I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20.
By faith Paul appropriated the grace of Christ, and this grace supplied the necessities of his soul. By faith he received the heavenly gift, and imparted it to souls longing for light. This is the experience we need. . . . Pray for this faith. Strive for it. Believe that God will give it to you.
There is a great work to be done in our world. This is no dreamland. Before us are living realities. On every hand are to be seen the manifestations of Satan’s power. Let us co-operate with Him who works to restore and uplift. And let us not forget that he who works for Christ must recruit his strength at the source of all strength. . . . Christians need power of thought, firmness of will, and knowledge that comes from the study of God’s Word. They cannot afford to fill their minds with trifles. Every day they must be renewed in spiritual power.
Learn of Him who has said, “I am meek and lowly in heart.” Learning of Him, you will find rest. Day by day you will gain an experience in the things of God, day by day realize the greatness of His salvation and the glory of a union with Him. Constantly you will learn better how to live Christlike, and constantly you will grow more like the Saviour.
If we will die to self, if we will enlarge our idea of what Christ can be to us and what we can be to Him, if we will unite with one another in the bonds of Christian fellowship, God will work through us with mighty power. Then we shall be sanctified through the truth. We shall indeed be chosen by God and controlled by His Spirit. Every day of life will be precious to us, because we shall see in it an opportunity to use our entrusted gifts for the blessing of others.
We must forget self in loving service for others. . . . We may not remember some act of kindness which we do, . . . but eternity will bring out in all its brightness every act done for the salvation of souls, every word spoken for the comfort of God’s children; and these deeds done for Christ’s sake will be a part of our joy through all eternity.
Maranatha p. 120
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Prayer Requests
—–I know that some of you prayer warriors will be wondering about any news of Abigail’s condition…. Abigail is still surviving, despite the medical staff expecting her to slip into coma at any moment. There are still no signs of rejection of the transplanted liver, but her father says it is still too early to tell regarding that. A bone marrow transplant has also been in the works . . . . Thank you for your prayers. Please do not let up. Abigail’s father stated that right now she is surviving, but that it is very difficult to comment on how she is, because it could go either way at this point. He did say that when the hospital relented a couple of days ago and allowed he and his wife unlimited access 24/7 to their little girl again, that Abigail did seem to improve a bit. I did not ask her father if she is receiving any sustenance again and he did not state anything on this. This little Sweetie’s life is still hanging in the balance, so please continue your earnest prayers. May the devil be bound that he cannot touch her, and may our compassionate Father in Heaven see fit to restore her to health for His name’s glory. Debby
——Please pray for us. L
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Dear Friends,
While we lived in that yellow house I told about yesterday, Esther Marie got very sick. At first I thought it was a cold or flu, but soon she was much sicker than that. I rushed her to the doctor. The receptionist took one look at her and, although there was a room full of waiting people, hurried us right in. The exam was very painful to Esther and since she was only 6, she didn’t understand that he was not trying to hurt her. She blamed him for her pain. From that time on, she did not like him at all. She remembered only the pain and not the fact that he was able to give her the medicine she needed to get over the meningitis.
We are so much like that. Our heart is full of sin. We are in the condition Isaiah describes in Isaiah 1:5,6: ” the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.”
Our Loving Saviour bids us, “Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you.” Zech 1:3 “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” Eze 33:11
We try to make ourselves well, but we cannot heal ourselves. We need someone to save us. Someone Who is able to change our sinsick hearts and make us pure within. Someone Who can change our thoughts, our motives, our desires. Someone Who has promised, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Eze 36:26,27
Yet, how often this process of cleansing takes us through trials that go against all that we desire. How often the “exam” is unpleasant and we fight and cry out against the One Who is trying to help us. How often we blame Him for our misery, when it is really caused by our own sin-sick heart. But Our Creator understands our pain and confusion. He sooths us, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isa 41:10
May we say as did the Psalmist, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Ps 139:23,24 “Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation.” Ps 51:2,7,10-12 May we say as did Job when he did not understand, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” Job 13:15 May we, this day, give ourselves completely to our Helper, our Saviour, our Redeemer, our King.
Rose