My Heart Cry's...

The song goes, "If ever I need Thee, my Jesus tis now..."  God always knows when I need Him...
Here is where I come to share those personal moments... here in my secret spot... away from everyone, away from the world...
The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away... but here He gave just what I needed... as always... may each of you who read these precious words know that He led you here today as well... they are as much for you as they were for me...


"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."  1 Peter 5:7
"It is a happy way of soothing sorrow when we can feel-"HE careth for me." Christian! do not dishonour religion by always wearing a brow of care; come, cast your burden upon your Lord. You are staggering beneath a weight which your Father would not feel. What seems to you a crushing burden, would be to him but as the small dust of the balance. Nothing is so sweet as to
"Lie passive in God’s hands,
And know no will but his."
O child of suffering, be thou patient; God has not passed thee over in his providence. He who is the feeder of sparrows, will also furnish you with what you need. Sit not down in despair; hope on, hope ever. Take up the arms of faith against a sea of trouble, and your opposition shall yet end your distresses. There is One who careth for you. His eye is fixed on you, his heart beats with pity for your woe, and his hand omnipotent shall yet bring you the needed help. The darkest cloud shall scatter itself in showers of mercy. The blackest gloom shall give place to the morning. He, if thou art one of his family, will bind up thy wounds, and heal thy broken heart. Doubt not his grace because of thy tribulation, but believe that he loveth thee as much in seasons of trouble as in times of happiness. What a serene and quiet life might you lead if you would leave providing to the God of providence! With a little oil in the cruse, and a handful of meal in the barrel, Elijah outlived the famine, and you will do the same. If God cares for you, why need you care too? Can you trust him for your soul, and not for your body? He has never refused to bear your burdens, he has never fainted under their weight. Come, then, soul! have done with fretful care, and leave all thy concerns in the hand of a gracious God."  Charles Spurgeon

Until next time,
Jean

Mercy: A Boundless Sea

 

Tozer was a wise writer... and well used by The Lord...
How often do we just tire of those that we see around us that know they should do better... those that know the truth but want to live for thier own flesh a bit longer... how frustrated to we get with those people when we see them sin openly and don't have a care in the world...
Do we even sometimes think it's not fair...
God is fair... God is righteous... God is never wrong...

We each need to remember as the wise prophet Jeremiah wrote ages ago... 'but most righteous acts are but filthy wrags in His sight...'

God, who is rich in mercy... even when we were dead in sins. Ephesians 2:4-5

"A human being is never really aware of the great boundless sea of the mercy of God until by faith he comes across the threshold of the kingdom of God and recognizes it and identifies it!
My father was sixty years old when he bowed before Jesus Christ and was born again. That was a near lifetime in which he had sinned and lied and cursed. But to him, the mercy of God that took him to heaven was no greater than the mercy of God that had endured and kept him for sixty years.
I recall the story of an ancient rabbi who consented to take a weary old traveler into his house for a night of rest. In conversation, the rabbi discovered the visitor was almost 100 years old and a confirmed atheist. Infuriated, the rabbi arose, opened the door and ordered the man out into the night.
Then, sitting down by his candle and Old Testament, it seemed he heard a voice, God's voice: "I have endured that sinner for almost a century. Could you not endure him for a night?" The rabbi ran out and overtaking the old man, brought him back to the hospitality of his home for the night." Tozer

"Father, You are gloriously patient with mankind. I praise You for that, and I pray that You will prod Your believing children to go out and find those who are on the cusp of belief." Tozer

Until next time,
Jean

A Handy Prayer List

I was reading out of "Family Life" an Anabaptist publication and on the back cover of the current issue was something that struck my heart...
How often do we forget to pray for others... not our loved ones and friends, but 'other's' as well as the loved ones & friends? We are all guilty of it.. we get busy and 'forget' about friend Jane's heartbreak or brother John's sick wife and so on...

I thought I would share an excerpt of this wonderful reminder...

   "A grandmother had been telling a Bible story to her grandchildren.  She explained to them how Daniel had faithfully prayed to God three times a day.  'What do you think he prayed for?' she asked.
   Then she held up her left hand so all of the children could see, 'Look at my thumb and fingers, ' she said. 'They remind me of things I should pray for every day.  My thumb is nearest to me, so I start by praying for my family, the ones who are dearest and nearest to me.  I pray for my friends and neighbords too.  And I thank the Lord that He has blessed me with so many dear ones.  That is a good way to start my prayer.'
   Grandma paused, but she was still holding her hand in the air.  'Next to my thumb is my index finger,' she said.  'Years ago, my teacher used to point that finger at me in school.  Sometimes our preachers shake this finger in church when they are warning us about dangers. So when I think of that finger, I pray for the teachers and preachers and the parents who have a great responsibility to guide those in their care.'
   The grandchildren were listening with interest. 'My middle finger is the longest one,' Grandma continued.  'It stands above the others.  This reminds me to pray for the rulers of our country and for all those in authority.
   The next finger is the weakest one. It makes me think of the poor and the sick and helpless. I ask the Lord to supply their needs and to strengthen them in body and soul.  And I also pray that if there is any way I can be a help to these people. I want to do my part.'
   With that, the grandmother came at last to her little finger.  'This one stands for me,'
 she said.  'So I finish my prayer by praying for myself and all the things I need." 


... thought provoking,
Until next time,
Jean 

Out In The Sea

I'm floating along in a little boat in the middle of the great big sea...
I can't see land on any side... I don't have any oars to paddle... I'm drifting and being tossed about... and I don't know where I'll end up...
Out in the far off sky it is dark... I don't know which direction anything is going because I forget which way the sun sets and rises... just drifting
There is a mist in the air but I can't tell if it's coming from the water or if it is starting to rain... I have no shelter from the storm and the boat is becoming tumultuous...

Peter was out in the boat when the storm was raging... He saw something coming walking on the water... he realized it was the Lord...
Jesus called him out onto the water... he stepped out... in faith...
Do you believe this really happened? Have you ever been by the seashore and stepped out... did you walk on the water?
Peter stayed afloat while he kept his eyes on Jesus... then suddenly he turned away and looked at the storm... the raging sea... the impossibility of it all... and he started to sink immediately...
"Master, master, I perish... save me!" Peter cried out!

Jesus simply held him up and said, "Oh ye of little faith..."
How it must have grieved Him... here Peter was walking on the water... it should have been exhilarating... but he caved in, shall we say.

How do we stop from caving in?
How do we keep our eyes on Jesus when the storms are bashing so hard and all the walls are crashing in?
How do we keep the faith...

"Master, master, I perish... save me!"
Until next time,
Jean

More Than a Name

 

It's amazing how the Lord will direct us in our life as we allow... or leave us to wander aimlessly as we try to direct our own...

Have you ever been just so distraught... not knowing what to expect... not knowing which direction to go...

He really does have all the answers... no He doesn't just speak right out loud to us like He did to Moses... today for Christians He talks to us through His Word... the Bible... through others like our ministers, family members, friends... and even through a stranger in the grocery store line...

 

This morning He spoke to me here in my faithful "Morning With Tozer"...

I love to share with all of you His wonderful works in my life... I pray that this will be a testimony to Him... to His ever faithful love for me... even when I stumble and fall... He is always there to pick me up and carry me through...

 

Enjoy His precious promises and love...

 

Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 2 Timothy 2:19

 

"There have always been professing Christians who argue and insist: "I am all right—I worship in the name of Jesus." They seem to believe that worship of God is based on a formula. They seem to think there is a kind of magic in saying the name of Jesus!

 

Study the Bible carefully with the help of the Holy Spirit and you will find that the name and the nature of Jesus are one. It is not enough to know how to spell Jesus' name!

 

If we have come to be like Him in nature, if we have come to the place of being able to ask in accordance with His will, He will give us the good things we desire and need. (emphasis minie)

 

We worship God as the result of a new birth from above in which God has been pleased to give us more than a name.

 

He has given us a nature transformed, and Peter expresses that truth in this way: "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Peter 1:4)." Tozer

 

Until next time,

Jean

Getting God in Focus

 

But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God. Acts 7:55

Today is Thanksgiving and we do have so much to be thankful for...
This was one of my daily devotions today...
The highlighted verse below was what spoke out to me most.  I thought on it and yes we can get so distracted with the things of the world... with the daily cares that are just a part of each of our lives. We need to remember that our Lord Jesus never walks away from us, He never forgets about us and He most certainly never gets distracted away from taking care of me and you.
We are the ones that wander away and get distracted. We are the ones that put Him on the back burner and think we'll get back to 'that' once this job or that responsibility is over with... 
What really happens is we get lazy and lax in our Christian walk.
But Hallelujah He is faithful and is waiting for our return...

If you have wandered away... if you are lonely and weary from the fight...  If you are standing there looking around thinking, "How did I get to this point?", it's not too late, He is there with out stretched arms ready and waiting for you to return...

The Lord loves a broken and contrite heart... reach out... He loves you.

"While many are busy trying to set forth satisfactory definitions of the word faith, we do well to simply consider that believing is directing the heart's attention to Jesus!
It is lifting the mind to "behold the Lamb of God," and never ceasing that beholding for the rest of our lives. At first this may be difficult, but it becomes easier as we look steadily at His wondrous Person, quietly and without strain.
Distractions may hinder, but once the heart is committed to Him, the attention will return again and rest upon Him like a wandering bird coming back to its window.
I would emphasize this one great volitional act which establishes the heart intention to gaze forever upon Jesus. God takes this intention for our choice and makes what allowances He must for the thousand distractions which beset us in this evil world. So, faith is a redirecting of our sight, getting God in our focus, and when we lift our inward eyes upon God, we are sure to meet friendly eyes gazing back at us!" Tozer

"Lord, this morning I pray that the inward eyes of my soul will put You in clear focus throughout this day." Tozer

Today if you will hear His voice harden not your hearts...
Until next time,
Jean

Looking Beyond

"Still Moment", by Jean Smith

An elderly woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.  One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.  Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do. . .
  After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.


'I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.'

The old woman smiled, 'Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?
That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them.  For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.  Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.'


Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding..   You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

Until next time,
Jean

I am ceaselessly amazed at the faithfulness of my Heavenly Father... when the days seem long and I am weary from the battle... He leads me beside the still waters... He annoints my head with oil...He calms my troubled soul with His precious Word and reminds me...He tends to my heart cries ever so faithfully... Oh how sad it must be to not know His love... to not know His tender mercies...Call unto Him, and He will be there...  "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."   Php 4:6-7
    "There are times when all the promises and doctrines of the Bible are of no avail, unless a gracious hand shall apply them to us. We are thirsty, but too faint to crawl to the water- brook. When a soldier is wounded in battle it is of little use for him to know that there are those at the hospital who can bind up his wounds, and medicines there to ease all the pains which he now suffers: what he needs is to be carried thither, and to have the remedies applied. It is thus with our souls, and to meet this need there is one, even the Spirit of truth, who takes of the things of Jesus, and applies them to us. Think not that Christ hath placed his joys on heavenly shelves that we may climb up to them for ourselves, but he draws near, and sheds his peace abroad in our hearts. O Christian, if thou art to-night labouring under deep distresses, thy Father does not give thee promises and then leave thee to draw them up from the Word like buckets from a well, but the promises he has written in the Word he will write anew on your heart. He will manifest his love to you, and by his blessed Spirit, dispel your cares and troubles. Be it known unto thee, O mourner, that it is God’s prerogative to wipe every tear from the eye of his people. The good Samaritan did not say, "Here is the wine, and here is the oil for you"; he actually poured in the oil and the wine. So Jesus not only gives you the sweet wine of the promise, but holds the golden chalice to your lips, and pours the life-blood into your mouth. The poor, sick, way-worn pilgrim is not merely strengthened to walk, but he is borne on eagles’ wings. Glorious gospel! which provides everything for the helpless, which draws nigh to us when we cannot reach after it-brings us grace before we seek for grace! Here is as much glory in the giving as in the gift. Happy people who have the Holy Ghost to bring Jesus to them."  Charles Spurgeon

Our Daily Problems

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful. 1 Corinthians 10:13

"Christian believers are wrongly taught if they believe that the Christian life is a guarantee against human trials and problems. If they believe that, they have mistaken earth for heaven and expect conditions here below which can never be realized until we reach the better world above.
There is a sense in which God makes no difference between the saint and the sinner. He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). It is strange that we rarely notice the other side of this truth: that God also visits His children with the usual problems common to all the sons of men.
If we cannot remove our problems, then we must pray for grace to endure them without murmuring. We will learn too that problems patiently endured will work for our spiritual perfecting. Think of our Lord and Savior—He was surrounded by enemies from the moment of His birth. They constituted a real and lasting problem which He simply had to endure for the period of His earthly life. He escaped it only by dying!"  Tozer

"Lord, I pray for Your strength to carry me through the problems I will be facing today. Thank You that Your Spirit is a "resident" Helper in my life." Tozer

This was one of my daily devotions a couple weeks back...
I thought how true this is... It is amazing when we think we are the only ones who are going through something. That is purely the devil that want's us to think that.  he is always looking to discourage us with the daily grind... but The Lord is true, HE is faithful, and He is just. 
He will never give us anymore than we can personally bear, and He is with us all the way... if we seek His fellowship. 
Why do we as Christians think we can just go on our own merry way, with not a thought to Him and what He want's for our lives, and then get upset because something fell apart?
We need to ask ourselves, did we seek Him in this plan? Did we look to Him for guildance?  Did we pray about the sitution?
God never leaves us, it is we who leave Him...
Just like the Isrealites of old, we are not much differnent...
We need to focus on Christ and our walk in this life with Him...
Would I take Jesus with me here or there? Would I listen to this with my Lord & Saviour? Would I say that to Him or in front of Him? 

We need to remember He is always our unseen guest... He is always there and all we do we need to do unto Him...



Oh for wisdom... seek it and ye shall find it...
Until next time,
Jean

 

Waiting on the Lord...

The Thirty-seventh Psalm has always been very precious to me. The Lord has taken me there many times in moments of distress... Sunday at church our minister concluded the sermon with the reading of this psalm... once again it was such a blessing... here are a few verses that especially touch my heart...

A Psalm of David
Psalm 37...

"Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 1

 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb." 2

...we see so much evil in this world it is hard to understand how the wicked can prosper and move forward, yet His word does tell us that He sends rain for the righteous and the wicked...
as we pass through the valleys in life we can't see to the mountain tops...
hidden high up in the clouds... but they are there...
we've been on them before... soaring high like the eagle, mounted on His wings...
gliding... eyes closed, simply trusting... there I am with Him...always safe in His arms...

 "Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 3

  Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. "4

...trusting needs to come naturally... a swallow glides on the wind without anticipation...
gliding along peacefully and without seemingly a care...
as we allow our faith to be built upon the Rock and make His perfect ways the foundation of our lives,
then all else will fall into place... trust... like a butterfly that drifts through the open fields... it lands...
it drinks the nectar that He provided in that blossom... the wild flowers as they sway in the breeze...
lighted upon... sun beams glistening in the early morning dew... so our faith has to be this pure and rich...
pure and undefiled must be our hearts cries unto Him who hears each whisper...
to Him who treasures each tear... to Him that answers each cry...

 "Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 5
 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. 6
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way,
 because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass." 7

It is so hard to remember when we are in the midst of the storm that we need to commit it
all unto Him... He alone knows our hearts... our fears and torments...
He alone can calm them as we lift them to Him... casting all our care upon Him,
 for He careth for you...
As we commit each care to Him...  trust Him with it... He will see it through...
So often we just want things when we want them and take matters into our own hands...
not letting Him do His good and perfect work...
He whispers, "My child, I will never leave nor forsake thee... trust me to care for you...
I have chosen you and I will see you through...I will never give you more than you
can bear... this is my promise..."
Why is it so difficult to leave it at the foot of the cross?

 "Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 8
For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth." 9

...waiting... waiting... waiting...
His time is not our time, nor His ways our ways... that's what can make the wait so hard...
waiting for His work to show form, waiting with eyes closed in faith and trust...
waiting for Him will always prove worth while; trusting in Him will never be in vain...
...wait on the Lord and He shall direct our paths...

Until next time,
Jean

 

 

Meekness

"Meekness is the ability to react wisely when provoked." John Coblentz

What a challenge wouldn't you say?  I know that when I heard him say this, I was marvelled to discouragement! Not in a bad way really, just humbly, I guess that would be the best way to describe how I felt.  I just had to think, "Wow, I fail at that!"  But I know we all fail and fall short, but this one hit home p-retty hard! 

We all know that Moses was considered to be the meekest man on to ever live... John Coblentz gave a suggestion to do a study of the life of Moses through the books of Exodus through Numbers. As I thought on what I know off the top of my head there were two particular instances that I could think of that Moses gave way to his temper.

The first was of course when he killed the Egyptian guard while still in Egypt and the second was when God told him to speak to the rock and he smote it.  Every other instance that I could think of he prayed for those ever complaining Isrealites. 

Do I pray for my enemies? Do I look at them with a heart of love and compassion even when they are being down right mean to me?

That was the example that Moses gave... He was provoked from every side, yet he trusted in God.
What a challenge for me...

Until next time,
Jean

"I Need Thee Precious Jesus"

We sang this song in church on Sunday... it is one of my favorites...

No matter how sad and lonely I may feel, I know this song reaches His ears...

I know He treasures up each of my tears...

I know He is ever there for me...

 

He is there for you as well...

If you only call out to Him...

He will answer, He will come, and He will care...

 

 

"I Need Thee Precious Jesus" author unknown

 

 

I need Thee, precious Jesus,

For I am very poor;

A stranger and a pilgrim,

I have have no earthy store;

I need the love of Jesus

To cheer me on my way,

To guild my doubting footsteps,

To be my strength and stay.

 

I need Thee, precious Jesus,

I need a friend like Thee,

A friend to soothe and pity,

A friend to care for me;

I need the heart of Jesus,

To feel each anxious care,

To tell my every trial,

And all my sorrows share.

 

I need Thee, precious Jesus,

I need Thee day by day,

To fill me with Thy fullness,

To lead me on my way;

 I need Thy Holy Spirit,

To teach me what I am,

To show me more of Jesus,

And point me to the Lamb.

 

I need Thee, precious Jesus,

And hope to see Thee soon,

Encircled in the rainbow,

and seated on Thy throne,

There, with Thy blood bought children

My joy shall ever be,

To sing Thy praises Jesus,

And gaze my Lord, on Thee.

 

Until next time,

Jean

 

 

 



Heart Conditions...

“And I will give you an heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26

Charles Spurgeon is such an inspiration to me.  I love reading his devotions and sharing them with my readers when I feel led.  This was one of my devotion's  yesterday and I just had to share.  Gods word talks about when we are so distressed and know not what to pray, that the Holy Spirit will intercede with moaning's... our Heavenly Father knows our every need and He is there each day as we seek Him...
I pray you will be as blessed by this as I...

"A heart of flesh is known by its tenderness concerning sin. To have indulged a foul imagination, or to have allowed a wild desire to tarry even for a moment, is quite enough to make a heart of flesh grieve before the Lord. The heart of stone calls a great iniquity nothing, but not so the heart of flesh.

“If to the right or left I stray,
That moment, Lord, reprove;
And let me weep my life away,
For having grieved thy love”

The heart of flesh is tender of God’s will. My Lord Will-be-will is a great blusterer, and it is hard to subject him to God’s will; but when the heart of flesh is given, the will quivers like an aspen leaf in every breath of heaven, and bows like an osier in every breeze of God’s Spirit.

The natural will is cold, hard iron, which is not to be hammered into form, but the renewed will, like molten metal, is soon molded by the hand of grace. In the fleshy heart there is a tenderness of the affections. The hard heart does not love the Redeemer, but the renewed heart burns with affection towards him. The hard heart is selfish and coldly demands, “Why should I weep for sin? Why should I love the Lord?” But the heart of flesh says; “Lord, thou knowest that I love thee; help me to love thee more!”

Many are the privileges of this renewed heart; “‘Tis here the Spirit dwells, ‘tis here that Jesus rests.” It is fitted to receive every spiritual blessing, and every blessing comes to it. It is prepared to yield every heavenly fruit to the honor and praise of God, and therefore the Lord delights in it. A tender heart is the best defense against sin, and the best preparation for heaven. A renewed heart stands on its watchtower looking for the coming of the Lord Jesus. Have you this heart of flesh?"
                                 Charles Spurgeon

Until next time,
Jean

Forgiven!

"Do you believe that your sins are forgiven, and that Christ has made a full atonement for them? Then what a joyful Christian you ought to be! How you should live above the common trials and troubles of the world! Since sin is forgiven, can it matter what happens to you now? Luther said, “Smite, Lord, smite, for my sin is forgiven; if thou hast but forgiven me, smite as hard as thou wilt”; and in a similar spirit you may say, “Send sickness, poverty, losses, crosses, persecution, what thou wilt, thou hast forgiven me, and my soul is glad.” Christian, if thou art thus saved, whilst thou art glad, be grateful and loving. Cling to that cross which took thy sin away; serve thou him who served thee." Charles Spurgeon

We all like a bit of attention, whether we want to admit it or not.  We like to be esteemed and respected whether we are a he or a she. It feels good to the inner person when people say nice things about us... compliment something we  have done... acknowledge a good deed...  we are human and appreciation goes a long way. 

The opposite is true as well...   No one wants to be looked down on or spoken ill of... this not only hurts a persons feelings, but it can destroy relationships to the point of no return... we are human and hurts can take their toll...

But what do we do with unforgivness? How do we respond when we have put forth as much effort as we can and we are not forgiven by 'man'?  Charles Spurgeon puts it quite perfectly in the above quote I believe... When we know we have done the best we can do, with or without our failings... we must move forward in the Love of the Lord and not look back.  We must look to Him for His perfect guidance and trust that He will see us through these times.  God alone knows each our hearts and God alone will be the ultimate and final judge.  We will stand alone before Him and give account for each thing we have done, not our brother or sister, me alone.  We shall hear one of two things when that terrible day comes, but we will hear one... 'enter into to the joy of the Lord' or 'depart from me ye worker of iniquity'...

Be glad you can be forgiven... trust in Him and He will see you through... be glad in Him and His perfect love...

“Thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work.”  Psalms 92:4
Until next time,
Jean








     

"Our Inner Sights", Tozer

This was one of my devotions this morning...

It never ceases to amaze me how the Lord works in my life...
As I seek Him, He will be there... as I ask for spiritual wisdom and discernment, He is there to answer my hearts cry... day after day.

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling. Ephesians 1:18

Revival and blessing come to the church when we stop looking at a picture of God and look at God Himself! Revival comes when, no longer satisfied to know about a God in history, we meet the conditions of finding Him in living, personal experience.
Conversely, revival cannot come if we are far removed from God. It cannot come if, instead of hearing His voice, we are content with only an echo!
Put those deficiencies together and you have the reason why we are dissatisfied and empty. You have the reason why there is so little of vivid, vibrant joy in the things of God.
I hold fast to the opinion that our God is ever trying to reveal Himself to us. There is no way for sinful men and women to find their way into God's presence unless He reveals Himself and appears to us. I do not mean that God is trying to appear to our physical eyesight. Rather, He is trying to appear to the eye of our soul through an inner consciousness. Never apologize for your inner eyes! They are the real eyes for discerning the nature of issues important to God." Tozer

"Lord, there are so many difficult but important decisions to make in life. Sharpen the eyes of my inner soul to be able to discern Your presence and guidance in my life." Tozer

Until next time,
Jean

The Lord Reigneth

"My Bleeding Heart" by, Jean Smith

The Lords day is my day of relief... I know that I can go to church and be fed of from His eternal word and that the Holy Spirit will minister to my weary soul...

Here are a few words from Charles Spurgeon... one of my daily devotional today

"The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice."
- Psa_97:1
"Causes for disquietude there are none so long as this blessed sentence is true. On earth the Lord’s power as readily controls the rage of the wicked as the rage of the sea; his love as easily refreshes the poor with mercy as the earth with showers. Majesty gleams in flashes of fire amid the tempest’s horrors, and the glory of the Lord is seen in its grandeur in the fall of empires, and the crash of thrones. In all our conflicts and tribulations, we may behold the hand of the divine King.
"God is God; he sees and hears
All our troubles, all our tears.
Soul, forget not, ‘mid thy pains,
God o’er all for ever reigns."
In hell, evil spirits own, with misery, his undoubted supremacy. When permitted to roam abroad, it is with a chain at their heel; the bit is in the mouth of behemoth, and the hook in the jaws of leviathan. Death’s darts are under the Lord’s lock, and the grave’s prisons have divine power as their warder. The terrible vengeance of the Judge of all the earth makes fiends cower down and tremble, even as dogs in the kennel fear the hunter’s whip.
"Fear not death, nor Satan’s thrusts,
God defends who in him trusts;
Soul, remember, in thy pains,
God o’er all for ever reigns."
In heaven none doubt the sovereignty of the King Eternal, but all fall on their faces to do him homage. Angels are his courtiers, the redeemed his favourites, and all delight to serve him day and night. May we soon reach the city of the great King!
"For this life’s long night of sadness
He will give us peace and gladness.
Soul, remember, in thy pains,
God o’er all for ever reigns."  Charles Spurgeon.

The Lord is ever faithful to those who trust in Him.  I long to do His will in my life that it may one that tells all around my deep adoration for Him...
Although I know I have failed so miserably in this, I trust that I can keep pressing on, trying to do His perfect will in my life...
I long to do good and be what I know He has designed me to be... Christian woman, wife and mother.
How do I accomplish all that is required of me and yet thrive in my spiritual life the way I long to?  This is my everyday challenge. When all the have to's are racing around me, and then my deepest yearning to have quiet study in His word... as my friend often says... this too shall pass...

quiet reflections of my heart,
Until next time,
Jean

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness." Matthew 5:6

"There is no way that any of us can talk ourselves into getting a "longing for God." Spiritual desire and hunger must come from God Himself! It cannot be whipped up."  Tozer

This was a quote from one of my daily devotions today that struck me. As I thought on this I became so aware of how blessed that I am to have that desire deep within my soul.  So often I have felt as that hart on the mountainside panting after the water brook, my soul has longed after Him.
I remember as a youth, before I would have been a professing Christian yet still knowing and fearing God, although in a different way... I had a longing for Him... I just didn't know how to get to Him.   I remember as a small child talking to Him in the storms. So childish was I when I would ask Him questions and ask Him to answer in one lightening and two claps of thunder... then I would know the deep secrets I was asking of Him... but He always seemed to answer.  He never dismisses a child... one looking to Him for reasurance.   I remember driving after my grandmother died and wondering why... I was angry with Him back then...
...but after a long journey He brought my soul home to Him...
Now my life is a training ground... one where there are valleys and plains along with the mountain tops...  It seems like it's been a long time since I drifted in the clouds... but I know they are there... waiting for me.

"But it is a different story when we consider the spiritual life. No one but God through His Spirit is able to stir up spiritual desire among us. Those who have accepted a common state of spiritual living and have no deep desire for Him will never be stirred by human means." Tozer

Until next time,
Jean

"Christ, the Blessed One", Tozer

Beautiful words to the Christian's ears...
Beautiful words to those that love the Lord...
Here was a devotion that I received awhile ago...

 

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me... For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:29-30

"I feel great sorrow for those who read the Sermon on the Mount and then conclude that Jesus was providing a word picture of men and women comprising the human race. In this world, we find nothing approaching the virtues of which Jesus spoke in the Beatitudes.

Instead of poverty of spirit, we find the rankest kind of pride. Instead of mourners, we find pleasure seekers.

Instead of meekness, we find only arrogance, and instead of hunger after righteousness, we hear men saying, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing" (Revelation 3:17).

Instead of mercy, we find cruelty. Instead of purity of heart, we encounter corrupt imaginings. Instead of peacemakers, we find men quarrelsome and resentful, fighting back with every weapon at their command.

Jesus said He came to release us from our sad heritage of sin. Blessed is the sinner who finds that Christ's words are the Truth itself, that He is the Blessed One who came from above to confer blessedness upon mankind!

Thank You, Father, for Your open-armed invitation for Your children to cast all of their worldly cares upon You. Lord, teach me how to trust You more deeply."  Tozer.

Intercessory Prayer

This is one of my devotion's that I received several months ago, but I thought it was very fitting for life as I am living today... 

We need to be constantly in this state of mind for those that we love... for those in our family... for that homeless person as they stand on the street corner...

Where are our thoughts during the day... Let them be in this, for there can we do a small work for His glory... 

Until next time, 

Jean

 

Intercessory Prayer

I pray for them . . . which thou hast given me.
John 1 7:9

When our congregation meets for midweek prayer meeting, someone often requests prayer for ”each other." I am sure this request is given with noble intentions, but I often think this is a rather impersonal way to pray for the brotherhood. Granted, we might not pray for each person in our prayer group by name because there are certain rules of conduct we should follow, such as considering our allotted prayer time and allowing others in our group to have enough time for prayer, also. How then should we pray for "each other"? In John 17 we see Christ praying to the Father for his disciples (and for us). His prayer provides guidelines we do well to follow.

In John 17:15, Christ prayed that His followers would be kept from evil. Every Christian faces temptations to sin. We must intercede for others, so that they can also be kept from the results of those temptations. In verse 21, He prayed that we would have unity, as He had with the Father. Since disunity hinders our walk of faith and our witness to the unsaved, we must pray for unity among the brotherhood.

Other New Testament passages give us more guidelines for praying for each other. Ephesians 5:20 tells us to give thanks always for all things, and we certainly ought to thank God for each of our brothers and sisters in Christ. James 5:14 tells us to pray for each other’s healing: physical, spiritual, and emotional.

Finally, James 1:5 tells us to pray for wisdom, and this is a request we should make not only for ourselves, but for each member of the brotherhood.

Marcus Yoder


Bible Reference: John 17

Sorrow Upon Sorrow...

"Wealth... good health, good humor, and good sense, no one is poor with this defense."
                                              Helen Steiner Rice

I often think of the life of Job... he was a man that was tried to the depth of his soul, yet he never forsook God and never charged Him as doing anything wrong... that is faith.  There have been many Job's since him and I think that the Lord allowed his story to be told in His book so that all of us may look to it as an example as to how we should behave during the trials in our life.  Faith and trust... the two go hand in hand... and when we have the Lord Jesus dwelling in our hearts and active in our lives, we need not worry for tomorrow... He takes care of the sparrow and He will surely take care of me.

The above quote states that good health is part of wealth, and I do believe that this is true, but I believe that poverty and illness can also we wealth in a life devoted to Him... most of us reading this probably don't know what 'true' poverty is... folks who went through the depression would have a pretty good idea I do believe... but for the most part we all have it pretty good.  Yes we may run late on some bills occasionally and can't do a vacation every year or get the latest and greatest... but we are far from living in an ally in a cardboard box.  Illness too, if allowed will draw us closer to Him... it can bring a peace knowing He is in control of it all, and will do what he knows is best...

...what is wealth...Wealth to me is a life that is filled with the Holy Spirit dwelling within... a life devoted to serving Jesus in all I do... a walk that is so close to the Father that I can feel His protecting arms... wealth has nothing to do with the checkbook, it has everything to do with the soul...
Life is filled with both sorrow's and joy's and we are taught that 'in all things give Him praise'...  What more can we want when He is filling our everyday with love.

Until next time,
Jean