My day

Sometimes it is good to sit down at the end of the day and reflect. What did I accomplish today, with the Lord's help? How did we as a family work out our salvation in fear and trembling? Did we grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ? Was there joy and laughter in the home? Did we nurture one another?

Rick and the big boys were on the truck and pressure-washing the bins today. Linda and the girls headed off to piano lessons, leaving Christopher at home with me and the dogs. (Well, not all of the dogs...Fatty and Abe were let out together at 5:30 this morning, so they were off gallivanting. They came home, late this evening, worn out and filthy, but with happy doggy faces. I imagine the creek and the woods had lots of adventures for them.)

We have no hot water downstairs right now, because one of our pipes sprung a leak. We assume it was during the really cold spell, when the wind was howling and we could see our breath in the bathroom. I left the tap on at a trickle, but neglected to consider that the bath pipes might freeze. After I complained to Rick about a hissing sound for a few weeks, he told me that nothing was wrong, and I was to stop worrying. He sent Daniel into the basement to make sure the sump pump was clear of debris, in anticipation of the spring thaw and flooded basement that we always get. Daniel discovered the leak, and turned my hot water off.

So, doing dishes means running upstairs and coming down with buckets of hot water. The guys pulled the wall apart yesterday, intending to fix the pipe. So, Patrick loaded the dishwasher...we were going to get our hot water back. He should have remembered the old adage, "Never count your chickens before they're hatched." Rick didn't feel well; Daniel couldn't repair the pipe without him...so today I had the pleasant task of not only washing the breakfast dishes, but all of the dishes from the loaded dishwasher as well.

Critter dried; I washed. As we worked, we chatted. Christopher told me about a book he is reading. I asked lots of questions to determine if he is following the plot well. Then, I asked him if he could recite Psalm 23. NO! He couldn't. I think he forgot it, from lack of review. So, we repeated Psalm 23 a few times. I explained the imagery of the Shepherd caring for His sheep and providing for them through the valleys and beside the still waters. I explained the purpose of the rod and the staff, and by the time the dishes were done, Christopher could recite the entire Psalm. We reviewed it when the girls got home, and throughout the day. He learns fast, and I am certain that he will remember most of it tomorrow.

We then went out to the computer and found a medieval castle to construct. Here are the instructions for building a Medieval Castle.

The girls told me all about piano lessons while we put on a load of laundry and folded clothes. We tidied the upstairs (bedrooms, bathroom, hall, laundry room) while Linda made lunch. At lunch time, we read a Bible verse, prayed, and chatted while we ate.

After lunch we continued cleaning. Yesterday's activities had meant lots of mud was tracked into the house, so we scrubbed the kitchen floor, did the dishes, vacuumed the living room and family room, then the children headed outside to clean the yard, taking advantage of the beautiful, sunny day the Lord blessed us with. When they came in, they began work on the castle. I kept working while Linda showed her siblings how to colour the bricks to make them look two-dimensional. The children worked diligently, colouring and cutting and pasting, and got most of it done.

Meanwhile, I worked on finances and did more laundry. I had meat thawing for supper, and asked the girls to peel sweet potatoes. Linda put the chicken on to cook, and baked cookies for dessert. By the time Rick and the boys got home, the table was set and supper was ready. It was so nice to welcome them home to a clean house and the smell of dinner in the air.

What did we accomplish today? With the Lord's help, we deep-cleaned most of the house. We did school-work, reading about castles in the encyclopedia and online, then worked on the castle project. We memorized (or reviewed) one of the most beautiful Psalms in the Bible. We have socks in our drawers and dishcloths in the drawer. We ate nutritious meals and enjoyed each other's company. We learned that tracking mud in over clean floors results in discipline for not being careful. We worked together, laughed together and loved together.

Today was a good day. What makes it especially good is that it is my second daughter's 30th birthday! Happy Birthday, Heather!!

Lord, thank You for this day. Thank You for giving us joy in our work, and for giving us sunshine and spring weather after this long winter. Thank You for giving us a sense of accomplishment when we look back at the end of the day. This is one of Your many mercies...You are always good to us.

I pray You will bless Heather richly as she goes through this year. May she grow in grace, and in the knowledge of You as her Lord and Saviour. May she raise her children to know You and love You. Give her wisdom, Lord, and grace to live her life in a way that pleases You.

In Christ, I pray. amen.

Homeschooling is Safer, apparently

http://www.local6.com/news/topstory.rss

In the REALLY STRANGE category, I just heard that eleven 8 and 9 year olds plotted to kill their teacher. They had weapons: an old steak knife, a Crystal paperweight, duct tape, and so on. They even assigned jobs for each person in the conspiracy.

A bit of digging around brought me to a comment from a parent of one of these nasty children. 'My poor kid couldn't help doing that...it was a WHITE teacher, and these are BLACK kids.' Please.

Somehow I just can't feel too sorry for a bunch of children who plan to get rid of their teacher, who must be older, as she is about to retire. According to the parent, she screamed in the kids' faces, and was just all-around nasty. Could the kids have talked to the principal, perhaps? Their parents? Presumably they had homes to go to and parents who want to see them do well in school. If this teacher was so mean that she deserved to die, wouldn't one of the kids (at least) have said something?

I'm sure my children have been frustrated with me at times over the past 25 years that I have taught them. But, I know for certain that they have never plotted to kill me, nor have they amassed a bunch of weapons in order to carry out their evil plan.

Another reason to homeschool: it's safer.

9 of 12 is 16!

Where does the time go? My ninth baby (and fourth son) is now sixteen years old. He's been looking forward to this day for quite some time, because now that he's 16, he can get his beginner's license. This is a very big deal for boys. Not that it's not a big deal for girls, but for some reason, Patrick has been stressing out about it for months. He studied the manual backwards and forwards to be sure he understood all the rules of the road. The rest of the children gave it a glance...read through it once or twice...but didn't sweat it.

On Monday we'll head to the DriveTest office. I am sure he'll do fine!

It's funny how every single time, when one of my children turns 16 and it's time to take them for the test, then LET THEM DRIVE HOME, Daddy is nowhere to be found. He is off working, or on an errand.

And they say that men are brave. Let me tell you, you haven't seen bravery until you've witnessed a mom white-knuckling it down the road while her sweet sixteen year old is hugging the right. "Careful, now...you'll put us in the ditch!"

It doesn't get easier just because you've done it before. I REMEMBER! This sounds a bit like labour pain, doesn't it?

Anyway, Patrick has grown into a fine young man. He's a hard worker who tries to do his best at whatever his hand finds to do. He is best buds with his older brother, Daniel, and sometimes we have to remind Pat that he isn't tied at the hip to Daniel! "Go to bed, Patrick!"

"What about Dan?"

"Don't worry, he'll be up in a minute!"

Daniel shares a room with Patrick and the youngest brother, Christopher. They will be drifting off to sleep, but invariably Pat thinks of something to talk about.

Linda describes it like this (You have to realize that Patrick has a deep voice, and talks fairly quietly, so the words are hard to distinguish) :

Patrick: "Mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble...."

Daniel: "Quiet, Pat!"

Patrick: "Mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble..."

Daniel: "I said, 'Go to sleep!'"

Patrick: "Mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble..."

Daniel: "Shut UP, Patrick!!!!"

Not quite like the Waltons, eh?

Anyway, Daniel prayed before our lunch meal today, and he thanked God for giving him his younger brother 16 years ago today. He loves him, very much!

We all do!

Wesley & Whitefield

John Wesley and George Whitefield were friends. They knew each other as young men, and each of them felt the Lord's call on his life to preach.

However, Wesley & Whitefield sharply disagreed on the doctrine of predestination. It is interesting to read the correspondence between the two men, as they each tried to convince the other that his beliefs were wrong.

It's not that the debate wasn't heated. Here is an excerpt from a letter George Whitefield wrote to John on the issue of predestination:

Honoured Sir, how could it enter into your heart to choose a text to disprove the doctrine of election out of Romans 8, where this doctrine is so plainly asserted? Once I spoke with a Quaker upon this subject, and he had no other way of evading the force of the Apostle's assertion than by saying, "I believe Paul was in the wrong." And another friend lately, who was once highly prejudiced against election, ingenuously confessed that he used to think St. Paul himself was mistaken, or that he was not truly translated. Indeed, honoured Sir, it is plain beyond all contradiction that St. Paul, through the whole of Romans 8, is speaking of the privileges of those only who are really in Christ. And let any unprejudiced person read what goes before and what follows your text, and he must confess the word "all" only signifies those that are in Christ. And the latter part of the text plainly proves, what, I find, dear Mr. Wesley will, by no means, grant. I mean the final perseverance of the children of God: "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, [i.e., all Saints] how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Rom. 8:32). [He shall give us] grace, in particular, to enable us to persevere, and every thing else necessary to carry us home to our Father's heavenly kingdom. Had any one a mind to prove the doctrine of election, as well as of final perseverance, he could hardly wish for a text more fit for his purpose than that which you have chosen to disprove it! One who did not know you would suspect that you were aware of this, for after the first paragraph, I scarce know whether you have mentioned [the text] so much as once through your whole sermon. But your discourse, in my opinion, is as little to the purpose as your text, and instead of warping, does but more and more confirm me in the belief of the doctrine of God's eternal election. I shall not mention how illogically you have proceeded. Had you written clearly, you should first, honoured Sir, have proved your proposition: "God's grace is free to all." And then by way of inference [you might have] exclaimed against what you call the horrible decree. But you knew that people (because Arminianism, of late, has so much abounded among us) were generally prejudiced against the doctrine of reprobation, and therefore thought if you kept up their dislike of that, you could overthrow the doctrine of election entirely.

The last paragraph is a plea for Mr. Wesley to study the Scriptures. It is passionate, but kind - caring as well as conciliatory. Mr. Whitefield does not back down one iota on his message, yet he does it in a gentle manner:

Dear, dear Sir, O be not offended! For Christ's sake be not rash! Give yourself to reading. Study the covenant of grace. Down with your carnal reasoning. Be a little child; and then, instead of pawning your salvation, as you have done in a late hymn book, if the doctrine of universal redemption be not true; instead of talking of sinless perfection, as you have done in the preface to that hymn book, and making man's salvation to depend on his own free will, as you have in this sermon; you will compose a hymn in praise of sovereign distinguishing love. You will caution believers against striving to work a perfection out of their own hearts, and print another sermon the reverse of this, and entitle it "Free Grace Indeed." Free, not because free to all; but free, because God may withhold or give it to whom and when he pleases. Till you do this, I must doubt whether or not you know yourself. In the meanwhile, I cannot but blame you for censuring the clergy of our church for not keeping to their articles, when you yourself by your principles, positively deny the 9th, 10th and 17th. Dear Sir, these things ought not so to be. God knows my heart, as I told you before, so I declare again, nothing but a single regard to the honour of Christ has forced this letter from me. I love and honour you for his sake; and when I come to judgment, will thank you before men and angels, for what you have, under God, done for my soul. There, I am persuaded, I shall see dear Mr. Wesley convinced of election and everlasting love. And it often fills me with pleasure to think how I shall behold you casting your crown down at the feet of the Lamb, and as it were filled with a holy blushing for opposing the divine sovereignty in the manner you have done. But I hope the Lord will show you this before you go hence. O how do I long for that day! If the Lord should be pleased to make use of this letter for that purpose, it would abundantly rejoice the heart of, dear and honoured Sir, Yours affectionate, though unworthy brother and servant in Christ, 10 GEORGE WHITEFIELD.

I have been surfing the web for the past few days, trying to make sense of a sharp disagreement of this modern day. The Bible states that there is nothing new under the sun, and that is apparent when you read Christian History. From Bible times to the present, men and women who love God disagree with other men and women who love God. This ought not to be so, but it is evidence that we live in a fallen world.

What grieves me is the rancour that I have witnessed. Even though some have suggested that if the two opposing parties sat down together they might even discover that they have much in common, and that they in fact, could like each other, they seem unwilling to do so. Fingers are flying as emails are composed in order to expose error or reveal lies.

I am not against exposing error or revealing lies, but what I am saying is this: Where is the peaceful confrontation made respectfully that I see in the letter above? Have we in this modern age simply become crass?

Although George Whitefield disagreed with John Wesley on some theological matters, he was careful not to create problems in public that could be used to hinder the preaching of the gospel. What mattered was the cause of Christ. George Whitefield continued to be gentle and gracious, even when Wesley did things to hinder him. George always considered John to be his friend.

When someone asked Whitefield if he thought he would see Wesley in heaven, Whitefield replied, “I fear not, for he will be so near the eternal throne and we at such a distance, we shall hardly get sight of him.”

I pray that those who have differences will tremble at the thought of grieving the Holy Spirit by attacking a brother or sister in Christ. I pray that disagreements will be tempered by a gracious and peaceful attitude which comes from knowing that God, who knows the truth, will make all things right on that day of judgment Whitefield refers to in the letter, above.

Hoarding

I don't usually watch Oprah. However, when Adeena, my eldest daughter, phoned me yesterday and told me to turn it on, I was astounded. There was a story about a woman who had hoarded all sorts of stuff for many years.

After they took out seventy-five TONS of garbage, they still had enough items to fill a 10,000 square foot place for a rummage sale. In the house, they found food items under mountains of clothing. They found mold and mouse nests. It was a disaster!

It makes you wonder why someone would hoard like that. She was lonely. Her children were grown and gone, and she had lost a couple of siblings. But she shopped so much and kept so much stuff that she could barely walk through her own home.

Now, I have never been that much of a hoarder, but I must confess that I do like to keep things, just in case. I may need that thingamajig or that thingamabob some day. I look at broken items, trying to figure out if I can re-use them, or fix them. It is often difficult for me to throw things away.

I have thought about it, and I do believe that it is because we lived for many years with a lower-than-most income. I didn't have the funds to replace things, and I learned to be frugal and make do with what I had. I kept clothing, because with 12 children in close succession, there was always someone who would wear that dress or those pants.

As I watched the woman, Sharon, tell her story, tears streamed down my face. She was overwhelmed by the clutter. She had no idea where to begin. Her love of things had eliminated any contact with grandchildren or children - her youngest grandchild had never even set foot in her home.

My clutter-bug isn't that bad. I often have my married children over, and the grandkids are always welcome.

But what I noticed is that I keep too much stuff, and this has weighed me down. I don't want all t hat stuff - I want just enough to be able to accomplish my goal: building relationships with others that will glorify my Heavenly Father and encourage those I love.

Linda started an organization project almost two years ago. We have continued with that project, and the results are amazing. We are nearing the goal of "a place for everything, and everything in its place". I have thrown bag after bag full of stuff out; I have given away boxes and bags full of books and clothing and other items to Goodwill. Around Christmas time I bought myself one of those little labelers, and that has been a great tool for organizing cupboards, office stuff, and so on.

It was good to see that I am not alone in my hoarding; and even better to know that this can be overcome.

Today we threw out 4 bags full of "stuff" from the upstairs. Holey socks, unmatched mitts, broken baseball caps, torn books, and so on. We got rid of piles of stuff!

Oh, the freedom you feel when you don't have stuff cluttering up your life. I'll try to post pictures tomorrow!

Let everything be done decently and in order. Our God is a God of order.

Lord, make me like you!

Trials are not strange.

1 Peter 4: 12 ¶ Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

Fiery trials are to be expected. The thing about a fiery trial is that it hurts. It is hot; very uncomfortable. It burns away and eats up anything in its path. But for the Christian, it is not strange. It is to be expected. If my Lord suffered through many a trial, who do I think I am? The servant is not better than the Master!

What are you going through? Do you consider your fiery trial 'strange'? Have you learned to accept trials from the Hand of your Gracious Father, who does all things well?

If someone is going to reproach you, make sure it is for the name of Christ. Do not be weary in well-doing, and do not be surprised at the antagonism that you will feel from others. It is to be expected. Just make sure that you are being reproached for the right reasons.

Matthew Henry's commentary on this passage is too good to ignore. I am including it in its entirety, but any bold emphasis is mine. (My comments are italicized, in brackets.)

The frequent repetition of counsel and comfort to Christians, considered as sufferers, in every chapter of this epistle, shows that the greatest danger these new converts were in arose from the persecutions to which their embracing Christianity exposed them. The good behaviour of Christians under sufferings is the most difficult part of their duty, but yet necessary both for the honour of Christ and their own comfort; and therefore the apostle, having extorted them in the former part of this chapter to the great duty of mortification, comes here to direct them in the necessary duty of patience under sufferings. An unmortified spirit is very unfit to bear trials.

Observe,

I. The apostle’s kind manner of address to these poor despised Christians: they were his beloved, #1Pe 4:9.

II. His advice to them, relating to their sufferings, which is,

1. That they should not think them strange, nor be surprised at them, as if some unexpected event befell them; for,

(1.) Though they be sharp and fiery, yet they are designed only to try, not to ruin them, to try their sincerity, strength, patience, and trust in God. On the contrary, they ought rather to rejoice under their sufferings, because theirs may properly be called Christ’s sufferings. They are of the same kind, and for the same cause, that Christ suffered; they make us conformable to him; he suffers in them, and feels in our infirmities; and, if we be partakers of his sufferings, we shall also be made partakers of his glory, and shall meet him with exceeding joy at his great appearing to judge his enemies, and crown his faithful servants, #2Th 1:7, &c.
(We will rejoice in proportion to how much we suffer for the cause of Christ!)

Learn,

[1.] True Christians love and own the children of God in their lowest and most distressing circumstances. The apostle owns these poor afflicted Christians, and calls them his beloved. True Christians never look more amiable one to another than in their adversities. (We must weep with those who weep, and understand that their sufferings were designed by God; how can we help?)

[2.] There is no reason for Christians to think strange, or to wonder, at the unkindness and persecutions of the world, because they are forewarned of them. Christ himself endured them; and forsaking all, denying ourselves, are the terms upon which Christ accepts of us to be his disciples. (We ought not to be surprised when we suffer!)

[3.] Christians ought not only to be patient, but to rejoice, in their sharpest sorest sufferings for Christ, because they are tokens of divine favour; they promote the gospel and prepare for glory. Those who rejoice in their sufferings for Christ shall eternally triumph and rejoice with him in glory. (When you consider the great missionaries and saints who have gone before us, consider how they suffered. The Lord chastens those He loves.)

(2.) From the fiery trial the apostle descends to a lower degree of persecution—that of the tongue by slander and reproach, #1Pe 4:14. He supposes that this sort of suffering would fall to their lot: they would be reviled, evil-spoken of, and slandered for the name or sake of Christ. In such case he asserts, Happy are you, the reason of which is,

"Because you have the spirit of God with you, to
fortify and comfort you; and the Spirit of God is
also the Spirit of glory, that will carry you through
all, bring you off gloriously, and prepare and seal
you up for eternal glory. This glorious Spirit resteth
upon you, resides with you, dwells in you, supports
you, and is pleased with you; and is not this an
unspeakable privilege? By your patience and fortitude
in suffering, by your dependence upon the promises of
God, and adhering to the word which the Holy Spirit
hath revealed, he is on your part glorified; but by the
contempt and reproaches cast upon you the Spirit
itself is evil-spoken of and blasphemed."

Learn,

[1.] The best men and the best things usually meet with reproaches in the world. Jesus Christ and his followers, the Spirit of God and the gospel, are all evil-spoken of.

[2.] The happiness of good people not only consists with, but even flows from their afflictions: Happy are you.

[3.] That man who hath the Spirit of God resting upon him cannot be miserable, let his afflictions be ever so great: Happy are you; for the Spirit of God rests upon you.

[4.] The blasphemies and reproaches which evil men cast upon good people are taken by the Spirit of God as cast upon himself: On their part he is evil-spoken of.

[5.] When good people are vilified for the name of Christ his Holy Spirit is glorified in them. (Better to be a vessel in which the Holy Spirit is glorified, than to avoid suffering.)

2. That they should take care they did not suffer justly, as evil- doers, #1Pe 4:15. One would think such a caution as this needless to such an excellent set of Christians as these were. But their enemies charged them with these and other foul crimes: therefore the apostle, when he was settling the rules of the Christian religion, thought these cautions necessary, forbidding every one of them to hurt the life or the estate and property of any one, or to do any sort of evil, or, without call and necessity, to play the bishop in another man’s charge, or busy himself in other men’s matters. To this caution he adds a direction, that if any man suffer for the cause of Christianity, and with a patient Christian spirit, he ought not to account it a shame, but an honour to him; and ought to glorify God who hath thus dignified him, #1Pe 4:16.

Learn,

(1.) The best of men need to be warned against the worst of sins.

(2.) There is very little comfort in sufferings when we bring them upon ourselves by our own sin and folly. It is not the suffering, but the cause, that makes the martyr.

(3.) We have reason to thank God for the honour if he calls us out to suffer for his truth and gospel, for our adherence to any of the doctrines or duties of Christianity.

3. That their trials were now at hand, and they should stand prepared accordingly, #1Pe 4:17,18.

(1.) He tells them that the time had come when judgment must begin at the house of God. The usual method of Providence has been this: When God brings great calamities and sore judgments upon whole nations, he generally begins with his own people, #Isa 10:12; Jer 25:29; Eze 9:6.

"Such a time of universal calamity is now at hand, which
was foretold by our Saviour, #Mt 24:9,10. This
renders all the foregoing exhortations to patience
necessary for you. And you have two considerations to
support you."

[1.] "That these judgments will but begin with you that are
God’s house and family, and will soon be over: your
trials and corrections will not last long."

[2.] "Your troubles will be but light and short, in comparison
of what shall befall the wicked world, your own
countrymen the Jews, and the infidels and idolatrous
people among whom you live: What shall the end be of
those who obey not the gospel of God?"

Learn,

First, The best of God’s servants, his own household, have so much amiss in them as renders it fit and necessary that God should sometimes correct and punish them with his judgments: Judgment begins at the house of God.

Secondly, Those who are the family of God have their worst things in this life. Their worst condition is tolerable, and will soon be over.

Thirdly, Such persons or societies of men as disobey the gospel of God are not of his church and household, though possibly they may make the loudest pretensions. The apostle distinguishes the disobedient from the house of God.

Fourthly, The sufferings of good people in this life are demonstrations of the unspeakable torments that are coming upon the disobedient and unbelieving: What shall the end be of those that obey not the gospel? Who can express or say how dreadful their end will be?

(2.) He intimates the irremediable doom of the wicked: If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear, #1Pe 4:18. This whole verse is taken from #Pr 11:31, Behold the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth; how much more the wicked and the sinner? This the Septuagint translates exactly as the apostle here quotes it.

Hence we may learn,

[1.] The grievous sufferings of good people in this world are sad presages of much heavier judgments coming upon impenitent sinners. But, if we take the salvation here in the highest sense, then we may learn,

[2.] It is as much as the best can do to secure the salvation of their souls; there are so many sufferings, temptations, and difficulties to be overcome, so many sins to be mortified, the gate is so strait and the way so narrow, that it is as much as the righteous can do to be saved. Let the absolute necessity of salvation balance the difficulty of it. Consider, Your difficulties are greatest at first; God offers his grace and help; the contest will not last long; be but faithful to the death, and God will give you the crown of life, #Re 2:10.

(There is no time to be looking at the speck in my brother's eye. I have enough to deal with because of the log in my own eye!)

[3.] The ungodly and the sinner are unquestionably in a state of damnation. Where shall they appear? How will they stand before their Judge? Where can they show their heads? If the righteous scarcely be saved, the wicked must certainly perish.

4. That when called to suffer, according to the will of God, they should look chiefly to the safety of their souls, which are put into hazard by affliction, and cannot be kept secure otherwise than by committing them to God, who will undertake the charge, if we commit them to him in well-doing; for he is their Creator, and has out of mere grace made many kind promises to them of eternal salvation, in which he will show himself faithful and true, #1Pe 4:19.

Learn,

(1.) All the sufferings that befall good people come upon them according to the will of God.

(2.) It is the duty of Christians, in all their distresses, to look more to the keeping of their souls than to the preserving of their bodies. The soul is of greatest value, and yet in most danger. If suffering from without raise uneasiness, vexation, and other sinful and tormenting passions within, the soul is then the greatest sufferer. If the soul be not well kept, persecution will drive people to apostasy, #Ps 125:3.

(3.) The only way to keep the soul well is to commit it to God, in well-doing. Commit your souls to God by solemn dedication, prayer, and patient perseverance in well-doing, #Ro 2:7.

(4.) Good people, when they are in affliction, have great encouragement to commit their souls to God, because he is their Creator, and faithful in all his promises.

All praise must go to my Heavenly Father, who ordained that we should be studying this particular passage during this week of a fiery trial in my own life. I have no reason to think that I won't be persecuted or reviled because of my desire to live a life pleasing to God. Look what they did to Jesus!

I do commit my soul to God, Who is the Creator of all things, and faithful to every promise He has made. As I examine my heart before Him, I pray that He will reveal to me the dross that must be purged during this trial. I pray He will help me to get that log out of my eye, and to gaze only on Him. Then, as He sees I am ready, I pray He will give me the opportunity to work on the specks in the eyes of those around me...but not until He has purged me of my sin first.

Oh, the blissful thought it is, that someday His glory will be revealed! And in that, we will rejoice!

Word and Deed

1 Peter 4:7 ¶ But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful (self-controlled and sober-minded) in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

We were reminded again on Good Friday that Christ suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous! We did not deserve the grace that God has bestowed on us when He imputed the righteousness of Christ to us. In our celebration of Resurrection Sunday, our Pastor brought three witnesses before us: Mary, who had a devoted heart; John, who had an analytical mind; & Thomas, who was skeptical, but was treated with the most amazing kindness and grace.

I have been thinking about these three witnesses. God used three totally different people, with different strengths and weaknesses, to spread the message that Jesus is alive. Each of them ministered by word and deed to fellow believers.

Amy of Amy's Humble Musings recently coined the phrase, "trump verse". If there is a trump verse, she stated, it must be that we are to love God with all our heart, and love our neighbour as ourself.

Knowing that the end of all things is near - a moment away (I am not guaranteed the next breath or the next heartbeat) I am to be self-controlled and sober-minded. Jesus, the resurrected Saviour, and my Lord and Master, could return before my head hits the pillow tonight. I must live in the light of eternity, and choose wisely. How am I spending these precious moments alloted to me? What battles am I engaging in? Who am I encouraging?

Above all, I am to have fervent love for my brothers and sisters in Christ. I am to love them earnestly, covering their sins and my own with that love. So that means that if someone sins against me, I am to cover their sin with love. If someone sins against me, I am to cover my own sin (the tendency to respond in anger, lashing out to protect myself) with love. How am I doing when someone falsely accuses me or does me harm? Am I reacting as Jesus did, or am I self-protective?

I am to be hospitable - given to generous and cordial reception of guest, offering a pleasant or sustaining environment to them, without grumbling. How often have I welcomed guests into my home? Have I grumbled about the mess? Have I gone out of my way to make them feel at home?

I am to serve others with the gifts and abilities God has graciously given me. Holding nothing back. Recognizing that everything I have is from God, and that I am to love Him with all of my heart, and to love my neighbour as myself, I must serve. It also means that I am to serve in any capacity, from the lowly washing of a dish to the more exalted teaching of women. No matter what the task at hand, if I am able to do it, I should do it fervently! It is God Who has given me the ability; it is He who has appointed the task. Do I view every chance to serve as an opportunity to glorify God? Do I see that He ordained that I would have the ability to teach that children's story or write that article? Am I in awe of this Beautiful God who uses such broken vessels to accomplish His will?

When I open my mouth, I am to speak oracles of God! Matthew Henry writes, "What Christians in private, or ministers in public, teach and speak must be the pure word and oracles of God. As to the manner of speaking, it must be with the seriousness, reverence, and solemnity, that become those holy and divine oracles." Do I watch what proceeds out of my mouth? Have I examined my words, oral and written, comparing them to the Pure Word of God? Do I edify, or do I destroy? Do I encourage, or do I dishearten?

When I serve, I am to do it with the strength that God supplies. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I can teach that course, solve that disagreement, listen to that child's chatter. No matter how exhausted I am, God is my strength. He is my song. He gives me joy as I serve. But do I depend on Him? Do I work in my own strength, or do I accomplish my tasks with a full acknowledgment that I am only the branch - He is the Vine - and without Him, I can do nothing?

Whatever I do, in word or in deed, do I do it all to the glory of God? For that is the purpose of my existence.

I pray that in all things that I do or say, God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.