Category Archives: Holiness

Heroes Past and Present Hodgepodge

Wednesday Hodgepodge is back this week and Joyce has a new round of questions for us. Thank you, Joyce!

1. What’s something small you tend to sweat even though you know you shouldn’t? 

Right after I read our questions on Tuesday I opened my daily reading from Spurgeon and I have to share a portion of it here as the answer to this question.

…He should have argued from what God had done for him that God would be his defender still.

But is it not in the same way that we doubt God’s help? Is it not mistrust without a cause? Have we ever had the shadow of a reason to doubt our Father’s goodness? Hasn’t His loving-kindness been marvelous? Has He ever once failed to justify our trust? Our God has never left us at any time. We have had dark nights, but the star of love has shone out amid the blackness; we have been in tough battles, but over our head He has held high the shield of our defense. We have gone through many trials but never to our detriment, always to our advantage; and the conclusion from our past experience is that He who has been with us in six troubles will not forsake us in the seventh.

2. October 17th is National Pasta Day…do you like pasta? What’s your favorite? Cooked at home or eaten in your favorite Italian restaurant? How often do you make/eat pasta? 

I do enjoy pasta. I’m a fan of the wide egg noodles (which might or might not be considered pasta) in my Sirloin Stroganoff with Buttered noodles. I don’t have a favorite Italian restaurant and we mostly have ‘settle for’ restaurants where we live now. We settle for them when we both aren’t ready to cook. Lately we probably only have pasta once in a couple weeks or once a month.

3. Do you consider yourself a spontaneous person? Explain. 

I can be spontaneous. I don’t mind dropping everything and heading out on an adventure. I can shift my course if I need to.

4. Who are some of your heroes? Tell us why. 

My number one hero is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who left his exalted place in heaven to come to earth as a man, who lived a perfect life which qualified him to be the perfect and acceptable sacrifice for our sins. I believe on Him as my Savior. He is the only One who stands in the Gap between us and the One and Only Holy God. Jesus’ sacrifice satisfied God’s wrath on me a sinner. He is why I have peace with God here on earth and I cherish my relationship with Him that is growing until I meet Him face to face in heaven.

I mentioned another one already in question #1, Charles Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers. Another one is John MacArthur, pastor of Grace Community Church in Southern California, a faithful expositor of God’s word and he was Greg and my first pastor after we were married in 1974. He’s in his 80’s now and still filling the pulpit at the same church. They have both proven to be faithful to the Word of God and men you can trust to preach the Truth and not themselves or passing fads.

First Responders are also on my hero list. When I see what they have to deal with in our current depraved society I appreciate them more and more.

Our Daughter-in-law who is homeschooling our Grands. That’s a huge sacrifice but so worthwhile.

Our Daughters-in-law and our Son-in-law who love and support our sons and daughter so well. I thank God for them.

My faithful husband who has provided and cared for me all these years!

5. Let’s wrap it up with something light…Taylor Swift…are you a fan? On a scale of 1-10 how much so? (1=who’s Taylor?, 10=a true Swiftie, seen her in concert more than once). If you’re a fan what’s your favorite T. Swift song? 

I’ll go with 1, who’s Taylor?, I have heard her name but I could not tell you what she sings.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Slowly my posts from our travels in Ireland and England are coming together. I’m up to day 4! It’s good to recall the days before they slip away in my mind. 🙂 My next post will be on the City Walls of York. Laura created this collage below on some of the highlights of that walk.

Gracious Spirit, Dwell With Me ~ Hymn

Gracious Spirit, Dwell With Me

Gracious Spirit, dwell with me—
I myself would gracious be,
And with words that help and heal
Would Thy life in mine reveal;
And with actions bold and meek
Would for Christ my Savior speak.

Truthful Spirit, dwell with me—
I myself would truthful be;
And with wisdom kind and clear
Let Thy life in mine appear;
And with actions brotherly
Speak my Lord’s sincerity.

Tender Spirit, dwell with me—
I myself would tender be;
Shut my heart up like a flower,
In temptation’s darksome hour;
Open it when shines the sun,
And his love by fragrance own.

Silent Spirit, dwell with me—
I myself would quiet be,
Quiet as the growing blade
Which through earth its way has made;
Silently, like morning light,
Putting mists and chills to flight.

Mighty Spirit, dwell with me—
I myself would mighty be;
Mighty so as to prevail
Where unaided man must fail;
Ever by a mighty hope,
Pressing on and bearing up.

Holy Spirit, dwell with me—
I myself would holy be;
Separate from sin, I would
Choose and cherish all things good;
And whatever I can be
Give to Him who gave me Thee.

Words: Thomas T. Lynch, 1855.

A Call to Persevere

This was one of my posts on the Mennonite Girls Can Cook Blog for our Bread for the Journey from November of 2017. It still rings true. I’m reposting it here on my blog. It is a good reminder for me.

More and more it seems the world around me is choosing to come against the truth of God’s Word. Some of these voices, strong and bold, can confuse and mislead. Should I be silent. What should I do?

I need to go back each day to the one who is the Truth. I need to open the Word of God and with the help of the Holy Spirit read it and hide it in my heart. I need to test the very words that are coming from pulpits and be like the Bereans who searched the scriptures to make sure they were being taught what was true. I need to listen to teaching that is Biblically sound. I need to know that there are popular false teachers in my circles.

I need to be a disciple of Jesus, following him closely.

I need to meditate on passages like Psalm 19: 7-14,

The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
13 Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I will be blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

I’ll leave you with these verses from the book of Jude.
A Call to Persevere
17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
Doxology24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Come, O Creator Spirit Blest ~ Hymn

 Come, O Creator Spirit Blest

Come, O Creator Spirit blest,
And in our souls take up Thy rest;
Come, with Thy grace and heavenly aid,
To fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

Great Comforter, to Thee we cry;
O highest gift of God most high,
O Fount of life, O Fire of love,
And sweet anointing from above!

The sacred sevenfold grace is Thine,
Dread finger of the hand divine;
The promise of the Father Thou,
Who dost the tongue with power endow.

Kindle our senses from above,
And make our hearts o’erflow with love;
With patience firm, and virtue high,
The weakness of our flesh supply.

Far from us drive the foe we dread,
And grant us Thy true peace instead;
So shall we not, with Thee for guide,
Turn from the path of life aside.

O may Thy grace on us bestow
The Father and the Son to know,
And evermore to hold confessed
Thyself of each the Spirit blest

ht: cyberhymnal

More About Jesus ~ Hymn

 More About Jesus

More about Jesus would I know,
More of His grace to others show;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love Who died for me.

Refrain

More, more about Jesus,
More, more about Jesus;
More of His saving fullness see,
More of His love Who died for me.

More about Jesus let me learn,
More of His holy will discern;
Spirit of God, my teacher be,
Showing the things of Christ to me.

Refrain

More about Jesus; in His Word,
Holding communion with my Lord;
Hearing His voice in every line,
Making each faithful saying mine.

Refrain

More about Jesus; on His throne,
Riches in glory all His own;
More of His kingdom’s sure increase;
More of His coming, Prince of Peace.

Refrain

Words: Eliza E. Hewitt, 1887 ~ Music: John R. Sweney

Ephesians 3:16-19 ~ “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Tuesdays In Other Words

This week, Elisa is hosting “In ‘Other’ Words” at her site, Extravagant Grace. She has chosen a quote from the Anne Ortlund’s book “The Disciplines of a Beautiful Woman.” This week’s quote is:

“But remember, for all your adult life you’ll be a woman. And how you live your life as a woman, all by yourself before God, is what makes the real you. Nothing on the exterior can touch or change that precious inner sanctuary, your heart, his dwelling place unless you let it. And God, who loves you very much has tailor made all your outer life, your circumstances, your relationships, to pressure you into becoming that beautiful woman he’s planned for you to be.”

~ Anne Ortlund ~

So here is where I went for “in other words.”
~
Titus 2: 1, 3-5 ~
“You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.
“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their
husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”
10 – 15
“….so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”
~
I’m just beginning a study with some women at my church on Titus 2. We are using the book Feminine Appeal – Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Motherby Carolyn Mahaney. Here are some quotes from the 1st chapter of the book to follow-up on this passage from Titus.
“Our conduct has a direct influence on how people think about the gospel. The world doesn’t judge us by our theology; the world judges us by our behavior. People don’t necessarily want to know what we believe about the Bible. They want to see if what we believe makes a difference in our lives. Our actions either bring honor to God or misrepresent His truth.
….As verse 10 [in Titus 2] says, we can “adorn” the gospel with our lives. To “adorn” means to put something beautiful or attractive on display – like placing a flawless gemstone in a setting that uniquely shows off its brilliance. The gospel is like the most valuable of jewels.
…Make no mistake, by adorning the gospel, we are not enhancing or improving it.  The gospel cannot be improved! But by cultivating the feminine qualities listed in Titus 2, we can present the gospel as attractive, impressive, and pleasing to a watching world.”
~
The truth that is presented in Titus 2 for us women is a dependable model of what God has planned for women to be in this world. What is truly beautiful is a women who adorns the gospel inside and out…
~
For more Tuesdays In Other Words click over to Extravagant Grace.

Tuesday, In Other Words ~ Tozer

“I want deliberately to encourage this mighty longing after God. The lack of it has brought us to our present low estate. The stiff and wooden quality about our religious lives is a result of our lack of holy desire. Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth. Acute desire must be present or there will be no manifestation of Christ to His people. He waits to be wanted. Too bad that with many of us He waits for long, so very long, in vain.”
~A.W.Tozer~

I am going to be bold and say in other words that this very desire to want the Lord in our lives will have to come from Him. We naturally will not have this desire or the ability to drum it up on our own. We need to start asking daily that God will give us this desire. We need to say each day to Him “not my will but thine”.  Help me Lord today to desire You, to listen for You, to love you more. Teach me what it means to abide in You. We need to recognize the importance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. God the Spirit who teaches us, testifies, guides us, convicts us, comforts us.

We need to open our Bibles daily, read, meditate, listen, and respond to His leading.

Ezekiel 36: 25-27

“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”

II Corinthians 5: 17

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”

John 7: 37 -38

“On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him”.  By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.”

May I encourage you and me to speak to God today like we would speak to a real person. Let’s ask Him to give us the desire to grow closer to Him and to give us the awareness of all the Holy Spirit is in our lives.

For more In Other Words visit Debbie at Chocolate and Coffee.

Another Year is Dawning ~ Frances R. Havergal

Another Year is Dawning

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee.
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another year of training for holier work above.
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee.

Words by Frances R. Havergal first written as a poem in her New Year’s greeting cards. Music by Samuel S. Wesley.

ht: cyberhymnal

Ryle on “Victory”

Well I just finished Faithfulness and Holiness  ~ The witness of J.C. Ryle by J.I. Packer. The quote I’d like to share is in the section where Packer is writing a survey of Ryle. This quote is from the chapter titled “A Great Legacy”. In this quote Ryle is dealing with Christ’s promises in Revelation 2 and 3 to those who overcome.  This is his treatment of Victory in a believers life.

“If you would prove you are born again and going to heaven, you must be a victorious soldier of Christ. If you would make it clear that you have any title to Christ’s precious promises, you must fight the good fight in Christ’s cause, and in that fight you must conquer.

Victory is the only satisfactory evidence that you have a saving religion. You like good sermons perhaps. You respect the Bible, and read it occasionally. You say your prayers night and morning. You have family prayers, and give to religious societies. I thank God for this. It is all very good. But how goes the battle?… Are you overcoming the passions, tempers and lusts of your own heart? Are you resisting the devil and making him flee from you? How is it in this matter? You must either rule or serve sin and the devil and the world. There is no middle course. You must either conquer or be lost.

I know well it is a hard battle that you have to fight, and I want you to know it , too… You must make up your mind to a daily struggle if you would reach heaven…Sin, the world and the devil must be actually mortified, resisted and overcome.

This is the road that the saints of old have trodden…Moses…overcame the love of pleasure…Micaiah…overcame the love of ease…Daniel…overcame the fear of death…Matthew…overcame the love of money…Peter and John…overcame the fear of man…When Saul the Pharisee gave up all his prospects of preferment among the Jews, and preached that very Jesus whom he had once persecuted, this was overcoming: he overcame the love of man’s praise.

The same kind of thing which these men did you must also do if you would be saved. They were men of like passions with yourself, and yet they overcame. They had as many trials as you can possibly have, and yet they overcame. They fought. They wrestled. They struggled. You must do the same.

What was the secret of their victory? Their faith. They believed on Jesus and, believing, were made strong…and….were held up. In all thier battle, they kept their eyes on Jesus, and he never left them nor forsook them. “They overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony” and so may you (Rev. 12:11).”

Faithfulness and Holiness ~ Quote

I’m plugging away and still am behind others who are reading J.C. Ryle on Holiness but I am blessed in my slowness…

Here’s the latest quote I’d like to share that I found to be a rich encouragement. It’s from Chapter 4 ~ The Fight,

“A special faith in our Lord Jesus Christ’s person, work, and office, is the life, heart, and mainspring of the Christian soldier’s character.

He sees by faith an unseen Saviour, who loved him, gave Himself for him, paid his debts for him, bore his sins, carried his transgressions, rose again for him, and appears in heaven for him as his Advocate at the right hand of God. He sees Jesus, and clings to Him. Seeing this Saviour and trusting in Him, he feels peace and hope, and willingly does battle against the foes of his soul.

He sees his many sins – his weak heart, a tempting world, a busy devil; and if he looked only at them he might well despair. But he sees also a mighty Saviour, an interceding Saviour, a sympathizing Saviour – His blood, His righteousness, His everlasting priesthood – and he believes that all this is his own. He sees Jesus, and casts his whole weight on Him. Seeing Him he cheerfully fights on, with a full confidence that he will prove “more than conqueror through Him that loved him” (Rom. 8:37).

ht: Faithfulness and Holiness (The Witness of J.C. Ryle) ~ Ryle with an appreciation by J.I. Packer

“