"Taking The Next Step"

I like this devotional thought by Oswald Chambers --

     "The thing that really testifies for God, and for the people of God, in the long run is steady perseverance---even when the work cannot be seen by others.  And the only way to live an undefeated life is to live looking unto God.  Ask God to keep the eyes of your spirit open to the risen Christ, and it will be impossible for drudgery to discourage you."

What a challenging quote!  We must persevere and press on!  It really doesn't matter what others think or see -- it is our Master that we are endeavoring to please.  So "let us run with patience the race that is set before us; looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith: 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."  Such wonderful words from the 12th Chapter of Hebrews.
And when I think of looking unto Jesus, I think of the beautiful hymn by C. F. Weigle -- "Living  For Jesus".
     "Living for Jesus, oh, what peace!  Rivers of pleasure never cease.
Trials may come, yet, I'll not fear.  Living for Jesus--He is near.
      Living for Jesus, oh, what rest!  Pleasing my Saviour, I am blest.
Only to live for Him alone--Doing His will till life is done.

      Living for Jesus, everywhere.  All of my burdens He doth bear.
Friends may forsake me; He'll be true.  Trusting in Him, He'll guide me through.
      Living for Jesus, till at last into His glory I have passed;
There to behold Him on His throne--Hear from His lips, "My child, well done!"

Let's Keep Taking the Next Step!!
     

PEACE!

The Apostle Paul was writing to his "dearly beloved son" and greets him:  "To Timothy, my dearly beloved son:  Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord."

Multitudes are running to and fro today seeking for peace --- something that will satisfy that longing in their soul, not realizing that peace is much more than just a lack of anxiety.  True, lasting peace is a contentment that comes from God.  Jesus said in John 14:27 -- "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you:  not as the world giveth, give I unto you."  This peace is "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding" and shall keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus!

I love these beautiful words from the hymn, "Wonderful Peace", by W. D. Cornell.

     "Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight rolls a melody sweeter than Psalm:
In celestial like strains it unceasingly falls o'er my soul like an infinite calm.
      What a treasure I have in this wonderful peace, buried deep in the heart of my soul:
So secure that no power can mine it away while the years of eternity roll.

      I am resting tonight in this wonderful peace, resting sweetly in Jesus' control:
For I'm kept from all danger by night and by day, and His glory is flooding my soul.
      Peace!  Peace!  wonderful peace -- coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray, in fathomless billows of love."

Are you searching for peace today?  There's still room at the Cross for you!

Teach Us . . .

As we look to the coming Lord's Day, perhaps it would be well for us to spend some time in God's presence, searching our hearts, and meditating on this challenging prayer:

     "Teach us, dear Lord, to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labor and not to ask for any reward save that of knowing that we do Thy will"!
      And perhaps we should add this wonderful admonition also:

"A loving disposition leads us to pass by the faults of others; to forgive offences against ourselves."
 
      Remember -- "The toils of the road will seem nothing, when we get to the end of the way!" 

GOD FIRST!!

It's a lovely Monday morning -- the sunshine is so very beautiful streaming in my windows!  I thought of the song, "What a Beautiful day for the Lord to come again"!  One day He is coming, and I want to keep walking with Jesus until I look upon His blessed face---what a day, glorious day, that will be!

In the meantime, I want to follow the challenge of this little poem by an unknown author and be careful to "Put God First"!

           "Don't wait until the house is all kept,
            The beds are made, the floors are swept:
            Put PRAYER first.

            Don't wait until the newspaper is read,
            Your books are balanced, and you are in bed:
            Put the BIBLE first.

            Don't wait until the cupboards are bare,
            There's nothing to depend on but God and prayer:
            Put FASTING first.

            Don't wait until the last bill is paid,
            The account is large; vacation is made:
             Put the CHURCH first.

             Don't wait until you've nothing to do,
             Until all is finished -- for we never get through:
             Put GOD first!"

Praise the Lord!!  Let us seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and He will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!  No wonder the songwriter said, "It is Glory just to walk with Him"!

The Psalms!

I guess it's appropriate for my Blog to be from the Book of Psalms today, since this is also the birthday of my son, Jonathan David!  Best Wishes, Bud, for a blessed birthday!

The Book of Psalms is made up of 150 wonderful spiritual songs and poems!  These beautiful Psalms are filled with Prayer and Praise about the Word of God.  I love the excellent admonitions in the 19th Psalm! 
     "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork.
      Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
      There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
      Their line is gone out through all the earth; and their words to the end of the world.  In them hath He set a tabernacle for the sun,
      Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
      His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
      The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 
     The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
      The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are pure and righteous altogether.
      More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
      Moreover by them is Thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
      Who can understand his errors?  Cleanse thou me from secret faults.
      Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 
      Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer."

What a wonderful Psalm for us to meditate upon as we prepare our hearts for the coming Lord's Day!   May God bless you and His Presence be especially near you is my prayer.

Building up the Temple

The children sometimes sing, "We're building up the Temple, building up the Temple, building up the Temple of the Lord - - -"
It is very interesting to read about the construction of the Tabernacle in the book of Exodus (chapters 35-40).  In chapter 35, verse 4, we read:  "And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord commanded---
The Lord gave Moses very detailed and explicit instructions for the building.  In chapter 39, when they were making the holy garments for Aaron, it often says---"as the Lord commanded Moses". 
In verses 42 and 43, we find these words:
     "According to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work.  And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the Lord had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them."
In chapter 40, the Lord gave instructions to Moses for setting up the Tabernacle.  At least seven times in this last chapter of Exodus, it repeats the words -- "as the Lord commanded Moses",  and in verses 33-35, we read: 
     "And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate.  So Moses finished the work.
      Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle!"  Praise the Lord!!

If we will do ALL that the Lord commands, He will lead us and His glory will fill us!
      
   

President's Day!

God has blessed our nation with many great Presidents, but Abraham Lincoln, in my opinion, was one of the greatest.  He suffered from great disappointments and losses before he came to the office of  President.  Perhaps these sorrows helped to shape and mold his character into a humble man of sterling character -- a man of prayer -- a man who loved, and sought to govern by, God's Holy Word.
On this President's Day, let us take a little time to meditate on "The Creed of Abraham Lincoln".

"I believe in God, the Almighty Ruler of Nations, our great and good and merciful Maker, our Father in heaven, who notes the fall of a sparrow and numbers the hairs of our heads.
 I believe in His eternal truth and justice.
 I believe that it is the duty of nations, as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the over-ruling power of God, and to invoke the influence of His Holy Spirit; to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon.
 I believe that it is meet and right to recognize and confess the presence of the Almighty Father equally in our triumphs and in those sorrows which we may justly fear are a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins to the needful end of our reformation.
 I believe that the Bible is the best gift which God has ever given to men; all the good from the Saviour of the world is communicated to us through this Book.
 I believe the will of God prevails.  Without Him, all human reliance is vain.  Without the assistance of that Divine Being I cannot succeed; with that assistance, I cannot fail.
 Being a humble instrument in the hands of our heavenly Father, I desire that all my works and acts may be according to His will; and that it may be so, I give thanks to the Almighty and seek His aid.
 I have a solemn oath registered in heaven to finish the work I am in, in full view of my responsibility to my God, with malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness to the right as God gives me to see the right, commending those who love me as to His care, as I hope in their prayers they will commend me.  I look, through the help of God, to a joyous meeting with many loved ones gone before."

Today, we see our nation experiencing "Perilous Times"!  Have you prayed for President Trump and the leaders of our nation today?

"Jesus is still the answer -- He's always been and always will be"!!!