Suddenly Mine

"I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth." Job 19:25

O Lord, May I believe in the darkness
When all hope has vanished
When waves beat with fury
And no star lights my sky.
May I believe without
Feeling or knowing or proving
Till one shining moment when
You shatter the darkness
And all I believe for
Is suddenly mine.

By Ruth Harms Calkin, taken from "Women's Devotional Bible 2"

Love's Secret

"Who hath despised the day of small things?" Zechariah 4:10

On little wings
Bear little souls to heaven.

ANON

An occasional effort even of an ordinary holiness may accomplish great acts of sacrifice, or bear severe pressure of unwonted trial, specially if it be the subject of observation. But constant discipline in unnoticed ways, and the spirit's silent unselfishness, becoming the hidden habit of the life, give to it its true saintly beauty, and this is the result of care and lowly love in little things. Perfection is attained most readily by this constancy of religious faithfulness in all minor details of life, consecrating the daily efforts of self-forgetting love.

T. T. CARTER

Love's secret is to be always doing things for God, and not to mind because they are such very little ones.

F. W. FABER

There may be living and habitual conversation in heaven, under the aspect of the most simple, ordinary life. Let us always remember that holiness does not consist in doing uncommon things, but in doing everything with purity of heart.

H. E. MANNING

Compiled by Mary W. Tileston, taken from "Daily Strength for Daily Needs"

Where Jesus Begins

"But if we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right. He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done." I John 1:9

We don't like to recognize our ruin, but that's where Jesus begins. Once we're honest with ourselves about who we are, then God can begin to remold our hearts . . . total surrender."

By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"

Creation

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1

We have only to look around us at the beauties God wrought in the creation of our world to know that here is one of impeccable taste, our world's finest connoisseur. Anywhere we turn in nature we see the demonstration of (perfection) - from the lowliest roadside buttercup to the intricately engineered iridescence of seashells like th chambered nautilus or the Pacific triton's trumpet; from the proud beauty of the preening male cardinal to the flashing brilliance of the tiny hummingbirds; in every foaming, curling wave of the ocean and every star in the sky.

True, in ourselves we are not quite ready for such perfection. At points each of us wants to drag along in the mud of mediocrity. Our taste has to be educated upwards . . . But we have nothing to fear in the process.

By Catherine Marshall, taken from "Women's Devotional Bible 2"

Are you Thirsty?

"If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. he that believeth on Me, . . . from within him (his innermost being) shall flow rivers of living water." John 7:37, 38

While there is in my heart an unsatisfied longing, there is available to a corresponding "fullness." As long as my innermost being is not an effervescent spring, I have not received all that God has for me.

"But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive." Thank God, then, there is a way! There is an ocean of god's fullness into which I may "launch out!" There is a new venture, an experience more revolutionizing and satisfying than any I have ever known! - Anna J. Lindgren

Ho! ev'ry one that is thirsty in spirit,
Ho! ev'ry one that is weary and sad,
Come to the fountain, there's fullness in Jesus,
All that you're longing for, come and be glad.

Child of the world, are you tired of your bondage?
Weary of earth-joys, so false, so untrue;
Thirsting for God, and His fullness of blessing?
List to the promise - a message for you.

Child of the kingdom, be filled with the Spirit,
Nothing but fullness thy longing can meet,
'Tis the enduement for life and for service;
Thine is the promise, so certain, so sweet.

"I will pour water on him that is thirsty,
I will pour floods upon the dry ground;
Open your heart for the gift I am bringing,
While ye are seeking me, I will be found."

Lucy J. Rider

By Charles E. Fuller & J. Elwin Wright, taken from "Manna in the Morning"

The Heart that Trusts

"The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in Him." Psalm 64:10

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

The heart that trusts forever sings,
And feels as light as it had wings,
A well of peace within it springs,--
Come good or ill,
Whatever to-day, to-morrow brings,
It is His will.

I. WILLIAMS

He will weave no longer a spotted life of shreds and patches, but he will live with a divine unity. He will cease from what is base and frivolous in his life, and be content with all places, and with any service he can render. He will calmly front the morrow, in the negligency of that trust which carries God with it, and so hath already the whole future in the bottom of the heart.

R. W. EMERSON

He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved, as in sleep." They must work and watch, yet never be careful or anxious, but commit all to Him, and live in serene tranquillity; with a quiet heart, as one who sleeps safely and quietly.

MARTIN LUTHER

Compiled by Mary W. Tileston, taken from "Daily Strength for Daily Needs"

No Shortcuts to Being Faithful

"He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil." Job 36:10

Last spring, my husband and I had our income tax returns done. I was extremely busy with all of the usual activities of life at the time, and hurriedly ran and about pulling open drawers, looking for records and receipts, all about an hour before I was supposed to have the information gathered together. I guesstimated how much we had donated for charities and how much we had (spent) for medical expenses. Maurie, our good-natured accountant, made a few jokes about my haphazard record keeping. I began to feel uncomfortable, but silently reasoned that I had done all I was able to under the circumstances.

The next morning, as I left the house for my bible study, I murmured a quick prayer, "Lord, I feel uneasy about yesterday. If you want me to go back through all my records and do it right, I will. Just let me know."

On the way to the bible study, the woman who was driving began to talk about being a Christian and being obedient to the Lord even in small things. She spoke about how her mother laughs at her for returning change at the market when she has received too much. And then she said her mother laughs at her for being so scrupulously honest on her income tax!

I squirmed in my seat, my face flushing red. I knew what I had to do. Although it was slightly embarrassing to call our accountant back with the correct figures, I felt better once I had. And I felt a whole lot better knowing that I had been obedient to the Lord's voice.

By Nicole Hill, taken from "Women's Devotional Bible 2"

Speak Lord

"Speak, Lord; for Thy servant heareth." I Samuel 3:9

Though heralded with nought of fear,
Or outward sign or show:
Though only to the inward ear
It whispers soft and low;
Though dropping, as the manna fell,
Unseen, yet from above,
Noiseless as dew-fall, heed it well, —
Thy Father's call of love.

J. G. WHITTIER

This is one result of the attitude into which we are put by humility, by disinterestedness, by purity, by calmness, that we have the opportunity, the disengagement, the silence, in which we may watch what is the will of God concerning us. If we think no more of ourselves than we ought to think, if we seek not our own but others' welfare, if we are prepared to take all things as God's dealings with us, then we may have a chance of catching from time to time what God has to tell us. In the Mussulman devotions, one constant gesture is to put the hands to the ears, as if to listen for the messages from the other world. This is the attitude, the posture which our minds assume, if we have a standing-place above and beyond the stir and confusion and dissipation of this mortal world.

A. P. STANLEY

Compiled by Mary W. Tileston, taken from "Daily Strength for Daily Needs"

A New Heart

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you." Ezekiel 36:26

"Behold," says Christ, "I will make all things new." What a wonder it is that a man should ever have a new heart! You know if a lobster loses its claw in a fight it can get a new claw, and that is thought to be very marvelous. It would be very wonderful if men should be able to grow new arms and new legs, but who ever heard of a creature that grew a new heart? You may have seen a bough lopped off a tree, and you may have thought that perhaps the tree will sprout again and there will be a new limb, but who ever heard of old trees getting new sap and a new core? but my Lord and Master, the crucified and exalted Savior, has given new hearts and new cores; he has put a vital substance into man afresh and made new creatures of them. I am glad to notice the tear in your eye when you think on the past, but wipe it away now, and look up to the cross and say -

"Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Your blood was shed for me,
And that You bid'st me come to You,
O Lamb, O God, I come."

"Make me a new creature!" If you have said that from your heart, you are a new creature, dear brother, and we will rejoice together in this regenerating Savior.

By Charles Spurgeon, taken from "Strengthen My Spirit"

Dealing with our Mistakes

"Lord, help me control my tongue; help me be careful about what I say. Take away my desire to do evil or to join others in doing wrong." Psalm 141:3-4

When we avoid dealing with our mistakes and pretend they don't exist, they usually express themselves in ways that we would not anticipate: anger at someone else, frustration at something else, lack of control.

By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"

What Motivates You?

"My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul." Psalm 108:1

When I was younger I danced in two regional Ballet companies (regional considered not professional). The first company I joined while I was in Jr High and just old enough to qualify for a company position. That first year I was selected to be in a two year apprenticeship as the directors, Steve and Jan, thought I needed more time before I moved into a full fledged position. In other words, I wasn't quite good enough.

As time went on, Jan left and shortly after the company folded. I ended up at her school and eventually became a principal in her company. By the time I was in High School Steve had a new school. Some time later he had composed music and wanted to choreograph a ballet to it. His school consisted of very young students so he asked if he could use one of our company members. A week before the performance the person he chose backed out and I was asked to fill in. This was my chance to show Steve what I was made of, how much I had improved and what he didn't see while I was under his direction. In 7 days I consumed his ballet like I've never done before.

It was frightening to know that Steve counted on me and I really didn't have adequate enough time to properly learn his ballet. As the music began I allowed myself to surrendered to it completely forgetting that I was in front of an audience. I became the breath of the music. At the end I was on the ground with my face down on the stage so I couldn't see the audience. It was then that I realized that it was silent. No one coughed, rustled the programs, shifted nor clapped. As the curtain closed I thought I had failed and was mortified that I had to give a curtain call. Before the curtain opened I was greeted with loud clapping, bravos and a standing ovation.

Today I ask myself why could I give myself fully to please Steve and hold back when it comes to pleasing Jesus? I wanted to wow Steve so much that I literally gave myself to his ballet. Steve wasn't my savior. In fact, he passed away a few years ago from taking one too many drinks. He was talent and his music was amazing. But in the end, he didn't do anything for me. He didn't sacrifice himself for me. In fact, he overlooked me as not being good enough.

Unlike Steve, Jesus gave up His life so that we may have eternal life. He doesn't overlook anyone and wants us to know Him. If we truly believe in Jesus then we need to start acting like we do. We need to start giving ourselves over to the music of His Heart. We need to fully surrender ourselves to Him in everything we do. Let us be His ballet and show others what He did for them.

Whose music are you surrendering to? Is it the music of nature, self, someone whom you want to please? Or is it Jesus? Dance your heart out to His Music and live your life for Him.

Krista Jones
7.15.07

Beware of Criticizing Others

"Judge not, that you be not judged." Matthew 7:1

Jesus’ instructions with regard to judging others is very simply put; He says, "Don’t." The average Christian is the most piercingly critical individual known. Criticism is one of the ordinary activities of people, but in the spiritual realm nothing is accomplished by it. The effect of criticism is the dividing up of the strengths of the one being criticized. The Holy Spirit is the only one in the proper position to criticize, and He alone is able to show what is wrong without hurting and wounding. It is impossible to enter into fellowship with God when you are in a critical mood. Criticism serves to make you harsh, vindictive, and cruel, and leaves you with the soothing and flattering idea that you are somehow superior to others. Jesus says that as His disciple you should cultivate a temperament that is never critical. This will not happen quickly but must be developed over a span of time. You must constantly beware of anything that causes you to think of yourself as a superior person.

There is no escaping the penetrating search of my life by Jesus. If I see the little speck in your eye, it means that I have a plank of timber in my own (see Matthew 7:3-5 ). Every wrong thing that I see in you, God finds in me. Every time I judge, I condemn myself (see Romans 2:17-24 ). Stop having a measuring stick for other people. There is always at least one more fact, which we know nothing about, in every person’s situation. The first thing God does is to give us a thorough spiritual cleaning. After that, there is no possibility of pride remaining in us. I have never met a person I could despair of, or lose all hope for, after discerning what lies in me apart from the grace of God.

By Oswald Chambers, taken from "My Utmost For His Highest"

The Beginning of Healing

"God, examine me and know my heart; test me and know my nervous thoughts." Psalm 139:23

Revealing our feelings is the beginning of healing. Articulating what's on our heart, confessing our mistakes, is the first step in seeing that God can forgive those mistakes and all others.

By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"

The Art of the Heart

"But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief." Job 16:5

Encouragement is one of God's most joyous art forms. He supplies us with the raw materials and invites us to create, build and shape his hope in lives of those around us.

Some people combine a helping hand with a word of praise and produce a grateful heart. Others, by mixing laughter and love, are able to paint new sparkle in dulling eyes. Belief and support build self-esteem. Persistent prayer composes a song of hope; and tenderness and warm embraces fashion a friend.

However we combine the elements of encouragement, one thing we're sure to crate is joy - for others, for ourselves and for our Lord.

By Susan Lenzkes, taken from "Women's Devotional Bible 2"

Can't Be Fixed?

"At least there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail." Job 14:7

Can't be fixed: a child's face stares bleakly up at me over the plastic shards of a shattered toy.

Can't be fixed: the giant oak lies among the hurricane's debris, it's roots upended helplessly.

Can't be fixed: the man and the woman stare across the distance between them, shocked into silence by brutal words finally uttered.

Some things in life can be patched up, shored up, repaired or redone. But some wounds are too grievous, some blows too shattering, some rifts too wide to be pulled back together. Some experiences - a divorce, a betrayal, abuse, neglect - leave us permanently wounded, our psyches disfigured. We live, we go on, but we're not really fixed.

Yet I believe there is an alternate plan for things that can't be fixed. It won't work for shattered plastic, but this plan can make an astonishing difference in living, growing things like trees and people. I've seen it in a new shoot growing from a shattered stump, in the faces of a couple whose counseling sessions are finally showing some progress. I've seen it in people who have hit bottom and admitted their own helplessness, only to begin growing again from there.

As far as I can see, God's strategy for broken trees and limbs and lives and souls is not repair but growth; not being patched up but being granted the gift to start over:

Can't be fixed - but can be reborn.
Can't be fixed - but can be made new.

By Anne Christian Buchanan, taken from "Women's Devotional Bible 2"

Live in Hope

"Be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Hebrews 6:12

Where now with pain thou treadest, trod
The whitest of the saints of God!
To show thee where their feet were set,
The light which led them shineth yet.

J. G. WHITTIER

LET us learn from this communion of saints to live in hope. Those who are now at rest were once like ourselves. They were once weak, faulty, sinful; they had their burdens and hindrances, their slumbering and weariness, their failures and their falls. But now they have overcome. Their life was once homely and common-place. Their day ran out as ours. Morning and noon and night came and went to them as to us. Their life, too, was as lonely and sad as yours. Little fretful circumstances and frequent disturbing changes wasted away their hours as yours. There is nothing in your life that was not in theirs; there was nothing in theirs but may be also in your own. They have overcome, each one, and one by one; each in his turn, when the day came, and God called him to the trial. And so shall you likewise.

H. E. MANNING

Compiled by Mary W. Tileston, taken from "Daily Strength for Daily Needs"

What do you want to look like?

"A man was asked to speak to a rather large church congregation. After he strode to the pulpit he said, "There are three points to my sermon." Most people yawned at that point. They'd heard that many times before.

But he went on. "My first point is this. At this time there are approximately 2 billion people starving to death in the world."

The reaction through the congregation was about the same, since they'd heard that sort of statement many times before, too. And then he said, "My second point . . ."

Everybody sat up. Only ten or fifteen seconds had passed, and he was already on his second point?

He paused, then said, "My second point is that most of you don't give a damn!"

He paused again as gasps and rumblings flowed across the congregation, and then said:

"And my third point is that the real tragedy among Christians today is that many of you are now more concerned that I said 'damn' than you are that I said that 2 billion people are starving to death." Then he sat down.

The whole sermon took less than a minute, but it is in many ways one of the most powerful ones ever given. In no uncertain terms, he was reminding those of us stuck in our pews that we are called not to mere piety but to genuine morality. We are called to action, not to fancy words. We are members of the kingdom of God, not the kingdom of niceness." - Story in, "Holy Sweat" by Tim Hansel

What kind of Christian are you? What do you want to look like?

Krista Jones
4.26.07

Accepting Consolation

"None of them that trust in Him shall be desolate." Psalms 34:22

"That ye sorrow not, even as others who have no hope." I Thessalonians 4:13

"Are the consolations of God too small for thee?" Job 15:11 (R. V.)

WHAT shall make trouble? Not the holy thought
Of the departed; that will be a part
Of those undying things His peace hath wrought
Into a world of beauty in the heart.

SARAH J. WILLIAMS

SHE spoke of those who had walked with her long ago in her garden, and for whose sake, now that they had all gone into the world of light, every flower was doubly dear. Would it be a true proof of loyalty to them if she lived gloomily or despondently because they were away? She spoke of the duty of being ready to welcome happiness as well as to endure pain, and of the strength that endurance wins by being grateful for small daily joys, like the evening light, and the smell of roses, and the singing of birds. She spoke of the faith that rests on the Unseen Wisdom and Love like a child on its mother's breast, and the melting away of doubts in the warmth of an effort to do some good in the world.

HENRY VAN DYKE

By Mary Wilder Tileston, taken from "Joy and Strength"

Letting down of the Wings

"And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings" (Ezek. 1:25).

That is the letting down of the wings? People so often say, "How do you get the voice of the Lord?" Here is the secret. They heard the voice when they stood and let down their wings.

We have seen a bird with fluttering wings; though standing still, its wings are fluttering. But here we are told they heard the voice when they stood and had let down their wings.

Do we not sometimes kneel or sit before the Lord and yet feel conscious of a fluttering of our spirits? Not a real stillness in His presence.

A dear one told me several days ago of a certain thing she prayed about, "But," said she, "I did not wait until the answer came."

She did not get still enough to hear Him speak, but went away and followed her own thought in the matter. And the result proved disastrous and she had to retrace her steps.

Oh, how much energy is wasted! How much time is lost by not letting down the wings of our spirit and getting very quiet before Him! Oh, the calm, the rest, the peace which come as we wait In His presence until we hear from Him!

Then, ah then, we can go like lightning, and turn not as we go but go straight forward whithersoever the Spirit goes. (Ezek. 1:1, 20)

"Be still! Just now be still!
Something thy soul hath never heard,
Something unknown to any song of bird,
Something unknown to any wind, or wave, or star,
A message from the Fatherland afar,
That with sweet joy the homesick soul shall thrill,
Cometh to thee if thou canst but be still.

"Be still! Just now be still!
There comes a presence very mild and sweet;
White are the sandals of His noiseless feet.
It is the Comforter whom Jesus sent
To teach thee what the words He uttered meant.
The willing, waiting spirit, He doth fill.
If thou would'st hear His message,
Dear soul, be still!"

Compiled by Mrs. Charles Cowman, taken from "Streams in the Desert"

What We Are and What We Can Be

"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature." Galatians 5:16

Remember, we are compared with what we could be, not just what we should be. God being who He is, and Jesus Christ being His risen and all-powerful Son, anything we ought to be we can be. Anything that God has declared that we should be we can be. In the wonderful book of Romans, perhaps the greatest and most profound book in the Bible, 7 tells us of a man who is struggling and wanting to be something that he feels he cannot be. Finally he gives up and says, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" (verse 24). Immediately, Paul says, "Thanks be to God! . . . because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death" (25; 8:2). In Galatians 5:22-23 we read, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." That is what we ought to be and what we can be. Now compare that with what we are.


Thought
As we walk step-by-step by means of the Spirit, he produces in us the product of His control--the fruit of the Spirit. If we walk out of His control the acts of the sinful nature result.

By A. W. Tozer "Rut, Rot or Revival" - Chapter # Two Errors in Thinking

External Beauty

One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple." Psalm 27:4

Thy beauty, O my Father! All is Thine;
But there is beauty in Thyself, from whence
The beauty Thou hast made doth ever flow
In streams of never-failing affluence.

Thou art the Temple! and though I am lame,--
Lame from my birth, and shall be till I die,--
I enter through the Gate called Beautiful,
And am alone with Thee, O Thou Most High!

J. W. CHADWICK

Consider that all which appears beautiful outwardly, is solely derived from the invisible Spirit which is the source of that external beauty, and say joyfully, "Behold, these are streamlets from the uncreated Fountain; behold, these are drops from the infinite Ocean of all good! Oh! how does my inmost heart rejoice at the thought of that eternal, infinite Beauty, which is the source and origin of all created beauty!"

L. SCUPOLI

Compiled by Mary W. Tileston. taken from "Daily Strength for Daily Needs"