The Way to Holiness

The post title is the title of a book by Samuel Logan Brengle.

Brengle's steps to holiness or sanctification are

1.See the need for this step beyond simple salvation

2.Frankly confess the need. 

3.Believe the blessing is for me.

4.Believe that it's for me NOW.  Don't put it off anymore.

5. Go to Jesus and asked Him for holiness.

Holiness is a cleansed heart filled with love for God and every person.

Some of My Favorite Hims

Sanctification

1 Peter 1:15-16

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

¹⁵ But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; ¹⁶ for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Psalm 139:23-24

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.

1 Peter 1:22

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

²² Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.

Perseverance

Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

I have a 49 day race marked out for me. Will give updates about this unspoken path.

A New Bible

It recently became difficult for me to use my Scofield KJV or John McA ESV while everyone else in the room used an NIV.  I intended to order a Zondervon NIV, Reflecting God, with essays developed for the Sal Army.  Well, the Capts were given copies in 2000 and Cpt Deborah doesn't use hers much.  She owns many Bibles. SHE GAVE ME HER BIBLE.

Many interesting thoughts propelled by scripture today:

Submit to Husband  This means without explaining to him why he is wrong, and without telling all our friends why he is wrong.  He already knows exactly what I think.  Be gracious.  God is.  Edit: After gently explaining to him why he is wrong.

Put on the armour

We are MEANT to be changed by HIM to be like HIM.

Let me be the exception to the rule that "People do not change."

God's law enlightens the simple.  I've seen this a lot recently (Ps 119 Pe)  May I be simple.

Pilgrimage

I worked hard, with the aid of my exercise specialist, Amanda Bastien, to fit into the jacket. Did it, by the grace of God.  It's all by the grace of God.  I asked for God's succor and He gave it.

Love the brass bands .  Wish we had one locally.

We were re-enrolled as soldiers by the national commander, commissioner  William A Roberts, a spiritual man. I considered fainting with the emotion of it, but didn't.

Pete was physically weaker than we expected and there were many many servants to help, most notably Cptn Gary Gugala, our local officer, who was always right there.

There were people there I just wanted to pack up and bring home with me.  As it was enjoyed the laughter of the teenagers in the van on the way home.

At the grocery this evening the people seemed spiritually dead.  We will pray that we can assist in some way as God draws people unto Himself.

Harry S Truman said

We all can pray. We all should pray. We should ask the fulfillment of God's will. We should ask for courage, wisdom, for the quietness of soul which comes alone to them who place their lives in His hands.

 We were married in Harry's courtroom in Independence , MO.

 Quietness of soul

School Supply Donation

 Young J is in the Civil Air Patrol and will fly an airplane before he drives a car!

 This Daniel is in the Guinness Book of World Records for Salvation Army Bell Ringing!

 Dangerous D and Mr. P

Mrs. P

Home League Visited the Miners' Museum

 Member Historian

 Lace Bodice

 Chaplain

 Checking Registry for relatives

 Soon to find father in registry

 Accordian

 Tool set

 Beloved Captain

2 Peter 1:3-11

 

³ as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, ⁴ by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Fruitful Growth in the Faith

⁵ But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, ⁶ to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, ⁷ to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. ⁸ For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
¹⁰ Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; ¹¹ for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Soldiers at Last

Recruit Dress Rehearsal at Home (and at the salon next door)

Last Recruit Class

We had our last regular recruit class tonight and the gift was given, as award for,'most likely to succeed."  I t was quite well received and it's point taken immediately.

By my count, and the Lord willing, we have 10 days until the three of us will be enrolled as Salvation Army Soldiers.  I'm waiting to see what the Lord makes of me in those 10 days.  and following.

Troubled by the Troubles?

Shootings in theatres and such? Somethings to consider:

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them Colossians 2:15


(from matthew henry)IV. He has obtained a glorious victory for us over the powers of darkness: And, having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it, v. 15. As the curse of the law was against us, so the power of Satan was against us. He treated with God as the Judge, and redeemed us out of the hands of his justice by a price; but out of the hands of Satan the executioner he redeemed us by power and with a high hand. He led captivity captive. The devil and all the powers of hell were conquered and disarmed by the dying Redeemer. The first promise pointed at this; the bruising of the heel of Christ in his sufferings was the breaking of the serpent’s head, Gen. 3:15. The expressions are lofty and magnificent: let us turn aside and see this great sight. The Redeemer conquered by dying. See his crown of thorns turned into a crown of laurels. He spoiled them, broke the devil’s power, and conquered and disabled him, and made a show of them openly—exposed them to public shame, and made a show of them to angels and men. Never had the devil’s kingdom such a mortal blow given to it as was given by the Lord Jesus. He tied them to his chariot-wheels, and rode forth conquering and to conquer-alluding to the custom of a general’s triumph, who returned victorious.—Triumphing over them in it; that is, either in his cross and by his death; or, as some read it, in himself, by his own power; for he trod the wine-press alone, and of the people there was none with him.
from Matthew Henry commentary via blueletterbible

as suggested by KippysSoMature  Thanks

Remarks Upon Giving A Special Gift to a Fellow Salvation Army Recruit

DH, we have watched with delight as you have become Dangerous D, Budding Evangelist.

This gift, antique Samurai Boy, was probably the most valuable object in our house, after our ridiculous van and musical instruments.  It was given to Mrs. P by a woman friend in Japan, it having been in her family for decades. We believe it to be a museum quality piece.  We give it to you freely because we've enjoyed watching you grow and expect to see you become even more a child of light.

Ephesians 5:8

King James Version (KJV)

⁸ For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

The samurai code didn't allow them to be underhanded and dirty and dark, so they hired the ninja to do the dark work.It's all human vanity because the only righteousness any have is that of Jesus Christ. 

1 Thessalonians 5:5

King James Version (KJV)

⁵ Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.


With love, in Him, from your fellow Recruits, P&P


These remarks were composed with great help from Kippy SoMature.  Thanks!

Uniforms arriving

http://cabinetcardgallery.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/salv-army-two.jpg

Holiness

I usta consider people in holiness movements to be fallen prudes.  I'm becoming one.

 Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

I publicly confessed the following 3 sins Weds night.

!.  Gluttony
By the grace of God, His help, and Mr. P's advice, i have kept the calorie count down and continued to avoid late night eating.

2.  Sharp tongue
 Thoroughly lost it on this one.  try again.  It was during a gluttony attack. Didn't eat.

3.  Wanting to do my own thinng rather than be a good wife.
Amazingly easy to change this behavior.  I'd been out of the house for large chunks of time Thurs. offering  tracts as commodities were distributed, and then at the gym.  Mr. p felt deserted as I prepared to depart for coffee shop knitting, a highlight of my week.  I simply decided to stay home and keep him company.  easy, even fun

Have decided, with medical approval, to decrease some meds I take.  Wondering, was heartened to hear in 1 Cor 6:12

¹² All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.


I've been encouraged to enter a pair of baby knickers in the county fair.  In my fit this afternoon,  when I forgot to choose to rejoice, I flailed about with "I have an MS!  I should knit for the fair!  And they won't sell and I'll give them away to some undeserving poor!"


Was chastised to hear in 1 Cor 8:1
8 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

Yeah, I know the words didn't mean what they do now, but once upon a time my idol was my diploma and loving little ones feeds me.  Yeah, I'm sort of out of context, but am extending the meaning.

Mrs. P's Pithy Pronouncement

I was an apostate, worldly Christian, but was ordained a lay priest and went to Japan on a missionary visa to teach Biology and Algebra at a church related University.  The job was not as advertised and I lost my faith, having equated that denomination with God.  I did not understand sin so I did not understand the need for Salvation.

Investigating Buddhism and Hinduism, I found they simply did not feed me.

Years later, back in America, I experienced a very bad case of reverse culture shock and became mentally disorganized.  I could not hold a job and had many difficulties.  The Lord put me in a position where the only solution was to sincerely cry unto Him and marriage to Mr. P in a few days was the result.

When Mr. P kept asking if I were really saved, I kept saying yes, but finally said, "Oh, I'll do it again!"  I knelt in the living room and sincerely asked forgiveness and to receive Jesus as my Saviour and God..  I experienced a remembered but long forgotten witness within myself.  There is joy in Jesus!  Rejoicing in the presence of God!  I knew I was forgiven and back in the fold.   I had to tell people about Jesus!

I called a Jewish friend in Japan.  Lost a friend .I wrote letters to friends in Japan to whom I should have witnessed.  My enthusiastic Christianity was not well received. I had to tell people about Jesus!

Christians stopped me on the street and asked if they knew me.  I believe they sensed Holy Spirit in me. I asked clerks if they were going to heaven. and was amazed by how few knew it happens only through JESUS!

Since coming to the Salvation Army last year it's like I finally woke up.  I've surrendered more completely to Jesus and He has responded with great blessings, all spiritual, some physical, some mental.  I'm much healthier now than six months ago and somehow think I'll be healthier still.

I've come to a better understanding of what Jesus meant when He said, "Be ye perfect..."

Joining the Salvation Army is a lifelong commitment, a covenant.  Mr. P has considered it his whole life.  It's new to me. It's the right thing to do, but life is a long time (maybe).  I asked for direction and guidance two nights ago.Why would God have not somehow prepared me to think about joining  S.A. before now?  I wandered around the house and decided to organize the stack of boxes behind my chair in the living room, untouched for years. One box contained books, most of which I don't remember acquiring.  There was a small red softback, published in 1956, that I evidently had picked up at a rummage sale some time.  PREPARATION FOR SOLDIERSHIP. It's the outline of lessons for S.A. recruits,and it all sounds very familiar from our recruit classes!  SO, God had somehow attracted me to S. A. sometime.  It's a small but very interesting event.

In this little book, it's all about JESUS!

Sacking commodities...

Today at the Salvation Army was fun.  We had 4 teenagers who ran me ragged.  They were fun to watch as they devised ways to play while quickly doing their work.

As we gathered one young beauty was showing her bosom.  I walked behind and said, "Please forgive me. Don't hate me," and pulled up the shoulders of her top.  She gave me a hug when she left.

I had greeted them with "I'm 60.  How old are you?"  One young politician exclaimed, "No way are you 60!"  She made my day.

There sure wasn't much food.Cereal,raisins, corn, green beans, pistachios (!) pasta and some people got a bottle of cranapple juice.  There is but one distribution a month, to people who live on, for example $600 a month. Sure, there is subsidized housing and foodstamps.  Ok, by the world's standards, they are rich.

Jesus taught...

abstract concepts, like rejoicing, using concrete objects.

So, dear readers, can you think of a way to use concrete examples to teach rejoicing?  TY

To Rejoice Is a Choice, Reprise

I'm shamelessly using notes from Dr. Adrian Rodgers' sermon http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/love-worth-finding/listen/five-steps-to-mental-health-277858.html. .I chose to give this as a devotional for the Home League on June 4.  When my notes below were reviewed it was suggested that our particular ladies would enjoy a story. That turned out to be an excellent idea and here is the one I told.

Once upon a time there was a woman named Matti, which means strong woman.  You may have heard of her.
There was a little girl who had a little curl right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good she was very good and when she was bad she was HORRID.

She often remembered the times she was horrid and stayed on her bed and thought about her horridness.  When she was 7 she saw a picture window of Jesus inviting the children to come to  him and decided to go to Jesus.  She became very happy when she thought of Him.  She grew up, but did not marry and have children as she had dreamed she would.

Other women did marry and have children but had other things that made them unhappy, though they had times when they were very happy when they thought about Jesus.  Some had unhappy marriages, sick children, disappointing jobs, but when they thought of Jesus they were very happy.

Matti had a few times when she cried mightily unto the Lord in prayer and her prayer was answered.  She said,   "God hit me over the head with a sledge hammer." and for awhile, she was happy.  Then she would remember her horridness.  She knew this was agaist the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Finally, one day, she found out that Paul had written in the Book of Phillipians that to Rejoice is a Choice.  It is possible to be always happy and Paul tells how.

To Rejoice is a Choice.  It's a radical idea, but Paul tells how in Phillipians 4.  (vv4,5)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice, Let your reasonableness be known to everyone, The Lord is at hand;

Matti finally GOT IT.  Jesus has promised "I will be with you always and never leave you." She didn't have to wait for God's hammer!  He is always here!  with her!

Find joy in Jesus, not in circumstances.  That is, it is not what is happening around us that makes us happy, but that Jesus is with us!

(v6) do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

DON"T WORRY  Matti had heard that worry is an insult to God. It is the opposite of faith.  He gives us everything we need.  Instead of worrying Matti THANKED God and prayed and EVERYTHING, even the very little things.  She liked to say,"Attitude of Gratitude."  Thankful people are happy people.

(v7)And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard (keep) your  hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Matti got the peace that passes understanding.  Now she relaxes in the peace of God.  It's not the absence of problems, but the presence of God's power that gives us peace.

Keep thoughts and intents pure.

Paul wrote  Finally brothers (and sisters) whatever is true, whatever is honorable...just...pure...lovely...commendable,if there be any excellence, if there is anything worthy of  praise, think about these things.

Matti started turning her eyes away from magazines at the grocery store and thanking God for His perfect tomato instead.

In Phillipians 4 Paul told us to be happy and how to do it in 5 steps.

1.  Rejoice in the presence of God.

2.  Don't worry.  Pray about everything instead.

3.  Don't take things for granted, take things with gratitude.  Be thankful.

4  Relax in the peace of God.

5  Think about beautiful good things.

After this,  I gave everyone else in the room an opportunity to speak and my superior explained very well that while we can't always be happy because of bad circumstances, we can always rejoice.

The next day, at the laundromat, I ran into one of the home league ladies who said, in effect, wasn't it too bad that my superior was unhappy.  I tried explaining it again...I think that to work in this setting I need some training in Special Ed. The home league lady finally asked "What does "rejoice" mean, anyway?"

Maybe we're all still figuring out 'rejoice", but Matti does it a lot these days.  Please God you too.

To Rejoice Is a Choice

^{Phillipians 4 (ESV)
 4}  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. ⁵ Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
 Rejoice in the presence of the Lord.  He is always there. Find joy in Jesus, not in circumstances.

  ⁶  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  

<sup>Rely on the power of the Lord.


 Don't worry.   Thankful people are happy people.

7</sup> And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

It is not the absence of problems but the presence of God's power that gives us peace.



⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things

Think about Godly things, about holy things.  Reading the Bible instead of watching tv or reading magazines will give us peace and joy.  It's a radical idea, but to rejoice is a choice.

Strong, Intellingent, Not Fuzzy

I've always loved the strong intelligent women in my life, starting with Mother, Grannie, and Aunt Cleo.  Then came Viola Teacher, who taught me more than music. Next was a microbiology undergrad prof.

In grad school I chose a man for my microbiology research advisor.  He was fine until he fell out of political favor at the uni, leaving me in limbo. Finally, a new genetics prof, whose adopted son was my high school student, pushed me and the school to move on my degree.  She and another woman got me my M.S.  I had worked for the  Dean of grad studies and been so in awe of her power that I messed up EVERY phone msg I took for her.  She signed my diploma anyway.

One of my  pastors is a fine Bible teacher, pianist, and knitter.  She keeps challenging me to do better, like every other strong intelligent woman in my life has done.

These are not warm fuzzy relationships, but extremely important and I thank God for every one.

It's Pentecost

Hallelujah!Holy Spirit fill us!  Happy Birthday Church!

Spring Sewing

Here are some quick photos of dresses I've made recently. They are for night wear, working around the house and sometimes errands out. Since I often do errands while wearing slacks and blouses for the gym, they won't often be worn out. The prettier ones might go out for coffee on Sunday.

A Further Consequence of Writing to Freeman Dyson

Several decades ago I read Freeman Dyson's book, The Greening of the Universe, wrote him a letter, and he wrote back, much to the delight of the physics dept. at the local uni. Since then, I've been away, then back here, and every time my retired physics prof sees me he mentions that letter from Freeman Dyson. Remember this for later.

For some time I've tried to witness of Jesus Christ daily at the nearby McDonald's, which is also close to the local uni. Some things happened recently that discouraged me, so I hadn't tried for a few days. No one seemed like the right one to whom to witness. Last night I asked some prayer warriors to ask Father to get the witnessing thing going again.

Walked into an almost empty McD's. Greeted some retirees I knew to be Christians, including physics prof and wife, etc. Sat and knitted and prayed. One lone student (the group to whom I witness) entered. He didn't seem to be the one. Couldn't not approach him (This is kind of how I know whom to approach.) Yes, he's a student. Yes, I'm welcome to talk, yes, he believes, in God, in Jesus,loves Jesus, tell friends about Jesus (really? I wondered). I said I was very interested in witnessing to nonbelievers and asked how he did so.

Well, he respected their decision if they said they didn't believe. Didn't this mean they would go to hell? Shrug I just happened to have a book of John in my bag and Jn 14:6 says "...no man cometh to the Father but by Me." Didn't that sound like they would go to hell? He seemed impressed and I said it put a burden on my heart for nonbelievers.

Then Dr. Brill, retired physics prof, appeared, and told me about another book by Freeman Dyson, whom he described to the student as a Nobel laureate. Then he told the student about the letter (remember?), which Dr. Brill said made me famous (locally for about 5 seconds in the physics dept.) The student was quite impressed. Dr. Brill, a fine physics and Sunday school teacher, went off, the student enthusiastically accepted a book of John with an athletictic cover, and I left McD's with my senior coffee, thanking God. Maybe another recruiter was recruited. I like to think that the Dyson letter story kept it out of the "crazy old woman quotes Bible" category in the student's head.

You can get Books of John from the Pocket Testament League.

Happy 2012

Don't you just love new beginnings?