reflection | Acts of Love
The End of a Nonsuch Winter March 4, 2012
Filed under: Books,Teaching and Learning,Uncategorized — Acts of Love and Good Works @ 4:36 am
Tags: Prayer, reflection
Henry the VIII built Nonsuch Palace in 1538. He named the palace ‘nonsuch’ because it was the grandest building project of his reign, and no other castle like it existed in the world. The Swiss Family Robinson built a fictional Nonsuch Bridge to cross a swamp when they were shipwrecked on an Island off of New Zealand. Here in New Hampshire, we have had a Nonsuch winter, that is, a winter marked by little snow and warm temperatures. The girls and I were playing outside, at the park, in February. Unless you are a hearty New Englander yourself, this may not see so amazing to you. Normal winters here are characterized by 6 long months of interminable snow; but this has been a Nonsuch winter.
Some people are up in arms about global warming and other nonsense, and quite frankly if this is global warming I am all for it. I know that the seasons are constant and reliable, and this nonsuch winter is not the harbinger of eternal summer and desert wastelands, it is just an unusally warm winter. As this nonsuch winter comes to an end, I find myself imbued with a sense of balance and consistency. On order to be balanced, I think it is important to pay equal attention to Words, Deeds, and Prayer. When one is missing or lacking, you suddenly become unbalanced and uncertain.
Words and powerful. We must choose them wisely and carefully. The word of God is a sword, with which we can fight evil (Ephesians 6: 17). Swords must be sharpened and maintained in order to be effective. I know that in order to stay balanced I must spend time in The Word, and watch the words spoken by my own mouth. Our deeds have the ability to speak louder than our words, especially when our actions convey the character of God to the unbelievers around us. Our words and deeds must be in agreement. Anyone can spot a hypocrite a mile away. To use a cliché, it isn’t enough to talk the talk, we must walk the walk. Above all, in order to seek the heart of God for our words and deeds we must pray, without ceasing and an all occasions, and as the Spirit leads us (Ephesians 6:18).
So there it is, spring in on the horizon. This is a great time of year to take inventory of yourself mentally and physically, and to ascertain if there is any imbalance in your life. The greatest model for a balanced life is in the person of Jesus Christ. His Words and Deeds were in perfect harmony, and He taught us to pray. He took the time to pray, to reflect, to reach out to one person, to fellowship, to mourn, to celebrate, and to heal. He is the epitome of balance and discipline.
Nonsuch Palace was dismantled in 1682 by the Countess of Castlemaine in order to pay a gambling debt, and the Swiss Family Robinson is the figment of an authors celebration. Likewise, I am fairly certain we will have a very much ‘such’ winter next year. Seasons and buildings are subject to change and the whims of people, but one thing remains constant in the lives of believers.
reflection | Acts of Love
The End of a Nonsuch Winter March 4, 2012
Filed under: Books,Teaching and Learning,Uncategorized — Acts of Love and Good Works @ 4:36 am
Tags: Prayer, reflection
Henry the VIII built Nonsuch Palace in 1538. He named the palace ‘nonsuch’ because it was the grandest building project of his reign, and no other castle like it existed in the world. The Swiss Family Robinson built a fictional Nonsuch Bridge to cross a swamp when they were shipwrecked on an Island off of New Zealand. Here in New Hampshire, we have had a Nonsuch winter, that is, a winter marked by little snow and warm temperatures. The girls and I were playing outside, at the park, in February. Unless you are a hearty New Englander yourself, this may not see so amazing to you. Normal winters here are characterized by 6 long months of interminable snow; but this has been a Nonsuch winter.
Some people are up in arms about global warming and other nonsense, and quite frankly if this is global warming I am all for it. I know that the seasons are constant and reliable, and this nonsuch winter is not the harbinger of eternal summer and desert wastelands, it is just an unusally warm winter. As this nonsuch winter comes to an end, I find myself imbued with a sense of balance and consistency. On order to be balanced, I think it is important to pay equal attention to Words, Deeds, and Prayer. When one is missing or lacking, you suddenly become unbalanced and uncertain.
Words and powerful. We must choose them wisely and carefully. The word of God is a sword, wit
h which we can fight evil (Ephesians 6: 17). Swords must be sharpened and maintained in order to be effective. I know that in order to stay balanced I must spend time in The Word, and watch the words spoken by my own mouth. Our deeds have the ability to speak louder than our words, especially when our actions convey the character of God to the unbelievers around us. Our words and deeds must be in agreement. Anyone can spot a hypocrite a mile away. To use a cliché, it isn’t enough to talk the talk, we must walk the walk. Above all, in order to seek the heart of God for our words and deeds we must pray, without ceasing and an all occasions, and as the Spirit leads us (Ephesians 6:18).
So there it is, spring in on the horizon. This is a great time of year to take inventory of yourself mentally and physically, and to ascertain if there is any imbalance in your life. The greatest model for a balanced life is in the person of Jesus Christ. His Words and Deeds were in perfect harmony, and He taught us to pray. He took the time to pray, to reflect, to reach out to one person, to fellowship, to mourn, to celebrate, and to heal. He is the epitome of balance and discipline.
Nonsuch Palace was dismantled in 1682 by the Countess of Castlemaine in order to pay a gambling debt, and the Swiss Family Robinson is the figment of an authors celebration. Likewise, I am fairly certain we will have a very much ‘such’ winter next year. Seasons and buildings are subject to change and the whims of people, but one thing remains constant in the lives of believers.