On Trusting the Precious

Can you think of a time when your father purposefully hurt you, either physically, or emotionally? I mean these things happen in our humaness, but purposful hurt? Perhaps you're a father or mother, can you fathom being cruel to your children? Would you allow them to take a life path to their hurt or destruction? I am sure top side of the earth that there are some that may have, but this is very far from ordinary. I cannot imagine a parent that would lead their children to a cliff.

I am reminded of tradegies each day. A work associate and friend dropped an email; her teen nephew was struck by a motorist as he was riding his bicycle. One second he was alive, the next he was gone...just like that. A dear friend goes through a life shattering event and another is diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. We struggle with financial difficulties due to loss of work or through external factors that eat away our investments. I am reminded at my office of the suicide rate of returning soldiers from the war. Having been a member of that small fraternity I can understand their internal struggles. I can honestly say that my faith in the Lord and His Person has provided a deep well during these barren times. I am sustained, because He sustains me.

Friend, God loves you. You may not be able at this time make any sense of your hurt or you may find yourself with more questions than answers but God knows your pain. I think of the prophet Jeremiah who was called to tell the people of Israel of their pending judgment. Forty years he prophsied and never won a hearing; he was beaten, cast into a miry pit, mocked but he never lost faith in the Lord. Listen to his words in Jeremiah 17:15-17: "Behold, they say unto me, Where [is] the word of the LORD? let it come now. As for me, I have not hastened from [being] a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was [right] before thee. Be not a terror unto me: thou [art] my hope in the day of evil." He waivered not because he knew that the Lord waivers not! If you are a child of God, let me ask you, would your Heavenly Father lead you to the cliff? Would He purposely hurt you or trick you into a place of destruction?

Let me ask you, do you trust Him? Would you stop, wait, listen, meditate on His Word? I love the song "Bow the Knee" by Chris Machen. Consider the words of the chorus,

Bow the knee;
Trust the heart of your Father when the answer goes beyond what you can see.
Bow the knee;
Lift your eyes toward heaven and believe the One who holds eternity.
And when you don’t understand the purpose of His plan,
In the presence of the King, bow the knee.

Listen to the song presented beautifully by the Stoneybrook Church on this You Tube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ek5LZYYOQ0

Blessings for Hope!

On Craving the Eternal and the Fire to Satisfy

There is no craving in the human heart more persistent or more passionate than the craving to lay a firm hand upon something eternal. And only the preacher whose eyes are lit by the inner fires of profound conviction can hope to lead those groping pilgrims to their shining goal. – F. W. Boreham in The Ivory Spires.

Boreham was a pastor who studied at the famed Spurgeon's preachers college. In fact, reportedly, the last fellow the Prince of Preachers recruited before his death three days later. Boreham was a brilliant young fellow devouring books as a child and developed a passion for learning. He answered the Gospel call to go to far away Australia to become a minister, despite discouragement from some storied missionaries; Borham had suffered a severe debilitating injury, and some thought it too much for the work. Rather, he labored for thirty years in three different works down under. From my brief reading of his story, he never fully appreciated the impact of his pastoral work. What he gave the world was brilliant literature; his writing is profound.

Can you imagine having such a passion for your work that it fires your soul? I love my work, some might say it is a vocation, but I was born to teach and preach and I am training to put that to the test. While I am pretty good at my job, it pays the bills and puts food on the table. What are you passionate about? Over the next few posts I will share some more Boreham quotes and will try to share some encouragement with it. I am Sherrell God's blessing