Waiting Endure for a Season...

Sometimes the best things in life 

take a long time to materialize. 

~

Isaiah 41:10

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Is 41:10

Yesterday.  Just one more of those days that feel like weight hanging around your neck.

When a friend of mine texted me this verse, I held back tears.  How much I needed to remember!

I think the part I noticed most strongly was "for I am thy God". 

~ Fear thou not.~

A Little Nugget of Gold

Courtship consists in a number of quiet attentions, 

not so pointed as to alarm, nor so vague as not to be understood.

Laurence Sterne

But because the Lord loved you,...the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you.  

Deut 7:8

I was struck today by the gentleness, yet powerful purposefulness of our God.  When I read this quote on courtship, it reminded me of the quiet ways God works in our lives: "a number of quiet attentions, not so pointed as to alarm, nor so vague as to not be understood."   We tend to notice the big changes, traumatic events, whirlwind changes, failures, successes, and big miracles, but do we notice unobtrusive guidence, the gentle guidance?   The next time your life seems to be stuck, not moving, unchanged, uneventful, maybe even just boring, look at it as "a number of quiet attentions."

Keep Me Safe till the Storm Passes By

In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face,
While the storm howls above me, and there's no hiding place.
'Mid the crash of the thunder, Precious Lord, hear my cry,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by.


Many times Satan whispered, "There is no need to try,
For there's no end of sorrow, there's no hope by and by"
But I know Thou art with me, and tomorrow I'll rise
Where the storms never darken the skies

When the long night has ended and the storms come no more,
Let me stand in Thy presence on the bright peaceful shore;
In that land where the tempest, never comes, Lord, may I
Dwell with Thee when the storm passes by.

Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more,
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky;
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by.

Let this my motto be

Lord, help me live from day to day

In such a self-forgetful way

That even when I kneel to pray

My prayer shall be for—Others.

Refrain

Others, Lord, yes others,

Let this my motto be,

Help me to live for others,

That I may live like Thee.

Help me in all the work I do

To ever be sincere and true

And know that all I’d do for You

Must needs be done for—Others.

Refrain

Let ?Self? be crucified and slain

And buried deep: and all in vain

May efforts be to rise again,

Unless to live for—Others.

Refrain

And when my work on earth is done,

And my new work in Heav’n’s begun,

May I forget the crown I’ve won,

While thinking still of—Others.

Refrain

As children, we used to lay in bed listening to Tennessee Erie Ford sing hymns, this was one of the hymns. We listened to the same cassette night after night, fell to sleep listening to the tape, and again for Sunday afternoon nap. He had such a rich deep voice, soothing, clear, and comforting. The tape is still our favorite, even after 20 years, whenever one of us siblings is in the dumps, you'll hear that one singing "Tennesse Erie Ford".

Looking back, I believe our thoughts and standard for life was greatly affected by the music we listened to. Today, I was feeling pointless - after all what use am I? I don't have a clear purpose or goal mapped out in front of me. I can't say "I'm getting ready for the mission field, Lord Willing, in the next year or two." I can't say "I'm striving to raise my children for the Lord, oh that they'll be saved at a young age!" I can't even say "Yes, I am so excited, we'll be starting life together, I pray I will be a wife of virtue." What can I say?

At this point, I think I wasn't so much melancoly or sad -- just confused. Then into my mind streamed these lovely words. "Lord, help me live from day to day...Let this my motto be...That I may live like Thee." The truth dawned on me. If only in my life, I can only say that my goal is to live like Him, then that is all that matters. It doesn't matter whether you fit into the previous categories: a prayerful missionary, a careful mother, or a helpful wife. It matters that you live for Him, in whatever capacity He gives you.

Lord, help me live from day to day

In such a self-forgetful way

That even when I kneel to pray

My prayer shall be for—Others.

Let this my motto be.

If you want to hear what the tune sounds like, here is the link http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/t/h/others.htm, and I found Tennesee Ernie Ford singing it online http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X82jlo9ngOE :)

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.

Under the Wire

I waited patiently for the LORD;

and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

Ps 40:1

Today at the end of morning meeting, a short word of ministry was given on Ps 40:1-3. The message hit home for me, so I've decided to share it.

The speaker opened by reading Psalms 40:1-3. Then he looked at the rest of us, and said "Listen to this verse" and promptly mis quoted it. It jarred me. He quoted "I waited for the Lord, and he inclined unto me." I waited for him to correct himself, but he didn't.

He continued to say how he likes to "slip under the wire" when it comes to this verse. Slipping in under the "I waited" and failing to "Wait PATIENTLY". He said that we know God will work his perfect work regardless of us, and it will be in his timing, ultimately. So, "I have to wait, I have no choice, but am I waiting patiently."

Ah, my mom once said to me when I was about 11 or so, "Be careful, if you don't learn patience now, God will teach it to you eventually. And the lessons we fail to learn the first time, seem to be a lot longer later on. " Truthfully, I shrugged it off, I'd be patient eventually, but it did nag at me for a long time thereafter.

Not too many years later, I began to see what she meant. Patience is not an easy thing to learn. But I was encouraged today by the ministry. Encouraged to wait patiently, because the Lord will incline unto me. This is the idea of a King on his throne, learning forward in interest, interested in what you have to say, listening. Wait Patiently, don't try to slip in under the wire.

Thank God that He listens!

Come Out From

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

1Pe 1:16

For I am the LORD your God:

ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves,

and ye shall be holy; for I am holy:

Lev 11:44

Time has past since we would journey to Florida as a whole family by car. The three day trek to Florida seemed like an eternity to us kids, helped mostly by the eager anticipation to play in the sand and "our" pool --namely the resort's pool. We felt like we owned Florida!

Looking back I can imagine how trying we children were to Dad. "Are we there yet?" "How many more days?" "How many more hours?" "Dad, are bald headed eagles really bald?" "Dad, I feel seasick! No, I'm NOT car sick, I am SEA sick, I feel sea sick." "Dad.." "Dad..."

I am sure my parents wonder if these long trips were even worth the effort. I wonder if they ever realized what an impact these trips had on us.

You see, we had a favorite "tape" (cassette tape -- or rather tapes): Don Francisco's tapes. We could sing every song by memory. These songs made a huge impact on our minds, on our life. And no wonder, we listened to them the whole way down and the whole way home (this was before we discovered the Odyssey series.)

I was thinking today of one of these songs in particular. The song is "Holiness", and it is the chorus that stands out to me even now.

Holiness, Holiness

It's the Lord's command

Not the Lord's request

How true this is! I don't believe we understand the significance of such a command. Above I have listed the verses that come to mind whenever I heard this song. IF only we could grasp the importance of being holy, our lives would be changed.

"How should we then live?

Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Eze 33:10, 11"

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord"

2Co 6:17

(to turn off blog music, just scroll down on the left side, click the big pause button)

Reflections of the Master's Hand

I am certainly not the originator of this analogy, but somehow the reality of this sunk into my consciousness this time. I look at how little I am and how perfectly the trail of history behind me reflects His guidance.

Being held in the master's hand. I often revel in the pure security of being in His hand. God's hand. I can trust him, even when I don't trust him I am still in the security of the hand of God. How much greater is His plan than ours. I love looking back and seeing how what seemed to be so scary, perfectly fell into place, step by step. He has painted the picture that I can only see glimpses of... I can trust Him.

But perhaps you, like me, ask how can I trust others? God knows how I have struggled with trusting. Sometimes my fear has been so great it prompted instant and irrevocable decisions that hurt innocent people. "How can I trust others?" I ask."In light of what I know of Him, and his perfection and how little I trust Someone who deserves all my faith -- how can I trust others whom I know to be mere humans like myself?"

I do not have the answers, but this helped me understand...

The Memoirs of a Simple Violin

"I thought I felt like puddy in his hands. I realize now it is more like the feeling of being handled as a valuable violin in the hands of a musician taught by a master violinist. The musician's every motion was guided by the skill imparted to him by the Master. The Master who not only taught the musician , but the Master who made me --the simple violin that I am. How thankful I am that the musician is taught by the Master, for the Master loves me more than anyone.

The Master will always love this simple violin. He has a unique love for me because He made me--me the violin. The Master is teaching the musician to love me the way He loves me.

The musician sees the value of the violin, because it is the work of the Master. Any studied musician values a Stradivarius because of its sound, quality, beauty, and its name.

The Stradivarius bears the name of its maker, Antonio Stradivari. I am called my Master's name.

In the hands of the Master, I am formed and play, and move to my Master's music. In the hands of the Master I am completed and tried. I experience, through gentle, but sometimes painful, process. I don't always sing as I should. Sometimes I am out of tune.

Sometimes I squeak or grate in awkward sharp notes. My Master fine tunes me, tightens my strings, stretching my strings -- its uncomfortable. The Master made me for a purpose. Then the Master shows the musician, whom he made me for, how to tune and play the violin, so that I will sing for him too.....

....Sometimes, the musican makes mistakes and I vibrate with hurt. Pain. But I bravely quiver as the musican's bow catches on the stings. A loud I complain. "I AM not supposed to be played this way! This is not how my Master's music sounds!" .....

....I always marvel when my Master steps in. He gently takes the bow from the musician, and lifting me in His arms: He plays. Sweet the song of the Master.

I have seen many violins thrown or given away. A squeaky violin is not appreciated by a musician. I am always amazed when my complaints are graciously forgiven.

Cast off violins are often given to children to play with. A disobedient violin is of no use to the musician. The musician looks for one of greater value. But the Master always love the violin. Sometimes, although the Master loves the violin, He must put the stubborn violin in a different place. A stubborn violin can be of no use to the musician.

But a well-tuned violin is a beautiful and useful instrument. The Master places a fined tuned violin into the hands of a loving musician. The violin is loved by the Master and the musician alike....

...the orchestra, the conductor, and the audience love a violin made by the Master, played the the Master-taught musician. The violin cannot play itself. The violin must depend upon another.

We need others in our life. The Master made us. Can we not trust the Master to care for us even in the hands of others? The Master's love and wisdom is not limited. We can trust Him with the others in our lives. "

***

I really enjoyed the little picture of the violin. There was more to the story, which I didn't included. But the part that struck me in this story was this: I can not control what others do, but I can trust the God who made me.

I Can Trust You

Rebecca St. James' Song I Can Trust You

I Can Trust You

I often struggle with letting go and trusting, this song has long been a favorite and a good reminder to trust and let go of the desire to control.

"Oh! That...." The 10 "O thats" of Job

*There are at least 3 more such exclamations listed in the book of Job in the KJV, but none of those 3 are of the same Hebrew word.

O that God...

The Hebrew word מי , pronounced "me", used in direct exclamation is found 10 times in the book of Job. Athough this is often an interrogative pronoun, asking who, it is also a by oblique construction, a colloquial idom meaning "Would to God!..." Commonly phrased as "Oh that..."

The deepest yearnings of our soul are known only to God and are kept by Him.

Dare we entrust our yearnings to God, which knoweth the hearts?

The 10"O thats"of Job

1. Oh that I might have my request

2. Oh that God might speak

3. Oh that ye would hold thy peace

4. Oh that Thou wouldest hid me

5. Oh that my words were written

6. Oh that my words were printed in a book

7. Oh that I knew

8. Oh that I were

9. Oh that we had

10. Oh that One would hear

Do any of these sound familiar to you? Oh too familiar to me.

"I wish I had, God speak to me, everyone else be quiet, hide me o God, if only my words were written, if only what i had to say mattered, if only i knew, i wish i was ..., if only we had, oh that some ONE would listen"

The 10 "O that"s of Job. Job wasn't wrong to question, but he was genuinely longing for God to answer. Are we longing for God's answer, or are our exclamations really just exaggerated complaints?

Can we trust God to satisfy our need? Do we trust Him?

Job 6:8 Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

Job 11:5 But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

Job 13:5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.

Job 14:13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

Job 19:23a Oh that my words were now written!

Job 19:23b Oh that they were printed in a book!

Job 23:3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!

Job 29:2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;

Job 31:31 If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.

Job 31:35 Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.

A letter

Sometimes I wonder what the purpose of life really is, what the is point, the purpose, the divine plan of life? As more of life that passes, the more I realize that life just doesn’t make sense. Nor perhaps is it meant to. The creation of Life is a mystery, the sustaining of Life can be a mystery –Life is a mystery.

Does a mother look at her child and wonder ‘how can this child be?’ Or a man with his bride wonder ‘how can this be?’ Maybe, no one else wonders these things ….But I wonder….not that I have every been a mother

(nor a man for that matter) but I wonder “How?”. For life, it does not make sense. Oh, it follows the typical patterns, and in many ways it can be so predictable, but close study defines nothing. Life defies being understood, I think.

There are a few things in Life which I find immensely satisfying. One of which is to bury my hands in Tobijah’s fur, his warm, soft, clean fur. It feels so deep, like you could lose your hands in his fur.

I clench my hands in his furry mien and for that moment--I am satisfied.

I sit on the porch swing as the cross breeze plays with my hair and faint cooing from mourning doves mingle with chickadee twitters.

Our porch swing is very satisfying. Or sitting close with a friend: I love the warmth – the comradeship, friendship, and the deeper sense of peace. Even more, spending time with the Lord, in the quiet of my room, listening.

I understand now why they say that dogs are good for children, since dogs love unconditionally. Tobijah doesn't mind when I grab handfuls of warm fur, he sits smiling his doggy smile.

Another thing: children. Children are so very satisfactory. Last weekend, I held my friends 7 week old baby. He lay in my lap, cooing, talking. Everytime I said "Hi", he would repeat the sound back to me. (Imagine how trilled I was.) Babies may be my weakness... so lovable. Warm. Soft. And little children are so trusting. Trusting, faithful, loving: character traits we should really be practicing. I think perhaps the fact little child pose no threat, and happy puppy dogs either is what makes us love them so. I enjoyed these verses, these verses gave a sense of purpose and comfort.

Isaiah 14:26 says "This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the. For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

Ecclesiastes 5:18 Behold that which I have seen:it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for

this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be

good, or whether it be evil.

These are my contemplations for the day, I have drawn no new conclusions.

Sincerely,

Ashley

Finding

Seek the LORD and his strength,

seek his face continually.

1 Ch 16:11

But they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

Ps 34:10

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy;

break up your fallow ground:

for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

Hos 10:12

Behold, I go forward,

but he is not there;

and backward,

but I cannot perceive him:

On the left hand, where he doth work,

but I cannot behold him:

he hideth himself on the right hand,

that I cannot see him:

But

He knoweth

the way that I take:

when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Job 23:8-10

Seek the LORD, and ye shall live.

Amos 5:6

Tomorrow

I don't know about tomorrow;

I just live from day to day.

I don't borrow from its sunshine

For its skies may turn to grey.

I don't worry o'er the future,

For I know what Jesus said.

And today I'll walk beside Him,

For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow

I don't seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand.

Every step is getting brighter

As the golden stairs I climb;

Every burden's getting lighter,

Every cloud is silver-lined.

There the sun is always shining,

There no tear will dim the eye;

At the ending of the rainbow

Where the mountains touch the sky.

I don't know about tomorrow;

It may bring me poverty.

But the one who feeds the sparrow,

Is the one who stands by me.

And the path that is my portion

May be through the flame or flood;

But His presence goes before me

And I'm covered with His blood.

Many things about tomorrow

I don't seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHhtWs5j2l8&feature=related

Blessings for Today

So, today, I was awaken by my sister who asked me "Are you supposed to be leaving for work?" or maybe she asked "Have you left for work?" or maybe she said something else....I can't remember what exactly she said, but I awoke to:

• being fully dressed (from the day before)
• between the wrong blankets (not the sheets)
• AND my cell phone (my alarm) in my hand

Anyways, a long story short, I made it to work in time, but it made me think of how very good the Lord was to wake me up. (Funny thing was, my brother hadn't waken either.)

For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness:

thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head. Psa 21:3

God is Good

Psa 73:1

A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good

When all the world is looming dark

And things seem not so clear,

When shadows seem to hover 'round

Lord, may I persevere.

When it seems everything's been tried

And there's no way to go,

Just let me keep remembering

Sometimes the journey's slow.

I may just need to stop and rest

Along the path I trod,

A time to try to understand

And have my talk with God.

As I gain new strength to carry on

Without a doubt or fear,

Somehow I know things will be right,

And so, I persevere.

By Anne Stortz

The Road Most Wondered

The Road Most Wondered

There is a road most wondered

Tis called the road of life

For both the ancients and the moderns

This wonder causes strife

For no one ever quite can tell

Nor answer how or why

Or tell the utmost purpose

Nor when a man will die

The outside nor the inside

The reason past or future

The value here and now

Yet a little whisper

Comes from the bend ahead

Come all ye weary ones

REST, is what He said.

The Thoughts of the Heart , p2

I haven't posted in a while, life is very busy. However, I have continued to ponder the previous topic.....

I was reading in Psalms a few days ago (yes, as many know, that means I wasn't really reading much this week --not a good thing to say the least, but I love how God speaks straight to our souls even when we weren't really listening.), so while reading in Psalms this verse popped out at me.

The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever,

the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

Psa 33:11

the thoughts of his heart to all generations... we really have no grasp of how God loves us, do we?

How He loves us! He loved us generations prior to our existence. Who would love filthy little arrogant creatures so intent on willfully sinning, generations before they are born, with the exact knowledge of the hideous sin they will commit?

According as He hath chosen us in Him

before the foundation of the world,

that we should be holy

and without blame

before him in love: Eph 1:4

We love to rationalize love, we bring His love down to our level, but in reality --we have no clue. No clue, how much He loves us --and how much we pain Him.

I remember as a very little girl, my mom would crouch down beside me when I had a tantrum, or wouldn't share . She would say "Ashley. That is very bad. That is sin." Her voice would be stern and hard, but her face was gentle. Her eyes were sad. "And it hurt God's heart sooo much, it makes God very very sad." Somehow, when she said that you could almost see God crying, so heavy hearted, so disappointed --but with eyes so full of love that it made my child's heart want to throw my arms around His neck, in contrite repentance.

So, I was reading today, in random places, when I read Hebrews 9:26.

For then must he often have suffered

since the foundation of the world:

but now once in the end of the world

hath he appeared to put away sin

by the sacrifice of himself.

For then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world....

The previous verses center on the difference between Christ's sacrifice and the old sacrifices of bulls and of goats, emphasising how the sacrifices of old could never put away sin forever and then comes this verse. "For then must He often have suffered". So he came to deal with the problem of sin once and for all "now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."

I believe I will always be amazed that the God of Heaven infinitely loves me forever.

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying,

Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love:

therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Jeremiah 31:3

***

Lord Jesus I love thee, I know Thou art mine,

My rock and my fortress, my surety divine,

My gracious redeemer, song shall be now,

Tis Thou who art worthy, Lord Jesus, tis Thou.

Now the Lord saith "Be it far from me; for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."

I Sam. 2:30

Two extremes.

"I would that thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."

The middle.

Then I saw, and considered it well:

I looked upon it, and received instruction.

Proverbs 24:32