Our Appointment Here

"But if impatient, thou let slip the cross

Thou wilt not find it in this world again

Nor in another; here and here alone,

Is given thee to suffer for God's sake.

In other worlds we shall more perfectly

Serve Him, love Him, praise Him, work for Him

Grow nearer, nearer to Him with all delight

But then we shall not anymore be called

to suffer, which is our appointment here.

Cans't thou suffer one hour or two?"

~Ugo Bassi~

All known sin must be given up. Completely. It must all be completely surrendered at the feet of Him who gave His life for us. He deserves it - does He not? What more could we give Him, than our lives, surrendered, ready to do His will?

These little areas, where we want our own way, are where we need to suffer. We must not let our cross slip. It is here, where our own will crosses the Father's, that we must be ready to take up our cross and do His will.

An old book, which has encouraged me these days is called "Parables of the Cross". It has been such a blessing, I have been so challenged by reading it. I just had to share a little piece of it with you all.

 "Yes, there lies before us a beautiful possible life--one that shall have a passion for giving: that shall be poured forth to God--spent out for man: that shall be consecrated "for the hardest work and the darkest sinners." But how are we to enter in? How are we to escape from the self-life that holds us, even after the sin-life has loosed its grasp? 

Back to the Cross: not only from the world of condemnation and from the world of sinning does it free us as we accept it, but from the power of outward things and from the thraldom of self: not only does it open the door into the world of acquittal, and again into that of holiness, but yet again into the new realm of surrender, and thence into that of sacrifice. For the essential idea of the Cross is a life lost to be found again in those around." ~I. Lilias Trotter~

There is so much more, so I encourage you, if you love to read and to be encouraged, read "Parables of the Cross" by  I. Lilias Trotter. You are sure to be blessed.