Oswald Quotes

All of the following quotes are from "Approved unto God" by Oswald Chambers

Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will develop the particular side of your life that He wants developed, and be careful that you do not upset His plans by bringing in your own ideas.

I don't know why I fight for my own way so often. His ideas are always better and He knows me better than I know myself.

The only way to be sent is to let God lift us right out of any sense of fitness in ourselves and place us were He will.

I am most dependant on Him in situations where I feel out of place.

The strange thing is that a worker will more often exhibit ugly characteristics than one who is not a worker. There is an irritability and an impatience and a dogmatism about the average Christian worker that is never seen in those who are not engaged in that kind of work.

I'm not sure what this means. I would think that the closer one is with Christ, the less likely they are to be irritable, impatient, and dogmatic. One the other hand, the more committed one is to Christ, the less satisfied they are with this world. Either way, I doubt Oswald is saying these are the best characteristics of a Christian, but rather attitudes for which we need contentment even more.

We escape judgement in a hundred and one ways, consequently we do not develop.

Judgement is so often seen as a negative when judgement can also be like fire refining gold.

The motive is not a sentiment but a passion, the blazing passion of the Holy Ghost in the soul of the worker; not - "because Jesus has done so much for me. ", that is a sickening unscriptural statement. The one attitude of the life is Jesus Christ first, second, and third, and nothing apart from Him.

Christ has done the impossible for me. I could not even begin to repay Him. This gratitude certainly contributes to the joy of such works, but the motive for such works is that He is God, my Creator, and He has created me for such work.

Our Lord wants to give us continuous instruction out of His word; continuous instruction turns hearers into disciples.

I often find myself frustrated with the study of His word because it doesn't seem to change me, but it's not that I spend too much time reading and not enough doing. It's quite the opposite. I don't spend enough time at His feet. I try "doing" without proper instruction.

Present the Gospel in all it's fullness and God will guard His own truth.

I think I can't preach the gospel because I won't explain it well enough to keep people from misunderstanding, but the Gospel is the very truth of God. He will see that the truth prevails.

Conceit makes the way God deals with me personally the binding standard for others.

We often critize another's relationship with Christ because it doesn't look just like ours. While there are certainly a few universal truths, there are also lots of different variables which He uses to mature different believers.

Maintain your personal relationship with God at all costs. Never allow anything to come between your soul and God, and welcome anyone or anything that leads you to know Him better.

I am so thankful for those dear souls who spur me on in Christ.

Luke 4

1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. 3The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." 4And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone.'"

The devil tempted Christ with food when He was VERY hungry (after 40 days without food). The devil does that to us. Most temptation comes when I am tired, stressed, or otherwise at my wits end. I'm much less tempted when I am satisfied and content. When my hunger and thirst has been regularly feed by His word.

5 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6and said to him, "To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." 8And Jesus answered him, "It is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'"

First of all, this is a lie. These things have not been given to Satan. But as the father of lies he tempts us with this line, time and time again. He wants me to believe that my desires will be satisfied through disobedience, but the truth is that sin is always more costly than we think it is.

9 And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10for it is written, "'He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,'
11and "'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'"
12And Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

The Lord does love and care for us, but not only do our actions have consequences, but who are we to demand the ways in which the Lord must show us His love. "If you really loved me..."

13And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

The devil will flee for a while, but he's just waiting for another opportunity to tempt me. I don't need to give him such a chance.

42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, 43but he said to them, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose." 44And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Christ could have stayed in Capernaum. There was certainly work to be done, people to be healed, but that was not His purpose. The Lord have given Him other work to do. Sometimes I am overwhelemed by the amount of need, but the truth is I can't help every person or every cause. The Lord has given each of us a purpose, one or more ways in which we are especially suited to serve Him. Who am I judge whether this or that fellow believer is properly serving Him just because his purpose is not the same as mine.

Thankfulness in the midst Unmotivation

I've been feeling, for lack of a better word, unmotivated lately. I'm not deppressed or particularly anxious, perhaps a little stressed and overwhelmed. And yet I'm thankful.

I'm thankful for my job. For those I get to pray with and for during this economic downturn. I'm thankful that I'm not in the same situation and thankful that the Lord is providing for those who are.

I'm thankful for the folks at AZbizbank who look forward to the fact that I'll be there almost everyday this week due to month end.

I'm thankful for Sarah and Stevo and the green sticky note which reminds me to pray for them.

I'm thankful for those at WABC who allow me to admit my shortcomings and insecurities and unexplainable issues.

I am admittedly unmotivated and the house is cluttered, but I'm allowing myself to feel this way. Beating myself up about it sure doesn't work. I'm also thankful.

Fun at the Airport

Tonight, I spent two great hours at the airport. I went with Charitie to welcome home (a few) members of Team Croatia.

She'll tell you we got lost. The truth is I missed the initial turn for parking so we circled Terminal 4 a few times. Then we parked at terminal 2 and took the bus to baggage claim back at terminal 4. I was not going to repark.

We had pizza at the airport. It was a chance to catch up and give each other a hard time :0) I do miss taking her to school. Not only is she funny, but she let's me be funny.

Then the bus took the long way back to terminal 2.

Then she tells me she doesn't have her house key. And her mom isn't home yet. She got to hang out in my cluttered abode.

This is not what I had planned for the evening. I had to reschedule my training at Curves and didn't even get a shower after working out (Papa was doing laundry when I got home and I can't stand cold showers). Even after a change of clothes I was still sweaty and stinky.

It was totally worth it.

Don't Read God's Word

I wrote this back in 2003. It's just as true today.

If you want things to stay the same DON'T READ GOD'S WORD
If you want to wallow in your feelings and temptations DON'T READ GOD'S WORD
If you want to continue feeling hopeless DON'T READ GOD'S WORD
If you want believe that He doesn't love you DON'T READ GOD'S WORD
If you want to believe that He isn't on your side, there for you every single minute DON'T READ GOD'S WORD
You see, reading His word changes everything. No, it doesn't change our circumstances, it does even better. God's word changes US.
And it doesn't really matter which verses you read either. This entry was actually inspired by Exodus 14-16. Spending time in His presence is all that really matters.

Why I Teach Sunday School

The only way to be sent is to let God lift us right out of any sense of fitness in ourselves and place us where He will. The man whose work tells for God is the one who not only realises what God has done for him but who realises his own utter unfitness and overwhelming unsuitability—the impossibility of God ever calling me .
Chambers, O. 1996, c1946. Approved unto God. Marshall, Morgan & Scott: Hants UK

I've been teaching k-2 sunday school for two years now. Why? Simply because the Lord told me to. We're on break for the summer and I've been praying about whether or not to continue with it next year. You see it's miles outside of my comfort zone, definitely not one of my spiritual gifts. If the kids learn anything, it is because the Lord shows up every single Sunday. If I'm a good teacher it's only because I have no other resource than to allow Him to work through me, not through my talents, but quite literally through my mouth, my arms and my legs (there's no other way the car would even make it to the parking lot by 9am). I kept thinking that these were reasons to bow out, but upon reading the quote above, I know that these are the very reason He wants me to keep teaching.

Pleasing God

All I've ever wanted is to please God, not only to avoid punishment, but to simply bring Him joy. I thought this meant figuring out the one thing he want me to do with my life and pursuing it whole heartedly without fear. Talk about putting pressure on myself. Even if this were possible, it would not be pleasing to Him at all because without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith means that I should be seeking Him not just the work He has for me. Oh, He does want me to bear fruit, but I can't even begin to do this without abiding in Him.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. - Hebrews 11:6

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. - John 15:4

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. - John 15:8

First comes faith then fruit.

Abiding in Christ

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. - John 15:4

16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

I am definitely task oriented. While this helps make me a good accountant, it does not help me to abide in Christ. I want to focus on the task, to prepare for the task instead of allowing the Lord to prepare my heart and be my source of strength. Abiding in Him is not a task to be completed or chore to be checked off. It's the very thing that competently equips me for every good work.

Five Truths

God is who He says He is.

God can do what He says he can do.

I am who God says I am.

I can do all things through Christ.

God's word is alive and active in me.

- Beth Moore, Believing God

Faith

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,

the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

And without faith it is impossible to please God,

for whoever would draw near to God must believe that

he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 11:6

I've been teaching (and learning) about these verses in Sunday school. One thing I've learned while teaching Sunday School is that whether your 8 or 28, the lessons are the same. While the Lord is certainly mysterious and his ways often beyond my full understanding, the lessons he wants us to learn are quite simple. It's living them out that can be as complicated as I make it. It all comes down to faith. It only gets complicated when my pride, selfishness and expectations get in the way.

That's why I have trouble sharing the gospel. Not because it isn't good news, it's great news. It's that humans want the answers to such tough questions before they're willing to believe. My problem is that I don't have those answers, and I'm not sure anybody really does. While my life experience has given my numerous examples that the Lord can be trusted, that doesn't mean that your faith journey will play out the same way, or that I don't still have questions.

On hearing it, many of his disciples said,

"This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"...

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life.

We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

John 6:60 & 66-69

My Left Leg(s)

I now have two bum legs. For those keeping score, that is one more than usual.

I've had mild cerebral palsy on my left side since birth. Normally, my right side compensates for this very well. Those who don't know about my CP would assume that I simply have a limp as though I've stubbed my toe or twisted my ankle. They don't recognize a tell-tell gait of cerebral palsy. Because the muscles on my left side aren't flexible enough to command the heel-toe/calf-knee movements necessary for walking, my right side supports the left while I use my left hip to move my left leg forward. It also presents itself in other ways like when I'm getting into the car or putting my socks on. I have to literally pick up my left leg and place it where it needs to be whether that's inside of the car to the left of the gas pedal or a top my right knee so that I can reach my foot. It's not graceful and I can certainly get frustrated when I fall down (though I am truly skilled at the art of falling without getting hurt). However, these are all things I usually do without a second thought. While it might be different for you, this how I learned to walk, drive (automatic, no clutch) and tie my shoes. I don't know any different. That is until today.

Yesterday I went to the gym (this is a three week young habit)and today I discovered that I definitely pulled one or two muscles in my right leg somewhere in the vicinity of my knee. And it's all because my right leg does ever leg curl and press even if the left pretends to play along. My right leg is now painfully crying out for the same support it has given my left for over 25 years. Mr. Lefty however is simply sticking out his tongue and having nothing to do with any of this.

I'm feeling much better than I did this morning when I turned on the shower but decided against climbing into the tub. I also had Papa drive me to work and hold my hand as I walked into my office. You should have seen me when I managed to make it to the tuition slot (because today is May 15th and everyone must pay before finals or else), but couldn't manevour my way back to my desk. Praise Jesus for kind co-workers and helping hands. I can now shuffle with both feet and I figured out just the right way to position my feet and support both my legs when attempting to stand up.

As I said, I am feeling better and the flexibility on my right side is slowly but surely returning. I now have an even deeper appreciation for all that my right side does to keep me mobile and sincere gratitude that while my left side can be frustrating, I have yet to hear it mumble even one painful cry in all these years. I may have been born with cerebral palsy, but at least I wasn't born with TWO bum legs.

Three Years Later

Lord,
I'm simply in awe of the direction that you have taken my life. Of the things I planned, returning to PC was not one of them. Not because I didn't want to, it just never crossed my mind. I thought I would work for Inter-Tel until You lead me to Russia. Even after I wanted leave, I didn't think I would, at least not until the house sold, and even then I didn't even imagine working for PC. And yet by leading me back, You've given me something I didn't know that I always wanted. I truly don't know what tomorrow will bring. Help me to learn from you and lean on you, everday. Help me to remain in awe of you and to seek your best for my life and others no matter what surprises lie behind each bend in the road. You truly know the desires of my heart far better than I ever will.

I wrote these words just over three years ago when I was hired on at PC (even before my first day on the job). The sincere gratitude and awe in these words is even deeper now than it was then. I am absolutely right where my gracious Lord wants me to be, not just because of the enjoyment and fulfillment I find there, but most importantly because it is where my time and God given talents bring Him the most glory.

He has blessed me and those I love so much in the last three years. Ever bend in the road has been evidence of His faithfulness. I simply could not have asked for (nor deserve) a more abundant life than the one He has so graciously given me. They say that life is what happens when you're busy making other plans. I say that true life is what happens when I'm willing to lay my plans and expectations at His feet. He knows truly does understand the desires of my heart fall better than I ever will.

Vehicle Emissions In 12 Steps

I've had such fun getting my registration renewed. The trouble goes like this:

1) I don't have my current (now expired) tags or a copy of my registration. Yes, I paid my registration fees, but somehow I lost said stuff before it could make it into/onto my car. It's amazing that I've gone a year without being pulled over.

2)I thought I might need a copy of registration to get my emissions tested. Well my printer was out of ink (as it has been for about six months to a year. What can I say. I've graduated, what do I need to print?).

3) I got new ink, but then I needed a usb adapter so that I could send documents to my printer from my laptop.

4) You can't get a copy of registration that is now expired.

5) I figure out that I don't need my registration or current tags to go thru emissions (In fact they didn't even ask to see any info about my vehicle or my drivers license. It's just all about the car. But what do I know, I was in the bathroom through out the entire test).

6) The next day, my check engine light comes on. From prior experience, I know that this girl can't pass emissions if her engine light is on. (I can't even pass go. They will however take my money and fail me just for coming in.) My gas cap has to be the problem. It's always the problem, usually because I don't twist it back on tight enough after I fill up. But it hasn't been 'clicking' as loud as it used to, so I probably need a new one.

7) I go to Autozone because not only can I buy a new gas cap there (there are two choices, yellow and red. For reasons unknown to myself or the dude behind the counter, the red one is a dollar more. I like red.) but they'll also 'diagnose' my engine issue and reset the light to see if the new cap takes care of the problem. All gratis.

8) They diagnose the problem, and it probably is my gas cap, however they are now prohibited by law from reseting my engine light.

9) They tell me I might be able to reset the light if I disconnect the battery. This doesn't work, which means I have to take it to the mechanic.

10) Normally I like going to Claude's. They're reasonably priced and "papa approved" (my papa had his own auto shop for nearly 20 years, which I know makes this whole story even funnier/sadder). However, the last time I went in Dean actually called my father about my expired tags. Okay, so the call was originally about needed repairs, but he still ratted me out. I soooo didn't want to go back with my tags still expired. I'm a big (admittedly irresponsible) girl, no lectures please. But if that's the one down side to my mechanic treating me like his daughter, I'll live with it. Of course this is all happening at 6pm on Friday. It'll all have to wait til Monday.

11) It's Monday. I leave work an hour early because I figure I can swing by Claudes and then head straight to emissions. Dean says that it probably is my gas cap and resets the light, but also tells me that I need to drive it for a day before I take it in. Apparently their computers can tell if the light has been recently reset. Fine. There were no lectures about my tags (nor any charges for the service!), but they were pretty busy and I pulled in and backed out. I doubt he even saw my tags.

12) It's now Tuesday and I'm finally ready. I leave work at 4pm. It's at 49th street & Madison. I'm a native Phoenician. I know how difficult navigating that part of town can be, what with all the dead ends and detours due to the airport. Yet, I don't bother to get directions (I am without a doubt directionally challenged, but my beloved hometown is laid out in grid with numbered streets running north/south east of central and numbered avenues to the west. And only roads run east/west. This is not NY. You will not find anything on the corner of 12th & 24th in this town. How hard can this be ?) It takes me over an hour to find the place (hence the bathroom break), but it's all worth it because I PASSED!

I've now renewed my registration for the next two years (until April 2010), when I get to do this all over again! Maybe I'll be married by then. That would be nice because I'm definitely insisting that my husband be responsible for all things automotive. Maybe I'll write it into the vows, "In sickness and in health. In oil changes and brake pad replacements." Which reminds me....

Doing Right

1For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. (Hebrews 10:1-4).

If I change my behavior, won't my desires change too? If I throw out the television, I won't want to watch it. If I don't buy ice cream, some day it won't seem appetizing at all. If only these statements were true. But such sacrifice only makes my desire increase. What I need is a new heart, new desires to replace the destructive ones.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)

Contentment Learned

11Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty andhunger, abundance and need. 13I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philipians 4:11-13

Contentment is learned. It's not a natural inclination but rather a lesson which only experience and trust can teach. I couldn't know contentment if I didn't continually experience how nothing satisfies as much as my flesh thinks that it will. Nor would contentment be attainable if I didn't trust in the One who understands my needs and desires far better than I ever will.

It's interesting to me that contentment is the context for Philipians 4:13, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me". This is one of the most quoted verses in the bible and can certainly be applied to many situations which makes perfect sense because contentment means being satisfied no matter what my situation because being satisified with Christ gives me strength for everything.

Small Space Living

I've lived in a small duplex for just over three years now. Friends and family have helped me make very good use of the space. I like living here, but there are certainly things that could be done to make it more simple and efficient. I even got a dishwasher last month!

1) Pull out cupboard drawers - for all that wasted space at the back of my under-the-counter-cabinets. Plus things would be more accessible.

2) A counter-top range. This would give me more storage where the oven currently is. I'd really like my trash cabinet back. I had to sacrifice it for dishwasher space.

3) An above the range oven. Yes, I'd have to use a step stool to use it, but the truth is I don't use the one I have very often (in fact it's broken at the moment). Maybe I don't even need an oven. My microwave does take up a lot of counter space, but I use it all the time and it is in a convenient spot.

4) A long narrow table (perhaps just a table top mounted to the wall) where my desk and (former) printer cabinet currently are (I recently replaced my desktop computer with a laptop, so the printer now fits on my desk). I could put filing cabinets underneath the table for document storage which would work so much better than my "grown-up box" which is not easily accessible.

5) A seperate long dinning table which could be pulled away from the wall for additional seating. This would replace my current round table.

6) I have a wonderful couch which Liz gave me this year for Christmas and the large ottoman is great. The long narrow table would give me more space and allow me to stow the ottoman if need be.

Will or Should?

9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2: 9-11

This isn't the 'verse of the day', but this is the verse that came to mind when I read it. This verse is painted outside the entrance of the office. I pass by it every day and I could have sworn that it said, "and every knee WILL bow" not "and every knee SHOULD bow", but both are just as true. At the end of the age, every knee will bow whether in humble reverence or terrified fear. Or will they? Do you suppose that even then there are those who will simply refuse to bow. One thing is for certain. Every knee should bow in revenance to Jesus Christ, God himself, who would rather die a tortureous death, death on a cross, than to leave us to pay the price ourselves.

My Ultimate Goal

I'm being "spotlighted" in the next Parent Communicator. My boss was interviewing me and she asked what my ultimate goal was. She assumed that it was to be a missionary in Russia. She even offered me a few different wordings on the subject. Three years ago, when I came to PC, I probably would have said that, in fact I'm sure I did say something to that effect in my employment interview. And while I certainly wouldn't turn my nose down at the opportunity, it's no longer my ultimate goal. My ultimate goal is to glorify Him wherever He leads me whether I'm in Moscow or Phoenix. I simply could not have designed a more abundant life than the one that He has given me. As my creator, He knows far better than I do how I can most glorify Him.

24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

Acts 20:24

Blessed Assurance

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:28-30)

I am His and He thinks that I am worth fighting for. He will never be through with me.

Overdue Update

A lot happens in eight months:

December - I went to Croatia to visit the Vuletics. It was a wonderful week. The Lord is certainly at work in Croatia.

January - Found out that Liz is pregnant! She's due in late September. While it is not the only thing going on in my life, it's certainly the biggest thing going on in my life. I think she's having a boy, but it could just be wishful thinking. This auntie already has two nieces and would love if a nephew were added to the mix.

March - Four of my dear friends were married. Dan & Sarah and Nathan & Susan. I was even a bridesmaid in Susan's wedding and I'll definitely be wearing the dress again (bonus!)

April - My 28th birthday. It was wonderfully celebrated. There is definitely no lack of love in my life. I also found contentment at the faculty/staff dinner. I am blessed and privileged to be a part of the Lord's work at Phoenix Christian. If I get to spend 30 years at PC, that would be fabulous. If I go Russia, that would also be fabulous. Either way, the Lord has given me a life more awesome than I could ever have created myself. WABC continues to be a God given source of encouragment, fellowship, and growth. While we're all far from perfect (as evident by the state of my sunday school classroom this morning), Whitton is a glorious example of what a Christ-centered church is meant to be.