Testimony Time!

Today is Wednesday, and I always look forward to the mid-week service at my church each Wednesday evening!  Throughout the day, I anticipate my heart being lifted up and encouraged by the  song service, beautiful music from the orchestra, the special singing of the children, testimonies   and prayers, and the devotional from our pastor.

In the 10th chapter of Hebrews, we read:  "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."  What a great scripture to encourage our attendance at the mid-week service!

It always blesses and encourages me to hear the testimonies!  I love to hear some of the young people tell how the Lord is helping them, and everyone is uplifted by the testimonies of the older saints!  And it is always a sweet blessing to hear the "small ones" sing and testify for Jesus!  My little four year old granddaughter often gives quite an "eloquent" little testimony!

And, don't forget -- your own personal testimony may be just what someone in the service needs to encourage them to keep "pressing toward the Glory Land"!  

"Freedom Isn't Free"

Today, across our beloved nation people are gathering to celebrate and enjoy the blessings of Family, Food and Fellowship!  Let us not fail to take time to thank our Heavenly Father for His manifold blessings to our nation, and remember what it cost for us to enjoy the freedoms we too often take for granted.  An unknown author penned these words:

     "It might be well for us to remind ourselves that the freedom which we commemorate is not self-perpetuating.
      It is something we must work for, conscientiously and continually, even as did our forefathers.  They were ready to die for freedom; can we do less than strive to nurture and protect it?
      Of the fifty-six who signed the Declaration of Independence, five were captured by the British and executed as traitors, nine others died from wounds or the hardships of the Revolutionary War.
      Still others saw their homes and plantations destroyed.
      For those who lived, the reward was poverty -- their possessions commandeered, their lands laid waste.
      These were the men who gave us an independent America over 200 years ago.  They are the men who pledged:
      "For the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of the Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."
      Through their sacrifice we have freedom.  We have our inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
      Let us not take these sacred rights and our God-given freedom for granted."

And may we remember that God's Holy Word says in the 33rd Psalm:  "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord."       
             

"Sometimes" - - -

God's Holy Word says in Hebrews 11:1 -- "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  It also says in verse 6 -- "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."

A friend sent me this lovely little poem entitled, "Sometimes" by Stacy Sanchez.

                    "Sometimes -- faith is
        building an ark when there is no rain,
       dipping seven times in a muddy river
              when you have open wounds,
    or marching in circles and shouting praises
            when the enemy is ready to do battle.
           And sometimes -- sometimes faith is
                   tasting the sweetness of God
                in the saltiness of our tears."

So as you prepare your heart for the coming Lord's Day, remember that all of your "Sometimes" can be overcome by Faith---for Faith is the Victory that overcomes the world!!

Remember!

In Ecclesiastes 12:1, we read:  "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth. . ."  The school year is drawing to a close.  Summer vacations are pending -- the children are excited about Boys and Girls Camp -- the teens are looking forward to Youth Camp -- and the entire family is excited about going to Campmeeting!

The High School and College graduates are faced with major decisions concerning their future.  They need God's guidance and leadership as they seek His will for their lives.  Encourage your young people to spend time in God's Holy Word.  It is such a wonderful lamp for their feet and light for their path!
Parents and grand-parents, it is our privilege and responsibility to take them often to the throne of Grace and pour out our heart unto God for them -- Jesus will meet you there, and He is still "able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."

And then, perhaps, you will find something in the following poem by A. R. Young to share with some young person you are praying for.

     "When you think, when you speak, when you read, when you write,
When you sing, when you walk, when you seek for delight --
      To be kept from all wrong when at home or abroad,
Live always as under the eyes of your God.

      Whatever you speak in a whisper or clear,
Say nothing you would not like Jesus to hear.
      Whatever you sing, in the midst of your glees,
Sing nothing His listening ears would displease.

      Whatever you read, though the page may allure,
Read nothing of which you're not perfectly sure;
      Consternation at once would be seen in your look,
If God should say solemnly, "Show Me that book!"

      Wherever you go -- never go where you fear --
Lest the great God should ask you, "How comest thou here?"
      Turn away from each pleasure you'd shrink from pursuing,
If God should look down and say, "What are you doing?"

May God bless our young people, establish them in the faith, and use them for His glory and the upbuilding of His kingdom!    

Happy Birthday!

Today is the birthday of my first great-grandchild!  She is six years old today and getting ready to graduate from Kindergarten!  I'm thankful she was able to attend a Christian school, had teachers who were good role models for her, and where she was taught scriptures from the KJV. 

But it is important for us, as parents and grandparents, to remember that the school can never take the place of the training in the home.  The home is where our young ones are taught respect, honor and obedience.  It is in the home that they learn God's Day is a holy day.  It is in the home they are taught the importance of faithfulness in attendance at the house of the Lord.  It is in the home where they are taught to tithe, even if their tithe is only a penny or a dime.  It is in the home where they learn to pray.   May we remember this little poem by an unknown author as we train our children to love and serve God.

     "I'm not too young to sin.  I'm not too young to die.
I'm not too little to begin a life of faith and joy.
      I'm not too young to know the Saviour's love for me
In coming down to earth below to die upon the tree.

      I'm not too young to love.  I'm not too young to pray,
To look to Jesus up above and all His Word obey.
      Jesus, I love Thy name; from evil set me free.
And ever keep Thy little lamb who puts his trust in Thee."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Kenzie!! I'm glad Jesus chose you to be my first great-grandchild!!  Have a wonderful day!
   

Jude, the Servant!

The Epistle of Jude has only one chapter, containing 25 verses.  In the first verse, Jude introduces himself as the servant of Jesus Christ.  In the third verse, he tells why he wrote the epistle.
     "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."
In this brief letter, he predicts the apostasy of the professing church and describes the apostate teachers.  But in the last six verses. he assures and comforts the saints!  He also gives them their seven-fold duty:

     "But ye, beloved  --  (1) building up yourselves on your most holy faith, --  (2) praying in the Holy Ghost, -- (3) keep yourselves in the love of God, -- (4) looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.  --  (5) And of some have compassion, making a difference:  --  (6) And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire;  --  (7) hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."

 (Then, after these duties, he gives this beautiful benediction in the remaining two verses!)
      "Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
      To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.  Amen"!  
     

Our Complete Supply!

The wonderful verse in Philippians 4:19 tells us:  "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."  How sweet is this blessed promise in this little verse!  Our needs may be vastly different, but God has the supply for each different need. 
Let us look at a few thrilling examples from God's Holy Word:

Millions of Israelites needed food in the wilderness, and the manna came fresh from heaven every day for 40 years! Praise the Lord!  (Exodus 16:35)
Gideon needed victory over the innumerable Midianites, and God caused confusion to fall on his enemies!  What a thrilling story to read in the 7th chapter of the book of Judges.
Elijah needed a powerful demonstration of God's authority, and fire came down from heaven -- I Kings, chapter 18!  It makes me think of the little chorus -- "What A Mighty God We Serve"!!!

In the New Testament, we read where a man with a withered hand needed a new hand (Mark 3:5); a blind man needed new eyes (John 9:5-6), and a dead man needed life (John 11:43-44). 
Jesus calmed the sea when the disciples needed freedom from their fear (Mark 4:38-39).
And He pulled Peter up from the sea when he needed rescue (Matthew 14:30-31).

 So we see that no matter the size of the need, God's resources are more than sufficient!!  So let us heed the wonderful admonition in Philippians 4:4 --
              "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice"!

Prayer Pays!

Sweet memories linger today of beautiful cards, phone calls and texts, loving words, hugs and kisses from precious children, grandchildren and great grandchildren!  I am blessed!  And one of my joys (and responsibilities) is praying for the family!  I'm glad there is no set time to pray.  It is always appropriate to enter into His gates with Thanksgiving and into His courts with Praise!

Colossians 4:2 tells us to:  "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving."  Romans 12:12 urges us to "continue instant in prayer", and I Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to "pray without ceasing."
We can pray at dawn like David, who said in Psalms 5:3:  "My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up." 
Paul and Silas prayed at midnight in a Philippian prison, and sang praises unto God!
Daniel "kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed."

There is no time that is not a good time for prayer!  It is a most marvelous privilege that we have that we are able to speak to the Heavenly Father in prayer and know that He not only hears, but cares!  Therefore, let us "come boldly to the throne of grace," and "Pray 'Till the Light Breaks Through!"

A President -- His Mother!

This coming Sunday is Mother's Day, perhaps one of the best-loved days of the year!  If,  today, you have (or have sweet memories of) a loving and godly mother, you are blessed. 
One such mother was the mother of President William McKinley, and I trust you will be blessed and find inspiration in these thoughts taken from an article that I read and saved from the Sunday School paper 24 years ago.

     "The spry little woman of 87 smiled proudly at her neighbors.  It was Sunday, and she was walking to church with her son.  He was President of the United States.  William McKinley was devoted to his mother.  And he was a devout Christian, taught a Bible class, and was superintendent of a Methodist Sunday School.
      Every day of his mother's life -- during his time as a lawyer, Congressman, Governor of Ohio, and United States President -- when William McKinley did not see his mother, he either wrote or telegraphed to her.
      In mid-October, 1897, McKinley slipped out of the White House and took a train for Canton, Ohio, just to walk to church with his mother.  When his mother became ill in the winter of 1897, he had her home in Canton connected with the White House by special wire, and he kept a special train standing by under full steam.  One night when Mother McKinley called for William, attendants wired, "Mr. President, we think you had better come."  The answer flashed back, "Tell Mother I'll be there."  On Sunday afternoon, December 12, 1897, Nancy McKinley breathed her last in the arms of her son.  For fully an hour after she died, he did not move from her bedside.

      Less than four years later, while making a speech in Buffalo, New York, McKinley was cut down by a bullet from the gun of anarchist Leon Czolosz.  With no bitterness even for his assassin, the dying President said, "God's will be done."  Then he called for a hymn his mother had taught him, "Nearer, My God, to Thee," and he passed away to join the immortals.  His body was brought back to Canton and laid to rest beside his mother's."

While reading a newspaper account of McKinley's telegram to those at his mother's bedside, the hymn writer, Charles Filmore, was inspired to write the following hymn, using as a title the dramatic message -- "Tell Mother I'll Be There"!

     "When I was but a little child, how well I recollect
How I would grieve my mother with my folly and neglect;
      And now that she has gone to heaven, I miss her tender care;
O angels, tell my mother I'll be there.

      Though I was often wayward, she was always kind and good,
So patient, gentle, loving, when I acted rough and rude;
      My childhood griefs and trials she would gladly with me share;
O angels, tell my mother I'll be there.

      One day a message came to me; it bade me quickly come
If I would see my mother ere the Saviour took her home;
      I promised her before she died, for heaven to prepare;
O angels, tell my mother I'll be there.

      Tell Mother I'll be there in answer to her prayer,
This message, guardian angels, to her bear;
      Tell Mother I'll be there, heaven's joys with her to share;
Yes, tell my darling mother I'll be there."

If you are reading this little Blog today, and you have strayed away from the God your mother loves and serves, why don't you kneel and bow your head in prayer -- your mother's God will meet you there. 
     
 

Springtime!

In the mornings when I step outside, the birds welcome me and seem to be singing a lovely melody of praise to the God who made them!  I think they are singing about the beautiful words in the 2nd chapter of the Song of Solomon: 
"For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;
The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. . ."

Solomon also said in the Book of Ecclesiastes:  "He hath made everything beautiful in His time. ."
And Timothy tells us in his Epistle that: ". . . God giveth us richly all things to enjoy."

But even more lovely than all the beauty that surrounds us is the beauty within us -- the beauty of Jesus that should be seen in us -- not just in the Springtime, but in every season--every day!
If we will surrender our will to Jesus, He is able to mold us and make us so beautiful and glorious within that those looking on will be hungry for what they see in us!

Does the world see Jesus in you?

Chronic Complainers!

I think Psalm 106:15 is a very sad verse.  It says:  "And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul."  When we think about all that the Lord had done for His people, Israel, I think we would agree that they were greatly blessed!  He had delivered them from slavery in Egypt, protecting them against their enemies, and had even miraculously supplied daily bread and water for them in the desert!  But, sadly, they still complained --
     they complained about their food
     they complained about the imaginary luxuries they had left behind in Egypt
     they complained against their leaders --
And God's Word says in Numbers 11:1 - "And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and His anger was kindled."  It is very sad to read on down through chapter 11, and see, finally, in verse 33 -- "And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague."

Let us take a few moments to examine ourselves.  If we belong to Jesus, we have blessings abundant, and the blessed hope of eternal life!!  Our Heavenly Father has promised to supply our every need, and we should live a thankful life!  I Thessalonians 5:18 instructs us to:  "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
Hebrews 13:5 says -- "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."  Praise the Lord!  I love this wonderful promise!
And Philippians 2:14 instructs us -- "Do all things without murmurings and disputings."

It is, perhaps, easy for us to slip into a habit of complaining without realizing it.  So let us make a conscious effort to turn our back on complaining and go forward with confidence, remembering that, "As for God, His way is perfect."