"Whom God Uses"!

I may be 76 years old, but I greatly enjoy sitting down and reading the Sunday School papers on Sunday afternoon!  This past Sunday, the following poem spoke to my heart and challenged me.  I trust it will speak to your heart, as well.

"One night, 'twas a Saturday evening, I sat alone in my room,
    Watching the fading daylight and the steadily gathering gloom.
And I longed and watched for an opening--a word for the Master to say
   E'er the twilight gave place to darkness and the week had died away.

I knew that there had been moments afforded me thro' the week
   When I might have witnessed for Jesus, but I hadn't the heart to speak.
And now when I would have spoken, the privilege was denied;
   So I went in my sorrow to Jesus, and 'Why is it thus?' I cried.

Ah! The Master knew all about it; so He said (and I knew 'twas right),
   'The tool is too blunt for service.  I cannot use it tonight.'
The sword to be used must be sharpened---must be hid in the Master's hand;
   The arrow, while hid in the quiver, must be swift to obey His command.

Oh! Christian, learn well this lesson: We can only be used by God
   When communion with Him hath fashioned our mouth like a sharpened sword.
Then, polish and sharpen me, Master, tho' painful the humbling may be,
   And make me an instrument ready to be used ANY moment by Thee."

Prayer is . . .

Prayer is a blessed privilege, but also a solemn duty!!  Matthew 9:36-37 says:

     "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
      Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few."

E. M. Bounds gives us this challenging quote:

     "Around us is a world lost in sin, above us is a God willing and able to save; it is ours to build the bridge that links heaven and earth, and prayer is the mighty instrument that does the work.  If we do our part, God will do His."

May God help us to "just keep on praying, until light breaks through"!

Thought For Today!

I like this excellent quote by Rev. Billy Graham:

     "When wealth is lost, nothing is lost.
      When health is lost, something is lost.
      When character is lost, all is lost."

We have seen miracles in our recent election, and now God is looking for men, women, and young people of sterling character whom He can use to pray and be His witnesses in these post election days of great challenge!!

Can He depend on You?

To God Be The Glory!

The world was watching our nation last night, and we witnessed a miracle!  It proved to us once again that "None are ever too low for God to lift up, or too high for God to cast down."
But along with Victory comes great responsibility!  We, who profess to belong to Christ must not sit down and enjoy the victories of election night.
We must begin to pray faithfully and earnestly for our newly elected President, Vice President, Senate and House.

Then we must humble ourselves and begin to pray earnestly for our nation so in need of a real Holy Ghost, heaven-sent Revival.  It must begin in the professing church with soul-searching obedience.  Listen to the words of our Lord in the third chapter of Revelation:

     "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing: and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked."
What a sad, sad picture!  I am thankful that the Lord went on to say a few verses later:

     "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

Yes, the world knows that the Lord has worked a political miracle in our nation; I believe He would like to work a spiritual one, too --- will we let Him?

     "Obedience brings the blessing"!

Come Closer!

Yesterday was a beautiful Fall day!  My little grand-daughter, recently turned three, loves to be outside.  While we were finishing dinner, she went outside to walk in the fallen leaves and hear them crunch under her little feet.

There is a big tree just outside my kitchen window.  The trunk of the tree has an opening pretty far up where my son could lift her up and she could stand in this spot by herself; her little arms stretched out, balancing herself, her hands on the trunk of the tree.  He would step back a way and tell her to jump!  She really wanted to, but her little voice would say .... "Come closer!"  "Come closer!"

No, he would say -- "I'll catch you; just jump!"  He would go through that process several times, until at last she would jump into his arms!  Then she was so excited -- she loved it and immediately wanted to do it again!  But by the time she got in position to jump again, she became fearful; "Come closer -- come closer!"

While this scenario was transpiring, I suddenly sensed God's Presence, and it seemed the Lord was saying to me --- "Why are ye often fearful to take that leap of faith?  Have I ever failed you?  Have you forgotten my promise in Deuteronomy 33:27 -- 'The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms...'."

Sometimes, perhaps, we need to be reminded that God wants us to trust Him -- to take that leap of faith when it seems impossible; He will never fail to "catch" us, and we will be encouraged to climb to higher heights!
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the privilege of "Living by Faith!"

Watchman ---- What of the Night?

As we approach the election in a few days (if Jesus tarries), I keep thinking of the sobering words in Isaiah:  "Watchman, what of the night?  Watchman, what of the night?"

Perhaps the Lord would answer us in the words of 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."

Or would He have to say these very sad words from Ezekiel: 

     "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.  Therefore have I poured out my indignation upon them. . ."

     "Rise up, O men of God!  Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and mind and soul and strength to serve the King of Kings!
      Rise up, O church of God!  From vain ambitions turn.
Christ rose triumphant that your hearts with nobler zeal might burn!

      Rise up, O men of God!  His kingdom's task embrace.
Redress sin's cruel consequence; give justice larger place!
      Lift high the Cross of Christ!  Tread where His feet have trod!
As followers of the Son of Man, Rise up, O church of God!"

                                                                                  --William Merrill

Habakkuk -- I Like Him!

No, I haven't met him in person, but I hope to when I get to heaven, and maybe by then I will have learned to spell his name without looking! :)

His little book, near the end of the Old Testament, has only three short chapters; and about the prophet, himself, nothing is known.  But I like him because He is very open and honest with God.  The prophet is very perplexed about the sins of Israel and the silence of God.  He begins his book with a prayer -- "O Lord, how long shall I cry, and Thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto Thee of violence, and Thou wilt not save!"

Then follows a dialogue between Habakkuk and Jehovah.  At the end of chapter 0ne, Habakkuk is still questioning, so he ascends his watch-tower (2:1) to look over the world.  The Lord answers him, and he is encouraged to wait for the purpose of God to be fulfilled.

He seems content with the new light he has received, and begins chapter 3 with a sublime prayer (or Psalm of praise) which speaks about the majesty and glory of God.  He also declares his unwavering trust in the divine plans. --- I like it because he didn't give up --- he persevered until he no more had questions, but answers!

He is now ready to give us the glorious conclusion of his prophecy!  I love this benediction 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 herd in the stalls:
      Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
      The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places."

Praise the Lord!!