"My Cup Runneth Over"

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

               ". . . . . thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."  Psalm  23:5

     To fully appreciate the expression,  "My cup runneth over,"  one must understand the oriental way of showing hospitality.  When a generous host poured for his guests, he spared nothing.  No dainty, polite "half measures" would do.  He lavishly filled each vessel to overflowing to demonstrate his hearty friendship.  It is the Good Shepherd's unstinting love for us that is emphasized by the "flooded cup" of blessing.

     Sometimes the wells where shepherds brought their sheep were very deep.  The water then had to be brought up to the surface by a rope with a leather bucket at the end.  This was let down and drawn up hand over hand, by a slow, laborious process, and the water poured into large stone cups beside the well.  If the man had a hundred sheep, he might have to draw for two hours if he allowed the flock to drink all they wanted.  Here is where the hireling shepherd displayed his heartlessness.  As soon as a poor sheep had taken just a few mouthfuls of water he would push it aside in order to save himself work.  But the good shepherd has no such disposition.  He would draw and draw and fill the watering cups to overflowing until all his thirsty sheep were completely satisfied.  So, too, God's giving to us, His children, has always been  "good measure, pressed down, and running over."

     It is interesting to note that the overflowing cup was not provided until the sheep had first been anointed and refreshed with oil.  This is true also in the Christian's life.  There is never a constant stream of overflowing joy until the heart has been surrendered to Christ and anointed by the "oil" of the Holy Spirit.

     God does not make our cup run over simply to give us the selfish joy of superabundance, but more particularly that through us the blessing might overflow to others round about us.  Is your cup running over?  It can, you know!.

"Bread For Each Day"

LEARN TO LIVE...

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

LEARN TO LIVE above your circumstances.  This requires focused time with Me, the One who overcame the world.  Trouble and distress are woven into the very fabric of this perishing world.  Only My Life in you can empower you to face this endless flow of problems with good cheer.

As you sit quietly in My Presence, I shine Peace into your troubled mind and heart.  Little by little, you are freed from earthly shackles and lifted up above your circumstances.  You gain My perspective on your life, enabling you to distinguish between what is important and what is not.  Rest in My Presence, receiving Joy that no one can take away from you.

"Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace In His Presence"

He May Come Today!

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

                                            "Be ye therefore ready also."  Luke  12:40

     The surest thing in all the world is the return of Jesus Christ to take His own unto Himself.  The time of His coming is not made known so that we may be constantly looking for Him.  The consciousness of His  "any moment return" is the greatest incentive for holiness, evangelism, revival, and soul-winning.  If you knew Jesus would come today - what would you do?  He may come today!  He is coming some day!

     A gentleman visiting a certain school gave out the information that he would give a prize to the pupil whose desk he found in the best order when he returned.  "But when will you return?" some of them asked.  "That I cannot tell,"  was the answer.  A little girl, who had been noted for her disorderly habits, announced that she meant to win the prize.  "You!"  her schoolmates jeered;  "why your desk is always out of order."  "Oh! but I mean to clean it the first of every week."  "But suppose he should come at the end of the week?" someone asked.  "Then I will clean it every morning."  "But he may come at the end of the day."  For a moment the little girl was silent.  "I know what I'll do,"  she said decidedly;  "I'll just keep it clean."  So it must be with the Lord's servants who would be ready to receive the prize of His coming.  It may be at midnight, at cock-crowing, or in the morning.  The exhortation is not  "Get ye ready,"  but "BE ye ready!"

"Bread For Each Day"

The "Healing" Word

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

                              "He sent his word, and healed them. . . ."   Psalm  107:20

     A Christian in the line of duty was once called upon to visit a man in an asylum who had severe mental hallucinations.  Recalling the story in 1 Samuel 16, how David calmed Saul in his demented moments by singing one of his precious, inspired songs to him, and conscious too of the power of the Bible upon his own soul, he decided to read from the Psalms to this one who was mentally tormented.  He found that the Word of God had a soothing and "healing" effect upon the poor fellow.  He therefore returned many times to the asylum to perform this spiritual labor of love - almost invariably with happy results. One day the superintendent, and unconverted man, said,  "Your treatment may be good, but it does no always succeed." "What makes you say that?"  asked the Christian.  "Well,"  said the other,  "in desperation last night I tried to calm the patient by your method, when he was in one of his perturbed and frantic moods, and my efforts failed completely."  The Christian was surprised.  "What portion did you read to him?"  he asked.  "Oh, I just began at the front - all about a most high and mighty king named James . . . !"  Apparently in his ignorance the attendant had read the preface to the King James Bible, which of course was not inspired. No wonder it had no effect!  Only the life-giving Word of God has attached to it the immutable promise:  "It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please"  (Isaiah  55:11).  No one can read the Scripture and remain unmoved!  The Bible's influence cannot be shaken off.  Every time it comes in contact with us it either increases our doom or draws us graciously toward Heaven!

     What effect does the Bible have upon you?

"Bread For Each Day"

YOU ARE MINE FOR ALL TIME...

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

YOU ARE MINE FOR ALL TIME - and beyond time, into eternity.  No power can deny you your inheritance in heaven.  I want you to realize how utterly secure you are!  Even if you falter as you journey through life, I will never let go of your hand.

Knowing that your future is absolutely assured can free you to live abundantly today.  I have prepared this day for you with the most tender concern and attention to detail.  Instead of approaching the day as a blank page that you need to fill up, try living it in a responsive mode:  being on the lookout for all that I am doing.  This sounds easy, but it requires a deep level of trust, based on the knowledge that My way is perfect.

"Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace In His Presence"

Taste And See

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

                                  "Oh taste and see that the Lord is good."  Psalm  34:8

     An old proverb goes:  "The proof of the pudding is in the eating thereof."  This is in perfect harmony with the teaching of the Scripture.  Only those who have personally experienced the new birth and have received Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior can talk with any authority about the reality of redemption. To all others the Gospel and the preaching of the cross is foolishness  (1 Corinthians  1:18).

     The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, neither can he receive them until spiritually enlightened.  Most the critics of the Bible have never read the Bible once, and yet they set themselves up as judges of things about which they know nothing.

     An infidel was lecturing one day on the unreasonableness of salvation just by believing on Jesus.  He then invited anyone with a question to come to the platform.  Immediately a man, who before his conversion had been a notorious drunkard in the town, stepped up.  Without asking a question he coolly and quietly peeled an orange and slowly began to eat it.  The exasperated infidel lecturer thundered out,  "Man, stop your acting foolish and tell me your question!"  The man finished his orange and looking him straight in the eye said,  "Tell me, was this orange sweet or sour?"  "How should I know?"  said the infidel.  "I never tasted it."  "Then stop criticizing the Gospel until you too have tasted it.  I have tasted it and know that it is the power of God which is able to transform a Hell-bound drunkard into a saint."  And pointing to his town's folk he concluded,  "And those can testify what it has done for me.  Don't find fault with something you never tasted.  Meeting adjourned!"

"Bread For Each Day"

SAVE YOUR BEST STRIVING FOR SEEKING MY FACE.

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

SAVE YOUR BEST STRIVING FOR SEEKING MY FACE.  I am constantly communicating with you. To find Me and hear My voice, you must seek Me above all else.  Anything that you desire more than Me becomes an idol.  When you are determined to get your own way, you blot Me out of your consciousness. Instead of single-mindedly pursuing some goal, talk with Me about it.  Let the Light of My Presence shine on this pursuit, so that you can see it from My perspective.  If the goal fits into My plans for you, I will help you reach it.  If it is contrary to My will for you, I will gradually change the desire of your heart.  Seek Me first and foremost; then the rest of your life will fall into place, piece by piece.

"Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace In His Presence"