Beware the barrenness of a busy life. If the devil cannot get us to yield to temptation, he will just try to keep us too busy, because the end results will be the same -- soul destruction.
Isaiah 30:15-18 (NLT) warns us about running ahead of of God with our too busy lives:
(15) The Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says, "Only in returning to me and waiting for me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it. (16) You said, ‘No, we will get our help from Egypt. They will give us swift horses for riding into battle.’ But the only swiftness you are going to see is the swiftness of your enemies chasing you! (17) One of them will chase a thousand of you. Five of them will make all of you flee. You will be left like a lonely flagpole on a distant mountaintop." (18) But the LORD still waits for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for him to help them.
The words from this Larnelle Harris song, Strength From the Lord, invite us to an Holy-Balanced Life:
Sometimes life seems like words and music,
That can't quite become a song.
So we cry and sigh then we try again,
And wonder what could be wrong.
But when we turn to the Lord at the end of ourselves,
Like we've done a time or two before.
We find His truth is the same as it's always been.
We never will need more.
It's not in trying but in trusting.
It's not in running but in resting.
Not in wondering but in praying.
That we find the strength of the Lord.
He's all we need for our every need.
We never need be alone.
Still He'll let us go if we choose to,
To live life on our own.
Then the only good that will ever be said,
Of the pains we find ourselves in.
They are places to gain the wisdom to say,
I'll never leave Him again.
It's not in trying but in trusting.
It's not in running but in resting.
Not in wondering but in praying.
That we find the strength of the Lord.
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
Friday, May 14, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
You Are God's Field
1 Corinthians 3:9 says, You are God's field.
Oh, my Lord God, I am humbled that you would choose to plow and harrow in the soil of my life to bring about plentiful produce, yes a holy harvest for Your glory. Help me, Lord, to remember that the Farmer is never closer to His field than when He is plowing it. Yes, in those painful seasons of life when I am tempted to believe You have abandoned me, cause me to think again and to realize that Your beautiful, nail-scared feet are actually walking in -- yes one with -- the soil of my life. Lord God, I am Your field. You are my Farmer. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
Oh, my Lord God, I am humbled that you would choose to plow and harrow in the soil of my life to bring about plentiful produce, yes a holy harvest for Your glory. Help me, Lord, to remember that the Farmer is never closer to His field than when He is plowing it. Yes, in those painful seasons of life when I am tempted to believe You have abandoned me, cause me to think again and to realize that Your beautiful, nail-scared feet are actually walking in -- yes one with -- the soil of my life. Lord God, I am Your field. You are my Farmer. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
...To Heal the Brokenhearted...
These wonderful words are on my heart today, yes these wonderful words echoed from Isaiah 61:1-2 by Jesus as He stood in the synagogue in His hometown of Nazareth:
Luke 4:18-19 (NKJV)
(18) "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
(19) To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."
Isaiah 61:1-3 (NKJV)
(1) "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
(2) To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
(3) To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
Luke 4:18-19 (NKJV)
(18) "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
(19) To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."
Isaiah 61:1-3 (NKJV)
(1) "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
(2) To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
(3) To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Turn From Sin, Be Like Children
(1) About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Which of us is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" (2) Jesus called a small child over to Him and put the child among them. (3) Then He said, "I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. (4) Therefore, anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. (5) And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on My behalf is welcoming Me. (6) But if anyone causes one of these little ones who trusts in Me to lose faith, it would be better for that person to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around the neck. -- Matthew 18:1-6 (NLT)
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
Monday, May 10, 2010
Keepers of the Light
Each Spring, our local church Keepers of the Light Men's Retreat journeys from Virginia's Shenandoah Valley to North Carolina's Outer Banks for three full days of soul inspiration. Our first stop along the Carolina Coastline is always at the Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station Historical Site in Rodanthe. Indescribable!
On one of the walls in the old boat house, the words of a beloved hymn of the church are wood-burned on an old cedar shingle. The words are from the 1871 hymn by Philip P. Bliss titled Let the Lower Lights Be Burning. With 75 to 100 men and boys crammed in the old boat house, the inspiration truly begins when through tear-lined eyes, we fill the rafters with the sacred singing of these old lifesaving lyrics:
Brightly beams our Father’s mercy from His lighthouse evermore,
But to us He gives the keeping of the lights along the shore.
Let the lower lights be burning! Send a gleam across the wave!
For to us He gives the keeping of the lights along the shore.
[or Some poor struggling, sinking sailor you may rescue, you may save.
Dark the night of sin has settled, loud the angry billows roar;
Eager eyes are watching, longing, for the lights, along the shore.
Let the lower lights be burning! Send a gleam across the wave!
Eager eyes are watching, longing, for the lights, along the shore.
Trim your feeble lamp, my brother, some poor sailor tempest tossed,
Trying now to make the harbor, in the darkness may be lost.
Let the lower lights be burning! Send a gleam across the wave!
Trying now to make the harbor, some poor sailor may be lost.
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
On one of the walls in the old boat house, the words of a beloved hymn of the church are wood-burned on an old cedar shingle. The words are from the 1871 hymn by Philip P. Bliss titled Let the Lower Lights Be Burning. With 75 to 100 men and boys crammed in the old boat house, the inspiration truly begins when through tear-lined eyes, we fill the rafters with the sacred singing of these old lifesaving lyrics:
Brightly beams our Father’s mercy from His lighthouse evermore,
But to us He gives the keeping of the lights along the shore.
Let the lower lights be burning! Send a gleam across the wave!
For to us He gives the keeping of the lights along the shore.
[or Some poor struggling, sinking sailor you may rescue, you may save.
Dark the night of sin has settled, loud the angry billows roar;
Eager eyes are watching, longing, for the lights, along the shore.
Let the lower lights be burning! Send a gleam across the wave!
Eager eyes are watching, longing, for the lights, along the shore.
Trim your feeble lamp, my brother, some poor sailor tempest tossed,
Trying now to make the harbor, in the darkness may be lost.
Let the lower lights be burning! Send a gleam across the wave!
Trying now to make the harbor, some poor sailor may be lost.
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
Sunday, May 9, 2010
All the Children of the World
Refrain
Jesus loves the little children, All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white, All are precious in His sight,
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
(1) Jesus calls the children dear,“Come to me and never fear,
For I love the little children of the world;
I will take you by the hand, Lead you to the better land,
For I love the little children of the world.”
Alternate refrain:
Jesus died for all the children, All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white, All are precious in His sight,
Jesus died for all the children of the world.
(2) Jesus is the Shepherd true, And He’ll always stand by you,
For He loves the little children of the world;
He’s a Savior great and strong, And He’ll shield you from the wrong,
For He loves the little children of the world.
Refrain
(3) I am coming, Lord, to Thee, And Your soldier I will be,
For You love the little children of the world;
And Your cross I’ll always bear, And for You I’ll do and dare,
For You love the little children of the world.
Refrain
Notes: Words: C. Herbert Woolston (1856-1927); Woolston was one of George Root’s favorite lyricists. Children often sing just the refrain, which is a song all to itself! Music: George F. Root (1820-1895); Root originally wrote this tune for the American civil war song Tramp, Tramp, Tramp.
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
Jesus loves the little children, All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white, All are precious in His sight,
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
(1) Jesus calls the children dear,“Come to me and never fear,
For I love the little children of the world;
I will take you by the hand, Lead you to the better land,
For I love the little children of the world.”
Alternate refrain:
Jesus died for all the children, All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white, All are precious in His sight,
Jesus died for all the children of the world.
(2) Jesus is the Shepherd true, And He’ll always stand by you,
For He loves the little children of the world;
He’s a Savior great and strong, And He’ll shield you from the wrong,
For He loves the little children of the world.
Refrain
(3) I am coming, Lord, to Thee, And Your soldier I will be,
For You love the little children of the world;
And Your cross I’ll always bear, And for You I’ll do and dare,
For You love the little children of the world.
Refrain
Notes: Words: C. Herbert Woolston (1856-1927); Woolston was one of George Root’s favorite lyricists. Children often sing just the refrain, which is a song all to itself! Music: George F. Root (1820-1895); Root originally wrote this tune for the American civil war song Tramp, Tramp, Tramp.
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Jesus Says, "Come!"
Consider these five instances when John the Beloved Disciple recorded Jesus saying, "Come!"
(1) I have come... John 10:10 (NIV)
(2) I will come... John 14:3 (NIV)
(3) Come to me... John 7:37 (NIV)
(4) You refuse to come... John 5:40 (NIV)
(5) You cannot come... John 8:21 (NIV)
The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved.
-- Jeremiah 8:20 (NIV)
Lord, before it's too late, I fervently pray these words over eternal souls: No more missed opportunities! We want to be able to echo John's words in Revelation 22:20: "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." In the name of Jesus. Amen.
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
(1) I have come... John 10:10 (NIV)
(2) I will come... John 14:3 (NIV)
(3) Come to me... John 7:37 (NIV)
(4) You refuse to come... John 5:40 (NIV)
(5) You cannot come... John 8:21 (NIV)
The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved.
-- Jeremiah 8:20 (NIV)
Lord, before it's too late, I fervently pray these words over eternal souls: No more missed opportunities! We want to be able to echo John's words in Revelation 22:20: "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." In the name of Jesus. Amen.
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
