Chasten Yourselves, But Be Not Discouraged
Earlier today, I read this entry from the Girl Talk archives. I thought, “Oh, I know someone who that would apply to. I should share it with them.” This evening, there is no one who needs to read it more than I do. I hope it might encourage you too.
“Whenever I am tempted to wallow in regret over a mistake, an unwise decision, a sinful comment, I have often found encouragement in these thoughts from Charles Spurgeon:
‘What is the use of regret unless we can rise by it to a better future? Sighs, which do not raise us higher, are an ill use of vital breath. Chasten yourselves, but be not discouraged. Gather up the arrows which aforetime fell wide of the mark, not to break them in passionate despair, but to send them to the target with direct aim, and a more concentrated force. Weave victories out of defeats. Learn success from failure, wisdom from blundering’ (Spurgeon on Spiritual Leadership by Steve Miller, p. 93)
Let’s get off our mental couch of despair over past sins and mistakes. Let us not be like the one the apostle Peter describes as ’so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins’ (1 Peter 1:9) By the power of Christ, let’s be all the more diligent to make our calling and election sure (v. 10). Let’s weave victories out of defeat.”
A Good Laugh
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpW3WXWC0vw]
I found this in the Girl Talk archives. The baby won’t be the only one laughing while you’re watching it! 
He’s so cute!!
Cheat the Blogs!
Almost two years ago, Josh Harris wrote a blog entry called “Time to Cheat My Blog” (I saw it on his most popular posts section) and it definitely convicted me. He writes that he has found his e-mail and blogging habits taking time away from his family, and he decided to make a change by leaving blogging at the office. This last part is my favorite – think of all the things there are to do besides staring at the television (not really a temptation of mine) or the computer (more of a temptation of mine)!
“I hope you’ll consider these thoughts and evaluate your own email and online habits. My friends, there are relationships to deepen, there is Scripture to read, there is fresh air to breathe, there is tennis to play, there are children to laugh and play with, there are great books to read, there are conversations and discussions to be had. Cheat the email! Cheat the blogs! Cheat all our so-called productivity and light-speed communication so that the stuff of real life–the stuff that really matters to us–isn’t cheated.”
My own “cheating” will probably be enforced without much effort on my Peru trip. I want to blog, of course, but it will be a tiny sliver out of the myriad of things I’ll be doing. Thank the Lord for compulsory vacations from technology!
My Peru Blog
Check it out, check it out (that reminds me of a VeggieTales song):
Anna in Peru
I thought about keeping everything on this site, but I decided it’d be simpler if I just set up a separate one. That’s where I’ll be posting thoughts and pictures and everything else while I’m in Peru. Bye-bye, Hope Road traffic! haha… I leave in a week; I can hardly believe it!
Missions trip stories/advice, anyone?
What’s in YOUR Bible?
I’ve been struggling with my devotional life lately – and by that I mean, I just haven’t been sitting down and having a quiet time like I need to. Sure, I’ve been listening to lots of sermons and reading good blogs, but that isn’t the same thing. A small part of my problem has been that I just don’t know what to read. I usually read a chapter from Psalms and Proverbs every time, and usually a devotional from John Piper’s Taste and See. I sometimes read Daily Light in the morning or before bed, too. And I journal, of course!
(I realized I should add that being a Bible major in college, I’m used to having one or more classes that focus on somewhat intensive Bible study. During the summer, I really miss that addition to my regular quiet times, so it’s even harder to know how to incorporate actual study into what I’m used to doing during the school year.)
But my problem was knowing what other book to focus on next. I had been reading 1 Peter. My mom suggested I read things that will help me prepare my mind and heart for my trip to Peru, so I’m starting with the passage I mentioned in my last post, because of my typical feelings of inadequacy and insecurity surrounding a new ministry opportunity.
I was curious to know, what are you reading in your Bible lately? And how do you usually frame your quiet time?
Pictured above is the ESV Bible I use for most of my reading. I love it!
See also “Quiet Times” on Delightful Way
The Cure for Low Self-Esteem
Here’s a comforting excerpt from John Piper’s sermon “Discern What Pleases God: Himself” at the New Attitude conference:
“Don’t waste your life trying to look good. Spend your life making God look good! That’s why you were made! And you know, the weakest among you, the most homely, have perhaps the greatest chance to do that. The rest of you are too good-looking. You distract people.”
I love this. I know this was said in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way, but isn’t it true that God uses the low and despised things more quickly for His own glory? (This topic is discussed at further length in the sermon.)
“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” (1 Cor. 1:26-29)
If you’re struggling with what the world calls “low self-esteem,” whether it’s about appearance or something else, remember: God can use a lack of what is culturally considered beautiful, or smart, or strong, to bring even more glory to Himself. And that’s far better than anything else we could ask for.
What to Order from Desiring God
On Wednesday and Thursday of this week, Desiring God is offering a sale on all the books in their library – $5 a book!
First of all, if you buy anything, buy Don’t Waste Your Life. Buy it for yourself, to give it to others, to decorate your coffee table… It tears away the veil of complacency and points brilliantly to the only importance and satisfaction in life – God.
That being said, here are my personal top four picks and why…
- A Hunger for God: Desiring God Through Fasting and Prayer. This might seem like an unlikely first selection, but for me, fasting and prayer are two of the most difficult spiritual disciplines to practice. I almost never fast, and being committed to prayer is a constant struggle. I’m assuming I’m not alone in this, either.
- Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: A Response to Evangelical Feminism. I’ve had access to this book as a resource because my dad has the big blue first edition , but I want to have it for myself because I am so passionate about this issue and how it is shaping and dividing the church. It is an unflinchingly biblical response to the evangelical form of feminism that is subtly or not-so-subtly invading our churches.
- A Godward Life: Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life. I own Taste and See, which was originally published as A Godward Life Part II, so I want to own both of these amazing devotionals. Each devotional is around 2-5 pages long, and they’re perfect to finish off a quiet time or to read before bed… or anytime, really… to leave a good taste of God’s supremacy in your heart!
- When the Darkness Will Not Lift: Doing What We Can While We Wait for God – and Joy. Depression is a pervasive force, especially in our society. I’ve struggled with it, and I know many others who have as well. This will be an invaluable resource both for myself and for ministry to others.
So there are my recommendations. No matter which books you buy, be sure to take advantage of this sale!
I’m Afraid of You
I’ve allowed fear to confine and control me in so many ways, and I’m just realizing it recently. I’m afraid of you, the reader. What will you think of what I write? Is it good enough? Do I come across the wrong way? I’m afraid of death, of eternity, of suffering, of what people think of me, of not being beautiful, of being single forever, of conflict, of people being angry at me… the list goes on and on.
Fear controls me because I change myself to fit what I think people want. I allow myself to be paralyzed with anxiety over what guys think of me. I grasp for sovereignty over my life in almost every particular so that I can be sure it’s being handled and won’t spin out of control.
What’s even worse than all this is that much of this fearfulness is really driven by pride. I’m afraid of what people think of me because I want them to think well of me. I change my behavior, appearance, and attitudes so certain people will like me because I want to be well-liked. I grasp for control because I have a certain image in my mind of what my personality and my life should look like, and I don’t want that to change.
I don’t know how to fix this, I really don’t. I’m glad I am finally understanding this about myself. A book I’ve seen in several blogs in the past couple of weeks is When People Are Big and God Is Small by Ed Welch. I’ve added it to my reading list because I think it’s a message I desperately need to absorb.
This is my confession. I know sometimes it can seem like I have it all together. Believe me, I don’t. Not in the slightest. But I’m learning daily what salvation means – that I am rescued not just from past sin, not only from future sin, but from present sin and its effects. Jesus wants me to be free of this sinful fearfulness. He wants me to turn to Him. I pray I can do just that.
Valuing the Bible
When is the luxury of owning a Bible most appreciated? As with all necessities, I think the Bible is most valued where it is most scarce. It doesn’t take a lengthy perusal of Voice of the Martys to realize that! Sometimes the Scriptures are not legal in a certain country, so they have to be smuggled in. Sometimes they aren’t illegal, but they aren’t readily available, either. And sometimes, they aren’t available at all. Wycliffe says that “more than 2,200 language communities still do not have true access to even one verse of Scripture.”
How sad is that? And while this reality should make us have hearts of eager willingness to do what we can to help those who are still without Scripture in their language, it should also fill us with gratefulness that we are blessed enough to have access to the Scriptures! It’s not a cliche to say that being able to read the Bible is a great blessing. It is, in fact, a luxury that hundreds of thousands of people would love to enjoy.
Right now, I have five Bibles in plain view – my most-used ESV Bible on my dresser, and a stack of four Bibles on my bookshelf – ESV, NIV, NLT, and another ESV. That’s not even counting several Bibles being stored elsewhere. Yet sometimes I let weeks go by without even a thought of thankfulness for my access to God’s living word.
Today was a hard day, and I felt my need for the Scriptures, which is what made me think about all of this. But isn’t every day a day of deep need for the Scriptures, whether it is felt or not? Shouldn’t every day also be a day of deep thankfulness for the Scriptures?
I hope I can learn to let myself be characterized by that gratitude.
Various and Sundry (6/20)
On a few blogs, I’ve seen a list of links, books, or topics of interest that the blogger has come up with recently. This week I’ve happened to come across quite a few good links that I want to share, so I thought I’d follow in that vein with my own “A la carte.”
Six-word stories: I loved the stories you guys wrote in the comments section of my last entry. I’m surprised more people didn’t try, because I got quite a few hits on that entry but only four stories! If you feel so inclined, go write a story, and I’ll put off posting my favorite(s) until the next entry.
Church: Ugandan seminary students’ moving responses to John Piper’s Let the Nations Be Glad!
Relationships: “What Girls Wish You Knew” on Boundless… It’s pretty accurate from my standpoint!
Faithfulness: If this doesn’t move you to tears, not much will. Heather’s reflections, “On the Table” and “Aloneness,” on her cancer experience.
Modesty: Emily at Unfurling Flower has written a great series: “Why dress modestly?”
Biblical womanhood: “And as the bird easily comes to terms with the necessity of bearing wings when it finds that it is, in fact, the wings that bear the bird – up, away from the world, into the sky, into freedom – so the woman who accepts the limitations of womanhood finds in those very limitations her gifts, her special calling - wings, in fact, which bear her up into perfect freedom, into the will of God.” -Elisabeth Elliot, Let Me Be a Woman
Scripture: “For it is no empty word for you, but your very life” (Deut. 32:47).
