A Sweet Fragrance

Fire-Words ~ Amy Carmichael

Vanessa — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:00:49 +0000

I cried and said, “O God, my words are cold!
The frosted frond of fern or feathery palm
On whitened window wrought
As near to burning are, as these my words;
Oh that they were as flames!”

God answered me: “Thou shalt have words
But at this price, that thou must first be burnt,
Burnt by red embers from a secret fire,
Scorched by fierce heats and withering winds that sweep
Through all thy being, carrying thee afar from old delights.
Doth not the ardent fire
Consume the mountain’s heart before the flow
Of fervent lava? Wouldst thou easefully,
As from cool pleasant fountains flow in fire?

Say, can thy heart endure
Or can thy hands be strong
In the day that I shall deal with thee?
For first the iron must enter thine own soul,
And wound and brand it, scarring awful lines
Indelibly upon it, and a hand
Resistless in a tender terribleness
Must thoroughly purge it, fashioning its pain
To power that leaps in fire.

Not otherwise, and by no lighter touch,
Are fire-words wrought.”

-From Walker of Tinnevelly
by Amy Carmichael

Photo credit

The Exercise Of A Christian Spirit ~ Jonathan Edwards

Vanessa — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:00:31 +0000

He that has established such a spirit and disposition of mind that the injuries received from others do not exasperate and provoke him, or disturb the calmness of his mind, lives, as it were, above injuries and out of their reach. He conquers them, and rides over and above them as in triumph, exalted above their power. He that has so much of the exercise of a Christian spirit, as to be able meekly to bear all injuries done him, dwells on high where no enemy can reach him.

-From Christian Love As Manifested in the Heart and Life by Jonathan Edwards

Multitude Monday # 20

Vanessa — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:00:05 +0000

153. The cleansing blood of Jesus that takes all my sins and casts them into the depths of the sea!

154. Amazing grace.

155. Sunflowers.

156. The Lord’s healing power.

157. Beautiful music that keeps my thoughts where they should be.

158. Hope given on dark nights.

159. Brothers who finish off my leftovers at restaurants.

160. I might be assigned to a patient who lives in my own town. So maybe no more driving 50 miles to work. Yay!

He Is Mine ~ Elizabeth Prentiss

Vanessa — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 11:00:34 +0000

He Is Mine

O Christ, I yearn for more of Thee;
Reveal, reveal Thyself to me,
And satisfy this heart
That would be Thine alone.
I want Thee wholly, not in part,
I want to know that mine Thou art,
To know as I am known;
Within this breast Thy love has glowed,
Oh, come and make it Thine abode.

When I can see Thy face divine,
A sunbeam seems on me to shine;
And if Thou turn away,
Joy ceases to be joy.
Night’s blackest darkness stifles day,
I am of restless grief the prey,
Its idle sport and toy;
I know, for I have tasted this-
Have missed Thee, mourned Thee, felt Thy bliss.

Oh, Thou my Life, my Joy, my End,
Dearer than any earthly friend,
How can I speak Thy love?
What say I have not said?
When streaming eyes have looked above,
These hands held fast the heavenly Dove,
That pleaded in my stead:
Has not Thy penetrating glance
Read that which knows no utterance?

And yet I yearn to love Thee more,
With saintly rapture to adore
Thy dear and precious Name,
That must be dearer yet;
I come Thy promises to claim,
Thy love my boldness will not blame,
Thy heart my plea forget;
Let praises be my every breath,
My hourly life of self the death.

Thou hast lit up with ardor rare
Some hidden souls, Thy special care;
Make me to them akin!
Give me what Thou to them hast given,
Their high devotion let me win,
Their calm dominion over sin,
Making of earth a heaven-
The wondrous and mysterious grace
Of ever looking on Thy face!

They went to meet Thee by a way
That pilgrim feet still tread today,
And counting all things dross
Save Him they in long patience sought;
Let me press on through pain and loss,
Bending beneath my Master’s cross,
Learning as they were taught;
Jesus, Beloved of my heart,
I feel Thine Answer – mine Thou art!

-From Golden hours: Heart-hymns of the Christian life
by Elizabeth Prentiss

And Certain Women

Vanessa — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 11:52:22 +0000

And it came to pass afterward, that He went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with Him, and certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, and Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto Him of their substance. (Luke 8: 1-3)

I can think of no more beautiful example of womanhood than these women who followed Jesus around and ministered to Him and His disciples. They were women who had come to Jesus, each with her own wounds and tormentors, and had found healing. Instead of running back to their own lives, they submitted themselves and their resources to the service of the Lord in a very literal way.

Healing first, then following and ministering. A life centered around Him.

One Man ~ Thomas Walker

Vanessa — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:00:44 +0000

No one can fully estimate the results of the work of one man who has the courage to do and dare for what is true and right at any cost.

-Thomas Walker, as quoted in Walker of Tinnevelly
by Amy Carmichael

Childlike Confidence

Vanessa — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:00:06 +0000

For perfect childlike confidence in Thee;
For childlike glimpses of the life to be;
For trust akin to my child’s trust in me;
For hearts at rest through confidence in Thee;
For hearts triumphant in perpetual hope;
For hope victorious through past hopes fulfilled;
For mightier hopes born of the things we know;
For faith born of the things we may not know;
For hope of powers increased ten thousand fold;
For that last hope of likeness to Thyself,
When hope shall end in glorious certainty;
With quickened hearts
That find Thee everywhere,
We thank Thee, Lord!

-As quoted in Christian Disciplines
by Oswald Chambers

Multitude Monday # 19

Vanessa — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:00:36 +0000

145. Actually seeing all things working together for good.

146. Having a vision come true after years of waiting and not knowing.

147. Motivation to pray.

148. Seeing God answer my prayers.

149. Knowing that God is trustworthy and dependable.

150. People who are stable and trustworthy.

151. Knowing that my relationship with God does not depend on the attitudes of people around me.

152. Knowing that inward peace is possible at all times, no matter what is happening.

Trust

Vanessa — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:38:36 +0000

Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him . . . (Job 13:15)

Trust. A delicate thing. Easily destroyed. Over and over again I have lost trust in people. There have been times in my life when I have been almost completely surrounded by people that I could not trust. I have been lied to many, many times. It’s hard.

Perhaps, though, when I feel trust ebbing away, I have placed my trust in the wrong place. The wrong person. I have let my experiences with people erode my trust in God. I have forgotten that people’s behavior does not usually reflect God’s lovingkindness. When I feel betrayed by people. it means I have misplaced my trust.

What about when I feel betrayed by God? I am not alone in this. Many, if not most of God’s people have felt betrayed by God at one time or another. The Psalms are full of such feelings.

Yet, God does not change according to my feelings. He still is who He is, regardless of myself. The Lord is still my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my strength, one in whom I will trust, my salvation, my high tower.

How do we learn to trust again? By becoming like a little baby earnestly looking to his mother for every drop of nourishment he needs. Look to the Lord, and keep looking, until He comes to you.

He will come.

No-Poo Method Update

Vanessa — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 08:00:52 +0000

After starting to use the no-poo method about a month ago, I have only made one change to the routine I described in my previous post. I have started using a mixture of honey and a little lemon juice once weekly, thoroughly scrubbing my scalp with it. It works as a great cleanser, so I think I’ll keep using it in addition to the rinses I was already using. My hair has adjusted quite well to this routine, so I think I’ll stick with it for a while!