Thursday Thoughts

So do not be surprised at again finding yourself becoming sensitive, impatient, haughty, and self-willed.  You must be made to understand that this is your natural disposition, and without God’s grace, you will never be anything different.  “We must bear the yoke of the daily confusion of our sins,” says St. Augustine.  We must be made to feel our weakness, our wretchedness, our inability to correct ourselves.  We must give up hope in ourselves, and have no hope but in God.  Yet we must bear with ourselves, never flattering ourselves, but never neglecting an opportunity to correct ourselves.  

We need to understand what kind of people we really are while waiting for God to change us.  We need to become humble under His all-powerful hand.  We need to become submissive and manageable as soon as we sense any resistance in our will.  Be silent as much as you can.  Be in no hurry to judge, but think through your decisions, your likes and dislikes.  In your daily life, stop at once when you are aware of getting in too much of a hurry.  And do not be too eager even for good things.  Take your time.  –Fénelon

For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.  For each will have to bear his own load. – Galatians 6:3-5

Drama at home is like meringue on pie.  It’s a lot of trouble to make, serves no purpose that I can see, but some people seem to insist on adding it.

Climbing the Rough Side?

You have been asking for peace and comfort.  But you do not understand that you have been led to the brink of the fountain, and are refusing to drink.  Peace and comfort can be found nowhere except in simple obedience.  So be faithful in obeying even when you do not understand, and you will soon find that the rivers of living water will flow as God promised.  You will receive according to the measure of your faith:  much, if you believe much; nothing, if you believe nothing and continue to listen to your own restless thoughts.  – Fénelon (emphasis, mine)

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. – Revelation 2:10

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. – Psalm 34:18

When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.  Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.  You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. – Psalm 73:21-24

Someone Is Wrong on the Internet

If there is one mark of perfection, it is simply that it can tolerate the imperfections of others.  It is able to adjust.  – Fénelon

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.  --  Romans 14:1

How do I know I am not perfect?  I am still upset by the faults of others.  Jesus became indignant over religious rules that kept people in hopeless bondage.  His anger unleashed in the courts of the temple was symbolic, much like the charge to Saul to destroy all the Amalekites.  All of the old nature is under condemnation and has no place in God’s sanctuary. 

Meanwhile our declining culture has moved from religious Pharisees to political ones, from Puritans condemning immorality to the grossly deviate and immoral condemning Puritans. 

Intolerance is one manifestation of fleshly power.  Tolerance is a manifestation of spiritual power – again with the true meaning of meekness. 

Tolerance is not indifference.  I am indifferent about a lot of things, including who wins the football game on Sunday.  I have even become indifferent over the years to people who are Cubs fans or non-Cowboy fans or people who like soccer.  I have not been perfected with regard to such things; I just don’t care anymore. 

Arguing with fools can be entertaining; arguing with the wise can be enlightening – except that the wise rarely argue.  A wise person corrects a misunderstanding on the part of another.  He or she does not quarrel.  The wise have nothing to prove because Truth, sooner or later, proves itself.  The fool fails to learn even from that – if he survives.