Friday Fun!

I love Fridays! Fridays are my Saturday! Friday fun day! Yay! Friday Introvert Day! Friday-I-don't-want-to-see-anybody's-face day (family permitted)!

So, what exactly do I DO on Fridays? Well, I catch up on any Bible readings. I draw and practice piano. I work on any crafty projects that I didn't get done during the week, and I take it easy. It's my day to brush up and practice my creative skills, instead of working on my cleaning, cooking skills. I do still clean a little bit. I don't let anything get into a heap, but it's more of a fun, relaxing day.

Because Saturday? Saturday is Mum's day off, which often means we go to social events, do social things, go shopping (gag!) and follow her plans for her day off. And I also have things that I have to do on Saturdays, myself.

Today I practiced the second movement of the Moonlight Sonata (FIVE FLATS!!), and Beethoven's Sonata in F Minor! YAY! And then my nose started running too much and I had to stop playing. But still! I'm making progress!

Then I practiced drawing, and I did my best drawing so far in graphite. I drew A. W. Tozer.

*Sniff* I'm so proud of myself. I did pretty good. My one complaint is that I hate his nose. *sigh* 

I should take a break and draw hands next. I love hands. They're always interesting to draw. 

I'm thinking after this, I'm gonna work on the Sonata in F Minor again. YAY! And I should do some reading in the Pursuit of GOD, and review the previous lessons of BYH (Behold Your GOD). It's a marvy day! 

 

"No Not Despairingly"

Right now, I am really treasuring an old hymn, and I just wanted to share it with you all. The author of the hymn is Horatius Bonar.

Horatius Bonar was born in Scotland in 1808. He was born into a long line of ministers, who had all together, through their combined life times, served a total of 364 years as ministers. He also became a minister, and is best known for his prolific hymn writing. He wrote over 150 hymns, which include;

• I Heard the Voice of JESUS Say
• HE is Risen
• Let Us Draw Near
• Safe Across the Waters

And many many others. However, the one that is resting most heavily on my mind right now is "No, Not Despairingly." Here are its lyrics:

~~~

No, not despairingly come I to Thee;
No, not distrustingly bend I the knee:
Sin hath gone over me, yet is this still my plea,
Jesus hath died.

Ah! mine iniquity crimson hath been,
Infinite, infinite—sin upon sin:
Sin of not loving Thee, sin of not trusting Thee—
Infinite sin.

Lord, I confess to Thee sadly my sin;
All I am tell I Thee, all I have been:
Purge Thou my sin away, wash Thou my soul this day;
Lord, make me clean.

Faithful and just art Thou, forgiving all;
Loving and kind art Thou when poor ones call:
Lord, let the cleansing blood, blood of the Lamb of God,
Pass o’er my soul.

Then all is peace and light this soul within;
Thus shall I walk with Thee, the loved Unseen;
Leaning on Thee, my God, guided along the road,
Nothing between.

~~~

What a treasure this hymn has been to me. So comforting. Yes, I'm a sinner. Yes, I'm wretched beyond imagination, but this...this one thing, one blessed thing, is my plea before GOD; JESUS has died. And it's enough. HE is enough.

 Oh, I pray that I can learn to trust HIM, to wholly lean on HIM instead of myself. I'm so prideful, so focused on my ability. So many times I think, "If only I prayed more...." or "If only I read my Bible more..." then GOD would accept me and I would affirm my salvation. But NO! Nothing I can do can add to the salvation GOD has given me. No work of mine can make me any more saved. NO! Such thoughts degrade the perfect work of CHRIST. Such thoughts stem from my pride and thinking I can save myself! NO, I cannot!

All my righteous deeds are like filthy rags! All my good works are like a pig's wallow! There is nothing righteous in me! The WORD of GOD says that we are to love the LORD our GOD with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and that is the greatest commandment. And yet, wretched me, I cannot even perfectly love HIM with even one aspect of my being for a single second! How could I save myself when I cannot keep HIS command to love HIM perfectly for even a second? No!

THIS must be my one, saving plea, "Jesus has died." THAT is what my trust must be in. THAT is what my hope must be in. Why? Because there is nothing in me, no single molecule of my being that can keep the law of GOD perfectly. There is nothing perfect I can do. It all depends on HIM, and on HIS work! Entirely on HIM.

And from my gratitude for HIS great love, HIS great sacrifice, and from the new creation that HE has made me to be comes the change that we call sanctification. And daily, HE is working in me to make me reflect HIS glory to the world, and HE has promised that HE will bring this work to completion. Thus, HE is my sole sustainer, the AUTHOR and PERFECTER of my faith. It is all in HIS hands.

Because my hands are so weak. My flesh is so sinful. My desires so wicked. Yes, I try, but the victory can only come from HIM. And this I continuously forget and need to be reminded of daily.  Thanks be to GOD, HE gives me, the vile wretch that I am, mercy every day. What an amazing GOD we serve.