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Sunday, 22 November 2009

  • The Christian’s “Taste Berry”

    It is said that in Africa there is a fruit called the “taste berry,” because it changes a person’s taste so that everything eaten tastes sweet and pleasant. Sour fruit, even if eaten several hours after the “taste berry,” becomes sweet and delicious. Gratitude is the “taste berry” of Christianity, and when our hearts are filled with gratitude, nothing that God sends us seems unpleasant to us. Sorrowing heart, sweeten your grief with gratitude. Burdened soul, lighten your burden by singing God’s praises. Disappointed one, dispel your loneliness by making others grateful. Sick one, grow strong in soul, thanking God that He loves you enough to chasten you. Keep the “taste berry” of gratitude in your hearts, and it will do for you what the “taste berry” of Africa does for the African.

    In Everything Give Thanks!
    ‘Mid sunshine, cloud or stormy days,
    When hope abounds or care dismays,
    When trials press and toils increase
    Let not thy faith in God decrease --
    “In everything give thanks.”

    All things we know shall work for good,
    Nor would we change them if we could;
    ‘Tis well if only He command;
    His promises will ever stand --
    “In everything give thanks.”

    He satisfies the longing heart,
    He thwarts the tempter’s cruel dart,
    With goodness fills the hungry soul,
    And helps us sing when billows roll.
    “In every thing give thanks.”

Saturday, 21 November 2009

  • God’ Sustaining Providence

    Have you ever been at a place in life where you felt you just could not go on? Have you ever felt so totally weary, you couldn’t concentrate on God‘s Word or pray? Have you ever been to the place you felt your dearest friends have turned against you and you had no other place to go? Those are the times we just need to lean hard on God. “The eternal God is our refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them” (Deuteronomy 33:27). “When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident…For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock” (Psalm 27:2, 3, 5). God may allow us to be brought to such places in life so that we can learn that our only true refuge is the eternal God. He’s always there to hold out His arms to support us whatever our circumstances may be. No storm or enemy can destroy us when we take refuge in Him. What a blessed resting place -- the shelter of His arms. What a perfect place of safety.

    Lean Hard on Him
    There’s a secret when you’re tried and sorely tested
    When your faith is weak and it seems your soul won’t mend;
    When those who’ve failed in whom you’ve sweetly rested,
    Cast it all on Jesus, and lean hard on Him.

    Chorus:
    Lean hard on Him for He’s your dearest Friend
    And He’ll be with you till the end
    ‘Mid trials and cares don’t despair
    For the promise is yours -- He’ll be there.
    Cast it all on Jesus and lean hard on Him.

    Oh, it’s His delight to keep your soul from falling;
    Hear Him say to you, “Don’t you fret, for I’m your Friend.”
    Many are the trials and the burdens are so galling;
    But roll it all on Jesus and lean hard on Him.

    There’ll be times when it seems your friends misunderstand you,
    And you wonder if the sun will shine again;
    Will it ever end and can I make it through?
    Well, put it all on Jesus and lean hard on Him.

Friday, 20 November 2009

  • Do We Believe God?

    I’ve been thinking about Abraham and his constant and unwavering faith in God. When the Lord appeared to him and told him that he and Sarah would have a son, he believed that God would be true to His Word, even though he and Sarah were both past the age of bearing children. He had already proven the faithfulness of God time and time again. The Scripture tells us, “And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead; when he was about an hundred years old. Neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able to perform” (Romans 4:19-21). He never doubted God, even though it was a number of years before they saw the fulfillment of this promise. When God gives a promise about some need that we have or some request we have made to Him in prayer, it is as good as being done. “Therefore I say unto you, What things so ever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:24). This promise gives no time limit. It doesn’t say that we will have it right now, or next week, or even several years from now. It simply states that if we believe that we receive, then we shall have.

    He took the loaves and fishes few
    And fed the hungry throng.
    He saw the mite of faith he had
    And made the cripple strong.

    He took the lumps of clay and gave
    The blind man precious sight.
    He, seeing Mary’s trust in Him,
    Brought Lazarus back to light.

    He takes my whispered, silent prayer,
    My faith like mustard seed
    And makes what once was vague and dim
    Reality indeed!
    --Chorsten Christensen

    “Standing on the promises that cannot fail! When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, By the living Word of God I shall prevail, Standing on the promises of God.” -- R. Kelso Carter

Thursday, 19 November 2009

  • The Gentleness of God

    Some people may have the concept of God as One who sits high and mighty on His throne, just waiting for someone to make a mistake, and then He is ready to pronounce judgment and mete out punishment! Others may think that He is so great that He could not possibly have the time or interest in mere mortals such as they. But we find in God’s Word that although He is a mighty God and a great God, He is also a gentle God, One who watches over His children with loving care. “Thou hast also given me the shield of the salvation; and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great” (Psalm 18:35). “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young” (Isaiah 40:11). “A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench…” (Isaiah 42:3). On this verse, Matthew Henry commented, “He is tender of those oppressed with doubts and fears, as a bruised reed; those who are as smoking flax, as the wick of a lamp newly lighted, which is ready to go out again. He will not despise them, nor lay upon them more work or more suffering than they can bear.” How I appreciate the gentleness of my Heavenly Father!

    In The Hollow of His Hand
    When I look across the mountain,
    so bare, so bleak, so gray,
    And my heart is sick and lonely
     for the faces far away --
    ‘Tis a comfort to remember
    that mountain, sea, and land
    Are gathered all together
    in the hollow of His hand.

    When I think of all the loved ones
    who have passed beyond my sight --
    How their going made the daybreak
    seem more dark to me than night, --
    Then I thank my heavenly Father
    he hath made me understand
    That the place where they are sleeping
    is the hollow of His hand.

    When I waken in the morning,
    and my heart is filled with fear,
    Knowing not the unseen sorrow,
    nor what terror may be near,
    A peace falls on my spirit
    too restful to withstand,
    As I think how safe He holds me
    in the hollow of His hand.

    When I think of all the sorrow
    and the agony of life --
    How the world is struggling onward
    in the midst of care and strife,
    There are depths I cannot fathom;
    but one thought is at command;
    Jesus Christ stands at the crisis,
    Stretching forth His wounded hand.
    --Author Unknown

Wednesday, 18 November 2009

  • God, Our Refuge

    I’m sure that all of God’s children have, at one time or another, opened the Bible and right before their eyes was a verse that spoke to their hearts, one that they needed at that very moment. That’s exactly what happened to me. I have been struggling with a chemical imbalance and am so tired of being tired! When I opened the Bible, there was Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” He is my strength, my hiding place, a present help -- always here when I need Him most! Praise God!! Further in this Psalm it states, “Be still, and know that I am God…” I don’t have to be doing anything or going anywhere -- just being still in His presence and He will minister to me. This Psalm was the inspiration for Martin Luther to write the hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” Too many times we sing songs out of habit and don’t really pay attention to the words. Take time to read and meditate. This hymn is such a blessing!!

    A mighty Fortress is our God,
    A Bulwark never failing:
    Our Helper He, amid the flood
    Of mortal ills prevailing.
    For still our ancient foe
    Doth seek to work us woe;
    His craft and pow’r are great,
    And armed with cruel hate,
    On earth is not his equal.

    Did we in our own strength confide,
    Our striving would be losing;
    Were not the right Man on our side,
    The Man of God’s own choosing.
    Dost ask who that may be?
    Christ Jesus -- it is He;
    Lord Sabaoth, His name;
    From age to age the same;
    And He must win the battle.

    And tho’ this world, with devils filled,
    Should threaten to undo us,
    We will not fear, for God hath willed
    His truth to triumph through us.
    The prince of darkness grim --
    We tremble not for him.
    His rage we can endure,
    For, lo his doom is sure;
    One little word shall fell him.

    That word above all earthly pow’rs,
    No thanks to them, abideth;
    The Spirit and the gifts are ours
    Thro’ Him who with us sideth.
    Let goods and kindred go --
    This mortal life also.
    The body they may kill;
    God’s truth abideth still.
    His kingdom is forever.

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    • Name: Judy
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About Me

  • God has first place in my life and my love. My greatest desire is that others will see Christ in my daily life. I am a homemaker and love to read, sew, cook, and play the piano. I am the mother of two, grandmother of three, and great-grandmother of six.

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