The spacious firmament on high ,
With all the blue ethereal sky ,
And spangled heavens ,a shining frame ,
Their great Original proclaim .
The unwearied sun from day to day
Does his Creator’s power display ,
And publishes to every land
The work of an almighty Hand .
Soon as the evening shades prevail ,
The moon takes up the wondrous tale ,
And nightly ,to the listening earth ,
Repeats the story of her birth ;
Whilst all the stars that round her burn,
And all the planets in their turn ,
Confirm the tidings as they roll ,
And spread the truth from pole to pole
What though in solemn silence all
Move round the dark terrestrial ball ?
What though nor real voice nor sound
Amid their radiant orbs be found ?
In reason’s ear they all rejoice ,
And utter forth a glorious voice ,
For ever singing as they shine ,
“The Hand that made us is divine ! ”
Jan Bagwell
Monday, September 22, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Be Careful What You Ask For
And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul. (Psalm 106:15)
I sometimes hear people say, “I have been wrestling with God in prayer!” My first thought always is, “I hope you lost.”
If you have been trying to bend God your way, then that is a problem. Prayer is not trying to move God your way; it is moving yourself His way.
In fact, I’m glad that God hasn’t said yes to every prayer I have ever prayed. When I look back on some things I’ve prayed for, I realize that if the Lord would have allowed them, they could have destroyed me. They were not the right things or the right situations. So God graciously and lovingly said no.
In John 15:7, Jesus gave an incredible promise regarding answered prayer. He said, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” From the original language, this verse could be translated, “If you maintain a living communion with Me, and My word is at home with you, I command you to ask at once for yourself whatever your heart desires, and it will be yours.”
When I read a promise like that, I gravitate immediately toward the part that says I can ask whatever my heart desires and it will be mine. But before that, Jesus said, “If you maintain a living communion with Me, and My word is at home with you. . . .”
If this is happening in your life, then you are going to want what God wants. If you maintain a living communion with God and His words are at home in your heart, then your outlook, your desires?and in time, your prayers?will change.
I sometimes hear people say, “I have been wrestling with God in prayer!” My first thought always is, “I hope you lost.”
If you have been trying to bend God your way, then that is a problem. Prayer is not trying to move God your way; it is moving yourself His way.
In fact, I’m glad that God hasn’t said yes to every prayer I have ever prayed. When I look back on some things I’ve prayed for, I realize that if the Lord would have allowed them, they could have destroyed me. They were not the right things or the right situations. So God graciously and lovingly said no.
In John 15:7, Jesus gave an incredible promise regarding answered prayer. He said, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” From the original language, this verse could be translated, “If you maintain a living communion with Me, and My word is at home with you, I command you to ask at once for yourself whatever your heart desires, and it will be yours.”
When I read a promise like that, I gravitate immediately toward the part that says I can ask whatever my heart desires and it will be mine. But before that, Jesus said, “If you maintain a living communion with Me, and My word is at home with you. . . .”
If this is happening in your life, then you are going to want what God wants. If you maintain a living communion with God and His words are at home in your heart, then your outlook, your desires?and in time, your prayers?will change.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Thoughts for Today
Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land and feed surely on His faithfulness, and truly you shall be fed.
Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass. Psalm 37:3-5 AMP
Thoughts for Today
Building an ark on dry ground was a witness to the unbelieving people of Noah's time. Noah demonstrated his reverence for God by obeying him. Noah persevered amidst ridicule for more than 120 years. And during that time, he further showed his reverence for God, and his love toward the people, by attempting to share his faith with his tormentors.
Noah's eyes were on God - not the failures, not the hopelessness of it all, not the way people treated him. He reverenced God and kept his focus on what God had told him to do, no matter what the circumstances. As a result, God saved him and his family and used them to replenish the earth.
Consider this…
Are you obeying God and yet not seeing the results you hoped to see? Don't give up! Keep your eyes on Jesus. Reverence God above your own expectations. Obey him even if you don't understand what you see. Focus on what he has called you to do and trust him for the rest.
God's ways are definitely not our ways. But respect him and trust him enough to know that his ways are the right ways. And seek his ways above all else.
Prayer
Father, sometimes I get my eyes on circumstances and get so discouraged. Help me keep my eyes on Jesus ... on your love ... and on your Word. I do know that you will work everything out for good ... and that your timetable is best. In Jesus name ...
Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass. Psalm 37:3-5 AMP
Thoughts for Today
Building an ark on dry ground was a witness to the unbelieving people of Noah's time. Noah demonstrated his reverence for God by obeying him. Noah persevered amidst ridicule for more than 120 years. And during that time, he further showed his reverence for God, and his love toward the people, by attempting to share his faith with his tormentors.
Noah's eyes were on God - not the failures, not the hopelessness of it all, not the way people treated him. He reverenced God and kept his focus on what God had told him to do, no matter what the circumstances. As a result, God saved him and his family and used them to replenish the earth.
Consider this…
Are you obeying God and yet not seeing the results you hoped to see? Don't give up! Keep your eyes on Jesus. Reverence God above your own expectations. Obey him even if you don't understand what you see. Focus on what he has called you to do and trust him for the rest.
God's ways are definitely not our ways. But respect him and trust him enough to know that his ways are the right ways. And seek his ways above all else.
Prayer
Father, sometimes I get my eyes on circumstances and get so discouraged. Help me keep my eyes on Jesus ... on your love ... and on your Word. I do know that you will work everything out for good ... and that your timetable is best. In Jesus name ...
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Like Palm and Cedar
"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon" (Psalm 92:12).
These trees are not trained and pruned by man: palms and cedars are "trees of the LORD," and it is by His care that they flourish. Even so it is with the saints of the LORD: they are His own care. These trees are evergreen and are beautiful objects at all seasons of the year. Believers are not sometimes holy and sometimes ungodly: they stand in the beauty of the LORD under all weathers. Everywhere these trees are noteworthy: no one can gaze upon a landscape in which there are either palms or cedars without his attention being fixed upon these royal growths. The followers of Jesus are the observed of all observers: like a city set on a hill, they cannot be hid. The child of God flourishes like a palm tree, which pushes all its strength upward in one erect column without a single branch. It is a pillar with a glorious capital. It has no growth to the right or to the left but sends all its force heavenward and bears its fruit as near the sky as possible. LORD, fulfill this type in me. The cedar braves all storms and grows near the eternal snows, the LORD Himself filling it with a sap which keeps its heart warm and its bough strong. LORD, so let it be with me, I pray Thee. Amen
These trees are not trained and pruned by man: palms and cedars are "trees of the LORD," and it is by His care that they flourish. Even so it is with the saints of the LORD: they are His own care. These trees are evergreen and are beautiful objects at all seasons of the year. Believers are not sometimes holy and sometimes ungodly: they stand in the beauty of the LORD under all weathers. Everywhere these trees are noteworthy: no one can gaze upon a landscape in which there are either palms or cedars without his attention being fixed upon these royal growths. The followers of Jesus are the observed of all observers: like a city set on a hill, they cannot be hid. The child of God flourishes like a palm tree, which pushes all its strength upward in one erect column without a single branch. It is a pillar with a glorious capital. It has no growth to the right or to the left but sends all its force heavenward and bears its fruit as near the sky as possible. LORD, fulfill this type in me. The cedar braves all storms and grows near the eternal snows, the LORD Himself filling it with a sap which keeps its heart warm and its bough strong. LORD, so let it be with me, I pray Thee. Amen
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
DIFFICULT PEOPLE
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1
The other day, I received an email from a church attender that was accusatory (based on half-truths) and less than encouraging. My initial response was to defend and set the record straight in a straightforward manner. As I stared at the email I had written, I thought of Proverbs 15:1.
God's still small voice spoke, "Is this a gentle answer? Jeff, that person is angry. Will this email stir her up or calm her down?" I quickly deleted what I had written and began to respond by thinking about the hurt this person must be going through. It made all the difference in the world. My response was much more loving and gentle as I tried to put myself in her shoes and feel her hurt in my heart (a good definition of compassion).
OPPORTUNITIES
Are there people in your life that don't seem to like you very much? Sometimes God orchestrates events to put rude, mean people smack in your path and mine to teach us about unconditional love. Perhaps that unkind person is your boss, or your employee, or your co-worker, or your customer, or your teacher, or your student, or your classmate, or your next-door neighbor, or someone in your own family. What does God want us to do with folks like this? LOVE THEM!! Love them with His love - "...and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Rom. 5:5).
You see, people who are mean, rude, ugly and hurtful are this way for one main reason: they themselves are hurting. When you respond to a hurting person with love and kindness (impossible to do in your own strength), it disarms them and turns away their wrath. And most importantly, it opens the door for the Lord to work in that person's life.
One of my favorite stories of God's love in action was told about the late Pastor Hyles,He was in an airport restaurant wanting on his plane. The waitress was terribly rude to him as he ordered his breakfast. When he finished his $5.00 meal, he left her a $20.00 tip. She stopped him and said, "Do you mean to tell me that you would leave me a $20.00 tip when I was so mean and rude to you?" He said, "Ma'am, based on the way you were acting, I knew that there must be something really hurting your heart today." With that she began to cry and pour out a river of hurt to Pastor Hyles. He led her to Christ right there in the restaurant. WOW!!
Think of the opportunities that await you and me as we face difficult people day in and day out. See those tense situations from their point of view. Allow yourself to feel their hurt in your heart. It will make you more compassionate, more loving and a more effective witness for Christ.
God bless ,
Proverbs 15:1
The other day, I received an email from a church attender that was accusatory (based on half-truths) and less than encouraging. My initial response was to defend and set the record straight in a straightforward manner. As I stared at the email I had written, I thought of Proverbs 15:1.
God's still small voice spoke, "Is this a gentle answer? Jeff, that person is angry. Will this email stir her up or calm her down?" I quickly deleted what I had written and began to respond by thinking about the hurt this person must be going through. It made all the difference in the world. My response was much more loving and gentle as I tried to put myself in her shoes and feel her hurt in my heart (a good definition of compassion).
OPPORTUNITIES
Are there people in your life that don't seem to like you very much? Sometimes God orchestrates events to put rude, mean people smack in your path and mine to teach us about unconditional love. Perhaps that unkind person is your boss, or your employee, or your co-worker, or your customer, or your teacher, or your student, or your classmate, or your next-door neighbor, or someone in your own family. What does God want us to do with folks like this? LOVE THEM!! Love them with His love - "...and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Rom. 5:5).
You see, people who are mean, rude, ugly and hurtful are this way for one main reason: they themselves are hurting. When you respond to a hurting person with love and kindness (impossible to do in your own strength), it disarms them and turns away their wrath. And most importantly, it opens the door for the Lord to work in that person's life.
One of my favorite stories of God's love in action was told about the late Pastor Hyles,He was in an airport restaurant wanting on his plane. The waitress was terribly rude to him as he ordered his breakfast. When he finished his $5.00 meal, he left her a $20.00 tip. She stopped him and said, "Do you mean to tell me that you would leave me a $20.00 tip when I was so mean and rude to you?" He said, "Ma'am, based on the way you were acting, I knew that there must be something really hurting your heart today." With that she began to cry and pour out a river of hurt to Pastor Hyles. He led her to Christ right there in the restaurant. WOW!!
Think of the opportunities that await you and me as we face difficult people day in and day out. See those tense situations from their point of view. Allow yourself to feel their hurt in your heart. It will make you more compassionate, more loving and a more effective witness for Christ.
God bless ,
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
As I grow old
AS I GROW OLD
As I grow old it seems that I
Grow old as grows the western sky
When day is coming to its close :
For life takes on a tint of rose
I had not known in life’s hot noon .
I see new stars I had not seen ,
A surer faith ,a peace serene ,
As I grow old .
As I grow old , like men at even ,
I turn my eyes again to heaven ,
That were so busy with the earth :
And there I find the things of worth ,
The things most beautiful of all .
Upon the world a fairer light ,
A golden glean ,a beacon bright ,
As I grow old .
As I grow old the winds of life
Die down ,the hate ,the hurt ,the strife .
The waters calm ,the waves are still .
I want no triumph, wish no ill
To any man . now from my heart
The ancient angers all depart .
New friends I know ,news songs are sung ,
New joys are mine – yes ,I grow young
As I grow old
Jan Bagwell
God Bless and kept you
As I grow old it seems that I
Grow old as grows the western sky
When day is coming to its close :
For life takes on a tint of rose
I had not known in life’s hot noon .
I see new stars I had not seen ,
A surer faith ,a peace serene ,
As I grow old .
As I grow old , like men at even ,
I turn my eyes again to heaven ,
That were so busy with the earth :
And there I find the things of worth ,
The things most beautiful of all .
Upon the world a fairer light ,
A golden glean ,a beacon bright ,
As I grow old .
As I grow old the winds of life
Die down ,the hate ,the hurt ,the strife .
The waters calm ,the waves are still .
I want no triumph, wish no ill
To any man . now from my heart
The ancient angers all depart .
New friends I know ,news songs are sung ,
New joys are mine – yes ,I grow young
As I grow old
Jan Bagwell
God Bless and kept you
Monday, September 15, 2008
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings.
Christian, you ought not to dread the arrival of evil tidings; because if you are distressed by them, what do you more than other men? Other men have not your God to fly to; they have never proved His faithfulness as you have done, and it is no wonder if they are bowed down with alarm and cowed with fear: but you profess to be of another spirit; you have been begotten again unto a lively hope, and your heart lives in heaven and not on earthly things; now, if you are seen to be distracted as other men, what is the value of that grace which you profess to have received? Where is the dignity of that new nature which you claim to possess? Again, if you should be filled with alarm, as others are, you would, doubtless, be led into the sins so common to others under trying circumstances. The ungodly, when they are overtaken by evil tidings, rebel against God; they murmur, and think that God deals hardly with them. Will you fall into that same sin? Will you provoke the Lord as they do? Moreover, unconverted men often run to wrong means in order to escape from difficulties, and you will be sure to do the same if your mind yields to the present pressure. Trust in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. Your wisest course is to do as Moses did at the Red Sea, "Stand still and see the salvation of God." For if you give way to fear when you hear of evil tidings, you will be unable to meet the trouble with that calm composure which nerves for duty, and sustains under adversity. How can you glorify God if you play the coward? Saints have often sung God's high praises in the fires, but will your doubting and desponding, as if you had none to help you, magnify the Most High? Then take courage, and relying in sure confidence upon the faithfulness of your covenant God, "let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
