A_Sweet_Fragrance's Xanga

Our first concern - Oswald Chambers

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Solomon says whether you are wise or foolish, upright or not, a king or tyrannised over by a king, successful or a failure, in society or solitary, stubborn or sagacious, all alike ends the same way. All is passing, and we cannot find our lasting joy in any element we like to touch. It is disastrous for a man to try and find his true joy in any phase of truth, or in the fulfilment of ambition, or in physical or intellectual solitariness, or in society; he will find his joy only in a personal relationship to God. That relationship was expounded by Jesus Christ when He said- "If any man cometh unto Me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple." Our first concern is to be personally related to God. Jesus Christ is God manifested in human flesh, and we have to ignore to the point of hatred anything that competes with our relationship to Him.

-From Shade of His Hand by Oswald Chambers

Foreword to "Lotus Buds" - Amy Carmichael

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

This is the foreword to Lotus Buds by Amy Carmichael:

Each for himself, we live our lives apart,
Heirs of an age that turns us all to stone;
Yet ever Nature, thrust out the heart,
Comes back to claim her own.

Still we have something left of that fair seed
God gave for birthright; still the sound of tears
Hurts us, and children in their helpless need
Still call to listening ears.

-Owen Seaman

     When first "Things as they are" trod the untrodden way, it walked as a small child walks when for the first time it ventures forth upon young, uncertain feet. It has to walk; it does not know why: it only knows there is no choice about it. But there is an eager looking for an outstretched hand, and an instant gratefulness always, for even a finger. A whole hand given without reserve is something never forgotten.
     It was only a child after all, and it had not anticipated having to find its way alone among strangers. It had thought of nothing further than a very short walk among familiar faces. If it had understood beforehand how far it would have to walk, I doubt if it would have had the courage to start; for it was not naturally brave. But once on its way it could not turn back; and thanks to those kindly outstretched hands, it grew a little less afraid, and it went on.
     Then another small wayfarer followed. It also was very easily discouraged; an unfriendly push would have knocked it over at once. But nobody seemed to want to push so unpretentious a thing, so it gained courage and went on.
     And now a more grown-up looking traveller (though indeed its looks belie it) has started on its way; more diffident, if the truth must be told, than even its predecessors. For it thought within itself- Perhaps there will be no welcoming hands held out this time; hands may grow tired of such kind offices. But it has not been so. And now the sense of gratefulness cannot longer be repressed.
     All of which means that I want to thank sincerely those kings of the Book World - Reviewers - and those dwellers in that world who are my Readers, for their insight and the sympathy to which I owe so much.
     Once I read of a soldier who wrote a letter home from the midst of a battle, on a crumpled piece of paper laid upon a cannon ball. His home people he knew would overlook the appearance of the paper and the lack of various things expected in a letter written in a quiet room upon a study table. And he knew he could trust them not to bring too fine a criticism to bear upon the unstudied words hot from the battle's heart.
     I have thought sometimes that these books were not unlike that soldier's letter; and those who read them seem to me very like his home people, for they have been so generous in the kindness of their welcome.

Amy Wilson-Carmichael

Dohnavur, Tinnevelly District
S. India.
Feb. 19, 1912.

Personal success - Amy Carmichael

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

If I do not forget about such a trifle as personal success,
so that it never crosses my mind,
or if it does, is never given a moment's room there;
if the cup of spiritual flattery tastes sweet to me,
then I know nothing of Calvary love.

-From If by Amy Carmichael

The sweet cup of submission - Elizabeth Prentiss

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

"I wish I could convince you all how hard it is to kick against the pricks!" said Urbane. "I wish I could give each of you a good long draught out of the sweet cup of submission! Christ cannot abide in a heart that shuns and resists His work in it; and He loves so to dwell in one that opens its doors wide, asks Him to come in, and take anything, everything He pleases."

-From Urbane and his friends by Elizabeth Prentiss

God shall wipe away all tears - Oswald Chambers

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." There will come one day a personal and direct touch from God when every tear and perplexity, every oppression and distress, every suffering and pain, and wrong and justice will have a complete and ample and overwhelming explanation. The Christian faith is exhibited by the man who has the spiritual courage to say that that is the God he trusts in, and it takes some moral backbone to do it.

-From Shade of His Hand by Oswald Chambers

Our Father knows us - Elizabeth Prentiss

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

"Our Father, knowing our ignorance, sinfulness, and weakness, has provided a way to impart His wisdom and holiness to us. He invites us to come and tell Him what we want. He never says, 'My child, when your heart is overflowing with love for Me, come and tell Me all about it, that I may enjoy it.' He says, 'When you are cold and dead, come and tell Me, that I may inspire you, by my Spirit, with warmth.' Nor does He say, 'When you feel wise, come and impart of your wisdom to Me;' but when you can say, 'So foolish am I, and ignorant, I am as a beast before Thee,' He declares, 'Come to me, then, and from a foolish and ignorant beast I will transform you into a perfect man in Christ Jesus.'"

-From Urbane and his friends by Elizabeth Prentiss

Base all on God - Oswald Chambers

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

When in doubt physically, dare; when in moral doubt, stop; when in spiritual doubt, pray; and when in personal doubt, be guided by your life with God. Base all on God, and slowly and surely the actual life will be educated along the particular line of your relationship to Him.

-From Shade of His Hand by Oswald Chambers

An apprenticeship in the art of prayer - Elizabeth Prentiss

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

It has been justly said that one must serve an apprenticeship to the art of prayer, before he can learn it. We have, some of us, seen a lump of clay placed upon a wheel, and a pair of human hands, amid the revolutions of that wheel, evolve from the shapeless mass a cup of graceful proportions, which seems wrought by a magical touch. But we are assured by the artisan that his is one of the most difficult of trades; that it is learned through long failure and discouragement, and that what looks like the magician's wand, is really the skill of an accomplished workman. Now, a man must learn to pray through many a trial and defeat; yet learn he must, or his soul shall starve and die.

-From Urbane and his friends by Elizabeth Prentiss

Rest under misunderstanding - Amy Carmichael

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

If the praise of man elates me
and his blame depresses me;
if I cannot rest under misunderstanding
without defending myself;
if I love to be loved more than to love,
to be served more than to serve,
then I know nothing of Calvary love.

-From If by Amy Carmichael

Book review: Shadow of the Almighty by Elisabeth Elliot

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Shadow of the Almighty is the biography of Jim Elliot written by his wife Elisabeth Elliot just two years after his death. The story of his life is powerful. Growing up as a typical all-American kid, he was one of a few in his generation who chose a different path. If you read the quotes I have posted over the last few days, you will see his passion and dedication evidenced in his words. But it wasn't just words. He sought to do the hardest for his Master, and died doing so. The world viewed the death of him and his four friends as a disaster, a tragic and unreasonable ending to five young lives. But Jim Elliot knew all along that early death was a possible consequence of the choices he was making. He discussed it with his wife. The other men discussed it with their wives. They knew exactly what they were doing. And they died doing it. But in God's plan that was the whole point. Tremendous spiritual fruit came from their deaths. Not only was the door finally opened to bring the Gospel to the Auca Indians, but people around the world to this day are inspired to greater obedience to the Lord through the deaths of those five men.

The last words Jim Elliot ever wrote, found after his death:

"We're going down now, pistols, gifts, novelties in our pockets, prayer in our hearts."

Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot
By Elisabeth Elliot / Hendrickson Publishers

Originally published in 1958, this modern classic has been inspiring and challenging Christians for generations! Based on Jim Elliot's revealing diaries and his wife's own experiences, this moving memoir shares the story of the life and martyrdom of five missionaries at the hands of the Ecuadorian Huaorani tribe in 1956. Includes photographs. 272 pages, hardcover from Hendrickson.