushing each intruder, calming ourselves in the sacred hush of God's presence; let us study His Word in the attitude of devout attention; let us lift up our nature into the pure light of His face, eager only to know what God the Lord shall determine--and ere long a very distinct impression will be made, the unmistakable forth-telling of His secret counsel.
It is not wise in the earlier stages of Christian life to depend on this alone, but to wait for the corroboration of circumstances. But those who have had many dealings with God know well the value of secret fellowship with Him, to ascertain His will.
Are you in difficulty about your way? Go to God with your question; get direction from the light of His smile or the cloud of His refusal.
If you will only get alone, where the lights and shadows of earth cannot interfere, where human opinions fail to reach--and if you will dare to wait there silent and expectant, though all around you insist on immediate decision or action--the will of God will be made clear; and you will have a new conception of God, a deeper insight into His nature and heart of love, which shall be for yourself alone--a rapturous experience, to abide your precious perquisite forever, the rich guerdon of those long waiting hours.--David.
perquisite n. an incidental payment, benefit, privilege, or advantage over and above regular income, salary, or wages.
guerdon n. a reward, a recompense, or requital
"STAND STILL," my soul, for so thy Lord commands:
E'en when thy way seems blocked, leave it in His wise hands;
His arm is mighty to divide the wave.
"Stand still," my soul, "stand still" and thou shalt see
How God can work the "impossible" for thee,
For with a great deliverance He doth save.
Be not impatient, but in stillness stand,
Even when compassed 'round on every hand,
In ways thy spirit does not comprehend.
God cannot clear thy way till thou art still,
That He may work in thee His blessed will,
And all thy heart and will to Him do bend.
"BE STILL," my soul, for just as thou art still,
Can God reveal Himself to thee; until
Through thee His love and light and life can freely flow;
In stillness God can work through thee and reach
The souls around thee. He then through thee can teach
His lessons, and His power in weakness show.
"BE STILL"--a deeper step in faith and rest.
"Be still and know" thy Father knoweth best
The way to lead His child to that fair land,
A "summer" land, where quiet waters flow;
Where longing souls are satisfied, and "know
Their God," and praise for all that He has planned.--Selected
The noise of words
Mark 8. 23: He took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town.
Will this Note find someone puzzled about anything, in the dark, as we say, about what they should do?
This morning I was reading through the Gospel of Mark, noticing each place where our Lord Jesus suffered anything, or spoke of suffering, and as I read, words that have nothing to do with that special subject caught my eye: "He took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town".
There is a town of the noise of words, the noise of other people's words, and of our own words, too, as we talk to ourselves and listen to the confusion of our thoughts and desires as they talk within us. There is only One Who can take the blind by the hand, and lead him out of the town. The hand that led that man was soon to be pierced. Soon after this incident we come to the words, "The Son of Man must suffer"--it is a suffering Christ Who leads us out of the town and along the road that leads to clearness of vision, and then to Calvary. But the road does not stop there. It goes over the hill to the Other Side.--Edges of His Ways, Amy Carmichael
Will this Note find someone puzzled about anything, in the dark, as we say, about what they should do?
This morning I was reading through the Gospel of Mark, noticing each place where our Lord Jesus suffered anything, or spoke of suffering, and as I read, words that have nothing to do with that special subject caught my eye: "He took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town".
There is a town of the noise of words, the noise of other people's words, and of our own words, too, as we talk to ourselves and listen to the confusion of our thoughts and desires as they talk within us. There is only One Who can take the blind by the hand, and lead him out of the town. The hand that led that man was soon to be pierced. Soon after this incident we come to the words, "The Son of Man must suffer"--it is a suffering Christ Who leads us out of the town and along the road that leads to clearness of vision, and then to Calvary. But the road does not stop there. It goes over the hill to the Other Side.--Edges of His Ways, Amy Carmichael
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