Quote of the Day

“…when one has even a glimmer of the tremendous difference between having Christ and being without Christ; when one gets but one shuddering glimpse of what eternity is, and of what it must mean, as well as what it may mean, without Christ; when one gets but a flash of realization of the tremendous fact that all these neighbors of ours, rich and poor alike will have to spend that eternity either with Him or without Him – it is hard, very hard indeed, to understand how a man or woman can believe these things at all, and make no effort for anything beyond the temporal elevation of those around, sometimes not even beyond their amusements!”

Fenelon

Quote of the Day

" If we surrender and die to self everyday of our lives, there won't be much to do on the last day of our lives." 

(Francois De La Mothe Fenelon, 1700s)

Quote of the Day

"Accustom yourself to unreasonableness and injustice. Abide in peace in the presence of God, who sees all these evils more clearly than you do, and who permits them. Be content with doing with calmness the little which depends upon yourself, and let all else be to you as if it were not."

(Francois De La Mothe Fenelon, 1700s)

Quote of the Day 

"Peace of heart lies in perfect resignation to the will of God.  What you need is true simplicity, a certain calmness of spirit which comes from entire surrender to all that God wills...the trouble you feel about so many things comes from your not accepting everything which may happen to you, with sufficient resignation to God.  Put all things, then, in His hands, and offer them beforehand to Him in your heart, as a sacrifice.  From the moment when you cease to want things to be according to your own judgement, and accept unconditionally whatever He sends, you will be free from all your uneasy retrospects and anxieties about your own concerns."  Fenelon (Joy and Strength, 202)

Quote of the Day

"Sufferings arising from anxiety, in which the soul adds, to the cross imposed by the hand of God, an agitated resistance, and a sort of unwillingness to suffer, - such troubles arise only because we live to ourselves." (Francis De La Mothe Fenelon)

Silence and a Blank Canvas

Spiritual Lessons

"Why is it that we are so busy with the future?  It is not our province.  Is there not a criminal interference with Him to who it belongs, in our feverish, anxious attempts to dispose of it, filling it with shadows of good and evil shaped by our own wild imaginations?  To do God's will as fast as it is made known to us, to inquire hourly...what He requires of us, and to leave ourselves, our friends, and every interest at His control with a cheerful trust that the path which He marks out leads to our perfection and to Himself, this is at once our duty and happiness.  Why will we not walk in the plain, simple way?"  ~  William E. Channing 

Silence and a Blank Canvas

My family recently came home from our annual "Family Camp".  We spend a week with our church family at a local camp where we eat together, sleep in cabins, and listen to preaching every morning and evening.  It's great.  This year many of my family and friends were able to "give up" burdens or even dreams to the Lord...and He in response showed them some things about their future.  I am excited for them, overjoyed for them, and thankful for them.  

But my experience this year was entirely different.  Several days before Camp, actually one week precisely,  I laid before Him all my little worries, wants, desires...my life.  And so at Camp, after preaching, I was able to go to the alter with a free heart, ask Him to search me, and He would...and there was nothing but a simply surrendered heart.  I was over-joyed.  But then, He didn't show me anything about my future.  Instead, He had taken my every expectation and held onto them.  He didn't give them back.  My future was one large blank canvas.

  I went to Him willing to be a missionary.  He didn't ask me to do that.  I told Him I would stay in the United States and serve him in simple normal fashion.  He didn't tell me that was my ministry.  I told Him I would suffer willingly.  He didn't say anything.  I told Him I would give up my little desire to remain near my family and friends....that I didn't need the education that I desired if He didn't want me to....I would give up publishing my book, dancing, desire for health, my dream of future children....ALL of it.  And He remained silent. 

Jesus showed me no hint of His future for me.  Maybe I couldn't handle knowing it?  Whatever His reason, I was shown nothing.  Even when others all around me were.  I had to learn that Silence isn't proof that nothing exists, but only that it isn't time for me to know.  Silence isn't something to fear.  A question mark only means endless possibilities.  I have come to realize He is silent on purpose.  He knows my heart.  It was time for other's to know His will.  I am not supposed to know right now.  My duty is to remain willing, and to obey what is already given me to do.  How simple.  Details don't matter when your Master is the Omniscient.  Doubts are no concern when your life's pilot is Jesus.  In acceptance lieth peace.  Surrendering to the unknown is just as "spiritual" as surrendering your life to be a missionary.  Remaining faithful in what He has already given us is just as important as choosing to be faithful in the future.  

Having no expectations other than that He will guide me is liberating.  It is lovely being totally given up to Christ.  It's the easiest, most natural, restful thing I've ever done.  If my old dreams came true -- Hallelujah!  If He decides to change them -- Hallelujah!  Either way it is good.  As long as He goes with me, I'm content.  And I already have that guaranteed.  He said He will never leave me nor forsake me.  It doesn't matter where others go, what they've been asked to do, what missions they've been given to accomplish.  I'm willing and He has given me no new orders.  So here is where I am, and here is where He must want me.  A long stretch of white canvas suddenly doesn't look so bare and ugly.  It's beautiful...clean, ready to be used.  Excitement thrills my soul....He has been given permission to paint any color.  Whatever He chooses will be best.  So whatever color is chosen will be perfect.  Little me...a white canvas....ready to be used perfectly.  Knowing that, I can dwell in silence.  

"Let us then think only of the present, and not even permit our minds to wander with curiosity into the future.  The future is not yet ours; perhaps it never will be.  It is exposing ourselves to temptation to wish to anticipate God, and to prepare ourselves for thing which He may not destine for us.  If such things should come to pass, He will give us light and strength according to the need.  Why should we desire to meet difficulties prematurely, when we have neither strength nor light as yet provided for them?  Let us give heed to the present which duties are pressing.  It is fidelity to the present which prepares us for fidelity in the future."  ~ Fenelon  

Quote of the Day

“We have no need that God should attack in us that which is lifeless and unresponsive. (It is the living only that must die). ...You asked for a remedy that your problems might be cured. You do not need to be cured, you need to be slain. ...So do not ask for either remedies or sustenance. Do not even ask for death. To ask death is impatience. And to ask food or remedies is only to prolong the agony. What then shall we do? Do nothing. Seek to nothing. Simply confess everything, not as a means of getting relief, but because of humble desire to yield unto Jesus.

...You see, the point is not how you are to be sustained and kept alive, but how you are to give up and die.” ~ Fenelon

Spiritual Lessons 

Torrents of Grace

Satisfied with the things He has given and content to do without the things He has denied. What a joyful place to be. I have limited my social media because He asked me to, and He has shown me the things I would've missed if I hadn't.

They are all little things. Noticing details. Soaking in the sunny rays of moments and taking note to enjoy them.

                                                                                                                            Abigail Grace 

The other morning I was sitting outside on our little green porch, drinking in the early hours, when out comes Abbie in her nightgown, barefooted and her hair bed-bedraggled. She trotted past me, spotted the flock of chickens and raced down the hill to chase them, her blond wisps wildly blowing behind her. Perfect moment.

Time spent with friends, moments of quiet, the smell of mowed lawn, warm breezes, fresh rain, Abbie kissing the little kitty on her birthday card, meeting new people, learning who my family members really are, seeing acquaintances how Jesus sees them. Hearing His quiet answers. Sunrises at 5:00 am. Chaos at our dinner table.  Friendships. Asking and having Him provide, so quietly, so proficiently.

Of course I still have the inconvenient little ailments, the burdens, the hectic schedule, the responsibilities, the time to manage, or lack of it... Who doesn't? But it is all peace when given to Him. These little hardships can be contentedly pursued and life can be relished when it's His life and I seek His will and follow Him. Life isn't a battle to be fought. I don't have to seek the status of functioning. But I can live above survival mode and revel in my every moment.

“When you find that weariness depresses or amusement distracts you, you will calmly turn with an untroubled spirit to your heavenly Father, who is always holding out His arms to you. ...He will never leave you in want. A trustful glance, a silent movement of the heart towards Him will renew your strength; and though you may feel as if your soul were downcast and numb, whatever God calls you to do, He will give you power and courage to perform. Our Heavenly Father, so far from overlooking us, is only waiting to find our hearts open, to pour into them the torrents of His grace.” ~ Francis Fenelon

Quote of the Day

"Be persuaded, timid soul, that He has loved you too much to cease loving you."  -- Francois De La Mothe Fenelon  (Joy and Strength, 127)