My Soul Cleaveth To Thee

I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.Hosea 13:5

Yes, Lord, thou didst indeed know me in my fallen state, and thou didst even then choose me for thyself. When I was loathsome and self-abhorred, thou didst receive me as thy child, and thou didst satisfy my craving wants. Blessed for ever be thy name for this free, rich, abounding mercy. Since then, my inward experience has often been a wilderness; but thou hast owned me still as thy beloved, and poured streams of love and grace into me to gladden me, and make me fruitful. Yea, when my outward circumstances have been at the worst, and I have wandered in a land of drought, thy sweet presence has solaced me. Men have not known me when scorn has awaited me, but thou hast known my soul in adversities, for no affliction dims the lustre of thy love. Most gracious Lord, I magnify thee for all thy faithfulness to me in trying circumstances, and I deplore that I should at any time have forgotten thee and been exalted in heart, when I have owed all to thy gentleness and love. Have mercy upon thy servant in this thing!My soul, if Jesus thus acknowledged thee in thy low estate, be sure that thou own both himself and his cause now that thou art in thy prosperity. Be not lifted up by thy worldly successes so as to be ashamed of the truth or of the poor church with which thou hast been associated. Follow Jesus into the wilderness: bear the cross with him when the heat of persecution grows hot. He owned thee, O my soul, in thy poverty and shame--never be so treacherous as to be ashamed of him. O for more shame at the thought of being ashamed of my best Beloved! Jesus, my soul cleaveth to thee.I'll turn to thee in days of light, As well as nights of care, Thou brightest amid all that's bright! Thou fairest of the fair!

~Charles Spurgeon~

Acknowledging Him, Even In The Mundane

Sorry about the lack of posting. I just returned from my trip to El Paso last night. I am hoping to post some info about my trip soon, along with some pictures. We'll see when that happens. =) For now I want to share about an ongoing area that the Lord is helping me in and by trying to grow in this area, I have received a sweet gift as well!

“NO unwelcome tasks become any the less unwelcome

by putting them off till tomorrow. It is only when they

are behind us and done, that we begin to find that there

is a sweetness to be tasted afterwards, and that the

remembrance of unwelcome duties unhesitatingly done

is welcome and pleasant. Accomplished, they are full of

blessing, and there is a smile on their faces as they leave us.

Undone, they stand threatening and disturbing our

tranquility, and hindering our communion with God. If there be

lying before you any bit of work from which you shrink,

go straight up to it, and do it at once. The only way

to get rid of it is to do it.” Alexander MacLaren

The area I have been trying to work on is laziness, which is self-idolatry and pride. I have been working on dying to my flesh when there are things to be done, or simply better things to do. The Lord has been impressing on my heart the importance of "redeeming the time". I just started reading "Don't Waste Your Life" and already have been deeply convicted. My mom has been one of the greatest means of grace in helping me in this area. Though she would never say this, it's not hard to see that all my efforts fall painfully short of all she does in her daily life. She truly excels in living out the qualities of a Proverbs 31 woman! Now this sweet gift I have been given has come in the form of communion with God. I know that even in the little mundane tasks of my life, there is no hope for me to rightly accomplish them without the Lord's help, so I have been praying whenever something little comes up that I need to do. It seems that over time, my praying has become more and more frequent to the point where I don't even realize I've started praying to God about something. Sometimes when I see a person, the Holy Spirit will prompt me to pray for them, or a situation comes up and I start to seek His counsel. It's nothing that I would normally do on my own, but God in His rich kindness and mercy has been drawing my heart to Him in a deeper way. Sometimes I can't help but cry when I consider how "normal" praying has become in my life. That may sound strange to some, but I know how prone my heart is to wander. I know how selfish, prideful and self-sufficient I can be. I know how sinful I am and how Holy God is. I know that He deserves Glory and I deserve death. So, when there is even this small evidence of growing in my communion with the Lord, I am overwhelmed. I am hoping that my prayer life will continue to grow to new depths that I never imagined. How kind of God to be concerned with the details of our lives!

In all your ways acknowledge him.” Proverbs 3:6

"Take one step at a time, every step under Divine warrant

and direction. Ever plan for yourself in simple dependence

on God. It is nothing less than self-idolatry to conceive

that we can carry on even the ordinary matters of the day

without his counsel. He loves to be consulted...Consider

no circumstances too clear to need his direction. In all thy

ways, small as well as great; in all thy concerns, personal

or relative, temporal or eternal, let him be supreme. Who

of us has not found the unspeakable 'peace' of bringing to

God matters too minute or individual to be entrusted

to the most confidential ear?"- Bridges

God's Blessings

Well, this week has been hectic to say the least! Celebration, work and now I'm leaving for El Paso to visit my sister! When things are going as well as they have been going, I know the tendency can grow to become complacent with where I am and to find my joy in my circumstances. Not that finding joy in what God has blessed you with is wrong, but I do want to make sure I am first and foremost finding my joy in God. When I consider His goodness and faithfulness to me, I am truly overwhelmed to the point of being speechless sometimes. He has bestowed blessing after blessing and I am a most unworthy benefactor. I am praying that I will be able to enjoy this gift of visiting my sister, that I will be a means of grace to my sister, brother-in-law and all those I encounter, and that I will bring Him glory in all that I do. Hopefully I will be able to post some pictures soon!

I'm including some pictures of El Paso. (Not taken by me!)

Until later...

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Well, this week has been hectic to say the least and unfortunately I was only able to post something I read in my devotions once this week. No hope for any other posts this week, for tomorrow I leave for Celebration North 2007! The approach of this conference has made me think and ponder about many things, past, present and future. It made me think about Celebration last year and how right before the conference, the Lord had given me a profound peace and joy that had been floundering in the previous few months before that. By His grace, that same peace and joy has not only lasted, but grown to a depth that I never could have imagined. When considering the past, present and future, one thing shines bright and clear,and that is the amazing faithfulness of God. I am so excited for what He has done in my life, what He is doing, and what He will do!

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;

As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Morning Reflections: "Morning Dedication"

Almighty God, as I cross the threshold of this day I commit myself, soul, body, affairs, friends, to Thy care. Watch over, keep, guide, direct, sanctify, bless me. Incline my heart to thy ways. Mould me wholly into the image of Jesus, as a potter forms clay. May my lips be a well-tuned harp to sound Thy praise. Let those around see me living by Thy Spirit, trampling the world underfoot, unconformed to lying vanities, transformed by a renewed mind, clad in the entire armour of God, shining as a never-dimmed light, showing holiness in all my doings. Let no evil this day soil my thoughts, words, hands. May I travel miry paths with a life pure from spot or stain. In needful transactions let my affection be in heaven, and my love soar upwards in flames of fire, my gaze fixed on unseen things, my eyes open to the emptiness, fragility, mockery of earth and its vanities. May I view all things in the mirror of eternity, waiting for the coming of my Lord, listening for the last trumpet call, hastening unto the new heaven and earth. Order this day all my communications according to Thy wisdom, and to the gain of mutual good. Forbid that I should not be profited or made profitable. May I speak each word as if my last word, and walk each step as my final one. If my life should end today, let this be my best day.

~Valley of Vision~

Morning Reflections: "Throne of Grace"

"And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1 John 2:1

WE are used to read in the Bible of one Intercessor, and of one advocacy. But the believer has two courts with which prayer has to do. In the court below, where prayer is offered, the Spirit is his Intercessor. In the court above, where prayer is presented, Jesus is his Intercessor. Then, what an honored, what a privileged man, is the praying man! On earth—the lower court—he has a Counselor instructing him for what he should pray, and how he should order his suit. In heaven—the higher court—he has an Advocate presenting to God each petition as it ascends, separating from it all that is ignorant, sinful, and weak, and pleading for its gracious acceptance, and asking for its full bestowment. Here, then, is our vast encouragement in prayer. The inditings of the Spirit—the Intercessor of earth—are always in agreement with the mind of God. In prayer we need just such a Divine counselor. Is it temporal blessing that we crave? We need to be taught how to graduate our request to our necessity, and how to shape our necessity to our heavenly calling. Supplication for temporal good is, we think, limited. And this is the limit, "Having food and clothing, let us be therewith content." What child of God is warranted in asking worldly wealth, or distinction, or rank? And what child of God, in a healthy state of soul, would ask them? "But," says the apostle, "my God shall supply all your need, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Should God, in His providence, send either of these temporal things undesired, unasked, and unexpected, receive it as from Him, and use it as to Him. But with regard to spiritual blessings, our grant is illimitable, our requests may be boundless. "Ask what you will," is the broad, unrestricted warrant. When we ask to be perfected in the love of God, we ask for that which is in accordance with the will of God—for "God is love." When we ask for an increase of faith, we ask for that which is in accordance with the will of God; for "without faith it is impossible to please him." When we ask for more divine conformity, we ask for that which is in harmony with God's will; for He has said, "Be you holy, for I am holy." And when we ask for comfort, we plead for that which it is in His heart to give—for He is the "God of all comfort." Oh, to possess a Divine counselor, dwelling in our hearts, who will never indite a wrong prayer, nor suggest a weak argument, nor mislead us in any one particular, in the solemn, the important, the holy engagement of prayer; who is acquainted with the purpose of God; who knows the mind of God; who understands the will of God; who reads the heart of God; yes, who is God Himself. What encouragement is this to more real prayer! Are you moved to pray? While you muse, does the fire burn? Is your heart stirred up to ask of God some especial blessing for yourself, or for others? Are you afflicted? Oh, then, rise and pray—the Spirit prompts you—the Savior invites you—your heavenly Father waits to answer you. With such an Intercessor in the court on earth—so divine, so loving, and so sympathizing—and with such an Intercessor in the court in heaven—so powerful, so eloquent, and so successful, "let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

~Octavius Winslow~

Morning Reflections: "An Inheritance Worth Having"

Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. - Ephesians 1:3-14

When I read these words, I am so aware of how Christ did everything for me and I did nothing. The gospel is brightly shining through every line in this passage and it is clear that the gospel at work in our lives, brings glory to God. I was also encouraged upon reading of God's promise to us concerning maintaining my salvation. "When you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." How much more encouraging and assuring can it be that once we are saved, Christ will carry his work out in us until we leave this world and are with him? My soul always needs to be reminded of that. ~Thank you for overcoming death. For sending your precious Son to to conquer death that I may live. May I never move away from the cross, but live my life in the shadow of it. May you be glorified Lord.~

Morning Reflections: "How Beautiful the Blood Flow"

"Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your father; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." 1 Peter 1:18, 19

WHAT a powerful motive does this truth supply to a daily and unreserved consecration of ourselves to the Lord! If, under the old economy, the utensil or the garment touched with blood was sacred and solemn, how much more the soul washed in the heart's blood of Christ! When the king of Israel, in the heat of battle, and in the agony of thirst, cried for water, and some of his attendants procured it for him at the hazard of their lives, the God-fearing and magnanimous monarch refused to taste it, because it was the price of blood! but "poured it out before the Lord." Christian soldier! it was not at the risk of His life, but more—it was by the sacrifice of His life that your Lord and Savior procured your redemption, and brought the waters of salvation, all living and sparkling from the throne of God, to your lips. You are the price of blood! "bought with a price." Will you not, then, glorify God in our soul, body, and substance, which are His? will you not pour it all out before the Lord—presenting it as a living sacrifice upon the altar flowing with the life-blood of God's own Son?If there be a vital, and therefore a deathless, principle in the atoning blood of Jesus, then it will avail to the salvation of the chief of sinners to the latest period of time. Ages have rolled by since it was shed, and millions have gone to heaven in virtue of its merits, and yet it still avails! Listen, lowly penitent, to these glad tidings. Approach the blood of Jesus, simply believing in its divine appointment and sovereign efficacy, and the pardon it conveys and the peace it gives will be yours. Behold the sacred stream, as vital, as efficacious, and as free as when, eighteen hundred years ago, all nature was convulsed at the sight of this blood starting from the pierced heart of its Incarnate Creator, and when the expiring malefactor bathed in it as was saved! No, more; if the virtue of the Savior's blood before it was shed extended back to the time of Adam and of Abel, for He was "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world," surely since that it has actually been offered, it will continue its virtue through all the revolutions of time to the remotest age of the world, and to the last sinner who may believe. If Jesus is a "Priest forever," the virtue of His sacrifice must abide forever, for He cannot officiate as a priest without a sacrifice. And as His gospel is to be preached to all nations, even to the end of the world, so the saving efficacy of His blood, upon which the gospel depends for its power and its success, must be as lasting as time.

~Octavius Winslow~

I have been bought with a price! And so then, shouldn't I glorify God with my soul, body and substance? Yes! Because He has bought me and I am His. I am reminded afresh of the amazing sacrifice Christ paid on my behalf.

I never knew these nails would love unfold

I never knew these wounds would heal my soul

I’ve never seen such beauty and sorrow meet

That the blood of Jesus was bled for me

It’s only by the power of the cross I’m raised

The King of Glory rescued me

How beautiful the blood flow

How merciful the love shown

The King of Glory poured out

Victorious are we now

Morning Reflections: "Keep Us From Falling"

As I opened Morning and Evening this morning, I was yet again overwhelmed by God kindness in securing my heart with hope in knowing that He is able to keep me from falling. When I stumble He is there, when I slip He is there and He will never abandon me!

"Able to keep you from falling."-Jude 24

In some sense the path to heaven is very safe, but in other respects there is no road so dangerous. It is beset with difficulties. One false step (and how easy it is to take that if grace be absent), and down we go. What a slippery path is that which some of us have to tread! How many times have we to exclaim with the Psalmist, My feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped. If we were strong, sure-footed mountaineers, this would not matter so much; but in ourselves, how weak we are! In the best roads we soon falter, in the smoothest paths we quickly stumble. These feeble knees of ours can scarcely support our tottering weight. A straw may throw us, and a pebble can wound us; we are mere children tremblingly taking our first steps in the walk of faith, our heavenly Father holds us by the arms or we should soon be down. Oh, if we are kept from falling, how must we bless the patient power which watches over us day by day! Think, how prone we are to sin, how apt to choose danger, how strong our tendency to cast ourselves down, and these reflections will make us sing more sweetly than we have ever done, Glory be to him, who is able to keep us from falling. We have many foes who try to push us down. The road is rough and we are weak, but in addition to this, enemies lurk in ambush, who rush out when we least expect them, and labour to trip us up, or hurl us down the nearest precipice. Only an Almighty arm can preserve us from these unseen foes, who are seeking to destroy us. Such an arm is engaged for our defence. He is faithful that hath promised, and he is able to keep us from falling, so that with a deep sense of our utter weakness, we may cherish a firm belief in our perfect safety, and say, with joyful confidence,

Against me earth and hell combine,

But on my side is power divine;

Jesus is all, and he is mine!

~C.H. Spurgeon~

Reflections: "When the Moon Doesn't Gleam"

The following words written by Elisabeth Elliot, completely and utterly convicted and encouraged me today. I love how Amy Carmichael 'praised God on the moonless sea and knew that she could trust Him even when she couldn't see what was going on. And I love E.E.'s humble honesty in admitting what most of us wouldn't admit in that we often times want other things more than God, but it is only in those times when we don't get what we want that we see His all-sufficiency.

Moonless Trust
Some of you are perhaps feeling that you are voyaging just now on a moonless sea. Uncertainty surrounds you. There seem to be no signs to follow. Perhaps you feel about to be engulfed by loneliness. There is no one to whom you can speak of your need.

Amy Carmichael wrote of such a feeling when, as a missionary of twenty-six, she had to leave Japan because of poor health, then travel to China for recuperation, but then realized God was telling her to go to Ceylon. (All this preceded her going to India, where she stayed for fifty-three years.) I have on my desk her original handwritten letter of August 25, 1894, as she was en route to Colombo. "All along, let us remember, we are not asked to understand, but simply to obey.... On July 28, Saturday, I sailed. We had to come on board on Friday night, and just as the tender (a small boat) where were the dear friends who had come to say goodbye was moving off, and the chill of loneliness shivered through me, like a warm love-clasp came the long-loved lines--'And only Heaven is better than to walk with Christ at midnight, over moonless seas.' I couldn't feel frightened then. Praise Him for the moonless seas--all the better the opportunity for proving Him to be indeed the El Shaddai, 'the God who is Enough."'

Let me add my own word of witness to hers and to that of the tens of thousands who have learned that He is indeed Enough. He is not all we would ask for (if we were honest), but it is precisely when we do not have what we would ask for, and only then, that we can clearly perceive His all-sufficiency. It is when the sea is moonless that the Lord has become my Light.

~Elisabeth Elliot~

Morning Reflections: "Treasure in Jars of Clay"

2 Corinthians 4:7-18

7But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12So death is at work in us, but life in you. 13Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, "I believed, and so I spoke," we also believe, and so we also speak, 14knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 16So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

In light of what this passage says, it is very clear that I suffer so little and my "light and momentary afflictions" are light indeed compared with these men. But even so, God is with all of us no matter what we're going through. And how encouraging is the truth that our inner self is being renewed day by day! As I walk through my daily life, I pray I can look to the things that are unseen and not the things that are seen. "For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."