The Blessing Of Fellowship

I am so thankful for the blessing of being able to attend church every Sunday... I often think of those in countries where Christians are persecuted for thier faith and belief in Jesus...

I don't know if anyone reading this know's about the Esh family... a couple years back the family, all but two of the children were killed by in a car accident by anther driver who had fallen asleep and gone across the median... There is a C.D. that is available through Beside The Still Waters in Crokett, Kentucky of thier funeral sermon. Anyway, the minister talks about a story he once read about a Captain of a ship that was on his death bed at sea. He called for his next in command to pray for him, but the man said that he was not a praying man... the Captain went on to ask the next of his men... he too had the same response as the first.  The captain requested that they find someone on the ship that would have a Bible and to bring him to his bedside.  After some search there was found the cooks son who had a Bible. The lad was brought to the Captain and he asked the boy to read to him some words of comfort.  The boy being young and nervous thought about the Captains request and went on to tell him what his mother had said to him as he and his father boarded the ship. The kind mother read the words out of Isaiah 53:5... reflecting on the phrophecy of Jesus' coming. 

"But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquites;

the chastisement of our peace was upon Him;

and with His stripes we are healed" 

The young lad read this to the captain and told him that his mother had told him to put his own name in  this verse as follows all the days of his life...  "But He was wounded for Willie Plat's transgressions, He was bruised for Willie Platts iniquites; the chastisement of Willie Plat's peace was upon Him; and with His stripe was Willie Plat healed."  This moved the Captain to where he requested the lad to put his name in that place... and so the story ends.

Today if you don't know Him won't you take the time and fill your name in... He is able to do all this and more...

Until next time,

Jean

Jesus of Nazereth

This Jesus of Nazareth, without money or arms, conquered more millions than Alexander; Caesar; Muhammad, and Napoleon; without human science and learning.

He shed more light on things human and divine than all the philosophers and scholars combined.

Without the eloquence from humanistic schooling, He spoke such words of love as were never spoken before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet.

Without writing a single line, He set more pens in motion, and furnished more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and songs of praise than the whole army of great men in both ancient and modern times.

The Person of Christ
The American Tract Society, 1913
(Adapted)

Blessings In Disguise

"Two Hearts That Beat As One", by Jean Smith

Blessings In Disguise

by, Denise A Dewald

So many blessings are disguised

By pain and trials sore-

We cannot see the end result

Or what God has in store.

For often through our suffering

We come to know God's love,

And feel the peace He showers down

From Heaven up above.

And did you ever stop to think

Of how much you've grown?

For in all that you have gone through,

You were never alone.

God held your hand along the way

Though you were not aware-

He helped you lift each heavy cross,

And every burden bear.

Just take some time to reflect

On what He's brought you through-

He'll never leave you on your own,

No matter what you do.

So thank Him now on bended knee,

Your blessings in disguise;

Your character's been strengthened, friend-

More than you realize.

What a beautiful poem...

What a reflection of a heart that has been won by the Lord...

What a testimony to His great love and mercy...

What a gentle, loving Lord I serve...

Until next time,

Jean

"Unfair! Unfair!"

Life is full of unfairness don't you think... full of uncertainties and sadness...
Life is also filled with joys unheard of if we allow the unfortunate circumstances to take hold of our minds and our life...
This was one of my devotions this morning and it just fit in this blog...
May we look up in hopes of a new, bright day... one that we will be in Heaven with our Saviour... one that there will be not whiners or scab pickers...
God is in Heaven... all is well!

"Unfair! Unfair!"

"He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth... neither was any deceit in his mouth." Isaiah 53:7, 9

"Christians who understand the true meaning of Christ's cross will never whine about being treated unfairly. Whether or not they are given fair treatment will never enter their heads. They know they have been called to follow Christ, and certainly the Savior did not receive anything approaching fair treatment from mankind.
In language the word unfair seems altogether innocent, but it indicates an inner attitude that has no place among Christians.
The man who cries "Unfair!" is not a victorious man. He is inwardly defeated and in self-defense appeals to the referee to note that he has been fouled. This gives him an alibi when they carry him out on a stretcher and saves his face while his bruises heal.
It is a certainty that Christians will suffer wrongs; but if they take them in good spirit and without complaint, they have conquered their enemy. They remember that Jesus was reviled—but any thought of His shouting for fair play simply cannot be entertained by the reverent heart!

"Lord, remind me to think of Your example whenever I am tempted to complain that "life is unfair." You suffered the greatest injustice of all; yet You remained silent."  Tozer

Look to Him who loves you so much... He will never leave nor forsake thee...

Until next time,

Jean

This was my devotion the other morning... It never ceases to amaze me how the Lord works in my life... He is always so quick to give me the tender, as well as chastening words that I need to get me on.  May this bless you as it blessed me...

...a few word's from Charles Spergeon

“The Lord our God hath shewed us his glory.”  Deuteronomy 5:24
"God’s great design in all his works is the manifestation of his own glory. Any aim less than this were unworthy of himself. But how shall the glory of God be manifested to such fallen creatures as we are? Man’s eye is not single, he has ever a side glance towards his own honour, has too high an estimate of his own powers, and so is not qualified to behold the glory of the Lord. It is clear, then, that self must stand out of the way, that there may be room for God to be exalted; and this is the reason why he bringeth his people ofttimes into straits and difficulties, that, being made conscious of their own folly and weakness, they may be fitted to behold the majesty of God when he comes forth to work their deliverance. He whose life is one even and smooth path, will see but little of the glory of the Lord, for he has few occasions of self-emptying, and hence, but little fitness for being filled with the revelation of God. They who navigate little streams and shallow creeks, know but little of the God of tempests; but they who “do business in great waters,” these see his “wonders in the deep.” Among the huge Atlantic-waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah, because we feel the littleness of man. Thank God, then, if you have been led by a rough road: it is this which has given you your experience of God’s greatness and lovingkindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained by no other means: your trials have been the cleft of the rock in which Jehovah has set you, as he did his servant Moses, that you might behold his glory as it passed by. Praise God that you have not been left to the darkness and ignorance which continued prosperity might have involved, but that in the great fight of affliction, you have been capacitated for the outshinings of his glory in his wonderful dealings with you."

Until next time,
Jean

One Of God's Perfect Creation... the Hummingbird

This is one of my devotions I get each day... I thought this one particularly interesting and wanted to share... I love hummingbirds, although my favorite bird is the common Garden (House) Wren...


     One of the most fascinating and unique creatures of all creation is the common hummingbird. What is the probability that all of the unique characteristics of the ruby-throated hummingbird, each of which are needed for its survival, developed by some step-by-step evolutionary process? A few of the hummingbird’s incredible abilities are listed below:

1. No other bird can fly forward, backward, upside-down, and straight up like a helicopter.
2. The use of a special fringed tongue to sweep insects out from the inside of flowers. It cannot survive on nectar alone but also needs the protein from eating insects.Without its special tongue it could never catch the insects.
3. The ability to fly 500 miles nonstop over the gulf waters to Mexico. The hummingbird can conserve its strength for long flights by taking a prolonged rest just prior to the flight and making every motion count in flight.
4. The ability to go into a "torpid" condition at night by almost shutting down its metabolism. Because of its incredibly high energy activity, gram for gram, the hummingbird has the greatest energy output of any warm-blooded animal. Yet at night it uses only about one-fifth of its normal energy.
   

The hummingbird is truly a marvel of God’s creativity.

Character Sketches
Volume 2, pages 42-48



Seek the LORD, and his strength:
seek his face evermore.
Remember his marvellous works that he hath done;
his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
Psalm 105:4-5

God's Saving Grace

Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Genesis 6:8

"Grace is the goodness of God confronting human demerit. So, grace is what God is—unchanging, infinite, eternal!

This throws light on God's dealings with men and women throughout the Old Testament dispensations and history. It is certainly the truth, and a proper concept for us to hold, that no one was ever saved, no one is now saved, and no one will ever be saved except by the grace of God.

Before Moses came with the Law, men were saved only by grace. During the time of Moses, no one was saved except by grace. After Moses, before the cross, and after the cross, and during all of the dispensations, anywhere, anytime, no one was ever saved by anything but the grace of God!

We can say this with assurance because God dealt in grace with mankind looking forward to the Incarnation and the atoning death of Christ.

If God had not always operated in grace, He would have swept the sinning human race away. This, then, is the good news: God is gracious all the time, and when His grace becomes operative through our faith in Jesus Christ, then there is the new birth from above!"  Tozer

"Thank You, Father, that by Your grace—that is, the death and resurrection of Your Son Jesus Christ—we are saved and restored to a right relationship with You."  Tozer

This was one of my morning devotions today... I thought on how God's grace has always been suffienceint for me... when I fail, He is always there to graciously pick me up... carry me throught the storms and trials of life... He is faithful...

Until next time,

Jean

Prayer is a Souls Sincere Desire

"Tell me I pray thee wherein thy great strength lieth."  Jdg_16:6

"Where lies the secret strength of faith? It lies in the food it feeds on; for faith studies what the promise is-an emanation of divine grace, an overflowing of the great heart of God; and faith says, "My God could not have given this promise, except from love and grace; therefore it is quite certain his Word will be fulfilled."

Then faith thinketh, "Who gave this promise?" It considereth not so much its greatness, as, "Who is the author of it?" She remembers that it is God who cannot lie-God omnipotent, God immutable; and therefore concludeth that the promise must be fulfilled; and forward she advances in this firm conviction. She remembereth, why the promise was given,-namely, for God’s glory, and she feels perfectly sure that God’s glory is safe, that he will never stain his own escutcheon, nor mar the lustre of his own crown; and therefore the promise must and will stand.

Then faith also considereth the amazing work of Christ as being a clear proof of the Father’s intention to fulfil his word. "He that spared not his own Son, but freely delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"

Moreover faith looks back upon the past, for her battles have strengthened her, and her victories have given her courage. She remembers that God never has failed her; nay, that he never did once fail any of his children. She recollecteth times of great peril, when deliverance came; hours of awful need, when as her day her strength was found, and she cries, "No, I never will be led to think that he can change and leave his servant now. Hitherto the Lord hath helped me, and he will help me still." Thus faith views each promise in its connection with the promise-giver, and, because she does so, can with assurance say, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life!"  Charles Spurgeon

Prayer is the soul's sincere desire,
Unuttered or expressed,
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles in the breast...

When I lift my soul up in prayer to Him
I know He is there...

Until next time,
Jean

How Sweet The Sound of Jesus Name

This is a song we sang in church yesterday... with my hearts notes in italics...

"How Sweet The Name Of Jesus Sounds", by Mendoto-Dublin

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer's ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wonds,
And drives away his fear... And drives away his fear.

As fears rise into my soul and worries trouble my mind,
I look up into the Heaven's and I know He is by my side...

It makes the wonded spirit whole,
And calms he troubled breast;
'Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary rest... And to the weary rest.

When I am so weary from the day and it's trials, I love to hear His name,
I look to Him in all my cares and He is never far from me....

Dear Name! the Rock on which I build,
My shield and hiding place;
My never failing treasure, filled
With boundless stores of grace... With boundless stores of grace.

As I look at my life and realize He is the Rock on which I must build,
I know as I turn to Him in all things, He will be my all...

Jesus! my Shepherb, Husband, Friend,
My Prophet, Priest and King;
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept the praise I bring... Accept the praise I bring.

He is all I need... He is all you need... He supplies my every need,
Jesus is my saviour and saviour to all He would be...
if only allowed...

Weak is the effort of my heart,
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art,
I'll praise Thee as I ought... I'll praise Thee as I ought.

As the hart panteth after the water brooks,
so my soul longeth after Thee...

Till then I would Thy love proclaim
With evry fleeting breath;
And may the music of Thy name
Refresh my soul in death... Refresh my soul in death.

My hearts prayer will always be that I can glorify Your love and
Your work in my life and that even though I fail so often,
You will keep picking me up and leading the way...
Oh that my soul could fly with Thee...
Come Lord Jesus, come...

Until next time,
Jean

Speech

 "I...did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

†

So send I you
To take to souls in bondage
The Word of Truth that sets the captive free,
To break the bonds of sin, to loose death's fetters
So send I you, to bring the lost to me.

"He said to me,

'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.'  

Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

†

So send I you
 My strength to know in weakness,
 My joy in grief, my perfect peace in pain,
 To prove My power, My grace, My promised presence-
 So send I you, eternal fruit to gain.
 

Life in General

When you look at life it's kind of like this photogragh...
... in one spot you see the beautiful, lush green fields and then directly in the distance the cold snow covered rock face...
Life is filled with beauty and well as harshness... that's what life is about...

That is why we must keep our eyes focused on things above... we cannot let ourselves get distracted by the ugliness all around us... especially the ugly people in our lives...  they are there for a reason...
some days I can't quite figure out why... but life must go on...

so on I go,
Until next time,
Jean

Our Soul's...

"But God made man in His own image and He keeps the longing after eternity and a desire after everlasting life there within the hearts of men." Tozer

Someone has said, God created man with a God shaped void, and only God can fill that void.

It is certain that we can never be fully satisfied until we have surrendered to Jesus Christ and then what peace and what a glorious hope! To know what the future holds is precious!

The words of the songwriter, Lelia Morris say it so well.

I’ll include the whole song, the 4^th stanza is especially what I have in mind.

For God so loved this sinful world,

His Son He freely gave,

That whosoever would believe

Eternal life should have.

Refrain

’Tis true, O yes, ’tis true,

God’s wonderful promise is true;

For I’ve trusted, and tested, and tried it,

And I know God’s promise is true.

I was a wayward, wand’ring child,

A slave to sin and fear,

Until this blessèd promise fell

Like music on my ear.

The “whosoever” of the Lord,

I trusted was for me,

I took Him at His gracious word;

From sin He set me free.

Eternal life, begun below,

Now fills my heart and soul.

I’ll sing His praise forevermore

Who has redeemed my soul.

Until next time,

Jean

A Hearts Earnest Prayer

I was doing my devotions last evening before bed and this was what I was blessed with... I thought how faithful the Lord is... He always knows just what I need... As David of old, try me and know me... I am nothing without Thee.  This devotion was written by Charles Spurgeon... it is my hearts cry... my soul's longing each day...

"The voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day."

Gen_3:8

"My soul, now that the cool of the day has come, retire awhile and hearken to the voice of thy God. He is always ready to speak with thee when thou art prepared to hear. If there be any slowness to commune it is not on his part, but altogether on thine own, for he stands at the door and knocks, and if his people will but open he rejoices to enter. But in what state is my heart, which is my Lord’s garden? May I venture to hope that it is well trimmed and watered, and is bringing forth fruit fit for him? If not, he will have much to reprove, but still I pray him to come unto me, for nothing can so certainly bring my heart into a right condition as the presence of the Sun of Righteousness, who brings healing in his wings. Come, therefore, O Lord, my God, my soul invites thee earnestly, and waits for thee eagerly. Come to me, O Jesus, my well-beloved, and plant fresh flowers in my garden, such as I see blooming in such perfection in thy matchless character! Come, O my Father, who art the Husbandman, and deal with me in thy tenderness and prudence! Come, O Holy Spirit, and bedew my whole nature, as the herbs are now moistened with the evening dews. O that God would speak to me. Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth! O that he would walk with me; I am ready to give up my whole heart and mind to him, and every other thought is hushed. I am only asking what he delights to give. I am sure that he will condescend to have fellowship with me, for he has given me his Holy Spirit to abide with me for ever. Sweet is the cool twilight, when every star seems like the eye of heaven, and the cool wind is as the breath of celestial love. My Father, my elder Brother, my sweet Comforter, speak now in lovingkindness, for thou hast opened mine ear and I am not rebellious." 

Charles Spurgeon

Until next time,

Jean

He Knows...

He Knows...

This was a poem a dear sister in the Lord gave to me today... she is a blessing and such a help.

He Knows
Author Unknown

He knows it all - the winding path,
The sky o'ercast and gray,
The steepness of the mountainside,
The roughness of the way.

He knows it all - the haunting fear,
The doubtings that distress,
The wond'rings and perplexities,
And all the strain and stress.

He knows it all - each troubled thought,
Each anxious wave of care,
And every burden, every grief,
Or cross that you must bear.

He know it all - your weight of woe,
Your often tear-dimmed eye,
The stabbing pain, the slow, dull ache,
And sorrow's broken cry.

He knows it all - He understands
The struggles that you face.
He knows it all!  He'll clasp your hand,
And help you win the race! 

Until next time,
Jean