Amy Carmichael gathered together some challenging thoughts in a little book called 'if'. If I belittle those whom I am called to serve, talk of their weak points in contrast perhaps with what I think of as my strong points; if I adopt a superior attitude, forgetting "Who made thee to differ? And what hast thou that thou hast not received?" then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I find myself taking lapses for granted, "Oh, that's what they always do," "Oh, of course she talks like that, he acts like that," then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I find myself taking lapses for granted, "Oh, that's what they always do," "Oh, of course she talks like that, he acts like that," then I know nothing of Calvary love.That one hits close to home. Among unbelievers, particularly some of my coworkers whom I've gotten fairly used to, I'm sometimes in an awkward position when one of them blasphemes or says something vulgar or otherwise sins gratuitously. I can confront them, albeit in as prideless a way as possible, not necessarily kind, but not in such a way as to provoke them to think I'm claiming to be better, as that is not the issue, or I can ignore it (typically praying silently or in a nearly inaudible voice). In justifying the latter, I sometimes think along the lines of "They're unbelievers, that's what unbelievers do," not as a means of excusing the behavior, but as a reason for not taking them before the Judgment seat for every manifestation of their sin.How ought a Christian conduct themselves in such an environment?
if I can enjoy a joke at the expense of another; if I can in any way slight another in conversation, or even in thought, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I can write an unkind letter, speak an unkind word, think an unkind thought without grief and shame, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I do not feel far more for the grieved Saviour than for my worried self when troublesome things occur, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
Hi Keith,Thought you brought up an excellent question and started a post here: 'Christian' conduct
If I can rebuke without a pang, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If my attitude be one of fear, not faith, about one who has disappointed me; if I say, "Just what I expected" if a fall occurs, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I am afraid to speak the truth, lest I lose affection, or lest the one concerned should say, "You do not understand," or because I fear to lose my reputation for kindness; if I put my own good name before the other's highest good, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I am content to heal a hurt slightly, saying "Peace, peace," where there is no peace; if I forget the poignant word "Let love be without dissimulation" and blunt the edge of truth, speaking not right things but smooth things, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I hold on to choices of any kind, just because they are my choice, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
Yes, I have this little book at home. Such short lines, but cuts right to the heart.Do any of you have her poems? I read a few of them a long time ago. I would love to get ahold of them again.
If I have not compassion on my fellow-servant even as my Lord had pity on me, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I can easily discuss the shortcomings and the sins of any; if I can speak in a casual way even of a child's misdoings, then I know nothing of Calvary love
If I know little of His pitifulness (The Lord turned and looked upon Peter), if I know little of His courage and hopefulpness for the truly humble and penitent (He saith unto him, Feed my lambs), then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If... I cannot bear to be like the father who did not soften the rigours of the far country; if in this sense, I refuse to allow the law of God (the way of transgressors is hard) to take effect, because of the distress it causes me to see that law in operation, ...then I know nothing of Calvary love
Do any of you have her poems? I read a few of them a long time ago. I would love to get ahold of them again.Yes there are a few books of her poems and I think if you search online you could dig up some.. I will take a look also. Her peoms definetly speak from an intimate relationship with the Lord.
If...I deal with wrong for any other reason than that implied in the words, From his right hand went forth a fiery law for them. Yes, He loved the people; if I can rebuke without a pang, then ...I know nothing of Calvary love
If...in dealing with one who does not respond, I weary of the strain, and slip from under the burden,...then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If...I am perturbed by the reproach and misunderstanding that may follow action taken for the good of souls for whom I must give account;If...I cannot commit the matter and go on in peace and in silence, remembering Gethsemene and the Cross...then I know nothing of Calvary love
if...I cannot catch 'the sound of noise of rain* long before the rain falls, and, going to some hilltop of the spirit, as near to my God as I can, have not faith to wait there with my face bewteen my knees, though six times or sixty times I am told 'there is nothing,' till at last 'there arises a little cloud out of the sea,'...then I know nothing of Calvary love.* 1 Kings 18:41 margin.
if...my attitude be one of fear, not faith, about one who has disappointed me, if I say, "Just what I expected," if a fall occurs,...then I know nothing of Calvary love
if...I do not look with eyes of hope on all in whom there is even a faint beginning, as our Lord did, when, just after His disciples had wrangled about which of them should be accounted the greatest, He softened His rebuke with those heart-melting words, "Ye are they which have continued with Me in My temptations,"...then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If...I cast up a confessed, repented and forsaken sin against another, and allow my remembrance of that sin to colour my thinking and feed my suspicions,...then I know nothing of Calvary love
If...I have not the patience of my Saviour with souls who grow slowly: if I know little of travail (a sharp and painful thing) till Christ be fully formed in them,...then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If...I sympathise weakly with weakness, and say to one who is turning back from the Cross, Pity thyself;If...I refuse such a one the sympathy that braces and the brave and heartening word of comradeship,...then I know nothing of Calvary love
If...I cannot keep silence over a disappointing soul (unless for the sake of thet soul's good or for the good of others it be necessary to speak), ...then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If...I can hurt another by speaking faithfully without much preparation of spirit, and without hurting myself far more than I hurt that other,...then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If...I am afraid to speak the truth, lest I lost affection, or lest the one concerned should say, "You do not understand," or because I fear to lose my reputation for kindness;If...I put my own good name before the other's highest good,...then I know nothing of Calvary love
If...I am content to heal a hurt slightly, saying Peace,peace, where there is no peace; If...I forget the poignant word "Let love be without dissimulation" and blunt the edge of truth, speaking not right things but smooth things....then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If...I fear to hold another to the highest because it is so much easier to avoid doing so,...then I know nothing of Calvary love
If...I hold on to choices of any kind, just because they are my choice;If...I give any room to my private likes and dislikes,...then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If...I put my own happiness before the well-being of the work entrusted to me;If...though I have this ministry and received much mercy, I faint,...then I know nothing of Calvary love
If...I am soft to myself and slide comfortably into the vice of self-pity and self-sympathy;If...I do not, by the grace of God, practise fortitude,...then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If...I myself dominate myself,If...my thoughts revolve around myself,If...I am so occupied with myself I rarely have 'a heart at leisure from itself,'...then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If...the moment I am conscious of the shadow of self crossing my theshold, I do not shut the door, and in the power of Him who works in us to will and to do, keep that door shut,...then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If...I cannot in honest happiness take the second place (or the twentieth);If...I cannot take the first without making a fuss about my unworthiness,...then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If...When I am able to discover something which has baffled others, I forget Him who revealeth the deep and secret things, and knoweth what is in the darkness and showeth it to us;If...I forget that it was He who granted that ray of light to His most unworthy servant,...then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If...I cannot be at rest under the Unexplained, forgetting the word, And blessed is he whomsoever shall not be offended in Me: orIf...I can admit the least shadow of a misunderstanding,...then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If...I do not give a friend "the benefit of the doubt," but put the worst construction instead of the best on what is said or done,...then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If...I take offence easily, if I am content to continue in cool unfriendliness, though friendship be possible,...then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If...a sudden jar can cause me to speak an impatient, unloving word,...then I know nothing of Calvary love.** For a cup brimful of sweet water cannot spill even one drop of bitter water however suddenly jolted.
If...I feel injured when another lays to my charge things thatI know not, forgetting that my Sinless Saviour trod this path to the end,...then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If...I feel bitterly towards those who condemn me, as it seems to me, unjustly, forgetting that if they knew me as I know myself they woud condemn me much more...then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If...I say, "Yes, I forgive, but I cannot forget," as though the God, who twice a day washes all the sands on all the shores of all the world, could not wash such memories from my mind,...then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If...one whose help I greatly need appears to be as content to build in wood, hay, stubble, as in gold, silver, precious stones, and I hesitate to obey my light and do without that help because so few will understand,...then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If...the care of a soul (or a community) be entrusted to me, and I consent to subject it to weakening influences, because the voice of the world - my immediate Christian world - fills my ears,...then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If...by doing some work which the undiscerning consider "not spiritual work" I can best help others, and I inwardly rebel, thinking it is the spiritual for which I crave, when in truth it is the interesting and exciting,...then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If...monotony tries me, and I cannot stand drudgery; if stupid people fret me and little ruffles set me on edge; if I make much of the trifles of life,...then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I covet any place on earth but the dust at the foot of the Cross, I know nothing of Calvary love.
A precious thread recycled.If...I say, yes I forgive, but I cannot forget as though the God who twice a day washed all the sands on all the shores of all the world could not wash such memories from my mind, ...then I know nothing of Calvary love. If the living God who made the tide and washes the shores daily cannot wash away from my mind the caustic remarks, the ugliness, the wrongs in someone else, ...then I haven't even entered into Calvary love.Amy may have been bed ridden but she walked with the Lord nonetheless. This pilgrim needs to do less talking and more walking along that way.
Yes what a wonderful thread and worthy of much meditation upon. Here is a quote that demands much reality and heart meditation. Try making it your prayer today:"I wish thy way.And when in me myself should rise,and long for something otherwise,Then Lord, take sword and spearAnd slay."-Amy Carmichael
Well, there are more...If...I am inconsiderate about the comfort of others, or their feelings, or even of their little weaknesses; If... I am careless about their little hurts and miss opportunities to smooth their way; If... I make the sweet running of household wheels more difficult to accomplish ...then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If...interruptions annoy me, and private cares make me impatient; If...I shadow the souls about me because I myself am shadowed,...then I know nothing of Calvary love.
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