Some Good Reminders in times of Trial and Suffering

We have now been married for almost three months and are slowly getting into OUR ROUTINES. There is something very soothing and reassuring about that, especially in the morning. Since I married more of a morning person, I am in a way "forced" to get up earlier than 20 min before I need to leave for work. :0)

I now enjoy eating breakfast together. Andrew makes me a cup of English Breakfast Tea with milk and sugar every morning and it is the most soothing and delicious thing in the whole entire world. He was right. No better way to start the day than with a hot beverage, especially with tea from a special tea shop in downtown Wheaton. The extra time in the morning also allows me to spend some time in the Word and read from my devotional "Streams in the Desert for Graduates".

March 19ths devotional goes right along with what I have been learning through reading the Psalms with my husband and expresses these lessons in much better words than I ever could. So, I thought I would just copy it so that you can also be encouraged.

Scripture:
"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering... But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ."
~(1Peter 4:12-13)

"Many hours of waiting were necessary to enrich David's harp with song. And hours of waiting in the wilderness will provide us with psalms of "thanksgiving and sound of singing" (Isa. 51:3). The hearts of the discouraged here below will be lifted, and joy will be brought to our Father's heavenly home.
What was the preparation for Jesse's son, David, to compose songs unlike any others ever heard before on earth? It was the sinful persecution he endured at the hands of the wicked that brought forth his cries for God's help. Then David's faint hope in God's goodness blossomed into full songs of rejoicing, declaring the Lord's mighty deliverances and multiplied mercies. Every sorrow was yet another note from his harp, and every deliverance another theme of praise.
One stinging sorrow spared would have been one blessing missed and unclaimed. One difficulty or danger escaped - how great would have been our loss! The thrilling psalms where God's people today find expression for their grief or praise might never have been known.
Waiting on God and abiding in His will is to know Him in 'the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings' (Phil.3:10) and 'to be conformed to the likeness of his son' (Rom. 8:29). Therefore if God's desire is to enlarge your capacity for spiritual understanding, do not be frightened by the greater realm of suffering that awaits you. The Lord's capacity for sympathy is greater still, for the breath of the Holy Spirit into His new creation never makes a heart hard and insensitive, but affectionate, tender and true."

~ Anna Shipton

"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strenth, that he considered me faithful, appointme me to his service." ~ I Timothy 1:12

It's me talking again: In the last few months, I have been going through some difficult things. There have been days, where I have just been crying out to the Lord to give me joy and contentment. God commands us to be joyful no matter what the circumstances. Since my junior year in high school, I have had this strong desire to be content no matter what the circumstances - just like Paul. There have been moments and days, where all I could feel was pain and I asked a very wise and discerning woman, "Why can't I have joy? I want to have joy even though I'm going through this time of suffering." She said, "Laura, maybe God is just calling you to a time of feeling pain right now..." Since that, I have realized that joy is not something that God necessarily infuses us with. Joy comes from believing God's promises. I can and and need to be joyful and content and I can be those things because if I put my complete trust and hope in the Lord, then I can be joyful because He has promised my deliverance. He has lead me into a valley. He is leading me through the valley. And I have faith that He will in His timing lead me out of that valley.

Here is a beautiful poem that I would like to share with you:

"Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." (II Corinthians 6:10)

I will be still, my bruised heart faintly murmured,
As o'er me rolled a crushing load of woe;
My words, my cries, e'en my low moan was stifled;
I pressed my lips; I barred the teardrop's flow.

I will be still, although I cannot see it,
The love that bares a soul and fans pain's fire;
That takes away the last sweet drop of solace,
Breaks the lone harp string, hides Your precious lyre.

But God is love, so I will stay me, stay me -
We'll doubt not, Soul, we will be very still;
We'll wait till after while, when He will lift us -
Yes, after while, when it will be His will.

And I did listen to my heart's brave promise;
And I did quiver, struggling to be still;
And I didi lift my tearless eyes to Heaven
Repeating ever, "yes, Christ, have Your will."

But soon my heart spoke up from 'neath our burden,
Rebuked my tight-drawn lips, my face so sad:
"We can do more than this, O Soul," it whispered.
"We can be more than still, we can be glad!"

And now my heart and I are sweetly singing -
Singing withoug the sound of tuneful strings;
Drinking abundant waters in the desert;
Crushed, and yet soaring as on eagle's wings.

~ S.P.W.

That last line just makes my heart swell and my eyes feel with tears for it is so true.

Jesus Draw Me Ever Nearer

Chorus 1
May this journey bring a blessing
May I rise on wings of faith
And at the end of my heart's testing
With Your likeness let me wake

Verse
Jesus draw me ever nearer
As I labor thro' the storm
You have called me to this passage
And I'll follow tho' I'm worn

Verse 2
Jesus guide me thro' the tempest
Keep my spirit staid and sure
When the midnight meets the morning
Let me love You even more

Chorus 2
May this journey be a blessing
May I rise on wings of faith
And at the end of my heart's testing
With Your likeness let me wake

Verse 3
Let the treasures of the trial
Form within me as I go
And at the end of this long passage
Let me leave them at Your throne

Ending
Jesus draw me ever nearer
Jesus draw me ever nearer
Jesus draw me ever nearer to You
To You

Psalm 5

Psalm 5
Lead Me in Your Righteousness
To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.
1Give ear to my words, O LORD;
consider my(A) groaning.
2Give attention to the sound of my cry,
my(B) King and my God,
for(C) to you do I pray.
3O LORD, in(D) the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you[a] and(E) watch.

4For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil may not dwell with you.
5The(F) boastful shall not(G) stand before your eyes;
you(H) hate all evildoers.
6You destroy those who speak(I) lies;
the LORD abhors(J) the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

7But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
will enter your house.
I will(K) bow down(L) toward your(M) holy temple
in the fear of you.
8(N) Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness
because of my enemies;
(O) make your way straight before me.

9For there is no truth in their mouth;
their inmost self is(P) destruction;
(Q) their throat is(R) an open grave;
they(S) flatter with their tongue.
10(T) Make them bear their guilt, O God;
let them(U) fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
for they have rebelled against you.

11But let all who(V) take refuge in you(W) rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may(X) exult in you.
12For you(Y) bless the righteous, O LORD;
you(Z) cover him with favor as with(AA) a shield.



Andrew and I have been reading a Psalm each night before we go to bed. We have set a goal to read through the Psalms together. We have just reached Psalm 5, as you see above. After reading through this Psalm, I made somewhat of an observation about many of the Psalms we have read - a common thread. It was such an encouragement to me because I can fully relate to the psalmist(s) and it reminds me of who God is, which is crucial, as He is our anchor and holds us steady no matter how windy and choppy the waters get.

So this is the pattern/common thread that I have seen so far: The psalmist is crying out to the Lord, who is usually/often experiencing a great amount of pain and suffering, whether it be physical, spiritual, emotional or any combination of the three put together. This person, let's say David, as he is the author of many of the Psalms in the Bible, feels like the Lord is not listening or is not aware of the pain through which he is going. He is crying out, "Lord, LISTEN to me!!! HEAR my cry. I'm HURTING so badly. DELIVER me from this PAIN."

Then comes the moment, when he recognizes and remembers who God is. He is reminded, GOD IS THERE. HE WILL MAKE MY PATH(S) STRAIGHT. He will DELIVER me for I am His child and He is faithful and loves me. God is RIGHTEOUS and He will reward and save those who walk in the light and punish those who are enemies of the light. He will punish those who are evil.

The Psalms all but one (Psalm 88), end with rejoicing, hope of deliverance, and the exclamation of the greatness and faithfulness of the LORD GOD ON HIGH.


Any thoughts?

Curtain Torn in Two

Many of you who know me know that one of my absolute favorite if not favorite song is "The Power of the Cross" by Keith and Kristyn Getty. The most powerful stanza for me is

"Curtain torn in Two
Dead are raised to Life
"Finished" the vict'ry cry

When Kristyn comes to this part of the song her voice raises more and more and just becomes so powerful. It comes across so incredibly strongly that a huge victory has just been accomplished. The first few stanzas are about Christ and His walk to Calvary, enduring the suffering of the mocking and beating of humankind. He endured all of that suffering to accomplish the ultimate victory because He loves us so much.

It was not until college that I understood some of the more intricate details of the incarnation and I can tell you now.... I have so much more still to learn. One of the biggest things for me, though, was realizing what it meant for the Temple curtain to be torn in two. Up until then Jews had priests who would intercede and offer up sacrifices on their behalf. Christ came as the ultimate sacrifice - He is the ultimate "Mediator" between us and Christ. When that curtain tore got direct access to God. Growing up in a Christian family, I always knew that it was because of Jesus that my sins were forgiven. But now that I am older and have had the exposure to first rate Bible Classes, attend a Bible-centered church and have grown to love Christian hymns - old and new - I have come to notice and appreciate so many more of the details of what happened on Calvary, the time leading up to it and the time after it that. I have gained so much of a deeper understanding of the Cross.

The Curtain ripping in Two is just so incredibly powerfully symbolic. Can you imagine: standing there in the Temple as suddenly this curtain that kept us sinful man from being able to come into the presence of the Lord God because of His holiness, just rip right in half. Incredible! What must that have been like?!!!..

In these last few weeks of marriage, I have had many discussions with my husband and asked him several questions. He has recently been reading some chapters from a book by Jonathan Edwards and is just loving it. He explained to me once more that it is because of God's HOLINESS and our sinfulness that we could not be in the direct presence of God until Christ died on the cross. Jesus had that same Holiness and so was in perfect communion with God the Father. When Jesus was nailed to the cross, he took all of our sin upon himself and that communion with the Father was broken. Can you imagine how incredibly painful that must have been to be outside of the presence of God?

(Once again, the Gettys have a great stanza describing this as well:

Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.

Powerful.)


Today in Church, the music chosen for the service just spoke so deeply to my heart, in particular a song that our head pastor Josh Moody wrote. It was sung by an outstanding vocalist. I wish you could hear it. It is so incredibly beautiful and moving. Let me just copy the lyrics to the song below.


The Curtain Was Torn in Two

The curtain was torn in tow, the rocks were broke asunder
a man did cry in anguish, He shouted, "It is finished"!
A baby treasured in heart, a mother's own soul was pierced,
A Father's face was turned away from Him, the man of sorrow.
Why would He then not come down? Why did He refuse a crown?
Why were his tears mixed with gall? Why did He die for us all?
Were miracles not enough? Did He heal just one too few?
Were his words less than beauty? Was His life just oo perfect?
Why would He then not come down? Why did He refuse a crown?
Why were his tears mixed with gall? Why dd He die for us all?
He bore the Father's frown, the sea of sin upon Him,
Each drop of wrath was bled dry that I may cry no longer.
That's why he would not come down. That's why He refused a crown. That why tears were mixed with gall. That's why He died for us all.
Three in One, mystery all! He rises to the Father's side in union eternal:
God in Him is reconciled.
That's why He would not come down. That's shy he refused a crown.
That's why tears were mixed with gall. That's why He died for us all.


Gives you something to ponder, doesn't it? Ponder and stand in awe and gratefulness for a Father/Savior who loves us so much.

Psalm 4

Psalm 4

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.
1 Answer me when I call to you,
O my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
be merciful to me and hear my prayer.

2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame [a] ?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods [b] ?
Selah

3 Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD will hear when I call to him.

4 In your anger do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
Selah

5 Offer right sacrifices
and trust in the LORD.

6 Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?"
Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.

7 You have filled my heart with greater joy
than when their grain and new wine abound.

8 I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O LORD,
make me dwell in safety.