Weep Not ---

Today, the Lord reminded me again of His word in Isaiah:  "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near:
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon:
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."

He also tells me in Psalm 18:30 -- "As for God, His way is perfect."
Again, He speaks to me, and gives me wonderful instruction in Proverbs 3:5-6.  "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."  Praise the Lord!

As the family and I have recalled happy times and sweet memories of Dad this week, I have also thought about some of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, who have said "good-bye" to loved ones in recent weeks and months.
I trust that these words, attributed to Matthew Henry, will be a blessing to you today.

"Would you like to know where I am?
      I am at home in our Father's house, in the mansions prepared for me there.  
  I am where I would be ---
      No longer on the stormy sea, but in the safe and quiet harbor.
      My working time is done, and I am resting;
      My sowing time is done, and I am reaping.
      My joy is as the joy of harvest.

 Would you know how it is with me?
       I am made perfect in holiness.
       Grace is swallowed up in glory.

 Would you know what I am doing?
        I see God.
        I see him as He is, not as through a glass darkly, but face to face.
        And the sight is transforming; it makes me like Him.
        I am here singing hallelujahs incessantly
               to Him who sits upon the throne.

Would you know what company I keep?
        Blessed company -- better than the best on earth.
        Here are holy angels and the spirits of just men made perfect.
        I am sitting with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the
               Kingdom of God,
        With the blessed Paul and Peter, James and John,
                and all the saints.
        And here I meet with many of my old acquaintances
                with whom I worked.
        And with whom I prayed, who came here before me.

                     And lastly --
Would you know how long this is to continue?
        It is the dawn that never withers,
        The crown of glory that fades not away.
        After millions and millions of ages it will be as fresh as it is now,
        And therefore --- weep not for me."       

I Still Miss You!

I am missing you today, sweet Papa!  My heart is flooded with memories of the many wonderful years we enjoyed  together sharing the joys and sorrows of life.  I miss your wise counsel and your leadership.  I greatly miss hearing you pray, but the children and sweet grandchildren all spoil me and I am blessed!! 

The Cassady's have a new CD, and one of the songs is entitled, "Heaven Can't Be Far Away!"  It is a beautiful song, and I intend, dear Papa, by God's wonderful grace, to meet you in the morning - just inside the Eastern Gate - with the family in my hand!

"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the Throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
And all the angels stood round about the Throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the Throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Saying, Amen:  Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever.  Amen!"
                                                                            --Revelation 7:9-12 

Thoughts From My Heart!

My heart is full of many emotions today!  I will begin with praise and thanksgiving!  I was so blessed to be able to attend the International Holiness Convention last week.  It made me think of the song --
"I love the thrill that I feel when I get together with God's wonderful people!"  It was so sweet to sense the "stately steps of the Master" in every service!  God used His servants to minister to my heart, and I came away convinced that "I'd rather be an old-time Christian than anything I know!"

As we drove home from Dayton, I was anticipating the week-end Revival at our church with Dr. Noel Scott, and I was not disappointed!  The Lord was faithful to use Bro. Scott in every service to speak to our hearts.  God's Presence was real; people minded the Lord, and victories were won!

But today brings a little tinge of sadness, too, for it was two years ago today that the death angel came and carried Dad to heaven.  Our family still miss him greatly, but we enjoy sharing many wonderful memories when we are together!
I think of the many changes in our world in just the two years Dad has been gone.  All things point to the soon return of our Lord!  There will be no more sorrow there!  Praise the Lord!

                         "Come and go with me to Glory Land"! 

The Tomb Is Empty!!

The glory and wonder of the Resurrection lingers in my heart today!  I am so thankful that Jesus conquered death, hell and the grave -- He is alive forevermore, and He lives in my heart this morning!

As we begin another week of living for Jesus, many are looking forward to the International Holiness Convention which begins tomorrow in Dayton, Ohio. 
May we gather with expectancy -- not only expecting the joy of fellowship with friends; but expecting God's Presence in our midst -- expecting to be a blessing -- expecting to boost and pray for those who are ministering to us -- expecting to obey God -- and expecting to leave the Convention closer to God than when we arrived!

     "Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love;
            The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above."

Good Friday!

     "Up Calvary's mountain one dreadful morn, walked Christ, my Saviour, weary and worn.
Facing for sinners death on the Cross, that He might save them from endless loss.
     'Father, forgive them, thus did He pray, even while His life-blood flowed fast away.
Praying for sinners while in such woe; No one but Jesus ever loved so!

      Oh how I love Him, Saviour and Friend!  How can my praises ever find end?
Through years unnumbered on heaven's shore, My tongue shall praise Him for evermore!
      Blessed Redeemer!  Precious Redeemer!  Seems now I see Him on Calvary's tree.
Wounded and bleeding; for sinners pleading.  Blind and unheeding, dying for me!"  

In the 23rd chapter of Luke, we read:  "And when they were come to the place, which is called
Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
Then said Jesus, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do'
And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all  the earth until the ninth hour.
And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, 'Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit':and having said thus, He gave up the ghost."

And even though I love this beautiful song, "Blessed Redeemer", I don't like to end there, for Sunday is coming!!  Praise the Lord!!!  The tomb will be empty, for Jesus has conquered death, hell and the grave!!

So, as you prepare your heart for Resurrection Sunday, lift your voices and worship Christ, our Risen King!!!    

Holy Week Meditations!

I wonder how the Master felt when Judas, one of His own, covenanted with the chief priests and captains to betray Jesus unto them.  The hour soon came for the last Passover.  Jesus sat down with the 12 and said -- "I desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer."  Then Jesus announced ". . . the hand of him that betrayeth Me is with Me on the table."  I wonder what Judas thought and felt at that awful moment!!

It is very hard now to walk to the Garden with Jesus and see Him agonizing there!  In the 22nd chapter of Luke, God's Holy Word says:
     "And He came out, and went, as He was wont, to the mount of Olives: and His disciples also followed Him.
      And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
      Saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me: nevertheless not My will, but Thine be done.    
      And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 
      And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground."

This scene grips my heart as I see Jesus, in His humanity, agonizing in prayer and pleading with His Father to remove the cup, if it be possible, but then adds the blessed words of surrender -- "Nevertheless, not My will, but Thine, be done!"  He was in such travail of soul that an angel came from heaven and strengthened Him.

He rose up from prayer, went to the disciples, and found them sleeping!  There must have been great sadness in Jesus' heart and voice when He said -- 'Could you not watch with Me one hour'?
Jesus went back to the place of prayer again, and was in great agony, praying even more earnestly, until His sweat was, as it were, great drops of blood!  But when He rose from prayer this time, it was settled!!
He was ready for the multitude, the betrayal kiss of Judas, the denial of Peter, the sentencing of Pilate, the deriding of the rulers, the mockery of the soldiers----until Jesus could say from the Cross, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do"!!

I have often meditated on this scene in the garden.  It shows me a beautiful picture of complete and humble surrender to the Father's will,

I wonder today --Have You had a Gethsemane?  
    

Holy Week Meditations

The thrilling scene of the crowd waving their Palm branches and shouting "Hosanna!" is behind us now, and we continue on our journey to the Cross.  As I meditate on the events of this holy week, my heart is very humbled as I try to contemplate even a fraction of what it cost Jesus to purchase my salvation on Calvary!

As I walk with Jesus today, He seems very quiet.  I wonder -- what is He thinking?  Is He looking ahead to the agony in the garden -- the mob coming to arrest Him with swords and staves -- mocking Him -- smiting Him -- striking Him on the face?  Is He thinking of Peter (one of the inner circle) who was going to deny Him, saying, "I know Him not"!

Or, was He looking beyond Calvary -- looking down to 2017 at me and thinking:

          "I gave My life for thee; My precious blood I shed.  What hast thou given for Me"?

As I journey with Jesus through this holy week, I want these words to be the longing of my heart, and the prayer on my lips:
             
           "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." 

Palm Sunday!

This coming Sunday, April 9, is Palm Sunday!  How thrilling it would have been to be among the crowd that day in Jerusalem so long ago when they heard that Jesus was coming!  The Bible records in the 11th chapter of Mark's Gospel that Jesus sent two of His disciples into the village to bring Him a colt that no man had ever sat upon.

     "And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and He sat upon Him.
And many spread their garments in the way; and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.
And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna!  Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord:  Hosanna in the Highest!"

I wasn't in the crowd that day so long ago, but I am in the crowd today; and on this Palm Sunday, the Lord willing, I plan to be waving my Palm branches and singing, "In the New Jerusalem"! 

"The Ninety and Nine"

We don't hear this wonderful old song much anymore, but I've always liked it and was so glad to learn the story behind the song. 
Ira Sankey, who wrote the music for the song, gives us the story.

     "It was in the year 1874 that the poem 'The Ninety and Nine was discovered.'  Its discovery seemed as if by chance, but I cannot regard it otherwise than providential.  Mr. Moody had just been conducting a series of meetings in Glasgow, and I had been assisting him in his work as director of the singing.  We were at the railway station at Glasgow, and about to take the train for Edinburgh.

      As we were about to board the train, I bought a weekly newspaper for a penny.  In the hope of finding news from America, I began perusing my newspaper.  This hope, however, was doomed to disappointment.  I threw the paper down, but shortly before arriving at our destination, I picked it up again, with a view to reading the advertisements.
While thus engaged, my eyes fell upon a little piece of poetry in a corner of the paper.  I carefully read it over, and at once made up my mind that this would make a great hymn for evangelistic work ---- if it had a tune!  I cut out the poem and placed it in my musical scrapbook.

      At the noon meeting on the second day, the subject presented by Mr. Moody and other speakers was 'The Good Shepherd.'  At the conclusion, Mr. Moody turned to me with the question, 'Have you a solo appropriate for this subject with which to close the service?'
I had nothing suitable in mind, and was greatly troubled to know what to do.  At this moment, I seemed to hear a voice saying, 'Sing the hymn you found on the train!'  But I thought this impossible, as no music had ever been written for that hymn.
Again, the impression came strongly upon me that I must sing the beautiful and appropriate words I had found the day before, and placing the little newspaper slip on the organ in front of me, I lifted my heart in prayer, asking God to help me so to sing that the people might hear and understand.  Laying my hands upon the organ, I struck the key of A flat and began to sing.

      Note by note the tune was given, which has not been changed from that day to this.  As the singing ceased, a great sigh seemed to go up from the meeting, and I knew that the song had reached the hearts of my Scotch audience.  Mr. Moody was greatly moved.  Leaving the pulpit, he came down to where I was seated.  Leaning over the organ, he looked at the little newspaper slip from which the song had been sung, and with tears in his eyes, said, 'Sankey, where did you get that hymn?  I never heard the like of it in my life.'
I also was moved to tears.  Then Mr. Moody raised his hand and pronounced the benediction, and the meeting closed.  Thus, 'The Ninety and Nine' was born."

     "There were ninety and nine that safely lay in the shelter of the fold,
But one was out on the hills away, far off from the gates of gold;
      Away on the mountains wild and bare, Away from the tender Shepherd's care,
Away from the tender Shepherd's care.

     'Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine; Are they not enough for Thee?'
But the Shepherd made answer: 'This of Mine has wandered away from Me;
      And although the road be rough and steep, I go to the desert to find My sheep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep'.

      But none of the ransomed ever knew how deep were the waters crossed;
Or how dark was the night that the Lord passed through, ere He found His sheep that was lost.
      Out in the desert He heard its cry -- Sick and helpless, and ready to die!
Sick and helpless, and ready to die.

      'Lord, whence are those blood-drops all the way, that mark out the mountain's track'?
They were shed for one who had gone astray, ere the Shepherd could bring him back.
      'Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?'  'They're pierced tonight by many a thorn,
They're pierced tonight by many a thorn.'

      But all through the mountains, thunder riven, and up from the rocky steep,
There rose a cry to the gate of heaven, 'Rejoice!  I have found My sheep!'
      And the angels echoed around the throne, 'Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!
Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!"

     My heart is blessed even as I type these wonderful words!!  I'm so thankful that the Shepherd sought me when I was lost and far off from the gates of gold!
I wonder, dear friend, if you are away from the Shepherd today?  Jesus is seeking you, and longs to bring you back into the fold, for Matthew 18:11 tells us -- "The Son of man is come to save that which was lost!"

...The Body

I Corinthians 12:27 says:  "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."

Do you ever think you're not needed -- unimportant -- of little value?  Well, according to the 12th chapter of I Corinthians, you are absolutely wrong!
 
The Apostle Paul shows us in this very interesting chapter that though our human body has many members, yet it is just one entire system; and every part or member is necessary to the completeness of the whole!
If just one small part of our body is hurt, our entire body suffers with it.  If the eye, hand, or foot is injured, the whole man grieves.

As the members of the human body, so is the body of Christ.  You -- yes, even you and me are necessary for the body of Christ to be whole and complete.  Each one of us is necessary for the beauty, proportion, strength, and perfection of the whole.  No one---absolutely no one---is useless, and no one is unnecessary!
You may not be the head, but you might make a wonderful foot!  Remember -- 'God made the one and only you', and He needs you in His body!

Let us find our place of service, and work with the other members of the body to build up and preserve His Church until we hear Him say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant"!