In this busy life of service
Preaching Christ from day to day,
We have learned the Master's tactics;
But we've never learned to pray.
Dispensations, grace and missions,
Trust in Jesus, then obey;
Yes, we know the fundamentals,
But we don't know how to pray.
We've tried methods; we've tried prizes,
We have preached until we're gray;
How much more we would accomplish
If we'd just take time to pray.
We, like Martha, want to serve Him,
Do His will without delay,
But we never once remember,
that He'd rather have us pray.
We are still like little children
"Now I down to bed me lay."
How it just must grieve the Father,
That we haven't learned to pray.
Are you tired in His service?
"No results," you maybe say.
It's no wonder we're fruitless,
When we don't take time to pray.
Praying first and praying always--
It's God's blessed holy way;
We can't do one thing for Jesus,
Till we've taken time to pray.
Let us put on God's whole armour,
Fight the battle, don't dismay!
For we're now much more than victors,
Since we've taken time to pray.
John H. Sanford
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
My meditation for Christmas 2007
Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift. - 2 Corinthians 9:15
Jesus Christ was an Extraordinary Promise
And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. - Genesis 3:14-15
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. - Galatians 4:4-5
Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (meaning 'God with us'). - Isaiah 7:14
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name JESUS...The said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also the holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. - Luke 1:30-31, 34-35
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. - Matthew 1:18
He came with an Exceptional Purpose
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. - John 3:16-17
He came at an Expected Period
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed...And Joseph and also went...unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem...to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered...And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night...And the angel said unto them,...For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. - Luke 2:1-11
He was born in the Exact Place
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. - Micah 5:2
Now Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him. - Matthew 2:1-2
Most importantly, He is an Exalted Person
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The Father of eternity, The Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6
Jesus Christ was an Extraordinary Promise
And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. - Genesis 3:14-15
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. - Galatians 4:4-5
Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (meaning 'God with us'). - Isaiah 7:14
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name JESUS...The said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also the holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. - Luke 1:30-31, 34-35
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. - Matthew 1:18
He came with an Exceptional Purpose
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. - John 3:16-17
He came at an Expected Period
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed...And Joseph and also went...unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem...to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered...And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night...And the angel said unto them,...For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. - Luke 2:1-11
He was born in the Exact Place
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. - Micah 5:2
Now Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him. - Matthew 2:1-2
Most importantly, He is an Exalted Person
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The Father of eternity, The Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Excerpt from "One Day at a Time"
New Year's resolutions are good but fragile, that is, easily broken. New Year's prayers are better; they ascend to the throne of God and set answering wheels in motion. As we come to the beginning of another year, we would do well to make the following prayer requests our own:
Lord Jesus, I rededicate myself afresh to You today. I want You to take my life this coming year and use it for Your glory.
I pray that You will keep me from sin, from anything that will bring dishonor to Your Name.
Keep me teachable by the Holy Spirit. I want to move forward for You. Don't let me settle in a rut.
May my motto this year be, "He must increase; I must decrease." The glory must all be Yours. Help me not to touch it.
Teach me to make every decision a matter of prayer. I dread the thought of leaning on my own understanding. "O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps" (Jer. 10:23).
May I die to the world and even to the approval or blame of loved ones or friends. Give me a single, pure desire to do the things that please Your heart.
Keep me from gossip and criticism of others. Rather, help me to speak what is edifying and profitable.
Lead me to needy souls. May I become a friend of sinners, as You are. Give me tears of compassion for the perishing.
Lord Jesus, keep me from becoming cold, bitter, or cynical in spite of anything that may happen to me in the Christian life.
Guide me in my stewardship of money. Help me to be a good steward of everything You have entrusted to me.
Help me to remember moment by moment that my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. May this tremendous truth influence all my behavior.
And, Lord Jesus, I pray that this may be the year of Your return. I long to see Your face and to fall at Your feet in worship. During the coming year, may the blessed hope stay fresh in my heart, disengaging me from anything that would hold me here and keeping me on the tiptoes of expectancy. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"
William MacDonald (Jan 7 1917 - Dec 25 2007)
Lord Jesus, I rededicate myself afresh to You today. I want You to take my life this coming year and use it for Your glory.
I pray that You will keep me from sin, from anything that will bring dishonor to Your Name.
Keep me teachable by the Holy Spirit. I want to move forward for You. Don't let me settle in a rut.
May my motto this year be, "He must increase; I must decrease." The glory must all be Yours. Help me not to touch it.
Teach me to make every decision a matter of prayer. I dread the thought of leaning on my own understanding. "O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps" (Jer. 10:23).
May I die to the world and even to the approval or blame of loved ones or friends. Give me a single, pure desire to do the things that please Your heart.
Keep me from gossip and criticism of others. Rather, help me to speak what is edifying and profitable.
Lead me to needy souls. May I become a friend of sinners, as You are. Give me tears of compassion for the perishing.
Lord Jesus, keep me from becoming cold, bitter, or cynical in spite of anything that may happen to me in the Christian life.
Guide me in my stewardship of money. Help me to be a good steward of everything You have entrusted to me.
Help me to remember moment by moment that my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. May this tremendous truth influence all my behavior.
And, Lord Jesus, I pray that this may be the year of Your return. I long to see Your face and to fall at Your feet in worship. During the coming year, may the blessed hope stay fresh in my heart, disengaging me from anything that would hold me here and keeping me on the tiptoes of expectancy. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"
William MacDonald (Jan 7 1917 - Dec 25 2007)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)