“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
(Isaiah 40:31)
On one occasion, while fighting Great Britain, George Washington,
Commander and Chief of the Continental Army,
went alone into the woods at Valley Forge to pray.
He was overheard by a Tory on the side of England who returned to his home shaken.
He said to his wife, “Our cause is lost.
I came unexpectedly upon a person kneeling in prayer.
I heard the impassioned plea of his prayers.
I saw tears on his cheeks and knew our cause was lost!”
(R.E. Surgenor)
Prayer is the burden of a sigh, the falling of a tear.
The upward glancing of an eye, when none but God is near.
(J.M)
N.J. Hiebert - 6311
July 12
“All things are of God . . . “ (2 Corinthians 5:18).
There is nothing in the new creation that is not of God—nor can anything
else ever enterer into it.
“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).
Our “life,” which "is hid with Christ in God”, is a tested life, not a life exposed to be tested—
and God has been glorified in that life.
“He is before all things, and by Him all thing consist” (Colossians 1:17).
God’s purposes are not in Adam, but are all in Christ.
(Hunt’s Sayings - Rochfort Hunt)
N.J. Hiebert - 6312
July 13
“. . . Every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it,
that it may bring forth more fruit.”
(John 15:2)
When the violin-makers of the Middle Ages wished to form a perfect instrument,
they caused the selected tree to be felled at a particular period of its growth.
The wood was then planed and cut into small pieces.
These were exposed to the heat of the sun and to the winter’s storms;
then they were bent, rubbed, polished, and finally fastened together with incomparable skill.
If the wood could have fond tongue, doubtless it would have begged to grow in the forest,
to rustle its branches, and to bear its fruit as its companions were left to do,
becoming at last a part of sodden earth.
But it was this harsh treatment that made out of common boards the
Stradivari violin, whose music still charms the world.
God of the gallant trees give to us fortitude;
Give as Thou givest to them valorous hardihood!
We are the trees of Thy planting, O God,
We are the trees of Thy wood.
Now let the life-sap run clean through our every vein,
Perfect what Thou hast begun God of the sun and rain.
Thou who dost measure the weight of the wind,
Fit us for stress and strain.
(Amy Carmichael)
Be weather-worn timber!
N.J. Hiebert - 6313
July 14
“For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power,
and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know
what manner of men we were among you for your sake.”
(1 Thessalonians 1:5)
The religion of the Lord Jesus is valuable only as its power is experienced in the heart. In this respect, and in this only, it may be compared to the physical sciences, which, however ingenious in structure, or beautiful in theory—yet, if not reduced or reducible to purposes of practical use, are of little worth. It is so with the truth of Jesus.
The man of mere taste may applaud its external beauty,
the philosopher may admire its ethics,
the orator may admire its eloquence, and
the poet may admire its sublimity—
but if the Spirit of God does not take His own truth, and impress it upon the heart,
as to the great design of its revelation—it avails nothing.
What numbers there are who rest in the mere "theory" of Christianity!
But as a practical principle—they know nothing of it.
As a thing experienced in the heart—it is a hidden mystery to them.
(Octavious Winslow 1808-1878)
N.J. Hiebert - 6314
July 15
“I AM THAT I AM.” (Exodus 3:14)
God is His own equivalent, and God needs nothing but Himself to
achieve the great purposes on which He has set His heart.
God gave Moses a blank cheque book, and as life went forward for the next forty years,
Moses kept filling in the blank with his special need.
He filled in fearlessness before Pharaoh.
He filled in guidance across the Red Sea.
He filled in manna for the whole population.
He filled in water from the rock.
He filled in guidance through the wilderness.
He filled in victory over Amalek.
He filled in clear revelation at Sinai.
And so Moses, for the rest of his life, had little else to do than to go quietly alone,
and taking God’s blank cheque book, signed by God’s name,
I AM THAT I AM, write in I AM guidance;
I AM bread.
He presented the cheque and God honoured it.
And whenever you come to live upon God’s plan as Moses from that moment did,
you may absolutely trust God.
And when you come down to the hoar head you will say
“Not one good thing hath failed of all the good things which the
LORD your God spake concerning you.”
(Joshua 23:14).
(A.B. Simpson - 1848-1919)
N.J. Hiebert - 6315
July 16
“Behold, the sower went forth to sow . . . the word of the kingdom.”
(Matthew 13:3,19)
Ask anyone if they have ever heard of John Chapman of American History and they will say “No.”
Ask them if they know him by his nickname Johnny Appleseed and they will answer, “Yes.”
Most of them will also be able to tell you how he got his other name—by traveling across America planting apple seeds.
But then they will tell you that they thought he was only a fictional character of American folklore.
Johnny Appleseed/Chapman, born in Massachusetts in 1774, was a real American hero.
Before his death in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1845, he really did plant apple seeds throughout Massachusetts,
New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. But that is not all he planted.
When he left home at age 18 to start his planting career,
he carried two things in his knapsack—apple seeds and his Bible.
Wherever he went, he planted apple seeds in the ground and the seeds
of the kingdom of God in the hearts of all he encountered.
Among all the myths that have arisen around this American health food pioneer, the most spiritually
significant is recorded by David Collins, one of his biographers: “As he planted tiny seeds in the soil across an ever-growing America, Johnny Appleseed carried the Christian message to everyone he met . . . He was truly a messenger of God, sharing the Lord’s Word with all who would listen.”
Johnny Appleseed knew from Matthew 13, his favourite passage, that not every seed he sowed—
whether appleseeds or God’s Word—would spring up as a healthy fruit bearing plant.
However, he did know that the more he sowed, the more would spring up to bear fruit for God.
And this was his driving force—fruit for God’s glory.
And this was his driving force—fruit for God’s glory.
Do we have the same interest?
(L.J. Ondrejack)
N.J. Hiebert - 6316
July 17
“Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among
women? Whither is thy beloved turned aside?
That we may seek him with thee.”
(Song of Solomon 6:1)
Most blessed and varied are the results which flow from the soul’s entire occupation with Christ.
To lose sight of self, and have Him for our one object,
is immediate—certain blessing.
When Christians slip into a low, dull state of soul,
what will most speedily and effectually bring them out of it?
Becoming filled and occupied with Christ for themselves,
and speaking of Him to others.
(Andrew Miller)
N.J. Hiebert - 6317
July 18
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings
in heavenly places in Christ.”
(Ephesians 1:3)
In Ephesians believers are called upon to enter by faith NOW into the possession
of that inheritance which we shall enjoy in all its fulness by-and-by.
We are far richer than we realize.
All things are ours, and yet how little we appropriate!
It is said in the prophecy of Obadiah that when the Lord
returns and His kingdom is established, the people of Israel shall
“Possess their possessions.” (Obadiah 1:17)
This is a challenge to us.
Do you possess your possessions?
Or are your heavenly estates like castles in Spain
about which you dream, but never really make your own?
I trust the Holy Spirit may lead us into the present
enjoyment of our portion in Christ.
(H.A. Ironside)
N.J. Hiebert - 6318
July 19
“Thou hast put all things in subjection under His feet.”
(Hebrews 2:8)
In the opening of the Gospel of Luke one is struck by the deep and vivid expression of intimacy between heaven and earth which is found and felt to be there.
It is man’s necessity and weakness which open the heavenly door;
but once open, it is thrown wide open.
Zacharias and Elizabeth were both righteous before God,
walking in all the ordinances and commandments of the Lord blameless.
They were of the priestly family, the seed of Aaron.
But it was not their righteousness that opened heaven to them, but their need and infirmities.
Elizabeth was barren, and they were both now well stricken in age;
and their point of real blessing lay there, lay in their sorrow and weakness.
For to the barren wife and the childless husband Gabriel comes with a word of promise from heaven.
But, as we said, the door of heaven, being once opened, is flung wide open.
Angels are all action and joy; and no matter whether it be the temple in the royal, holy city,
or a distant village in despised Galilee, Gabriel with equal readiness visits either and both.
The glory of God, as well as hosts of angels, fills also the fields of Bethlehem.
The Holy Spirit, in His divine light and power,
fills His elect vessels, and the Son Himself assumes flesh.
Heaven and earth are very near each other.
The action and the joy which had begun on high,
are felt and answered from the scene here below.
The shepherds, the favoured women, the aged priest, and the unborn child,
share the holy enthusiasm of the moment; and waiting saints go forth
from the place of expectation.
"Heaven comes down our souls to greet.”
(The Son of God - J.G. Bellett)
N.J. Hiebert - 6319
July 20
“. . . exhort (encourage) one another daily, while it is called today.”
(Hebrews 3:13)
She had a doubt, and buried it before the day was old;
She did not tell it to a friend—what if his love grew cold?
She buried it; and turned to Christ. “Lord, Thou hast died for me—
Increase my faith, my feeble faith, and bid me cling to Thee!”
The days are always dark enough.
There is no need for us to emphasize the
fact by further spreading gloom.
Instead we should seize every
opportunity to give encouragement.
Someone has said that encouragement is oxygen to the soul.
A real test of Christian character is the atmosphere one carries around with him.
Our lives should radiate the joy and gratitude of our Christian experience
so that others may be encouraged by our attitude.
(Traveling Toward Sunrise)
N.J. Hiebert - 6320
July 21
THE WORLD IN CHAOS
“These things are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God; and that believing ye might
have life through His name.”
(John 20:31)
The world in chaos spins around; there’s turmoil, terror, on the ground;
Evil and suffering everywhere—widespread discouragement, despair.
There’s always suffering on this earth, so little’s changed; there’s little mirth;
But cynicism now abounds, and hope for peace? There’s little ground.
There’s war and fighting everywhere, and one might ask, “Does someone care?”
The world’s grown smaller in our day; is there someone to lead the way?
Leaders seem helpless in the fight, and where’s the man who’ll stand for right?
Will things continue to decline? Could there be help from the Divine?
There’s little reason for much hope, yet there’s no cause to simply grope;
For God, who holds our very breath waits now to save—hear what He saith:
There is salvation full and free in this dark world of misery,
For Jesus came from heaven above, to show the wonders of God’s love.
It was at Calvary He died; the Son of God was crucified!
He died to save man from his sin, to cleanse him and give peace within.
So though, indeed, the world grows dark, please listen carefully—please hark;
Please hear the gospel message free, how Jesus died for for you and me.
And now, my friend, I offer you the Bible with its word so true;
Yes, Jesus said: “I am the way,” take Him as Lord—be saved today!
(C.H. Krause - May 2006 - # 176)
N.J. Hiebert - 6321
July 22
“And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, it is not in me:
God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”
(Genesis 41:16)
These dreams are the third group that Joseph experienced.
The first set concerned Joseph and his brothers, his immediate family;
the second set (the butler and baker) moved beyond family to the immediate world;
this last set had even wider implications, the national and international world.
In addition to the expanding sphere, Joseph’s approach to
expressing and explaining the dreams grew with each.
There was more Joseph and less God in the first group of dreams,
but more God and less Joseph in the third pair.
God was moulding His man even as He used him!
(C. Funston)
Learning to lean, learning to lean, I’m learning to lean on Jesus;
Finding more power than I’ver ever dreamed, I’m learning to lean on Jesus.
(John Sterling)
N.J. Hiebert - 6322
No comments:
Post a Comment