BeautyRevealed | The Blog of Melissa J. Dillon

“Satan has opposed the doctrine of the Spirit-filled life about as bitterly as any other doctrine there is. He has confused it, opposed it, surrounded it with false notions and fears. He has blocked every effort of the Church of Christ to receive from the Father her divine and blood-bought patrimony. The Church has tragically neglected this great liberating truth – that there is now for the child of God a full and wonderful and completely satisfying anointing with the Holy Ghost.” – A.W. Tozer

“What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? The fullness of the Holy Spirit is a relationship with the indwelling third Person of the Trinity whereby He is permitted to exercise His holy influence over every area of your life. The result is the fruit of Christ-likeness revealed through your personality. This beautiful effect increases as you mature spiritually. Fullness by the Spirit releases God’s power in you so that by His strength and energy you can live and minister. (Ministry includes every manner of service in the Name of Christ regardless of how insignificant it seems in the eyes of men.) Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control become descriptive of the kind of person you are” (Galatians 5:22-23). – Jerald R. White, Jr.

“For a healthy Christian life, it is indispensable that we should be fully conscious that we have received the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. Let us even weary Him by our incessant entreaties that the Holy Spirit may again assume His rightful place and exercise full dominion in ourselves and in the church.” – Andrew Murray

(Sunrise over the frozen lake.)

” ‘Stay’ is a charming word in a friends’ vocabulary.”

-Louisa May Alcott

I had some dear friends come over for tea yesterday, and wouldn’t you know it, I was having so much fun, that I completely forgot to take any pictures. Mom came too, and we chatted the afternoon away over hot cups of tea and Orange Cranberry Scones. Friendship is such a blessing. There was a time when I took it for granted…  but not anymore. It is meant to be cherished.

This teacup was passed down to me from my Mom. It’s my favorite… it has been since I was a little girl. When I think of how many women have drank from this cup, I am blessed. Mom always had a way of making moments special… whether it was a friend at her kitchen table pouring out her heart or a full blown Anne of Green Gables tea party for me and some girlfriends, she always pulled out her beautiful teacups. They were meant to be used… to be enjoyed. In so many of my childhood memories are teacups and doilies, a plateful of goodies, and lots of happy chatter. 

It reminds me of the scripture, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” (John 7:37) When we have Christ in us, we truly do have something to offer: Hope, Rest, Comfort, Blessing, Peace. He is able to love through us, and offer the beauty of friendship. I, personally, have felt the love of Jesus through many friends over the years.

 Yesterday I felt a warm glow in my home after everyone left. The teacups clinked together as I cleaned up, and soft music played in the background, “… life can be so sweet, on the sunny side of the street.” I carefully washed out my teacups, dried them, and put them back in the cupboard where they will be ready for more friends and special times… and more kindred spirits.

“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…

these are a few of my favorite things.”

- Julie Andrews

Here is the stage where winter gets really long. We’ve already had more than enough of it, but there is a grim realization that there is plenty more to come. Last night when Mark and I were driving home in the frigid cold, we voted “YES” on skipping the rest of winter and having summer instead. Not sure if God laughed or not, but apparently His vote counts as more than ours, ’cause when we woke up it was even colder! So I decided to list of a few of my favorite things of the moment to lift the spirits a bit. I refuse to give in to the winter doldrums… life is too good to be bummed! 

A Few of My Favorite Things

1. Tea. My favorite is Constant Comment which I always make at home. But my friend, Gari, makes delicious Jasmine tea when I go to her house, and it is quickly climbing the charts. 

2. Reconnecting with old friends. Kindred Spirits… memory lane… chattering and catching up… laughing until your sides hurt.

3. Knitting. I’m finally done practicing and I’m ready to actually make something! (I think.)

4. Sunlight. I guess if it has to be chilly, I am grateful for sunny blue skies that bring some joy to my day. One of the things I love about our home so much is the many windows that allow the sunlight in at any point of the day. My kitties love to nap all day in puddles of sunshine. 

5. The Bible. The Word has just been coming alive to me more and more lately. I love to read the beautiful poetry of the Psalms, and the New Testament has been like a sword… separating the truth from the darkness in my life. 

6. Reading. One very good thing about winter is that it allows a very good excuse to stay cozy inside with a good book. My favorite so far being “Listening Prayer”, now I am on “The Full Blessing of Pentecost” by Andrew Murray and finally finishing up “This Day We Fight” by Francis Frangipane. (And I’ve had a little Jane Austen thrown in here and there!)

7. My Hubby. I live with an eternal optimist. Nothing can get this guy down! He’s my steady freddy. I love to be married to a man who makes me laugh all the time. 

8. Planning my flower gardens. Hydrangeas, Larkspur, Foxgloves, Snapdragons, Lupines, Sweet Peas, Hollyhocks, Delphiniums, Phlox, Hyacinths, Peonies… I know I won’t get it all done this summer, but I’m ready to get started on my English garden. I can’t wait to be surrounded by beautiful color. One of my favorite little signs that I saw in a shop once read, “I shan’t go to town today, for my Hollyhocks are in bloom.” I should have bought it. 

9. My family. I don’t know how I would survive the long winter without my family close by. We use ANY excuse for a party: “Lord of the Rings” Parties, Superbowl Parties, “Friends” nites every friday night, Oscar Parties, etc. It gives us something to look forward to during the long winter months. This coming weekend is Jamie’s Birthday Party. He’s bringing home his fabulous birthday present… I’ll see if I can get some pictures. 

10. My Kitties. My little friends in fur pajamas. They don’t have attitudes like normal cats. They come when you call. They follow me everywhere. They “talk” to us. They understand what I’m saying. Well. Some words anyway. Really! I’m not kidding. And I’m not biased or anything… well, not much anyway. 

See? There’s really so much to be grateful for. Thank you, God. I don’t care a stitch about the cold weather anymore. 

“Jesus not only gives purity of heart, but Jesus is our purity of heart.”
- Peter Kreeft

“Holiness is a dangerous thing to preach when its relationship to grace and the real presence of God is not understood. Knowing and preaching the law of God does not enable one to keep it. Only grace does that. Moralism and legalism has replaced listening to God and humbly walking in Him. Knowledge of the law is good and necessary. But to preach the law apart from teaching the walk in the Spirit leaves the flock with what they ought to do, yet without the power to do it. 

God keeps us in His holiness as we remain in obedient subjection to Him. We must remain in union with Christ (John 15). But true union with Christ is hardly understood or walked out today. The rift between head and heart leads many to think that a more or less spiritualized perfectionism is what union with Christ means. When holiness is preached apart from understanding and walking in this union – an incarnational reality – legalism is the result. 

Where there is legalism, there is always pride. We will have that spiritualized perfectionism whereby we say, ‘I am by my own striving and goodness keeping the law.’ Only in union with Him, listening to Him and carrying out His orders, are we holy. Any substitute for this leaves us without the knowledge of ourselves as a prideful sinner. Our holiness is at every moment Another’s. 

Those who treasure holiness and produce its fruits are the poor in spirit, the humble of the earth. They are fond of the Jesus Prayer. In one way or another they pray it over and over. ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.’ They are quick to acknowledge their pride and lack of humility, repenting of it daily. 

Without holiness we will not see God. He Himself effects it in His people. To preach the gospel is to teach the way of holiness, and apart from holiness there is no true worship of God. Holiness is the way of remaining in Christ, of walking in the presence of God.”                                                                    - Leanne Payne

“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart.” – Psalm 24:3-4

“A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road… shall not go astray.” – Isaiah 35:8

For many years I have been caught in the snare of legalism. I thought that if I could just be “good enough”, “righteous enough” or “holy enough” then I would be able to enter into the throne room of God. So when I failed miserably, the condemnation would set in and I would sit outside the throne room in a state of self-pity with my face in my hands. I have lived a life of shame because I could never make myself into the person that I thought I should be. I did not see the pride of my actions… in fact, I rather thought it was humility. What a fool I’ve been to sit outside heaven’s door for so many years, living a life lacking in victory and the joy of being in the presence of the Lord. 

I am so grateful that the Lord never let my attempts to change myself succeed. I am glad that He let me fail time and time again, growing weary that all of my striving efforts to transform myself and my heart condition were futile. If I could have disciplined myself, fixed myself, produced beautiful fruit, acquired wisdom and understanding, and even saved myself, I would have. And I would have gloried in myself because of all the good I had done. It is only by His grace that I have come to realize that “apart from Him, I can do nothing.” 

The truth of the matter is that above all, He wants relationship with me. He doesn’t expect or want me to produce holiness on my own. He knows this is impossible without Him. There is no other way to travel the “Highway of Holiness” except through humility and remaining in the Vine of relationship with Him. What a complete surprise to find that in resting in Him and gazing on His brilliancy… this is what would transform me. I didn’t have to work for it… I just desperately needed to find my way back to my First Love. 

“It is a snare to imagine that God wants to make us perfect specimens of what He can do; God’s purpose is to make us one with Himself.” – Oswald Chambers

“Jesus not only gives purity of heart, but Jesus is our purity of heart. God has made Him to be our righteousness.” – Peter Kreeft

My friend, Heidi, made a heavenly strawberry desert awhile back for Bible Study and I fell in love. She so graciously let me share it with you all, and I think you will love it as well… especially if you are a strawberry fan. My mom and I pick beautiful, ripe strawberries in the summer at the local berry farm and freeze them so we can enjoy them all year long. Mmmm. So good.

Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

Combine: 1½ cups crushed pretzel, 1½ cups sugar and ½ cup melted butter. Press into a 9×13 pan and bake @ 375 degrees for 7 minutes.

Cream together: 8 oz. Cream Cheese and 1 cup of sugar. Spread over pretzel crust and let cool.

Dissolve 2 (3 oz.) pkgs. of strawberry jello in 2 cups of hot water.

Add 2 (8-10 oz.) pkgs. of frozen strawberries, halved and quartered. 

Add frozen strawberries to jello; let cool. Fold in 8 oz. of Cool Whip.

Spread strawberry mixture over Cream Cheese mixture and let set in refrigerator for 2-3 hours. 

Serve with a dollop of Cool Whip. Enjoy! 

Two of my favorite cookbooks to thumb through to get inspiration from are: “Apples for Jam” and “Falling Cloudberries” by Tessa Kiros. Beautiful photography and yummy recipes. I need to get better about trying new things. I tend to stick with the “tried and true” recipes… ones that I know I won’t mess up. But I get in moods to try new things… I’m in that mood today. I’ll let you know if I find one that’s a keeper. 

“It’s really the cat’s house… we just pay the mortgage.”

- Lexie Saige

“To be married to a man who makes you laugh every day,
ah, now that’s a real treat.”

- Joanne Woodward

I love you, Mark Dillon! Forever and ever!

“I have fought the good fight…” – 2 Timothy 4:7

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. And take… the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance…” – Ephesians 6:10-12,17

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…” – Colossians 3:16

 ”The sacred writings… have power to make you wise and lead you to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” – 2 Timothy 3:15

“… the word of the Lord stands forever.” – 1 Peter 1:25

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.”

- C.S. Lewis

I’m almost done with my book… and that makes me sad. Have you ever read a book that was so good that you never wanted it to end? I may just end up reading it all over again when I’m done. 

I had a couple of hours to kill after an appointment so I brought my book and went to my favorite Coffee Shop downtown. I love it because almost everything they make is organic and very healthy. I got a Apple/Blueberry Crumble Muffin and a cup of organic coffee… it was yummy!  I took a picture because I liked how my book matched my plate (I’m strange, I know…) It was such a nice warm atmosphere since it has been rainy and slushy the last few days. 

I thought I would share a portion of a beautiful prayer penned by Leanne Payne: 

“O Lord, long ago I trusted in You, and You saved me utterly.

You took me from the ash heap, a place of powerlessness and death

And made me fruitful.

You made me as a tree whose branches reach out in every direction, 

Bearing Your rich fruits of all kinds and dripping healing waters, resins, and oils.

You caused my roots to grow down deep

To tap into hidden reserves of goodness, beauty, and life.

I put You on anew, O Lord

I cry out to You anew…” - Leanne Payne

It reminds me that only the Lord can transform us. No matter how hard we try… no matter how many self-improvement books we buy… no matter how hard we strive with our 12-step plans and to-do lists (I have had many of these over the years)… we cannot reach down into the rotten barrel of our own heart and produce good fruit. It just doesn’t work that way. We need to be grafted into The Vine. We need to be gazing on the beauty and holiness of the Lord in order to become like Him. 

“Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited.

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” - Jeremiah 17:5-8

“That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” - Ephesians 3:16-20

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” – John 15:4