Don't Back Away from the Plow

 

Don’t Back Away from the Plow

 

You have worked in the yoke with the Saviour

You reaped in the harvest for years

But lately your steps may have faltered

Your toiling been troubled with tears

 

Remember the Strength yoked beside you

In God’s Will you’re never alone!

Impossible things are still possible

Keep reaping where others have sown

 

Cast every burden on Jesus

His strength will carry your care

Lift up your eyes—fields are golden!

Our God is still God everywhere!

 

Psalms 126:5-6, John 4:34-42, Hebrews 10:32-38

Count it all Joy

 

Count it all Joy

 

“Count it all joy

When ye fall into

Divers temptations…”

 

Dear Lord, what an impossible task this seems to be!

Remind me that joy and happiness are different—

Happiness is temporal and sometimes selfish, but joy is forever

Your very own example proves that the Cross comes before Resurrection Morn

 

Let this mind be in me that was displayed in Thee:

To accept the Father’s will when things go well or ill

Understanding that the true blessing is loving God and serving others

Hiding in You through the mountains and valleys

 

Remind me that I so often deceive myself—

It is easy to talk the talk but help me to  truly walk the walk

Bridle my tongue to the law of kindness

Strengthen my hands to rescue the lost

 

Search my heart, know my mind

Clean out all sinful ways

May my single-minded focus be

To yield myself to Thee

 

Amen

 

 

Call Her Blessed

 

Call Her Blessed

 

Call her blessed

To fold her weakness in God’s strength

Then forge ahead through day and night

Breaking through the fallow ground

Yoked to Christ her true joy found

 

Call her blessed

To hide herself in robes of grace--

A putting off self to seek God’s face

And through His eyes she comes to know

That loving others will help her grow

 

Call her blessed

To yield her tongue to the Spirit’s control

Kindness she has made her goal

In her heart God’s Word abides

With these her family edified

 

Call her blessed

To trust the Lord—live in His fear

Her Heavenly citizenship written clear

She gives her all—her very best

To seek for others Home’s true rest

 

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Proverbs 31:28 

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 

 

 

Lessons from the Virtuous Woman

Proverbs 31:10-31

 

1.      She actively seeks to do good

2.      She works with a good attitude

3.      She gives—meeting needs

4.      She is a self-starter—she strengtheneth herself—she chooses not to be a burden to those around her, but casts her cares on God. She walks with God.  Psalms 28:7

5.      She prepares for the future

6.      She builds her husband’s reputation—she will not tear him down in front of others, but always point out his strengths.

7.      She is willing to work/suffer today for the benefit of a future reward. She develops patience

8.      She allows God’s Word to control her tongue. She is so familiar with God’s Word that her speaking reflects it.

9.      Her home is the primary focus. She is willing to serve in a small sphere. She recognizes that God uses the family unit at home and at church. She leads by example.

10.   Her underlying desire is to please God in everything. She fears the Lord—and loves Him with all of her heart.

 

Blessed does not mean that everything is wonderful—not always flowers and music! To be blessed is to demonstrate a level and balanced life. It is one that is content and happy with the provision of God. True blessedness meets the needs of others and leads them to live a life of blessedness. This kind of a living will prosper in true spiritual riches.

Watch Your Step!

 

Watch Your Step

 

Watch your step—

Be careful where you tread

Hear the warnings clear

Please heed what God has said

 

It only takes one step

Away from God’s True Light

To find yourself flat on your back

Lacking godly might

 

If there never is the first step

There can never be one more

Why leave Your Heavenly Father

To paths of sin explore?

 

Examine your steps with the Bible

Know the chapter and verse

Follow what is good and right

Flee from that which would curse

 

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Psalms 37:23

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

 

Proverbs 4:14-15

Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

Before His Presence

 

Before His Presence

 

He asked us to come

Opening wide the door

All we must do is enter in

Then things will not be as before

 

Nothing between—

The Gate is no longer closed

Love’s Sacrifice paid the price

The Father’s heart disclosed

 

Enter with thanksgiving

Praise God for all His ways

Serve the LORD with gladness

Humbly voice His praise

 

For His Presence will not leave us

Nor forsake us

For ever

 

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Psalms 100:4-5

 

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

 

The Promise for a Broken Nation

 

Anyone who had paid attention

Knew what the motto declared

They were one nation under God

His fingerprints were everywhere

 

 

“In God we trust”

A simple humble phrase

Yet so forgotten

In these latter days

 

A Nation marred in the hands of the Potter

 

But that is the hope!

The Potter still holds the clay

His work was not finished

He can still make a way

 

Look to God

Forsake the sin

Humbly pray

He will work again

 

“…so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.”

 

A Promise for a broken Nation—if we will have it

Jeremiah 18:1-12

Seeking the Showers

 

Seeking the Showers

 

They were seeking the showers of blessing

But they looked at the wrong end of the hose

They waved it around with excitement

But nothing refreshed all their souls

 

But one man looked up unto Heaven

He caused them to God’s Word draw near

For only by Truth comes right feelings

He knew that they needed to hear

 

Don’t let your life get out of order

Emotions shouldn’t rule what you do

Let God’s Word show the facts—and how you should act

Then the showers of blessing pour through

 

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I Kings 18:20-46

 

               Feelings are not a bad thing—God gave them to us so that we could enjoy the Truth. When we discover the facts, it causes or reveals emotion. Notice the joy of the Psalmist in Psalms 145! The problem today is that many people get it backwards. They think that if they discover their feelings, it causes or reveals the facts.

 

               Another thought along this line…if we let our emotions be based in facts, we should not be critical of emotional decisions because the facts are behind the emotions. Faith in the facts cause us to be moved to grief over sin, burden for sinners, and a host of other things. Facts and feelings can work together to get God’s people moving. (2 Corinthians 5:11)