"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. "

Don't Be A Fool

When I ask, "What's the harm in doing this?" Also ask, "Will it bless my soul?" "Will it bring honor to the Lord?"

So often the things we do are of no negative value in that they are not wrong in and of themselves. But are they really profitable? What is the value of it in light of eternity? Could my time be more wisely spent? These are searching questions for my soul.

I have a lot on my plate, so to speak, as many do. And I mean things I have to do - my responsibilities and obligations. But I'm always searching for time to do something for myself. How selfish. I often think of what life would be like if I lived totally and only in light of eternity. One of my most favorite quotes is by Jim Elliot (and quoted from someone else) who died in Ecuador at the hands of the men and women to whom he went to tell the gospel.

"He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to keep that which cannot lose."

That about sums up a life lived totally for the Lord Jesus.

See: Jim Elliot

Short Accounts

"What discrepancies have we permitted in our lives? We must confess them and close the gaps." Nov. 17, 2008, ODB

Shepherds and Their Care

Who will shepherd the shepherds?

In Psalm 23 we get "the Lord is my Shepherd" implying that no matter what our station is in life, or what our gift is in the church, or whoever we are that He is the Shepherd of us all. We have a direct link to Him the One Who knows us perfectly, better than even our closest friend on earth could ever know us. And we can go directly to Him. Every one of us.

But Scripture teaches that the Lord has given gifts to the church and that one of these is the gift of shepherds (pastors, Ephesians 4:11) As the following verse tells us they are for "the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ". Their responsibilities include feeding the flock of God, taking the oversight and being examples. (1 Peter 5:2-3) They are used of the Lord to help maintain the flock. We need these pastors/shepherds to help us along in the path of faith.

In order for one to fulfill this ministry it implies that he is mature himself. Not that pastors can never fail. They have and will. Failure does not negate the gift. They too need the Shepherd.

The fact that there are pastors/shepherds in the church does not imply that there is no need for the Lord as our Shepherd. Far be the thought. He still is the Shepherd of us all. And as the Chief Shepherd He is the One that the pastors/shepherds answer to and from Whom they receive their rewards. (They must give account to God for our souls - thus we submit to them).

"When the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." 1 Peter 5:4

So to answer the question, Who will shepherd the shepherds? is really quite simple. "The Lord is my Shepherd."

"Draw Me"

"Draw me and we will run after thee." Song of Solomon 1:4

Am I the cause of my children leaving the path and straying? Do they see me walking by faith quietly accepting whatever the Lord has set in my path? Or do they see a bitter complaining woman who questions God's every move in her life? If my children see in me joy and submission in my walk before the Lord, it will be attractive to them and they will want what I have. If my peace shows who can say they won't want that ? If my children know that Christ is my Object and that He is the One I aim to please, they will "run after" Him as well. Who, but a mother, has that kind of influence on the life of her children?

I've been listening to some tapes by C.E. Lunden. He had a series of meetings at Lassen in the 80's on Peter. They are titled: "God's Ways With Peter". Five tapes altogether. Even though I was there at the time I'm enjoying them again.

"Holiness and intelligence come from conpanionship with Jesus and no other way."

"Calling Jesus Lord. That means that you're subject to the Word of God. And not just partially subject, but aiming to be at all times subject to the Word of God. And I'll tell you that that's the only happy life because Jesus knows more than you do about what makes you happy. Cuz He made you. And if you go by His directions you will be happy. If you refuse those directions you will not be happy. There's no way to be happy except the way your Creator has ordered it. And your loving Saviour."