Test All Things

So I am reading Stormie Omaritan's book Light for the Step I'm On. Its a pretty easy to read and although I don't agree with everything she has written, I have been inspired to "test all things" as my mother would say.  I am hoping that she will be a guest blogger one day, and expand on the story behind "test all things".

It is very hard when your character your character is defamed, your integrity is attacked, and your motives are questioned.  David, the Psalmist, experienced all of these things.  His son, Solomon, wrote about them.  The verses below are so relevant to this day and I will ponder them as I sew many more things for my momma!

Proverbs 3:21-26

New International Version (NIV)

²¹ My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;
²² they will be life for you,
    an ornament to grace your neck.
²³ Then you will go on your way in safety,
    and your foot will not stumble.
²⁴ When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
²⁵ Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
²⁶ for the Lord will be at your side
    and will keep your foot from being snared.

The No-No

I am going to do a Christian no-no.  I am going to step out and say I don't know that this verse is true.  Psalm 37:31 says The word of God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

Maybe the word of God is only in my head and that is why I have sliding steps.  I do know that I am not sure-footed. I do know that I spend time every day, reading and contemplating Scripture. I do know that I am not confident in what I am reading.

I am sure there are more verses of which I will doubt their veracity. Conversely, there may be some verses that I will know to be true.

There goes the double-minded man in me...

James is not for me

Brian and I are doing something novel - we are attending a bible study.  For many years, my faith has been eclectic and probably more liberal that the average Canadian church goer.  I have no issue with fundamentals such as "treat others the way you want to be treated"but currently I am not liking the book of James, the book we are looking at in our study group.

One of our assignments was to memorize a verse and I memorized James 1:12 - Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God gives to those who love him.

I don't get the whole suffering thing, in fact I really hate it.  I have yet to see the perseverance that James talks about in the first chapter - the perseverance from the testing of my faith.  I am more like the double-minded man, the one who doubts like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  Some days I am confident.

James seems to be a fellow that offers advice - he does not get the gut-wrenching state of a questioning soul.  On the other hand, David the Psalmist does understand.  Psalm 138:7 says "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of enemies, and Your right hand will save me.

I wonder if this will be true for me....

The Great Exchange (The Sixth Psalm)

beauty for ashes
peace for fear
strength for weariness
fullness for emptiness
joy for sadness
shelter for homelessness
provision for hunger

is it my first instinct to look for You in the midst of life's storms?
it has not been my pattern of behaviour
and maybe, just maybe
my instincts are changing

Deep Down (The Second Psalm)

What does it look like
this idea of complete surrender?
Is it an invitation to a journey, a path of pain?
Or is it an invitation to know You will be with Me on that path
regardless of circumstance?
Completely surrendered to God....
I am too scared
because deep down,
I do not trust that You are good.

Evidence (The Fifth Psalm)

Now and then
Sometimes more often
Sometimes less frequently
Doubting if You are near
Wondering if You really do care
Wishing for one small bit of tangible evidence
That You do and
That You are

Light (The Third Psalm)

Darkness from without
surrounds me
but I stand in a pool of light
light that moves where I move
light that will dance
when I dance again