"When have you been the most fruitless? Has it not been when you have lived farthest from the Lord Jesus Christ, when you have slackened in prayer, when you have departed from the simplicity of your faith, when your graces have engrossed your attention instead of your Lord, when you have said, "My mountain stands firm, I will never be moved" and you have forgotten where your strength lies-has not it been then that your fruit has ceased?"

-Morning and evening by Charles Spurgeon

Perspective

God's been teaching me a lot about perspective this month.

He's taught me within angles of spirituality, my emotions, gratefulness, and so much more. This month, however, God's taught me about my lack of proper perspective. Specifically when it comes to protecting this little heart of mine (and others, too). Today, Pastor Kris said, "It's hard to convince people that Jesus is Lord if you are not pursuing a life of holiness yourself." In recent months, I've approached my future love life as a "whirlwind happenstance" of sorts. This is so not me, so not my standards, and everything against what I hope God has been preparing me for: a future mate encompassed within a great man, with great character. And nothing less. I've found holiness to take a backseat, and my splendid little notions poised as driver. I won't lie, it feels good to be loved. But what a tragedy to use someone else's affections as your crutch. As much as I loathe to admit it, I think that I might have just been afraid of being alone. 

But why must I be afraid? How great is my God! How wonderful to know Christ, and to say with every cell of my being, You are Enough! Lord, I am sorry. And Lord, would you teach me to be satisfied with even just a sliver of you? 

"Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered." -Proverbs 28:26

After the dust settled...

A man who cannot control his short temper usually cant control much else.

Delayed obedience is disobedience.

Beyond Myself.

- -

Floral BG credit: http://blog.laurenharrison.org/patterns/

Naked I've come, naked I depart.

Anne Dudley Bradstreet was one of the very first intellectual women among the English settlers of New England. She was a celebrated poet of her time. She came from a family of learned people. In fact, her father & husband were instrumental to the founding of Harvard University.

On July 10, 1666, she came home only to see everything up in flames. The unfortunate event inspired her to write a poem entitled, "Upon the Burning of Our House July 10th, 1666." -man, she took a while to think about that title, huh? ;D Anyway, what a blessing this woman's response was. "She looked toward God & the assurance of heaven as consolation, saying:"

And when I could no longer look,

I blest His grace that gave and took, 

That laid my goods now in the dust. 

Yea, 

It was his own; it was not mine.

Far be it that I should repine.

-Anne Dudley Bradstreet.