The Holiness of the Everyday

[ebdesroches]

Genesis 1:31 And God looked upon all that He had made, and indeed, it was very good..

It means that all things on Earth that He made are still Holy and good in His sight and His creation still is ....very good.
Nothing is outside of His vision. Its because we are fallen that we cannot always see Him and cannot see Him at work.
When we born again we can start to see things like He does, more and more as we are changed and refined.

When I am focused on worshiping and thinking about Him, He draws near to me as He said He would.
What about all the other times in my life, where does He go (in my thinking)? I believe its me
that is the problem. I have to dedicate all the times in between to Him as well, to refocus my thinking on Him as much as possible, draw near to Him at all times. Never be very far from remembering how close He really is! He thinks of me always. Nothing I do or think is not seen.

He is always good to me. He loves me very much, and He has made me to know it, speaking to me tenderly.

 

[Lynx]

I've been on the mountain high
When everything around me seemed right
I've been in the valley low
When I needed him to restore my soul

But today the sun is shining bright
Traces of my night have gone
And it's good to know
That between highs and lows
He's still there to give my heart a song

Yes it's good to know
That between highs and lows
He's still there...
In between time

- Pedigo

 

[ebdesroches]

I have been to the low, the times when I don't feel His affection and its hard for me to worship Him. What has always been true, and will be again is that when I am in the lows, no matter how long the last, He will return and embrace me again, let me know how much He loves me, and i will love Him.

It is no accident He brings me into the low areas where I don't feel His love or affection. Its a test, will I abandon thinking about Him, worshiping Him, and having faith or not. I choose to love Him, I choose never abandon Him, I belong to Him and He belongs to me, we love each other.

 

[ebdesroches]

What impressed me about this writing of Oswald Chambers:

We shouldn't be waiting for the admiration of others for our holiness. God's hidden life in us will appear to those He wants it to appear to in powers...that He gives through us unknowingly!

Oswald Chambers:


Still Human!

…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 CORINTHIANS 10:31


In the Scriptures, the great miracle of the incarnation slips into the ordinary life of a child; the great miracle of the transfiguration fades into the demon-possessed valley below; the glory of the resurrection descends into a breakfast on the seashore. This is not an anticlimax, but a great revelation of God.
We have a tendency to look for wonder in our experience, and we mistake heroic actions for real heroes. It’s one thing to go through a crisis grandly, yet quite another to go through every day glorifying God when there is no witness, no limelight, and no one paying even the remotest attention to us. If we are not looking for halos, we at least want something that will make people say, “What a wonderful man of prayer he is!” or, “What a great woman of devotion she is!” If you are properly devoted to the Lord Jesus, you have reached the lofty height where no one would ever notice you personally. All that is noticed is the power of God coming through you all the time.
We want to be able to say, “Oh, I have had a wonderful call from God!” But to do even the most humbling tasks to the glory of God takes the Almighty God Incarnate working in us. To be utterly unnoticeable requires God’s Spirit in us making us absolutely humanly His. The true test of a saint’s life is not successfulness but faithfulness on the human level of life. We tend to set up success in Christian work as our purpose, but our purpose should be to display the glory of God in human life, to live a life “hidden with Christ in God” in our everyday human conditions (Colossians 3:3). Our human relationships are the very conditions in which the ideal life of God should be exhibited.

 

[persistent]

In 1915, a year after the outbreak of World War I, Chambers suspended the operation of the school and was accepted as a YMCA chaplain. He was assigned to Zeitoun, Cairo, Egypt, where he ministered to Australian and New Zealand troops, who later participated in the Battle of Gallipoli.[18] Chambers raised the spiritual tone of a center intended by both the military and the YMCA to be simply an institution of social service providing wholesome alternatives to the brothels of Cairo. When he told a group of fellow YMCA workers that he had decided to abandon concerts and movies for Bible classes, they predicted the exodus of soldiers from his facilities. "What the skeptics had not considered was Chamber's unusual personal appeal, his gift in speaking, and his genuine concern for the men." Soon his wooden-framed "hut" was packed with hundreds of soldiers listening attentively to messages such as "What Is the Good of Prayer?" Confronted by a soldier who said, "I can't stand religious people," Chambers replied, "Neither can I."[19] Chambers irritated his YMCA superiors by giving away refreshments that the organization believed should be sold so as not to raise expectations elsewhere. Chambers installed a contribution box but refused to ask soldiers to pay for tea and cakes.[

 

[ebdesroches]

In 1915, a year after the outbreak of World War I, Chambers suspended the operation of the school and was accepted as a YMCA chaplain. He was assigned to Zeitoun, Cairo, Egypt, where he ministered to Australian and New Zealand troops, who later participated in the Battle of Gallipoli.[18] Chambers raised the spiritual tone of a center intended by both the military and the YMCA to be simply an institution of social service providing wholesome alternatives to the brothels of Cairo. When he told a group of fellow YMCA workers that he had decided to abandon concerts and movies for Bible classes, they predicted the exodus of soldiers from his facilities. "What the skeptics had not considered was Chamber's unusual personal appeal, his gift in speaking, and his genuine concern for the men." Soon his wooden-framed "hut" was packed with hundreds of soldiers listening attentively to messages such as "What Is the Good of Prayer?" Confronted by a soldier who said, "I can't stand religious people," Chambers replied, "Neither can I."[19] Chambers irritated his YMCA superiors by giving away refreshments that the organization believed should be sold so as not to raise expectations elsewhere. Chambers installed a contribution box but refused to ask soldiers to pay for tea and cakes.[

Thanks for things about one of my heros.

He certainly has a dufferent way of looking at things. Many times grabs my attention with things i am currently thinking about.

 

[persistent]

Thanks for things about one of my heros.

He certainly has a dufferent way of looking at things. Many times grabs my attention with things i am currently thinking about.

WWI probably gave him a perspective that few of us have today with mostly easy living. He was in Egypt at the start.

 

[ebdesroches]

we probably like similar things don’t hesitate to post or send me things

 

[persistent]

we probably like similar things don’t hesitate to post or send me things

This is something I should have looked up long ago as my early concerns with 'Heavenly' ways brought this woman to mind. My belief is she symbolizes all of us in our inordinate lusts and infidelities.

1. unbelief in a particular religion, especially Christianity.

2. the action or state of being unfaithful to a spouse

Samaritan woman at the well - Wikipedia

The wiki article says In Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic traditions, she is venerated as a saint with the name Photine (Φωτεινή), meaning "luminous [one]".

To me the translation of Photine should be 'illuminated one', as she saw the 'light', (Jesus). She was illuminated. Or possibly translated as 'enlightened'. Someone familiar with translating Greek could advise on this.

The article interprets the passages theme as relating to either 'betrothal' or Jesus as 'giver of living water', as here

Consider the excellence of this living water, which is Divine grace, and which Christ promises to His faithful servants. " He that shall drink of the water that I will give him, shall not thirst forever." It quenches, therefore, forever, the thirst of the soul, and satisfies it. The soul then no longer thirsts after earthly waters, that is, the pleasures of this world. It becomes a fountain of all good to the soul, ever flowing and giving merit to our actions. " It springs up to everlasting life" (John iv. 14), elevating our thoughts to heaven and heavenly joys, of which it is a pledge. Say, therefore, with the Samaritan woman, " Give me this water, that I may not thirst."[14]

I am not certain what the author of the Wiki passage is referring to by "Divine grace". I don't think this is the same as the possibilities I propose. For my take, the living water theme is close, but I like to think that the 'living water' indicates The Spirit which quickens and enlightens our spirit or soul. I don't know if this would be The Holy Spirit or as the authors "Divine grace" or is this one of the seven Spirits as here in

Revelation 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

Photine was immediately quickened and illuminated according to the passage. The quickening seems to be indicated here.

John 4:28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

Too, would the words, "....is not this the Christ?" possibly be exclamatory? My understanding is she was excited and delighted. Probably just the fact that a Jew would talk to her gave a 'shock' and proceeded from there to the 'realization' that was not at all anticipated by her. I don't know if this occurrence is recognized as a miracle by scholars or anyone else, but I see it as such and accords with this passage.

John 4: 4 And he must needs go through Samaria

The above passage indicates that Jesus knew in advance that Photine would be coming to Jacob's well. Miraculous. Jesus in a way drew or had drawn Photine there by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Just to be in the presence of Jesus and admit your transgressions when they are presented to you, is an 'illuminating' or 'enlightening' experience.

My take on the Samaritan woman at the well.

 

[ebdesroches]

Will take a while to think about what you have said and reply

 

[persistent]

I know my understanding of certain scriptures is not in line with scholars and/or others but some verses certainly strike me in a personal way and may not be as others life experiences may possibly allow for a different understanding. I base this on my understanding of this verse>>>>

Job 11:6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

I take this verse to say that there are more than one messages in Bible passages. Of course, Zophar was reprimanded for his part as here>>>>
Job 42:7 "...........the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath

So this needs consideration. Was Zophar talking nonsense? I doubt that. But he was accusative. That may be the reason for the reprimand.