God, my Exceeding Joy

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T10:10:00.000-08:00

"Practice love diligently. It is one of those graces, above all, which grow by constant exercise. Strive more and more to carry it into every little detail of daily life. Watch over your own tongue and temper throughout every hour of the day,–and especially in your dealing with children and near relatives. Remember the character of the excellent woman: “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue” (Proverbs 31:26). Remember the words of Paul: “Do everything in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14).
Love should be seen in little things as well as in great ones. Remember, not least, the words of Peter: “Love each other deeply”; not a love which just barely is a flame, but a burning, shining fire, which everyone around us can see. (1 Peter 4:8) It may cost pains and trouble to keep these things in mind. There may be little encouragement from the example of others. But persevere. Love like this brings its own reward."

~ J.C. Ryle

Grace, our only Hope

2011-08-26T10:08:00.000-07:00

"What is your hope? This may seem strange to read at this point, but it must be said: the hope of your life isn’t all the principles, insights, and perspectives found in Scripture. No, the hope of your life can be captured in one glorious, powerful, and transforming word—grace. Without rescuing, empowering, forgiving, transforming and delivering grace, the principles of the Bible would only leave you discouraged and overwhelmed. God’s grace guarantees that you, in your struggle, will never be alone. God’s grace assures you that when you’ve blown it, there’s forgiveness to be found. Grace means that there’s strength available when you’re weak. Grace assures you that there’s wisdom for the moments when you don’t know what to do. Grace gives you hope when there seems little to be found. Grace enables you to get up and move forward when inside you want to quit or run away. Grace reminds you again and again that you’re not alone. " Paul Tripp

Every step, every plan

2011-07-11T21:02:00.000-07:00

"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

"Take one step at a time, every step under Divine warrant and direction. Ever plan for yourself in simple dependence on God. It is nothing less than self-idolatry to conceive that we can carry on even the ordinary matters of the day without his counsel. He loves to be consulted...Consider no circumstances too clear to need his direction. In all thy ways, small as well as great; in all thy concerns, personal or relative, temporal or eternal, let him be supreme. Who of us has not found the unspeakable 'peace' of bringing to God matters too minute or individual to be entrusted to the most confidential ear?... If in true poverty of spirit we go every morning to our Lord, as knowing not how to guide ourselves for this day; our eye constantly looking upward for direction, the light will come down. He shall direct thy paths…. Let the will be kept in a quiet, subdued, cheerful, readiness, to move, stay, retreat, turn to the right hand or to the left, at the Lord’s bidding; always remembering that is best which is least our own doing, and that a pliable spirit ever secures the needful guidance…. No step well prayed over will bring ultimate regret.” ~Charles Bridges

Is the Bible the word of God?

2011-07-09T09:53:00.001-07:00

Is the Bible the Word of God? Then mind that you do not neglect it. Read it! Begin to read it this very day. What greater insult to God can a man be guilty of than to refuse to read the letter God sends him from heaven? Oh, be sure, if you will not read your Bible, you are in fearful danger of losing your soul!

Is the Bible the Word of God? Then be sure you always read it with deep reverence. Say to your soul, whenever you open the Bible, “O my soul, you are going to read a message from God!”

Is the Bible the Word of God? Then be sure you never read it without fervent prayer for the help and teaching of the Holy Spirit. Humble prayer will throw more light on your Bible than any commentary that ever was written. You will not understand it unless your heart is right. You will find it a sealed book without the teaching of the Holy Spirit. Its contents are often hidden from the wise and learned, and revealed to babes.

Is the Bible the Word of God? Then let us all resolve from this day forward to prize the Bible more. God has given us the Bible to be a light to guide us to everlasting life. Let us not neglect this precious gift. Let us read it diligently, and walk in its light.

~ J.C. Ryle

Do not be anxious

2011-05-05T19:54:00.000-07:00

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For . . . your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.”

"Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.—No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!

"I want you to be free from anxieties.—Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”—“Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”—“Have faith in God.”

Matt. 6:31, 32; Ps. 34:9, 10; Ps. 84:11, 12; 1 Cor. 7:32; Phil. 4:6; Matt. 10:29-31; Mark 4:40; Mark 11:22

When I am weak

2011-04-07T20:09:00.000-07:00

The past couple weeks have been an up close and personal experience in fleshly weakness and God's all-sufficient strength. Samuel went through a second bypass surgery (first one in 1995) on March 28. He faced several challenging complications, but was able to come home from the hospital Tuesday evening. He has a long road of recovery ahead, but is thankful for each moment that the Lord gives him.

Today the reading from Daily Light spoke directly to our family in the last two weeks especially. What an encouragement God's word is to us everyday!

"The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.

"In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them.—“Lord, he whom you love is ill.”—“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.—I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.—“In him we live and move and have our being.”—He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.—“The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.”

Ps. 41:3; Isa. 63:9; John 11:3; 2 Cor. 12:9; Phil. 4:13; 2 Cor. 4:16; Acts 17:28; Isa. 40:29-31; Deut. 33:27

God, my strength

2011-03-19T14:28:00.000-07:00

Strengthen me according to your word!

Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope.—O Lord, I am oppressed; be my pledge of safety!

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”—“You know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.”

“Fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”—“Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts.”—“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”

Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

Ps. 119:28; Ps. 119:49; Isa. 38:14; Luke 21:33; Josh. 23:14; Dan. 10:19; Hag. 2:4; Zech. 4:6; Eph. 6:10

Restored

2011-03-12T09:35:00.000-08:00

“Let us suppose, in the manner of some romances, that a king was betrothed to a beautiful wife, whose picture was sent to him before he himself saw her. But when she set out on her journey to him, she fell sick of some loathsome disease, such as the smallpox or leprosy.

But suppose that he knew before she came to him that she should be restored to her first primitive beauty, and that even though he knew he would be troubled by her disaster, distemper, or disease, he easily quieted himself for that little space of time in which her infirmity, though greatly disfiguring her, was to continue. For he himself would be her physician, the only one who could cure her and restore her to her first perfect beauty, which he knew he could and should do. Thus he would show all love and peace toward her, even though her disease was loathsome, in full hope of her recovery.

This is the case between Christ and the church.”

— Thomas Goodwin

He is able!

2011-03-08T08:32:00.000-08:00

I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able.

Able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.

Able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

Able to help those who are being tempted.

Able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy.

Able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.

Who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

“Do you believe that I am able to do this?” . . . “Yes, Lord.” “According to your faith be it done to you.”

2 Tim. 1:12; Eph. 3:20; 2 Cor. 9:8; Heb. 2:18; Heb. 7:25; Jude 24; 2 Tim. 1:12; Phil. 3:21; Matt. 9:28, 29

Contentment

2011-03-02T14:58:00.001-08:00

“My brethren, the reason why you have not got contentment in the things of the world is not because you have not got enough of them. That is not the reason. But the reason is because they are not things proportionable to that immortal soul of yours that is capable of God himself. Many men think that when they are troubled and have not got contentment, it is because they have but a little in the world, and if they had more then they would be content. That is just as if a man were hungry, and to satisfy his craving stomach he should gape and hold open his mouth to take in the wind, and then should think that the reason why he is not satisfied is because he has not got enough of the wind. No, the reason is because the thing is not suitable to a craving stomach.”

Jeremiah Burroughs, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment (Edinburgh, 1964), page 91.

Jehovah Rophi

2011-02-27T09:45:00.000-08:00

JEHOVAH–ROPHI
I am the Lord that healeth thee.

Heal us, EMMANUEL, here we are,
Waiting to feel Thy touch;
Deep wounded souls to Thee repair,
And, Savior we are such.

Our faith is feeble we confess,
We faintly trust Thy word;
But wilt Thou pity us the less?
Be that far from Thee, Lord!

Remember him who once applied
With trembling for relief;
“Lord, I believe, with tears he cried,
O help my unbelief.”

She too, who touched Thee in the press,
And healing virtue stole;
Was answered, “Daughter, go in peace,
Thy faith hath made thee whole.”

Concealed amid the gath’ring throng,
She would have shunned Thy view;
And if her faith was firm and strong,
Had strong misgivings too.

Like her, with hopes and fears, we come,
To touch Thee if we may;
O! send us not despairing home,
Send none unhealed away.

~William Cowper (Olney Hymns)

Waiting

2011-02-25T09:37:00.000-08:00

“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” Psalm 37:7.

It is just this simple, patient waiting upon God in all our straits that certainly and effectually issues in our deliverance. In all circumstances of faith’s trial, of prayer’s delay, of hope deferred, the most proper and graceful posture of the soul- that which insures the largest revenue of blessing to us and of glory to God- is a patient waiting on the Lord.

Although our impatience will not cause God to break His covenant, nor violate His oath, yet a patient waiting will bring down larger and richer blessings. The moral discipline of patience is most costly. It keeps the soul humble, believing, prayerful. The mercy in which it results is all the more prized and precious from the long season of hopeful expectation. It is possible to receive a return too speedily. In our eagerness to grasp the mercy with one hand, we may lose our hold on faith and prayer and God with the other.

A patient waiting of the Lord’s time and mode of appearing in our behalf will tend to check all unworthy and unwise expedients and attempts at self-rescue. An immediate deliverance may be purchased at a price too costly. Its present taste may be sweet, but afterwards it may be bitter- God embittering the blessing that was not sought with a single eye to His glory. God’s time, though it tarry, and God’s deliverance, though delayed, when it comes proves always to have been the best: ” My soul, wait only upon God, for my expectation is from him.”

Octavius Winslow

The all satisfying Treasure

2011-02-23T16:25:00.000-08:00

“The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One. Many ordinary treasures may be denied him, or if he is allowed to have them, the enjoyment of them will be so tempered that they will never be necessary to his happiness. Or if he must see them go, one after one, he will scarcely feel a sense of loss, for having the Source of all things, he has in One all satisfaction, all pleasure, all delight. Whatever he may lose he has actually lost nothing, for he now has it all in One, and he has it purely, legitimately, forever.”

A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God (London, 1967), page 20.

The Discipline of Heeding

2011-02-14T11:03:00.000-08:00

"What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops." Matthew 10:27

"At times God puts us through the discipline of darkness to teach us to heed Him. Song birds are taught to sing in the dark, and we are put into the shadow of God's hand until we learn to hear Him. "What I tell you in darkness" - watch where God puts you into darkness, and when you are there keep your mouth shut. Are you in the dark just now in your circumstances, or in your life with God? Then remain quiet. If you open your mouth in the dark, you will talk in the wrong mood: darkness is the time to listen. Don't talk to other people about it; don't read books to find out the reason of the darkness, but listen and heed. If you talk to other people, you cannot hear what God is saying. When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message for someone else when you get into the light.

"After every time of darkness there comes a mixture of delight and humiliation (if there is delight only, I question whether we have heard God at all), delight in hearing God speak, but chiefly humiliation - What a long time I was in hearing that! How slow I have been in understanding that! And yet God has been saying it all these days and weeks. Now He gives you the gift of humiliation which brings the softness of heart that will always listen to God now." Oswald Chambers

"Sufficient unto the day..."

2011-01-14T10:22:00.000-08:00

"It is a matter of much practical importance, that you take heed not to anticipate or to forestall the promised grace. For every possible circumstance in which you may be placed, the fullness of Christ and the supplies of the covenant are provided. That provision is only meted out as the occasions for whose history it was provided occur. Beware of creating trouble by ante-dating it. Seen through the mist, the advancing object may appear gigantic in size, and terrific in appearance; and yet the trouble you so much dread may never come; or coming, it will assuredly bring with it the “word spoken in due season.” In the case of every child of God, calamity never comes alone; it invariably brings Jesus with it."

Octavius Winslow

"He knows the way"

2011-01-02T13:45:00.000-08:00

“He knows the way that I take.” Job 23:10.

"Untried, untrodden, and unknown as your future path may be, it is, each step, mapped, arranged, and provided for in the everlasting and unchangeable covenant of God. To Him who leads us, who accepts us in the Son of His love, who knows the end from the beginning, it is no new, or uncertain, or hidden way. We thank Him that while He wisely and kindly veils all the future from our reach, all that future- its minutest event- is as transparent and visible to Him as the past. Our Shepherd knows the windings along which He skillfully, gently, and safely leads His flock. He has traveled that way Himself, and has left the traces of His presence on the road. And as each follower advances- the new path unfolding at each step- he can exultingly exclaim, “I see the footprint of my Lord; here went my Master, my Leader, my Captain, leaving me an example that I should follow His steps.” Oh, it is a thought replete with strong consolation, and well calculated to gird us for the coming year- the Lord knows and has ordained each step of the untrodden path upon which I am about to enter.

"Another reflection. The infinite forethought, wisdom, and goodness which have marked each line of our new path, have also provided for its every necessity. Each exigency in the history of the new year has been anticipated. Each need will bring its appropriate and adequate supply- each perplexity will have its guidance- each sorrow its comfort- each temptation its shield- each cloud its light. Each affliction will suggest its lesson- each correction will impart its teaching- each mercy will convey its message of love. The promise will be fulfilled to the letter, “As your day, so shall your strength be.”

Octavius Winslow

Our Compassionate Christ

2010-12-23T09:01:00.000-08:00

"Let us rest our souls on the comfortable thought that the mind of Christ is always the same. If we are true believers, let us know that He looks at our graces more than at our faults, that He pities our infirmities, and that He will not deal with us according to our sins. Never had a master such poor, weak servants as believers are to Christ–but never had servants such a compassionate and tender Master as Christ is to believers!

"Surely we cannot love Him too well. We may come short in many things. We may fail in knowledge, courage, faith, and patience. We may stumble many times. But one thing let us always do. Let us love the Lord Jesus with heart, soul, mind, and strength. Whatever others do, let us “remain true to Him,” and cleave to Him with purpose of heart. Happy is he who can say with Peter, however humbled and ashamed, “Lord, you know that I love you.” (John 21:15.)

~ J.C. Ryle

Near to God and Near to us

2010-11-29T08:50:00.001-08:00

“Would you have your Savior to be one who is near to God, so that his mediation might be prevalent with him? And can you desire him to be nearer to God than Christ is, who is his only-begotten Son, of the same essence with the Father? And would you not only have him near to God, but also near to you, that you may have free access to him? And would you have him nearer to you than to be in the same nature, united to you by a spiritual union, so close as to be fitly represented by the union of the wife to the husband, of the branch to the vine, of the member to the head; yea, so as to be one spirit? For so he will be united to you, if you accept him. What is there wanting or what would you add if you could, to make him more fit to be your Savior?”

— Jonathan Edwards

How to Battle Anxiety with the Promises of God

2010-10-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

John Piper:

When I am anxious about some risky new venture or meeting, I battle unbelief with the promise: “Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed for I am your God; I will help you, I will strengthen you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

When I am anxious about my ministry being useless and empty, I fight unbelief with the promise, “So shall my word that goes forth from my mouth; it will not come back to me empty but accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

When I am anxious about being too weak to do my work, I battle unbelief with the promise of Christ, “My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9), and “As your days so shall your strength be” (Deuteronomy 33:25).

When I am anxious about decisions I have to make about the future, I battle unbelief with the promise, “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you” (Psalm 32:8).

When I am anxious about facing opponents, I battle unbelief with the promise, “If God is for us who can be against us!” (Romans 8:31).

When I am anxious about being sick, I battle unbelief with the promise that “tribulation works patience, and patience approvedness, and approvedness hope, and hope does not make us ashamed” (Romans 5:3–5).

When I am anxious about getting old, I battle unbelief with the promise, “Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save” (Isaiah 46:4).

When I am anxious about dying, I battle unbelief with the promise that “none of us lives to himself and none of us dies to himself; if we live we live to the Lord and if we die we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose again: that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living” (Romans 14:9–11).

When I am anxious that I may make shipwreck of faith and fall away from God, I battle unbelief with the promise, “He who began a good work in you will complete it unto the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:6). “He who calls you is faithful. He will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). “He is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

(HT: Justin Taylor)

Christ, Not Feelings

2010-10-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

Christ, Not Feelings

“Do you want to know supreme joy, do you want to experience a happiness that eludes description? There is only one thing to do, really seek Him, seek Him Himself, turn to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

If you find that your feelings are depressed do not sit down and commiserate with yourself, do not try to work something up but go directly to Him and seek His face, as the little child who is miserable and unhappy because somebody else has taken or broken his toy, runs to its father or its mother. So if you and I find ourselves afflicted by this condition, there is only one thing to do, it is to go to Him.

If you seek the Lord Jesus Christ and find him there is no need to worry about your happiness and your joy. He is our joy and our happiness, even as He is our peace. He is life, He is everything. So avoid the incitements and the temptations of Satan to give feelings this great prominence at the centre. Put at the centre the only One who has a right to be there, the Lord of Glory, Who so loved you that He went to the Cross and bore the punishment and the shame of your sins and died for you.”

- Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Spiritual Depression, 117-118

(HT: Of First Importance)

"Thy sweetness, Lord"

2010-09-11T10:03:00.000-07:00

Mark 3:5, 21-23

"When our Lord had looked round on them with anger, being grieved for their hardness of heart, He said a loving word to a poor man...What do we say when we are grieved and angry? Do we speak a kind word to someone who needs it?...There is not a word of indignant self-defense, just a quiet question. It was the overflow of the sweetness and peace of His heart. When we are unkindly and unjustly accused, perhaps just when we have been helping someone, how do we react?...there is always time for a look up to Him. 'Thy sweetness, Lord. Thy peace, Lord.' It will always be given." Amy Carmichael

Perseverence

2010-08-12T12:27:00.000-07:00

"Would you have perfect peace in life? Then lay hold on this doctrine of perseverance. Your trials may be many and great. Your cross may be very heavy. But the business of your soul is all conducted according to an “everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure.” (2 Sam. 23:5.) All things are working together for your good. Your sorrows are only purifying your soul for glory. Your bereavements are only fashioning you as a polished stone for the temple above, made without hands. From whatever quarter the storms blow, they only drive you nearer to heaven. Whatever weather you may go through it is only ripening you for the garner of God. Your best things are quite safe. Come what will, you shall 'never perish.'”

~ J.C. Ryle

The Path of Life

2010-07-25T08:49:00.000-07:00

"You make known to me the path of life.

“Thus says the Lord: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.”—“I will instruct you in the good and the right way.”—“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”—“Follow me.”

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.—“The gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

"And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.—“Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord.”

“In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”

Ps. 16:11; Jer. 21:8; 1 Sam. 12:23; John 14:6; Matt. 4:19; Prov. 14:12; Matt. 7:13, 14; Isa. 35:8; Hos. 6:3; John 14:2

Clothed in His righteousness

2010-07-09T08:21:00.000-07:00

“I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.”

"Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.—We have all become like one who is unclean.—I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.—You have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.—Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but . . . the righteousness from God that depends on faith.

“Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him.”—The fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.—I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness.

Zech. 3:4; Ps. 32:1; Isa. 64:6; Rom. 7:18; Gal. 3:27; Col. 3:9, 10; Phil. 3:9; Luke 15:22; Rev. 19:8; Isa. 61:10

He Cares!

2010-06-24T08:21:00.000-07:00

"The ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them three days' journey, to seek out a resting place for them.

"My times are in your hand.—He chose our heritage for us.—Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness; . . . make your way straight before me.—Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.—In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.—Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.—As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.—“The Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.”—Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."

Num. 10:33; Ps. 31:15; Ps. 47:4; Ps. 5:8; Ps. 37:5; Prov. 3:6; Isa. 30:21; Ps. 23:1, 2; Ps. 103:13, 14; Matt. 6:32; 1 Pet. 5:7

Follow His example

2010-06-21T08:11:00.001-07:00

"Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

“Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.”—“Whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.”

"Jesus of Nazareth . . . went about doing good.—Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

"The meekness and gentleness of Christ.—In humility count others more significant than yourselves.

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”—Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

"Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.—Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

1 Pet. 2:21; Mark 10:45; Mark 10:44; Acts 10:38; Gal. 6:2; 2 Cor. 10:1; Phil. 2:3; Luke 23:34; Eph. 4:32; 1 John 2:6; Heb. 12:2

He hears me

2010-06-17T08:26:00.000-07:00

"In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

"I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.—“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.”—The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

"I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling.—Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

Phil. 4:6; Ps. 116:1, 2; Matt. 6:7; Rom. 8:26; 1 Tim. 2:8; Eph. 6:18

"Oh, how abundant is your goodness!"

2010-05-25T08:36:00.000-07:00

"Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you.

"From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.—“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit.—You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

"How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

"Godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."

Ps. 31:19; Isa. 64:4; 1 Cor. 2:9, 10; Ps. 16:11; Ps. 36:7-9; 1 Tim. 4:8

The power of God

2010-05-21T08:57:00.000-07:00

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.—With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.—The gospel . . . is the power of God for salvation.

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me.—I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.—But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.”—May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy."

Eph. 6:10; 2 Cor. 12:9, 10; Ps. 71:16; Rom. 1:16; Phil. 4:13; Col. 1:29; 2 Cor. 4:7; Neh. 8:10; Col. 1:11

It's not about me

2010-05-19T08:35:00.000-07:00

Sometimes (too many times!) I find myself thinking mostly in terms of how things affect, benefit, hinder, etc. me in my relationship to the Lord rather than standing back in humble amazement that He has an Ultimate purpose for everything (namely His glory). What really boggles the mind is to realize He has created me with an eye to taking part in that ultimate purpose. His plan in salvation is not primarily to save me from my sins, but to proclaim His never-ending glory and steadfast love. I reap all the benefits and He gets all the glory!

"Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make known his mighty power.—Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!"

Ps. 106:8; Ps. 115:1

The Word

2010-05-18T09:40:00.000-07:00

"'A Christian who is saturated with the Word,' my father wrote, 'is likely to have a calm, wholesome outlook on life; to be kept steady in the path of God's will in either joy or sorrow, wealth or poverty; he is likely to be a pleasant companion, not voluble in aimless talk; and he will not be overly disturbed by world conditions.'" The Shaping of a Christian Family by Elisabeth Elliot

Don't be anxious!

2010-05-05T09:18:00.000-07:00

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For . . . your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.”

"I want you to be free from anxieties.—Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Matt. 6:31, 32; Ps. 34:9, 10; Ps. 84:11, 12; 1 Cor. 7:32; Phil. 4:6; Matt. 10:29-31; Mark 4:40; Mark 11:22

Old Hymn

2010-04-29T09:13:00.000-07:00

An old hymn came to my attention today that impressed me in a new way. Even though I have sung it occasionally in the past at church, I haven't let the words speak as clearly as they are doing right now.

"We have not known Thee as we ought,
Nor learned Thy wisdom, grace and power;
The things of earth have filled our thought,
And trifles of the passing hour.
Lord, give us light Thy truth to see,
And make us wise in knowing Thee.

"We have not feared Thee as we ought,
Nor bowed beneath Thine awful eye,
Nor guarded deed and word and thought,
Remembering that God was nigh.
Lord, give us faith to know Thee near,
And grant the grace of holy fear.

"We have not loved Thee as we ought,
Nor cared that we are loved by Thee;
Thy presence we have coldly sought,
And feebly longed Thy face to see.
Lord, give a pure and loving heart
To feel and know the love Thou art.

"We have not served Thee as we ought,
Alas, the duties left undone,
The work with little fervor wrought,
The battles lost or scarcely won!
Lord, give the zeal, and give the might,
For Thee to toil, for Thee to fight.

"When shall we know Thee as we ought,
And fear and love and serve aright?
When shall we, out of trial brought,
Be perfect in the land of light?
Lord, may we day by day prepare
To see Thy face and serve Thee there."

- Thomas Pollock

Consider

2010-04-29T08:33:00.001-07:00

“Consider what great things he has done for you.”

“And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you.”

"I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. . . . It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. . . . Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.—The Lord has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death.—He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust."

1 Sam. 12:24; Deut. 8:2, 5; Ps. 119:75, 71, 67; Ps. 118:18; Ps. 103:10, 11, 14

"He who promised is faithful"

2010-04-24T10:21:00.000-07:00

"The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised.

"Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.—David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.—“God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”—“‘I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them.’ This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years.”—Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.

"He who promised is faithful.—Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?—“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”—The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever."

Gen. 21:1; Ps. 62:8; 1 Sam. 30:6; Gen. 50:24; Acts 7:34, 36; Josh. 21:45; Heb. 10:23; Num. 23:19; Matt. 24:35; Isa. 40:8

Pride

2010-04-15T07:44:00.000-07:00

"It is a dreadful fact, whether we like to allow it or not, that pride is one of the common sins which beset human nature. We are all born Pharisees. We all naturally think far better of ourselves than we ought. We all naturally imagine that we deserve something better than we have. It is an old sin. It began in the garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve thought they had not got everything that their merits deserved. It is a subtle sin. It rules and reigns in many a heart without being detected, and can even wear the garb of humility. It is a most soul ruining sin. It prevents repentance, keeps men back from Christ – checks brotherly love, and nips in the bud spiritual desires. Let us watch against it, and be on our guard. Of all garments, none is so graceful, none wears so well, and none is so rare, as true humility."

~ J.C. Ryle

Satisfied!

2010-04-14T07:25:00.000-07:00

"My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night.

"How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.—How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!—Your love is better than wine.

"Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.—You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.

"As an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste, he brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.—His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as the cedars. His mouth is most sweet, and he is altogether desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend."

Ps. 63:5, 6; Ps. 139:17, 18; Ps. 119:103; Song 1:2; Ps. 73:25; Ps. 45:2; Song 2:3, 4; Song 5:15, 16

The Love of God

2010-04-08T07:15:00.001-07:00

"The Love that calls us into being, woos us to Himself, makes us His bride, lays down His life for us, daily crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercy, will never abandon us." Elisabeth Elliot

"In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him." I John 4:9

The Name of the Lord

2010-04-06T07:33:00.000-07:00

"And those who know your name put their trust in you.

“And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’”—With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.

"His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor.—I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.—Mighty God, Everlasting Father.—I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.—Prince of Peace.—For he himself is our peace.—Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.—Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help.—“Like birds hovering, so the Lord of hosts will protect Jerusalem; he will protect and deliver it; he will spare and rescue it.”

Ps. 9:10; Jer. 23:6; Ps. 71:16; Isa. 9:6; Jer. 10:23; Isa. 9:6; 2 Tim. 1:12; Isa. 9:6; Eph. 2:14; Rom. 5:1; Prov. 18:10; Isa. 31:1; Isa. 31:5

Joy

2010-04-01T08:37:00.000-07:00

"But the fruit of the Spirit is . . . joy.

"Joy in the Holy Spirit.—Joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.

"As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.—In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.—We rejoice in our sufferings.

"Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith . . . for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame.—“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”—For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.—Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.—“The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

"In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.—“For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Gal. 5:22; Rom. 14:17; 1 Pet. 1:8; 2 Cor. 6:10; 7:4; Rom. 5:3; Heb. 12:2; John 15:11; 2 Cor. 1:5; Phil. 4:4; Neh. 8:10; Ps. 16:11; Rev. 7:17

Righteousness of faith

2010-03-24T07:36:00.000-07:00

"And [Abraham] believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

"No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord.

"For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.—“The righteous shall live by faith.”— Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.—Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.—“For nothing will be impossible with God.” . . . “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:20-24; Rom. 4:13; Rom. 1:17; Heb. 10:23; Ps. 115:3; Luke 1:37, 45

"The LORD, the LORD"

2010-03-17T07:23:00.000-07:00

"And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, 'The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.'" Exodus 34:6-7

2010-03-15T09:52:00.000-07:00

"God does many things which we do not understand. Of course He does - He is God, perfect in wisdom, love, and power. We are only children, very far from perfect in anything. A true faith must rest solidly on His character and His Word, not on our particular conceptions of what He ought to do." Elisabeth Elliot

"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!" Romans 11:33

"What pleases Him"

2010-03-12T08:58:00.000-08:00

"And without faith it is impossible to please him.—Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.—The Lord takes pleasure in his people.

"For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.—Your adorning . . . with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit . . . in God's sight is very precious.

“The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”—I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

1 John 3:22; Heb. 11:6; Rom. 8:8; Ps. 149:4; 1 Pet. 2:19, 20; 1 Pet. 3:4; Ps. 50:23; Ps. 69:30, 31; Rom. 12:1

He is Able!

2010-03-08T08:31:00.001-08:00

I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able.

Able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.

Able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

Able to help those who are being tempted.

Able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy.

Able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.

Who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

“Do you believe that I am able to do this?” . . . “Yes, Lord.” “According to your faith be it done to you.”

2 Tim. 1:12; Eph. 3:20; 2 Cor. 9:8; Heb. 2:18; Heb. 7:25; Jude 24; 2 Tim. 1:12; Phil. 3:21; Matt. 9:28, 29

Heaven

2010-03-03T14:25:00.000-08:00

"Think of the most beautiful place you know on earth. Think of the most wonderful day you have ever had. Think of the person who loves you more than anybody else loves you. And then multiply that by a million, and maybe that's the tiniest hint of what heaven will be like." Elisabeth Elliot

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." I Corinthians 2:9

Living life

2010-03-02T09:09:00.000-08:00

"I praise Thee that all I am is Thine. Oh, that I could delight Thee as the lily does, or the tree, or even the sparrows, just living the life Thou has granted!" Oswald Chambers

2010-02-27T10:30:00.000-08:00

"One of the amazing paradoxes of the Christian faith is that saints have found joy in doing what they don't want to do and in not doing what they want to do when the will of God happens to cross their personal preferences." Elisabeth Elliot

The Liberty of Jesus

2010-02-25T12:43:00.000-08:00

"A spiritually minded man will never come to you with the demand, 'Believe this or that;' but with the demand that you square your life with the standards of Jesus...We are called to present liberty of conscience, not liberty of view...the liberty of realizing the dominance of Jesus Christ.

"Always keep your life measured by the standards of Jesus. Bow your neck to His yoke alone, and to no other yoke whatever; and be careful to see that you never bind a yoke on others that is not placed by Jesus Christ...

"There is only one liberty, the liberty of Jesus at work in our conscience enabling us to do what is right. Don't get impatient, remember how God dealt with you - with patience and with gentleness; but never water down the truth of God. Let it have its way and never apologize for it. Jesus said, 'Go and make disciples,' not 'make converts to your opinions.'" - Oswald Chambers

Labor to enter rest

2010-02-17T09:37:00.000-08:00

"Matthew 11:28; Hebrews 4:10-11 - 'Labor' in Hebrews 4:11 means 'make haste.' Is the word used to remind us that we shall not drift into rest? There must be the will to enter in. Perhaps what demands most will power is the resolution to cease from our own works, our own busyness and to stay our minds upon our God.

"We pray and the answer is not what we expect. It seems an answer of loss, and sometimes loss upon loss. We must cease from our own thoughts about it and believe that what He has allowed is the perfect answer for the moment. As we believe and accept, we enter into rest and the strain passes into peace.

"This covers all life: the illness of those we love, mental or spiritual suffering, the unexplained, everything. Let us not lose one hour in needless ineffective distress. Let us hasten by an act of the will to come to Him for rest."

- Amy Carmichael, Whispers of His Power, pp. 61, 62

The Lord is my Portion

2010-02-14T08:35:00.000-08:00

“I am your portion and your inheritance.”

"Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.—The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”—Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.

"O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water . . . for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.—My beloved is mine, and I am his."

Num. 18:20; Ps. 73:25, 26; Ps. 16:5, 6; Lam. 3:24; Ps. 119:111; Ps. 63:1, 7; Song 2:16

Faith

2010-02-11T07:22:00.000-08:00

"Faith is the willingness to receive whatever He wants to give and the willingness not to have what He does not want to give." Elisabeth Elliot

"'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I hope in Him!'" Lamentations 3:24

Waiting patiently

2010-02-03T09:53:00.000-08:00

"Waiting patiently is almost impossible unless we also are learning at the same time to find joy in the Lord, commit everything to Him, trust Him, and be quiet." Elisabeth Elliot

"In the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good." Psalm 52:9

Look Up!

2010-01-25T07:38:00.000-08:00

"Keep looking toward heaven. Look around, and you'll be dismayed. Look inside, and you'll be depressed. Look up, and you'll be thrilled." - Elisabeth Elliot

Peace, quietness, trust

2010-01-13T07:47:00.000-08:00

As you go through this day, with all of its hurry and scurry, meditate on these gems from God's word.

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you.”

"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.—“I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”

“Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?”—Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.—“In quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

"And the result of righteousness [shall be] quietness and trust forever.—“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”—Peace from him who is and who was and who is to come."

Isa. 26:3; Ps. 55:22; Isa. 12:2; Matt. 8:26; Phil. 4:6, 7; Isa. 30:15; Isa. 32:17; John 14:27; Rev. 1:4

Pride and Unbelief

2010-01-08T09:03:00.000-08:00

I read a quote by J.C. Ryle yesterday that addressed the two sins that plague me most in life - pride and unbelief. Of course, I have a much more refined way of speaking of such things when they concern myself rather than others. But I must admit, Ryle has found me out big time!

"Pride in our own difference from others, pride in our reputation as Christians, pride in our spiritual attainments. Unbelief about our own sinfulness, unbelief about God's wisdom, unbelief about God's mercy. Oh, they are heavy burdens, and sorely do they keep us back, and few really know they are carrying them, and few indeed are those who will not discover them at the very bottom of the chamber of their hearts, waiting an opportunity to come out."

When I'm tempted to despair over ever getting things right, He gently reminds me that as long as I depend on my own strength, I never will. But He calls me to run to Him in total dependence and recognition of who He is and what He has done in spite of who I am and what I have done.

"Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea." Mic. 7:18, 19

"He has blessed us in the Beloved.—In order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him." Eph. 1:6; Col. 1:22

What do you want?

2010-01-03T08:46:00.000-08:00

For as long as I can remember I have always wanted to know God's will for my life. The only problem was that in my mind, that "will" was some nebulous something out there that I was supposed to search after and hope that I got right. Otherwise I would be saddled with God's second best for my life - His permissive will rather than His perfect will! This thinking has caused me much grief through the years.

About seven years ago, I heard Jerry Bridges speak. I don't even remember his sermon topic, but I DO remember one sentence that changed my life -God has only one plan for my life - no Plan B if I happen to "miss" His perfect will. What a relief that was to me! When God did so much to accomplish my salvation and reveal Himself to me, how could I ever imagine that He would keep me in the dark about what He wanted for my life while I was still here on this earth?

How about you? Do you want to know His will for your life?

“What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.”

"Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.

"Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.—“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things.”—Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.

"The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might."

Luke 18:41; Ps. 119:18; Luke 24:45; John 14:26; Jas. 1:17; Eph. 1:17-19

The Lord goes before

2010-01-01T08:30:00.000-08:00

How comforting to know that as we begin this new year on earth, that it is the Lord Who goes before us, surrounding us with His presence and promise never to leave or forsake us. Maybe this will be the year that we meet Him face to face!!

“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you.”

"And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.”—I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

"The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.

"Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.—For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Deut. 31:8; Ex. 33:15; Jer. 10:23; Ps. 37:23, 24; Ps. 73:23, 24; Rom. 8:38, 39

Draw Near

2009-12-29T08:24:00.000-08:00

"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

"Enoch walked with God.—“Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?”—It is good to be near God.

“The Lord is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. . . . But when in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them.”

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me . . . when you seek me with all your heart.”

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way, . . . and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith."

James 4:8; Gen. 5:24; Amos 3:3; Ps. 73:28; 2 Chron. 15:2, 4; Jer. 29:11-13; Heb. 10:19-22

My heart's desire

2009-12-18T09:30:00.000-08:00

Here's an excerpt from Matthew Henry's A Method for Prayer.

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you or in comparison with you. When my flesh and my heart fail, Lord, be the strength of my heart and my portion forever, Psalm 73:25-26(ESV) the chosen portion of my inheritance in the other world and of my cup in this; and then I will say that the lines have fallen for me in pleasant places, and that I have a beautiful inheritance. Psalm 16:5-6(ESV)

Your name and remembrance are the desire of my soul; my soul yearns for you in the night, and my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. Isaiah 26:8-9(ESV)

As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God; my soul thirsts for God, for the living God, Psalm 42:1-2(ESV) who commands his steadfast love by day, and at night his song is with me; a prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42:8(ESV)

O that I may come hungering and thirsting after righteousness, Matthew 5:6(ESV) for you fill the hungry with good things, but the rich you send away empty. Luke 1:53(ESV)

O that my soul may thirst for you, and my flesh faint for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water; that I may see your power and glory, as I have looked upon you in the sanctuary. Your steadfast love is better than life; Psalm 63:1-3(ESV) my soul will be satisfied with that as with fat and rich food, and then my mouth will praise you with joyful lips. Psalm 63:5(ESV)

Rejoice and give praise

2009-12-14T08:52:00.000-08:00

I recently "discovered" a new verse in Psalms. I don't know how many times I've read the Psalms and never noticed it, but it really jumped out at me last week. It is Psalm 5:11 - "But let all those that put their trust in thee, rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee."

Do I put my trust in Him? Then rejoice! Yes, shout for joy!! Do I love His name? Then be joyful in HIM! I am His and He is mine. What more could I ask? I just can't wait to see Him face to face!

This morning I read in my Daily Light the following verses that give all the more reason to rejoice.

"Give to him glorious praise!

“The people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.”—“I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth.”—Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.—I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.—“Who is like you, O Lord, . . . majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?”—I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.—And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty!”

Ps. 66:2; Isa. 43:21; Jer. 33:8, 9; Heb. 13:15; Ps. 86:12, 13; Ex. 15:11; Ps. 69:30; Rev. 15:3

Waiting

2009-12-11T07:41:00.000-08:00

"Nothing can be more spiritually nourishing than waiting on God. He keeps me waiting, sometimes to what looks to me like the 'screaming edge' of the precipice. Then precisely when I need to know,
God shows me." Elisabeth Elliot

"My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him." Psalm 62:5

What does God require?

2009-12-09T08:06:00.000-08:00

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?—“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.”—“And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

“So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.”—Mary . . . sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. . . . “One thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”—It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Prov. 21:3; Mic. 6:8; 1 Sam. 15:22; Mark 12:33; Hos. 12:6; Luke 10:39, 42; Phil. 2:13

His life in us

2009-12-04T09:19:00.000-08:00

"We're called to participate with Christ in His own work, to love with His love, to do what He does to and for one another. There's no way in the world to do it alone. We do it because He lives His life in us." Elisabeth Elliot

"And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us." I John 3:23-24

"I would seek God"

2009-12-03T07:41:00.000-08:00

“I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause.

“'Is anything too hard for the Lord?'—Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.—Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.—Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

"Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord.

“'Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.'—The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

"I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live."

Job 5:8; Gen. 18:14; Ps. 37:5; Phil. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:7; Isa. 37:14, 15; Isa. 65:24; Jas. 5:16; Ps. 116:1, 2

Peace

2009-11-30T07:14:00.001-08:00

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

"Peace from him who is and who was and who is to come.—The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

"Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”—“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. . . . Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

“The Helper . . . the Spirit of truth.”—The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace.—The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us?”

2 Thess. 3:16; Rev. 1:4; Phil. 4:7; Luke 24:36; John 14:27; John 15:26; Gal. 5:22; Rom. 8:16; Ex. 33:14-16

Satisfied!

2009-11-29T09:40:00.000-08:00

"We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house.

"One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”—“He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.”

"He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.—“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

Ps. 65:4; Ps. 27:4; Matt. 5:6; Luke 1:53; Ps. 107:9; John 6:35; Ps. 36:7-9

Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T10:01:00.000-08:00

"Thanksgiving requires the recognition of the Source. It implies contentment with what is given, not complaint about what is not given." Elisabeth Elliot

May today (and every day!) be a day of true thanksgiving to the Source of all we possess. Have a wonderful day reflecting on Him!

Thanksgiving

2009-11-24T07:37:00.000-08:00

"There is always plenty to complain about if your life is controlled by your feelings. But there is always much more to thank God for if your life is controlled by your dwelling on His faithfulness, His love and His mercy." Elisabeth Elliot

"I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name." Psalm 138:2

Truth

2009-11-06T07:12:00.000-08:00

Lead me in your truth and teach me.

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.”—You have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.

To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.—All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.—The sacred writings . . . are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.—“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.”—“If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God.”—It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.

Ps. 25:5; John 16:13; 1 John 2:20; Isa. 8:20; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17; 2 Tim. 3:15; Ps. 32:8; Matt. 6:22; John 7:17; Isa. 35:8

2009-11-03T07:35:00.000-08:00

"Christianity teaches righteousness, not rights. It emphasizes honor, not equality. A Christian's concern is what is owed to the other, not what is owed to himself." - Elisabeth Elliot

2009-09-19T11:24:00.000-07:00

"Let us bring everything that baffles us into His presence, holding it up before Him by faith. In that Light, the look of things will slowly begin to change, and as we humble ourselves our eyes will be opened." From A Lamp for My Feet, by Elisabeth Elliot.

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6

"If Thou but Suffer God to Guide Thee"

2009-09-07T12:24:00.000-07:00

I was just looking on Google for the lyrics of "If Thou but Suffer God to Guide Thee". I wanted to have a copy to put on 3x5 cards to carry with me. Being lazy, I didn't want to have to type out all five verses. My search led me to an additional two verses (!) which I had never heard before. They are great as well. I couldn't just keep them to myself, so here you go.

          "If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee"
                         by Georg Neumark, 1621-1681
                Translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878
                                

 1. If thou but suffer God to guide thee
 And hope in Him through all thy ways,
 He'll give thee strength, whate'er betide thee,
 And bear thee through the evil days.
 Who trusts in God's unchanging love
 Builds on the Rock that naught can move.
 
 2. What can these anxious cares avail thee,
 These never-ceasing moans and sighs?
 What can it help if thou bewail thee
 O'er each dark moment as it flies?
 Our cross and trials do but press
 The heavier for our bitterness.
 
 3. Be patient and await His leisure
 In cheerful hope, with heart content
 To take whate'er thy Father's pleasure
 And His discerning love hath sent,
 Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
 To Him who chose us for His own.
 
 4. God knows full well when times of gladness
 Shall be the needful thing for thee.
 When He has tried thy soul with sadness
 And from all guile has found thee free,
 He comes to thee all unaware
 And makes thee own His loving care.
 
 5. Nor think amid the fiery trial
 That God hath cast thee off unheard,
 That he whose hopes meet no denial
 Must surely be of God preferred.
 Time passes and much change doth bring
 And sets a bound to everything.
 
 6. All are alike before the Highest;
 'Tis easy to our God, we know,
 To raise thee up, though low thou liest,
 To make the rich man poor and low.
 True wonders still by Him are wrought
 Who setteth up and brings to naught.
 
 7. Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving,
 Perform thy duties faithfully,
 And trust His Word, though undeserving,
 Thou yet shalt find it true for thee.
 God never yet forsook in need
 The soul that trusted Him indeed.

Come!

2009-09-05T09:51:00.001-07:00

The fountain of living waters.

How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life.

Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty.”—“Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”—Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive.

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters.”—The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

Jer. 2:13; Ps. 36:7-9; Isa. 65:13; John 4:14; John 7:39; Isa. 55:1; Rev. 22:17

"My cup overflows"

2009-08-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

"My cup overflows.

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.—His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

"The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.—Whether . . . the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours.—Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

"I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.—Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment.—My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

Ps. 23:5; Ps. 34:8-10; Lam. 3:22, 23; Ps. 16:5, 6; 1 Cor. 3:22; Eph. 1:3; Phil. 4:11; 1 Tim. 6:6; Phil. 4:19

Rejoicing in the Lord

2009-08-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

I am rejoicing today in 30 years of marriage to my wonderful husband. Today's Daily Light reading was just perfect for our special day.

"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God.

"I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!—The Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!—Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!—Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.—Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything.—Singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.—Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice."

Isa. 61:10; Ps. 34:1-3; Ps. 84:11, 12; Ps. 103:1; Jas. 5:13; Eph. 5:18-20; Col. 3:16; Acts 16:25; Phil. 4:4

He is the Rock

2009-08-20T08:20:00.000-07:00

"May God help you to fling yourself against the Rock, Jesus Christ, in utter faith, in a total abandonment of yourself, leaving behind your preconceived notions of what God is supposed to do for you and remembering that God never does anything to you that isn't for you." - Elisabeth Elliot

"He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he." Deuteronomy 32:4

Deep peace

2009-08-15T09:46:00.000-07:00

"The deep peace that comes from deep trust in God's lovingkindness is not destroyed even by the worst of circumstances, for those Everlasting Arms are still cradling us." Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot.

"He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." Isaiah 40:11

The joy of the Lord

2009-08-14T08:40:00.001-07:00

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! for the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.—“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”—The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.—My soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.—We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.—I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

Neh. 8:10; Isa. 49:13; Isa. 12:2; Ps. 28:7; Isa. 61:10; Rom. 15:17; Rom. 5:11; Hab. 3:18

2009-08-10T08:27:00.001-07:00

"We are the creatures of a great Master-Designer, and His ordering of our lives is sure and certain; yet many people live without any visible order or peace or serenity. The way we live ought to manifest the truth of what we believe." Elisabeth Elliot

"Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble." Psalm 119:165

Bless the Lord!

2009-06-17T10:14:00.000-07:00

All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you!

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.—I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.—Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips.

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Ps. 145:10; Ps. 103:1, 2; Ps. 34:1; Ps. 145:2; Ps. 63:3-5; Luke 1:46, 47; Rev. 4:11

The Cross

2009-06-03T08:36:00.000-07:00

"One thing will keep us from idealizing life's best and will make bearable life's worst, and that is the Cross." - Elisabeth Elliot

My Portion

2009-06-02T08:37:00.001-07:00

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup.

Heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.—All things are yours.—My beloved is mine.—The Son of God . . . loved me and gave himself for me.

And the Lord said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel.”

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.—I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land.

Ps. 16:5; Rom. 8:17; 1 Cor. 3:21; Song 2:16; Gal. 2:20; Num 18:20; Ps. 73:25, 26; Ps. 23:4; 2 Tim. 1:12; Ps. 63:1

2009-06-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

"Lord Jesus, Master of my life, my very breath is in your hands. Remind me throughout the hours of this day to depend on You for the help I need and to ask You for it." From A Lamp for My Feet by Elisabeth Elliot.

"In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul." Psalm 138:3

"How Abundant is Your Goodness!"

2009-05-25T10:47:00.001-07:00

Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you.

From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.—“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit.—You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Ps. 31:19; Isa. 64:4; 1 Cor. 2:9, 10; Ps. 16:11; Ps. 36:7-9; 1 Tim. 4:8

"Quiet Resting Places"

2009-05-01T09:15:00.000-07:00

But the fruit of the Spirit is . . . peace.

To set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

God has called you to peace.—“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.”—May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.—You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.—“Whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

Great peace have those who love your law.

Gal. 5:22; Rom. 8:6; 1 Cor. 7:15; John 14:27; Rom. 15:13; 2 Tim. 1:12; Isa. 26:3; Isa. 32:17, 18; Prov. 1:33; Ps. 119:165

"Precious Thoughts"

2009-04-14T17:49:00.000-07:00

"My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night.

"Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you."

Ps. 63:5, 6; Ps. 139:17, 18; Ps. 119:103; Song 1:2; Ps. 73:25

The past couple of months have been full for our family as my 87-year-old mother has had surgery for a recently diagnosed colon cancer. She amazed everyone (especially the doctor!) with how well she breezed through everything. She made us all look like wimps in comparison. She is recovering well, considering all she has been through, but we are all in the process of making changes for the future. These past days I have had many opportunities to "meditate on you in the watches of the night" and rejoice in "how precious to me are your thoughts, O God!"

I am so thankful for the wonderful heritage God has given me. Mom has done nothing but glorify Him through all of this. She is eager to go Home, but is willing to stay here as long as the Lord sees fit. There is absolutely no fear or dread in either option for her. She rests in His "precious thoughts" and is content with whatever He gives her in His love.

I hope to get back into posting more in the days ahead. I have been soaking up more of the Gospel these past weeks and feel like such a novice still as I am seeing things for the first time that have always been there. I'm having "the eyes of [my] heart enlightened, that [I] may know what is the hope to which he has called [me], what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe..."

"The Discipline of Dejection"

2009-02-07T09:48:00.000-08:00

From My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers:

"But we trusted . . . and beside all this, to-day is the third day . . ." Luke 24:21

"Every fact that the disciples stated was right; but the inferences they drew from those facts were wrong. Anything that savours of dejection spiritually is always wrong. If depression and oppression visit me, I am to blame; God is not, nor is anyone else. Dejection springs from one of two sources - I have either satisfied a lust or I have not. Lust means - I must have it at once. Spiritual lust makes me demand an answer from God, instead of seeking God Who gives the answer. What have I been trusting God would do? And to-day - the immediate present - is the third day, and He has not done it; therefore I imagine I am justified in being dejected and in blaming God. Whenever the insistence is on the point that God answers prayer, we are off the track. The meaning of prayer is that we get hold of God, not of the answer. It is impossible to be well physically and to be dejected. Dejection is a sign of sickness, and the same thing is true spiritually. Dejection spiritually is wrong, and we are always to blame for it.

"We look for visions from heaven, for earthquakes and thunders of God's power (the fact that we are dejected proves that we do), and we never dream that all the time God is in the commonplace things and people around us. If we will do the duty that lies nearest, we shall see Him. One of the most amazing revelations of God comes when we learn that it is in the commonplace things that the Deity of Jesus Christ is realized."

His overflowing Grace

2009-02-06T09:17:00.000-08:00

"The grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.—But where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.

"So that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.—Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.—He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior."

1 Tim. 1:14; 2 Cor. 8:9; Rom. 5:20; Eph. 2:7-9; Gal. 2:16; Titus 3:5, 6

Worthy is the Lamb

2009-01-29T08:25:00.001-08:00

I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.

The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me.—It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to pre-sent your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.—So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. . . . Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.—Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

Ps. 86:12; Ps. 50:23; Ps. 92:1, 2; Ps. 150:6; Rom. 12:1; Heb. 13:12, 15; Eph. 5:20; Rev. 5:12

Our God, forever and ever

2009-01-22T08:59:00.001-08:00

This is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.

O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.—The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.—You hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.—For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.—The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Ps. 48:14; Isa. 25:1; Ps. 16:5; Ps. 23:3, 4; Ps. 73:23-26; Ps. 33:21; Ps. 138:8

He has carried me

2008-12-31T07:54:00.000-08:00

On this last day of 2008, I am again reminded of God's wonderful goodness to me every day throughout the year. It has been a year full of ups and downs from a human perspective, and yet I have come to see every detail as a gift from Him, fitting into His perfect plan to glorify Himself. He has carried me tenderly and safely through 2008, and I know He also holds the future. I'm anticipating the days ahead as He continues to "carry me" each step. What a privilege to be a part of His Kingdom!

“The Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.”

“I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.”—In his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.—Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them on its pinions, the Lord alone guided him.

“Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.”—This is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.

"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you.—“Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. . . . For . . . your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

“Till now the Lord has helped us.”

Deut. 1:31; Ex. 19:4; Isa. 63:9; Deut. 32:11, 12; Isa. 46:4; Ps. 48:14; Ps. 55:22; Matt. 6:25, 32; 1 Sam. 7:12

The Test of Loyalty

2008-12-18T12:51:00.000-08:00




"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God." Romans 8:28 "It is only the loyal soul who believes that God engineers circumstances. We take such liberty with our circumstances, we do not believe God engineers them, although we say we do; we treat the things that happen as if they were engineered by men. To be faithful in every circumstance means that we have only one loyalty, and that is to our Lord. Suddenly God breaks up a particular set of circumstances, and the realization comes that we have been disloyal to Him by not recognizing that He had ordered them; we never saw what He was after, and that particular thing will never be repeated all the days of our life. The test of loyalty always comes just there. If we learn to worship God in the trying circumstances, He will alter them in two seconds when He chooses. "Loyalty to Jesus Christ is the thing that we "stick at" to-day. We will be loyal to work, to service, to anything, but do not ask us to be loyal to Jesus Christ. Many Christians are intensely impatient of talking about loyalty to Jesus. Our Lord is dethroned more emphatically by Christian workers than by the world. God is made a machine for blessing men, and Jesus Christ is made a Worker among workers. "The idea is not that we do work for God, but that we are so loyal to Him that He can do His work through us - "I reckon on you for extreme service, with no complaining on your part and no explanation on Mine." God wants to use us as He used His own Son." Taken from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers.

One thing is necessary

2008-12-09T09:48:00.001-08:00

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

Prov. 21:3; Mic. 6:8; 1 Sam. 15:22; Mark 12:33; Hos. 12:6; Luke 10:39, 42; Phil. 2:13

True Satisfaction

2008-11-29T13:15:00.001-08:00

We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house.

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”—“He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.”

He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.—“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

Ps. 65:4; Ps. 27:4; Matt. 5:6; Luke 1:53; Ps. 107:9; John 6:35; Ps. 36:7-9

Graven on His hands

2008-11-26T09:05:00.000-08:00

The Lord delights in you.

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”—“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.”

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way.—Delighting in the children of man.—The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.—“They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.”

You, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.

Isa. 62:4; Isa. 43:1; Isa. 49:15, 16; Ps. 37:23; Prov. 8:31; Ps. 147:11; Mal. 3:17; Col. 1:21, 22

Praise Him

2008-11-24T08:33:00.000-08:00

"There is always plenty to complain about if your life is controlled by your feelings. But there is always much more to thank God for if your life is controlled by your dwelling on His faithfulness, His love and His mercy." - Elisabeth Elliot

"I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name." Psalm 138:2

Grace Gems

2008-11-19T09:04:00.000-08:00

The puddle of their own merit!

(William Secker, "The Consistent Christian" 1660)

Many have passed the rocks of gross sins--who have suffered shipwreck upon the sands of self-righteousness.

It was the saying of one, that he "would swim through a sea of brimstone--if he might but arrive safely at heaven." Ah, how would natural men soar to heaven--upon the pinions of their own merit! The sunbeams of Divine justice--will soon melt such weak and wax wings!

He who has no better righteousness than what is of his own providing, shall meet with no higher happiness than what is of his own deserving. "They disregarded the righteousness from God--and attempted to establish their own righteousness." They are determined to sail in their own ship--though they sink in the ocean!

We are so far from paying the utmost farthing, that at our utmost--we have not even a farthing to pay! That man will be a miserable spectacle of vanity--who stands upon the lame feet of his own ability!

Duties are but dry pits, though ever so meticulously wrought--until Christ fills them. Reader, I would neither have you be idle in duties--nor make an idol of duties.

What are duties without Christ--but like a fine cabinet without a jewel--or a golden cup without a cordial? The most diligent saint--has been the most self-distrusting saint, "that I may gain Christ and be found in him--not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith." If you are found in your own righteousness, you will be lost by your own righteousness. That garment which was worn to shreds on Adam's back--will never make a complete covering for you.

Duties may be good crutches to go upon--but they are bad Christs to lean upon. It is the greatest disparagement that professors can offer to Christ--to put their services in the scale with His sufferings. The beggarly rags of the first Adam--must never be put on with the princely robe of the second Adam!

Man is a creature too much inclined to warm himself by the sparks of his own fire--though he lies down in eternal flames for kindling them! Though Noah's dove made use of her wings--yet she found no rest, but in the ark. Duties can never have too much of our diligence--or too little of our confidence. A believer does not perform good works to live--but he lives to perform good works.

He shall have hell as his debt--who will not take heaven as a gift. "We boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh." A true Christian stands at as great distance from trusting in the best of his services--as in the worst of his sins! He knows that the greatest part of his holiness--will not make the least part of his justifying righteousness. He has unreservedly subscribed to that sentiment, "that when we have done all--we are only unprofitable servants."

When we have kept all the commandments, there is one commandment above all to be kept; that is, "all our righteous acts are like filthy rags!" In most of our works--we are abominable sinners; and in the best of our works--we are unprofitable servants. "O Sovereign Lord, I will proclaim Your righteousness, Yours alone!" You see, beloved, the righteousness of Christ is to be magnified--when the righteousness of a Christian is not to be mentioned.

It is hard for us to be "nothing in ourselves" amidst all our works; and to be "all things in Christ," amidst all our weakness. To undertake every duty--and yet to overlook every duty--is a lesson which none can learn, but Christ's scholars.

Our obedience, at best, is like good wine--which relishes of a bad cask. The 'Law of God' will not accept ninety-nine for a hundred. It will not accept the coin of our obedience, either short in quantity--or base in quality. The duty it exacts--is as impossible to be performed in this our fallen state; as the penalty it inflicts--is intolerable to be endured in our eternal state!

We do not sail to glory in the salt sea of our own tears--but in the red sea of the Redeemer's blood! The Cross of Christ--is the only key of paradise! We owe the life of our souls--to the death of our Savior. It was His going into the fiery furnace--which keeps us from going into the devouring flames! Man lives--by death: his natural life is preserved by the death of the creature; and his spiritual life is gained by the death of the Redeemer.

Those who carry their vessel of hope to the puddle of their own merit--will never draw the water of comfort, from the fountain of God's mercy!

Truth, righteousness, and faith

2008-11-08T11:18:00.000-08:00

"But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.—Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness. . . . In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

"He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; . . . let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

1 Thess. 5:8; 1 Pet. 1:13; Eph. 6:14, 16, 17; Isa. 25:8, 9; Heb. 11:1

Let us thank the Lord

2008-11-07T08:50:00.000-08:00

"Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!—Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you.

“'The people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.'—He predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved . . . so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

"How great is his goodness, and how great his beauty!—The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you! They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom."

Ps. 107:8; Ps. 34:8; Ps. 31:19; Isa. 43:21; Eph. 1:5, 6, 12; Zech. 9:17; Ps. 145:9-12