Guiltless Hands

Guiltless Hands

I don't know why, but when I looked at these tiny fingers on my dad's hands it made me think of Abraham's love for Isaac when he was commanded to offer his little boy as a sacrifice to the Lord. I couldn't sleep. God kept on bringing it to mind. So I decided to get out of bed and write my thoughts down on paper. Well, then I decided to post it on my blog because it has continued to be heavy on my heart. So, if anyone happens to persevere through reading this severely long blog, hope it's just what you needed to hear from the Lord too.
"That son whom thou lovest." (Gen. 22:2) This has always been a wonder to me. Why would God give such a command? And HOW could Abraham obey it?!!! Would I have the kind of faith Abraham had? Could I love God more than this adorable boy who has captured my heart like nobody else could? Could I be so victorious over such a temptation? Now this is really stirring up a storm within me! Abraham was faced with quite a decision. My heart aches to even think of it. How could God expect someone to make such a sacrifice? Where does faith like Abraham's come from? If God came to me and said, "Jennie." I could say, "Here am I" (vs.1), like a good servant would. In fact I probably would be pretty excited to see what great thing God was going to reveal to me. But, if I heard what Abraham heard, "Go kill thy son.", it would be like a sword piercing my side. "You can take anything, anything but him, Lord!" "No, it must be Isaac." But, Lord, I love Isaac, he is to me as my own soul." All this is against me. Could I pass this trial of my love to God? But, God's command was given and His command must overrule all my emotions. But, this is not only murder, but the worst of murders. And to make it even worse, God gave him no reason for it (at least Scripture doesn't give any). Isaac must die and Abraham must do it. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. THis darling of the family. Abraham's pride and joy. Yet, he goes on with a holy willfulness. He builds the altar, lays the wood, and tells Isaac the amazing news, "Isaac, thou art the lamb which was provided." BUT, how could tender Abraham tie those guiltless hands which had often stretched out to embrace him. Tears are welling up as I think of it. But, it MUST be done. Having bound him, he layed his tiny body upon the altar and tied his tiny hands. He gives his final farwell... How could one do this?! How could one have such a fixed heart toward the Lord to fulfill this act of faith and obedience?
But, this is what God was waiting for. This point of true surrender before he would intercede. Abraham proved that his love for God was greater than his own comfort of being loved by his beautiful son. He was willing to offer it up to God's will. THEN, God's wonderful deliverance came. "And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here [am] I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son] from me." (Gen. 22:12-13).
Do I have such regard to God's authority? Am I willing to serve and honor Him with that which is dearest to me and to part with all for Him? I know Satan doesn't want us to have this deliverance. He wants us to idolize people over God, believing they are all we need. God never intended for us to be in bondage to such idolatry. He promises that he is the only one who satisfies (John. 4:13-14). If my adoration of others is not given to God, it will go to Satan. Have I given this completely TO God or is it being put ABOVE God as an idol? Someone recently encouraged me to meditate on Romans 6:16-"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" Not withholding that which God wants you to give to Him will bring about an incredible advantage.
Gen. 22:17-18- "That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice."
Abraham was ready to give up his son for a sacrifice to the honor of God, and, on that occasion, God promised to give his Son, a sacrifice for the salvation of man.
Matthew 19:29- "And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life."
May we be willing to give up our loved ones, the people we adore most, the ones that give us awe and enjoyment, for God. Someone recently recommended that I read the book of Revelations and start looking more carefully for God's glory around me during my day, just to develop an increased desire to grow in the knowledge of Him and obedience to Him. It has helped. I know I will continue to stumble in this area, but I know God is faithful to pick me up if I diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 12:25-29 -"See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape], if we turn away from him that [speaketh] from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this [word], Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God [is] a consuming fire."

Hope these truths were as much of a blessing to you as they were to me!
-Jennie

Gregory : Watchman, Guardian, God's Trustee

Being that it's his Birthday this week (Christmas Day), I want to honor the faithful watchman of our Gilmer crew. This man is worthy of a Navy Special Warfare Insigna. But in lieu of that I'm going to share a little about this incredible watchman I have the privilege to call my dad. He's played many roles over the years and has managed to handle them with good humor. He's been someone to lean on, learn from, and look up to. He is one who has always made time for me and just about anyone. He is trustworthy, hard-working, caring, compassionate, wise, loving, and kind. He's always looking for a way to give to someone in need. He is a knight in shining armor in my eyes. I seriously don't know what I'd do without him. He so humbly acknowledges that the Lord has made him our watchman and has always strived to point our eyes to God and His providence. He has warned me often to to take God along with me in my undertakings and to not forget the many blessings that have and will come of it. Thank you for being my brave and strong watchman, Dad! I love you tons! Happy Birthday!

1 Corinthians 16: 13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

The Weather Outside is Frightful!

Well, the talk "around town" is SNOW; but I find it sad how seldom we think and speak of it with an awe-inspiring regard of God, the director of it, who shows his power and serves the purposes of His Providence by it!

Snow may not be so terrible and noisy as thunder and lightning, but it still shows the glory of God. In Job 37:6 God says to the snow, "Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength."

He commissions this winter weather, he commands it, he appoints it, where it will land and how long it will lie. He speaks, and it is done: as in the creation of the world, all are the showers of his strength.

Why do I contend so often with God's providence in my life, yet, I don't contend with God’s providence in the weather? I know that I cannot hinder the snow if He sends it. I do not get angry when He sends it! I love it, in fact! It displays His glory in such a marvelous way. It is ridiculous to fight against this expression of Providence. It is ridiculous for us to fight against any expression of His Providence, even the little workings in our lives.

The effect of the magnitude of this winter-weather is that it forces us to slow down a little, making it uncomfortable and unsafe for us to be on the road. We tend to keep to our houses. In frost and snow, our running around is definitely restricted. When the weather is extreme we are often forced to do nothing & get nothing. It forces us to be taken off our own work that we can know His work and contemplate it, and give Him the glory for these great and marvellous works.

When we are disabled from following our worldly duties, we should spend our time in acquainting ourselves with the works of God and praising him in them, rather than in foolish idle sports and recreations (Yikes, I'm stepping on my own toes!).

I recently read a quote by Matthew Henry -"When our hands are sealed up our hearts should be opened and the more we should be driven to our Bibles and our knees." In this world of technology, it is so easy to continue in the "calls" of this world and forget to acknowledge His work and celebrate Him.

Here are some pictures of my attempt to observe some of the recent snow He has sent upon the earth! May His marvelous works draw us to our knees, glorifying Him alone!
-Jennie