I found this little article by Maurice Holler in a very old little book. It was a blessing to me, and I trust will be to you also.
"Empty the earthen vessel of self-righteousness. Apply one full measure of genuine repentance and confession; one full measure of corn of wheat flour, crushed and ground by the millstone of Calvary; and one heaping measure of old-fashioned oil of full salvation.
Pour in freely honey from the honeycomb, till well flavored and sweetened. Season well with salt of the gospel, and keep it well savored. Add drops of grace and mercy until it flows freely. Keep from getting hard by stirring up within the Holy Ghost and fire. Pour in slowly from the broken Alabaster box, divine ointment and holy love. Mix well with the healing Balm of Gilead. Mix also of the spices from the garden of God.
See that it is kept in the silver vessel of redemption, thoroughly washed from the filth of sin out of the sacred basin of blood, scarlet, and hyssop, and cleansed by the water of the Word. Then place it on the altar of prayer. Warm it slowly by adding to your faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, kindness, charity. Do not let cool off; keep continually in the secret place of prayer. Coat and frost freely until the shine of glory will attract the hungry. Give to him that asketh of thee until satisfied in His likeness."
"I tried to live by bread alone -- the bread of earthly store;
But in my grasp it turned to stone -- I hungered more and more.
I came to Christ, the Living Bread -- in hungry need I cried;
I feasted at His table spread, and I was satisfied."
"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life."
--John 6:35
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Monday, January 28, 2019
Praise the Lord!
I trust that on this Monday morning your heart is filled with praise!! The Psalms are filled with praise all the way through to the last verse of the last Psalm -- "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord."
Psalm 117:1-2 says: O PRAISE the Lord, all ye nations: praise Him, all ye people. For His merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord."
This Psalm is, of course, the shortest chapter in the Bible, and I read recently that it is also the middle chapter of the Bible. So I find it interesting that right in the middle of God's Holy Word we find this universal command (all nations) urging everyone to give everlasting praise to our wonderful Lord!
The Bible says that "the joy of the Lord is our strength," so let us begin this week with a smile on our face, a prayer in our heart, and the joy bells ringing in our soul!!
May God bless you, and remember -- "It is Glory Just to Walk With Him!!"
Psalm 117:1-2 says: O PRAISE the Lord, all ye nations: praise Him, all ye people. For His merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord."
This Psalm is, of course, the shortest chapter in the Bible, and I read recently that it is also the middle chapter of the Bible. So I find it interesting that right in the middle of God's Holy Word we find this universal command (all nations) urging everyone to give everlasting praise to our wonderful Lord!
The Bible says that "the joy of the Lord is our strength," so let us begin this week with a smile on our face, a prayer in our heart, and the joy bells ringing in our soul!!
May God bless you, and remember -- "It is Glory Just to Walk With Him!!"
Friday, January 18, 2019
Peace!
Just saying the word - Peace - seems to quiet our spirit, and what a blessed privilege it is to know the Prince of Peace! The Psalmist said in Psalms 29:11: "...the Lord will bless His people with peace."
In the 14th chapter of I Corinthians, we read: "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace."
In the 3rd chapter of James, we read --
"For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated .... And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
The only one who can bring true peace is the Author of peace; and, of course, this is our Lord Jesus Christ! He is the Author of peace, just as the devil is the author of all confusion and strife.
In Isaiah, our Lord is spoken of as "The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
In II Thessalonians, He is the Lord of Peace!
So we see our Lord is the Author of peace -- the Lord of peace -- the Prince of peace -- the King of peace -- the very God of peace! Yes, He is our peace! And one of these days, the prophet Isaiah tells us -- "of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end." Praise the Lord!
On this Friday, as we look to the coming Lord's Day, make sure that down deep in your soul, beneath all the toils and cares of life, you have this "Sweet Peace, the Gift of God's Love"!
In the 14th chapter of I Corinthians, we read: "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace."
In the 3rd chapter of James, we read --
"For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated .... And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
The only one who can bring true peace is the Author of peace; and, of course, this is our Lord Jesus Christ! He is the Author of peace, just as the devil is the author of all confusion and strife.
In Isaiah, our Lord is spoken of as "The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
In II Thessalonians, He is the Lord of Peace!
So we see our Lord is the Author of peace -- the Lord of peace -- the Prince of peace -- the King of peace -- the very God of peace! Yes, He is our peace! And one of these days, the prophet Isaiah tells us -- "of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end." Praise the Lord!
On this Friday, as we look to the coming Lord's Day, make sure that down deep in your soul, beneath all the toils and cares of life, you have this "Sweet Peace, the Gift of God's Love"!
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Giving Thanks in Everything
The last verses of the prophet, Habakkuk, give us the beautiful words of an All-Conquering Faith!
"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herds in the stalls: Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."
These verses really challenge my heart in these beginning days of 2019! It may seem quite easy to be happy and cheerful when everything is going well -- when we are enjoying all the comforts of an affluent lifestyle, etc., but if these comforts are taken away, it is easy for us to be tempted to feel discouraged, defeated and all alone. But we should never be discouraged, for we have God's Holy Word, and He has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us!
In fact, God has given us a command in I Thessalonians 5:18: "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Notice that He did not say for every thing, but in every thing! Jesus, Himself, was our example in this for God's Word says in Hebrews 12:2 -- "who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
And we read this wonderful promise in II Corinthians 4:17: "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." So let us be encouraged, and --
"Turn our eyes upon Jesus -- look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace."
"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herds in the stalls: Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."
These verses really challenge my heart in these beginning days of 2019! It may seem quite easy to be happy and cheerful when everything is going well -- when we are enjoying all the comforts of an affluent lifestyle, etc., but if these comforts are taken away, it is easy for us to be tempted to feel discouraged, defeated and all alone. But we should never be discouraged, for we have God's Holy Word, and He has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us!
In fact, God has given us a command in I Thessalonians 5:18: "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Notice that He did not say for every thing, but in every thing! Jesus, Himself, was our example in this for God's Word says in Hebrews 12:2 -- "who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
And we read this wonderful promise in II Corinthians 4:17: "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." So let us be encouraged, and --
"Turn our eyes upon Jesus -- look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace."
Friday, January 11, 2019
God Knows Best!
As we continue pressing on the upward way, what a blessed comfort to know that not only are God's ways the Best ways, but His way is also perfect! However, this does not mean that the road will always be easy to travel -- there will be some storms, some detours, some setbacks -- we may have to back up and go a different direction, but what a sweet comfort to know that God will still lead His dear children along!
I like this poem by Helen Steiner Rice:
"Our Father knows what's best for us, so why should we complain --
We always want the sunshine, but He knows there must be rain --
We love the sound of laughter and the merriment of cheer,
But our hearts would lose their tenderness if we never shed a tear.
Our Father tests us often with suffering and with sorrow,
He tests us not to punish us, but to help us meet tomorrow --
For growing trees are strengthened when they withstand the storm,
And the sharp cut of the chisel gives the marble grace and form.
God never hurts us needlessly, and He never wastes our pain,
For every loss He sends to us is followed by rich gain.
And when we count the blessings that God has so freely sent,
We find no cause for murmuring, and no time to lament.
For our Father loves His children, and to Him all things are plain,
So He never sends us pleasure, when the soul's deep need is pain.
So whenever we are troubled, and when everything goes wrong,
It is just God working in us to make our Spirit strong."
Praise the Lord for these inspiring and challenging words! So --- as I shared in my last Blog, let's just keep building altars as we continue to walk with God toward heaven and home!
I like this poem by Helen Steiner Rice:
"Our Father knows what's best for us, so why should we complain --
We always want the sunshine, but He knows there must be rain --
We love the sound of laughter and the merriment of cheer,
But our hearts would lose their tenderness if we never shed a tear.
Our Father tests us often with suffering and with sorrow,
He tests us not to punish us, but to help us meet tomorrow --
For growing trees are strengthened when they withstand the storm,
And the sharp cut of the chisel gives the marble grace and form.
God never hurts us needlessly, and He never wastes our pain,
For every loss He sends to us is followed by rich gain.
And when we count the blessings that God has so freely sent,
We find no cause for murmuring, and no time to lament.
For our Father loves His children, and to Him all things are plain,
So He never sends us pleasure, when the soul's deep need is pain.
So whenever we are troubled, and when everything goes wrong,
It is just God working in us to make our Spirit strong."
Praise the Lord for these inspiring and challenging words! So --- as I shared in my last Blog, let's just keep building altars as we continue to walk with God toward heaven and home!
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
Building Altars!
I wonder what Abraham was doing that day when the Lord spoke to him and said -- "Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee..." Abraham was 75 years old at this time, but he doesn't seem to hesitate, and we read in the 11th chapter of Hebrews:
"By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise."
The one thing that stands out to me and speaks to my heart is that Abraham doesn't go far on his journey without "building an altar unto the Lord." As Abraham journeys, we find at least six times where he stops and builds an altar to the Lord! Then, after the death of Abraham, we find the Lord speaking to Isaac in Genesis 26:24-25. "And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee . . . And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the Lord."
Then, in chapter 33, we find Jacob erecting an altar. Again, in chapter 35, we hear Jacob say in verse 3: "Let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God." And again, in verse 7, we see: "And he built there an altar..." Abraham; his son, Isaac, and his grandson, Jacob, all built altars as they journeyed! Praise the Lord!
In these beginning days of 2019, the unknown tomorrows lie before us! I don't want to journey very far without building an altar -- calling on God for wisdom and guidance as we walk this road of life that leads to eternity! And---as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob passed down the Building of Altars from generation to generation, may it be our earnest prayer as parents, grandparents, and great grandparents that God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, will help us to keep building altars on the sure foundation of His Holy Word so that our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will be altar builders also!
"Who can tell all the love He will send from above, and how happy our hearts will be made;
Of the fellowship sweet we shall share at His feet, when our all on the altar is laid!"
"By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise."
The one thing that stands out to me and speaks to my heart is that Abraham doesn't go far on his journey without "building an altar unto the Lord." As Abraham journeys, we find at least six times where he stops and builds an altar to the Lord! Then, after the death of Abraham, we find the Lord speaking to Isaac in Genesis 26:24-25. "And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee . . . And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the Lord."
Then, in chapter 33, we find Jacob erecting an altar. Again, in chapter 35, we hear Jacob say in verse 3: "Let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God." And again, in verse 7, we see: "And he built there an altar..." Abraham; his son, Isaac, and his grandson, Jacob, all built altars as they journeyed! Praise the Lord!
In these beginning days of 2019, the unknown tomorrows lie before us! I don't want to journey very far without building an altar -- calling on God for wisdom and guidance as we walk this road of life that leads to eternity! And---as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob passed down the Building of Altars from generation to generation, may it be our earnest prayer as parents, grandparents, and great grandparents that God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, will help us to keep building altars on the sure foundation of His Holy Word so that our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will be altar builders also!
"Who can tell all the love He will send from above, and how happy our hearts will be made;
Of the fellowship sweet we shall share at His feet, when our all on the altar is laid!"
Monday, January 7, 2019
The 15th Psalm!
This is an interesting little Psalm of only five verses. The first verse asks a question, then the remaining four verses answer the question of verse one.
V. 1 -- Lord, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in Thy holy hill?
V. 2 -- He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
V. 3 -- He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach
against his neighbor.
V. 4 -- In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but He honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that
sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not.
V. 5 -- He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that
doeth these things shall never be moved.
The Psalm could have ended without the last sentence of verse five, for the question of verse one was answered. But I like to think that our Heavenly Father had the Psalmist end with the sweet promise, assuring us "He that doeth these things shall never be moved." Praise the Lord!
"Thank You, Heavenly Father, for so many nuggets of gold hidden in your Holy Word---just waiting for us to search for them! In the beginning days of this New Year, help us to be diligent in our search, for Thy Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path."
V. 1 -- Lord, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in Thy holy hill?
V. 2 -- He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
V. 3 -- He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach
against his neighbor.
V. 4 -- In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but He honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that
sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not.
V. 5 -- He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that
doeth these things shall never be moved.
The Psalm could have ended without the last sentence of verse five, for the question of verse one was answered. But I like to think that our Heavenly Father had the Psalmist end with the sweet promise, assuring us "He that doeth these things shall never be moved." Praise the Lord!
"Thank You, Heavenly Father, for so many nuggets of gold hidden in your Holy Word---just waiting for us to search for them! In the beginning days of this New Year, help us to be diligent in our search, for Thy Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path."
Friday, January 4, 2019
Looking Ahead!
In Psalm 122:1, we read: "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord." In Exodus 20:8, we see: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." In Hebrews 10:23-25, we see:
"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;)
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."
Today is Friday, and this coming Sunday, January 6, will be the first Sunday of the New Year! As we enter this New Year, I want to remember that the Lord's Day is a holy day -- a day set aside for rest and worship. On the Lord's Day, I need to be with God's people -- I need to dig deeper and climb higher as my pastor preaches from God's Holy Word!
I need to be blessed and encouraged by the testimonies, and the prayers of the saints! After the stress and frustrations of the work week, how sweet it is to join in singing the wonderful hymns of the church! And I would certainly hate to be missing when God's presence comes and fills the sanctuary with His glory!!
So --- let us be found in the house of the Lord this very first Sunday of 2019, and every Sunday thereafter, unless providentially hindered. Praise the Lord! I just feel like singing -- "Come and go with me to my Father's house! There is Joy! Joy! Joy!"
"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;)
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."
Today is Friday, and this coming Sunday, January 6, will be the first Sunday of the New Year! As we enter this New Year, I want to remember that the Lord's Day is a holy day -- a day set aside for rest and worship. On the Lord's Day, I need to be with God's people -- I need to dig deeper and climb higher as my pastor preaches from God's Holy Word!
I need to be blessed and encouraged by the testimonies, and the prayers of the saints! After the stress and frustrations of the work week, how sweet it is to join in singing the wonderful hymns of the church! And I would certainly hate to be missing when God's presence comes and fills the sanctuary with His glory!!
So --- let us be found in the house of the Lord this very first Sunday of 2019, and every Sunday thereafter, unless providentially hindered. Praise the Lord! I just feel like singing -- "Come and go with me to my Father's house! There is Joy! Joy! Joy!"
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
Psalm 1
The Book of Psalms is a wonderful book, filled with Prayer and Praise! As we begin this New Year, I thought it would be good to look at the very 1st Psalm. This little Psalm has only six verses, and seems to be an introduction to the entire book. It could be called the "Psalm of the two Ways." Let us notice the verses --
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish."
In these few verses, we see a definite contrast between the godly and the ungodly. I am not a theologian, but the first verse challenges me to consider that if I want to be blessed in 2019, I must not Walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or Stand with the sinners, or Sit with the scornful.
Simply put, whether I am Walking, Standing, or Sitting, I must delight and meditate in the law of the Lord! If we will do this, the last verse of this Psalm tells us that whatsoever we do shall prosper! What a wonderful promise! By way of contrast, the last three verses show the way of the ungodly who shall perish.
Dear Heavenly Father, as we stand in the beginning hours of a New Year, may we determine to "....be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" and "endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish."
In these few verses, we see a definite contrast between the godly and the ungodly. I am not a theologian, but the first verse challenges me to consider that if I want to be blessed in 2019, I must not Walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or Stand with the sinners, or Sit with the scornful.
Simply put, whether I am Walking, Standing, or Sitting, I must delight and meditate in the law of the Lord! If we will do this, the last verse of this Psalm tells us that whatsoever we do shall prosper! What a wonderful promise! By way of contrast, the last three verses show the way of the ungodly who shall perish.
Dear Heavenly Father, as we stand in the beginning hours of a New Year, may we determine to "....be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" and "endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."
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