Waiting

I've been praying lately for close friends going through a bone marrow transplant. The wife recently quoted Charles Spurgeon on their Caringbridge site, and it is a word worth remembering:

Wait in quiet patience, not rebelling because things are difficult, but blessing your God for the privilege of affliction. Never grumble … but accept the circumstance as it is, and put it as it stands, simply and with your whole heart, without any selfish agenda, into the hand of your covenant God, saying,

Now, Lord, not my will, but Yours be done. I do not know what to do. I am at an end of myself, but I will wait until You part the floods … I will wait, even if You test me for a while, for my heart is fixed upon You alone, O God, and my spirit waits for You in the deep conviction that You will still be my joy and my salvation, my refuge and my strong tower (Spurgeon).

Sulking

Elisabeth Elliot has been one of my favorite authors for many years. I was tickled to find some audio messages from her on the Blue Letter Bible website.

Here is a refreshing and convicting message on sulking. I love how she pulls no punches in asserting biblical truth and speaking frankly on our so common temptations.

Human Flourishing

I found this essay on human flourishing on Justin Taylor's blog. It's been sitting open on my computer for several weeks now, but finally I read it.

The essay is oriented on college students and the frenetic, high-pressured life most of them lead. But its topic found a good mark for me in this stage of life too.

I'd encourage you to read it if you find yourself grappling with:

* Overworking
* Pressure to climb the corporate ladder
* Finding time for rest
* Anxiety about income
* Pressure to succeed.

I love the reminder of Psalm 127:1-2.

Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors, for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

This Task

I read this in Keep a Quiet Heart last night:

As Baron Von Hugel said, "The chain of cause and effect which makes up human life, is bisected at every point by a vertical line relating us and all we do to God." This is what He has given us to do, this task here on this earth, not the task we aspired to do, but this one (Elisabeth Elliot, 227).

Good words for my friends who begin a stem cell transplant today, and for the mother of three little ones who feels helpless to accomplish anything of a productive nature, and for me, as I plug away at the little tasks that fall next on the list.

Remarkable

It is good to have heroes, role models of virtue and humility and faith. Today I went to the funeral of one such woman—of all the people I have known, I believe she stands in a category by herself. Her spirit was courageous, her skills remarkable, her acceptance of the portion God gave her uniformly sweet, and her others-oriented service unparalleled in anyone I have ever met.

Ruth Rabenhorst was a sinner, and we were reminded in the meditation today, her remarkable life was borne out of a redeemed heart and a blood-bought pardon. I aspire to know Christ and be so conformed to His likeness as she was. May it be so, Lord.

Struggling in Service

For me, August 1 means it's fall. And the fall rush at work is an intense season which generally stretches me to my limits. (Thus, very few blog posts!)

Here is a portion of a blog post from Matt Perman. He shared an excerpt from an article by Ajith Fernando, a man whom I hold in high regard. (It was a privilege to meet him and share a couple meals with him when he stayed with some close friends here last year.)

Here is the excerpt:

I have a large group of people to whom I write asking for prayer when I have a need. Sometimes my need is overcoming tiredness. When I write about this, many write back saying they are praying that God would strengthen me and guide me in my scheduling. However, there are differences in the way friends from the East and some from the West respond.

I get the strong feeling that many in the West think struggling with tiredness from overwork is evidence of disobedience to God. My contention is that it is wrong if one gets sick from overwork through drivenness and insecurity. But we may have to endure tiredness when we, like Paul, are servants of people [emphasis added].

The New Testament is clear that those who work for Christ will suffer because of their work [emphasis added]. Tiredness, stress, and strain may be the cross God calls us to. Paul often spoke about the physical hardships his ministry brought him, including emotional strain (Gal 4:19; 2 Cor 11:28), anger (2 Cor 11:29), sleepless nights and hunger (2 Cor 6:5), affliction and perplexity (2 Cor 4:8), and toiling — working to the point of weariness (Col 1:29). In statements radically countercultural in today’s “body conscious” society, he said, “Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day” (2 Cor 4:16); and, “For 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. So death is at work in us, but life in you” (2 Cor 4:11-12). I fear that many Christians approach these texts only with an academic interest, not seriously asking how the verses should apply in their lives.

The West, having struggled with the tyrannical rule of time, has a lot to teach the East about the need for rest. The East has something to teach the West about embracing physical problems that come from commitment to people. If you think it is wrong to suffer physically because of ministry, then you suffer more from the problem than those who believe that suffering is an inevitable step on the path to fruitfulness and fulfillment. Since the cross is a basic aspect of discipleship, the church must train Christian leaders to expect hardship. When this perspective enters our minds, pain will not touch our joy and contentment in Christ. In 18 different New Testament passages, suffering and joy appear together. In fact, suffering is often the cause for joy (Rom 5:3-5; Col 1:24; James 1:2-3).

I pray that the Lord gives me the right balance of struggling, suffering, and finding refreshment.

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for My yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).

HT: What's Best Next

Faith vs. Worry

Here is a message on faith vs. worry... probably one of the most perennially applicable topics for most women.

HT: Mars' Hill Church