Satisfaction in God

Our continual apprehension of God, may produce our continual satisfaction in God, under all His dispensations. Whatever enjoyments are by God conferred upon us, where lies the relish, where the sweetness of them? Truly, we may come to relish our enjoyments, only so far as we have something of God in them. It was required in Psal. xxxvii. 4, "Delight thyself in the Lord." Yea, and what if we should have no delight but the Lord? Let us ponder with ourselves over our enjoyments: "In these enjoyments I see God, and by these enjoyments, I serve God!"

And now, let all our delight in, and all our value and fondness for our enjoyments, be only, or mainly, upon such a divine score as this. As far as any of our enjoyments lead us unto God, so far let us relish it, affect it, embrace it, and rejoyce in it: "O taste, and feed upon God in all;" and ask for nothing, no, not for life itself, any further than as it may help us, in our seeing and our serving of our God.

And then, whatever afflictions do lay fetters upon us, let us not only remember that we are concerned with God therein, but let our concernment with God procure a very profound submission in our souls. Be able to say with him in Psal. xxxix. 9, "I open not my mouth, because thou didst it." In all our afflictions, let us remark the justice of that God, before whom, "why should a living man complain for the punishment of his sin?" The wisdom of that God, "whose judgments are right:" the goodness of that God, who "punishes us less than our iniquities do deserve." Let us behave ourselves, as having to do with none but God in our afflictions: And let our afflictions make us more conformable unto God: which conformity being effected, let us then say, "'Tis good for me that I have been afflicted."

Sirs, what were this, but a pitch of holiness, almost angelical! Oh! Mount up, as with the wings of eagles, of angels: be not a sorry, puny, mechanick sort of Christians any longer; but reach forth unto these things that are thus before you.

Words from Cotton Mather

The Divine Light

A sense of the beauty of Christ is the beginning of true saving faith in the life of a true convert. This is quite different from any vague feeling that Christ loves him or died for him. These sort of fuzzy feelings can cause a sort of love and joy, because the person feels a gratitude for escaping the punishment of their sin. In actual fact, these feelings are based on self-love, and not on a love for Christ at all. It is a sad thing that so many people are deluded by this false faith. On the other hand, a glimpse of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ causes in the heart a supreme genuine love for God. This is because the divine light shows the excellent loveliness of God's nature. A love based on this is far, far above anything coming from self-love, which demons can have as well as men. The true love of God which comes from this sight of His beauty causes a spiritual and holy joy in the soul; a joy in God, and exulting in Him. There is no rejoicing in ourselves, but rather in God alone.

The sight of the beauty of divine things will cause true desires after the things of God. These desires are different from the longings of demons, which happen because the demons know their doom awaits them, and they wish it could somehow be otherwise. The desires that come from this sight of Christ's beauty are natural free desires, like a baby desiring milk. Because these desires are so different from their counterfeits, they help to distinguish genuine experiences of God's grace from the false.

An extract from a sermon by Jonathan Edwards

Westminster Larger Catechism - (1-5)

Question 1: What is the chief and highest end of man?

Answer: Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.

Question 2: How does it appear that there is a God?

Answer: The very light of nature in man, and the works of God, declare plainly that there is a God; but his Word and Spirit only do sufficiently and effectually reveal him unto men for their salvation.

Question 3: What is the Word of God?

Answer: The holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, the only rule of faith and obedience.

Question 4: How does it appear that the Scriptures are the Word of God?

Answer: The Scriptures manifest themselves to be the Word of God, by their majesty and purity; by the consent of all the parts, and the scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to God; by their light and power to convince and convert sinners, to comfort and build up believers unto salvation: but the Spirit of God bearing witness by and with the Scriptures in the heart of man, is alone able fully to persuade it that they are the very Word of God.

Question 5: What do the Scriptures principally teach?

Answer: The Scriptures principally teach,: What man is to believe concerning God, and: What duty God requires of man.

Mystery Novel

Recently, in school I read a book in my french class. It was lovely. Can you guess what the title of the book is?

«Les enfants seuls savent ce qu'ils cherchent... Ils perdent du temps pour une poupée de chiffons et elle devient très importante, et si on la leur enlève, ils pleurent...»

Favorite Verse?

What is your favorite Bible verse? I have many, too many to really count. What verse do you read or recite in your head day in and day out? What verse do you grab onto when the time is like sand in an hour glass? What verse breathes your passion?

-Galatians 5:1

Waiting

I love waiting for e-mail from friends. It is like waiting for Christmas, which always comes.

Misled in Scotland

Pray for the people who visit St. Mungo's Cathedral and Museum that they would not be fooled by the false message that is preached.

Kathy

Kathy Littlefield by far has made the greatest impact on my life. I strongly believe that you should always be in the process of being discipled and discipling others. I asked her to be my mentor in eighth grade. She was my babysitter long before we became best friends or as close as sisters. She helped to ignite my passion for Christ through missions. She has pushed me to higher mountains with Christ on deeper levels. I should not just read the word of God, but meditate upon it and know it in my heart because it is precious. Kathy taught me not to put a price tag on my priorities. What is important to God should not be compromised at any cost. I should pursue him every minute of my day in prayer. I learned from her that when it says in the Bible pray without ceasing, this simply means that when an interruption from life comes, to have the desire to return to my Lord when it subsides, to never lose touch with the reason I live. It is critical to press on to know the Lord intimately, not with your head but with all that is in you. What was hard for me to see or understand, she pointed to where I needed to look in scripture. Kathy saw the need for me to lay down my prideful self and wrap myself in humility in God’s arms. I cherish all of the lessons she has taught me through the years. We pray for each other every day that we would be open to hear what God has to say and that he would use us in a mighty way for his glory.


If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. (Jeremiah 20:9)

Testimonies

It drives me crazy when Christians say the dreadful words "my testimony is boring." That is like telling God he masterpiece he is painting in life is out of date and lackluster. How could you insult God by saying God's perfect plan for your salvation was a second rate plan? Anyway, I used to be one of those people that uttered those terrible ear piercing words and then God grabbed me. I am so thankful when God jumps in with road signs and urgent e-mails. I realized that my salvation was a beautiful gift from God.

I accepted Christ when I was very young. Often I ask myself why my life has unfolded the way it has; and as my faith deepened I came to understand small bits and pieces. Everyday I thank God for outstretching his arm to me when I was young to save from a life that could have been. I see evidence of his presence in my life every day. I can’t even count how many times he has interceded on my behalf.

It was not until later in life that I realized the full extent of God’s saving grace. “Our hearts are deceitful above all things and desperately corrupt.” (Jeremiah 17:9) The power to cover all of my sin, all sin, is miraculous. He justified my life by acquitting my sin to satisfy his wrath to receive his glory, a new righteousness was given. I am eternally thankful for his sanctifying grace.

Recently, in the last few years God has taught me so much. Of course, sometimes I do not always apply what I have learned and this I account for on the reason that I am in spiritual battle every minute of every day. All my life I have been told about the marvelous attributes of God, he is omnipotent, omniscience, omnipresent, and sovereign over all things, but it was not until lately I flipped the switch in my head for the light to come on. I feel that every breath I take is filled with his presence; I feel that he is so close I can close my eyes and fall at his feet. Two years ago one night when I was praying alone in my room, God spoke to me. I know that it is his will for my life to go into international missions. God’s timing is everything. I know that if he called me tomorrow to go overseas, I would not be ready spiritually. Sometimes I feel as if I am playing a game of tug-of-war. I long to serve Christ overseas, but I know His timing supersedes mine. I believe that every person has been given a mission field, and while I am in Humble, Humble is my mission field. I am only a broken vessel, and I desire that God would use me to do His work for the kingdom. I hope that every day I can passionately pursue Christ. I no longer feel tainted by the desires of man, but long for the “vast, ocean-deep pleasures of God.” (John Piper) I live because of and for Christ.

I meditate on all that thou hast done;
I muse on what thy hands have wrought.
I stretch out my hands to thee;
My soul thirsts for THEE like a parched land.

(Psalm 143:5-6)

Prayer Update - VOM

"The Lord is my strength and song,And He has become my salvation;He is my God, and I will praise Him;My father's God, and I will exalt Him."(Exodus 15:2)

Egypt:
Pray God will comfort the family and friends of Pastor Habib. Pray Christians in Egypt will remain confident in their Savior despite harassment and murder. Pray Muslims will realize they can't kill the soul (Matthew 10:28).

India:
Pray Christians in India will stand firm knowing they are children of God, not recognized by the world but beloved of their Father. Pray their witness will lead many to Christ. Pray the Holy Spirit will move powerfully in India, bringing glory to God.

Nigeria:
Pray God will protect Idi and give him great courage to remain faithful to Jesus. Pray Pastor Negwenche will know the presence and peace of God as he deals with the Muslims who are harassing him. Pray the publicity surrounding these unjust accusations will cause Muslims worldwide to question their beliefs.

Stress Release through wax

I love coloring. As a little child, nothing is better than the feel of a crayola crayon wrapped inside your thumb and fingers like a sausage in a pancake. The instead wave of color from the cylinder of wax shoots excitement through my hand, up my arm, to my spine in a blink of an eye. Slowly, the once barren page starts to breathe with vibrant life.

Lost Souls in Scotland

Please pray for Drumchapel

How Late is Too Late?

How late do normal people stay up? I want to know. I know that I have always had a drive to stay up late and read or noodle on my computer, but how many nocternal people are there in this world. Why waste precious hours of the day on sleep. How many verses in the Bible lend negative conotations toward sleep? I honestly do not know the answers to any of these questions, but surely someone does.

I just have so much on my mind. Nightime is a mystery, much like the meals at Humble High, but in a magically wonderful way. The luminous moon steals the warmth of the sun to bring light into the night to those of us who live by its light. I wish I was the moon, forever reflecting the Sun's glory, and hiding in the night sky and sleeping in cotton clouds.

The Gift of a Mother

Oh how I love my mother! She works really hard to keep family affairs in line, straighting up the house, and putting up with me, he little bundle of misfortune. I say this truthfully. To be honest with the world, I wish that I could roll back time to really show her I care about what is precious to her. Fortunately, since mothers often are forgotten despite all the work they accomplish, Hallmark came up with a holiday to remind us of their value.

Words from Piper

From "Sex and the Supremacy of Christ"

Oh, that the risen, living Christ, therefore, would come to us (even now) by his Spirit and through his Word and reveal to us

• The supremacy of his deity, equal with God the Father in all his attributes—the radiance of his glory and the exact imprint of his nature, infinite, boundless in all his excellencies;
• The supremacy of his eternality that makes the mind of man explode with the unsearchable thought that Christ never had a beginning, but simply always was; sheer, absolute reality while all the universe is fragile, contingent, like a shadow by comparison to his all-defining, ever-existing substance;
• The supremacy of his knowledge that makes the Library of Congress look like a matchbox, and all the information on the Internet look like a little 1940’s farmers almanac, and quantum physics—and everything Stephen Hawking ever dreamed—seem like a first-grade reader;
• The supremacy of his authority over heaven and earth and hell, without whose permission no man and no demon can move one inch, who changes times and seasons, removes kings and sets up kings; does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; so none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”
• The supremacy of his providence without which not a single bird falls to the ground in the furthest reaches of the Amazon forest, or a single hair of any head turns black or white;
• The supremacy of his word that moment by moment upholds the universe and holds in being all the molecules and atoms and subatomic world we have never yet dreamed of;
• The supremacy of his power to walk on water, cleanse lepers and heal the lame, open the eyes of the blind, cause the deaf to hear and storms to cease and the dead to rise, with a single word, or even a thought;
• The supremacy of his trustworthiness never to break his word or let one promise fall to the ground;
• The supremacy of his justice to render in due time all moral accounts in the universe settled either on the cross or in hell;
• The supremacy of his patience to endure our dullness for decade after decade; and to hold back his final judgment on this land and on the world, that many might repent;
• The supremacy of his sovereign, servant obedience to keep his Father’s commandments perfectly and then embrace the excruciating pain of the cross willingly;
• The supremacy of his wrath that will one day explode against this world with such fierceness that people will call out for the rocks and the mountains to crush them rather than face the wrath of the Lamb;
• The supremacy of his grace that gives life to spiritually dead rebels and wakens faith in hell-bound haters of God, and justifies the ungodly with his own righteousness;
• The supremacy of his own inexhaustible gladness in the fellowship of the Trinity, the infinite power and energy that gave rise to all the universe and will one day be the inheritance of every struggling saint;

And if he would grant us to know him like this, it would be but the outskirts of his supremacy. Time would fail to speak of the supremacy of his severity, and invincibility, and dignity, and simplicity, and complexity, and resoluteness, and calmness, and depth, and courage. If there is anything admirable, if there is anything worthy of praise anywhere in the universe, it is summed up supremely in Jesus Christ.

McVities

If you have never ever tried . . .

You need to!

I put them as the number one priority on my Christmas list.

I personally like the plain chocolate variety as shown above.

I Caved . . .

Oh well, I caved. I never thought I would have a blog but after spending a day reading so many I just got hooked. I decided I could journal and not have to mass mail people my thoughts. I think of this as a menu. You can choose what you want to hear me babble about, like an on off switch for my mouth. Needless to say . . . .