Praising God More - We Would be Happier, and He More Glorified

“O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness,

and for his wonderful works to the children of men.”

- Psalm 107:8 -

"If we complained less, and praised more, we should be happier, and God would be more glorified. Let us daily praise God for common mercies - common as we frequently call them, and yet so priceless, that when deprived of them we are ready to perish. Let us bless God for the eyes with which we behold the sun, for the health and strength to walk abroad, for the bread we eat, for the raiment we wear. Let us praise him that we are not cast out among the hopeless, or confined amongst the guilty; let us thank him for liberty, for friends, for family associations and comforts; let us praise him, in fact, for everything which we receive from his bounteous hand, for we deserve little, and yet are most plenteously endowed. But, beloved, the sweetest and the loudest note in our songs of praise should be of redeeming love. God’s redeeming acts towards his chosen are for ever the favourite themes of their praise. If we know what redemption means, let us not withhold our sonnets of thanksgiving. We have been redeemed from the power of our corruptions, uplifted from the depth of sin in which we were naturally plunged. We have been led to the cross of Christ-our shackles of guilt have been broken off; we are no longer slaves, but children of the living God, and can antedate the period when we shall be presented before the throne without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Even now by faith we wave the palm-branch and wrap ourselves about with the fair linen which is to be our everlasting array, and shall we not unceasingly give thanks to the Lord our Redeemer? Child of God, canst thou be silent? Awake, awake, ye inheritors of glory, and lead your captivity captive, as ye cry with David, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” Let the new month begin with new songs."

- Charles Spurgeon's Evening Meditation for December 1st

~Brittany

"Peace lies in the trusting acceptance of
His design, His gifts, His appointment of place, position, capacity.

It was thus that the Son of Man came to earth--embracing
all that the Father willed Him to be,

usurping nothing--no work, not even a word--that
the Father had not given Him."
~ Elisabeth Elliot ~

"Children of the jungle tribe I knew years ago did not complain
because they had not been taught to."

~ Elisabeth Elliot ~

"Lord, we give You thanks for all that You in Your mercy have given us
to be and to do and to have.
Deliver us, Lord, from all greed to be and to do and to have anything
not in accord with Your holy purposes.
Teach us to rest quietly in Your promise to supply,
recognizing that if we don't have it we don't need it.
Teach us to desire Your will--nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else.
For Jesus' sake.  Amen."

~ Elisabeth Elliot ~

-taken from her book, Keep a Quiet Heart

~Brittany

Peace and Contentment

Breanna and I have been so blessed by several of Elisabeth Elliot's writings.   A while back we had gotten "Keep a Quiet Heart" in from the library, but had to return it before we were done.  Mom was so sweet and bought the book for us and surprised us by leaving it on our bed along with a sweet note. :-)  (Thanks so much Mom for all that you invest into us. <3 )  Here are a few sections from what I read yesterday that stood out to me.  I hope some of you are as blessed by it as I was.

A spirit of calm contentment always accompanies true godliness.  The deep peace that comes from deep trust in God’s lovingkindness is not destroyed even by the worst of circumstances, for those Everlasting Arms are still cradling us, we are always “under the Mercy”.

It isn’t troubles that make saints, but their response to troubles.  Even miracles can’t make us holy.

Everything about which we are tempted to complain may be the very instrument whereby the Potter intents to shape His clay into the image of His Son—a headache, an insult, a long line at the check-out, someone’s rudeness or failure to say thank you, misunderstanding, disappointment, interruption.  As Amy Carmichael said, “See in it a chance to die,” meaning a chance to leave self behind and say YES to the will of God, to be “conformable unto His death.”  Not a morbid martyr-complex but a peaceful and happy contentment in the assurance that goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives.

~Elisabeth Elliot, Keep A Quiet Heart~

~Brittany

Interesting Weather

We're certainly having some interesting weather here in northwest Ohio these days.  It is a bit warmer, and very foggy tonight.  When I got on my computer this evening and saw my little weather button, I couldn't help but to snip it to share with all of you.

When the weather is changing all the time, it is a good reminder to be grateful.  So often we are prone to complain if the weather is not just what we were hoping for.  Some years ago, after reading The Sovereignty of God by A. W. Pink, our family changed our attitude toward the weather drastically.  The Lord is appointing every aspect of the weather.  Who are we to complain against God!  Now that is a perspective to think about, when we are tempted to complain. :-)

Posted by: Brittany