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Better?

January 7, 2020 by Pam Truax No Comments

“Comparisons are odious.” I thought my dad had made this saying up. Turns out, his dad used to to say it. Then I found out that it dates at least back to Shakespeare when I read Dogberry the foolish character who speaks nonsense in Much Ado About Nothing say, “comparisons are odorous.”

But why? Why are they odious? The word stems from the Latin root that means hateful. So what is so harmful about comparisons? They are part of life. It’s by comparing that we make decisions. Is this apple better or that one? Are the reviews of this restaurant more favorable or that restaurant? Will this political candidate forward my position better or the other? With the vast number of decisions we make each day (the unsourced number that floats around the internet is 35,000!) we have to have parameters to come t0 the conclusions that we do. Comparison is a key element in making those decisions.

So where is the bad part of comparing? When we compare others to ourselves we place ourselves in one of two dangerous positions. We either put ourselves in the prideful position of being better than others, or we take on the self deprecating  pride of thinking that others are better than we are and we can never measure up. We look and look and scroll and look some more at others and use them as the measuring tool to see if we are ok with ourselves.

Robert Murray M’Cheyne, a nineteenth century Scottish preacher is quoted to have said, “For every look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ. He is altogether lovely.” Christ alone is the One to whom we should compare ourselves. We must recognize that He is perfect and when we are in Christ, the Lord looks on us and smiles, “This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased.” We can lay aside to need to measure up to the Insta feeds of the most polished. We can put down the over inflated ego that comes from the self satisfied smugness of feelings of accomplishments. We can “Live much in the smiles of God. Bask in His beams. Feel His all-seeing eye settled on you in love. (and) Repose in His almighty arms.” (Robert Murray M’Cheyne)

On one of our trips we were walking though a night market in Hong Kong. Among the scarves, and shoes and fake designer watches, I found a booth that had a kitchen magnet which read, “Comparisons are odious. 比較是可惡的.” It made me realize that, while, no, my dad didn’t make up that saying, it is a wise one. It transcends time and touches hearts around the world. We shouldn’t value or devalue another human being, including ourselves, because we see them as better or not. We should continue our gaze on the One that is infinitely better.

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I Will Wait for You…Satisfied

June 1, 2019 by Pam Truax No Comments

There is nothing on this earth that will satisfy our hearts. I thought I knew this, that this was one of those 1+1 lessons that I had down pat. But I am continuing to learn that in his graciousness, if there is something that you are seeking here to give you your greatest joy, God may see fit to deny you of it, because he has something better in mind for you. As Thomas Boston, a Scottish pastor from the sixteenth century says,

“Tell me, how will you be made fit for heaven? By the warm sunshine of the world’s ease and by getting your way here? No. That would just put your mouth out of taste for the joys of the other world.”

“Where has God emptied your left hand of some earthly comfort? Stretch out your right hand to God in Christ, take hold of Him, and welcome Him.”

I will wait for you…

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Despite…Because of

May 1, 2019 by Pam Truax No Comments

The apostle Peter is such an encouragement to me. Failing again and again, he was still used by God. Struggling so often, he encouraged others. Wavering in his faith, he strengthened the people of God.

The book of 1 Peter recently has been such a boon to my spirit lately reminding me that I have a living hope because of God’s great mercy (1 Peter 1:3).  I remember that I am precious and valuable because I have been ransomed not with perishable things, but with the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:19). He reminds me to long for the sustenance from the Word (1 Peter 2:1). He points me to Christ himself as an example (1 Peter 4:1). He reminds me to cast all my anxiety on the God who cares for me (1 Peter 5:7). And he encourages me to stand firm in the true grace of God (1 Peter 5:12).

Jesus makes a promise to Peter just before he tells him that he will betray him three times before the night is over. He says, “Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32) Peter was obedient to the command. His words down through the ages written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit have strengthened many. And we also have the promise that Jesus gave to Peter that night. Because we know that, though we feel like we are being sifted like wheat in the hands of Satan, Jesus “is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25) Jesus is praying for us too!

So often I feel useless because of the sin that so easily entangles and trips me up. How can I ever be useful to the Kingdom? But as I look at Peter’s life and his legacy, I realize that it isn’t despite his mess ups that God uses him; it is through and because of them. And so I say, “Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee… Take myself and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.”

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About Me

Welcome to this little corner of the world. A place where we can come together and encourage one another to be filled with the only thing that truly matters and the only thing that truly satisfies. My prayer would be that here you would find things that point to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

And so, welcome to my “Gathering Place.” A place where we are encouraged to be in God’s word, where our faces are turned upward, and our hearts lightened.

I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

Job 23:12b

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