Thursday, February 15, 2007

Mining the Archives

Greetings, my friends! This morning I went digging in the Pilgrim Scribblings archive mine and came up with a post that evoked more response than most of my other writing. As I read it I realized that I am still "there". I still haven't learned to trust Him more implicitly. I'm still edgy as I "wait for the salvation of the Lord".

During these uncertain days I'm cast upon the Lord like never before. May I learn to trust Him more, the One who is completely trustworthy, the One who changes not and always keeps His word.

Here is that post. May the God of all grace use it to challenge you today!

I wrote:

Time and time again I go back to a book, Bright Days, Dark Nights, penned by a favorite writer of mine, Elizabeth Skoglund (see my links). She writes on subjects such as confidence, depression, anxiety, change and transition using the writings of the Prince of Preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, to illustrate her point.

The following quote by Spurgeon mirrors a statement that I used to make quite honestly and quite often. But now, I must confess, I don't know that I'm able to truthfully say it any more. The ravages of uncertainly, the stresses of being "down to the wire", the scariness of "not knowing" have played havoc with "all I once held dear".

Admitting this is difficult! What I once declared may have sounded very "noble", very "spiritual", very "right" but the years have taken their toll.

Let me give you Spurgeon's quote before I continue... "If I might have any choice between having abundant wealth, or being brought to absolute dependence upon daily supplies, if, in the latter case, I could have greater power to exhibit and to exert faith in Christ, I must confess that I should prefer the mode of living which would give me most room to enjoy the luxury of depending upon my God. I believe it is more happy and more divine a life to live from hand to mouth, dependant upon the provinces of God, and having the confidence to trust Him, than it is to have all the abundance of this world, but to have nothing about which faith may exercise itself." -
Charles Haddon Spurgeon

There it is! As I said, I used to echo these thoughts although not so eloquently. Do I want to trust God implicitly? Of course! Do I believe that He can provide all I need? Absolutely! Do I want abundant wealth in a worldly way? Definitely not!

So, as I find myself in uncertain waters, I am crying out to God to be the Great Provider. He has been that in the past for me and He will never change.



Living on the edge has made me edgy and that can be a good thing.

For example...

Positively speaking:

1. I could be on the edge of another God-thing...another miracle that has no explanation other than that God did it!
2. I could be on the edge of a breakthrough where I experience deeper intimacy with God than ever before.
3. I could be on the edge of a new career path...a new vocation where God continues to be at the center.

Or, in a negative sense:

1. I could be on the edge of financial ruin.
2. I could be on the edge of unexpected grief or pain.
3. I could be on the edge of something that could shatter hope.

So, as I begin a new day with my hand held firmly by a Sovereign God I will say, "Surely God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid." - Isaiah 12:2

Yes, the unknown is scary! Yes, I want to truthfully say what Spurgeon said! But, for now, I will say this, "Moment by moment I'm kept in His love."

I'll choose to look at the positive "edges" and "expect great things from God."

Thanks for your prayers during my bumpy pilgrimage!

Transparently,

David

February 15th, 2007 note: I trust that you will be encouraged after reading this post in which I bared my heart and soul. Step out by faith and trust Him wholly. Because... "those who trust Him wholly, find Him wholly true" as the hymnwwriter has so ably written.

Trust Him today!

2 comments:

  1. Dear David...This is such a good posting!
    I never really got a chance to read it, as my few days of not having to go to work finally ended!

    It is just so nice how it happened.
    Last Saturday[Feb.3] when I was working my normal ten hour day shift, the weather was so BAD that Betty could not make it in for her night shift, so I told her I would do it for her...7 PM Sat. till 2 PM Sunday.
    She told me that she would do my Tuesday 7 PM til 2 PM Wednesday shift.
    I kind of wondered why this would have happened.
    After all, I would be missing Sunday breaking of bread and not being able to pick the Sunday School kids up.
    And there YOU were, sending me an email telling me that you were ill and asking that I contact the "Fisher Connection" to ask for their prayer.
    I must say that I really enjoyed contacting those lovely Christian friends of yours, and was so happy that they all DID pray for you!!

    We ALL know what a blessing you are to us David and we are ALL so looking forward to your going to England and we are ALL glad that you are feeiing better!

    And it is ALL of the Lord's doing!

    God's blessings to you Pilgrim David!!.... from Terry one of over one hundred of your readers!!

    PS I was off from this Sat. Feb 9 at 2 Pm until yesterday Feb 15 till 2 PM..


    Ha!!! You are a gold mine David Fisher!!
    We are the miners and the Lord is the Owner!!!

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  2. Thank you, again, for your writing. I am one of those people who regularly reads your posts, but rarely comments.

    These are very poignant words indeed. I think that we all have the head knowledge of faith, but when it is put to the test, do we really lean on the Lord? When I look at your two lists you made I, too, lean towards the first list in principle, but wish I could be more solid in my stance when push comes to shove.

    It's so nice to know that regardless of the quantity and quality of our faith that God is an ever-present force and that he will never leave us or forsake us.

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