| | Here is the great truth that, only when we see things in the light of God, do we see things as they are. It is only when we see things in the light of God that we see what things are really important, and what things are not. Things which seem vastly important, things like ambition, and prestige, and money and gain, lose all their value and importance when they are seen in the light of God. Pleasures and habits and social customs which seem permissible enough, are seen for the dangerous things they are when they are seen in the light of God. Things which seem evils, hardship, toil, discipline, unpopularity, even persecution, are seen in their glory when they are seen in the light of God. ~ William Barclay (1907-1978)
The devil never tempts us with more success than when he tempts us with a sight of our own good actions. ~ Bp. Thomas Wilson (1698-1755)
Teach me. O God, to use all the circumstances of my life
today that they may bring forth in me the fruits of holiness
rather than the fruits of sin.
Let me use disappointment as material for patience:
Let me use success as material for thankfulness:
Let me use suspense as material for perseverance:
Let me use danger as material for courage:
Let me use reproach as material for longsuffering:
Let me use praise as material for humility:
Let me use pleasures as material for temperance:
Let me use pains as material for endurance.
~ John Baillie (1886-1960)
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Greetings.
Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
It has been a long while since I have written substantially on really anything of worth on here. Most of you are gone now, except the occasional post here and there. Nonetheless, I felt the urgent need to write.
I've had a lot to deal with myself as of late, my eyes which should be on my Lord have to often been turned to me.
I (figuratively) built all these cardboard idols (that looked just like me) and spray painted them with gold spray paint and dedicated them all to myself so that others, along with myself, would be impressed. Alas, I found that I had imprisoned myself with them.
See, I've touched on this before, waaaaayyy back when I used to write everyday, I'm a complainer at heart. I can complain about just about any circumstance I find myself in, be it good or bad or whatever the situation might be. Instead of trusting in God, who is ALL sufficient and ALL knowing and ALL sovereign in ALL things, or to sum it up, omniscient, I trusted in my own failed and fallen hands. And with these faltering hands and my complaining heart, I have driven joy and peace and everything I know to be true and righteous right out of my life. I have failed to trust Him in all things...
2 Samuel 22:31
"As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the LORD is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him."
Psalm 9:10
"And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;
For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You."
It's an ongoing struggle with me, it's always tooth and nail on this subject. And I have far to often let the enemy get the upper hand. When trials, great or small, come into my life, I let them run me down and I suffer the loss every time. And you look through the scriptures at the prophets of the old testament and the apostles of the new and you see them over and over going through struggle, strife and flat out persecution and these men were the chosen of God!
Acts 9:10-15
"Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias."
And he said, "Here I am, Lord." So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight." Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.""
I seemed to have missed it! I'm not being persecuted for my faith or suffering for the name of God! I am complaining over life's trivial non-point issues like sitting in traffic, being overworked, having to stand to long in a line at a fast food restaurant for more than a couple of minutes! And it's very much to my shame! What will happen when real persecutions come to me? Will I be cowardly or will I stand strong in Jesus who is "a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head"? I know what is right and good! I know it and have not obeyed!
2 Corinthians 4:7-10
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body."
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."
So here it is, my confession. With these words and upon His word I will stand or continue to fall. I've already fallen into the cesspool, now I just need some help out. And I realize that I need to get back to the basics, the first works of that which I have forgotten. Thank you for your time and patience with me.
Dearest Brothers and Sisters, the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. And now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
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Cesspool ~ Blenderhead
I wake to greet the new day,
reminded of all the mistakes I've made,
but it just doesn't matter anymore.
I'm not alone, I'm safe at home.
I don't need your sympathy.
I can remember a time when you were close.
When you talked to me like I was somebody that mattered.
When you talked to me at all.
Am I just walking dead?
I suffer in a cesspool of my miserable existence.
Am I just walking dead?
I suffer in a cesspool of my miserable existence.
It's taking time again.
This bitter pill slowly chokes me to death.
It's waking time again.
I sit beneath this stream of angry words flowing from my breath.
It's hanging time again.
This rope is too long for the task at hand, I wish I had a friend.
Someone who understands this state I'm in.
Am I just walking dead?
I suffer in a cesspool of my miserable existence.
Am I just walking dead?
I suffer in a cesspool of my miserable existence.
I can't just turn away from things I face each day.
The pain it drags me down. I try to smile, but I just frown.
Am I just walking dead?
I suffer in a cesspool of my miserable existence.
Am I just walking dead?
I suffer in a cesspool of my miserable existence.
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| | Posted 7/13/2008 11:43 PM - 130 Views - 12 eProps - 11 comments
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