Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22.
God calls upon those who know His will to be doers of His word. Weakness, halfheartedness, and indecision provoke the assaults of Satan; and those who permit these traits to grow will be borne helplessly down by the surging waves of temptation. Everyone who professes the name of Christ is required to grow up to the full stature of Christ, the Christian’s living head.
We all need a guide through the many strait places in life as much as the sailor needs a pilot over the sandy bar or up the rocky river, and where is this guide to be found? We point you . . . to the Bible. Inspired of God, written by holy men, it points out with great clearness and precision the duties of both old and young. It elevates the mind, softens the heart, and imparts gladness and holy joy to the spirit. The Bible presents a perfect standard of character; it is an infallible guide under all circumstances, even to the end of the journey of life. Take it as the man of your counsel, the rule of your daily life. . . .
In the Scriptures thousands of gems of truth lie hidden from the surface seeker. The mine of truth is never exhausted. The more you search the Scriptures with humble hearts, the greater will be your interest, and the more you will feel like exclaiming with Paul: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”
Every day you should learn something new from the Scriptures. Search them as for hid treasures, for they contain the words of eternal life. Pray for wisdom and understanding to comprehend these holy writings. If you would do this you would find new glories in the word of God; you would feel that you had received new and precious light on subjects connected with the truth, and the Scriptures would be constantly receiving a new value in your estimation. . . .
Be diligent in the use of every means of grace, that you may be transformed in character and may grow up to the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus.
Maranatha p. 44
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Prayer Requests
—- Pray for my 90 yr old mother. She and my Step-Dad have moved to a new nursing home. She is not adjusting well. Dee
—– Pray that God will make a way for Mary to go with her sister to Branson MO. Pray He will provide someone to take care of her husband Adrian and provide the money so she will be able to get a much needed break. Fran
——update— Mom’s surgeon said they usually take 12 lymph nodes with colon cancer, checking to see if its spread of course. In Mom’s case, they took 30 and all of them were clear! She said she got it all and after a period of time, Mom’s colon should be doing what its supposed to do. She should be back in her flowers, back to her old self, pain free. Thank you Lord!!! Debbie
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Dear Friends,
One day, when I was in my middle teens, I noticed that the book that I was reading was due at the library that day. Even though I was not quite finished reading it, I knew I had to take it back that day or pay a fine. I decided that if I walked the two miles to the library, reading while I walked, I could finish it by the time I got there.
After a few blocks of walking and reading, I could keep on the sidewalk without watching where I was going. Soon, I became so absorbed in that book, that I did not pay any attention to my surroundings. Suddenly, the squeal of brakes broke into my thoughts. Within a foot of me was a big, black car. The driver inside looked scared at first, but soon his fright turned to anger. All I could say was ” I’m sorry.” Continuing on my journey, I decided I would wait till I got to the library to finish the book.
So it is in our daily lives. We can get so busy that we become totally absorbed in our own little world. Time passes quickly. Days, months, years roll by. One day, we look back and wonder where the time has gone. Sometimes our Loving Heavenly Father must allow unpleasant things to happen to shake us back to reality. Sometimes He turns events so we will run into His outstretched arms to receive His loving embrace. Paul tells us, “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” Heb 12:5-14
How deep is the ache in God’s Great Heart of Love, when we turn away from His chastening rod and wallow in self-pity. How He longs for us to allow Him to do His work within us. How He yearns to have us commune with Him as we go about our daily duties. By praying ” without ceasing” we can have that closeness that He desires us to have. 1 Thes 5:17 By praising Him for blessings large and small, our love for Him increases.
Think of it! We have the great privilege of laying our burdens at the feet of the Great Burden-bearer. He, alone, can untangle our troubled life. He, alone, can bring good out of all our perplexity. How He longs for us to praise Him for the blessings He showers upon us. How greatly He desires to be involved in every aspect of our lives. Our Loving Creator ” is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 He is as the father of the prodigal son who, while the boy was still a great way off, “had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him” and wrapped his filthy, tattered garments with his own spotless robe . Luke 15:11-24
May we never get so busy that we forget the One Who gave His life for us. May we “practice the Presence” daily. May we, by our thoughts, our words, our actions, bring joy to our Blessed Redeemer is my prayer.
Rose