We thank the Lord for a life lived for Him, and I am thankful for the brother-in-law she gave me. I’m thankful for those who loved enough to care for her to the end, thankful for a peaceful passing, and thankful she is with the Lord and rejoicing in His presence.
And I really wanted to say I’m thankful to Mr. Maehler for providing a blessed example of a husband who kept loving and caring through “the slow goodbye” of Alzheimer’s disease. Sir, may God richly bless you.
We went to Handel’s Messiah in Perth. For the first half, the drums sat alone and untouched.
In the second half, the percussionist appeared, but mostly sat in his chair and followed while others sang and played. Unless we missed something (possible, since he wasn’t the main focus), he only took part in three pieces: Hallelujah, Worthy is the Lamb, and Amen — but those pieces simply would not have been the same without him.
Sometimes the master musician (Handel, in this case) only gives out small parts that might seem insignificant, even boring most of the time — but then, his goal is not to stroke the egos of the musicians, but to create a masterpiece.
In God’s great masterpiece, as He has worked throughout the world and through the centuries, our entire church is just a bit part, one tiny note from one instrument in the orchestra, or one word from one person in the choir. If our church is that insignificant, any one person’s part in our church is surely even smaller, right?
Small, yes, but not unimportant. God is creating a masterpiece “as it pleases Him”, and for that to happen, everyone needs to be there for the Hallelujah Chorus, to join in proclaiming, “Worthy is the Lamb,” and to add our Amen in the great final anthem. Where is the percussionist when he is needed? May we all be faithful!
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
No, there’s nothing wrong with your computer. I have it set to snow on my blog until January.
That’s talking about the visual appearance, not the content, for all you wise guys out there. 🙂
Sometimes people will mischaracterise someone’s statements or beliefs, making it out that they have said something they did not say or mean to imply.
The world calls it
a logical fallacy, a straw man argument.
God calls it
bearing false witness against your neighbour.
As Christians, we would do better to use God’s wording, and take it as seriously as God does. All the more reason to heed James 1:19:
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
If we would take the time to really hear and make sure we understand before we spout, we would be less likely to be dishonest about what others are saying.
UPDATE: A Thousand More Words….
Returning to our series in I Peter.
This passage completes the section which began with chapter 2:11. In preparing the believers to face trials, Peter reiterates that we are here on this earth as strangers and pilgrims, and so trials and persecution are to be expected. As strangers and pilgrims, we are to live differently, and he outlined our duties as citizens (13-17), servants (18-20), as followers of Christ’s example (21-25), and as husbands and wives (3:1-7). Now, in this section, he sums up the duty of all believers, as strangers and pilgrims.
(or anywhere else in Scotland, for that matter).
1 When the storms of life are raging,
Tempests wild on sea and land,
I will seek a place of refuge
In the shadow of God’s hand.
Refrain:
He will hide me, He will hide me,
Where no harm can e’er betide me;
He will hide me, safely hide me,
In the shadow of His hand.
2 Though He may send some affliction,
’Twill but make me long for home;
For in love and not in anger,
All His chastenings will come.
3 Enemies may strive to injure,
Satan all his arts employ;
He will turn what seems to harm me
Into everlasting joy.
4 So while here the cross I’m bearing,
Meeting storms and billows wild,
Jesus for my soul is caring,
Naught can harm His Father’s child.
Let’s be wise in what we do and where we go today and tomorrow. They are warning that the Forth and Tay bridges will probably be closed this afternoon, and undoubtedly some roads will be, too.
But in everything, we’ll trust the Lord’s protection, doing whatever we need to do with the confidence that we are hidden in His hand.
Psalm 91:1-4
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Mind Renewers 