Thoughts On a Snowy Day

Early this morning I was curled in my wicker rocking chair alternating my attention between the fluffy snowflakes swirling outside my window, breakfast, and J.C. Ryle's Holiness. Though I was having my devotions under unusually idyllic circumstances (with a cup of tea, no less!), a sentence in Holiness caused a bit of initial inward squirming. Ryle stated, "It is expressly written that they [sanctified men and women] are 'predestined to be conformed to the image of God's Son' and 'chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world that they should be holy'." (p. 18)

I am inexpressably thankful to the Lord for choosing a most unworthy sinner like myself to inherit everlasting life, but I admit that my flesh feels uncomfortable with the thought that God from the beginning of time, had plans to use unpleasant circumstances, trials, testings, and hard-hitting portions of scripture throughout my life to continually mold me into His image. My redeemed soul glories in that reality, my inward man rebells at the thought that these sanctifying refinings will never be complete until I reach the end of my pilgrimage. One analogy that comes to mind that I can completely relate to is when someone's out running on a particularly humid day and half way through as they're panting up another hill, trying to suck in some air around the sweat pouring down their face the thought hits them, "If I'm going to stay fit I have to do this for the rest of my life!" There's motivation for you!!

But as I mulled on these thoughts throughout the day, I was reminded of the blessing that comes with sanctification. Yes, if we are Christians we are and will be crushed, bruised, molded, stretched, and refined. Yet the pain, uncertainty, dissappointment, or fear should drive us ever closer to Jesus Christ. This is "compensation" beyond any other!

Abraham's life was one long sanctification process, from being called by God to wander without ever having a permanent home, to waiting for years for a son, to being called to offer up his heir. His relationship with the Lord however, grew to such an extent through this molding and testing that God could say in Genesis 18: 17, 19: "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice..." That's the kind of relationship I want with God, and if it takes pain in the process, I want to be able to say,

"He has brought me here when I did not want to come for His own purpose. I...will look up into His face and say, 'Behold me! I am thy handmaiden Acceptance-with-Joy.'"

(Hind's Feet On High Places)

Welcome!

"In the multitude of words, sin is not lacking" (Prov. 10:19) Ever since I thought about starting a blog, this verse has come to mind on more than one occasion and made me hesitant to write my thoughts for all the world to see. While this verse is primarily talking about verbal communication, the written word can be just as dangerous, if not more so. Especially on the internet, words are so permanent - they can't be softened or forgotten over time.

I do believe however, that my idea to blog has a couple specific purposes that go beyond a mere "online diary". I tend to have very strong opinions, and found that many times I wanted to share my ideas/beliefs so much that for lack of a better avenue, I'd post them on facebook. There's nothing necessarily wrong with that, except for the fact that people on facebook have no choice but to read my thoughts, which has the potential to cause unnecessary offense. On a blog, I can graciously say what I want without having that problem. :) My hope and prayer is that what I write will be an encouragement to anyone who stumbles across my tiny piece of the internet!

So, a little about me. I'm a young Christian woman who is committed to stay under the protective roof of my parents until my father transfers the role of leader and protector to my husband. (More about fathers and families on a future post!) Until God brings a godly man into my life, I have the blessing of being home with my family, serving the Lord in various capacities. Right now, my mother is undergoing some serious physical trials which make her unable to accomplish much physically, so my "little corner" has become essentially running the home with the inestimable privilege of doing so under my mom's guidance. Though I don't like the circumstances that led to this new role, I am so blessed to have an opportunity to basically "intern" in the art of homemaking and homeschooling under my mom.

That's all for now! Ideas for posts are already peculating in my brain, so visit again soon! :)

~*~Christiana~*~