Welcome to Book Club Time here at The Littlest Way. Today is part two of my book notes on Called to Life and we are starting in chapter three…my favorite chapter of this book. Chapter three is all about the Word of God. I frequently write about Bible Quotes and how to use them as Daily Affirmations. There is no surer help out of darkness than the Light of the World. Let’s get started with our Book Club Time: Called to Life Part 2. You can find Part 1 of Called to Life here. Bold is direct quotes from the book with my notes following.
Book Club Time: Called to Life Part 2
God’s Word, transmitted by Holy Scripture, is a fundamental means by which he calls us and communicates the gift of his life. Fundamental and yet for so long I never cracked my Bible. And sometimes still, when life is going on with relatively minor bumps, I sometimes forget or get too busy to spend that necessary time with God. Ouch! That was hard to admit.
We have an urgent need for Holy Scripture as an inexhaustible source of light and strength, illumination and foundation of our lives. Not just a need, but an urgent need. Life seems to be moving faster than ever and changing even quicker. The world is not necessarily a place of light, strength and illumination. Combine the speed of life with the junk the world tries to convince us is truth and I understand why the author chose the word “urgent.”
Scripture has a remarkable power to speak profoundly and personally to us, to respond to the exact here and now need for light, encouragement and even conversion lodged deep within our hearts. Those moments when a Scripture verse, until then not especially meaningful, suddenly blazes out with a message that corresponds to our present situation testify to the faithfulness and tenderness of the Lord. How many times have we found just the right verse at just the right time…or was it the other way around? I love how the author continues to use images of illumination as he speaks of the Scriptures: light and blazes.
Reading Scripture can sometimes seem arid, but if we persevere, sooner or later we will find in it a sweetness more delicate than anything on earth. I ask God to give me a love for His Word. Give me an unquenchable desire to spend time in His Word. Those are not prayers He will ignore.
If contemporary secular culture makes anything clear, it is this: The rejection of God breeds self disgust. We live in a time of the most remarkable advances in technology, medicine and just day to day life–and we are a culture of some of the most unhappy people in the world. Listen to our music, look at our fashions, read the magazine covers and turn on the television–none of the above scream, let alone mention: peace, joy, happiness, contentment.
Everything that happen to us is in some way or other a call from God–to grow, to change, to see things differently, and to undergo conversion…the essential thing is to welcome events and live them out with faith, even if we don’t understand them. I used to say when I was younger I was going to ask God “Why this,” or “Why that?” But as I’ve gotten older and become a mother, I’m starting to think it doesn’t really matter “Why.” It just is and that’s that. My part is not to ask “Why” but to choose how I am going to respond.
The rejection of God over the last three centuries was accompanied by the illusion that guilt would be eliminated in this way and human beings would finally be free and happy. But those who thought like that forgot something: without God, humankind must carry on its own the weight of distress, misery and failings of all kinds. If there is no God, there is no pardon or mercy. Just wow…
Thanksgiving is not just one form of prayer to be practiced now and then. It should be a fundamental attitude of heart, a disposition of life, a way of orienting one’s entire life. So first–thanksgiving is prayer. And second, in those hard moments, I need to stop and ask myself a very intentional question–“What can I be thankful for in this situation?”
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Michelle Westbrook says
I am not following along with the book, but I love this post. That book must be amazing! There are so many truths in your writing, but what spoke to me the most was “Scripture has a remarkable power to speak profoundly and personally to us” . That is so very true and though I am ashamed to admit that sometimes I only make time to read the bible on Sundays – every single time, I receive a message that resonates deep into my soul. Thank you for this post, I am adding this book to my library list.
Jenny says
Michelle you will not regret purchasing this book. Jacques Philippe is a profound writer who can remind us the everyday is still holy and God is right there.
Natalie says
Amen! This is so powerful. I especially love the last part in bold and also like you said, if you look at the patterns of all the wealthy and famous it is nothing but destruction and hopeless. It is truly God’s path that leads us to life and I am grateful that I don’t have to worship the things of this world!
Jenny says
Oh this messy world…There but for the grace of God go I. Thanks be to God I have this amazing gift of faith.
Susan Shipe says
He dwells in His Word because He IS The Word!!! John 1
Jenny says
I know that we know that, but I think sometimes we take that for granted. Each Sunday I hear in the Gospel, “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” And each Sunday I should be AMAZED!! But sometimes I just take it for granted. Each time I touch my Bible, I should be AMAZED that I am holding the living Word of God. But sometimes I forget the magnitude of His real and actual presence.
Amanda says
I agree. The world tries to get us to focus on the wrong things. I try to stay away from the news because it is mainly bad news and often is skewed to make a story and not bring light or truth. I am finding many things to be thankful for this season. My family is such a blessing to me. Thanks for the reminder to stay thankful.
Jenny says
Oh my gracious…the news! I had to stop watching that junk years ago. I am a sensitive soul and I always, always, always lose my peace when I watch it. I also cannot click around to much on the internet for the same reason.
Tara says
It really is important to remember our Thanksgivings. That is why I started my Sunday Blessings weekly post on my blog…to remind me throughout the week how blessed I am. I enjoyed this post!
Jenny says
Thanks for stopping by Tara. I was trying to keep a list of m y daily blessings here, but maybe Sunday would be more effective for me to document here with my pictures for the week as well.
Wendy says
“Combine the speed of life with the junk the world tries to convince us is truth and I understand why the author chose the word “urgent.”” Yes, indeed. Feeling the urgency. Thanks for sharing.
Jenny says
So happy to see you here Wendy. Thanks for the visit. I’m feeling the urgency this week and am having to remind myself–just today–just today.