Saturday, March 5, 2011

QUAINT WORDS

Welcome to "Quaint Words!”

These posts will contain thoughts, poems, and prayers from old books that I have found at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales (with an occasional treasure from a bookstore).

I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!

(A listing of books and authors, and also dates of individual postings from those books, will be found on my "QUAINT WORDS" page)

"Sometimes in our moments of weakness...when we are faint in courage and feel the growing supremacy of the strong rebellion of our nature against pain and humiliation, we must then go and kneel beside our Lord, prone upon His face and all a-tremble in the Garden of Olives.

It is indeed a dreadful, lowering realization to know that I am the plaything of my fears, the beaten victim of my unruly passion, the coward that quails before a little suffering. I seem so strong at times and I think to have at last reached maturity of years, and then - !

Then it is we must creep within the shadows of Gethsemane and see our Captain Christ grow "sad" and "dazed" and utterly "affrighted" as He allowed the terrors of the Sacred Passion to grow upon Him.

With my own crushed, humiliated soul I must kneel beside Him and thank Him for having deigned to suffer what I so often feel...

Grant me a share of Your own unflinching bravery that I too may battle on."


(From "My Changeless Friend" by Francis P. LeBuffe, c. 1925


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

5 comments:

  1. This was very apt for me today, Sharon, thank you for sharing. We sang a song in church on sunday, in one verse it says, "To be like you Jesus, in your suffering", this always causes me to think do we really realize what we are singing - God Bless - Nita

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  2. I think this might be my very favorite "quaint words" post of all.

    I completely relate to this part:

    "It is indeed a dreadful, lowering realization to know that I am the plaything of my fears, the beaten victim of my unruly passion, the coward that quails before a little suffering."

    And then, for the author of these unquestionably inspired words to redirect our focus from ourselves to a Christ in "agonia" in the garden, it just blew me away.

    Wonderful one, Sharon.
    It's way too powerful to be quaint.

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  3. This goes in my to keep pile! Love it. sandie

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  4. Very well said and I am inspired. Have a great weekend!

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  5. Nita - The Bible teaches that it's a privilege to suffer like Jesus. Doesn't often feel like that, does it?? But, I suppose, that we learn something deep in our hardships - we learn in the crucible of pain. We learn the depth of Jesus' love for us. And we learn to long for the day of His return - when all suffering will be redeemed, and repainted in glory!!

    Debbie - This one really got to me, too. It was strong and powerful. This was the line that particularly hit home - "I seem so strong at times and I think to have at last reached maturity of years, and then - !" I get so frustrated at myself. You'd think after being a Christian for almost 54 years, that I wouldn't be such a cowering coward! GRRR. However, I am still pressed to kneel next to Him - and I can think of no better place to be!

    Sandie - Oh! So glad that you liked this one. I think it just might be my favorite one of all. I just related with it so much (not proud of that - but it's true). I agree, it's a keeper for me, too.

    Mary - Always glad to share an "older" inspiration. We do not stand alone - there are others from times past who battled our same battles, and yet stood firm in the Shadow of our same Savior!

    Praying with all of you for more of His unflinching bravery that we too may battle on!!

    GOD BLESS!

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)