How Do I Discern God's Will? - Tim Conway

A Favorite Hymn of Dan Smith's

When this passing world is done
When has sunk the glaring sun
When I stand with Christ on high
Looking o'er life's history
Then, Lord, shall I fully know
Not till then, how much I owe

When I stand before the throne
Dressed in beauty not my own
When I see Thee as Thou art
Love Thee with unsinning heart
Then, Lord, shall I fully know
Not till then, how much I owe

When the praise of heaven I hear
Loud as thunder to the ear
Loud as many waters' noise
Sweet as harp's melodious voice
Then, Lord, shall I fully know
Not till then, how much I owe

Chosen, not for good in me
Wakened up from wrath to flee
Hidden in the Savior's side
By the Spirit sanctified
Teach me, Lord, on earth to show
By my love, how much I owe

~Robert Murray McCheyne

Quote from Dan Smith

Dan Smith was a missionary to China beginning his service in the 1930s.  After recounting several stories about deliverance from poisonous snakes while on the mission field, he said this:

"All stories of snakes aptly tell something of the character of Satan, who is spoken of in scripture as, "that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan" (Rev. 20:2).  He wriggles his way into every place.  He is a master of disguise and deceit.  His power is mighty and malignant.  His fangs reach far and strike with lightening speed.  Its poison is fatal.  But his head was bruised by the Son of God, according to the first word addressed to him by God after his striking our first parents, that the Seed of the woman (Christ) "shall bruise thy head."  We can take comfort, then, and have courage.  The sure sentence of God has doomed the Devil to final destruction.  He will attack, threaten, and affright, but the Lord is our Shield and Defender."

~Pilgrim of the Heavenly Way, The Autobiography of Daniel Smith

Preached in San Antonio

Clint Leiter, Advice for Singles

Help in Temptation

This was an extremely helpful message!  It was encouraging in so many ways, especially in looking at the life of Christ and trusting that He has been through the trials that I must also pass through.  He can fully sympathize with me and is not insensitive to what I am struggling with.  It was also convicting seeing Christ overcome trials and temptations far greater than mine, and yet remain without sin.  Why do I cave so easily when I come up against adversity?  Why not struggle more fiercely as He did?  No matter what season of the Christian life you are in, this will prove so valuable.

Do All to the Glory of God

Today I came across this poem, and as a disclaimer I have no idea who the author is.  But it was a good reminder that no task, if done for the glory of God, is mundane.  As long as we are where God wants us to be, doing the work He wants us to do, there is no task too low for a Christian.

"...whatever you do, do all to the Glory of God."   1st Corinthians 10:31

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jesus Savior, dost thou see

When I'm doing work for Thee?

Common things, not great and grand,

Carrying stones and earth and sand?

I did common work, you know,

Many, many years ago;

And I don't forget.  I see

Everything you do for Me.

~Author Unknown

Four Marriage Tips

High maintenance wives and low tolerance husbands can make for much "distress at the address."   While conflict resolution isn’t always possible in marriage, conflict diminution is.   Here are a few suggestions from the Apostle to husbands:

       First, in order for husbands to understand their wives, they must first undertake to live with them.   Desert lands and house corners (Prov. 21:9) may provide sanctuary when times are rough, but they’ll never produce understanding.   You must live with your wife -- eat her food, sleep in her bed, carry her groceries, put up with her quirks.   Our children will come and go, but our wives are a part of us (Eph. 5:28).

       Second, husbands must understand only their wife.   What makes someone else’s wife mad, sad, or glad is irrelevant.   Another man’s wife might be prettier, smarter, holier, more organized -- but those are not cisterns he drinks from (Prov. 5:15), nor chides his wife to become like.   He accepts her as she is -- not as he thinks she should be or once was.   A woman who marries thinking her husband will change, and a husband who marries thinking his wife never will, are in for an education.

       Third, understanding wives requires knowing they’re wired to think different.   A weaker vessel isn’t an inferior vessel; only a finer one.   Sterling crystal isn’t pewter.   If a husband can’t be gentle in his speaking and patient in his listening, then his prayers will be treated accordingly.   Hindered prayers come from hindered carefulness.

       Lastly, granting honor to wives controls granting answers to prayers.   The initiative in this granting is the husband’s.   He must promote the honoring, which means if there are conflicts, he should promote the reconciliation.   Christ did for His bride.

       How we live with our wives tells others how Christ lives with us -- a true husband who doesn’t live in a desert because of our astronomical maintenance.   He understands our frame, that we are but dust -- a dust cherished enough to die for (Eph. 5:25) and to be made a fellow heir with Him.

~The Bottom Line, by Mark LaCour

Maximum Growth

Tonight while praying with a friend, she said something that was really helpful to me.  She said "you have put us in this place, with these people, to produce the most growth possible at this point in our lives."  Of course I've thought about growth before and recognized that there are different degrees.  But this time it was made so fresh and real.  Thinking about God orchestrating circumstances and moving people in and out of my life in order to produce maximum growth is so precious to me.  It's such a testimony of His sovereignty.  And it creates such conviction when I'm not content with how things are.  If I could grow more as a married person, I would be married right now.  If I could grow more with pleasant coworkers, no more homework, and no spiritual struggles, then that's what my life would look like.  But God in His sovereignty has decided that I will grow more as a single girl with unpleasant coworkers, loads of homework, and a different spiritual struggle for each day of the week.  He decides how to fashion the right environment for my growth.  It is my responsibility to be content and to be eager for opportunities to continue growing.

Recovering Biblical Womanhood - Paul Washer