The Right View of the Father

Pilgrim met up with a group of leaders on Thursday, and they were discussing whether the Storyteller of their lives would speak to them when they call upon His name. Whether He would really give us what we want, or only if it is according to His will. Whether we need to ask of Him, whether the asking really matters.

A lot of things were then shared and thought through, alot more prayed through I believe. These quotes and verses are for every one of the leaders, in addition to what had been shared in the book.

----

Go not abroad at every quest or call of an untrained hope or passion.
George Herbert

"Everything is permissible" - but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible" - but not everything is constructive.
1 Cor 10:23

Man finds it hard to get what he wants, because he does not want the best; God finds it hard to give, because he would give the best, but man would not take it.
George Macdonald

There is a communion with God that asks for nothing, yet asks for everything... He who seeks the Father for more than anything He can give, is likely to have what he asks, for he is not likely to ask amiss.
George Macdonald

You ask and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it upon your lusts.
James 4:3 (MKJV)

Test everything. Hold on to the good.
1 Thes 2:21

Beloved, if our heart does not accuse us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment. And he who keeps His commandment dwells in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit which He gave to us.
1 John 3:21-24

----

O Sweet Dove, open and guide our eyes to the right view of the Father, the same view as that of the Son, that we will not think of Him as the denying one, but the pleasing and giving One, the One that protects us from the bad, the One that witholds the good lest we destroy it with our untrained hearts and hands, only to give it back to us at the appointed time, the best and right time.

The Monkey

Initially when the nickname was given,
A sense of amusement in my heart was risen.
Of all the animals why was the monkey chosen? -
The cousin of the Ape who caused the rebellion.

And yet as I ponder upon thy words,
“I only do my Father's works”
I cannot help but think,
perhaps things are not as bad as they seem.

For whatever a Monkey sees,
Will be what a Monkey does.
If it be Him that's all I see,
A Monkey I'll be if anyone asks.

The Monkey by Pilgrim

Still not Animal Farm

I mentioned earlier in this blog that I am not writing "Animal Farm", that the Storyteller of my life is writing a Big Love Story with me, to me, for me, but it seems that the number of animals has dramatically increased.

From the small humble ant and hamster to the big polar bear, from the sea dwelling sotong and starfish to the high flying eagle, from the domestic cat and rabbit to the wild owl, numbers are being added.

In short, Supper Club is getting bigger. And Supper Club is getting healthier through sports. And most importantly, Supper Club has gathered to spur one another to worship the One who is worthy of worship.

"In God we live every commonplace as well as the most exalted moment of our being. To trust in Him when no need is pressing, when things seem going right of themselves, may be harder than when things seem going wrong. "
George Macdonald

My Grace is Sufficient - Delayed Testimony

Pilgrim sat in front of his computer monitor, an anxious look, a furrowed brow. A task (translation for a funeral) had been given and the deadline furiously approaching from the horizon. Limited time was against him. His limited knowledge was against him. But an unlimited Someone was 'for' him. (Romans 8:31b "If God is for us, who can be against us?")

To the soul, the heart and the mind,
The Dove spoke, "Do not be anxious, ask and ye shall receive."
The Son spoke, "My yoke is easy, and my burden light."
The Father spoke, "My grace is sufficient for thee. Place your eyes upon Me."

Creases on the forehead began to be smoothened. Breathing easier. A conscious effort needed still, but only to focus on Him and not the task. Amazingly, time seemed to move faster and slower at the same time, but they matter not.

In the end, the task was completed. However, for Pilgrim, the more important thing was the lesson learned.

Hold fast to dreams

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
Langston Hughes

A Poem

What shall a man say,
When life's choices pull him in different ways.

On one hand, his heart tells him to stay,
The other, his flesh tells him nay.

"Count the cost, what you are giving up!
Did God really say that you should drink from this cup?"

"Count the cost and the reward," says the Lord with whom you sup.
"When I came and went to the cross I too knew what I was giving up."
Count the Cost by Pilgrim

Beyond 'What if'

At a gathering last saturday, the speaker was sharing about living a "Life of Intent". A familiar passage from 1 Cor 9:24-27 was read. Still, the message spoke to the hearts of many as they responded at the end. Basically, we need to live life with a direction(vision), determination(endure strict training) and with hope(recognizing the prize). Interestingly, alot of what was shared was what I, or rather, a character I am working on is going through.

What if the vision is not comprehended by others such that it becomes a lone fight?
What if, after giving his all, it is still not enough to satisfy?
What if, at the end of it all, the vision is but a wishful thinking? What then?

As in the past, the Dove thus spoke,"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;to search out a matter is the glory of kings." (Prov 25:2) Life does not, and should not stop at the 'what ifs'. Rather, they are opportunities or doors, where wisdom, courage, hope and faith is exercised.

Again, I shall quote one of my favourite quotes,

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly... who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never known victory nor defeat. "
Theodore Roosevelt

Stay close to me O Dove, and teach me the Word that I may live a Life of Intent.
Remind me O Dove, of the Son who lived with Intent, whose eyes were always on the Father.
Remind me O Dove, of the loving Father whose Intention is that which I seek.