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.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
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.
Sunday, June 8, 2014
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?
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
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
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."
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."
Thursday, June 5, 2014
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
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
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.
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.
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