In All Things

   I'd like you to meet a new 'friend' of mine, her name is Melanie Wilkes. Actually, I'm sure you already know her. She is everybody's favorite mistress from Gone With The Wind, the wife of Scarlett's lifelong forbidden love, Ashley Wilkes. I recently had the pleasure of seeing the movie for the first time, and I rather enjoyed it.

   I've had her and several other fictional ladies brought to my attention in the last few weeks, all women of similar character. Along with Melanie I've been reminded of Helen Burns from Jane Eyre, and Elsie Dinsmore. All three of these ladies are unforgettable, their actions speak volumes. They are forbearing, they suffer willingly, believe the best in others, are slow to judge, always giving the benefit of the doubt, and always quick to forgive. I understand that they are only fictional, but surely such a high standard shouldn't be ignored or laid aside. This morning my personal devos took me to Philippians 2:14-18, and it so perfectly describes these precious women.

   Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become {blameless} and {harmless}, children of God {without fault} in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you {shine as lights} in the world, {holding fast} the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

   Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.

   There are many things to study in these verses, and I parenthesized the points that describe my heroines. Helen Burns from Charlotte Bronte's masterpiece was a willing sufferer. She accepted all her trials and persecutions as just punishment. She never focused on her pain, but looked forward to her eternal reward. Such character is blameless, unable to be criticized. Helen never misbehaved, she was picked on by her teachers who were scraping the bottom of the barrel to find something wrong with her. Helen was {blameless}.

   Of course the first thing everyone knows about Melanie is that she is such a forbearing soul. She loved Scarlett with every bit of sisterly affection, even when she had no obligation to. She defended Scarlett, even when the other girls justly accused her. Scarlett almost never did an unselfish act toward Melanie, but Melanie never complained. Even when Melanie heard of Scarlett's infidelity with her husband, she was the first to forgive. She could have been the first to shun, but she was the only one who believed in Scarlett's innocence. Melanie was {harmless}, innocent and pure. She was unable to hurt anyone, willingly or otherwise.

   Elsie Dinsmore was finally recognized by a father who had abandoned her to be raised by his own parents. He was not a servant of the Lord, and wanted Elsie to obey him, even to the point of causing her to disobey the Lord. She would not, however, and approached the brink of death in her fervency to serve the Lord. She never complained, Elsie was {without fault}. She was above reproach in her passion to follow the Lord.

   We live in a crooked and perverted world. What the world considers acceptable has deviated from God's standards, but these ladies wouldn't settle for "acceptable". They never complained, never argued. As John MacArthur says, those sins "demonstrate a lack of trust in God's providential will, boundless grace, and infinite wisdom and love." They never questioned or criticized what God was doing. Romans 8:28 says that ALL THINGS work together for good to those that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose. Helen always knew that the Lord had a reason for her to be at Lowood School, she was content where she was. Even though the teachers persecuted her, she knew suffering was a gift of the Lord.

   These ladies shine brightly, their impeccable character is unforgettable, and leaves us desiring to be just as admirable. The Lord tells us to shine, and because we are Christians, we will stand out in a crooked generation, just as a candle stands out in a dark room, or stars stand out in a night sky. A better interpretation of "holding fast" would be "holding forth". We are holding the standard, we are Christ's representatives and He's given us the capacity to shine for Him.

   Rejoice in the opportunities God has given you to suffer, don't complain. It's a gift of grace, to be oppressed for Christ's sake. Be a willing sacrifice for the Lord, believe the best in others, be blameless and above reproach. Lord, make me even a little more like these fictional heroines, always blessing your name, and bringing You glory.

Hope and Predestination

   "My mind was therefore hourly replete with inventions and thoughts of being freed; and, if possible, by honest and honourable means; for I always remembered the old adage, and I trust it has ever been my ruling principle, 'that honesty is the best policy'; and likewise that other golden precept--'To do unto all men as I would they should do unto me.' However, as I was from early years a predestinarian, I thought whatever fate had determined must ever come to pass; and therefore, if ever it were my lot to be freed, nothing could prevent me, although I should at present see no means or hope to obtain my freedom; on the other hand, if it were my fate not to be freed, I never should be so, and all my endeavours for that purpose would be fruitless. In the midst of these thoughts I therefore looked up with prayers anxiously to God for my liberty; and at the same time used very honest means, and did all that was possible on my part to obtain it."

-Olaudah Equiano

In Whatever State I Am...

   Dear friends and readers... *sigh*

   I cannot deny the shame I feel at abandoning you right in the middle of a series. I simply haven't prioritized my time well enough to have the motivation, or clear understanding to write another post. I apologize, and by God's help I shall strive to do better.

   In the meantime... our computer has been visited by a few viruses. We have no idea what, or where they're from, but Microsoft Works Word Processor has vanished. Our documents still exist (and most importantly are back up on a flash drive, thank you Jesus), but we can't open them. What does this mean? It means that the remaining verses and quotes I had chosen to write on are inaccessible. =/ It looks like my series on TRUE LOVE has come to a detour, I shall have to write about something else in the meantime.

   But, ladies and gentlemen, that's not a bad thing! Praise the LORD, He has decided to guide me on a better path. =)

   So my topic today will veer off in a different direction. I'd like to show you something that I've been meditating on for a few weeks, a bit of Psalms that God led me to. Most of you have read the grand passage of Psalm 37, which speaks of the peace and joy, and triumph of those who wait on the LORD. I have chosen to peruse a few of the Psalms since it's been awhile, and I enjoy them so much. David was a human and he wrote what was overflowing his heart. The Psalms are easy to connect to, they speak of human trials and emotions, joy and depression, and the hope of Christ. There seems to be a Psalm for every circumstance in life.

   The verses I have meditated on relate to my circumstances in life right now, being single, with the opportunities of several jobs, the blessings of various friends, more liberties and less responsibilities than I will ever have again. There is nothing I should desire, considering I have so many gifts, and these verses help me combat any discontentment or jealousy that tends to spring up.

Psalm 37:3-5  ~  Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

Trust in the Lord, and do good

   This came as a bit of a revelation, as a new meaning took me by surprise. This phrase makes me recall verses that Jesus spoke to His disciples, that if they loved Him, they would keep His commands. To love the Lord means that you'll obey Him no matter what, you'll do whatever you can to please Him. I suppose maybe this verse follows the same lines, that if you trust the Lord, you'll keep doing His will, for He does will us to do good. Keep taking steps forward, even when you aren't sure of what comes next. Those actions, my friends, prove a real trust in the Father, having faith in something you can't see, always moving on with the belief that God is in control.

Dwell in the land

   This one has a neat illustration. God has given us each a bit of land, a place to stay. He has let the lines fall in pleasant places, it's a good land and it's perfect for you. It's His will for your life and He has given you everything you need at this particular stage in life. So we're left with a few choices. We can sit on the fence and look down the road, longing so much for the next part of life that we become discontent. We can sit in our land in self-pity, wishing we had someone elses land, and opportunities. Or we can dwell in the land. We can choose to settle down and enjoy every opportunity and blessing that's been provided. Put down roots, make new friends, throw a party, write a book, learn to dance... Enjoy the moments you're in because you will never have them back. Don't waste them in wishing you had something else.

And feed on His faithfulness

   God's faithfulness is wondrous, He never changes. The same God who created Adam and Eve; who preserved the human race through Noah; who preserved His chosen people by leading them out of Egypt; who provided propitiation for His elect; is the same God who gave you life. He has given you health, food, a job, friends... You have always been provided for. Dwell on those thoughts! Meditate on God's works and delight yourself in them. Raise an ebenezer, declaring that God has brought you thus far, and that He will remain faithful to bring you home. Thank him for His faithfulness, and remember that He will never change.

Delight yourself also in the LORD

    Is the Lord your greatest luxury? Greater than wealth? Greater than the love of your friends, or the esteem of your co-workers? Greater than your education, talents, or accomplishments? In the end, God is all that matters, he is the One who has given you all your other "luxuries", and He can take them away. He is the only eternal being, whilst your earthly treasures will vanish. Make the Lord your joy and your desire, seek Him and make Him your closest, most treasured companion.

And He shall give you the desires of your heart

   The first thoughts that spring to mind are ones of manipulation. Maybe if you read your Bible a bit more, you'll earn brownie points from God and He'll be more inclined to give you whatever it is you want... We all know that's not how it works. =)

   I've heard it aptly put that when you delight yourself in the Lord... He becomes your desire. The closer you draw to the Lord, the more you want to know Him, and of course the Bible says that if you seek the Lord with your whole heart, you shall find him. It's a circle that grows ever tighter. As for your desires, other than the Lord, they will conform to His. The closer you draw to God, the more alike you become to him - the more you want to please Him - so that when you present a request before God, the more likely it is according to his will. Your desires are one with his.

Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him

   Commitment to the Lord doesn't come without trust. If you leave something in God's hands, you're admitting that you will no longer desire a plan different from His. You're casting your cares on him, throwing aside the doubts of God sovereignty and grace. You're willing to flex with the changes He has in mind. In committing your way to the Lord, you have dedicated to follow his commands and be content with His will.

And He shall bring it to pass

   One way to very simply put this is that God's will always comes to pass. There is nothing we do to hinder God's work, rather He uses us to help it along. But there's also a hopeful way of viewing this promise, when you have a great desire, or grand plans. By committing them to God, and working towards them with honest means, He will bring them to completion. I'm not saying that God will give you what you want, He oftentimes surprises us and throws on a better ending than we could have planned.

   That's a lot to think about in only three verses. =} But it's given me lots of meat to chew on for a couple weeks. God has truly guarded my heart and mind, as He promises in Philippians. The more I delight in Him, the more faded the world looks. He is truly sufficient.