O Glorious Love

Do you ever feel unlovable?  I do.  Sometimes it amazes me that there are people who love
me despite my failings, shortcomings and inconsistencies.  But what amazes me even more
then the earthly love that I receive, is the love from God that envelopes me daily.  There
might be things that I can point to that would explain why people might love me, but there
is no reason to explain the love of God towards me.  Some people think that they deserve
the love of God.  There is only one thing that we deserve from God and that is His holy
wrath. 

Romans 2:11 states that, "There is no respect of persons with God."  Therefore what
applies to one applies to all.  No one is above the deserved wrath of God for sin, because
no one is sinless.

Romans 3:10 & 11  "As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one:  there is
none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God."

The natural man is an enemy of God.  But...and here it is, God loved us anyway!

Romans 5:8  "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were
yet sinners, Christ died for us."

We will never be able to comprehend the love of God.  But we can thank God for this
amazing love that reached down from Heaven in the form of His Son.  This amazing
love took Jesus all the way from the splendor of Glory to the manger, and then to the
cross to die in our stead.  And this salvation which was purchased at so great of a cost
is open to all that come with a repentant heart.

Romans 10:12 & 13  "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek:
for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.  For whosoever
shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

This is a love that all the forces of hell can't shatter!  How do we love Him?  We are
admonished in Deuteronomy 6:5, "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all
thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."  Do we?  I think that most
of the time we read this verse with our eyes, but this is what we hear, "And thou shalt
love the LORD thy God with some of thine heart, a little bit of thy soul, and whatever
might you have left at the end of the day." 

This is not an exaggeration at all, this is how we at times love the Lord.  We give to
God what is left over after we given to everyone else.  If God had loved us that way,
we would all be hell-bound with no salvation available.  He put us first, put our desperate
need of salvation before His own beloved Son;  and we dare to love Him with leftovers!

So...who is this God that we are commanded to love with all our heart, soul and might?

Job 37:5  "God thundereth marvellously with His voice:  great things doeth He,
which we cannot comprehend."

Isaiah 40:28  "Hast thou not known?  Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting
God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?
There is no searching of His understanding."

Isaiah 45:12  "I have made the earth, and created man upon it:  I, even My hands,
have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded."

Isaiah 66:1a  "Thus saith the LORD, the heaven is My throne, and the earth is
My footstool:"

It's hard to wrap our heads around the fact that this Almighty holy God of Heaven loves
us!  He wants to have a personal relationship with us!  We, who are but dust under His
footstool;  He loves us and wants us to love Him.  We can never love Him this side of
Heaven the way He deserves to be loved;  but that is no excuse not to put Him first above
all else, and to give Him every ounce of love, devotion and service that we can. 

Our love can be shown in a couple of ways.

1.  We show our love through our actions.

Ezekiel 20:19  "I am the LORD your God;  walk in my statutes (Word), and keep
my judgments (Word), and do them."

Walk, keep and do.  Our love put into action.  In Luke chapter 6 verse 46 we find the
Lord asking this question;  "And why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things
which I say?

You've heard the saying, "Actions speak louder then words," well, it is very true.  You
can easily spout off great sounding words, but if they aren't backed up by concrete
action, they are worthless. 

Matthew 25:35, 36 & 40  "For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat;  I was
thirsty and ye gave me drink:  I was a stranger, and ye took me in:  Naked, and
ye clothed me:  I was sick, and ye visited me:  I was in prison, and ye came unto
me...  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you,
inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have
done it unto me."

You say you love God... then walk, keep and do.

2.  We show our love through speech.

Titus 2:8  "Sound speech, that cannot be condemned."

This was Paul's admonition to Titus about aged men, but it applies to us as well.  Our
speech should not bring any reproach against God.  We see the same concept stated in
Colossians 4:6;

"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how
ye ought to answer every man."

In all our speech, we should be exalting the name of Christ.  Our words should be a
source of balm for the hurting, admonition for the wayward, peace for the wrathful,
calm for the distressed, and a message of hope for the lost.  People are not dumb, they
can tell whether you are speaking the truth in love.  Don't waste your breath if you're
going to speak the truth in hate or disgust.  You will bring reproach on the name of
the Lord. 

When we show the love of God to others, through our actions or speech, we are showing
love to Him.  We will never be able to match the love that God has for us, but we should
be willing to love Him with all our hearts, soul and mind...it is the very least we can do!

Jeremiah 31:3  "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love:  therefore with
lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

 

In the darkness Jesus found me,

Touched my eyes and made me see,

Broke sins chains that long had bound me,

Gave me life and liberty.

 

Oh amazing truth to ponder,

He whom angel host attend.

Lord of Heaven, God's Son, what wonder,

He became the sinners friend.

 

O glorious love of Christ my Lord divine,

That made Him stoop to save a soul like mine.

Through all my days and then in Heaven above,

My soul will silence never,

I'll worship Him forever,

And praise Him for His glorious love.

 

                                              John W. Peterson 

I Change Not

Nothing is guaranteed in this world.  The only thing that you can count on is that things
change.  Our environment is changing, our families change with the passing of time, our
plans have a way of changing on us.  Life brings change.  Some changes are good, but
others are hard to swallow.  I've stated before that I am not a person that takes to change
easily.  I like knowing what I'm doing today, tomorrow, next week. 

There is one thing that never changes, one thing that we can always count on.

Malachi 3:6a  "For I am the LORD, I change not:"

Our wonderful Lord and Savior is always the same.  The love He had for us yesterday
will be the same love He will have for us tomorrow.  What a comfort to know that the
Lord is the one constant we have to hold on to in this ever changing society of ours.

If the Lord says that "I change not," then it would stand to reason that what is in the
Word of God changes not.  Some people are of the mindset that the Bible is an "old
fashioned book," that it holds no relevance to us today.  May I politely say that they
are wrong!  The truth of God's Word is just as relevant today as when it was penned
thousands of years ago.  Truth is truth, it doesn't change.

One of the truths of the Bible that people are trying to change today is the "power
of the blood."  They are trying to gain salvation without the application of the blood. 
May I politely say once again, they are wrong.  The Bible tells us over and over about
the importance of the shed blood of Christ our Savior.

We see back in Exodus chapter 12 the institution of the Passover.  This was associated
with the last plague that God sent upon Egypt for not letting His people go. He
instructed Moses to tell the Israelites to take a "lamb without blemish, a male of the
first year:" (vs 5), this lamb was a picture, or a type of the Lamb of God, the Lord
Jesus Christ who would shed His blood for us.

That night long ago in Egypt, when the Almighty God passed throughout the land, all
homes without the shed blood of the sacrificed lamb on the doorposts had the firstborn
killed.  Only the inhabitants of the homes that had doors with the blood on them were
spared the wrath of God.

Exodus 12:13  "And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where
ye are:  and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be
upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt."

The blood of the lamb gave life to those under it.  This was a picture of the blood of
the Lamb of God, we have life when we are under it, washed in the precious blood of
the Lord Jesus Christ.

God puts great importance on the blood, because you see, this was the blood of His
dear Son.  What God puts importance on should never be shunned or cast aside!
The blood of Jesus was the payment for our sins.

Acts 20:28  "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the
which the Holy Ghost hath made your overseers, to feed the church of God,
which He hath purchased with His own blood."

Hebrews 9:11 & 12  "But Christ, being come an high priest of good things to
come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is
to say, not of this building;  neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His
own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal
redemption for us."

Our eternal redemption is only through the blood!  Don't ever let anyone tell you that
the blood is of no importance, that it has no value to you.  The blood of Jesus Christ
is precious to the believer.

1 Peter 1:18 & 19  "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with
corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received
by tradition from your fathers;  but with the precious blood of Christ, as of
a lamb without blemish and without spot."

Ephesians 1:7  "In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness
of sins, according to the riches of His grace."

Another truth of God's Word that is being pushed aside, is the truth of God's Word!
Many have the mindset today that the Bible is just a book filled with fables that are
good to tell your children at bedtime.  It has good thoughts in it, but most of them are
outdated.  Or, its just a book that has outlived its usefulness, we've grown beyond
having to believe what it teaches.  This is all rubbish and its the thinking that will
send you to hell.  God's Word contains the only truth that can change a heart and
can give eternal life to the repentant soul.  Don't go changing God's Word to try to fit
your circumstances, it doesn't work that way.  God's Word changes your circumstances. 
The Word of God is the very core of our faith.

Hebrews 11:3a  "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by
the word of God,"

I've mentioned before Psalms 119, this is a chapter where the importance of the
Word of God is highlighted in every verse.

Psalms 119:4  "Thou hast commanded us to keep Thy precepts (Word)
diligently."

God's Word is from time past, until time is no more, His Word abides forever.  God's
command to keep His precepts has no expiration date on it!

Psalms 119:144a  "The righteousness of Thy testimonies (Word) is everlasting."

Psalms 119:89  "For ever, O LORD, Thy word is settled in heaven."

Matthew 24:35  "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not
pass away."

Today we have the precious Word of God, that changes not, that we can hold in our
hands.  We have the freedom to read and meditate on His words and to hide them in
our hearts.  Someday we will live with the Living Word in Glory, the Lord Jesus Christ
Himself, what a wonderful day to look forward to.

Until that day we have the promise in Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ, the same
yesterday, and to day, and for ever."  We have the comfort of knowing that there
is One person that will not change...ever!

 

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father!

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not;

As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

 

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above.

Join with all nature in manifold witness,

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

 

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

 

Great is Thy faithfulness!  Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided,

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

 

                                                       Thomas O. Chisholm

Running With Nowhere To Hide

You've failed...again.  You can't bear to show your face.  What's been asked of you is just too
hard and you know that you will look like a fool.  The humiliation is heating your face and
you wish the floor would just open up and swallow you whole.  We've all been there haven't
we!  You're embarrassed, scared to death, humiliated.  What is your first instinct?  To run,
at least that is my initial response to these horrific feelings.  You want to run and leave behind
the uncomfortable feelings that have been annoying you, the fear that has been gurgling in
the pit of your stomach at the sight of a task before you that you just don't want to face. 

For whatever the reason, running seems to be the human "answer" to many a problem. 
However the real problem is that you can't run from whatever it is that is humiliating
or scaring you...because "it" always follows you.  The best way to deal with "it" is head on,
with the Lord's help; for what is before you, is something that the Lord is permitting.

We find someone in the Word of God that was running from what God had asked of him...
you see, running is an ancient escape form! 

Jonah 1:1-3  "Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it;  for their wickedness is come
up before me.  But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD,
and went down to Joppa;  and he found a ship going to Tarshish:  so he paid the fare
thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the
LORD."

The Lord asked Jonah to go to Nineveh and to warn them of their wickedness.  Jonah did
not want to go, so what did he do?  He ran.  Why do we think that we can run from God?
Don't look down on Jonah for this action, for we are no better then he.  God asks us to do
something for Him...but we always have excuses, and to us, our excuses are of more
importance then peoples eternal souls.  We are wrong, just as Jonah.  You can't outrun
God and it's useless to try.

Jonah 1:4  "But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a
mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken."

Sometimes the storms in our lives are of our own making.  God is trying to get our
attention.  Since we didn't listen to His still small voice, He has no choice but to send
a mighty tempest into our lives to get our attention and make us turn to His will once
again.  Don't blame God for the storms that come, look at what caused them, most
likely you will see that you dropped the ball somewhere along the line, and God
just wants you hear His voice.

Jonah knew that this was the case right off.  When the storm came up and the mariners
came to him, he answered them without excuse;

Jonah 1:9 & 10  "And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew;  and I fear the LORD,
the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.  Then were the men
exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, why hast thou done this?  For the men knew
that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them."

Jonah knew that the storm was because of his disobedience.  Did you notice that not
only was Jonah is peril, but the mariners lives were also in danger?  Our sin does not
just affect us, its consequences often fall on those around us as well.  Our families, friends,
co-workers all will feel the affects of our disobedience to the Lord to some extent.  No
one had to tell Jonah that this was his fault, he knew the situation that they found them-
selves in was because of his sinful actions.  No one has to tell us when we've sinned, we
will know and we will feel the Lord's hand of discipline in our life.  It is useless to run,
God knows where we are.  So what do we do?

Jonah 2:1-2, 7  "Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly,
And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and He heard me:  out
of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.  When my soul fainted within
me I remembered the LORD:  and my prayer came in unto Thee, unto Thine holy
temple."

From the belly of the great fish that the Lord had prepared to swallow Jonah when he
was cast overboard, the Lord heard his prayer of repentance.  God is always ready to
hear the repentant prayer of His children.  God put Jonah in a place where nothing
around could distract him from the problem at hand...his disobedience.  When Jonah
had come to his senses, "The LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah
upon the dry land."

We find the promise of God's forgiveness in 1 John 1:9.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness."

This verse is often used when leading someone to Christ.  But its a verse that a child
of God can claim anytime.  He is always faithful and just to forgive our sins and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness!  Jonah received the Lord's forgiveness from the
depths of the great fishes belly.

We find a different response from Jonah the second time God told him to go to
Nineveh.

Jonah 3:1-3a  "And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time,
saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching
that I bid thee.  So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word
of the LORD."

Jonah obeyed the Lord when He spoke to him again.  How many times does the Lord
have to speak to us until we listen to Him?  I remember when my children were
young, and I would tell them to do something.  Nine times out of ten I would have to
repeat myself.  Usually the second time came with an added incentive to do my
bidding.  Do you wait until you feel the added incentive from the Lord to do His
bidding?  Or do you listen the first time, and become the joyful recipient of His
blessing because of obedience to His will for your life?  No one enjoys discipline,
so why put yourself through it?  I used to ask that of my children.  They knew that
they would get into trouble for not listening, but they would try to get away with it 
anyway!  Come on now, aren't we just like that! 

Just as those around feel the affect of our disobedience, they will feel the affect of
our obedience.  Look at what happened when Jonah obeyed the Lord and went to
the city of Nineveh and preached.

Jonah 3:5  "So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and
put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them."

The city of Nineveh was spared destruction because they repented of their evil ways
after hearing the Word of God that Jonah preached.  Obedience to God was not
only good for Jonah, but a whole city was spared certain death.

Our obedience probably won't keep a whole city from the wrath of God today, but
perhaps one soul can escape eternal damnation because we choose to obey and
speak the truth.  Take a lesson today from Jonah, running is not the answer, 
obedience is.

I'll live for Jesus day after day;

I'll live for Jesus, let come what may.

The Holy Spirit I will obey,

And live for Jesus day after day.

 

Thru every day, new joy I find;

He gives to me real peace of mind.

Until the day, when Christ I see,

I'll live for Jesus, Who died for me.

 

                                                     Paul Schultz 

Go And Tell

Have you ever had such extraordinary exciting news that it was nearly ripping you apart
at the seams to keep it inside?  It's hard to keep good news to yourself.  A few months ago
when my son and daughter-in-law found out they were expecting, I was asked to keep it
to myself until they were ready for everyone to know!  My first grandchild, and I had to
keep this super exciting news inside...I was nearly bursting by the time I was given the go-
a-head that it was ok for all to know. 

There is good news however that we are told to tell to all...the good news of what the Lord
has done for us. 

Psalms 40:2 & 3  "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay,
and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.  And He hath put a new song
in my mouth, even praise unto our God:  many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust
in the LORD."

What amazing things the Lord God has done for His blood bought child.  We have been
lifted out of the pit of sin and degradation, put on a sure foundation - the Lord Jesus Christ,
and had our path fashioned in His will.  We have something to sing about and a wonderful
life changing message to share!  We have been left on this earth to tell others, to point
them to our sweet Savior.  I love to be the bearer of good news...what better news do we
have to share then that someone can have their sins forgiven and become part of the
family of God;  share in the promises of God and live forever with Him in Glory.

When Jesus was on earth, He not only had compassion on the multitudes and healed
them, but He was also admonishing them to tell others, not to keep the good news to
themselves.

Mark 5:18 & 19  "And when He was come into the ship, he that had been possessed
with the devil prayed Him that he might be with Him.  Howbeit Jesus suffered him
not, but saith unto him, go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the
Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee."

Luke 8:39  "Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done
unto thee.  And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how
great things Jesus had done for him."

How are we doing with publishing what great things Jesus has done for us?  If we were
to be honest, most people we come into contact with hear nothing from us about the
greatness of the Lord Jesus and what He's done for us...how shameful.  This is the last
thing that Jesus asked of us before He departed to Glory.

Acts 1:8  "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you;
and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in
Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

Some people mistakenly believe that it's the Pastor's or missionaries that have the
responsibility to proclaim the Gospel, how wrong they are.  Every child of God has
the responsibility and the capability to share the Gospel.  Everyone can tell someone
else how the Lord saved them from their sins and made them fit for Heaven.  The Pastor
and the missionary are just answering special calls from the Lord to fill specific places
of service for Him in this world. 

You will note that there is a certain way to witness mentioned in Acts 1:8.  First you
start at home (Jerusalem), then you go into your community (Judaea), followed by
your country (Samaria), then to the rest of the world.  If everyone followed this pattern,
the Gospel would be shared in every corner of the earth. 

Some people have problems with this however.  They want to be missionaries in some
remote corner of the world, taking the Gospel to the heathen who have never heard...very
well and good, but they don't witness at home.  What about unsaved family members,
moms, dads, brothers and sisters who don't know Christ?  Why do so few people show
up to go door to door, or why don't more people give out tracks?  Those who don't have
a burden for those at home will not effectively serve in some distant land.  Sharing the
Gospel must start at home. Don't expect the Lord to call you to a distant land as a
missionary if your not fulfilling the Great Commission here at home!

Peter and John proclaimed in Acts 4:20;

"For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."

They were witness to the mighty miracles of the Lord, and they could not keep quiet
about it.  We have been witness to the mighty miracles of the Lord in our own lives.  We
have all miraculously been given new birth, we have been made anew...we have much
to tell.

King David experienced the loving care of God, and he said this in Psalms 26:7;

"That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Thy wondrous
works."

Witnessing to others about the Lord is not a guarantee that we will have the privilege
of leading that one to Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:6  "I have planted, Apollos watered;  but God gave the increase."

It is NOT our responsibility if they accept the Gospel and get saved...it is our responsibility
to TELL, God takes care of the rest.  God will bring the right people along for the job
He has for them do, in His timing.  Some times we might be the "Paul" and sometimes
the "Apollos", but it is God alone that gives the increase, we just need to be faithful in
the planting and the watering.

Lets go back to Luke chapter 8.  The man that had been instructed to return to his
own house and tell what great things God had done for him, did just that.  He went his
way and told everyone what Jesus had done for him.  We see in verse 40 the results of
his obedience to Christ's command.

"And it came to pass, that when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received Him:
for they were all waiting for Him."

Jesus came back to a place where the people were prepared to hear Him because of the
obedience of one man whom had been made whole.  God's pattern for witnessing never
fails.  Start at home, be faithful...and God will give the increase.

 

I love to tell the story of unseen things above,

Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love;

I love to tell the story because I know 'tis true;

It satisfies my longings, as nothing else can do.

 

I love to tell the story, more wonderful it seems,

Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams;

I love to tell the story, it did so much for me,

And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.

 

I love to tell the story, 'tis pleasant to repeat,

What seems each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.

I love to tell the story, for some have never heard,

The message of salvation, from God's own Holy Word.

 

I love to tell the story, for those who know it best.

Seem hungering and thirsting, to hear it like the rest;

And when, in scenes of Glory, I sing the new, new song,

'Twill be the old, old story, that I have loved so long.

 

I love to tell the story!

'Twill be my theme in Glory,

To tell the old, old story,

Of Jesus and His love.

 

                                                             A. Catherine Hankey

The Lights Of Home

Have you ever been out at night, it's dark, cold and your tired and just can't wait to
get home? Then, in the distance you see a glimmer of light and it shines brighter and
brighter the closer you get.  That light in the distance is like a homing beacon,
beckoning you home. 

For the child of God living in this sin cursed world, the light from Glory shines faintly in
the distance, a beacon to our weary souls...just a little while longer it seems to say, just
stay the course and keep on.  The longer we stay in this foreign land the stronger the pull
of our Heavenly home.  I don't know about you, but I can't wait to get home.  I can't
imagine what it will be like to leave this earthly house of clay that seems to crumble a
little bit more each day, and step through the gates of Glory to my eternal home.  To
meet my loved ones and friends that I've had to say good-bye too here.  But the greatest
thrill of my homecoming will be to meet my Savior face to face! 

Face to face with Christ my Savior, face to face what will it be,

When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ Who died for me?

Face to face I shall behold Him, far beyond the starry sky;

Face to face in all His glory, I shall see Him by and by.

 

                                                  Carrie E. Breck

2 Corinthians 5:8b  "Absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."

There are days when the trials, concerns and disappointments of this world seem
to dim the "Lights of home,"  our eyes are centered on earthly cares and we forget
that this world is not our home, we are just traveling through to our heavenly home.
It says in John 14:1 - 3 that Jesus is preparing for our homecoming!

"Let not your heart be troubled:  ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In My
Father's house are many mansions:  if it were not so, I would have told you.  I
go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come again, and receive you unto Myself:  that where I am, there ye may be also."

Both my children do not live at home anymore.  When I receive a call saying that they
are going to come for a visit I get really excited.  I love to have my children at home
with me.  I spend a lot of time getting the house and the room ready for them.  I buy
their favorite foods and prepare their favorite meals.  I anticipate their arrival with
great excitement because I love my children.

Our Heavenly Father is anticipating our arrival home.  Heaven is being prepared
for us!  He is watching for us to arrive so that He may enjoy our company, He wants
His children with Him.  How wonderful it is to know that at the end of our journey is
someone who loves us, wants us and is preparing for our arrival.

Just looking at the beauty that is in this sinful world, we know that we can't even
begin to comprehend the wonders that will be our heavenly home.

1 Corinthians 2:9  "But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them
that love Him."

A robe of white and pure delight,

With love and beauty everywhere;

A crown of gold and joys untold,

Are mine when I get there.

 

                                          Anon

There are things that we won't know about Heaven until we enter its wondrous gates,
but the Word of God does offer some insights into the eternal home that is awaiting
us.

1.  It is a place without sin.

Revelation 21:27  "And there shall in no wise enter into it (Heaven) any thing that
defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie:  but they which
are written in the Lamb's book of life."

Can you imagine a totally sinless place?  Only goodness, truth and righteousness will
reign...which is the Lord Jesus Christ, for only He is good, true and righteous.  We
will no longer have a sin nature, the old man will be gone and we will have a sin free
body.  No more complaining, hatred, lying, envying, backbiting, impure thoughts,
alternative motives, stealing, murders, NO SIN! 

2.  There will be no night, nor enemies.

Revelation 21:23- 25  "And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon,
to shine in it:  for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it:  and the Kings
of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.  And the gates of it shall not be
shut at all by day:  for there shall be no night there."

A place that has no night.  No light is needed because the Glory of God and the Lamb
of God are the lights!  Have you ever tried to imagine what the glory of God is like?
In Exodus 33:20:22, God has to protect Moses from His glory.

"And He said, thou canst not see My face;  for there shall no man see Me, and
live.  And the LORD said, behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand
upon a rock:  and it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will
put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by."

The natural man cannot look on the glory of God and live.  But the light of heaven
will be the glory of Almighty God!

Also, look at the end of verse 25, it says that "the gates of it shall not be shut at all
by day."  The history of walled cities is that the gates are shut to keep out approaching
enemies.  Heaven's enemy, Satan will have been defeated, there is no need to shut the
gates...ever, Heaven is a place of eternal safety!

3.  We will be forever with the Lord.

Revelation 21:3 & 4  "And I (John) heard a great voice out of heaven saying,
behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and
they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes:  and there shall be no more
death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain:  for
the former things are passed away."

Oh, how I love these verses.  What a wealth of precious promises they hold.  God
will forever dwell with us!  No more death, sorrow, crying or pain.  I really can't
wrap this poor head of mine around these wonderful words.  How much we have
to look forward to!  To be comforted in the arms of our Savior, what a hope for
the believer to have.

When the lights of Glory seem to disappear in the fog of hopelessness and despair,
just remind yourself of what is waiting for you at the end of the journey...Home!

 

I've a home prepared where the saints abide,

Just over in the glory-land;

And I long to be by my Savior's side,

Just over in the glory-land.

 

I am on my way to those mansions fair,

Just over in the glory-land;

There to sing God's praise and His glory share,

Just over in the glory-land.

 

What a joyful thought, that my Lord I'll see,

Just over in the glory-land;

And with kindred saved, there forever be,

Just over in the glory-land.

 

With the blood-washed throng I will shout and sing,

Just over in the glory-land;

Glad hosannas to Christ, the Lord and King,

Just over in the glory-land.

 

Just over in the glory-land,

I'll join the happy angel band,

Just over in the glory-land;

Just over in the glory-land,

There with the mighty host I'll stand,

Just over in the glory-land.

 

                                                    James W. Acuff

The Desires Of Your Heart

Have you ever really wanted something, so badly that you could just about taste it?  You even
prayed, asking God for this thing that you desired so greatly, only to have your spirit crushed
when you never received it. 

Psalms 37:4  "Delight thyself also in the LORD;  and He shall give thee the desires of
thine heart."

How often have you quoted this verse back to the Lord and ended it with the question, "Why
didn't you give me the desires of my heart God?"  There is a simple reason...did you delight
yourself in the Lord first?  You can't claim the promise at the end if you haven't fulfilled
your responsibility at the beginning!  The end hinges on the beginning.  When we delight
ourselves in the Lord then the desires of our hearts will line up with His will for our lives.

This was brought to my attention again this past week by a sermon I heard.  How easy it
is for us to dismiss the parts of a verse that requires action on our part.  We just want God
to be someone who gives us whatever we want, when we want it.  Thankfully our Heavenly
Father knows what is best for us, and when our hearts line up with His Word we will ask
for things that He will delight to give us.

How do we delight ourselves in the Lord?  Here are a few ways.

1.  Psalms 46:10  "Be still, and know that I am God:  I will be exalted among the
heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

Psalms 4:4  "Stand in awe, and sin not:  commune with your own heart upon
your bed, and be still, Selah."

Are we still enough to know God?  Can we still our busy thoughts and bustling spirits
to hear His still small voice?  He wants us to know Him, He wants our fellowship,
friendship and worship.  It is only when we are still and quiet that He can speak to us. 
Are we listening, or are we so intent on our activities and plans that His voice is erased
in the business that surrounds us?  Are we delighting in His voice?

2.  Psalms 47:6 & 7  "Sing praises to God, sing praises;  sing praises unto our King,
sing praises.  For God is the King of all the earth:  sing ye praises with under-
standing."

Psalms 69:30  "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him
with thanksgiving."

We delight ourselves in the Lord when we sing of Him!  How much we have to praise
God for.  When we concentrate on all that the Lord has done for us, songs of praise will
just come bubbling up from our hearts and overflow from our lips.  How can the desires
of our heart not line up with His will when we are singing of His loving kindness, protection,
amazing grace, promised presence, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, free salvation
and constant provision. Wow the list is endless of what He gives to us.  Are we delighting
in singing His praises?

3.  Psalms 119:97 & 160  "O how love I Thy law, it is my meditation all the day. 
Thy word is true from the beginning;  and every one of Thy righteous judgements
endureth for ever."

Psalms 77:12  "I will meditate also of all Thy work, and talk of Thy doings."

Can we honestly say that we love the Word of God, that we meditate on it all the day?
If we are truly delighting in the Lord, then His holy Word will have first place in our
lives!  His Word is our daily bread, we can't live without it.  If we deny ourselves the
"Bread of life," we will be weak Christians, we are cutting ourselves off from the
Lord Jesus Christ and we will become useless in service to Him.  Are we delighting
in the Word of God?

4.  Psalms 89:1  "I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever:  with my mouth,
will I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations."

Psalms 103:17 & 18  "But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting
upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children's children;  to
such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His commandments to
do them."

Do we truly understand the mercy of God?  We deserve nothing but judgement and
punishment for our idolatrous, sinful ways.  But it only because of God's wondrous
mercy that His wrath does not consume us.  The dictionary gives this definition of
mercy:  "forbearance, leniency shown to a guilty person, compassion."   How blessed
we are that because of the blood of Jesus Christ, God's mercy is shown towards us. 
We can stand faultless before Almighty Holy God because of His mercy.  Are we
delighting in the mercy of God?

5.  Psalms 29:11  "The LORD will give strength unto His people:  the LORD will
bless His people with peace."

Psalms 85:8a  "I will hear what God the LORD will speak:  for He will speak
peace unto His people and to His saints:"

Everyone is seeking peace these days, yet there is only one true source of peace,
the Lord God.  Jesus Christ is called the "Prince of Peace in Isaiah 9:6.  Yet people
want the peace without the Prince, it just doesn't work that way.  The world thinks
that it can achieve peace through material things, popularity, intellectual achievements,
but it just doesn't work that way either.  In John 14:27 Jesus says, that He will leave His
peace with us and that it is not the peace that the world gives.  As God's children
living in this sin ridden world, are we delighting in the peace of God?

6.  Psalms 85:10 - 13  "Mercy and truth are met together;  righteousness and
peace have kissed each other.  Truth shall spring out of the earth;  and
righteousness shall look down from heaven.  Yea, the LORD shall give that
which is good;  and our land shall yield her increase.  Righteousness shall go
before Him;  and shall set us in the way of His steps."

God is righteous.  There is no sin in Him.  His judgements are righteous all together.
His ways, His thoughts, His Word is righteous.  Do we really understand, in full,
the righteousness of God?  In His presence sin cannot stand, yet He desires our
communion with Himself.  Covered with the blood of the lamb we can come before
Him, clothed in His righteousness.  What a tremendous gift we have in this.  Are
we delighting in the righteousness of God?

This just scratches the surface of the things that we have to delight in the Lord for.
We have a God who has "daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our
salvation." (Psa 68:19), so how can we help but delight ourselves in Him?  And
when we delight ourselves accordingly, our desires will line up accordingly; and
our Heavenly Father will give us the desires of our heart.

Jesus, I am resting, resting in the joy of what Thou art;

I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart.

Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee, and Thy beauty fills my soul,

for by Thy transforming power, Thou hast made me whole.

 

O how great Thy loving kindness, vaster, broader than the sea!

O how marvelous Thy goodness, lavished all on me!

Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved, know what wealth of grace is Thine,

Know Thy certainty of promise, and have made it mine.

 

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, I behold Thee as Thou art,

And Thy love, so pure, so changeless, satisfies my heart;

Satisfies its deepest longings, meets, supplies its every need,

Compasseth me round with blessings:  Thine is love indeed.

 

Ever lift Thy face upon me as I work and wait for Thee;

Resting 'neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus, earth's dark shadows flee.

Brightness of my Father's glory, Sunshine of my Father's face,

Keep me ever trusting, resting, fill me with Thy grace.

 

                                                                Jean S. Pigott

The Battle Is The Lord's

1 Samuel 17:47b  "For the battle is the LORD'S,"

This was the shepherd boy David's reply to the taunting of the Philistine giant Goliath in
Ephesdammim, where the Philistines and the armies of Saul were gathered to do battle.
I can just imagine that scene in my mind.  Here comes the Philistine champion giant;

1 Samuel 17:4 - 7  "And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines,
named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cupits and a span.  And he had an
helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail;  and the weight
of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.  And he had greaves of brass upon
his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.  And the staff of his spear was
like a weaver's beam;  and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron;  and
one bearing a shield went before him."

This was a huge man.  We all know that anything made of brass weighs a lot, but can you
imagine wearing a whole helmet made of brass?  He must have had a massively strong
neck!  A regular coat of mail would be hard for a normal man to move in, look what he
was wearing.  The spear that he carried would be a lethal weapon.  This monstrosity of
a man went and railed against Israel.  It says in verse 11 of chapter 17 that King Saul
and all Israel heard what Goliath said and that they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

Then we see a young lad, David come upon the scene.  He had been sent with provisions
by his father for his brothers who were with the armies of Israel.  When he arrived
he couldn't understand why no one was fighting this giant.  So he started questioning
the men.  When it was brought to the attention of Saul, that there was a young man asking
questions, he sent for David.

1 Samuel 17:32  "And David said to Saul, let no man's heart fail because of him;
thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine."

Why was David so quick to offer to fight this giant?  We find in the following verses
that Saul tried to dissuade him, but David had seen the Lord provide him victories in
the past, giving him the strength to kill and lion and a bear that had come after the
flock that he had been tending.  David had experienced the Lord's help and he knew
that he could count on the Lord not to fail him this time.

1 Samuel 17:37  "David said moreover, the LORD that delivered me out of the
paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand
of this Philistine.  And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee."

The next few verses tell of Saul trying to outfit young David with his own armour.  It
says that he put a helmet of brass of David's head and armed him with a coat of mail,
and gave him his sword.  But David took it all off.  All he took with him was his
shepherds staff, five smooth stones from the brook, and his sling. 

Can you imagine what this mighty giant must have thought when he came out and
saw who the Israelites had sent to fight him!  It says in verse 43 that Goliath cursed
David by his gods.

How did David kill Goliath?  For indeed he did!  Was it because he was quick and
agile and outmaneuvered the weighty giant?  Was it because he was expertly adept at
using the slingshot?  Was it luck?  No to all of the above.  Verse 45 shows us how David
prevailed.

"Then said David to the Philistine, thou comest to me with a sword, and with a
spear, and with a shield:  but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the
God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied."

David did not defeat Goliath, God did.  David was used by the Lord to achieve the
victory in battle that day.  David knew that the battle was God's.  Do we?

What giants are there in your life?  We all have them.  They come in different shapes
and sizes, but they are present in our lives.  Maybe you battling the giant of depression,
fear, hopelessness, loneliness.  Maybe your giants are along the line of greed, hate, envy,
discontent.  Whatever giants are present in your life, taunting you and declaring victory
over you, there is one thing that you need to remember...the battle is the Lord's. 

These giants can defeat us if we try to fight in our own strength, or if we try to be
victorious using the worlds strategies to deal with them.  That is what Saul attempted
to do when he put his armour on David.  But David didn't need Saul's armour, he
utilized what the Lord had provided him with;  and we don't need the world and its
solutions, we have the heavenly provisions from God.

God has provided us with the needed armour to be victorious over these evil giants
that try to defeat us.  We sometimes though, put it aside and try to fight on our own,
we should know better!

Psalms 18:35  "Thou hast also given me the shield of Thy salvation:  and Thy
right hand hath holden me up, and Thy gentleness hath made me great."

Psalms 25:15  "Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD;  for He shall pluck my
feet out of the net."

"Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD,"  here is the secret to victory!  Where are your
eyes toward?  Are you looking to the world and all its empty promises, to try and
gain victory in your life over the giants that are daily waiting to do battle with you?
Or are you eyes toward the Lord, and the wonderful promises contained in His holy
Word?  Promises of His provision, strength, presence, mercy, help, love, grace and
victory. 

Do you begin your day in the word and prayer with your heavenly Father, remembering
that, "The battle is the Lord's?"  Trust God to arm you through His Word to fight the
enemies that comes along...He didn't let David down, and you can rest assured that He
will not let you down!

Be strong in the Lord, and be of good courage;

Your mighty Defender is always the same,

Mount up with wings, as the eagle ascending;

Victory is sure when you call on His name.

 

So put on the armor the Lord has provided;

And place your defense in His unfailing care.

Trust Him, for He will be with you in battle,

Lighting your path to a avoid every snare.

 

Be strong in the Lord, and be of good courage;

Your mighty Commander will vanquish the foe.

Fear not the battle, for the victory is always His;

He will protect you wherever you go.

 

Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord;

And be of good courage, for He is your Guide.

Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord;

And rejoice for the victory is yours.

 

                                                             Linda Lee Johnson

I Saw Jesus In You

When I think about a Godly Christian there are certain people that come to mind.  These
people through their actions, talk and example live Christ.  I can't separate them from the
Lord Jesus Christ, because He lives in and through them to all around.  What about us?
When people look at us, what do they see?  If we profess the blessed name of Christ, are
they seeing His image represented in and through our lives?  Or are they seeing someone
that is just like everyone else, someone living for themselves with no thought given to
God?

2 Corinthians 4:6 - 10  "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,
hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the
face of Jesus Christ.  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency
of the power may be of God, and not of us.  We are troubled on every side, yet not
distressed;  we are perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not forsaken; cast
down, but not destroyed;  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord
Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body."

Our frail, sickly, human body's (earthen vessels) carry a treasure (the Holy Spirit of God).
It is His light that shines forth from us to the sinful world in which we find ourselves in.
We have troubles, distresses, perplexities, persecutions, depressions, but because of the
power of God in our lives they will not defeat us.  The life of the Lord Jesus Christ is to
be manifested in our bodies. 

It is this testimony that speaks to the unsaved.  Are we being a faithful witness?  Can
those we come into contact with see the Lord Jesus manifested in our lives?  As a
child of God we have a responsibility to be the proper witness to those around us.  What
is your vessel holding, the treasure of God or the waste of the world?

2 Corinthians 6:16 - 18  "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?
For ye are the temple of the living God:  as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and
walk in them;  and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Wherefore
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the
unclean thing:  and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall
be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

God said that He will dwell in us and walk in us!  Are we letting Him?  We can be
saved, yet not be consecrated to the Lord.  We can be living a selfish life instead of
a selfless one.  The Apostle John said in John 3:30,  "He must increase, but I must
decrease."  As we stamp out self, the Lord will increase in our lives, until when people
look at us, they see Christ and Him only.

Someone with the job to represent the Queen, a Prime Minister or a President of a
country, holds a very important position.  The position is not of importance because
he is affiliated with it, but because of the one whom he represents to others.  Our job
as the earthen vessel, the temple of God, should not elevate our standing in the world,
but the treasure of the earthen vessel, the God of the temple should be the only one
elevated and recognizable to others.

2 Timothy 2:20 & 21  "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold
and of silver, but also of wood and of earth:  and some to honour, and some to
dishonour.  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto
honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good
work."

We need to learn to walk in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16  "This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust
of the flesh."

Galatians 5:24 & 25  "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the
affections and lusts.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

The only way for others to see Jesus in us is to walk in His Spirit.  When we are walking
in the Spirit of God the pull of the world becomes less to us and our minds will be
taken up with Godly pursuits, our thoughts focused on the Lord and His will.  It when
we let "I" take prominence that we give place to the flesh and all the sinful ways that
come with the "old man." 

1 Thessalonians 4:4  "That every one of you should know how to possess his
vessel in sanctification and honor."

We need not only be concerned with who others around us see in us, but what about
who God our Heavenly Father sees in us?  When He looks down from Heaven does
He see His only beloved Son shining forth from our vessels?  Someday we will give an
account to Him of whom we let have control of this temple of clay that we inhabit.

We need each day to be humbly praying, Colossians 1:18b  "That in all things He
might have the pre-eminence."  When Christ is increasing and we are decreasing,
and He is having the pre-eminence in all things in our lives, then and only then will
our vessels bring honor and glory to God.  I don't know about you, but being used to
bring glory to the Lord is the best use of anyone's life.  How about you?  Are you
purged, sanctified, ready and willing to be a useful vessel in the service of the King? 

1 Thessalonians 2:12  "That ye would walk worthy of God, Who hath called you
unto His kingdom and glory."

When I enter Heaven's glory and I see my Savior's face,

I will offer Him ten thousand years of praise.

Then I'll find that special one

In whose life I saw God's Son,

And thru tears of joy with trembling lips these words I'll say:

 

I saw Jesus in you, I saw Jesus in you.

I could hear His voice in the words you said, I saw Jesus in you.

In your eyes I saw His care, I could see His love was there,

You were faithful, and I saw Jesus in you.

 

When I stand before my Father to receive my life's reward,

And my soul is bathed in God's eternal day.

When the race on earth is run,

And God sees the works I've done,

More than anything I long to hear my Father say:

 

I saw Jesus in you, I saw Jesus in you.

I could hear His voice in the words you said, I saw Jesus in you.

In your eyes I saw His care, I could see His love was there,

You were faithful, and I saw Jesus in you.

 

                                                       Ron Hamilton

Sitting In The Dung Heap

When I was twelve I went to a summer camp that had horses.  I had never been on a horse
in my life and to say I was apprehensive about the experience would be an understatement.
The day came when I was to ride for the first time.  I was given a cute little horse named
Misty.  As I was settling into the saddle and holding on for dear life, I glanced around and
noticed two boys being helped unto the back of a black giant named King.  I quickly learned
that size means little in the animal world. 

King was walking through the doorway out to the yard, when my little cute Misty
decided that she wasn't going to wait for his majesty to exit the barn and tried to go
through the barn door at the same time!  After a frightful 30 seconds (although it seemed
like 10 minutes) a very agitated Misty shot out the barn door and promptly deposited
me in a pile of manure in the yard! 

As I sat in that stinking pile of dung, I watched King majestically walk towards the trail
with the boys on his back laughing at me.  As I started to itch, I was taken back to the
camp to get cleaned up.  I do have to say however that for the next couple of days I had
very soft skin!  But back to the point of my story...I couldn't believe how quickly I went
from being on Misty to being in the dung heap.

How many of us are sitting in the dung heap of this world instead of enjoying the goodness
of the Lord.  We can hardly remember falling from the presence of the Lord into the dung
hill of this world, but here we sit!  All it takes is for our eyes to stray from the Word to
the World.  Once there, we sometimes try to rationalize living in both worlds.  We cannot
love and live for the world and the Lord at the same time.  You must decide where your
loyalty and service is going to lay.

Luke 16:13  "No servant can serve two masters:  for either he will hate the one, and
love the other;  or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.  Ye cannot serve
God and mammon."

Why would someone who has named the name of Christ, turn their backs on all that
He has to offer, just to wallow in the waste of the world? 

Galatians 5:16  "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the
lust of the flesh."

Galatians 5:25  "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

We need to learn to keep our eyes on Jesus and off the world.  What the world has to
offer is like fools gold.  It looks enticing, beautiful and worthy of our attention...on the
outside, but inside, it is worthless.  Our true treasure lies in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We see that the Apostle Paul dealt with this problem in a co-worker.

2 Timothy 4:10a  "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world."

What a sad statement to have to make about someone;  they've forsaken the way of the
Lord for the love of the world.  Satan is referred to as the angel of light, so all his
enticements to this world are shrouded in this false light. 

2 Corinthians 11:13 - 15  "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming
themselves into the apostles of Christ.  And no marvel;  for Satan himself is
transformed into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers
also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness;  whose end shall be according
to their works."

There is only one true light. 1 John 1:9 says, "That was the true Light, which lighteth
every man that cometh into the world."  And also in John 8:12 it states, Then spake
Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world:  he that followeth Me
shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

When your heart is directed to the Lord and you're meditating on His Word, the
enticements and lure of the world and its pleasures will pale in comparison.  We have
the "Light of life" already, what else could you possibly want? You cannot serve
God and mammon, so the one that is upmost in your heart and mind is the one that
you will love and serve.  How could anyone choose this old world over our precious
Lord?

Psalms 16:11  "Thou wilt shew me the path of life:  in Thy presence is fullness of
joy:  at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

1 Corinthians 2:9  "But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them
that love Him."

Where are you sitting today?  Are you stinking, sitting the worlds dung heap, or are
you victoriously living for God.  Don't let it be said of you as it was of Demas, "For
Demas (or your name?) hath forsaken me (put God's name here), having loved this
present world."  Get out of the dung, get cleaned up and start living for the Lord
today...there's no other life worth living!

Living for Jesus a life that is true,

Striving to please Him in all that I do;

Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free.

This is the pathway of blessing for me.

 

Living for Jesus who died in my place,

Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace;

Such love constrains me to answer His call,

Follow His leading and give Him my all.

 

Living for Jesus wherever I am,

Doing each duty in His holy name;

Willing to suffer affliction and loss,

Taking each trial as part of my cross.

 

Living for Jesus thru earth's little while,

My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;

Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,

Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.

 

O Jesus, Lord and Savior,

I give myself to Thee;

For Thou, in Thy atonement,

Didst give Thyself for me;

I own no other Master,

My heart shall be Thy throne;

My life I give, henceforth to live,

O Christ, for Thee alone.

 

                                                 Thomas O. Chisholm