Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:2.
Our sympathies are to overflow the boundaries of self and the enclosure of family walls. There are precious opportunities for those who will make their homes a blessing to others.
We are in a world of sin and temptation; all around us are souls perishing out of Christ, and God wants us to labor for them in every way possible. If you have a pleasant home, invite to it the youth who have no home, those who are in need of help, who long for sympathy and kind words, for respect and courtesy.
Our homes should be a place of refuge for the tempted youth. Many there are who stand at the parting of the ways. Every influence, every impression, is determining the choice that shapes their destiny both here and hereafter. Evil invites them. Its resorts are made bright and attractive. They have a welcome for every comer. All about us are youth who have no home, and many whose homes have no helpful, uplifting power, and the youth drift into evil….
These youth need a hand stretched out to them in sympathy…. If we would … invite them to our homes, and surround them with cheering, helpful influences, there are many who would gladly turn their steps into the upward path.
The season of prayer makes its impression on those who receive entertainment, and even one visit may mean the saving of a soul from death.
Let visitors see that we are striving to conform to the will of Christ…. The very atmosphere of a truly Christian home is that of peace and restfulness. Such an example will not be without effect.
As you open your door to Christ’s needy and suffering ones, you are welcoming unseen angels. You invite the companionship of heavenly beings. They bring a sacred atmosphere of joy and peace. They come with praises upon their lips, and an answering strain is heard in heaven. Every deed of mercy makes music there.
The Faith I Live By p. 276
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for our church Family in Jamaica we have lost four young men. Who drowned at sea. Kay
—-Please pray for Mr Underwood, a dear friend who is very sick and was taken to the Hospital last night. Meri
—-Please pray for my healing. Buck
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Dear Friends,
Over the years, we have enjoyed going to scenic drives and seeing all the wonderful things that our Great Creator has made. One such time some years ago, Ronnie Jay searched the Internet for a scenic drive and decided on one which began south and west of Medicine Lodge. Once there, most of the drive was on unpaved roads on the open range. Because of this, we did not go very fast and had to slow down even more for the many cattle guards across the road.
With picnic lunch in the cooler, several containers of water, and a pair of binoculars, we set off to see what animals and birds we could find. To our delight, we saw prairie dogs who peered at us curiously from over the embankment until one of them sounded their alarm cry, three roadrunners walking alongside of the road, a coyote so intent on the rodent he was about to catch that he did not even notice us, a pheasant, a multitude of mountain bluebirds eating cedar berries, various varieties of hawks, etc.
As we drove along the dusty roads going up hill and down, we thought of the time when this earth will be recreated. No signs of the curse that sin has brought will be there like there is here. Our Great Creator promises, “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem [id est, the New Jerusalem] a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. . . . And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.” John also saw the New Jerusalem coming down to this earth made new, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.” Isaiah exclaims, “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isa 65:17-25; Rev 21:1-4; Isaiah 11:6-9; 35
No sin will be in that fair land, the animals will be tame and fearlessly come up to us to be petted. Think of it! We will walk along golden paths with animals large and small serenely following us. How we look forward to that time! Peter assures us, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us–ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:9-14
Rose
A Place of Refuge