Thursday, January 17, 2008

Encouraging Words

For Emily, who leaves for college today:

From Jesus himself:
"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life." (Mark 10:29-30)
From William Cowper's hymn "God Moves in a Mysterious Way":

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

And from Jim Elliot:

Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt in every situation you believe to be the will of God.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Josh,

how wonderful of words for Emily, and for anyone in an unsure situation. :) I remember the 1st day of my Sophomore year at Maranatha... sobbing upstairs standing in front of you and Gretchen in the main building..remember that? It turned out much better than I could have imagined THAT day. :)

Anna

The Tiffinian said...

Anna,
I just thought, "If I were in her shoes, what would I want someone to say to me?" Of course, I don't think Emily really reads my blog, so she probably doesn't even know I wrote it! She seems to be doing great, by the way.

Anonymous said...

I hope my comment about Jim Elliot make it.
Pray for Grandpa his sugar is around 300 I am still up trying to get it down

Aunt Emmy

Anonymous said...

Dear Josh,
I am writing concerning your words by Jim Elliot I agree and have tryed to tell Mom that the day after Sarah's wedding. She thought that taking care of her and my Dad was too much work for me, or that I was missing out on my own life(I told her it was a breeze they wanted the house to stay perfect and they weren't looking for true love! like my kids-lol)If you do what God's wants you to do you never have to worry that you are missing out on something better. You have the better, the peace, and the joy.
GOOD JOB JOSH!
Aunt Emmy (Benzing Bowling
BILL'S sister)

The Tiffinian said...

Aunt Emmy,
That's a good way to say it: "You have the better." Yes.

Jim Elliot's words remind me of Paul's in 1 Cor 7:17: "Let each person live the life the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him."

God's will for us is to be good stewards of the responsibilities and opportunities he has put in front of us this day. You've been a good example of this stewardship, and Gretchen and I thank you.

I prayed for Grandpa just now. Gretchen and I hope to come for a visit some Saturday. We'll call to arrange a convenient time.

Anonymous said...

Dear Josh,

Have you ever been to one of our encounters we discuss everything Biblical our thoughts on everyday life to prove what you are saying and believing in we have had hours at the table with these discussions. It is so enjoyable to pick the brain of a good christian with wisdom and smarts I will try to get a fun group together. You never know what will happen CAN'T wait to tel you about one young boy that attended one.

love Aunt Emmy Grandpa's sugar went down the next morning to 154 thanks for the prayer

The Tiffinian said...

Aunt Emmy,
No, I hadn't heard of that, but it sounds like a lot of fun!

I'm glad Grandpa's sugar went down. Say hello for us!