Purity

"Purity is not innocence— it is much more than that. Purity is the result of continued spiritual harmony with God. We have to grow in purity. Our life with God may be right and our inner purity unblemished, yet occasionally our outer life may become spotted and stained. God intentionally does not protect us from this possibility, because this is the way we recognize the necessity of maintaining our spiritual vision through personal purity. If the outer level of our spiritual life with God is impaired to the slightest degree, we must put everything else aside until we make it right. Remember that spiritual vision depends on our character— it is "the pure in heart " who "see God."

God makes us pure by an act of His sovereign grace, but we still have something that we must carefully watch. It is through our bodily life coming in contact with other people and other points of view that we tend to become tarnished. Not only must our "inner sanctuary" be kept right with God, but also the "outer courts" must be brought into perfect harmony with the purity God gives us through His grace. Our spiritual vision and understanding is immediately blurred when our "outer court" is stained. If we want to maintain personal intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ, it will mean refusing to do or even think certain things. And some things that are acceptable for others will become unacceptable for us."

-My Utmost for His Highest

Might the LORD remind each of us daily how He has called us to purity in all areas of our lives. It is so hard sometimes...trust me - I know! But we don't have to partake in every pleasure of this world, for it is passing away. Rather, we have the opportunity and the privilege to live a life that is "set apart" ... a life that is pleasing to LORD. I pray we all who claim the name of Jesus Christ as our LORD will desire to be a vessel for honor, not a vessel for dishonor.

"Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified (set apart) and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful s; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the LORD out of a pure heart." II Timothy 2:21-22

I Am Willing

Once upon a time there was an old grape branch; it had been growing
in the vineyard for a long time. One day a new branch was planted
in the next row. The younger branch grew, developed more branches,
and bore fruit.
Taking courage one hot summer day, the young branch looked up
at the old branch and said in its squeaky voice, “It must be great to have
people travel from miles around just to taste the sweetness of your fruit.”
The old branch nodded.
Feeling encouraged, the young branch continued, “I have been
talking with the other branches in the garden, and they say yours is the
sweetest fruit.”
The old branch smiled.
“When I grow up, I want to be just like you! How can I have sweet
fruit like yours? I’ll do anything you say.”
As the old branch looked down on the young branch, he remembered
the day when, as a young branch himself, he had asked an old
branch the same question. In his baritone voice, he gave the young
branch the same answer he had received years earlier: “Be willing.”
The young branch mused in frustration, Be willing? I tell him I’ll do
whatever it takes to have sweet fruit, and all he can say is “Be willing”? Then
he turned to another branch and began carrying on what he felt was
meaningful conversation.
Each day there was constant chatter in the vineyard as the
branches shared the latest gossip and wasted the hours away by comparing
the sweetness of their fruit. The young branch knew there was
no other place he’d rather live.

One cool autumn morning, the young branch was awakened by
the sound of the old brown, weathered gate opening. As he looked at
the end of the row, in stepped the gardener. Normally when the gardener
came to visit, the vines would clap their leaves together and
shout with delight. But something unusual was taking place that day.
A hush swept over the garden. The young branch glanced over at the
old branch, who didn’t seem to be disturbed; so the young branch
directed his attention back to the end of the row.
The gardener stopped by the first branch in the row; the young
branch was sure he had come to compliment his friend on her fine
growth. But watching intently, he saw the gardener bend on one knee,
reach into his back pocket, pull out what looked like sharp scissors,
and move toward his friend.
Instinctively the branch at the end of the row pulled her leaves
back, and the young branch heard her plead, “No, no, why are you
doing this to me? Haven’t I been sweet? Didn’t I bring honor to the
garden? Please, please, don’t do this to me!”
Before the young branch could blink, his friend lay on the ground
except for the nub. The young branch turned to the old branch and
asked in a low, fearful voice, “What’s happening? Why did the gardener
do that?”
The old branch did not respond.
The young branch strained to understand and then blurted out,
“Oh, I get it! We thought the gardener liked that branch, but he really
didn’t like her.”
The old branch responded, “No, that’s not true. In fact, what you
just saw the gardener do proves he loves that branch.”
“Oh. I knew that. Let me try again. We thought that branch’s fruit
was sweet, but it really wasn’t sweet.”
“That branch’s fruit was sweet.”
“O.K., O.K. I know the real reason. That branch did something
wrong, so the gardener is punishing her; he’s just not telling us why.”
The old branch answered, “That branch is not being punished.
Listen carefully—your friend is being pruned. Not because she was
trying to do things wrong, but because she was trying to do things
right. Not because her fruit was not sweet, but because the gardener
wants it to be even sweeter.”
“But that doesn’t seem fair!” protested the young branch. “Just
look at her. She’s been cut down to the nub. Now all the people who
come to taste the sweetness of her fruit will laugh and judge the
branch.”
“Only those outside the garden who don’t understand will laugh
and judge the branch.”
“Only those outside the garden who don’t understand? That
branch didn’t understand! Did you hear her say, ‘Why are you doing
this to me?’”

The old branch was quiet for a long time and then responded
slowly, “Unfortunately, what you’re saying is true. It’s one thing when
people outside the garden don’t understand; but when those inside
the garden—especially the ones being pruned—don’t understand, it
causes a lot of confusion, disappointment, and pain. Those branches
down at the end of the row will have to listen to your friend murmur
and complain until she blooms again.”
The young branch proclaimed, “Well, you don’t have to worry
about being pruned. You have the sweetest fruit in the garden!”
“I want to be pruned.”
“You what? It must hurt, and you’re going to look funny.”
The old branch chuckled and replied, “I must admit it’s quite
uncomfortable. You see, my young friend, I know I look good to you,
but I have a fungus growing on my underside that no one can see. If
it remains, it will diminish the quality and quantity of my fruit. No,
when the gardener comes to prune me, I won’t pull my leaves back.
I’ll lift myself high in the air to make his job easier.”
Trembling, the young branch responded, “I don’t understand.”
With compassion the old branch replied, “Did you see that branch
the gardener just tore off and threw over the fence? It didn’t belong
in this garden at all and will be burned in a fire.”
“Wow!” exclaimed the young branch.
“When the gardener comes to prune you, remember that the gardener
only prunes the branches that belong to him, which makes it an
honor. He doesn’t prune you because you’re trying to do things
wrong, but because you’re trying to do things right. It’s not because
you’re not sweet, but because he wants you to be sweeter. And always
remember, my young friend, the very fact that you’re being pruned
means you will bloom again.”

Just then the gardener stopped by the old branch, and the young
branch saw the old branch raise his leaves high in the air. He heard a
snip, and the old branch lay on the ground except for the nub. Then
the gardener turned to the young branch. His leaves were shaking, and
tears rolled down his side, but with every ounce of strength he raised
his leaves high in the air. He looked up into the gardener’s face and
said, “Kind and gentle gardener, I’m willing.”

-Excerpt from "Biblical Womanhood in the Home" by Nancy Leigh Demoss

Jesus said...“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful” (John 15:1).

Book Review - Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart

Here is another book review for all of my blog friends! On a side note, I highly recommend this book for any of you that have little boys and girls that love adventure stories - the firm foundation of the Word this book is written on allows for your child's imagination to soar and allows them to realize how important it is to have a firm faith in God.

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Sir Dalton and The Shadow Heart

What an amazing picture of the Kingdom that Chuck Black creates in Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart. Imagery based around the reality of good and evil is the center of this book with the interweaving of faith, hope, conviction and the desire to spread the news of the King and His Prince to all the corners of the earth! The journey Sir Dalton takes is a reminder of how a Christian could begin to doubt their faith in God when they are not seeking Him, but when they go back to the heart of the gospel which is Jesus Christ, every fear can be banished in the Kingdom of Arrethtrae and every truth can be grounded in the Code. From the evil “Caw” of the black ravens that can make the reader shudder, to the beautiful wisdom of Master Sejus, to the daring battle Sir Dalton faces in the Prison of Distazo – Chuck Black superbly forms a story of faith that any child, student and adult will be inspired to live out in their own lives.

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Author Bio

Chuck Black traveled with the Air Force as a communications engineer and F-16 fighter pilot and began a career as a product design engineer. Chuck and his wife, Andrea, homeschool their six children and have a family music ministry that travels throughout the region. He is the author of nine novels, has been published in The Old Schoolhouse e-zine, and has received praise from parents across the country for his unique approach to telling biblical truths. Chuck and his family live in Williston, North Dakota.

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The Knights of Arrethtrae Website - Click Here

Earnest Plea!!!

More love to Thee, O Christ,

More love to Thee!

Hear Thou the prayer I make

On bended knee.

This is my earnest plea:

More love, O Christ, to Thee;

More love to Thee,

More love to Thee!

(Indelible Grace IV C-D - great version of this song)

"Seek Me and live"..."Seek the LORD and live"..."Seek good and not evil, that you may live."

Amos 5:4,6,14

O LORD, that my soul might follow close behind and hard after You - to give You more love!

Psalm 63:8

This is my Earnest Plea.

Give Me A New Idea

Circumstances will not change...no matter how hard I wish them away or pray for them to go away. 21 hours of school and everything else in my life just won't go away that easily : )

And yet, in the midst of this - I honestly don't want my "circumstances" to just ~poof~ and go away! I need to learn from them and trust the Lord in the middle of them. Which is why I am asking the Lord to "give me a new idea."

I was reading in Streams in the Desert the other day and was thoroughly refreshed by the poem that was shared. It reminded me that "if I see God in everything, He will calm and color everything I see!" My trouble won't easily go away, but He will "surround me with songs of deliverance" (ps. 32:7). Hmmm...one thought was shared that really stuck out to me that I want to "to see Him and to be sure that His widsom and power never fail and His love never changes, to know that even His most distressing dealings with me are for my deepest spiritual gain." As I go through this difficult semester - I just pray that the Lord would use my time, energy and means available to me right now for His purposes. That I wouldn't be selfish in this process nor that I would complain about the work load. Rather, I want to see and seek and know and find all that God has for me in this trying semester - TO SEE GOD IN EVERYTHING!

"Give me a new idea," I said,

While thinking on a sleepless bed;

"A new idea that'll bring to earth

a balm for souls of priceless worth;

That'll give men thoughts of things above,

And teach them how to serve and love,

That'll banish every selfish thought,

And rid men of the sins they've fought."

The new thought came, just how, I'll tell:

'Twas when on bended knee I fell,

And sought from HIM who knows full well

The way our sorrow to expel.

SEE GOD IN ALL THINGS, great and small,

And give HIM praise whatever befall,

In life or , in pain or woe,

See God, and overcome your foe.

I saw HIM in the morning light,

HE made the day shine clear and bright;

I saw HIM in the noontide hour,

And gained from HIM refreshing shower.

At evening, when worn and sad,

HE gave me help, and made me glad.

At midnight, when on tossing bed

My weary soul to sleep HE led.

I saw HIM when great losses came,

And found HE loved me jsut the same.

When heavy loads I had to bear,

I found HE lightened every care.

By sickness, sorrow, sore, distress,

HE calmed my mind and gave me rest.

HE'S filled my heart with joyous praise

Since I gave HIM the upward gaze.

'Twas new to me, yet old to some,

This thought that to me has become

A revelation of the way

We all should live throughout the day;

For as each day unfolds its light,

We'll walk by faith and not by sight.

Life will, indeed, a blessing bring,

If we SEE GOD IN EVERYTHING.

Whadayathink?

For some time now I have been contemplating a new blog design that matched my style - and allowed me to put pictures up on a fairly neutral screen...so here it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What do you think?

Any feed back would be great!

Is the picture too dark? Do you like the placement of the words on my picture? What about the new background layout? Does it serve the purpose of catching the eye while yet giving the user a clear idea of what my blog is all about?

OH! And did you like the verse? This very verse has spoken volumes to me over the past week and my hearts desire is to know The Patient Waiting of looking for His coming, directing my heart into His love and serving Him faithfully until He, my Bridegroom, returns. There is so much I have learned from this simple verse - and I will have to take another blogspot (sometime soon!) to share with you my gleanings from the Word on what it means to patiently wait for Him. A lesson I don't think the Lord will ever stop trying to teach me!

A Word To My Blog Friends:

Thank you for sharing what the Lord has been teaching you in your lives on your blogs, it ministers to my heart in many ways and reminds me of how desperately we need Him in the midst of the trials, joys and sorrows we encounter on a day-to-day basis. You all mean so much to me and I am blessed to call you friend : )

"North! or Be Eaten" Book Review

If you're ready for an adventure and aren't able to take time off work to travel to a distant place, then "North! or Be Eaten" by Andrew Peterson is a book that will give you adventure in far-away places without the extra expense : )

The second book in Andrew Peterson's "The Wingfeather Saga" continues from where one left off in the land of Skree and follows the journey of the Jewels of Anniera which are Janner, Tink and Leeli Igiby. The Jewels of Anniera are faced with many decisions on the journey as the enter the Glipwood forest and face a Gargan Rockroach, or fierce Stranders that bite and lick their teeth at their enemies. And one can't forget the Toothy Cows and their yellow eyes that ooze! Fangs are crawling all over the book because Gnag the Nameless will not stop his destruction of Skree until the Jewels of Anniera are captured, but Podo, Nia nad Oskar work hard to protect the children and safely lead them to the Ice Prairies where Fangs aren't able to move quite-so-fast. But what other animals hide around in the Ice Prairies? And can everyone be trusted that the company meets along their way? Themes of honesty, family, loyalty and faith are interweaved all throughout this book which makes it a must-read book for families of all ages. Peterson's story-telling skills are once again baffling and so intricate that the reader feels lost in the story and a part of the journey that the Igibys are on throughout the books - a recommended read for children, college students (that's me!), adults of all ages and even those above the age of 100 years old!

Post below if you ever get a chance to read this book - tell me your thoughts. And if you haven't even started Book One in "The Wingfeather Saga," it's titled "On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkneess" by Andrew Peterson. I hope this Book Review was helpful!

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Here is a summary of the book that the publishing company sent me:

Summary

Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby thought they were normal children with normal lives and a normal past. But now they know they’re really the Lost Jewels of Anniera, heirs to a legendary kingdom across the sea, and suddenly everyone wants to kill them.
Their escape brings readers to the very brink of Fingap Falls, over the Stony Mountains, and across the Ice Prairies, while villains galore try to stop the Igibys permanently. Fearsome toothy cows and horned hounds return, along with new dangers: a mad man running a fork factory, a den of rockroaches, and majestic talking sea dragons.
Andrew Peterson’s lovable characters create what FantasyBookCritic.com says made Book One “one of the best fantasy novels in a very long time,” and Book Two contains even more thrills, exploring “themes universal in nature, ranging from the classic good versus evil, to the importance of family, and burdens of responsibility.”

Author Bio

Andrew Peterson is the author of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, Book One in the Wingfeather Saga, and The Ballad of Matthew’s Begats. He’s also the critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter and recording artist of ten albums, including Resurrection Letters II. He and his wife, Jamie, live with their two sons and one daughter in a little house they call The Warren near Nashville , Tennessee . Visit his websites: http://www.andrew-peterson.com/ and http://www.rabbitroom.com/