THE WINTER IS PAST!

 Praise the Lord for this beautiful morning!  Most of the snow has melted, and I thought of the little verse in The Song of Solomon -- "For, lo, the winter is past . . ."  It is always a delight to anticipate spring after a long winter -- that beautiful season when "The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come . . ."

My Blog and I will be taking a little vacation, and we hope to return soon, the Lord willing!  But while we are away, I will think of you and be praying that God will bless and keep you in the center of His will.  I'm thankful I can testify this morning that "nothing sweeter can be known than full surrender to the perfect will of God eternally.  Like a bird that's found its nest, so my soul has found its rest, in the center of the will of God!"

And so, until we meet again --

     "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:  the Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." 

FRIDAY PRAISES!

Praise the Lord for this beautiful day He has made for us to enjoy!  I enjoy looking out my window and seeing all the footprints of little rabbits who have scampered across my porch during the night!!  The songwriter said -- "Count your many blessings--name them one by one. . ."  I want to thank my Heavenly Father today for the numberless little blessings He showers upon us as we walk with Him!

As we look to the coming Lord's Day, if Jesus tarries, I want to share a few thoughts that I read recently in a little daily devotional --                                                                                                                                        In Mark 7:37, we read these words -- "And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: He maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak."  Jesus "hath done all things well."  No matter how very carefully we study His deeds, we will find no flaw in any of them!  He never had to apologize or express regrets!  He was always master of every situation!  

     The same truth would apply to His words!  He never had to speculate, for we read in Mark's gospel -- "And they were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes."  Jesus never guessed about anything -- never merely expressed an opinion -- never suggested a "possible" interpretation.  Everything He taught was with absolute authority, for He was (and is) the very Word of God.  (John 1:1, 14)

     Luke tells us in the 4th chapter that "all bare Him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth."  Even the soldiers sent to arrest Jesus returned without Him, for as they said: "Never man spake like this man."  "His word was with power."  He was "Jesus of Nazareth . . . a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people." (Luke 24:19)  In fact, He was more than a man; He was the perfect man and the only-begotten Son of God!  What a blessed and sweet privilege it is to know Him, love Him, and serve Him today!!

LIVING FOR JESUS!

This morning, my heart has been blessed as I have thought upon the beautiful words of this hymn by C. F. Weigle.  It is my testimony this morning, and I trust it will be a blessing and encouragement to your heart, as well.

     "Living for Jesus, oh, what peace!  Rivers of pleasure never cease.                                                        Trials may come, yet I'll not fear.  Living for Jesus, He is near.                                                                         Living for Jesus, oh, what rest!  Pleasing my Saviour, I am blest.                                                          Only to live for Him alone, doing His will till life is done.

     Living for Jesus, everywhere, all of my burdens He doth bear.                                                               Friends may forsake me; He'll be true.  Trusting in Him, He'll guide me through.                                            Living for Jesus, till at last into His glory I have passed;                                                                         There to behold Him on His throne, hear from His lips, 'My child, well done'!

     Help me to serve Thee more and more.                                                                                                    Help me to praise Thee o'er and o'er;                                                                                                                Live in Thy presence day by day,                                                                                                             Never to turn from Thee away."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MONDAY MUSINGS!

It is a very cold Monday morning, but my heart is warm as I reflect on the wonderful services yesterday in the house of the Lord!  What a sweet blessing it is to be a Child of the King, and also a part of the Family of God all over the world!

There is a challenging little verse tucked away in the 14th chapter of Romans that reads -- "For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself."  I find this little verse quite sobering as I think upon it!  Oswald Chambers said concerning this verse --

     "Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible spiritually to God for other people?  For instance, if I allow any turning away from God in my private life, everyone around me suffers."  To me, this is a very sobering thought, and makes me want to pray with the Psalmist --

     "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."  Perhaps this can be our theme chorus for the week -- "Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me; all His wonderful passion and purity.  Oh, Thou Spirit Divine, own this being of mine, and let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me!"

VALENTINE'S DAY!

 I trust you are preparing your heart for the Lord's Day tomorrow, but this year it is also Valentine's Day which we want to look at for a little while!  God's Holy Word says -- "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."  God's Word also says -- "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it."  

In this sad day, when many substitute lust for love, may we who know the Author of love show to the world how God defines it in the 13th chapter of 1st Corinthians -- "Love suffereth long.  Love is kind.  Love envieth not.  Love vaunteth not itself.  Love is not puffed up.  Love doth not behave itself unseemly.  Love seeketh not her own.  Love is not easily provoked.  Love thinketh no evil.  Love rejoices not in iniquity.  Love rejoices in the truth."  This kind of love "beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."

I like these words from Helen Steiner Rice -- "Love can transform the most commonplace into beauty and splendor and sweetness and grace -- For love is unselfish, giving more than it takes, and no matter what happens, love never forsakes;  it's faithful and trusting and always believing, guileless and honest and never deceiving.  Yes, love is beyond what man can define, for love is immortal and God's Gift is Divine!"  And God's Word says -- "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

On this Valentine Eve, many are substituting lust for love, but let us remember that if we want to have happy marriages, happy homes, and happy relationships with one another, we must remember that "God so loved the world, that He Gave . . . . " Not just a part, or half of my heart, I will give ALL to Thee!!

God bless you!  I trust you will have a wonderful Lord's Day tomorrow, and a lovely Valentine's Day!!

ISN'T HE WONDERFUL!

Today my heart has been singing a little chorus that came into my mind from years ago --

     "Isn't He wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!  Isn't Jesus, my Lord, wonderful!                                          Eyes have seen, ears have heard -- It's recorded in God's Word -- Isn't Jesus, my Lord, wonderful!!"            Yes, He is Wonderful !!  I am so very thankful today that I belong to Him!  He is my wonderful Saviour, my Sanctifier, the lover of my soul, and my soon-coming King!

My heart was also blessed when I read this little quote by Oswald Chambers this morning -- 

     "If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in nature and will realize that it is holy and sacred.  We will see  God reaching out to us in every wind that blows, every sunrise and sunset, every cloud in the sky, every flower that blooms, and every leaf that fades."

This beautiful little quote thrills and humbles my soul, and makes me want to say with the songwriter -- "I would rather be an old-time Christian than anything I know!"  Amen! 

I ASKED!

 My heart is singing on this Monday morning -- "Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me"!  What a sweet and blessed privilege it is to know that we belong to Jesus as we begin another week in these troubled times!  I wanted to share with you this morning these thoughts by an unknown author that have been a blessing to my heart --

"I asked God for strength, that I might achieve, I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.

 I asked for health, that I might do greater things, I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

 I asked for riches, that I might be happy, I was given poverty, that I might be wise.

 I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men, I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.

 I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life, I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for, but everything that I had hoped for.  Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.  

I am, among all, most richly blessed'!

And now, I just had a lovely surprise -- my son from Kansas City just walked in the door and surprised me, so how sweet it is to belong to the King!!