It's Time to Pray!

My heart weeps when I think of our nation today -- so far from the God of our Fathers and so in need of the Saviour.  I thought of the words of this song by John Peterson.

     "Enemies increase around us, threatening constantly;
Much there is that would confound us, so it's plain to see--
      It's time to pray to the God who watches o'er us; it's time to seek His help without delay.
The world is dark for the clouds of war still threaten--
      It's time for all America to pray!
If we would keep the flag of freedom flying; secure the peace for which we all are crying--
      It's time to pray, our sin and wrong confessing.  It's time for all America to pray!"

I wonder if the Lord weeps over America today as He did over Jerusalem so many years ago.  What must the Master think of our nation that has been the greatest nation on earth, that has sent missionaries around the world, that has been the land of the free and the home of the brave, but has forgotten that "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people."

Perhaps God is speaking to us who profess His Name in the words of II Chronicles 7:14:

     "If My people, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

     Then -- Let Us Pray!!    

"Father Knows"!

     "A gentleman was one day opening a box of goods.  His little son was standing near; and as the father took the packages from the box, he laid them on the arm of the boy.  A young playmate was standing nearby and looking on.  As parcel after parcel was laid on the arm of the boy, his friend began to fear that the load was becoming too heavy, and said, 'Don't you think you have as much as you can carry?'
     'Never mind,' said the boy, in a happy tone.  'Father knows how much I can carry.'"

I love this sweet little story.  This little boy had complete trust in his father.  He knew his father would not place upon him a heavier load than he could carry.
Sometimes, it is easy for us to feel a little overwhelmed with the cares of life, and perhaps today you may feel your load is more than you can carry!

But, remember --
     "We have a Heavenly Father above---with eyes full of mercy and a heart full of love!
   He really cares when your head is bowed low---Consider the lilies and then you will know."

Our Heavenly Father knows how much you and I can carry.  Let us love Him, trust Him and serve Him joyfully!!

Dining With An Angel:

     I had a delightful experience this morning!!  I was privileged to enjoy a delicious Brunch in an exquisite setting with a lovely Angel!
     And, in addition, we had delightful conversation with seven other angelic beings (plus three little ones still in angelic training).
      The only one missing was not able to get her wings oiled sufficiently to fly all the way from Kansas City!! 
      And, I better not forget the guys who baby-sat with a couple of the little ones who are not quite ready to be angelic yet! 

     So, from the girls in the family, Angel --
                    WE ALL WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY "sweet 16th" BIRTHDAY!!!!

Praise God!

    "Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow.  Praise Him, all creatures here below.
      Praise Him above, ye heavenly host.  Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost."

My heart is so full of praise and thanksgiving this morning!  I feel like singing the little chorus I sang as a child:
     "Running over; running over--my cup is full and running over---
      Since the Lord saved me, I'm as happy as can be---
      My cup is full and running over."

The last five Psalms, 146-150, begin and end with "Praise ye the Lord."  It seems like the Psalmist just couldn't find a stopping place when he started thanking and praising God, so he just ended by saying, "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord."
It is hard for me to find a stopping place, too, so I will add two more little verses from the Psalms:
     "Praise is comely for the upright."
     "I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth."  Psalm 34:1

May God bless you today as you keep a song in your heart and praise on your lips!

Honoring Father:

I am looking forward, the Lord willing, of  going to the house of God this Sunday on Father's Day.
I am thankful for my pastor, the shepherd of the flock, who cares for and feeds our church family  from the word of God.
I am very grateful for the men of God in our church congregation---older men who have faithfully walked with God for many years and are a wonderful example to the younger fathers.

I am also very thankful that we have some great young men who are faithful and are good role models for the younger boys who look up to them!

As I think today of our homes----our churches----our nation--- in need of godly leadership; I would humbly pray:
                                 "Rise up, O men of God!  Have done with lesser things;
                          Give heart and mind and soul and strength to serve the King of Kings."

Father's Day!

This coming Sunday, June 19, is a special day of honoring our fathers!  As this special day approaches, I like to walk back down memory's lane and think of how very blessed I am to have had a wonderful father who loved God, loved His Holy Word, and also loved His Holy Day!

When I went away to college, I met and married the man who has been a wonderful father to our four children.  I made a wise choice when I said "yes" to that Texan, and I am thankful today that it was not hard for me to honor him as the head of our home.  He loved God supremely; greatly loved his family, and was a man of character who lived by the little phrase in Proverbs 23:23:  "Buy the truth, and sell it not . . . "

It is heart-breaking to think of the many little children today who have no father in their home.  If you have a godly father, you are very blessed!!  He is worthy of your deep appreciation and honor on this special day set aside to honor him!!

BEST WISHES for a wonderful Father's Day to my boys -- Randy, Jonathan and Joel; my son-in-law, Tommie and my grandson, Adrian!  I hold you in my heart and pray that God will make you mighty men of valor, strong and courageous; men of sterling character and principle, fully surrendered to God, so that you can say to my precious grandchildren and great grandchildren---"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."

Enter the Sanctuary . . .

The 73rd Psalm, a Psalm of Asaph, is a very interesting Psalm.  But who was this Asaph?  We learn about him in the book of I Chronicles.  He also wrote 12 Psalms, and since he was an important Tabernacle musician during King David's reign, scholars think he may have written much of the original music for David's Psalms.

Asaph was a young priest from the tribe of Levi when David brought the Ark of the Covenant up to Jerusalem.  Asaph was so talented that King David put him in charge of the music before the Ark of the Covenant.  He was probably in his twenties at the time.  In I Chronicles 16:4-5, we see that Asaph was appointed to sound cymbals during the ceremony when the Ark was brought to the new Tabernacle.  In verses 7-36, we find that King David appointed Asaph to lead Israel in a special Psalm of praise.

Now, let us look a few moments at Psalm 73.  The 1st verse is a lovely verse:  "Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart."  But then, it seems that he suddenly plunges from the heights of beauty and blessing to the depths of discouragement and despondency!  Perhaps Bro. Asaph got his eyes off of the Lord and on to people that were wicked and ungodly, and yet were prospering in the world and increasing in riches.  Verses 2-16 are a very depressing catalogue of woes, injustices, etc.which were just about to overcome him.

But then, praise the Lord, in verse 17, we find that he went into the sanctuary of God and everything changed!!  He obviously had "a little talk with Jesus" until once again he was ready to lead Israel in a special Psalm of thanksgiving and praise!  And by verse 24, he was lifting his heart to God and cried out:  "Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.  Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee."

My friend, don't miss an opportunity to enter the sanctuary of God -- Jesus will meet you there!    

Smile Awhile!

Years ago we often sang a little chorus that began ---
     "Smile awhile and give your face a rest; lift your hand to the One you love the best . . . "

We meet many people who seem quite overwhelmed with the cares of life, but I have seen faces brighten up in response to a loving smile!  And we find again that "it is more blessed to give than receive!"

I like this little quote I read the other day:
                                "A smile is a curve that can set a lot of things straight."       

Praying Hannah!

The Old Testament contains many thrilling and wonderful stories!  One of my favorites is the biblical hero, Samuel, and his mother, Hannah. 
In the first chapter of First Samuel, you will find Hannah in bitterness of soul, weeping and praying because she has no child.  In her desperation, she vowed a vow and said:  "O Lord of hosts, if Thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of Thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget Thine handmaid, but wilt give unto Thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life . . . ."

Hannah was in such desperation that she could not utter words.  God's Word says that she spake in her heart; her lips moved, but her voice was not heard.  She was in great sorrow of spirit as she poured out her soul before the Lord! 

The Lord remembered Hannah; she conceived and bare the son we know as Samuel.  Hannah did not forget the vow she had made to the Lord, and as soon as she had weaned him she brought him to the house of the Lord!  She spoke to Eli and said:  "Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord.  For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him: therefore also I have lent him to the Lord: as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord."

Hannah has been called the "patron saint" of praying mothers.  In half of all the verses about her in I Samuel she is praying, and it was undoubtedly her prayers that produced one of the great heroes of the Bible---her son, Samuel, who was, himself, a direct answer to her prayers!

I believe that God is looking for some "Hannah's" today -- Mothers whose prayers can help to mold and shape their sons to become praying leaders so desperately needed in our nation and churches!
Can He count on you and me? 

Wedding Music!

Can you think of anything more lovely than a bride?  I don't think so!  Tomorrow is my daughter's 25th wedding anniversary, and I still like to remember how sweet and beautiful she looked as she came down the aisle on the arm of her Dad!  -- Congratulations, Tommie and Paula!!

How exciting it is when the girls begin counting the days until they will walk down the aisle to meet their bridegroom!!  What a grand occasion!!  Everyone from the tiny toddler to the great Grandpa is filled with anticipation and excitement, and can hardly wait to see the beautiful bride adorned for her husband!!

When you see her coming down the aisle in her spotless purity, suddenly it was worth all the many hours of preparation, the tears, the frustrations, the cost -- all the trials are forgotten in the joys of this glorious day.  As I reflect on this scene -- I wonder -- what would we think if we saw a bride coming down the aisle with dirt on her wedding gown, ugly stains here and there, caring nothing about her appearance?  We would be shocked and horrified beyond words; ashamed that she would present herself to her bridegroom in such wretched attire.  . . . . But, have we ever thought about what we look like who profess the name of Jesus?  We claim to be the Bride of Christ---what kind of bride are we?  Do we have some dirty gossip on our tongue, some stains of unforgiven sins that we have committed?  Are we careless and immodest in our dress?  What about our actions in mixed company, or the carnal traits of jealousy and envy?

We cannot all be beautiful of face and figure, but we can all be beautiful and glorious within.  Jesus died for us so that He might present us, His bride, to the Heavenly Father not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that we should be holy and without blemish.  In the 19th chapter of Revelation, it says the marriage of the Lamb is come and His wife hath made herself ready.  If we want to be part of the Bride of Christ, we will have to make ourselves ready.  It won't happen accidentally, just as my daughter's lovely wedding took much preparation, and to be part of the Bride of Christ, the inside must be pure and clean, as well as the outside.

Then, when the blessed Comforter comes to abide within, He guides us into all truth and will one day soon present us faultless to the Heavenly Bridegroom where we will have a wedding reception beyond anything this world has ever seen at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!  This heavenly marriage banquet will last seven years, and an invitation is extended to "whosoever will" by the Father of the Bridegroom.  All things are ready, and the call will soon come, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him!"

It's the most important wedding we could ever attend!  Let's determine not to miss it, whatever the cost!!!   . . . Is that Wedding Music that I hear?

A Life Lesson!

     "Your life is like a coin.  You can spend it any way you wish, but you can spend it only once."
                                                                                                                           --Lillian Dickson

     "Only one life -- 'twill soon be past.  Only what's done for Christ will last!"
   

"The Good Way". . .

I have heard my husband say that of all the people in the Bible, he would not have wanted to be the prophet Jeremiah.  He was called "the weeping Prophet" and was called to prophesy in very dark times.  Some scholars say that he was only about 14 years of age when the word of the Lord came to him!  In the first chapter of Jeremiah, God spoke to him and said:

     "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.  Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.  But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child; for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
     Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.  Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces; they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee."

Wow!  What an assignment!  No wonder he is known as "one of the greater prophets"!  During his ministry, he was rejected by his neighbors, by his own family, by the priests and prophets, by his friends, by all the people and by the King!  At one point, Jeremiah became discouraged and said he was not going to speak any more in the Lord's Name, "but His Word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones", and the faithful prophet could not keep silent! 

I titled this little devotional, "The Good Way" because of Jeremiah's second message to backslidden Judah.  In chapter 6, verse 16, we read:  "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." 
I love this verse, and thank the Lord for the privilege of walking with Him in this 'Good Way' of Faith and Obedience.

As we think about the call of Jeremiah, I wonder if there is a young man today---maybe around 14 years of age--- whom God wants to lay His hand upon and call into His service!  If so, I trust that you will answer, "Here am I, Lord, send me!"