His Way is Perfect

"If" by Amy Carmichael

I chose this life and have no intention of looking back. I am a warrior in my beloveds army. There is nothing else I would rather be. There are days that I want to be a farmer, alone with the sunshine, birdsong and the scent of fresh mint in the air... but most of the time I just want my life to be pleasing to my King.

There are times when the battle is intense. Painful. Wet with secret tears. These are the seasons when I look to those who have gone before me, who now sit as an encourager in "my cloud" which is a better cloud then the one on my computer.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.    Heb 12:1-3 nasu

My shame and the hostility I am to endure is but an insignificant drop in the bucket when I consider my King on the cross. It is a privilege for me, but it still has a measure of pain. I want the battle to be private, I do not want anyone else to hurt because I have a fight with the enemy of souls. He still hurts them and I take the blame. As a friend, people could do much better then me, but hurting those I love is not my heart.  Look at what the Almighty prepared for me to read today from the hand and heart of one who has gone before me, Miss Amy Carmichael....

Psalm 18: 30 As for God, His Way is perfect.

   I have been thinking much of this word. We say it, we write it, but the love of God is searching; and it seems to me that all our lives long He is patiently teaching us truly to mean it.
   We make plans after much prayer and long waiting. They are on the edge of fulfillment and then something happens to shatter them. If they affected our own life only, it would be easy to say "His Way is perfect", but if others must suffer then it is not easy to say those words in sincerity. God knows this. He does not hurry us, but He does wait for us. He waits in his patience till we can look in His face and say -- not with a sigh, but with a song -- "As for God, His Way is perfect". This is victory, nothing less can be called by that shining name.

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From "Edges of His Ways" March 18

As for the Almighty, His Way is perfect.
Mrs. Hagerty, March 18, 2016

The Way of Love on Mean Days

March 12

Edges of His Ways

a devotional by Miss Amy Carmichael

Before the winds that blow do cease,

Teach me to dwell within Thy calm;

Before the pain has passed in peace,

Give me, my God, to sing a psalm,

Let me not loose the chance to prove

The fullness of enabling love.

O Love of God, do this for me;

Maintain a constant victory.

Before I leave the desert land

For meadows of immortal flowers,

Lead me where streams at Thy command

That when the thirsty come, I may

Show them the fountains in The Way.

O Love of God, do this for me;

Maintain a constant victory.

Mean days. They come into every life. Sometimes I slip into the lie that heaven is here on earth, when the reality is, I have chosen The steep and narrow Way. When the path softens, my spoiled, inner child tends to do the same. Abba forgive me! I choose to follow you in The Way of Love. Love persevered on cross for me, I want to be strong to preserver for Him in the dry and thirsty land.

Mrs. Hagerty

March 12, 2016