He Only Does Good

 

This post is based on a passage I have been meditating on for a while now. It has touched my heart in a special way and brought a precious amount of peace. 

"Thou art good and doest good; teach me Thy statutes."      Psalm 119:68

Earlier this spring, a large decision was on the table that affected our family as a whole, but myself personally in several ways. The final decision was not up to me and my mind and emotions were in turbulence as I wrestled and cried over the factors of the choice and the various changes that the final result would bring. Finally, the Lord set my heart at rest. 

I am thankful for how the Lord uses books written by fellow Christians to teach and bless our hearts. In one of my all-time favorite books, "Queechy" by Susan Warner, there is a dialogue where Hugh is talking to Fleda and I have rehearsed that section over and over to myself.

"I had been disbelieving it ("Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart." Psalm 73:1); and because I could not see how things were going to work good, I thought they were going to work evil. I thought we were wearing out our lives alone here in a wearisome way, and I forgot that it must be the very straightest way that we could get home. I am sure we shall not want anything that will do us good; and the rest I am willing to want..." ("Queechy" chapter 28)

The decision was made. It was final, and it was not what I had desired the outcome would be, but the Lord set my heart to quietness. He is good and only does good! It is not in His nature to do evil, it is impossible for Him, for if He did, it would be sin. Only good can He bring to pass. Even the events that occur that we view as evil, are still good in His eyes for, if we are a child of God, He is only allowing in our lives what will bring us more into the likeness of Jesus Christ and that is a good work indeed. I could rest in God in the decision. He is writing a story with all the characters in mind, He sees the perfect and eternal scope of life, so could not I trust Him that this turn in the story was for good? 

Where is your turn in your story? The turn that you never thought would be in the plan. Singleness? Infertility? Lack of a job? Relational difficulties? The loss of a friend? Relinquish it to His hands, set your eyes upon Him, and trust that He is accomplishing His perfect and good will in your life. Does this take away the pain? No indeed, but it does quiet the spirit with confidence that we have a loving Father Who only works out His good plan for our eternal good. So we can boldly say, along with Paul, that "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

Spring Devotional- Abounding Grace

Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to Thy mercy remember Thou me for Thy goodness sake, O Lord." Psalm 25:7

"As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us."  Psalm 103:12

"Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ." Ephesians 4:7

The measure of the gift of Christ is boundless and eternally reaching. My transgressions and sins have been removed and resolved. Complete account has been taken of them and not one was found to be too great not to be paid for by the blood of Christ. Full forgiveness. Full atonement. How can it be? That Thou, my God, should have died for me? According to His goodness have they all been removed from me, canceled from my charges, and the account made clean and pure. His goodness is boundless and free and as the prodigals' father, He seeks and restores His wandering sheep with a heart too full of love to hold resentment or hold Himself back, waiting for us to step forward. 

Thank you, Holy One, that my stamp of righteousness comes not from my own merit, but according to your mercy, You saved me. Thank you that I stand in holiness offered by the Spotless Lamb. Not by my own merit have I received anything, but upon God do I rest for my cleansing. Once and for all, You declared me holy, once and for all, I am given eternal purity by You. O Father, let me not despise the gift of grace that You have bestowed upon me by giving footholds to the lusts of this world. Would integrity and uprightness keep me in the pure way. Keep me, Jesus in remembrance of The Way, would I not er'. To Christ, I look to. Thank You, dear Father. 

Family Life - April & May

Happy June! Though according to the calendar, we are still in spring, summer seems to have already arrived and is in full force with temperatures some days in the 90s! Spring seems a short season in Kentucky. Below are some glimpses of life for the Smiths from April and May. Both months were busy, especially May, but were also full of blessings and wonderful opportunities to learn from, lean into, and grow more like Christ.                                              

The puppies continue to grow but have moved to the stage
when their cuteness is outweighed by their "annoyingness" =)

Emma, Stephen, and James came for a visit at the beginning of
April. All of us sisters had some "girl time" out in town, with the addition 
of James.

I miss the days of carrying my own siblings (or our pastor's children)
around in the baby carriers. It was sweet to get the opportunity to 
do it for a little while with James.

Hobby Lobby is great for sister outings.

After Hobby Lobby, we stopped by Granddaddy's for him
to visit with his great-grandson. It was sweet to see them 
interact together.

An evening walk with a companion...

In mid-April, Mom, Olivia, Ella, Leah, and I had the
opportunity to go on a historical tour of some of the history of
the War Between the States through the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.
Walking on a battlefield, touring General "Stonewall" Jackson's 
home in Lexington, viewing his burial site (picture above) as well as
some of those of his family and close associates of the war, taking in
Virginia landscape, seeing famous artifacts, walking on the Virginia Military
Institute campus, standing in Washington and Lee's Univerity Chapel, 
viewing General Lee's marble statue (which unfortunately is being 
bricked in this summer, so we were some of the last to ever see it in 
person.), and more was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for this history
loving gal. I enjoyed Virginia itself and hope to return there
someday.
  

General Robert E. Lee's marble statue.

General "Stonewall" Jackson's horse, "Little Sorrel".

General Jackson's military uniform and the raincoat he was
wearing when fatally shot while on a scouting mission at 
Chancellorsville in 1863.

The Virginia Military Institute campus.

General Turner Ashby's grave.

"The Field of Lost Shoes"

Nonetheless, it was good to get back home.

Playing solitaire with Grandma on a weekend visit.

Peaches is still a "sweet peach" and getting around well, 
despite her hip injury back in the winter. 

First weekend in May found us in North Carolina to see
Caden graduate with a Bible certificate from Ambassador
Baptist College. 

We were all able to make it to the graduation which was a blessing 
as it is quite difficult for our entire family to step away from the farm 
for any length of time. Despite having a cow go into labor the morning
we had to leave, God answered, the calf was delivered and
we all made it that evening!

Celebrating Joel's 13th birthday.

Loading cattle!
God has always been faithful with the sales
of cattle, but this year we watched Him work on our behalf in
special and obvious ways. He has been so faithful, so kind, and
may He receive all the glory. I am privileged, as a daughter, to 
watch first-hand God move on behalf of our family and be apart
of seeing miracles happen. Not everyone is blessed to see God 
move on their behalf in such tangible and significant ways and I 
count myself exceeding blessed to be allowed to witness God's 
faithfulness and goodness again and again to our family. 

Taking some time to sit with some of "the girls".

Stopping for a chat with Belle.

At the end of May, Olivia, Hope, and a dear friend headed 
off for a summer of service at the Bill Rice Ranch.

So that is April and May. God has been so good and I am grateful for the lessons and the blessings that those two months gave me. I am thankful to see growth in my life and may I continue pressing forward in faithfulness. 

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 3:14
~
"And the peace of God which passesth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." 
Philippians 4:7

Book Review - Stones of Fire

"At the end of the earth, where mountains are flung peak upon peak as if they were discards of the Creator, piled together chaotically, the Salween River carves its way through granite masses making a canyon thousands of feet deep. For unknown centuries the Lisu tribespeople have plowed these perpendicular hillsides into cornfields and reaped a bare, rough living. This is the true story of Mary, a young Lisu tribeswoman. See God transform her from a common stone into a rare gem, a precious opal, a stone of fire."                        (From the back of the book)

In the early decades of the 20th century, Isobel Miller was living life in all its "glory", utterly destitute of any relationship, or desire for one, with God. Through prayer, divine encounters, and the crush of betrayal in her love life drove her to the brink of desperation and there she called upon God (see By Searching for Isobel's complete testimony). After graduating from Moody Bible Institute in preparation to serve in the lands of China, she sailed around the world where she married John Kuhn, and together they faithfully served their Savior through hardships, separation, and World War 2, until they were forced out of China by the communists in 1950. Taking up new work with the people of northern Thailand, the Kuhn family ministered there until returning to the United States after Isobel was diagnosed with cancer in 1954. She completed her faithful race in 1957. Isobel had an incredible gift for writing and in her later years, she began recounting and writing about her own spiritual journey, their ministry, and the people of China, especially the dear Lisu tribespeople who held her heart for so long. 

I have been blessed reading several of Isobel's books, but this one especially was a sweet read. The story recounts "Mary's" journey as an unbelieving young woman, her salvation, her sweet, quiet romance, her trials, victories, and finally her homegoing. The principles and their applications are a blessing to the heart and the story itself is sweet and touching. 

Recommendation scale 1-10: 9 

Favorite quote: "A stone is the last embodiment of principle-hard and cold. Fire is the essence of passion-warm and energizing. Put the two together, and we have stones-principle; fire-passion; principle shot through with passion, passion held by principle." 

Book Review- Introduction

Throughout my formal schooling years, I was not known for a great love of reading. I read the books that were part of the school requirements and there were a few rare exceptions that struck my interest higher than usual, but for the most part, I left the avid reader title to my older sister, Emma. It became my desire though to change that and to form the discipline of becoming a better, more well-read young lady. When I began to implement this discipline into my life regularly, I discovered how much I enjoy reading and the evenings became special as I would, after all the hubbub of the day had subsided, I would find a comfortable spot somewhere and curl up to read before calling it a day. 

It is my desire to begin writing book reviews for books that I have read or as I complete them, both to share the literature that I read and to encourage positive and uplifting reading material for other young ladies. What we read, and what we put our minds upon are very important and have such a long-lasting, even eternal influence on our lives. Would this area of our lives be surrendered and honoring to the Author of all good things. 

See my "Recommended Resources" page for a larger list of books I have read (or listened to on audiobook)

Spring Devotional- Waiting on the Lord

 "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." Psalm 27:14

  

 To wait- resting in Him, looking to Him, approaching honestly, and being confident of acceptance. Laying my head upon Him, quietly resting my eyes upon Him, awaiting direction. Living in restful readiness to move or return, but my heart has never left its resting place of peace. Eagerly anticipating the work done in me and through me. Not easily distracted or worried, but gracefully, faithfully trusting that each wave of sorrow is sent to thrust my feet deeper into the Rock on which I am set (Psalm 27:5). Being aware of spiritual warfare, but not allowing that to cripple me, but steadfastly sitting in Christ (Ephesians 1:6). 

    What shall separate me from the love of Christ? Shall grief or tribulation or persecution or famine? Shall being misunderstood or singleness or infertility or ill health? What about being displaced or sin or pain or being alone? No! For in all these things, I am more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ, Who has given me all things in the heavens. So in hope, I wait, not with anxiety or a troubled heart, but with a calm expectancy of delight that wherever the path goes, I am in Christ, not approaching the mountain that burns with fire, but the mount of promise, The New Covenant. Being saved by hope, I look forward in hope, trusting all to Him that judgeth righteously. Amen and blessed be His name forever and ever. 

The Morning Hunt

I have the tremendous blessing to have been raised farming. Having been surrounded by agriculture all of my life, there have been so many opportunities to draw spiritual correlations with the agriculture world of which I am a part and my dad has done a wonderful job of helping draw those out for our understanding. Although having lived around baby calves all my life, I have never lost the beauty of each new life, and helping a distressed cow calve or getting to cuddle a newborn is still a favorite of mine. 

While sitting out on the backswing the other morning, I had a lovely view of the back field behind our home which is the current home for calving cows. It was still relatively early and little brown and black calves dotted the field, but as the sun rose higher, so did their need for nourishment. I have seen the scene many times over the years and there is a preciousness to it each time, the hunt of the child for their mother. The baby calf begins hunting, hunger propelling the search. He walks and perhaps lets out a bawl, hoping to receive a reply from its mother to disclose her whereabouts. The moment gains in sweetness as soon as the mother is spotted and the baby begins to run, eager and joyous with anticipation of the comfort and nourishment they are about to receive. The moment of the reunion is precious as the baby finds what it seeks and the mother stands, contented that her baby has found her and is receiving what it was desirous of. 

As I sat a watched a little red calf begin the hunt yesterday morning, I thought how much that should be for us as Christians rising in the morning. Christ stands ready to speak to us from His Word and through His Holy Spirit. We, however, must be ready and seeking. So my prayer to the Lord was that I would be like that calf, hunting eagerly every morning, with anticipation for the fulfillment of my spiritual nourishment for the day. 

"O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; to see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary. Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee. Thus will I bless Thee while I live: I will lift up my hand in Thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips: When I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches. Because Thou has been my help, therefore in the shadow of They wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after Thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me. But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes. But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by Him shall                                        glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped."                               ~Psalm 63

~As the Deer

As the deer pants for the water                                                                                                                      So my soul longs after You;                                                                                                                            You alone are my heart's desire,                                                                                                                    And I long to worship You.                                                                                                                          

Refrain:                                                                                                                                                         You alone are my strength and shield;                                                                                                       To You alone may my spirit yield.                                                                                                                You alone are my heart's desire,                                                                                                                    And I long to worship You.