Antedote to losing heart

Just thinking a bit about faith today and what it means to trust God. As you read Hebrews 11 and come to verse 39, it is striking to read: "These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised." None of them received what had been promised... In the face of all the, essentially, "no, not yet" answers to their prayers, God commends their faith.

This is immediately followed in the letter by: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" — exhortations to follow in those same footsteps, throw off sin, run the race of faith — all this, despite the seeming lack of answers to prayer. This seems to be asking a lot!

What are we to make of all this? Well, thankfully, there is verse 2 and 3... and 4 — we are pointed to Jesus, the one who perfects our faith, the one who has gone before us. And, as the author of Hebrews says, "Consider him... so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." How much we are tempted to lose heart when our faith is stretched, when prayers aren't answered, when the life of faith seems like a hard road to travel, or the "here and now" is full of disappointments. I appreciate this reminder in Hebrews. It is at those times that I just need to focus my mind to "Consider Jesus" — that is the biblical antedote to my growing weary and losing heart.

More on Prentiss...

I mentioned Sharon James' new book on Elizabeth Prentiss (Banner of Truth) recently and I've been enjoying the read the past few weeks. She goes through some traumatic losses, including the death of two of her children. She wrote this verse after that time and I am awestruck at her submission to God's heavy providences:

One child and two green graves are mine
This is God's gift to me;
A bleeding, fainting, broken heart —
This is my gift to Thee.

... that is just an incredible expression of submission and honesty about her grief. It is humbling to read of her life and the way that God strengthened her and renewed her faith day by day.

Art thou so weary...

Just a little dip into Rossetti this morning and something that speaks to my weariness — but gives me some perspective…

Art thou so weary then, poor thirsty soul?
Have patience, in due season thou shalt sleep.
Mount yet a little while, the path is steep:
Strain yet a little while to reach the goal:
Do battle with thyself, achieve, control:
Till night come down with blessed slumber deep
As love, and seal thine eyes no more to weep
Through long tired vigils while the planets roll.
Have patience, for thou too shalt sleep at length,
Lapt in the pleasant shade of Paradise.
My Hands that bled for thee shall close thine eyes,
My Heart that bled for thee shall be thy rest:
I will sustain with everlasting strength,
And thou, with John, shalt lie upon My breast.

(verse 2 of 'There remaineth therefore a rest for the people of God')

How much we all need that 'everlasting strength', and the hope that one day we will truly rest with Christ, having survived the 'battle'! Press on...

Spurgeon on prayer…

"…as our life is made up of breathing in and breathing out, so we should breathe in the atmosphere of heaven by prayer, and then breathe it out again in praise."
— C.H. Spurgeon

Haystacks and hard work

One of the recurring sights of summer in my part of Canada is the presence of haybales lining invisibles rows down farmers' fields. Besides the fact that they have been the theme of painters from Van Gogh to Millet and many others down to the present (including a lovely 'modernist' painting by Christopher Roberts that hangs in my living room), they also serve to remind me of the value of hard work. That is in large part due to the fact that growing up in Grey County near Owen Sound, I used to help a few local farmers bring in their hay. At that time, it was quite the community effort. Square-baling was what they did and it required a lot of 'hands on deck.' We used to have such a great time, challenging each other with how fast we could unload a wagon into the barn, or how quickly we could send the bales up the elevator into the mow -- to the poor guy who was trying to stack them up top! We had fun but, boy, we were exhausted by the end of it! Tired barely begins to describe how you'd feel by the time you went to sleep that night. Anyhow, it is just a good little reminder today to me that I need to keep pressing on, working hard, with the present work that God has given me to do. He provides, and amazingly sometimes, but I need to keep slugging the bales as well! And, as He did for me then, He can give me much joy in the doing of it!

Sharing for the encouragement of others

Nehemiah 2:18 "I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me…"

Nehemiah, in the midst of all his busyness and plans for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, encourages the others by sharing with them the ways that God's gracious hand had been on him so far. This was not an appendage to his 'pep-talk', I wouldn't think, but rather the force behind it all! If they were going to do this great thing, they were going to need to know that God was already at work.

The writer to Hebrews also emphasizes this in regards to fellow believers: "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness (Hebrews 3:13). And, Jonathan also, in 1 Samuel 23 "went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God."

These are all great reminders to speak about what the Lord is doing in our lives -- so that others will be encouraged and assured of God's good hand. What a boost it is to one's own faith when you hear of what God is doing in the lives of others!

More thoughts from Rossetti

I am back to reading Christina Rossetti's Poems again. If you ever get a chance to read 'From house to home,' it is a gem!

This poem starts off with the alluring nature of something in the world that drew the subject away from God. It was pleasurable and she was seemingly blind to what was happening -- "I felt no thorn-prick when I plucked the flower." Eventually her world came crashing down -- "That night destroyed me like an avalanche" ... "Until my heart broke and my spirit broke." God then gave her a sight of things from heaven’s perspective. How gracious He is with us! “The fallen was lifted up.” Here are a few of the final verses…

Therefore, O friend, I would not if I might
Rebuild my house of lies, wherein I joyed
One time to dwell: my soul shall walk in white,
Cast down but not destroyed.

Therefore in patience I possess my soul;
Yea, therefore as a flint I set my face,
To pluck down, to build up again the whole—
But in a distant place.

These thorns are sharp, yet I can tread on them;
This cup is loathsome, yet He makes it sweet:
My face is steadfast toward Jerusalem,
My heart remembers it.
…
Although to-day He prunes my twigs with pain,
Yet doth His blood nourish and warm my root:
To-morrow I shall put forth buds again
And clothe myself with fruit.

Although to-day I walk in tedious ways,
To-day His staff is turned into a rod,
Yet will I wait for Him the appointed days
And stay upon my God.

This poem speaks to my experience and that of all believers. We struggle with some sin, we thankfully are finally confronted with it -- we are reminded by the Word or by someone of ‘who we are and who we serve’ -- and then, painful as it is, God prunes us so that He can restore us and make us useful (‘fruitful’) to Him again. It reminds me of David in Psalm 51 after he has confessed his sin and where he pleads with the Lord to ‘Restore to me the joy of your salvation.’ We serve a kind Saviour, friends – hold on to Christ! He is worth forsaking everything else for.

Fellowship in prayer...

There is a scene where spirits blend,
Where friend holds fellowship with friend;
Though sundered far, by faith they meet
Around one common mercy seat. (Hugh Stowell)

Prayer can be such a difficult discipline sometimes, even though it is an incredible priviledge. One of the paradoxes of the Christian life, I suppose -- that which we have free and open access to can be such a difficult thing to practice! Yet how much we need to be praying and praying for one another. This is part of 'bearing each other's burdens' and taking them to the Lord. I'm encouraged to know that others pray for me, and have done so, and I hope that I will pray more for others in the days to come. God promises to hear the prayers of His people and as my last post spoke of (1 John 2:1), Christ Himself prays for us as well. Pray on friends!

Someone who speaks in my defense

1 John 2:1b "But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One"

How comforting to know that there is one who pleads for defenseless sinners! What do I bring? Nothing that can speak to the righteous God. What a joy to know that there is Someone who can plead for sinners before the throne of God! Just reflecting on the fact that Jesus pleads for me is an amazing thought. His pleading on my behalf is a blood-bought thing. To my shame, I don't take sin near as serious as He does. Yet, what grace! Even at my lowest, struggling times, there has been Someone pleading the grace of God, showing His own righteousness on my behalf. A comforting thought this evening...

Elizabeth Prentiss

Sharon James' new book, published by The Banner of Truth Trust, is finally out -- it's called 'Elizabeth Prentiss: More love to Thee'... I just received my copy and am quite looking forward to reading it. I designed the cover for it, so had a small part in seeing it come to be, but it's the writing I'm looking forward to. Sharon's other books have been superb - 'My heart in his hands: The life of Ann Judson of Burma', 'God's design for women', 'In trouble and in joy: Four women who lived for God.' Elizabeth Prentiss is a full-scale biography of her life (she was a 19th century author (ie. Stepping Heavenward) and pastor's wife, having a wide influence in Amercia during her lifetime). Sharon has a wonderful ability to dig deep historically, bring a very rounded view of the person and provide real application/inspiration for believers today... Looks like a good read!

The providence of God

I have taken up reading "The mystery of providence" (John Flavel) again. It is one of those books that I re-read quite regularly, perhaps for its usefulness to me early on in my Christian life -- and the fact that it has so much practical counsel for the Christian life. This week I read the chapter on "The duty of meditating on providence." Flavel outlines the importance of reflecting on what God has done in our lives, "whether of mercy or judgment." It is important because it gives us opportunity to praise God -- for his deliverances, his kindnesses, his rebukes, his salvation, etc.. It also enables us to speak to others about the ways that we have experienced God working in our lives, plus, thinking about God's providences, gives us much food for prayer! I love William Cowper's lines, esp. verses 3 and 4:

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense.
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own Interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

Sea-sand and sorrow

Christina Rossetti has always been an intriguing poet to me. The poignancy and spareness of her words are very striking. I read a biography on her some time ago... and today my mom gave me a lovely 1923 edition of her poems. I was perusing through a few of them just now and was struck by this one:

Sea-sand and sorrow

What are heavy? sea-sand and sorrow:
What are brief? to-day and to-morrow:
What are frail? spring blossoms and youth:
What are deep? the ocean and truth.

There's a lot of truth knit together in those few lines. Good food for thought…

A few words on friendship

"Mutual communion is the soul of all true friendship...and Friendship is most maintained and kept up by visits: and these, the more free and less occasioned by urgent business..the more friendly they are...we use to check our friends with this upbraiding; You still come when you have some business, but when will you come to see me?...The very sight of a friend rejoiceth a man...Personal communion with God is the end of our graces...and as for duties, the journey's end of them is fellowship with God"
—Thomas Goodwin

It's always good to reflect... and one of the great blessings of a friend is the way you can share the joys and sorrows of life. God has blessed me richly in this regard! So, as I start my blog, I'd just like to thank Him for the richness of friendship in Christ and express my thanks to those who have encouraged me to keep on in Christ.