The Shield of Faith

A Consuming Fire
May 20, 2018

This is a bit of a long segue into what my message is about this morning, but I figured my last message was so short I’ll have plenty of time. For those of you who like to have a title for your notes, I'm going to be sharing about our shield of faith. But first I'm taking a slight detour.

Yesterday, Prince Harry married Meghan Markle. I got up a bit earlier than usual for a Saturday morning to watch the ceremony, 1. because I love wed- dings, and the British royals know how to throw a gorgeous wedding, 2. Har- ry is 6 months older than I am, so he’s always been a favorite royal, and 3. if I didn’t watch it live chances are I wouldn’t have been able to catch up until very late last night. All that has absolutely nothing to do with what I’m about to talk about, except that in 2011 I got up even earlier to watch his brother William marry Kate. During the ceremony, the Bishop of London quoted Catherine of Siena in his message: “Be who God meant for you to be, and you will set the world on fire”.

Now, I definitely want to be who God wants me to be, but isn’t setting things on fire a bit...destructive? I think of the forest fires on the West Coast that can take weeks to contain, or the lava from the volcano in Hawaii that wipes out everything in its path. Fire is a powerful force!

If you actually look up the phrase "set the world on fire," the modern definition isn't as dramatic: "to do wonderful or exciting things that cause a great or remarkable sensation in the world".

I suppose literally setting the world on fire could be described as causing a re- markable sensation, but I'd hardly describe it as wonderful or exciting. And of course we sing a song about God setting His Church on fire. What do we mean by that? I have no idea what Catherine of Siena truly meant by this phrase back in the mid 1300s, so I am choosing to go beyond the modern definition and take a look at the spiritual significance.

The definition of being on fire is "consumed by flame". In Song of Solomon, love is described as a vehement or consuming fire (8:6). In Exodus 24 and Deuteronomy 4 God is described as a consuming fire. In Exodus it says that “to the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain”. In Deuteronomy Moses warns the people not to forget their covenant with the Lord and make idols for themselves because “the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God” (vs 23, NIV).
Yet there are also at least 4 examples in the Bible where the fire did NOT consume as it burned: The burning bush where God spoke to Moses, the pillar of fire that led the Israelites in the desert, the fiery furnace in Daniel, and the tongues of fire the day of Pentecost. In the case of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, they were protected from the fire. But in the other three situations the fire was, or at least was a physical representation of, the actual Presence of God. Sometimes the Fire guards us, sometimes we’re guarded from the fire, but every single time we have the opportunity to come out the other side of our trial with our faith strengthened and refined.

Faith is a Shield
So the question then becomes, who has God made us, His fire-starters, to be? In a word...FAITHFUL. Faith is a complete trust or confidence in someone, a conviction, a strong belief. A faithful person believes that God is Who He says He is. A faithful person endures difficulties because she trusts that God has a plan and a purpose.
A faithful person comes alongside those with mustard seed-sized faith and encourages them. A faithful person takes the gifts God has given and uses them to multiply the kingdom. A faithful person endures the trials and fin- ishes the race. A faithful person hears Jesus say "Well done".
I want to be a faithful person, but wow. It's hard, right? I know for certain I can't be faithful on my own, but thankfully we're not on our own, are we? Each of us who have made the choice to believe in and follow Christ have ac- cess to His abundant grace, and our Helper, the Holy Spirit. We have been em- powered to become more like Christ! Habakkuk 2:4 says "the righteous person will live by his faithfulness". Paul says in Romans 1:8, "I thank my God for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world".

What does this faith empowerment look like?
Ephesians 6, starting in verse 10. "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be ABLE to with- stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances TAKE UP THE SHIELD OF FAITH, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.”

Faith is a shield.
I want you to picture a shield in your mind or take a glance at the one on the cover of the bulletin. Like people, shields come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Some are round, some are oval, some are skinny, some are made of wood, some are made of metal. Some have symbols on them, like a dragon or lion, or spe- cial colors to show that the bearer belongs to a specific kingdom, house, or group. A knight's shield may also have his own personal emblem or device, setting him apart from the other knights on the battle field. What all shields have in common is their purpose. A shield is designed to protect the bearer, and everyone behind him, from enemy attack.

So why is faith described as a shield? Consider this. You’re holding a relative- ly small piece of metal or wood in front of you for the purpose of blocking ar- rows, bullets, or sword hits. You must believe the shield will protect you as you stand, or as you move forward on the offensive to push back the enemy. So it is with faith. The enemy is shooting fiery arrows at us, designed to steal our hope and peace, kill our joy and love, and destroy our relationships and families. My shield is my conviction that God is Who He says He is, that I am who He says I am, that He will do what He has said He will do, and that He has done what His Word says He did.

We Are Shielded
Sometimes it's easy to have faith, but there are definitely situations that re- quire us to believe in what men say is impossible. In those times, our faith is strengthened because no matter how bad the situation looks, we are not alone. You are not alone. Isaiah 43:1-2 says: "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.  When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you."

The shield of the Father is seen often in the Old Testament, but there are two specific times where His protective shield defied human comprehension. In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzer's golden statue had created a dilemma for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. Bow down, and disobey God, or disobey the king—with whom they currently had unprecedented favor—and be thrown into the fire to die. For the three of them there was no contest. They told the king, "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. BUT IF NOT, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up".

So the king ordered the furnace be heated seven times hotter, then had his soldiers bind them and throw them in the fire. Verse 21 even makes sure to note that they were thrown in wearing all their clothes, and even turbans, and in verse 22 we discover the fire was so hot that the soldiers were killed just by being that close to it. Yet, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were able to walk through the fire and come out completely untouched by it. They didn't even smell of smoke! God was with them in the midst of the fire and made sure that the king saw it. So Nebuchadnezzer gave glory to God, and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were rewarded for their act of great faith.

Now we fast forward a bit in time. Nebuchadnezzer is gone and his son has been overthrown and killed by Darius. Daniel continues to serve, now as one of three governors or administrators, and quickly becomes a favorite with the king. Because of this Daniel 6:4 says "the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling gov- ernment affairs, but they couldn't find anything to criticize. He was FAITH- FUL, always responsible, and completely trustworthy".

So they invented a problem and set a trap. They went to King Darius and introduced a decree stating that all petitions had to be made to the king, and no one else, for 30 days. It's flattering, and seemed fairly harmless, so the king signed it. Daniel recognized the trap, went home, and did the exact same thing he had done for years. He knelt by an open window and prayed. The men caught him and alerted the king. The king was, of course, unable to save Daniel because—like in the book of Esther—a law once signed by the king could not be revoked. So they took Daniel to the lions' den and threw him in.

Interestingly, nowhere in this section of Scripture does it quote Daniel's response, but in verse 16 Darius makes his own statement of faith: "Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you".

The king spent all night fasting and returned to the den as soon as he could the next morning. He called out: "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God...delivered you from the lions?" And Daniel responds: "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me". He was brought up from the pit, uninjured, and verse 23 states "because he believed in his God". And, like with Nebuchadnezzer before him, King Darius publicly glorified God for all he had witnessed (6:25-27).

In both of these situations, and the many others in the Old and New Testament, their faith was being tested. They came through unscathed and refined, not because they were able to conjure up enough faith at the time, but because they lived it every day. Daniel didn’t begin to pray at the open win- dow when the law was signed. He had prayed at that same window the day before, a month before, even ten years before. Daniel’s faith was evidenced in his day-to-day activities, in his work ethic, in his treatment of others. A knight who has been taught to carefully polish and repair his armor will be ready when he needs it, but one who only searches for it when the enemy is closing in will fail. Faith is grown in the seemingly mundane activities of life, so that our shield will be strong enough to withstand the attack when it comes.

We Are a Shield
Let’s go back to Isaiah 43 for a second, verses 3-4. God tells us why He has promised to be with us in the flood and fire. He says "For I AM the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...You are precious to Me...and I love you."

We are shielded by our faith and His love. Not so we can live in peace and security, but so we can go out into the battle and lead others to safety. Often that means taking risks. It shouldn't be a surprise when the faithful response isn't the one that makes the most sense to those around us, both in the world and often in the Church. "Shadrach, what's the big deal? It's just a statue. You can bow and not mean it. God knows your heart, right? It's not worth dying over." "Daniel, why did you have to pray at that open window where everyone could see you? Why didn't you pray in the closet? God would still hear you. It's not worth your life."

Last June I was 9 months pregnant and pretty miserable. We weren't able to do much for our 10th wedding anniversary because of that, but there was one thing I told Jeremy I really wanted to do. So for our anniversary he took me to see Wonder Woman. For those of you not familiar with the Wonder Woman character, she's called Diana, essentially a woman with super-human abilities (extra keen vision, jumps great distances, runs very fast), who was trained in hand-to-hand combat and swordsmanship, wears a tiara with her armor, and carries a golden lasso that forces you to tell the truth when it's wrapped around you. She also has bullet-resistant gauntlets on her wrists and carries a sword and shield.

She ends up alongside British soldiers on the front lines in World War 1, on a mission to stop the bad guys from unleashing a terrible weapon on both sol- diers and civilians. I wish I could show you the clip, but I will do my best to describe it for you. She and a small group of men are in a bunker attempting to sneak across the enemy line. They’ve reached a region the soldiers refer to as No Man’s Land. The armies are at a standstill, the ground between the bunkers is desolate, destroyed by the continuous fighting. No one dares peek over the barricades. A nearby village has been overrun and some of the civil- ians are hiding in the bunker attempting to make it to safety. A woman reaches for Diana and tearfully tells her of the village and the people still trapped there. The men urge her that they need to quickly move on, that there’s nothing they can do.

She doesn’t listen. She takes off her cloak, revealing the armor she was wearing underneath, places her tiara on her head, picks up her shield, and climbs the ladder onto the battlefield. Immediately bullets begin flying to- wards her and she uses her wrist gauntlets to block each one. With growing confidence she begins striding forward, breaking into a run. Behind her, the men realize she is drawing all the enemy fire and grab the opportunity to climb the ladder and find defensible positions. The enemy continues to fire at Diana and she brings her shield up.

Diana could leave the shelter of the bunker and step out into No Man’s Land because she knew who she was and what she was capable of. She had been trained and had the tools to help those who couldn’t do what she had the ability to do. She refused to remain in safety while others died. When she stepped out, the enemy saw her and shot everything they had at her.

The further she stepped out, the more she deflected, the more they shot. It got HARDER. It got so hard she had to stop and brace herself. But her position allowed those behind her, without shields, to move forward. She became their shield.

For us today, becoming a shield for others won’t be so dramatic. Our battle- fields of faith are in our own communities, at work, and even at home. When we choose to pay attention to those around us, and notice the open doors, we’ll be able to raise up our shields of faith and make a difference...saving lives, both spiritually and physically.

One of those ways is through intercession. In Exodus 32, Moses is on Mount Sinai receiving the Law from God. The Israelites grew restless waiting for him to return, so they made a golden calf and had a day of feasting. God immediately tells Moses to leave Him so that He can destroy the Israelites and start over. But Moses doesn’t budge. Instead, starting in verse 11, he pleaded with the Lord to spare the people. He reminded God how He brought them out of Egypt, and about the promises He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So the Lord relented and Moses returned to the camp. Then he returned later, after dealing with the situation, in order to ask God’s forgiveness on behalf of the whole camp. In the end, 3,000 men died and God sent a plague as punishment on the rest of the people, but Moses’ intercession saved the entire nation of Israel from destruction. God hears our prayers when we stand in faith for others and believe He will do what He has promised us in His Word.

In the book of Joshua there’s another story of someone who stood in faith for others. She took notice of strangers, spoke out in faith, and saved her entire family from death. Moses had died, Joshua was the new leader of Israel, and God told him it was time to cross the Jordan River and take the Promised Land. But Jericho stood in the way. So he sent two men over to spy on the city. The two men ended up at the house of Rahab, and the king of Jericho sent men to capture them. But Rahab did something surprising. In- stead of turning in the men and saving her city, she hid the two spies and told the king’s men that they had already left. The king’s men left in pursuit, giving Rahab the time she needed. She told the two spies, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you...and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites...whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted in fear...for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath” (2:9-11). Then she begged them to spare her family when they returned. They promised to do so, and she let them out of the city through a window, leaving the scarlet cord in the window as a sign of their agreement. Almost a month later, when Jericho fell, Joshua sent the two men back into the city to fulfill their oath to Rahab and bring her and her family out safely. Rahab’s great-great grandson was King David, she is now one of two women mentioned in “the faith chapter” Hebrews 11, and one of the five women mentioned in the lineage of Jesus.

Strong and Mighty
I was listening to worship music the other week and a song came on led by Steffany Gretzinger. It was one I sang as a child, so I was surprised to hear it in a worship setting sung by adults. As I was listening to the words I felt the Spirit say “This is what the Old Testament heroes of faith and the New Testament Church believed. This is how they set the world on fire. They believed in Me, passionately.”

This is the song. I’m sure it will be familiar to many of you as well. The kids version has a few other lines, but the chorus is the focus. One line, repeated over and over: "My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do.”  She finishes with a line from another song: “Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing. Nothing is too difficult for Thee.”

Do you believe it?

Where is your faith today? When you’re living your life, going to work, or home with your family...Where is your shield? Do you carry it with you, or is it just an heirloom hanging on your wall? Would people say you are faithful, trustworthy, and always responsible, like Daniel? Are you prepared to stand for righteousness like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego? Are you willing to intercede for your family and your nation? Maybe you’ll never have to face a test that huge. But when difficult times come your way, do you believe God is big enough, or do you fall into the depths of despair? Maybe there is some- thing you’re dealing with right now and you need to stand and claim that “Nothing is too difficult, there is nothing my God cannot do!” Take some time right now and talk to God. The front is open if you need to come and pray.

1 Peter 1:3-9
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes
even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 
Amen.

https://cornerstonebroadway.sermon.net/embed/main/21170211

Being Content

DOING LIFE IS TOUGH.  Things don't go the way we plan.  The Waiting Period between where we are and where we want to be seems endless.  Yet we're not supposed to wish our life away...I need to live each day.  I need to accomplish something with what I have been given.  I can't waste what I have while I wait for what I want.   So I sat down to journal last night about the word CONTENT.  I know from growing up in the church that we are told a number of times to BE CONTENT and rejoice in circumstances where others would wallow in their misery.  Believe me I know what it feels like to wallow...and while it may feel good while you're eating the ice cream, it does nothing to improve your situation.

I looked up content on my BibleGateway app.  The first verse to pop up was in Philippians 4, and honestly the whole chapter is encouraging and awesome, so read the whole thing.  This is what I wrote:

From Philippians 4  (NIV)

Stand firm in the Lord.

Be of the same mind in the Lord.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied…And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

The secret of contentment in any and every situation...is that we LIVE THROUGH HIS STRENGTH GIVEN TO US.  HIS EMPOWERMENT. HIS GRACE.

In our own strength we wallow.  We whine while we wait.  In his grace we can be content.  Not content WITH our circumstances, but content WHATEVER the circumstances...because we know He is able to get us through and we can depend on Him.  He's my Provider.  He is my Protector.  He desires my attention and trust regardless of my circumstances...and He's WORTHY.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find REST for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

"'If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know You and continue to find favor with You.  Remember that this nation is Your people.'  The Lord replied, 'My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'  Then Moses said to Him, 'If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.  How will anyone know that You are pleased with me and with Your people unless You go with us?  What else will distinguish me and Your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?'  And the Lord said to Moses, 'I will do what You have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.'  Then Moses said, 'Now show me Your glory.'"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNqo4Un2uZI

The Silver Chair

The good and beautiful Queen is dead.

Now old and ailing, the King is left without an heir.
The Prince has disappeared without a trace.

All hope seems lost.

A hidden kingdom, just below the surface, waits to attack.

The rightful heir to the throne is deceived.

The Enemy hides behind a beautiful face.

Aslan is on the move.

Two children are hiding from the bullies.

One seeks to return to the Land where he was changed.

Pole and Scrubb are needed.

The Prince must be found.

Jill must remember Four Signs.

They miss the First, but travel North.

Puddleglum the Marshwiggle is to be their guide.

The Second Sign sends them to the city of ancient giants.

Fear and hunger lead them astray.

Words of comfort lead to capture.

They must escape the giants' Autumn Feast.

The Third Sign leads them UNDER ME.

Now prisoners in Underland, trapped in the dark.

The Black Knight warns them, is he friend or foe?

Tied to the Silver Chair he cries out in the name of Aslan.

The enchantment is broken and Prince Rilian is free!

They must escape the Lady before the attack is begun.

The Prince fights the Green Serpent and avenges his mother.

The Lady's empire begins to crumble.

Through a hole they find Narnia and friends.

The Prince discovers the extent of his deception.

He would have led the attack on his own kingdom.

And ruled as a puppet for an Evil Queen.

Now he waits for his father's return.

Caspian X returns from the East.

His reunion with Eustace and Rilian is sweet.

On his deathbed he blesses his son.

He awakens in Aslan's Country, young again.

Aslan opens the Door and Caspian glimpses our world.

Aslan's roar shakes the walls, and the bullies run away.
Pole and Scrubb no longer fear them.
They are now Friends of Narnia.

Before the Last Battle they will return.
To fight for Narnia against the Calormen.
The Seven Friends will stand that day.
Kings and Queens forever, in Aslan's Country.

I'm So Blessed!

Did you cheer when you read the title or did you flinch?

No, this isn't going to be one of THOSE posts.  You know the ones of which I speak.  This is the blog of a girl who cares about accuracy and not using words (or verses) out of context.  I'm not a fan of hyperbole.  I will admit to rolling my eyes when I see Facebook posts about how someone "is so blessed".  Most of the time I honestly don't think it means what they think it means.

I've actually tried quite hard to remove the word completely from my vocabulary in the Facebook sense.  You know... #blessed.  I occasionally see it used correctly, but most of the time I flinch at the other side the poster may not have even considered.

For example.

If I'm blessed because I just celebrated my 8th anniversary, does that mean my friends who aren't married aren't blessed?  Or the wife whose husband left her?  Or the ones struggling through divorce?  They certainly don't seem as blessed as I am.

If I'm blessed because I have 2 healthy children, does that mean those whose children are constantly sick or fighting for their lives are not blessed?  Why do they struggle while my kids are rarely sick even with colds?  What did they do to miss the blessing?

If I'm blessed to be healthy myself, what does that mean for those fighting illness and disease?  Again, did they fail somewhere?  Does God love them less?

Of course not!

On the flip side, there was a woman in the Bible who was BLESSED AMONG WOMEN.  Anyone want her life?  Didn't think so!

SO WHAT EXACTLY DOES BLESSED MEAN?

adjective

1.

consecrated; sacred; holy; sanctified:

the Blessed Sacrament.

2.

worthy of adoration, reverence, or worship:

the Blessed Trinity.

3.

divinely or supremely favored; fortunate:

to be blessed with a strong, healthy body; blessed with an ability tofind friends.

4.

blissfully happy or contented.

5.

Roman Catholic Church, beatified.

6.

bringing happiness and thankfulness:

the blessed assurance of a steady income.

So lots of things apparently.  1, 2, and 5 are generally referred to correctly, so I'm going to focus in on definitions 3, 4, and 6.

Blessed: To be divinely or supremely favored/fortunate
Blessed: Blissfully happy or contented
Blessed: Bringing happiness and thankfulness

The first is something bestowed ("blessed with health"), the second is a choice ("I'm blessed and content where I am, come what may"),  and the 3rd seems to be more of a relief ("I'm glad that I have this opportunity/I'm thankful for this chance").

So what does the Bible say about "being blessed" (Note: I'm not referring to the Old Testament tradition of blessing, like Jacob & Esau.)  So who are The Blessed?

Psalm 24:4-5: The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god, they will receive BLESSING from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior.
(Vindication: defense/justification)

Psalm 91:14: Because he loves me, says the Lord, I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My Name.

Proverbs 3:3-4: Let love and faihfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.  Then you will win FAVOR and a good name in the sight of God and man.

Isaiah 30:18: The Lord is a God of justice.  BLESSED are all who wait for Him!

Daniel 12:12-13: BLESSED is the one who waits for and reaches the end...as for you, go your way until the end.  You will rest, and then at the end of days you will receive your allotted INHERITANCE.

Matthew 19:13/Mark 10:13/Luke 18:15: Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to PLACE HIS HANDS ON THEM AND PRAY FOR THEM.

Ephesians 6:2: Honor your father and mother--which is the first commandment with a PROMISE--that it may GO WELL with you and you may enjoy LONG LIFE on the earth.

And finally, my favorite and the clearest idea of WHO IS BLESSED BY GOD:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 

Blessed are those who mourn,

    for they will be comforted.

 

Blessed are the meek,

    for they will inherit the earth.

 

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

    for they will be filled.

 

Blessed are the merciful,

    for they will be shown mercy.

 

Blessed are the pure in heart,

    for they will see God.

 

Blessed are the peacemakers,

    for they will be called children of God.

 

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

4 

For me, if those persecuted in other nations can face death and not deny their Christ, if a blind woman can pen the words to Blessed Assurance, and a man who just lost his children can pen the words It Is Well With My Soul, I can believe that I am blessed regardless of my circumstances.

I am blessed because I am a daughter of the King of Kings, not because I have health or wealth.  I am blessed because I have eternal life, not because I lead a charmed life. (I don't!)  When persecution comes, when mourning comes, if what I have is taken away, I will be blessed because MINE IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOFu4FKTeks

Favorite End Credit Songs from Jackson's LOTR & Hobbit Trilogies

Coming in last, the song whose only major fault is simply not being as good as the other 5, even coming from a soundtrack that is one of my Top 3...

6.  GOLLUM'S SONG (Emiliana Torrini).  LOTR: The Two Towers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkXbzffVl44

Next comes a song that I prefer the movie version of vs the end credits version, but I love that the songs for The Hobbit movies took their lyrics from the poems & songs of The Professor himself.

5. SONG OF THE LONELY MOUNTAIN (Neil Finn).  TH: An Unexpected Journey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNd9yBswEgw

Hearing this song in the theater was EPIC, especially following Smaug's golden exit from the mountain.  I AM FIRE, I AM DEATH!!!

4. I SEE FIRE (Ed Sheeran).  TH: Desolation of Smaug
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fngvQS_PmQ

The Top 3 are all songs I adore.  #3 introduced me to one of my favorite singers, who I think is perfection at singing anything Elvish.

3. MAY IT BE (Enya).  LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_upDME6MwPY

This one is not only a fabulous song, but it's BILLY BOYD.  I absolutely love that Peter Jackson asked Pippin to sing the final song of Middle Earth.

2. THE LAST GOODBYE (Billy Boyd).  TH: Battle of the Five Armies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8ir8rVl2Z4

And my undisputed Top Song, from my undisputed Top Movie...

1.  INTO THE WEST (Annie Lennox).  LOTR: Return of the King
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shdiTRxTJb4

Do you agree with my list?  What would you change?

The Wisdom of L.M. Montgomery's Anne

Goodness it's been a long time since I posted! My friend Allison posted some quotes from Anne of Green Gables and suddenly I was swept into a wonderful pool of delicious quotations. While my blog name--The Tomorrow Road--is the imagining of another Montgomery heroine, Emily, it still seems appropriate to share some of the wise beyond her years words of Anne-with-an-E Shirley (and possibly some of Marilla's and the indomitable Mrs. Rachel Lynde. So brew a cup of tea and enjoy!

On life

“It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.”

“Life is worth living as long as there's a laugh in it.”

“Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it... Yet.”

“My life is a perfect graveyard of buried hopes.” I hope not, but oh the poetry of the thought!

“It's not what the world holds for you. It's what you bring to it.”

“It's all very well to read about sorrows and imagine yourself living through them heroically, but it's not so nice when you really come to have them, is it?”

“When I left Queen's my future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road. I thought I could see along it for many a milestone. Now there is a bend in it. I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does.”

“That's the worst of growing up, and I'm beginning to realize it. The things you wanted so much when you were a child don't seem half so wonderful to you when you get them.”

“Anne always remembered the silvery, peaceful beauty and fragrant calm of that night. It was the last night before sorrow touched her life; and no life is ever quite the same again when once that cold, sanctifying touch has been laid upon it.”

“...“Oh, Marilla, looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them,” exclaimed Anne. “You mayn’t get the things themselves; but nothing can prevent you from having the fun of looking forward to them. Mrs. Lynde says, ‘Blessed are they who expect nothing for they shall not be disappointed.’ But I think it would be worse to expect nothing than to be disappointed.”

On names

“There's such a lot of different Annes in me. I sometimes think that is why I'm such a troublesome person. If I was just the one Anne it would be ever so much more comfortable, but then it wouldn't be half so interesting.”

“I read in a book once that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but I've never been able to believe it. I don't believe a rose WOULD be as nice if it was called a thistle or a skunk cabbage.”

“Oh, it makes SUCH a difference. It LOOKS so much nicer. When you hear a name pronounced can't you always see it in your mind, just as if it was printed out? I can; and A-n-n looks dreadful, but A-n-n-e looks so much more distinguished. If you'll only call me Anne spelled with an E I shall try to reconcile myself to not being called Cordelia.”

On words & education

“People laugh at me because I use big words. But if you have big ideas, you have to use big words to express them, haven't you?”

“Oh, it's delightful to have ambitions. I'm so glad I have such a lot. And there never seems to be any end to them-- that's the best of it. Just as soon as you attain to one ambition you see another one glittering higher up still. It does make life so interesting.”

“Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?But am I talking too much? People are always telling me I do. Would you rather I didn't talk? If you say so I'll stop. I can STOP when I make up my mind to it, although it's difficult.”

“It must be lovely to be grown up, Marilla, when just being treated as if you were is so nice...Well, anyway, when I grow up, I'm always going to talk to little girls as if they were, too, and I'll never laugh when they use big words.”

“The world calls them its singers and poets and artists and story-tellers; but they are just people who have never forgotten the way to fairyland."

On money

“Look at that sea, girls--all silver and shadow and vision of things not seen. We couldn't enjoy its loveliness any more if we had millions of dollars and ropes of diamonds.”

On God

“Why must people kneel down to pray? If I really wanted to pray I’ll tell you what I'd do. I'd go out into a great big field all alone or in the deep, deep woods and I'd look up into the sky—up—up—up—into that lovely blue sky that looks as if there was no end to its blueness. And then I'd just feel a prayer.”

“The world looks like something God had just imagined for His own pleasure. This isn't poetry but it makes me feel the same way as poetry does.”

On friendship

"Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.”

On fashion

“It is ever so much easier to be good if your clothes are fashionable.”

“All i want is a dress with puffed sleeves.”

"Anne took the dress and looked at it in reverent silence. Oh, how pretty it was--a lovely soft brown gloria with all the gloss of silk; a skirt with dainty frills and shirrings; a waist elaborately pintucked in the most fashinable way, with a little ruffle of filmy lace at the neck. But the sleeves--they were the crowning glory! Long elbow cuffs, and above them two beautiful puffs divided by rows of shirring and bows of brown-silk ribbon.”

On nature

“It was November--the month of crimson sunsets, parting birds, deep, sad hymns of the sea, passionate wind-songs in the pines. Anne roamed through the pineland alleys in the park and, as she said, let that great sweeping wind blow the fogs out of her soul.”

“It has always seemed to me. ever since early childhood, amid all the commonplaces of life, i was very near to a kingdom of ideal beauty. Between it and me hung only a thin veil. I could never draw it quite aside, but sometimes a wind fluttered it and I caught a glimpse of the enchanting realms beyond-only a glimpse-but those glimpses have always made life worthwhile.”

“Anne came dancing home in the purple winter twilight across the snowy places.”

On looks

“Red hair is my life long sorrow.”

“Which would you rather be if you had the choice--divinely beautiful or dazzlingly clever or angelically good?”

On looking on the bright side

“Oh, I know I'm a great trial to you, Marilla," said Anne repentantly. "I make so many mistakes. But then just think of all the mistakes I don't make, although I might.”

“Oh, don't you see? There must be a limit to the mistakes one person can make, and when I get to the end of them, then I'll be through with them. That's a very comforting thought.”

“Don't be very frightened, Marilla. I was walking the ridge-pole and I fell off. I suspect I have sprained my ankle. But, Marilla, I might have broken my neck. Let us look on the bright side of things.”

"Anne sighed. 'I can't. I'm in the depths of despair. Can you eat when you are in the depths of despair?'
'I've never been in the depths of despair, so I can't say,' responded Marilla.
'Weren't you? Well, did you ever try to IMAGINE you were in the depths of despair?'
'No, I didn't.'
'Then I don't think you can understand what it's like. It's very uncomfortable a feeling indeed.'”

On boys

“Ruby Gillis thinks of nothing but young men, and the older she gets the worse she is. Young men are all very well in their place, but it doesn't do to drag them into everything, does it?”

"'I love Diana so, Marilla. I cannot ever live without her. But I know very well when we grow up that Diana will get married and go away and leave me. And oh, what shall I do? I hate her husband — I just hate him furiously. I've been imagining it all out — the wedding and everything — Diana dressed in snowy white garments, and a veil, and looking as beautiful and regal as a queen; and me the bridesmaid, with a lovely dress, too, and puffed sleeves, but with a breaking heart hid beneath my smiling face. And then bidding Diana good-bye-e-e—' Here Anne broke down entirely and wept with increasing bitterness. Marilla turned quickly away to hide her twitching face, but it was no use; she collapsed on the nearest chair and burst into such a hearty and unusual peal of laughter…”

“Gilbert took from his desk a little pink candy heart with a gold motto on it, “You are sweet,” and slipped it under the curve of Anne’s arm. Whereupon Anne arose, took the pink heart gingerly between the tips of her fingers, dropped it on the floor, ground it to powder beneath her heel, and resumed her position without deigning to bestow a glance on Gilbert.”

Favorites

“I suppose it was a romantic way to perish... for a mouse.”

“Anne, are you killed?' shrieked Diana, throwing herself on her knees beside her friend. 'Oh, Anne, dear Anne, speak just one word to me and tell me if you're killed.”

“I am well in body although considerably rumpled up in spirit, thank you, ma'am,' said Anne gravely. Then aside to Marilla in an audible whisper, 'There wasn't anything startling in that, was there, Marilla?”

“Don't be very frightened, Marilla. I was walking the ridge-pole and I fell off. I suspect I have sprained my ankle. But, Marilla, I might have broken my neck. Let us look on the bright side of things.”

https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/3464264-anne-of-green-gables-anne-of-green-gables-1