"Thou Remainest"

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 reaminest . . . "  Hebrews 1:11

     The faithfulness of God is constantly highlighted in the Bible.  Men falter and prove untrue, but God remains constant.  What a comfort this is to His weak and doubting children!  It is not always easy to see this divine control in our lives.  It looks sometimes as if things have gotten out of hand, but this can never be for "God abideth faithful."

     In the spring of the year a preaching missionary band in China asked a poor Christian farmer to join them in carrying on their work.  "But I haven't planted my wheat yet,"  he protested.  Even as he made the excuse, however, a voice within his heart said,  "Your wheat?  Nay it is your Heavenly Father's wheat."  He recognized that this was true and decided to go.  His heathen neighbors scoffed at him and said he was very foolish not to stay and first plant his crop.  However, he filled his days with scattering the incorruptible seed of the Word upon the good soil of needy souls, and was very happy.  After some weeks it was possible for him to return home.  His heart sank when he saw his neighbor's fields already lovely and green with the sprouting grain.  He hasn't even planted his yet; how would he ever overcome their lead?  His crop would come in last and he would receive little for it.  Then he thought of the comforting words,  "Your Heavenly Father knoweth what things ye have need of,"  and his peace returned.  He planted his wheat but for some time there was no rain.  The ground was so dry and the seed refused to sprout.  The green fields of his neighbors turned yellow and died.  Then came refreshing rains and his wheat took root and sprang up. When the harvest season arrived he had a most beautiful field of waving grain, while his neighbors complained bitterly of their poor yield.  Thus God honored His faithful servant.

     Though all may seem to slip from your grasp, do not despair.  With trusting heart look up to your faithful God and quietly say,  "I thank Thee, Lord, that 'Thou remainest'!"

"Bread For Each Day"

In The World - Not Of 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

" . . . seek those things which are above . . . Set your affection on things above . . . Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth."  Colossians  3:1,2,5

     A small girl was watching her mother working among the flowers.  "Mother,"  she said,  "I know why flowers grow; they want to get out of the dirt!"  We Christians are in the world, but not of it (John 17).  With our feet on the ground, we are admonished to set our affection "on things above, not on things on the earth"; we are risen with Christ and are to "seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God"  (Colossians 3:1-3).

     What is the mysterious force which causes a sprouting seed to grow up instead of down?  I plant a bulb upside down in the ground, but it always comes out "right side up."  It is the sunlight above which attracts the plant to itself.  Plants always seek the sunlight.  Notice how your house plants turn and bend way over to reach the light from the window.  Why is a sunflower called a sunflower?  Because it turns with the sun in the morning to the east and follows it to the west.  Why does a dandelion open only on sunny days but remain closed on dark days?  It is the power of the sun.  Obstruct the sunlight and life fades out.  I threw an old rug to dry on the lawn and forgot to remove it, and all the grass turned a sickly yellow, from which it did not recover for weeks.  As a plant seeks the sun above, so we are to "seek those things which are above."

     The clouds of earth often obscure the sun, but by the wings of faith we can rise above the clouds and dwell in the eternal sunlight.  The ladder of faith, made of two uprights, the Word of God, and prayer, supporting the nine rungs of Galatians 5:22,23, is long enough to reach beyond the clouds of doubt, fear, and defeat.  Walk in the light of His Word and rise above the things of earth.

"Bread For Each Day"

2 Corinthians 4:6-10

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

6. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us.
8. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed: we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9. Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10. Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus might be made manifest on our body.

Romans 12

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

1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
4. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office (function):
5. So we , being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members (individually) one of another.
6. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith:
7. Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching:
8. Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity (liberally): he that ruleth, with diligence: he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
9. Let love be without dissimulation (hypocrisy). Abhor that which is evil; cleave (cling) to that which is good.
10. Be kindly affectioned (affectionate) one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring (giving preference to) one another;
11. Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.
12. Rejoicing in hope, patient (persevering)in tribulation; continuing instant (steadfastly) in prayer:
13. Distributing to the necessity (needs) of saints; given to hospitality. 
14. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind (do not set your mind on) not high things, but condescend (associate with the humble) with men of low estate.  Be not wise in your conceits (estimations).
17. Recompense (Repay) to no man evil for evil.  Provide (have regard for good things) things honest in the sight of all men.
18. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, VENGEANCE IS MINE; I WILL REPAY, saith the Lord.
20. Therefore IF THINE ENEMY HUNGER, FEED HIM; IF HE THIRST, GIVE HIM DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING THOU SHALT HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD.
21. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Sometime We'll Understand

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

         " . . . What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter."  John  13:7

     With their limited spiritual horizons the disciples did not always understand what Jesus said and did.  Like the blind man of Bethsaida, their prophetic insight was as distorted as one who sees, "men as trees walking."  Later, at Pentecost, they were to receive a second touch of blessing which would illumine their minds to the meaning of many things.  Therefore in John 13:7 Jesus tells them not to become confused or bewildered by the perplexing events that were to transpire.  They were to proceed by faith, resting on the precious promise that "hereafter" they would comprehend His wise purposes.  So, today, Christ's acts of love to us are often misunderstood.  Yet His apparent "dark dealings" with us will certainly be explained in Heaven, for God knows what He is about.

     The late Dr. H. A. Ironside often told the story of a noted painter who had been commissioned to prepare a great, artistic mural.  The artist erected a scaffold and proceeded to put the background of the picture on the wall.  A friend, coming to the studio, stood quietly at the rear of the room, for he saw the artist was preoccupied in slapping on the dark gray and the deep blue tones.  Wishing to view his background preparation from a better perspective, the artist descended the ladder and moved toward the door with his eye still on the mural.  He was so intent that he backed right into his friend without even seeing him. Enthusiastically he exclaimed,  "This is going to be the masterpiece of my life!  What do you think of it?  Isn't it grand?"  His friend replied,  "All that I see is a great, dull daub of paint."  Then said the artist,  "Oh, I forgot.  When you look at the mural you see only what is there; but when I look at it, I see what is going to be there - and that makes a lot of difference!"

     How wise the Christian who can smile through his tears - confident that he will joyously view the perfect design of his trials in God's tomorrow!

"Bread For Each Day"

Romans 8:38-39

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

Romans 8:36

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

 36.  As it is written,  FOR THY SAKE, WE ARE KILLED ALL THE DAY LONG; WE ARE ACCOUNTED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER.