The Sheep, The Violin And The Warrior

The SHEEP stand silent; their heads turn in one direction,
Their ears strain to hear, once again, the long loved voice.
Hushed is the bleat of the lambs. No dust arises from the ground.
Even their feet are still. They watch with one accord
The faithful shepherd's back retreating over the hill.

The VIOLIN is silent, waiting in it's case to feel again his loving touch.
His skilled old hands fingering each string will
From it's wooden bosom glad notes ring once more?
Round notes, sure truths, firm tones, leaping melody cascading one upon another, From his bow, his hand, his mind, our hearts take wing. Who will play it now?

The WARRIOR sleeps. Around his bed stand the valiant men,
"The valiant of Israel." They all hold swords being expert in war,
Every man hath his sword upon his thigh,
Their armour gleams, catching the brilliance from
The old shield now hanging upon the wall.
Tender, gentle hands of the valiant ones lay the weary body

Of the old warrior to it's rest. And in their eyes new fires are kindled.
They hear the call of the sheep to be shepherded, fields to be harvested,
Music to be played. The beloved mantle is placed
On their strong shoulders. And the building of the kingdom goes on.

In Memory of George Walker

I Would Rather Walk With Him

I know not what shall befall me
God tenderly shades my eyes.
And so each step of my onward path
He makes new scenes arise;
And every joy he sends me comes
As a sweet and strange surprise.

I see not a step before me
Yet I journey without a fear.
The past is still in God's keeping
The future His mercy will clear.
And what looks dark in the distance
May brighten as I draw near.

For perhaps the dreaded future
Is less bitter than I think
The Lord may sweeten the waters
Before I stoop to drink
Or if Mara must still be Mara
He will stand beside the brink.

Then it may be He has waiting
For the coming of my feet
Some gift of such rare blessedness
Some joy surpassing sweet
That my lips can only tremble
With the thanks they can't repeat.

I journey on not knowing
I would not if I might.
I would rather walk in the dark with God
Than walk alone in the light.
I would rather walk with Him by faith
Than walk alone by sight.

Author Unknown

Source: facebook.com

Being An Example

I Timothy 4:12, “Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” In the margin it says “be a teaching example.” We teach by our example, which is far more reaching than our words. People may forget our words, but they will not forget our example. We want to be an example of the believers. We are people who have their heart set, not in Mormon, not in Jehovah’s Witness, but in the believing of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

I want to follow Jesus. He is my great example. In His pure life I see what God the Father has chosen for me to be. Jesus has the control, the ownership of our life. We have been bought with a price. Human nature is prone to look to others for example rather than being an example, and none can do it without an indwelling power. Paul could write to the Christians and say, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” As we sang in that hymn, “And every virtue we possess, and every conquest won, And every thought of holiness are His alone.” 

Paul wrote of those who were professing Godliness but denying the power thereof. Jesus’ power was not having control, not having ownership. It is His power that enables us to be different. Jesus said, “I do always those things that please my Father.” He taught with authority because His life backed it up. 

Once I was waiting at a bus stop and a man offered me a cigarette. I thanked him and said, “I don’t smoke.” I could tell by his breath that he just didn’t drink lemonade. He said, “I don’t want my young boy to smoke and drink when he grows up.” He had had the example of his father before him. A parent’s example is a child’s copy book. 

One day I was in a shop, waiting to be served, and a lady with a young girl was at the counter. This lady had ordered a lot, and the man was writing all the items in a docket book. This little girl leaned over the counter and said to her mother, “Mummy, he’s not writing on the line.” She had learned at school to write on the line. Parents, if you want your children to write on the line, you do it first. 

One day our beloved Queen came to visit a popular tourist place, Queenstown. She was invited to come to afternoon tea. Everyone was in a circle, and the Queen came in and was introduced to a number of people. She went to sign the visitors’ book. It is the privilege of royalty to sign in the middle of the page, and a little boy saw her begin to write in the middle and he blurted out, “You don’t write there, you’ll spoil the page.” The Queen thought quickly that this little boy had been taught to start at the top of the page so she graciously signed at the top of the page. Children are watching. Most people are watching our lives and we are an example in word. 

In my first meeting in W.A. on Sunday morning, there were twenty-four people in the meeting and the meeting was over in an hour and the people left time for me to have a word. It was a lovely, live meeting to be in. It is not good to be long in word or in prayer, but it is good to be an example. Sometimes people say that they do not have anything for the meeting that day then go on to speak for ten minutes. This is not being an example. “Let no corrupt communication come out of your mouth.” This is not edifying to others. 

One time a man went along to a priest to confess and afterwards, for penance, the priest said, “Go and bring me a bag of feathers.” The man thought this was easy, so he came back and gave the feathers to the priest. The priest opened the bag and let all the feathers go. It was a very windy day and they went everywhere. “Now,” the priest said, “you gather all the feathers again.” The man said, “This is impossible,” and the priest said, “The words you have passed on, it is impossible to bring them back again.” We can pass on words and they will go on and on. Let us be an example in word. 

A soft answer will turn away wrath. It tells us of the virtuous woman, “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” During the year, a mother in our field told us about a phone call she received from the principal of her son’s college. The teacher of the class had been trying to get her boy to go on a camp, for a week away. The boy had no interest in going away for a week with worldly company so he declined. The teacher thought it would not be the parents’ wish for him to decline, so he went to the principal who said, “I’ll ring the mother.” 

He had a lot to say about the benefits of going on a camp and he finished by saying, “We don’t want him to miss out on anything that will be able to help him.” The mother just said quietly, “Have you seen his school report?”  He said, “No.” This boy had the top report in the school, he had top marks. The mother told the principal to send for his report and to look at it, and after he had seen it to phone her again and tell her what the boy was missing out on. She did not get into any arguments. She opened her mouth with wisdom, and she never got that phone call. 

Psalm 141:3 “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” I have a member and I can’t control it. It is an unruly member and I need the help of God to control this member. A father in our field this year has a twelve year old son. At his school there was a big boy who was a bully, and he would pick on this boy David, who did not want to go to school because of this bullying. This man was the foreman of a bus company, and one morning he said to the driver of the bus, “I’ll take your bus out to try it out.” The big bully boy got on with a lot to say, and when the bus stopped at the school, he was the last one out. 

The father asked him if he knew his boy David. He said he did. The father said that there were some boys at the school who were knocking David about and he would like a big strong boy to look after him. He said, “Would you look after him?” He threw out his chest and said he would and from that time on he shadowed David and looked after him. This man opened his mouth with wisdom. 

Those who are an example in word are the best feeders in the meeting. They are living what they speak. To be an example in conversation means our daily manner of life. “May my daily walk and words and actions, Prove to all that Jesus lives in me.” It means our living in the home life; it means our modesty, our standard of dress. One of our young friends was leaving school and there were forty-nine girls who applied for a job in an office. They had to come before three bosses and our sister was chosen. It was not because of her qualifications, but because she had a standard, and they picked a winner. They were not disappointed. 

We do not lose in keeping a standard. We remember whose we are and whom we serve. The standard of modesty is in the ministry. Keep as near to the standard of the sister workers and as far away from the falling standards of the world as you can. God loves modesty, and we all have a responsibility in this respect. 

We depend on everyone to be consistent, to be the same on Monday morning in your dress as you were on Sunday. One daughter of our friends went to work with two other girls who belonged to a religious group. These other girls kept a nice standard, a better standard than the girl who was professing. She was missing out on her opportunity and privilege to show a Godly standard. 

Be an example in charity. We cannot be an example if we do not have the love of God in our hearts. Love moved Jesus to lay down His life as a Lamb without spot. Colossians 3:14, “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” There are things that we must put off first, before we can put on. The love of God binds us together. Sometimes people come to convention and they would like to have the fellowship that we have, but they cannot have the fellowship that we have because they do not have the salvation that we have. 

God has given us the spirit of God, not the spirit of fear, but of power. It is not just a form of Godliness but a power to love one another. There is a wall here on these grounds made of stones cemented together, and if you tried to put your finger between the stones, you cannot do it because there is mortar there holding the stones together, the bond of perfectness. If I have the love of God in my heart it is the bond of perfectness. 

Proverbs 17:9, “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.” This means not spreading it around, seeking to have more of His love. Be an example in spirit. It is very important to have the right spirit to go with the right words. Proverbs 11:13, “A talebearer revealeth secrets, but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.” A faithful spirit will keep things hidden from other people. Paul wrote to Philemon about a servant who had run away, and he ended the letter with these words, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” It is good when we can come together with the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Daniel was an example in spirit. He had an excellent spirit. He did not let himself get upset when he was accused wrongfully and was put into the lions’ den. He did not blurt out that they had told a lie. Those men went to the king and told a lie. They said that all the presidents and princes had consulted together but that was all except Daniel. 

We need to be an example in purity. We need to look continually to the life of our Master to feed on what is pure.  We can be taken up with trash and literature and we will never be pure. We need pure motives, pure thoughts. The line of a hymn says, “Obedience to the mind of Christ brings mental purity.” “Bid my carnal mind depart.” The grace and power of Heaven can enable me to be a better example. 

Jeroboam set a wrong example and all the kings of Israel were affected after him. Jehu said, “Come and see my zeal for the house of the LORD.” But this was a zeal to destroy. It was not a zeal to follow the Lord, like the standard David had set. We need to strive to be an example.   ~ ~

L. Hill - 1985 - 

Behold The Angels

Genesis 28:10-13. "And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it." John 1 :51. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." Behold the angels of God. 

One day in the Philippines, I was in the city of Manila, and I was riding in a taxi, and the driver started asking me questions about where I come from. Then he said, Are you a missionary? And I said, Well, I'm following Jesus, I'm teaching the Scripture. Then he said, Do you believe there are angels? I said, Yes. Then he said, Why? Have you ever seen one? And I said, Yes. Then he said, Where? He was surprised, and he turned around and he said, Where? Well, I said, I have seen them in the Bible. I've seen them so many times in the Bible. Through the eyes of faith I've seen the heavenly, angelic kingdom that God created. Well, he laughed at me. He just laughed, and it was time for me to get out of the taxi. 

As I walked away I thought, Oh, what I should have said to him was, Read your Bible, and talk to Jacob, and ask Jacob. Jacob, do you believe there are angels? And Jacob would have said, I saw heaven open and angels ascending and descending. He could have told him about wrestling with an angel. He could have told him of the time when Jacob was leaving Laban, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host. And maybe I should have said, Then you go and ask Daniel. Daniel, do you believe there are angels? And Daniel would have told him about the time when he was put in the lion's den, and the angel closed the lion's mouth. And he could have told him about the vision he had of God on the throne, and thousands and thousands of angels ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. He could have told him a little about Michael coming to help him. I could have told him, You go talk to Moses. Ask Moses, Moses, do you believe there are angels? And Moses would have said, God asked me to do something that was so impossible for me to do, but He promised me that an angel would go before me. And the angel did, and opened up the way. And he could have gone and talked to Elijah. Elijah, do you believe there are angels? And Elijah could have said, There was a time when I was so discouraged, I prayed to die. I lay down under a juniper tree, and I thought I couldn't go any more, and an angel came. God sent an angel, and an angel descended and brought food to me, and encouraged and strengthened me. And I could have said, Why don't you go talk to David. Talk to David and Zechariah. They just have wonderful things to tell you about angels. Wonderful things! And that's just the Old Testament. 

You go talk to Jesus, and ask Jesus, Are there angels? Did God really create angels? Is there really a kingdom above the human kingdom? We can see that angels were very, very involved in the story of Jesus and His birth. They came to Mary, and they brought reassurance to Joseph, and they were very concerned about the protection of that precious little life. It was an angel, that starlight night so long ago, that came to the shepherds, and brought the Gospel message. They were involved when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan. They came afterward and strengthened Him. They were involved in the garden, and they were involved in every step that Jesus took. They were involved in the resurrection. They rolled the stone away. We have a wonderful promise of His coming, His coming back, and His holy angels with Him. I don't have anything to tell you about angels accept to behold them. Behold the angels. There's just so much in the Scripture about this great kingdom of angels. There is much that we don't understand, and we can't say anything new, and I hope that I am not presumptuous to even mention it, but there is this great kingdom of angels, and it somehow just increases my faith to behold them, and to understand how God can meet every need and be everywhere. There is this great kingdom of angels. 

It tells us very clearly in Hebrews, what the angels are, and what they do. They are all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation. That's what they are, and that's what they do. There is a verse in the Psalms 103:20 that says, "Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word." That's what angels do. They do His commandments, they hearken unto His voice. I'd like you to behold two beautiful pictures of angels in Rev. 7: 11. It says, "And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen." That's interesting to me. Amen, Yes, to every command of God. To every word of God. They stood round about, they fell on their faces, and said,
Amen. A wonderful example for us to have that spirit of the angels, to hearken to all of His commandments. A beautiful picture to behold in heaven. 

In Rev. 5:11, "And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." All of these multitudes of angels saying, Worthy is the Lamb, worthy is the Lamb. Telling us, if we behold them, that is what they're saying, that's what they're singing to us, the Lamb is worthy of your life, worthy of your soul, He's worthy of your love, worthy of your trust, He's worthy of every tear, and every struggle and every sacrifice. He's worthy. And it's good for us to behold the angels, the angels are basking in wisdom. The angels that come from heaven, that come way down to earth, to help us in our great need, and go back to the Father. I love to behold the angels. 

I'd like to mention just six things that are in the hands of angels that we read about, and it's not that I can explain anything about this, it's just wonderful to behold, behold the angels. We read in Rev. 8:3, about the golden vessel that is put upon the golden altar. "And an angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand." The vessel is full of the prayers of the saints. That vessel, that vial, is put on the golden altar, before the throne of God. An angel came with incense, and the prayers of the saints ascended up with the incense to God out of the angel's hand. It says that out of the angel's hand it ascended up to God. The incense was mixed with the prayers of the saints, and then those prayers ascended to God, from the hands of the angel. Our deep need, and our deep sorrow, our deep distress. Behold the angels handling our prayers. 

In Rev. 10 we read about an angel. One foot was on the land and one foot was on the sea, and in his hand was a little book. And this book was the word of God. I don't think it was the Bible, but it was the word of God, and John was told to eat it. He was told that it would be so sweet to his mouth, but it would bitter in his stomach. The word of God must become part of us. We know that it is so sweet when we hear the story, there is such sweetness in it when we make it a part of us. But when we start denying ourselves, and facing reproach and persecution, taking up our cross, there can be bitterness in that experience. But I like this picture so much of sitting by the angels. If anyone makes fun of the word of God, and belittles the Scripture, I like to just look at this picture of the angel that has in his hand the message that came from God. And the angels that said, Amen. The mighty angel. 

In Rev. 14:15 we read about an angel that has a sharp sickle in his hand. It says that the time of harvest had come, and the earth was to be reaped, and the sword, the sickle, is not in the hands of a man. It was not in the hands of any servant of God. Like we read in Matt. 13 :49 "So shall it be at the end of he world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just." It's going to be the angels coming, and at the word of God they are the reapers. Isn't it wonderful that we can have complete trust in the righteous judgment of our God. 

In Rev. 18:21 we have a picture of an angel that has a great millstone in his hands. John was told that it would be like that that Babylon would be brought to naught. It will be brought down. And that angel cast that stone into the sea. Babylon was never brought down by men. It will never be brought down by harsh words of man, but Babylon will be brought down with violence. And everything that is untrue to Jesus, everything that is not of God will be brought down. It will be destroyed. It says there, that there will be no more music heard, there will be no more idols worshipped, there will be no more candles burning, there will be no more beautiful weddings, there will be no more merchandizing, it will all be brought down. We don't have to fear about evil
being dealt with. That which is untrue will be brought down. 

In Rev. 20 we read about an angel that has the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. One angel, and he was told to take hold of Satan and to bind him for one thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit. One angel, taking hold of Satan, and binding him. Just one angel, and there are legions of angels. How wonderful to know that there will be an end. There will be an end to deception. There will be an end to all of his lies. There will be an end, he will be chained, he will be bound. I just want to behold the angels, to behold the power, to behold their obedience to God, to behold their readiness to say, Amen. Behold the angels. I love to hear their song, Worthy is the Lamb. If we could just take the time to be in the spirit to hear that song. Jesus is worthy. That's the song that comes from heaven, He is worthy of our life, our all. 

There is another thing that's in the hands of angels. In Luke 16 we read about Lazarus dying, and the angels carrying him into the presence of heaven. How beautiful to think of the gentle hands of the angels, carrying the souls and the spirits into the presence of God. When my father died I was away on an island in the Philippine Islands. This was a very difficult time for me. My father was very, very special to me. There were several who sent me pictures of my father in the casket, and they sent pictures of the flowers. They wanted me to picture the funeral. I was glad to receive them, but I got no comfort from that. But it was so beautiful to try and pray and be in the spirit, and envision the angels carrying the soul of my father, his spirit into the presence of the God he loved. It helped so much. It was so comforting. One of our dear sister workers was killed. She was run over by a truck, and it was horrifying to us to think about her body, but it was wonderful to trust her to the hands of angels that would come and carry her spirit into the presence of God. Behold the angels ascending and descending. This is something God had created. A great angelic kingdom to help us. And their ascending and descending to minister, to minister to our souls. This is just part of the wonderful plan God has that we might be saved. I hope that in our experiences, that we would see beyond the clouds, beyond the struggle, that we would see the path of angels, ascending and descending. 

K. McLin

 

Home Life And Worship

Matthew 25 V 34 & 35: “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in.” This is just a simple line of thought that connects home life and the Lord. When in a land where you to do not understand much you appreciate simple things. We appreciate simplicity in dress. Simplicity and sincerity are very closely connected. We see beauty in the simplicity of God's people. They have one simple desire to please God. We all have problems. Someone has said that God has simple solutions for all problems. If we have a problem we do not understand what is happening, our problem is that we cannot see very far ahead and do not know what God is doing. God has a very simple solution for that problem. His solution is, “Just come to me.” If we have a problem that the way seems long and we are discouraged, God’s simple solution is, “Just keep going.” Maybe we have the problem that we have failed and are discouraged with ourselves. We thought we would do so well but have suffered a defeat. God's simple solution is, “Get up and try again.” We sang a hymn “We have not failed until we failed to try.”

If we have a problem that we are misunderstood and facing persecution, the Lord’s solution to that is, “Be kind.” Remember Jesus has faced more than we have. If we have a problem that we do not know what to say in a certain situation, the Lord’s simple solution is, "Just ask what would Jesus say?” We have the problem that we do not know what to do so simply ask, “What would Jesus do?”  One thing we can always do and that is do our best, just do what you can. If we have a problem and we do not know where we should go,  the simple solution is just ask, “Where would Jesus go?” And in making decisions where we would or should not go, go to the place that will bring us close to God.

I was thinking more about this matter of home life. I have not yet had the privilege of visiting your homes. I hope I will be able to go to some of your homes. There is a very close connection between the home life and worship. We read in these verses of those who were hungry and thirsty and they gave them to eat and drink, and were strangers and took them in. Those were all things they were doing with their homes. It was because of what they were doing with their homes that they received the “Well done.” Jesus said, “If you give a cup of water in the name of a disciple you will not miss your reward.” That is what you do in your home. Isaiah speaks of the dwelling places of God's people. He said that they should be quiet resting places and peaceable habitations.

We were in Sri Lanka and we watched some fire walking. They were beating on some drums and shouting and it was so very noisy and confusing, and to them it was worship. In the home is where some of the most important lessons are learned. In the home we learn about true love, we learn to share, and we learn to care about others. In the home we learn about security. We learn respect for authority. It is in the home where morals are taught. We learn about honesty. If we do not learn these things in the home, there is no place to learn them. It is in the home where our true character comes to light. It is God's purpose that the families sit together and eat together. The children of Israel were instructed to speak about things when they sat together to eat.

I am very grateful for memories of my childhood. The times when there was just the family in the home and my mother and father would tell about the first days when they heard about God's way. We children loved to hear them tell us about it. In the home is where we welcome God's people and His servants.  Where God can come and dwell with us.

We can mention a little of the Passover. When God's people were slaves in the land of Egypt they had no land to call their own. They had the refuge of their homes. In this world where we work and at school we have to face many things. Many things that are very hard for us to face, we just have to endure what is there. But when we can come back to the refuge of our homes and we can make our homes a quite refuge from the world. The children of Israel had the refuge of their homes. God instructed them to keep the Passover. He placed it in their homes.

It was planned that whatsoever the situation and whatsoever they find themselves, if they had the quiet refuge of their homes and the lamb they could keep the Passover. It was such a simple plan; God ways are not hard. Later we read about them, when they entered into the Promised Land, and by and by the temple was constructed. Even then the Passover remained in the homes because there was no separating home life and worship.

We could mention a little where God dwells. Isaiah wrote about it. “In the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite spirit.” 1 Corinthians 3, “Ye are the temple of the living God.” We heard about those verses in John 14 where Jesus spoke about He and the Father coming to dwell with you. So God dwells in the high and holy place. Heaven is His throne and the earth His footstool, but He dwells also in the hearts and lives of His people. That puts us right back in the home. So more than any other place, God is dwelling in the homes of His children.

It does not matter to God the size of the home. He does not care how many rooms there are, but what God is most concerned about is where He is welcome. God loves to dwell in quiet homes. There is a lot of noise and confusion in the world and should not enter into our home. A lot of worldly music and so on, TV and entertainment of the world. Those things make God very uncomfortable, He does not feel welcome. So we want to make God feel welcome in our homes.

I will just mention briefly the temple that Solomon built. It is the only building that God gave instructions to build. We read about the Jews, they had the custom  of buildings synagogues. People love to put up buildings and they say, “This is dedicated to God.” These things were never instructed by God. We won't say much about the temple this morning, I need this that in every way it suggests the work of God in His people. A quiet work. No sound of the hammer at the site. Much precious material used in the building, and it is this precious faith and love and grace of God that is working in His people. The design was given by God. The skilled workmen working, just in every way it suggests God works in their lives. Really, it's just takes us back to the home.

Then we will mention a little about Jesus and His servants that He sent out. Jesus was born in a stable and grew up in Nazareth. He had a refuge in the home. It seems Nazareth was not of a good reputation, but he had a refuge in his home. Later, we read about the time he left his home. He traveled and told about the way and the Kingdom of God and never had a home after that. He would dwell with those who opened their homes. When he sent His disciples he sent them the same way. Those that would hear and believe would open their homes and make them welcome. It was because those that they were listening to had become their life. It means a great deal to us when we can be in your homes, but we love the homes of our friends that are open and we can go and feel at ease and welcome there.

Sometimes we like to make a suggestion concerning what we would like. We would like to encourage you that your home is the same when God's servants are present or not. When that is not true the children become confused. They do not know what is expected of them. So we would like to suggest that you make the home life the same whether God's servants are present or absent. We also would like to make the suggestion to young people who are considering marriage, that you would just watch so that your home would be an open home where God's servants would be very welcome.

We will just mention briefly about the fellowship meetings. Jesus met with his disciples in homes. When he rose from the grave on the first day of the week, he met with the disciples in a home. When he gave the emblems, it was in a home. Any place that we read about the emblems being taken it was in the home, and we read in the second chapter of Acts of being together in a home and the Spirit came upon them. One of God's servants was in prison and they were praying for him; God heard their prayer.

Four places that we read in the epistles of the meeting in the home. I will mention them briefly: Romans 16, 1 Corinthians 16, Colossians 4, and in the book of Philemon. So we see a very strong connection between the home and worship. The world is always trying to separate the two. In a home there is nothing to feed the pride. Others construct large temples and are proud of them. I have appreciated that God has freed us from financial burdens this world has. He has passed nothing beyond our capability. What can be more reasonable than meetings in the home and speaking what is in our hearts and praying and singing?

We love to see where God has been able to open the hearts of His people and then their homes. So there is one other little part that we will mention about this. If we are opening our homes and making God welcome in this world, then someday God will take us to His home. He will open up His home in heaven and welcome us there. We make our homes those that God feels welcome in, then He will make His home a place where we will be welcome for all eternity. It is such a simple plan but so wonderful and successful. It is reasonable and practical. It is scriptural and right. I feel I want to learn more about God's simple ways and His simple solutions.

J. Chafee

 

A Sparrow's Faith

I'm just a little Sparrow
I have no pedigree
I'm rarely ever noticed
But the Lord is watching me

He gave me a coat of feathers
'Tis very plain I know
Without a speck of color
For it wasn't made for show

It keeps me warm in  winter,Protects me from the  rain
Were it trimmed in gold or silver,
Perhaps would make me vain

I have no barn or storehouse
I neither sow nor reap
God gives my daily portion,
With never a seed to keep

There are many other Sparrows
All over the world they're found
And my Father always knows
When one falls to the ground

I'm only one little Sparrow
A bird of low degree
I know my Father's love
Dost thou know His love for thee?

~ Yolanda Cohen ~

“The Donkey”

Genesis 49 One son got quite a blessing, 49 v. 14 ? Issachar is a strong ass couching between two burdens. As a child when someone said I was a donkey, I was upset and offended, but in the meantime I have changed my mind and I think it is rather a compliment.

I have been studying a little bit about donkeys and after special meetings a visiting brother worker said something about donkeys. He said that in South America they saddle the donkeys when they have to go up high mountains and they have these heavy loads on their backs and he said that the donkey is not stubborn or dumb. If the burden is not balanced correctly on his back, the donkey will not take one step forward. He knows when he goes around a little bend or a corner and if the load is not balanced on his back it is so easy for the donkey to fall down the cliff.

It is wonderful to be balanced in God's way. Balance in everything, balance between families and God, balance between learning and God, balance between hobbies and God, balance in everything. I have found it not so easy to be balanced and to keep the right balance in everything is so very important. And the donkey knows if he is not balanced correctly he cannot go forward.

When the load is attached to him and as he walks and if it becomes a little loose and soon as the load becomes loose the donkey stands still. And he waits until the master tightens it again. And he knows if the burden is not tight he could fall. Because he has a precious burden. He does not want to lose the burden or his own life. The donkey is not stubborn.

In Pakistan I saw many donkeys and the master had a cart and the donkey was pulling the cart. On the cart he either had vegetables, clothes or food. The master went to the market and the donkey would remain there all day with his cart. He was just very patient, he just waited until the master had finished his business. They are very wonderful qualities. He knows how to wait, so he is patient. He knows to be balanced.

When a donkey is walking and there is something unexpected before him an obstacle or something on the path, the donkey stops walking. He waits until the master speaks to him and the master tell him where to take the next step. This is a wonderful quality.

We read in Matthew 21 v. 5? Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold thy King cometh unto thee, meek and sitting upon and ass and the colt the foal of an ass? Wouldn't it be good if we could carry the King on our back. Who do we carry on our back? Who is our master? Where does he lead us to? It was just a little donkey and he had the King on his back.

We read in Numbers 22 and there is another story about a donkey. Balak sent his messenger is to Balaam that he should curse God's people. Balaam spoke to God and God said, “Do not go”. Then this King sent more people to Balaam and he offered him more silver and gold. First of all when God speaks to us, God does not change His mind. What He says to us today He will say tomorrow. Balaam kind of pushed God and God finally said “You go but you say what I tell you”.

On the way Balaam was riding on a donkey and there was the Angel of God with a sword. The donkey saw the Angel with the sword and he went from one side to the other to escape the sword. And that happened a second time. Balaam did not see it and did not understand it and he thought he had a stubborn donkey and he hit the donkey each time. The third time the the Angel met the donkey where he couldn't not go either left or right and the donkey fell down under Balaam. The donkey was faithful to his master he wanted to save his master, he was willing to step aside to save the master, he was willing to humble himself to save his master, a wonderful quality from the donkey. How much do we protect our master? How much of the Lord do we have in our load or our lives? There is no greater privilege then to have the King of Kings on our back.

In Exodus 13 v. 13 “And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem wit a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck, and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.” Redeem a lamb for the donkey. If the master was not willing to redeem a lamb for the donkey, the donkey must die. We sing a hymn “Christ has redeemed me by his blood.”

I have one longing to have the qualities of the donkey. To be willing to bear the burden of the kingdom.

To be balanced in everything I do. To be willing to just wait until the Master tells me where the next step will be. To have patience. To bring the King to other people. And when I do not know where to go, just wait until God speaks. Jesus gave His blood for us that we could be free. Hope we can all bring something to others. That we are prepared to protect the King of Kings in all situations.

E. Wulser

Sheep And Shepherds

*Sheep feed on the same thing whether out behind the barn or by the fence where everyone can see them.

*Sheep know if pasture is living or dead. Grass grows again; hay doesn’t. We can go to the Living Word.

*Nothing is expected of a sheep but to give itself, whether its wool or meat.

*The best sound to a lost sheep are the footsteps that have come to take it home.

*A sheep’s fleece has the capacity to absorb the dew of heaven. The quality of the fleece depends on what sheep have fed upon. Ticks or burs don’t hurt fleece, just the one feeding upon them.

*Sheep were Moses’ master. His days and night were controlled by their needs.

*Though defenseless, there are now more sheep in the world than ever, because they have shepherds. Animals that can protect themselves are becoming extinct. 80% of sheep would die in six months without a shepherd and could live two years at most. 

*Sheep fall easily when not shorn, can’t get up, lie there and die. 

*The nature of sheep is to be together; something wrong if alone. No defensive weapon except togetherness. Other animals have teeth for defense; sheep have just eight, all on the bottom for eating. Things we eat express our nature. Lambs don’t eat flesh. Only time sheep “baaaaas” is when it is looking for fellowship. Rough shearers take skin, wool, sheep never murmur. No animal suffers like a sheep and gives more. It clothes us, feeds us.

*Peter was born a fisherman, but not born a shepherd. We don’t learn how to be a shepherd at school. David learned how to be a shepherd from his father.

*The shepherd must bring up the rear at times, or what would happen to the stragglers? *John the Baptist not only had a shepherd’s garb and grub, but a shepherd’s heart.

*Sheep never chew their cud if not satisfied. Sheep don’t eat garbage. Sheep seek light. *Sheep nearest the shepherd gets tidbits from his hand. Sheep seek fellowship with other sheep; don’t care to be with other animals. They are called dumb, as they are so defenseless. Jesus never once defended himself. He had the slain lamb nature.

*Things like ticks sap sheep’s very life. Well-fed sheep can resist and throw off these things, disease. 

*Sheep follow example, whether good or bad. Jesus never had the nature of a ram, but of a lamb. 

*Lambs and sheep feed in the same pasture. Sheep chew their cud on their knees.

*For water, sheep will climb down a steep embankment that almost no other animal could. 

It is easy for a sheep to die; easy to kill a sheep. Lamb of God gave no resistance.

*Sheep don’t lie down before they are filled. Need a shepherd, not a policeman who makes them obey. Feed them and they’ll follow you anywhere. Sheep thrive on grass less than 24 hours old. Never lead sheep faster than the weakest can follow. 

*We can’t run with goats all week and smell like a sheep on Sunday.

*Two sheep dogs: goodness and mercy.

*There’s a difference between a lost sheep and a dissatisfied goat.

*The lambing season is short, but the shepherd lives all year in light of it, and all his care is with that in mind. If the flock is healthy, lambs will come. If lambs miss even a few feedings, they will be left weakened. 

*If the sheep hadn’t scattered when the shepherd was smitten, they wouldn’t have been sheep. 

*If we continue to be sheep, heaven is assured. No lost goats are saved.

*Sheep won’t drink from troubled waters because of nostrils at end of nose. They sleep in a circle at night around the fire. Enemies outside wait for one to step out.

*Although Jesus was the great Shepherd, he was also a sheep, the Lamb of God. He had a leader. He wasn’t original. God told him what to say and he did just what he had seen in heaven. 

*Most animals are led by a halter, but sheep are led by a voice.

*Sheep dogs must keep an eye on the shepherd for his signal.

*Foxes bite tongues and eyes of lambs and leave them to die.

*A sheep doesn’t stand out among sheep, but does among goats.

*Sheep, unlike other animals, have no way to cleanse themselves. Neither do they have any ability to find their own way.

*Sheep never get together and hire their own shepherd.

*Sheep would never walk in the water they drink.

*Sheep cannot make it on their own; must group together. They fall down in rushing water because of wool, need still waters. Sheep feed on tender grass, chew cud; but goats can swallow anything and don’t chew it afterwards. 

*When sheep have been worried by dogs their wool is inferior. 

*Moses would have led as a general at 40, but at 80 he led as a shepherd.

*True shepherds never drive, but true sheep never need to be driven. You can drive an unwilling person, but you can never lead them. A sheep can’t be told from a goat until the shepherd’s voice reaches their heart.

*God can’t be a shepherd to us unless we are sheep to Him.

*Shepherds are known by their voices, not their clothing.

The Train

At birth we boarded the train and met our parents, and we believe they will always travel by our side. However, at some station thereafter, our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey alone.

As time goes by, other people will board the train; and they will be significant, i.e. our siblings, friends, children, and even the love of our life.

Many will step down and leave a permanent vacuum. Others will go so unnoticed that we don't realize they vacated their seats.

This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells. Success consists of having a good relationship with all passengers, requiring us to give the best of ourselves.

The mystery to everyone is: We do not know at which station we ourselves will step down. So, we must live in the best way… love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are. It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step off and leave our seat empty we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.

I wish you a joyful journey this year on the train of life. Reap success and give lots of love.

Lastly, I thank you for being one of the passengers on my train.  Author Unknown

Source: email

Not Ashamed?

This will give you the chills........GOOD chills...(Pls. take time to read this)
A young man had been to Wednesday night Bible Study. The Pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord's voice. The young man couldn't help but wonder, "Does God still speak to people?" After service he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message. Several different ones talked about how God had led them in different ways. It was about ten o'clock when the young man started driving home. Sitting in his car, he just began to pray, "God...If you still speak to people speak to me. I will listen. I will do my best to obey." As he drove down the main street of his town, he had the strangest thought to stop and buy a gallon of milk. He shook his head and said out loud, "God is that you?" He didn't get a reply and started on toward home. But again, the thought, buy a gallon of milk. The young man thought about Samuel and how he didn't recognize the voice of God, and how little Samuel ran to Eli. "Okay, God, in case that is you, I will buy the milk." It didn't seem like too hard a test of obedience. He could always use the milk. He stopped and purchased the gallon of milk and started off toward home. As he passed Seventh Street, he again felt the urge, "Turn Down that street." This is crazy he thought and drove on past the intersection. Again, he felt that he should turn down Seventh Street. At the next intersection, he turned back and headed down Seventh. Half jokingly, he said out loud, "Okay, God, I will".
He drove several blocks, when suddenly, he felt like he should stop. He pulled over to the curb and looked around. He was in semi commercial area of town. It wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst of neighborhoods either. The businesses were closed and most of the houses looked dark like the people were already in bed.
Again, he sensed something, "Go and give the milk to the people in the house across the street." The young man looked at the house. It was dark and it looked like the people were either gone or they were already asleep. He started to open the door and then sat back in the car seat. "Lord, this is insane. Those people are asleep and if I wake them up, they are going to be mad and I will look stupid." Again, he felt like he should go and give the milk. Finally, he opened the door, "Okay God, if this is you, I will go to the door and I will give them the milk. If you want me to look like a crazy person, okay. I want to be obedient. I guess that will count for something but if they don't answer right away, I am out of here." He walked across the street and rang the bell. He could hear some noise inside. A man's voice yelled out, "Who is it? What do you want?" Then the door opened before the young man could get away.
The man was standing there in his jeans and T-shirt. He looked like he just got out of bed. He had a strange look on his face and he didn't seem too happy to have some stranger standing on his doorstep. "What is it?" The young man thrust out the gallon of milk, "Here, I brought this to you." The man took the milk and rushed down a hallway. Then from down the hall came a woman carrying the milk toward the kitchen. The man was following her holding a baby. The baby was crying. The man had tears streaming down his face.
The man began speaking and half crying, "We were just praying. We had some big bills this month and we ran out of money. We didn't have any milk for our baby. I was just praying and asking God to show me how to get some milk."
His wife in the kitchen yelled out, "I ask him to send an Angel with some. Are you an Angel?" The young man reached into his wallet and pulled out all the money he had on him and put in the man's hand. He turned and walked back toward his car and the tears were streaming down his face. He knew that God still answers prayers. This is so true. Sometimes it's the simplest things that God asks us to do that cause us, if we are obedient to what He's asking, to be able to hear. His voice more clear than ever. Please listen, and obey! It will bless you (and the world). Phil 4:13
This is an easy test. If you aren't ashamed to do this, please follow the directions.
Jesus said, "If you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you before my Father."

Source: facebook

The Checkup

There is a man in our field who went to the doctor this year, and after the doctor had checked him over a bit he said, you have a heart murmur. He then proceeded to explain to him what is a heart murmur. He said, you can't hear it but I can hear it. It is just a little tiny sound in your heart that isn't in harmony with the normal functions of the heart. I never realized that the heart made so much noise until I listened to my own. It has lots of noises going on in it. You can hear the blood rushing through from one compartment to another and out through the artery and you can hear the muscles contracting that makes that thump. It is a pretty noisy outfit, but the doctor is not listening to all of the normal noises, he is listening for abnormal noises. Just a little murmur and he said, we are going to have to keep a watch on that. It is not too much right now but it could get worse and it could lead to problems. I thought about when the children of Israel murmured. There were several times when they murmured. A murmur is just a little noise. They weren't shouting or having an open rebellion. That little murmur led to restlessness. A murmur on our part is going to lead to restlessness. A murmur is just discontent and discontent leads us in to restlessness and restlessness causes us to wander, to wander in our purpose, to wander in our ways, to wander in or thoughts. Wandering always leads us outside of the will of God. That is what it did to the children of Israel in a natural sense. That is what it does to God's people today in a spiritual sense. A little murmur can lead to restlessness and then that restlessness leads to wandering in our purpose, in our thoughts, in our willingness. Wandering only leads outside of the will of God. We cannot afford any heart murmurs in our walk with God. The doctor said we are going to have to keep a watch on that because it doesn't get better, it only gets worse. We are thankful that spiritually it can get better, it can be completely done away with. A work can be done that will make this murmur go away and we can leave convention being completely content with the way that God is leading. That contentment is going to lead to being settled where the anchor doesn't move and really settles in. That is the kind of content that I want to have in my life. -Tom Hinkle

Forget

Forget the times of trouble,
But not the truth they taught.
Forget the days of sorrow,
But not the strength they brought.

Forget the bitter moments
When heaven seemed unkind,
But don't forget the lessons learned,
The riches left behind…

The faith, the wisdom and the peace,
The harvest of the years,
The grain that none can gather in,
Except with toil and tears.

Forget the storm you battled through,
Forget the heavy load,
But not the light that led you safely
Down the homeward road.
~ ~ ~
- unknown

The Oil Can

I'm just a little oil can
On the Masters bench I lie,
I'm happy and so thankful
For the help I can supply.
I cannot do important work
Like chisel, plane and saw,
But yet the Master uses me
To be a help to all.

The Master often fills me
Or useless I would be,
For I'm only a little oil can
As everyone can see.
The only virtue I possess.
You'll find it in the oil.
Which I convey to others
To help them in their toil.

I pour the oil onto the tools
At the touch of the Master's hand;
It makes them run more smoothly
As you can understand.
He wants to have me near Him
So He can quickly use The oil
He has put within me
In the way that He would choose.

(Author Unknown) Shared By:  A. Chamberlain

Little Things

In little things we prove our love to Jesus;
In little things He proves His love to us;
In little things He longs to see us faithful;
In little things He needs those He can trust.

It is the little tests that make the daily battle,
And little victories we can surely win.
If little in ourselves the Lord can help us
To be a little comfort now to Him.

It is the little foxes, so the Father tells us,
That spoil the precious vine, the tender grapes,
The tender little life committed to us
Where lowly we have entered through the gate.

And lessons in the Book are given
To help the little one upon the earth,
The little ant, the spider, and the locust,
Their little lessons teach us priceless wealth.

A little place to each of us is given
In which to faithful be while here on earth,
If we will fill a little place in Heaven,
Stand true to God who has begun to work.

Author Unknown

Two Days

There scarce seemed time that morning to pray
With so much that I must do,¬
So with just a pause at the throne of Grace,
A prayer I hurried through, But oh!
what a wearisome day it was,
How heavy my heart and my feet,
So lonely without the presence of God,
His fellowship so sweet.

I came to the close of that weary day,
To think of the end of it all,
How much would be mine of what I had gained,
When I would hear death's call?
For all I will claim as my own in that hour,
When eternity's dawn I see,
Is what I have learned as low at.
His feet I've heard Him speak to me.

A new day dawned a hope with it came,
The hope of beginning again,
I sought His face and He heard my cry,
My pathway He made plain,
He touched my heart and spoke afresh to me,
Of His Fatherly love and care,
Gave a vision again of things worthwhile,
That would be mine to share.

There was just so much work to be done that day,
I was glad for a chance to rest,
When the evening came and the sinking sun
Was hidden in the west.
But I had walked that day with lighter step,
From a burden of care set free,
A song in my heart of a Father's love,
A Father's care for me.

(Garrett Hughes)

Fruits Of The Spirit

A few fruits of the Spirit explained...

Love is the masterpiece;

Joy is love in victory;

Peace is love at rest;

Longsuffering is love enduring;

Gentleness is love in action;

Goodness is love reigning.

A Beautiful Story

"When you're down to nothing, God is up to something."

This is beautiful! Try not to cry.

She jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She said: "How is my little boy ? Is he going to be all right ? When can I see him ?"

The surgeon said, "I'm sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it."

Sally said, "Why do little children get cancer ? Doesn't God care any more ? Where were you, God, when my son needed you ?"

The surgeon asked, "Would you like some time alone with your son ? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's transported to the university."

Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good bye to son. She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair. "Would you like a lock of his hair ?" the nurse asked.

Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally.

The mother said, "It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the University for Study. He said it might help somebody else. "I said no at first, but Jimmy said, 'Mom, I won't be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom." She went on, "My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help others if he could."

Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car.

The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's room.

She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them. She laid down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep.

It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Laying beside her on the bed was a folded letter. The letter said:

"Dear Mom, I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say "I Love You". I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me. He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn't like the same things us boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know. Don't be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn't look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD ! And guess what, Mom ? I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That's when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good bye and everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed. Well, you know what Mom ? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter. I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you. God said for me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him 'Where was He when I needed him ?' "God said, "He was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children." Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what I've written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper. Isn't that cool ? I have to give God His pen back now. He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life. Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I'm sure the food will be great.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore. The cancer is all gone. I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery ! How about that ?

Signed with Love from God, Jesus & Me.

Where God Ain't

Where God Ain't

He was just a little boy,
On a week's first day.
Wandering home from Bible school,
And dawdling on the way.

He scuffed his shoes into the grass;
He found a caterpillar.
He found a fluffy milkweed pod,
And blew out all the 'filler.' 

A bird's nest in a tree overhead,
Wisely placed so high.
Was just another wonder,
That caught his eager eye.

A neighbor watched his zig zag course,
And hailed him from the lawn;
Asked him where he'd been that day
And what was going on. 

"I've been to Bible School ,"
He said and turned a piece of sod.
He picked up a wiggly worm replying,
"I've learned a lot about God."

"M'm very fine way," the neighbor said,
"For a boy to spend his time.
If you'll tell me where God is,
I'll give you a brand new dime." 

Quick as a flash the answer came!
Nor were his accents faint..
"I'll give you a dollar, Mister,
If you can tell me where God ain't."

~ Author Unknown ~

Source: mamarocks.com

Meeting With Earnest Robinson Dana Bay

H299 (Approved of God) H218 (Love is the Kingdom’s banner)   SERENA HOLTZHAUSEN (Not verbatim)   I would just like to tell you a few thoughts that have been in my heart the last while. A few weeks ago we stayed in the holiday home of the Potgieters. One day I picked up their visitors’ book. There I saw an entry made by Ernest in 1965. He gave his address as “Servant’s Quarters,  Narrow Rd ,  Zion ”! That is an address we would all like to have. The highest rank we can have is to be a servant of God.  There is a longing in my heart that I can give my address as that. Even when the enemy speaks to me, that I would say this is where I live. Wonderful that we have the privilege to live in  Zion . The city of  God . I have been reading in Revelations and the description of the heavenly city is one to be looked forward to. As we meet together and have fellowship it is wonderful that we are citizens of  Zion  and we are happy to be walking in the narrow way. We would desire to remain inhabitants of the servant’s quarters until the last.  Jer 31.21 says “Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of  Israel , turn again to these thy cities”. It is a wonderfully comforting thought when we are on a road that we don’t know, but we see landmarks that we’ve been told of.  This is a walking way and isn’t it wonderful to look back and see times when maybe we have not been near, but see times of victory, times of defeat, times of rejoicing, and times of grief. Landmarks to look back to and we appreciate these. My thoughts wonder back so far, from the beginning. As I look back I can truly say surely goodness and mercy have followed me. We can say this already now, and we know it will be all the way. It embraces and encloses us. When sadness or an empty feeling comes and there is so much that wants to discourage and cause distress, just think of the Lord’s goodness. I have thought of the tree of life and its fruit (Rev 22). But leaves are also useful. They can be used for medicine. We read of them being used for the healing of the nations. Sometimes we hear it being said that words mean nothing, But I have often been glad for words; words spoken to me or in my presence that can act as healing and bring comfort. So one is also grateful for words spoken in the past that come back to our memory and they are like the leaves. A fig tree for example has big leaves and they protect the figs. I am also glad for God’s word that brings comfort, joy and cheer.   H304 (Come brothers on and forward)   ERNEST ROBINSON (Not verbatim)   Ecclesiastes 12 speaks of old age and death. V7 says “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it”. The only thing that returns to God is the spirit. I remember about 20 plus years ago in New Zealand the older brother there, Nathan McCarthy, said all that is going to matter at the end is if we have the spirit of the lamb, and that is so true. At the end the only thing that is going to matter is whether we have the spirit of the lamb. That is what God is busy with now. Our spirits.  There are three people in the Bible that I find very pathetic. When I read about them I feel very sad and think they had a raw deal in life. 1 – Leah, Jacob’s first wife, who I wish to talk about; 2 – Naboth. He was killed because he would not give up the inheritance of his fathers. It is wonderful to have the spirit of Naboth. This inheritance that is ours ... The standard of the truth that has been handed to us at a great cost ... And it is very sad to see the standard is not being kept up. It is good to have the spirit of Naboth even if it means our life. 3 – Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband. I feel so sorry for that man. But the one I want to speak about is Leah. I was brought to the meetings as a small child and been in meetings for about 80 years and have not heard much spoken about Leah. Rachel was not productive. Her sister, Leah, was. And Jacob loved Rachel. Unfortunately men are very stupid. They so often fall for a pretty face. Jacob fell for that pretty face. But Rachel was not a good bargain. When they left the father’s house she was carrying her father’s idols.  It seems she was meaning to carry on this idol worship. Not much spiritual help to Jacob. But Leah was a gem. Leah knew that Jacob loved Rachel. But one thing I can hardly fathom is when Laban insisted that Leah go in to deceive Jacob. How could she have allowed that? She knew. What a terrible blow to any woman’s dignity. The thing that amazes me is she was willing to obey her father. Our Lord knew what waited for him, but he obeyed his father. Poor Leah.  Then she had a son. She called him Reuben, saying “surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me”. My husband will love me now that I have born him a son! But a pie in the sky.  Then she had another son and named him Simeon. This time she said “because the Lord hath heard that I was hated he hath therefore given me this son also”. God hath seen that I am hated! Unloved is one of the sadest words, but hated is even worse. That is how she was feeling. When she produced her third son, Levi she said “now this time will my husband be joined unto me because I have born him three sons”. But he only wanted to be with Rachel. Nothing worse for a woman’s dignity.  Later Reuben found mandrakes in the field and brought them to his mother. Mandrakes must be nice!? Leah was prepared to let Rachel have the mandrakes in exchange for Jacob to be with her that night. ‘Just for me to have a little time with my husband’. Giving a bribe to be with her husband! She must have cried herself to sleep many a night.   Then the worst thing ... on their way back home when Jacob had to meet Esau. He was afraid and thought they were coming to kill him. He arranged it that the handmaids and their children should go first, then Leah and then last Rachel. Leah in the front. ‘It doesn’t matter if I die as long as Rachel is saved’. Poor Leah, all her life was hurt with sorrow. Anyway Leah didn’t die. God decided to take Rachel away instead.  But the thing I want to say (and it applies to Naboth and Uriah also) is that what matters is what God is doing to our spirits while the other is happening. We know about the formation of the pearl. I don’t think anyone at that time would have been able to guess what a beautiful pearl God was forming in Leah’s character. It is going to glisten through all eternity.  The Koreans have an interesting word for a gnat. They call it ‘one day living’. The gnat only lives for a day. In comparison to eternity our life is like that. One day living. But what remains is what God is able to do in our spirits. In this life Leah would have been envious of Rachel’s beauty and would have thought if I had it I would get on better. But through eternity Rachel is going to envy Leah. That beauty that is going to shine for ever. What happens to us in this life doesn’t matter. Even Naboth and Uriah – what happened didn’t matter, but what God was able to do. That mattered and that is what is going to remain. The only thing that is going to matter is whether or not we have the nature of the lamb.  What matters is what is produced in our spirits through what is happening.   H82 (AB) (Kosbaar’ Goud)   After the meeting Ernest told of some interesting incidents which some may have read/heard about, but two are recounted below: One of the most touching things I heard while in  South America  was the account of how the first workers crossed the  Andes  mountains to take the gospel to  Western Argentina . It was 1928, and there were already workers in  Buenos Aires  and in  Chile . It was decided that going over the  Andes  from  Chile  would be much closer than crossing  Argentina . The workers who were to go from  Argentina  were Jack Jackson, Jeff Goodrich and Henry Savage.  They only had train fare for one of them, so the remaining two would have to walk the  252 kilometers  ( 157 miles ), and over a height of  3,200 meters  ( 10,500 feet ) to the city of  Mendoza  in  West Argentina .  Henry was not strong, so he was elected to go by train.  Since the other two had to carry food and water for the long walk and the weight would be a problem, they only took enough for half the journey, and the rest of the food was made into a package which Henry would drop next to the railway line at a prearranged point.  Jack and Jeff crossed the  Andes  by following the railway line. However, when they got to the place where Henry was to drop the food, there was nothing!  (Later they found out that Henry had fallen asleep at the time the train passed that place so was unable to drop the package).  This meant that the two brothers had to walk all the rest of the way without food.  A glance at the photo below would show you that there was no chance of finding anything to eat along the way either! (This is one of several photos I took of the old, now unused, railway line when we were crossing the  Andes  by bus. In some places the road was quite near the line.) They did manage to get water from occasional streams that they found flowing down the mountain.  They needed to get to  Mendoza  as soon as possible now to save from starving, so walked continually except for sleeping at night.  Jeff told Jack that they needed to stop once in a while to pray, but Jack said that time was now critical, and they would have to pray while they walked.  Jeff later said that he discovered that this was possible!  One night they discovered a cave in the mountain, so went inside to sleep.  The next morning when they came out they discovered a puma's fresh tracks at the mouth of the cave.  The puma would definitely have got their scent, so it was only miraculous help from God that prevented it from going in.  They could not take their boots off at night because their feet were so swollen that they would not have been able to get their boots on again.  Jeff later said that when he finally took his boots off at Mendoza, they were full of blood.  They had been walking for seven days. Anyway, they were rewarded for their suffering by finding very good fruit during their labours in  Mendoza .   Told us about one of our friends, who had a house on the edge of  town. He worked in a factory a distance away. There was a farm between his house and the factory. He was on good terms with the farmer, so every day he walked across the farm, as it was shorter. But, one day that farmer sold his farm, and a new man moved in. The next morning our friend, forgetting this, started to walk across it, when the farmer came out, shouting at him, “How dare you do this without my permission?!” “I’m sorry,” our friend replied. “I’ll go back and walk around.” The farmer replied, “It’s OK this time, but don’t do it again!” So, he didn’t! And, when passing, our friend always greeted the farmer with “Good morning”, but the farmer would just ignore him! One morning he said, “Good morning, that was a lovely rain last night, wasn’t it?” And for the first time, the farmer answered him, “What kind of man are you, anyway? If you did to me what I did to you, I would never have spoken to you again! You must have something I don’t have!” So, our friend invited him to the meetings, and he and his wife came, and both professed! Later on our friend, who had the Sunday morning meeting, moved away, and the meeting was put in the farmer’s home, and sometime later, there was a convention on that farm! All because of a man who responded like a lamb, and not like a goat!