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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2010 7:31:17 GMT -6
Part Four
Shut-ins cannot entertain, and this is something they miss greatly. One of the nicest things people do for me is to come to dinner, bring the dinner, and wash the dishes afterward. This gives me the illusion of hospitality and the joy of fellowship. Try this sometime with shut-ins of your acquaintance and I'll guarantee that you'll all enjoy it. Oh how my heart has gone out in gratitude to those who have taken home some curtains to do up. Or to those who, while calling, have looked into the ironing drawer, and fining it full, have done the ironing while they visited with me.
And how shall I speak of those dear women who have literally moved in on me time after time, five of them, and have cleaned my house from top to bottom. The sight of them down on the knees scrubbing my dirty floors is one I shall remember through all eternity, and so will our Lord who put the kindly impulse into their hearts.
I cannot express the gratitude I feel toward those who have done typing for me, have even mimeographed letters to help me in my heavy correspondence.
As your sick friends sometimes to do little things for you and see how happy this makes them. Nothing beyond their strength, perhaps only to let them know you actually DEPEND on their prayers. They desperately need the joy of accomplishment, and they long to do something with their own time beside kill it.
Share your home life with them, talk over some of your problems with them. Do not feel that, because some of them do not have home and husband and children, they cannot understand. They may be wiser than you think. Perhaps their perspective is better than yours. Perhaps they know better than you how precious these things are.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2010 7:31:48 GMT -6
Part Five
A few more - very practical suggestions: Do call often but do not stay for several hours if the patient is very weak. Never argue with the patient, especially about heavy doctrinal subjects. Do not sit in a rocking chair and rock back and forth in front of a window. Most shut-ins have frequent headaches; therefore try to avoid nervous motions of the hands like tapping on a chair, opening and shutting the clasp of a purse, slapping the hand with car keys or gloves. Members of a shut-in's family can see that faucets do not drip nor windows rattle. These are only little things but they mean a great deal to a sick person. And do not leave a radio blaring for hours. Please be very careful not to make the shut-in feel that he is a financial burden. I know from letters I receive that he is often deeply sensitive about this. Remember that I am the confidante of many shut-ins, hence I know some of their problems. And, in passing, do not tell them to "keep smiling." It must be a monotonous way of life. When you do your Christmas shopping, why not buy some of the fancywork or other articles they have for sale?
If you bring small children - and we do care to see them more than you can know - please try to keep them within bounds. How well I remember an infant terrible, years ago, who climbed on my bed, jumped happily up and down on my stomach, then off to upset my water glas upon my Bible, break a picture frame, and investigate some bottles of pills. I noticed just in time that he was about to take a strychnine pill! After a session like that, the patient is left wringing wet with exhaustion.
My heart is torn almost beyond endurance by those shut-ins who do not know the Lord. They must have more fortitude than I, for I could not endure my life without Him. But to contemplate the fact that, having suffered a lifetime here they must go on and suffer an eternity of separation from Him - it is almost more than I can bear. So, if you know any such - and there are thousands of them - I beseech you, never stop trying to present the precious SAVIOUR to them in such a way that they canot help but want Him.
If if so be they are saved, of course you do not need to be told that there is nothing that can bring them greater joy than to talk with them about the things of the Lord, especially about the blessed hope. That blessed hope cannot mean to others what it does to those of us who are hopelessly ill. To us it means, not only the day when the Lord we love will be crowned KING of kings and Lord of lords; not only the time when, at last, we shall see the face of Him whom, not having seen, we love; but it means that our suffering at long last is over - over for all eternity.
There will be no tears in heaven and yet I think that, for a moment, before He wipes my tears away, I shall be shaken by great shudderings, uncontrollable sobs - sobs of relief that the long years of suffering are over at last; and that I have seen the KING in all His beauty; and that I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2010 7:06:03 GMT -6
" I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:12-13) GUESTS
Pain knocked upon my door and said That she had come to stay; And though I would not welcome her But bade her go away,
She entered in. Like my own shade She followed after me, And from her stabbing, stinging sword No moment was I free.
And then one day another knocked Most gently at my door. I cried, "No, Pain is living here, There is not room for more.
And then I heard His tender voice, 'Tis I, be not afraid." and from the day He entered in - The difference it made!
For though He did not bid her leave, (My strange, unwelcome guest,) He taught me how to live with her, Oh, I had never guessed.
That we could dwell so sweetly here, My Lord and Pain and I, Within this fragile house of clay While years slip slowly by!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2010 8:35:13 GMT -6
" There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love" (I John 4:18) FEAR
My friend went on ahead And left me here To walk my last, long mile Alone; and Fear
Stepped to his vacant place And said that he Would walk with me, and my Companion be.
And so he dogged my steps In this dark vale Where death's wings shadow me. My face grew pale,
My spirit quailed. I called One precious Name In my distress, and lo, That loved One came!
He closely holds my hand, This tender FRIEND, Nor will He let me go Until the end.
And as He walks with me, Daily more dear, I find that trust and love Have cast out Fear.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2010 12:08:28 GMT -6
" Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!" (Numbers 23:23) WHAT GOD HATH WROUGHT!
The suffering land lay sprawled beneath the tropic sun, And there was none to hear her piteous weeping - none Save God alone. Her tears became a very tide Of human woe, as men were born and lived and died In dreadful darkness. Centuries passed over her, But never to the lost land came a messenger Of light and hope; and none will ever know but God The teeming millions buried in that bitter sod. And none but He will know how many souls went down To Christless graves because His Gospel was not known.
And then God moved at last! He laid His mighty hand Upon a humble toiler in a far-off land, And lo, the man became God's man because God's will Became his will! And as he waited, hushed and still Before the Lord, against his heart he felt the beat Of pulsing hearts in Africa; he saw the feet Of multitudes march down to everlasting doom. He heard an urgent Voice, "These too are they for whom I gave My Son!" And down through all eternity Will ring his answer, "Here am I, send me, send me!"
And so he set his face like flint toward that far land, And it became his passion and his glory and His shining goal, his dream! . . . That land for which at last He laid his tired life down . . . In glory unsurpassed He dwells with God! . . . But other servants of the Lord Were with him when he entered in. They too had heard The Macedonian cry and caught a vision of Dark faces glowing with a knowledge of God's love. They took the blazing torch from out his failing hand, and marched face forward to possess for God the land.
Now after five-and-twenty years we pause and look With reverent memory, down that long road they took. Brave soldiers of the burning heart and bleeding feet, Who walked with God a thorn-strewn way and found it sweet! Closed doors and darkened pathways, grief and toil and pain, BUT God, to guide and comfort, strengthen, teach, sustain! Sometimes they felt privation's pinch, but fed upon His faithfulness, and they were filled . . . O days long gone, How sweet it is, on looking back, to see at last How sure and certain was His leading, how the past But shadowed forth the glorious future . . .
Hark! to skies once closed and alien, Songs of praise to God arise from bright-faced, black-skinned crowds Who throng to the house of God. O precious fruit, tear-watered, grown from seed once sowed By husbandmen of God! Behold the homes and schools, The hospitals of mercy. Surely only fools Could fail to see how God worked here, though only He Knows now how many souls were saved eternally. Yet brother, sister, all who had the smallest share In this great miracle, when you behold them there, Before the throne of Christ, a multitude blood-bought, With thankful wonder you will say, "What hath God wrought!"
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2010 5:31:01 GMT -6
" Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (II Corinthians 3:17) JULY FOURTH
The Stars and Stripes float high today, And lift and stir and please Our thankful hearts . . . A lovely sight, Our flag upon the breeze! But fairer in God's eye would be Our nation on its knees
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2010 8:05:57 GMT -6
" Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth" (Job 19:23-25) ON WRITING A BOOK
I wanted to write a book for Him, And to lay it before His feet. I dreamed He might say, "Well done, my child," And the thought was very sweet.
But my mind was weary, my flesh was weak And torn with the pincers of pain; And the words that I wanted would not come right, Though I tried again and again.
Then it seemed one day that I heard Him say, "Do I need any book of thine, I, who have written a Book of books? Consider that Book of Mine:
Within its pages are life and strength, And light for the darkest day; Refreshing water, and bread to feed The traveler on life's way.
It glows with My radiance, and it drips With the honey of My love; The faint far music of angel choirs Drifts down from the courts above
To the one who reads. My very heart Is bound in this Book of Mine, This pulsing Word . . . Shouldst thou then grieve O'er that stillborn book of thine?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2010 7:22:41 GMT -6
" And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Isaiah 2:4) WAR
There is a dreadful picture painted on My eyelids. Day and night I stare at it, and it stares back at me Until the fearful sight
Has stabbed like daggers to my very brain. It is the out-thrust jaw Of that great monster, war, who greedy and Insatiable red maw
Devours our youth. Come Lord, with burning glance Destroy this dragon war! Speaks peace to troubled lands, and they shall learn The arts of war no more.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2010 7:15:18 GMT -6
" I am by beloved's and he is mine" (Song of Solomon 6:3) THE BRIDE
To Edward and Margaret Pentecost Today a young friend came to tell me goodbye. She is to be the bride of a man in an adjoining country, and was leaving with her loved ones to meet him just across the border. For weeks she has been working on her wedding dress, and she brought it over to show me. She had sewed into it her hopes, her dreams, her love. Her fingers were needle pricked from the many hours of labor she had put into it. It was lovely indeed, cunningly wrought and embroidered in exquisite design. As she held the dress up to show me, the lamplight shone on her beautiful hair and she was fair to look upon. And I thought how much fairer she would be as they stood at last together, pledging their love to each other and to the One whom they served, their eyes alight with joyful anticipation. She was all packed and ready to go, most of her luggage had been sent on ahead - trunks of pretty things, some of which she had made, which would would be used to beautify their new home which the bridegroom has been preparing for her. They have been keeping the mails and telegraph wires busy, sending messages to each other. But soon that will be unnecessary as they will be always in each other's presence. He will put another ring upon her finger and she will bear his name. My heart was very tender as I bade her goodbye. Excitement and joy shone in all their faces. I rejoiced in their happiness, but after they were gone I felt a little let down as I faced humdrum days. Perhaps we who are older always feel a little touch of wistful envy over the forward look which belongs to youth. And then I remembered. I too am to be a bride. I too can look forward with joyful anticipation to my journey into a new and wondrous far country accompanied to by my loved ones. It may be I shall start today. I am all ready to go. My luggage has been sent on ahead from time to time, little things which I have tried to do for Him which I shall be so happy to lay before His feet. We have been sending messages to each other, but the necessity will be past for soon I shall be with Him. He will put a new name on my forehead. I am taking no wedding dress with me. There are no needle-pricked fingers for me, no long hours of toil. No gold of mine bought the material, no labor of mine fashined it. It is entirely the gift of my Beloved, and it is so precious that it is beyond price. Nothing my hands could do to it could possibly enhance its loveliness. My Bridegroom will have nothing but the very best for His bride, so it is altogether perfect. It is the white robe of His own righteousness. He is building a mansion for me, where we shall dwell together. And who is this Bridegroom? He is the sweet strong Son of God Himself, in whose presence is FULLNESS of joy. It is incredible but true that His love for me is greater than mine for Him. He proved this long ago when He shed His last drop of blood for me. " I am by beloved's and he is mine
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2010 7:08:07 GMT -6
" Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6) I AM THE WAY
When JESUS comes and we arise To meet Him in the distant skies,
We shall not wander wide and far To pick a path from star to star;
For Christ the Lord went on ahead, And we shall take the way he led.
I dream when sunset colors glow They mark the trail we are to go;
And moonlight paves a silver road Where we may meet the Son of God!
A tender thought it is that He Should blaze the trail for you and me!
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2010 6:16:36 GMT -6
" Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12) HE IS MY LIGHT
He is the light in my dark sky, My Bright and Morning Star; The softly gleaming lamps of home Whick becon from afar.
He is the lantern at me feet To guide me on my way; The moving pillar of bright fire Which turns my night to day.
He is the beacon on the shore Which warns me from the shoal; The living, glowing blaze which warms The chilled hearth of my soul.
Why should me heart know any fear Of earthly, harkened things? He is my Sun of Righteousness, With tender, healing winga!
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2010 7:11:21 GMT -6
" And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things that that of Abel" (Hebrews 12:24) SPLATTERED BUT NOT WASHED
They drew lots for His seamless robe; Grim soldiers gambled there Within the shadow of the Cross; And little did they care
That they were splattered with His blood. Guilty, yet unaware That every stain incarnadine They must forever bear.
His blood will stain, or wash you clean; Dear friend, which will you be - Splattered, or washed as white as snow For all eternity?
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Post by Deleted on May 4, 2010 7:28:08 GMT -6
" According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:20, 21) HIGH ROAD OR LOW ROAD
Whatever path Thou takest me- It matters not which road it be, If it but lead me home to Thee.
O joy, O bliss beyond compare If Thou shouldst call me from the air, To rise at last and meet Thee there!
Yet in my longing heart I know If through the valley I must go, I would not laggard be, nor slow;
For Thou wouldst closely hold my hand And lead me through that shadow-land To heaven's bright and blessed strand.
It matters not. That road is best Which leads me soonest to Thy breast Whereon this weary soul may rest.
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2010 7:33:56 GMT -6
" Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will" (Ephesians 1:9-11). GRACE
Once there was no man in heaven, No companionship for God Save the host of shining angels. He bethought Him that He would Create men in His own image,
That He might, as ages passed, Bring them one by one to heaven, Until it was filled at last.
But the man His hands had fashioned Fell, was stained with sin, and lost; And he could be cleansed for Heaven Only at a bitter cost-
Cost too great for earthly father. But God's tender heart of love Still yearned over him, still longed for His companionship above.
Now God's Son was His Beloved, Closer was He than His breath; Dear was He as God's own heartthrobs, Yet He sent that Son to death.
And His dying was man's saving. Anyone who would might come, Finding in that precious fountain Cleansing for his long, long home,
And the certainty that He will Finish what He has begun- Make each one of us as lovely As His own beloved Son!
There at last the heavenly family, Hand-in-hand and face-to-face; He the tender, loving FATHER, We the trophies of His grace!
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2010 9:02:00 GMT -6
" For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body" (Romans 8:20-23) NOCTURNE
The moon-drenched world lies hushed and still, Asleep to the beauty the stars distill;
Fair in her lovely night disguise, The earth draws strangely near to the skies.
Then a mocking bird wakes in a nearby tree, His heart so bursting with melody
That he needs must break into rapturous song, Through with sleeping the whole night long.
Lifting and lilting his glad refrain, Over and over, and over again
Under the wide and star-gemmed sky No one stirs save the bird and I;
Nor searches the far horizon's rim For our coming Lord, till eyes grow dim;
Nor listens, with wistful, straining ear, For the sound of His footsteps drawing near.
The long hours pass - he sings, I pray - Keeping the watch till the break of day.
The song is hushed, the dawn is near; With the morning light He may be here!
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2010 9:08:30 GMT -6
" And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever" (Daniel 12:3) BEFORE GOD'S JUDGMENT THRONE
I shall not stand before the great white throne, Thanks be to Him who bought me, set me free. And yet it clutches at my heart to know That many standing there will think of me,
Rememberinging the words I quoted them - "No other name is give unto men Whereby we must be saved" - they cry, "If only I could have that choice again!"
But God forbid there should be others there - May this thought pierce me like a living sword! - The ones who daily walked with me, and yet I never tried to lead them to the Lord!
Well may they speak my name in bitterness: "She knew the One who was the Truth, the Way, And yet she spoke no warning word to us To save us from this fearful Judgment Day!"
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2010 6:46:59 GMT -6
" For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (II Corinthians 5:21) HE BECAME SIN FOR US
O the mystery of His mercy! Unguessed depths of matchless grace. Christ became that which He hated, While God turned away His face.
Turned in wrath from His Beloved, Handing there upon the tree; Strangely changed, and strangely bearing All the sins of you and me.
Angels dared not look upon Him, But averted stricken eyes; Seeing not the Lord of glory, But a bleeding Sacrifice.
Through the circling, endless ages Such a sight had never been; He, the spotless LAMB of Heaven, Christ the Lord, becoming sin!
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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2010 8:46:44 GMT -6
" Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26) PRAYER WITHOUT WORDS
Sometimes I do not pray in words: I take my heart in my two hands And hold it up before the Lord - I am so glad He understands.
Sometimes I do not pray in words: My spirit bows before His feet And, with His hand upon my head, We hold communion, silent, sweet.
Sometimes I do not pray in words: For I am tired and long for rest; My weary heart finds all it needs Upon the Saviour's gentle breast.
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2010 9:13:39 GMT -6
" Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15) THE WELL-FED
We feed upon His holy Word; We hear His preachers preach; And gladly sit before the ones Whose gift it is to teach.
And at each goodly feast our souls Become full-fed, replete. Then, Christian, do we go to sleep Until next time we eat?
Good soldiers eat that they may fight, Nor linger overmuch Before the board, though richly spread. The Lord has need of such.
So let us feed with thankful hearts Upon His precious Word, And then go forth refreshed and strong To battle for the Lord.
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2010 5:47:58 GMT -6
" My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer" (Psalm 45:1) WHEN HE RETURNS
Because our Lord was human too, I think some day His feet May seek the scenes where once He trod; His heart may find it sweet
To see again the manger where The Lord of Glory lay, The little shop in Nazareth In which He toiled all day.
And sometimes He may linger on The shores of Galilee, Or find again the winding road Which led to Bethany.
But when He stands on Olive's mount, Where once His brow sweat blood; And where He prayed that night, alone, "Thy will, not Mine, O God!"
Although they hail Him lord of lords, And mighty, everlasting King; Though men and angels praise His name, His heart will pause - remembering.
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