Sadly, this topic is probably the most contentious and divisive in the body of Christ today, yet it should not be so.  All one needs to do is go back to Satan’s temptation of Eve in the Garden of Eden and it can easily be seen who is in the business of offering updated and alternative interpretation/translation of what God said.

Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

2 Corinthians 11:3-4
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Now we know that God has preserved His Words because the following passage says so.

Psalm 12:6-7
6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

But did God only preserve His Words for us in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, as originally penned?  Are only the original languages the inspired Words of God as many say?

Isaiah 28:9-11
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

Since God has indeed preserved His Words for all generations, why then does one Bible say something totally different from another?  For example, take the account of Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah.  In Genesis 22:2 the King James Bible tells us that God told Abraham to offer his son Isaac, whereas modern versions say God told him to sacrifice his son.  So which one is right?  Both cannot be right as there is a big difference between offering someone and sacrificing them.  Do we believe the King James Bible that gives us a typology picture in this story of God sacrificing His only Begotten Son Jesus for our sins, or do we believe the new versions that put God on the same level as the pagan gods, Baal and Molech, who demanded child sacrifices.  And since modern versions of the Bible are most often read and referenced by Christians and skeptics alike, is it any wonder so many people now view God as a tyrant?

As we continue reading this account, we find another discrepancy.  In Genesis 22:8 the King James reads “God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering” whereas modern versions change the order of wording here.  Some say “God himself will provide the lamb“, others say “God will provide for himself the lamb”.  Now at a quick glance, this appears harmless but given a closer look, we see it is not so.  You see, God not only provided a lamb for the offering, He provided Himself as the offering for atonement of our sins, which is precisely how the King James renders this passage.  And further, God does not need to make an offering for Himself as He is sinless.  We are the ones in need of a sacrifice for our sins, not God!  The language structure of the King James Bible beautifully preserves the doctrine of atonement in this passage, but the modern versions have subtly removed reference to God being our sacrificial lamb.  Can you see the serpent’s poison here?  And these are just two examples; there are thousands more.

I used to wonder what it would be like if our Bibles were taken away.  I now believe that may never need to happen as most Christians have already willingly surrendered the pure preserved Words of God in the English language and embraced what we have been told are better translations.  The following passage is being fulfilled right before our eyes and is further evidence we are nearing the end of these last days.

Amos 8:11-12
11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

Now before you listen to this very important message, you may want to read what other listeners had to say.  Feel free to click on each comment to enlarge the print.

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, please make time to listen to this very important message and test these things yourself.

1 Thessalonians 5:21-23
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Bible Versions Controversy EXPLAINED  (click title for message)

Source: ‘The Underground Christian Network’                                                                  Posted: August 2005  Duration: 1:53 min.

In simple words, this message explains dangerous trends and teachings in the so called ‘modern versions’ of the Bible.  It takes you through the NIV, NASV, NRSV, NKJV, etc. and lets you see with your own eyes the things they DELETED from the Bible, the anti-Christian doctrines added to the ‘new versions’, and also the occult teachings added.  A MUST HEAR for all Christians.

Until That Day…

Proverbs 30:5-6
5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Revelation 22:18-19
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

[All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Bible]

Death and dying are very much a fact of life, yet most people would rather not think or talk about it.  Others believe the lie that this life is all we have so live it to the fullest cause once we die it’s over and we will rest in peace.  However, the Living God, our Creator, says this is not the case.  Although our present bodies will grow old, die, and return to the dust of the earth from which they were formed, our spirits live on and every one of us will stand before God one day and give an account of our lives.

To those who have received God’s pardon for their sins through faith in the shed blood of His own dear Son, this will be a glorious day when they meet Jesus Christ their Lord and Saviour face to face, and are welcomed to their everlasting home with Him in heaven.  To those who have ignored or rejected God’s great gift of Salvation, this will be a terrifying day when they stand before Jesus Christ, their creator and judge, and are condemned to everlasting torment in hell.

Everyone of us are going to live forever in either heaven or hell and if you do not know with certainty that you will be ushered into heaven when you die, now is the time to choose life as you may not have another opportunity tomorrow.  Do not be fooled by thinking you have a lot of time to get right with God, or that you will do so when you are old or on your death bed; such is not always the case.  Life is both fragile and fleeting and today many in my community are in shock and mourning as a teen was tragically killed this past week while listening to music through ear buds and walking home on the railroad tracks.  Please pray for his family and friends as they grieve the sudden loss of their dear loved one.

2 Corinthians 6:2
(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

James 4:14
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Yes, we will all see Jesus face to face one day and this meeting will be glorious for all who have been saved by the precious blood He shed on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.

Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892) once said the following in describing this event…

“Christ is the chariot in which souls are drawn to heaven.  The people of the Lord are on their way to heaven; they are carried in everlasting arms; and those arms are the arms of Christ.  Christ is carrying them up to his own house, to his own throne; by-and-by his prayer, “Father, I will that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am”, shall be wholly fulfilled.  The cross is the great covenant transport which will weather out the storms and reach its desired heaven.  This is the chariot, the pillars wherewith are of gold; it is lined with the purple of the atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

What A Day That Will Be

 There is coming a day,
When no heart aches shall come,
No more clouds in the sky,
No more tears to dim the eye,
All is peace forever more,
On that happy golden shore,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

Chorus:
What a day that will be,
When my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand,
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

There’ll be no sorrow there,
No more burdens to bear,
No more sickness, no pain,
No more parting over there;
And forever I will be,
With the One who died for me,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

 ~ Words & Music ~ Jim Hill

Until That Day…

Revelation 21:3-5
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

[All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Bible]

I am thankful for Christian heritage on both sides of my family and have especially been thinking of one grandmother in particular as two years ago today, she went home to be with her Lord at the age of 94.  Many of us gathered around her bedside and sang hymns as she drew her last breath and peacefully passed from this world into heaven.  The presence of the Lord was so sweet in that room and this experience has had a strong impact on me and in how I view deaths of those who love the Lord Jesus.

Psalm 116:15
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Baba lived an ordinary life and was simply a housewife but really, she was much more than that and the legacy she has left behind in spiritual and everyday things is truly a heritage of the Lord.  By example, she taught us the value of hard work but most of all, to commit every aspect of our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ.

In speaking of her childhood, Baba often shared how one day a man stopped by their farm and gave her father a Polish Bible.  They wondered who the man was, where he came from, and how he knew to bring them a Bible in their native language.  But God knew, and it was through reading this Bible that my great-grandfather and family were converted and fully committed their lives to serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

So today, as I reminisce, I just want to share some fond memories of Grandma and how she has influenced the lives of her grandchildren.  Perhaps some of you share similar memories of your own dear grandmothers as well.

Psalm 127:3
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Our Memories of Baba

Family gatherings at Baba and Gedo’s house were always highly anticipated events.  When playing ‘Snap’ and ‘Old Maid’ got boring, there was always ‘Hide & Seek’.  Baba’s house had the best hiding places, except for the two ‘scary’ places!  One was the upstairs crawl space.  We remember the strong smell of wood that greeted us when we opened the door, but it was just a little too dark in there for most of us to venture in very far.  The other scary place was the potato bin.  It was also very dark in there and we had been warned about the big, deep hole in that room.  So if Baba needed potatoes, she had to retrieve them herself! 

Some of us can still hear the squeak of the heavily-laden wicker basket of wet clothes that she hauled up the stairs to hang on the line off her balcony.  Others remember that balcony as a look-out tower where one could see for miles.

Many of us loved to play dress-up with the assortment of old clothes stored in a trunk in the basement.  We also helped ourselves to clothes that were in a cabinet, as well as to fancy outfits we found in the hanging wardrobes.  To this day, some of us wonder if the dresses in those wardrobes were Baba’s off-season clothes.  If they were, we never got in trouble for playing with them!

Baba was an awesome seamstress.  We have memories of standing on her kitchen table while being fitted with pieces of paper and fabric and in no time at all, we had a beautiful new outfit to wear.  Baba also designed and sewed many outfits for our dolls and she took as much care and attention to details on those doll clothes as she did on our own.  It was always extra special when she made our dolls outfits from the same fabric as our own new outfits.

Food ALWAYS tasted better at Baba’s house; especially her browned flour gravy, freshly made donuts, and rhubarb/strawberry pies.  Often we would sneak a bit of crust off those pies she kept stored in her pots and pans cupboard.  Those of us who were really good at it also managed to get a bit of filling at the same time!   Wonder if she ever knew it was our fingers in those pies or if she thought there were mice in her cupboard!  The juice she made, with just a package of ‘Kool-aid’, 1/3 cup of sugar and lots of water, was the BEST thirst quencher.  It wasn’t until some of us learned to read that we discovered the recipe actually called for ONE CUP of sugar to 8 cups of water!  To this day, many of us prefer ‘watered-down’  juice with very little sweetener.  Her freezer in the sun porch was never off-limits to us and was always well stocked with ‘Popsicles’, ‘Creamsicles’, ‘Revels’ and pails of ice-cream.

Another place Baba kept well stocked was her medicine cabinet.  She was prepared for ANY medical emergency with a never-ending supply of band-aids and her trusted bottle of iodine!  After experiencing the sting from the pink liquid in that bottle, we quickly learned that maybe it was best if Baba didn’t find out about our newest cut or scrape… But somehow she always did!

Vacations at the farm were never boring.  There was always plenty of time to play, but there was also work to be done.  Baba knew that some of us loved to drive the old green ‘three-on-the-tree’ pickup (before we had our licenses of course!), so she came up with a plan.  If we agreed to clean the chicken barn, THEN we could drive the truck to the barn and out to the field to empty the manure.   It seemed like a pretty fair deal to us!

We remember listening to the clock chime throughout the night on our many sleep-overs and no sooner had we fallen asleep when Baba would be at the bottom of the stairs calling us for breakfast.  We would ignore her for awhile and try to go back to sleep, but that never worked.  It didn’t matter to her that we were on summer break; there was no sleeping in at her house!  We’re pretty sure Baba never used an alarm clock… she had a rooster instead!

Speaking of roosters, everyone, including our parents, knew that Baba had the MEANEST rooster in the county but that didn’t get any of us off the hook from picking eggs!  Baba gave us a big stick and showed us how to let that old rooster know who was boss and after that, we came out of the chicken coop with very few cracked eggs.

Chickens really were Baba’s thing and butchering days were a highlight.  Baba always took the time to teach us the fine art of plucking pin-feathers and cleaning gizzards.  She even showed some of us how tasty boiled chicken feet were!  As we got older, she let some of us test our skills at the chopping block with her trusted axe but for some reason, we were never able to get the job done quite as well as Baba!

Baba enjoyed ice fishing and could scale and clean a fish faster than anyone.  She also knew how to trap pesky pigeons that moved into buildings where they were unwelcome.

Baba had a huge garden and we especially loved the rows and rows of raspberries.  She taught us the CORRECT way to pick berries by tying an ice-cream pail around our waists with a strip of cloth.  That way our hands were free to lift branches or we could pick with both hands.  To this day, this is how some of us still pick raspberries.  When in season, there was always a vase of lilacs or peonies on the kitchen table and the sight and smell of geraniums will always remind us of her.

Besides making sure us girls wore our ‘shirties’ and kept our slippers on in the house, Baba had a very strict hair rule; it must NEVER be in our eyes.  It was to be pinned back or out came the scissors.  Our pets were not exempt from this rule either!

In later years, Baba enjoyed making crafts.  One day one of the granddaughters showed her the stuffed wiener dog she had made in school and in no time at all, a whole litter of stuffed dogs made their way out of Baba’s sewing room and into our homes.  Apparently they were supposed to be door draft-stoppers but we found they worked quite well as indoor bats and pounding clubs!  We also remember the many bean-bag frogs she sewed, as well as the framed peacock pictures she made out of Styrofoam trays and egg cartons.  Baba really was ahead of her time when it came to recycling!

All of us spent a lot of time on the tire swing by Baba’s house.  Her trees were also the best to climb and build forts in.  Besides all the old buildings and broken down vehicles and machinery to play in, there was also the pellet gun to shoot. 

We are thankful for the times she came to our rescue; like when the dog accidentally got run over by the golf cart we were driving, or when some of us ‘accidentally’ played with the hose on the large fuel tank and gasoline spilled on the cat!

We loved the chocolate bars she gave us; even those ‘Eatmores’ that got stuck in our teeth and to the roof of our mouths!  At Christmas time the nut bowl and cracker tubes filled with surprises had their place on her coffee table beside the box of ‘Pot of Gold’.  And the Christmas oranges she gave us were THREE TIMES the size they are now!

We all loved to sit in Baba’s rocking chair and every season was open season when it came to dibs on that chair as many battles were won and lost by us over it!  In reflecting on our memories of Baba, it seems rather fitting that her chair was the subject of such conflict as she always spent evenings in her rocking chair looking out the window to keep watch over the farm, reading her Bible, and praying for her family.  We know for sure that she won many battles on our behalf while quietly rocking in that chair!

Baba had a strong singing voice and could carry a tune very well, but when she prayed, she spoke in a whisper.  Sometimes we had to strain our ears to hear what she was saying but we caught the end of her prayers because she always closed with the phrase, “We’ll be careful to give You all the praise and glory, Amen”.  According to Baba, attending every church service and Bible study was not an option and those of us who spent Sunday afternoons at her house quickly learned that being on time for the evening service was far more important than watching the end of the ‘Walt Disney’ show!

In her later years, Baba often told us that she had served the Lord all her life.  She never stopped giving praise to her Lord and Saviour, even when her testimony struck a nerve in some of the other residents in the Nursing Home.  But you see, Baba wasn’t bragging, she was simply telling the truth.

The greatest inheritance we can pass on to our loved ones is a spiritual heritage as demonstrated through our own example in loving and serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

Until That Day…

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

[All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Bible]

The historic hymn ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’ was written by Reginald Heber to be sung on Trinity Sunday in the parish of Hodnet in western England.  He was vicar there in his family’s church from 1807 to 1823.

Heber was an uncommon man.  Born into a family of wealth and culture, he gave his life to the service of God both at home in England and far away in India.  Though he possessed unusual literary gifts and was a friend of Britain’s leading men of letters, his greatest ambition was to improve the hymn singing in his own church.

When Reginald Heber accepted the post of Bishop of Calcutta in 1823, it was the realization of a longtime, deep-seated interest in foreign missions.  As a bishop, Heber served a diocese that included much of the south Padtic.  For three years he traveled tirelessly from place to place, using his remarkable gifts to advance the work of the church in that distant area.

On April 3rd, 1826, Heber preached on the evils of the caste system before a large audience at Trichinopoly.  Afterwards, he went to cool off in the swimming pool at the home where he was staying.  Some time later, he was found drowned, the result of a stroke.  At the age of forty-three his brilliant life was ended and he was buried in the Anglican Church at Trichinopoly.  In 1875 the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) honored his memory by plating a tablet there.

After Heber’s unexpected death, his wife found this song amongst some of his writings and passed it on to noted musician John B. Dykes, who composed and arranged the hymn for publication.

Reginald Heber lived and worked at a time in history when his contemporaries in English literature were becoming aware of the beauty of words and of poetic structure.  The romantic movement of that day added a new dimension of elegance and lyric grace to Christian worship.  This characteristic is never more evident than in Heber’s hymn ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’ which Lord Tennyson said was the greatest in the English language.

The powerful phrases of the hymn declared the attributes of the Triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Heber shows his mastery of poetic design in composing each verse to re-emphasize the doctrine of the Trinity by using a ‘trinity of words’ to say something about God.

Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and Mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, Holy, Holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Which wert and art, and evermore shalt be.

Holy, Holy, Holy! Tho’ the darkness hide Thee,
Tho’ the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see,
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea,
Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and Mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!

~ Lyrics ~ Reginald Heber (1783-1826) ~ Music ~ John B. Dykes (1823-1876)

Until That Day…

Revelation 4
1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

[All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Bible]

The Church Walking With The World

A Poem By Matilda C Edwards

The Church and the World walked far apart
On the changing shores of time,
The World was singing a giddy song,
And the Church a hymn sublime.

“Come, give me your hand,” said the merry World,
“And walk with me this way!”
But the faithful Church hid her gentle hands
And solemnly answered “Nay!

I will not give you my hand at all,
And I will not walk with you;
Your way is the way that leads to death;
Your words are all untrue.”

“Nay, walk with me but a little space,”
Said the World with a kindly air;
“The road I walk is a pleasant road,
And the sun shines always there.

Your path is thorny and rough and rude,
But mine is broad and plain;
My way is paved with flowers and dews,
And yours with tears and pain.

The sky above me is always blue,
No want, no toil I know;
The sky above you is always dark,
Your lot is a lot of woe.

My path, you see, is a broad, fair one
And my gate is high and wide;
There’s room enough for you and me
To travel side by side.”

Half shyly the Church approached the World
And gave him her hand of snow;
And the old World quick grasped it and walked along,
Saying, in accents low:

“Your dress is too simple to please my taste;
I will give you pearls to wear,
Rich velvets and silks for your graceful form,
And diamonds to deck your hair.”

The Church looked down at her plain white robes,
And then at the dazzling World,
And blushed as she saw his handsome lip
With a smile contemptuous curled.

“I will change my dress for a costlier one,”
Said the Church, with a smile of grace;
Then her pure white garments drifted away,
And the World gave, in their place,

Beautiful satins and shining silks,
Roses and gems and costly pearls;
While over her forehead her bright hair fell
Crisped in a thousand curls.

“Your house is too plain,” said the proud old World,
“I’ll build you one like mine;
With walls of marble and towers of gold,
And furniture ever so fine.”

So he built her a costly and beautiful house;
Most splendid it was to behold;
Her sons and her beautiful daughters dwelt there
Gleaming in purple and gold.

Rich fairs and shows in the halls were held,
And the World and his children were there.
Laughter and music and feasts were heard
In the Place that was meant for Prayer.

There were cushioned seats for the rich and the gay,
To sit in their pomp and pride;
While the poor folk, who were clad in shabby array,
Sat meekly down outside.

The Angel of Mercy flew over the Church,
And whispered, “I know thy sin”:
Then the Church looked back with a sigh and longed
To gather her children in;

But some were off at the midnight ball,
And some were off at the play,
And some were drinking in gay saloons,
So she quietly went her way.

Then the sly World gallantly said to her:
“Your children mean no harm,
Merely indulging in innocent sports”;
So she leaned on his proffered arm

And smiled and chatted and gathered flowers
As she walked along with the World;
While millions and millions of sorrowing souls
To eternal death were hurled.

“Your preachers are all too old and plain,”
Said the World to the Church with a sneer.
“They frighten my children with dreadful tales,
Which I like not for them to hear.

They talk of brimstone and fire and pain
And the night of an endless death;
They talk of a place which may only be
Mentioned with bated breath.

I will send you some of the better stamp
Brilliant and gay and fast
Who will tell them that people may live as they choose
And go to heaven at last.

The Father is merciful, great, and good,
Tender and true and kind;
Do you think He would take one child to heaven,
And leave the other behind?”

So he filled her house with gay divines
Gifted and great and learned
And the plain old men that preached the cross
Were out of her pulpits turned.

“You give too much to the poor,” said the World.
“Far more than you ought to do;
If the poor are in need of shelter and food,
Why need it trouble you?

Go, take your money and buy rich robes,
Buy horses and carriages fine;
Buy pearls and jewels and dainty food,
Buy the rarest and costliest wine.

My children, they dote on all these things,
And if you their love would win
You must do as they do, and walk in the ways
That they are walking in.”

Then the Church held tightly the strings of her purse
And gracefully lowered her head,
And whispered, “I’ve given too much away;
I’ll do, sir, as you have said.”

So the poor were turned from her door in scorn,
And she heard not the orphan’s cry;
But she drew her beautiful robes aside,
As the widows went weeping by.

Then the sons of the World and the Sons of the Church
Walked closely hand and heart,
And only the Master, who knoweth all,
Could tell the two apart.

Then the Church sat down at her ease, and said,
“I am rich and my goods increase;
I have need of nothing, or aught to do,
But to laugh, and dance, and feast.”

And the sly World heard her, and laughed up his sleeve,
And mockingly said, aside:
“The Church is fallen, the beautiful Church;
And her shame is her boast and her pride.”

The angel drew near to the mercy seat,
And whispered in sighs her name;
And the saints their anthems of rapture hushed,
Covered their heads in shame.

Then a Voice came down through the hush of heaven
From Him who sat on the throne:
“I know thy works, and how thou hast said,
‘I am rich,’ and hast not known

That thou art naked, poor and blind,
And wretched before my face;’
Therefore from my presence cast I thee out,
And blot thy name from its place.”

Best Loved Poems (Garden City, NY: Garden City Publishing, 1936), pages 345-347.
This poem was not listed among those that required reprint permission.

Until That Day…

1 John 2:15-17
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

[All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Bible]

Many people tend to think worship is only our times of singing unto the Lord as most churches refer to the musical portion of their services as praise and worship.  Yes, singing is worship, but only a part of it.  And what exactly does it mean to worship God in spirit and in truth?  Are we to enter an altered state or feel something in our flesh, as some teach, in order for our worship to be true and pleasing to God?

John 4:23-24
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

This past summer I heard one of the best illustrations of what it means to worship God in spirit and in truth as Michael Booth shared the story behind the song “She Still Remembers Jesus Name“; a tribute to his grandmother with Alzheimer’s.  Although she now no longer recognizes family and friends, she still knows who Jesus is because her spirit knows Him!

As I listened to him share, my thoughts drifted to my own grandmother who also had Alzheimer’s disease, and found the same had been true with her.  As her memory of us faded, she still knew who Jesus was and often spoke of Him.  I fondly remember hymn singing time at the nursing home and never understood why the staff bothered handing out song books as those dear people still remembered every word of the hymns they sang; even the third stanzas.

Often we tend to measure or rate worship by outward expressions displayed, but this is not right.  Many dear saints are no longer able to raise their hands in praise to God or kneel before the Lord in prayer.  Yet they have not forgotten that God has saved them and their act of worship is in fully trusting Him to carry them through to heaven.

Yes, worship is much more than singing.  Living everyday in thankfulness to God and obedience to His word is what the Father seeks and in doing so, we worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Until That Day…

Psalm 138:1-2
1 I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

[All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Bible]

My Jesus, I Love Thee

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say, when the death dew lies cold on my brow:
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow:
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

                                   ~ Lyrics ~ William Ralph Featherston (1846-1873)                                    ~ Composer ~ Adoniram Judson Gordon (1836-1895)

Hymn Story

This beloved hymn, which so profoundly expresses the believer’s love and gratitude to Christ, was written by a very young man named William Ralph Featherston. (at times spelled Featherstone)

William was born on July 23, 1846 in Montreal, Canada.  He was the son of John and Mary Featherston.  Ralph’s family were all members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Montreal.  It has been told that young Featherston penned the words to this lovely hymn at the time of his conversion experience, when he was sixteen years of age.

Though information about William Featherston is scarce, it is believed that after it was written he sent the text to his aunt Mrs. E. Featherston Wilson living in Los Angeles and she quickly asked for its publication.  The original copy of this much loved poem, in the author’s boyish handwriting, is still a cherished treasure in the family.  Strangely however, the hymn text appeared anonymously with a different tune in an English hymnal, The London Hymn Book, published in 1864.

A Protestant Minister once related the following story regarding this hymn to a large audience in one of the Rev. E. P. Hammond’s meetings in St. Louis.

“A young, talented and tender-hearted actress was passing along the street of a large city.  Seeing a pale, sick girl lying upon a couch just within the half-open door of a beautiful dwelling, she entered, with the thought that by her vivacity and pleasant conversation she might cheer the young invalid.  The sick girl was a devoted Christian, and her words, her patience, her submission and heaven-lit countenance, so demonstrated the spirit of her religion that the actress was led to give some earnest thought to the claims of Christianity, and was thoroughly convert­ed and became a true follower of Christ.  She told her father, the leader of the theatre troupe, of her conversion, and of her desire to abandon the stage, stating that she could not live a consistent Christian life and follow the life of an actress.  Her father was astonished beyond measure and told his daughter that their living would be lost to them and their business ruined if she persisted in her resolution.  Loving her father dearly, she was shaken somewhat in her purpose and partially consented to fill the published engagement to be met in a few days. She was the star of the troupe and a general favorite.  Every preparation was made for the play in which she was to appear.  The evening came and the father rejoiced that he had won back his daughter and that their living was not to be lost.  The hour arrived; a large audience had assembled.  The curtain rose and the young actress stepped forward firmly amid the applause of the multitude but an unwonted light beamed from her beautiful face.  Amid the breathless silence of the audience, she repeated:

‘My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.’

This was all.  Through Christ she had conquered, and leaving the audience in tears she retired from the stage, never to appear upon it again.  Through her influence, her father was converted and through their united evangelistic labours, many were led to God.”

Until That Day…

Matthew 22:37-38
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.

[All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Bible]

In describing conditions on earth just prior to Jesus’ return and set up of His kingdom, the Bible likens it to birth pains and in view of events presently unfolding in the Middle East and around the world, I cannot help but wonder if we are on the verge of moving into active labor in this process leading up to the day of the LORD.

Isaiah 13:6-9
6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt:
8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

I love how God uses comparison pictures in Scripture to give us understanding of His Word regarding things to come and if you recall from the post “Types and Shadows“, the little word “as” in the King James Bible is very important.  So by studying labor in the natural realm, we gain understanding of what is about to be brought forth through the nation of Israel in fulfillment of Bible prophecy in these last days.

Labor pains leading up to childbirth are classified in three stages; early labor, active labor and transition stage.

• Early labor is the longest of the three stages and it is the most unpredictable as often one is unsure if they are truly in labor.  For many women, early labor only brings mild discomfort and they are still able to continue with daily activities in this stage.

• Active labor is the time for the real work to begin.  During this stage, contractions get stronger, last longer and come closer together.  There is now no questioning whether one is in labor.  Near the end of active labor it may feel as though the contractions never completely disappear and it takes every effort to deal with the pain in this stage.

• Transition is the last part of active labor and although it may be very intense, the pain is now accompanied by an overwhelming urge to push.  This is pain with a purpose and nothing can stop this urge as it is now time for the baby to be born.

Early stages of last days labor began when Israel was regathered as a nation on May 14, 1948 and have continued until the present.  As early labor is lengthy and unpredictable, so has Israel faced many trials which have brought discomfort throughout the years but for the most part, they are still able to continue with daily activities in this stage.  They have not yet brought forth deliverance in the earth as is prophesied of them.

Isaiah 26:17-18
17 Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.
18 We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.

However, if current war rhetoric in the Middle East is any indicator, they will soon be moving into active labor where the real work of birthing begins.  Birth pangs are about to greatly increase in frequency, intensity and duration; culminating in the victorious return of Jesus with His Bride and the establishment of His everlasting kingdom in Jerusalem.

Matthew 24:6-8
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

The very fact that Israel has now been reestablished as a nation after nearly 2000 years is overwhelming evidence that God’s Word, the Bible, is true as no other nation that has been scattered has ever been regathered and reborn.  And despite what her enemies may think, God has not brought Israel this far to abandon her.

Isaiah 66:8-9
8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.

As I continued studying passages in Scripture regarding travail and childbirth, I discovered another phrase to add to our Bible typology list.  The phrase “daughter(s) of Jerusalem” and “daughter(s) of Zion” in the King James Bible refer to the remnant of present day regathered Israel!  Jesus came to Jerusalem/Zion the first time, and He is coming to the daughters of Jerusalem/Zion the second time, when they cry out in travail for Him.  I encourage you to study all the passages with these phrases and you will be amazed at how they now make sense and pertain to our present day; especially those often misinterpreted and misunderstood verses in Song of Solomon.

Micah 4:6-10
6 In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;
7 And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.
8 And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.
9 Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.
10 Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.

Labor and travail are going to increase with each passing day.  But it is pain with a purpose and it is not in vain on Israel’s part (Isaiah 65:23 “They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.”) or the church’s. (1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”)

Jesus tells us the generation which sees Israel regathered in their land will not pass away until all is fulfilled.  (Luke 21:31-32)  31) So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.  32) Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.  Time as we know it is drawing to a close.  Jesus is returning very soon.  Are you ready to meet Him?

Until That Day…

John 16:21
A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.

[All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Bible]

I was unable to complete the article I planned on posting last week.  There is a lot going on in my personal life at this time.  Please pray for my Dad as he has a life threatening health issue.  Dad is at peace about what he is going through and is ready to go home to be with the Lord if this is his time to go.  It is all in the Lord’s hands and His grace is sufficient.

His Grace Is Sufficient For Me

Many times I’m tried and tested
As I travel day by day.
`Oft I meet with pain and sorrow
And there’s trouble in the way.
But I have a sweet assurance
That my soul, the Lord will lead,
And in Him there is strength for every need.

CHORUS:
O, His grace is sufficient for me.
And His love is abundant and free.
And what joy fills my soul,
Just to know, just to know
That His grace is sufficient for me.

When the tempter brings confusion
And I don’t know what to do,
On my knees I turn to Jesus
For He’ll always see me through.
Then despair is changed to victory
Every doubt just melts away,
And in Him there is hope for everyday.

Repeat Chorus

And what joy fills my soul,
Just to know, just to know
That His grace is sufficient for me.

~ Lyrics & Music ~ Moshie Lister

Until That Day…

2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

[All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Bible]

The longer I walk with the Lord, the more I understand that the safest place for us to be is near the cross of Jesus Christ.  It was there we acknowledged our sinfulness and desperate need for a Savior, and it is there we continue to acknowledge our great need for God’s mercy and grace in our lives each and every day.

What Jesus accomplished on the cross on our behalf not only saves us, we are also kept safe from pride and self righteousness if we remain ever mindful of how sinful our flesh really is.  This way, God receives all the glory for any good that others see in us; we are weak but He is strong.

Galatians 6:14
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Near the Cross

Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain,
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calvary’s mountain.

Refrain:
In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever,
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning Star
Shed its beams around me.

Near the cross, O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadow o’er me.

Near the cross I’ll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.

                                            ~ Lyrics ~ Fanny J. Crosby (1820-1915)                                             ~ Music ~ William H. Doane (1832-1915)

Until That Day…

Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

[All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible]

Last week we were challenged to examine our relationship with God in the post “Bride or Harlot – Which One Are We?“  Today we will look at our relationships with others.  Do our words and actions line up with the Law of Love as found in the Scriptures?

Matthew 22:37-40
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Galatians 5:14
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Do we love others freely, expecting nothing in return; no strings attached?  Or do we only love people when they are kind to us; when certain conditions are met?

Matthew 5:43-48
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

It is easy to love those who are kind and good to us but it is much harder to love those who hurt us.  In fact, it is impossible to do so in own strength.  But God does not require something that is impossible to do and He is both willing and able to give us His love for others; all we need to do is ask.

Many times our greatest struggles to love unconditionally are toward our spouse and family members as we tend to have higher expectations of those we are close to.  Wounds received from them are very painful and run deep and oh how we love to make them pay for the wrongs they have done to us.  Yet if we would be completely honest with ourselves, we have also disappointed and hurt them; sometimes intentionally.  All of us are very much in need of God’s grace and forgiveness for things we say and do.

If you are presently in a difficult place in your relationship with someone, I encourage you to give it all to the Lord.  Ask Him to heal your heart and fill you with His love, compassion, mercy, grace and forgiveness for those who have hurt you.  I guarantee that you will be amazed at what God will do in and through you as you surrender this to Him.  Remember, God is in the business of healing broken hearts (Luke 4:18-19) and in my experience, He does a really good job of it.

Until That Day…

Ephesians 4:31-32
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

1 Corinthians 13:1-7, 13
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

[All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Bible]

I am still pondering the article by David Ryser from my last post and this week’s song goes hand in hand with it.

Search Me, O God

Search me, O God, and know my heart today;
Try me, O Saviour, know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from ev’ry sin and set me free.

I praise Thee, Lord, for cleansing me from sin;
Fulfill Thy Word and make me pure within.
Fill me with fire where once I burned with shame;
Grant my desire to magnify Thy name.

Lord, take my life and make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine.
Take all my will, my passion, self and pride;
I now surrender, Lord— in me abide.

O Holy Ghost, revival comes from Thee;
Send a revival— start the work in me.
Thy Word declares Thou wilt supply our need;
For blessings now, O Lord, I humbly plead.

                                              ~ Lyrics ~ J. Edwin Orr (1912-1987)                                                 ~ Composer ~ Maori Melody

Until That Day…

Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 26:2
Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

2 Corinthians 13:5a
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.

[All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Bible]

I came across this article several years ago.  The link where I found it is no longer there but the message lives on…

THE QUESTION THAT CHANGED MY LIFE         
-by David Ryser

A number of years ago, I had the privilege of teaching at a school of ministry.  My students were hungry for God, and I was constantly searching for ways to challenge them to fall more in love with Jesus and to become voices for revival in the Church.  I came across a quote attributed most often to Rev. Sam Pascoe.  It is a short version of the history of Christianity, and it goes like this:

Christianity started in Palestine as a fellowship;
  it moved to Greece and became a philosophy;
  it moved to Italy and became an institution;
  it moved to Europe and became a culture;
  it came to America and became an enterprise.

Some of the students were only 18 or 19 years old–barely out of diapers–and I wanted them to understand and appreciate the import of the last line, so I clarified it by adding, “An enterprise. That’s a business.”

After a few moments Martha, the youngest student in the class, raised her hand.  I could not imagine what her question might be. I thought the little vignette was self-explanatory, and that I had performed it brilliantly.  Nevertheless, I acknowledged Martha’s raised hand, “Yes, Martha.”

She asked such a simple question, “A business?  But isn’t it supposed to be a body?”

I could not envision where this line of questioning was going, and the only response I could think of was, “Yes.”

She continued, “But when a body becomes a business, isn’t that a prostitute?”

The room went dead silent.  For several seconds no one moved or spoke.  We were stunned, afraid to make a sound because the presence of God had flooded into the room, and we knew we were on holy ground.  All I could think in those sacred moments was,
“Wow, I wish I’d thought of that.”  I didn’t dare express that thought aloud.  God had taken over the class.

Martha’s question changed my life.  For six months, I thought about her question at least once every day.  “When a body becomes a business, isn’t that a prostitute?”

There is only one answer to her question.  The answer is “Yes.”

The North American Church, tragically, is heavily populated by people who do not love God. How can we love Him? We don’t even know Him; and I mean really know Him.

I stand by my statement that most North American Christians do not know God–much less love Him. The root of this condition originates in how we came to God.  Most of us came to Him because of what we were told He would do for us. We were promised that He would bless us in life and take us to heaven after death.  We married Him for His money, and we don’t care if He lives or dies as long as we can get His stuff.  We have made the Kingdom of God into a business, merchandising His anointing.

This should not be.  We are commanded to love God, and are called to be the Bride of Christ—that’s pretty intimate stuff.  We are supposed to be His lovers.  How can we love someone we don’t even know?  And even if we do know someone, is that a guarantee that we truly love them?  Are we lovers or prostitutes?

I was pondering Martha’s question again one day, and considered the question, “What’s the difference between a lover and a prostitute?” I realized that both do many of the same things, but a lover does what she does because she loves.  A prostitute pretends to love, but only as long as you pay.  Then I asked the question, “What would happen if God stopped paying me?”

For the next several months, I allowed God to search me to uncover my motives for loving and serving Him. 

   Was I really a true lover of God?
   What would happen if He stopped blessing me?
   What if He never did another thing for me? Would I still love Him?

Please understand—I believe in the promises and blessings of God. The issue here is not whether God blesses His children; the issue is the condition of my heart.  Why do I serve Him?  Are His blessings in my life the gifts of a loving Father, or are they a wage that I have earned or a bribe/payment to love Him?  Do I love God without any conditions?  

It took several months to work through these questions. Even now I wonder if my desire to love God is always matched by my attitude and behavior.  I still catch myself being disappointed with God and angry that He has not met some perceived need in my life. I suspect this is something which is never fully resolved, but I want more than anything else to be a true lover of God.

So what is it going to be?  Which are we—lover or prostitute?

There are no prostitutes in heaven, or in the Kingdom of God for that matter, but there are plenty of former prostitutes in both places. 

Until That Day…

Matthew 7:21-23
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

[All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Bible]

Blessed Assurance

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Saviour am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

                                            ~ Lyrics ~ Fanny J. Crosby (1820-1915)                                             ~ Music ~ Phoebe P. Knapp (1839-1908)

Hymn Story

It might seem unlikely that a blind writer of hymns living in a slum and a wealthy woman living in a mansion would have anything in common –– but Fanny Crosby, the blind hymn writer, was a humble woman with a number of distinguished friends.  Grover Cleveland, who later became President of the United States, met Fanny Crosby as a young man, and they became lifelong friends.

 The friend in the mansion was Phoebe Knapp, the daughter of a Methodist evangelist.  When she was just sixteen years old, Phoebe married Joseph Fairchild Knapp, a young man who went on to found the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.  The Knapps worshiped at the John Street Methodist Church in lower Manhattan, which is where Fanny Crosby also worshiped –– and so a friendship was born.  Phoebe, the wealthy matron, often invited Fanny, the blind hymn writer, to her palatial home. 

 Phoebe enjoyed music, and had a music room furnished with a collection of musical instruments.  During one of Fanny’s visits, Phoebe invited her to the music room, where Phoebe sat down at the keyboard and played a tune that she had written.  “What does that say,” she asked?  Fanny clapped her hands in delight and said, “That says, ‘Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!’”  And so a hymn was born. 

 During her lifetime, Fanny Crosby wrote eight thousand hymns, many of which became famous –– but “Blessed Assurance” just might be the most famous of all.

Copyright 2008, Richard Niell Donovan

Until That Day…

Ephesians 1:10-14
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

[All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Bible]

God already knows how weak and frail we are and how desperately we are in need of His mercy and grace each and every day.  However, it is us who need to learn this lesson.

Psalm 39:4-7
4 LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.
5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
7 And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.

The world teaches us that we must simply try harder to be good whereas God tells us “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).  In and of ourselves it is impossible to obey and please God but oh how hard we try!  Our “spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41) and this struggle between spirit and flesh will continue as long as we are on earth.  But God has a remedy, and our victory in this battle only comes when we are led by His Spirit, not our flesh.

Galatians 5:16-18
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

When we finally come to the place of surrendering our struggles to God, He will then give us His strength to both will and do what is right and pleasing to Him.  

Philippians 2:13
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

I do not know about you, but I very much need God’s mercy and help in many areas of my life and am thankful that with the Lord, every day is a new beginning; a clean slate.

Lamentations 3:21-23
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

I am not sure what 2012 has in store for us but I do know what God has prepared for those who love Him (John 14:1-3).  And it will be more than worth it all!

Until That Day…

Psalm 51:10-13
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

[All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Bible]

Matthew 16:24-26
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

If you have not read “Foxe’s Book of Martyrs” I would encourage you to do so as it is a huge eye opener and incredible faith builder.  I recommend an updated version because Middle English, as penned by John Foxe in 1563, is very difficult to read and understand.  The copy rewritten by Harold J. Chadwick and published in 2001 by Bridge-Logos is good and has also been expanded to include recent martyrs in the 21st century.

Persecution has a way of separating true Christians from those who only give lip service to Jesus and I have often wondered how I would hold up if put to such a test.  But this much I do know; God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9-10), He will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6) and whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Romans 14:8).

                                          I Pledge Allegiance To The Lamb                                           (Click title for the stirring video that accompanies this song)

I have heard how Christians long ago
Were brought before a tyrant’s throne
And they were told that he would spare their lives
If they would renounce the name of Christ
But one by one they chose to die
The Son of God they would not deny
Like a great angelic choir sings
I can almost hear their voices ring

I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength
With all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

Now the years have come and the years have gone
But the cause of Jesus still goes on
And now our time has come to count the cost
To reject this world, to embrace the cross
And one by one let us live our lives
For the One who died to give us life
Till the trumpet sounds on the final day
Let us proudly stand and boldly say

I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength
With all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

To the Lamb of God who bore my pain
Who took my place, who wore my shame
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

~ Lyrics and Music ~ Ray Boltz

Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Blessings to you in 2012 and keep looking up; Jesus is coming soon!

Until That Day…

Romans 8:35-39
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Bible]

Ecclesiastes 2:24
There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

Often we are in such a hurry or get so caught up with the big things in life that we overlook the beauty in little things God places right in front of us each day; all for our good pleasure.

So in this attitude of praise and thanksgiving, I will close out the year by simply sharing some beauty in everyday things as captured through the lens of my camera.  May we always remember to give thanks unto God for the many blessings He gives to us each day; a beautiful sunrise or sunset, birds singing sweetly, the fragrance after a gentle rain, the delicate beauty of flowers, a sparkling blanket of snow, a kind word spoken, a helping hand extended, a reassuring hug, and so much more.

Feel free to click the play button on the audio player as you browse through my gallery.  You may also click on each image for enlargement.  Be blessed!

Until That Day…

Numbers 6:24-26
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

[All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Bible]

• Do they really know why God took on flesh and came to earth as a babe in a manger?
• Do they understand that Jesus came down from Heaven with the sole purpose of taking our filthy sins upon Himself; that He willingly surrendered His life on the cross as payment for our sins so that we could be made right with God and now become His children?
• Do they know this same Jesus then rose from the dead three days later; victorious over sin and death?
• Do they really know how much Jesus loves them and that He asks them to “Come, follow Me“?
• Do they understand this same Jesus is returning one day soon as King of Kings and Lord of Lords; ruler over all creation?

Do you know this Jesus and is He the Savior and Lord of your life?

Mary, Did You Know?

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you’ve delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby, you’ve kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you’re holding is the great I AM.

                                                          ~ Lyrics ~ Mark  Lowry                                                           ~ Music ~ Buddy Greene

Until That Day…

Matthew 1:18-23
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

[All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Bible]

Pictures and slogans are powerful tools used to broadcast messages to the masses.  However, this symbolism also exposes the “driving force” behind any movement or organization.  Now with this understanding, do you suppose it is a coincidence the “Occupy” movement chose this particular image depicting a woman riding a beast; much like how the Bible describes “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT”?

Revelation 17:3-6

3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

Although the devil does all his dirty work in secret, because he is filled with pride he cannot resist bragging about what he is up to.  And one of the ways he does this is through slogans and symbolism.  However God, through His Word the Bible, always exposes Satan’s plans and gives us understanding regarding these things.  I encourage you to read Job 41 to learn more about the pride of our enemy leviathan and how he operates.

2 Corinthians 2:11
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

As Christians, we need to be watchful and in prayer regarding the “Occupy” movement because the spirit that is behind it is “drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.”  And we are even now beginning to see signs of this hatred rearing its ugly head through this “revolution“.

If you recall from the post “Types and Shadows“, ungodly women in the Bible give us understanding of how “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” operates.  Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the following passage well describes how this “harlot” is presently at work “seducing” people “void of understanding” into joining her “Occupy” movement.

Proverbs 7:4-15
4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
11(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.  (Underline mine)

Constance Cumbey has been warning the church by exposing the New Age Movement since the early 1980′s and she sees many parallels between it and the Occupy Movement.  A visit to her blog will provide more understanding on this correlation.

Without a doubt, these are interesting times we are living in and it is truly astounding to see Bible prophecy unfolding before our very eyes on a daily basis.  Nevertheless, I am thankful we can depend on God’s Word as our source of truth for understanding not only this “Occupy” movement, but everything else that is going on in these last days.

Until That Day…

Mark 4:22-23
22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

[All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Bible]

The Midnight Cry

I hear the sound of a mighty rushing wind
And it’s closer now than it’s ever been
I can almost hear the trumpet as Gabriel sounds the call
At the midnight cry, we’ll be going home!

I look around me I see prophecies fulfilled
Signs of the times they’re appearing everywhere
I can almost see the Father as He says, “Son, go get my children”
At the midnight cry, the Bride of Christ will rise!

When Jesus steps out on a cloud to call His children
The dead in Christ shall rise to meet Him in the air
And then those that remain shall be quickly changed
At the midnight cry, we’ll be going home!

~ Lyrics & Music ~ Greg Day and Chuck Day

Song Story

Greg Day has captivated the heart of the Southern Gospel/Christian community and compels songwriters to excellence. He co-wrote the award winning song, The Midnight Cry with his brother Chuck. It became the most recorded Christian/Gospel sing in the history of gospel music.

Greg’s story parallels the prodigal son’s life. Although he started out in the church singing southern gospel with his family, The Day Family, they traveled cross country ministering in song. Searching for himself, Greg enlisted in the United States Air Force at the age of eighteen. After making many bad decisions and running from God, Greg recognized he had become an alcoholic. Realizing he had hit rock bottom and longing for ‘home’ Greg called a minister at 1:30 in the morning in a drunken and despair state and the minister reached out to him and led him to the Lord. He finally had peace like never before and he has never looked back. Greg’s brother also became a believer about the same time.

Greg’s Mother ask them to attend a revival at her church which the visiting minister had fasted for many days on bread and water praying he could get the message out to the world about the sermon, The Midnight Cry. Greg’s gift of song writing was born and the inspiration for the song, The Midnight Cry was conceived. At age 23, Greg and his brother Chuck went home that night and wrote their first song, The Midnight Cry. The minister’s prayer was answered and The Midnight Cry has been sung in many languages, groups, choirs and countries and was also used in the Left Behind movie. God has inspired Greg to write hundreds of songs since that time and he gives all the praise to his redeemer.

Until That Day…

Revelation 22:17, 20, 21
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

[All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Bible]