The last woman in Sharon James’ book is the energetic Frances Ridley Havegal. She was a hymn writer (like last week’s Anne Steele) in 19th century England. Frances excelled in one-to-one ministry! She loved to talk with people about Jesus and took every opportunity to share her faith and challenge others. Frances talked to strangers on holidays, her music students, her friends and family members. She was bold, sometimes uncomfortably confronting, but always motivated by love. She wrote and distributed evangelistic tracts, even giving one to a potential suitor! Like Anne Steele, she was more than content to remain unmarried and was thankful for the extra time and space this gave her. She was a great intellect, very talented at music, loved physical challenges and adventures, and desired to use all of her abilities for the Lord. In her later life, she received over 600 letters each week and used these opportunities to correspond about kingdom issues. Salvation for her friends and acquaintances was always foremost in her mind.
Of all the women in Sharon James’ book, she was by far the healthiest and had the most freedom. What an encouragement it is, that she used her health and freedom to glorify God!
Looking back ….
I’m so thankful for the stories of these four women in Sharon James’ book. Overall, I was struck by each woman’s contentment and joy, which were not dependent on good health, a fulfilling and well-paid career, or a happy family life. Their joy came from knowing God and trusting in the Lord Jesus, dedicating their whole being to serving Him all of their days. They visited the sick, evangelised friends and strangers, helped the poor, supported their husbands or other family members - and none of them ever earned a wage! This is a helpful example in modern times, when we fall into the trap of needing a pay-packet to feel like we’re doing something that’s truly useful or valuable to society.
I was also reminded that nothing really changes in terms of humanity’s temptations and sin. Given today’s obsession with gadgets, we need to be continually encouraged to lift our minds to lofty heights and contemplate eternity. Surprisingly, some of these women testified to that same temptation to revel in ‘empty toys’ and pointless distractions rather than meditation on God’s word. Piano recitals and novels were yesterday’s Facebook and reality TV-shows!
It was good to realise that the churches of previous centuries, just like ours, experienced ebbs and flows of growth and decline, as well as changing emphases on faithful perseverance versus feverish evangelistic efforts. This encourages me not to despair during times of slow growth or fluctuations in focus.
These women were truly inspirational: godly, wise, and persistent in their struggle with sin and their desire to be obedient to God and His Word. This book is very encouraging, but thankfully doesn’t lean towards deifying sinful women! The author illuminates some of their unhelpful tendencies and doesn’t whitewash their sin, so that I didn’t come away feeling guilty that I’m not a perfect Christian like these women. I finished the last page with a prayer that I would learn from each of them - these rescued, Spirit-filled women who by God’s grace knew Him intimately in life, shared in Christ’s suffering, and remained joyful and sacrificial to the end. I can’t wait to meet them in Glory!
Showing posts with label In trouble and in joy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label In trouble and in joy. Show all posts
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Anne Steele: True Happiness
What would it take for you to be happy? A New car? A husband? Plenty of money? 3 kids and a mortgage? No kids and no mortgage?
How about this?
The Westminster Confession (1640s) said the “the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever”.
John Piper said “the chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying him forever” (note the nuance)
C.S. Lewis said “God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.”
Anne Steele (18th century English hymn-writer) said
“The mind was formed to mount sublime,
Beyond the narrow bounds of time,
To everlasting things;
But earthly vapours cloud her sight,
And hang with cold oppressive weight
Upon her drooping wings."[1]
Christian joy!
This is Christian hedonism (a term coined by Piper in his 1986 book Desiring God) and Anne Steele understood this full well. Among her contemporaries were Jonathan Edwards (hubby of Sarah, who we discussed last week), and Jonathan himself spoke eloquently of this idea with these words,
“God created man for nothing else but happiness… for he created them that He might glorify Himself in this way, by making them blessed and communicate his goodness to them. [2]
It’s not a new idea that true joy comes from glorifying God. But it’s so hard to remember it, isn’t it? We will not be glad until we glorify God. No amount of chasing after comfort, pleasure, experience will provide true joy!
Anne Steele’s joy, contentment and peace came as she reflected on God’s grace, goodness and power. She lived in almost constant pain, being ill with malaria for most of her life. She became famous because of her prolific hymn writing and these hymns (which you have probably sung) testify to her great faith in God’s providence, sovereignty and mercy, shown especially in Christ. Many of her hymns and letters are recorded in Sharon James’ book, and they are wonderfully encouraging.
Joy in suffering
I was especially encouraged by Anne’s attitude to illness. She demonstrated that “even in suffering, a Christian can experience true happiness and contentment.” [3]
"Perhaps if our path were always smooth and easy and we met with no cold storms or distressing accidents we should be ready to sit down or at least loiter by the way, and be forgetful of our journey’s end” [4]
She exemplified a verse that my bible study looked at just this morning …
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”(2 Corinthians 1:4).
Anne saw her sufferings as an opportunity to sharpen her focus on heaven and she used her experiences to compose many hymns about suffering in the Christian life.
Joy in Singleness
The extracts of her written communication with her half-sister were a testimony to her love of singleness! She was more than content with her circumstances and felt that “… wives give up their freedom in one fatal day” She enjoyed the freedom that her singleness afforded her, freedom to express her gift of writing (in hymns and literature) in an age where married women would not have been able.
This attitude and her attitude to many other things, challenged me to be more content with my circumstances. She was content with what God had given her, not looking at the greener grass in someone else’s pasture!
Joy in Him
Surely this contentment came from knowing that her ‘chief end was to glorify God and enjoy Him forever’ and she was zealous that others know this also! She wrote to her niece one New Year’s Eve …
My Dear Polly,
… I wish for you, my dear, a happy Eternity! The only way to it is by the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, as you read in your Bible, ‘Whom to know is Life Eternal’. O that your mind may be early improved by divine Grace with a sense of your need of this almighty Saviour and that you may be enabled to believe in him and obey him …
Your truly affectionate aunt”[5]
Footnotes:
[1] Quoted by Sharon James, p.161
[2] The works of Jonathan Edwards, vol 14,ed. Kenneth P. Minkema (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press), 146
[3] James, p. 148
[4] Quoted in James, In Trouble and In Joy, p. 140.
[5] Quoted in James, In Trouble and in Joy, p. 164
How about this?
The Westminster Confession (1640s) said the “the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever”.
John Piper said “the chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying him forever” (note the nuance)
C.S. Lewis said “God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.”
Anne Steele (18th century English hymn-writer) said
“The mind was formed to mount sublime,
Beyond the narrow bounds of time,
To everlasting things;
But earthly vapours cloud her sight,
And hang with cold oppressive weight
Upon her drooping wings."[1]
Christian joy!
This is Christian hedonism (a term coined by Piper in his 1986 book Desiring God) and Anne Steele understood this full well. Among her contemporaries were Jonathan Edwards (hubby of Sarah, who we discussed last week), and Jonathan himself spoke eloquently of this idea with these words,
“God created man for nothing else but happiness… for he created them that He might glorify Himself in this way, by making them blessed and communicate his goodness to them. [2]
It’s not a new idea that true joy comes from glorifying God. But it’s so hard to remember it, isn’t it? We will not be glad until we glorify God. No amount of chasing after comfort, pleasure, experience will provide true joy!
Anne Steele’s joy, contentment and peace came as she reflected on God’s grace, goodness and power. She lived in almost constant pain, being ill with malaria for most of her life. She became famous because of her prolific hymn writing and these hymns (which you have probably sung) testify to her great faith in God’s providence, sovereignty and mercy, shown especially in Christ. Many of her hymns and letters are recorded in Sharon James’ book, and they are wonderfully encouraging.
Joy in suffering
I was especially encouraged by Anne’s attitude to illness. She demonstrated that “even in suffering, a Christian can experience true happiness and contentment.” [3]
"Perhaps if our path were always smooth and easy and we met with no cold storms or distressing accidents we should be ready to sit down or at least loiter by the way, and be forgetful of our journey’s end” [4]
She exemplified a verse that my bible study looked at just this morning …
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”(2 Corinthians 1:4).
Anne saw her sufferings as an opportunity to sharpen her focus on heaven and she used her experiences to compose many hymns about suffering in the Christian life.
Joy in Singleness
The extracts of her written communication with her half-sister were a testimony to her love of singleness! She was more than content with her circumstances and felt that “… wives give up their freedom in one fatal day” She enjoyed the freedom that her singleness afforded her, freedom to express her gift of writing (in hymns and literature) in an age where married women would not have been able.
This attitude and her attitude to many other things, challenged me to be more content with my circumstances. She was content with what God had given her, not looking at the greener grass in someone else’s pasture!
Joy in Him
Surely this contentment came from knowing that her ‘chief end was to glorify God and enjoy Him forever’ and she was zealous that others know this also! She wrote to her niece one New Year’s Eve …
My Dear Polly,
… I wish for you, my dear, a happy Eternity! The only way to it is by the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, as you read in your Bible, ‘Whom to know is Life Eternal’. O that your mind may be early improved by divine Grace with a sense of your need of this almighty Saviour and that you may be enabled to believe in him and obey him …
Your truly affectionate aunt”[5]
Footnotes:
[1] Quoted by Sharon James, p.161
[2] The works of Jonathan Edwards, vol 14,ed. Kenneth P. Minkema (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press), 146
[3] James, p. 148
[4] Quoted in James, In Trouble and In Joy, p. 140.
[5] Quoted in James, In Trouble and in Joy, p. 164
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Margaret Baxter - godly, yet anxious
Do you know why I like reading biographies? One of the reasons is that they remind me that people don’t change and God doesn’t change. People are always sinful and God is always faithful! The four women discussed in this month’s book In Trouble and In Joy reminded me of this. I identified with Sarah Edwards the most, but found all of the women to be an inspiration for different reasons.
Margaret Baxter
This week, we look at the 17th Century Puritan Margaret Baxter who married the much-older Richard, loving and respecting him through much persecution. Her story would make for a riveting film – glamorous privileged girl falls in love with poor, principled, older man and sacrifices luxury for persecution! The young Margaret was obsessed by clothing, socializing and romance. When she was thrown out of childhood home (no less than a castle!) her new humble surroundings provoked the rebellious Margaret to dress as splendidly as she possible could!
From Riches to Rags
But God had other ideas for Margaret and she fell for her inspiring pastor. They married after a long courtship, during which no doubt, they were weighing up the 24 year difference and their different backgrounds. She loved and encouraged Richard despite the fact that it severely changed her station in life: wealth and status in youth became persecution and poverty in her married life.
Margaret was a great ‘helper’ to her husband. We mustn’t underestimate the impact of Richard Baxter’s ministry – his preaching, writing, evangelising and pastoring have left an enormous legacy today. As his wife, she “was always there for him: comforting him, caring for him in his frequent illnesses, shouldering all of the practical concerns of life” (p35), and enabling his prolific writing. She consistently denied herself materially for the sake of his ministry and submitted to him in political and ecclesiastical decisions that had devastating consequences on the couple.
A great example to us!
Throughout their married lives, they seemed to be constantly moving house (including a stint in a local prison!). I was very challenged by Margaret’s response to this. There was not a hint of complaining or controlling - she managed to love people in whatever circumstance she found herself, generously serving those less fortunate than herself. Even Richard had to ask her to exercise some restrain in her generosity!
Godly, yet anxious!
Spiritually, Margaret was an inspiration. She epitomised the Puritan way of life – careful study and meditation of the Scriptures and prayerful and reflective examination of her spiritual state. She was devoted to evangelism, compassionate to the poor, joyful and thankful in disposition. But, she was also a perfectionist and her high standards caused her much anxiety.
Health-Anxiety: A struggle of Margaret’s … a struggle of mine!
She also suffered from health-anxiety and spent much of her life assuming and fearing grave illness. This is an area I have struggled with myself. God hasn’t promised that we will avoid suffering and yet, I need to remind myself that He gives me the grace to endure the suffering that does come my way. “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day enough trouble of its own”. (Matt 6:34)
A dear friend reminded me that God doesn’t give us the strength, courage and grace to deal with all the different scenarios down the track, but simply the scenario you are in RIGHT NOW. So we don’t need to be anxious, but trusting. We don’t need to plan for all the contingencies and possibilities. We just need to endure this day and whatever it brings. I think this is a very common struggle for today’s woman. Partly, because we know too much from global news and internet diagnoses (cyber-chondria!) and partly because we know too many people and too many problems. It seems that every week I hear of someone who has discovered a grave illness (but are there actually more or do we just know more?) We have been commanded not to be anxious, we have been commanded not to worry about tomorrow – so when I am persistently anxious about my health or the health of my family – I am sinning! I need to confess and then trust! Not trust that everyone will be healthy, but trust that God will give me the grace I need to deal with whatever comes my way.
Margaret Baxter
This week, we look at the 17th Century Puritan Margaret Baxter who married the much-older Richard, loving and respecting him through much persecution. Her story would make for a riveting film – glamorous privileged girl falls in love with poor, principled, older man and sacrifices luxury for persecution! The young Margaret was obsessed by clothing, socializing and romance. When she was thrown out of childhood home (no less than a castle!) her new humble surroundings provoked the rebellious Margaret to dress as splendidly as she possible could!
From Riches to Rags
But God had other ideas for Margaret and she fell for her inspiring pastor. They married after a long courtship, during which no doubt, they were weighing up the 24 year difference and their different backgrounds. She loved and encouraged Richard despite the fact that it severely changed her station in life: wealth and status in youth became persecution and poverty in her married life.
Margaret was a great ‘helper’ to her husband. We mustn’t underestimate the impact of Richard Baxter’s ministry – his preaching, writing, evangelising and pastoring have left an enormous legacy today. As his wife, she “was always there for him: comforting him, caring for him in his frequent illnesses, shouldering all of the practical concerns of life” (p35), and enabling his prolific writing. She consistently denied herself materially for the sake of his ministry and submitted to him in political and ecclesiastical decisions that had devastating consequences on the couple.
A great example to us!
Throughout their married lives, they seemed to be constantly moving house (including a stint in a local prison!). I was very challenged by Margaret’s response to this. There was not a hint of complaining or controlling - she managed to love people in whatever circumstance she found herself, generously serving those less fortunate than herself. Even Richard had to ask her to exercise some restrain in her generosity!
Godly, yet anxious!
Spiritually, Margaret was an inspiration. She epitomised the Puritan way of life – careful study and meditation of the Scriptures and prayerful and reflective examination of her spiritual state. She was devoted to evangelism, compassionate to the poor, joyful and thankful in disposition. But, she was also a perfectionist and her high standards caused her much anxiety.
Health-Anxiety: A struggle of Margaret’s … a struggle of mine!
She also suffered from health-anxiety and spent much of her life assuming and fearing grave illness. This is an area I have struggled with myself. God hasn’t promised that we will avoid suffering and yet, I need to remind myself that He gives me the grace to endure the suffering that does come my way. “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day enough trouble of its own”. (Matt 6:34)
A dear friend reminded me that God doesn’t give us the strength, courage and grace to deal with all the different scenarios down the track, but simply the scenario you are in RIGHT NOW. So we don’t need to be anxious, but trusting. We don’t need to plan for all the contingencies and possibilities. We just need to endure this day and whatever it brings. I think this is a very common struggle for today’s woman. Partly, because we know too much from global news and internet diagnoses (cyber-chondria!) and partly because we know too many people and too many problems. It seems that every week I hear of someone who has discovered a grave illness (but are there actually more or do we just know more?) We have been commanded not to be anxious, we have been commanded not to worry about tomorrow – so when I am persistently anxious about my health or the health of my family – I am sinning! I need to confess and then trust! Not trust that everyone will be healthy, but trust that God will give me the grace I need to deal with whatever comes my way.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Introducing Emma Pfahlert
Emma Pfahlert is our July contributor. She will be reviewing “In Trouble and In Joy: Four Women who lived for God” by Sharon James. We asked Emma some questions ...
Can you tell us a bit about yourself
I’ve been married to Ben for 18 years, a Christian for 20 years and am approaching 40 – yikes! Our four children bring us much joy and constantly show us up in their knowledge of everything from computers to flags of the world!! I have spent most of my life in Melbourne and miss it heaps, but Sydney is a much-loved second home. I spend my days leading a women’s bible study, doing housework, working alongside my husband Ben in the M.T.S. head office, helping at the kids’ schools, ministering to women in an informal capacity and ferrying kids to sport. And I love it all … (even the housework!)
Favourite books?
I love reading (both Christian and non-Christian) and my tastes are eclectic – crime (PD James), fantasy (Tolkien), whimsy (McCall-Smith), and my favourite at the moment – historical fiction (Rutherford).
I have to say that I’m currently going through a famine when it comes to reading Christian books. There have been times in my life when I’ve feasted, voraciously consuming book after book, month in month out. But this year, I’ve hardly read any! It’s hard to admit that, especially to an online book-club world! I’ve really missed it! I miss the encouragement of learning from wise, godly, men and women. So I’m looking forward to sharing that experience with you!
Why did you choose this book to review?
I am a big fan of Christian biographies. It’s bed-time reading, cup-of-tea-in-the-morning reading, toddler-playing-at-your-feet reading. They’re often easy-to-read (this one is!) and incredibly encouraging.
The thing that hits me when I read historical Christian biography is that people are people ... past, present and future, we’re all the same – same longings, temptations, joys, struggles and hopes. The only thing that divides is a calendar date (and iphones!).
Sharon James’ biography of 4 incredible Christian women is WORTH READING! It’s clearly set out, easy to read and has the characteristic Sharon James’ reformed-theological bent. She doesn’t just state the facts, she helps us by interpreting them and she doesn’t pull punches. The depiction of her subjects isn’t always positive, but it’s always encouraging! Grab a copy and join me each Monday in August as we are encouraged by the lives of Margaret Baxter, Sarah Edwards, Anne Steele and Frances Ridley Havergal.
“…encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Heb 3:13)
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