A Chinese Fortune

We all chipped in to get Chinese food tonight for dinner (it's a little expensive).

And this was one of the fortunes in the Fortune Cookies.

Even though I don't hold to fortune cookies having any significance, this saying was a nice paraphrase of what we are told in the Bible. High demands, eh?

Pure love is a willingness to give

without a thought of receiving

anything in return.

~Chinese proveb

Weird....

Yes, exactly that. Weird. Besides having a random blogging fuel injection, I remembered an old blog I used to have, before I even knew what a "blog" was. Rachel & I had "sites", by which we shared our thoughts, poems, and writings with each other.

My mind was muttering over lines of a poem, when I had a sneaky suspicion that I was trying to quote my own poem. Weird. Okay, I've had a weird couple weeks...

So, I went searching the internet for this blog, with no luck - I knew it was called Peaceful-Meadow. Eventually, I did find it, only to have no idea what my password was or my login....etc.

Amazingly, my "site" was set to public! I set my own login too securely for me to get into, but my blog is public. Very Strange (well, the other adjective was being overused.)

Then when I tried to read the blog, the link reroutes!!!! I checked the firewall. No clue.

The really really really strange part about it, is the site keeps rerouting me to cyber hymnal's old rugged cross page....

See if you can read it... if any one is able to see this "site", I'd appreciate knowing.

Peaceful-Meadow.xanga.com

Weird.

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Come, Almighty to deliver, Let us all Thy life receive; Suddenly return and never, Never more Thy temples leave. Thee we would be always blessing, Serve Thee as Thy hosts above, Pray and praise Thee without ceasing, Glory in Thy perfect love.

We sang this at the conference on the weekend. I had never heard the tune, although I knew the words, I couldn't place them together. The tune has been in my mind all day. Here is the link to to the how it sounds. http://www.cyberhymnal.org/mid/b/l/a/blaenwern.mid

Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heaven to earth come down; Fix in us thy humble dwelling; All thy faithful mercies crown! Jesus, Thou art all compassion, Pure unbounded love Thou art; Visit us with Thy salvation; Enter every trembling heart.

Love that Will not Let me Go

O Love that will not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in thee;

I give thee back the life I owe,

That in thine ocean depths its flow

May richer, fuller be.

~

The Lord Answered Not

We are often told that God always answers prayers, sometimes the answer is "yes", sometimes the answer is "no", and sometimes the immediate answer is "wait". Well, I was researching times when God said "no" to someone in the Bible (see two posts back) and I came across a curious thing. The verse said "the Lord answered him not". Not only did it plainly say that, but it continued to list the manners in which the Lord never answered. I was astounded, still am.

And when Saul enquired of the LORD,

the LORD answered him not,

neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

1 Samuel 28:6

I began to research how many other times the Lord did not give an answer. These were the verses I found.

Mic 3:7 "Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God."

Joh 19:9 "And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer."

Mat 15:22-23 "And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word."

Now, these seem strange to me, but before worrying about whether God will answer, I decided to look at why the Bible indicated that God did not answer, with interesting results.

Matthew 15 is perhaps the most startling, but again we are reminded that context is so important. In verses 22-23, the poor woman cries out to the Lord and it seems that he refuses to answer, our hearts fail at the thought. Then the disciples are mean. But I love the following verse 28, it is so warm you can almost feel it. He did answer, and what an answer. I think perhaps this is one of the most powerful examples of "wait". It's not as suspenseful as Ruth's "wait".

"Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall" Ruth 3:18

Nor, is it as long as Israel's "wait".

"For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon

I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you,

in causing you to return to this place." Jer 29:10

But how heart rendering it must have been in those few minuets when the woman called out to the Lord and visibly saw him silent, and on top of it the disciples are mean. But, in the end her request is granted and the Lord commends her.

"Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith:

be it unto thee even as thou wilt." Matthew 15:28

Secondly, the verse in John 19, Pilate in the judgement hall demands an answer of Christ, and he answers him not a word. But the answer is very apparent, and the Lord answers the next question that Pilate asks.

And the in Micah 3:7, the seers and diviners can't give an answer from the Lord. But that is not so much the Lord being silent, but rather the seers and diviners are not able to proclaim God's words.

Then there is Saul. Why did the Lord not answer Saul? Saul was the king of Israel and the Lord had spoken to him before, but this time the Lord answered him not. Saul tried everything to get an answer and still nothing. Why? I think the answer is very simple. Saul refused to obey the Lord.

You see, previously in Saul's life there had been another time when the Lord did not answer Saul. Because of sin.

"And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines?

wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel?

But He answered him not that day.

And Saul said,

Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people:

and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day"

1Sam 14:37-38

I am wondering what the significance of this was, and it seems Saul's sin very serious. Saul repeatedly disobeyed.

So back to 1 Samuel chapter 28, after not receiving an answer Saul went to a witch (yes, thats what it says) and called up Samuel the prophet, who was dead (yes, that is what it says).

"And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams...Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? ...Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD...therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day. " Samuel 15:16-18

So, I think we can with confidence expect the Lord to answer our prayers, because it seems Saul had made the Lord his enemy. But, its a solemn thought of what sin can do in a persons life.

Anyways, a rather random post, but to leave on a nicer thought. There is another time when God did not answer and it was to our greatest benefit: the salvation of our souls.

"About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying,

Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say,

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

Are you not glad that God did not answer Christ?

For in those three dark hours God's wrath was poured out upon His Son for us.

I am truly amazed.

For there's No Other Way

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies, But His smile quickly drives it away; Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear, Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, But our toil He doth richly repay; Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, But is blessed if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of His love Until all on the altar we lay; For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows, Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet. Or we’ll walk by His side in the way. What He says we will do, where He sends we will go; Never fear, only trust and obey.'

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

He who Holds Us in His Hands

Today, I found myself thinking of those times when God says "No" and wondering how I really react when God says no to me. And I am not sure how it affects me, I think I mostly feel numb. But, I began to wonder how we are supposed to react. Who did God say no to in the Bible?

See, I was adjusting some metal parts at work, trying to create a solution for one of our customers, and was humming. In my mind, I was thinking "No, that won't work"

"Nope",

"No",

"No"

"Hmm, maybe, nope, I guess not"

With each negated conclusion, I changed my design, hoping for a solution. I was humming aloud, (I do that when I'm problem solving), when I wondered what in the world was I singing? I was singing "He who Holds Us in His Hands". If you have ever hear this song, you will understand that it is not a "humming" song. It is mournful, sadly soothing, not happy humming material. You can see the how thoughts begin and develop, here are the lyrics:

When God says no to you, it’s such a blow to you,

when all your dreams unravel at the seam,

When God says wait to you, and God seems late to you,

it’s hard to rest within His will, it’s hard to trust and just be still,

it’s hard to simply wait until it’s all made plain.

He who holds us in His hands,

has no problems only plans,

He who has control of all,

sees the smallest sparrow fall,

He who works where no one knows,

does not sleep as we suppose,

but works in all things, in great and small things, for His own glory, and our best good.

When God works silently, in ways we cannot see,

and troubles multiply so that we ache inside,

and God does not seem kind, When hope is hard to find,

it’s hard to rest within His will, it’s hard to trust and just be still,

it’s hard to simply wait until it’s all made plain.

As you can see, it is an interesting song, well, I perhaps shall continue later, but Bible Study starts in 1/2 hour, so I best be going. But it's food for thought. How do I react when God says no?

10 Ways to Love

Boy, do I have to work on these...

Thanksgiving Eve

Again, I find myself writing in evening, and into the night. The day was warm both in weather and in the general warmth of Thanksgiving. I love thanksgiving, if I could, I would have two thanksgivings every year.

I love the warm, crispy, buttery turkey and velvety mashed potatoes. Warm baked turnip, Grandma's own recipe which unlike anything else tastes and smells like Autumn. The sweet jellied cranberry sauce, warm white rolls with butter, steam vegetables, broccoli with cheese sauce - the list could go on and on. Oh, and stuffing, my utmost favorite part of turkey dinner.

So, yes I am feeling warm and full, and by default happy. I sit, relaxing on my bed in the dim light. Reading. Writing. Daydreaming. I think only there is one thing I am lacking... where is my *hoodie-friend when I need a hug?

*(See http://entranceofthywords.blogspot.com/2011/09/late-night-tea_05.html for context)

8. Bible Principles

Can I go through this list with a particular practice and still do the same?

1. Would the Lord Jesus have done it? Christ is the answer to marriage, Christ is the answer to the workplace, Christ is the answer to getting along in assemblies, Christ is the answer to adversity. "Leaving us an example."

2. Would I be ashamed to be doing this when the Lord came? "Blessed is he that when his Lord cometh, findeth him so doing."

3. Does it grieve the Holy Spirit?

4. Is this a good use of my time? "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

5. Does it please God? "Enoch walked with God"

6. Is it worldly? (The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life.)

7. Is it a good example?

8. What does it express to the world?

~ Taken From Michael Penfold's Ministry at Detroit Conf 2010

My Life Summery

Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect.

It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections

~

Sum's it up quite nicely- Ash

A Little Note of Encouragement

I've been rather silent of late, and this trend may continue for a while.

But I thought'd just drop by and leave a little note of encouragement.

-When life is slow, remember being in the center of God's will often means to be still.

"Be still and know that I am God" Psalms 46:10

-When school crunches down, and you really just want to be done with it, remember that endurance has it's own measure of happiness.

"Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job..." James 5:11

-When your heart hurts more than it can bear, remember the Lord cares, he loves you.

"The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart" Psalms 34:15

~