Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6
In one of London's galleries there stands an unfinished piece of statuary - crude and imperfect - with barely the outline of a human form emerging.
Some one remarked, "The rough block of white marble is here to indicate the crudeness from which these perfect forms have been chiseled."
There was the touch of genius in the outline. Why could not the ideal there have been released? Upon closer observation one notices these words inscribed upon the pedestal, "The artist died at this stage of the work."
Many a youth has started out as this artist did but died to God and high ideals and went into sin with his life not finished as God had planned it should be.
To each man is given a marble to carve for the wall!
A stone that is needed to heighten the beauty of all:
And only his soul has the magic to give it grace,
And only his hands have the cunning to put it in place.
Yes, the task is given to each man, no other can do:
So the errand is waiting; it has waited ages for you,
And now you appear; the hushed ones are turning their gaze
To see what you do with your chance in the chamber of days.
Mountain Trailways for Youth
N.J. Hiebert - 9676
August 21
CORONA MEANS CROWN
The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:10-11
Corona
Corona is a short - term blip along the line of time,
Selective shut-down slows it, but can't stop it on a dime.
But spread is sped by airplane trips by thousands every day,
Best to be alerted, cautious, wash your hands, and pray.
Corona is a worldly crown, but this one spells corruption
For cases in the older group, a major life disruption.
Attacking lungs and breathing tubes to varying degrees,
Breathing may get difficult, the ventilator please.
There's a better crown for Christians, one that cannot fade away,
That is the crown of glory, that our Saviour gives one day.
When we get to heaven; he'll say as He bestows,
Well done thou faithful servant, it was earned while down below.
Forever with our Saviour is the promise in His Word,
And all diseases will have gone and justice is His sword.
We'll be among the number when He greets the Holy City,
Then all the world will bow to Him - His love and grace and pity.
But what about those future crowns, handed out on high,
We all know why we have them, because the Saviour died.
Will we get to keep them, like Olympic athletes do?
We'll cast them at His feet someday; Lord we all love you.
Lorne C. Perry
N.J. Hiebert - 9677
August 22
MARVELLOUSLY HELPED
But when he (Peter) saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. Matthew 14:30
Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen [helped] with a little help. Daniel 11:34
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
Then shall we not "be holpen with a little help", which is too often all we really expect from our omnipotent Helper, just because we do not feel that we have "no might." (2 Chronicles 20:12).
Peter was a good swimmer (John 21:7), but he did not say, "Lord help me to swim!" He said, "Lord, save me!" (Matthew 14:30) And so the Master's help was instant and complete.
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities,that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
The Lord hath done great things for thee!
All through the fleeted days
Jehovah hath dealt wondrously;
Lift up thy heart and praise!
For greater things thine eyes shall see,
Child of His loving choice!
The Lord will do great things for thee;
Fear not, be glad, rejoice!
Royal Bounty - F. R. Havergal
N.J. Hiebert - 9678
August 23
All things are against me. Genesis 42:36
All things work together for good to them that love God. Romans 8:28
Many people are wanting (lacking) power. Now how is power produced? The other day** we passed the great works where the trolley engines are supplied with electricity. We heard the hum and roar of the countless wheels, and we asked our friend, "How do they make the power?"
"Why," he said, "just by the revolution of those wheels and the friction they produce. The rubbing creates the electric current."
And so, when God wants to bring more power into your life, He brings more pressure. He is generating spiritual force by hard rubbing. Some do not like it and try to run away from the pressure, instead of getting the power and using it to rise above the painful causes.
Opposition is essential to a true equilibrium of forces. The centripetal and centrifugal forces acting in opposition to each other keep our planet in her orbit. The one propelling, and the other repelling, so act and re-act, that instead of sweeping off into space in a pathway of desolation, she pursues her even orbit around her solar centre.
So God guides our lives. It is not enough to have an impelling force--we need just as much a repelling force, and so He holds us back by the testing ordeals of life, by the pressure of temptation and trial, by the things that seem against us, but really are furthering our way and establishing our goings.
Let us thank Him for both, let us take the weights as well as the wings, and thus divinely impelled, let us press on with faith and patience in our high and heavenly calling .
A. B. Simpson (1843-1919)**
N.J. Hiebert - 9679
All things work together for good to them that love God. Romans 8:28
Many people are wanting (lacking) power. Now how is power produced? The other day** we passed the great works where the trolley engines are supplied with electricity. We heard the hum and roar of the countless wheels, and we asked our friend, "How do they make the power?"
"Why," he said, "just by the revolution of those wheels and the friction they produce. The rubbing creates the electric current."
And so, when God wants to bring more power into your life, He brings more pressure. He is generating spiritual force by hard rubbing. Some do not like it and try to run away from the pressure, instead of getting the power and using it to rise above the painful causes.
Opposition is essential to a true equilibrium of forces. The centripetal and centrifugal forces acting in opposition to each other keep our planet in her orbit. The one propelling, and the other repelling, so act and re-act, that instead of sweeping off into space in a pathway of desolation, she pursues her even orbit around her solar centre.
So God guides our lives. It is not enough to have an impelling force--we need just as much a repelling force, and so He holds us back by the testing ordeals of life, by the pressure of temptation and trial, by the things that seem against us, but really are furthering our way and establishing our goings.
Let us thank Him for both, let us take the weights as well as the wings, and thus divinely impelled, let us press on with faith and patience in our high and heavenly calling .
A. B. Simpson (1843-1919)**
N.J. Hiebert - 9679
August 24
BLESSED AND BLESSING
". . . my cup runneth over." Psalm 23:5
The cup of judgment was drained for us by our Lord (Matthew 26:42); the cup of salvation He has mixed for us out of the chalice of His supreme sufferings (Psalm 116:13); and now the cup of blessing overflows from us to others (Psalm 23:5).
This is ever the divine order: we must be vessels of mercy ere we can be channels of blessing; the "well" of living water meeting all local requirements must precede the "rivers" which are to flow out in blessing to others (compare John 4:14 and John 7:37,38).
"My cup runneth over." What does that mean? Abundance? It means more than that; it means redundance. How does a vessel overflow? Only by being under, and as long as it is kept under, a flowing fountain.
He is the fountain of living water (Jeremiah 2:13); and if we are in touch with Him there is no limit to what He can accomplish in, and by, and with, and for, and through us. Then, indeed, shall we be like Abraham of old - blessed and made a blessing (Genesis 12:2).
The Pearl of the Psalms - George Henderson
N.J. Hiebert - 9680
". . . my cup runneth over." Psalm 23:5
The cup of judgment was drained for us by our Lord (Matthew 26:42); the cup of salvation He has mixed for us out of the chalice of His supreme sufferings (Psalm 116:13); and now the cup of blessing overflows from us to others (Psalm 23:5).
This is ever the divine order: we must be vessels of mercy ere we can be channels of blessing; the "well" of living water meeting all local requirements must precede the "rivers" which are to flow out in blessing to others (compare John 4:14 and John 7:37,38).
"My cup runneth over." What does that mean? Abundance? It means more than that; it means redundance. How does a vessel overflow? Only by being under, and as long as it is kept under, a flowing fountain.
He is the fountain of living water (Jeremiah 2:13); and if we are in touch with Him there is no limit to what He can accomplish in, and by, and with, and for, and through us. Then, indeed, shall we be like Abraham of old - blessed and made a blessing (Genesis 12:2).
The Pearl of the Psalms - George Henderson
N.J. Hiebert - 9680
August 25
He which testifieth these things saith, surely I come quickly.
Revelation 22:20
A sign on a plot of land in my home town announced the development of luxury homes, "Coming Soon!" was splashed across it.
Five years later the sign is still there. No new houses have been built. Reputedly, the builder did not have enough money to even get the project started.
Christians are assured that a future home has been prepared for them - every thing is ready and paid for and the Lord is coming soon to collect us.
There is nothing to hinder His coming. Could it be today?
Brian Powlesland
I am waiting for the coming of the Lord Who died for me;
O His words have thrilled my spirit "I will come again for thee".
S. Trevor Francis
N.J. Hiebert - 9681
Revelation 22:20
A sign on a plot of land in my home town announced the development of luxury homes, "Coming Soon!" was splashed across it.
Five years later the sign is still there. No new houses have been built. Reputedly, the builder did not have enough money to even get the project started.
Christians are assured that a future home has been prepared for them - every thing is ready and paid for and the Lord is coming soon to collect us.
There is nothing to hinder His coming. Could it be today?
Brian Powlesland
I am waiting for the coming of the Lord Who died for me;
O His words have thrilled my spirit "I will come again for thee".
S. Trevor Francis
N.J. Hiebert - 9681
August 26
"By faith Moses . . . choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Hebrews11:24-25.
"By faith Moses refused". Faith rests on promise; to faith the promise is equivalent to fulfillment; and if only we have the one, we may dare to count on the other as already ours.
It matters comparatively little that the thing promised is not given; it is sure and certain because God has pledged His word for it, and in anticipation we may enter on its enjoyment.
Had Moses simply acted on what he saw, he had never left Pharaoh's palace. But his faith told him of things hidden from his contemporaries; and these led him to act in a way which to them was perfectly incomprehensible.
One blow struck when the time is fulfilled is worth a thousand struck in premature eagerness. "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power" (Acts 1:7). Wait thou only upon God; let your expectation be from Him.
F. B. Meyer
N.J. Hiebert - 9682
"By faith Moses refused". Faith rests on promise; to faith the promise is equivalent to fulfillment; and if only we have the one, we may dare to count on the other as already ours.
It matters comparatively little that the thing promised is not given; it is sure and certain because God has pledged His word for it, and in anticipation we may enter on its enjoyment.
Had Moses simply acted on what he saw, he had never left Pharaoh's palace. But his faith told him of things hidden from his contemporaries; and these led him to act in a way which to them was perfectly incomprehensible.
One blow struck when the time is fulfilled is worth a thousand struck in premature eagerness. "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power" (Acts 1:7). Wait thou only upon God; let your expectation be from Him.
F. B. Meyer
N.J. Hiebert - 9682
August 27
ENTANGLED CIRCUMSTANCES
For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, they are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. Exodus 14:3
Some times when problems come up and we see no way through, or when souls we love seem entangled, we are tempted to think of what Pharaoh will say.
There can be no entanglement, the wilderness cannot possibly shut in anyone whom God is leading Home. It has been said, "What we see as problems, God sees as solutions"; and what we have to do through the age-long minute before we see, is to wait in peace and refuse to be hustled.
"Fear ye not, stand still," and sooner or later, "see the salvation of the Lord" Exodus 14:13. There will be no entanglement.
And is it not comforting that the Lord Jesus knows beforehand what Pharaoh will say? So we need not pay the slightest attention to him, even if he does make discouraging remarks.
The last word is never with Pharaoh. "They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise" (Jeremiah 46:17). So let us trust and not be afraid.
Amy Carmichael - Thou Givest . . . They Gather
N.J. Hiebert - 9683
For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, they are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. Exodus 14:3
Some times when problems come up and we see no way through, or when souls we love seem entangled, we are tempted to think of what Pharaoh will say.
There can be no entanglement, the wilderness cannot possibly shut in anyone whom God is leading Home. It has been said, "What we see as problems, God sees as solutions"; and what we have to do through the age-long minute before we see, is to wait in peace and refuse to be hustled.
"Fear ye not, stand still," and sooner or later, "see the salvation of the Lord" Exodus 14:13. There will be no entanglement.
And is it not comforting that the Lord Jesus knows beforehand what Pharaoh will say? So we need not pay the slightest attention to him, even if he does make discouraging remarks.
The last word is never with Pharaoh. "They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise" (Jeremiah 46:17). So let us trust and not be afraid.
Amy Carmichael - Thou Givest . . . They Gather
N.J. Hiebert - 9683
August 28
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19 And they remembered His words. Luke 24:8
The only writing of our Lord was with His finger, and that in the loose sand of the ground. (John 8:6) Other men who spoke words acclaimed by their fellows wrote in books to preserve to themselves a perpetual memorial of literary glory. Not so the Son of God. When He expired, forsaken on the cross, His words only remained sown on the hearts of men. There the Holy Spirit, like the sun and the rain, made them bear fruit after His resurrection.
When the Lord Jesus died, His works were doubted; His disciples seemed hopeless, and His words appeared lost, like the seed of the harvest, in the cold ground during the frozen winter. Peter had said, "Thou hast the words of eternal life," (John 6:68) but those words were not written, and now Peter has denied Him in the presence of His enemies.
The officers testified, "Never man spake like this man." (John 7:46) but now they have seen Him answering not a word, "as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth." (Isaiah 53:7). All His friends were disappointed, and despaired when He was crucified. Who now would care about His words? The tree is cut down; how can it now bear any fruit? No other person's words have been so cherished as the words of the Lord Jesus; no other person's words would be remembered at all, were they not written when he was living.
Imperishable words! Here then is one of the wonders of words of Christ. His words are indestructible. He said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away" (Mathew 24:35). Millions of people lived when He lived. Countless millions had lived and died before Him. How very few of them spoke words that have survived the centuries! But of Him they said, "How knoweth this man letters, having never leaned?" (John 7:15)
Plant of Renown - Leonard Sheldrake
N.J. Hebert - 9684
The only writing of our Lord was with His finger, and that in the loose sand of the ground. (John 8:6) Other men who spoke words acclaimed by their fellows wrote in books to preserve to themselves a perpetual memorial of literary glory. Not so the Son of God. When He expired, forsaken on the cross, His words only remained sown on the hearts of men. There the Holy Spirit, like the sun and the rain, made them bear fruit after His resurrection.
When the Lord Jesus died, His works were doubted; His disciples seemed hopeless, and His words appeared lost, like the seed of the harvest, in the cold ground during the frozen winter. Peter had said, "Thou hast the words of eternal life," (John 6:68) but those words were not written, and now Peter has denied Him in the presence of His enemies.
The officers testified, "Never man spake like this man." (John 7:46) but now they have seen Him answering not a word, "as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth." (Isaiah 53:7). All His friends were disappointed, and despaired when He was crucified. Who now would care about His words? The tree is cut down; how can it now bear any fruit? No other person's words have been so cherished as the words of the Lord Jesus; no other person's words would be remembered at all, were they not written when he was living.
Imperishable words! Here then is one of the wonders of words of Christ. His words are indestructible. He said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away" (Mathew 24:35). Millions of people lived when He lived. Countless millions had lived and died before Him. How very few of them spoke words that have survived the centuries! But of Him they said, "How knoweth this man letters, having never leaned?" (John 7:15)
Plant of Renown - Leonard Sheldrake
N.J. Hebert - 9684
August 29
Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock." Matthew 7:24,25.
The wise man is the believer whose life is built upon the Rock, "Christ".
Looking at the trees at timberline we see a dimension to their growth not often recognized by the casual passerby.
It is the rare and elegant quality of the actual wood produced within the wind-tossed trees. Its grain is of exquisite texture interspersed with whorls and curving lines of unusual gracefulness. The stresses and strains of being tossed and twisted by the wind and sleet and deep snows of winter produce an extra flow of resins in the tree. Not only does this give the fibres a remarkable tight-grained texture but it gives off also an exquisite fragrance.
An expert violin maker, who is a master craftsman, tells me that he spends weeks each summer searching for special trees above timberline. From these he takes his choicest materials to create musical instruments of the finest quality and tone.
Wood produced in the high and tough terrain above the usual timber bears within it a rare timbre and lovely resonance not found in ordinary lumber cut at lower elevations. The fury of storms, the shortness of the growing season, the wrenching of the winds, the strain of survival in such an austere setting--all these combine to produce some of the toughest, choicest, most wondrous wood in all the world. Songs of My Soul - W. Phillip Keller
Make us Thy mountaineers; we would not linger on the lower slope.
Fill us afresh with hope, Thou God of hope, that undefeated,
We may climb the hill, as seeing Him who is invisible. Amy Carmichael
N.J. Hiebert - 9685
The wise man is the believer whose life is built upon the Rock, "Christ".
Looking at the trees at timberline we see a dimension to their growth not often recognized by the casual passerby.
It is the rare and elegant quality of the actual wood produced within the wind-tossed trees. Its grain is of exquisite texture interspersed with whorls and curving lines of unusual gracefulness. The stresses and strains of being tossed and twisted by the wind and sleet and deep snows of winter produce an extra flow of resins in the tree. Not only does this give the fibres a remarkable tight-grained texture but it gives off also an exquisite fragrance.
An expert violin maker, who is a master craftsman, tells me that he spends weeks each summer searching for special trees above timberline. From these he takes his choicest materials to create musical instruments of the finest quality and tone.
Wood produced in the high and tough terrain above the usual timber bears within it a rare timbre and lovely resonance not found in ordinary lumber cut at lower elevations. The fury of storms, the shortness of the growing season, the wrenching of the winds, the strain of survival in such an austere setting--all these combine to produce some of the toughest, choicest, most wondrous wood in all the world. Songs of My Soul - W. Phillip Keller
Make us Thy mountaineers; we would not linger on the lower slope.
Fill us afresh with hope, Thou God of hope, that undefeated,
We may climb the hill, as seeing Him who is invisible. Amy Carmichael
N.J. Hiebert - 9685
August 30
" . . . For thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name." Revelation 3:8
A preacher was walking along Madison Square, New York, where a number of street meetings can always be found in session. He came across a group of extraordinary size, to which a speaker, mounted on a box, was airing his religious views. He was shouting at the top of his voice: "There is no God!--and there never was a God!" I dare anyone here to stand up on this box and prove that there is a God!"
The speaker flung the taunt at the crowd: "God hasn't a friend among you!" A fresh young voice rang out: "YES, HE HAS!" A young lad elbowing his way through the center of the throng was welcomed by his challenger and asked to state his proofs.
The young lad, throwing back his head and straightening his shoulders, began: "This man here says that there ain't no God. He tells an untruth! I know there IS a God! He says that God hasn't a friend in this crowd. He tells an untruth! I am a friend of God! He says that no one can prove that there is a God. Again, he tells an untruth, and I can prove it. God is in here right now," he said as he put his hand on his heart; "HE LIVES! He lives in ME! I hear His voice saying to me right now, 'Don't let that man put such lies over on this crowd!' "
It was truly a dramatic scene! In one solitary moment the leadership had passed from this blatant unbeliever to the boy of faith and vision! The infidel orator was unable recapture his crowd.
Someone in the crowd started to sing the old familiar hymn "Nearer My God to Thee." The preacher said, "It swelled from lip to lip, until a mighty chorus rolled up agains the great tower, and broke in a benediction upon every heart!"
Mountain Trailways for Youth.
N.J. Hiebert - 9686
A preacher was walking along Madison Square, New York, where a number of street meetings can always be found in session. He came across a group of extraordinary size, to which a speaker, mounted on a box, was airing his religious views. He was shouting at the top of his voice: "There is no God!--and there never was a God!" I dare anyone here to stand up on this box and prove that there is a God!"
The speaker flung the taunt at the crowd: "God hasn't a friend among you!" A fresh young voice rang out: "YES, HE HAS!" A young lad elbowing his way through the center of the throng was welcomed by his challenger and asked to state his proofs.
The young lad, throwing back his head and straightening his shoulders, began: "This man here says that there ain't no God. He tells an untruth! I know there IS a God! He says that God hasn't a friend in this crowd. He tells an untruth! I am a friend of God! He says that no one can prove that there is a God. Again, he tells an untruth, and I can prove it. God is in here right now," he said as he put his hand on his heart; "HE LIVES! He lives in ME! I hear His voice saying to me right now, 'Don't let that man put such lies over on this crowd!' "
It was truly a dramatic scene! In one solitary moment the leadership had passed from this blatant unbeliever to the boy of faith and vision! The infidel orator was unable recapture his crowd.
Someone in the crowd started to sing the old familiar hymn "Nearer My God to Thee." The preacher said, "It swelled from lip to lip, until a mighty chorus rolled up agains the great tower, and broke in a benediction upon every heart!"
Mountain Trailways for Youth.
N.J. Hiebert - 9686
August 31
And they bring Him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, the place of a skull . . . and they crucified Him. Mark 15:22,25
Golgotha was the place where the death penalty was usually carried out. The Romans called it Calvary-- ("The place of a skull"). Here an alleged criminal named Jesus was crucified. Who was He? He was the Creator! (Colossians 1:16), the Son of God.
At about age 30, He began His public ministry. That is when all His troubles with the Jewish religious authorities began--His teaching and His claims for Himself put Him on a collision course with them. They had Him arrested and, after a mock court, turned Him over to the Roman authorities to be crucified--they themselves did not have the authority to do this. The Roman judge found Him not guilty, but then folded under pressure and turned Him over to be crucified. (Matthew 27:20,26; Luke 23;21-25)
Who is to blame for this greatest crime ever committed? Well, the religious leaders and the people were certainly to blame; the Roman authorities and soldiers were to blame because they actually crucified Him, an innocent Man; but most of all, we are guilty! It was our sins that caused Him to be nailed to the cross-- "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit." (1 Peter 3:18). But death and the grave could not hold Him--HE AROSE!
And, He will come back again to take all the redeemed to spend eternity with Him. God has turned the worst crime ever committed into a way of blessing for all who will come to Him! R. Salcido
My conscience felt and owned the guilt, and plunged me in despair;
I saw my sins His blood had spilt and helped to nail Him there. . . . Jesus said:
This blood is for your ransom paid, I died that you may live. John Newton
N.J. Hiebert - 9687
Golgotha was the place where the death penalty was usually carried out. The Romans called it Calvary-- ("The place of a skull"). Here an alleged criminal named Jesus was crucified. Who was He? He was the Creator! (Colossians 1:16), the Son of God.
At about age 30, He began His public ministry. That is when all His troubles with the Jewish religious authorities began--His teaching and His claims for Himself put Him on a collision course with them. They had Him arrested and, after a mock court, turned Him over to the Roman authorities to be crucified--they themselves did not have the authority to do this. The Roman judge found Him not guilty, but then folded under pressure and turned Him over to be crucified. (Matthew 27:20,26; Luke 23;21-25)
Who is to blame for this greatest crime ever committed? Well, the religious leaders and the people were certainly to blame; the Roman authorities and soldiers were to blame because they actually crucified Him, an innocent Man; but most of all, we are guilty! It was our sins that caused Him to be nailed to the cross-- "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit." (1 Peter 3:18). But death and the grave could not hold Him--HE AROSE!
And, He will come back again to take all the redeemed to spend eternity with Him. God has turned the worst crime ever committed into a way of blessing for all who will come to Him! R. Salcido
My conscience felt and owned the guilt, and plunged me in despair;
I saw my sins His blood had spilt and helped to nail Him there. . . . Jesus said:
This blood is for your ransom paid, I died that you may live. John Newton
N.J. Hiebert - 9687
September 1
". . . Henceforth . . . unto Him, . . . " 2 Corinthians 5:15
In the cemetery of an English town there is a tombstone which attracts the attention of many visitors. It marks the grave where the celebrated Swedish singer, Jenny Lind, known as the Swedish Nightingale, was buried, and upon the stone is the text, "I know that my Redeemer liveth." Job 19:25
Jenny Lind was born 1820. When only seventeen she came from her native land, and her lovely voice took the concert-loving people by storm. Queen Victoria often was found in her audience and signally honoured "the girl with a marvellous voice,"as she was called, by throwing to her a bouquet of flowers.
Jenny Lind received honour, and gifts were showered upon her from all sides. Wealth poured in, but her success did not make her proud as is so often the case, and she humbly wrote to a friend in later years, "My unceasing prayer is that what I gave others may continue to live on through eternity and that the Giver of the gift and not the creature to whom He lent it may be acknowledged."
Nothing is more astonishing about the career of Jenny Lind than its comparative shortness. She sang in the English opera for only two years and retired in five years after her first appearance in London. To many it would seem strange circumstances which led a young girl to abandon such a promising career and retire to the quietness of an English country home.
On one occasion she sat on the seashore, reading a Bible, when one who greatly admired her beautiful voice saw her and asked, "How is it, madam, that you abandoned the stage at the very height of your success?" Jenny Lind replied: "When every day it made me think less of this"--laying her hand upon the open Bible, "what else could I do?" What a beautiful answer and how convincing! It was the knowledge of a Saviour's love which led her to abandon what the world counts of such value--riches, honour and popularity. Selected
N.J. Hiebert - 9688
In the cemetery of an English town there is a tombstone which attracts the attention of many visitors. It marks the grave where the celebrated Swedish singer, Jenny Lind, known as the Swedish Nightingale, was buried, and upon the stone is the text, "I know that my Redeemer liveth." Job 19:25
Jenny Lind was born 1820. When only seventeen she came from her native land, and her lovely voice took the concert-loving people by storm. Queen Victoria often was found in her audience and signally honoured "the girl with a marvellous voice,"as she was called, by throwing to her a bouquet of flowers.
Jenny Lind received honour, and gifts were showered upon her from all sides. Wealth poured in, but her success did not make her proud as is so often the case, and she humbly wrote to a friend in later years, "My unceasing prayer is that what I gave others may continue to live on through eternity and that the Giver of the gift and not the creature to whom He lent it may be acknowledged."
Nothing is more astonishing about the career of Jenny Lind than its comparative shortness. She sang in the English opera for only two years and retired in five years after her first appearance in London. To many it would seem strange circumstances which led a young girl to abandon such a promising career and retire to the quietness of an English country home.
On one occasion she sat on the seashore, reading a Bible, when one who greatly admired her beautiful voice saw her and asked, "How is it, madam, that you abandoned the stage at the very height of your success?" Jenny Lind replied: "When every day it made me think less of this"--laying her hand upon the open Bible, "what else could I do?" What a beautiful answer and how convincing! It was the knowledge of a Saviour's love which led her to abandon what the world counts of such value--riches, honour and popularity. Selected
N.J. Hiebert - 9688
September 2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice . . . Romans 12:1
"By the mercies of God." What does that mean? It is like this. One evening you are walking quietly home from your place of business. Suddenly the fire alarm rings out; your heart leaps with fear as the thought of home and loved ones flashes upon you. As you near home your worst fears are realized: your house is in flames. You rush thither and find that your wife and children have been saved, except for one little one who is still in the house. The next instance a brave fireman hurries past and dashing into the burning house, finds his way to the little one, carries her out through the flames and smoke, and puts her in your arms--safe.
Weeks go by, and then one day this same brave man comes to you and showing his hands, says, "Behold my love and mercies to you. See these burned and blistered hands; see this scarred face, and these scorched feet. I am in need. I want help. I beseech you, by my mercies to your child, that you help me." There is nothing in the world you would not give to that man.
Even so, Jesus Christ, our loving Lord, stands here tonight. He stretches forth His hands, pierced with cruel nails for you and me. He points to the wound in His side, made by the blood-thirsty spear. He shows you the scars on His forehead, made by the crown of thorns. He says, "My child, behold, My mercies to you. I saved you from the guilt of sin; I brought you from death unto life; I gave you the Spirit of God.
Some day I will glorify your body and will make you to sit down with Me on My throne. My child, by My mercies, I beseech you." You say, "Lord, what do you want from me?" He answers, "I want you for My service. I beseech you, by My mercies to you, give your life to Me."
James McConkey
N.J. Hiebert - 9689
"By the mercies of God." What does that mean? It is like this. One evening you are walking quietly home from your place of business. Suddenly the fire alarm rings out; your heart leaps with fear as the thought of home and loved ones flashes upon you. As you near home your worst fears are realized: your house is in flames. You rush thither and find that your wife and children have been saved, except for one little one who is still in the house. The next instance a brave fireman hurries past and dashing into the burning house, finds his way to the little one, carries her out through the flames and smoke, and puts her in your arms--safe.
Weeks go by, and then one day this same brave man comes to you and showing his hands, says, "Behold my love and mercies to you. See these burned and blistered hands; see this scarred face, and these scorched feet. I am in need. I want help. I beseech you, by my mercies to your child, that you help me." There is nothing in the world you would not give to that man.
Even so, Jesus Christ, our loving Lord, stands here tonight. He stretches forth His hands, pierced with cruel nails for you and me. He points to the wound in His side, made by the blood-thirsty spear. He shows you the scars on His forehead, made by the crown of thorns. He says, "My child, behold, My mercies to you. I saved you from the guilt of sin; I brought you from death unto life; I gave you the Spirit of God.
Some day I will glorify your body and will make you to sit down with Me on My throne. My child, by My mercies, I beseech you." You say, "Lord, what do you want from me?" He answers, "I want you for My service. I beseech you, by My mercies to you, give your life to Me."
James McConkey
N.J. Hiebert - 9689
September 3
Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. Jonah 1:3
It is always going down when we seek to leave the Lord. This was Jonah's first outward step down, but it was by no means his last. The outward step is generally preceded by an inward or spiritual step down. It is easier to go down than to go up, whether it be for body or soul. Beware dear fellow-Christian, when the path begins to go downward, when the travel is easy, and there is no hill to climb! We can be sure then that we have got on the wrong road.
Notice, too, that apparently with no difficulty or delay, he "found a ship going to Tarshish." Perhaps he thought, "this is quite providential! This is surely a sign that I am being prospered in my way." It is wonderful how easy the devil makes our downward pathway. He is always ready to provide all we need to get away from the Lord. Do not let us think for a moment that because the downward road is an easy one, therefore it must be right. The ship already "going to Tarshish" was absolutely no proof that God had "prepared " it. Quite the reverse was the truth, and we ever need to bear in mind that things made ready to our hand to help us to do our own will, are by no means prepared for us by God, but very possibly prepared for us by the devil. "So he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah."
"So he paid the fare thereof." A terribly high fare it must have been for that long journey. The Lord asks, "Who goeth a warfare at any time at his own charges" (1 Corinthians 9:7). If we are going in the service of the Lord, we may be quite sure that He will see about "the fare;" but if we are going to please ourselves, or in the service of the devil, "the fare" must be paid!
Friends, how very costly is that fare at times! There is many a man who has refused the call of God, and turned to his own way and "the fare" has been his peace of mind, the rest of heart that the Lord alone can give as we bear His yoke and perhaps the eternal loss of family, comfort and possessions. All these cannot begin to make up for the price we had to pay for "the fare". It is a costly thing to disobey God.
The devil takes but he does not give, and the only wages he pays is death. (Romans 6:23) His service is bad, his "fares" are the highest, and his wages are the worst: yet strange to say, he always has a mighty following.
Jonah - G. C. Willis
N.J. Hiebert - 9690
It is always going down when we seek to leave the Lord. This was Jonah's first outward step down, but it was by no means his last. The outward step is generally preceded by an inward or spiritual step down. It is easier to go down than to go up, whether it be for body or soul. Beware dear fellow-Christian, when the path begins to go downward, when the travel is easy, and there is no hill to climb! We can be sure then that we have got on the wrong road.
Notice, too, that apparently with no difficulty or delay, he "found a ship going to Tarshish." Perhaps he thought, "this is quite providential! This is surely a sign that I am being prospered in my way." It is wonderful how easy the devil makes our downward pathway. He is always ready to provide all we need to get away from the Lord. Do not let us think for a moment that because the downward road is an easy one, therefore it must be right. The ship already "going to Tarshish" was absolutely no proof that God had "prepared " it. Quite the reverse was the truth, and we ever need to bear in mind that things made ready to our hand to help us to do our own will, are by no means prepared for us by God, but very possibly prepared for us by the devil. "So he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah."
"So he paid the fare thereof." A terribly high fare it must have been for that long journey. The Lord asks, "Who goeth a warfare at any time at his own charges" (1 Corinthians 9:7). If we are going in the service of the Lord, we may be quite sure that He will see about "the fare;" but if we are going to please ourselves, or in the service of the devil, "the fare" must be paid!
Friends, how very costly is that fare at times! There is many a man who has refused the call of God, and turned to his own way and "the fare" has been his peace of mind, the rest of heart that the Lord alone can give as we bear His yoke and perhaps the eternal loss of family, comfort and possessions. All these cannot begin to make up for the price we had to pay for "the fare". It is a costly thing to disobey God.
The devil takes but he does not give, and the only wages he pays is death. (Romans 6:23) His service is bad, his "fares" are the highest, and his wages are the worst: yet strange to say, he always has a mighty following.
Jonah - G. C. Willis
N.J. Hiebert - 9690
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