Held

as seen on someone’s msn nick: 无能为力.

which was surprising because one, that person gave me the impression he didn’t really know chinese; and two, because that’s what i’m feeling today.
well, 就是因为我 无能为力, 所以那么需要牢记住: “你们 得力 在乎平静安稳。” 以 赛 亚 书 30:15

How am I to define what faith is to a child
when the only explanation lies within?
how am I to tell them if they never follow Christ
that heaven doesn’t hold a place for them?
Oh how? Oh how? Tell me how when I’m no better than them

- Tell Me How, Rosie Thomas

==

“你 们 得 救 在 乎 归 回 安 息 。
你 们 得 力 在 乎 平 静 安 稳。”
以 赛 亚 书 30:15

“In repentance and rest is
your salvation
In quietness and trust is
your strength.”
Isaiah 30:5

A song of ascents. Of David.

My heart is not proud, O LORD,

my eyes are not haughty;

I do not concern myself with great matters

or things too wonderful for me.

But I have stilled and quieted my soul;

like a weaned child with its mother,

like a weaned child is my soul within me.

O Israel, put your hope in the LORD

both now and forevermore.

- Psalm 131

And my pride stings. Once again I’m humbled. quietness. stillness and quietness.

“But I felt His peace      that passes understanding
Grace                that is never ending
Love           that overflows my soul”

- Testimony, by Sara Groves 

While reading online, I came across this:

When Ruth Bell was a teenage girl going off to Korea for schooling from her childhood home in China she fully intended to be a confirmed old maid missionary to Tibet.  But she did give the thought of a husband some serious consideration and committed the matter to God.  She wrote the following list of particulars :

If I marry:  He must be so tall that when he is on his knees, as one has said, he reaches all the way to Heaven.  His shoulders must be broad enough to bear the burden of a family.  His lips must be strong enough to smile, firm enough to say no, and tender enough to kiss.  Love must be so deep that it takes its stand in Christ and so wide that it takes the whole lost world in.  He must be active enough to save souls.  He must be big enough to be gentle and great enough to be thoughtful.  His arms must be strong enough to carry a little child. [1]

God provided that husband for Ruth, and his name is Billy Graham!

I read that here. And what Ruth wrote can be found on page 39 of her book called A Time for Remembering.

I say, wow.

I could travel over oceans, cross
the deserts, climb the mountains
Just to share Your story, bring You
glory, and win souls for You.
I could sing like an angel, songs
so humble and so thankful
Full of drama and emotion, so the
world would know Your truth.
I could give away my money and my
clothes and my food
To restore those people who are
poor, and lost, and down-and-out.
Oh, I could succeed at all these things,
Find favor with peasants and kings,
But if I do not love, I am nothing.

I could live a flawless life,
Never cheat or steal or lie,
And always speak so kindly, smile so
warmly, and go about doing good.
I could dedicate myself to do what
everyone else wants me to-
Listen to them, compliment them,
say the things I should.
I could show up every Sunday, lead
the Choir and Bible Study
And they all might come to know me
as a leader and a friend.
Oh, I could achieve success on
Earth, but success cannot define my worth
And all these actions, all these
words, they will not matter in the end-

Songs will fade to silence,
Stories, they will cease.
The dust will settle, covering all my selfless deeds.
So as I strive to serve You,
Won’t You make it clear to me,
If I do not love, I am nothing.

If I cannot live my life loving my brother,
Then how can I love the One who lived His life for me?

Sent to Earth from Heaven,
Humble Servant, Holy King,
Come to share a story, get no glory,
and save my searching soul,
You knew that I’d deny You, crucify
You, but nothing could stop You from
living for me, dying for me, so that I would know that

Songs will fade to silence,
Stories they will cease,
The dust will settle covering all my selfless deeds.
But Your life here has made it clear enough for me to see
That if I do not love, I am nothing.

- as sung by Ginny Owens

“One thing God has spoken,

two things have I heard:

that you, O God, are strong,

and that you, O Lord, are loving.”

- Psalm 62:11,12

———-

This is the one thing I know
You said you won’t let me go
You said you won’t let me go
You’ve done a good work in me
And You won’t quit till I’m free

(Sara Groves)