Mottos and Maxims

The youngest of my kids is called Sarah. She is a busy mother of three but still manages to do her art work and sell her paintings for quite handsome prices.

When I put a motto in her book I chose: “Ardens sed virens”   (Burning but still alive).

I had once seen those words under a picture of the Burning Bush. I felt that I should give them to Sarah as a maxim for her life. On the day that I had all the family together, I said; “Keep the fire burning, Sarah!”

Ah the fire! The fire of inspiration, the fire of passion for life, the fire of devotion to Christ. If the ardens is next to the virens all will be well.

A couple of years ago I spoke with a man who had gone through rejection and disappointment in his ministry.

As he told me his story with tears in his eyes I asked him: “Is the fire still burning?” In answer he nodded his head. I replied “You’ll be OK.” And he was.

Jim Elliot was quoted as saying: “Protect yourself from the dread asbestos of this world. Keep your fire burning”

Two years later he was speared to death while preaching to the Auca Indians.

“Ardens sed Virens” Keep the fire burning. Don’t burn out. Burn on!

Mottos and maxims

Yesterday I was speaking about Maxims and mottos. When I gave out copies of my book “The unscripted life” I put three Latin mottos in the fly leaf; one for each of my children.

My elder daughter, Sharon, was once an officer with the Ontario Provincial Police. Now she is a stay at home Mom.

For her I wrote the inscription “Augusta per Angusta”. Roughly translated this means “Good character through pain.”

The Bible speaks of the mystery of suffering. In one verse it actually says “We shall reign with Christ if so be we also suffer with Him.” Paul says in his letter to the Philippians : “ I have fellowship with Christ in His sufferings.”

Don’t ask me how or why, but human beings are ennobled through sufferings rightly responded to.

Victor Frankel said : “The sufferings we endured in the concentrations camps delivered us from cleverness and brought us to a wonder of life.”

 Why did I put that verse in for Sharon? I’m not sure other than the fact that I prayed, and that it has been my observation that the trials that she has been through have served to produce a more saintly character.

After all it is character alone that we take with us into the world to come.

On eagles wings

We were talking about mottos yesterday.

When I finished writing a book a couple of years ago, I presented my three children with their own copy and added what I felt were appropriate words for each of them on the fly-leaf.

I decided I would also add a Latin motto. I failed Latin in high school, but I have far more reverence for the language over fifty years later.

For my son, Mark, I wrote: “Aquilla non captat muscas”  Translated, this means: “Eagles don’t catch flies!”

Above all, flies are a distraction. What I was saying to Mark was “Keep your eyes on the big picture. Have lofty goals in life and leave the fly catching to the frogs.”

In the Old Testament, Baalzebub was the name given to the devil. Translated it means: “Lord of the flies.”

As Christians we have a high and holy calling. Let’s mount up with wings of eagles today and enjoy life in the NO FLY ZONE.

Mottos

My sister, Anne, from over ‘ome has worked on our family tree. She discovered that the Wilson’s originated from Scotland. ‘North of Hadrian’s Wall’ as we say in England.

 Knowing this, I researched the history of the Wilson clan and found that one of the Septs had been kilt makers for King James 5^th. Maybe he was wearing one of his kilts when he commissioned the King James Bible?

Among other things I dug up was the clan motto: “We do not follow inferior things”.

I felt immediately that such a maxim was worthwhile adopting for my own family and, since then, I have been often pushed to live up to the standard.

Might I suggest that you do your own research of your family name on google? You may find words of inspiration in a motto that will bless you in the coming year.

Try to keep the speed limits.

About ten years ago I was driving down the Salt River Gorge on my way to preach in Tucson in Arizona.

I had left Grants, New Mexico, late one Sunday evening and it was now about two in the morning. It was a road full of twists and turns and steep as well. Suddenly I went into a bend at speed. With brakes squealing and tires smoking I managed to stay on the road all the while looking at a 500-foot sheer drop to the valley floor. I had been going too fast and had over-driven my headlights.

If I had gone over the edge Pauline, my wife, might well have sniffed and said “Just the way I expected he would have gone!”

But seriously, how does this story fit into our theme of looking ahead into the New Year?

Well, we can all PLAN for the year ahead but we can’t SEE the year ahead. For the road that we can see before us, go forward with confidence in God; for what we cannot see trust Him but don’t over-drive your headlights.

In His own way and His own time God will do all things well.

Goals for the year ahead.

 About twenty years ago I attended a goal setting seminar.

I can’t recall all the points but there were a few that stuck in my mind. I’ll list the ones I remember.

1)     Believe that your goals are possible

2)     Break big goals down into achievable steps.

3)     Commit your goals to writing

4)     Share them with a trusted friend.

5)     Review them through the year

6)     Reward yourself when you achieve a goal.

Hope is a Christian’s portal to the future. But what is a goal other then a hope with conditions attached?

If you don’t like the idea of goal setting change your terminology to “Hopes expressed for 2011”

For some of you it may be losing weight, for others quitting smoking or reducing your debt. Last month a friend pressed a purple rubber bracelet into my hand. She was wearing one as a reminder that she was going to have ‘ a complaint-free year’.

Whatever it may be, take time in the dawn of this New Year to make your own ‘Hope Chest”.  Pray, and when this year is complete open up your chest. You may find that it was your best year ever!