“Written in Early Spring” by William Wordsworth (1770–1850)

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  I HEARD a thousand blended notes   While in a grove I sate reclined,  In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts  Bring sad thoughts to the mind.  To her fair works did Nature link  The human soul that through me ran;  And much it grieved my heart to think  What Man has made of Man.  Through primrose tufts, in that sweet bower,  The periwinkle trail’d its wreaths;  And ’tis my faith that every flower  Enjoys the air it breathes.  The birds around me hopp’d and play’d,  Their thoughts I cannot measure,—  But the least motion which they made  It seem’d a thrill of pleasure.  The budding twigs spread out their fan  To catch the breezy air;  And I must think, do all I can,  That there was pleasure there.  If this belief from heaven be sent,  If such be Nature’s holy plan,  Have I not reason to lament  What Man has made of Man?

Sheep feeding: the trough is in the trenches

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From today's reading (3/3 "The Unrelieved Quest") in "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, I was grabbed by these thoughts:

"Peter now realizes that he does love Him, due to the revelation that came with the Lord’s piercing question. The Lord’s next point is—"Pour yourself out. Don’t testify about how much you love Me and don’t talk about the wonderful revelation you have had, just ’Feed My sheep.’ " . . .

If I love my Lord, I have no business being guided by natural emotions—I have to feed His sheep. We will not be delivered or released from His commission to us."

These words became volitile to me when reflected against John 15:16-17. John Piper explained in a message delivered in Augusta, GA (2001) that "God is Soveriegn and Life is War." Piper explains John 15:16-17 and the close connection with ministry to the necessity of prayer (that description does nothing for the weight of the truth): "we are chosen, sent to bear fruit for Him in order that prayer would be answered!" Our whole concept of ministry and prayer need adjustment! Extreme ministry make-over, folks!

Prayer is for war and the engagment of it, not for communicating with a grand butler who serves our comforts. The walkie-talkie of warfare does not work as an intercom to call for another pillow to ease the pains of our epicurean backsides.

Piper, "Jesus did not call believers for ministry; he calls unbelievers for war!"

Umph! Somebody help me off this floor . . .

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