Category Archives: Sincerity

They Surrendered All

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When is the last time you sang the beautiful hymn I surrender all?

handcuff

…I surrender all — I surrender all — all to thee my blessed savior, I surrender all!…

Did you wholeheartedly mean it? Did you pause to ask yourself, ‘What am I willing to surrender for Jesus?
And equally important, what am I not willing to surrender?’

John Leonard Dober and David Nitschman answered these questions with their lives. They were not martyred but choose instead to sell themselves into slavery for the remainder of their lives. Leaving their comfortable homes, their families and their freedom, the two departed Copenhagen in 1732 for good.

These two men spent the remainder of their lives as slaves in the West Indies where they became missionaries amongst their fellow slaves. Why they did so was proclaimed in their final words to their sobbing families as the ship departed: “May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!”

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:12,13

These men sacrificed their very lives in service to their King. I must ask myself, would I be willing to do the same? Would you?

Beautiful Prayer of an Aged Woman

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praying nun

Have you ever taken a few moments to examine your own life and said, “Lord, the older I get the more (fill in the blank) I become, and I don’t like it one bit!” Well, I sure have. And I must not be the only one. A few years ago I came upon a beautiful prayer written by a seventeenth-century nun whose identity is unknown. I find the prayer to be so inspiring I wanted to share it with you. If it touches your heart in any way, we can both praise God for the heartfelt words of an anonymous nun.

Lord, you know better than I know myself that I am growing older and will some day be old. Keep me from getting talkative, particularly from the fatal habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.

Release me from craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs. Make me thoughtful, but not moody; helpful, but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom it seems a pity not to use it all, but you know, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end. Keep my mind from the recital of endless details- give me wings to come to the point.

I ask for grace enough to listen to the tales of others’ pains. Seal my lips on my own aches and pains -they are increasing, and my love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. Help me to endure them with patience.

I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally it is possible that I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet. I do not want to be a saint- some of them are so hard to live with- but a sour old woman is one of the crowning works of the devil.

Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people. And give me, O Lord, the grace to tell them so.

*This Prayer of an Aging Woman was taken from Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, & Quotes. Morgan, Robert J.Thomas Nelson Publishers. Nashville, Tennessee. 2000

Angel’d Eggs

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deviled egg

Many years ago, when my daughter was still very young, I told her I was going  to make some deviled eggs. She looked at me wide-eyed, and with utmost sincerity, protested at having anything in our home called “deviled.” From that moment on, and for many years to follow, we called them angel’d eggs instead.

Today, while planning next week’s dinner menu, which will include some of those delightful, angel’d appetizers, I couldn’t help but think of a quote from Anne (of Green Gables).¹  She said:

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.

Although I see her point, in reality a simple name change means nothing.  A rose is just as beautiful, and smells just as sweet, no matter its title. And thistles or skunk cabbages will still be what they are despite whatever name we call them by.

This brings another popular quote to mind, “Sitting in church doesn’t make someone a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes them a car.”

Dear reader, living out your faith is every bit as important as professing it. Whether your true nature is more like that of a rose, or that of an ill-smelling skunk cabbage, you will never be able to fool anyone; at least not for long. And you will certainly never be able to fool God.

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy (I peter 1:13-16).

¹ L.M. Montgomery. Anne of Green Gables.