When Light Meets Daily Life III and The Bruised Reed ch. 3
The pictures on this post are from Claire B. Aren't they great? This Saturday she will be here. Would you like to come and meet her?
This is the second Thursday I share about the book we are reading together at Challies.com The book is The Bruised Reed by the Puritan author Richard Sibbes.
My comments on chapters 1 and 2 are here.
Chapter 3. The Smoking Flax
This is not an easy chapter, this is a chapter that brought tears to my eyes. Its words are like spades, they reached deep within my soul.
Sibbes, reminded me on how my spiritual life started, with little faith, with a “small beginning of grace” . And I just can’t but think how even that little portion of faith was given to me as an undeserved gift by my Father in Heaven, and was enough to save my life from an eternity far from Him.
So broken, so bruised, so dirty was my life, but He reached and gave me His saving Grace to “strive to perfection, and to keep me in a low opinion of myself“
He saw me; He reached to me, a bruised reed, and did not break me forever, He did not despise me.
Little beginnings full of grace. That is all we need.
Grace upon grace.
Grace for every day.
Small changes soaked in His grace.
Grace came and changed me, it gave me eternal life, but “grace does not do away with corruption all at once, but some is left for believers to fight with. The purest actions of the purest men need Christ to perfume them; and this is his office.”
The thorns of my flesh, are there, every day, to remind me of my desperate need of Him. To remind me that I am a bruised reed , to “preserve me from those two dangerous rocks which our natures are prone to dash upon, security and pride…”
I am in a daily journey to heaven…and “even as a candle in the socket shows its light, and sometimes the show of light is lost; so sometimes “I am” well persuaded of myself, sometimes at a loss.”
So here too, I see His light shining on this bruised reed, which is my own life.
Tomorrow my sister will continue sharing with us about the importance of teaching the Word of God to our children. I would love to "see" you here. This post is now available at the new blog.
Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 10:07 AM
[...] by Richard Sibbes, and this is the seventh post on the series. (Part one is here, part two is here, part three, part four, part five, part [...]
Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 9:01 PM
Hi Becky,
Lovely blog. Artistic and soothing. Along with you, I’m reading The Bruised Reed also. I, too, found Chapter 3 difficult to grasp, if only because it speaks to the very real mystery of divinity meeting with corruption as in “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Sibbes tells it in a way I’ve never heard before.
Wonderful photos. Also soothing.
Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 9:22 AM
what never cease to amaze me about the “broken” times in my life is that God is most evidently at work in my life during them. when life is smoothsailing, i long for the furnace once more.
Friday, April 23, 2010 at 7:50 AM
Thank you for leaving a comment!
Deek, Kevin and Lisa, I am learning so much with you and from your insights too; May He open our ears to hear.
TB…yes you should get, because I know you, I know you will love it!
Diane and Christina, I believe in a Sovereign God who is able to bring people together with an eternal purpose. I know He brought you to my life!
Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 10:19 PM
Becky,
The pictures are beautiful and so are the thoughts that you have shared.
Many blessings to you my dear sister!
Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 12:08 PM
Becky,
Your blogs have really grown on me. This is a beautiful post – such a sweet reminder not only of where we have come from but of losing that original awe and humble gratitude through ” those two dangerous rocks which our natures are prone to dash upon, security and pride…”
Blessings sister!
Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 10:06 AM
It is so good!, I still need to get it!. thanks..
Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 9:57 AM
Beautiful pictures and words, Becky. Seeing the extra thoughts provoked from chapter 3 makes me realize I may need to go back and reread it! Thanks for the blessing today.
Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 9:04 AM
Loved the thoughts shared here, Becky. Very insightful and deeply personal. Press on in the reading, even if the Lord uses it to till a little deeper into your heart. You know it will be for your good and even the good of the whole church as you encourage others. Blessings upon you.
Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 8:46 AM
Hey Becky. Thanks for stopping by my site earlier today. I’m reading Sibbes right there alongside you.
Your description of chapter 3′s words as spades that dig deep into your soul was a beautiful one. I agree completely.