Suffering is not a word that brings joy, but I like this little story about suffering by Reuben Youngdahl.
"I often think of the little boy I saw sitting outside of the walls of Versailles. He was holding a little sparrow with a broken wing. A kindly lady came along and she asked, 'Sonny, would you like me to take this sparrow home and nurse it back to health? I promise I will bring it back to these gardens when it is healed and let it fly free again.'
The little boy thought for a moment. Then he said, 'If you don't mind, Madam, I will take care of the bird myself.' He paused momentarily and added, 'Because, you see, I understand this bird.' The woman could not quite get what that boy meant until he stood up. Then she saw his left leg was in a cast. Because he was crippled, he understood the suffering bird's problem.
The God whom I know became incarnate in Jesus Christ and came into the world to learn what problems I must face in life, so that He can match the strength I may need in order to face those problems triumphantly. That is why, when I walk with Him, I can have such confidence!" Amen!
If you are going through a time of suffering, I trust that you will be encouraged by this wonderful verse in Romans 8:18: "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Praise the Lord!
"Be not dismayed, what e'er betide---God will take care of you!" Just "Hold to God's Unchanging Hand! Build your hopes on things eternal -- Hold to God's Unchanging Hand!"
And then when we've made it to the beautiful city of God -- Just one glimpse of His dear face, and all our sorrows will erase! So let's bravely run the race, 'till we see Christ!!
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
Monday, May 27, 2019
MEMORIAL DAY!
Today our Nation pauses to remember those who have given their lives for our freedom! Helen Steiner Rice has written "A Memorial Day Prayer"!
"They Served and Fought and Died so that we might be Safe and Free,
Grant them, O Lord, eternal peace and give them 'the Victory.'
And in these days of unrest, filled with grave uncertainty,
Let's not forget the Price they paid to keep our Country Free ---
And so, on this Memorial Day, we offer up a prayer --
May the people of All Nations be United in Thy Care,
And grant us understanding, and teach us how to live
So we may lose our selfish pride, and learn to love and give --
And keep us ever mindful of the fighting men who sleep
In Arlington and foreign lands, so we may ever keep
The 'Light of Freedom' burning in their honor through the years,
And hear their cry for Peace on Earth resounding in our ears --
Forgive us our Transgressions, and 'Oh, God, be with us yet'
Lest in our Pride and Arrogance, we heedlessly Forget."
Today, as we remember those who gave their lives in the service of our nation, let us join our voices in song, and sing from our hearts --
"My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing:
Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,
From every mountain side, let Freedom ring!
Let music swell the breeze, and ring from all the trees sweet freedom's song;
Let mortal tongues awake; let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.
Our fathers' God, to Thee, Author of Liberty, to Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright with Freedom's holy light;
Protect us by Thy might; Great God, our King!"
And all the people said, "AMEN"!
"They Served and Fought and Died so that we might be Safe and Free,
Grant them, O Lord, eternal peace and give them 'the Victory.'
And in these days of unrest, filled with grave uncertainty,
Let's not forget the Price they paid to keep our Country Free ---
And so, on this Memorial Day, we offer up a prayer --
May the people of All Nations be United in Thy Care,
And grant us understanding, and teach us how to live
So we may lose our selfish pride, and learn to love and give --
And keep us ever mindful of the fighting men who sleep
In Arlington and foreign lands, so we may ever keep
The 'Light of Freedom' burning in their honor through the years,
And hear their cry for Peace on Earth resounding in our ears --
Forgive us our Transgressions, and 'Oh, God, be with us yet'
Lest in our Pride and Arrogance, we heedlessly Forget."
Today, as we remember those who gave their lives in the service of our nation, let us join our voices in song, and sing from our hearts --
"My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing:
Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,
From every mountain side, let Freedom ring!
Let music swell the breeze, and ring from all the trees sweet freedom's song;
Let mortal tongues awake; let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.
Our fathers' God, to Thee, Author of Liberty, to Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright with Freedom's holy light;
Protect us by Thy might; Great God, our King!"
And all the people said, "AMEN"!
Friday, May 24, 2019
I Will Follow!
In the fourth chapter of Matthew, we read: "And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him." Praise the Lord! How mighty, how blessed, and how wonderful are the transformations of divine grace!
"Jesus calls me; I must follow, follow Him today.
When His tender voice is pleading, how can I delay?
Jesus calls me; I must follow, follow every hour.
Know the blessing of His presence; fullness of His power.
Follow, I will follow Thee, my Lord; follow every passing day.
My tomorrows are all known to Thee; Thou wilt lead me all the way."
---Howard L. Brown
As a Christian, our daily testimony should be -- "Only to be what He wants me to be---every moment of every day." And sometimes, if the way ahead looks a little dark and fearful, remember this wonderful little quote by S. D. Gordon:
"Jesus never sends a man ahead alone. He blazes a clear way through every thicket and wood, and then softly calls, 'Follow Me. Let's go on together, you and I.'"
"Jesus calls me; I must follow, follow Him today.
When His tender voice is pleading, how can I delay?
Jesus calls me; I must follow, follow every hour.
Know the blessing of His presence; fullness of His power.
Follow, I will follow Thee, my Lord; follow every passing day.
My tomorrows are all known to Thee; Thou wilt lead me all the way."
---Howard L. Brown
As a Christian, our daily testimony should be -- "Only to be what He wants me to be---every moment of every day." And sometimes, if the way ahead looks a little dark and fearful, remember this wonderful little quote by S. D. Gordon:
"Jesus never sends a man ahead alone. He blazes a clear way through every thicket and wood, and then softly calls, 'Follow Me. Let's go on together, you and I.'"
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Loving One Another!
Today is Wednesday, and I look forward (as I do every week) to going to the mid-week Prayer and Praise service at my church tonight! It brings to my mind the sweet verse in Psalm 133:1 -- "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." In I Thessalonians 4:9, the Apostle Paul admonishes us -- "But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another."
In a world full of unrest, division, turmoil, strife, etc., how blessed it is to live in peace, loving God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves. There are many scriptures built around the beautiful phrase "one another". I trust that these will be a blessing and encouragement to your heart today!
"Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32
We are to "serve one another". Galatians 5:13
We are also to "exhort one another daily." Hebrews 3:13
We are also to "consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works". Hebrews 10:24
We are told to "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2
In times of sorrow, we are admonished to "comfort one another" and "pray one for another". But the most frequently repeated command, by far, is that we "Love one another"! In fact, it is Christ's own new commandment which we read about in John 13:34-35 --
"A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another: as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another."
I trust that you will have a blessed day loving God and one another!
In a world full of unrest, division, turmoil, strife, etc., how blessed it is to live in peace, loving God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves. There are many scriptures built around the beautiful phrase "one another". I trust that these will be a blessing and encouragement to your heart today!
"Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32
We are to "serve one another". Galatians 5:13
We are also to "exhort one another daily." Hebrews 3:13
We are also to "consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works". Hebrews 10:24
We are told to "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2
In times of sorrow, we are admonished to "comfort one another" and "pray one for another". But the most frequently repeated command, by far, is that we "Love one another"! In fact, it is Christ's own new commandment which we read about in John 13:34-35 --
"A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another: as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another."
I trust that you will have a blessed day loving God and one another!
Monday, May 20, 2019
Run to Jesus!
There is a very interesting little verse in Proverbs 18:10 which reads: "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." I think this is such an interesting verse, and what a blessed comfort -- the number of times is not limited, but anytime we have need we can run to Jesus and find refuge! Praise the Lord!
It is interesting to note several instances in the New Testament where people actually "ran" to Jesus! We recall the man who was possessed with a whole legion of demons. Mark 5:6 tells us: "But when he saw Jesus afar off, he "ran" and worshipped Him", and Jesus set him free!
Then, there was a wealthy man (whosoever will may come) -- In the 19th chapter of Luke, we read: "And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus . . . And he "ran" before and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him; for He was to pass that way. When Zacchaeus met the Master, his conversion was genuine, and he demonstrated it by a changed and sacrificial life! (Luke 19:1-10)
In Jesus' terrible suffering on the cross and spoke of His terrible thirst, it was an unknown observer who "ran" and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave Him to drink. After His burial, when Mary Magdalene told Peter and John that the tomb was empty, John tells us: "So they "ran" both together . . ."
How sweet and blessed it is to know that yet, today, if we will "run" to Jesus, sincerely seeking to love and serve Him, we will find salvation in His name, for there is still "none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Do you know Him today? "With arms wide open, He'll pardon you! It is no secret what God can do!"
It is interesting to note several instances in the New Testament where people actually "ran" to Jesus! We recall the man who was possessed with a whole legion of demons. Mark 5:6 tells us: "But when he saw Jesus afar off, he "ran" and worshipped Him", and Jesus set him free!
Then, there was a wealthy man (whosoever will may come) -- In the 19th chapter of Luke, we read: "And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus . . . And he "ran" before and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him; for He was to pass that way. When Zacchaeus met the Master, his conversion was genuine, and he demonstrated it by a changed and sacrificial life! (Luke 19:1-10)
In Jesus' terrible suffering on the cross and spoke of His terrible thirst, it was an unknown observer who "ran" and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave Him to drink. After His burial, when Mary Magdalene told Peter and John that the tomb was empty, John tells us: "So they "ran" both together . . ."
How sweet and blessed it is to know that yet, today, if we will "run" to Jesus, sincerely seeking to love and serve Him, we will find salvation in His name, for there is still "none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Do you know Him today? "With arms wide open, He'll pardon you! It is no secret what God can do!"
Friday, May 17, 2019
My Church!
Today is Friday, and I look forward with anticipation to going to God's House--my church-- on His Holy Day! But then I thought --- maybe it would be good to spend a little time reflecting on this quote we have all heard: "What would my church be if every member were just like me"? It is quite a sobering thought!
I read the following thoughts in one of my husband's old Preacher's Magazines:
"What Makes a Church Great"
NOT soft seats and subdued lights, but strong, courageous leadership.
NOT the sweet tones of the organ, but sweet personalities that reflect Jesus.
NOT tall towers with chimes and bells, but lofty vision of its people.
NOT big budgets, but large hearts.
NOT the amount of finances received, but the amount of service rendered.
NOT the large membership, but God's presence and direction and power.
NOT what it has done in the past, but what it is doing now, and planning to do tomorrow.
"Help me, dear Jesus, to be one who helps to make my church great for Your Glory and the upbuilding of Your Kingdom".
"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord."
I read the following thoughts in one of my husband's old Preacher's Magazines:
"What Makes a Church Great"
NOT soft seats and subdued lights, but strong, courageous leadership.
NOT the sweet tones of the organ, but sweet personalities that reflect Jesus.
NOT tall towers with chimes and bells, but lofty vision of its people.
NOT big budgets, but large hearts.
NOT the amount of finances received, but the amount of service rendered.
NOT the large membership, but God's presence and direction and power.
NOT what it has done in the past, but what it is doing now, and planning to do tomorrow.
"Help me, dear Jesus, to be one who helps to make my church great for Your Glory and the upbuilding of Your Kingdom".
"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord."
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
The Month of May!
May is such a lovely month! The little rhyme says -- "April showers bring May flowers"! It is delightful to see pretty flowers blooming, smell the aroma of freshly mowed grass, and see the trees proudly displaying their new spring leaves! Our Heavenly Father is good to give us so many blessings to enjoy.
There are also special events to enjoy in the month of May. We just celebrated Mother's Day, and now excitement is mounting as many Seniors are anticipating the long-awaited day of Graduation! I have enjoyed going to the mailbox the last few days and finding graduation announcements from relatives and friends. As I read the announcements, I can almost feel the excitement of each young person as they anticipate turning their tassel.
Graduates, as you look forward to beginning a new chapter in your life, make sure that you are holding tightly to God's hand! Follow where He leads; His way is Always the Best Way! And to Live Abundantly, remember this little poem by Helen Steiner Rice:
"The more you give, the more you get --
The more you laugh, the less you fret --
The more you do Unselfishly,
The more you live Abundantly. . .
The more of everything you share,
The more you'll always have to spare --
The more you love, the more you'll find
That life is good and friends are kind. . .
For Only What We Give Away,
Enriches Us From Day to Day."
Special Congratulations to my granddaughter, Brooklynn, graduating from High School!
There are also special events to enjoy in the month of May. We just celebrated Mother's Day, and now excitement is mounting as many Seniors are anticipating the long-awaited day of Graduation! I have enjoyed going to the mailbox the last few days and finding graduation announcements from relatives and friends. As I read the announcements, I can almost feel the excitement of each young person as they anticipate turning their tassel.
Graduates, as you look forward to beginning a new chapter in your life, make sure that you are holding tightly to God's hand! Follow where He leads; His way is Always the Best Way! And to Live Abundantly, remember this little poem by Helen Steiner Rice:
"The more you give, the more you get --
The more you laugh, the less you fret --
The more you do Unselfishly,
The more you live Abundantly. . .
The more of everything you share,
The more you'll always have to spare --
The more you love, the more you'll find
That life is good and friends are kind. . .
For Only What We Give Away,
Enriches Us From Day to Day."
Special Congratulations to my granddaughter, Brooklynn, graduating from High School!
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