An Exhast-less Mine

"...Let it be our deep joy and consolation to meditate on the Word of God, that so we may ever be discovering some fresh treasure in that exhaust-less mine - some new moral glories in that heavenly revelation!"

CHM, Notes on the Book of Deuteronomy, p.593

Who Will You Blame?

"You can blame them for anything you feel is wrong in your life, you can feel guilty about things that went unresolved while they were alive, but at some point, good or bad, you have to live your own life, whether they've given you a good foundation or not, and stop making them an excuse." Babylon Rising, p. 160.

"Thy Faithfulness Hast Afflicted Me"

" I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are right, 

and that Thou in Thy faithfulness hast afflicted me." 

Psalm 119:75

Yesterday, I tripped and fell, breaking my finger. I said to myself and others, "It's ordered of the Lord."  I wasn't sure why, and I'm still not sure, but one thing I am sure of, and am absolutely positive of, is that it was in His plan.

It could be that He is speaking to me about something in my life that is not consistent with His holiness. It could be He is speaking to my children and for their benefit. I can't answer the "why" of that one for them. It could be for my benefit so that I might learn to appreciate my brethren more because I see genuine love in their reactions to my plight - not just words, either. It could be to mold me to His image. It could be to make me softer. It could be just to get my attention and to get me to reflect on Him and His love and His faithfulness! It could be any of a thousand things. But it is probably all of the above. 

He does not allow a single thing to come into our lives without a divine purpose. Because He loves us and has only our good in view.

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. "

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."

Great Rewards

One of my daughters was worrying that she wasn't doing much for the Lord in the way of service for Him. We were driving down the freeway after taking someone home from some kind of function. I said, " what do you mean? You just took so and so home and now you are driving me home. Just because something is not public or 'great' doesn't mean it won't be acknowledge by the Lord as a service for Him." I've been contemplating lately just exactly does the Lord find of great value in His sight of what we do for Him. I just heard recently that some young person just left the gathered saints because he felt he could do "greater" things for the Lord elsewhere! What he really meant is that the sphere here was too small. Getting back to my daughter. I told her that the Lord places a very high value on faithfulness. By just carrying on in the path of faithfulness being gathered to the Lord's name and being content to support His testimony is of great value to Him. But there is even something of more value than that! And that is communion. Do we spend time in His presence? Do we spend time with Him just talking to Him as we go about our day? He wants to hear my voice. He wants to hear your voice.

John 15 talks about fruit bearing. It says in verse five that if ye abide in Him and He abides in you, you bring forth much fruit.

"He Shall Give You Another Comforter, That He May Abide With You Forever"

I heard about a telephone conversation Bruce had with someone. It was about the Spirit of God. The question was raised, "Does the Spirit leave the believer (and thus the church) at the rapture so that He can work on earth with the saints through the tribulation?" I suppose, like all of us, he just needed to be reminded of the Scripture in John to answer his questions. That reminds me of a quote I've heard a lot over the years. "Immerse yourself in the Scriptures so that you end up thinking in the language of Scripture." (KLA paraphrase.) There's a book by H.P. Barker called "The Holy Spirit Here Today". In it Mr. Barker takes up subjects to do with the Holy Spirit and out association with Him. Each subject takes about a paragraph or two of space so is thus short and concise. My kind of book.

Brought to Him by Prayer

Does someone come to your mind that you've not thought of in months? Even years? Perhaps it's a gentle nudge from the Lord in bringing that person to mind so that you can bring him before the throne of grace. There may be a special need just at that time for them and the Lord is bringing you into fellowship with that need. Don't hesitate. Pray.

"I cannot tell why there should come to me

A thought of someone miles and years away,

In swift insistence on the memory,

Unless there is a need that I should pray.

We are too busy to spare thought

For days together of some friends away;

Perhaps Gpod does it for us-- and we ought
To read His signal as a sign to pray.

Perhaps just then my friend has fiercer fight,

A more appalling weakness, a decay

Of courage, darkness, some lost sense of right;

And so, in case he needs my prayers--I pray."

From: "How I know God Answers Prayer" by Rosalind Goforth

Real Power

"The power of testimony and personal holiness comes through prayer." C.E. Lunden

If we want real power in our lives it has to be gotten by private means. It's not something that we have been born with. It is gotten on our knees, with our faces in the dust, in private before the Lord. It is not gotten by ill means, by public display of piety or any such thing. It has to be between us and our Lord with no one to witness. Public display plays no part. To be seen of others so they will note how godly we are is hypocrisy. The very thought of it is an oxymoron. The result of prayer is communion with our God and it brings us down to humility. If we pray to be seen of men, that's pride.

We can not hide that we have not been in secret with the Lord. It will show in our manner of life--the way we talk, of what we talk, the way we respond to every day life, even when we pray aloud. People know. It shows how much time you actually spend in quiet communion with the Lord. There is no fast track to personal godliness. It is not gained overnight. It takes time and those who spend the time will be marked as such.

Eternal Joy

"Nothing is to quench the believer's joy for it is occasioned by that which is eternal."

F.B. Hole, I Thess., p.132

When I occupy my mind with all that the Lord has done for me, all that He has in store for me and all that He is doing for me right at this moment I can rejoice in Him. My future is secure. I do not know what this life may have for me...sickness, sorrow, pain. But because I know that where I am going after this short life is over can only be pure joy and bliss I can rejoice even today. My future is very bright.