The flowers that are bent on perfecting themselves, by becoming double, are sure to end in barrenness…The true ideal flower is the one that uses its gifts as a means to an end. The brightness and sweetness are not for its own glory; they are but to attract the bees and butterflies that will fertilize and make it fruitful.
I. Lilias Trotter
The parable [of the cross] is pictured in the plant. As it develops there comes a fresh stage of yielding. At first it was only the dead, disfigured leaves that had to go. Now it is the fair new petals. They must fall, and for no visible reason-no one seems enriched by this stripping.
I. Lilias Trotter
Surrender--stillness--a ready welcoming of all stripping, all loss, all that brings us low, low into the Lord's path of humility--a cherishing of every whisper of the Spirit's voice, every touch of the prompting that comes to quicken the hidden life within: that is the way God's human seed-vessels ripen, and Christ becomes "magnified" even through the things that seem against us. "Mine but to be still: Thine the glorious power, Thine the mighty will."
I. Lilias Trotter
Not grace to bar what is not bliss,
Nor flight from all distress, but this:
The grace that orders our trouble and pain,
And then, in the darkness, is there to sustain.
John Piper
I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. Jeremiah 32:39, ESV
May they fear You while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!
Psalm 72:5, ESV
For an encouraging read:
https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/gods-sustaining-grace
You will not get to steal quietly into heaven, into Christ’s company, without a conflict and a cross.
I find crosses to be Christ’s carved work that he marks out for us and that with crosses he portraits us to his own image, cutting away pieces of our ill and corruption.
Lord cut – Lord carve – Lord wound –
Lord do anything that may perfect thy Father’s image in us and make us ready for glory.
Samuel Rutherford
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23
