Minute Musings...Beholding Thee

Hebrews 12:1  "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith:"

Where are you looking today?  Another tedious day at the office, strenuous day traveling,
tiring day at home with the kids, depressing day, predicable day, boring day, anxious and
upsetting day, sorrowful day, pressure filled day...where do we look?  We are admonished
in the verse above to be looking unto Jesus...why?  Because this is where we will find the
courage, strength, will, fortitude, and grace to make it through each and every day, as they
bombard us, one after another!

I'm starting to find my vision getting worse, in fact I just had to get some reading glasses.
I was starting to have problems in seeing cooking instructions on boxes and prescription
dosages on bottles.  However when I put on the glasses (which are just glorified magnifying
glasses!) I can see clearly what I am suppose to do. 

It is the same idea with the trials and problems that we face on a daily basis.  We have
trouble seeing through to the other side, we don't know what the solutions are that we
need to put into practice, everything looks hazy and is out of focus.  But when we start
"Looking unto Jesus" our vision clears and we see that with our faith and trust secure
in our Savior we can make it through.  Our vision clears, not that we necessarily see the
outcome, but we see the Savior!, He is no longer obscured by the trials.  We are looking
at the solution when we are looking unto Jesus.

We read in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth
me."  Most people read this verse as, "I can do all things."  This is wrong.  We cannot do
all things...on our own!  Only as Christ Jesus gives us the strength, can we say that we
can do all things.  You can make it through another tedious day at the office, strenuous
day traveling, tiring day at home with the kids, depressing day, predicable day, boring
day, anxious and upsetting day, sorrowful day, pressure filled day...why?  Because in
looking at Jesus, we find the strength He has promised to make it though!

Give yourself a spiritual eye exam today.  Are you seeing clearly?  If not, make the
necessary changes, start looking unto Jesus, I guarantee that your eye sight will improve
remarkably!

Beholding Thee, Lord Jesus

 

Beholding Thee, Lord Jesus, what blessing fills my soul,

As to Thy compelling love I yield complete control;

Beholding Thee, Lord Jesus, my restless heart grows still,

As all my being feels the calm of Thine eternal will.

 

Beholding Thee, Lord Jesus, Now gazing on Thy face,

There I find Thy love anew and Thine abiding grace;

For as I look upon Thee, Thine image so divine,

Is graven deep with my heart, and in this life of mine.

 

Beholding Thee, Lord Jesus,

My weary soul finds rest,

Beholding Thee, Lord Jesus,

My longing heart is blest.

I look to Thee to guide me, I need Thee Lord beside me,

That I may know the rapture of Thy presence,

As I behold Thee.

 

                                            Avis B. Christiansen 

Minute Musings...Ancient Of Days

Daniel 7:9  "I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did
sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool;
His throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire."

Who is God?  Many people claim to know God.   This is a dangerous claim to make for the
Bible tells us in Romans chapter 11, verses 33 & 34, "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!  For who hath known the mind of the Lord?  Or who hath
been His counseller?"  We know only what God has chosen to reveal to us, and nothing
more.  People tend to think that God owes them an explanation as to what He has done,
they could be no further from the truth!  Isaiah 45:9b  "Shall the clay say to him that
fashioneth it, What makest thou?"  God owes no explanation for anything that He
wills to happen. 

I think that people forget to whom they are talking with when they come before God.
There is not the reverence that is needed in prayer now a days.  Yes, God wants us to
come to Him, but we need to come with the knowledge that we are entering into the
very presence of the all-consuming God.  In the Old Testament great care was taken
by the High Priest when entering the Holy of Holies, he would be struck dead if any
thing was not done in accordance with God's commands.  Because of Calvary, we do not
have to wait for that one time a year when atonement was made for the sins of the people. 
We are admonished in Hebrews 4:16 to "Come boldly unto the throne of Grace, that
we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."  To come boldly means
that we enter, not prideful, but in humility and reverence, with the knowledge that we are
coming clothed in the blood of the Lamb of God.  We possess nothing that would allow us
entrance into God's presence.  Just as the High Priest could only enter the Holy of Holies
with shed blood of a sacrificial animal as the atonement, it is only by the shed blood of
Christ that we can gain entrance into presence of God. 

There is a trend today with humanizing God.  What I mean by this, is that we think
of God in our human terms.  We attribute to Him our emotions, our way of thinking, our
moods! We are bringing the Almighty God of the universe down to our level.  This is
wrong.  God is not controlled by human thoughts, emotions, moods and whims.  Isaiah
55:8  "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,
saith the LORD."  Would we really want a God who is moody like we tend to be?  Or
that changes His plans on a sudden whim? 

In humanizing God we strip Him of the awesome power and majesty that is due Him.
This mighty God spoke the universe into existence!  Psalms 33:6 - 9  "By the word
of the LORD were the heavens made:  and all the host of them by the breath of
His mouth.  He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap:  He layeth
up the depth in storehouses.  Let all the earth fear the LORD:  let all the
inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.  For He spake, and it was done; 
He commanded, and it stood fast."  What a powerful God we have!  He spoke the
heavens and world with all its wondrous beauty into existence!  God Himself says this
about the heavens and the earth, Isaiah 66:1  "Thus saith the LORD, The heaven
is My throne, and the earth is My footstool:" 

How do you view God today?  Do you mistakenly view Him as the "old man that is
upstairs" whose only duty is to meet the needs and whims asked of Him?  I pray not!
I hope today that you worship God, Yahweh, El Shaddai, as the all powerful, holy,
majestic God that He is!

Revelation 19:11 - 13 & 15 - 16  "And I (John) saw heaven opened, and behold
a while horse:  and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in
righteousness He doth judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire,
and on His head were many crowns:  and He had a name written, that no man
knew, but He Himself.  And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood:  and
His name is called, The Word of God.  And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword
that with it He should smite the nations:  and He shall rule them with a rod of
iron:  and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS,
AND LORD OF LORDS."

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

 

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,

In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,

Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,

Almighty, victorious - Thy great name we praise.

 

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,

Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;

Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above,

Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

 

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,

Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;

All praise we would render - O help us to see,

"Tis only the spendor of light hideth Thee!

 

                                                          Walter Chalmers Smith

Minute Musings...Peace Be Still

Do the storms of life threaten to capsize you?  Do the waves of fear wash away the peace
in your heart?  The disciples experienced this one night when they were in a boat with
the Lord Jesus.

Mark 4:37 - 39  "And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into
the ship, so that it was now full.  And He (Jesus) was in the hinder part of the ship,
asleep on a pillow:  and they (the disciples) awake Him, and say unto Him, Master,
carest Thou not that we perish?  And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said
unto the sea, Peace, be still.  And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm."

We tend to be a little hard on the disciples sometimes, we know that they had Jesus
with them in that boat...so why were they fearful?  Be honest for a minute, would you
respond the same way?  I'm pretty sure I would.  By nature we are fearful, especially
when situations turns dangerous.  To the disciples it seemed like Jesus was oblivious
to their peril, "Master, carest Thou not that we perish?"  Jesus was fully aware of
the situation that they were in, after all He created the wind and the sea, He was in
control even though the disciples could not see that. 

When the storms of life assail our little ship of life, and we start to flounder in fear
of the unknown, do we think that the Master does not care for us?  I want you to notice
something of great importance about this storm that the disciples found themselves
in, "And He was in the hinder part of the ship," Jesus was with them in the storm!
The disciples had lost sight of the Lord because of the storm raging around them, but
He was with them all the time!  Do we lose sight of our Lord when storms of life break
upon us?  Do we, like the disciples, forget that Jesus is right there with us?  When the
waves of fear begin to break over the bows of our little ships, we need to remember that
Jesus is in the hinder part, riding out the storm with us.

In verse 40, Jesus asks the disciples a question, "And He said unto them, Why are
ye so fearful?  How is it that ye have no faith?"  This is a question that Jesus asks
us today, "Why are ye so fearful?"  We are told in 1 John 4:18,  "There is no fear
in love:  but perfect love casteth out fear:"  "Perfect love" refers to Jesus Christ,
1 John 4:16  "God is love:"  Jesus is the only One who can cast the fear out of our
lives!  When we allow fear to control us, we are really saying, "I don't trust God to take
care of me!"  If Almighty God cannot care for you, then you do have reason to fear...
BUT...Almighty God can care for you, no matter what the circumstances of life. 
1 Peter 5:7  "Casting all your care upon Him:  for He careth for you."  The storms
of life put our faith to the test.  The disciples faith was found to be lacking that harrowing
night...how do you measure up?

If you are facing a storm today, remember you are not alone, your blessed Lord and
Savior is right there with you.  When you trust Him, He brings a divine calm into your
heart, it is a peace that the world cannot give.  John 14:27  "Peace I leave with you,
My peace I give unto you:  not as the world giveth, give I unto you:  let not your
heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  Never doubt His care for you

Master, The Tempest Is Raging

 

Master, the tempest is raging!  The billows are tossing high!

The sky is o'er shadowed with blackness, no shelter or help is nigh;

Carest Thou not that we perish?  How canst Thou lie asleep,

When each moment so madly is threat'ning, a grave in the angry deep?

 

Master, with anguish of spirit, I bow in my grief today;

The depths of my sad heart are troubled;  O waken and save, I pray!

Torrents of sin and of anguish sweep o'er my sinking soul!

And I perish!  I perish, dear Master, O hasten, and take control!

 

The winds and the waves shall obey Thy will, Peace be still!

Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea,

Or demon, or men, or whatever it be,

No water can swallow the ship where lies,

The Master of ocean and earth and skies!

They all shall sweetly obey Thy will,

Peace be still!  Peace be still!

They all shall sweetly obey Thy will,

Peace, peace, be still!

 

                                                               Mary A Baker

Minute Musings...Happy Am I

There is a huge misconception now a days about the true meaning of happiness.  The
majority of people look for happiness in relationships, in financial security, big houses,
graduating from top notch universities, jobs that bring in the big bucks.  I'm sure that
you've heard the saying, "You can buy anything in the world, except happiness."  Why
is that?  It's because happiness doesn't come from outward commodities or relationships,
true happiness comes from the Lord.

Proverbs 16:20b  "Whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he."

People will fail you, finances will eventually fail, there is no lasting satisfaction in
material possessions.  Any prestige from big universities and important cushy jobs
will fade with the passing of years.  God warns us about putting our trust in things
and people.

Luke 12:15  "And He (Jesus) said unto them (the disciples) Take heed, and beware
of covetousness:  for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which
he possesseth."

1 Timothy 6:10a  "For the love of money is the root of all evil."

Psalms 62:10b  "If riches increase, set not your heart upon them."

Proverbs 11:28a  "He that trusteth in his riches shall fall:"

Micah 7:5a  "Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide."

Psalms 118:8  "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."

Psalms 146: 3 & 5  "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom
there is no help.  Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope
is in the LORD his God."

Why would anyone want to put their trust in things that they know in their hearts will
fail them.  And when they fail, there goes their happiness, for it was tied to the tail of
those worldly things.  True happiness can only come from the Lord God.  He will
never fail us!  He has promised His blessed presence along this pilgrim journey to
Heaven.  He has promised His sustaining hand for the trials that come our way.  His
comfort is ours for the sorrows that will befall us.  His grace upholds us when the way
becomes hard to bear.  His power protects us, as He shelters us under His wings of
love. 

What are you trusting in today?  If you are placing your trust in the things of the world
and expecting true happiness in return, you are going to be sorely disappointed. 

Happy Am I

 

Happy am I!  Jesus is mine forever,

Never to leave, always in each endeavor;

Leading me on, in a life ending never;

Giving a smile, every mile, Happy am I!

 

Happy am I!  All of my sins forgiven,

What a great day!  Life is now worth the living,

One of these days, I'll be enjoying heaven:

Now that I know, upward I'll go, Happy am I!

 

Happy am I!  How can I help but shout it?

Every day, telling the world about it;

Jesus is real, only believe, don't doubt it;

Then you will be, happy like me - Happy am I!

 

                                        Mickey Holiday

Minute Musings...Precious

1 Samuel 3:1b  "And the word of the LORD was precious in those days:"

What a tremendous statement to be made about the word of God...it was precious!
It made me stop and think about what I consider precious today.  The dictionary
definition of the word precious is, "of great value or price;  costly;  highly esteemed."
What do you have in your life that would fit this definition?  Sadly, and too our
shame, I don't believe many could put the word of God in this category.

My dad used to tell the story of a young Russian girl who longed to have a Bible.
She heard about someone many miles away that had one.  For months she would
make the long trek to this persons home.  She spent all night writing out by hand
the Bible.  She had such a longing to have God's word that this was a joy to her,
a labour of love.  In the end she had her own copy of the Bible.  Would you go to
this length in order to have a copy of the Bible?  Unfortunately, there is not that
great of value on God's word.

Psalms 119:167  "My soul hath kept Thy testimonies:  and I love them
exceedingly."  Do we love God's testimonies exceedingly?  I cringe when I see
the careless way God's holy word is treated.  Bibles are thrown around, not
treated like the priceless gift they are.  God's commands are disregarded and
not taken seriously.  People pick and choose which part of the Bible to believe
and obey and toss the rest aside.  God's word is changed in order to back up
whatever belief that is held.  This is all so wrong, it is a sin!  Every word in the
Holy Bible is from God Himself!

John 1:1,2 & 14  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His
glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace, and truth." 
Our blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ IS the Word.  This book that we
are so mightily blessed to hold in our hands, is a living Word.  Hebrews 4:12
"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two
edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and
of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents
of the heart."  God's Word is the ONLY book that has the power to change
lives.  "The word of God is quick" that means that it is alive.  Do you know
another book that can make that claim and back it up with proof!

History holds the record of the many times the destruction and annihilation
of the Word of God has been attempted and then failed.  God Word will endure,
and there is nothing that man...or Satan can do to change that fact.  God's word
will stand indestructible for time and eternity.

Today as you hold the precious Word of God in your hands, thank God for
the privilege you have to do so.  There are many in this world that do not have
this blessings, and would give up everything they have for a chance to have
a Bible.  They know that it is of great value, costly and is highly esteemed. 
Do you?  Isaiah 40:8  "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:  but the
word of our God shall stand for ever."

How I love Thy law, O Lord!
Daily joy its truths afford;
In its constant light I go,
Wise to conquer every foe.

Thy commandments in my heart,
Truest wisdom can impart;
To my eyes Thy precepts show,
Wisdom more than sages know.

While my heart Thy word obeys,
I am kept from evil ways;
From Thy law, with Thee to guide,
I have never turned aside.

Sweeter are Thy words to me,
Than all other good can be;
Safe I walk, Thy truth my light,
Hating falsehood, loving right.

                                      William B. Bradbury

Minute Musings...Speak Lord

I'm sure that you have all known someone that just talks, talks, talks.  It doesn't matter
what the topic is, they have all the answers and no one else can get a word in!  The art
of listening seems to be a lost art in this day and age.  No one wants to hear what someone
else might have to say.  Do you know that God encounters this problem all the time!  He
has something to say to us, and we won't shut our mouths long enough to hear Him!  Or,
perhaps we don't want to hear what He has to say!

Ecclesiastes 3:7  "A time to keep silence, and a time to speak."  I believe that today,
the ability to discern when to keep silent and when to speak has been lost. Everybody seems
to have an opinion about everything, and the desire to be heard, but there are times when it
is more advantageous to be silent.  James 1:19  "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let
every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath."  Everyone would agree that
we learn more when we listen, so then why are we swift to speak and slow to hear? 

Proverbs 10:19b  "But he that refraineth his lips is wise."

Proverbs 11:12b  "But a man of understanding holdeth his peace."

Proverbs 17:27a  "He that hath knowledge spareth his words."

Proverbs 21:23    "Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from
                                 troubles."

I believe that we can all agree that our mouths get us into all kinds of trouble.  But I
would like to point out one other fact...when we are talking we are not listening!  Pretty
straight forward isn't it!  It is only when we are quiet that we will hear the small still
voice of our Lord.  We find God saying in Psalms 46:10, "Be still, and know that I
am God:"  We need to quiet our minds, bodies and tongues to hear God.

In 1 Samuel chapter 3 we have the story of the child Samuel.  It was in the quiet of the
night that the Lord came and called to him.  Eli the priest had instructed Samuel on the
way to answer the Lord, "Speak Lord;  for Thy servant heareth."  Can we quiet our
tongues and prayerfully say the same, "Speak Lord;  for Thy servant heareth"?  Are you
open to hearing from God what He has to say?  Are you willing to surrender to the Lord
your time, opinions, tongue, in order to hear what He wants to tell you?  If so, then get
into His Word, open your spiritual ears to the things of God, He has much to teach us!

Speak, Lord, In The Stillness

 

Speak, Lord, in the stillness;  Speak dear Lord to me.

Hush my heart to listen, Keep my thoughts on Thee.

How I need Thy presence;  How I need Thy care.

Speak Lord, in the stillness, As I kneel in prayer.

 

Calm the storms within me;  Drive away the fear.

Quiet every murmur;  Wash away my tears.

How I need Thy wisdom;  How I need Thy pow'r.

Teach me, Lord to listen, In the quiet hour.

 

Help me trust Thy goodness;  Let me know Thy will.

Fill me with Thy Spirit;  Keep me calm and still.

May I trust Thee fully;  Make my faith increase.

Keep my heart forever, In Thy perfect peace.

 

                                 Frank Garlock

Minute Musings...By His Light

Psalms 119:71  "It is good for me that I have been afflicted:  that I might learn
Thy statutes."

How do you view affliction?  Do you look at it as a hindrance or asset to your life? 
The Psalmist, King David viewed affliction as something good in his life!  You might
be shaking your head right about now wondering how in the world someone could
possibly view afflictions as good.  Well, there are a couple of ways.

When you go through life with no problems, either physical or material, you tend to
start relying on yourself.  But I guarantee you that the moment physical problems or
reversals in your finances, relationships or social standing come, you start to look
for help.  You realize that you are not invincible, you are in fact fallible.  Problems
tend to turn our gaze towards God, Who is infallible!  It is to our shame that we look
to God more when affliction knock at our door, then when our way is carefree.

David knew that his affliction would turn his attention back to the Word of God, he
realized that this was where his help would come from.  David knew from personal
experience that "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble"
Psalms 46:1  David had seen God come to his defense, he had seen the strength of
God at work in his life.  How?  Psalms 46:10  "Be still, and know that I am God."
When we surrender our weak attempts at solving our problems over to God, and
wait quietly for Him to work, in His time, we will see the power of God work in our
lives.

God allows physical afflictions into our lives for several reasons.  The first we've
already established, it turns our gaze from ourselves back to God.  This is a testimony
to the unsaved.  They not only see our surrender to God's will, but they will also
observe God's hand in our lives, sustaining us, giving us the grace and endurance
to live with the problem.  We read in 2 Corinthians chapter 12 of the Apostle Paul's
test with a physical problem.  It says in verses 8 - 10, "For this thing I besought the
Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  And He said unto me, My grace is
sufficient for thee:  for My strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly
therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest
upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities,
in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake:  for when I am weak, then am I
strong."  God Almighty knew that this physical problem was needed in Paul's life
and Paul knew the secret for spiritual strength in his life...letting Christ have His way,
yielding fully to God's will for his life.  It is only as we fully surrender our wills to the
Lord's that we will know peace in the midst of suffering.  It is in our weakness that the
strength of the Lord will be made visible. 

We are never alone in our suffering, God has promised to be always by our side.
Job was a man that endured tremendous affliction, yet he said this in Job 29:3,
"When by His light I walked through darkness."  Are you walking by God's
light through your darkness today?  He has promised His presence.  Pray that
God will show you how to view afflictions in your life as something positive.  They
have a definite purpose for your life, they are the means to a deeper walk with the
Lord, and a more vibrant testimony to the lost, and also to other believers!

Minute Musings...Rolaid Christianity

Psalms 119:117  "Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe:  and I will have respect unto
Thy statutes continually."

Have you ever had an upset stomach?  The first thing you want to do is to find a remedy
for your ailment.  Upset stomach = Rolaids.  You're sick, you pop one in and presto...you
start to feel better;  you remember the whole, "Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is!" 
The thing about a remedy is that you don't go looking for it unto you feel ill, then its Rolaids
to the rescue.

Is this the way you treat your faith?  Your Bible remains on the shelf, except on Sundays
of course.  But get out of the way when you're in trouble!  The Bible comes out right
away...your spiritual Rolaids to the rescue!  No, that is not the way that true Christianity
works.  God is not some on-call spiritual doctor, 1-800-God is here!  True Christianity is
a real relationship, not a religion, it's intimacy not an acquaintance.

"I will have respect unto Thy statutes continually."  We are to be in the Word of God
daily.  We are to read, study and meditate on it.  We should be memorizing it.  Psalms
119:11  "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee." 
When the Word of God takes up residence in our hearts, it will direct our thoughts, actions,
motives, desires and speech.  What is in our hearts will play out in our lives.  I have had
occasions when I've been unsure of what course of action to take, and all of a sudden a
verse that I committed to memory years ago will come to my mind.  It is no coincidence
when this happens, its the living Word of God showing me through memorized scripture
what my course of action should be. 

Our faith is a living faith, based on a living Lord, and directed through the living Word.
Psalms 119:14 - 16  "I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in
all riches.  I will meditate in Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways.  I will
delight myself in Thy statutes:  I will not forget Thy words."

Take note of the "I will's" in this verse.  I will meditate and have respect;  I will delight;
I will not forget."  These are deliberate decisions that we make to follow the Lord the
way He commands us to.  It is only in this deliberate act of obedience that we will know
the true joy of the Lord.

Are you on Rolaid therapy today, or are you a true believer, committed to having a
deep intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  One is a quick fix, a band aid
for a problem that never will find a lasting remedy.  The other is a deep, lasting, loving
relationship with a merciful, faithful Savior.  Which would you rather?  As for me, I'm
throwing out the Rolaids!

Psalms 119:50  "This is my comfort in my affliction:  for Thy word hath
quickened me."

Minute Musings...And This Is Love

Have you ever heard the saying, "Don't just say it, show it?"  You can say you love, but
in reality, the person hearing this will not believe it unless it's backed up by your actions.

John 14:15  "If ye love Me, keep My commandments."   I have said this to my kids
...actions speak louder than words.  If they continually told me that they loved me, but
repeatedly did what I had asked them not too, I would end up feeling that their professed
love for me was a lie.  So, how do you think your heavenly Father feels when He hears you
say you love Him, but don't do what He asks of you?  Proof of our love is our obedience.

John 14:21  "He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that
loveth Me:  and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him,
and will manifest Myself to him."

To make "manifest" is to be made clearly visible.  When we love our Lord and Savior the
way we should, obedient to His commandments and will for our lives, we will see Him
clearly in our lives.  We will not question when things happen, for we will see God's hand
in all things.  We will not become discontent with material loss, for we will see God's hand
in all things.  We will not become bitter or angry when things do not go our way, for we
will see God's hand in all things. 

I want you to notice something here, we love because He first loved us.  1 John 4:19
"We love Him, because He first loved us."  Our love has a selfish basis, we loved
because He first loved us.  We had to receive before we gave.  What was the basis for
God's love to us?  Romans 5:8  "But God commendeth His love toward us in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Verse 10 of Romans chapter 5 refers
to us as enemies!  God received nothing for loving us, in fact He gave His only begotten
Son in order to save us!  John 3:16  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life."  Human love is selfish, God's love is selfless. 

Our obedience to God should be without question.  We have nothing to fear through our
obedience.  God, who loved us so much, and gave His Son for our deliverance would
never ask of us anything that would not work in our lives for our good and His glory.
Our obedience is the least we can do to say thank you to God. 

Today, don't just talk the talk, walk the walk!  Show to God and to others that you are
a child of God through your actions.

2 John verse 6  "And this is love, that we walk after His commandments."

Trust And Obey

 

But we never can prove the delights of His love

Until all on the altar we lay:

For the favor He shows and the joy He bestows,

Are for those who will trust and obey.

 

Trust and obey, for there's no other way,

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

 

                    John H. Sammis

Minute Musings...Milk Or Meat?

A few months ago I moved into an apartment in my son and daughter-in-laws home.
It has afforded me an opportunity that I never thought I would have...I get to watch
my precious grandson grow up!  He has changed so much in just the short time I've
been here.  Watching him learn new skills is exciting.  As he learns a new skill, he
then starts practicing doing it over and over.  He is learning to crawl.  At first he just
used one leg and kind of pushed himself with it where he wanted to go.  As he got
better at using the one leg, the other started doing the same thing, soon those little
knees that he rocks back and forth on will start moving and he will have mastered
crawling!  He is learning to put sounds together. The "d" sound eventually took on
the unmistakable "dada", then "mama", "doggy", and "car" have emerged.  How
exciting it is for those of us who love him, to see this progression in his growth!

2 Timothy 2:15  "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

What have you learned since you've been saved?  I hope there has been growth, that
you are learning and applying the word of God to your life!  Isaiah 28:9 & 10 
"Whom shall he teach knowledge?  And whom shall he make to understand
doctrine?  Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept:  line upon line, line
upon line;  here a little, and there a little."  If my little grandson stopped learning,
stopped developing, we would be greatly concerned.  We would immediately take
him to the doctor to find out what was wrong!  Growth doesn't happen overnight, it
is a gradual maturing.  If you are not experiencing spiritual development, then there
is need for great concern! 

A newborn baby wants only milk, they are incapable at that point of swallowing and
digesting solid food.  When you are saved...born again you have a desire for the word
of God.  1 Peter 2:2  "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that
ye may grow thereby:"  However as you begin to mature in the Lord, your food should
change.  You learn how to live in the Spirit of the Lord, your understanding deepens in
the Word.  You begin to learn the doctrines of the faith and how to apply them to your life. 
You become skillful in the Word of God.  Hebrews 5:13 & 14  "For every one that useth
milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness:  for he is a babe.  But strong meat
belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their
senses exercised to discern both good and evil."  My grandson is now starting to enjoy
solid food.  It is not introduced to him all at once, but bit by bit he is learning how to eat
new foods, and in turn that food is helping him to grow more.  If he was still only getting
milk, he would be a weak, sickly little boy.

How is your spiritual health today?  Are you sick and weakly, or are you daily growing
stronger in the Word?  Are you daily studying and learning new truths, so that you 
"needeth not to be ashamed"?  Don't allow your growth to be stunted because of
lack of proper spiritual nutrition!  You have at your disposal the Word of God...get
into it daily.  Meditate on it, apply it, then delve even deeper into the meat of the Word.
You will become a strong mature child of God, in whom He will be well pleased.

Break Thou The Bread Of Life

 

Break Thou the Bread of Life, Dear Lord to me,

As Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea;

Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee Lord;

My spirit pants for Thee, O Living Word.

 

Thou art the Bread of Life, O Lord, to me,

Thy Holy Word the truth that saveth me:

Give me to eat and live with Thee above;

Teach me to love Thy truth, for Thou art love.

 

                                       Mary A Lathbury & Alexander Groves

 

Minute Musings...Fearfully & Wonderfully

- The average human heart beats about 100,000 times per day.
- Our sense of smell is around 10,000 more sensitive than our sense of taste.
- Blood makes up 7% of the weight of the human body.
- The brain contains billions of nerve cells that sends and receives information from the body.
- Our salivary gland produces 1.4 litres of saliva each day.
- The inner wall of the stomach secretes hydrochloric acid to help kill bacteria, and along
   with proteases enzymes, aids in the digestion of food.
- On average, the male small intestine is 22 feet, 6 inches long, and the females is 23 feet,
   4 inches long.
- An adult has 206 bones, which when broken will regrow and repair themselves.
- Our bones are constantly wearing down and being remade, to the point that we essentially
   have new bones every 7 years.
- The left lung is slightly smaller, leaving room for our hearts.
- Adult lungs have a surface area of 70 square meters.
- Your skin performs a range of functions including, protecting bones, muscles and internal
   organs, protecting your body from outside diseases, allowing you to feel and react to heat
   cold and using blood to regulate your bodies heat.

                                                    (Taken from Science & Technology Facts)

Psalms 139:14  I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
marvellous are Thy works;  and that my soul knoweth right well.

I heard someone say recently that it takes more faith to believe in evolution than to believe
in the fact that God created us.  Evolution could NOT have made the intricate and complex
human body! Job 33:4 states,  The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the
Almighty hath given me life. 

Can we, with our finite minds understand the infinite workings of Almighty God!  Job 37:5
God thundereth marvellously with His voice:  great things doeth He, which we cannot
understand.  Stop trying to understand God and just start believing Him!   There is a line
in a song that says, God said it, I believe it, and that settles it for me. 

Psalms 19:1  The heavens declare the glory of God:  and the firmament sheweth
His handywork.  Niagara Falls, Angel Falls, the Grand Canyon, the Rockie Mountains,
The great Amazon River, the Northern Lights, The Milky Way, the mighty arctic glaciers,
the hidden wonders of the rain forests, the arctic tundra in all its barren beauty...Gods
handywork is all around us!  Yet, Psalms 14:1, The fool hath said in his heart, there
is no God.  Anyone, being completely honest with themselves cannot look around at
creation and deny the Creator! 

I Sing The Mighty Power Of God

 

I sing the mighty power of God, that made the mountains rise;

That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.

I sing the wisdom that ordained, the sun to rule the day;

The moon shines full at His command, and all the stars obey.

 

I sing the goodness of the Lord, That filled the earth with food;

He formed the creatures with His Word, and then pronounced them good.

Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed, where ere I turn my eye;

If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky!

 

There is not a plant or flower below, but makes Thy glories known;

And clouds arise and tempests blow, by order from Thy throne.

While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care,

And everywhere that man can be, Thou God, art present there.

 

                                       Isaac Watts

Minute Musings...Gods Good Things

Most people seem to be on the same page when it comes to giving God the credit for
the good things in life.  But who determines exactly what the "good" things are?  For
those who suffer from severe pain and health problems, can they say what they live with
are the good things?  What about those that suffer the loss of precious loved ones, the
loss of jobs or homes?  Suffering is hard, it is real, it knows no racial, geographical, or
cultural limitations, it is universal.  What is the purpose of suffering in the believers life?

Romans 5:3 - 5  "...but we glory in tribulations also:  knowing that tribulations
worketh patience;  and patience, experience;  and experience hope:  and hope
maketh not ashamed;  because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by
the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

For the true believer, suffering is used by God to make us more into the image of His
dear Son.  The verse tells us that "we glory in tribulations."  How can one glory in
tribulations.  First lets looks at what the word "glory" means.  By definitions it is,
"whatever brings honor, praise or adoration."  This does not mean that we are honored,
praised or adored, but that God is.  Tribulation in our lives should bring honor, praise
and adoration to God. 

In John chapter 11 we read the story of Lazarus.  Jesus loved this man and his family,
and He was grieved when Lazarus died.  However, this is what Jesus said about the
death of His friend in verse 4,  When Jesus heard that, (Lazarus had died) He said,
This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God
might be glorified thereby.  Gods glory, power and majesty was shown in the
miraculous resurrection of Lazarus from the grave.  We find out in verse 45 that many
or the Jews that witnessed this miracle believed on the Lord that day. 

I had a very dear friend that died nearly two years ago from cancer.  He suffered a
long pain-filled illness.  Yet through it all, he radiated complete and utter trust in
his Lord and Savior.  He saw opportunities to witness to people, that never would
have happened except for his illness.  People were saved at his funeral because of
the vibrant testimony he exhibited despite all that happened.  God was gloried,
praised and adored because of his suffering.

We read in Romans 6:6  "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him
(Jesus) that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not
serve sin."  Our lives should be given over to bringing glory to God...we should not
serve sin.  This means that our actions, motives, attitudes should be Christ honoring.
How do you react when "bad" things happen in your life?  Are you serving sin by
responding in the flesh?  Or do your reactions show to others that you are glorifying,
praising and adoring God for the trials, because you know that they are for your good? 
Romans 8:28  "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love
God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

The purpose of every believer is to point sinners to our wonderful Savior.  People are
watching you.  They know that you are a Christian...but are you Christ-like?  Are
your reactions to trials showing your faith in God?  The Apostle Paul had this to say
about tribulations.  Romans 8:35 - 39  "Who shall separate us from the love of
Christ  Shall tribulations, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness,
or peril, or sword?  As it is written, For Thy sake we are killed all the day long;
we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  Nay, in all things we are more than
conquerors through Him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death,
nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things
to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall  be able to separate
us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  There was no doubt
in the minds of those who knew Paul, that his complete trust was in his God whom
he served.  They had witnessed Paul persecuted, beaten, shipwrecked, near death, yet
through all these tribulations Paul had given God the glory.

Do we have that type of faith in the will of God in our lives?  The Apostle Paul knew
that no matter what the Lord permitted in his life, that he could find his strength in
the Him...in all things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
What an incredible testimony.  How do you measure up today?.  Do you spend your
days lamenting over your problems, or do your praise God for His help in bringing
you through them?  Do not define Gods good things by the worlds thinking. 

Isaiah 40:31  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;  they
shall mount up with wings as eagles:  they shall run, and not be weary;  and they
shall walk, and not faint.

Minute Musings...The Great Physician

Proverbs 4:23  "Keep thy heart with all diligence:  for out of it are the issues of life."

One of the first things a doctor usually does at a physical check-up is to examine your heart. 
He wants to make sure there are no abnormalities detected.  If a problem is discovered, a
course of action for a treatment plan is decided on right away.  Your heart is probably your
most important organ, without it life would instantly cease.

There are many mentions of the heart in the Bible, most are warnings to keep it protected
from the influence of this evil world and its lures.  The natural mans heart is sinful, we
read in Jeremiah 17:9 & 10  "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately
wicked:  who can know it?  I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to
give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."  I
have stated before that what is in the heart will come out.  It is evident in your speech
and your actions.  For the unsaved, there is nothing righteous in their hearts, they
desperately need a physician!

Luke 5:31 & 32  "And Jesus said unto them (the scribes and Pharisees) They that
are whole need not a physician:  but they that are sick.  I came not to call the
righteous, but sinners to repentance."  Jesus is the Great Physician.  He not only
diagnoses the heart problem, but He provided the only cure!  His prescription is very
simple and straight forward.  John 10:9  "I am the door:  by ME if any man enter
in he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture."  And also in John
14:6 we read, "Jesus saith unto him (Thomas) I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me."  There is only ONE way to be saved,
and that way is through Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross of Calvary. 
He is the only one qualified to give you the spiritual heart transplant you need!  Only
He can change your heart and make it over again.

So how is your heart health today?  Have you been to the Great Physician?  He is
never booked up, there is always room!  As diligently as you take care of your physical
heart, take care of your spiritual heart.  Psalms 26:2  "Examine me, O LORD, and
prove me:  try my reins and my heart." 

Jeremiah 17:14  "Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed:  save me, and I shall
be saved:  for Thou art my praise."

I'm Free

 

When I think of what You did for me,

Upon the cross of Calvary,

How You shed Your precious blood on that day.

That these sin-blinded eyes might see,

My soul was freed from penalty,

Thank You Lord for setting me free!

 

When I lay upon my bed at night,

And watch the stars shining bright,

I'm reminded that You're watching o'er me.

You'll guide me with Your mighty hand,

Until I reach the Promised Land,

Thank You Lord for setting me free!

 

When I see You on Your heavenly throne,

And hear You call me Your very own,

I'll bow and worship You there.

For it will be only by Thy grace,

That I see You face to face,

Thank You Lord for setting me free!

 

(chorus)

 

You set me free that day,

When I called upon Your name,

And you made me o'er completely,

I've never been the same.

My heart rejoices in God the Father's only Son,

I'm free, praise the Lord, free at last.

 

                                Cindy Kane

Minute Musings...A Sweet Aroma

Have you ever chomped down on an apple only to find it tasted like a plum, or bitten into
a banana, but discovered a peach?  It would really be a surprise if that happened wouldn't
it!  But, an apple is an apple and a banana is just that, a banana!  There's an old saying, if
it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...well guess what!...it's a duck!

Matthew 7:20  "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."  The Lord Jesus was
reiterating a simple fact of nature with this statement.  What a man produces stems from
what he is.  If his life is producing good fruit, it is because it comes from a good root,
planted in good rich soil.  If it's a crop of bad fruit...well, it's time to check the soil and
the root!

Galatians 5:19 - 21  "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: 
adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,
variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders,
drunkenness, revellings, and such like:  of the which I tell you before, as I have
told you in time past, that they which do such things, shall not inherit the kingdom
of God." The natural mans heart is a heart that produces evil.  The root is not planted in
good soil.  The soil comes from this old sinful world.  The heart is cold towards God,
therefore the fruit that it produces is rotten and points to an unregenerated, sinful nature. 
You can do nothing to cover up the putrid odor of this rotten fruit...it proclaims to all, that
it is full of vile sin, and is therefore no good.

Galatians 5:22 & 23  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:  against such there is no law." 
What a difference in this fruit which is produced by the Spirit of God in the lives of saved,
blood bought children of God.  These fruits of the Spirit are the attributes of our wonderful
Savior.  We are a part of this Living Vine, John 15:5  "I am the vine, ye are the branches:
he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:"  The Spirit
filled life produces a sweet perfumed fruit, that is not only pleasant to man, but is wholly
acceptable to the Heavenly Father.  We are to God, the sweet aroma of His precious Son! 
2 Corinthians 2:15a  "For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ," 

What is your life producing today?  You might think you are fooling people, but what
you are on the inside produces unmistakable fruit on the outside.  Checking your fruit
will let you know what your root is planted in.  Either it's in worldly soil which only will
produce rot and garbage; or your root is planted in the soil at the foot of the old rugged
cross,watered by the precious blood of the sweet Lamb of God, and fertilized by the Word
of God.  Are you a pungent odor or a sweet aroma? 

Mark 4:20  "And these are they which are sown on good ground;  such as hear
the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and
some an hundred."

Loving Jesus, gentle Lamb,

In Thy gracious hands I am;

Make me, Savior, what Thou art,

Live Thyself within my heart.

 

                            Charles Wesley

Minute Musings...Spiritual Diet

Weight Watchers, Atkins, South Beach, Military, Tops, Slim Fast, Herbal Magic, Fat
Flush, Glycemic Index, Best Life, Cabbage Soup, Grapefruit, Jenny Craig, Master
Cleanse, Macrobiotic, Mediterranean, Beverly Hills, Nutrisytem.  By now you all know
that I'm talking about diets.  This is just some of the many on the list that I found.  The
diet industry brings in 20 billion dollars in revenue annually with the sales of diet
books, drugs and the thousands of surgeries performed.  Its estimated that there are
108 million dieters just in the US annually!  The one thing all these diets have in
common is to try and get the dieter to adopt a healthy lifestyle of eating and exercise. 
It all boils down to one simple equation, stop eating junk and start eating good healthy
food.

Do you know that many of us need to go on a spiritual diet as well.  We are allowing
into our hearts and minds things that are not good for us.  We are filling up our minds
with the worlds entertainment, philosophy, in essence, the worlds junk food.  We are
taking in less and less of the Word of God, and we are not even noticing because we
have gorged ourselves at the worlds all you can eat buffet.

John 6:33 & 35  "For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven
(Jesus), and giveth life unto the world.  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread
of life:  he that cometh to me shall never hunger:  and he that believeth on Me
shall never thirst."

The problem with most diets is that they leave you feeling hungry and dissatisfied,
because you have not taken in all you need of good food.  This world will leave you
empty and dissatisfied as well, you have not taken in what you need to feel nourished
and full.  Jesus is all that you need.  He said in the verses we just read, that He is the
bread of life.  Is that what you are feeding on?

Song of Solomon 2:4  "He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner
over me was love."

Jeremiah 15:16  "Thy words were found, and I did eat them;  and Thy word was
unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart:  for I am called by Thy name, O
LORD God of hosts."

Are you spiritually weak today?  Take an inventory of what your nourishment is. 
Just as we have to clean out our kitchen of the piled up junk food from time to time,
and restock it with good nourishing food, perhaps its time to do a spiritual clean up. 
As important as it is to have healthy physical bodies, it is even more important to have
a spiritually fit inner man.

Psalms 119:103  "How sweet are Thy words unto my taste!  Yea, sweeter than
honey to my mouth!"

All the way my Savior leads me,

Cheers each winding path I tread,

Gives me grace for every trial,

Feeds me with the living bread,

Though my weary steps may falter,

And my soul athirst may be,

Gushing from the Rock before me,

Lo! A spring of joy I see,

Gushing from the Rock before me;

Lo! A spring of joy I see.

 

                     Fanny J. Crosby



Minute Musings...O What A Savior!

I was listening to the Cathedrals this morning, and they were singing one of their signature
songs, "Oh What A Savior."  It got me thinking about my Lord and all He's done and all He
is, not only to me but to all that call upon Him as their Savior.

Luke 1:46 & 47  "And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit
hath rejoiced in God my Savior."

The dictionary definition of magnify is "to make greater."  Are we making God greater?
Is He greater than our plans, our wills, our priorities?  Can those around look at us and
know without a shadow of a doubt that He comes first in our lives?  What about our spirit,
is it rejoicing in God our Savior?  Or have the trials and frustrations of our daily lives
replaced that inner God-given joy with complaint and discontent? 

One way that we can magnify God in our lives is to follow the Lords lead in what He
deemed important.  Luke 2:49b  "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's
business?"  And what was the Father's business?  1 Timothy 2:1 - 4  "I exhort
therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of
thanks, be made for all men;  For kings, and for all that are in authority:  that
we may lead quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good
and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;  Who will have all men to be saved,
and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."  God the Father is in the business
of salvation.  As a child of God, we should be entering into the family business!  Are
we magnifying to the lost around us the greatness of our crucified, buried and risen
Lord and Savior?

How are you doing with the rejoicing?  Are you able to focus on the goodness of the
Lord regardless of the hardships you are facing?  True rejoicing is directed upward.
It's a deep hearted gratitude for what the Lord has done for you.  Psalms 40:2 & 3
"He (God) 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."  Do you see how this verse brings magnifying and rejoicing
together!  When we magnify, praise and give God the glory for the wonderful things
He has done for us, the rejoicing it produces in our lives is a testimony to the lost
around us.  The Fathers business is fulfilled as "many shall see it, and fear, and shall
trust in the LORD."  O What A Savior!

Psalms 40:5  "Many, O LORD my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou
hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to us-ward:  they cannot be reckoned
up in order unto Thee:  if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than
can be numbered."

O what a Savior, O Hallelujah,

His heart was broken on Calvary;

His hands were nailed scared,

His side was riven;

He gave His life blood for even me.

 

                          Marvin P. Dalton

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbPvP72Ob_A