My firstborn is 22!
Hope you’ve had a great day!
Love you!
Author Archives: Barbara Harper
When afraid to surrender
Sometimes we wrestle with the thought, “If I really surrender all to God, what will He do to me?” Even if we have made that surrender before, that thought can come at odd moments. After all, Joni Eareckson Tada was paralyzed as a teen-ager and has been in a wheelchair for, I think, 30-some years. Elisabeth Elliot lost not one, but two husbands. A dear professor had Lou Gehrig’s disease for over 20 years…our minds can go on and on with other examples we know.
There have been whole books written about reasons for suffering, and we hear testimonies of God’s grace through those times. Yet that lurking fear or reluctance can still snake into our thoughts.
As I was pondering these things this morning, the thought came, “What’s the alternative, really?” Suffering will come to most of us in some form or another. We live in a fallen world and deal with its effects; we’re not in heaven yet, where there are no tears, sorrow, pain. We’re not going to stop these things from coming into our lives if we don’t surrender to God. We can’t somehow insulate ourselves or protect ourselves from any pain or trial.
But if we are the Lord’s, we can trust that He has a purpose in what He has allowed. We can trust Him for His presence, peace, grace, and help. If we’re surrendered to Him, we can face these things in a way that we can’t otherwise.
One comment that stayed with me from a forgotten article about a trial a lady faced was this: “I was glad, when this happened, that He was not a stranger to me.” It’s certainly better to face a trial with Him rather than apart from Him. Sometimes He does work through the trials of life to bring people to Himself from their position as a stranger to Him, or to bring His children back from a backslidden position, or draw His children closer. But after that, we can “glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:3-5).
We need not hold back our wills from the Lord for fear of what might happen. It’s futile to do so, really. But even aside from that, we can face whatever He sees fit to allow into our lives knowing that He will work all things together for good to them that love God (Romans 8:28) and by relying on His promises:
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness (Isaiah 41:10).
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).
Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (II Corinthians 12:8-10).
A Hot Quote
Seen at Lifenut:
What dreadful hot weather we have!
It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance.
– Jane Austen
Oh, man, can I identify — I can’t even go shopping at Wal-Mart during the summer without getting hot and sweaty and red-faced.
For teachers, at home or in a classroom
I was going through some old files and came across these poems and one letter. With school starting, I thought some of you might enjoy them:
Dear Teacher,
Today I turn some of my little girl’s life over to you.
It is not easy for me because I held her so tight when she was newborn. I taught her and she felt the love of her family.
But today a new chapter in her life begins; for a few hours I will not be there to answer her questions, kiss her bruises, and to ‘save her’ from life’s little pains, but you will be there. Be kind for she is small. She has so much to give and so much to learn. So for those few hours when she is yours, remember: I held her tightly; I share her dreams; I share her hopes. Give her love and help her learn. When the day is over please send her home unharmed.
—Author Unknown
A Teacher’s Prayer
I wanted to teach my students how
To live this life on earth.
To face its struggles and its strife
And to improve their worth.
Not just the lesson in a book
Or how the rivers flow,
But how to choose the proper path
Wherever they may go.
To understand eternal truth
And know the right from wrong
And gather all the beauty of
A flower and a song.
For if I helped the world to grow
In wisdom and in grace
Then I feel that I have won
And I have filled my place.
And so I asked your guidance, God,
That I have done my part
For character and confidence
And happiness of heart.
The Miracle of the Beginning Reader
I wiggle and jiggle
And rock upon my chair.
I wiggle my loose tooth,
And I twirl a strand of hair.
I chew on several fingers
And I sometimes suck my thumb.
I tap the reading table
Like I’d play upon a drum.
I kick my foot with rhythm
Lose the place where I should look.
I rub my nose and clear my throat,
And sometimes drop my book.
I look outside the window
And I look down at the floor,
I pay very close attention
When someone’s at the door.
I close my eyes and rest my head;
My teacher’s heart must bleed.
But in spite of all of this
I’m learning how to read!
—Author Unknown
Thursday Thirteen
I have noticed a few blogs that participate in the “Thursday Thirteen” — a list of thirteen of anything, designed to helps folks get to know each other and spark conversation. This is my first time to participate. I’m borrowing from Cindy Swanson’s idea from a couple of weeks ago and posting 13 favorite quotes:
1. It doesn’t really matter how great the pressure is. What matters is where the pressure lies, whether it comes between me and God or whether it presses me nearer His heart. — Hudson Taylor
2. No amount of activity in the Father’s service will make up for neglect of the Father Himself. — Robert Murray McCheyne
3. Let him who would enjoy a good future waste none of his present. — Dale Carnegie
4. Sarcasm comes from a Greek word which means “flesh.” It means “to tear flesh.” — Jim Berg, Quieting a Noisy Soul
5. We have a base man-pleasing disposition, which will make us let men perish lest we lose their love, and let them go quietly to hell, lest we should make them angry with us for seeking their salvation: and we are ready to venture on the displeasure of God, and risk the everlasting misery of our people, rather than draw on ourselves their ill-will.
—Richard Baxter as quoted in the Nov./Dec. 2005 Frontline Magazine
6. Emily, wife of America’s first foreign missionary, Adoniram Judson, wrote home from Moulmein, Burma, in January 1847: “This taking care of teething babies, and teaching natives to darn stockings and talking English back end foremost . . . in order to get an eatable dinner, is really a very odd sort of business for Fanny Forester [her pen name–she was a well-known New England writer before marrying Judson]…. But I begin to get reconciled to my minute cares.” She was ambitious for “higher and better things,” but was enabled to learn that “the person who would do great things well must practice daily on little ones; and she who would have the assistance of the Almighty in important acts, must be daily and hourly accustomed to consult His will in the minor affairs of life.”
— From Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot
7. The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. — Psalm 68:17
I have not a shadow of a doubt that if all our eyes could be opened today, we should see our homes, and our places of business, and the streets we traverse, filled with “the chariots of God.” There is no need, for any one of us to walk for lack of chariots. That cross inmate of your household, who has hitherto made life a burden to you, and who has been the Juggernaut car to crush your soul into the dust, may henceforth be a glorious chariot to carry you to the heights of heavenly patience and long-suffering. That misunderstanding, that mortification, that unkindness, that disappointment, that loss, that defeat — all these are chariots waiting to carry you to the very heights of victory you have so longed to reach. Mount into them, then, with thankful hearts, and lose sight of all second causes in the shining of His love who will carry you in His arms safely and triumphantly over it all.
—Hannah Whitall Smith
8. True prayer is not asking God for what we want, but for what He wants.
—J. Oswald Chambers
9. Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire? — Corrie Ten Boom
10. Do not have your concert first. and then tune your instrument afterwards. Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get first of all into harmony with Him.– Hudson Taylor
11. Courage does not always roar. Sometimes it is the quiet voice at the end of the day, saying, “I will try again tomorrow.” — Unknown
12. When I came to see that Jesus Christ had died for me, it didn’t seem hard to give up all for Him. It seemed just common, ordinary honesty.
—C. T. Studd (1860-1931)
13. God does not waste suffering, nor does He discipline out of caprice. If He plough, it is because He purposes a crop. — J. Oswald Sanders
Daily Light for Aug. 9
I first heard Daily Light referred to in missionary biographies, often the missionary testifying that the Scripture verses listed for the day perfectly met a need. I was thrilled to find a 1906 version of Daily Light for $2 at a used book table once! That copy is falling apart, but, thaskfully, the book has been reprinted since then, so I have a new copy. The man who compiled this devotional book was truly filled and led by the Spirit of God: I don’t know how many times the verses for the day have spoken to my heart — I mentioned a few in my posts about dealing with TM. I like to use it to get myself in gear for time in the Word, but on some days this may be the only time I have in the Word.
The verses listed for today are a good reminder — of what we were before we were saved, of God’s grace to cleanse and forgive, of how much He loves us:
Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot
HE whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.–We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.–I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing.
Ye are washed, . . . ye are sanctified, . . . ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.–The king’s daughter is all glorious within.–Perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.
Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us.
These are they which . . . have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.–A glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but . . . holy and without blemish.–Ye are complete in him.
CANT. 4. 7. Is. 1. 5, 6.–Is. 64. 6.–Ro. 7. 18.
1 Co. 6. 11.–Ps. 45. 13.–Eze. 16. 14.
Ps. 90. 17. Re. 7. 14.–Ep. 5. 27.–Col. 2. 10.
Wordless Wednesday
“Works For Me Wednesday”
Rocks In My Dryer hosts a “Works For Me Wednesday” on her blog, in which people can posts various tips. This will be my first time to particpate, so I hope I do it right!
I don’t have many tips of my own — I usually am trying to glean them from everyone else. But here’s one I discovered one day. I have an old dresser with a dresser scarf on it. The dresser scarf both brightens and pretties up the space, plus covers some of the faults of the dresser. The scarf has Battenburg lace around the edges, which is pretty but is a bear to iron, so I don’t like to throw it in the washer whenever it gets dusty. One day as I was dusting the dresser, I used one of those sticky lint rollers on the dresser scarf — and it worked beautifully! Got all the dust off without having to wash and iron the scarf. The lint roller also works well on lampshades that aren’t pleated (a vacuum brush attachment works best, but the lint roller is great for a quick once over).
Favorite fiction books and authors
A lot of Christian fiction has been beneficial to me in many ways, but one that stands out is Janette Oke’s A Quiet Strength. It’s the third book in one series, and in that one, a young girl has just gotten married and is struggling with the fact that her husband is out of the house so much. I was struggling with that as well, even though I’d been married longer.
Janette Oke is the one who started a love of Christian fiction in my life!
Favorite books: Non-fiction
Here are some books that I’ve especially enjoyed and/or that have been especially helpful to me:
