"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon" (Psalm 92:12).
These trees are not trained and pruned by man: palms and cedars are "trees of the LORD," and it is by His care that they flourish. Even so it is with the saints of the LORD: they are His own care. These trees are evergreen and are beautiful objects at all seasons of the year. Believers are not sometimes holy and sometimes ungodly: they stand in the beauty of the LORD under all weathers. Everywhere these trees are noteworthy: no one can gaze upon a landscape in which there are either palms or cedars without his attention being fixed upon these royal growths. The followers of Jesus are the observed of all observers: like a city set on a hill, they cannot be hid. The child of God flourishes like a palm tree, which pushes all its strength upward in one erect column without a single branch. It is a pillar with a glorious capital. It has no growth to the right or to the left but sends all its force heavenward and bears its fruit as near the sky as possible. LORD, fulfill this type in me. The cedar braves all storms and grows near the eternal snows, the LORD Himself filling it with a sap which keeps its heart warm and its bough strong. LORD, so let it be with me, I pray Thee. Amen.
By C.H. Spurgeon, taken from "Faith's Checkbook"
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Praying and Forgiveness
"When you are praying, of you are angry with someone, forgive him so that your Father in heaven will also forgive your sins." Mark 11:25
Isn't it presumptuous to come to the throne of grace if we haven't been gracious to the people in our life? How can we approach a God of mercy if we ourselves have hearts full of bitterness or anger? We must take care of relationship problems - make up with a spouse, get along with fellow church members, love our neighbors - then we will be fully united in prayer with the Father.
By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"
Isn't it presumptuous to come to the throne of grace if we haven't been gracious to the people in our life? How can we approach a God of mercy if we ourselves have hearts full of bitterness or anger? We must take care of relationship problems - make up with a spouse, get along with fellow church members, love our neighbors - then we will be fully united in prayer with the Father.
By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Joy in the Present
"The meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." PSALMS 37:11
Joy is Thy gift, O Father!
Thou wouldst not have us pine;
In darkest hours Thy comfort
Doth aye most brightly shine;
Ah, then how oft Thy voice
Hath shed its sweetness o'er me,
And opened heaven before me,
And bid my heart rejoice!
PAUL GERHARDT
TO be with God, in whatever stage of being, under whatever conditions of existence, is to be in heaven. - DORA GREENWELL
I perceive we postpone all our joys of Christ, till He and we be in our own house above, thinking that there is nothing of it here to be sought or found, but only hope and fair promises; and that Christ will give us nothing here but tears, sadness, crosses; and that we shall never feel the smell of the flowers of that high garden of paradise above, till we come there. Nay, but I find it possible to find young glory, and a young green paradise of joy even here. We dream of hunger in Christ's house, while we are here, although He alloweth feasts to all the bairns within God's household. - SAMUEL RUTHERFORD
Compiled by Mary Wilder Tileston, taken from "Joy and Strength"
Joy is Thy gift, O Father!
Thou wouldst not have us pine;
In darkest hours Thy comfort
Doth aye most brightly shine;
Ah, then how oft Thy voice
Hath shed its sweetness o'er me,
And opened heaven before me,
And bid my heart rejoice!
PAUL GERHARDT
TO be with God, in whatever stage of being, under whatever conditions of existence, is to be in heaven. - DORA GREENWELL
I perceive we postpone all our joys of Christ, till He and we be in our own house above, thinking that there is nothing of it here to be sought or found, but only hope and fair promises; and that Christ will give us nothing here but tears, sadness, crosses; and that we shall never feel the smell of the flowers of that high garden of paradise above, till we come there. Nay, but I find it possible to find young glory, and a young green paradise of joy even here. We dream of hunger in Christ's house, while we are here, although He alloweth feasts to all the bairns within God's household. - SAMUEL RUTHERFORD
Compiled by Mary Wilder Tileston, taken from "Joy and Strength"
Monday, September 24, 2007
God in Everything
"It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good". (1 Sam. 3:18)
See God in everything, and God will calm and color all that thou dost see!" It may be that the circumstances of our sorrows will not be removed, their condition will remain unchanged; but if Christ, as Lord and Master of our life, is brought into our grief and gloom, "HE will compass us about with songs of deliverance." To see HIM, and to be sure that His wisdom cannot err, His power cannot fail, His love can never change; to know that even His direst dealings with us are for our deepest spiritual gain, is to be able to say, in the midst of bereavement, sorrow, pain, and loss, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath, taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."
Nothing else but seeing God in everything will make us loving and patient with those who annoy and trouble us. They will be to us then only instruments for accomplishing His tender and wise purposes toward us, and we shall even find ourselves at last inwardly thanking them for the blessings they bring us. Nothing else will completely put an end to all murmuring or rebelling thoughts. - H. W. Smith.
"Give me a new idea," I said,
While musing on a sleepless bed;
"A new idea that'll bring to earth
A balm for souls of priceless worth;
That'll give men thoughts of things above,
And teach them how to serve and love,
That'll banish every selfish thought,
And rid men of the sins they've fought."
The new thought came, just how, I'll tell:
'Twas when on bended knee I fell,
And sought from HIM who knows full well
The way our sorrow to expel.
SEE GOD IN ALL THINGS, great and small,
And give HIM praise whate'er befall,
In life or death, in pain or woe,
See God, and overcome thy foe.
I saw HIM in the morning light,
HE made the day shine clear and bright;
I saw HIM in the noontide hour,
And gained from HIM refreshing shower.
At eventide, when worn and sad,
HE gave me help, and made me glad.
At midnight, when on tossing bed
My weary soul to sleep HE led.
I saw HIM when great losses came,
And found HE loved me just the same.
When heavy loads I had to bear,
I found HE lightened every care.
By sickness, sorrow, sore distress,
HE calmed my mind and gave me rest.
HE'S filled my heart with gladsome praise
Since I gave HIM the upward gaze.
'Twas new to me, yet old to some,
This thought that to me has become
A revelation of the way
We all should live throughout the day;
For as each day unfolds its light,
We'll walk by faith and not by sight.
Life will, indeed, a blessing bring,
If we SEE GOD IN EVERYTHING."
A. E. Finn
Compiled by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman, taken from "Streams in the Desert"
See God in everything, and God will calm and color all that thou dost see!" It may be that the circumstances of our sorrows will not be removed, their condition will remain unchanged; but if Christ, as Lord and Master of our life, is brought into our grief and gloom, "HE will compass us about with songs of deliverance." To see HIM, and to be sure that His wisdom cannot err, His power cannot fail, His love can never change; to know that even His direst dealings with us are for our deepest spiritual gain, is to be able to say, in the midst of bereavement, sorrow, pain, and loss, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath, taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."
Nothing else but seeing God in everything will make us loving and patient with those who annoy and trouble us. They will be to us then only instruments for accomplishing His tender and wise purposes toward us, and we shall even find ourselves at last inwardly thanking them for the blessings they bring us. Nothing else will completely put an end to all murmuring or rebelling thoughts. - H. W. Smith.
"Give me a new idea," I said,
While musing on a sleepless bed;
"A new idea that'll bring to earth
A balm for souls of priceless worth;
That'll give men thoughts of things above,
And teach them how to serve and love,
That'll banish every selfish thought,
And rid men of the sins they've fought."
The new thought came, just how, I'll tell:
'Twas when on bended knee I fell,
And sought from HIM who knows full well
The way our sorrow to expel.
SEE GOD IN ALL THINGS, great and small,
And give HIM praise whate'er befall,
In life or death, in pain or woe,
See God, and overcome thy foe.
I saw HIM in the morning light,
HE made the day shine clear and bright;
I saw HIM in the noontide hour,
And gained from HIM refreshing shower.
At eventide, when worn and sad,
HE gave me help, and made me glad.
At midnight, when on tossing bed
My weary soul to sleep HE led.
I saw HIM when great losses came,
And found HE loved me just the same.
When heavy loads I had to bear,
I found HE lightened every care.
By sickness, sorrow, sore distress,
HE calmed my mind and gave me rest.
HE'S filled my heart with gladsome praise
Since I gave HIM the upward gaze.
'Twas new to me, yet old to some,
This thought that to me has become
A revelation of the way
We all should live throughout the day;
For as each day unfolds its light,
We'll walk by faith and not by sight.
Life will, indeed, a blessing bring,
If we SEE GOD IN EVERYTHING."
A. E. Finn
Compiled by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman, taken from "Streams in the Desert"
Friday, September 21, 2007
Psalm 143
A psalm of David.
1 O LORD, hear my prayer,
listen to my cry for mercy;
in your faithfulness and righteousness
come to my relief.
2 Do not bring your servant into judgment,
for no one living is righteous before you.
3 The enemy pursues me,
he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in darkness
like those long dead.
4 So my spirit grows faint within me;
my heart within me is dismayed.
5 I remember the days of long ago;
I meditate on all your works
and consider what your hands have done.
6 I spread out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
Selah
7 Answer me quickly, O LORD;
my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me
or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD,
for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.
11 For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life;
in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.
12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;
destroy all my foes,
for I am your servant.
1 O LORD, hear my prayer,
listen to my cry for mercy;
in your faithfulness and righteousness
come to my relief.
2 Do not bring your servant into judgment,
for no one living is righteous before you.
3 The enemy pursues me,
he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in darkness
like those long dead.
4 So my spirit grows faint within me;
my heart within me is dismayed.
5 I remember the days of long ago;
I meditate on all your works
and consider what your hands have done.
6 I spread out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
Selah
7 Answer me quickly, O LORD;
my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me
or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD,
for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.
11 For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life;
in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.
12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;
destroy all my foes,
for I am your servant.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Feed Your Spirit
"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God." Psalm 42:1
During the days when we are giving on demand, we need a constant source of nourishment for ourselves as well.
Psalm 42:1-4 provides a mental picture of the many moms who'd love to spend time with God but can't seem to fit it into their hectic days: "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" (vs. 1-2).
There are many days when our spirits feel parched and we wonder when - or if - we'll ever "meet with God" again. Even getting to church once a week is often difficult.
Instead of waiting to go to the house of the Lord, why not invite him to your house? Sit down during a child's naptime and read a few verses from the Gospel of John. Use a mealtime blessing to really pray about what's happened that day. Leave your Bible open on the table and grab a phrase from one of the psalms as you walk by. Graze on Scripture morsels throughout the day from a flip book on the kitchen counter. Listen to a tape of the New Testament in the car. Take a prayer walk through the neighborhood and talk to God about the details of your day.
When you think of taking a break, include a practice that will feed your spirit.
By Elisa Morgan and Carol Kuykendall, taken from, "Women's Devotional Bible 2"
During the days when we are giving on demand, we need a constant source of nourishment for ourselves as well.
Psalm 42:1-4 provides a mental picture of the many moms who'd love to spend time with God but can't seem to fit it into their hectic days: "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" (vs. 1-2).
There are many days when our spirits feel parched and we wonder when - or if - we'll ever "meet with God" again. Even getting to church once a week is often difficult.
Instead of waiting to go to the house of the Lord, why not invite him to your house? Sit down during a child's naptime and read a few verses from the Gospel of John. Use a mealtime blessing to really pray about what's happened that day. Leave your Bible open on the table and grab a phrase from one of the psalms as you walk by. Graze on Scripture morsels throughout the day from a flip book on the kitchen counter. Listen to a tape of the New Testament in the car. Take a prayer walk through the neighborhood and talk to God about the details of your day.
When you think of taking a break, include a practice that will feed your spirit.
By Elisa Morgan and Carol Kuykendall, taken from, "Women's Devotional Bible 2"
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Forgive and Let Go
"Those who love your teachings will find true peace, and nothing will defeat them." Psalm 119:165
The God who is willing to forgive you has already forgiven you much more than you could ever forgive anyone else. The best thing you can do to bring peace to your life is to forgive the mistakes of others. I'm not saying justify their mistakes; I'm saying forgive them and let go.
By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"
The God who is willing to forgive you has already forgiven you much more than you could ever forgive anyone else. The best thing you can do to bring peace to your life is to forgive the mistakes of others. I'm not saying justify their mistakes; I'm saying forgive them and let go.
By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
God is Our Refuge and Strength
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea." Psalm 46:1-2
Though waves and storms go o'er my head,
Though strength and health and friends be gone,
Though joys be withered all, and dead,
Though every comfort be withdrawn,
On this my steadfast soul relies,--
Father! Thy mercy never dies.
JOHANN A. ROTHE
Your external circumstances may change, toil may take the place of rest, sickness of health, trials may thicken within and without. Externally, you are the prey of such circumstances; but if your heart is stayed on God, no changes or chances can touch it, and all that may befall you will but draw you closer to Him. Whatever the present moment may bring, your knowledge that it is His will, and that your future heavenly life will be influenced by it, will make all not only tolerable, but welcome to you, while no vicissitudes can affect you greatly, knowing that He who holds you in His powerful hand cannot change, but abideth forever.
JEAN NICOLAS GROU
Compiled by Mary W. Tileston, "Daily Strength for Daily Needs"
Though waves and storms go o'er my head,
Though strength and health and friends be gone,
Though joys be withered all, and dead,
Though every comfort be withdrawn,
On this my steadfast soul relies,--
Father! Thy mercy never dies.
JOHANN A. ROTHE
Your external circumstances may change, toil may take the place of rest, sickness of health, trials may thicken within and without. Externally, you are the prey of such circumstances; but if your heart is stayed on God, no changes or chances can touch it, and all that may befall you will but draw you closer to Him. Whatever the present moment may bring, your knowledge that it is His will, and that your future heavenly life will be influenced by it, will make all not only tolerable, but welcome to you, while no vicissitudes can affect you greatly, knowing that He who holds you in His powerful hand cannot change, but abideth forever.
JEAN NICOLAS GROU
Compiled by Mary W. Tileston, "Daily Strength for Daily Needs"
Monday, September 17, 2007
Beginning to Sink
"But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him." Matthew 14:30-31
Beginning to sink . . . immediately . . . " But even so, for we are all weakness in ourselves, there are times when nothing comes to mind but these words. They assure us of so much more than they seem to say . . . Chiefly they bring the certainty that there will be no sinking, for Peter never sank. ("When I said, "My foot slippeth," - in that moment - "They mercy, O Lord, held me up.")
They come underneath the feeling of sinking; they say, "This shall never be." It was Christ's sorely tired prisoner, Samuel Rutherford, who wrote that the parings and crumbs of glory, a shower like the thin May-mist of his Lord's love was enough to make him green and sappy and joyful. Such a word, even such a little word as this, if only we open our hearts to its healing power, may be a crumb of glory enlightening the soul, a thin May-mist of His love making green and sappy (or glowing and golden) what was so dull and dry before. "And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him." How many seconds lie between a man's beginning to sink and his sinking? A second or less, I suppose, sees one who is beginning to sink under water. How swift, then, was the movement of love! And as He was, so He is. - Amy Carmichael
Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
E. A. Hoffman
By Charles E Fuller and J. Elwin Wright, taken from "Manna in the Morning"
Beginning to sink . . . immediately . . . " But even so, for we are all weakness in ourselves, there are times when nothing comes to mind but these words. They assure us of so much more than they seem to say . . . Chiefly they bring the certainty that there will be no sinking, for Peter never sank. ("When I said, "My foot slippeth," - in that moment - "They mercy, O Lord, held me up.")
They come underneath the feeling of sinking; they say, "This shall never be." It was Christ's sorely tired prisoner, Samuel Rutherford, who wrote that the parings and crumbs of glory, a shower like the thin May-mist of his Lord's love was enough to make him green and sappy and joyful. Such a word, even such a little word as this, if only we open our hearts to its healing power, may be a crumb of glory enlightening the soul, a thin May-mist of His love making green and sappy (or glowing and golden) what was so dull and dry before. "And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him." How many seconds lie between a man's beginning to sink and his sinking? A second or less, I suppose, sees one who is beginning to sink under water. How swift, then, was the movement of love! And as He was, so He is. - Amy Carmichael
Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
E. A. Hoffman
By Charles E Fuller and J. Elwin Wright, taken from "Manna in the Morning"
Friday, September 14, 2007
Waiting is Hard
"When the cloud tarried... then the children of Israel... journeyed not" (Num. 9:19).
This was the supreme test of obedience. It was comparatively easy to strike tents, when the fleecy folds of the cloud were slowly gathering from off the Tabernacle, and it floated majestically before the host. Change is always delightful; and there was excitement and interest in the route, the scenery, and the locality of the next halting-place. But, ah, the tarrying.
Then, however uninviting and sultry the location, however trying to flesh and blood, however irksome to the impatient disposition, however perilously exposed to danger--there was no option but to remain encamped.
The Psalmist says, "I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry." And what He did for the Old Testament saints He will do for believers throughout all ages. Still God often keeps us waiting. Face to face with threatening foes, in the midst of alarms, encircled by perils, beneath the impending rock. May we not go? Is it not time to strike our tents? Have we not suffered to the point of utter collapse? May we not exchange the glare and heat for green pastures and still waters?
There is no answer. The cloud tarries, and we must remain, though sure of manna, rock-water, shelter, and defense. God never keeps us at post without assuring us of His presence, and sending us daily supplies.
Wait, young man, do not be in a hurry to make a change! Minister, remain at your post! Until the cloud clearly moves, you must tarry. Wait, then, thy Lord's good pleasure! He will be in plenty of time! -Daily Devotional Commentary
An hour of waiting!
Yet there seems such need
To reach that spot sublime!
I long to reach them--but I long far more to trust HIS time!
"Sit still, my daughter"--
Yet the heathen die,
They perish while I stay!
I long to reach them--but I long far more to trust HIS way!
'Tis good to get,
'Tis good indeed to give!
Yet is it better still--
O'er breadth, thro' length, down length, up height, to trust HIS will! - F. M. N.
By Mrs. Charles Cowman, taken from "Streams in the Desert"
This was the supreme test of obedience. It was comparatively easy to strike tents, when the fleecy folds of the cloud were slowly gathering from off the Tabernacle, and it floated majestically before the host. Change is always delightful; and there was excitement and interest in the route, the scenery, and the locality of the next halting-place. But, ah, the tarrying.
Then, however uninviting and sultry the location, however trying to flesh and blood, however irksome to the impatient disposition, however perilously exposed to danger--there was no option but to remain encamped.
The Psalmist says, "I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry." And what He did for the Old Testament saints He will do for believers throughout all ages. Still God often keeps us waiting. Face to face with threatening foes, in the midst of alarms, encircled by perils, beneath the impending rock. May we not go? Is it not time to strike our tents? Have we not suffered to the point of utter collapse? May we not exchange the glare and heat for green pastures and still waters?
There is no answer. The cloud tarries, and we must remain, though sure of manna, rock-water, shelter, and defense. God never keeps us at post without assuring us of His presence, and sending us daily supplies.
Wait, young man, do not be in a hurry to make a change! Minister, remain at your post! Until the cloud clearly moves, you must tarry. Wait, then, thy Lord's good pleasure! He will be in plenty of time! -Daily Devotional Commentary
An hour of waiting!
Yet there seems such need
To reach that spot sublime!
I long to reach them--but I long far more to trust HIS time!
"Sit still, my daughter"--
Yet the heathen die,
They perish while I stay!
I long to reach them--but I long far more to trust HIS way!
'Tis good to get,
'Tis good indeed to give!
Yet is it better still--
O'er breadth, thro' length, down length, up height, to trust HIS will! - F. M. N.
By Mrs. Charles Cowman, taken from "Streams in the Desert"
Thursday, September 13, 2007
No Secrets
"Commit yor way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your rightousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." Psalm 27:5-6
We are trying to enter into a relationship with God, and as is true with any relationship, we must bring a vulnerable openness to it. We cannot partition off from Him certain frustrations or disappointments, our happy plans for the evening or our schedule for the workweek ahead. We are our ideas and thoughts, hopes, ambitions, feelings and dreams. To begin a relationship and allow it to deepen, each of these aspects of our life must not be hidden, but be ready to be presented to God.
This open sense of sharing is another way of saying that we truly trust God. We are not afraid to rely upon Him. We do so willingly, with no hidden secrets. With such tust, we till the soil of our soul for devotion.
By Judith Lechman, taken from "Women's Devotional Bible 2"
We are trying to enter into a relationship with God, and as is true with any relationship, we must bring a vulnerable openness to it. We cannot partition off from Him certain frustrations or disappointments, our happy plans for the evening or our schedule for the workweek ahead. We are our ideas and thoughts, hopes, ambitions, feelings and dreams. To begin a relationship and allow it to deepen, each of these aspects of our life must not be hidden, but be ready to be presented to God.
This open sense of sharing is another way of saying that we truly trust God. We are not afraid to rely upon Him. We do so willingly, with no hidden secrets. With such tust, we till the soil of our soul for devotion.
By Judith Lechman, taken from "Women's Devotional Bible 2"
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Shadow of a Great Rock
"The Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve." Isaiah 14:3
To-day, beneath Thy chastening eye,
I crave alone for peace and rest;
Submissive in Thy hand to lie,
And feel that it is best.
J. G. WHITTIER
O Lord, who art as the Shadow of a great Rock in a weary land, who beholdest Thy weak creatures weary of labor, weary of pleasure, weary of hope deferred, weary of self; in Thine abundant compassion, and unutterable tenderness, bring us, I pray Thee, unto Thy rest. Amen.
CHRISTINA G. ROSSETTI
Grant to me above all things that can be desired, to rest in Thee, and in Thee to have my heart at peace. Thou art the true peace of the heart, Thou its only rest; out of Thee all things are hard and restless. In this very peace, that is, in Thee, the One Chiefest Eternal Good, I will sleep and rest. Amen.
THOMAS À KEMPIS
Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord; and our heart is restless until it rests in Thee.
ST. AUGUSTINE
Compiled by Mary W. Tileston, "Daily Strength for Daily Needs"
To-day, beneath Thy chastening eye,
I crave alone for peace and rest;
Submissive in Thy hand to lie,
And feel that it is best.
J. G. WHITTIER
O Lord, who art as the Shadow of a great Rock in a weary land, who beholdest Thy weak creatures weary of labor, weary of pleasure, weary of hope deferred, weary of self; in Thine abundant compassion, and unutterable tenderness, bring us, I pray Thee, unto Thy rest. Amen.
CHRISTINA G. ROSSETTI
Grant to me above all things that can be desired, to rest in Thee, and in Thee to have my heart at peace. Thou art the true peace of the heart, Thou its only rest; out of Thee all things are hard and restless. In this very peace, that is, in Thee, the One Chiefest Eternal Good, I will sleep and rest. Amen.
THOMAS À KEMPIS
Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord; and our heart is restless until it rests in Thee.
ST. AUGUSTINE
Compiled by Mary W. Tileston, "Daily Strength for Daily Needs"
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Be the First One
"Get along with each other, and forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, forgive that person because the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13
Jesus says, "Use your head, but don't lower your standards." You be the one who interrupts that vicious cycle of paying one another back. Don't get on the roller coaster of resentment and anger. You be the one who says, "Yes, he mistreted me, but I am going to be like Christ. I'll be the one who says, 'Forgive them, Father, they don't know what they're doing.'"
By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"
Jesus says, "Use your head, but don't lower your standards." You be the one who interrupts that vicious cycle of paying one another back. Don't get on the roller coaster of resentment and anger. You be the one who says, "Yes, he mistreted me, but I am going to be like Christ. I'll be the one who says, 'Forgive them, Father, they don't know what they're doing.'"
By Max Lucado, taken from "Walking with the Savior"
Monday, September 10, 2007
Near to Christ
"And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment." Revelation 4:4
These representatives of the saints in heaven are said to be around the throne. In the passage in Canticles, where Solomon sings of the King sitting at his table, some render it "a round table." From this, some expositors, I think, without straining the text, have said, "There is an equality among the saints." That idea is conveyed by the equal nearness of the four and twenty elders. The condition of glorified spirits in heaven is that of nearness to Christ, clear vision of His glory, constant access to His court, and familiar fellowship with His person: nor is there any difference in this respect between one saint and another, but all the people of God, apostles, martyrs, ministers, or private and obscure Christians, shall all be seated near the throne, where they shall for ever gaze upon their exalted Lord, and be satisfied with His love. They shall all be near to Christ, all ravished with His love, all eating and drinking at the same table with Him, all equally beloved as His favourites and friends even if not all equally rewarded as servants.
Let believers on earth imitate the saints in heaven in their nearness to Christ. Let us on earth be as the elders are in heaven, sitting around the throne. May Christ be the object of our thoughts, the centre of our lives. How can we endure to live at such a distance from our Beloved? Lord Jesu, draw us nearer to Thyself. Say unto us, "Abide in Me, and I in you"; and permit us to sing, "His left hand is under my head, and His right hand doth embrace me."
O lift me higher, nearer Thee,
And as I rise more pure and meet,
O let my soul's humility
Make me lie lower at Thy feet;
Less trusting self, the more I prove
The blessed comfort of Thy love.
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon, taken from "Morning and Evening"
These representatives of the saints in heaven are said to be around the throne. In the passage in Canticles, where Solomon sings of the King sitting at his table, some render it "a round table." From this, some expositors, I think, without straining the text, have said, "There is an equality among the saints." That idea is conveyed by the equal nearness of the four and twenty elders. The condition of glorified spirits in heaven is that of nearness to Christ, clear vision of His glory, constant access to His court, and familiar fellowship with His person: nor is there any difference in this respect between one saint and another, but all the people of God, apostles, martyrs, ministers, or private and obscure Christians, shall all be seated near the throne, where they shall for ever gaze upon their exalted Lord, and be satisfied with His love. They shall all be near to Christ, all ravished with His love, all eating and drinking at the same table with Him, all equally beloved as His favourites and friends even if not all equally rewarded as servants.
Let believers on earth imitate the saints in heaven in their nearness to Christ. Let us on earth be as the elders are in heaven, sitting around the throne. May Christ be the object of our thoughts, the centre of our lives. How can we endure to live at such a distance from our Beloved? Lord Jesu, draw us nearer to Thyself. Say unto us, "Abide in Me, and I in you"; and permit us to sing, "His left hand is under my head, and His right hand doth embrace me."
O lift me higher, nearer Thee,
And as I rise more pure and meet,
O let my soul's humility
Make me lie lower at Thy feet;
Less trusting self, the more I prove
The blessed comfort of Thy love.
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon, taken from "Morning and Evening"
Friday, September 07, 2007
Psalm 121
"I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip - He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you - the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm - He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever more."
Thursday, September 06, 2007
The Calm Spirit of Christ
Today is moving day. There will be plenty of reason for fretting and stewing, impatience, and turbulence. I am one who seems to feel that unless I do things or unless they are done my way, they will not be done right, and the day will disintegrate. But I have been watching the sea--very turbulent this morning because of a tropical storm hundreds of miles away--and I remember Him whose word was enough to calm it.
Speak that word to me today, dear Lord: peace. Let your calm spirit, through the many potentially rough minutes of this day, in every task, say to my soul, Be still. Even this day's chaos, with all its clutter and exertion, will be ordered by your quiet power if my heart is subject to your word of peace. Thank You, Lord.
By Elisabeth Elliot
Speak that word to me today, dear Lord: peace. Let your calm spirit, through the many potentially rough minutes of this day, in every task, say to my soul, Be still. Even this day's chaos, with all its clutter and exertion, will be ordered by your quiet power if my heart is subject to your word of peace. Thank You, Lord.
By Elisabeth Elliot
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Shadow of a Great Rock
"The Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve." Isaiah 14:3.
Today, beneath Thy chastening eye,
I crave alone for peace and rest;
Submissive in Thy hand to lie,
And feel that it is best.
J. G. WHITTIER
O Lord, who art as the Shadow of a great Rock in a weary land, who beholdest Thy weak creatures weary of labor, weary of pleasure, weary of hope deferred, weary of self; in Thine abundant compassion, and unutterable tenderness, bring us, I pray Thee, unto Thy rest. Amen.
CHRISTINA G. ROSSETTI
Grant to me above all things that can be desired, to rest in Thee, and in Thee to have my heart at peace. Thou art the true peace of the heart, Thou its only rest; out of Thee all things are hard and restless. In this very peace, that is, in Thee, the One Chiefest Eternal Good, I will sleep and rest. Amen.
THOMAS À KEMPIS
Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord; and our heart is restless until it rests in Thee.
ST. AUGUSTINE
Compiled by Mary W. Tileston, "Daily Strength for Daily Needs"
Today, beneath Thy chastening eye,
I crave alone for peace and rest;
Submissive in Thy hand to lie,
And feel that it is best.
J. G. WHITTIER
O Lord, who art as the Shadow of a great Rock in a weary land, who beholdest Thy weak creatures weary of labor, weary of pleasure, weary of hope deferred, weary of self; in Thine abundant compassion, and unutterable tenderness, bring us, I pray Thee, unto Thy rest. Amen.
CHRISTINA G. ROSSETTI
Grant to me above all things that can be desired, to rest in Thee, and in Thee to have my heart at peace. Thou art the true peace of the heart, Thou its only rest; out of Thee all things are hard and restless. In this very peace, that is, in Thee, the One Chiefest Eternal Good, I will sleep and rest. Amen.
THOMAS À KEMPIS
Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord; and our heart is restless until it rests in Thee.
ST. AUGUSTINE
Compiled by Mary W. Tileston, "Daily Strength for Daily Needs"
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
"Little Ones"
"A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time." Isaiah 60:22
We have already said there are no little things with God. He cares about every little thing as though it were not at all small. And if there are no small things with God, surely there are no small, insignificant people with Him.
Not long ago, I was with an outstandingly capable and successful woman just minutes before she walked like a trusting child into a personal relationship with her new Saviour, Jesus Christ. But before she made the glorious transaction, she looked at me and asked: "How do you expect me to believe God cares about one bit of protoplasm like me?"
Just one or two words about Jesus as He hung on the Cross and her heart melted. She already wanted Him. Her need was great. As was mine. But when one is for the first time aware of god as a Person who loves, one is at the same moment struck with the appalling thought that a god who could create the macrocosm and the microcosm could possibly care about one "little one."
Only a look inside the heart that broke on Calvary can convince our hearts. But one look does convince us. And here is a "blue stone" whose every facet holds a promise that He not only cares, but cares enough to make good, creative use of each one of us. Especially the "little ones" among us.
God has had a marvelous plan for your life from the moment He conceived you in His mind. A plan especially for you. One no-one else can complete. Only you. Here is a promise to lay hold of with great expectation. " . . . I the Lord will hasten it in his time." Knowing Him, we know He is never late nor early. And He does have a plan for each one of our lives, if those lives are in Christ.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in him.
By Eugenia Price, taken from "Share My Pleasant Stones"
We have already said there are no little things with God. He cares about every little thing as though it were not at all small. And if there are no small things with God, surely there are no small, insignificant people with Him.
Not long ago, I was with an outstandingly capable and successful woman just minutes before she walked like a trusting child into a personal relationship with her new Saviour, Jesus Christ. But before she made the glorious transaction, she looked at me and asked: "How do you expect me to believe God cares about one bit of protoplasm like me?"
Just one or two words about Jesus as He hung on the Cross and her heart melted. She already wanted Him. Her need was great. As was mine. But when one is for the first time aware of god as a Person who loves, one is at the same moment struck with the appalling thought that a god who could create the macrocosm and the microcosm could possibly care about one "little one."
Only a look inside the heart that broke on Calvary can convince our hearts. But one look does convince us. And here is a "blue stone" whose every facet holds a promise that He not only cares, but cares enough to make good, creative use of each one of us. Especially the "little ones" among us.
God has had a marvelous plan for your life from the moment He conceived you in His mind. A plan especially for you. One no-one else can complete. Only you. Here is a promise to lay hold of with great expectation. " . . . I the Lord will hasten it in his time." Knowing Him, we know He is never late nor early. And He does have a plan for each one of our lives, if those lives are in Christ.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in him.
By Eugenia Price, taken from "Share My Pleasant Stones"
Monday, September 03, 2007
I Am Hidden With Christ
"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." Psalm 32:7
The Nazis wielded terror over all who were not like them in race, religion or rule. During World War II, the primary hate targets were the Jews; their power stripped, property confiscated, people confined - and killed - in concentration camps. In fact, the Nazi-dominated Holland, the ten Boom family had carefully hidden thousands of Jews in their "hiding place" - the secret place behind their watch shop.
Then on February 28, 1944, that which was most feared happened - the hiding place was discovered! The Gestapo arrested the ten Boom family. Their crime? Hiding Jews. Their punishment? Immediate transport to a concentration camp.
As the two sisters waited in line to be searched, Corrie ten Boom asked god if he would keep the bible that was tucked inside her clothing hidden from view. "Dear God, you have given me this precious Book, you have kept it hidden through checkpoints and inspections." The woman in front of Corrie was searched three times. Beloved sister Betsie standing behind her was also searched. Miraculously, the officer never touched Corrie. Her Bible now had a hiding place in a German concentration camp!
Filth, disease, beating and rape became a part of their struggle for survival. But as Corrie read the Bible's truth's, she knew his word would keep hatred from her heart. "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119:11)
Is there a hiding place for you? A place of healing for your damaged emotions? When you have been treated harshly, you can be free of hatred. Because he hides his truth in you, you are protected from wrong thoughts and wrong choices. The adversary of your life has no power to trap you . . . as long as you stay hidden in the shelter of God's wings where you are safe from emotional destruction, hidden from emotional ruin.
By June Hunt, taken from "Women's Devotional Bible 2"
The Nazis wielded terror over all who were not like them in race, religion or rule. During World War II, the primary hate targets were the Jews; their power stripped, property confiscated, people confined - and killed - in concentration camps. In fact, the Nazi-dominated Holland, the ten Boom family had carefully hidden thousands of Jews in their "hiding place" - the secret place behind their watch shop.
Then on February 28, 1944, that which was most feared happened - the hiding place was discovered! The Gestapo arrested the ten Boom family. Their crime? Hiding Jews. Their punishment? Immediate transport to a concentration camp.
As the two sisters waited in line to be searched, Corrie ten Boom asked god if he would keep the bible that was tucked inside her clothing hidden from view. "Dear God, you have given me this precious Book, you have kept it hidden through checkpoints and inspections." The woman in front of Corrie was searched three times. Beloved sister Betsie standing behind her was also searched. Miraculously, the officer never touched Corrie. Her Bible now had a hiding place in a German concentration camp!
Filth, disease, beating and rape became a part of their struggle for survival. But as Corrie read the Bible's truth's, she knew his word would keep hatred from her heart. "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119:11)
Is there a hiding place for you? A place of healing for your damaged emotions? When you have been treated harshly, you can be free of hatred. Because he hides his truth in you, you are protected from wrong thoughts and wrong choices. The adversary of your life has no power to trap you . . . as long as you stay hidden in the shelter of God's wings where you are safe from emotional destruction, hidden from emotional ruin.
By June Hunt, taken from "Women's Devotional Bible 2"
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