"Are You Ever Disturbed?"

About Oswald ChambersOswald Chambers, once again, hit a home run with My Utmost for His Highest, a devotional book written in the 1920’s. Oswald was born in Scotland and spent much of his boyhood there. His ministry of teaching and preaching took him for a time to the United States and Japan.

The last six years of his life were spent as principal of the Bible Training College in London, and as a chaplain to British Commonwealth troops in Egypt during World War l.

After his death, the books which bear his name were compiled by his wife, Biddy, in Britain, from her own verbatim shorthand notes of his talks. It was published in the U.S. in 1934. His writings have been challenging lives ever since, including mine! I pray his devotional below touches your life.

-Joey Staples

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My Utmost for His Highest, August 26^th

“Are You Ever Disturbed?”

By Oswald Chambers 

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” — John 14:27

“There are times when our sense of peace is based on ignorance. We may be filled with calm delight about the world, but only because our eyes are closed to its cruelties. When we awaken to the facts of life, inner peace is impossible—that is, unless we receive it from Jesus. When our Lord speaks peace, he makes peace; his words are forever Spirit and life (John 6:63). Have I ever received the peace of Jesus? It comes from looking into his face and realizing his undisturbed calm.

Are you painfully disturbed right now, distracted by the waves and billows of God’s providential permission? Have you been examining your beliefs, searching them for a bit of peace and joy and comfort and finding none? Then look up and receive the undisturbedness of the Lord. Reflected peace is proof that you are all right with God because you are at liberty to turn your mind to him. If you aren’t right with God, you can never turn your mind anywhere but on yourself. If you allow anything to hide the face of Jesus Christ from you, either you are disturbed or you have a false sense of security.

Are you looking to Jesus right now, in a matter that is urgently pressing, and receiving peace from him? If so, he will be a gracious blessing of peace in and through you. But try to worry it out and you will obliterate him from your life and deserve what you get. We become disturbed because we haven’t been considering Jesus Christ. When we turn to him, our perplexity vanishes, because he has no perplexity; our only concern then is to abide in him.

Bring all your troubles and worries to Jesus; lay them out before him. In the midst of difficulty, bereavement, and sorrow, hear him say, “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1).

“May we all rest in the promises of our Lord, Jesus Christ”

 

Wisdom from Oswald:

“I have chosen you (John 15:16). Keep that note of greatness in your creed. It is not that you have got God, but that He has got you”.

Extra wisdom from:  Psalms 119:89-176; 1 Corinthians 8

Thank you, Lord, for teaching us through Oswald Chambers, (and his wife!)

By Eric Joseph Staples ©

www.lifeaid101.com

Note: I try to post to the blog every few weeks. If you would like to receive the blog posts by email, you can subscribe to "parenting 101 by email" on the blog. Please pass these on to friends that could use the encouragement. If you’re getting this email yet you already receive the posts from blogger, let me know and I’ll remove you from this mailing list. Thanks. Have a great day in the Lord -JS

Joey Staples

joeystaples66@gmail.com

Mixed Seasons

 

“…I’ve learned to be content in whatever circumstances I’m in…” -Phil. 4:11-13

 

Weather wise, we’re in that familiar Midwest gap between summer and fall. A cool breeze comes through in the morning but then the humidity and heat return in afternoon. The weather is consistently like that every year, though we act surprised when it happens. Today, I wear shorts and a T-shirt but tomorrow I might put on a sweater and jeans. 

 

We tend to freak out when the weather changes so much, but the truth is, it does this every year. September in the Ozarks is a mixture of cool and warm days. Just like the seasons changing, life is a mixture of ups and downs as well. We try so hard to make all the days “up” days, but life is a mixture of highs and lows. 

 

The amazing Bible says, in First Peter 4:12, “Don’t be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you as though some strange thing was happening to you…”. We all prefer certain kinds of weather, but truth is, there is super attractive, comfortable weather and there is unattractive and uncomfortable weather. My wife, Jeanie, is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, home to hurricanes and warm, cozy weather. I am from Fort Worth, Texas, home to droughts and hot weather. Neither is right or wrong, but is what we’re both used to.

 

It's a lot like the seasons of life. Life is full of different seasons too. There are seasons full of beautiful springs and seasons full of bitter, cold winters. All the seasons are a necessary part of life, and how we navigate through those seasons makes all the difference. 

 

No area requires more seasonal maintenance than relationships. Maintenance is a good thing. No car has been invented that doesn’t require oil changes and tire rotations. That doesn’t mean the car is flawed- it just means that cars need regular maintenance to run at their best. Life is like cars. We need regular maintenance as well, in order to have healthy relationships with family and friends. 

 

Our challenge is to not be surprised at God’s plans for us. We can actually “Consider it all joy when we encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (James 1:2-4). We can trust that, even in difficulties, our wonderful God has a reason and a purpose. 

 

We may not know the reason for the season, but we can trust that God knows what is best for us. Choosing to rest in the knowledge that God is sovereign, loving, and has a good plan makes all the difference.

 

May we all be at peace no matter the season around us. We’re not Superman, so we have emotions and feelings, but we can rest in the knowledge that God is in control. May we embrace every season God brings our way. 

 

By Eric Joseph Staples ©

www.lifeaid101.com

Note: I try to post to the blog every few weeks. If you would like to receive the blog posts by email, you can subscribe to "parenting 101 by email" on the blog. Please pass these on to friends that could use the encouragement. If you’re getting this email yet you already receive the posts from blogger, let me know and I’ll remove you from this mailing list. Thanks. Have a great day in the Lord -JS