Author: bonniefaurote

ADORATION

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WORSHIP

“…sing to the Lord a new song,… Make a joyful noise to the Lord,…break forth into joyous song and sing praises” (Ps 98:1,4 ESV)!

YOUR NAME ENDURES FOREVER

Screen Shot 2015-10-22 at 3.58.39 PM“It is good…to declare your steadfast love in the morning,

and your faithfulness by night,” (Ps 92:1-2 ESV).

“For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,

your faithfulness to the clouds” (Ps 57:10 ESV).

 

“Your righteousness is like the mountains…

your judgments are like the great deep;…” (Ps 36:6 ESV).

“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and your dominion endures throughout all generations…” (Ps 145:13 ESV).

 

“…’Great and amazing are your deeds,

O Lord God the Almighty!

Just and true are your ways,

O King of the nations” (Rev 15:3 ESV)!

 

“Who will not fear, O Lord,

and glorify your name?

For you alone are holy.

…for your righteous acts have been revealed.’” (Rev 15:4 ESV).

 

“Your name, O Lord, endures forever,

your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages” (Ps 135:13 ESV).

“How great are your works, O LORD,

how profound your thoughts” (Ps 92:5 NIV)!

VALLEYS TO MOUNTAINTOPS

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DISHWASHER FAILURE

2/9/10

Screen Shot 2015-10-24 at 4.47.20 PMThere was nothing left to do but throw a tantrum. I had done my out-loud yelling at myself to no avail. In my exhausted state, heart beating in my ears and eyes crossing, I had only one more task to complete before I could fall into bed. Starting the dishwasher would finish my care-giving obligations and I’d be going home tomorrow. But the dishwasher didn’t start.

“Just let me finish this one thing.” The least I can do is work. Seems I’ve failed at everything else. But, no. So I threw myself into bed and slapped the covers over my head.

I had come to Ohio praying desperately to keep my mind on CHRIST. I had never succeeded keeping my mind on CHRIST while care giving. So, through the years, that had become my Ohio-bound goal.

But, there breathing the stale air under the covers, I admitted to myself this time that I had been more of a failure than ever before.

So, instead of enjoying a step toward Christlikeness, I fell on my face with failure—again. But, it was not just another failure. There was finality about it. In my honesty, I conceded I would never be able to move forward in CHRIST—certainly not in a care-giving situation.

I grew up in the church; therefore I don’t have a memory of a precise time of my salvation. Did I ever really accept CHRIST or have I been all these years just pretending I’m a Christian?

2/10/10

Well, I did get my face out of the covers and am home now. So, let me type in some notes I took during the weeks of care-giving:

“Does not GOD keep the drowning waters just below our noses? Is there anyone who can cling to victory more than fleeting moments? How often did King David break out in praise to His GOD? Yes, the Psalms are full of His praises, but what was his life like between the times he took up his pen to write?”

At my desk now, a little more under control, I recall King David’s life history recorded in I Chronicles and I and II Samuel. He went through similar circumstances as my care giving. He failed in many situations but this is what You, LORD say of David:

“…I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart,…” (Acts 13:22 ESV).

Oh…!

This is me, too! You love me, FATHER, and my heart loves You!!

Don’t I wish I had read that yesterday? I would have identified with King David—in his failures—in his praises.

FATHER, please, I don’t want to ever be so dejected as yesterday. Thank You for placing in Your Word a few of David’s Psalms that starts with his struggles and end in his praise to You. You do keep the drowning-water just below our noses so we can cast off our efforts and cling to You.

“How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

 “Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, ‘I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

 “But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me” (Psalm 13:1-6, ESV).

SABBATH

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SABBATH

“The believer…keeps the law of God, not believing by keeping it we gain acceptance or approval with God, but rather we keep God’s law as a declaration of our grateful response to His love” Alistair Begg (ref#164, Series: Pathway to Freedom, Sermon#: 1692, “Holy Day or Holiday?” Part One, Oct 31, 1993).

THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8 NASB).

We must have an internal conviction about keeping this commandment. And the convincing reason is the joy we gain in the LORD’s fellowship (ref#164, Series: Pathway to Freedom, Sermon#: 1692, “Holy Day or Holiday?” Part One, Oct 31, 1993).

Remember an experience with someone where the interaction with him or her eclipsed all thought of your personal work or leisure. Recall the fellowship, love and joy of the occasion.

This is why GOD established the Sabbath—to give us a holiday to be together with Him. Enjoy this holiday.

A JOURNAL ENTRY

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AMY MORE NEED FOR HARD BACK BOOKS?

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“…the love which Christ has [for me] presses on me from all sides, holding me to one end and prohibiting me from considering any other, wrapping itself around me in tenderness, giving me an impelling motive,…” (2 Corinthians 5:14) [The New Testament, An Expanded Translation, by Kenneth S. Wuest, p424].

The Bible, GOD’s revelation of Himself, has the ability to change me with His words. This is how the GOD of heaven and earth has chosen to reveal Himself—through words. Therefore, for me written words are of utmost importance.

Today marks my two months of engaging in social media. In that time I have read many, many, many, MANY, words—endless words… Does anyone ever get to the end of his or her newsfeed or personal blog rolls everyday?

One problem I’ve found is reading something one day and trying to find it the next. ‘Tis lots of good words but they don’t reside in a place I can be assured of accessing them in the future—especially the far future.

On my living room bookshelf I have certain volumes that I periodically reread as the years go by. I remember they influenced me once and I look to be influenced again.

I recall when movies were first offered on DVD’s. People said the new technology would close movie theaters. Are e-books and search engines going to close libraries? Or will there always be a place for hard-back, hold-in-your-hand, books?

Using e-words or hardcopy words…which method is easier for you to pause enough to get words from your brain to your heart where they have opportunity to change how you do life?

Social media definitely has its advantages. Yet I cannot put my bookshelf behind me and move forward solely with computer words. What do you think?

SUPPLICATION

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THE SPIRIT’S COMFORT IN AFFLICTION

Screen Shot 2015-10-12 at 1.18.00 PMFATHER, as ____ goes through life the consolations of Your HOLY SPIRIT are useful and necessary to (him/her). The SPIRIT comforts (his/her) in afflictions. These afflictions are a provision that You have made for (him/her) (Heb 12:5,6) (ref#35, p405).

____’s natural spirit will struggle with afflictions. (He/She) will try to relieve (himself/herself) by any means. In a display of pride (he/she) will despise the chastising affliction or in dejectedness of spirit, (he/she) will sink under the weight of (his/her) troubles (ref#35, p406).

How easily ____ will look for second causes (causes other than You, FATHER) in (his/her) affliction. (He/She) will try to fix it (himself/herself). Keep (him/her) FATHER, from this for (he/she) will lose all the benefits and advantages of this affliction that You have bestowed upon (him/her) (ref#35, p406).

FATHER, keep (him/her) also from sinking under the trial. If You do not teach (him/her) to consider deeply Your chastisements and dealings with (him/her), (he/she) will find the season of afflictions many as (he/she) goes through life (ref#35, p406).

Only the SPIRIT can manage (his/her) soul in affliction so that You, FATHER, have the glory of it and (he/she) be benefited. Affliction gives (him/her) a chance to glory in (his/her) tribulations (Rom 5:3). Send the SPIRIT, FATHER, to ____.

“…there is no management nor improvement of any affliction, but merely and solely by the consolations of the Holy Ghost” John Owen (ref#35, p407).

THANKSGIVING

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YOU ARE SATISFIED WITH ME!

Screen Shot 2015-10-12 at 1.08.28 PMFATHER, love is “an affection of union and nearness…” (ref#35, p113). The result of our union raises my level of love to You—it increases my faith. Because of our union I observe Your kindness, tenderness, unchangeableness, etc, which brings rest to my soul, and rest is my most prized possession (ref#35, p114).

O LORD, I desire to search out continually Your beauty for I am always seeking rest for my soul. This rest is a quiet joy that fills me completely so I find no need to roam unsatisfied. To be a doorkeeper in Your house, to get as close as I can to You is my desire, for a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere (Ps 84:10) (ref#35, p113).

“The union…of likeness, is the cause of the love of another” John Owen (ref#35, p113).

You rejoice over me with joy and rest in silent satisfaction. You are held still by the very depth of Your love for me—resting with contentment. You are delighted when You think of me—with deep and tender yearning love You hold me to Yourself. Your love for me so engulfs You, You leap for joy; every inward and outward expression or token of love is heaped together to express Yourself. You sing—Your contentment is expressed in singing—I cause the jubilee in Your heart (Zeph 3:17).

Thus, Your love animates me; it makes me fully satisfied with You so I will not seek further for another to love. Your love is a joy past belief, past utterance, past thought. I am motionless as I experience Your love but then must exult in an outward demonstration of my delight. Singing and praise is the result of my great enjoyment and pleasure in You. Your love is so surprising I must leap for joy or cry or do something that would embarrass even Michal, King David’s wife (2 Sam 6:16). Michal would think, “This is not normal.”  It may not be normal but how thankful I am it is real.

CONFESSION

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PARDON IS NOT TO MAKE ME MORE ACCEPTABLE TO GOD

Screen Shot 2015-10-12 at 12.29.54 PMLORD, as I approach Your throne, my natural reaction is to cry out like Isaiah, “I have unclean lips” (Isa 6:5), and so desire to spill out my confessions of sin before I come close to You.

In the prayer JESUS taught His disciples, the first half of it is words of worship and honor to You. Confession of sin is toward the end of the prayer and then takes up only ½ a sentence.

Remind me FATHER, You do not throw the robe of CHRIST upon me so You can tolerate looking at me. You do not demand I confess my sin before You let me approach You. You know my frame (Ps 103:14) and my sinfulness does not give You pause.

A woman may forget she is nursing a child, but You will never forget me. You engraved me on the palm of Your hands (Isa 49:15,16) before I did anything right or wrong (Rom 9:11).

You seek and solicit my love constantly. You love me at the expense of Your Son’s blood—at the expense of condescending to beseech me (ref#18, [1 John 4:18]). Have You not rend the heavens and come down to be constantly beside me (Isa 64:1)? You are willing to call me Your bride even when I am unfaithful to You (Hosea 3:1).

I have mistaken thoughts about confession! My natural thought is to dwell on Your assurance of pardon to convince myself that I am now good enough to come into Your presence. FATHER, remind me once again that I am good only because CHRIST has made me His own, not because I have confessed my sins and received Your pardon.

Isn’t this what Job was so upset about—justifying himself before You? Job wanted You to speak to him about his sin—or lack thereof. Did You do that? No, You instead overwhelmed Job with Your majesty (Job 38:1-41:34).

Astonish me like You did Job. I want to spend the majority of my time with You losing myself in Your love.

“…if the heart be…much taken up with…the eminency of the Father’s love, it cannot choose but be overpowered, conquered, and endeared unto him” John Owen (ref#35, p128).

ADORATION

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Prayer Facts:

Screen Shot 2015-10-12 at 12.20.42 PM“Satan dreads nothing but prayer—The church that lost its Christ was full of good works….Souls may be lost in good works, as surely as in evil ways. The one concern of the devil is to keep the saints from prayer….He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray” E. M. Bounds (ref#54, p186).

Reasons for Waiting for GOD:

Because Your mercy and lovingkindness endure forever (Ps 118:29), I will wait for You.

Because You will be gracious to the sound of my cry (Isa 30:19), I will wait for You.

Because You pardon my guilt (Ps 25:11), I will wait for You.

Because You are my hiding place (Ps 32:7), I will wait for You.

VALLEYS TO MOUNTAINTOPS

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MONDAY MORNING BLUESScreen Shot 2015-10-20 at 2.57.17 PM

Took stock of my Sabbath. Pronounced myself very lacking. Honestly, with the Apostle Paul (Rom 7:14-25), I decided my actions did not attest to my heart’s desire.

So, how do I do better next Sunday?

I thought of the next chapter Paul wrote after he admitted failure:

“…if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom 8:13 ESV).

I began to think of what I might “put to death” next Sunday—certainly not give myself permission to take a 3-hour nap like I did yesterday!

With that thought my meditation stalled out. I retreated back into Rom 7; even by the SPIRIT I know I cannot put to death all my sin.

Oh, I could push ahead and make a list of certain activities to engage in next Sunday but that would translate into following laws. With this thought my meditation came to a final halt.

But, later in the day I read the first chapter of 1 Peter. The following phrases were illuminated to me:

“…he has caused us…” (1 Pet 1:3 ESV).

“…by God’s power…” (1 Pet 1:5 ESV).

“…grace that will be brought to you…” (1 Pet 1:13 ESV).

“…you were ransomed…” (1 Pet 1:18 ESV).

“…you have been born again…through the living and abiding word of God…” (1 Pet 1:23 ESV).

Ah ha, Paul’s word in Romans chapter 8 does answer my Romans 7 complaint. It is what the SPIRIT does, not what I do. The SPIRIT is always successful; I am never successful.

So, I’m not worrying anymore about what I should do next LORD’s Day. GOD shall give me rest and enough strength to conquer the weekdays if I focus on reviewing His activities toward me and trust Him with the details.

“…’What must we do, to be doing the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent’” (John 6:28-29 ESV).

 

SABBATH

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THE SABBATH DEFINED

“…remembering the Sabbath by keeping it holy is integral to…life as the people who are sanctified (or ‘made holy’) by the Lord…” (ref#125, p 196, [Ex 31:12-17]).

“…actual intent of the Sabbath – to bring rest and well-being…” (ref#125, p1844, [Matt 12:8]).

“The Sabbath is given as a gift to man (for physical and spiritual refreshment)” (ref#125, p 1897, [Mark 2:27-28]).

“…the Sabbath was not meant to be a day of total idleness, and of entire cessation from all kinds and sorts of work. ‘The Sabbath was made for man,’ for his benefit, comfort, and advantage” (ref#13, Vol. Three, p280, [John 5:17]).

“Our Lord’s reply…’Though my Father rested on the seventh day from His work of creation, He has never rested for a moment from His providential government of the world, and from His merciful work of supplying the daily wants of all His creatures….I do not break the fourth commandment when I heal the sick, anymore than my Father breaks it when He causes the sun to rise and the grass to grow on the Sabbath’” (ref#13, Vol. Three, p277, [John 5:16-23]).

“The Sabbath is a covenant sign that represents a lifestyle of devotion to the Lord, for it requires the practical reorganization of every week around him (cf. Ex 31:12-17; Ezek 20:18-20)” (ref#125, p1342, [Isa 56:2]).