THOUGHTS

April something, 2020

Social distancing

Suddenly 

there are more hours in a day,

or so it seems, 

whether it is more hours to read

while sitting in the sunshine

or late at night in bed.

I have a voracious appetite:  
eat, sleep, and read.

Yesterday, I decided to eat more healthily.

So I got out a package of strawberries,

but alas, they were too far gone.

Instead, I had to put chocolate topping on my ice cream.  

Oh, the choices we are forced to make.

Here are a few quotes I've read and kept to sift through.

"Life isn't always tied up with a bow,

but it is still a gift."

"Unlimited faith is at our disposal.

Through the enabling of the Holy Spirit

the believer can serve valiantly,

endure patiently, suffer triumphantly,

and if need be die gloriously."

William MacDonald

"...knowing this,

that our old man was crucified with Him,

that the body of sin might be done away with,

that we should no longer be slave of sin."

Romans 6:6

Another excerpt from Colonel Brengle's "The Way of Holiness."

"When we are converted, our sins are forgiven, and we feel a sweet peace within, and we  love God and man, and want to do good and be good all the time, and we have power to do good, and to overcome bad habits and temptation, but there is still something in our hearts that needs to be removed before we are holy. (How's that for a run-on sentence!)  That something within, the Bible calls, 'the old man.'  It is the old nature that gets angry when people or things do not suit us; that is deceitful, and proud, and unclean, and disobedient, and sill, and selfish.  Of course, conversion gives a great blow to this 'old man,' and subdues him, and makes him behave himself, so that he no longer acts so badly as he once did; but he is still alive, and watching  his chance to get the victory again.  And, sad to say, he often does get the victory, causing converted people to do and say things that are wrong, and that grieve and quench the Holy Spirit.  The 'old man' causes quarrels and jealousies, and envyings and evil speakings, in churches...and leads to backslidings of all kinds, and the ruin of many Christian lives."

My husband loved Teen Challenge, helping people find victory over their addictions.  However, he knew if they held onto sin, even a tiny bit, they were push-overs for the devil.  He preached holiness, complete surrender and death to the 'old man.'  There is no other way for a Christian to live a victorious life: "Victory in Jesus"

"A fallen man is not simply an impatient creature

who needs improvements.

He is a rebel who must lay down his arms."

C.S. Lewis