Gentle and Quiet

God has kindly provided me co-workers who are also dear sisters in Christ. We e-mail encouraging passages, thoughts about Scripture, prayer requests, etc a few times a week to help us work unto the Lord and care well for each other. Today, MB sent a poem from Amy Carmichael that was posted on the Girls Gone Wise blog.

1 Peter 3 instructs godly woman to adorn themselves with a gentle and quiet spirit. The source of her beauty comes from her inner-self. When I first read this, I thought I would have to chop off half of my personality in order for my life to be characterized by gentle quietness. However, it is not so much about the volume or quantity of words as it is having a settled and steadfast disposition. When I am confident in Christ, trusting in His sufficiency, I don't clamor to prove my worth. I don't cry out in anxiety. I don't throw a fit to get my way. I don't have to use noise to attract attention. My desire is to point attention away from myself and toward a God who is perfectly beautiful. A woman whose mind and heart are set on Christ, who like the holy women of the past, puts her hope in God, this woman's beauty will speak though a gentle and quiet spirit.

Give Me a Quiet Mind

When winds are blowing, waves are rising, falling

And all the air is full of dust and spray,

When voices like to sea birds' plaintive calling,

Confuse my day,

Then, then I know Thee, Lord of highest heaven.

In newborn need discover Thee, and find

Nought can discomfort him to whom is given

A quiet mind.

When hopes have failed, and heavy sadness crusheth,

And doubt and fear would weave their deadly spell,

Then thought of Thee my troubled spirit husheth,

And all is well.

In midnight hour when weariness ignoreth

Heaven's starry house, and battle wounds are mine,

Then Thy right hand uplifteth and outpoureth

Love's oil and wine.

O blessed Lord, beyond the moment's sorrow

I see above, beneath, before, behind -

Eternal love. Give me today, tomorrow,

A quiet mind.

(From the collected poems of Amy Carmichael)

Smörgåsbord 6.2.11

Hometown pride: Way to get it Grand Rapids

Job searching: I would love to refer someone for this job

King of the Hill: The only time I have seen this show, or will promote watching even a part of this show

T.G.I.F (tomorrow): Every Friday Ligonier sells a handful of resources for just $5

Pour l'amour: I'm going home and packing my bags right now

He too was distressed

Isaiah 63:7-9 "I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which He is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us - yes, the many good things he has done for the house of Israel, according to His compassion and many kindnesses. He said, 'surely they are my people, sons who will not be false to me;" and so He became their Savior. In all their distresses He too was distressed, and the angel of His presence saved them. In His love and mercy He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old."

Hebrews 4:14-16 "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

C.H. Spurgeon
"God had one Son without sin, but not a single child without the rod. It is a great joy to believe that Jesus has been tempted in all pints like as we are...The idea of strangeness in our trials must be banished at once and for ever, for He who is the head of all saints, knows by experience the grief which we think so peculiar... Courage, soldiers of the Cross, the King Himself triumphed after going over, and so shall you." [Morning and Evening, May 31]

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows."

Thankful to be adopted by the Father of compassion and God of all comfort. No trial we face is one with which  He is unfamiliar. "Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take, the clouds ye so much dread are big with mercy and shall break in blessings on your head." [William Cowper, "God Moves in a Mysterious Way"]