Murph
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Post by Murph on Feb 1, 2010 23:29:26 GMT -6
An old friend named Virgil up in Illinois first introduced me to the poetry of Martha Snell Nicholson. I expect that Virgil sometimes looks in here at Divine Intervention. Thanks Virgil, Baptist Bible Believer.
Martha was a pretty remarkable lady. She lost a baby in her younger years. That brought her to her knees and so often that is where we find the Lord...when we are so far down that the only thing we can do is to look up. She found the Lord and began writing beautiful poetry to express her love for Him and her faith.
Some years later she was diagnosed with cancer which slowly ate away at her body. Finally she was bedridden and in great pain constantly.
Though she had been saved she had not been baptised and she so wanted to be, but by that time the cancer had progressed to the point that even human touch had become painful. Taking her to a church was out of the question.
Her pastor was none other than J. Vernon McGee. Martha's husband and pastor consulted and came up with a solution. They baptised her in the bathtub at her home. Just a short while later she went to be with the Lord.
She left behind some beautiful poetry for us and she would probably be delighted and thankful that you were moved by her words. The glory, of course, she would give to the Lord.
The title of my favorite book of her poems is "Ivory Palaces" which comes from this Bible passage,
"All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. " Psalm 45:8
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Feb 1, 2010 23:43:24 GMT -6
I went and read at Kristi's website and was reminded of another one of Martha's poems. She, like Kristi, was no stranger to pain and suffered every minute of everyday. She knew though, that the Lord had suffered far greater pain than she could ever imagine...she wrote the following poem about that and I am putting it here for Kristi. ***
Handicapped?
How handicapped, how bound are we When Christ was bound on Calvary? He could not move a hand nor foot, And He was wracked with anguish, but He gave Himself to earnest prayer For those whose weight of sins He bare. "Father, forgive, they know not what they do."
O child of God, say not, "I am too handicapped, too bound, Too busy, and I have not found A service I can do for Him." O Shame! Let us, with eyes grown dim, Look back to Calvary. Bound helpless there, The suffering Saviour gave himself to prayer!
Martha Snell Nicholson
Psalm 118:27 God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
1Thess. 5:17 Pray without ceasing
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Feb 9, 2010 8:54:16 GMT -6
As in the days of Noah causes us to think about what was going on around Noah. Sin had reached a fevor pitch. It was everywhere and growing worse everyday. Most probably the more Noah preached the coming judgment the harder the people laughed.
But maybe we should also think from Noah's standpoint.
The more the sign of the approaching storm appeared the harder he must have tried to get people to open their eyes and ears...
He didn't know the day or the hour either but from the signs he knew it was near...so he tried harder!
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Post by Keith on Feb 9, 2010 9:27:14 GMT -6
Amen Marilyn, as should we because:
"...as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." (Matthew 24:37)
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Feb 15, 2010 10:06:13 GMT -6
Read this while reading for the next SS lesson and it made an impact. So often lately when reading the news from the local to the international, I have been dismayed and frustrated.
The passage is Mark 14:1,
"After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death."
I was reading from a commentary by John Phillips in which he wrote something beautiful and it went like this...
"So they sat there in religious robes and plotted the murder of the Son of God. How blind they were! How blinded they will be on that day when He returns. The stars will explode before Him, disintergrating into fiery sparks like boundless celestial pyrotechnics. The sun will plunge into darkness as it did at Clavary, and the moon will become as black as midnight. And these scheming, plotting, petty little tin-pot dignitaries of a small-time politico-religious court, allowed to hold its sessions only at the whim of an occupying power, will see Him, And they will shake in terror before Him at last."
"The Gospel of Mark," by John Phillips, pg 292.
There, that puts it into prospective for us.
This focus it even better,
"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. " Revelation 1:7
Be still my soul...Jesus is coming and will make it all right.
Wait, pray, watch. Amen.
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Post by Keith on Feb 15, 2010 15:48:54 GMT -6
"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. " Revelation 1:7 What indescribable terror will be in the heart's of men that day.
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Feb 16, 2010 12:14:56 GMT -6
Still reading in the Book of Mark. This is from Mark 13:21-22
"And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
Correct me if I am wrong but, I don't recall reading anywhere that anyone claiming to be the Messiah appeared on the pages of history before the real One came. It is only since that time that there have been people claiming to be the Lord...
and as the day and hour of the Lord's return approaches we seem to be hearing more and more from people making that claim.
Just like that passage says...
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Post by Keith on Feb 16, 2010 13:26:03 GMT -6
I don't recall reading anywhere that anyone claiming to be the Messiah appeared on the pages of history before the real One came. Nor do I. As far as I've read that is specifically for the Church age and Tribulation period.
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Feb 16, 2010 13:37:01 GMT -6
Think of it Keith. Millions on the battlefield at Megiddo ready to go to the final battle. It is the East against the West, Heaven against the dregs of Hell, all poised to do what amounts to annihilation of mankind on the earth because that is the point to which it will have come.
The forces of China married to the technology of Japan will challenge the world. The Anti-Christ up to that point, we are now in the second three and 1/2 years or the Great Tribulation, will be busy trying to wipe the Jews and the believing Gentiles off the face of the earth. Millions and millions of people dead because of wars, famine, prestilene, earthquakes and all manner of horrors, everywhere. Add to that the Anti-Christ murdering Jews and believers right and left.
But the advance of the Armies of the East draws the attention of the Anti-Christ towards east. He rallies the armies of the West and they advance to the place they are drawn by the Lord...Megiddo.
Finally, they are massed on the battlfiield, all manner of the weapons of war at their disposal...including laser, nuclear, chemical, biological...
And just as it is all about to go balistic...
Again from the account by Mark,
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Feb 16, 2010 13:55:56 GMT -6
"But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. "
The Lord coming back into time from eternity...what a thought! and what a disturbance to the universe that will cause! The sun will grow dark and the moon, the stars of heaven will explode...the fabric of the Universe will split and in will come the Lord in power and in GLory. Amen! And that is just from my imagination. The return of the Lord of the Universe will most certainly be, by far, grander than that!
I can't even imagine the horror that the people on the battlefield will feel in their hearts and minds when they see Him and the sights in the skies. The terror on the field will stop the armies massed there dead cold in their tracks! The what they will be seeing will put the little signs and wonders by the Anti-Christ and False Prophet to shame and make them look like a bag of tricks.
The return of the Lord puts an abrupt stop to everything...
John talks about the sword that comes out of the Lord's mouth...a Word from Him is all it takes...
***
In my Sunday School Class the question was asked, why does the Bible tell us all these things that are going to happen after we are gone?
Anybody got an answer?
and don't even get me started on the birds...my dog Riley hates buzzards and tries to chase them. It is almost as if she thinks she can fly. Every time she does that I think of the birds of prey that will be there on the battlefield that day. The Lord will draw all kinds from everywhere as a clean up detail.
Just like everytime I look up at a stary night sky I think of Abraham.
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Post by Keith on Feb 16, 2010 16:17:42 GMT -6
In my Sunday School Class the question was asked, why does the Bible tell us all these things that are going to happen after we are gone? Anybody got an answer? I know you chomping at the bit to tell us sister...don't hesitate!
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Feb 16, 2010 21:51:01 GMT -6
No...you go right ahead Keith...you do the honors. ;D
I tell you true, I would love to hear, read that is...DB's reply to that question. I just love it when he lays down some Gospel preachin'!
That fella's right good at it...Spirit led! That's a fact.
Go ahead DB...chime in!
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Post by Keith on Feb 17, 2010 8:17:19 GMT -6
Yeah DB, we're all ears! ;D
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Post by Keith on Feb 18, 2010 9:21:39 GMT -6
In my Sunday School Class the question was asked, why does the Bible tell us all these things that are going to happen after we are gone? What did you tell them Marilyn?
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Feb 18, 2010 9:53:58 GMT -6
In my Sunday School Class the question was asked, why does the Bible tell us all these things that are going to happen after we are gone? What did you tell them Marilyn? It is, The Revelation of Jesus Christ...to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass..." Revelation 1:1It is, "...the testimony of Jesus Christ..." Revelation 1:2It is because, "...the time is at hand..." Revelation 1:3It can happen at any time, it is always imminent.
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Post by Keith on Feb 18, 2010 10:10:21 GMT -6
Praise the Lord!
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Feb 18, 2010 10:12:31 GMT -6
Again from Mark 13:33-37,
"Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch."
Just as the Apostles and Disciples of that day didn't quite grasp the coming crucifixion and resurrection, people of today can't quite grasp what is coming and when they hear about it, I think it scares them...
so the last few verses of Mark 13 are a comfort to them. I know they are to me.
We watch, pray and occupy. The Lord left us with work to do...Go tell! He said.
We have plenty of work to do to keep us busy till that great day when He comes for the Church. It will also be a comfort to those Saints going through the Tribulation to know He is coming...again!
Amen.
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Post by Keith on Feb 18, 2010 10:34:00 GMT -6
Dear readers, this is something to which you should pay particular attention: "And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." (Mark 13:37)That is not a suggestion from the Lord, it's a COMMAND! We are ALL commanded to be watching for the signs which tell us His appearing is near. Remember, there is even a special crown of reward given to those who are expecting Him: "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:8)Want to know how better to watch? Read my latest Keith's Comments So, You Want To Be An End Times Watcher[/url].
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Feb 18, 2010 10:35:22 GMT -6
Peace, perfect peace in this dark world of sin? The blood of Jesus whispers "peace" within.
Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging 'round? On Jesus' bosom nought but peace is found.
Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away? In Jesus' keeping we are safe, and they.
Peace, perfect peace, the future all unknown? Jesus we know and He is on the throne.
Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours? Jesus has conquered death and all its powers.
It is enough! Earth's struggles soon shall cease And Jesus lead to Heaven's perfect peace.
Amen.
Author unknown.
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DB
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Blessed be the name of the Lord.
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Post by DB on Feb 19, 2010 7:25:27 GMT -6
No...you go right ahead Keith...you do the honors. ;D I tell you true, I would love to hear, read that is...DB's reply to that question. I just love it when he lays down some Gospel preachin'! That fella's right good at it...Spirit led! That's a fact. Go ahead DB...chime in! ...sorry, i just got around to readin' this...
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