Hebrews 12:1-3

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Amy Carmichael Poetry

The Age-Long Minute
Thou art the Lord who slept upon the pillow;
Thou art the Lord who soothed the furious sea.
What matter beating wind and tossing billow
If only we are in the boat with Thee?

Hold us in quiet through the age-long minute,
While Thou art silent and the wind is shrill;
Can the boat sink while Thou, Dear Lord, art in it?
Can the heart faint that waiteth on Thy will?

The Shell
Upon the sandy shore an empty shell,
Beyond the shell infinity of sea;
O Saviour, I am like that empty shell;
Thou art the Sea to me.
A sweeping wave rides up the shore, and, lo,
Each dim recess the coiled shell within
Is searched, is filled, is filled to overflow
By water crystalline.
Not to the shell is any glory then:
All glory give we to the glorious sea.
And not to me is any glory when
Thou overflowest me.
Sweep over me, Thy shell, as low I lie,
I yield me to the purposes of Thy will;
Sweep up, O conquering waves, and purify,
And with Thy fullness fill.

Teach Us To Pray
Lord Jesus, Intercessor, O teach us how to pray:
Not wave-like, rising, falling, in fitful clouds of spray.
The mighty tides of ocean a deeper secret know,
Their currents undefeated move whatever winds may blow.

Lord Jesus, Intercessor, Creator of the sea,
Teach us the tide’s great secret of quiet urgency.
Spindrift of words we ask not. But, Lord, we seek to know
The conquering patience of the tides whatever winds may blow.

Looking to Christ

You have infinite reason to look on Christ, no reason at all to look off Him. He is meek and lowly of heart (Matthew 11:29). He will do that Himself which He requires of His creature, namely bear with infirmities (Romans 15:1). No pleasing Himself; no standing upon points of law (v. 2). He will restore with the spirit of meekness (Galatians 6:1), and bear your burden (v. 2). He will forgive not only till seven times, but seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22). It put the faith of the apostle to it, to believe this (Luke 17:4-5). Because we are hard to forgive, we think Christ is so.

We apprehend sin too great to be pardoned; we think Christ does so; and measure infinite love with our line, infinite merits with our sins, which is the greatest pride and blasphemy (Psalm 103:11-12; Isaiah 40:15). Hear what He says, "I have found a ransom" (Job 33:24). "In him I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). God will have nothing else. Nothing else will do you good, or satisfy conscience but Christ, who satisfied the Father. God does all upon the account of Christ. You deserve rejection, wrath and hell. Christ's deserts are acceptance, pardon, and life. He will not only show you the one, but He will give you the other. It is Christ's own glory and happiness to pardon.

~Thomas Wilcox, Honey Out of the Rock, page 14

Bearing Fruit

It is the branch that bears the fruit,

That feels the knife,

To prune it for a larger growth,

A fuller life.

Though every budding twig be trimmed,

And every grace

Of swaying tendril, springing leaf,

May lose its place.

O you whose life of joy seems left,

With beauty shorn;

Whose aspirations lie in dust,

All bruised and torn,

Rejoice, though each desire, each dream,

Each hope of thine

Will fall and fade; it is the hand

Of Love Divine

That holds the knife, that cuts and breaks

With tenderest touch,

That you, whose life has borne some fruit,

Might now bear much.

~Annie Johnson Flint

Little Reminders

"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people." Hebrews 8:10

Today I was thinking about the word of God being written on our minds and hearts. Isn't it amazing how some of the verses that we've all heard so often over the years will just appear in the mind after seeing something that reminds us of a portion of scripture? I saw this picture and it reminded me of that verse in Psalm 103:11-12 that says "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."

...Yet Was Without Sin

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin." Hebrews 4:15 Isn't it comforting to know that Jesus was tempted just like we are? And how much more comforting to know that he was without sin--completely victorious! Of course since we are human we can't possibly be victorious 100% of the time, but I am sure that as Christians we (through Christ's help) are capable of being far more victorious than we are willing to believe!

-What a Friend we Have in Jesus-
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

~Joseph Scriven, verse 2

Psalm 1:3

"He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers."

Standing on the Promises

In reading tonight, I came across this verse in Hosea. It is referring to the wicked when it says: "They make many promises, take false oaths, and make agreements..." (Hosea 10:4) I was thinking about how many times people of the world have let us down. How many times have you been stood up? Or how often has someone made a promise to you that they didn't bother to keep? Not so with God! "The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made." Psalm 145:13 He is faithful even when we are faithless!

Poetry

In reading tonight I found this poem. The third verse that talks about keeping the soul spotless and bright reminded me of how Bob Jennings always talks about how Christians should "walk the world in white." Unbelievers are always watching, and I'm sure they notice our flaws more than we realize. One of my main flaws is a critical spirit that surely doesn't go unnoticed. May God give us strength to overcome these daily struggles. Very encouraging and convicting poem at the same time.

Tread in solitude your pathway,
Quiet heart and undismayed.
You will know things strange, mysterious,
Which to you no voice has said.

While the crowd of petty hustlers
Grasps at vain and meager things,
You will see a great world rising
Where soft sacred music rings.

Leave the dusty road to others,
Spotless keep your soul and bright,
As the radiant ocean's surface
When the sun is taking flight.

~V. Schoffel

Testimony Among Lions

Today I was reading about Daniel in the lion's den. It's a story I've heard often, but for some reason I was really impressed by it this time. After the decree is issued that no one should pray except to the king, it is discovered that Daniel is still praying to his God. That in itself took a lot of faith, knowing what could happen if he were to just continue praying. When the king gave the order to place Daniel in the lion's den he said: "May your God, who you serve continually, rescue you." (chapter 6, verse 16) The den was then sealed and Daniel was left there overnight. The next morning the king returned to find Daniel unharmed because he had been protected by an angel of the Lord. This prompted King Darius to issue another decree, this time stating that all the people of his kingdom should fear and reverence God.

"For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions." (King Darius, verse 26-27)

Because of Daniel's faith in the Lord, and the power displayed by God, a king's heart was turned. I think that it goes to show the people of the world are watching to see how the Christian will respond in situations of difficulty. Daniel's response was one of total faith and it says in verse 4 no corruption could be found in him. Through Daniel's life of testimony and by "serving God continually"a king and a whole nation came to fear God.