A Beautiful Reminder

This anonymous poem is a beautiful reminder of the fact that it  

is not all about me!  (Where did I get that idea, anyway?)

It's a constant battle to die to self, isn't it?  But, oh so necessary. 

My heart is blessed and challenged each time I ponder these thoughtful words.

I would benefit from revisiting them often. 

"When you are forgotten or neglected, or purposely set at naught,   

and you do not sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight,   

but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ, 

THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed,   

your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed,  

and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart,   

or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient, loving silence,  

THAT IS DYING TO SELF.  

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder,   

any irregularity, any unpunctuality, or any annoyance;   

when you stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance,   

spiritual insensibility, and endure it as Jesus endured it, 

THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation,  

or to record your own good works, or itch after commendation,   

when you can truly love to be unknown,  

THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you are content with any food, any offering,   

any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude,  

any interruption by the will of God,

THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met, 
and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy nor question God, 
while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature 
than yourself, and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, 
finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

Are you dead yet? In these last days the Spirit would bring us to the Cross. 
"That I may know Him...being made conformable to His death." Philippians 3:10

Christ, only Christ, no needless bustling sound,
Christ, only Christ, no self important bearing,
Christ, only Christ, no trace of "I" be found."

Author Unknown

With Love,
Camille

**Photo courtesy of Calvin ~ 

Thank you my love.  XO

What's Next?

Sometimes we get frozen into doing NOTHING.
But, we KNOW we should be doing SOMETHING!
What should our motto be at times like that?

This is mine...


~ Do The Next Thing ~

From an old English parsonage down by the sea,
There came in the twilight a message to me.
Its quaint Saxon legend deeply engraven
Hath it seems to me, teaching from heaven.
And all through the hours the quiet words ring,
Like a low inspiration, do the next thing.

Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from heaven,
Time, opportunity, and guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus, do the next thing.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care.
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand,
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,
Leave all results, do the next thing.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
Working or suffering be thy demeanor;
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance, be thy psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing.
Then, as He beckons, do the next thing.

Author Unknown

Often quoted by Elisabeth Elliot

Keeping it All in Perspective

DYING TO SELF

When you are forgotten or neglected, or purposely set at naught,
and you do not sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight,
but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed,
your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed,
and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart,
or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient, loving silence,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity,
and unpunctuality, or any annoyance;
when you stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance,
spiritual insensibility, and endure it as Jesus endured it,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation,
or to record your own good works, or itch after commendation,
when you can truly love to be unknown,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you are content with any food, any offering, any raiment,
any climate, any society, any solitude,
any interruption by the will of God,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met,
and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy nor question God,
while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less
stature than yourself, and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly,
finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

Are you dead yet?
In these last days the Spirit would bring us to the Cross.
"That I may know Him...being made conformable to His death."
Philippians 3:10

Christ, only Christ, no needless bustling sound,
Christ, only Christ, no self important bearing,
Christ, only Christ, no trace of "I" be found.

Author Unknown

He Maketh No Mistake

A pastor, who lost his beloved wife and baby during childbirth, composed this poem during the funeral service for them both...

My Father's way may twist and turn,
My heart may throb and ache,
But in my soul I'm glad to know,
He maketh no mistake.

My cherished plans may go astray,
My hopes may fade away,
But still I'll trust my Lord to lead,
For He doth know the way.

Though night be dark and it may seem
That day will never break,
I'll pin my faith, my all, in Him,
He maketh no mistake.

There's so much now I cannot see,
My eyesight far too dim,
But come what may, I'll simply trust,
And leave it all to Him.

For by and by the mist will lift,
And plain it all He'll make,
Through all the way, though dark to me,
He made not one mistake.

A.M. Overton (1932)

Dying to Self

This poem has been taped inside my husband's Bible for as long as I can remember. I had a copy in my Bible too, but over time it came unglued and it is no longer there. These were copies of a copy...does anyone know who it is attributed to? Please let me know so I can give credit to the author.

Can any of us really live like this? The answer is NO, not in our own strength...may the Lord give us each the enabling to respond in every circumstance with true thankfulness and joy!

DYING TO SELF

When you are forgotten or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you do not sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient, loving silence,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, and unpunctuality, or any annoyance; when you stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensibility, and endure it as Jesus endured it,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own good works, or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you are content with any food, any offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption by the will of God,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself, and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart,
THAT IS DYING TO SELF.

Are you dead yet? In these last days the Spirit would bring us to the Cross. "That I may know Him...being made conformable to His death." Philippians 3:10

Christ, only Christ, no needless bustling sound,
Christ, only Christ, no self important bearing,
Christ, only Christ, no trace of "I" be found.

Author Unknown

Patience

Give me patience Lord, I pray
When wee hands tug at me
With their small demands
Keep me from hasty replies,
Give me kind and smiling eyes.
May weariness, confusion or noise
Not obscure my vision
Of life's fleeting joys.
So when, in years to come
And my house is still,
No bitter memories
Its rooms may fill.

Author unknown

Do the Next Thing

From an old English parsonage down by the sea,
There came in the twilight a message to me.
Its quaint Saxon legend deeply engraven
Hath it seems to me, teaching from heaven.
And all through the hours the quiet words ring,
Like a low inspiration, do the next thing.

Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from heaven,
Time, opportunity, and guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus, do the next thing.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care.
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand,
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,
Leave all results, do the next thing.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
Working or suffering be thy demeanor;
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance, be thy psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing.
Then, as He beckons, do the next thing.

Author Unknown

Often quoted by Elisabeth Elliot