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Not to long ago, I received the book Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens. I have always been keen to read it, and now that I am in the process of doing so, I find myself completely in love with it. I implore you to find it and read it yourself if you have not. It is an overwhelming book.
While I have been reading it, my mind has pondered many things. One of them being the character of Nicholas Nickleby himself. At nineteen, he is what every young man should be: chivalrous, kind, passionate, intelligent, and willing. In finding the qualities I respect in this fictional young man, I have come to the realization that these qualities are non-existent in most real young men. The young men of today are lazy, arrogant, foolish, and not at all chivalrous in the least. In short, they do not care. Do not take this the wrong way. Not all are like this, and even then, to those who are, the blame is not all their’s. Believe me, so much of the fault lies on the the shoulders of today’s young women. We have, in a way, brought it upon them by demanding individual rights and ourselves to be self sufficient. That we are capable of all needed provisions and are equals in every part of life. I am not saying that we are not capable of such. I am not stating a belief in gender discrimination, though that is what the world would see. I am merely saying that over the years all we were meant to be as young women has diminished through the blurring of the line of distinction between the sexes and their roles. Thus, the young man’s role has also diminished. Chivalry is gone. It is considered an antique and worthless term, and how many have been naive enough to believe it? How many, Christians even, have fallen into that trap? Let this be a challenge to our generation, find Nicholas Nickleby. To the young men, step up and live with a passionate character. To the young women, let them hold the doors open. Let them be who they are meant to, by you fulfilling your role as the lady. It is up to us to be who we should. This is not an impossible task, difficult yes, but never impossible. We all have a role, and if the role of the young man is chivalry, why not exceed that role? Do more than be chivalrous, make yourself the definition of such. The world will hate you for it, just as they hated Nicholas Nickleby for it, but you will prevail. For it is the Lord’s work. Let this be a call to take up arms and crush the low expectations of the treatment towards women, for men and women. It applies to both. What does it mean, rather what does it feel like, to be worth the hand offered? Considering today, what does it feel like to actually have the hand offered? We all have a choice, live by the world’s standards or the Lord’s. It is simple. Do not complicate it with excuses. There are not many men left who are comparable with Nicholas Nickleby, but to those who are, stand strong. Young ladies, do not settle with mediocre, set your expectations at the level of Nicholas Nickleby. Young men, your call may be even greater. Do not be satisfied with yourself. Make yourself comparable with Nicholas Nickleby. Do not lose sight of chivalry, crave it, yearn for it. To our generation, find Nicholas Nickleby.
“The face of the old man was stern, hard featured, and forbidding; that of the young one, open, handsome, and ingenuous. The old man’s eye was keen with the twinklings of avarice and cunning; the young man’s, bright with the light of intelligence and spirit. His figure was somewhat slight, but manly and well formed; and, apart from all the grace of youth and comeliness, there was an emanation from the warm young heart in his look and bearing which kept the old man down.”-Nicholas Nickleby
-Bella
In my quiet time I have been reading in Job. This story is one of my favorites, and I find myself relating to Job in more than one way. Here is a verse though that really struck me the other day:
“Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,” ~Job 1:20
Now the word that caused such a spark within my thinking was worshipped. The thing is, Job worshipped God even when he had lost everything. Jehovah is worthy of our praise no matter how much of a trial we may be in. So many times I am selfish and fail to praise God and spend time with Him when I am going through a hard time. It may seem like you are getting the hard part out of the deal, but the LORD is working in you. Most of the time, difficult seasons in life bring along the most growth. It is very easy to praise God when times are good, and when we are being rained on abundant blessing; however, when the rain starts to come, and the floods rain down, our attitude towards the Creator can change instantly. This was not so for Job, and I believe this is what we should be like when hard times come. I want to encourage you to praise God when His abundant blessing is present, and even in the tumultuous trials. The LORD never stops being worthy. He deserves all our praise and we should not hold back what the Father deserves. He deserves all that we have…
“And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” ~Job 1:21-22
-alex
God speaks when one least expects it. It is quiet, but it hits you like a freight train. The still voice rapidly collides with your heart and you know you have been struck. That is how this all came about. A few months ago I was sitting on the floor being very bored, and I began to pray. I prayed one thing, “God, what do you want me to do with my life?”. I prayed this little sentence not knowing that God would answer right then, right there. Although I heard no words, what flooded my mind was little children running through halls playing, and laughing, and singing, and smiling. It was beautiful. I saw joy. It was right there in front of me. He put within my head a picture of an orphanage that was full of happy children. It wasn’t the fake happiness, it was a happiness that protruded from the joy of the LORD. The happiness that we are filled with when we become part of God’s kingdom. Then God told me to start an orphanage.
I have wanted to be a missionary since I was twelve years old. It has always been on my heart, a desire to help the lost and show them truth. When I used to think of a missionary, I thought of someone who carried Bibles around and preached the Word of God. I have found though, that there are all different kinds of missionaries. There are young ones, and old ones, those that travel to far countries, those that preach in their very town. All over you will find those who are sacrificing for the sake of Christ. If we truly love Christ, we will give up all He asks to serve Him. So my vision is not that the children would just find a home, but that they would learn about our loving Saviour, who so obediently gave His life on Calvary to free us from an eternity in Hell. This is a mission project. Anything less than that, and the whole things would not be worth it. We need to bring hope to the hurting, and bring truth to the lost. I ask for your prayers and support as I begin this most beautiful task of bringing Christ to the lost. I will continue to update on the advancement in the Project. May God only be glorified through it!
-alex
“Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” ~Psalm 2:8
The LORD has given me a vision for the fatherless. I never thought an ordinary person like me would ever be thrown into such a crazy dream. I believe the LORD is calling me to start an orphanage and school for those in need. I am convinced that if this is the LORD’s will, then He will provide all the funds and all that is needed to embark on such a project. I need you to begin to pray though. The LORD has not yet put upon my heart a country, so I am asking you to call out to the Father with me that His direction would be clear. It has struck me that I want you to come with me on this journey; that you might experience the tears, and heartbreak, and the uncontrollable joy that the Saviour only gives. I want this project to be a fierce testimony that the LORD works through all kinds, great and small, rich and poor, the rejected and excepted. As the body of Christ, we are one. The most is done when we join together. This is only the beginning of such a long journey. I ask that you would join me in this fight for compassion. To God be the glory!
-alex
“Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.” ~Isaiah 1:17
“Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.” ~Psalm 82:3
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” ~James 1:27
“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” ~Mark 8:34-36
In the midst of trying to live a life that is pleasing to God, many of us fail. It takes one moment…we wake up in the morning, and it just feels like life is to much. It feels like the life we lead is worth nothing, and all the time we spent trying to live for something, seems like we have just wasted all our time. This is the scenario that many of our generation is going through. It is a struggle that floods our feeble minds and we cannot tackle it without the help of the Saviour. I want to encourage you to stand up, and shove apathy back. Our lives are so much more than the monotony of everyday life. So then, why is it so easy for us to let go and give up? The answer is our relationship with the Creator. If we spend more time focusing on feeding ourself with the world, we become more deaf to the beautiful call that the Father is whispering within us. I have become very concerned with the heart of those around me. Jesus wants to be IN us, and so many people are just ignoring that. Christ in you is the most beautiful thing. We were MADE to be filled with the Saviour. Without Him our life is numb and cold. Jesus is the very warmth and comfort that makes one’s heart filled. That emptiness that is within you is crying for Jesus. Why are we so quiet about it? My heart is burdened because this generation, this spirited, alive, burning fire of a people is going out; we must do something before the last ember dies out. What do we do? I believe that God wants to use all of us where we are right now. I want to challenge you to stand up in your community. Do something that is beyond what people expect of you. My sisters and I are going to be starting a series of projects to bring Christ to our community. We are praying and asking the LORD where He would have us work at the moment. We would love to hear what you are all doing for the name of Christ. In this world that is hurting and broken Christ is the only one who can bring redemption. Don’t be afraid to stand for Jehovah. Our strength is from Him. Press on…
-alex
“Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. Look unto Abraham your father and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished. Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness , the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool; but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.”
~Isaiah 51:1-8
“Christ, who is our life.”—Colossians 3:4.
AUL’S marvellously rich expression indicates, that Christ is the source of our life. “You hath He quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins.” That same voice which brought Lazarus out of the tomb raised us to newness of life. He is now the substance of our spiritual life. It is by His life that we live; He is in us, the hope of glory, the spring of our actions, the central thought which moves every other thought. Christ is the sustenance of our life. What can the Christian feed upon but Jesus’ flesh and blood? “This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.” O wayworn pilgrims in this wilderness of sin, you never get a morsel to satisfy the hunger of your spirits, except ye find it in Him! Christ is the solace of our life. All our true joys come from Him; and in times of trouble, His presence is our consolation. There is nothing worth living for but Him; and His lovingkindness is better than life! Christ is the object of our life. As speeds the ship towards the port, so hastes the believer towards the haven of his Saviour’s bosom. As flies the arrow to its goal, so flies the Christian towards the perfecting of his fellowship with Christ Jesus. As the soldier fights for his captain, and is crowned in his captain’s victory, so the believer contends for Christ, and gets his triumph out of the triumphs of his Master. “For him to live is Christ.” Christ is the exemplar of our life. Where there is the same life within, there will, there must be, to a great extent, the same developments without; and if we live in near fellowship with the Lord Jesus we shall grow like Him. We shall set Him before us as our Divine copy, and we shall seek to tread in His footsteps, until He shall become the crown of our life in glory. Oh! how safe, how honoured, how happy is the Christian, since Christ is our life!
~Charles Spurgeon
