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If He weren’t exalted,
I would be down!
If He weren’t my joy,
I'd be wearing a frown.
If He weren’t guiding,
I'd stay in my seat.
If He weren’t triumphant,
I'd live in defeat.
If He weren’t the Master,
Where would I go?
If He weren’t the Physician,
Who'd heal my soul?
If He weren’t the Teacher,
How could I learn?
If He weren’t the Answer,
Where would I turn?
If He weren’t Jesus
I’d be in my sin;
If He weren’t the Victor,
I never could win.
If He weren’t the High Priest
I wouldn’t have a prayer.
If He weren’t my peace
I’d be loaded with care.
If He weren’t the Shepherd
I simply would roam.
If He weren’t in heaven
I wouldn’t have a home.
His strongest grace
is for your weakest moment;
His sweetest fellowship
is for your loneliest journey;
His richest supply
is for your neediest hour;
His closest embrace
is for your deepest sorrow;
His brightest light
is for your darkest day.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?... No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39 NLT
But far be it from me to glory [in anything or anyone] except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) through Whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world! Galatians 6:14 AMP
In less than a month, we as believers, will once again turn our focus upon the Cross of Christ as we remember His death and celebrate His resurrection. To help your heart prepare for this special time, I am posting a poem written by Harold Brokke. It is a powerful proclamation of the atoning work of Christ to forgive us, to cleanse us, and to free us from our sins.
Calvary
Christ bore the curse to Calvary,
the fullness of the fall.
Oh tragic death, if Jesus bore,
a little, but not all.
If there are citadels of sin
where Christ set not His claim,
let angels wear confusion
and God be robed in shame.
If with this heart renewed by Christ,
perversity must dwell,
then what a caustic compromise
has heaven made with hell?
No, God envisioned Calvary
all love in its design.
It gladdens His eternal heart
because it purges mine.
Cast off the dark delusion,
the bondage of the lie
that says to those involved in sin,
“You shall not surely die”.
Put on, my soul, the truth of God,
sin owns no part in thee.
Your freedom from the “all” of sin
is all in Calvary.
By Harold Brokke, from his book The Testimony of Jesus
Ever wonder what you'll say to your daughter before her wedding day? Ever consider the words of wisdom you want to share with your son when he leaves home for college? Ever think about the reflections on life you want to give to your grandchildren?
Here are a few observations and thoughts about life that you may want to add to your collection. If you don't have a collection of heart reflections gathered yet, perhaps this list will stir you to begin the process. Some thoughts are practical, some are simple, some are fun, but all are meant to make life richer and more rewarding.
* When you greet people, look them in the eye. When they speak, give them your attention.
* When someone speaks to you in anger, let your response be a soft answer.
* Learn how to receive a compliment.
* You can't always be on the giving end. When others give to you, receive it with as much grace and kindness as is being extended.
* Learn to laugh more - it's great medicine.
* Never need "a little more" in order to be content.
* Three things to remember about people: their names, their birthdays, a few of their favorite things.
* Find a place away from city lights and gaze into the heavens on a clear night.
* Call or send a card for no reason.
* If you don't need it, do without it if it means going into debt.
* Tithe - you can never out-give God.
* Let people know you appreciate them for who they are and not just what they do.
* Sing around the house. Church isn't the only place to praise the Lord.
* Fix a special meal, served on special china, for no special reason.
* The best time to treat anything that needs maintenance is "right now."
* Never allow what you possess to possess you.
* Return the thing you borrow in better condition than you receive it.
* Don't ever forget to return the things you borrow, fix the things you break, pay the bills you owe, take care of the things you own.
* If you are not sure what to do in a given situation, ask, "What is the loving thing to do?"
* Take a class in music appreciation.
* Do something new with an old friend.
* Guard trust in any relationship.
* Don't ever lose heart - God will never give up on you.
* Never let your heart run out of thankfulness.
* One place to “be like Jesus” is behind the wheel of your car.
* Don't feel inferior to anyone. God made only one of you.
* When you do something, put everything you have into it.
* Don't carry around worry, fear or anxiety. They are the thieves of peace.
* Hold things with an open palm.
* Guard the company you keep. It will impact your behavior.
* Never quit giving the gift of your smile.
Today’s posting is written in prayer form. The prayer is based upon a promise from Scripture. It can be prayed on behalf of anyone, however, it is written as a prayer for your children or grandchildren.
The memory of the righteous will be a blessing. Proverbs 10:7 NIV
Father, I thank You that You bless our lives so that we can be a blessing to others. I pray that by Your grace and power You will work within my children the things that will help them to bring encouragement and enrichment to the lives of those they touch.
Give to them the soothing words that will heal a hurting heart; the wise words that will guide a seeking heart; the assuring words that will comfort a grieving heart; the accepting words that will embrace a lonely heart; the affirming words that will strengthen a fearful heart; the life-giving words that will fill an empty heart.
I pray that through the testimony of the lives of my children there will be others who know You better and love You more. May there be many who will say of them, “I thank God for you.” I ask that through their choices, their faith, and their obedience to Your will, my children will leave a legacy that will impact their generation and generations to come.
In today’s posting I would like to share with you the story behind the writing of the Just Think message I wrote for DaySpring Cards.
As I sat in my office one afternoon I was handed a folder by someone in marketing. In the folder was a job ticket requesting that I write a general greeting card message appropriate for someone’s birthday. I wasn’t sure where to begin, but I wanted to write something that would connect people with the heart of God. As I thought and quietly prayed, two things began to influence the direction of the card message I would write.
The first influence was the teaching of evolution. It was a subject that had been on my mind for several weeks. I was concerned about the impact this teaching was having upon people’s lives. “There are so many people who find life meaningless,” I thought, “they need to know that life is not about chance, but that God has created them for a purpose.”
The second influence was a Scripture passage I read in Acts 13:36, “For David…served his own generation by the will of God…” This passage was a powerful reminder that each person can fulfill the will of God in his or her generation.
As I thought about these two different things, they soon began to blend together to form the card message I wrote that day. I titled it Just Think.
Just Think.
Just think, you’re here not by chance, but by God’s choosing.
His hand formed you and made you the person you are.
He compares you to no one else—you are one of a kind.
You lack nothing that His grace can’t give you.
He has allowed you to be here at this time in history
to fulfill His special purpose for this generation.
The Just Think message is based upon three main Bible passages. They are as follows:
1. Just think, you’re here not by chance, but by God’s choosing. His hand formed you and made you the person you are. He compares you to no one else—you are one of a kind.
Psalm 139:13-15 NLT, “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.”
2. You lack nothing that His grace can’t give you.
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV
3. He has allowed you to be here at this time in history to fulfill His special purpose for this generation.
Acts 13:36 KJV, “For David…served his own generation by the will of God…”
You will never meet a fear that Jesus has not conquered; you will never face an enemy that Jesus has not defeated; you will never have a need that Jesus cannot meet; you will never face a temptation that Jesus cannot overcome; you will never have a burden that Jesus cannot lift; you will never face a problem that Jesus cannot solve; you will never have a wound that Jesus cannot heal; you will never know a bondage that Jesus cannot break; you will never know a circumstance when Jesus is not sufficient; you will never experience a moment when Jesus does not care.
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12:2 KJV
For: Because there was a reason, because there was a need, because there was a glorious plan of redemption. In order to leave no doubt in anyone’s mind about God’s eternal purpose and our eternal destiny.
God: True God. God the Father. Creator of man. Giver of breath. Sustainer of life. God of reconciliation. Author of salvation. God of redemption.
So Loved: Not “will one day love”, but “has loved” “does love” “now loves”. Agape love, deep love, true love. Divine love. Perfect love. Love demonstrated. Active love. Not just “feeling love”, but “doing love”. Love that wants the best, does the best, gives the best. Holy love. Sacrificial love. Love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love that never fails.
The world: Those who are near and those who are afar; those of every color, every race, every tongue, every tribe, every nation. The Jew and the Gentile. The lost, the needy, the hungry, the devastated, the crushed, the bruised, the broken. Those in darkness, desperation, and despair. The condemned, the sinner, the rebel. The sick who need a physician; the guilty who need pardon; the transgressor who needs forgiveness; the prodigal who is far from the Father’s home.
That He gave: Giving God! Freely bestowing—giving grace, giving mercy, giving life. Not small portions. Not just enough to get by. Giving in abundance. Outpouring. Overflowing. Overwhelming.
His only begotten Son: Jesus Christ. Son of God, Son of man. King of kings. Lord of lords. The Word made flesh. Emanuel. God with us. Wonderful! Counselor! Mighty God! Everlasting Father! Prince of Peace! God giving all that He could give. God holding nothing back! The Creator coming to His creation; the Lamb of God coming to be offered as a sacrifice for sin; the Redeemer, shedding His blood to bring us back to God.
That whosoever: An open door, an open invitation—to anyone, anywhere, anytime. Big or small, rich or poor, famous or unknown, old or young, male or female. You and I.
Believeth in Him: Not “work for”, not “try hard”, not “earn”. By faith. Believing with the heart. Not a reward to earn, but a gift to receive. Trusting in His mercy. Counting upon His provision. Receiving His life. Leaning upon His grace. Yielding to His Lordship.
Should not perish: Not lost. Not condemned. Not cast out. Not destroyed. Not in eternal darkness. Not separated. Not alone.
But have: Blessed assurance! Being sure. Being certain. Not “guessing”, not “wishing”, not “pretending”. Not “I hope so”, but “I know so”. Without a doubt, I am His and He is mine.
Everlasting life: Forgiven. Saved. Redeemed. Possessing His life. Eternal life. Kingdom life. Blessed hope! Glorious end! Never-ending story of His amazing grace!
Yes, let none who trust and wait hopefully and look for You be put to shame or be disappointed. Psalm 25:3 AMP
Years ago, one of the characters in a popular comic strip was looking forward to an upcoming event. Throughout the strip the character’s excitement continued to grow. At the end of the strip the character stood with his head down and a look of disappointment upon his face. When asked by a friend what was wrong, the character replied, “I found that my expectations far exceeded the actual event.”
What happened to this comic strip character will not happen to the child of God who is trusting in God’s promises. What God has planned and prepared for those who love Him will blow them away! We must remember that the difficulties, hardships and trials that we are presently going through are only pages in the story of our lives. We must be patient and read on, waiting with excitement and expectation for what the final chapters will bring.
God will never betray our trust in what He has said, and as we wait upon Him to fulfill His promises, we do not need to fear disappointment. In the end, we will not be let down by the expectations of our faith. Everything He brings to us will be more than we could ever ask or think. Since what God has for us will exceed our expectations, it means we can never expect too much.
S.D. Gordon tells us, “Trust trusts God when it doesn’t understand what He is doing. Jesus practically replies, ‘Wait; hold steady; trust Me, though you don’t see how things are working out.’” As you wait for the fulfillment of His promises, you don’t have to wait in gloom or misery. Even if you don’t understand the things that are happening around you, you can trust Him in joyful expectation for the fulfillment of what God has promised to do.
I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us! Romans 8:18 AMP
After completing my postings on Psalm 23 I came across a story that seems to be the perfect way to sum it all up. I’d like to pass that story along to you on today’s posting.
At a social function, an aged minister asked an actor who was in attendance to recite something from memory. The actor, thinking to please the minister, decided to recite the Twenty-third Psalm. With perfect diction, elocution and in delicate shades of tone, he repeated the Psalm in a manner that caused the audience to reveal their enthusiastic praise and applause.
Afterward, the actor, in order to honor the minister, asked if he would recite something for them. The minister could not think of anything and decided, if it was okay with everyone present, to repeat the Twenty-third Psalm. Quietly, prayerfully, he slowly began to speak out the Psalm as it came to mind. At its end, those in attendance sat hushed and in holy awe. Taking the preacher’s hand in his, the actor spoke out what was in the heart of all who were present, “You and I both know the Psalm, but it is clear to us all, that you are the one who knows the Shepherd.”
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