Come . . .

I don't remember where or when I read this quote, but I wrote it in my Bible and it speaks to my heart today:

     "Our church groups are going to drift, our schools will miss their highest potential, our missionary organizations will be fruitless, our homes will be tragedies within four walls, our personal lives --- who knows where they will end up --- if we don't keep the manifest Presence of the Spirit in our midst."

     "Come, Holy Spirit, I need Thee --
          Come, sweet Spirit, I pray!
     Come in Thy strength and Thy power --
          Come in Thine own gentle way." 

The Lord Hates . . .

The book of Proverbs is a marvelous book giving moral and religious instruction.  It contains so many wonderful sayings that I believe we would keep gaining new insights even if we read it through every month (a chapter each day)!
It speaks about wisdom; the correction of children; about friendship; about pride; about strife; about the tongue; about evil women and good women; it also speaks about the "Fear of God" which is so greatly needed in our day!

There are many other subjects discussed  in this wonderful book to give moral instruction, especially to young people.  We also learn in Proverbs there are some things that God hates.  In Proverbs 6:16, we read:  "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him."  The word abomination seems to add impact and emphasis to the word hate.  Perhaps we need to see what these seven things are.  Verses 17-19 gives us the answer:

"A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood. 
 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."

Wow!  What a list!  It makes me want to humble myself before God and let Him turn the searchlight of heaven on my soul.  Perhaps we especially need to be reminded of the 7th thing listed -- sowing discord among the brethren.  May we, rather, follow the beautiful admonition in Philippians 2:3:

     "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."

Esther -- Beautiful and Courageous!

The book of Esther begins with King Ahasuerus becoming very angry with Vashti, the Queen, because she refused to come at his command!  The king conferred with his "wise men" and the decision was made to give her royal estate unto another "better than she".

 The search began for all the fair young virgins to be brought to Shushan the palace, "...and when many maidens were gathered together...Esther was brought also."
She went through the process of purification, etc., and when her turn came to go in unto the king, the Bible says:
     "And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.  And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti."

It was not yet known that Esther was a Jew, and in the 3rd chapter we read of the conspiracy of Haman, resulting in letters being written in the name of the king "...to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women..."
It did not matter that Esther was the Queen---it did not matter that she was beautiful --- she was a Jew!  What was Esther to do?  Fear must have gripped her heart as Mordecai sent word:
"Think not with thyself  that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews . . . and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

When Esther heard those challenging words, I believe her courage rose to the top, and she was able to say:  ". . . and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish."

When I read of how the courage of Esther brought deliverance to her people, I think of my three beautiful teen-age grand-daughters, 15, 16 and 18 (perhaps about Esther's age, for she was a "fair, young virgin"), and I pray:
      
     "Father, maybe you have brought my sweet grand-daughters, Kaylee, Angel and Brooke to the kingdom for such a time as this.  They are beautiful on the outside, but, most of all I pray that You can make them beautiful on the inside -- vessels of honour; sanctified and meet for the Master's use!
In Jesus' name and for His glory, I pray.  Amen!"
    

I Am Blessed!

Today I am singing ---
    "I am blessed!  I am blessed!  Every day that I live, I am blessed!
When I wake up in the morning 'till I lay my head to rest,
    I am blessed!  I am blessed!

My heart is filled with praise and thanksgiving today as I look back over the years!  I think of the many years of ministry with Dad, and as the songwriter said:  "I don't regret a mile we traveled for the Lord!"
 If Dad was still here, we would be celebrating his 79th birthday today!  (What fun the younger grandchildren & great grandchildren would have trying to blow out 79 candles)!!!
I might be making his favorite cake, "Italian Creme", but today he is eating "Angel" food cake, and I know it far surpasses the best Italian Creme on this earth!!

The family misses you today, Dad, but as we take a little time to look back over the years, I believe we would choose this quote from Henry Van Dyke and say from our hearts --- "That was my Dad; that was my Grandpa!"

     "There is a loftier ambition than merely to stand high in the world.  It is to stoop down and lift those around us a little higher."  

Food For Thought!

I like this little quote by George Horace Lorimer:

     "It's good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it's good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure you haven't lost the things that money can't buy." 

The Father ---- The Prodigal

My heart is always touched when I read the moving parable of the Prodigal Son in the 15th chapter of Luke.  I picture the younger son as becoming a rebellious lad, tired of living by his father's rules--ungrateful, and finally saying in his heart ---"I'll do it My Way"!

He went to his father and said -- "Give Me . . . "  The father's heart was broken, but (perhaps after a night of pacing the floor in prayer) he gave unto him his portion of goods.  As is always the case, sin will take you farther than you want to go!  After wasting his money in riotous living he finally found himself in the hog pen, giving the muddy swine their disgusting slop, and he was so hungry and so degraded that the slop looked pretty good to him!

But, praise the Lord, right there in the hog pen he came to himself and said:  "How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants."  (Notice that he left saying  "Give me", but he returns saying  "Make me"!)

And here is the part I especially love:  "When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him."
What a touching scene!  I believe when the prodigal left, the father set up some kind of telescope where he could see a great way off. 

I'm sure by, by this time, the devil was telling the prodigal what a fool he was, but regardless of what the devil or anybody else said, he was determined to get to the father!  And when we get to the place where we are sick of sin, and repent with godly sorrow -- the Father will see us, have compassion on us, forgive every sin, and say as the prodigal's father said:
"Bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and be merry:  for this my son was dead, and is alive again: he was lost, and is found."

If you find yourself in the hog pen of sin today---don't stay there!!
The Father is watching for you, and "Whosoever Will May Come!"          

Put God First!

This wonderful little poem, by an unknown author, was in our Sunday School paper yesterday.  If you happened to read it, it will still be profitable for you, along with me, to read it again!

     "Don't wait until the house is all kept, the beds are made, the floors are swept:
             Put PRAYER first.

      Don't wait until the newspaper is read, your books are balanced, and you are in bed:
            Put the BIBLE first.

      Don't wait until the cupboards are bare, there's nothing to depend on but God and prayer:
            Put FASTING first.

      Don't wait until the last bill is paid, the account is large; vacation is made:
            Put the CHURCH first.

      Don't wait until you've nothing to do, until all is finished --- for we never get through:
            Put GOD first!"

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."  Matthew 6:33

The Full Price!

I was reading a few weeks ago in I  Chronicles about King David's sin in numbering the people.  The  narrative is also recorded in the 24th chapter of II Samuel. 
Joab faithfully protested, but the king's word prevailed.  Joab then gave the number unto the king, but God was displeased.  In II Samuel 24:10, we read:  "And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people.  And David said unto the Lord, I have sinned greatly in that I have done:  and now, I beseech Thee, O Lord, take away the iniquity of Thy servant, for I have done very foolishly."

I find it very interesting that the Lord offered David three things and told him to choose one of them.  Wow!  Isn't it sad that we sometimes say or do things, seemingly, without thinking of the consequences!  Surely David's heart must have been filled with shame and regret as he made his choice.  "I am in a great strait:  let me fall now into the hand of the Lord; for very great are His mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.  So the Lord sent pestilence upon Israel."

As the angel of the Lord was destroying, "...David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.  And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered?  even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done?  let Thine hand, I pray Thee, O Lord my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on Thy people, that they should be plagued."

Then David was commanded to "go up, and set up an altar unto the Lord in the threshing floor of Ornan.  Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the Lord:  thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people."

Ornan's answer is quite interesting.  He basically said:  "Oh, don't worry.  You don't need to pay me anything!  It's not a big deal -- I'll just give you the oxen and the threshing instruments and the wheat."
That sounds like one of the devil's compromises to me!  If we are going with God, we must answer as king David did:  "Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings without cost."
When we pay the full price, we find that "nothing sweeter can be known than full surrender"!      
 

"Cares"

This word "Cares" jumps out at me in these verses of warnings in view of our Lord's return.
Luke 21:34-36 reads:  "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."

I wonder---why is "cares of life" included in that verse?  We all have "cares" as we go through life---sickness, financial difficulties, job related trials, etc.  But I think the writer is trying to warn us that we must not allow the "cares" in our lives to weigh us down until they rob us of fellowship and communion with our Heavenly Father.

Here is a little prescription (author unknown) that I think will be of great benefit to you!

               "Every morning, lean thine arms awhile
                     upon the window sill of Heaven
                         and gaze upon thy Lord!
                          Then, with this vision in thy heart,
                             Turn --  strong to meet thy day!"

Back to School

Summer fun is ending, and school days are here once again!  Some are excited; some are not so excited!  From Kindergarten through High School, new challenges and many new experiences await our families as we begin another school year.  Some will be home-schooling; others will be going to a Christian school, and yet others will be in public school.

Many wonderful young people, recently graduated, are planning to enter uncharted waters they have never traveled before -- some will be entering college, excited about the vocation they plan to pursue; some will be saying "I do" and pledging to live "Each for the Other and Both for the Lord!"
Still others will be going into ministry as pastors, missionaries, etc.

What a sweet privilege, as well as a responsibility, we have as parents, grand-parents, church family and Christian friends to encourage them faithfully, pray for them, let them know that God wants to use them--no matter how young or how old--to be a bright and shining light for Him!

Young people -- will you answer,
                                              "Here am I, Lord, send me!" 

What a Friend!

  "What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear.
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
   O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear;
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!

   Have we trials and temptations?  Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer.
   Can we find a Friend so faithful?  Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer."

   "Often while in meditation on His love so free,
Comes a message from my Father spoken just to me,
   Or it may be I have struggled through some trial sore;
When my struggling turns to trusting --- lo, the trial is o'er.
   Or perchance while I am waiting still on bended knee,
Comes a quiet revelation of His love for me.
   At my work or in my closet --- almost anywhere
If in quietness I listen, I find Jesus there.
   In life's quiet hours I find Him waiting for my call,
It is there He meets me, greets me, holds me lest I fall."

   "Jesus, I thank Thee for the blessed privilege of prayer.  How wonderful to know that Your ear is always open to my cry!  I pray that Thou wilt keep my heart tender, and my faith grounded and settled in Thy blessed Book -- the eternal, steadfast, and unchanging Word of God!"

. . . Praise the Lord!

It is interesting to note that in Psalm 107, the Psalmist exhorts us to praise God and uses the exact same words in four different verses!
He must have wanted to strongly emphasize the great importance of continual praise to our Lord.  Let us hide this little verse in our heart and practice it often -- at least four times a day!!



    "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!"  --  Psalm 107:8, 15, 21 and 31


   And never forget ---

                    "IT'S AMAZING WHAT PRAISING CAN DO"!!!

"Thou Passest Through!"

   ". . . Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.  When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."  Isaiah 43:1b-2

"When thou passest through the waters, deep the waves may be, and cold,
    But Jehovah is our Refuge, and His promise is our hold;
For the Lord Himself hath said it -- He, the faithful God, and true --
   "When thou comest to the waters, thou shalt not go down, BUT THROUGH!"

Seas of sorrow, seas of trial, bitterest anguish, fiercest pain,
   Rolling surges of temptation sweeping over heart and brain --
They shall never overflow us, for we know His Word is true;
   All His waves and all His billows He will lead us safely through!

Threat'ning breakers of destruction, doubt's insidious undertow
   Shall not sink us, shall not drag us out to ocean depths of woe;
For His promise shall sustain us, Praise the Lord, whose Word is true!
   We shall not go down, nor under, for He saith, "Thou passest THROUGH!"
                                                                                                      --Annie Johnson Flint

   "Lean hard on Him, O tested soul; on Him thy cares and burdens roll;
Our God still lives and has control; He will not fail you now!!"