A man had a daughter. Even before she was born he loved her very much. As she grew into a young girl he was always sure to watch after her. He bought her new clothes when she needed them, bought her pleasant things, and made sure to nurse her back to health when she was sick. It is rare for fathers to spend quality times with their daughters anymore, but not so for this man. He made a point of making sure they spent time together each day. When she was a very little girl he sat in a too-small chair so they could enjoy a spot of afternoon make-believe tea. Once she started her school years he sat and helped her with her homework. There were many fond memories from those times.

And then something bizarre and unexpected happened. She died. The man was heartbroken at having lost his precious little girl. He was devastated when he realized why she died. Recently he had spent so much time and attention to all the external things of her life that he stopped feeding her. He had simply neglected to set out meals and milk for her to eat and grow and thrive, and so very soon she died. It was terrible and tragic. It was alarming and unnecessary.

When we are so dutiful in our lives to pay attention to all the outward things of the Christian life like tithing, acts of charity, learning to hold our peace when wronged, serving, evangelism, and so on, but neglect making time to be with the Lord, are we not making the same tragic mistake? All those things are good and proper, but they are sure to be doomed if we neglect the most important aspect of our salvation.

Take Time to Be Holy
W.D. Longstaff, G.C. Stebbins

Take time to be holy,
speak oft with thy Lord;
abide in him always,
and feed on His word.
…
Take time to be holy,
the world rushes on;
spend much time in secret
with Jesus alone.

Posted: December 4th, 2008 under Challenge, Devotions.
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Matthew Fountaine Maury (1806-1873) is known as the Father of Oceanography.  Using Psalm 8:8 as his guide, he was determined to learn what “the paths of the seas” were, and he did just that, discovering what we call today ocean currents.  Even Wikipedia notes his complete reliance up on Scriptures for his endeavors, “Maury lived by the Scriptures; he fully and unconditionally believed in what the Holy Scriptures stated; he hardly ever spoke or wrote without the inclusion of scriptural references; he prayed every day.”

Hear what the man himself once said.  Maury’s daughter wrote a book in 1888 about her famous father and recorded these words:

“I have been blamed by men of science, both in this country and in England, for quoting the Bible in confirmation of the doctrines of physical geography. The Bible, they say, was not written for scientific purposes, and is therefore of no authority in matters of science. I beg pardon! The Bible is authority for everything it touches…The Bible is true and science is true, and therefore each, if truly read, but proves the truth of the other.”

Posted: December 2nd, 2008 under Creation/Evolution, Scriptures, Testimony.
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I can’t believe it.  It still feels like September.  The time just flies by.  I have been so busy with college this fall.  Normal full-time course load is two classes every 8 weeks (two 8-week terms in the fall totaling one traditional fall semester).  I have been holding down three courses every 8 weeks.  Plus the full-time work thing.  Plus (my most important and favorite role) learning to be a good husband to my wife.  So, I’m sure my readership, at a previous all-time high in the high single-digits has plummeted back down to, well, my wife and (if I hold him up to the screen) our beagle.

God remains faithful, even when we are faithless.  Just today I read Mark 1, where the leper kneels and begs the Lord to heal him if He is willing.  Compassionate Jesus, taking upon Himself our diseases, touches the leper and says He is willing and cleanses him.  More often than not, at the start of a hard day or at the end of one, I end up feeling as wretched as the leper; pleading for mercy and cleansing from my own sin and the stuff of falleness.  I’m so thankful to serve the Lord Jesus.  Despite what our lying feelings may intimate about Him, we can be assured He is always compassionate and always says to us “I will; be clean.”

May the Lord be glorified in this simple little blog, even if only He ever sees it and even if I don’t get to update it as often as I’d like.

Posted: December 1st, 2008 under Devotions, Encouragement, Hope.
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