the light of His countenance

psalm 4- an evening prayer of trust in God
for the choir director; on stringed instruments. a psalm of david
answer me when i call, o God of my righteousness! you have relieved me in my distress; be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
o sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach? how long will you love delusions and aim at deception? selah
but know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for Himself; the LORD hears when I call to Him.
tremble, and do not sin; meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. selah
offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in the LORD.
many are saying, “who will show us any good?” lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O LORD!
You have put gladness in my heart, more than when their grain and new wine abound.
in peace i will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

"david has a habit of pleading past mercies as a basis for present favor... even the regenerate groan at times for (material) prosperity. and when delusions fail, we despair and declare there's no good in heaven or on earth. but, the light of God's countenance is enough- this is the believer's riches, honor, health, ambition and ease... He will never stop helping until we cease to need."
-charles spurgeon, treasury of the psalms

'worth' revisited

i consider my life worth nothing to me, if only i may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me- the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace -acts 20:24

the apostles left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name -acts 5:41

and they sang in a mighty chorus: "worthy is the Lamb who was slain- to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing"
-revelation 5:12

how God would be well-known

He spreads His fame, in part, through mothers. through their influence on potential co-laborers in His work!

"mother... you may think long and earnestly of your high calling. ponder the undreamed honour of the thing; learn how God, through you, would plan to be well known to every man. and through your arms would gather fast the whole world to his heart at last." -fay inchfawn

may Your deeds be shown to your servants,
Your splendor to their children.
may the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands

worn out, in a good way

"what nobler medal of honor could any godly person seek than the scars of service, personal loss for the crown of reward, disgrace for the sake of Christ, and being worn out in the Master's service." -L.B. Cowman

i am already being poured out like a drink offering... i have fought the good fight.
i have finished the race. i have kept the faith

jane austen on family

austen's description of the comfort family brings, via fanny price in mansfield park, may be one of the best explanations of why there's no place like home. fanny is presented with two options when a man she doesn't love begins pursuing her romantically. her uncle, whose home fanny lived in from maybe age 8, says she can marry the suitor or go back to her filthy childhood home and destitute family. when she tells him she may choose home, her cousin and best friend edmond quickly, disbelievingly asks her why.

"to be home again," she tells him. "to be loved by family, to feel affection without fear or restraint, and to feel myself the equal of those that surround me."

what can we deduce from spilt milk?

thank you c.s. lewis, for putting it in laymen's terms! and thank you Father, for being the intelligent designer.

"saying the solar system was brought about by an accidental collision is like expecting that the accidental shape taken by the splash when you upset a milk jug should give you a correct account of how the jug was made and why it was upset."

the ministry of presence

"i've come to realize that all of us just want some company. angela didn't need me to do anything. she didn't need another plant or magazine... what really matters is the company of another beating heart, the presence of someone who cares about you, even if all they do is sit in a chair and bear witness to the trials at hand."
-elizabeth owen, my (not so) storybook life, on friend angela's battle with cancer

though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves; a cord of three strands is not quickly broken