"They had a feeling, or a feeling had them, till another feeling came and took its place. When a feeling was there, they felt as if it would never go; when it was gone they felt as if it had never been; when it returned, they felt as if it had never gone." -George MacDonald
Feelings.
They'll throw me if I don't watch it. So I will keep watch over them, by day and by night!
And when they get out of hand... I will check the culprit...
My thinking.
I really believe what I think determines how I feel... "as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he..." Proverbs 23:7
I hope to keep the following verse in the forefront of my mind at all times... Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthins 10:5
And for another incentinve... When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 1 Cor. 13:11
On one side of the blade, Truth cuts deep, spills blood, makes a mess, creates sorrow... and really really hurts like a 10 on the pain scale. Truth on this side reveals where deception has been at work.
On the other side, Truth has the power to disengage a soul from life-long, crippling, paralyzing and agonizing deceptions. This side of Truth releases the soul from bondage and sets it free.
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But before I can have this release, this freedom from deception, there must be surgery.
And before I can have surgery, there must be a willingness.
"MUST I have surgery?" I may ask. (Must I face up to this crippling fault? Must I submit to the removal of it?)
"YES!" is the Surgeon's merciful answer. Am I wanting to disengage from harmful lifestyles, engagements, habits, relationships, etc?
The Merciful, Master Surgeon must have his patient's consent, and the patient must be still. I must let the blade do the work, and trust Him completely.
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
"Thank goodness I was never sent to school; it would have rubbed off some of the originality. "
- Beatrix Potter
Ah, you can survive public school alright -
but at home, you just get to be yourself without being laughed at or ridiculed. You can also be yourself and find joy in it! And if your parents are smart - they will let you be you and they will help you be your best. And the "bestest" thing about homeschool?
It represents all I try to communicate in these little blogs of mine - little expressions of inner discoveries and inner convictions.
Here's the excerpt...
"For myself, I long ago decided that I would rather know the truth than be happy in ignorance. If I cannot have both truth and happiness, give me truth. We'll have a long time to be happy in heaven." A.W. Tozer
This little bundle of words represents Truthbyter.
Someday I'll have the pleasure of shaking the hand of Tozer, who, unbeknownst to himself, nodded with approval and understanding and kindred sympathy towards me.
Thank you, Father.
You, who are Father of all those who quietly suffer such inward battles with sin, with imperfection and unhappiness, that after a while, Truth becomes sweeter even than happiness.
Truth that brings to light what is of greatest value. "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." John 8:32
"If the Spirit of God is responsible to convict the world of sin, He must first of all convict us of sin because we are the ones He indwells- we are the tools He will use." -Theodore Epp
This is no easy thing... to be used to convict.
And it is no easy thing... to first be convicted.
And I often am convicted. And when I am and express my grief... those closest to me can be the first to attempt "relieving" my conscience and being my very own cheerleaders... cheering meon to better thinking, for the purpose of better living, and of a happier disposition.
I do not blame them. I understand it.
But I do not accept the cheers northe reproofs for the posture I take.
If I take my sin seriously, God will grant me freedom from it... even if over time.
It is God's mercy that He convicts. Because sin hurts us all.
"Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts..." Psalm 51:6
Just a thought... Just a wonder... Just a little idea, maybe not a big deal.
Well... actually... It could be worse than I think. I mean, it really could be!
As a matter of fact... I don't think it could be, I think it is! And you know, it CANT get much worse! I mean... LOOK at what I have here... just, just look at it...........!
And this, I have been guilty of over and over again.
Worry, pity-party, anxiety, fretting... all of it - it all boils down to one thing...
"The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying." Samuel Chadwick
I will not give him that pleasure.
If I am to help myself, My self must pray To its Maker.
After all, prayer proves to me that I'm not alone... and that God is alive and well, in me.
"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God" Romans 8:16 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: ... (and) maketh intercession for us..." Romans 8:26
When the prophesied day-of-the-flood came, Noah and his family were ready. Genesis 7:11-24
When our prophetic Day-of-His-Return comes, My family and I will be ready. 1 Thess. 5:1-11
" Surely, I come quickly..." Jesus says in Revelation 22:20 _______________________
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith; as it is written... The Just Shall Live by Faith.
