Tried With Fire

I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  Philippians 4:11 These words express the glorious power of the Spirit in a mature Christian, and serve as our pattern. "I have learned", said Paul.  This is very significant.  It is not the learning of education, but of holiness.  All the degrees in the world cannot teach it. Paul did not learn it at Gamaliel's feet, but from Christ, and through much affliction. Nature never teaches it.  It is learned with many stripes in the school of Christ.    God carries His children through this world through a variety of conditions. Sometimes we lack, and at other times we abound.  This allows our graces to be tested. We will find that God's love is stable, certain, and constant in a variety of conditions.  God does not change, and His love is constant however our lives might change.    We must not learn to quarrel with God's government.  Let God do as He pleases as He brings us ...

I'm catching up on my thanksgivings because it was time for bed when we arrived home from small group, so better late than never... Last night, our small group shared a meal together to celebrate Thanksgiving.  Afterwards, we had a time where we could share the things for which we were thankful.  Our pastor encouraged us to be thankful for the good and trying seasons which we may be in, and it was a blessing to hear others voice their thanks to God. Our family is coming out of a difficult time into a fresh start for our lives, so I am thankful for both sides of this coin.  I'm thankful for the suffering God allowed us to experience.  I may not have thought so at the time, but I can see the fruit in my daughter's life and my own life as well. Also, as John Flavel writes,"Sufferings endear the family of God to each other." As I looked around the room last night, I was thankful for the brothers and sisters who came to court multiple times to stand with me, wh...

I am thankful that we are hosting the Titus 2 ladies meeting in our home tonight!  When we were looking for a house in March, I prayed for a place where we could open up our home to the saints, and the Lord provided.  We will be in Chapter 6 of  Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges.  Each time we gather, the Lord is drawing us closer bit by bit.  I love these sisters, and I am looking forward to this evening.

I'm thankful for an early start to the day.  I woke up unintentionally before the alarm went off.  Rather than going back to sleep, I exercised (much needed due to too many snacks at small group) and read the Word before my daughter was up.  We had an ordinary Monday of work, homeschooling, piano practicing, routine bunny care, running errands, etc.  Since I finished my work for tomorrow, I can enjoy the evening working on my NaNoWriMo novel while my daughter reads her Tolkien. Nothing exciting but a quiet day filled with ordinary things, which is a great blessing.

I am thankful that we celebrated the Lord's supper today.  What a privilege to remember His death until He comes. I am thankful for the conviction of the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the Word.  In a nutshell we were admonished to guard the deposit entrusted to us (1 Timothy 6:20-21), which is the gospel and sound doctrine. But we were challenged to guard the truth and not forget Who entrusted it to us in the first place.  Also we were challenged to guard this deposit in a manner that would not cause us to forsake our love for one another. There is much that I need to wrestle through from today's sermon, because I can see this tendency in me. (I'm still cage-stage.) There's a danger of being so vigilant about the truth that I could become impatient and unloving towards those who don't see eye-to-eye 100%. The Lord has already been pricking my heart about this issue, so I'm thankful for His faithfulness in driving this point home today.

O the power of love divine! Who its heights and depths can tell -- Tell Jehovah's grand design, To redeem our souls from hell? Mystery of redemption this: All my sins on Christ were laid; My offense was reckoned His; He the great atonement made! Fully I am justified; Free from sin, and more than free; Guiltless, since for me He died; Righteous, since He lived for me. Jesus, now to Thee I bow; Let Thy praise my tongue employ. Saved unto the utmost now, Who can speak my heartfelt joy? (The hymnal only has "Bradford" as the writer.  Perhaps John Bradford?)