If God Can Get Us Through This..,

Saw this on Facebook and thought it has a great message...worth the read and definitely the share!

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence.

It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout.. We all stood there, under the awning, just inside the door of the Wal-Mart.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day.

I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

Her little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, 'Mom let's run through the rain,'

She said.

'What?' Mom asked.

'Let's run through the rain!' She repeated.

'No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit,' Mom replied.

This young child waited a minute and repeated: 'Mom, let's run through the rain..'

'We'll get soaked if we do,' Mom said.

'No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning,' the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.

'This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?'

'Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, ' If God can get us through this, He can get us through anything! ' '

The entire crowd stopped dead silent.. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain.. We all stood silently. No one left. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.

Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

'Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just need washing,' Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They got soaked.

They were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories...So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories every day.

I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.

If you've read this all and it's touched you... share it.

Am I A Soldier Of The Cross

Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb,
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His Name?

Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?

Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?

Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord.
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.

Thy saints in all this glorious war
Shall conquer, though they die;
They see the triumph from afar,
By faith’s discerning eye.

When that illustrious day shall rise,
And all Thy armies shine
In robes of victory through the skies,
The glory shall be Thine.

(Hymn by Isaac Watts)

The Three Trees

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, ‘Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty.’

Then the second tree said, ‘Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take Kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.’

Finally the third tree said, ‘I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest Tree in the forest. People will see
me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me.’

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees.

When one came to the first tree he said, ‘This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter’, and he began cutting it down.

The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree the woodsman said, ‘This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the shipyard.’ The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, 'I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this one’, and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.

The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying
kings had come to an end.

The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.

Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held
the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said 'Peace' and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, God will give you great gifts.

Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined.

We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His Ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.

Please keep this moving... Pass it on, so God may inspire more people on The Way.

May your day be blessed. And until we meet again, may God cradle you in the palm of His hand.

Where Do We Go After Death?

Jack Jackson- Where Do We Go After Death? Winchester, VA 1940

It is good when we come to a meeting to try and retain some of the things we hear so that in future days we can read over the passages of Scripture spoken of. Tonight I would like to speak a little that has been real to me the past few months. Well, I might say fresh, because it was some few years ago when I first thought of it, but just recently my mind has been refreshed on it because I have been asked many times in different places the question, “Where do we go after death?” But, first of all, I would like to say this and would like for you to keep in mind that in this world there are many classes of people but in God's sight there are only two: Those that are “in Christ” and those that are “out of Christ”.  I would also like to bring before you the six periods of time: 1st, Life; 2nd, Death; 3rd, the period between Death and the Resurrection; 4th, the Resurrection; 5th, Judgement; 6th, Eternity. Through all these periods there are only the two classes, those in Christ and those out of Christ.

We do not have to say much about the first period, Life. We are all living and know just what life is. We either live in Christ or out of Christ. There are only the two classes. Life is often referred to as "life's little day". The time when we are born into the world until the time we leave it, that is life. It is this life that decides where we will be for eternity.

2. Death. "What happens when we die?" Turn to Ecclesiastes 12: 5-6-7. The latter part of the 5th verse speaks of death…”Man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets.”   Then verse 6 makes verse 7 clearer. “Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7 Then shall the dust return to the earth, as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” You remember back in Genesis 2:7, when God created man, it says, “God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul”. God took from the earth clay as it were, and made man just as a potter would make a vessel, then He breathed into his nostrils His spirit. Just two things coming together, one from the earth and one from God: united, they made a living soul. So we see here in Ecclesiastes 12:7 what happens at death…the dust returns to the earth as it was and the spirit shall return to God who gave it…a separation of the two things at death that were united in life. There isn't anyone who wants to die out of Christ but how can anyone die in Christ if they live out of Christ? I might say tonight I want to die in this hall, but if I don't come into the hall, how can I die in it? I might be just outside of the door of this hall yet not be willing to come into the hall, and die on the outside. Ecclesiastes 3:21, “the spirit of man goeth upward and the spirit of the beast goeth downward.” Ecclesiastes 9:10, “There is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest.”

3. The Period Between Death and the Resurrection. Revelation 14:13, “…Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, etc..." ----- "that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” This is the period following death to the resurrection for those who die in the Lord. They are resting and their works do follow them. It says of Abel, in Hebrews 11:4, that as a result of his labours, he being dead yet speaketh. By his deeds, his influence still lives. That is equally true of others as well as Abel. Do you think God would be so unjust as not to give Abel and others a little reward for their life speaking to us? So thus He gives them rest from their labours unto the judgement when they receive their reward. Revelation 6:9, “I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.” They were resting. Where is that altar? I am just going to tell you I don't know, but I have a good idea it couldn't be far from where Jesus is, and He is at the right hand of God. Paul said, in 2nd Corinthians 5:8, “I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” Philippians 1:23, “I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.” I have no doubt as to where the spirit goes of those who die in the Lord at death; they are resting, waiting for the final judgement day. Do you think, in this 9th verse of Revelation 6 that it means only those that were slain? I don't think it would leave Moses, Joseph and David out of the count, and they were not slain. I like to read that verse like this: “I saw under the altar the souls of the overcomers.” The reason why I read it that way is because in this same book you read about those that overcame were clothed in white raiment. In Genesis 49 it says of Gad, “A troop shall overcome him, but he shall overcome at the last.” It is those that overcome at the last that will die in Christ. In connection with those that die out of Christ, read Jude 6. “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgement of the great day”. Read 2nd Peter 2:4, “For if God spared not the angels that sinned but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgement.” Verse 9, “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished.” Is it worthwhile being in Christ? I should say it is!

4. Resurrection. John 5:28, In the resurrection there are two classes of people also. All shall come forth, but not all shall arise at the same time. 1st Corinthians 15:23. “But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, etc.” 1 Thessalonians 3:13, “To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”; chapter 4:13 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words”. Then, in Revelation 20:2 and 3, Satan will be bound and deceives the nations no more. Verse 4, See on the throne those that were resting, souls that were beheaded or overcomers reigning with Christ for 1000 years. Verse 5, “But the rest of the dead liveth not again until the 1000 years were finished.” Read in connection with verse 11, (“I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.” ) Matthew 25:31 to the end of the chapter.

5. Judgement. Revelation 20:12: “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” What does it mean when it says "the books were opened"? It means the 66 books that I am holding in my hand. If we did not have these books to teach us how to live in Christ, there might be some excuse, but God has left us without excuse because He has given us His Word to go by. What is the book of life? In the human kingdom when a child is born, there is someone to come around to register that child's name, birth, etc. in the State Register. If you would not have been born, your name would not be in that book; likewise in God's kingdom. When a child is born into God's family, their name is registered in the Book of life; the deeds that we do, etc. and in that day these books will be opened, and those who are in Christ will find their names registered there; but those that are out of Christ, their names will not appear because they have not been born again. Those that are in Christ will receive their reward.

6. Eternity. Matthew 25:34, “Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”, and to those that are out of Christ, verse 41, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels”. God prepared a Kingdom for everyone but for those that disobeyed, a place of punishment was prepared. He prepared a better place for them, but if they won't choose the better place then He will send them to the other. I don't know any better future for a woman, man, young boy or girl, than in God's pathway, both here and hereafter.

Storms

Storms (exert of Tharold Sylvester - Saginaw Conv - 1960)

This [There] was a storm, and it came because of doing God's will. The same thing is true in the 16th ch. of Acts where Paul and Silas were thrown into jail at Philippi because of helping the damsel possessed with the spirit of divination. Their backs were beaten and bleeding, their feet put in the stocks, but at midnight they were singing praises to God. That was a storm, but through it all, they had a song of gratitude and praise. God saw that the jailer was a man who would listen to the gospel. He was so busy with his own responsibilities that he could not get out to meetings. There was a simple way around that and God said that if he would not come to meetings, he would take His servants to the jailer and he got saved. This was a storm because of doing God's will.

There are other storms that come because of unwillingness and rebellion. Jonah, the prodigal preacher was told to do something, and he could not face it. He ran away, but he learned to pray in the bottom of the ocean. That storm came because he was not willing to do God's will. Which way do you want to suffer? People suffer a hundred times more in rebellion than in obedience. If we could only learn this lesson, it would save us a lot of suffering. If you have things tied down in your heart and life, the captain of your salvation can ride out many a storm. A ship that is seaworthy can keep the waters out. It isn't the water outside that sinks the ship, but the waters that get inside. Every ship has a pump to pump out the waters. Sometimes even when a ship has leaked, they will set the pump going and they can keep the ship afloat for days.
Oftentimes we prove more of the power, the kindness, and the mercy of God in a storm then we do in a calm. That is why James said, "Count it all joy when ye fall into diver’s temptations". It is a different thing to fall into it, than to run into it. It is those experiences that help us to understand what God’s Call does for us. We were told at Boring that this world is an ideal place to produce the life of Christ in us. You have to turn to Him to find rest, peace, strength, and courage. The world is so barren and desolate, and it is an ideal place because if forces us into the place where we will seek God's help.

"Life's Day"

Jack Jackson -  Capetown, South Africa - 1951- "life's day"

Yesterday I asked you boys and girls a question or two. I notice today there are far more boys and girls in the meeting. Yesterday afternoon and this evening, when sitting on the platform, I have been looking at you. I asked myself if when I was your age and we went to the synagogue - you know what the synagogue is - a little boy who heard his parents speak of it, passed on one day and said, "There is one of the sinner's gogs you spoke of." If I had to sit for two hours or more, would I have sat as still as you have? I am sure I would not have done it as well as you have done it today.

I want to tell you boys and girls about the things of God in a way that you can understand it, and if I can do that the big people should be able to understand it too. Now you boys and girls, come to the empty seats near the front so that you can answer me when I question you. (At first the children were shy, but when a few moved, several came up and sat in front next and between the workers.)

Now I will tell you what we children will do. You will look at me and think, "Are you a child?" We'll have a meeting of our own, and see if the big people will behave as well as you have done. Now tell me, "How many hours are there in a day?" (Answer: "Twenty four.") "Have you heard of a day that has more than twenty four hours? Did your teacher ever tell you of such a day?" (Answer: "No.") Well, I will tell you of one; it is Life's Day, the day that begins at the cradle and ends at the grave. It has more than twenty four hours - sometimes forty, fifty, sixty years, etc.

After Life's Day, there is another day, the Day of Death. After the Day of Death, there is the Day of Waiting, then the Resurrection Day when we will live again; all that are in the grave shall come forth. The Day of Waiting is between the Day of Death and the Day of Resurrection. Have you heard of Moses, Noah, Abraham, etc.? Are they dead? (Answer: "Yes.") Are they living again? ("No.") They are all waiting for the Day of Resurrection and then comes Judgment Day and then Eternal Day - a day which will never end. Six days, then there is another day, the Day of Reigning. All won't have part in that Day. All will have part in the other six; only the people who die in Christ will have part in the seventh Day.

Don't you sometimes write something on a piece of paper and put it on a shelf and come back to it later on? Now, we'll put six days on the shelf and take them up again later, and speak about the first day - Life's Day. You have heard about people talk about humanity. That is all the people - you, me, and everyone. Have you heard of them being divided up into different classes - rich, middle class, poor? We people divide the people of the world into nations and classes; that is how we look at the world. God looks on it differently; God sees only two classes. This we see from the beginning to the end of the Bible. Now who built the ark? Moses? (Answer: "No, Noah.") Did a whole crowd get in? ("No.") How many got in then? ("Eight.") Only eight! There were only eight, the little boy over there says. There were only two classes - those in the ark and those outside. The children of Israel started on a journey. A crowd stayed behind. "Enter ye in at the strait gate, for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction." How many gates? (Answer: "Two.") How many ways? (Answer: "Two.") How many groups of people? (Answer: "Two.") How many endings? (“Two.”) Life or destruction.

Now what did we leave on the shelf - the other six days. God does not look on humanity as a whole lot of classes - He divides us into two - Life's day - from cradle to grave. There is something God intends we should do in each of these days, what we should do in Life's day. What day are we in?  We are in Life's day. You may not be old enough to do it, but think of it and one day, when you are old enough, you do it. God intends we should do one thing, and that is to prepare and make ready in Life's day for all the other days. If I don't prepare in Life's day, it will go bad with me in the Day of Death - so also in the Day of Waiting, etc.

Can anyone avoid the day of death? There is nothing so sure as that; the Day of Death will come. We are sure to meet all those days. What is necessary for us to do in order to prepare? You girls, if people were coming to visit your parents' home and your mother told you to prepare and you didn't know how to do it, what do you do? You would ask her how to do it. If God did not tell us how to prepare, we would not know - but He has told us, "Enter in at the strait gate." "Are there few that be saved?" Jesus did not answer straight away "Yes," He said, "Strive to enter in." Strive, does that mean easy? It is something difficult. Once, in a certain city where there were many trams, and just the time people were coming from their work, all were waiting to get onto a tram as soon as the tram came. Everyone was pushing. These days, people stand in queues; those days, they used to fight to get on. Everyone wants to get to a place called "Home." Those words then came to me:  "Strive to enter in," so that we can get to our Eternal Home. In order to be in the narrow way, we must get in by the strait gate.

I was having a meeting with some children in a place where there were a lot of mountains. There were no roads yet. People who lived up there on the mountains went up and down on narrow paths, with mules carrying their packs. We were in a small room and there was a door, not very big, about half the size of the one over there. I asked the children if they thought that mule we saw with a big pack could come in through that door. All said, "No." But one little boy about eleven years old said, "We could let him in." How? "Take off the load and he'll get in easy," he said. That made me think of this verse, "Enter in at the strait gate." If we are loaded like that mule, we won't get in. Now what would you think would be the load we must leave? "Sin," that little boy said, "all the bad things we say and do." That's what keeps a number of people out on the broad way where the old mule could go in with the whole pack…pride, vanity, pictures, dancing, and a whole lot of things. Would it be wise to go in with the whole pack and end in destruction? It would be a foolish man to do so. Unpack the mule, and enter in at the strait gate, and then walk in the narrow Way. Be born again. When we were born, all of us had one thing. Money? No - Life, and we eat and drink to keep alive. When we are born again, we receive another life. Born in the world, we receive human life, but born in God's family, we receive divine life, and then keep on doing the will of God,  eating and drinking of the things of God.

All along, it is two classes:  in the ark or out of the ark, saved or unsaved, those counted in or not. Read Hymn 169 (Now 337), "Counted in with the faithful, with Christ and the few." etc. I don't know anyone who would not like to be counted in. I know no way, and I am sure there is no way, to be counted in then, but to be counted in now. If there are any here who are outside still, don't wait too long. Leave the load outside, enter in, and start to walk in the narrow way. ~ ~ ~

Quotes From Fathers

If the new father feels bewildered and even defeated,
let him take comfort from the fact that whatever he does in any
fathering situation has a fifty percent chance of being right.

~ Bill Cosby ~

Jimmy Piersal, on How to Diaper a Baby
Spread the diaper in the position of the diamond with you at bat.
Then, fold second base down to home and set the baby on the pitcher's mound.
Put first base and third together, bring up home plate and pin the three together.
Of course, in case of rain you have to call the game and start all over again.

To be a successful father, there's one absolute rule:
when you have a kid, don't look at it for the first two years.

~ Ernest Hemingway ~

I have always had the feeling I could do anything and my dad told me
I could. I was in college before I found out he might be wrong.

~ Ann Richards ~

A lot of controversy over this possible invasion of Iraq.
In fact, Nelson Mandela was so upset, he called Bush's dad.
How embarrassing, when world leaders start calling your father.

~ Jay Leno ~

The older I get, the smarter my father seems to get.

~ Tim Russert ~

When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly
stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one,
I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.

~ Mark Twain ~

My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard.
Mother would come out and say, "You're tearing up the grass."
"We're not raising grass," Dad would reply. "We're raising boys."

~ Harmon Killebrew ~

Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope.

~ Bill Cosby ~

A father carries pictures where his money used to be.

~ anonymous dad ~

Quotes About Dads

 The great man is he who does not lose his child's heart ..

A Father is not someone to lean on, but someone who makes leaning unnecessary.

To be in your child's memories tomorrow ...you have to be in their lives today.

Fathers learn a lot from children about coping with life.

You can learn many things from children ... how much patience you have, for instance.

SOME FATHERLY ADVICE AND WORDS OF WISDOM

(Do Any Of These Sound Familiar To You?)

"Were you raised in a barn? Close the door!"

"Big boys don't cry."

"Now you listen to me, Buster!"

"A little dirt never hurt anyone ... just wipe it off."

"You call that a haircut?"

"This will hurt me a lot more than it will hurt you."

"Don't give me any of your lip, young lady."

"As long as you live under my roof, you'll live by my rules."

"What's so funny? Wipe that smile off your face!"

"Eat it! It will grow hair on your chest."

"Stop crying or I'll give you a reason to cry!"

"You have it so easy ... when I was your age..I had to walk to school in 10 feet of snow up hill both ways."

"What do you think I am ... a bank?

"If you break your leg, don't come running to me."

My Father When I Was...

4 years old

"My daddy can do anything."

5 years old

"My daddy knows a whole lot."

6 years old

"My dad is smarter than your dad."

8 years old

"My dad doesn't know exactly everything."

10 years old

"In the olden days when my dad grew up,
things were sure different."

12 years old

"Oh well!
Naturally, Dad doesn't know anything about that.
He is too old to remember his childhood."

14 years old

"Don't pay any attention to my dad.
He is so old-fashioned!"

21 years old

"Him?  My Lord, he's hopelessly out-of-date!"

25 years old

"Dad knows a little bit about it,
but then he should because
he's been around for so long."

30 years old

"Maybe we should ask dad what he thinks."

35 years old

"I'm not doing a single thing until I talk to Dad."

40 years old

"I wonder how Dad would have handled it.
He was so wise and had a world of experience."

50 years old

"I'd give anything if Dad were here now
so I could talk this over with him.
Too bad I didn't appreciate how smart he was.
I could have learned a lot from him."

~ Ann Landers ~

When I was a boy of 14,
My father was so ignorant
I could hardly stand to have
The old man around.

But when I got to be 21,
I was astonished at how much
The old man had learned in seven years.

~ Mark Twain ~

Fields of Blessings on Father’s Day

 

On Father’s Day we take the time
To turn our thoughts to dad
Thank him for the home he gave
For all the things we had.

We think about the fleeting years
Too quickly, gone for good
It seems like only yesterday
I’d go back if I could. 



A time when dad was always there
No matter what the weather
Always strong when things went wrong
He held our lives together.

He strived so hard from day to day
And never once complained
With steady hands, he worked the land
And kept the family name.



He taught us that hard work pays off
You reap just what you sow
He said that if you tend your crops
Your field will overflow.

My harvest has been bountiful
He taught me how to give
In his firm and steadfast way
He taught me how to live.



Dad dwells among the angels now
He left us much too soon
He glides across a golden field
 Above the harvest moon.

I see him in the fields of grain
He rides upon the wind
When my path is beaten down
He picks me up again.

 ~ Marilyn Ferguson ©2003 ~
Echoes Of The Heart

True Happiness

 True happiness may be sought,
caught, or thought,
But never bought.

Happiness is the result of being
too busy to be unhappy.

No one can define happiness.
You have to be unhappy to
understand it.

Genuine happiness is when a wife
sees a double chin on her husband's
old girlfriend.

Happiness does not come from
what you have.
But what you are.

Happiness is where you find it
and seldom where you seek it.

Happiness is home brewed.

The surest path to happiness
is in losing yourself in a cause
greater than yourself.

The place to be happy is here,
the time to be happy is now,
the way to be happy is to
make others so.

Prayer For My Grandchild

We felt the need to write you
This note is filled with love
We soon will be departing
In flight just like a dove.

To the land that dwells up yonder
We wanted you to know
Our hearts are ever heavy
It’s hard for us to go.

So many things to tell you
Will never come to pass
Our final days are numbered
Just like the fleeting grass.

Our lives are full of knowledge
We want to pass along
Things to be remembered
When we on earth are gone.

We pray for God’s sweet mercy
To shield your tiny face
Gently lead and guide you
Shelter you with grace.

We pray for Godly wisdom
When tempted to the brim
We pray you’ll look to Jesus
And place your trust in Him.

We pray for gentle patience
When pushed beyond the brink
We pray that you’ll be different
Won't care what others think.

We pray for peace and kindness
When you go into the street
We pray that you’ll give mercy
To strangers that you meet.

We pray the door will open
When you seek the narrow way
We pray you’ll read the Bible
Till we meet again one day.

We pray for strength and valor
When the world leads you astray
We pray you’ll look to Jesus

The truth, the light, the way.

Author/Written By:
Marilyn Ferguson
©2005

A Simple Place In Time

I Am The Way, The Truth, The Light

I Am The Way, The Truth, The Light

I am the bliss on summer night.

 

I am the wind, the sun, the rain

I am the splash on windowpane.

 

I am the sleet, the hail, the snow

I am the mighty winds that blow.

 

I am the fog, the mist, the dew

I am the rainbow shining through.

 

I am the tree, the grass, the vine

I am the fragrance in the wine.

 

I am the pond, the lake, the sea

I am the buzzing honey bee.

 

I am the stars, the moon, the sky

I am the eagle flying high.

 

I am the rose, the hue, the spring

I am the tiny birds that sing.

 

I am the width, the breath, the height

I Am The Way, The Truth, The Light.

 

~ © Marilyn Ferguson ~

The Master's Touch

Today, the values in this world
Are not a pretty sight
A life of fame and worldly gain
Has led us from the light.

Today, our lives are compromised
By greediness and wealth
The Bible has been hid away
Upon a dusty shelf. 

Today, the thoughts that fill our minds
Are shallow without God
The trails that wander through the soul
Are paths, we shouldn’t trod.

Today, I took a look around
I gazed into the sky
The grandeur of this universe
The fact we all shall die.

Today, I viewed God’s handiwork
And somehow felt quite small
The moon, the stars, a grain of sand
The mystery of it all.

Today, I came to realize
The things that meant so much
Are really of no value now
Without the Master’s touch.

Pearls Of Wisdom

Look back to where you have been...For a clue to where you are going.

Worry enough to anticipate trouble...But not so much as to bring it about.

Melt the icy fingers of fear...With the sunshine of hope.

Step by gentle step...You can overcome the greatest sorrow.

The sweetest grapes...Are picked from the vineyard of friendship.

Gossip is like a river...It can always be traced back to its source.

An insecure person...Will soak up flattery like a sponge.

Save the life of a helpless animal...And you have done the work of God.

A mirror is only as good...As the reflection in it.

Find something you truly believe in...And everything else will have meaning as well.

A Little Poem

A liitle poem I wrote this morning...

Could it really be,
Maybe even today,
I could make my God smile,
As I walk in His way?

Reading His Word,
And kneeling to pray,
With ears that would hear,
What He has to say.

Walking with Him,
As I go through life,
Allowing His touch,
To calm all the strife.

Allowing His Spirit,
To guide me each day,
That, could make my Lord smile,
As I walk in His way.

Wishing all a wonderful meeting!

Ty Nordic Cscs

The Difference

 Sure it takes a lot of courage
To put things in God's hands;
To give ourselves completely
Our lives, our hopes, our plans;
To follow where He leads us
And make His will our own;
But all it takes is foolishness
To go the way ALONE!

B. Simonton

How Is The Gold Become Dim?

A Few Thoughts From A Letter Of Hattie McLary (a dying worker)

Lamentations 4:1. "How is the gold become dim? How is the most fine gold changed?" I wondered why it said "Grow or become dim." It never occurred to me that gold could tarnish. I thought, "Well, nothing was written in the Bible carelessly or without preparation." At once a little incident came to my mind that took place forty years ago.

My mother was looking through my father’s purse one day and came across a peculiar looking coin, and upon asking what it was, he replied that it was given him a few days before as a nickel, in making change. He said when he noticed how queer it was, the man was very profuse in his assurance that it would pass as a nickel. It looked like an old brown penny, only a little larger and heavier. My mother didn't feel satisfied, so she took some scouring brick and an old woolen cloth and began scrubbing it. As a result, a five dollar gold piece came to light! Father took it to the bank and exchanged it for silver. After telling the banker about it, he was told that gold very quickly accumulates a film of the metal of other coins it rubs against, if carried with them in the same pocket or purse.

Gold is the only real dollar; silver and paper are only substitutes, representing for convenience, the gold in the U.S. Treasury. The Government had put five dollars worth of gold into that coin, but its buying power had diminished to five cents by associating with imitation money, until its identity was hidden and it had acquired the color of one of the least valuable coins in the realm.

So the person who has received the stamp of God, may find himself in the same condition, if the rigid scouring process is not applied daily, as we are constantly coming in contact with that which defiles [right out of our own hearts].

When a bright new coin in God's kingdom is first put into circulation, the devil's coins usually give it wide berth as they do not enjoy the contrast. When the little coins get unwary and neglect to shine up, often rubs with its neighbors, the contrast does not seem so great to them and they rub a little oftener till by and by, when God has need of His little gold coin, He can buy nothing of value with it. Then if ever it is to be used again, there must be the usual brick and wool scouring, which is sure to leave its scratches and worst of all, if accurate scales were used, it would be found to have lost some of its weight.

Of course, we must meet and have dealings with the world, but becoming tarnished can be avoided by avoiding the rubbing, which is intimacy - fellowship. To the person lying on a sick bed and living apart as I am, the human craving for fellowship makes it hard to keep aloof as one should. Then when those we love dearest, humanly, are all of the world and in daily touch with us and our human family interests are mutual, one is apt to become careless. But in all these lonely years, God has stood by me and not one day of all that time has passed, but I have not been reminded of my spiritual grooming - that it would be good to take a dip in the living water and rest at His footstool. I thank God that I still agree with Him, "It is good."

Messages To The Seven Churches

A lonely man on a lonely isle in the midst of a lonely sea,
Saw visions of the Heavenly land, unseen by you and me.
He was prepared by many years of living, toil and prayer,
For glimpses of the city pure, which he was soon to share.
He lived with love unfeigned and true, so pure and so sincere,
The gentle Saviour of mankind, to him was ever dear;
And God rewards a loving soul in woman or in man
To whom He can reveal His will and show His perfect plan.

John saw the beauty of the Christ, His lowliness, His love,
Who came to earth to plead and die, and leave such bliss above.
A message came to faithful John, "You well have done your part,
But still there is something for you to write upon the heart.
I send you to my unfinished work - unto my little band
Who struggling in this world of sin, do need a helping hand.
I'll tell you what to tell to them, so do not be afraid,
Just listen what I tell to you and tell them what I say."

"And write - it is no harm to write it in a book,
For other Christians may be helped as into it they look.
My church, I named a candlestick, that's where My light is set,
My messengers are Angels; stars are those who 'do and let',
And in My church there are messengers, the angels of the few,
Who gather there to worship Me and tell of how they do.
So write now to the Angel ones, there're few who will not shrink,
To give out what you send along for all the rest to drink.

"You are not perfect, Ephesus, your love has now grown cold,
You do not love Me as you did when first you reached the fold.
Yet I commend your faithfulness in living for what's true,
I know your works, your honesty in all you say and do.
But love is the one thing needful, repent ere it be too late,
Lest I remove My candlestick and leave you to your fate.
If you will overcome this lack and feed My lambs and sheep,
Within the paradise of God a place for you I'll keep.

And Smyrna, you are doing well, a word of praise I'll give,
You're better than you were at first, if you go on, you'll live.
I know your works; they are not hid from My all-seeing eye,
Although in modesty they're hid from every passerby.
You live in poverty, but you are rich, but this you will know,
You have hidden in your heart a treasure that will grow.
Fear not to suffer, to be strong, there are tears for some in store,
A few more toils, a few more tears, and we shall weep no more.

"A crown of life awaits you then upon that crowning day,
Set 'round with precious living stones gained in the Heavenly way.
He that has an open ear, Oh hasten, let him hear;
Speak out the message from your heart in meekness and in fear.
And listen still My children to Holy Spirit's voice,
For He who speaks to you now lives. He made the wisest choice.
There is a death we all must die, a life we now must live,
To gain us fellowship with Him, who endless life can give.

"To Pergamos the message is, you're holding fast My name,
You kept the faith when Antipas, a martyr true was slain.
You are dwelling in a hotbed, a place of sin and woe,
Satan's sitting in your midst, God's power to overthrow.
There are greedy sheep among you, who follow a false guide,
Who try to walk in Jesus' Way while walking on outside.
And some not sound in doctrine have need to go to school,
There is a danger of some here just ending like a fool.

Repent, or else My two-edged sword will pierce you to the heart,
An Angel keeps the two-edged sword, but Satan keeps the dart.
So let the edge of My sharp sword cut out what's false and wrong,
And when the harvest time is come you'll sing the reaper's song.
You'll eat the hidden manna sweet, and know the Master's name,
You suffered and were willing to bear reproach and shame.
And now the New Jerusalem, that comes down from above,
Will have your name written in its walls, in token of your love.

"To Thyatira's Angel now I send a message sweet,
I know you try to do your part to make your church complete.
You're better than you were at first; your works have stood the test,
Because you're doing all you can and giving of your best.
But there's a woman in your midst who calls herself a saint,
But has not crucified the flesh, in her there's no restraint.
She does not love God's children, nor heed His servants' voice,
She thinks that she is safe enough just because she made her choice.

How awful is the fate of those who cannot see their wrong,
Who fail to heed, so cannot hear, until the flesh grows strong.
A solemn warning for the few who lift their eyes to see
The beauty of His Holiness and what they ought to be.
Hold fast! A ruler you shall be, these foolish ones must yield,
An iron rod from God's own hand, fresh from the harvest field,
Will break the power of every foe, point to the morning star,
That shineth in the east for those who worship from afar

"Unto the church of Sardis write a message plain and clear,
You're very weak, you're nearly dead, send medicine right here.
You have the name of being alive, but you are dead to me,
And when I speak you cannot hear, so watch, you may not see.
Thy works, they are not perfect, so work, and watch, and pray,
It may be yet you will get right before the Judgement Day.
Remember what I did for you when you were blind in sin,
I sent My faithful messenger to teach and win you in.

"To Philadelphia I say, who Holy am and true,
Who has the key that David had, and wrote out all he knew.
There is a door no man can shut, a place no man can fill,
If you reserve that place for Him, You'll get the victory still.
I know thy works and now I set an open door for you,
A place for you to enter in and labor with the few.
So get the key that David had, obedient to God,
I'll open wide the door of hope and take you out abroad.

"And now I come to number seven [Laodiceans], I write as Paul before
Did write to tell you of your ways, but now 'tis needed more.
Some in a bad condition here are neither hot nor cold,
These two extremes, which God can help, when inside of His fold.
But lukewarm ones; not hot, not cold, will meet an awful fate,
God's mouth has no word for such; repent ere it be too late.
You say you're doing well; you prosper in the earth,
And you forget the helpless babe you were just at your birth.

"I say you're miserable and blind, and poor and naked too,
For in My sight earth's gain is loss unless the heart beats true.
I counsel you to buy some clothes, don't borrow other's wear,
Your testimony should be your own, the apron leaf will tear.
A skin of sacrifice cost tears, and tears washed Jesus' feet,
And if you fail to do your part on Sunday there's no meat.
Gold tried in the fire will purer be than dug out of the mine,
'Tis good to know the hidden things, but better far to shine.

Gold tried in the fire will drop like dew; it will be love divine,
This is the light that Jesus craves for candlestick to shine.
The eye salve is another cure, and ointment that you need,
For crumbs are lying all around and hungry hearts to feed.
We need clean eyes to see these crumbs, for they are rather small,
And if we fail to watch for crumbs, we may get none at all.
Tears wash the eyes and keep them clean; I learned this truth at school,
But foolish virgins in your church forget this homely rule

"My loved ones I rebuke, exhort, and chasten every day,
I watch and guard them every one, this is my perfect way.
Repent My children, do repent and open wide the door,
Unto the homeless Son of Man who was on earth before."
We plead Thy power, Saviour Lord, to lose that we may find,
Oh Master, help Thy little ones to evermore be kind.
Forgive the wandering, wayward thoughts that in our minds arise,
And help us choose the better part that only wins the prize.

To sit within that throne we live where Thou our Saviour art,
Our God, our Father, make us wise, give us a perfect heart.
A perfect heart, a throne for God, a God who dwells in Heaven,
In Heaven is a perfect heart, these two on earth are riven.
Shut in the Lord, shut out the world and unbelief and sin,
And open wide your heart and arms, the long lost ones to win.
These messages so plain and clear are all for us today,
Our Father, Lord, we need Thine aid, teach us to watch and pray

-By Jack Jackson

Fret Not

Joan Waterman “Fret Not.” Leyland Special Meetings 1982 

Eva and I had some disappointments at the beginning of the year, and when we were preparing for the Gospel meeting, not knowing whether any would attend, but knowing that a few faithful friends would be coming to stand by us, Eva used to say that " first the children should be fed ", and this helped me in my preparation. We were grateful to know that there would be a handful of friends - perhaps no more than six sometimes - and they were eager and waiting to see what the Lord would give them to eat.

Thinking of the words of the Psalm - " Fret not ". Sometimes people wonder how they are going to get through this wilderness journey, this life's pilgrimage, but I like the words of the hymn, which gave me the answer, " Be true to-day " -just to be true to-day. Each morning, as one would awaken to face the new day, not knowing what it may hold, if we could just settle this in our hearts as a waking thought, " I will be true to-day" , and as we strive after that ambition, we are going along the way in this pathway.

We hear the expression these days, " world recession ", and I do not understand much about it, but I understand the word means " a withdrawal, or a holding back". How wonderful it is that, once again, the attitude in God's Kingdom is so opposite to the ways of the world - there is no question of a recession. One of the reasons why we are gathered to-day and why God wants to gather us together in the little meetings, it is to urge His people and to help them to go forward, never to know anything about this recession.

In Psalm 37, it mentions three times, " Fret not thyself ". We studied that Psalm for a Wednesday evening meeting, and in the morning of that day I had a letter from a Brother abroad, and he mentioned this very Psalm and gave the Spanish translations for those three " Fret not’s ". Yesterday, those words came to me for no accountable reason, " Comfort ye, comfort ye my people. Speak comfortably or speak gently to them".

God's people need comfort, they need tenderness, gentleness. I know there are many of you who feel the need of comfort for so many reasons - comfort because of loss, comfort because of disappointments, because of sickness, because of difficulties in the lives of loved ones as well as in one's own life. Comfort so that we will not fret in our journeying. Fretting paralyses, but trusting stabilizes. Fretting certainly paralyses us.

The Spanish for the first " Fret not" is " Be not impatient with others ". I have thought a lot about that, and I realize how impatient I could be with others. Impatient because people will not come to meetings - impatient when they do not listen - impatient when people in a district show no interest. Being impatient can cause us to be fretful, and can lead to a loss of usefulness. We could be impatient with one another, we could feel that someone does not understand, and " Why don't they understand?" We have to guard against that because it just creates fretting.

The Spanish for the second "Fret not" is " Do not be disturbed". We can think, "Why can't I get on as well as another person, either naturally or spiritually?". There is a tendency to feel that way. " Why am I not getting out of the Bible what the next person is getting?" That will not help us - it creates a fretting spirit and it will keep us back from ever getting anything from the Bible and getting anywhere when we pray.

The Spanish for the third " Fret not " is " Do not lose your composure". God wants to see a composed people, a people who are steady and true and constant, and who are trying to live up to that vow, " I have vowed to be true and to change not ". That quiet steady composure in our lives, and that assurance of hope and a joy and a peace that only come from a whole-hearted service to God.

For another Bible reading, we studied Psalms 42 and 43. Several times David asks his own soul, " Why art thou disquieted within me?". Have you ever asked your own soul? Sometimes I have pulled myself up and asked myself why am I fretting and why have I lost my composure? The answer in these Psalms, " Hope thou in God". There will be these days of fretfulness, but David said, " Hope thou in God" . That took him into the sanctuary, and it took him to the altar.

I would like to find my hope in God that would take me into His sanctuary, and would lead me to the altar. In continually trying to sacrifice to God, that is the way I find my peace.