On The Ornament of Meekness

Thomas Akempis said, "The good devout man first makes inner preparation for the actions he has later to perform. His outward actions do not draw him into lust and vice; rather it is he who bends them into the shape of reason and right judgement. Who has a stiffer battle to fight than the man who is striving to conquer himself." Old Thomas was spiritually spot on. This giant was accoustomed to writing some of the most prolifically spiritual material written. "The Imitation of Christ" is still one of my favorite books.

Speaking of vice, I often speak before I need to; too often have found myself having to pardon my presumption or not understanding and not properly seeking clarity. Oh, I could pardon myself being caught up in the circumstances of the business that I am in; its about action; about results, about the bottom line; but Christ calls us to another place does he not? Peter tells us that we are a "Royal Priesthood, a chosen generation..." Given this, lets introduce 1Pe 3:4 which states, But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Wow, you hear that? A meek and quiet spirit is an ornament in God's sight; it is a great price! Think about this one one! Meekness is a fruit of the Spirit; yes? With love and respect!

Lessons From the Thunderstorms

I am really delighted in the rain; no matter the ferocity I often marvel at every detail, the thunder, the lightning and the paths of the runoff; I delight in the magnitude of a great storm. I have also often enjoyed at a winter's snow, ever since I moved north a bit; its solitude is delicious, and you can listen closely to the snow flakes deflecting off of the trees and a nearby roof; it sets the stage for the mournful whispering wind, with its crisp bite and siren calls to you.

When I was a kid I would often go out on our porch during a thunderstorm; from my post, I would view the neighbors making for their shelter and I would marvel from my perch, like the old bird keeping watch over the neighborhood with an approving nod; this was God's symphony and I was an observer from the mezzanine with a chance to see it over and over. Sometimes, when my parents were not home, I would move my seat to the hill at the edge of the woods; this was my sanctuary and only the snakes, birds and the other animals knew the place better. This is where I carved out life; where I dealt with emotions; I prayed, made life decisions and stolled with my guitar when it was'nt foul weather. Today, during my vacation we were caught in a torrential downpour. I was transported to that porch, to that wooded glade and amidst the hundreds of strangers struggling to free themselves from its throngs, I was once again joyful to see my old friend again. This is my reminder of God's enormity, of His power. It reminds me that He cares for His creation and He provides for a cleansing flood to water the earth, to care for the "lillies of the field", to touch the the Creation that we sometimes spoil by our existence. Oh taste and see that the Lord is good and his mercies are anew. Next time you have the occasion, let my friend the rain show you the Touch of God. With fond admiration; I am Sherrell

Transported to Mount Pisgah

I love the Blueridge Mountains, small compared to the Rockies but a small piece of heaven here in Virginia. At times, I enjoy a drive an hour south of D.C., south of Sperryville, Virginia to Old Rag Mountain. It’s about an hour and a half of a vigorous hike to the top, some climbing at the end, but the payoff is spectacular.
In my studies today I was transported to Mount Pisgah. Moses was ascending its pinnacle at the Lord’s command to view the sprawling land of promise. It was the last brief moments of this magnificent man’s life. He was ascending high as into the throne room of Heaven itself. Here was the man who knew God “face-to- face” (Num 12:8); a man whose fellowship with God was second only to God’s Son. Can you imagine knowing our Heavenly Father this intimately? The writer of Hebrews invites us “….come boldly into the throne room of grace….” Heb 4:16.
The Apostle Paul brings us squarely to the place where we need to attain. “….That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection , and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death.” Phill 3:10 I believe that this is the intimacy that we are to have with God; that we are to attain to. It is being acquainted with God’s grief. It is having a deep grief over sin, callousness and indifference. It is being moved by His passion for souls, the care for widows, orphans and the powerless. It is to die in conformity to him. Jesus was clear on His mission. In Luke 4:18-19 he declared The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good…Now that is a mountain worth scaling.

Guided by His Eye

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Psalm 32:8.....My better half and I are celebrating going on 24 years of marriage. One thing is certain, having been married for that period of time, experiencing rough times and great times you get to know each other intimately. Fact is, it only takes a glance or a quick read and I know what my wife is thinking (most of the time). This comes from the intimacy of understanding that only marriage or family relationships bring; the type of clarity of closeness.

Imagine the Psalmist here captures God's heart perfectly with crystaline detail. You realize that this is the kind of close intimacy God desires from us? That we are guided with the twinkle of His eye? This imagery (we know that God is Spirit from John 4:24) is of course pointing to a thought. Hebrew is a language of vast imagery, of word pictures. God guides us with his eye. He leads us beside the still waters, to borrow from another wonderful Psalm. Friend, we must press into God to develop this type of relationship....to capture His heart and sense His direction. Now that is the kind of direction that is not needful....it is bountiful and rich. Blessings.

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

My Father's late Faith

Life with my father as a young man was not a pleasure filled experience. The fact was that my father was a drunk; there were many times that he took his drunkeness out on our small family in physical and mental ways. I do not want to dwell on these things as the Scripture exhorts us to dwell on things true, honest, pure...Phil Chapter 4.

The fact is my daddy was an abusive and cursing, angry man; but that all changed. Just a few brief months before he passed away with heart failure, my father was miraculously saved. Our Pastor shared Christ with him as I had heard our previous pastor do. I watched as this cursing, angry drunk would pray with tears and cries of great grief in pentitence over his sinfulness. I witnessed him give up cigarettes and alcohol instanteously. I saw the power of the Holy Spirit change him.

If you have lost hope for a loved one, dont give up praying! God can break through the toughest people's hearts and bring abundant life! Now, that is the Dunomos (power) of the Gospel! With Blessings. Sherrell

Fellowship with His Sufferings

We were created fearfully and wonderfully to glorify our Heavenly Father. When I consider the depths of my soul it is unfathomable to have self-awareness and a thirst for the divine. It is the fleeting satisfaction that searches for God, that creates a desire to satisfy the hunger, yet such is unfilled outside of fellowship with the Divine. As C.S. Lewis declared "God whispers to us in our bliss but screams at us in our pain." Yet, we must always try God until he brings us to our knees seeking for reasons in trying circumstances.

Is that you now? Is God screaming at you? Press into Christ. Spend hours in Scripture, search these, for they testify of Him. Only when we drink in the Divine through His precious Word, we are closer to Him. As Paul says, "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death" Phil 3:10. Only when we are enjoined with him in his sufferings are we made more comformable to him; dying to ourselves. With affection. Sherrell