Crosses to bear

The Reading from Daily Strength for Daily Needs on Dec. 5

"The God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." I Peter v.10

"Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be faint-hearted." - Is. 7:4

"How shalt thou bear the cross that now
So dread a weight appears:
Keep quietly to God, and think
Upon the Eternal Years."
                                 ~     F. W. Faber

"God forgive them that raise an ill report upon the sweet cross of Christ; it is but our weak and dim eyes, that look but to the black side, that makes us mistake; those that can take that crabbed tree handsomely upon their backs, and fasten it on cannily [archaic Scottish], shall find it such a burden as wings unto a bird, or sails to a ship."                               ~ Samuel Rutherford


"Blessed is any weight, however overwhelming, which God has been so good as to fasten with His own hand upon our shoulders."                                                         ~ F. W. Faber

"We cannot say this or that trouble shall not befall, yet we may, by help of the Spirit, say, nothing that doth befall shall make me do that which is unworthy of a Christian."       ~ R. Sibbes


       In this culture, where everything is "out there" in terms of sharing all our complaints, our woes, our physical ailments, may we learn to carry them to Him, who is our Confidante and our King, who loves to answer prayer.  And if He does not answer in "OUR TIME," He knows when we will have the answer, and we are to walk BY FAITH, not by sight! He is infinitely wiser than we are.  Praise His Holy name for that!

Privacy

Being Quiet

I read this yesterday in Daily Strength for Daily Needs, a collection by Mary W. Tileston, for every day of the year, of Scriptures and excellent quotes.  This spoke to me, because I have a tendency to want to tell too many of the details of physical troubles, OR Heart troubles.  

"Every day deny yourself some satisfaction; bearing all the inconveniences of life (for the love of God), cold, hunger, restless nights, ill health, unwelcome news, the faults of servants [!], contempt, ingratitude of friends, malice of enemies, calumnies, our own failings, lowness of spirits, the struggle in overcoming our corruptions;--bearing all these with patience and resignation to the will of God.  Do all this as unto God, with the greatest privacy."              ~Bishop Wilson

"When thou hast thanked thy God
For every blessing sent,
What time will then remain
For murmurs or lament?"
             ~ R. C. Trench

Conviction~~enough said!