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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2010 14:18:32 GMT -6
" But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Galatians 6:14) MINISTRY
I pray that those I serve may see Never myself, but only Thee.
I fain would hide behind the Cross On which the Lord of glory hung, In agonized pre-eminence; I would forbid this feeble tongue.
To utter any thought of mine But only speak Thy saving Word. So may my very life be lost Within the person of my Lord.
I pray that those I serve may see Never myself, but only Thee.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2010 5:13:27 GMT -6
" Beloved, now are we the sons of God" (I John 3:2) BELOVED OF GOD
Did you ever take A poor stray dog from a city pound, And give him love and security, And watch him grow sleek and playful and round Because he knew he was loved and free?
Did you ever watch A little child from an orphanage Who had found his dream of dreams come true -- A foster home and a mom and dad? Oh, a child belov'd is a child made new!
Did you ever note That a woman belov'd is a woman in bloom, That her eyes grow bright and her skin grows clear, And her beauty blossoms like a flower Because her dear beloved holds her dear?
Do you realize That we who are saved are the sons of God, Loved with the depth of love which He Gives to that other Son of His? Belov'd of God through eternity!
Can you understand How we who are sons of God, joint heirs With the living Christ, can ever be Poor of despondent or sad? Look up! Through grace He has made us royalty!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2010 5:42:40 GMT -6
" Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:5-8) THREE JOURNEYS
Three long journeys the Lord Christ took; One from heaven when He forsook
Ivory mansions and throne and crown, And His FATHER's presence, and He came down
Far from the angels' songs of praise, Picking His path through star-strewn ways.
Did His heart grow heavy, His footsteps slow, Knowing what waited Him here below --
That His journey's end was a crowded inn in a world of grief and fear and sin?
A little Babe with a small weak cry, A babe as helpless as you or I.
So His second jouney was begun, A lonely road for God's own Son.
His dusty feet were bruised and torn, His flesh was weary, His garments worn;
The Lord of glory hungered for bread, And He had not where to lay His head.
The road led on to Calvery's hill. (Pause here and worship, hushed and still.)
A hill and a Cross against the sky. The reeling world heard His final cry.
"It is finished!" From throne to grave, Two long journeys our souls to save!
Then the Lord Christ yearned for the lights of home, Earth could not hold Him, nor entomb.
The angels chorused in glad refrain As the Lord of glory came home again,
Treading the skies with eager feet. Thing of the moment when they meet,
The FATHER and His beloved Son! Think of His accolade, "Well done!"
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2010 6:27:52 GMT -6
" Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11) " Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture" (John 10:1-9) DOORS
I never see a door But I must open it. To me a locked door is A challenge to my wit.
It stands expressionless, An eye close-shut and blind; And straightway I must try To guess what lies behind.
Doors of shops lead to shelves Where treasures overflow; And clanging prison doors Close fast on sin and woe.
Are love and joy behind All doors of little homes? And does God dwell in all Churches with gilded domes?
Mute doors of hospitals Wherein are beds of pain -- Here death has visited Again and yet again.
Dog pounds and beauty shops, And libraries and stores -- Drama and tragedy Behind their separate doors.
The eloquence of doors! The thought of them has pressed Against my heart and lies A burden on my breast.
I pray, may those they house Know Him who is the Door, And through Him enter in To joy forevermore!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2010 5:55:36 GMT -6
" And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ" (II Thessalonians 3:5) WAITING
I am so glad Thou gavest me This simple, finite mind Which cannot grasp nor comprehend The glories that I shall find
When I have passed beyond the veil. I would not have Thee lift One corner of that veil for me, Nor may there ever drift
Unto my ears one angel song. These dazzled eyes of mine Would blinded be, were they to look On glory which is Thine.
From Thy bright shining majesty. Shield me, I pray, until Transported, I become like Thee. Till then, Lord, hushed and still
I bow before Thee. What is there Beyond that heavenly gate I dare not dream, cannot surmise -- I only pray, and wait.
I wait, like children "saving up" For some belov'd surprise. I wait, but my first look shall be Into my Saviour's eyes!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2010 15:31:46 GMT -6
" Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?" (Psalm 56:8) TEARS
I read some place that God has counted all our tears. What I task I made For Him down through the years!
Bitter were the tears I shed from day to day, But oh, how sweet to have Him wipe them all away! " And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (Matthew 6:12)
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2010 6:03:48 GMT -6
THE DEBT I OWE
Long and long and long ago When hearts were young and gay, I had a friend whom I still owe A debt I cannot pay.
He opened doors for me, and led Me down a magic way, He showed me Beauty's trailing robes, And her bright pageantry;
And all the shy sweet loveliness Which careless people pass -- The sheer delight of one dewdrop Upon a blade of grass.
He taught me how we may create A gracious thing with word And phrase, and yet he never knew The beauty of the Lord
He gave so much to me. I tried To give him in return This priceless treasure which he scorned, And even yet I mourn.
He used to say, "You may be right; And yet I will not come To Him," My heart, still richer by The gifts he gave, grows numb
With pain because death called for him Before he came to know The King in all His beauty; and I cannot pay the debt I owe
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2010 6:20:08 GMT -6
PRAYER
I heard a preacher speak of the Antiquity of prayer; And suddenly it seemed I saw A mighty river there.
I knew not where it had its rise In distant mists of time. I watched it rolling past me - vast, Resistless and sublime,
Sweeping without a wave or tide Down to a soundless sea To lose itself at last in depths Of God's immensity.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2010 6:51:00 GMT -6
" Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. 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 40:10-11) FEED MY LAMBS
"I hear them crying, calling, The little lambs of God, Lost upoon the mountain, Wandering in the wood;
Drinking bitter waters, Eating thorn and weed; Far from pleasant pastures Where His flocks may feed.
Struggling in the thickets, Snowy fleeces torn; Bloody footprints made by Small feet tired and worn.
All night I hear them calling, These poor lost lambs of God Who know not they were purchased By Christ's own precious blood.
then the tender Shepherd, 'About that love of thine Of which thou often speakest -- Feed thou these lambs of Mine!"
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2010 6:21:36 GMT -6
" Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness" (Isaiah 55:2) WE SHALL BE SATISFIED
Always yearning, always longing, Reaching out for someting more; Always hungry, hardly knowing What it is we hunger for;
Wistful eyes forever searching Past the far horizon's rim, Know you not it is your spirit ever thirsting after Him?
This divine dissatisfaction, Surely He would have it so, Showing us our incompleteness While we tarry here below.
When at last we stand beside Him, He the Bridegroom, we the bride, And these eyes of ours behold Him -- THEN we shall be satisfied!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2010 12:52:38 GMT -6
" To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified" (Isaiah 61:3) OIL OF JOY FOR MOURNING
When mother gave me medicine She always used to say, "Here is a lump of sugar, dear, To take the taste away."
Through all my life the LORD has poured His oil of joy for me Until my cup was running o'er, So bountiful was He.
When I must drink some bitter draft Of sorrow or of pain, How quickly to my lips He puts His cup of joy again!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2010 5:59:16 GMT -6
" Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand" (Eph. 6:11-13) SCARS
Lord, let me suffer that I may win scars; Let me do battle in Thy holy wars.
Trophy am I of Thy suffering and grace; But how shall I feel when I look on Thy face
And see the marks there, even under Thy crown, Where the deep cutting thorns on Thy brow were pressed down?
How can I gaze on Thy marred hands and feet And the wound in Thy side where Thy heart ceased to beat?
How can I face Thee if my flesh be fair, Unblemished, unbroken? Oh let me stand there
Hot from the battle and stained from the fray, Wounded and scarred in the heat of the day.
Signs of my serving! Privilege sweet To lay all my scars before Thy scarred feet!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2010 8:45:12 GMT -6
" It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23) MANNA
Out of despair hope is dawning; After the darkness comes light. His mercies are new every morning, He scatters His manna each night,
Scatters it freely as hoarfrost. Then use it as freely, nor hoard In fear of tomorrow's privation. It pleases our bountiful Lord
To give these good gifts to His children. His promise is faithful and true, That He will provide on the morrow Enough for tomorrow's need too.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2010 6:20:17 GMT -6
" For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh" (Colossians 2:1) FOR WHOM I PRAY
They seem a separate company, Special and set apart, And each one bears, all unaware, The imprint of my heart.
For these are they for whom I pray; The ones whose names I speak Before God's throne, the ones for whom His favor I would seek.
Some are my nearest, dearest. Some But strangers in the street, And some are those of whom I read, But each name has a sweet
Significance, as though my Lord And I a secret shared About them, which will come to light The day when hearts are bared
And all the hidden things made known. Dear ones for whom I pray, How sweet to meet you face to face On heaven's streets some day!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2010 6:51:17 GMT -6
" I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world" (John 6:51) FAMINE
"I am the bread of life," said He, "And whoso eateth shall never be
Hungry again." . . . Beseeching hands, Reaching out from earth's farthest lands!
Only was we give out the bread Can this poor hungering world be fed!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2010 6:07:23 GMT -6
" The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land" (Song of Solomon 2:12) IN HEAVEN'S GARDENS
In heaven's gardens all the flowers Are yellow, blue or white.
Yellow flowers, A riot of joyousness, Sunshine and laughter, Warming my heart; Golden lamplight, Illumining the dark For the homeless. One gray day God made buttercups To cheer sad hearts.
Blue flowers! Blue of the ocean and all wide spaces; Blue for infinity, Blue of the arching sky In whose far depths abides eternal peace Blue for steadfastness and loyalty and undying love. (My husband's eyes are blue.)
White flowers, Pure as a thought of God; White as a soul which has been washed In-Christ's most precious blood. White flowers, New and fresh as a drop of dew; Babies newly drifted down to earth, Star0eyed brides, so new to love And all the ways of life. The quiet dead, breathless yet From their first hours in heaven.
God made white flowers for truth And purity, And fair ideals, and love. In heaven even I Shall wear white flowers.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2010 7:19:32 GMT -6
" So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life" (Genesis 3:24) PARADISE LOST
This earth was once so fair and so sweet That a garden bore the prints of His feet
Where the Lord God walked in the cool of the day. But sinful man took his sinning way,
And the road to his paradise was lost. And though he has searched at bitter cost
To find the place where the garden stood, Or to make another just as good;
And though he has shed his blood, his tears, How strange it is that through all the years
Of his search he should refuse, despise The one sure road to Paradise!
The way of the Cross is open still To the contrite heart and the yielded will.
But still men struggle, and fight, and die, And still ascends the bitter cry
From the stubborn and futile lips of pain, "Give us our garden once again!" " In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations" (Revelation 22:2)
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2010 8:04:24 GMT -6
" And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful" (Colossians 3:15) RETURNING THANKS
I thank Thee, Lord, that Thy manna falls Daily to feed and strengthen me.
I thank Thee, Lord, for Thy living springs, A well of water flowing for me.
I thank Thee, Lord, for my daily bread, Bread of Thy body, broken for me.
I thank Thee, Lord, for the wine of life, Wine of Thy blood which was shed for me.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2010 6:08:12 GMT -6
" For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (II Corinthians 5:10) THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST
Swiftly and surely comes the day When I shall keep a tryst. The focal point of all my life -- The judgment seat of Christ.
Shall I approach that throne with dread, With fear and stark dismay? What will confront me, what be read About me on that day?
I shall not stand a prisoner Who waits with bated breath To bear the sentence of the Judge, If it be life or death --
All this was settled long ago. But rather I shall stand A servant, waiting judgment on The work of heart and hand;
Those works in which my soul took pride May there be judged as hay And burned as chaff and stubble on That all-revealing day.
Oh may there be some little deed, Some word for Him I said; Some work the SPIRIT energized, Some earnest prayer I prayed;
Something entirely free from self, Or hope of gain, or pride. Works done for love of Him alone -- These only shall abide.
How would I feel if I should have No crown of gold to give, To lay before the feet of Him Who died that I might live?
May I live my remaining days Remembering that thyst Which I must keep with Him before The judgment seat of Christ!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2010 6:53:52 GMT -6
" Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28) THE HEAVY LADEN
For most there is one heavy cross Which must be borne alone; One piercing sorrow sealed by lips Which dare to make no moan.
Some noxious brew within the cup Which they must lift and drink, Some bitter bread which they must eat Though flesh and spirit shrink;
Some gnawing cancer of the soul, Some never-opened door; Some sunless, unplumbed depth of woe, O aching heart and sore,
The tender Lord who made men's hearts Can understand them too, Can solve those desperate problems which So long have baffled you.
Open to Him those long-closed doors, Trust Him, and wait and see What wonders He can bring to pass. Or even if it be
You still must bear your heavy Cross, You bear it not alone; Nor drink alone your bitter wine, But share it with that One
Who drank the cup of gall for us, And bids us come and rest These weary troubled hearts of ours Forever on His breast.
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