Adding or Subtracting?

 In the first chapter of II Peter, the Apostle gives us a little instruction which might be good for us to think on as we begin a new week of living for Jesus --- ". . . giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity."

Oswald Chambers has said --- "We cannot save nor sanctify ourselves -- God does that.  But God will not give us good habits or character, and He will not force us to walk correctly before Him.  We have to do all that ourselves.  To take the initiative is to make a beginning -- to instruct yourself in the way you must go."  Certainly, in these troubled times, we have the opportunity---the privilege---the duty to shine for Jesus---to be bright lights in the dark world around us!  Remember --- every trial -- every obstacle -- every difficulty --every heartache will someday seem very small if we will finish the race strong and win the crown of victory and everlasting life!  Praise the Lord!

     "Just one glimpse of His dear face -- all sorrow will erase!                                                                                      So bravely run the race -- 'Til we see Christ!"                                                                       

PSALM 23

 This morning, as we begin a new day, I am so very thankful that the Lord is my Shepherd!  This sweet and blessed Psalm floods my soul with peace as I meditate on the beautiful picture of Christ as my Shepherd.  Let us take a little time to read this marvelous Psalm this morning, and be blessed and encouraged as we think of God's goodness and loving-kindness, and anticipate the blessed joy that awaits us of dwelling with the family of God through the never-ending ages of eternity!

     "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.                                                                                              Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil: my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."  Amen!

What If . . .?

 As you rush about your duties, sometimes feeling almost overwhelmed with the cares and burdens of life, maybe it would be good for you to take a "coffee break" and ponder a little while on these sobering questions ---

     "What if God couldn't take time to bless us today because we couldn't take time to thank Him yesterday"?

     "What if God decided to stop leading us tomorrow because we did not follow Him today"?

     "What if we never saw another flower bloom because we grumbled when God sent the rain"?

     "What if God didn't walk with us today because we failed to recognize it as His day"?

     "What if God took away the Bible tomorrow because we would not read it today"?

     "What if God took away His message because we failed to listen to His messenger"?

Let us remember the admonition of this lovely song by William Longstaff --

     "Take time to be holy; be calm in thy soul -- each thought and each motive beneath His control."   And let us also remember the admonition given in this little quote -- "If your day is hemmed with prayer, it is less likely to unravel."            

     

Be Strong!

In I Corinthians 16:13, we find this challenging, little verse -- "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong."  I am also challenged by this quote from Phillips Brooks --

    "Do not pray for easy lives!  Pray to be stronger men.  Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers.  Pray for powers equal to your tasks.  Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but YOU shall be a miracle."  What a great challenge for us on this Monday as we begin a new week of laboring for the Master "from the dawn till setting sun".  

So, as we labor this week, let us remember to ---                                                                                                  "Be strong!  We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;                                                                                We have hard work to do, and loads to lift.                                                                                                          Shun not the struggle; face it.  Tis God's gift.

Be strong!                                                                                                                                                             It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong,                                                                                             How hard the battle goes, the day how long,                                                                                                         Faint not, fight on!  Tomorrow comes the song!"                                                                                             

MY FRIEND!

     On the wall in my bedroom -- in large black lettering -- is a blessed and challenging quote to greet me when I awaken of a morning -- "Pray about everything - worry about nothing!"  If we allow it, there are plenty of things we could worry about today, but we have a wonderful friend in Jesus who wants us to take everything to Him in prayer!

     "Joseph Scriven watched in shock as the body of his fiancee' was pulled from the lake.  Their wedding had been planned for the next day.  Reeling from the tragedy, he made up his mind to immigrate to America.  Packing up his belongings in Dublin, Ireland, he sailed for Canada, leaving his mother behind.  He was about 25 years old.  Ten years later, in 1855, he received word that his mother was facing a crisis.  Joseph wrote this poem and sent it to her.  She evidently gave a copy to a friend who had it published anonymously.  It quickly became a popular hymn, though no one knew who had written it.

     Meanwhile, Joseph fell in love again.  But tragedy struck a second time when his bride to be contracted tuberculosis in 1860 and died before their wedding could take place.  Ira Sankey later wrote -- 'Until a short time before his death it was not known that he had a poetic gift.  A neighbor, sitting up with him in his illness, happened upon a manuscript copy of "What A Friend We Have in Jesus".  Questioning Bro. Scriven about it, he said that he had written it for his mother, not intending that anyone else should see it.  Some time later, when another neighbor asked him if it was true he composed the hymn, his reply was --     "The Lord and I did it between us."  

    "What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!                                                                 What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer!                                                                                         Oh, what peace we often forfeit, oh, what needless pain we bear.                                                              All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

      Have we trials and temptations?  Is there trouble anywhere?                                                                       We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.                                                                           Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share?                                                                 Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

      Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?                                                                     Precious Saviour, still our refuge!  Take it to the Lord in prayer.                                                                         Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?  Take it to the Lord in prayer.                                                           In His arms He'll take and shield thee; thou wilt find a solace there."

On this Friday, as we look to the coming Lord's Day, let us remember to "Pray about everything--worry about nothing!"                                                                                                     

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"Higher Ground"!  This wonderful hymn by Johnson Oatman, Jr. challenges me!  I don't want to be satisfied or content to stay where I am today in my spiritual journey.  I want to always be digging deeper and climbing higher in the things of God.

     "I'm pressing on the upward way, new heights I'm gaining every day;

Still praying as I'm onward bound, 'Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.'

      My heart has no desire to stay where doubts arise and fears dismay;

Though some may dwell where these abound, my prayer, my aim is higher ground.

      I want to live above the world, though Satan's darts at me are hurled;

For faith has caught the joyful sound, the song of saints on higher ground.

      I want to scale the utmost height and catch a gleam of glory bright;

But still I'll pray 'til heaven I've found, 'Lord, lead me on to higher ground.'

      Lord, lift me up and let me stand by faith on heaven's table land,

A higher plain than I have found: Lord, plant my feet on higher ground."

May God bless you this week as you head out for Higher Ground!