Friday June 22, 2012

Happy Friday! 
I pray that you and yours are well, happy, healthy, full of God's Joy and Peace.  
I am about to embark on a long drive back to see my three wonderful children.  Unfortunately, this trip is to get things ready to close out a big chapter of our lives, to sell our family restaurant.  
It is fraught with dangers and traps.  I can't do this alone, but I do believe and have full faith and hope in my God who has promised me to not abandon me and to uplift me.  


Consider today's promise in F. B. Meyer's daily devotions:



June 22


ANSWERED PRAYER
"If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you."-- Joh_15:7.


OUR LORD expected answers to His prayers, and in all His teaching He leads us to feel that we shall be able to obtain, through prayer, what otherwise would not come to our hand. He knew all that was to be known of natural law; but notwithstanding His perfect acquaintance with the mysteries of His Father's government, He said: "If ye shall ask anything of the Father, He will give it you in My Name."
When we consider the lives of some who have wrought mightily for God, it is clear that they learned a secret which eludes many of us. This is from the biography of Dr. Burns Thomson: "When much together as students," writes his friend, "we agreed on special petitions, and the Lord encouraged us by giving us answers, so early and so definite, as could only have come from Himself, so that no room was left for the shadow of doubt that God was the Hearer and Answerer of prayer. Once the answer came the same day, and at another time whilst we were yet speaking. My friend often spoke of our agreement, to the glory of Him who fulfilled to us His promise; and I refer to it to encourage others." This is but one leaf out of the great library of prayers, intercessions, and supplications, which stand recorded before God.
Prayer which is to prevail must be: For the glory of the Father. Whatever petition we offer must be tested by this thought: will it be for the glory of God? It is for this that our Saviour lives and pleads (Joh_14:13).
It must be in Christ's Name, which stands for Nature. In other words, when we pray it must not be as our self-nature but as the Christ-nature indicates. It is not enough to mention His Name at the end of our prayer: His Spirit must pervade every petition.
We must bear fruit (Joh_15:16). Answers to prayer largely depend on our ministry to others. If we are living for the accomplishment of God's purpose and the coming of His Kingdom, we may ask whatever is necessary for the achievement of our endeavour.
We must abide in Christ; then the sap of the Holy Spirit rising from the hidden root will produce desires and petitions like those which Christ ever presents to His Father (Joh_15:7).


PRAYER
All our desire is known unto Thee, therefore perfect what Thou hast begun, and what Thy Spirit has awakened us to ask in prayer. We seek Thy face, show us Thy glory. AMEN.

God Bless you and all of us in fulfilling His Will for our lives.  In Jesus's Holy Name, Amen.

Thursday June 21, 2012

How are you doing with this game of life?  Are you happy? Are you satisfied with your life and where you are headed?  Do you have a job, a career, a love, a mission, a goal, a vision?  What do you want in life?  
These are all vital questions. 
May I strongly recommend that you read the Holy Bible - go to www.e-sword.net  for many free downloads of Bibles, commentaries and other wonderful helps.  


God is waiting for you to come back to HIM!


Read His words and then you will find all you want and are seeking in life.  Accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Redeemer and your life will never be the same again!  


Do it today!


Consider today's meditation from James Ryle who explains the process:



June 21


The Gospel in a Single Sentence
"A certain nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return." (Luke 19:12).


Jesus began a story with this brief sentence; a sentence, which in its brevity spans the entire fullness of the Gospel. Let me explain. The word certain means "unique and distinct", as in "only begotten Son." There has never been, nor will there ever be any other man like Jesus of Nazareth. He was born of a Virgin, without sin in any way. This is certain.
The Bible says, "God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." 
Jesus is God's only Son. Therefore, Jesus is man's only Savior. As one preacher said,
"Christ is not one of many ways to God, nor is he the best of several ways. He is the only way." Jesus Himself said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father but by Me." 
Christ is the way unchanging; He is the truth infallible; He is the life everlasting. Jesus is the way that you might be saved. He is the truth that you might be sure. He is the life that you might be satisfied.
The word nobleman speaks of the sinless life this certain man lived among us. He was tempted in all points like us, yet without sin. Never once — in thought, word, or deed — did Jesus ever sin. This uniquely qualifies Him to be the perfect sacrifice for sinners. Having no sins of His own to die for, His death on the cross now covers all of our sins!
His death, burial, resurrection and ascension into heaven are all included in the words "went to a distant country" — for that is how the Nobleman passed from this earth into Heaven.
Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you." He is there in heaven even now doing just that. And while there He "ever lives to make intercession" (Heb.7:25). In other words, He loves to pray for you as He sits at His Father's right hand. Let me ask you, when was the last time you asked Jesus to pray for you? Why not ask Him now!


Jesus, the Nobleman, went to a far country "to receive a kingdom for himself." This is clearly referring to the exaltation of Jesus Christ as Lord. For "God has given Him a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father" (see Phil.2:9-11).
And, last but not least, the phrase "and then return" assures us of the hope of all Ages—the Second Coming of Christ!
The gospel in a single sentence — "A certain nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return." Commit this sentence to memory and use it as a mental outline for sharing your faith with your friends and family members.
Here, in the simplest of words, is the Gospel that we preach. Jesus was born without sin, and He lived without sinning. When He died on the cross, having no sins of His own to pay for, He paid the price for our sins. He was buried, and on the third day God raised Him from the dead—since Death had no rightful claim upon a sinless man. He was then taken into heaven and declared to be the Lord of all, the evidence of which is the Holy Spirit poured forth in our world establishing the influence of Christ's Kingdom in the hearts and lives of men and women from every tribe and nation. One day, at a time known only to God, Christ will return to this earth and abolish sin and death by creating a new heaven and a new earth, filled with the glory of God.


That's it. So simple even a child can understand it. Those who believe this and turn from their sins, trusting Christ for salvation, will be born again by the Spirit of God and brought into God's purpose for their lives here on earth.

Tuesday June 19, 2012

Hello my friend,
How are you?  How's life treating you?  
May I ask?  What do you want from life?  What do you expect?  What are your hopes, dreams, wishes?  


Surely we have all gone through the cycles of life: growth, maturity, getting, giving, courting, mating, raising, releasing, relishing, relinquishing, and now hopefully, rest.  
In this wonderful journey, for me, to live is Jesus Christ, my Savior and my God.  God gives meaning to life, His will brings about all the events of life, and you live a good life when you submit and surrender your life to God's Will.


Consider today's meditation from F. B. Meyer:



June 19


A SHELTER FROM THE TEMPEST
"And a man shall be as a hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest...as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land."-- Isaiah 32:2.


WE ARE reminded that this prophecy was uttered in a time of great unrest. The clouds of war were gathering dark on the horizon, and Israel was looking for help from the arm of flesh. In this emergency the voice of the prophet was heard, saying: "Look not to Egypt, but to God" (Isa_31:1). The kingdom depends on the king: "Behold a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes rule in judgment." 


When all politics and commerce, social and domestic life are under the sway and guidance of Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God will come, and the Will of God shall be done on earth, as in heaven. The Lord Jesus is many-sided enough to meet all the varied needs of His people. Some need a covert from the tempest, others rivers of water to quench their thirst, others the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. But He is all and equal to all. 


When a man or woman owns the sway of Christ, eyes and ears are cleansed, there is no longer the hesitation of stammering confession, the judgment becomes rectified and the heart opened to a new generosity. First righteousness, then peace--such is heaven's eternal order.
This is a marvellous chapter! Note the words of warning to the women of Jerusalem. After all, the religious and political life of a nation is very much what the women make it, and there can never be a widespread deepening of religious life unless the women, who have such great capacity for God, turn to Him in repentance and faith.


Are our conditions similar? Surely they are! For if in the days of Solomon it was true that all things were full of labour and stress, how much more true is it in our time! The tides of human life are high and stormy, and there is no sense of security. We may surely plead that we need the quiet resting-places and sure dwellings, in which our souls may shelter! The promise is made to "'My people"--to those who have heard and obeyed the voice of the Good Shepherd. If you are one of the weakest and lowliest of these, you may draw comfort here (Isa_32:18).


PRAYER
Bring us, O Lord, through the troubled waters of life into a haven of repose. Hide us secretly in Thy pavilion from the strife of tongues and the fiery darts of the wicked one. May we be at peace with Thee, with ourselves, and with all. AMEN.

Wednesday June 13, 2012

So, what does it mean to be a Christian.
There are many, many views on this.  But always rely on the Bible.  Study the Bible, for the Bible IS the Word of God.  You will come to your own personal understanding and relationship with God through your reading and study of God's word.
One of the best resources is at www.e-sword.net  God there and download everything our brother Rick Myers has made available. 
Study everything- there is so much.  At the minimum, read the daily devotions by Bob Hoekstra, F.B. Meyer, George Morrison, James Ryle and Charles Spurgeon.  They will give you great insight into how to live the Christian life and be a true Christian.  
For example, yesterday's and today's lessons from James Ryle:



June 12


Four Points of a Prevailing Life (Part 1)


"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" (Romans 6:1, KJV)


In the earliest days of my journey with Jesus a godly man came alongside me and taught me a truth with such unrelenting resolve that it has stayed with me to this very day. Indeed, not simply stayed with with — it has powerfully swayed me from turning the wrong way on many, many occasions and kept my feet from stumbling. Yes, there have been times when I ignored the voice of the Holy Spirit, and tumbled in a ditch — but even then, it was this truth that factored in my recovery. I want to pass this truth along to you.
Paul uses four key words in his masterful argument against sin, and for righteousness; and these four words give us the bullet points of a prevailing life. Know, reckon, yield, and obey. Let's look briefly at these over the following four days.
First, there is something we are to KNOW — "our old man was crucified with Christ" (Romans 6:6). The Messages puts it this way — "Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the Cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life — no longer at sin's every beck and call! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ's sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection."
Pass by any cemetery and you will see just what the Lord has done for you on the Cross. He brought you into His own death, and thereby rendered sin's power over you as ineffective as it is upon those buried there in the ground. Your enslavement to sin's power has ended, and through Christ's resurrection you now have been raised to a new way of living — free from always having to do what sin demanded.
You will never be able to walk victorious in faith without KNOWING this truth. This may be the primary reason why Satan is so set against the preaching of the Cross, and why so many churches have veered far off course in this happy-go-lucky-day of sentimental sensationalism in song and sermon.
Take your place in humble adoration at the foot of the cross my fellow pilgrim, and rise not from that place till you KNOW that all which is within you that once lived unto sin has been executed in your Savior's death.
"When I survey the wondrous cross, 
on which the Prince of glory died; 
my richest gain I count but loss, 
and pour contempt on all my pride. 
Forbid it Lord that I should boast, 
save in the cross of Christ my God. 
All the vain things that charm me most, 
I sacrifice them to His blood. 
Were the whole realm of nature mine, 
that were a present far too small! 
Love so amazing, so divine, 
demands my soul, my life, my all." 
(Isaac Watts 1748)

And,

June 13

Four Points of a Prevailing Life (Part 2)

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" (Romans 6:1, KJV)

 

Yesterday we focused on the first of four key words used by the Apostle Paul in his classic case for the Cross presented in the sixth chapter of the Book of Romans. Today, we want to look at the second word: RECKON.

More modern translations use words like count, consider, think, or regard. All share the same essential meaning — "to take into account." In other words, this is the conclusion you are to carry in your heart once you KNOW that your were indeed crucified with Christ: "I am dead to sin, but alive to God through Jesus!"

Go ahead and give it a try — say it out loud just now as you read this. "I am dead to sin, but alive to God through Jesus."

Now, later on in the day when temptation comes creeping round the corner and suddly backs you against the wall — pause, take a deep breath, and then speak the truth of these words in the face of Hell's assault. You will stand, and the enemy will flee! Remember the Sienfeld episode where Jerry's dad kept yelling, "Serenity Now!" That didn't seem to work too well for him, and it won't work for you either. But THIS does work — "I am dead to sin, but alive to God through Jesus." Truth works!

Here is how The Message summarizes it — "From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That's what Jesus did. (Romans 6:11-14).

Because Jesus did it, you and I can now do it! He conquered sin and death, and ended their supremacy over our lives. We can now walk in freedom — and will do so only as we COUNT on it; reckoning ourselves dead indeed to sin, but alive to God!

"In the cross of Christ I glory,

 towering o'er the wrecks of time; 

all the light of sacred story 

gathers round its head sublime! 

When the woes of life o'ertake me, 

hopes deceive and fears annoy; 

never shall the cross forsake me — 

Lo! it glows with peace and joy. 

Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure, 

by the cross are sanctified; 

peace is there that knows no measure, 

joys that through all time abide." 

(John Bowering, 1872)

I reckon so.

Wednesday June 13, 2012

There comes a time when you sit down and wonder "What's this all about?" or the more common "Why ME?"  So many just exist, survive day to day and go through their routines, habits and motions.  But, don't you ever think that there must be more, that we have to have a reason for all this travail and troubles?  
Perhaps there isn't really, after all, if we are just a chemical happenstance, just a collection of water and chemical compounds, an evolutionary peak of adaptation, then why bother asking?  Just live, eat, conquer, destroy, and live at the most basic levels of motivation - eat, reproduce, conquer and amass, destroy enemies and foes, dominate and rule the kingdom.  After all, that life strategy works well for most life forms on earth.  
But, are we really different?  Are we special?  
YES!
We are the direct product of a loving and caring God.  He made us in His image - to love Him and obey God's laws and commandments.  
As human laws get displaced and replaced, so God's laws changed and adapted through human history.  The intent of the laws did not change, but the laws came to a fountain head in Jesus Christ the Son of God!
Jesus came to this world to reconnect man back to God on a personal level, where God could walk with man constantly.  God is waiting to hold you, love you, protect you, bless you, guide you, lead you, but most importantly redeem you from this animal world and make you His Spiritual son or daughter.  
All you have to do is accept His gift to you... Salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God who died for the sins of the world.  
That's it, it's that simple.  
Jesus died for your sins and my sins.  He died to reconnect you back to God.  And it's all for just asking God to save you through the price of His Son's death on the cross... 
All you have to do is:

•  confess your sins, that you are a mortal, materialistic creature - "Lord God, I confess that I am a sinner,"
• Accept Jesus as your Savior "Please save me through the blood redemption of your Son, Jesus."
• open your heart, mind, body and soul to the Holy Spirit "Lord, come into and over my life, fill me with your Holy Spirit and be part of me, walk with me constantly"
• then live the redeemed life, follow the example of Jesus Christ.
• Read the Bible daily for your food and spiritual sustenance.

That's it.  You are now a child of God, and He will walk with you and be your God.

May you be blessed to become God's child.

Friday June 8, 2012

Well, the day is here and for the next two months we have "summer vacation"!
The cycles of life roll on and life continues in its ever changing ways.  


In all of your activities and journeys of life did you ever wonder about why God lets evil happen, especially to you?


Well, God is God and has good reasons, as we want to call them, for leading us through our lives.  
Consider today's thoughts, first from F. B. Meyer:



June 8


A CURE FOR ANXIETY
"Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass."-- Psa_37:5.


THIS PSALM from which our text is taken breathes the spirit of optimism. The Psalmist says: "Do not fret. Evil is transient, evil-doers shall be cut off in a little, while the wicked shall not be." You will not remove the evils of the world by all your anxiety, or by wrath. It is not worth while to lose your peace of mind. Be quiet in your heart, full of prayer, looking up to God that He would interpose to deliver.
In this Psalm there are excellent preservatives of the inward tranquillity of the soul when face to face with anxiety, or with high-handed wrong.
Trust in the Lord (Psa_37:3). Reckon on Him. Expect great things from your Almighty Guide and Friend. He cannot fail you.
Delight in the Lord (Psa_37:4). If your life twines about earthly things, of course you will be at the mercy of externals. Familiarise yourself with God's way of thinking and looking at things. If this is the bent of your life, you will lose your taste for things of the earth, while you will have great desires for the things of eternity, and God will give you perfect satisfaction in these, because He will give you Himself! The petitions of the heart (R.V. margin) are very sacred to God, and He never, never forgets them. "He shall give thee the petitions of thine heart."
Commit thy way unto the Lord (Psa_37:5). The margin suggests "Roll thy way upon the Lord." It is not enough to roll the responsibility of selecting our way on God in the great crises of our life. We must do so in the small decisions of every hour. Our lives are made up of trifles. To neglect these is to leave it to drift at haphazard. We need perpetually to look up to our Heavenly Friend, saying, "I cannot see over the hedge, I must leave with Thee the decision whether I should go this way or that."
Rest in the Lord (Psa_37:7). "Be silent to the Lord" (R.V. margin). There is so much clamour in the world, and often our heart becomes filled with its noise, so much so that we cannot hear His still small voice. But when every sound has died down into silence, we shall hear the voice of God telling us of things which will answer our questionings and still our doubts. Let your requests be made known unto God, and His peace shall sentinel your heart against all intruders.


PRAYER
My God and Father, enable me to roll my way upon Thee, to trust Thee, and to believe that when I stand with Thee in the perfect daylight I shall understand what now I take on trust. AMEN.

And this from James Ryle:

June 8

Disturb Us, Lord

"Since they didn't bother to acknowledge God, God quit bothering them and let them run loose" (Romans 1:28, The Message)

May it never be said of anyone of us that God quit bothering us!

Left to ourselves we will always settle for the least, not the best. Like a river unattended, we will take the path of least resistance, and suppose it had been the best route all along. We so easily set our lives on cruise control and zip along merrily, merrily — unaware that we are in fact drifting farther and farther away from God. Disturb us, Lord!

The famous prayer by Sir Francis Drake would find good use upon our lips in these indifferent days; I offer it with an encouragement that you pray it in earnest until the Lord sets your feet on the higher way, the nobler way, the better way — and that He never quits bothering you; never lets you run loose from His purpose for your life.

"Disturb us, Lord 

When we are too well pleased with ourselves,

When our dreams have come true

Because we have dreamed too little,

When we arrived safely

Because we sailed too close to the shore.

"Disturb us, Lord, 

when, with the abundance of things we possess,

We have lost our thirst for the waters of life;

and, having fallen in love with life as we know it,

We have ceased to dream of eternity;

And in our efforts to build a new earth,

We have allowed our vision of the new Heaven to dim.

"Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,

To venture on wider seas

Where storms will show your mastery;

Where losing sight of land,

We shall find the stars.

"We ask You to push back

The horizons of our hopes;

And to push us into the future

In strength, courage, hope, and love."

Sir Francis Drake -1577

Thursday June 7

How's your Thursday?  
This one, June 7, 2012 is special in that it is the last day of the school year.  Another one gone, another crop of students moving forward.
So, how's your life doing?  Are you in love with God?  Well, did you know that God is in love with you?  


Here's F. B. Meyer's meditation for today on that:

June 7


THE HOME OF GOD IN THE HEART OF MAN
"Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth Eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite spirit." Isaiah 57:15.


THIS VERSE has reference to God's two Homes--the macrocosm of .the great universe and the microcosm of the human heart. Our God is so great that the Heaven of heavens cannot contain Him, but He is so lowly and humble that He will stoop to fill the heart of a child. He bids us learn of Him, for He is meek and lowly in heart.
The humble and contrite heart. It seems almost too wonderful to believe that the Eternal One will care to come and live with the child of Time; that the Infinite and Holy God will descend to the narrow limits of a human heart! (see John 14:23: Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.)




PRAYER
Spirit of purity and grace,
Our weakness, pitying, see;
O make our hearts Thy dwelling-place,
And worthier Thee. 
AMEN.

Tuesday June 5th 2012

God is almighty, all knowing, and all present.  That's one of the fundamental attributes we have come to accept about God.  There are many foundational beliefs, creeds, truths that we have been taught and been told is TRUE.  
Really, if a "god" wasn't all that and even more, then that "god" wouldn't be much of a god.  
But our GOD is all that and more.  GOD is LOVE and Goodness.  God is pure and God wants us to become like Him - good, true, pure, righteous, and most importantly full of love.  We can not hate if we love, we can not kill if we love, we can not do evil if we love.  
Then the harsh reality of life comes in and makes us make decisions and weigh the options and choices.  That's the complexity of God.  Of course if being a Christian was easy and just fun, then heck nearly everyone would want to be a Christian!
Today's thoughts by F. B. Meyer addresses one of the key questions - why do bad things happen to good people?



June 5


GLORYING IN INFIRMITIES!
"My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."-- 2 Corinthians 12:9.


THE APOSTLE seems to have enjoyed wonderful revelations of God. Not once or twice, but often he beheld things that eye hath not seen, and heard words that ear cannot receive, and God felt it was necessary for him to have a make-weight lest he should be exalted beyond measure (2Co_12:7).
What the thorn or stake in the flesh was it is impossible to say with certainty. He may have suffered from some distressing form of ophthalmia. We infer this from the eagerness of the Galatian converts to give him their eyes (Gal_4:13-17), and from his dependence on an amanuensis. His pain made him very conscious of weakness, and very sensitive of infirmity, and kept him near to the majority of those to whom he ministered, who did not live on the mountain heights, but in the valleys, where demons possess and worry the afflicted. Be willing that your visions of Paradise should be transient, and turn your back on the mountain summit, where the glory shines, as our Lord did, in order to minister to souls in anguish (2Co_12:4; Mat_17:14-18).
On three separate occasions the Apostle besought the Lord for deliverance from his infirmity, and finally received the assurance that though the thorn could not be removed, yet sufficient grace would be given to enable him to do his life-work, and he was more than content. 
On the one hand, there was the buffeting of this messenger of Satan; but on the other, there were the gains of meekness, humility, and of greater grace than would have been possible if he had not needed it so sorely--and he gladly accepted an infirmity for which there were such abundant compensations.
Do not sit down baffled by your difficulties and infirmities, but run from them to claim Christ's abundant grace and strength, that at the end of life you may have done all that was set you to do, and more, because the greatness of your need made you lean more heavily on His infinite resources. "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength."


PRAYER
Help us, O Lord, to look on the bright side of things; not on the dark cloud, but on Thy rainbow of covenant mercy; not on the stormy waters, but on the face of Jesus; not on what Thou hast taken, or withheld, but on what Thou hast left. Enable us to realise Thine all-sufficiency. AMEN.

June 2, 2012

Good morning my friends,
How's your life path going.  I don't really know if anyone even reads these thoughts of mine.  In reality, this is mostly my journal of life.
So, this morning, it occurred to me that life's great moments are really the Christian journey... to be born, to learn and grow, come to a moment, or several moments, where we make life decisions, and eventually arrive at that critical juncture where we decide between the base and the higher values of life.  
We come to a point where we must decide and choose - life over death, honor over vice, trust over betrayal, self over the good of others, higher over lowest, Christ or self!  
The Christian life is not an easy life.  The Christian life is opposite what the world teaches and seems to value.  Although the whole of life seems to highly value the essentials of honor, duty, responsibility, commitment, family, country and many similar.  
Look at the Medal of Honor, the Medal of Freedom, Nobel Prize, and other social recognition.  Yes, America still values these higher statements of humanity.
But, for the most part, wealth and power seems to go to those who flagrantly flaunt these values with cheating, lying, betraying, dishonesty, and all the base negatives.


So, how do we hold on?  


Several thoughts on this - first from Charles Spurgeon:

June 2


Morning


“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.” Galatians 5:17


In every believer’s heart there is a constant struggle between the old nature and the new. The old nature is very active, and loses no opportunity of plying all the weapons of its deadly armoury against newborn grace; while on the other hand, the new nature is ever on the watch to resist and destroy its enemy. 
Grace within us will employ prayer, and faith, and hope, and love, to cast out the evil; it takes unto it the “whole armour of God,” and wrestles earnestly. These two opposing natures will never cease to struggle so long as we are in this world. 
The battle of “Christian” with “Apollyon” lasted three hours, but the battle of Christian with himself lasted all the way from the Wicket Gate in the river Jordan. The enemy is so securely entrenched within us that he can never be driven out while we are in this body: but although we are closely beset, and often in sore conflict, we have an Almighty helper, even Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, who is ever with us, and who assures us that we shall eventually come off more than conquerors through him.        


With such assistance the new-born nature is more than a match for its foes. Are you fighting with the adversary to-day? Are Satan, the world, and the flesh, all against you? Be not discouraged nor dismayed. Fight on! For God himself is with you; Jehovah Nissi is your banner, and Jehovah Rophi is the healer of your wounds. Fear not, you shall overcome, for who can defeat Omnipotence? Fight on, “looking unto Jesus”; and though long and stern be the conflict, sweet will be the victory, and glorious the promised reward.
“From strength to strength go on;
Wrestle, and fight, and pray,
Tread all the powers of darkness down,
And win the well-fought day.”


Evening
“Good Master.” Matthew 19:16
If the young man in the gospel used this title in speaking to our Lord, how much more fitly may I thus address him! He is indeed my Master in both senses, a ruling Master and a teaching Master. I delight to run upon his errands, and to sit at his feet. I am both his servant and his disciple, and count it my highest honour to own the double character. If he should ask me why I call him “good,” I should have a ready answer. 
It is true that “there is none good but one, that is, God,” but then he is God, and all the goodness of Deity shines forth in him. In my experience, I have found him good, so good, indeed, that all the good I have has come to me through him. 
He was good to me when I was dead in sin, for he raised me by his Spirit’s power; he has been good to me in all my needs, trials, struggles, and sorrows. Never could there be a better Master, for his service is freedom, his rule is love: I wish I were one thousandth part as good a servant. When he teaches me as my Rabbi, he is unspeakably good, his doctrine is divine, his manner is condescending, his spirit is gentleness itself. No error mingles with his instruction-pure is the golden truth which he brings forth, and all his teachings lead to goodness, sanctifying as well as edifying the disciple. Angels find him a good Master and delight to pay their homage at his footstool. 
The ancient saints proved him to be a good Master, and each of them rejoiced to sing, “I am thy servant, O Lord!” My own humble testimony must certainly be to the same effect. I will bear this witness before my friends and neighbours, for possibly they may be led by my testimony to seek my Lord Jesus as their Master. O that they would do so! They would never repent so wise a deed. If they would but take his easy yoke, they would find themselves in so royal a service that they would enlist in it for ever.


And from F. B. Meyer:



June 2


CHRISTIAN LIVING
"I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." Galatians 2:20.


THE HEART of true religion is to believe that Christ is literally within us. We must not simply look to Him as our Mediator, Advocate, and Example, but as being possessed by Him. He is our Life, the living Fountain rising up in the well of our personality. 
The Apostle Paul was never weary of re-affirming this great fact of his experience, and it would be well if each of us could say every day, before starting forth on our daily duty: "Christ is in me; let me make room for Him to dwell."


We must say No to self, that the life of Christ may become manifest in and through us, and our standing become a reality in daily experience and conduct. When evil suggestions come to us, we must remember that we have entered a world where such things have no place. We are no longer in the realm of the god of this world, but have passed into the realm of the Risen Christ. Let those who are tempted believe this, and assert it in the face of the tempter, counting upon the Holy Spirit to make their reckoning a living experience.
In Ephesians 6:13-17 is described the armour of the Christian soul; in Colossians 3:12-14 the habit or dress which he wears beneath his coat of mail. We must be careful to be properly dressed each day. 
If we lose our temper over trifles, or yield to uncharitable speech, it shows that we have omitted to put on the girdle of love; if we yield to pride, avarice, envy and jealousy, we must not simply endeavour to put off these evils, but take from the wardrobe the opposite graces. It is not enough to avoid doing wrong. 
Our Master demands that we should always do and be what is right. When we fail in some sudden demand, it is because we have omitted to put on some trait of Christ, which was intended to be the complement of our need.


 Let us therefore day by day say: "Lord Jesus, wrap Thyself around me, that I may go forth, adequately attired to meet life's demands." In Christ for standing; Christ in us, for life; we with him, for safety.


PRAYER
Set my heart on fire with the love of Thee, and then to do Thy will, and to obey Thy commandments, will not be grievous to me. For to him that loveth, nothing is difficult, nothing is impossible; because love is stronger than death. AMEN.

June 1 2012

Happy June!  Summer and all of its many wonders.  Vacations, trips, family time.  
That's the ideal.  How's your life compared to the "ideal"?
Mine is a total mash up!
But, God is in charge and I do not fret all that much.  Worry a bit, sure.  I'm human.  Consider today's meditation by F.B. Meyer:



June 1

MARCHING ORDERS
"Have not I commanded Thee! Be strong and of a good courage: be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." Joshua 1:9.

IT WAS a host of young men and women that stood on the verge of Jordan, waiting the signal to enter the Promised Land. God had said that He would give them every place upon which the sole of their foot should tread (Jos_1:3). What an incentive this was for pressing on! Every time an Israelite put his foot forward on the territory of Canaan, he realized that piece of land would come into the possession of his people.
There is a counterpart of this in our own experience. We must learn to put down our foot upon the Promises of God's Word, and say: "These are mine by right, and shall be mine in actual enjoyment." In General Gordon's journal, he tells us that often before he reached some strange or hostile tribe, it seemed as though they had been given to his faith and subdued before he reached them.
In combating your spiritual foes, dare to believe that God has given them into your hand, and go forward assured that not one of them shall stand before you.

This is a blessed promise: "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee" (Joshua 1:5). 

It does not matter how fierce the tempter, how often you have failed, how inveterate the bad habits, if you will dare to believe that God is with you, not one of all the band of besetting sins shall be able to stand before you. God cannot fail, and will not forsake; be strong, and go forward!
The one thing that God asks of all of us is that we should obey up to the hilt.
Here are our marching orders, and we must keep them well before us"
(1) We must meditate upon the Scripture day and night; it must not depart from our heart or mouth.
(2) We must be strong even when obedience seems impossible, and when all influences are brought to bear to weaken our resolution, we must still dare to obey the voice of God. 
And as we advance we shall find that the dreaded forms of opposition are but shadows; when they are touched with the spear-point of faith, they will divide and we shall pursue our way.

PRAYER
Before we enter upon our work and warfare, wilt Thou graciously equip us with the armour of light, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. May we hear Thee saying: Fear not, I am with thee, I will help thee. AMEN.