Rest

 Someone caught me resting

( at a coffee shop during a recent trip to London, England, lol)

Just finished listening to a wonderful sermon on the topic of the sabbath rest spoken of in the book of Hebrews. It is something I have struggled with, and it showed up ("it" being my struggle, that is) by how I would argue with people who have a legalistic bent toward sabbath-keeping, and the reason for my struggle I believe is partly due to the fact that I had encountered problems early on in my life due to situations arising from our family involvement in the SDA church when I was young. Anyway, I hope you can make time for this one:

 "A Rest for God's People," Hebrews 4.1-10

In This World You Will Have Trouble

Today I met a patient who was in his early forties and was very worried that the illness he is experiencing will lead to his early death. He was very scared. I prayed for words and said:

 "Jesus said in this world you will have trouble", and He was right. Whenever you have trouble you can say "Jesus, You were right".

 Also I was reminded, and so reminded this young man, that we are not owed anything. God does not owe us tomorrow. We didn't even deserve to be born in the first place. How could we deserve something before even ever having been born??? He admitted that is true, and that He is always reading the Bible to try to find out what he needs to know. I told him that I know that I'm not thankful enough, that we must always be thankful for His forgiveness and His kindness toward us. He agreed :)

Next time I find myself in terrible circumstances, I hope I will also remember that Jesus told us that "in this world you (I) will have trouble". Thankfully, it is temporary, just like everything else is in this world. While we are here we too are temporary, but Jesus promised us a better future in a permanent home with Him. Halleluja!

Perfection Part 2

 Link

See  "Perfection" (part 1)

A favorite saying of mine is: "We are all wrong about something". There was a time that I felt it important to argue a point to death if I knew I was right and the other person wrong, that the Lord desired me to do so, that it is THE WAY that I can make sure that I make the truth known to all men and women who cross my path....but is that truly the way the Lord wants me to handle the truth? And even if I'm 100% sure I am right, and the other person wrong, doesn't the Bible say that my heart is deceitful above all things?

Jeremiah 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

So how do I know for sure that perhaps I am deceiving myself on this point that I think I have a corner on the truth about?

And then there's this one:

Romans 12:16  Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Ouch! Well that shoe pinches a bit. "Be not wise in your own conceits" indeed! I've visited blogs where it seems the blogger thinks he/she has it most right, and everyone who doesn't agree is against God Himself....and like I said, I've been there (I say this to my shame). I honestly felt that if I didn't set people straight, that I was not doing my Christian duty.

Ok, I know I won't convince anyone else of what they should or shouldn't do, however I do know Someone who can, in His time, and all He asks of me is to watch and to pray, and to pray especially for my enemies. He also asks me to make sure I have my spiritual house in order (not other people's). If I can help others, such as showing them some kindness, any kind of wrongdoing will convict their own conscience by the Lord's doing it in a way and  a time He knows is best. I guess that truly is a better way than arguing all the time. ;-)

The Ethical Will of Eleazar of Mayence Part 3

 Link to image this link dovetails very nicely with

this topic, be sure to check it out :)

See "The Ethical Will of Eleazar of Mayence" (Part 1)
and "The Ethical Will of Eleazar of Mayence" (Part 2)

This next part is something I'm currently having a huge struggle with, and the Lord has been very graciously working on me about it:

Excerpt from my (previously mentioned) book:

"I earnestly beg my children to be tolerant and humble to all, as I was throughout my life. Should cause for dissension arise, be slow to accept the quarrel. Seek peace and pursue it with all the vigor at your command. Even if you suffer loss thereby, forbear and forgive, for God has many ways of feeding and sustaining His creatures. To the slanderer do not retaliate with counter-attack; and though it be proper to rebut false accusations, yet is it most desirable to set an example of reticence. You yourselves must avoid uttering any slander, for so will you win affection. In trade be honest, never grasping at what belongs to another. For by avoing these wrongs--scandal, falsehood, money-grubbing--men will surely find tranquility and affection. And against all evils, silence is the best safeguard."

This portion: Even if you suffer loss thereby, forbear and forgive, for God has many ways of feeding and sustaining His creatures. Is something that God has been impressing on my resisting heart lately as something I need to understand and trust that it isn't as serious as I'm making it, and that I need to be at peace and trust Him with everything. I still want to take things into my own hands and right all the wrongs (perceived and true) in my life, instead of watching and praying. 

And against all evils, silence is the best safeguard. I have such a tough time with that one. Remember the saying: "Evil triumphs when good men say nothing"??? sigh. It goes so contrary to what I think I must do (i.e. yell at wrongdoers at the top of my lungs so they will be embarrassed for their wrongdoing and repent from their evil ways, sheesh). Yeah, ok, that hasn't worked yet...there's another saying:

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. - Albert Einstein

The Ethical Will of Eleazar of Mayence Part 2

Link

The above looks exactly like my treasured volume :)

Eleazar's ethical will is a much better inheritance to leave posterity than earthly booty. Here is another excerpt:

These are the things which my sons and daughters shall do at my request. They shall go to the house of prayer morning and evening...So soon as the service is over, they shall occupy themselves a little with the Torah, the Psalms, or with works of charity. Their business must be conducted honestly whether in dealings with Jew or Gentile. They must be courteous in their manners, and prompt to agree to every honorable request. They must not talk more than is necessary; by this will they be saved from slander, falsehood, and frivolity. They shall give an exact tithe of all their possessions. They shall never turn away a poor man empty-handed, but must give him what they can, be it much or little. If he beg a night's lodging, and they know him not, let them provide him with the wherewithal to pay an inn-keeper. Thus shall they satisfy the needs of the poor in every possible way...

The first sentence above reminds me of the 5th commandment to honor thy father and thy mother. This father requests alot from his children, many of the things listed above remind me of the Apostle Paul's admonitions to his spiritual children.

Rom 12:16  Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Rom 12:17  Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Rom 12:18  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 

The counsel to provide lodging for those who need it reminds me of the story of the good Samaritan.  These are very high aspirations. When I see a homeless man my first thought is not to try to provide him safe lodging for the night. I certainly could not bring men off the street to sleep in my apartment, being a woman who lives alone. But I certainly could do more than I do. I think it is something that churches as a whole should work on being better at working together to provide shelter and clothing to the poor like the early NT churches did, and not leave it up to the government to do because they do a very slip-shod job of it, and it should never have come to this. When the church is truly doing their job they help the person back on their feet to do for themselves ASAP, and not live sucking the life and resources out of others.

2Th 3:10  For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
2Th 3:11  For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
2Th 3:12  Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
2Th 3:13  But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
2Th 3:14  And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
2Th 3:15  Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

The above excerpt from Eleazar's will also reminds me of the counsel found here.


Jer 9:24  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Babylon

There are many that believe Babylon refers to Rome and that the Whore spoken of in the book of Revelation is speaking of the Roman Catholic religion. I used to think this was so when I was associated with the SDA religion. They teach this dogmatically as true. Now I see that Babylon refers to a much broader satanic system that stands against everything that is of God, and that the whore which rides the beast is any religious system that takes away from the worship of the true Lord and Savior of our souls, subtly deflecting it in ways that turn it into a religion of myths and legends, and ways to make oneself holy through self efforts, and that it permeates the spiritual arena of this world, and that the only escape is through Jesus Himself; the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

I really enjoy the series "Know Your Enemy". This one is about Babylon:

Also see related info from "Know Your Enemy" series about Semiramis/Jezebel on Flutterby's

The Ethical Will of Eleazar of Mayence Part 1

Image Link

I had mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I would post about Eleazar's ethical will. Then I went "on vacation" to be with family, during which time someone said and did some things that offended me very deeply regarding an aunt who passed during this vacation, and a very intimate piece of my mom's personal property which this person extracted for herself, so it is interesting how the timing of this post is so appropriate to something I'm dealing with in real life right at this point in time. It is forcing me to remember that this world and all of the things in it are not really mine, they are on loan from the Lord. The personal slights against me and my family from anyone outside of our family circle, are temporary as well, and I am to pray for my enemies. Much easier said than done.

A couple of years ago, I bid on and won the purchase of a box of books which included several treasures, one of which was the "Bar Mitzvah Treasury" edited by Azriel Eisenberg. The book contains several short essays and was compiled for the goal of preparing a young man with the wisdom gleaned from several sources and from a time span which reaches across the ages. This particular essay, "Eleazar of Mayence Leaves a Will" concerns the second will (the first will dealing with tangible property and money) that people used to leave for generations to follow theirs. The introduction to this piece of literature states:

There was a time when people prepared two wills, to be read after their death. One was a distribution of money and property. The other was a testament on living as a man and as a Jew. Eleazar of Mayence, an ordinary Jew, wrote his "ethical will" about six hundred years ago, embodying ideas far ahead of the medieval thinking of the "dark ages". How well do you think it applies today?

There are several bits of excellent advice in this short submission. In this post I'll touch on one that I have trouble with, and would do well to follow this sage advice. I find myself often exclaiming "Oh my God!" or ""Geez" (short for Jesus), and feel a twinge of guilt each time, but pass it off as "It is good to say the name of God", while another part of me wonders if I'm taking the name of the Lord in vain...This is what Eleazar had to say on this topic:


Be on your guard concerning vows, and cautious as to promises. The breach of one's undertakings leads to many lapses. Do not get into the habit of exclaiming "God!" but speak always of the "Creator, Blessed be He"; and in all that you propose to do, today or tomorrow, add the proviso, "If the Lord wills, I shall do this thing." Thus remember God's part in your life.

Mat 5:33  Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
Mat 5:34  But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
Mat 5:35  Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Mat 5:36  Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
Mat 5:37  But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing

Beautiful :-)

 Repost because I edited to update the video...the old one was removed (because the user removed his/her account, not because Youtube censored it) This song still gives me goosebumps! :)

Charles Wesley wrote this, and although he was an Arminian (gasp!), he sure wrote an awesome hymn!