::*~God All-Sufficient~*::

King of Glory, Divine Majesty,
Every perfection adorns Thy nature
and sustains Thy throne;
The heavens and earth are Thine,
The world is Thine and its fullness.
Thy power created the universe from nothing;
Thy wisdom has managed all its multiple concerns,
presiding over nations, families, individuals.
Thy goodness is boundless;
all creatures wait on Thee
are supplied by Thee
are satisfied in Thee.
How precious are the thoughts of Thy mercy and grace!
How excellent Thy lovingkindness that draws men to Thee!
Teach us to place our happiness in Thee,
the blessed God,
never seeking life among the dead things of earth,
or asking for that which satisfies the deluded;
But may we prize the light of Thy smile,
implore the joy of Thy salvation,
find our heaven in Thee.
Thou has attended to our happiness more than we can do;
Though we are fallen creatures Thou has not neglected us.
In love and pity Thou hast provided us a Saviour;
Apply His redemption to our hearts,
by justifying our persons,
and sanctifying our natures.
We confess our transgressions, have mercy on us.
We are weary, give us rest,
ignorant, make us wise unto salvation,
helpless, let Thy strength be made perfect in our weakness,
poor and needy, bless us with Christ's unsearchable riches,
perplexed and tempted, let us travel on unchecked, undismayed,
knowing that Thou has said,
'I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.'
Blessed be Thy name!

Found in

"The Valley of Vision ~

A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions"

The Only Ultimate Love

"God's loving us is a means for our joyfully glorifying Him. ... The love of God is not God's making much of us, but God's saving us from self-centered sin so that we can enjoy making much of Him forever.  And our love to others is not our making much of them, but our helping them to find eternal satisfaction in making much of God.  The only ultimate love is a love that aims at satisfying people in the glory of God.  Any love that terminates on man is eventually destructive.  It does not lead a person to the only lasting joy, namely God.  Love must be God-centered or it is not the greatest love; it leaves people without their deepest need and only hope." 

~ John Piper ~ Taste and See

~Contentment~

Heavenly Father~

If I should suffer need, and go unclothed,

and be in poverty,

make my heart prize thy love,

know it, be constrained by it,

though I be denied all blessings.

It is thy mercy to afflict and try me with wants,

for by these trials I see my sins,

and desire severance from them.

Let me willingly accept misery, sorrows, temptations,

if I can thereby feel sin as the greatest evil,

and be delivered from it with gratitude to thee,

acknowledging this as the highest testimony of thy love.

When thy Son, Jesus, came into my soul,

instead of sin, he became more dear to me

than sin had formerly been;

his kindly rule replaced sin's tyranny.

Teach me to believe that if ever I would have any sin subdued

I must not only labour to overcome it,

but must invite Christ to abide in the place of it,

and he must become to me more than vile lust had been;

that his sweetness, power, life may be there.

Thus I must seek a grace from him contrary to sin,

but must not claim it apart from himself.

When I am afraid of evils to come,

comfort me by showing me

that in myself I am a dying, condemned wretch,

but in Christ I am reconciled and live;

that in myself I find insufficiency and no rest,

but in Christ there is satisfaction and peace;

that in myself I am feeble and unable to do good,

but in Christ I have ability to do all things.

Though now I have his graces in part,

I shall shortly have them perfectly

in that state where thou wilt show thyself fully reconciled,

and alone sufficient, efficient,

loving me completely,

with sin abolished.

O Lord, hasten that day.

Found in

"The Valley of Vision ~

A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions"

Still Human!

November 16 ~

"Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

1 Corinthians 10:31

The great marvel of the Incarnation slips into ordinary childhood's life; the great marvel of the Transfiguration vanishes in the devil-possessed valley; the glory of the Resurrection descends into a breakfast on the seashore. This is not an anti-climax, but a great revelation of God.
The tendency is to look for the marvelous in our experience; we mistake the sense of the heroic for being heroes. It is one thing to go through a crisis grandly, but another thing to go through every day glorifying God when there is no witness, no limelight, no one paying the remotest attention to us. If we do not want medieval haloes, we want something that will make people say --- What a wonderful man of prayer he is! What a pious devoted woman she is! *If you are rightly devoted to the Lord Jesus, you have reached the sublime height where no one ever thinks of noticing you, all that is noticed is that the power of God comes through you all the time.
Oh, I have had a wonderful call from God! It takes Almighty God Incarnate in us to do the meanest duty of the glory of God. It takes God's Spirit in us to make us so absolutely hymanly His that we are utterly unnoticeable. The test of the life of a saint is not success, but faithfulness in human life as it actually is. We will set up success in Christian work as the aim; *the aim is to manifest the glory of God in human life, to live the life hid with Christ in God in human conditions. Our human relationships are the actual conditions in which the ideal life of God is to be exhibited.

~Oswald Chambers
~My Utmost for His Highest

*Emphesis mine.

Content ...

I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me.

But He said to me, "My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.

Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

~2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NET Bible)~

Keys to help you wait

My Dad just bought me the book 'Before You Meet Prince Charming' by Sarah Mally of Bright Lights. It was recommended on a blog that has since been closed. I have only read the first five or six chapters (well, actually that makes me about half way through :)) but I LOVE it. I highly recommend this book to any one waiting for their "prince charming". Sarah Mally has a wonderful focus on Christ in this book and it is a wonderful encouragment. But as I was reading through I came across a list she gave of keys to help you wait and I was so encouraged that I had to share it with you, and this list can also be used not just for waiting for your furture mate but anything the Lord has called you to wait for.

Keys to Help You Wait

• Give up your dreams and expectations. Actually, you don't have to give them up; but rather, exchanged them. Exchange your dreams for something far better -- God's perfect plan. Choose to will what God wills (Mt. 10:39).
• Stop. Be still and know that He is God. Consider the awesome power of the God that you serve. What seems impossible to you is nothing for Him. Be still and watch Him work (Ps. 46:10).
• Get out a sheet of paper and begin to list the benefits that you are experiencing through this time of waiting. Don't just make a list in your head. It is helpful to actually write out the benefits. Don't stop until you have at least ten benefits on your list.
• Rejoice in this time of waiting. I know it is hard. It's hard for me too. As I mentionted, waiting is one of the most difficult things God asks us to do. Sometimes it feels like you just can't wait any longer. But struggles and trials are important parts of our lives. Scripture commands us to rejoice in these times of trials (Jas. 1:2, 1Pet. 4:12-13).
• Redirect your focus. Don't focus on the waiting; focus on the Lord.
• In the little events of daily life, learn to look to the Lord to supply your needs and carry your burdens. Have the attitude of David who prayed, "On Thee do I wait all the day ... My soul, wait thou upon God; for my expectation is from Him" (Ps. 25:5, 62:5).
  

~New Book~

First off ... I'm back!! :) Bet you didn't know I was gone, that's okay. My family and I headed out to Wyoming. :) (Promise of vacation pictures to come in future posts.) While on vacation I finished a book and, obviously, started a new one.

I finished Then Sings My Soul by Robert J. Morgan. As far as hymn story books go, this was the first I've ever read, so it was good, but I have nothing to compare it to.

I've started reading, The Journals Of Jim Elliot edited by Elisabeth Elliot. I'm very excited about this one. :) I've gotten a few pages into it and already there have been many things that I have "highlighted" with my colored pencil. :) (I'm cheap, just use what you have to highlight.) I'm sure there will be quotes from the book appearing on here some time or other, so you will be able to see what you think of this book (from the bits and pieces I show you) for yourself.

New Book

I've finished reading "A Woman's Call to Prayer," by Elizabeth George. I highly recommend this book to those of you ladies who have a desire to pray but don't know where to start. It truly showed me how to do what I need to do in order to make my desire to pray a reality. It was so good. Please, pick it up!

And now that I've finished that one, I'm starting on the book about Elizabeth Prentiss (shown below). I really enjoyed reading Elizabeth's book "Stepping Heavenward" and I hope that as I read through this book that I will learn a little about her and grow toward the Lord as a result. I'll keep you posted. :) No pun intended.

Please note ...

As you scroll down the page please notice my "Recommended Reading" list on the right side. It is there to show you the books that I've learned and benefited from and in case you're looking for a good book to read and you're not quite sure what to pick up, take a look. I will keep adding as I continue to read, so keep checking. :)

~ New reading ~

I've finished "Loving God with All Your Mind," by Elizabeth George and now I'm starting another one by her (see bottom picture). :) I highly and wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who wants to love God more, to love Him with all your mind! A very good, convicting book! Pick it up if you get the chance!

New book

I have finished reading "Young Lady's Guide ..." and I recommend it to any young lady who wishes to grow in their spiritual walk. Although it is written to young ladies, any one can benefit from it. If you ever have the chance to read it, pick it up. Although I do not agree 100% with everything said, it is a really good book. But now that I've finished that one I'm moving on to "Loving God with all your mind." As you can see. :) Just wanted to up date ya'll.

Recommended reading

I have been away from the computer for a couple of days so I apologize for the long time in between posts. But in that time I have finished reading "Shadow Of The Almighty" by Elisabeth Elliot! I highly recommend this book to any one who wants a challenge in their Christian walk! It was such a good book! I loved it. And it amazed me the way Jim looked on everything with a God-centered focus. What really struck me was his willingness to die at any given moment for the Lord. A couple of quotes give you an idea of what he was like but you must read the whole book to understand what I mean!

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

"God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like you, Lord Jesus."

"Father, take my life, yea, my blood if Thou wilt, and consume it with Thine enveloping fire. I would not save it, for it is not mine to save. Have it Lord, have it all. Pour out my life as an oblation for the world. Blood is only of value as it flows before Thine alter."

~Jim Elliot

This is a short post, I must run out the door. But think about the words and ask yourself, "Would I truly be willing to die and leave my family, my life and live in eternity with Christ at any given moment?" Also, read this book any chance you get!