Hope...Hope...Hope

Hope deferred makes the heart sick...(Proverbs 13:12a)

This verse became unforgettable because of Carolyn McCulley's book Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye?. Now this verse keeps on ringing in my ears as I face moments of discouragements and frustrations. When events are beyond our comprehensions and they really push us at the end of our ropes, hope seems to be hiding beyond the clouds. And worst, sometimes it is the heart that gives in.

But those of Christ never lose hope. I don't know how it happens but I thank God that though it seems hopeless, hope is endless in His Hands. He keeps on pouring it in my heart; He gives an unexplainable assurance in my heart; He keeps me trusting His Word.

In moment like this, I always find myself in the book of Psalms. Well, Martin Luther is right when he said that if you can't find your life in the Psalms, you have never become a child of God. In this book, I learned three things:

Scripture tells us to put our hope in the Lord

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. (Psalm 62:5-8)

The Bible tells us about God's faithfulness; it records how God never fails His people. Paul even testifies of the encouragement the Scripture gives: For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.(Romans 15:4) In God's Words alone are hope; therefore, let us still trust God.

In any situation, praise God

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. (Psalm 42:11)

God is still magnificently beautiful amidst the dark storms and those who have been truly captivated by His beauty never give in to any situations. No dark clouds can blur the heart so much in love with the Lord.

It glorifies God

His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. (Psalm 147:10-11)

In the deepest moment and in the darkest hour, clinging unto the Lord alone gives God pleasure. It glorifies God to see His beloved ones depend on Him. It pleases Him when those downcast in spirit acknowledge their need of His touch and of His comfort.

I don't know how it really happens but I know it is God. It is during this time that I marvel how I can still manage to hope in Him and to really praise Him. I really thank God for this unexplainable hope against hope. There are so much surprises about our God, so much marvelous things He reveals. How can I explain that despite the questioning and disappointments of my heart is the beholding of His unseen workings. I thank God that nothing can separate me from His love (Romans 8:38-39) and I still glorify Him for He is my God.

A Meditation on the Fools' Day

We are fools for Christ... (I Corinthians 4:10)

I was thinking of writing an article about women as it will be very timely since March is considered a Women's Month. Unfortunately, I can't think of a very good topic until I ran out of time (and day) and it is already April 1. Then before frustration embraces me for not writing an article about womanhood, God gave me an idea: Why not write about this day? April 1 is said to be Fools' Day and I am a fool for Christ and I can also share some fool women for Christ I admire (thus, still being able to write about womanhood).

We have a negative connotation when we say fool. Who wants to be called a fool which is defined in my wordweb dictionary as A person who lacks good judgment and A person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of? But when Paul labeled himself a fool, he means a different thing. John Gill's commentary states that they (Paul and companions)were so (fools for Christ) in the esteem of men, for their close attach merit to a crucified Christ; and for preaching the doctrine of salvation by him; and for enduring so much reproach, affliction, and persecution, for his sake and the Gospel's. John Wesley explains that We are fools, in the account of the world, for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ.

I have here the honor to mention few women whom I consider fools for Christ:

• Mary, the mother of Jesus
  She was already betrothed to Joseph (Lk.1:27) yet she accepted God's will in her life (Lk.1:38) though that would cause her shame and humiliation and the possible cancellation of her and Joseph's wedding. She treasured things and pondered them in her heart that is why though her heart is crushed seeing Jesus nailed on the cross, she managed to stand near the cross of Christ, her Savior (Lk.1:46-47).
  
  
• Elisabeth Elliot
  She was married to Jim Elliot in 1953. Jim needed to leave her and their daughter to be missionary but was killed by the Aucas. While Elisabeth was working with the Quichua Indians, she met two Auca women who became her key to go to the people who killed her husband and share Christ to them.
  
  Many will never understand how she wanted to share Christ and thus, let the killers of her husband be saved in Christ. (And glory to God that salvation has come to the Aucas)
  
  
• Katharina Von Bora Luther
  She was a runaway nun who was married to the father of reformation, Martin Luther. Her devotion to Christ and her domesticity will be labeled foolishness today. She managed a large home (a former monastery) which is always full of visitors plus their kids and some relatives. They had a large garden and livestock where she, herself, managed for their daily foods.
  
  She is a career woman, a biblical woman who knows that home is her primary place of ministry.
  
  
• Susanna Wesley
  She is the mother of John and Charles Wesley. After I read her biography, I found her to be a woman of principle. She was not afraid to be forsaken by her father after studying that the beliefs and practices of the Dissent were wrong. In fact, she left her father's church. She stood on her principles though it caused Samuel (her husband)leaving her for 6 months. She was also on her 12th pregnancy that time. She educated her children and disciplined them. She met her kids in a special private conference with each child once a week.
  
  There are also some writings which said that while John Wesley preached, she was there praying for her son and the listeners.
  
  
• Sarah Pierpont Edwards
  Of course, I'll include her here. She is married to Jonathan Edwards. There are so much things I can say about her but what I love is Jonathan's description of her when she was only 13:
  
  They say there is a young lady in [New Haven] who is loved of that Great Being, who made and rules the world, and that there are certain seasons in which this Great Being, in some way or other invisible, comes to her and fills her mind with exceeding sweet delight; and that she hardly cares for anything, except to mediate on Him.
  
  That summarizes her being fool for Christ. She was only 13 but her whole being is so much captivated by God; she was so much inlove with her Maker.

I can still mention many women whom I know have great fear and reverence in God. Some of them are also being used by God for me to be a Biblical woman: Mary Kassian, Carolyn McCulley, Dannah Gresh, Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Leslie Ludy, and of course, Noel Piper. May God be glorified in the lives of these women.

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As I write this article, Mary Kassian posted in Facebook that April 1 is also the official release of Girls Gone Wise.