ISAIAH 51:22
Thus sayeth thy Lord
the Lord, and the God
that pleadeth the cause
of his people...
Behold, I have taken out
of thy hand, the cup of
trembling, even the dregs
of the cup of my fury
Thou shalt no more drink
it again
|
ISAIAH 51:22 Thus sayeth thy Lord the Lord, and the God that pleadeth the cause of his people... Behold, I have taken out of thy hand, the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury Thou shalt no more drink it again
0 Comments
OUR GREAT UNDERTAKING 199 "So live, wrote Mark Twain, "that when you come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." Life was made for living and giving Life was made for sharing and caring Life was made for love without lust Life was made for faith and trust Life was made for words sublime Life was made for the upward climb Let's not view life too gravely. Rather, let us view life as our great undertaking. (Written on August 1, 1976) FINISH THE RACE 559 Did you read the amazing account of the Michigan marathon runner, Dennis Rainear, who completed the last 16 miles of a 26-mile marathon with a .22-calibre bullet lodged in his head? The .22 slug had knocked Rainear off his feet, but he bounced right back up, and did not realize the extent of his injury until the end of the race. The only complaint that the 26 year Rainear had was that the shooting incident probably kept him from running the race in 3 hours and thus disqualified him for the Boston Marathon. (Rainear's time was 3 hours 9 minutes.) Ah, to stay in the race, especially when we have been wounded... It is not always easy, but it must be done, if the victory is to be won. (We believe God weighs our efforts as well as out victories.) (First witten on December 7, 1978) (The last sentence was written on February 22, 2019) REPENTANCE 558 Richard Fuller once wrote... "You cannot repent too soon, because you do not know how soon it may be too late." Perhaps one of the most difficult tasks any of us shall encounter is the task of repenting. It does not take long for most of us to realize that we need to repent or to change. But, alas, for most of us, repentance becomes a lifelong process. The lessons and events of history teach us the need for repentance. For it is very difficult to bask in the sunlight, if clouds continually hang over our heads. Let us repent, today, while we have the time, before it is too late. (First written on December 5, 1978) IMPORTANT TASKS In writing on how to cope with despondency, Harry Emerson Fosdick spoke of the following observation... "Remember that some tasks are so important that they must be gone through with, whether we are depressed or not." When we, at first, think of "tasks so important," we might think of some deeds that are highly heroic or that are terrible dangerous to our physical well-being or our emotional security. But, we would suggest two "important tasks" that are daily commonplace in their occurrence... One is...earning a living and the second... keeping a home. These are "tasks so important" that we cannot, dare not, avoid them regardless of our moods or mental dispositions. And while our moods and thoughts change often and, whether we be melancholy or happy, our "tasks so important" still remain. THE AMERICAN DREAM (1976) Occasionally, we talk with some of our colleagues, and in so many words, they insist that for them, "the American Dream has died." At this point in the conversation I always like them to define their terms and detail their meanings. Because, for as we are concerned us, the American Dream is very much alive. Oh yes, America gets a fever once in awhile... But most of us do what most of us do when diseases and corruption enter our bodies. Then we seek to clean out our system or take some bad-tasting medicine or even get a few shots in our posterior. Now, as anyone who really enjoys living can tell you, it is better to be sick three or four times a year, than than to be dead once. And, oh the recovery. The recovery is such a wonderful thing...Rededication to higher truths, to greater purposes, and nobler ends enter our thoughts and way of life. The American Dream is very much alive in us and in our children and it shall continue to be for as long as each generation is willing to pass that dream along. God bless America! (Written on July 26,1976) (Last line added on February 18, 2019) A LOT OF SINNING IN THE VALLEY Winter lingers on There must have been a lot of sinning in the valley last year Snow covers all It is good that Winter is the last season of the year It gives the redemptive flakes the opportunity to cover every sin and every sinner with the love and mercy of the Lord Let it snow, dear Lord O yes, let it snow (P.S. I did my part) (Written on February 16, 2019) ISAIAH 51:9,11,12,16 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord Awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations old Therefore, the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing unto Zion, And everlasting joy shall be upon their head They shall obtain gladness and joy and sorrow and mourning shall flee away I, even I, am he that comforteth you Who art thou, that shoulest be afraid of a man that shall die and of the son of man which shall be made as grass I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth and say unto Zion Thou art my people I WILL REJOICE 556 (HABAKKUK 3:17,18) Are you going through a valley right now? Perhaps these words from the prophet Habakkuk might help you through the tough times and over the rough spots. "Even though the fig trees Are all destroyed, And there is neither blossom left Nor fruit And though the olive crops All fail, And the fields lie barren, Even if the flocks Die in the fields, And the cattle barns Are empty, Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord I will be happy In the God of my salvation. (Habakkuk 3:17,18 Living Bible) (Written on November 30,1978) O LORD, AS WE WAITED FOR THEE O Lord, as we waited for thee It snowed again, last night While floating gently on the wind Dispersing softly falling bits of snow Touching every particle of ground Spreading loveliness for miles around Claiming redemption in our hometown Perhaps we shall one day see Our savior's face As our dear dire sins Have turned to snow O Lord, as we waited for thee (Written on February 12, 2019) |
Categories |
RSS Feed
