"The Joy and Rejoicing of Mine Heart"

NOTE: Originally intended for January 8, 2015

I want to be temperate, but that is one area where I tend to struggle. For those of you who don't know, temperance often refers to refraining from alcohol, but also means "moderation or self-restraint in action, statement, etc.; self-control."[1] I'm neither moderate nor very adept at self-control. I often eat too much (whether vegan or not, too much food isn't good for health) and sleep too much, while I hydrate, exercise, and enjoy sunlight too little. Nevertheless, I know that temperance plays a key role in both physical and spiritual health, and it is a goal I long to reach. We are told that "intemperance lies at the foundation of all the moral evils known to man"[2], so I think I'm on the right track with wanting to fix this situation.

While there has been some progress in the exercise department, I have a long way to go. I knew that somewhere was as good a place to start as anywhere when it came to making more improvement, and I felt impressed to begin with rising and resting early. That sounds easy, right? Yes—except for one thing: I am not a morning person by nature. I enjoy the comforts of a soft bed, especially in the morning; and yet, I was keenly aware of the fact that I would never accomplish what I wanted if I allowed myself to be captive to blankets and pillows.

The night before the starting day, I set out the clothes I would wear on the bench in the bathroom so I could ask someone for them and put them on. That way, I would be less tempted to plod on back to bed after relieving myself. More than that, I prayed. Well, that didn't work out as I planned it would. I had an opportunity to have them, but I passed it by, and returned to the bedroom. The chance was there, but I didn't go to GOD for strength in that moment. The next day, I prayed and asked Him for help, but also determined to make an effort. With my attempts united to His strength, I succeeded. The same with the following day. The day after that my mother was busy and couldn't help me till later, but on the morrow I was again successful.

Today, I didn't feel like getting out of bed. There was the temptation to snuggle down and drift off to sleep again, but I clearly saw what it was, and even though my flesh wanted me to give in, I refused. I prayed, and called for my mom to come and help me. She brought me into the bathroom, and I think she asked, "Do you want the shawl, or do you just want your clothes?"

"Just my clothes," I replied. Since I had forgotten to have someone set them out the night before, she went and got them. I put them on, and began what turned into a productive, enjoyable day. While I can't remember exactly what I said this morning, I remember that on quite a few of the other successful days, I had latched onto Philippians 4:13—"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me"—along with praying. I believed it and acted upon it, and thus received the needed strength.

As we saw in my last post, in every command and promise there is the power to fulfill it. Well, I saw that proved again this morning. I'm finding that the Word is indeed powerful (Hebrews 4:12), and that by it I can and have, in a measure, overcome (1 John 2:14). I understand what Jeremiah meant when he said, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart": (Jeremiah 15:16). Such words are not physically eaten, but eaten by reading and applying them to the life through Christ's strength, and it really is a joy.


Blessings,
Jean




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[1] from www.dictionary.com, definition 1


[2] White, Ellen. The Sufferings of Christ, pg. 12

More on the Promises

The apostle Peter, in his second epistle, wrote: "Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth" (2 Peter 1:12). It is this that gives me license to address yet again a subject I have already written about.

In fact, Peter mentions it in the very first verses: "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of GOD, and of Jesus our Lord, According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (vv. 2-4).

Within the Bible are precious promises that, if claimed, will enable us to develop the character of Christ. Some of you might be wondering whether this is really a possibility for you. Perhaps you are, like I was, more confident that they will be fulfilled to the next person sooner than yourself. Well it would be for you to remember that GOD "will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4). All includes everyone, even you and me.

"But," you say, "why would GOD be so good as to do that for me? I am not worthy of such kindness." Well, that, my friends, is true; but thank GOD that worthiness is not a requirement! All that is necessary is a sense of our need as well as a believing and willing heart. GOD cannot help us if we do not feel we need His help, "for thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him also [that is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones" (Isaiah 57:15). We must be believing because "without faith [it is] impossible to please [Him]: for he that cometh to GOD must believe that he is, and [that] He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:16). We must be willing because we are told in Isaiah 1:19 that "if ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land": That is all. If anyone is struggling to do this, don't be discouraged; He is ready and willing to forgive you. What is more, the strength you need to fulfill even these conditions is found in the verses themselves. Look:

"The word of God is the seed. Every seed has in itself a germinating principle. In it the life of the plant is enfolded. So there is life in God’s word. Christ says, “The words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63. “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life.” John 5:24. In every command and in every promise of the word of God is the power, the very life of God, by which the command may be fulfilled and the promise realized. He who by faith receives the word is receiving the very life and character of God."[1]

Friends, GOD's power is even in the commands, as well as His promises, and it is ours for the taking. Not only do I believe this theoretically, but also practically. I accepted it in theory when I heard of it, but I never took GOD at His Word personally. Over the past few months, I reached the place where I was willing to do that, and I did it. I can testify that it has made a difference. For example, as long as I claim Philippians 4:6-7, I hardly worry or have angry outbursts such as before. I have found it to be true, and I encourage you today to do so as well, to the end that we all may be fitted for that eternal kingdom.


Blessings,
Jean






White, Ellen. Christ's Object Lessons, pg. 38 (emphasis supplied). [1]

Rainbows and God's Promises

A rainbow is a marvelous display of color, a beautiful thing. Who isn’t cheered at the sight of one? They ought to do more than please our senses every time we see one, however; they ought to constantly bolster our faith. Yes, they should bolster our faith in the God Who gave it, especially as we remember the reason why.

“I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.” (Gen. 9:13-16).

It has been a few thousand years since Noah’s day, and the earth hasn’t been destroyed by a flood since. God has kept His word here; will He not do the same with every other promise He has made to us? I believe so–but more than that, the Bible says so. In 2 Corinthians 1:20, Paul the apostle tells us that “all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” If we ask in faith, and do what we can to cooperate with Him, He will fulfill His promises to us.

 “God stands back of every promise He has made. With your Bible in your hands say, I have done as Thou hast said. I present Thy promise, ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.'” In the book Education, on pages 257-258, she states, “Prayer and faith are closely allied, and they need to be studied together. In the prayer of faith there is a divine science; it is a science that everyone who would make his lifework a success must understand. Christ says, ‘What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.’ Mark 11:24. He makes it plain that our asking must be according to God’s will; we must ask for the things that He has promised, and whatever we receive must be used in doing His will. The conditions met, the promise is unequivocal. For the pardon of sin, for the Holy Spirit, for a Christlike temper, for wisdom and strength to do His work, for any gift He has promised, we may ask; then we are to believe that we receive, and return thanks to God that we have received.”

Here is one last word on rainbows: “The rainbow round about the throne is an assurance that God is true, that in Him is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. We have sinned against Him, and are undeserving of His favor; yet He Himself has put into our lips that most wonderful of pleas, ‘Do not abhor us, for Thy name’s sake; do not disgrace the throne of Thy glory; remember, break not Thy covenant with us.’ Jeremiah 14:21. When we come to him confessing our unworthiness and sin, He has pledged Himself to give heed to our cry. The honor of His throne is staked for the fulfillment of His word unto us.”[1] He has pledged Himself not only to “forgive us our sins” but also to “cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).

Knowing that God is true to His word, knowing that He will grant us what we ask as long as it is His will and we cooperate with Him, knowing that He will especially give us that which we need to overcome–knowing all this, why do we so often live in a cloud of gloom? Why do we not think and speak about this wonderful privilege more often?

Blessings,
Jean

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[1] White, Ellen. Christ's Object Lessons, pg. 148

One of the Best

Another year will soon be over. As I review it in my mind's eye, I see that it hasn't been without golden moments. Some of these didn't appear to be so at first, but now I know better. They seemed to be very bitter, and pointless; but it was these that brought about changes that perhaps never would have occurred otherwise. *Maria's* death helped me better understand the frailty of this life, and the hope of another. My ever-present physical discomfort and other hard trials, I learned, are a chance to prove GOD's power to let me weather tribulation well. Even more, all these things brought me closer to Him as I searched my own life for things that could be standing between me and heaven, me and the answer to prayer. Although I probably didn't allow them to work all the changes they could have, they have not been in vain. I've gained a drop or two more of personal experience in my walk with the LORD, and for that I am grateful.

Not only has this year brought spiritual improvement, but also physical, mental, and social improvement. I'm not the ablest person, but visits to the chiropractor have been paying off, slowly but surely. Along with many other things, I can lift both my legs myself now when going up stairs, and stand a little easier too. I have made headway in being more independent--including getting my slippers on, and after discovering that the sink wasn't so hard to stand at as before, doing the dishes again after a two-year hiatus. I've made leaps and bounds in terms of my education, even though I still have a long ways to go due to being so slack the past few years. Friends have come, and some have gone--but not without teaching me a thing or two!

Yet for all this, I know I didn't make the most of this year. There have been failures as well as successes. I failed to learn lessons the important lessons of self-control sooner. I've failed to use my time and talents as wisely as possible, every day and all day. I've failed to always be kind, patient, unselfish--in short, to always be Christ-like. I've failed to know Him as well as I should, and failed to fit myself as much as I could for the home He is preparing for me. When I look at all that loss, I am tempted to feel that I have no gains.

Thankfully that isn't the case with me, and I'm sure it isn't with you either. While we are to rejoice in this, however, we are to remember that we can't eclipse the fact that in some way or another, we missed reaching the mark. What can we do? Not change it, no. It is too late for that. We can ask God's forgiveness for our shortcomings, and take hold of His strength to make this coming year one of the best of our lives. Rest assured, He will give it to you, to me, if we simply ask and believe. He longs for us to reach a higher standard far more than we do, so He will do all He can to help us to reach it--if we are willing to be helped, willing to follow His directions. He says to us as surely as He did to the Israelites of old, "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. ...And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:" (Isaiah 1:16-18, 25). "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10).

 

I aim to take hold of these promises and let this year be one of the best I've ever had. I hope you do too.

 

Blessings,

Jean

 

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Will You Cease to be a Sir Arthur?

Sir Arthur

Four days ago, we welcomed a new dog into the family. Sir Arthur was the name we had chosen for this fat, able-bodied tri-color corgi that was supposedly good with other dogs. He was coming from Kansas and being dropped off in Portland, ME. Since the drive to Scarborough is somewhat lengthy, only Dad went to pick him up. When they returned, Friday was on the stairs in the garage. By nature, Friday is a very gentle, submissive dog. It's true that he and Lacey didn't always get along, but for the most part they were friends. Things became serious only in the last few months of Lacey's life--which is understandable because sick dogs tend to turn aggressive. Anyway, when Arthur got out of the car, there was growling and then a nasty dog fight. Friday received the worst of it with a big wound on his ear. Sir Arthur only ended up with a little nick on his face.
 

That wasn't the end of the trouble. During the fight, Zelda and I remained in the house. Our cat Kitty was curled up on a kitchen chair. When Arthur came in, he was on his leash and standing by the rubbish barrel, not even near Kitty. Well, when she saw him she literally went crazy. She started running and climbing everywhere, even up the cabinets and the windows! In the end, she tore down the hallway so fast that the phrase "at the speed of light" seems too inadequate. She has never acted that way towards any animal.

Friday

Over the past few days, Friday and he have been growling at each other. We finally put Sir Arthur in a crate for the safety of everyone. What's more, Friday is not a very vocal dog, but he has been whining and panting more than ever before. When Dad goes to take Sir Arthur out, Friday will not only whine, but also put his head back and howl pitifully, like a wolf. When Lacey was alive and Dad took just her out, he would cry out of jealousy--or so it seemed--but never in the way that he has been doing.

Kitty

Two days ago Mom decided to let Sir Arthur out of the crate while Friday was in and Dad wasn't home. Things didn't go well. Oh, he didn't bother Friday. He saw Kitty and went over to her. He just stood there looking. Kitty was afraid and began to arch her back. I believe she hissed once when he lunged at her. It was so quick and so noisy that I scarcely knew what happened, but next thing I know my mom and sister are over there yelling. Zelda is protecting Kitty's head while Mom is banging Arthur's snout, trying to get him to realize his grip on Kitty's tail. Friday came over and started attacking Kitty too--which is unusual. They are the best of friends--or they were. In the end, Mom did manage to get Arthur off, but in all the ruckus, Kitty was using my sister's hand to bite on. No fingers were broken, but it looks horrible. Her other arm and even her stomach all have scratches as well.

Fluffy

The only animal that has remained unscathed is old, ornery Fluffy. She stays in the bedroom most of the time. The other day, however, after we had moved Arthur to the bookroom so he wouldn't have to stay in the cage, Fluffy ventured out. Now the bookroom is right next to the bedroom, and when Fluffy reached the bookroom entrance (which was barred because the crate was in front of it), she stopped. Turning around very slowly, she slunk back to the bedroom entrance, and then bolted in. Fluffy normally bolts right away, so even her behavior is very odd.

It may not surprise you that most of us here want to send Sir Arthur back to the organization we got him from (which you must do if you are not happy with the dog). He is a lovely dog when it comes to people (though he was eyeing my sister when she was bathing him, so who really knows?) and he loves to play ball; but he isn't good with other animals, and he has been causing a lot of stress between them and the members of the family.

Sir Arthur is a fine example of the truth that "none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself" (Romans 14:7). Everything has an influence; everything is either a savour of life unto life, or a savour of death unto death (2 Corinthians 2:16). If Arthur, who is but a dog, wields such a powerful influence, how much more do we?

"GOD has invested man with an influence that makes it impossible for him to live to himself. ...Every soul is surrounded by an atmosphere of its own—an atmosphere, it may be, charged with the life-giving power of faith, courage, and hope, and sweet with the fragrance of love. Or it may be heavy and chill with the gloom of discontent and selfishness, or poisonous with the deadly taint of cherished sin. By the atmosphere surrounding us, every person with whom we come in contact is consciously or unconsciously affected. This is a responsibility from which we cannot free ourselves. Our words, our acts, our dress, our deportment, even the expression of the countenance, has an influence. Upon the impression thus made there hang results for good or evil which no man can measure. Every impulse thus imparted is seed sown which will produce its harvest.  It is a link in the long chain of human events, extending we know not whither. If by our example we aid others in the development of good principles, we give them power to do good. In their turn they exert the same influence upon others, and they upon still others. Thus by our unconscious influence thousands may be blessed." Ellen White, Christ's Object Lessons, pg. 339.

All of us, then, exert an influence on each other, and all of us have exerted an influence for evil in one way or another, probably to a greater and worse extent than Sir Arthur. No, most of us haven't bitten people's ears or anything like that, but we have inflicted emotional wounds that are just as painful, if not more. In that way, we are all a lot like him. While that isn't a very bright picture, and while we can't cease to impact others, there is good news. GOD is willing to forgive us for and cleanse us from everything that would stop us from exerting an influence for good (1 John 1:9). Then we will be wonderful blessings to the world. The only one who can stop this wonderful change from happening is each of us. The choice is ours. Will you cease to be a Sir Arthur?

Blessings,

Jean

"Thou in Faithfulness"

Recently I read about a man named Patrocinio Martinez, a native of New Mexico. He wasn't converted until later in life, but the Lord was watching over him until beginning to end.

During the winter of 1902, a fever swept through the Martinez home. Pat's wife, Rosaura, cared the best she could for her five children, but death came even so. The two oldest boys, Isidro and Basilio, fell first, followed by their daughter Carmelita. Pat was heartbroken, but said, "I praise God yet, friends." Rosaura was distressed, and added to her grief was the burden of carrying another child; but she continued to tend to her loved ones. Sadly, death wasn't finished with this family yet, and dealt an especially cruel blow. The favorite, baby Manuel, was the next to be stricken with the fever, and he didn't make it. Losing her "little Spaniard" was too much for Rosaura. She suffered a mental breakdown, sobbing constantly and refusing to eat or care for Soledad, the only remaining child. Patrocinio sought in vain to help her. His wife would listen to no one.

Pat was in a quandary. How could he go off and support his family when Rosaura was in such a state? The doctor was quite a ways away, and there was no guarantee that he could offer assistance anyway. Pat had been raised in the Catholic faith, but he nevertheless felt that God was more approachable than the church made Him out to be. One night while lying in bed with the sound of his wife's crying in his ear, he talked to God in his mind, telling his Maker all about the situation. Eventually he fell asleep, emotionally spent.

That night Pat had a dream that he was in an unfamiliar forest. There was a road in this forest, and he decided to follow it. He came upon a shocking sight. There, in broad daylight, was a young man hanging on a scaffold. Disturbed as he was, Pat looked closely at him; was it someone he knew? No, he concluded, the man didn't look familiar. Maybe if he kept walking he would meet someone that could explain the strange sight to him. He didn't have to wait long. He soon met a man that he sensed was somehow important, that knew something about all of this.

After explaining what he had seen, the stranger looked at him tenderly. "You mean to tell me that you did not recognize the man on the scaffold?"

"No. Why should I?"

The man led him back to the spot, and beckoned him to look again. Pat obeyed, and was horrified to see that it was his son Manuel!

The stranger went on to explain to Pat that that was the kind of person his beautiful baby would have been had he lived. The family, he said, was spared greater sorrow by the baby's death. Furthermore, Pat was to tell Rosaura to stop crying and to start thinking of the child that was to be born. This child would be a blessing to the world, and should be given a godly name. "Look forward to the future and the family you will have," the man admonished. "Do not weep for the past."

With that, Patrocinio awoke to find himself still in bed with his sorrowful wife. He leaped out, and exclaimed, "My dear wife, I have just learned something, and you must listen to me!" Taking her by the shoulder, he got her attention and related the dream.

As he spoke, Rosaura's weeping subsided. When he finished, she was completely silent. "It is the truth of God," she finally said. "Now I understand, and I must obey!" And she did. The next day she was up and about again. As much as she didn't want to, she ate, and held back the tears that wanted to spill over. Their son was eventually born, and they called him Jose, meaning "God shall add." God did add many more children to their family, and Jose, after many long, dark years, became a Bible and literature evangelist--truly bringing good to the world.

Whatever our grief, whatever our trial, may this serve as a reminder that, "Whether good or ill befall, it must be good for me." We may not understand how that can be now, but we may trust that it is so, and say with the psalmist, "I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me." (Psalm 119:75).

Blessings,
Jean

His Eye Was Single

In Matthew 6:22, Jesus said, "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light." As far as the followers of Jesus go, one of the most shining examples of someone who sought to live this principle to the full is Jonathan Edwards. Edwards was born in the 18th century, and is best known as one of the chief figures of the Great Awakening, as well as the author of the famous sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry GOD".

What has been often overlooked by many of us—except perhaps those who take to write a biography of him—is that Edwards was a driven man, with only one ambition: to live for GOD's glory. Every other aspiration was subordinate to this aim, and every aspect of his life was subject to it. Jonathan Edwards' Resolutions testify to this.

For example, number 28 shows that he understood that studying the Bible every day was an absolute necessity when it came to having a healthy spiritual life. " Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same." Number 29 shows that he knew the importance of prayer: " Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept." The following resolution, number 30, clearly shows that he sought to attain to greater heights in his relationship with GOD. "Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before."

Edwards wasn't just concerned with religion in terms of a life of mere devotional thought and exercise. He determined to bring the Bible into his everyday life. This included the wise management of his time. "Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can."[1] Even appetite did not escape his scrutiny, as is evidenced by the 20th resolution: Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking."

Naturally, these encompassed not only Edwards' conduct towards himself, but towards others. Three of the seventy resolutions deal with the way he ought to speak to people[2], number 46 specifically addresses his attitude in regards to the members of his family— particularly his mother and father[3], and two others pertain to issues that relate to his fellowmen, albeit indirectly.[4]

Someone once said, "Bible religion is not one influence among many others; its influence is to be supreme, pervading and controlling every other. It is not to be like a dash of color brushed here and there upon the canvas, but it is to pervade the whole life, as if the canvas were dipped into the color, until every thread of the fabric were dyed a deep, unfading hue."[5] We have no doubt seen that this is certainly true of Edwards. His religion influenced his life through and through. You truly cannot know anything about Jonathan Edwards without knowing of the other. Indeed, the two are so thoroughly intertwined that it is well nigh impossible to separate the man from his beliefs. In other words, they were one. His eye was single.

While he did not have all the light that we do today, Jonathan Edwards was a faithful steward of the truth which he did have, and I believe that he will rise again when Jesus returns. I believe that GOD allowed this man to live not only to bless those in his day, but also to be a blessing to us through the example that he left behind. I know that this has been the case with me, and it has made me want to more fully consecrate myself to the service of the Saviour. May we all seek, as he did, to let our eye be single to the glory of GOD.

Blessings,
Jean

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[1] Number 5

[2] Numbers 16, 31, and 36.

[3] Number 46

[4] Numbers 14 and 58

[5] White, Ellen. The Desire of Ages, pg. 312