It's Monday, and I'm afraid that some of you (perhaps many) have already forgotten the joys of being in the Lord's house yesterday -- singing the wonderful songs -- meditating on the timely messages from the pastor -- sensing God's presence in our midst as we sought the Lord in prayer! May we not be overcome with the cares of life, but take time often to count our blessings as expressed in this song by Johnson Oatmon, Jr.
"When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings -- name them one by one --
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings -- every doubt will fly --
And you will be singing as the days go by.
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold.
Count your many blessings -- money cannot buy --
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged; God is over all.
Count your many blessings -- angels will attend --
Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.
Count your blessings; name them one by one.
Count your many blessings; see what God hath done."
The Psalmist said: "The Lord will give strength unto His people: the Lord will bless His people with peace. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto Thee for ever."
Monday, June 24, 2019
Friday, June 21, 2019
"Have Mercy On Me!"
I am always blessed by the beautiful and thrilling story recorded in the gospel of Mark, chapter 10, verses 46-52. This miracle is also recorded in Matthew and Luke. Get your Bible and read it, and picture yourself, along with me, among that great number of people going out of Jericho with Jesus!
Suddenly we hear a loud voice cry out, but as we listen we soon realize it is just the old beggar, blind Bartimaeus, sitting by the wayside and begging like he always does!
Sometimes he is so irritating and disgusting!! We want to hurry on by, so Jesus doesn't have to see such a dreadful sight, but Bartimaeus begins to cry louder and louder!!
Many in the crowd are demanding that he hush, but he will not --- he cries even more loudly and will not stop! "Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me"! Then, an amazing thing happened! God's Word says -- "Jesus stood still"! Those three little words thrill and bless my heart! The Master cared for this poor, wretched beggar. Our wonderful Saviour is no respecter of persons. Whosoever will may come to Him! If you are in need today -- sitting by the wayside of life -- perhaps feeling your life is hopeless -- that no one cares or understands -- I have wonderful news for you!! Jesus is "standing still" right where you are at this very moment, and He is calling for you!! Praise the Lord!
The songwriter said it this way:
"One sat alone beside the highway begging--
His eyes were blind, the light he could not see.
He clutched his rags, and shivered in the shadows --
Then Jesus came, and bid his darkness flee!
When Jesus comes, the tempter's power is broken!
When Jesus comes, the tears are wiped away!
He takes the gloom, and fills the life with glory --
For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay!"
Suddenly we hear a loud voice cry out, but as we listen we soon realize it is just the old beggar, blind Bartimaeus, sitting by the wayside and begging like he always does!
Sometimes he is so irritating and disgusting!! We want to hurry on by, so Jesus doesn't have to see such a dreadful sight, but Bartimaeus begins to cry louder and louder!!
Many in the crowd are demanding that he hush, but he will not --- he cries even more loudly and will not stop! "Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me"! Then, an amazing thing happened! God's Word says -- "Jesus stood still"! Those three little words thrill and bless my heart! The Master cared for this poor, wretched beggar. Our wonderful Saviour is no respecter of persons. Whosoever will may come to Him! If you are in need today -- sitting by the wayside of life -- perhaps feeling your life is hopeless -- that no one cares or understands -- I have wonderful news for you!! Jesus is "standing still" right where you are at this very moment, and He is calling for you!! Praise the Lord!
The songwriter said it this way:
"One sat alone beside the highway begging--
His eyes were blind, the light he could not see.
He clutched his rags, and shivered in the shadows --
Then Jesus came, and bid his darkness flee!
When Jesus comes, the tempter's power is broken!
When Jesus comes, the tears are wiped away!
He takes the gloom, and fills the life with glory --
For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay!"
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Sunshine in my Soul
We have had an abundance of rain lately, so it was such a blessing when I awakened this morning to see the beautiful sunshine streaming in my windows! The trees and grass and flowers all looked so lovely with the glow of the sun shining on them. In reality, we know that back of the clouds the sun is always shining. When we're flying in an airplane, it may be very cloudy when we take off, but when we break through the clouds, how wonderful it is to see the sun is still shining!
It also made me think of the sunshine in my soul. Just as our earth must have rain, as well as sunshine, so there will be some storms in our life. But when it seems the storms of life are raging, we can still have a deep, settled peace in our soul! Praise the Lord! And then, some day, if we will be true and faithful to the end, all the storms of life will be over, and as the song writer said: "All the toils of the road will seem as nothing when we get to the end of the way."
So let us keep sunshine in our soul, for Jesus is our Light! "Sunlight, sunlight in my soul today! Since the Saviour found me, took away my sin -- I have had the sunlight of His love within."
It also made me think of the sunshine in my soul. Just as our earth must have rain, as well as sunshine, so there will be some storms in our life. But when it seems the storms of life are raging, we can still have a deep, settled peace in our soul! Praise the Lord! And then, some day, if we will be true and faithful to the end, all the storms of life will be over, and as the song writer said: "All the toils of the road will seem as nothing when we get to the end of the way."
So let us keep sunshine in our soul, for Jesus is our Light! "Sunlight, sunlight in my soul today! Since the Saviour found me, took away my sin -- I have had the sunlight of His love within."
Monday, June 17, 2019
Psalm 96
It is Monday, and my heart is filled with praise and Thanksgiving!! I feel like singing the little chorus, "I am Blessed"! "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"! And if you don't feel very blessed this morning -- just start counting your blessings, naming them one by one, and you'll soon find yourself on The Victory Side!
Yesterday was a wonderful day as we honored our Fathers! My pastor preached a very challenging message to our fathers (and all of us) yesterday morning at church. Then it was wonderful to enjoy a delicious meal and sweet fellowship with the family as we recalled memories of the fathers and grandfathers who are enjoying the glories of heaven!! May we be determined to join them one day--it will be worth it all When We See Christ!!
The Book of Psalms is such a wonderful book of Prayer and Praise! Just about every Psalm has something that will bless and encourage us in our walk with Jesus. I like these words from this prayer of David in the 86th Psalm:
"For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
Teach me thy way, O Lord: I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.
Thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth."
And maybe, for a benediction, we could add this blessed promise from the 84th Psalm --
"For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee."
And all the people said, "Amen"!
Yesterday was a wonderful day as we honored our Fathers! My pastor preached a very challenging message to our fathers (and all of us) yesterday morning at church. Then it was wonderful to enjoy a delicious meal and sweet fellowship with the family as we recalled memories of the fathers and grandfathers who are enjoying the glories of heaven!! May we be determined to join them one day--it will be worth it all When We See Christ!!
The Book of Psalms is such a wonderful book of Prayer and Praise! Just about every Psalm has something that will bless and encourage us in our walk with Jesus. I like these words from this prayer of David in the 86th Psalm:
"For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.
Teach me thy way, O Lord: I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.
Thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth."
And maybe, for a benediction, we could add this blessed promise from the 84th Psalm --
"For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee."
And all the people said, "Amen"!
Friday, June 14, 2019
Father's Day
This coming Sunday, June 16th, 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 honored His Holy Day! It is heart-breaking today to think of the many little children who have no father in their home. If you have a godly father, you are very blessed! He is worthy of your love and gratefulness on this very special day set aside to remember and honor him!
Father's Day, which is observed the third Sunday of June, was the idea of Mrs. John Bruce Dodd of Spokane, Washington. She had suggested the idea to honor her own father, William Smart, a veteran of the Civil War, who had reared his six motherless children after he was left a widower when his wife died after the birth of their sixth child. Mrs. Dodd thought he had done such an outstanding job as both father and mother that she had wanted to do something to perpetuate his memory.
In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge was the first president to recommend the national observance of Father's Day. The original intent of this day was a dedication to the building of good citizenship at home, in the nation, and in the church.
Perhaps you're wondering -- When is a father just "Dad"? H.C. Chatfield answers --
"If he makes a pal of you when you're good, and is too wise to let you pull the wool over his loving eyes when you're not; if you're sure no one else has quite so fine a father, you may call him 'Dad'!"
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 pray that God will make you mighty men of valour, strong and courageous; men fully surrendered to God! May you live so that you can say to the children the Lord has given you to train for Him -- "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."
Father's Day, which is observed the third Sunday of June, was the idea of Mrs. John Bruce Dodd of Spokane, Washington. She had suggested the idea to honor her own father, William Smart, a veteran of the Civil War, who had reared his six motherless children after he was left a widower when his wife died after the birth of their sixth child. Mrs. Dodd thought he had done such an outstanding job as both father and mother that she had wanted to do something to perpetuate his memory.
In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge was the first president to recommend the national observance of Father's Day. The original intent of this day was a dedication to the building of good citizenship at home, in the nation, and in the church.
Perhaps you're wondering -- When is a father just "Dad"? H.C. Chatfield answers --
"If he makes a pal of you when you're good, and is too wise to let you pull the wool over his loving eyes when you're not; if you're sure no one else has quite so fine a father, you may call him 'Dad'!"
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 pray that God will make you mighty men of valour, strong and courageous; men fully surrendered to God! May you live so that you can say to the children the Lord has given you to train for Him -- "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."
Wednesday, June 12, 2019
Metal in the Soul
Someone has said -- "It takes metal in an individual to live righteously in this world and be blameless before God." One of my favorite Old Testament characters is Joseph. You can read all about the trials, the testings, and the triumphs of Joseph's life in Genesis, chapters 37-50. Through all of his experiences, including the chains of the prison, he received that "iron in his soul" that enabled him to be the great and magnanimous ruler that could "forgive and forget" when it was within his power to "even the score a hundred fold."
The strength of his character was not something he was endowed with, but a monument that he had erected in the midst of the storm. The strength of "iron in his soul" came through his persistent discipline in refusing to yield an inch to uncleanness, injustice, or sin of any kind. I suppose that one word could sum up what will put the "strength of iron" in our souls, and that word is Discipline!
In these busy days, we must be Disciplined in our devotional life. Keeping strong spiritually through prayer, Bible study and faithful church attendance, will help to bring the "strength of iron" into our souls. And, by the way, this is Wednesday! I am looking forward (as I do every Wednesday) to the mid-week service at my church -- what a great time of blessing and encouragement as the little children sing (and sometimes they have a sweet little testimony, too), and when we leave, we feel like we have been in the presence of God and received encouragement to keep on the "Road to Glory-Land"!
Don't miss the mid-week service at your church. It will help to keep the "Metal -- the Strength of Iron in your soul"!
The strength of his character was not something he was endowed with, but a monument that he had erected in the midst of the storm. The strength of "iron in his soul" came through his persistent discipline in refusing to yield an inch to uncleanness, injustice, or sin of any kind. I suppose that one word could sum up what will put the "strength of iron" in our souls, and that word is Discipline!
In these busy days, we must be Disciplined in our devotional life. Keeping strong spiritually through prayer, Bible study and faithful church attendance, will help to bring the "strength of iron" into our souls. And, by the way, this is Wednesday! I am looking forward (as I do every Wednesday) to the mid-week service at my church -- what a great time of blessing and encouragement as the little children sing (and sometimes they have a sweet little testimony, too), and when we leave, we feel like we have been in the presence of God and received encouragement to keep on the "Road to Glory-Land"!
Don't miss the mid-week service at your church. It will help to keep the "Metal -- the Strength of Iron in your soul"!
Monday, June 10, 2019
Pentecostal Praises!
What a blessing it was to be in the house of the Lord yesterday on Pentecost Sunday! I love reading about it in the second chapter of Acts:
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?"
Peter was ready to tell them what it meant!! He lifted up his voice and said unto them -- "Hearken to my words!!" He then preached a powerful message, and the Bible says -- "the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls!"
And the best part is -- "It is for us all Today!" Rev. L. L. Pickett wrote this wonderful song:
"Have you ever felt the power of the Pentecostal fire,
Burning up all carnal nature, cleansing out all base desire,
Going through and through your spirit, cleansing all its stain away?
Oh, I'm glad, so glad to tell you it is for us all today.
Jesus offers this blest cleansing unto all His children dear,
Fully, freely purifying, banishing all doubt and fear,
It will help you, O my brother, when you sing and when you pray.
He is waiting now to give it. It is for us all today.
Some have thought they could not live it while they dwell on earth below,
But in this they were mistaken, for the Bible tells us so,
And the Spirit now is with us; He can keep us all the way.
Then by faith why not receive it? It is for us all today.
You may now receive the Spirit as a sanctifying flame,
If with all your heart you seek Him, having faith in Jesus' name,
On the Cross He bought this blessing; He will never say us nay.
He is waiting now to give it--why not claim it, friend, today?
It is for us all today if we trust and truly pray.
Consecrate to Christ your all, and upon the Saviour call,
Bless God, it is for us all today"!!
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?"
Peter was ready to tell them what it meant!! He lifted up his voice and said unto them -- "Hearken to my words!!" He then preached a powerful message, and the Bible says -- "the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls!"
And the best part is -- "It is for us all Today!" Rev. L. L. Pickett wrote this wonderful song:
"Have you ever felt the power of the Pentecostal fire,
Burning up all carnal nature, cleansing out all base desire,
Going through and through your spirit, cleansing all its stain away?
Oh, I'm glad, so glad to tell you it is for us all today.
Jesus offers this blest cleansing unto all His children dear,
Fully, freely purifying, banishing all doubt and fear,
It will help you, O my brother, when you sing and when you pray.
He is waiting now to give it. It is for us all today.
Some have thought they could not live it while they dwell on earth below,
But in this they were mistaken, for the Bible tells us so,
And the Spirit now is with us; He can keep us all the way.
Then by faith why not receive it? It is for us all today.
You may now receive the Spirit as a sanctifying flame,
If with all your heart you seek Him, having faith in Jesus' name,
On the Cross He bought this blessing; He will never say us nay.
He is waiting now to give it--why not claim it, friend, today?
It is for us all today if we trust and truly pray.
Consecrate to Christ your all, and upon the Saviour call,
Bless God, it is for us all today"!!
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
Friendship With Jesus!
Sometimes our earthly friends may disappoint us, but how blessed and wonderful it is to know that we can have friendship with Jesus--our wonderful Lord and Saviour--who has never been a disappointment and never will be!! Just think --"The King and I walk hand in hand together"! I love this beautiful old song by Major Ludgate:
"A friend of Jesus! Oh, what bliss that one so vile as I --
Should ever have a Friend like this to lead me to the sky!
A Friend when other friendships cease, a Friend when others fail --
A Friend who gives me joy and peace, a Friend when foes assail.
A Friend when sickness lays me low, a Friend when death draws near --
A Friend as through the vale I go, a Friend to help and cheer.
A Friend when life's short race is o'er, a Friend when earth is past --
A Friend to meet on Heaven's shore, a Friend when home at last.
Friendship with Jesus! Fellowship divine!
Oh, what blessed, sweet communion! Jesus is a Friend of mine!"
Praise the Lord! I'm so very thankful that this is a reality in my heart today!!
This little quote by Oswald Chambers is a blessing to me.
"What is the sign of a friend? It is that he tells you his secret joys. Have we ever let God tell us any of His joys? Or are we continually telling God our secrets, leaving Him no time to talk to us? What makes God so dear to us is not so much His big blessings to us, but the tiny things, because they show His amazing intimacy with us --- He knows every detail of each of our individual lives."
Let us open our hearts, and give Jesus time to talk to us as we read His blessed Word and commune with Him in prayer!
"A friend of Jesus! Oh, what bliss that one so vile as I --
Should ever have a Friend like this to lead me to the sky!
A Friend when other friendships cease, a Friend when others fail --
A Friend who gives me joy and peace, a Friend when foes assail.
A Friend when sickness lays me low, a Friend when death draws near --
A Friend as through the vale I go, a Friend to help and cheer.
A Friend when life's short race is o'er, a Friend when earth is past --
A Friend to meet on Heaven's shore, a Friend when home at last.
Friendship with Jesus! Fellowship divine!
Oh, what blessed, sweet communion! Jesus is a Friend of mine!"
Praise the Lord! I'm so very thankful that this is a reality in my heart today!!
This little quote by Oswald Chambers is a blessing to me.
"What is the sign of a friend? It is that he tells you his secret joys. Have we ever let God tell us any of His joys? Or are we continually telling God our secrets, leaving Him no time to talk to us? What makes God so dear to us is not so much His big blessings to us, but the tiny things, because they show His amazing intimacy with us --- He knows every detail of each of our individual lives."
Let us open our hearts, and give Jesus time to talk to us as we read His blessed Word and commune with Him in prayer!
Monday, June 3, 2019
Praying For Our President!
Along with over 300 Christian leaders, Dr. Franklin Graham asked churches across our nation to observe Sunday, June 2, as a special day of prayer for our President. It was a great blessing to me, personally, to sense God's presence in our service yesterday morning, and to know that people across our nation were uniting their hearts in prayer for our President.
At my own local church, Patriotic songs were played in the Prelude, and a brass trio played "God Bless the U.S.A." for the offertory. Our pastor prayed a wonderful prayer for our President and Nation, and it encouraged my heart to know that God's Truth is still Marching On! I thought of the challenging verse in 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." May God help us to humble ourselves -- to pray -- to seek His blessed face --
and may we never forget that --
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, but sin is a reproach to any people."
At my own local church, Patriotic songs were played in the Prelude, and a brass trio played "God Bless the U.S.A." for the offertory. Our pastor prayed a wonderful prayer for our President and Nation, and it encouraged my heart to know that God's Truth is still Marching On! I thought of the challenging verse in 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." May God help us to humble ourselves -- to pray -- to seek His blessed face --
and may we never forget that --
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, but sin is a reproach to any people."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)