Gems for May - wk 2
May 8
"As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them."
(Acts 13:2)
Fasting and prayer is the way to obtain guidance from God. To be ready to receive instruction from Him one must be without distraction, a clean vessel waiting to be filled and used. Self judgment and especially self discipline could prove useful in future endeavors should the Lord require such trials. It is always good to live within our needs and not spend time in desiring our wants. The Lord provides amply for His own. (B.R. - Meditations in Acts)
N.J. Hiebert # 3332
May 9
"Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." (Ephesians 6:10)
- In a world of constant change, you can trust in God's unchanging word.
- Once we've feasted on the goodness of God, nothing else will satisfy.
- Serving the Lord is an investment with eternal dividends.
- When a Christian hits rock bottom, he'll find that Christ is a firm foundation.
- The best way to renew our minds is to read God's Word daily.
- What you do with Jesus now determines what He will do with you later.
- Don't study the Bible to quote it; study it to obey it. (R.K. - Some Thoughts to Consider)
N.J. Hiebert # 3333
May 10
"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." (Ephesians 4:14)
Some people are like rowboats: they have to be pulled wherever they go. Sometimes it is a struggle to keep them pointed in the right direction.
Others are like sailboats: they are inclined to follow every wind of emotion and popular sentiment.
Others, however, are like steamboats: they can drive against wind and storm and tide, and in the face of great difficulties can keep an even course because they have the power within. (Selected)
N.J. Hiebert # 3334
Some people are like rowboats: they have to be pulled wherever they go. Sometimes it is a struggle to keep them pointed in the right direction.
Others are like sailboats: they are inclined to follow every wind of emotion and popular sentiment.
Others, however, are like steamboats: they can drive against wind and storm and tide, and in the face of great difficulties can keep an even course because they have the power within. (Selected)
N.J. Hiebert # 3334
May 11
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
(1 Corinthians 10:13)
We never have more than we can bear. The present hour we are always able to endure. As our day, so is our strength. If the trials of many years were gathered into one, they would overwhelm us; therefore, in pity to our little strength, He sends first one, then another, then removes both and lays on a third heavier, perhaps than either; but all is so wisely measured to our strength that the bruised reed is never broken. We do not enough look at our trials in this continuous and successive view. Each one is sent to teach us something, and, altogether, they have a lesson which is beyond the power of any to teach alone. (H.E. Manning)
We are never without help. We have no right to say of any good work, it is too hard for me to do; or of any sorrow, it is too hard for me to bear; or of any sinful habit, it is too hard for me to overcome. (E. Charles)
N.J. Hiebert # 3335
We never have more than we can bear. The present hour we are always able to endure. As our day, so is our strength. If the trials of many years were gathered into one, they would overwhelm us; therefore, in pity to our little strength, He sends first one, then another, then removes both and lays on a third heavier, perhaps than either; but all is so wisely measured to our strength that the bruised reed is never broken. We do not enough look at our trials in this continuous and successive view. Each one is sent to teach us something, and, altogether, they have a lesson which is beyond the power of any to teach alone. (H.E. Manning)
We are never without help. We have no right to say of any good work, it is too hard for me to do; or of any sorrow, it is too hard for me to bear; or of any sinful habit, it is too hard for me to overcome. (E. Charles)
N.J. Hiebert # 3335
May 12
"It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing." (Galatians 4:18)
A vexation arises, and our expressions of impatience hinder others from taking it patiently. Disappointment, ailment, or even weather depresses us, and our look or tone of depression hinders others from maintaining a cheerful and thankful spirit. We say an unkind thing, and another is hindered in learning the holy lesson of love that thinks no evil. We say a provoking thing, and our sister or brother is hindered in that day's effort to be meek. How sadly, too, we may hinder without word or act. For wrong feeling is more infectious than wrong doing; especially the various phases of ill-temper, - gloominess, touchiness, discontent, irritability, - do we not know how catching these are? (Francis Ridley Havergal)
N.J. Hiebert # 3336
A vexation arises, and our expressions of impatience hinder others from taking it patiently. Disappointment, ailment, or even weather depresses us, and our look or tone of depression hinders others from maintaining a cheerful and thankful spirit. We say an unkind thing, and another is hindered in learning the holy lesson of love that thinks no evil. We say a provoking thing, and our sister or brother is hindered in that day's effort to be meek. How sadly, too, we may hinder without word or act. For wrong feeling is more infectious than wrong doing; especially the various phases of ill-temper, - gloominess, touchiness, discontent, irritability, - do we not know how catching these are? (Francis Ridley Havergal)
N.J. Hiebert # 3336
May 13
"Because He hath set His love upon me . . . I will. . . ." (Psalm 91:14)
"Thou . . . hast loved them, as Thou hast love Me." (John 17:23)
Psalm 91 reveals what the Father did for the Son that loved Him. He exalted Him, communed with Him, honoured Him, and satisfied Him. We were once incapable of loving Him and totally undeserving of His love. Yet, because of His Son, God chose to love us as He loved His Son. Not because we loved Him, but because He first loved us, we enjoy the benefits only the Son deserved. You know He has set His love upon you. Now we should love what He loves. Who (or what) have you set your love on today? (David J. Reed)
A heart in every thought renewed, and full of love divine;
Perfect, and right, and pure, and good, a copy, Lord, of Thine!
(Charles Wesley)
N.J. Hiebert # 3337
May 14
"They hated me without a cause." (John 15:25)
There is a story told of an African chiefess who happened to visit a mission station. The missionary had a little mirror hung up on a tree outside his cabin. The chiefess happened to look into the mirror and saw herself reflected there in all her hideous paint and evil features. She gazed at her own ugly, grotesque countenance and she started back in horror and said, "Who is that horrible-looking person inside that tree?" "Oh," they said, "it is not in the tree; the glass is reflecting your own face." She could not believe it until she held that mirror in her hand. She said, "I must have the glass. How much will you sell it for?" "Oh," he said, "I don't want to sell it." But she insisted and begged, till finally he thought it might be best to sell it to her to avoid trouble. So he named the price and she took it. Then as she said, " I will never have it making faces at me again," she threw it down and broke it to pieces.
That is the way people treat the Bible and Jesus Christ. The Word of God shows up men's wickedness. They say, "Down with Christ! We don't want your Bible and we don't want your Christ."
(H.A, Ironside - Gospel of John - 1942)
N.J. Hiebert # 3338
May 15
"That we may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke,
in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye
shine as lights in the world." (Philippians 2:15)
Even in earthly things men look for guidance to the stars. A man lost on the prairie may find his way home by the stars. In navigation, sailors look to the stars, especially to the North Star. In an important survey, we always run our base-lines by the stars, particularly the North Star: and so keep them from becoming crooked and distorted. Thus these 'luminaries', these 'heavenly lights' in this dark world, need to remember that those who walk in darkness have their eyes upon them: but just as other stars point to the North Star, let us ever have our eye fixed on the 'The Bright and Morning Star,' and then our path will not be crooked, and we shall not lead astray those watching us. It was a star which led the wise men to the Saviour at Bethlehem when He was a Babe. How good if we too can be like that! (G.Christopher Willis - Sacrifices of Joy)
N.J. Hiebert # 3339
