dual personalities

Tag: prayer

December 5, 2023

The strong gales of the Spirit

by chuckofish

As you know my Bible reading plan this year was the Navigators 5x5x5 New Testament reading plan. It has been an easier plan than reading the entire Bible and I have enjoyed concentrating on the NT.

Right now I am reading Revelation, which is looking awfully relevant these days.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (Rev. 3:20)

For next year, I have a new plan and a new Bible–the ESV Chronological Bible.

I will read through scripture in historical order–from Genesis to Revelation–through the eight eras of the Bible in the order the events occurred.

Do you have a reading plan for 2024? Here’s a list of ones you can download. Times a-wastin’! January will be here before you know it.

After my morning scripture reading, I read a prayer from The Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions, edited by Arthur Bennett. I really love these prayers and I highly recommend the book. You might want to ask Santa to bring you a copy for Christmas. (POV: Don’t buy anything for yourself now–someone may already be planning to give it to you for Christmas!)

O Lord, in prayer I launch far out into the eternal world, and on that broad ocean my soul triumphs over all evils on the shores of mortality. Time, with its gay amusements and cruel disappointments never appears so inconsiderate as then.

In prayer I see myself as nothing; I find my heart going after Thee with intensity, and long with vehement thirst to live to Thee. Blessed be the strong gales of the Spirit that speed me on my way to the New Jerusalem.

In prayer all things here below vanish, and nothing seems important but holiness of heart and the salvation of others.

In prayer all my worldly cares, fears, anxieties disappear, and are of as little significance as a puff of wind.

In prayer my soul inwardly exults with lively thoughts at what Thou art doing for Thy church, and I long that Thou shouldest get Thyself a great name from sinners returning to Zion.

In prayer I am lifted above the frowns and flatteries of life, and taste heavenly joys; entering into the eternal world I can give myself to Thee with all my heart, to be Thine for ever.

In prayer I can place all my concerns in Thy hands, to be entirely at Thy disposal, having no will or interest of my own.

In prayer I can intercede for my friends, ministers, sinners, the church, Thy kingdom to come, with greatest freedom, ardent hopes, as a son to his father, as a lover to the beloved.

Help me to be all prayer and never to cease praying.

(“In Prayer”)

P.S. The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) celebrated its 50th anniversary on December 4, 2023. Here are four things I see in the PCA for which I give thanks.

(The painting is The Light of the World (1851-54) by William Holman Hunt.)

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November 14, 2023

A quiet mind

by chuckofish

Today we toast Aaron Copland (1900-1990) on his birthday. Born in Brooklyn of Lithuanian Jewish parents, he wrote some of the most deeply “American” music of the 20th century. I have loved his music since being introduced to it in childhood. Recently daughter #2 read the play “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder so here is Copland’s “Our Town Suite” which was used in the 1940 movie.

Here’s a reminder that Christians are to use their gifts to serve one another, but also that the testimony of Scripture demonstrates that “throughout redemptive history, God’s people have used their gifts not just for those within the covenant community but for others as well.”

And here’s a little reminder about the difference between Pilgrims and Puritans.

And here’s a prayer that I’ve included before, but it bears repeating:

“Give us grace and strength to forbear and to persevere. Give us courage and gaiety, and the quiet mind. Spare to us our friends, soften to us our enemies. Bless us, if it may be, in all our innocent endeavours. If it may not, give us the strength to encounter that which is to come, that we may be brave in peril, constant in tribulation, temperate in wrath, and in all changes of fortune, and down to the gates of death, loyal and loving to one another.”

(Robert Louis Stevenson)

Grace and peace to you!

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October 19, 2023

My mind is a bucket without a bottom

by chuckofish

This prayer from The Valley of Vision really convicts:

O CHANGELESS GOD,

Under the conviction of thy Spirit I learn that
      the more I do, the worse I am,
  the more I know, the less I know,
  the more holiness I have, the more sinful I am,
  the more I love, the more there is to love.
    O wretched man that I am!
O Lord,
  I have a wild heart,
    and cannot stand before thee;
I am like a bird before a man.
How little I love thy truth and ways!
I neglect prayer,
  by thinking I have prayed enough and earnestly,
  by knowing thou hast saved my soul.
Of all hypocrites, grant that I may not be
    an evangelical hypocrite,
  who sins more safely because grace abounds,
  who tells his lusts that Christ’s blood
    cleanseth them,
  who reasons that God cannot cast him into hell,
    for he is saved,
  who loves evangelical preaching, churches,
    Christians, but lives unholily.
My mind is a bucket without a bottom,
  with no spiritual understanding,
  no desire for the Lord’s Day,
  ever learning but never reaching the truth,
  always at the gospel-well but never holding water.
My conscience is without conviction or contrition,
  with nothing to repent of.
My will is without power of decision or resolution.
My heart is without affection, and full of leaks.
My memory has no retention,
  so I forget easily the lessons learned,
  and thy truths seep away.
Give me a broken heart that yet carries home
  the water of grace.

You can listen to the prayer read by Max McLean:

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September 22, 2023

Friday inspo

by chuckofish

Thy name is excellent,
      thy glory high,
      thy compassions unfailing,
      thy condescension wonderful,
      thy mercy tender.
I bless thee for the discoveries, invitations,
    promises of the gospel
  for in them is pardon for rebels,
    liberty for captives,
    health for the sick,
    salvation for the lost.
I come to thee in thy beloved name of Jesus;
  re-impress thy image upon my soul;
Raise me above the smiles and frowns of the world,
  regarding it as a light thing to be judged by men;
May thy approbation be my only aim,
  thy Word my one rule.
Make me to abhor that which grieves thy
    Holy Spirit,
  to suspect consolations of a worldly nature,
  to shun a careless way of life,
  to reprove evil,
  to instruct with meekness those who oppose me,
  to be gentle and patient towards all men,
  to be not only a professor but an example
    of the gospel,
  displaying in every relation, office, and condition
    its excellency, loveliness and advantages.
How little have I illustrated my principles
  and improved my privileges!
How seldom I served my generation!
How often have I injured and not recommended
  my Redeemer!
How few are those blessed through me!
In many things I have offended,
    in all come short of thy glory;
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

–The Valley of Vision

Now that’s a prayer!

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September 7, 2023

This and that

by chuckofish

“I dare not neglect prayer and thanksgiving if I am to enjoy God’s transcendent peace and overcome my worries.  I must abhor thankless bitterness and eschew sulkiness.  My worries must be enumerated before the Father, along with thoughtful requests framed in accordance with his will.  These requests must be offered to the accompaniment of sincere gratitude for the many undeserved blessings already received, and for the privilege of stretching my faith by exposure to this new and improved hardship.  Thus the follower of Jesus learns really to trust the all-wise and all-gracious sovereignty of God (Rom. 8:28), as he begins to experience the profundity of Peter’s injunction: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6f.),  (D.A. Carson).

Anne reviewed Kevin DeYoung’s new book in Christianity Today. Five stars!

And, wow, this is really something. “[T]hese two people are in a lot of trouble.”

So feel the sun on your back, wear pink pants, pray without ceasing, and remember that God’s mercies are new every morning.

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July 19, 2023

Every moment of happiness

by chuckofish

It’s Wednesday, so let’s all just take a moment to be thankful:

O MY GOD,

Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects,
my heart admires, adores, loves thee,
for my little vessel is as full as it can be,
and I would pour out all that fullness before thee
in ceaseless flow.
When I think upon and converse with thee
ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,
ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed,
ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,
crowding into every moment of happiness.
I bless thee for the soul thou hast created,
for adorning it, sanctifying it,
though it is fixed in barren soil;
for the body thou hast given me,
for preserving its strength and vigour,
for providing senses to enjoy delights,
for the ease and freedom of my limbs,
for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;
for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,
for a full table and overflowing cup,
for appetite, taste, sweetness,
for social joys of relatives and friends,
for ability to serve others,
for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,
for a mind to care for my fellow-men,
for opportunities of spreading happiness around,
for loved ones in the joys of heaven,
for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.
I love thee above the powers of language
to express,
for what thou art to thy creatures.

Increase my love, O my God, through time
and eternity.

(“Praise and Thanksgiving” from The Valley of Vision, the Puritan prayer book)

And that said, it seems appropriate to read this from Willa Cather’s My Antonia.

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January 13, 2023

A Fiat with the top down

by chuckofish

–“Amaryllis” by Connie Wanek

Also this (picturing Ronnie Howard):

This is how my brain (still) works.

Have a good weekend! Pray for traveling mercies for me as I head to Baltimore tomorrow morning.

5 Comments
March 28, 2022

Blessed assurance

by chuckofish

The sun came out, but it was windy and cold here in flyover country this weekend. March is still roaring like a lion! We are awaiting the lamb…

God is good and I look for and find small pleasures in his name*.

There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?

—Ecclesiastes 2:24-25

Daughter #1 and I had fun hanging out and singing along to Bob Dylan and Tom Petty. On Saturday we buzzed around, shopping for fabric and children’s clothes and perusing an estate sale. We went out to lunch. We gabbed away in the Florida room and enjoyed happy hour at home. On Sunday she got up early and drove downtown to have breakfast with a college friend before church. I went to my adult education class at church and then the OM, boy, daughter #3 et al met up at the 11 o’clock service. The seven of us almost take up an entire pew!) The wee twins were again super well-behaved, keeping their natural depravity in check during the hour and a half long service. I was super impressed.

After church we went home and ate bagels and jelly beans and, although it was chilly, played outside for awhile.

Rapunzel!

As my mother always said, “Keep it simple,” and my friend Nicki said, “Lower your expectations.” Praise the Lord–everything will work out.

*Read this for more on this subject.

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February 28, 2022

“Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?”*

by chuckofish

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

James 5: 13-16

We had a great sermon on Sunday by our guest preacher, the retired President of Covenant Seminary. It was about prayer and about the necessity of it in our everyday lives. He also talked about what is going on in the Ukraine and how the people need our prayers. He worked in the mission field there and has a lot of friends. So pray, pray, PRAY! Never forget that the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

In other news, daughter #1 came home this weekend and we indulged in a few favorite pastimes. Instead of estate sales, we hit a couple of antique malls. I got this little Victorian child’s chair…

My grandkids will love it and will enjoy moving it around with our other small chairs. This is a favorite activity.

We also made an interesting discovery–there is a Puzzle Warehouse right here in our little flyover town! Daughter #1 googled “puzzles” and found it, a mere five minutes away! Bingpot!

It was a very busy, happening place. I had no idea jigsaw puzzles are such a thing. We were a bit overwhelmed by the variety of puzzles–although puppies, kittens and Thomas Kinkade did predominate. Still, there was a lot to choose from in the palatable three percent left.

I resisted this one only because it is 1000 pieces and I am not advanced enough for that…

…but I found a good one to keep me busy for awhile.

We also drank our share of red wine.

And we listened to the two CDs the boy dropped by last week.

It is no wonder that the wee twins are big fans!

Step forward in faith this week and don’t forget to:

 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing.

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-17

*Corrie Ten Boom

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January 6, 2022

Hallelujah the earth replies

by chuckofish

The Star of Bethlehem by Burne-Jones

Today is Epiphany which marks the final celebratory day of Christmas. So let’s all sing “We Three Kings,” which was written by John Henry Hopkins Jr. in 1857. At the time of composing the carol, Hopkins served as the rector of Christ Episcopal Church in Williamsport, PA. He wrote it for a Christmas pageant. It was the first widely popular Christmas carol written in America. (Bonus fun fact: Hopkins gave the eulogy at the funeral of President Ulysses Grant in 1885.)

We all learned this hymn as four-year olds for our first Christmas pageant, which back in the day, was in school. We thought it was very cool–so dramatic and kind of spooky with the gathering doom–and all that sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying. I think they turned off the lights and we turned on our little candle-looking flashlights for a special effect. There was no misunderstanding the end of the story for the baby in the manger. Here’s the BYU men’s chorus singing it:

Meanwhile I have packed up all of my Christmas decorations and taken them to the basement. However, I keep finding strays…

This always happens. C’est la vie.

If you are in need of a spiritual pick-me-up, I recommend watching The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958) which tells the story of the real-life Gladys Aylward (1902-70), a former English domestic who became a Christian missionary in China in the 1930s.

In 1940 she shepherded more than 100 children over the mountains to safety at the height of the Sino-Japanese war. Ingrid Bergman is 100% believable as the missionary and her relationship with Curt Jergens as the Chinese Colonel, although embellished, is very romantic. Robert Donat, in his final role, is terrific. What can I say, when I watched it last night, I cried through the whole movie. (Some time ago I read the book by Alan Burgess, The Small Woman, on which the film is based, and it is very good too.)

This weekend we will celebrate daughter #3’s birthday which is actually today–bonne anniversaire!–thus wrapping up all the family birthday’s between November 28 and today.

I pray for the day ahead and that I might bring Glory to God, in word, thought and deed. I thank God that his mercies are new to me every morning. I thank God that his grace is sufficient for all situations that I may encounter.

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