Thursday March 3rd

Well here we are in March.  It has come in like a lamb thus far.  Life goes on, 99 days until summer break for many here in the south.  


How are you doing?  Life going well, good things happening?  The world sure seems in a steady state of unrest.  The Mideast and North Africa are certainly going through turmoil and change.  How about you?


For me, it always seems to be about change.  Today's meditation seems most appropriate:



March 3


THE VIEWPOINT OF THE SANCTUARY
"It is good for me to draw near to God."-- Psa_73:28.


THE GOOD Asaph was greatly troubled about the prosperity of the wicked of his time. He refrained from speaking to others on the matter, lest it should impair their religious life; but the iron went deep into his soul! Here were people, who seemed always at ease, though they set their mouths against the heavens, while he, though he cleansed his heart, and washed his hands in innocency, was plagued all day long. It was in a very perturbed and distressed condition of mind, therefore, that he went one day into the Sanctuary of God. It was there that God spoke to him and unveiled the future, and showed the glorious contrast between the wicked and himself, when Time had given place to Eternity, and heaven had corrected the uneven balances of earth.
Each of us has, or should have, a sanctuary--the House of God, or it may be a quiet room, or some sacred spot in the woods or garden or beside the sea. Greatly is the soul to be pitied that has no sanctuary, where it can shelter from the rush and noise of life. Like Abraham, we need to have some place where we can stand before the Lord (Gen_18:22-23).
Let us remember the injunction to build according to the sanctuary pattern (Exo_25:8, Exo_25:9, Exo_25:40). We must not drift aimlessly through life, at the mercy of every current and every gust of wind; nor must we be content to be our own pattern-makers, or mere copyists. 
Before we enter upon some change or fresh objective in our life, let us ascend into the sanctuary of God's mountains, and get to know His Mind and Will. Be sure that He has a plan and programme for each of us, extending even to the cords and tassels of our life; and if we are true to the leadings of His Spirit, we shall be led out and on to things that eye hath not seen, nor heart conceived.
Frances Ridley Havergal writes: "I am struck with the possibilities of the Christian life! In my own case, what once were far-off possibilities are now actualities; while a new horizon opens before me of possibilities, which also in God's time shall become actualities."
Forget the past! Your failures and sins; the fading laurels of past successes; the bitter memories of abortive efforts. Leave them with God! Let the dead bury their dead! Work out your life-plan knowing that God is able and willing to make the necessary grace abound toward you.


PRAYER
Grant unto me, O Lord, the blessedness of the one whom Thou choosest, and causest to approach unto Thee. AMEN.

So, it seems clear.  No matter how much change and challenges, seek God's direction and guidance and do His will.  

Simple enough.

God bless you today.

Wednesday March 2nd

So here we are, into March already.  I am truly getting old, time slips by so quickly, seasons come and go faster, and my sense of time slows.  Life is unfolding and passing by faster with each year.  
And what is the purpose of it all?  To know and fear God, to become Holy, Perfect, Loving... not through our own efforts but by surrendering, yielding, giving in, opening our hearts, minds and souls to the loving work of the Holy Spirit. To Know our Lord, our God as He reveals Himself to us.
To Love and be Loved!



March 2


KNOWING AND FOLLOWING
"Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord."-- Hos_6:3.


SOME PEOPLE do not seem to desire to advance in the knowledge of God. They have not seen the heavenly vision. Religion to them consists in saying, over and over again, the same prayers that they have used for years, and reading a prescribed portion of Scripture. This is better than nothing, but they cannot appropriate David's comparison between himself and the hunted deer that pants for the water-brook, or our Lord's blessing for those that "hunger and thirst after righteousness."
But with others, there is a longing for a further advance. Like the Apostle, they are pressing toward the mark, though it seems to evade them and to recede! They are like the blind man, on whom our Lord wrought the miracle. First, he saw men as trees walking, dimly appreciating the glory of perfect vision; but, presently, as those dear hands touched him again, he saw clearly. Is there one who reads this page who does not long for this clear vision, this knowledge of God! 
Let us not desist in our quest, but follow on! When the last lesson is learned, the last and deepest surrender taken, the final act of faith accomplished, the partition will remove, and we shall know what Pascal meant when he wrote: "The world hath not known Thee, but I have known Thee. Joy! Joy! Joy! Tears of Joy!" "Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (1Co_13:12).
God has a Way of His own for each of us. "His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain." Some are smitten by a sudden sense of the reality and vision of the Eternal World, that hides behind the veil of sense. Others, as they partake of the Bread and Wine of Communion, have such a vision of the love of Jesus, that they are more than satisfied. 
At any time a heavenly door may open before the knock of the seeker; or, we may suddenly look up and see His face, and exclaim with St. Paul: "The Lord is at hand!" We shall see His hand beckoning to us, and we shall arise and follow into that world of reality and love that is so near, but sometimes seems so far!


PRAYER
Lord Jesus! Give us this second sight, we beseech Thee! Lift us up, by Thy strong arm, above the mists and darkness of the valley, to walk with Thee on the high level of Thy manifested presence and glory. AMEN.

Sunday Feb 27, last February Sunday of 2011

How are you doing today?  There is so much pain, turmoil, heartache and wounds in the world.  So many peoples are in want, in hunger and thirst. We all want better, we want what's best for ourselves and our children.  Yet this world is indeed so "unfair" to so many.  
I thank God that I have so much, that I can be thankful.  Less than 30% of the world can do what you and I are doing right now, have a computer and access to the Internet to connect.  That's still a lot of people out of 6.7 Billion people... but, that's a lot of people who do NOT have these advantages.  I am glad for the opportunity to connect with you.  I wish you well.


Today's thoughts: from Bob Hoekstra

February 27

Set Free by the Spirit

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.  (Rom_8:2)

There is a destructive spiritual tendency that resides in every human being. It is "the law of sin and death." This indwelling principle is always pulling people downward into sin and spiritual deadness. It comes from being born physically into a fallen race of sinners who are like their earthly father, Adam. 

Being born anew spiritually does not remove this problem, since this principle still operates within our natural humanity (the flesh). Yet, becoming a child of God does make His remedy constantly available to us. 

God's remedy for"the law of sin and death" is a higher, more powerful principle, "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus." This lofty principle involves the Holy Spirit making the life that is in Christ Jesus our resource for living. This principle is operating in the life of any new creature in Christ who is not walking  "according to the flesh but [is walking] according to the Spirit" (Rom_8:4). This approach to Christian living is the only one that can increasingly liberate us from the internal carnal tendencies that influence us all. 

In fact (as we have noted previously), this is the only hope of growing in the godliness that the law demanded: "that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us" (Rom_8:4). 

Our lives can only measure up to the holy will of God when we are walking in the Spirit, because Christ is then being allowed to express His life through us. Jesus was, and is, the only one who could ever walk fully pleasing to the Father. Jesus said, "I always do those things that please Him" (Joh_8:29). For a victorious Christian experience, we need this same life of Jesus living in and through us now, by the working of the Holy Spirit. We need the higher law ("the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus") setting us free from the lower law ("the law of sin and death").

Again, what is our responsibility in this? We are to relate to the Lord in humility and faith. Humility can develop as we agree with our Lord that "the law of sin and death" characterizes our flesh (our best natural resources). Faith can be exercised as we look to our Lord to demonstrate that "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."

Dear Lord Jesus,You alone can supply the life I am called to live. I humbly agree with Your word that my resources are marred by a tendency to sin. I gladly trust in Your Holy Spirit to increasingly liberate me from my the defeat of living by my flesh. I thank You in advance for the faithful ways You will answer this prayer. Lord Jesus, live in and through me by the power of Your Spirit, Amen.

"Live in and through me by the power of Your Spirit" because I can not do it by myself.  The indwelling, infilling of the Holy Spirit is the true Christian life.  May you find Joy in your  quest for this spiritual Peace.  In humility and faith we have all we require.

Today is a beautiful, warm Saturday where I am right now here in Bradenton, Florida.  February 26th, still winter in many parts of our great, huge country.  So it seems to me that what is real for me is not real for others.  A wonderful science program last night on the advances in computers stated that people can not sense or accept reality other than what they have at the moment.  I think that is one of the greatest things of our modern society... giving us more and more the capability to see, feel, taste, even live outside of our own immediate reality.  We see the turmoil in the world, we see the effects of climate change, we see the poverty of others, we can taste the many different foods of the world... and so it is with God, it seems to me.  


We become aware of God by His grace convicting us of His reality. Eventually we are led to a point where we are
"poor in spirit" and acknowledge that we need God's love.  God in his mercy then helps us as we "mourn" our lost state, wait, here it is in God's own words:



Mat 5:2  And He opened His mouth and taught them, saying, 
Mat 5:3  Blessed are the poor in spirit! For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. 
Mat 5:4  Blessed are they that mourn! For they shall be comforted. 
Mat 5:5  Blessed are the meek! For they shall inherit the earth. 
Mat 5:6  Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness! For they shall be filled. 
Mat 5:7  Blessed are the merciful! For they shall obtain mercy. 
Mat 5:8  Blessed are the pure in heart! For they shall see God. 
Mat 5:9  Blessed are the peacemakers! For they shall be called the sons of God. 
Mat 5:10  Blessed are they who have been persecuted for righteousness sake! For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. 
Mat 5:11  Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for My sake. 
Mat 5:12  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for your reward in Heaven is great. For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 
Mat 5:13  You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its savor, with what shall it be salted? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and to be trodden underfoot by men. 
Mat 5:14  You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 
Mat 5:15  Nor do men light a lamp and put it under the grain-measure, but on a lampstand. And it gives light to all who are in the house. 
Mat 5:16  Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven. 

One of my epiphanies is that this wonderful passage applies to each of our journeys to God... to reach God as He allows us to feel His Grace and Love.  You have to reach a "poor in spirit" point in your sorry state, that is you must acknowledge that you can not do this by yourself.

Then you must mourn, regret, grieve over your lost condition.

You then meekly, not with self pride or ego, go to Jesus.

Your hunger and thirst for salvation, truth, and love can only be fulfilled by the Holy Spirit's work in your heart... a change that allows you to Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  By the grace of God, and the loving work of the Holy Spirit you will be saved and cleansed and brought into the love of God.

Accept Jesus and you will have peace.  I didn't say you won't have troubles, but you will have Peace, within yourself and with God.  

Then you can be Merciful to others, treating them with love.

Then you can witness for Jesus through your changed life.

Then you can make peace instead of war and other human horrors.

But be ready for the world to attack you.  The world does not like God's children.  So you must walk in God's grace and love each moment of each day and night.  

May you be blessed to be His.  May you have God's love.

Be poor in spirit today, mourn your losses and lost way, hunger and thirst for salvation, ASK JESUS TO BE YOUR SAVIOR, and you will be filled.

God bless you always.

Friday Feb 25

So, February slips away.  A short month, with just 28 days.  A month of love - in all its manifestations.  
Now onto March... and the seasons tumble after each other.  
How are you doing?  I am hanging on, by the Grace of God!


Thoughts for today:

February 25


Walking in the Spirit
Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh . . . If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  (Gal_5:16, Gal_5:25)
The term "walk" is used dozens of times in the New Testament to describe the manner of life that a person is leading. Many of these occurrences depict the Christian life; for example, "walk in love . . .  walk as children of light . . .  walk circumspectly" (Eph_5:2, Eph_5:8, Eph_5:15). In our passages, we are told to "walk in the Spirit." 
Walking is a very insightful description of spiritual life. A walk has a beginning and a destination. Our beginning was in new birth: "born of the Spirit." (Joh_3:6). Our destination is heaven forever with our Lord and Savior: "And thus we shall always be with the Lord." (1Th_4:17). A good walk is steady and progressive. We are called to be faithful: "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Mat_25:21). We are called to press ahead: "forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal" (Phi_3:13-14). 
In addition, a walk has many potential adventures along the way. We are likely to encounter stretching challenges and paradoxical blessings: "in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness. . . as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things" (2Co_6:5, 2Co_6:10). 
Ultimately, a walk must have an available resource that provides sufficient vitality, strength, guidance, and assurance. Here, our passages offer special hope through the injunction to "walk in the Spirit." Day by day, each step of the way, we are to rely upon the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Every issue of life (whether at home, office, school, or church) is to be faced in this manner. Otherwise, the influence of our flesh (our natural humanity) will prevail. "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." We are not able ourselves to overcome the inadequacies and improper tendencies of the flesh. However, the Holy Spirit is more than able to become our sufficient provider of whatever we need for an effective and fruitful walk. 
This perspective on Christian living makes complete biblical sense, when we connect our daily walk to how we found spiritual life in the first place. "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit," It was strictly by the work of the Spirit that we received life initially; therefore, let's take each step of life "[walking] in the Spirit."
Lord God Almighty, I am so weak and so easily enticed in my flesh. I cannot produce what is needed for the spiritual walk to which I am called. O Lord, I cry out to You for the indispensable work of Your Spirit within me. Lord, teach me to walk day by day by the grace that Your Spirit alone can provide, Amen.

Wishing for you the blessings of God's Spirit!

Make it a great day!

Thursday Feb 24

If we seek answers only within ourselves, we will come up empty for sure.
Where can we get help and guidance? By prayer and yielding to the loving, guiding grace of God, through the blessings of the Holy Spirit!




February 24


SONGS FROM A DUST-HEAP!
"Thy dead shall live!" "Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs."-- Isa_26:19.


THIS CHEERY summons to awake and sing is addressed to those who dwell in the dust! The world is filled with them--those who dwell in the dark cells of disappointed love and faith, or who have failed in their life's purpose, or who, like Bartimaeus, are blind and reduced to beggary. Hope has been painted as blind-folded, her head downcast, her lyre broken in her hand. Sitting on the axis of the earth, which is making its difficult way through the storm and cloud, she presses to her ear the one unbroken string, as though catching at the music of a better time. It is thus that in many lives string after string has become broken and failed, and they have come down to sit in the dust of death and despair.
It may be that you have lost all sense of God's nearness and love--not because of any known sin, but through physical weakness, mental exhaustion, or the loneliness of sorrow and suffering. It may be that you have been seeking an experience of God, instead of God Himself. You have been seeking Him without, whilst He is within.
It may be that you are perplexed by the mystery of unanswered prayer. "O my God, I cry in the day-time, and Thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent." Yet no answer comes back from the Infinite, and your prayers seem like vessels lost at sea.
It may be that your life has not realised its early ideals. As the years go forward they carry us into disillusionment and heart-break. Life has its prizes and rewards, but they are not for us!
To all such we pass on Isaiah's words: "Awake and sing, for thy dew is as the dew of light." The dew is used here of the grace and love of God. Instead of dust there will be dew, which steals so gently and silently over the earth. The more dry and sapless a patch is, the more tenderly does the dew caress it! Even to graveyards it extends its gracious operations, bidding them awake and sing with the certainty of Resurrection.
Sing! because your moods, which the Psalmist called "down-sittings," do not affect your standing in Christ. We are all subject to fits of despondency. "The Lord hath chastened me sore, but He has not given me over unto death. Open to me the gates of joy, that I may enter into them, and praise the Lord!"


PRAYER
We thank Thee that many evils that we dreaded have not come to us. Storms have expended themselves outside the circle of our lives. Thy mercy has been greater than our sin, Thy supplies larger than our need, Thy grace more abundant than the pressure of temptation. AMEN.

Truly it could be much worse.  I thank God for His Grace and Blessings.  Do YOU?

Wednesday Feb 23

February 23


Morning
“I will never leave thee.”
- Heb_13:5
No promise is of private interpretation. Whatever God has said to any one saint, he has said to all. When he opens a well for one, it is that all may drink. When he openeth a granary- door to give out food, there may be some one starving man who is the occasion of its being opened, but all hungry saints may come and feed too. Whether he gave the word to Abraham or to Moses, matters not, O believer; he has given it to thee as one of the covenanted seed. There is not a high blessing too lofty for thee, nor a wide mercy too extensive for thee. Lift up now thine eyes to the north and to the south, to the east and to the west, for all this is thine. Climb to Pisgah’s top, and view the utmost limit of the divine promise, for the land is all thine own. There is not a brook of living water of which thou mayst not drink. If the land floweth with milk and honey, eat the honey and drink the milk, for both are thine. Be thou bold to believe, for he hath said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”In this promise, God gives to his people everything. “I will never leave thee.” Then no attribute of God can cease to be engaged for us. Is he mighty? He will show himself strong on the behalf of them that trust him. Is he love? Then with lovingkindness will he have mercy upon us. Whatever attributes may compose the character of Deity, every one of them to its fullest extent shall be engaged on our side. To put everything in one, there is nothing you can want, there is nothing you can ask for, there is nothing you can need in time or in eternity, there is nothing living, nothing dying, there is nothing in this world, nothing in the next world, there is nothing now, nothing at the resurrection-morning, nothing in heaven which is not contained in this text-”I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”


In the end, what more could we ask for than God's perfect love and grace?  Nothing else satisfies!


Lord give me they grace today to know you are with me everywhere and in everything.