Gems from July 20- 31, 2016

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)

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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)

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July 23

“For God giveth to a man that is good in His sight wisdom, and knowledge, and JOY . . .”

(Ecclesiastes 2:26)

Wisdom and knowledge are necessities if we are to do our work properly, 

but joy seems such a kind and lovely extra (like the scent of a flower); and then there is this, 

“I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it,

nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before Him.” 

(Ecclesiastes 3:14)

Nothing that happens (if only it comes to us in the line of His will) can take anything from the joy that does not depend on circumstances but on our God Himself.

If only we are kept by His power from anything that grieves the Spirit, it will be so always, 

“. . . for to the man that pleaseth Him God giveth . . . JOY.”

(Edges of His Ways - Amy Carmichael)

N.J. Hiebert - 6323

July 24

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but

after their own lusts shall shall they heap to themselves teachers,

having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears  

from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

(2 Timothy 4:3,4)

What is called "political correctness” is often merely a trendy term 

for man-pleasing, ear-tickling misrepresentation of reality. 

TRUTH STANDS.

It may be and should be expressed considerately, 

but it doesn’t bow or curtsey.

(Nuggets of Truth - J. Kaiser)

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July 25

“The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me. . . .”

(Psalms 138:8)

“If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.”

It is possible to begin with a fond wish which becomes father to a thought that multiplies until we have formed a whole philosophy in our wishful thinking.

We must beware of building a doctrine to satisfy our longings.

Concerning the next world, we imagine how things might be and develop theories that have no proof in the Word of God.

We wish it might become true so deeply that we decide it will be that way.

We convince ourselves and convince others.

There is no harm in such longing if we subordinate it to God’s will.

He will perfect that which concerns us and He who has begun 

a good work in us will finish it, (Philippians 1:6) so we leave the details with Him. 

Rest assured that the Judge of all the earth will do right (Genesis 18:25) and the reality

will be more glorious than anything we can now imagine.

(All the Days  - Vance Havner)

N.J. Hiebert - 6325 

July 26

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication 

with thanksgiving let your requests be made know unto God.”

(Philippians 4:6) 

Instead of worrying, we are told what we are to do (Philippians 4:6).

Tell God all about it.

Have you never found relief when you could tell a friend what you were passing through?

Well, God invites you to make a friend of Him.

He can be better than any earthly friend, for many reasons.

He is never weighted with care Himself, and our earthly friends often are;

He is always at hand, and earthly friends cannot be;

He is always ready to listen, and can impart to us His own peace, which others cannot do.

Moreover we can tell to Him what we could not breathe into any human ear, 

for He says,  “In everything by prayer . . .” 

The same God that made the mammoth and the mote 

will pay attention alike to our smallest,

as well as our greatest concerns. 

(Angels in White - Russell Elliott)

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July 27

“The harvest is past, the summer is ended,

and we are not saved.”

(Jeremiah 8:20)

God has arranged the seasons for the blessing of mankind.

The sun shines warm during summer, bringing forth

a bountiful harvest, before the onset of winter.

God has also made such an arrangement for man in the spiritual sense.

The bright sun of God’s Gospel has bathed our planet for over two

thousand years now, and the harvest is still being brought in. 

But the signs are that the day of God’s grace is about to close,

and the terrible day of God’s vengeance is about to break.

When the harvest has been gathered in, will you be left behind to face 

the judgment of God for all of eternity?

(W.H. Burnett)

Then hasten O sinner, whilst He will receive thee,

The harvest is passing, the summer will end.

Anon—

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July 28

“The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; 

and He knoweth them that trust in Him.”

(Nahum 1:7) 

He knoweth, not we know.

That we know God is evidenced in measure, 

at least when we can say,  “The Lord is good.”

But here it is that He knows us — that He knows

the heart that trusts in Him.

Peter could lay open his heart to Him and say,

“Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee.”

How sweet in trouble, when we dare not openly boast that we trust Him,

that we have the confidence that He knows that we trust in Him — One who 

will never fail the simple trust of a dependent soul!

(Comforted of God - A.J. Pollock)

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July 29

“For men shall be lovers of their own selves.”

(2 Timothy 3:2)

When the soul is cast upon God the Lord is with the soul in the trial, 

and the mind is kept perfectly calm.

The Spirit of love, the Spirit of Christ is there;

if thinking of myself this is the spirit of selfishness.

The Holy Spirit has no fellowship with . . . self.

The heart is not delivered from it until the Spirit has guided our thoughts to Jesus.

The effectual presence of the Spirit crucifies egotism and 

gives freedom of thought about  ourselves . . . 

it occupies us with but one object—

JESUS. 

(J.N. Darby) 

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July 30

"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”

(1 Thessalonians 5:21)

Once, while clearing some overgrown plants I encountered a vine of wild grapes.

They had really taken over and were all intertwined among the other surrounding plants.

As I worked I noticed the little tendrils that went out from the branches and latched onto the vine.

They were tenacious, and that was a good thing.

But then I noticed that some of the tendrils had attached themselves to branches of a dead tree.

Those were just as tenacious as the others.  

They were still connected to the vine, but out of convenience or proximity, 

there they were hooked onto those dead branches, going the direction of those branches.

. . .  you and I, as born again followers of Christ, 

can become attached to the dead things of this world and follow them.

Our attention to the things of Christ becomes divided.

And it may not be things that in themselves are evil;

it might be getting all wrapped up in the news events that go on to where we start to take 

up causes that don’t enhance what we’re supposed to be about as Christians.

What am I clinging to?

What am I getting attached to?

“Test all things; hold fast what is good."

(L.I.F.E. LInes - F. Pratt)

N.J. Hiebert - 6330    

July 31

"When Pharaoh drew nigh, the childen of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD."  
(Exodus 14:10)

Wouldn’t you be?  After all they were trapped.  All of them.

The Egyptians-looking for vengeance, were behind them-the entire army!

And the Israelites had no forces to protect themselves or oppose the enemy.

They had nowhere to go!

And yet the Lord had described the situation exactly to Moses beforehand (vv. 2-4).

with the explanation that He intended to demonstrate His invincible power.

So they, as we today, had nothing to do but to

 “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord” (v. 13).  

(G.W. Seale)

As we travel through life’s shadowed valley, fresh springs of His love ever rise,

And we learn that our sorrow and losses are blessings just sent in disguise.

(—Anon)

N.J. Hiebert - 6331

August 1

SO NEAR AND YET SO FAR

"Thou art not far from the kingdom of God" (Mark 12:34).

If people are not sure whether they are Christians or not,
then I take leave to suggest that they are not. 

The Christian, according to the New Testament, is someone who can say something like this: 

"I was--I am.” 

That is how the apostle described the Corinthians, was it not--He said, 

"And such were some of you!” 

They had been drunkards, adulterers, fornicators, etc. "But," he says, 

"you are not like that now—But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, 

but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, 

and by the Spirit of our God' (1 Corinthians 6:11). 

The apostle Peter used exactly the same terminology: 

"Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: 

which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy" (1 Peter 2:10).

 That is it!

(Martyn Lloyd-Jones - Walking with God) 

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August 2