The Path of Slothfulness

"The wise man ... knows that
the sluggard is no freak,
but, as often as not, an ordinary man
who has made too many excuses,
too many refusals
and too many postponements.
It has all been as imperceptible,
and as pleasant,
as falling asleep.

—Derek Kidner
[Commentary on] Proverbs (IVP, 1964), p.43

Most Richly Blessed...

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I was made weak, that I might sit still.

I asked for health, that I might do great things.
I was given infirmity, that I might strengthen others.

I asked for riches, that I might be happy.
I was given poverty, that I might learn contentment.

I asked for light, that I might see the way ahead.
I was given darkness, that I might learn to trust.

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for — but everything I hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am, among all people, most richly blessed.

—Anonymous

Do What's Right: Come What May

"For You created my inmost being;
You knit me together in my mother's womb."
(Psalm 139:13)

With his mother a lawyer and his father a professor, Caleb Hogan has grown up understanding the importance of stating his case, backing it with facts, and choosing what's right ... Come What May.

This ability has served him well in his internship at his mother's law firm and it has guided him to the college with the best Moot Court team. But has it prepared him to deal with the collision-course elements of the most important legal issue of our time?

When does life really begin?

Coming face-to-face with the realities and legalities of the abortion issue—both in preparation for the National Moot Court championship and as his mother prepares to argue a high-profile case before the Supreme Court—Caleb must decide what he truly believes.

Wherever he lands will have consequences. If he takes the pro-life argument, he stands to lose the most important competition of his life—and the support of his mother. If he follows his mother's lead, he could win the coveted title ... but lose the heart of his teammate Rachel in the process.

Along with her professor and classmates, Rachel not only understands the strength of the pro-life arguments, she believes them to her core. Life, from its beginning, exists to honor God. For Rachel, that plays out in her Moot Court arguments and in her daily life.

Can Caleb find that same conviction? Can he win the heart of Rachel in the process? While compromise might be the easiest solution, it could also be the most dangerous.

Come What May is a vivid reminder that choosing what's right is never easy ... but it's always worth the cost.

—ComeWhatMayTheMovie.com

You could have a chance to win a copy of Come What May on DVD! Go here to make your entry in the giveaway on the homeschool blog, Pajama School!

The most beautiful shade of red...

"Be Mine" the words said
Written in the most beautiful shade of red.
Never before had her eyes beheld
Nor, in the depths of her heart, had she felt
This kind of feeling before.
She wanted to know more.
She read on quickly with excitement
And in amazement her soul leapt
As the words made it all so clear,
The very thing she needed to hear.
"I love you more than life,
My Dear, and in My love there is no fear.
You see, it was for this Holy love
That I gave My life and shed My blood.
I've given freely, to you, this treasure,
This gift which is beyond measure."
Could it be true, her eyes opened wide.
For it was at that moment she realized
The emptiness she had felt inside
Would now be wholly, completely satisfied
With this love, offered without cost.
It was true. She had been lost.
"There is only one thing I must ask of you."
"What is it?" she asked. "Anything I will do."
"Be mine and only mine, you must give me your life,
It's kind of like becoming my wife.
You'll be my bride and I will come back for you.
And I want you to be ready in all that you do."
Her answer was "Yes" and in those words,
The angels singing in heaven could be heard.
"Be Mine" the words said with sacrificial love
Written and sealed in her Saviour's blood.
—Author Unknown

That Which Concerns Me

Father, it hasn't been an easy road to walk lately. The road is awfully winding. I'm confused. It's a dead end in front of me, and it seems such a long way to have to back-track. The path back is all uphill, and, to top it all off, it's pouring rain. More clouds are rolling in so that I can hardly see where I'm going. There is no way I can make it without slipping again! I really can't see any way out... How can this be Your way? How can this be Your mercy?

That sounds embarrassingly like the cry of my heart much of the past few months... as I learn a little more of what it means to be helpless, humiliated, hurting.

But not hopeless.

Tempted so, yes; more than once. But I have watched in wonder and thankfulness as the Lord delivers a Hand-picked passage or verse in my quiet time just when it's most needed. A word, note or prayer from a friend. Encouragement and help from my family. Faithful sunbeams when the clouds are darkest.

In my devotions this morning, I was reading in the Psalms, again seeing God's power in ways He has led and rescued His people in the past, how "His mercy endureth forever," how He does not forsake His own. And as I read on, my eyes fell upon the summation of all of it: "The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me."1

Isn't that the best reassurance I can have? The Creator of heaven and earth (of ME), Who is also the Redeemer of that creation, has a plan to enact through every thing in my life, both good and "bad." And not only that, but has promised to make it a perfect plan, that He will carry out!

“God sometimes allows people to treat us unjustly. Sometimes He even allows their actions to seriously affect our careers, or our futures viewed on a human plain. But God never allows people to make decision about us that undermine His plan for us. Never. Why do we struggle then with disappointment and resentment when someone else’s decision or action adversely affects us? Is it not because it is our plans that have been dashed or our pride that has been hurt? Trust His sovereignty, trust His wisdom, trust His love.”
—Jerry Bridges

Trust. Yes, that is what I must do. Trust Him for the daily strength He has promised... and wait.

1:Psalm 138:8

Brighter Visions Beam Afar

Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o'er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation's story
Now proclaim Messiah's birth.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great Desire of nations;
Ye have seen His natal star.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Though an Infant now we view Him,
He shall fill His Father’s throne,
Gather all the nations to Him;
Every knee shall then bow down:
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

A merry and joy-filled Christmas to you all! He came, so that we might have LIFE, both in life and in death. Let us celebrate His coming together and never lose sight of why He came!

But Since I Know...

"The story is told of a king who went into his garden one morning and found everything withered and dying. He asked the oak tree that stood near the gate what the trouble was. The old oak replied that he was sick of life and was determined to die, because he was not tall and beautiful like the pine. The pine was all out of heart because it could not bear grapes like the vine. The vine was going to throw its life away because it could not stand erect and have as fine fruit as the peach tree; and so on through the garden.

Coming to a little purple violet, the king found its bright face lifted as cheery as ever. 'Well, violet, I'm glad amidst all this discouragement to find one brave little flower. You do not seem to be the least disheartened.'

'No. I'm really not an important flower, but I believe that if you wanted an oak or a pine or a peach tree or a lilac, you would have planted one; but since I know you wanted a violet, I am determined to be the best violet I can be.'"

—Charles Spurgeon

An Expected End

"I held something so precious in my hands. Many times I would offer it up on the altar for God, only to snatch it back soon afterwards. ...He gazed into my eyes and looked into the depths of my heart. 'My daughter, please give this to Me entirely. I want to give you that which is far above what you would expect. It may not happen how you want it to happen and it may not be that which you thought it would be, but I promise, My child, to give you nothing but My best for your life, so that you may in return glorify Me more fully. I am God alone. I can and will do that which is exceedingly, abundantly above all you could ever ask or think. This may cost you pain, but are you willing to endure even extreme pain for My sake and for My glory?" With tear stained eyes, I finally released and surrendered what I thought was so wonderful; and I got ALL of HIM in exchange."—Leah Cross

My dear friend posted that the other day, and it really struck a chord with me. Our lives seem to be strikingly parallel recently, and I am so encouraged by her sweet responses to what the Lord is bringing her through! I am so thankful for her support and inspiration as we walk this journey together. And yet, we never are alone. For even when our paths diverge... Jesus walks them both.

"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.
And ye shall seek me, and find me,
when ye shall search for me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:11,13

Kindred Spirits

My thanks to Christina for passing on this award. (Consider yourself "awarded" back!)

I would like to recognize a few other ladies for the special encouragement they are to me:

Andrea
Chantel
Leah
Sarah
Katrina
Bethany

(Here are the guidelines for passing on the award.)

If you have some time and are searching for encouragement, I urge you to check out any/each of these blogs, and enjoy the other ones on my blogroll as well! Prepare to be blessed!

On Letting Go

Elisabeth Elliot wrote in a book of hers, "When the will of God crosses the will of man, one of them must die." Is it our way that is wiser, higher, kinder than our Creator's? It never can be so.
So many times I think something would bring me joy and delight, and yet, the Lord very firmly closes that door. I don't pretend to know the reasons, or understand His ways, but I do know that whatever the Lord does is right... and can only be in faithfulness, in goodness, in kindness.

Reading this week, I came across this short poem. There's so much meaning packed into that simple line: "You never did let go."

As children bring their broken toys,
With tears, for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God
Because He is my Friend.
But then, instead of leaving Him
In peace, to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help
With ways that were my own.
At last, I snatched them back and cried,
"How can You be so slow?"
"My child," He said, "What could I do?
You never did let go."

—Author Unknown