Are Our Difficulties Obstacles?

"A difficulty may be a real one, but it is only for the unbelief of hearts that it is an obstacle, if on the path of God's will; for faith reckons upon God, and performs that which He wills, and difficulties are as nothing before Him."

JND Synopsis, vol. 2, p.543 on Haggai

Eternity

"Live for eternity. A few more days and our journey is done."

Extract from Christian Truth, vol. 24, March 1971, p. 62

Bruce and I have been enjoying a book on the universe - Hubble - A Journey Through Space and Time . We're mostly looking at the pictures (my kind of book!) We are both amazed at the vastness and beauty of God's creation and marvel at the power it is taking to uphold it all. Why then are we afraid that the Lord of creation will not take care of our lives? After all, He is in control. And He will bring us safely home, at last. Creation doesn't compare with eternity, though. What will it like to be there?

Redemption by Blood Through Faith

"Redemption by blood is known by faith when accomplished, whether by the Jew or the Christian... The knowledge of eternal redemption is Christian knowledge or that of the Jews when they 'look on Him whom they pierced' " (JND?)

"Comforted of God"

God must aquaint His comforters with grief,

Else have their words the tinkling cymbal sound;

He first who brought the wounded heart relief,

Himself lay stricken, bleeding on the ground.

The eagle, mounting high with sunlit wings,

Fears not the random dart the heedless marksman flings.

Oh! there is truth surpassing mortal ken,

That God, through suffering, teacheth to His own;

Yea, glories unperceived by faithless men,

Too vast for Faith herself to view alone,

Thrice happy who, in frequent tears and pain

Those blissful heights, step after step, with Him may gain.

Why should this human heart, instinct with love,

Expect an answer in the stranger-land?

Enough to have a full response above;

Enough that One its way can understand.

Let love on earth her wealth in streamlets spend;

Its depths are all reserved for one Celestial Friend.

From "Comforted of God"

compiled by A. J. Pollock

Gathered

I love the truth of gathering and like to hear more about it. I don't tire of it because every time I hear more it gets solidified that much more in my mind that the Lord Jesus is still doing a work today to gather ones to His name alone. The fact that we are in the last days and in remnant times makes it easier to understand why the gathered saints are so small. He is NOT seeking to gather every last Christian on the face of the earth to His name although His desire is that all are there. The Christian testimony is in such ruin that He cannot identify with it in power. What is overwhelming to me is that He has drawn me there when He could have chosen someone else just as easily. Put it this way. The same grace that saved me ("plucked me from the burning") is the same grace that chose me to be gathered to His Name! He is pleased to have me there but if I don't want to be there He will choose someone else. He will have a testimony to His Name til He comes.

The Spirit of God Uses His Ministers

Often we may think that the preacher must have us in mind because he is talking about a situation/state of soul that hits right at home. We think, "why is he preaching at me?" Could it be the Spirit of God is using the preacher's words to drive home a point or address our state of soul? I've heard of situations where the preacher was even asked after the meeting if he had a certain person in mind that happened to be in the audience. The preacher's reply usually has been that he had no idea! Do we sell the Spirit of God short? He is able to address any and all in one meeting.

"And He gave some apostles; and some prophets; some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ..." Ephesians 4:11-12

"Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things..." 1 Thessalonians 5:21

The Current of God's Thoughts and Ways

An excerpt from a letter to a friend:

"I know what you mean about answering prayers. It is wonderful to be in the current of God's thoughts when He answers our prayers. We feel like we have an "in" with Him because of it but it really is that He was going to do it anyway. We were praying about it because He put the thought in our hearts in the first place! I think it helps put us in line with what God is doing. Sorta like we are being drawn in to be along side Him, don't you think? Not that we can do anything. Sorta like me holding the pencil as my three year old holds my hand as I write her name. She and I "wrote" her name. But in reality I wrote her name. She was along side me. "