Blog link has changed

I have changed the link to my blog. The link is now:

www.aimtopleasehim.blogspot.com

Or, you can just click here, and it will take you right to it.

One reason I changed it is so both the link and the title to my blog would be the same. So, you can bookmark the new link.

The Knowledge of God

I'm moving right along in A. W. Pink's The Attributes of God book, albeit rather slowly. I'm up to Chapter 3 now. There is just so much to take in that I don't want to read it too quickly.

"God is omniscient. He knows everything: everything possible, everything actual; all events, all creatures, God the past, the present and the future. He is perfectly acquainted with every detail in the life of every being in heaven, in earth and in hell. "He knoweth what is in the darkness" (Dan. 2:22). Nothing escapes His notice, nothing can be hidden from Him, nothing is forgotten by Him. Well may we say with the Psalmist, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it" (Ps. 139:6). His knowledge is perfect. He never errs, never changes, never overlooks anything. "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do" (Heb. 4:13). Yes, such is the God with whom "we have to do!"

The definition from Webster's 1828 dictionary of omniscience is this:

Omniscience
OMNIS'CIENCE,

OMNIS'CIENCY, n. [L. omnis, all, and scientia, knowledge.]

The quality of knowing all things at once; universal knowledge; knowledge unbounded or infinite. Omniscience is an attribute peculiar to God.

That definition alone tells me that I am not God, nor will I ever be. I may become like Christ, but I am not Him, and will never have His attributes. Nor will I become fully like Him in this world. He was sinless, I am not, and never will be. That can be an overwhelming thought, that I will never be completely sinless, but what does encourage me is to know that it is God who works in me, both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Philippians 1:6).

It's a comfort to me to know that everything that has happened in my life up until now was known by Him because He ordained every single event in my life. I now see the world, and the events in my life, through new eyes because of this attribute. God is still on His throne, and is still ruling the world, and there is nothing to fear.

Next post will be on Monday

I haven't had a chance to post today, but I will post again on Monday.

My husband has decided that, from now on, on Sundays, we will not turn the television on, nor the computer on. That was an answer to prayer, I've been wanting to do this for a long time.

The Decrees of God - Part Two

This morning I finished Chapter 2, in A. W. Pink's book, The Attributes of God. This is a short book with only 92 pages, and it's taking me a long time to read. I hate to think how long it's going to take me to read Stephen Charnock's book, The Existence and Attributes of God, which has 524 pages. It's a good thing I started Pink's book first, I may not have gotten to it otherwise.

"Second, the decrees of God are wise. Wisdom is shown in the selection of the best possible ends and of the fittest means of accomplishing them. That this character belongs to the decrees of God is evident from what we know of them. They are disclosed to us by their execution, and every proof of wisdom in the works of God is a proof of the wisdom of the plan, in conformity to which they are performed. As the Psalmist declared, "O Lord, how manifold are Thy works! in wisdom hast Thou made them all" (Ps. 104:24). It is indeed but a very small part of them which falls under our observation, yet, we ought to proceed here as we do in other cases, and judge of the whole by the specimen, of what is unknown, by what is known. He who perceives the workings of admirable skill in the parts of a machine which he has an opportunity to examine, is naturally led to believe that the other parts are equally admirable. In like manner should we satisfy our minds as to God’s works when doubts obtrude themselves upon us, and repel the objections which may be suggested by something which we cannot reconcile to our notions of what is good and wise. When we reach the bounds of the finite and gaze toward the mysterious realm of the infinite, let us exclaim. "O the depth of the riches! both of the wisdom and knowledge of God" (Rom. 11:33)."

What struck me the most was this part:

"In like manner should we satisfy our minds as to God’s works when doubts obtrude themselves upon us, and repel the objections which may be suggested by something which we cannot reconcile to our notions of what is good and wise. When we reach the bounds of the finite and gaze toward the mysterious realm of the infinite, let us exclaim. "O the depth of the riches! both of the wisdom and knowledge of God" (Rom. 11:33)."

There are certain times of the month when my hormones seem to be out of whack. As a result, my soul feels heavy at times, for no apparent reason other than hormonal. For many years I gave into my feelings, and was pretty miserable during those times, which didn't make for very enjoyable times.

Nearly two years ago I learned of Nouthetic Counseling, but knew little about it until I took the Introduction to Biblical Counseling class at church about six months ago. Through that course, and through different reading materials, I became aware that following my feelings was a sin. Since then, I've been making the attempt to change that part of myself.

The class, and the books, have taught me to trust in God, and trust His Word, versus what I may be feeling inside. God is good, and wise, and His character is such that He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. On the other hand, my feelings are unreliable. And it is to His Word that I run to when I have those downcast feelings, or am irritable. I run to Him in prayer, and to the Scriptures. Regardless of how I may be feeling at any given moment, it is always right to praise Him, because He is worthy to be praised. Praising Him doesn't require me waiting until I *feel* like it, I am to praise Him because He is worthy, and deserves all praise.

Psalm 147:1 Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.

Psalm 147:2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.

Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:4 He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.

Psalm 147:5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.

Psalm 147:6 The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.

Psalm 147:7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre!

Psalm 147:8 He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills.

Psalm 147:9 He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry.

Psalm 147:10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,

Psalm 147:11 but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Psalm 147:12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!

Psalm 147:13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you.

Psalm 147:14 He makes peace in your borders; he fills you with the finest of the wheat.

Psalm 147:15 He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.

Psalm 147:16 He gives snow like wool; he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.

Psalm 147:17 He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold?

Psalm 147:18 He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.

Psalm 147:19 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel.

Psalm 147:20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the LORD!

There are so many Scriptures that are full of praise. My youngest daughter and I love to sing the old hymns. Lately, whenever I might have that heaviness in my soul, I pull out my hymn book and begin singing. After a few songs, my heart is lifted up.

The Decrees of God - Second Thoughts

I posted this quote by A. W. Pink's book, The Attributes of God, earlier today:

"God did not merely decree to make man, place him upon the earth, and then leave him to his own uncontrolled guidance; instead, He fixed all the circumstances in the lot of individuals, and all the particulars which will comprise the history of the human race from its commencement to its close."

The words, "He fixed all the circumstances in the lot of individuals" are what caused me to think about my salvation. It was God who chose me (John 15:16), drew me to Himself (John 6:44), enabled me to believe by giving me a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26), and who gave me the faith to believe (Ephesians 2:8-9). There was nothing in me that caused God to save me, He saved me because of His great mercy and grace. I am grateful to God for plucking me out of the pit I was in, from my dead, lost state (Ephesians 2), and saving my soul. He was not obligated to save me, nor to save anyone else. But, the wonder of it all is that He did just that because of His mercy and grace.

On the other hand, if I were to say that I chose Christ, on whom would the gratefulness be placed? On God? Or, would the gratefulness go to myself for having made the right decision? It would seem like I would be grateful to myself because I was the one who made the decision to pluck myself out of that dead, lost state.

Just some food for thought there. I'm still not sure if I communicated that with what I'm trying to get across, but I do hope it makes us think.

The Decrees of God - Part One

Last week was a trying week, with the death of a friend's son, and of the Mawxell's granddaughter. I don't know the Maxwell's personally but I have followed their ministry since 1998. Learning of God's attributes has given me peace, and the ability to trust Him during trying times.

This morning I read this in Chapter 2, of A. W. Pink's, The Attributes of God:

"God did not merely decree to make man, place him upon the earth, and then leave him to his own uncontrolled guidance; instead, He fixed all the circumstances in the lot of individuals, and all the particulars which will comprise the history of the human race from its commencement to its close."

Can you imagine what chaos there would be if this world was not controlled by God? It would be even more chaotic than it seems to be right now.

Think about these words "He fixed ALL the circumstances in the lot of individuals." ALL of the circumstances, not just part of them. Two things came to my mind when I read that. First, the deaths of Kent, and Susannah Joy didn't take God by surprise. He Himself, for reasons known only to Him, ordained that these two would be with him at the exact time of their deaths. Though it's a difficult time for the families involved, they know they can trust God because He is good.

There is a second thing that I thought of, and I'm going to think on it more this afternoon, and write my thoughts on that part later this afternoon, nor evening. I haven't quite figured out how to word it.

I would also ask that you would pray for the Nathan and Melanie Maxwell, the parents of Susannah Joy, and also for the Maxwell's, and Melanie's family.

Sad news regarding Susannah Joy

I didn't have an opportunity to turn on the computer this weekend, so I didn't read until today about Susannah Joy. Susannah Joy passed away on Saturday, March 24th. My heart is broken for the Maxwell family, and for Melanie's family, but I know that that Lord is faithful, and that He is good, and He has a plan and a purpose.