"Were You There, Charlie?

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

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

                   "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?"  Job  38:4

     What a man does with the Bible depends on what he does with the first sentence in the Bible.  The Bible opens with a simple statement,  "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."  If a man believes that, he can believe everything else which follows.  If he rejects that statement, he will also deny every other cardinal truth in the Scriptures.  Here in Genesis 1:1 infidelity begins, and here in Genesis 1:1 faith comes to rest.  There is no better answer ever given for the universe.  Compared to this simple assertion, all the theories of men are stupidly foolish.

     In a court of law, the judge will accept only the testimony of actual eye witnesses.  Hearsay testimony is immediately thrown out.  Only those who know firsthand and were there can bear reliable testimony.  The same is true of creation.  God asks job the question,  "Where were you when I made the worlds?"  Two men - Joe and Charlie - were arguing about Genesis 1:1.  Joe said he believed the record of creation just as it was written.  Charlie was an infidel, and went to great length in giving his own theory of how the world began and then developed from a primordial cell through reptiles, monkeys, and up to man.  When he was all through, Joe looked at him and said,  "Were you there, Charlie?"  It was a good question.  "Of course, I was not there,"  said Charlie.  Joe had the answer.  He said,  "Well, God was there.  He was the only One there and I'll take the word of the 'eye witness' rather than the guesses of those who go only by 'they say.'"  "Were you there, Charlie?"  What presumption for the creature to question the word of the Creator.

"Bread For Each Day"

REMEMBER THAT YOU LIVE IN......

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

REMEMBER THAT YOU LIVE IN a fallen world: an abnormal world tainted by sin.  Much frustration and failure result from your seeking perfection in this life.  There is nothing perfect in this world except Me.  That is why closeness to Me satisfies deep yearnings and fills you with Joy.

I have planted longing for perfection in every human heart.  This is a good desire, which I alone can fulfill. But most people seek this fulfillment in other people and earthly pleasures or achievements.  Thus they create idols, before which they bow down.  I will have no other gods before Me!  Make Me the deepest desire of your heart.  Let Me fulfill your yearning for perfection.

"Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace In His Presence"

Needed: Self-Examination

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 God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are hid from thee."  Psalm 69:5

      We are usually so busy mentally congratulating ourselves for some supposed knowledge, achievement, or talent, that we seem to have little time for true, humble self-examination.  The criticism of others is often unkind; but if we are intelligent and study what they say, it may be extremely revealing as to actual flaws in our character and testimony.  Not only should we examine ourselves, and listen to the comments of our critics, but we should let the Word and Spirit of God search our hearts daily so that we will know where the "old leaven" is, that must be "purged out."  If you think you are usually right about everything, and are quite somebody, read God's stinging commentary on how wrong you are as it is recorded in 1 Corinthians  8:2,  "If any man thinketh that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know."

     The Ladies Home Journal printed this story one time as a jest, but it really was quite revealing.  "A rather pompous-looking deacon was endeavoring to impress upon a class of boys the importance of living the Christian life.  'Why do people call me a Christian?' the dignitary asked, standing very erect and beaming down upon his scholars with pride.  There was a moment's pause, and then one of the youngsters said,  'Maybe it's because they don't know you.'"

     If you truly examine yourself in the light of God's Word, you will come to the humbling conclusion that there is actually no such person as you secretly (and pridefully) suppose yourself to be.  The only thing truly lovely in us as Christians is the indwelling Holy Spirit.  May our prayer therefore be,  "O, thou Spirit Divine, all my nature refine, till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me."

"Bread For Each Day"

I AM INVOLVED....

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

I AM INVOLVED in each moment of your life.  I have carefully mapped out every inch of your journey through this day, even though much of it may feel haphazard.  Because the world is in a fallen condition, things always seem to be unraveling around the edges.  Expect to find trouble in this day.  At the same time, trust that My way is perfect, even in the midst of such messy imperfection.

Stay conscious of me as you go through this day, remembering that I never leave your side.  Let the Holy Spirit guide you step by step, protecting you from unnecessary trials and equipping you to get through whatever must be endured.  As you trudge through the sludge of this fallen world, keep your mind in heavenly places with Me.  Thus the Light of My Presence shines on you, giving you Peace and Joy that circumstances cannot touch.

"Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace In His Presence"

"The Bread Of Life"

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee n 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

                                                   "I am the bread of life."  John  6:48

     Jesus did not say,  "I am the 'filet mignon' of life,"  or  "I am the 'caviar' of life,"  for these delicate foods only the favored few can enjoy.  How thankful we are that He is bread - the poor man's staff of life.  There are many foods which are available only to a few, because of cost or because of their seasonable nature or scarcity.  But bread is the universal food of mankind.  It is found on every table - rich and poor - king and peasant.  whether it is made of wheat or corn or rye, oats or rice, it is bread, the cheapest and most nourishing food.  The word "bread" is defined by Webster as "food made from ground grain; food in general."  Bread represents all the elements of food needed to sustain life.

     Jesus is the "bread of life."  In Him are all the elements needed for a healthy, growing spiritual life.  He is within reach of all, His blessings are free.  The manna fell from heaven - all the Israelite needed to do was gather and eat it.  It was good for young and old.  It was a complete food.

     Charles H. Spurgeon has aptly said,  "I bless God that He gave us not a classical gospel, or a mathematical gospel, or a metaphysical gospel, or a gospel confined to scholars or men of genius, but a poor man's gospel, a ploughman's gospel, for that is the kind of Gospel we can live and die upon.  It is to us not the luxury of refinement but the staple bread of life.  We want not fine words when the heart is heavy, nor deep problems when facing eternity.  Jesus manifest in the flesh is our bread of life, Jesus bleeding on the cross a substitute for sinners is our soul's drink.  This is the Gospel for babes, and strong men want no more."  Yes, we thank God, Jesus did not say,  "I am the cake" - but rather,  "I am the bread of life."  It is free to all - good for all - sufficient for all!

"Bread For Each Day"

RELAX IN MY HEALING.....

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

RELAX IN MY HEALING, holy Presence.  Be still, while I transform your heart and mind.  Let go of cares and worries, so that you can receive My Peace.  Cease striving, and know that I am God.

Do not be like Pharisees who  multiplied regulations, creating their own form of "godliness,"  They got so wrapped up in their own rules that they lost sight of Me.  Even today, man-made rules about how to live the Christian life enslave many people.  Their focus is on their performance, rather than on Me.

It is through knowing Me intimately that you become like Me.  This requires spending time alone with Me.  Let go, relax, be still, and know that I am God.

"Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace In His Presence"

Just A Little Longer

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

  "For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry."  Hebrews  10:37

     We are told that in the Greek the words translated "For yet a little while," are more dramatic than the English indicates.  They might well be rendered,  "how little, how little!"

     When the billows of trouble roll across the horizon, let this thought cheer you, Christian:  the One for whom we are looking will soon put in His appearance to dispel the shadows and usher in the bliss of His "pleasures for evermore."  Verily,  "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning!"  Let this truth purify your thought, energize your effort, rejoice your spirit, and comfort your heart.  Just a few more tears, a few more disappointments, and the King of Love will come.

     Dr. Guiness in speaking on he imminent return of our Lord once used the following illustration;  He said that he had heard the singing of Handel's  "Messiah"  with great delight on the previous evening and he commented that if someone had asked him after the performance had proceeded a couple of hours, how much longer it would still continue, he would have answered,  "Oh, about five minutes."  "But,"  the individual might have objected,  "how can that be?  It is still in full swing and has been going on for two hours.  I can see no reason why it should not continue for two hours longer.  How do you know, sir, that it will be over in five minutes?"  "Then,"  said Dr. Guiness,  "I should have answered him,  'because I have the score . . . and I know it will soon be over for they are singing the last chorus.'"

     Yes, it is wonderful to have the "score," as it is found in the Word of God, and recognize the unmistakable "signs of the times."  Students of prophecy realize the lateness of the hour.  We cannot, and should not, fix dates, but we can say with confidence,  "The coming of the Lord draweth nigh"  (James  5:8). "Wherefore comfort one another with these words  (1 Thessalonians  4:18).

"Bread For Each Day"