Anchored

I once borrowed a video called "Kingdom of the Seahorse". I didn't realize how fascinating they were until I watched this program. They come in, and can change into, some of the most beautiful colors. When babies are born, they are fully formed and independent. I also learned that they make their homes in the sea grass beds, and feel safest when holding on to their piece of grass or something else. So long as they have an anchor, they are OK.

And the thought occurred to me that we should be the same way. Moreover, we should make sure our anchor is the strongest kind there is in a world like today's. We should seek to be anchored to GOD through a personal relationship with Him, through prayer and the study of His Word.

It reminded me just now of the hymn by Priscilla J. Owens: "Will Your Anchor Hold?", that was inspired by Hebrews 6:19. Here are the two preceding verses as well: "Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed [it] by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which [hope] we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;"

"Will Your Anchor Hold?"

 

"Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift or firm remain?

[Refrain]
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Stedfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.

 

It is safely moored, ’twill the storm withstand,
For ’tis well secured by the Savior’s hand;
And the cables passed from His heart to mine,
Can defy the blast, through strength divine.

It will firmly hold in the straits of fear,
When the breakers have told the reef is near;
Though the tempest rave and the wild winds blow,
Not an angry wave shall our bark o’erflow.

It will surely hold in the floods of death,
When the waters cold chill our latest breath;
On the rising tide it can never fail,

While our hopes abide within the veil."

*Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/331

 

May we be like the seahorse, and make sure we have an anchor-that holds!

Blessings,

Adelaide

"Grasp it firmly! Grasp it firmly!"

Once I was sitting downstairs in the fellowship hall at church speaking to a friend. I had happened to mention progress I was making in overcoming a particular issue, and the friend inquired, "How much?" I told her, and she looked at me in surprise and rolled her eyes, proceeding to tell me how much I ought to be doing about this and how much she does. "I know," I said, "but I'm working up to it." Rome wasn't built in a day, right? Apparently she forgot this, and didn't seem to understand my reasons for going slow but steady. Towards the end, however, she congratulated me on my progress and encouraged me, and the day went on. The next night I was lying in bed mulling over all the mountains in my life, as I'm sure we all do. A spark of determination would be kindled in my heart no sooner to be extinguished by the memory of the well intentioned, but ill-fitting actions of my friend, and I would burst into quiet sobs. I can't do it. Nothing will ever be good enough.  The sobs would deepen as I pondered if perhaps GOD had the same attitude. Was He looking down upon me and shaking His head, a huge frown on His face? Unfortunately, my pity party was cut short as I still had things to do before I could hit the hay, such as evening worship with my sister. Somewhere along the line, I was able to get everything off my chest with her. Part of me cringed inwardly as I related the story, expecting the same treatment.

But no! I was in for a surprise. "Of course you can't go whole hog," Zelda said. "That's just stupid. You need to work up to it." The words were a balm to my depressed soul as I continued to hash the matter out. By the time I was done, I'd come to these conclusions: Sisters are one of life's greatest blessings, I did have a bit of sense after all, and the most important: never give up, no matter what; keep looking forward, despite adversity. The following story illustrates this quite well, in my opinion:

 "One day a group of people accompanied their new missionary up a steep mountainside on the island of Sumatra. The narrow path was bordered on both sides by tall lallang grass. When the travellers came to the steepest part of the climb, they reached out to take hold of the grass to pull themselves up. Everyone in the line shouted, 'Grasp it firmly! Grasp it firmly!' So the missionary grabbed a handful of the tough, coarse grass and held it. Then he grabbed another handful and another until they reached the top. Then the missionary asked his companions why they had all shouted, 'Grasp it firmly!' They told him that if any person takes hold of the lallang grass lightly or fearfully, the razor-sharp edges will cut his hands and leave deep and painful wounds." -From Under the Blood Banner by Eric Kreye and Norma R. Youngberg.

 

Not only was the pastor diligent in taking hold of the grass, he was focused, undistracted. When things get tough, we should be the same way, not allowing ourselves to become lax or distracted. At the same time, let us never forget to root for others, even if we don't fully understand the situation, lest we make them depressed. "Pleasant words [are] as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." Proverbs 16:24.

 

Blessings,

Adelaide Smith

By Beholding

Abigail Adams was the wife of John Adams, second president of the United States of America. In the course of her life, she moved to France. When she first saw a French play, she was somewhat shocked. But as time went on, she noted, she no longer felt the disgust she had at first. I believe she said she could not tell why. I knew, however. By continually looking, she had become used to it, and blunted her conscience. And so, I don't imagine her character remained unscathed, either. The saying, "By beholding we become changed" is true. Praise GOD it is true on the other end as well! The more we behold Jesus in all His loveliness, the more we become like Him.

May each of us make sure, then, that we take heed to "set no wicked thing before mine eyes:" (Psalm 101:3), but rather the good. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things [are] true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8. Remember to look on and speak of them, too!

 

Blessings,

Adelaide

"But I have Prayed for Thee"

Adventist writer H.M.S. Richards, in the devotional Promises of GOD, made a good point. An obvious point, but good nonetheless, and worth visiting often. Jeremiah 29:11 states: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." GOD, Richards brought out, is always seeking our good. This is true even when the going gets rough. This promise itself, I find, could stand to comfort one all on its own; yet it is made twice as precious when coupled with Luke 22:32: "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not:". Of course, the words were spoken to Simon Peter, but they are just as applicable to us today. Paul affirms as much in Romans 8:34: "[It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." Wonderful! His thoughts are continually good towards us, and He personally prays for every one! An obvious, much gone over theme, to be sure, but who could not be happy when considering such things? Whose courage could not be renewed? I don't know, but mine is, and I hope yours is too!

Blessings,

Adelaide

All the World May Forget

Some time ago, I sent a girl I knew from high school a friend request on Facebook. She accepted, so I messaged her and said, "Hi, Tanya (not her real name)." She responded with, "Do I know you".

I thought back to when I had originally met her, and how much I enjoyed talking with her when I got the chance. I thought back to, when, shortly before I left high school, I had given her a book entitled Steps to Christ. I remember her saying something like, "Thank you! I'll read it. I'm a Catholic, so I have many religious books at home." I thought of the even more recent experiences of when I friended Tanya on my previous Facebook, and, after reading that she no longer used it really, but wanted someone to text her at this number, how I did it. I remember her response to those messages. First, "Who" and then after a brief explanation of who I was, "O ok I remember" and several other short replies. Then finally the message telling me to, in essence, 'get lost' "creep". I remembered them telling my mother pretty much the same when Mom gave her a motherly what-for. Any sane person probably would have never bothered her again. I didn't for a long time, but then, after thinking it might have been Tanya's boyfriend that was so rude, I tried again.

Now it was the same old thing. Even after another explanation of who I was, she didn't respond, didn't even deign to "see" it on FB. It was a sorrowful experience on two accounts. 1) She either read the Steps to Christ and forgot about it, or didn't bother to read it at all. 2) For reasons I'd rather not explain, I'm very distinguishable from others, and, according to them, "impossible to forget". I guess not. Not only that, but I have friended other folks from the same time period who remember me well-and it's been 5 years. And last but not least, she made an impression on me with her kindness. I guess I did not do so for her.

Mulling over all of the above really put me in a bad frame of mind. And when you put these scenarios with a bunch of other failed/rocky/lousy friendships, you're in an even worse frame of mind! I felt achingly lonely, and wondered if anybody outside family and a faithful few (about 6) would remember me when I'd gone. Then all of a sudden, a snippet of a promise, with other words, came to mind: "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of [My] hands;" (Isaiah 49:16) said the Voice, "I have not forgotten thee." A feeling of happiness settled in my chest. Ah, yes! How true! All the world may forget, but He would not!

That night, I asked my sister to fetch me the big concordance, as I originally didn't know where the partial verse came from. After searching, I found it: Isaiah 49:16. I think it and the previous verse are a wonderful promise: "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of [My] hands; thy walls [are] continually before Me."

May it be an encouragement to everyone else who knows what I'm talking about. All the world may forget, but our LORD says, "yet will I not forget thee."  (v. 15, emphasis added).

Blessings,

Adelaide

My apologies

I said I would try and be more regular in updating this blog. Unfortunately, that hasn't happened. I know that I need to let it happen. I know I need to do it so I can develop a strong sense of what it means to do what you need to do even though you don't want to. So that I can develop a strong sense of what it means to give your word. I pray that you will bear with me as I endeavor to do this.

Blessings,
Adelaide

"Their Prayers are Hindering Me!"

Everyone at some point in their lives has wondered as to whether prayer does any good. It’s an easy pit to fall into because we as humans tend to go off of the five senses, and when we don’t see results, we easily get discouraged. Amy Carmichael was a missionary to India. While I don’t know that they ever honestly doubted the power of prayer, she and her fellow workers were often disheartened as they labored for a people under intense spiritual bondage.

Once, when they were praying at a village they had visited before, they heard a woman yelling, “Oh, Amma! Amma! Do not pray! Do not pray! Your prayers are troubling me!” It was the wicked mother of a girl who was interested in Christianity. The woman went on to explain that what they had told her daughter had impressed the girl deeply. As a result, the she tried to marry her off. All three tries were unsuccessful, and the mother was distraught. Finally, she begged her god to reveal the problem to her. It appeared to her in a dream and said, “Tell the Christians not to pray. I can do nothing against their prayers. Their prayers are hindering me!”

Of course, Amy and the others knew there was still much work to do, but I imagine it made their hearts glad to hear that. Let us be glad, as well; yes, we still have much to do, too, but we can rejoice that GOD truly does hear earnest diligent prayers for souls.

Blessings,
Adelaide

To the Throne

Simple, child-like faith. A faith that reaches above the din and turmoil of the world, past the doubt and uncertainty of our minds, to the very throne of heaven. That is something I think we all desire, and something we all should possess. But then sometimes we ask ourselves...Can I really do this again? Just depend on something I can't see, hear, touch, taste, smell everyday? And even if I can do it, is He really going to be there just when I need Him? I mean, this is really big...and we sit there and fret and worry-unless, of course, you're a saint. Then there are those imperfect people that decide to take one more leap one more time, in the face of the odds.

There are many instances in the Bible that often encourage us to have this faith, that foster the little bit already in us. For me, it was one involving King Jehoshaphat. This good king had thoughtlessly promised to help King Ahab in battle against the Syrians during a moment of weakness, and even after inquiring of a prophet of the LORD who advised against the war, did not feel as though he could break his promise in favor of the right (how often we are guilty of the same!), and still went. At the request of King Ahab, King Jehoshaphat went out arrayed as a king, little knowing what would happen.

"Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel. And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and GOD moved them [to depart] from him." 2 Chronicles 18:30-31 (emphasis added). I don't imagine it was very easy for the king to do so without a little fear; but he did it, because he had faith that enabled him to look past all those soldiers coming at him, past the impending doom, and straight to his Helper. And, you know, GOD honored such faith! GOD honored such faith, such a plea for help, even though Jehoshaphat was responsible for getting himself into that strait in the first place. This fact should be an even greater means of bolstering our faith-GOD is there, just when we need Him, even when we've landed ourselves in the gutter because of our own weakness.

So, with such things in mind, let us stop looking at all the perplexities around us, all the natural circumstances of life, and "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16.

Blessings,

Adelaide