Success is certain when the Lord has promised it.
Although you may have pleaded month after month without evidence of answer,
it is not possible that the Lord should be deaf
when his people are earnest in a matter which concerns his glory.
The prophet on the top of Carmel continued to wrestle with God,
and never for a moment
gave way
to a fear that he should be non-suited in Jehovah's courts.
Six times the servant returned, but on each occasion no word was spoken but
“Go again.”
We must not dream of unbelief, but hold to our faith even to seventy times seven.
Faith
sends
expectant hope
to look from Carmel's brow,
and if nothing is beheld,
she sends
again
and again.
So far from being crushed by repeated disappointment,
faith is animated to plead more fervently with her God.
She is humbled, but not abashed:
her groans are deeper,
and her sighings more vehement,
but she never relaxes her hold or stays her hand.
It would be more agreeable to flesh and blood to have a speedy answer, but believing souls have learned to be submissive, and to find it good to wait for as well as upon the Lord.
Delayed answers often set the heart searching itself,
and so lead to contrition and spiritual reformation:
deadly blows are thus struck at our corruption,
and the chambers of imagery are cleansed.
The great danger is lest men should faint, and miss the blessing.
Reader, do not fall into that sin, but continue in prayer and watching.
At last the little cloud was seen, the sure forerunner of torrents of rain,
and even so with you, the token for good shall surely be given,
and you shall rise as a prevailing prince
to enjoy the mercy you have sought.
Elijah was a man of like passions with us:
his power with God did not lie in his own merits.
If his believing prayer availed so much, why not yours?
Plead the precious blood
with unceasing importunity,
and it shall be with you according to your desire.
"Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked. "There is nothing there," he said. Seven times Elijah said, "Go back." The seventh time the servant reported, "A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea." ... Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling.
1 Kings 18:43-45
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Who I am reading and why - part 2 (house & home edition)
Big news! I'm...such a...girl. Yes, I read some blogs because they speak to that feminine need to "feather the nest," so to speak. Here are a few of my favorite domestic idea-crafters:
Rachel Meeks has mastered the mantra, "Simplify, simplify, simplify." In her Small Notebook blog, she shares insights for bringing simplicity to the heart and home. As a wife and mother of young children, her goal is to share the peace her family has found through identifying what is truly important (in relationships, budgets, possessions, etc.) and letting go of as much of the rest as possible. When I gather enough courage, I will attempt her "No-Spend Month" challenge. On another note, whenever I consider a new piece of clothing, I remember her advice about choosing to purchase only a few truly beautiful, well-made items that will last for years rather than spending money on many, lower-quality garments. (Unlike others who give out this tip, I believe Rachel actually follows her own advice.) Check out all of Rachel's ideas at http://smallnotebook.org/start-here/.
Ladies, if you've ever wondered what it's like to be an Irish dairy farmer's wife (and who hasn't?), Imen's "I Married an Irish Farmer" blog will fill you in quickly...and leave you wishing to be her neighbor and tea-time visitor. Imen worked in big-city America as an ad executive until she met a charming Irish farmer who was visiting the States. They hit it off and ended up returning to his Irish farm. The rest is history and has been very neatly recorded in her posts. Many of these posts have to do with the lovely foods she creates in her farmhouse kitchen--sometimes gourmet and unique, sometimes traditional and simple, but always with a distinctly Irish flavor. Her photography is gorgeous as well. You may visit her farm and home at http://marriedanirishfarmer.com/about-2/.
April Swiger keeps a journal of her life as a Pittsburgh-area worship pastor's wife. I first found her blog when I was researching, of all things, B&Bs in New York. She wrote a lovely piece about an anniversary trip to the Chautauqua region, and featured the Brick House B&B (Westfield, NY) prominently in the post. Her description sold us on staying there ourselves, and it is now one of my family's favorite destinations. She writes for her friends and family, is a committed DIYer, and shares her projects--as well as delicious recipes--on her site. Most intriguing is her belief that her ministry is to her church and husband. She works part time at her church, but she is primarily a stay-at-home wife (what is that again?). The Swigers are currently awaiting God's timing on adopting their first child, and I've enjoyed praying with them through their journey. April's journal can be accessed at http://theswigers.blogspot.com/.
Rachel Meeks has mastered the mantra, "Simplify, simplify, simplify." In her Small Notebook blog, she shares insights for bringing simplicity to the heart and home. As a wife and mother of young children, her goal is to share the peace her family has found through identifying what is truly important (in relationships, budgets, possessions, etc.) and letting go of as much of the rest as possible. When I gather enough courage, I will attempt her "No-Spend Month" challenge. On another note, whenever I consider a new piece of clothing, I remember her advice about choosing to purchase only a few truly beautiful, well-made items that will last for years rather than spending money on many, lower-quality garments. (Unlike others who give out this tip, I believe Rachel actually follows her own advice.) Check out all of Rachel's ideas at http://smallnotebook.org/start-here/.
Ladies, if you've ever wondered what it's like to be an Irish dairy farmer's wife (and who hasn't?), Imen's "I Married an Irish Farmer" blog will fill you in quickly...and leave you wishing to be her neighbor and tea-time visitor. Imen worked in big-city America as an ad executive until she met a charming Irish farmer who was visiting the States. They hit it off and ended up returning to his Irish farm. The rest is history and has been very neatly recorded in her posts. Many of these posts have to do with the lovely foods she creates in her farmhouse kitchen--sometimes gourmet and unique, sometimes traditional and simple, but always with a distinctly Irish flavor. Her photography is gorgeous as well. You may visit her farm and home at http://marriedanirishfarmer.com/about-2/.
April Swiger keeps a journal of her life as a Pittsburgh-area worship pastor's wife. I first found her blog when I was researching, of all things, B&Bs in New York. She wrote a lovely piece about an anniversary trip to the Chautauqua region, and featured the Brick House B&B (Westfield, NY) prominently in the post. Her description sold us on staying there ourselves, and it is now one of my family's favorite destinations. She writes for her friends and family, is a committed DIYer, and shares her projects--as well as delicious recipes--on her site. Most intriguing is her belief that her ministry is to her church and husband. She works part time at her church, but she is primarily a stay-at-home wife (what is that again?). The Swigers are currently awaiting God's timing on adopting their first child, and I've enjoyed praying with them through their journey. April's journal can be accessed at http://theswigers.blogspot.com/.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Who I am reading and why - part 1
In the age of social media, everyone knows what everyone else is doing and saying and eating and thinking (when they are thinking and not just mindlessly posting). Blogs take this to a whole 'nother level.
The blogosphere can be such a fascinating, yet slightly disturbing, place.
I now know so much more about my friends and quite a few strangers than I ever would have thought possible. I also know more about society, trends, and ideas.
Happily, I know more about theology and God and His work amidst His creation. I am able to sit under sound teaching in the comfort of my living room instead of trekking midway across the country to conferences and the like for portions of spiritual nourishment.
Here are a few details on some of my favorite blogs:
Michael Hyatt writes a fantastic leadership blog. He has been a successful businessman and author (and was the CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers) for years. He has taken his expertise, and his Christian principals, and turned his talents toward providing a wealth of resources for other leaders, speakers, authors, aspiring writers/bloggers, and those simply interested in utilizing their gifts to the utmost. Hyatt has advice on the technical side of blogging and publishing as well. He posts multiple times each week and often invites like-minded guest authors to post when he is speaking at conferences or otherwise away from his writing desk. Follow this link to his home page: http://michaelhyatt.com/.
Ann Voskamp records a life beautifully real and seasoned with grace on her blog. Voskamp, the now much-read author of One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, keeps what she calls a "journal" on her aesthetically gorgeous site. She reflects on her calling as a farmer's wife and mother of six with language that is both lyrically poetic and heartachingly honest. She writes primarily for women from what I gather, though her challenge to recall 1,000 blessings in each year's time is open to all. I've not yet read her book, but I plan to do so soon. I discovered her writings when a friend started posting snippets on facebook. It is well worth the time it takes to wander through her artistic verbiage, and you may find her at http://www.aholyexperience.com/.
Lily Pads. What a lovely name for a blog! Kate Elizabeth Connor, who is somehow related to a friend of mine...though I am no longer sure which one, writes from the perspective of being a youth pastor's wife and young mother of two (soon to be three). In the recent past, one of her posts made its way around facebook, and I have since found her observations to be both hilarious and solemn, depending on the topic. I strive never to miss a post, and in fact this one is among my favorites. You may find more of Kate's insight at http://kateelizabethconner.com/.
The blogosphere can be such a fascinating, yet slightly disturbing, place.
Happily, I know more about theology and God and His work amidst His creation. I am able to sit under sound teaching in the comfort of my living room instead of trekking midway across the country to conferences and the like for portions of spiritual nourishment.
Here are a few details on some of my favorite blogs:
Michael Hyatt writes a fantastic leadership blog. He has been a successful businessman and author (and was the CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers) for years. He has taken his expertise, and his Christian principals, and turned his talents toward providing a wealth of resources for other leaders, speakers, authors, aspiring writers/bloggers, and those simply interested in utilizing their gifts to the utmost. Hyatt has advice on the technical side of blogging and publishing as well. He posts multiple times each week and often invites like-minded guest authors to post when he is speaking at conferences or otherwise away from his writing desk. Follow this link to his home page: http://michaelhyatt.com/.
Ann Voskamp records a life beautifully real and seasoned with grace on her blog. Voskamp, the now much-read author of One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, keeps what she calls a "journal" on her aesthetically gorgeous site. She reflects on her calling as a farmer's wife and mother of six with language that is both lyrically poetic and heartachingly honest. She writes primarily for women from what I gather, though her challenge to recall 1,000 blessings in each year's time is open to all. I've not yet read her book, but I plan to do so soon. I discovered her writings when a friend started posting snippets on facebook. It is well worth the time it takes to wander through her artistic verbiage, and you may find her at http://www.aholyexperience.com/.
Lily Pads. What a lovely name for a blog! Kate Elizabeth Connor, who is somehow related to a friend of mine...though I am no longer sure which one, writes from the perspective of being a youth pastor's wife and young mother of two (soon to be three). In the recent past, one of her posts made its way around facebook, and I have since found her observations to be both hilarious and solemn, depending on the topic. I strive never to miss a post, and in fact this one is among my favorites. You may find more of Kate's insight at http://kateelizabethconner.com/.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)