WORSHIP ME.....

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

WORSHIP ME in the beauty of holiness.  I created beauty to declare the existence of My holy Being.  A magnificent rose, a hauntingly glorious sunset, oceanic splendor - all these things were meant to proclaim My Presence in the world.  Most people rush past these proclamations without giving them a second thought. Some people use beauty, especially feminine loveliness, to sell their products.

How precious are My children who are awed by nature's beauty; this opens them up to My holy Presence. Even before you knew Me personally, you responded to My creation with wonder.  This is a gift, and it carries responsibility with it.  Declare My glorious Being to the world.  The whole earth is full of my radiant beauty - My Glory!

"Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace In His Presence"

Confessing And Forsaking

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 that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."      Proverbs  28:13

     The uncoverted sinner lives in sin and loves it.  The born-again believer hates sin and  yet may often fall into it.  The sinner looks for sin and pursues it; while the saint is often overtaken by it even thought he tries to flee from it.  Paul admonishes us in Galatians  6:1:  " . . .  if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness."

     This is quite a different thing than wilfully living in sin.  The believer cannot "continue" in sin (Romans  6:2).  As long as we are in the body and our old nature is still with us, we live in constant danger of falling into sin.  We should not sin (1 John 2:1a), but provision has been made for us in case we do sin (1 John  2:1b).  We must be careful not to judge those who fall into sin.  Think of Noah, Abraham, David, Solomon, and Peter. There is a simple test which we may apply to determine whether it is a Christian "falling," or a sinner "planning" his sin.  How can we distinguish?  Suppose a pig is so cleverly clothed with the wool of a sheep that we cannot tell the difference.  Let both fall into the same mudhole and become besmeared with mire that you cannot tell the one from the other.  The swine will be perfectly content, and put up a loud squeal when any attempt is made to extricate him.  And when pulled out, he will go right back in.  The sheep on the other hand will cry, struggle, and bleat for help, and when delivered will never go near that slough again.  The genuineness of a man's repentance and confession of his sins is proven by his forsaking of them.

"Bread For Each Day"

COME TO ME CONTINUALLY...

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

COME TO ME CONTINUALLY.  I am meant to be the Center of your consciousness, the Anchor of your soul.  Your mind will wander from Me, but the question is how far you allow it to wander.  An anchor on a short rope lets a boat drift only slightly before the taut line tugs the boat back toward the center. Similarly, as you drift away from Me, My Spirit within you gives a tug, prompting you to return to Me.  As you become increasingly attuned to My Presence, the length of rope on your soul's Anchor is shortened. You wander only a short distance before feeling that inner tug - telling you to return to your true Center in Me.

"Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace In His Presence"

When Brooks Run Dry

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

         "And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up . . . "  1 Kings  17:7

     This wonderful story in 1 Kings 17 concerning Elijah and his experiences at the brook Cherith is rich in spiritual lessons.  Not the least of these blessings for us is the comfort it can afford when the brooks of our cherished desires also dry up, even though we have done all to be in the center of God's will!  In verse 5 of this chapter we are told that Elijah showed unquestioned obedience, for we read,  "So he went and did according to the word of the Lord:  for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan."  Yet, though his daily supply was just bread and flesh brought by the ravens and a trickle of water from a little stream, still God tested him further, for suddenly the brook dried up!  Elijah was severely tried!  Would he rebel like Jonah when the going was unpleasant, or would he rely completely on God alone!  Disappointing as the dried-up brook was, no word of complaint is recorded from the lips of God's consecrated prophet.  He was speedily rewarded for his faithful trust by being given new direction from God; even as those who wait upon the Lord today may ever be sure of Divine guidance when their way becomes so dark that human reason sees not one step ahead.  Yes, we may experience difficulties even when we are in the center of the will of God - as did Elijah - but if without murmuring we simply place our hand in His, God will reward our faithfulness with new directions, new supplies, and much blessing!

     Have you any brooks that are drying up?  Brooks of health, brooks of finance, brooks of precious loved ones and friends that have apparently vanished?  Cheer up, do not despair, turn to the Word of God for fresh help and guidance.  The strengthening "meal" and the comforting, invigorating "oil" of the Holy Spirit (1 Kings 17:16) will soon refresh your soul and more than compensate for your "dried-up brooks!"

"Bread For Each Day"

The Third Holy Temple - Are You Watching?

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


From the blog post on Biblepaedia.


https://biblepaedia.wordpress.com/2015/07/26/the-third-holy-temple-are-you-watching/

Concerning Mirrors

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

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass (mirror) the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."  2 Corinthians  3:18

     An African queen had never seen her own reflection and was made to believe she was a very beautiful woman.  Then a trader came to the community to barter with the natives, and some of the articles of trade were mirrors.  The queen, eager to see herself for the first time, was given one of the best and clearest. When she looked at her image, she saw how ugly she really was, instead of being beautiful as she had imagined.  Enraged, she dashed the mirror in pieces and expelled the trader from her country.

     How foolish we say, but it is no more foolish than that which thousands of educated, refined people do today.  Because the Bible reveals their ugliness and sin, they seek to destroy the Bible.  But for those who accept God's verdict and portrait of themselves, the mirror of the Word reflects the image of another Person. As we look at Him we are transformed and WE BECOME MIRRORS reflecting His image.  Notice our verse for today.  Beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord we are "changed into the same image."  When God looks at us, He expects, if we are clean mirrors, to see the image of Jesus in us.

     The world also expect to see Christ in us.  They cannot see Him directly, but only indirectly a they behold Him in us.

     You have all seen a mirror placed before a church organist so that he can see the director and the audience behind him.  His back is turned to them, yet he can look at them in the mirror.  In like manner the world cannot see Christ, for they have their backs turned on Him.  The only way they can behold Jesus is by seeking His reflection in us.

     A broken piece of glass can sparkle like a diamond if turned to the sun in the right position.  The same is true of our broken lives.

"Bread For Each Day"

The Longest Day

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

                                      "And there shall be no night there . . . "  Revelation 22:5

     How long is a day?  That depends upon where you live.  In New York it is said that the longest day lasts approximately fifteen hours; at Montreal, Canada, it is sixteen hours; in London, England, it is sixteen and one-half hours; at Hamburg, Germany, it is seventeen hours; at Stockholm, Sweden, it is eighteen and one-half hours; and in certain spots in Russia it is nineteen hours.  At Faroe, Finland, there have been days where the inhabitants enjoyed twenty-two hours of sunlight.  Even farther north, however, in Warzburg, Norway, and at Spitzburgen, the days have been known to last from two to three and one-half months!  These are long periods of sunlight indeed, yet they are relatively short and insignificant in comparison to the day predicted in Revelation 22:5.  God tells us that in the capital city of the New Earth - in the final Heaven - day will last FOREVER, for "there is no night there."

     James H. McConkey tells of a ship caught in a fierce storm on the Great Lake.  All night long the passengers were tossed to and fro by the tempest, which jeopardized their lives.  In the morning, however, they found a peaceful harbor.  The captain testified later that during the long night, while they were being beaten and tossed, the one thing which kept them from sinking in despair was the lights of home shining brightly through the darkness and the storm!  So too, the Christian is encouraged as he fixes his eye upon the "Pearly White City" just ahead.  He realizes that earth's shadows will not always last.  There is a terminus to our pilgrimage which is as bright as it is beautiful.  After the fearful night of sin will come God's eternal morning!  After the drab existence of earth, the rainbow glory of His presence!  "Sunrise with Jesus for eternity!" - oh, what will it mean to be there!

"Bread For Each Day"

REST IN MY PRESENCE WHEN....

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

REST IN MY PRESENCE WHEN you need refreshment.  Resting is not necessarily idleness, as people often perceive it.  When you relax in My company, you are demonstrating trust in Me.  Trust is a rich word, laden with meaning and direction for your life.  I want you to lean on me, trust, and be confident in Me. When you lean on Me for support, I delight in your trusting confidence.

Many people turn away from Me when they are exhausted.  They associate Me with duty and diligence, so they try to hide from My Presence when they need a break from work.  How this saddens Me!  As I spoke through My prophet Isaiah:  In returning to Me and resting in Me you shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be your strength.

"Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace In His Presence"

A Prayer As I Grow Older

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

     O Lord, Thou knowest I am growing older!  I realize it also.  Keep me from closing my eyes to the fact.  Keep me from becoming a pest, a self-appointed sage with the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.  Keep me from the temptation of trying to straighten out everybody's affairs.  Make me thoughtful - but not moody, helpful but not bossy.  With my vast store of wisdom it seems a pity not to use it all - but Lord, Thou knowest I don't want to lose all my friends by boring them with the past.

     Keep my mind free from the recital and repetition of past experiences and endless details.  Seal my lips about my rheumatism and gout.  My aches and pains are unceasing and rehearsing them is becoming sweeter day by day.  I do not ask for improved memory, but for less cocksureness about the memory of others.  Teach me to admit that sometimes I am mistaken.  Keep me reasonably sweet; I do not care to be a saint (some of them are so hard to get along with).  Make me sweeter and mellower as my age progresses.  Let me never grow old, only older.  May it be said of me,  "Though our outward man perish, the inward man is renewed day by day"  (2 Corinthians  4:16)

                                        "A sour old person is the crowning work of the devil."

Author unknown

BRING ME ALL YOUR FEELINGS....

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

BRING ME ALL YOUR FEELINGS, even the ones you wish you didn't have.  Fear and anxiety still plague you.  Feelings per se are not sinful, but they can be temptation to sin.  Blazing missiles of fear fly at you day and night; these attacks from the evil one come at you relentlessly.  Use your shield of faith to extinguish those flaming arrows.  Affirm your trust in Me, regardless of how you feel.  If you persist, your feelings will eventually fall in line with your faith.

Do not hide from your fear or pretend it isn't there.  Anxiety that you hide in the recesses of your heart will give birth to fear of fear:  a monstrous stepchild.  Bring your anxieties out into the Light of My Presence, where we can deal with them together.  Concentrate on trusting Me, and fearfulness will gradually lose its foothold within you.

"Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace In His Presence"

"Listen To The Echoes"

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

                             ". . . the sounding again of the mountains."  Ezekiel  7:7

     We considered it a wonderful discovery when Edison invented the "talking machine," as the phonograph was first called.  Today we have "platters and tapes," on which we record any audible sound, and we can hear it come back to us again.  But God's tape machine is much older.  It is the echo.  Do you remember when a as child you were entranced by certain places where the echo came back to you clear and loud? You stood on the porch and yelled:  "Hello!"  and the distant woods sent back the echo,  "Hello!"  Ezekiel too had been intrigued by the echoes of the hills and calls it  "the sounding again of the mountains."

     The echo always repeats only what it hears; it is the record which never dies, for we are told that sound waves continue forever, though our ears cannot hear them.

     Paul tell us about another kind of echo, when he says,  "Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap"  (Galatians  6:7).  Or listen to the echo in 2 Corinthians  5:10:  "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."  All we do has an echo which will be played back at the end of the road, as an incontrovertible record of our past.

     Echoes are hard to stop.  Only God can stop them and unless He does, eternal echoes will become a veritable hell, for eternity will be the echo of time.  The lost in Hell will suffer the torment of the eternal echoes of their wicked deeds, thoughts, and words.  But God can stop the echoes, and will for all who put their trust in Christ. The promise is,  "I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more"  (Jeremiah  31:34).

"Bread For Each Day"

Just A Minute Too Late

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

                      "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came."  Matthew  25:10

     Ten virgins knew the bridegroom was coming.  Five of them were prepared, while the five foolish virgins were not ready; they had not expected him so soon.  Great was their loss when the bridegroom suddenly came and left them outside.  They had good intention, but failed to act in time.  They had no excuse.  So many an opportunity is lost by not being ready.

     It was the first week in June and I knew my bees would swarm on one of those warm days.  I did not have a hive box ready for this eventuality.  I sincerely intended to take a half-hour some day and nail together some brood frame with foundation, as the new home for the coming swarm.  "I'll do it this evening,"  I said to myself.  When I returned from the office I saw the swarm had emerged and was hanging on a branch in the apple tree.  Frantically I ran to the barn to quickly assemble the parts of the new hive:  nailing ten frames together and inserting the sheets of wax foundation.  Just as I finished and was putting the cover on, I heard a telltale roar and saw the swarm disintegrating and flying away to parts unknown.  Before I could place the hive, get a step-ladder to cut down the branch on which they had clustered, they were gone - forever.  Frustrated I stood and murmured,  "There goes fifty pounds of honey."  It was too late!  Immediately the Scripture came to mind,  "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came."

     Jesus Christ is coming again - it may be at any moment.  What remorse there will be for those who were warned again and again but stopped short of preparing themselves.  I waited just a little too long, and lost my bees.  That is trivial; but think of the loss for those who procrastinate and wait to prepare to meet God - until - just a moment too late!  "Be ye ready" therefore!

"Bread For Each Day"

COME AWAY WITH ME....

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

COME AWAY WITH ME for a while.  The world, with its nonstop demands, can be put on hold.  Most people put Me on hold, rationalizing that someday they will find time to focus on Me.  But the longer people push Me into the background of their lives, the harder it is for them to find Me.

You live among people who glorify busyness; they have made time a tyrant that controls their lives.  Even those who know Me as Savior tend to march to the tempo of the world.  They have bought into the illusion that more is always better: more meetings, more programs, more activity.

I have called you to follow Me on a solitary path, making time alone with Me your highest priority and deepest Joy.  It is a pathway largely unappreciated and often despised.  However, you have chosen the better thing, which will never be taken away from you.  

"Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace In His Presence"

Anxiety Forbidden

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

                          "Take therefore no thought for the morrow. . . "  Matthew  6:34

     Worry is not only a sin against God; it is a sin against ourselves.  Worry is a slow form of suicide, for it poisons the system and shortens life.

     Many years ago in the Chicago Daily News there appeared an article by the world-renowned physician, Dr. Osler, in which he made some wise observations concerning worry.  He pointed out that ocean liners are built in such a fashion that the captain, by pressing a button, can lower steel doors in the hold of the ship to divide it into watertight compartments.  Then, even if the hull is pierced in a disaster, only a small portion of the boat can be flooded.  In this way the ship can be kept afloat even though it has a gaping hole in its side. "So,"  said Dr. Osler,  "in the voyage of life we should learn how to make doors come down and shut out the yesterdays with all their errors and failures.  We should learn also how to lower another door to shut out the unborn tomorrows so that we can live for this day alone.  As each of us moves into the next bulkhead we should close the doors that will shut out both the past and future."

     The expression,  "Take no thought,"  in Matthew 6, literally means "do not worry!"  Jesus did not mean that we are to completely disregard the things that lie ahead in this life, but He did underscore that fact that we are not to be overanxious or too deeply concerned about tomorrow.  We should not waste our time and energy in needless worry, for "sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof"!  Jesus assures us that the primary necessities of life will always be provided for those who are in the center of God's will and who put first things FIRST!

     Remember, anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its troubles, but it does rob today of its strength!

"Bread For Each Day"

I AM NEARER......

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 NEARER than you think, richly present in all your moments.  You are connected to Me by Lovebonds that nothing can sever.  However, you may sometimes feel alone, because your union with Me is invisible.  Ask Me to open your eyes, so that you can find Me everywhere.  The more aware you are of My Presence, the safer you feel.  This is not some sort of escape from reality; it is tuning in to ultimate reality.  I am far more Real than the world you can see, hear, and touch.  Faith is the confirmation of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality, perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses.

"Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace In His Presence"

Magnificent Creation

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

One of the most amazing videos you'll see about the Lord's beauty.  Turn on your speakers.  Click the link below. It's six minutes long, but we all have six minutes to see and remember His Magnificent Creation!.

http://www.andiesisle.com/magnificent.html

I AM CREATING...

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 CREATING something new in your; a bubbling spring of Joy that spills over into others' lives.  Do not mistake this Joy for your own or try to take credit for it in any way.  Instead, watch in delight as My Spirit flows through you to bless others.  Let yourself become a reservoir of the Spirit's fruit.

Your part is to live close to me, open to all tha tI am doing in you.  Don't try to control the streaming of My Spriit through you.  Just keep focusing on Me as we walk through this day together.  Enjoy My Presence, which permeates you with Love, Joy, and Peace.

"Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace In His Presence"

Chocolate Cake

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

                             ". . .  all things wok together for good. . . . "  Romans  8:28

     It was my privilege for several years to work with Rev. Wendell P. Loveless when we were both at the Moody Bible Institute station, WMBI, Chicago.  I recall how he used to tell about the delicious cake which Mrs. Loveless often baked for him.  He said,  "My wife can make the best chocolate cake of anyone I know.  I thought one day that I would go into the kitchen to see what wonderful ingredients she put into the batter.  First she sifted out some flour - this did not appeal to me at all, for it was dry and unappetizing.  Then she put in some sour milk - I certainly would not have wanted to partake of that by itself, for it would have turned my stomach.  Then to make matters worse, she threw into the whole untasty mess of ingredients a raw egg!  By this time I was not too sure whether I liked chocolate cake or not.  I left just as she was popping it into to the oven.  To my surprise - that evening her 'masterpiece' was as delicious as any I had ever had before!  I saw in the whole thing a parable.  In this life we often experience many dry stretches (like the flour) which are tasteless and uninviting; we also have sour experiences (like the milk); and even a few raw deals (like the egg), but after we have gone through the furnace of affliction (the oven), praise God - reverently speaking - it will all be chocolate cake over there!"

     I have never forgotten that illustration, for it was certainly Scriptural.  Each thing as it comes may seem undesirable and uninviting, but when it is mixed together with the love and providence of God it works for our eternal good.  In that assurance may we continue courageously onward with our eyes fixed on Jesus, and with our wills resigned to His precious leading.  As Christians we may rest assured that the words of old are comfortingly true:  "God in love averts all evil, or otherwise it turns it to our profit!"

"Bread For Each Day"

The Greatest Artist Paints Daily

"Have you not known?  Have you not heard?  The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary."
                                                                                                Isaiah  40:28
     Peter the Great ruled from a palace filled with some of the most exquisite works of art produced in the world up to that time.  Yet, when he pondered a sunrise, he wondered how men could be so foolish not to rise every morning to behold one of the most glorious sights in the universe.

     "They delight," he said, "in gazing on a picture, the trifling work of a mortal, and at the same time neglect one painted by the hand of the Deity Himself.  For my part, I am for making my life as long as I can and therefore sleep as little as possible."

     Peter the Great's observation tells us something about his general outlook on life. Not only did he know true beauty when he beheld it, but he believed that rising early every day to drink the beauty of God's marvelous work of art would actually add days to his life.  That concept is not so far-fetched if we consider what psychologists have told us about relieving stress.  You can alleviate stress by getting up earlier and spending some quiet time enjoying a sunrise!

     Chicago produce dealer,  John Cooper Smith, felt watching the sun rise was such an important gift to his life, he actually made mention of it in his will.  He left his widow an estate of fifty thousand dollars, and then he made this bequest to his other relatives: 

     "To my remaining relatives I give the sunshine, the birds and the bees, wherever the above mentioned sunshine, birds and bees may be found.  The greatest art exhibit you will ever see, opens daily at dawn.  And equally wonderful, this exhibit is always free to those who view it."

     How long has it been since you have awakened early to see the sun rise?  This grand display of God's creativity can ignite the creative gifts He placed in you and inspire you to use them during the day!

"Tea Time With God"

STAY ON THE HIGH ROAD WITH ME....

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

STAY ON THE HIGH ROAD WITH ME.  Many voices clamor for your attention, trying to divert you to another path.  But I have called you to walk ever so closely with Me, soaking in My Presence, living in My Peace.  This is My unique design for you, planned before the world began.

I have called each of My children to a different path, distinctly designed for that one.  Do not let anyone convince you that his path is the right way.  And be careful not to extol your path as superior to another's. What I require of you is to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Me - wherever I lead.

"Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace In His Presence"

Led By A Wounded Hand

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 calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out."  John  10:3

     How precious it is that God thinks of each one of us by name!  How assuring to know that the Good Shepherd Himself will ever lead us with His nail-scarred hand through the green pastures of spiritual blessing, up the blood-sprinkled way, until we reach the fold of God in the heights of Paradise.

     Recently there came to my desk the excellent little booklet,  "Hills of God,"  by Ruth Gibbs Zwall.  With her permission we quote her beautiful Parable of Tomorrow, which poetically describes this precious leading:

     "I looked at the mountain.  'It is too hard, Lord,'  I said,  'I cannot climb.'  'Take My hand,'  He whispered,  'I will be your strength.  'I saw the road.  'It is too long, Lord,'  I said:  "so rough and long.'  'Take my love,'  He answered,  'I will guard your feet.'  I looked at the sky.  'The sun is gone,'  I said,  'Already it grows dark.'  'Take the lantern of My Word,'  He whispered,  'That will be light enough.'  We climbed.  The road was narrow and steep, but the way was bright.  And when the thorns reached out, they found His hand before they touched my own.  And when my path grew rough, I knew it was His love that kept my feet from stumbling.  Then I grew very tired.  'I can go no further, Lord,'  I said.  He answered,  'Night is gone.  Look up, my child.'  I looked, and it was dawn.  Green valleys stretched below.  'I can go on alone now,'  I said . . . and then I saw the marks:  'Lord, Thou art wounded.  Thy hands are bleeding, Thy feet bruised.  Was it for me?'  He whispered,  'I did it gladly.'  Then I fell at His feet.  'Lord, lead me on,'  I cried,  'No road too long, no valley too deep, if Thou art with me.'  We walk together now, and shall forever!"

Don't Waste It!

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

          "The slothful man roasteh not that which he took in hunting."  Proverbs  12:27

     The American Indian was a good conservationist.  He took only as much game as he needed for food or clothing.  He was not interested in trophies or wholesale slaughter.  But "civilized" man hunts for the sport of killing or turning game into gold.  As a result, our wildlife faced extinction till the government passed conservation laws and set limits and seasons on the kill.  And even then it came too late to save the passenger pigeon, the grayling, and other forms of game.  The buffalo, the moose, and the elk were barely saved.  Buffalo were killed for their tongue only, while the rest of the carcass was left to rot.

     We waste more than we use.  It is estimated America throws enough food into the garbage can to feed all the starving of the world.  We are too indolent, too lazy to prepare our own foods like mother and grandmother did, and instead we are a nation eating out of tin cans, glass jars, and frozen food freezers. (this book was written in the early 1960's)  Solomon already saw this evil and said in effect,  "The slothful man throws away what he has killed."

     Last summer, while cleaning a fish at a resort, I found a whole mess of beautiful fish in the waste can.  They had been caught the day before and allowed to spoil because someone was too lazy to clean them.  Such waste is sin!  The  Bible says,  "He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster"  (Proverbs  18:9).  If you have more than you need, give it someone in need.  Don't waste it!

     Of the lazy man the Bible says,  "He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not"  (Proverbs  21:28).  Make every moment count for Christ today.  Don't waste time!

"Bread For Each Day"

Full Obedience

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

"Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house."        Genesis 12:1

     Abram had received a call from God to leave his pagan country and seek Canaan, the homeland of promise.  A careful reading of the seventh chapter of Acts, however, reveals that Abram allowed natural affection and ties of the flesh to hold him back from doing the will of the Lord completely.  He just couldn't bring himself to the necessary separation from his father and his kinfolk.  While he started out from Ur of the Chaldees, he bogged down in Haran and apparently dwelt there for some time.  His old father Terah could go no further, and Abram fell short of God's perfect will for his life by failing to yield total obedience.  God therefore had to remove Terah by the hand of death, for he was holding back Abram's spiritual progress.

     How often we too are prone to forget that God demands total obedience and separation from the things of this world.  Nothing must be allowed to retard our progress in sanctification.  Often we tend to take lower ground and camp there for awhile rather than to press on immediately to the Canaan of complete surrender.

     "Will you tell me in a word,"  said a Christian woman to a teacher,  "what is your idea of consecration?"  Pulling out a blank sheet of paper, the teacher replied,  "It is to sign your name at the bottom of this blank sheet, let God fill it in as He wills, and then follow His orders."

     Are you letting circumstances of loved ones stand in the way of  your complete surrender to God's will?  If you ever wish to reach the Canaan of victory, you will have to render full obedience!

"Bread For Each Day"

The Immigrant

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

"By faith Abraham . . . went out . . . For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."  Hebrews  11:8,10

     Abram and Sarah were emigrants who left their native homeland to find a new home in a strange unknown land.  They had never seen it, but had heard about it.

     There must be something appealing and romantic about immigration.  Man has ever been eager to pioneer in new fields, to explore the unknown "beyond."  The urge to emigrate springs from dissatisfaction with present conditions and a desire to find a better place to live.  By such folks this country was settled - by people leaving their homeland to seek liberty and plenty as well as adventure.  Emigrants are people who are not satisfied just to "get by," but feel the urge for better things.

     This is the picture of the believer.  He is an emigrant, born in the world of sin, defeat, death, and want.  But he has heard the call from the land of promise to come out of the land lying under the sentence of doom.  He is an emigrant from the land of death and darkness into the land of life and light.  Henceforth we are strangers and pilgrims here below (Hebrew  11:13; 1 Peter 2:11).  We are spiritual emigrants.  The farther we go on the journey and the older we become, the more we realize we don't fit down here.  Its pleasures sicken us, its music disgusts us.  Its empty conversation bores us.  But how sweet and refreshing the fellowship of the few other emigrants who are traveling to the same new land of glory with us.  But best of all we have His fellowship.  David said,  "I am a stranger with thee and a sojourner"  (Psalm  39:12).  He does not say,  "a stranger to thee (thank God) but with thee."  Can we wish for better company?  Now we are "no more strangers and foreigners" to the heavenly kingdom  (Ephesians  2:19).

"Bread For Each Day"

NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! NEVER!

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 will not fail thee."  Deuteronomy 31:6

                                        ". . . they shall never perish."  John  10:28

                                        ". . . I am with you . . . unto the end"  Matthew  28:20

     Once the work of God's grace is begun in the heart, it must continue forever.  A book might be filled with quotations like the three above assuring us that he that "hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ"  (Philippians  1:6).

     Years ago a preacher addressed a great congregation on the security of the believer against the tempter of our souls.  In a sytle vividly dramatic he pictured the Spirit of evil traversing the earth to tempt the members of Christ's flock.  To place after place he went seeking rest and finding none.  Christian after Christian overcame his tempting suggestion by the power of faith and the energy of Scripture.  At nightfall he entered the chamber of a dying saint.  The shadow of death was on his face, the awful moment of the soul's transit had nearly come, attendants were waiting in the intensity of silence for they thought that it was almost over.  "I will cast a dart of doubt concerning Jesus into that saint's mind,"  said the evil one,  "and fill his last moments with fear."  But just then the saint's lips parted and the words came forth,  "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."  In a moment his spirit was glorified and satan was foiled.

     He has promised,  "I will never leave thee."

"Bread For Each Day"

WHEN YOU APPROACH ME....

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

WHEN YOU APPROACH ME in stillness and in trust, you are strengthened.  You need a buffer zone of silence around you in order to focus on things that are unseen.  Since I am invisible, you must not let your senses dominate your thinking.  The curse of this age is overstimulation of the senses, which blocks out awareness of the unseen world.

The tangible world still reflects My Glory, to those who have eyes that see and ears that hear.  Spending time alone with Me is the best way to develop seeing eyes and hearing ears.  The goal is to be aware of unseen things even as you live out your life in the visible world.

"Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace In His Presence"