My Meditation

Everlasting Love

2012-01-15T21:30:00.000+08:00

Did He love me when I lay
Dead in trespasses and sins!
Is there, then, no time, no day
Where this wondrous love begins?
No! The Lord who died for thee
Loved thee from eternity.

Doth He love me even now,
Though my faith and hope are dim?
Will He still regard His vow
When I've broken faith with Him?
Yes! He loves thee still the same
As when thou didst love His name.

Will He love me all the way,
'Spite my wayward, selfish will?
O, if I again should stray -
Tell me, will He love me still?
Yes! Thy failures can but prove
His eternal, changeless love.

Lord, how long I've striven in vain,
Resting not on Love Divine!
Now I know it doth remain
Changeless 'spite each change of mine.
Perfect, peerless, deathless, free
Is Thy love, O Lord, to me.

William Blane

New Year

2012-01-02T13:40:00.001+08:00

O, year by year we well may be
Deep exercised in soul to see
Just what is chaff and what is wheat,
As valued at the judgment seat!

Look DOWN into the deep dark pit,
Whence we were digged - O think of it!
Look BACK - we only render praise
For grace attending all our ways.

Look OUT upon the fields so white-
The gladsome harvest just in sight!
Look UP - the objects of God's love
Are fed with manna from above.

Look ON - for glory is in view,
And Jesus waits to welcome you!
But do not ever look WITHIN,
Upon the wretched source of sin.

How bright the coming days would be,
If only souls from self were free,
And had the mind and heart absorbed
With CHRIST alone - their glorious Lord!

E.J.C.

Thoughts for the New Year

2012-01-01T15:06:00.000+08:00

A lot happens during the first month (Abib) of the Jewish religious calendar. Three feast out of seven takes place in the first month and from these feasts, we can take a few things to heart as we enter into a brand new year.

The Passover (Exodus 12:1-14; Leviticus 23:4-5)
- A reflection of the past occurs
The Sufficiency of Christ in our lives (Exodus 12:4-6; 1 Corinthians 5:7)
We reflect on the year that has passed and ask ourselves, have we found Christ to be sufficient?

The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:15-20; Leviticus 23:6-8)
- A renewal for the future occurs
The Separation of Christ from sin (Leviticus 2:4-5,11)
We renew our walk for the year to come and ask ourselves, have we become more Christ-like?

The Feast of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:9-14)
- A returning in the present occurs
The Satisfaction Christ brought the Father (1 Corinthians 15:20)
We return to the Lord what is rightfully His and ask ourselves, have we pleased the Father the way Christ did?

Voices in Matthew 3

2011-11-28T13:17:00.001+08:00

Matthew 3:3
The voice of the forerunner.
Speaks of the Lord's importance.
Points to His high position (loftiness).

Matthew 3:17
The voice of the Father.
Speaks of the Lord's innocence.
Points to His humble position (lowliness).

Ways past finding out

2011-11-11T15:02:00.001+08:00

And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. - John 8:3-6 (emphasis added)

The Lord's actions stands in stark contrast to that of the scribes and Pharisees. When faced with those who were impatient and lifted up with religious pride the Lord was patient and stooped down in loving humility.

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! - Romans 11:33

Walk before God

2011-10-26T23:47:00.000+08:00

Walk before God, and perfect be,
Care not for human eyes,
Which but the outward aspect see -
To Heaven's standard rise.
Be not afraid to let thy ways -
Each thought, and word, and deed -
Be tested in the searching rays
Which from His throne proceed.

Walk before God. Be often where
No human eye can see,
And all thy heart to Him lay bare:
From secret sins be free.
Thus shall thy actions and thy ways
His own approval meet;
Thy life shall be a life of praise,
Its end a triumph sweet.

Walk before God. Be not at ease
Though saints may think you right;
Be careful that Himself you please -
Be perfect in His sight.
The fear of man but brings a snare -
Care not for smile or frown;
Misunderstood, still do and dare,
That no one take thy crown.

Walk before God. Obey His Word,
And yield to His demands;
Beware of calling Jesus Lord,
And slighting His commands.
Live for that moment when unveil'd
Each secret thing shall be,
Which every eye but His has fail'd
Within the breast to see.

William Blane

O my Saviour, I am weary

2011-10-26T23:27:00.001+08:00

Lord, I'll bear Thine indignation
(For my sins have hid Thy face),
Till the joy of Thy salvation
Shall be mine again through grace;
Only let me, while I'm weeping,
Weep, O Saviour, at Thy feet;
For, though sin's sad fruit I'm reaping,
There to grieve make's sorrow sweet.

William Blane

Peace, Perfect Peace

2011-09-27T08:14:00.001+08:00

Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.

Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?
To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.

Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?
On Jesus’ bosom naught but calm is found.

Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away?
In Jesus’ keeping we are safe, and they.

Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?
Jesus we know, and He is on the throne.

Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours?
Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers.

It is enough: earth’s struggles soon shall cease,
And Jesus call us to Heaven’s perfect peace.

Peace, perfect peace, ’mid suffering’s sharpest throes?
The sympathy of Jesus breathes repose.

Edward H. Bickersteth, Jr.

Psalm 28

2011-07-06T22:19:00.000+08:00

Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto Thee...Blessed be Jehovah, for He hath heard the voice of my supplications. - Psalm 28:2, 6

It's beautiful how the psalmist found assurance of answered prayer almost immediately and praises the Lord for it. Oh for my soul to find such assurance when I pray!

Vital Equations

2011-04-18T08:08:00.002+08:00

Law = Command + Penalty
Grace = Command + Power

1 John - Declaration of the Witness

2011-04-15T17:04:00.000+08:00

The World (1 John 5:4-5)
The Witness (1 John 5:6-13)
The Will (1 John 5:14-17)
The 'We knows' (1 John 5:18-20)
The Warning (1 John 5:21)

1 John - Depths of Love

2011-03-28T18:36:00.000+08:00

Listening to the Spirit (1 John 4:1-6)
Loving the Saints (1 John 4:7-5:3)

1 John - Deeds of the Devil

2011-03-10T08:27:00.000+08:00

Righteous Living (1 John 2:28-3:10)
Really Loving (1 John 3:10-24)

1 John - Delusion of the World

2011-02-19T19:47:00.000+08:00

John's address:
To the Entire group - forgiveness of sin (1 John 2:12)
To the Experienced group - familiarity with Christ (1 John 2:13, 14)
To the Energetic group - fondness of the world (1 John 2:13, 14-17)
To the Enthusiastic group - faltering from the truth (1 John 2:13, 18-27)

1 John - Deception of Darkness

2011-02-04T00:32:00.000+08:00

Witnessing about the Life (1 John 1:1-4)
Walking in the Light (1 John 1:5-2:2)
Walking by the Law (1 John 2:3-8)
Working out of Love (1 John 2:9-11)

Outline of 1 John

2011-02-04T00:29:00.000+08:00

Deception of Darkness (1 John 1:1-2:11)
Delusion of the World (1 John 2:12-2:29)
Deeds of the Devil (1 John 3:1-4:6)
Depths of Love (1 John 4:7-5:3)
Declaration of the Witness (1 John 5:4-5:21)

2010-12-31T00:00:00.002+08:00

I said to the man that stood at the gate of the year, "Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown." And he said to me, "Go forth into the darkness and put your hand in the hand of God; And it shall be to you better than a light and safer than a known way."

Minnie Louise Haskins

Start Over

2010-12-01T09:58:00.001+08:00

When you've trusted Jesus and walked His way,
When you've felt His hand lead you day by day,
But your steps now take you another way,
Start over.

When you've made your plans and they've gone awry,
When you've tried your best 'till there's no more try,
When you've failed yourself and you don't know why,
Start over.

When you think you're finished and want to quit,
When you've bottomed out in life's deepest pit,
When you've tried and tried to get out of it,
Start over.

When the year's been long and success few,
When December comes and you're feeling blue,
God gives a January just so you
Start over.

Starting over means victories won,
Starting over means a race well run,
Starting over means the Lord's "well done"
So don't just sit there,
Start over.

Woodrow Kroll

2010-08-31T17:50:00.002+08:00

When God wants to drill a man
and thrill a man and skill a man
When God wants to mold a man
to play the noblest part;
When he yearns with all his heart
to create so bold a man
that all the world will be amazed,
Watch his methods, watch his ways:

How he relentlessly perfects
whom he royally elects;
How he hammers us and hurts us
and with mighty blows converts us
into trial shapes of clay
which only God can understand,
While our tortured heart is crying
and we lift beseeching hands.

How God bends, but never breaks
when his good he undertakes;
How he uses whom he chooses
and with every purpose fuses us;
By every act induces us
to try his splendor out —
God knows what he's about!

Author unknown

2010-07-28T08:20:00.002+08:00

Oh! I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved's mine!
He brings a poor vile sinner into His house of wine!
I stand upon His merit; I know no other stand,
Not e'en where glory dwelleth, in Immanuel's land.

The bride eyes not her garment, but her dear Bride-groom's face;
I will not gaze at glory, but on my King of grace -
Not at the crown He giveth, but on His pierced hand:
The Lamb is all the glory of Immanuel's land.

Anne Ross Cousin

2010-07-06T08:27:00.002+08:00

If I gained the world, but lost the Saviour,
Were my life worth living for a day?
Could my yearning heart find rest and comfort
In the things that soon must pass away?

If I gained the world, but had no Saviour,
Would my gain be worth the life-long strife?
Are all earthly pleasures worth comparing,
For a moment with a Christ-filled life?

Anna Olander

2010-06-21T09:21:00.004+08:00

I hear the accuser roar of ills that I have done;
I know them well, and thousands more Jehovah findeth none.
Though the restless foe accuses - sins recounting like a flood;
Every charge our God refuses; Christ has answered with His blood.

Author unknown

Gems from my reading

2010-06-10T08:04:00.003+08:00

Every circumstance in Genesis 18 speaks of a righteous man's open communion with God. The Lord and the two angels drew near Abraham in human form. They readily accepted Abraham's service, speech, and friendship. In the realm of divine fellowship, Genesis 18 is in striking contrast to God's disposition towards Lot in Genesis 19. In chapter 19, God does not personally visit carnal Lot, nor do the angels appear as men any longer, but as "angels." Even the angels are standoffish and initially refuse Lot's company and provisions. God is not mocked - our carnality necessitates distance and reduced familiarity with Him.

Warren Henderson in Seeds of Destiny (A Genesis Devotional)

2010-05-18T08:30:00.003+08:00

Do you ever feel down hearted or discouraged?
Do you ever think your work is all in vain?
Do the burdens thrust upon you make you cheerless,
And you fear that you shall never the victory gain?

Have faith in God, the sun will shine,
Though dark the cloud may be today,
His heart hath planned your path and mine:
Have faith in God, have faith alway.

May Agnew Stephens

Will not the End explain?

2010-05-06T00:20:00.001+08:00

Will not the End explain
The crossed endeavor, earnest purpose foiled.
The strange bewilderment of good work spoiled.
The clinging weariness, the inward strain;
Will not the End explain?

Meanwhile He comforteth
Them that are losing patience; 'tis His way.
But none can write the words they hear Him say,
For men to read; only they know He saith
Kind words and comforteth.

Not that He doth explain
The mystery that baffleth; but a sense
Husheth the quiet heart, that far, far hence
Lieth a field set thick with golden grain,
Wetted in seedling days by many a rain;
The End - it will explain.

Amy Carmichael in Toward Jerusalem

2010-05-04T14:56:00.001+08:00

An hour of waiting!
Yet there seems such need
To reach that spot sublime!
I long to reach them--but I long far more
To trust HIS time!

"Sit still, my daughter"--
Yet the heathen die,
They perish while I stay!
I long to reach them--but I long far more
To trust HIS way!

'Tis good to get,
'Tis good indeed to give!
Yet is it better still--
O'er breadth, thro' length, down length, up height,
To trust HIS will!

F. M. N.

Nehemiah Chapter 13

2010-05-03T00:00:00.000+08:00

Separation of the People of God (Neh 13:1-3)
Corruption of the House of God (Neh 13:4-9)
Desertion of the Work of God (Neh 13:10-14)
Desecration of the Sabbath of God (Neh 13:15-22)
Contamination of the Priesthood of God (Neh 13:23-31)

Nehemiah - Administration of the City

2010-04-26T00:00:00.000+08:00

The Distribution of the People - Neh 11
The Dedication of the Wall - Neh 12
The Discipline of the City - Neh 13

*Hamilton Smith*

Rock of our salvation (Psalm 95:1)

2010-04-22T07:39:00.003+08:00

Shelter for refuge (Ps 31:2-3; Ps 61:2-3)
Supply for refreshment (Ex 17:6; Num 20:8)
Shadow for rest (Isa 32:2)
Stability for resilience (Ps 40:2)

The Great Sin

2010-04-22T07:38:00.001+08:00

The great sin is not the sin of being wicked and immoral but the sin of trying to be good without God, the sin of rebelling against God and saying,"I'm going to be like God, without God."

2010-04-19T07:45:00.002+08:00

Lo! He comes, with clouds descending, Once for our salvation slain;
Thousand thousand saints attending, Swell the triumph of His train:
Alleluia! Alleluia! God appears on earth to reign.

Every eye shall now behold Him, Robed in dreadful majesty;
Those who set at naught and sold Him, Pierced and nailed Him to the tree,
Deeply wailing, deeply wailing, Shall the true Messiah see.

Yea, Amen! Let all adore Thee, High on Thine eternal throne;
Savior, take the power and glory, Claim the kingdom for Thine own:
O come quickly, O come quickly, Alleluia! Come, Lord, come!

Charles Wesley

DRAMATIM Hand Mime Easter Outreach (1st Performance)

2010-04-16T11:03:00.000+08:00

2010-04-08T08:25:00.003+08:00

Not all the blood of beasts, on Jewish altars slain,
Could give the guilty conscience peace, or wash away its stain.
But Christ, the heavenly Lamb, took all our sins away,
A sacrifice of nobler name and richer blood than they.

Isaac Watts

Nehemiah - Application of the Word

2010-03-29T12:52:00.002+08:00

The Word of God (The Lord's commandments) - Neh 8
The Worship of God (The people's confession) - Neh 9
The House of God (The remnant's covenant) - Neh 10

2010-03-18T09:10:00.002+08:00

Tempters seek to lure astray,
Storms obscure the light of day:
But in Christ I can be bold,
I've an anchor that shall hold.

W. C. Martin

Nehemiah Chapter 6

2010-03-07T15:18:00.002+08:00

The enemy:
Insists friendship (Neh 6:1-8)
Instills fear (Neh 6:9-19)

The enemy attacks Nehemiah's:
Concentration and his work (Neh 6:1-4)
Character and his word (Neh 6:5-8)
Confidence and his will (Neh 6:9-19)

Neh 6:1-4 The enemy's persistence
Neh 6:5-9 The enemy's perversion
Neh 6:10-14 The enemy's prophecy
Neh 6:17-19 The enemy's persuasion

Adaptation of William Hinley's 'Invictus'

2010-03-04T09:52:00.000+08:00

I have no fear though strait the gate,
He cleared from punishment the scroll;
Christ is the Master of my fate,
Christ is the Captain of my soul.

Author unknown

A note to an evolutionist

2010-03-03T09:49:00.004+08:00

It is absurd for the evolutionist to complain that it is unthinkable for an admittedly unthinkable God to make everything out of nothing, and then pretend that it is more thinkable that nothing should turn itself into everything.

G.K. Chesterton

Hope in 1 Thessalonians

2010-03-02T07:50:00.002+08:00

Heavenly Hope (Chapter 1)
Happy Hope (Chapter 2)
Holy Hope (Chapter 3)
Heartening Hope (Chapter 4)
Healthy Hope (Chapter 5)

Nehemiah Chapter 5

2010-02-28T14:30:00.001+08:00

The Entrapment (Neh 5:1-5)
The Emancipation (Neh 5:6-13)
The Example (Neh 5:14-19)

Nehemiah Chapter 4

2010-02-28T14:00:00.001+08:00

The enemy seeks to:
Despise the people (Neh 4:1-6)
Destroy the people (Neh 4:7-9)
Discourage the people (Neh 4:10-12)

Nehemiah - Attacks of the Enemy

2010-02-28T00:00:00.001+08:00

The enemy is without and can be fierce (Neh 4)
The enemy is within and can be fleshly (Neh 5)
The enemy is wily and can be friendly (Neh 6)
The enemy is withstood and can be frustrated (Neh 7)

Psalm 145

2010-02-14T11:43:00.004+08:00

God is great (Psalm 145:3)
God is gracious (Psalm 145:8), His mercy is great (Psalm 145:8)
God is good (Psalm 145:9), His goodness is great (Psalm 145:7)

His acts are mighty (Psalm 145:4, 6, 12)
His goodness is memorable (Psalm 145:7)
His kingdom is majestic (Psalm 145:12)

The Blood

2010-02-08T18:26:00.009+08:00

1 Peter 1:19 - the precious blood
Colossians 1:20 - the blood of His cross

In the first, the Man is the focus. In the second, the method.
The Man was clean. The method was cruel.
The Man was spotless. The method was senseless.
In the first the blood was precious. In the second, the blood brought peace.

Nehemiah Chapter 2

2010-02-03T09:00:00.002+08:00

Response of the king (Neh 2:1-6)
Resource of the king (Neh 2:7-9)
Resistance of the enemy (Neh 2:10, 19-20)
Reconnaissance of the city (Neh 2:11-16)
Revival of the people (Neh 2:17-18)

Nehemiah Chapter 1

2010-02-02T09:00:00.001+08:00

His concern (Neh 1:1-3)
His conviction (Neh 1:4)
His communion (Neh 1:5-11)
His confession (Neh 1:6-10)
His commitment (Neh 1:11)

*J.B. Nicholson Jr.*

Outline of Nehemiah

2010-02-01T09:16:00.003+08:00

Acts of the servant (Chapters 1-3)
Attacks of the enemy (Chapters 4-7)
Application of the Word (Chapters 8-10)
Administration of the city (Chapter 11-13)

2009-12-23T14:12:00.003+08:00

There’s a Friend for little children, above the bright blue sky,
A Friend who never changes, whose love will never die;
Unlike our friends by nature, who change with changing years;
This Friend is always worthy, the precious name He bears.

A. Midlane

The Living God in Hebrews

2009-11-27T14:38:00.003+08:00

Departure from the living God (Heb 3:12)
Devotion to the living God (Heb 9:14)
Dread of the living God (Heb 10:31)
Dwelling of the living God (Heb 12:22)

The 4 Downs

2009-10-11T18:37:00.004+08:00

1. looked down (Psalm 14:2) - Searched
2. came down (John 6:38) - Sent
3. laid down (1 John 3:16) - Sacrificed
4. sat down (Hebrews 10:12) - Satisfied

The Life of Josiah

2009-09-30T07:10:00.006+08:00

When he was 8 years old:
He reigned in the kingdom (2 Chron 34:1).
At 16:
He recognized God (2 Chron 34:3).
At 20:
He renounced the idols (2 Chron 34:3-7).
At 26:
He repaired the house of God (2 Chron 34:8).
He responded to the law (2 Chron 34:19).
He reread the law (2 Chron 34:30).
He re-established the covenant (2 Chron 34:31-32).
He reinstated the feast (2 Chron 35:1, 17).
He revived the service (2 Chron 35:2, 10).
He restored the worship (2 Chron 35:16).
A bit later:
He resisted God's word (2 Chron 35:20-22).

The Armour of God

2009-09-29T08:30:00.005+08:00

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. - Eph 6:13-17

The hold - loins girt about with truth
The heart - breastplate of righteousness
The herald - feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace
The heat - shield of faith...to quench all the fiery darts
The head - helmet of salvation
The hand - sword of the Spirit

Gems from my reading

2009-05-18T15:41:00.004+08:00

Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures: and that He was seen... - 1 Corinthians 15:3-5

One Efficacious Factor
Christ (the majesty of His Person)
died (the mystery of His Passion)
for our sins (the marvel of His Provision)

Two Essential Factors
* Christ died according to the Scriptures
* Christ was raised according to the Scriptures

Two Establishing Factors
* Christ was buried signifying that He died
* Christ was seen signifying that He was raised

Post taken from http://scriptureoutlines.blogspot.com/

2009-04-16T10:04:00.003+08:00

Behold, a Stranger at the door!
He gently knocks, has knocked before,
Has waited long, is waiting still:
We treat no other friend so ill.
If we will open, see, He stands
With loving heart and laden hands;
O matchless kindness! and He shows
This matchless kindness to His foes.

Joseph Grigg

Another Christmas Comment

2008-12-22T18:48:00.003+08:00

Yes Christmas is coming, the world will be merry,
With turkey, plum pudding; with port wine and sherry.
Sad hearts will be gladdened wherever you go,
With greetings and presents - with Yule logs aglow;
And houses all trimmed with the evergreen fir;
As Christmas you see, comes but once in a year.

What means this great feast-time the sad world is keeping?
Explain all the mirth that shall banish the weeping:
"The birthday of Jesus," perhaps you will say,
("No room in the inn, so they laid Him on hay")
When God the Eternal incarnate became,
To ransom a people from bondage and shame;
Bright angels in glory attended the birth
Of Him who created the Heavens and Earth.

Though Scripture is silent regarding December,
Some heart searching facts it would have us remember;
We stripped Him and flogged Him - we crowned Him with thorn,
Dividing between us the clothes He had worn:
With hammer and nails (how sad to repeat)
We fastened His hands - yes and also His feet,
Securely there to a terrible tree,
And raised Him aloft for humanity's glee.

"He's finished" we scoffed, as we sealed up the tomb;
Unwittingly then we were sealing our doom:
That God has forgotten, let none of us think,
While lauding the Babe as we banquet and drink:
No, surely consider, the grave and the stone
Were powerless to hold Him - He's now on the throne
And coming in judgment; - Oh how shall we stand,
Explaining the wounds in His feet or His hands?
For God has declared every knee shall be bowed
Unto Him who was mocked by the onlooking crowd.

Forgiveness is offered - just let me begin -
Salvation to all who acknowledge their sin;
But sinners alone - (no other may claim)
And only the ones who believe on His Name.

No Bethlehem stable completed His mission;
For the shedding of blood must accomplish remission.
The substitute victim God's counsel supplied.
So Jesus the sinless one willingly died.

A.E.H.

A Christmas Comment

2008-12-22T18:42:00.002+08:00

Christmas may bring gifts galore,
All your heart is wishing for,
All you want and maybe more...
With
all the wrappings.

You may own a mansion grand,
Lots of money, lots of land,
Lots of folks at your command...
Caught
in earth's trappings.

What's beneath your Christmas tree?
Count the presents that you see:
Does that spell Prosperity?...
Don't
be deluded.

Christmas-time is always rough,
Running, shopping, buying stuff,
How to know when it's enough?
Was
God included?

God so loved the world He gave,
Sent His Son down here to save
Folks from sins that would enslave...
Why
should He bother?

Rubies, gold and diamond rings:
That's just stuff that Santa brings ~
The best things in life aren't things!
Praise
God the Father!

Connie

Credo

2008-12-22T18:40:00.001+08:00

Not what, but Whom, I do believe,
That, in my darkest hour of need,
Hath comfort that no mortal creed
To mortal man may give; -
Not what, but Whom!
For Christ is more than all the creeds,
And His full life of gentle deeds
Shall all the creeds outlive.

Not what I do believe, but Whom!
Who walks beside me in the gloom?
Who shares the burden wearisome?
Who all the dim way doth illume,
And bids me look beyond the tomb
The larger life to live? -
Not what I do believe,
But Whom!
Not what, but Whom!

John Oxenham

...creeping thing...

2008-11-12T22:00:00.003+08:00

[Peter] saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel decending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. - Acts 10:11-15

H. A. Ironside mentioned that when his father was dying, this passage was running through his mind and he kept repeating, “A great sheet and wild beasts, and—and—and…” He could not seem to remember the next word but went back and started over, and once more came to that same place. A friend bent over and whispered, “John, it says, “creeping things.’” “Oh, yes,” he said, “that is how I got in. Just a poor good-for-nothing creeping thing, but I got in—saved by grace.”

He goes on to say, no matter how low, vile or utterly useless and corrupt or unclean, the soul that trusts Jesus is in the sheet let down from Heaven and will have a place in glory by and by.

The story brought tears to my eyes thinking of how I've been saved by grace, amazing grace!

Comfort in a Cloud

2008-09-19T21:40:00.003+08:00

"Mary," said I, "you must have very dark days; they must be overcome with clouds sometimes." "Yes," said the dear old saint, "but then I often find there's comfort in a cloud." "Comfort in a cloud, Mary?" "Yes. When I am very low and dark I go to the window, and if I see a heavy cloud I think of those precious words, 'A cloud received Him out of their sight' (Acts 1:9), and I look up and see the cloud sure enough, and then I think: 'Well, that may be the cloud behind which my Saviour is found,' so you see there is comfort in a cloud."

- taken from One Thousand Tales Worth Telling by Henry Pickering

wasted?

2008-09-14T22:37:00.003+08:00

And there were some indignant in themselves, and saying, Why has this waste been made of the ointment? - Mark 14:4

Mary poured out something very precious and expensive upon the Lord Jesus and was accused of wasting. Isn't that always the cry of the world? If we're all sold out to God and devoted completely to Him, it would be a waste in the world's point of view! Waste of talent, waste of resources, waste of intelligence and so much more.

If we're going to heed the call of the world and follow after it's principles and fancies, it would seem a waste from God's point of view. Waste of potential for the Lord knows what He can make out of us. But it would require our complete obedience.

Worse still is the waste from our own point of view. This is when we try to please both God and the world. We go nowhere in the world and see all that we've sacrificed as waste but only because we're not enjoying the blessings of a full obedience to God either.

2008-08-07T09:32:00.000+08:00

While here alas! I know but half His love,
But half discern Him, and but half adore;
But when I meet Him in the realms above,
I hope to love Him more, praise Him more,
And feel and tell amid that host divine,
How fully I am His and He is mine.

J. Quarles

Prayer

2008-07-17T10:40:00.001+08:00

God answers prayer; sometimes, when hearts are weak,
He gives the very gifts believers seek.
But often faith must learn a deeper rest,
And trust God's silence when He does not speak;
For He whose name is Love will send the best.
Stars may burn out, nor mountain walls endure,
But God is true, His promises are sure
For those who seek.

Author Unknown

In Readiness

2008-07-08T21:13:00.001+08:00

My heart is filled with hopes that I
Shall hear a glad shout from the sky,
To take leave of my house of earth
To move to one of matchless worth.

'Tis not the house I value most,
But 'tis the kind and gracious Host
That draws my heart toward heaven's home
Where now my Lord awaits enthroned!

My HEART! Are you in readiness
For Him who sweetly longs to bless?
Does anything thine eyes have seen
Stand as a barrier between?

My HOPE! Are you steadfast of goal,
Fixed on Him who keeps thy soul?
Or do you wish He would not come
'Till all you want to do is done?

My HOUSE! Are you prepared to leave
To other hands that shall receive?
Do you contain one thing to shame
The testimony of HIS NAME?

Let all in house and hope and heart
Be for thy Master set apart!
That when He calls thee to the air
Naught shall cloud thy meeting there.

Elizabeth Byland

Born King!

2008-07-04T14:29:00.002+08:00

Now when 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

What tremendous words were uttered by these wise men of the east! It is bursting with significance! Pay attention to the question now. It was not "Where is He that is born to be King of the Jews?" Oh no, that was not it. But it was "Where is He that is born King...?"

The former would imply that the Lord Jesus Christ, here born as a baby, would sit on the throne and rule as king someday in the future. Probably in place of Herod the king at that time. However, Herod was not the rightful king of the Jews but a mere puppet king. His kingship over the Jews was hardly recognised by the people let alone by God. And so the Lord Jesus Christ was born King. From His birth He was the rightful Occupant of the throne of the kingdom. At His birth He was declared King already.

It's no wonder then that Herod felt threatened but it's sad that all Jerusalem was troubled along with him (vs 3). It took men all the way from the east to acknowledge the kingship of Christ and offer Him the worship and adoration due to Him.

Where Jesus is, that's Heaven

2008-07-01T01:47:00.002+08:00

A poor little man lay dying in the garret. Another man who came to see him, said,"Suppose, sonny, you went to Heaven, and Christ weren't there, what would ye do then?" "Go and look for Him," was the quick response. "But suppose," and here the atheist's voice sank to a tragic whisper,"suppose He was gone to Hell, what then?" The little chap turned a beaming and triumphant countenance, and looking on the man's lowering face, cried,"Ah, I see ye don't understand; cos where Jesus is, that's Heaven."

In Quietness and Confidence Shall Be Your Strength

2008-06-21T18:56:00.001+08:00

Let nothing make thee sad or fretful,
Or too regretful,
Be still.
What God hath ordered must be right,
Then find in this thine own delight,
His will.

Why shouldst thou fill today with sorrow
About tomorrow
My heart?
One watches all with care most true;
Doubt not that He will give thee, too,
Thy part.

Only be steadfast; never waver
Nor seek earth's favor
But rest.
Thou knowest what God's will must be
For all His children, so for thee -
The best.

Paul Fleming (A. D. 1609-40)

In Time of Need

2008-05-12T21:34:00.000+08:00

Not by my need alone I ask this token
That Thou, O Lord, dost hear and heed my cry;
But by Thy promise that cannot be broken,
That all my need in Christ Thou wilt supply;
Not by my love for Thee, so oft disproved,
Not by my gifts to Thee, so poor and small,
But by Thy love that gave Thy best-beloved,
And with that one great Gift included all.

Not by my faith I plead, for that can falter,
Aye, and has faltered in the days gone by;
But by Thy faithfulness that cannot alter,
And by Thine ordered covenants on high,
Set safe and sure above Time's brief duration,
Beyond all change, eternally the same;
By these I dare my fervent supplication,
By Thy great mercies and Thy holy name.

Annie Johnson Flint

2008-04-03T23:12:00.002+08:00

I am the Lord's! O joy beyond expression,
O sweet response to voice of love divine;
Faith's joyous Yes to the assuring whisper,
Fear not, I have redeemed thee, thou art Mine.

I am the Lord's! it hushes every murmur,
It soothes the fevered spirit to its rest;
I am the Lord's! it is the child's rejoinder,
Who knows and feels the Father's will is best.

I am the Lord's! O eagerly and gladly,
Triumphantly and gratefully we sing;
I am the Lord's! It is the rock unfailing,
To which our storm-tossed souls in danger cling.

I am the Lord's! yet teach me all it meaneth,
All it involves of love and loyalty,
Of holy service, full and glad surrender,
And unreserved obedience unto Thee.

I am the Lord's! yes; body, soul and spirit;
They're sealed, and irrecoverably Thine;
As Thou, Beloved, in Thy grace and fulness
For ever and for evermore art mine.

Lucy A. Bennett
(Believer's Hymn Book - Hymn 394)

2008-03-26T00:25:00.001+08:00

Christ is risen! Hallelujah!
Blesssed morn of life and light;
Lo, the grave is rent asunder,
Death is conquered thro’ His might.

Chorus:
Christ is risen! Hallelujah!
Gladness fills the world today;
From the tomb that could not hold Him,
See, the stone is rolled away.

Christ is risen! Hallelujah!
Friends of Jesus, dry your tears;
Thro’ the vail of gloom and darkness
Lo, the Son of God appears.

Christ is risen! Hallelujah!
He hath risen as He said;
He is now the King of glory,
And our great exalted Head.

Fanny J. Crosby

The Refiner's Fire

2008-03-12T21:14:00.002+08:00

So sorry for the long hiatus! I hope I've not lost my ardent readers due to my own lapse in posting. :)

He sat by a fire of seven-fold heat,
As he watched by the precious ore,
And closer He bent with a searching gaze
As He heated it more and more.

He knew He had ore that could stand the test,
And He wanted the finest gold
To mold as a crown for the King to wear,
Set with gems with a price untold.

So He laid our gold in the burning fire,
Though we fain would have said Him, "Nay,"
And He watched the dross that we had not seen,
And it melted and passed away.

And the gold grew brighter and yet more bright;
But our eyes were so dim with tears,
We saw but the fire - not the Master's hand -
And questioned with anxious fears.

Yet our gold shown out with a richer glow,
As it mirrored a Form above
That bent o'er the fire, though unseen by us,
With a look of ineffable love.

Can we think that it pleased His loving heart
To cause us a moment's pain?
Ah, no! but He saw through the present cross
The bliss of eternal gain.

So He waited there with a watchful eye,
With a love that is strong and sure,
And His gold did not suffer a bit more heat
Than was needed to make it pure.

Anonymous

2008-01-19T15:34:00.000+08:00

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

My meditation for Christmas 2007

2008-01-09T08:25:00.001+08:00

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

Excerpt from "One Day at a Time"

2008-01-02T23:04:00.000+08:00

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)

An excerpt from "The Cradle and the Cross"

2007-12-25T18:39:00.000+08:00

In Romans 1:1-4 we see Paul's approach. He refers to "the gospel of God, (which he [God] had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures)." Christianity is not a first-century invention. It is, in fact, the fulfillment of that which, with one voice, the Hebrew prophets consistently foretold for centuries.

There are more than 300 Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament. Why? So Israel could identify Him, when in the fullness of time God would send forth his Son (Galatians 4:4). The third chapter in the Bible contains the first prophecy of the Messiah's coming, His virgin birth ("the seed of the woman") and His destruction of Satan (Genesis 3:15). The prophets declared that He must be of the "lineage of David" (Jeremiah 23:5; 2 Samuel 7:10-16; Psalms 89:3-4) and rule upon David's throne. To prove that Jesus met this criteria, Matthew and Luke begin with the genealogy of Joseph and Mary.

Having rejected Jesus, the Jews still hope for their Messiah to come-but they hope in vain. Jesus Christ fulfilled Malachi 3:1 ("the Lord [Messiah], whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple") when He cast out the money changers and merchants (Mark 11:15). The destruction of the temple 38 years later in A.D. 70 made it impossible during the last 1,923 years for any would-be Messiah to fulfil that scripture. Moreover, all genealogic records were lost in the destruction of the temple, so a future "Messiah" would not be able to prove the necessary descent from David.

Yes, the temple will soon be rebuilt. Instead of cleansing it, however, as Christ did, Antichrist will defile it with his image and force the world to worship him as God: "he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God" (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

Jacob prophesied, "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah...until Shiloh [Messiah] come..." (Genesis 49:10). Shortly after the birth of Jesus, about A.D. 7, the sceptre departed when the Jews lost the right to enforce the death penalty. Thereafter, it was forever too late for Messiah to come. By God's grace, however, He had already come; and He will come again to rescue at Armageddon those who rejected Him the first time. They will know Him by the marks of Calvary ("they shall look upon me whom they pierced"; Zechariah 12:10). The sceptre having departed from Judah, Christ, instead of being stoned by the Jews, was executed by the Romans, whose supreme penalty was crucifixion. Thus was fulfilled yet another prophecy: "...they pierced my hands and my feet" (Psalms 22:16)!

But back to the cradle. Caesar Augustus had no inkling of the momentous effect of his decree "that all the world should [return to the city of one's birth to] be taxed" (Luke 2:1). That decree brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem in time for the birth of her "firstborn son" (so she had other children) in fulfillment of Micah 5:2: "But thou, Bethlehem...out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel...."

What depth of meaning there is in the simple statement, "when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son" (Galatians 4:4)! His birth had to occur before the sceptre departed from Judah; His death, after. His birthplace was determined by a Roman decree; His death and its method of execution, by the Roman occupation of Israel. He had to come before the temple was destroyed and with it the genealogic records.

The "fullness of time" has passed. No one else can meet the Messianic criteria laid down by the Hebrew prophets! That simple phrase, however, carries a much deeper meaning than we have seen above. If the timing of His birth causes us to marvel, the timing of Christ's death is even more precise and full of meaning...

Dave Hunt

Hymn 809

2007-11-29T15:20:00.000+08:00

If I could only tell Him as I know Him,
My Redeemer who has brightened all my way;
If I could tell how precious is His presence,
I am sure that you would make Him yours today.

If I could only tell you how He loves you,
And if we could through the lonely garden go;
If I could tell His dying pain and pardon,
You would worship at His wonderful feet, I know.

Redemption songs

Gems from my reading

2007-11-26T22:56:00.000+08:00

Well, it will be strange to find myself in heaven; but it won't be a strange Christ - one I have known these many years. How little I know of Him! I am glad He knows me. - J. N. Darby contemplating his death (11th April 1882, 18 days before his death)

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. - the Lord Jesus Christ (John 10:14)

2007-11-07T18:55:00.000+08:00

Thy word is like a garden, Lord, with flowers bright and fair;
And everyone who seeks may pluck a lovely cluster there.
Thy word is like a deep, deep mine; and jewels rich and rare
Are hidden in its mighty depth for every searcher there.

Thy word is like a starry host: a thousand rays of light
Are seen to guide the traveler, and make his pathway bright.
Thy word is like an armory, where soldiers may repair,
And find for life's long battle day, all needful weapons there.

O may I love Thy precious word, may I explore the mine,
May I its fragrant flowers glean, may light upon me shine.
O may I find my armor there, Thy word my trusted sword;
I'll learn to fight with every foe the battle of the Lord.

Edwin Hodder

It is Jesus

2007-11-03T00:23:00.000+08:00

Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. - Matt. 11:28
And I will give unto them eternal life; and they shall neverperish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. - John 10:28

There is a voice through earth's wild clamor calling,
To all the heavy laden and oppressed
Sweet as the cooling dew at even calling:
"Come unto Me and rest."
It is the voice of Jesus, still entreating,
To all the comforless and all sad;
Day after day His tender call repeating,
"Come unto Me and I will make you glad."

There is a hand outstretched in tenderest pity
Where all the weary and the wondering roam.
Waiting to lead them to the heavenly city,
To bring the homeless home.
It is the hand of Jesus, still upholding,
Strong to deliver, mighty still to keep;
And none shall pluck from out that safe unfolding
The weakest one of all His blood-bought sheep.

There is a Form that walks life's stormy ocean,
Bidding the noise of tempest cease;
Crying along through all the wild commotion,
"In Me ye shall have peace."
Oh it is Jesus comming o'er the waters,
As once He walked the waves of Galilee,
Speaking to all earth's shipwrecked sons and daughters,
"Be not afriad, have faith, have faith in Me."

There is a Love that longs with deep affection
To gather all the sin-sick sons of men,
Beneath its wings of shelter and protection,
And give them health again.
It is the love of Jesus, sweet with longing,
His full salvation to the world to give;
Crying to all the dead, earth's highways thronging,
"Come unto Me, come unto Me and live."

Annie Johnson Flint

2007-11-03T00:20:00.000+08:00

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. - John 16:33

In the world, tribulation; but in Jesus -- peace;
The heart of the whirlwind where its roarings cease,
A little home waiting, still and light and warm,
A safe sanctuary from the night and storm.

In the world, tribulation; but in Jesus -- rest;
A sure place of refuge for the sore-opprest,
A guarded pavilion no device can take,
A strong-walled fortress no assault can shake.

In the world tribulation; but in Jesus -- joy;
A full cup of gladness that can never cloy,
A sweet fountain rising out of Marrah's tide,
A spring of rejoicing that is never dried.

In the world, tribulation; but in Jesus -- peace;
A deep, quiet harbor where the high waves cease,
A long-desired haven on a friendly shore,
Where the wild winds of oceans sweep the soul no more.

In the world, tribulation, trials all around,
For on earth no resting and no joys are found;
Let us flee to Jesus where all sorrows cease;
Here alone is gladness, here alone is peace.

Annie Johnson Flint

The dried sea

2007-10-02T15:15:00.000+08:00

(God) turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in Him. - Psalm 66:6

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of Thy watersprouts: all Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over Me. - Psalm 42:7

The sea of God's wrath upon sin is now removed completely for us to pass into God's presence without worry. However, though easy for us, it meant that the waves and billows of that righteous wrath fell upon Christ. He took the full force of that wrath upon His sinless self. He endured it for us (who can imagine what He endured!). In the end, He came out triumphant! Now at that very place, we rejoice in Him!

The tempest’s awful voice was heard,
O Christ, it broke on Thee!
Thy open bosom was my ward,
It braved the storm for me.
Thy form was scarred, Thy visage marred;
Now cloudless peace for me. - Anne R. Cousin

Lord, to whom shall we go? - John 6:68

2007-09-22T11:25:00.000+08:00

I bring my sins to thee, the sins I cannot count,
That all may cleansed be, in thy once open’d fount;
I bring them Saviour, all to thee, the burden is too great for me.

My heart to thee I bring, the heart I cannot read;
A faithless, wand’ring thing—an evil heart indeed;
I bring it, Saviour, now to thee, that fixed and faithful it may be.

I bring my grief to thee, the grief I cannot tell,
No words shall needed be,Thou knowest all so well;
I bring the sorrow laid on me, O suffering Saviour, all to thee.

My life I bring to thee, I would not be my own;
O Saviour, let me be Thine, ever thine alone:
My heart, my life, my all, I bring, to thee, my Saviour and my King.
To Thee, my Saviour, and my King!

Frances R. Havergal

Song of songs

2007-08-29T14:36:00.000+08:00

The form of words in the title of the Song is a Hebrew way of expressing its superlative excellence. It is the Song of Songs. It is the best, the sweetest, the greatest of all songs. The same form of words is used in other places and always helps to exalt the Savior. In His deity He is "God of gods" (Dan 2:47). He is greater than the "Heaven of heavens," which cannot contain Him (2 Chron 2:6; 6:18). In wondrous grace He became a "Servant of servants" (Gen 9:25), the greatest of all Jehovah’s servants. Those who know Him and love Him have found Him to be the answer to earth’s "Vanity of vanities" (Eccl 1:2; 12:8). He is the grand antitype of that place of glory which we call the "Holy of Holies" (Exod 26:33). One day His true greatness will be universally recognized when He appears as "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" (Rev 19:16). It is a "Song of Songs" indeed, that sings of such a One as He! - Jim Flanigan, Truth and Tidings

It Shows in Your Face

2007-07-24T20:15:00.000+08:00

You don't have to tell how you live each day;

You don't have to say if you work or you play;

A tried, true barometer serves in the place --

However you live, it will show in your face.

The false, the deceit that you bear in your heart,

Will not stay inside where it first got a start;

For sinew and blood are a thin veil of lace --

What you wear in your heart, you wear in your face.

If your life is selfless, if for others you live,

For not what you get, but how much you can give;

If you live close to God in his infinite grace --

You don't have to tell it, it shows in your face.

Author unknown

More from Choice Gleanings

2007-07-16T08:39:00.001+08:00

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. - Isaiah 1:18

The infinite LORD of Glory requests to communicate with sinful man. “Deity stoops to speak to dust.” Look again at Calvary and see our Saviour, bearing in our stead, the “consuming fire” of judgment that we deserved. Now the scarlet sins have been forgiven and God sees us as white as snow. Listen now to the Saviour, “Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee” (Matt. 9:2). —Milton Haack

Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,
When at the cross the Saviour made me whole;
My sins were washed away, and my night was turned to day,
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul. —John Peterson

Wait

2007-07-10T22:46:00.001+08:00

God's delays are not denials,
He has heard your prayer,
He knows all about your trials,
Knows your every care.

God's delays are not denials,
Help is on the way,
He is watching o'er life's dials,
Bringing forth the day.

God's delays are not denials,
You will find Him true;
Working through the darkest trials
What is best for you.

Grace E. Troy

Borrowed from Choice Gleanings

2007-07-09T07:40:00.000+08:00

Then shall the man bring...an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance. - Numbers 5:15
But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. - Hebrews 10:3
Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. - Hebrews 10:17

The memory of past failures can haunt us. It is good for us to remember that although we are failures because of Christ we can leave those sins at the cross—under the blood. May God give us grace to enjoy the fact that our sins are gone.—William H. Gustafson

Gone, gone, gone, gone, yes, my sins are gone.
Now my soul is free and in my heart’s a song.
Buried in the deepest sea, yes, that’s good enough for me;
I shall live eternally—praise God, my sins are G-O-N-E. —Helen Griggs

Savior! We love Thee!

2007-07-05T16:11:00.000+08:00

Saviour! we love Thee, long for Thy return;
The night is dark, and oh, our spirits yearn
To hear the call out from the radiant sky,
The calling Home, the resurrection cry.

This thrilling word that ends this night of gloom,
That binds death’s power, and triumphs o’er the tomb;
When in a moment we shall mount above
And know the fullness of Thy heart of love.

Oh, wondrous call that bringeth to Thy side
In unmarred beauty Thy beloved Bride,
To know Thy love, its wonders to explore,
In rapture bow, and worship evermore.

Oh, wondrous love! to see Thy face divine,
To know the whispered joy of being Thine.
Oh, tell me not of glories I shall see,
This is the deepest—being near to Thee.

Lord Jesus, come! Thy Bride her Lord would see,
And know the joy of being like to Thee;
So worlds on worlds will see what grace has done,
As long as everlasting ages run.

Samuel Trevor Francis, 1834-1925

Gift by grace

2007-06-20T07:43:00.000+08:00

Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD. - Ezekiel 14:14

Noah was said to be a just man and perfect in his generation (Genesis 6:9). When the rulers desired to find fault with Daniel concerning the kingdom, they could find none occasion nor fault for he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him (Daniel 6:4). Job is described as perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil (Job 1:1). These were spiritual giants of their time. But all their righteousness could only deliver but their own souls when faced with God's righteous wrath upon the sin of the people. For the Lord says elsewhere that all our righteousness are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).

There is yet one Person who stands out above all. Paul says to the Romans that by the righteousness of this Person, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. By the obedience of this Person, shall many be made righteous (Romans 5:18-19). Noah, Daniel and Job could barely save themselves by their own righteousness. The Lord Jesus Christ saves ALL by His righteousness. If only I would accept that free gift!

Come unto Him

2007-06-18T08:06:00.000+08:00

David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him. And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men. - 1 Sam 22:1-2

David reminds me of the Lord Jesus in this account.

So many of us would be able to relate to the one in distress. Our hearts rage a war as the good that we want to do, we do not, but the evil that we do not want to do, we keep on doing. All of us should be able to relate to the one in debt. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death and since we're all sinful then we owe the payment for our sin. We'll need to clear the debt of death that we owe. Again many of us could relate to the one that was discontented or, more accurately, bitter in soul. Bitter and callous from the harsh environment of this world. Sore and wounded from the treatment of the people of this world. These verses call out to all.

Note the action! They gathered themselves unto him. The Lord Jesus calls us to come unto Him...and He will give us rest. Whether in distress, or in debt, or even in bitterness, we are to gather ourselves unto Christ. We look to Him for comfort and victory from distress, for redemption from our debt and for sweetness to our souls.

Now note the reaction! It was an all gracious response. All these gathered themselves unto David in their present condition no matter how bad it was. He doesn't turn them away nor refuse their gathering unto him. The Lord Jesus receives wretched, sinful, unworthy men and women. Oh what grace! He does not reject us as we come to Him. We are accepted in Him who is the Beloved.

Now note the result! He became a captain over them. As we understand the grace that the Lord has bestowed upon us then there can be no lower response than Him becoming Lord over us all!

Is it because...?

2007-06-12T07:38:00.000+08:00

Is it because the sea is calm that waves are uninspired reaching shore?
Is it because the wind is hushed that the whistling is dulled to a bore?
Is it because the path is smooth that rocks stimulate no more?
Is it because the storm is stilled that rain falls as if a chore?

Nay, it cannot be!
For the sea billows still restlessly roll,
the wind still piercingly howls,
the path with jaggedness strewn,
the storm with ease doth take it's toll.

Unworthy

2007-05-22T15:37:00.000+08:00

Unworthy was I,
His love I denied.
Yet "Father forgive,"
Were the words that He cried,
As He hung in my place;
And bore all the pain;
For my sins He suffered,
For me He was slain.

Unworthy was I,
Yet he stooped so low;
Yes, for me He came
To this world below,
From the throne of a King
At the Father's right hand
To the Cross of a felon,
His life in demand.

His brow cruelly beaten,
A spear pierced His side,
In love he extended His arms
When He died.
And in that embrace
My comfort shall be,
For God looked at Him
And then pardoned me!

Still unworthy am I
As I live day by day,
Unconcerned by His claims,
Of His will for my way.
But although I am weak,
And my faith is oft dim,
Unworthy through self,
I'm found worthy through Him.

Beth Peppler

Life Means So Much

2007-05-18T23:28:00.000+08:00

Everyday is a bank account
And time is our currency
So no one’s rich, nobody’s poor
We get twenty-four hours each
So how are you gonna spend
Will you invest or squander
Try to get ahead
Or help someone who’s under?

Chris Rice

Sinner, dost thou care?

2007-04-08T22:04:00.000+08:00

The hearts of the saints
Are moved for thee;
O sinner, dost thou care?
And oft and again thy very name
Is breathed to God in prayer.

The heart of the Savior
Is moved for thee;
O sinner, dost thou hear?
As thy name He speaks, His precious cheeks
Are stained by falling tear.

Hell from beneath
Is moved for thee;
O sinner, stop and think!
If thou refuse, thy soul thou'lt lose
Thou'rt standing on the brink.

The heart of thy God
Is moved for thee;
And O, His love's been proved!
His Son He gave thy soul to save,
O sinner, art thou moved?

Bernie Payne

2007-03-27T23:21:00.000+08:00

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our fev'rish ways!
Reclothe us in our rightful mind;
In purer lives Thy service find,
In deeper rev'rence, praise.

In simple trust like theirs who heard,
Beside the Syrian sea,
The gracious calling of the Lord,
Let us, like them, without a word,
Rise up and follow Thee.

O Sabbath rest by Galilee!
O calm of hills above,
Where Jesus knelt to share with Thee
The silence of eternity,
Interpreted by love!

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace.

Breathe thro' the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak though the earthquake, wind and fire,
O still small voice of calm!

John G. Whittier

2007-03-11T19:59:00.000+08:00

So near, so very near to God, I cannot nearer be;
For in the person of His Son, I am as near as He.
So dear, so very dear to God, more dear I cannot be,
The love wherewith He loves the Son: such is His love to me.

C. Paget

The Will of God

2007-02-06T21:09:00.000+08:00

Laid on Thine altar, O my Lord Divine,
Accept my gift this day, for Jesus' sake;
I have no jewels to adorn Thy shrine,
Nor any world-famed sacrifice to make:
But here I bring within my trembling hands
This will of mine, a thing that seemeth small,
Yet Thou alone, O Lord, canst understand
How when I yield Thee this, I yield Thee all.

Hidden therein, Thy searching gaze can see
Struggles of passion, visions of delight,
All that I have, or fain would be,
Deep loves, fond hopes, and longings infinite:
It hath been wet with tears, and dimmed with sighs,
Clenched in my grasp, till beauty hath it none:
Now from Thy footstool, where it vanquished lies,
The prayer ascendeth, "May Thy will be done."

Take it, O Father, ere my courage fail,
And merge it so with Thine own, that e'en
If in some desperate hour my cries prevail,
And Thou give back my gift, it may have been
So changed, so purified, so fair have grown,
So one with Thee, so filled with love divine,
I may not know or feel it as my own,
But gaining back my will, may find it Thine.

(found among the papers of an African missionary after his death)

2007-01-17T20:22:00.000+08:00

Oh, spirit o'erwhelmed by thy failures and fears,
Look up to thy Lord, tho' with trembling and tears;
Weak faith, to thy call seem the heav'ns only dumb?
To thee is the message, "Hold fast till I come."

Hold fast when the world would allure thee to sin;
Hold fast when the tempter assails from within;
In sunshine or sadness, in gain or in loss,
to falter were madness, oh, cling to the cross.

Thy Savior is coming in tenderest love,
To make up His jewels and bear them above;
Oh, child, in things anguish, despairing or dumb,
Remember the message, "Hold fast till I come."

Mrs E. W. Griswold (Paulina) - 1876

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/o/l/holdftic.htm

For All the Morrows

2007-01-04T12:29:00.000+08:00

Has the year brought sadness?
Joy is yet in store.
Has it given gladness?
Next year giveth more.
Let your Father measure
All your pain and care,
Let Him weigh the burden
That your heart must bear,
Sending light or shadow
As He deemeth best,
For in His sure wisdom
You can safely rest.
Peace for all the morrows,
Strength for all the days,
These shall be your portion
Through the New Year's ways.

Annie Johnson Flint

BLESSED NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

My Meditation

Everlasting Love

New Year

Thoughts for the New Year

Voices in Matthew 3

Ways past finding out

Walk before God

O my Saviour, I am weary

Peace, Perfect Peace

Psalm 28

Vital Equations

1 John - Declaration of the Witness

1 John - Depths of Love

1 John - Deeds of the Devil

1 John - Delusion of the World

1 John - Deception of Darkness

Outline of 1 John

Start Over

Gems from my reading

Will not the End explain?

Nehemiah Chapter 13

Nehemiah - Administration of the City

Rock of our salvation (Psalm 95:1)

The Great Sin

DRAMATIM Hand Mime Easter Outreach (1st Performance)

Nehemiah - Application of the Word

Nehemiah Chapter 6

Adaptation of William Hinley's 'Invictus'

A note to an evolutionist

Hope in 1 Thessalonians

Nehemiah Chapter 5

Nehemiah Chapter 4

Nehemiah - Attacks of the Enemy

Psalm 145

The Blood

Nehemiah Chapter 2

Nehemiah Chapter 1

Outline of Nehemiah

The Living God in Hebrews

The 4 Downs

The Life of Josiah

The Armour of God

Gems from my reading

Another Christmas Comment

A Christmas Comment

Credo

...creeping thing...

Comfort in a Cloud

wasted?

Prayer

In Readiness

Born King!

Where Jesus is, that's Heaven

In Quietness and Confidence Shall Be Your Strength

In Time of Need

The Refiner's Fire

My meditation for Christmas 2007

Excerpt from "One Day at a Time"

An excerpt from "The Cradle and the Cross"

Hymn 809

Gems from my reading

It is Jesus

The dried sea

Lord, to whom shall we go? - John 6:68

Song of songs

It Shows in Your Face

More from Choice Gleanings

Wait

Borrowed from Choice Gleanings

Savior! We love Thee!

More gems from my reading

Gift by grace

Come unto Him

Is it because...?

Unworthy

Life Means So Much

Sinner, dost thou care?

The Will of God

For All the Morrows