A life of immeasurable joy

I recently read a book that captivated, inspired and encouraged me. The message resonated deep and true.

The book is the partial memoir of Lydia Prince, as told by her husband Derek Prince. It is the story of three years in the life of a most remarkable woman. Her journey in the quest to find something more that ultimately alters the course of her life in ways she never imagined.

Lydia was a beautiful blue-eyed Danish woman with a picture perfect life. She was comfortable and well established in every way imaginable: education, finances, social position; a fulfilling professional life as head of a department at her school, a luxurious apartment with a devoted maid; a busy social life, a proposal of marriage. However, there was something missing.

Her quest for something more took her to the pages of the black leather Bible that sat on the top shelf of her library. She had once mandatorily read it as a component of a unit of study in her degree. What she discovered ultimately led her to abandon everything and everyone she held dear and journey alone and penniless to an alien land that for centuries had been fraught with violence and danger. There she discovered what all of humanity seek and yet so few find: true joy, peace and perfect security – regardless of the external condition of our lives.

The season of Christmas had recently passed. A traditional Danish Christmas carol had deeply moved her soul.

 My Saviour and my Substitute, all hail!

A crown of thorns the world to Thee assigned;
But, Lord, Thou seest that I have in mind
A crown of roses round Thy cross to bind-
Let me the needed grace and courage find!

She scanned all the books on the shelves of her extensive personal library, noting all the authors on each spine. Years of studying, teaching, quoting left her without the answer she was seeking. She came across the plain volume bound in black on the top shelf, and wondered if the answer could be found inside its pages. She hesitated, then pulled it down and opened at the beginning of the New Testament and came to chapter seven, with red print that indicated Jesus was speaking (p. 31).

‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened’ ~Matthew 7:7-8.

'Enter through the narrow gate…Because small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it’ ~Matthew 7:13, 14.

She realised that somewhere ahead in the path that she was following there was a gate. Inside, there was a way that led to peace and fulfillment. Before she could walk in the way, she had to first find and enter the gate. Lydia knew that she had been seeking for many months, but had never asked (p. 33).

As a child, she was trained to say the Lord’s Prayer each night before she went to sleep. By 12 years of age it became meaningless and monotonous; one night she recalled repeating the Lord’s Prayer in succession ten times so as to be free from the burden of praying it for the next nine nights (p. 33).

She didn’t know what to say, but spoke aloud from the depths of her heart: “Oh God – I do not understand – I do not understand – who God is, who Jesus is, who is the Holy Spirit…but if you show me Jesus as a living reality, I will follow Him!” (p. 33)

The Christmas carol ran through her mind over and over. A river of peace flowed out of her soul as she sang it. It had a new and special significance. She was experiencing indescribable peace, insurmountable joy that she had never known before. The void that was missing that she had been searching to fill had been filled (p. 35).

She continued to read through the New Testament: the passage from the book of John captivated her attention in a way no other literature piece had ever done before – their combination of grandeur and simplicity was powerful (p. 37).

‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…

In him was life, and that life was the light of men…
And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth’ ~John 1:1, 4, 14.

In the days and weeks that passed Lydia experienced real happiness. She was finding purpose in life, something more than a career and an apartment, and nice furniture and a pension at the end of it all (p. 23).

She was developing a passion and compassion for the people of Jerusalem – she did not know why; but she believed God was speaking to her heart. He was preparing her to soon embark on a life-changing journey of serving others, not just herself.

She was challenged with the thought that she had sought for the truth, believed she had found it, but was faced with the challenge of obeying it (p. 58)!

For years, Lydia had ‘built (her) life on (her) own planning and reasoning, but (she) found there is another dimension to living’ (p. 75) … that is living by faith, serving in faith.

She attended an evening service whereby the message spoken by a missionary resonated deep. He opened his address with the verse:

‘For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do’ ~Ephesians 2:10

This verse spoke loud and clear to Lydia – God has already assigned to each one of us a special task in life. We do not have to plan the work that we do in life; we need to seek the work that God has already planned for us to do; that which is especially appointed for us to complete, no-one else (p. 64).

Lydia sat down with the missionary speaker afterwards, and he encouraged her to “pray earnestly that you may find and do God’s will for your life. That is the purpose for which we were created from eternity, and in the long run nothing else can truly satisfy us.” (p.65)

Lydia had become content to place her hand in that of God and allow Him to lead her, day by day and step by step (p.87); and provide for her every need. Peaceably accepting and willing this to the Lord many a times challenged her. But she was convicted over and over what she knew to be true. He ‘knows what you need before you ask Him’ ~Matthew 6:8b. The Lord tests us; He tested Lydia in awaiting for her approach, her acknowledgement of her true reliance on Him; her requests for her needs that she acknowledges that can only be met by Him.

 

This is the life Lydia sought – to be guided and provided by her one true King – the one who made Her, the one who sent his only Son to die for her – the one who changed her heart, opened her eyes to a new life, gave her purpose, and gave her eternal life.

 I firmly believe Lydia today is now in His glorious presence, reaping the rewards of living a fully satisfying life for Him and sharing his love, his sacrifice and his daily mercies with those around her – serving Him.

 

Lydia established herself in the city of Jerusalem, Israel, and founded a children's home, becoming the cherished "mother" to dozens of Jewish and Arab orphans, mainly girls, eight of whom became her own children.

 There is a lesson to be learnt by all who read of the life and the miracles of Lydia – she exchanged materialistic prosperity for soul contentment. To me this speaks volumes – when your time has come to leave this earth, material possessions mean nothing; what matters is how you lived your life, what you did with it, and the legacy you leave behind (Ecclesiastes 9:1-12).

Death is certain, life is uncertain – do not allow your life to go to waste and have time, ‘chance’ and death catch you unexpectedly. Live your life for Christ – there is more joy for you to enjoy in living for Him than living for yourself, now and forevermore in Heaven.

He unfolds the rose

It had been quite a cold night. I awoke one morning to a blanket of fog. The sun was shining so brightly. Rays of light were hitting the water droplets at an angle that caused them to sparkle. Beautiful! I grabbed my camera...

 

It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God’s design,
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.

 

The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I;
The flower God opens so sweetly,
In my hands would fade and die.

 

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God’s design,
Then how can I have wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?

 

So I’ll trust Him for His leading
Each moment of every day
And I’ll look to Him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.

 

For the pathway that lies before me
My heavenly Father knows
I’ll trust Him to unfold the moments
Just as He unfolds the rose.

 

~Selma Swanson

 

 

It is my prayer for you, as we begin another year, that you may entrust your Father in Heaven with your rose - with your life. Trust Him to unfold the petals - one at a time, and be blessed with the sweet fragrance and inner joy of doing so.

A New Year

“I the Lord do not change...” ~Malachi 3:6a

Here we are at this point in time again – a whole year later; thinking about the year that was, looking forward to the year ahead and wondering what this New Year might bring. Life seems to be flying by!

Throughout our lifetime, we experience a great deal of change. From life’s first cry to one’s final breath; as the years go by, we see the world and the society in which we live in, change. I love hearing stories from those who have lived many years – about how dramatically the world has changed in their lifetime. Those born in the 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s – all the experiences and tales they could tell!

It is true with every new year comes new aspirations, hopes, dreams, plans, anticipation and uncertainty. We leave behind another year that holds much joy as it does sorrow and tragedy.

Much can change in one year. Much can happen in a year. I know that full well.

There is one thing, however, that will never change; that is God himself and the love that he has for us, through Christ Jesus, our Lord. It is amazing to think, it is amazing to know that God never changes! Even though our circumstances and the influences that cause change in our life do, he does not! Life and uncertainties may shake us, but God, who is the Rock of Ages (Isaiah 26:4) does not move!

‘Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows’ ~James 1:17.

God’s unchanging purpose gives you eternal significance. ‘The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations’ ~Psalm 33:11. God’s plan is unchangeable, It existed from the beginning of time and remains the same today. It is overwhelming to think that we are part of his great plan.

“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope” ~Jeremiah 29:11.

‘The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness’ ~Lamentations 3:22-23.

God’s unchangeable ways assure you of unwavering guidance. ‘As for God, his ways are perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless’ ~Psalm 18:30.

God’s unchanging Word equips you with timeless truth. The Bible is forever new, forever relevant, forever timeless. ‘The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever’ ~Isaiah 40:8.

God’s unchanging commitment  guarantees everlasting security and assurance. If you have made the decision to trust in Jesus – to entrust him with your life, your heart and your soul, and declared him as Lord and Saviour, you can be assured of eternal life spent in heaven with him. God is forever (with no end) committed to you: your salvation, growth in a relationship with him, and your eternal destiny.

 ‘For great is your love (O Lord), higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies’ ~Psalm 108:4

‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever’ ~Hebrews 13:8.

You stood before creation
Eternity in your hand
You spoke the earth into motion
My soul now to stand

You stood before my failure
And carried the cross for my shame
My sin weighed upon your shoulders
My soul now to stand

So what could I say?
And what could I do?
But offer this heart, Oh God
Completely to you

So I'll walk upon salvation
Your spirit alive in me
This life to declare your promise
My soul now to stand

So what could I say?
And what could I do?
But offer this heart, Oh God
Completely to you

I'll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the one who gave it all
I'll stand
My soul Lord to you surrendered
All I am is yours

~Leah

God Has Something Better For You!

I have been thinking about the last line of this quote, ‘write a good one’. While there is a bit of truth to it, it screams “you’re in control – do as you please.” How true it is; we like to be in control, we like to know exactly what’s happening, where we’re going and do as we please. When we feel like things are out of control, we worry! I can attest to that!

This attitude, or mindset, of having to be ‘in control’ all the time, conflicts with what God calls us to do, calls our hearts to be and calls our minds to think.

I read a lovely quote recently that summarises what we ought to do:

Don't cry over the past - it's gone.

Don't stress about the future - it hasn't arrived.

Live in the present moment, make it beautiful.

~Anon

Just focus on today and keeping your heart right with and for Jesus, and leave the rest in his hands. Give it all to him and trust that all will be well. It doesn’t mean that life will be smooth sailing – we live in an imperfect world! What it does mean is that your heart can rest in that fact that He can see the whole canvas, and for everything that happens, God has a purpose for it happening – for our benefit.

He knows all things, sees all things and hears all things. We are told in his Word, the Bible that ‘all things work together for good for those that love him who are called according to his purpose’ (Romans 8:28). The Lord hears every prayer prayed; and he will always answer them, however it may be with an answer we might not like or at a time later than we expected. But… I can promise you, because God promises us, that it is for the best!

When I finished reading my devotion today, I thought “Oh how true!” The title says it all: ‘God has something better for you’. The devotion is quoted below:

When God knows something is good for you, He says ‘Yes’; and when it’s not, He says ‘No’. Why would God say ‘no’ to you? Maybe the timing is wrong, or He has something better in mind. Gratitude comes when you realise what could have happened, but didn’t because God intervened. Stop trying to break loose from the loving grip of the One who holds you for your own protection! The Bible says: ‘Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you… Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act.’ (Psalm 37:4–7)

Looking back on her life, Billy Graham’s wife, Ruth, said, ‘If the Lord had said “Yes” to all my prayer requests, I’d have married the wrong man—several times.’ What you’re so upset about now, you may be thanking God for later. The more (you grow in your relationship with him), the more you begin to see how wise your heavenly Father is, and the more you learn to trust Him.

The Psalmist wrote, ‘The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.’ (Psalm 23:1) What a picture: God leading you, God feeding you, God protecting you, God watching over you. Like a lifeguard at a beach, in order to save you, God will sometimes interrupt your life, risk embarrassing you in front of your friends, and maybe even bruise a rib or two. That’s because He loves you too much to let you drown in the thing you thought was so good for you. The main thing is: God has something better for you!

Taken from ‘The Word Today’, Wednesday 31^st December 2014.

'Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus' ~Philippians 4:6-7.

‘When the sun goes down, the stars come out’ ~Anon. What a beautiful thought! How true it is in reality, and how true it is in the lives of those who have Jesus in their heart.

~Leah