All Glorious Within

I discovered something interesting from reading the Bible lately.

In 2 Kings, we read of Jehu, a man that the LORD had anointed to be king over Israel—while the king of Israel was still alive. It was the LORD's intention that Jehu should "smite the house of Ahab" (see 2 Kings 9:1-7). Jehu killed many royal people—including Jezebel, the wife of Ahab. She had great evil influence over her husband. "But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up." (1 Kings 21:25).

 

Jezebel was a heathen woman, and very wicked (see 1 Kings 16:31; 2 Kings 9:22). In light of this, look at how she prepared to meet Jehu. "And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window." (2 Kings 9:30). That would be the ancient equivalent of our putting on makeup and doing our hair. It makes me wonder, Should Christian young ladies be doing something that this pagan queen did as well?

 

If the example of Jezebel isn't enough to make any girl who desires to be Christ-like question this practice, then look at what it says in the book of Ezekiel. In chapter 23, God speaks of Samaria and Jerusalem as though they were two sisters, Aholah and Aholibah respectively. He tells of their unfaithfulness to Him, and in thus describing the deplorable condition of these places, He says, "Moreover this they have done unto Me: they have defiled My sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned My sabbaths. For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of Mine house. And furthermore, that ye have sent for men to come from far, unto whom a messenger [was] sent; and, lo, they came: for whom thou didst wash thyself, paintedst thy eyes, and deckedst thyself with ornaments, And satest upon a stately bed, and a table prepared before it, whereupon thou hast set Mine incense and Mine oil." (vv.38-41, emphasis added). We see here that such activity is associated with apostasy.

 

In the book of Jeremiah is perhaps the most interesting way of referring to that subject. Speaking of the destruction that was to come upon Jerusalem because of idolatries, God refers to the city as a woman and says, "And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life." (Jeremiah 4:30, emph. add.). Again, God uses such comparisons to depict unfaithfulness to Him.

 

Notice the italicized part here, particularly the verb "rentest." It is a form of "rend," which means "to rip" or "to tear." What happens when something is ripped or torn? Generally, it is ruined. It would seem that in God's sight, wearing makeup ruins our faces. It would seem too, that the other things that tend to accompany it—jewelry and fancy clothes—are also condemned.

Could it be that this is because it focuses the attention on the outward appearance rather than on the inside? Peter was speaking to wives in chapter 3 of his first epistle, but his admonition goes for all women: "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." (1Peter 3:3-4). Character matters more than face to God.

 

Not only in the New Testament is this idea expressed. He tells us in the Old Testament too. "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. …Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised." (Proverbs 31:10, 30).

 

"The king's  daughter is all glorious within:" (Psalm 45:13). May we be daughters of the King, "all glorious within".

 

Blessings,

Jean

Thoughts from the Life of Jesus, Part 6: The Two Blind Men

Note: Posts formerly entitled, "Thoughts from the Hour" will now be "Thoughts from the Life of Jesus"

After Jesus healed Jairus' daughter from the dead, "the fame thereof went abroad into all that land." (See Luke 8:41-42, 49-56; Matthew 9:26).

In the following verse, we are introduced to two blind men. "And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed Him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us." These men were persistent; they followed Christ all the way to the house He was going to.

He then asked them a question. "Believe ye that I am able to do this?"

"They said unto him, Yea, Lord." (v. 28).

"Then touched He their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened;" (vv. 29-30).

The actions of these two men give a living illustration of Hebrews 11:6. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." The two blind men believed that Jesus was. They believed that He was able to heal them—and that He would. They believed it in their hearts, because they kept persevering; asking not once, but again and again.

What happened? Jesus rewarded them with the gift of sight. How much more will He reward us with that spiritual eyesight, that heavenly eyesalve, if we seek for it as earnestly as the blind men did their physical eyesight?

Blessings,
Jean

Thoughts from Luke: "Wist Ye Not That I Must Be About My Father's Business?"

Note: I know I already focused on Jesus' childhood, but I wanted to share this thought.

Joseph and Mary had gone up to Jerusalem with Jesus to observe the Passover (Luke 2:41-42). After the feast, they began the journey home—but without Jesus. After traveling for a day, they discovered that He wasn't with their "kinsfolk and acquaintance." (see vv. 43-45). "And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions." (vv. 45-46).

Even though they were "astonished at His understanding and answers," they couldn't forget the grief they had felt while looking for Him. "And His mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing." (vv. 47-48).

"And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" (v. 49).

Mary felt as though Jesus had left her and Joseph; but in reality, it was they who had left Him. They had become so caught up in what they were doing that they had failed to notice He wasn't with them anymore. They hadn't kept Him in sight, and as a consequence they lost Him for three days. It is the same with us. If we don't take the time to make sure Jesus is with us, we will lose Him too. We will feel as though God has left us. We will feel sad and discontented. And why should that surprise us? David wrote, "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Psalm 16:11). We can't expect anything else when we leave behind the only Source of life and joy.

The question is how to find Him again. Jesus is always about His Father's business. That hasn't changed with the passage of time. If we seek to do God's will, we will find the Saviour. Any time we decide to do something besides this, we wander away from Him; but as long as we are about our Father's business, we will have Jesus' presence. Of that we can be sure.

Blessings,
Jean

Yet Another Pause: My Training School

Photo by Katie LeBlanc

The other day, I was talking with a new friend, who also has CP. I said that she her level of involvement reminded me of another kid I used to know. "And like me," I wrote, "he had an aversion to stretching!" She did too. I went on to say that the "normal" people always tell me they should exercise, but that most of the time, they don't--and I just don't see why I should have to. Again, she concurred.

The conversation continued, and later I went to Bible study. In my lesson, there was this quotation:

"The first pupils of Jesus were chosen from the ranks of the common people. They were humble, unlettered men, these fishers of Galilee; men unschooled in the learning and customs of the rabbis, but trained by the stern discipline of toil and hardship." Ellen White, Education,  p. 85.

The phrase, "stern discipline of toil and hardship" stood out to me. For a few minutes, I sat thinking about it, envying the disciples for the training they had received. It must have brought them many blessings, that helped them in developing strong characters. Where could I find such a training? I don't come from a posh background, but neither have I had the ability or opportunity to labor for my necessities due to my condition. How then, could I ever hope to learn the same lessons?

That's when it hit me once more, but with greater force than before: I had my own toil and hardship! What was it? Bettering my physical condition! I know it may be beyond the reach of an able-bodied person's full comprehension or appreciation, especially if they've always enjoyed good health; but it is no small feat. It has been about as difficult for me to dredge up the will to do something about it as it has for a normal person to do something about their problem.

That is, until I read that statement. It seemed clear to me then that God gave me these difficulties to teach me stern discipline and hardship. It seemed to me that this was my lot, my task, my training school, tailored to me. It had a vitalizing effect on me, and since then, I have been seeking to do something every day--mostly leg lifts and hand exercises, with some standing. It's not much, but it's a start, and it's actually enjoyable. I never thought I would say that. (If I have before, I don't remember).

What's your training school?

Blessings,
Jean

Pause: Getting Ready for His Coming

Photo courtesy of Katie LeBlanc

Our brother *Francis*, whom we haven't seen in two and a half years, is coming for a visit in the beginning of August. There has been a lot of preparation going on; indeed, the thought seems to have had a mobilizing power upon everyone here. We want everything to be as nice as possible for him.

Z. has cleaned the book room more in the past few weeks than she ever has in the rest of the two years we've been here. Dad is building what he terms a "simple bed"--it's not simple by any means--for Francis so he doesn't have to sleep on the sneeze-inducing couch. Dad was working on it quite a bit to begin with, but since he found out the day Francis is coming, he has been even busier. Mom is helping wherever she can. And I have realized that I need to overcome some bad habits before the end of July.

The hustle and bustle for my brother's coming made me think of something else, something we all should be preparing for. Whether we like it or not, our Creator and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, is coming soon. The signs are all around us--natural disasters, increasing moral degeneration, and so on. Prophecy is rapidly being fulfilled. Soon, all the evil and suffering will be no more. All will be peace and rest and indescribable glory. Don't you want to experience that?

Jesus wants you to. He wants "all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4). He wants all of us to be ready for His return! The only way we will not be, then, is if we refuse to let Him make us fit for the heavenly home. He is more willing to save us than we are to let Him, but He lets us decide our destiny. In light of God's love for you, and the times in which we are living, ask Him to forgive you for wasting so much time with sin; ask Him to come into your heart and change it completely, so that you will be ready to meet Him when He comes again. Read the Bible prayerfully, so that you can know the way to heaven. He will not turn you away. If we do our part, we may be sure that He will do His. He says, "For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee" (Isaiah 41:13). "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye" (Psalm 32:8).

What do you say? Won't you get ready for His coming?

Blessings,
Jean

Another Pause: A Blessing in Disguise

Courtesy of Katie LeBlanc

Most days, my physical condition doesn't aggravate me; but some days, it really bothers me. Some days I wish I could be like everyone else. I wouldn't need help virtually all the time. I wouldn't be so tired. It would be so much easier to drink more water. The list could get bigger and bigger if I thought about it long enough.

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31). As one that has cerebral palsy, I naturally think about physical running, physical walking. However, I believe there is a spiritual side to this verse.

God told Abraham, "Walk before Me, and be thou perfect" (Genesis 17:1). He didn't mean an actual walking before, for Abraham couldn't always see Him; He meant for Abraham to follow Him in everything. Jesus admonished the people to walk while they had the light (John 12:35), and Paul spoke of walking worthy of our vocation as Christians (Ephesians 4:1). The apostle also speaks of running. "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of [our ]faith" (Hebrews 12:1-2). He wasn't referring to a temporal race, but a spiritual race, which, if won, would give us an incorruptible crown (1 Corinthians 9:24-25).

With that said, I believe that what the Lord told Isaiah was a promise that if we wait upon Him, we shall renew our strength for this great feat; we will run the race to heaven, "and not be weary"; we will be able to walk in the light He gives us, "and not faint." Oh, what a beautiful thought!

I read this verse today also: "[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5). Paul is saying here that we aren't to be jealous of others, but content with what we have, because Jesus has promised never to leave us. In other words, He is all we need. His presence satisfies. I thought to myself yet again, Is it possible that if I never had or didn't have the CP, that I wouldn't see the need for Jesus? That I wouldn't care for heavenly things? Considering my temperament and the things with which I struggle personally, and the tendency of human nature to not care for things of a heavenly nature, that is quite probable. Perhaps God in His mercy has kept the privilege of walking from me even to now, that I might learn to walk the path to the heavenly kingdom. After all, that is worth more than one hundred years worth of ambulation on this earth.

I'm reminded once more that CP is a blessing in disguise.

Sincerely,
Jean

Thoughts from the Hour Part 5: "All These Things"

"Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto Him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me" (Matthew 4:8-9).

Every temptation that Jesus met, we too will have to meet. Therefore, it's not a stretch or a twist to say that the adversary says the same to us today: "All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me."

All these what? Most of us have never had the opportunity to lay eyes on a kingdom, so what will be ours? I suppose one answers that question by asking yet another: "Well, I'll never fallen on my knees to worship the devil, and don't plan on it anytime soon, so how does his statement apply to me personally?" Paying homage to the adversary doesn't just include doing him literal, direct obeisance. Whenever we want our own way; pursue our own plans, without considering what God thinks of them; we are serving him.

How is that? When the devil sinned, he sinned by wanting things done his way, not God's way. He is the originator of self-ishness. If we live life the way we choose, irrespective of God's Word and will, we are defying Him, and serving self--thus following the great rebel, because he came up with the idea.

Now that that question is answered, it's much easier to answer the first. If I live for me (and therefore the devil), I can have whatsoever I desire of this world, if I work for it. In theory, if I was able-bodied and followed this plan of living:

• I could have the latest clothes and shoes--because, I want them, and don't care about being feminine and modest (Deuteronomy 22:5; 1 Timothy 2:9).
• I could eat the standard American diet again--because, I like it, and I couldn't have it if I aimed to be so healthy (1 Corinthians 10:31).
• I could play video games, and read fiction again--because, so long as I'm enjoying myself, it doesn't really matter how I use my time, or if the activities are true and good (Philippians 4:8; Colossians 4:5)
• I could have my GED--because, I need it, and I can't afford to be so particular about little things (Proverbs 4:2, 27).
• I could have a boyfriend more easily--because, I don't know whether they are the man God wants me to have, or whether they believe in Him (Proverbs 3:5-7; 2 Corinthians 6:14), but I love them.
• I could have get a job with little hassle--because, I want this position, even though I'd have to work on Sabbath (Exodus 20:9-11).
• I could have a fancy house someday--because, I earned the money to buy it and I can spend it the way I want, no matter what (Deuteronomy 8:11-18).
• I could keep my terrible temper--because, I don't always feel like being nice (Ephesians 4:32). It's the way I am.

The list could go on and on and on, and on. You see, we can serve the enemy without even realizing it, if we don't make the Bible the ultimate standard.

Now, if I choose to follow the Word of God, regardless of whether it lines up with what I want to do, will I have license to do the things listed above? No; instead, I will be holding to principle, refusing to bow to the instigator of selfishness, and will have to pass through this world without as much pleasure or easy-going as I could have otherwise. It will be a life of so-called sacrifice compared to the apparent rose garden, but it will be worth it. As a result of resisting the temptation to bow to the devil via pleasing self, I will have the approbation of my Maker, and a perfect character--just like Jesus. Will you also refuse to bow?

Blessings,
Jean




 

Thoughts from the Hour Part 4: Jesus' Childhood Example

"And the Child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon Him" (Luke 2:40). Jesus was the Pattern for children and youth as well as older people. His early years are a possibility for every child. They may learn to follow God in their sphere, just as He did. Yet, there is much adults can learn from this period of the Saviour's life as well.

Take, for example, when He attended the Passover with His mother and Joseph at the age of twelve. After the feast was over, Mary and Joseph started for home, thinking that Jesus was with their company. A day passed, and they looked for Him among their relatives, but they could not find Him. They returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. (vv.44-45). After three days, they found Jesus in the temple, "sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions" (v. 46).

I want to focus on that phrase— "sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions." Jesus, being divine and filled with the Holy Spirit, obviously knew more about the Old Testament than these men did. Indeed, the following verse states that, "all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers" (v. 47). Yet, the Bible says He heard them. Even though they were in error, He was respectful and listened to what they had to say. In answering He was still courteous. He could have responded very irately, and told them that they didn't know what they were talking about; but He didn't. Instead, He asked questions that stimulated them to think, and that were intended to guide their minds in the right direction. Far from making them hate Him, this method of conversation made them wonder in amazement at the knowledge of this youth.

I sometimes wonder what results we would see if every one of us followed Jesus' example when we dealt with others. May the Holy Spirit make us as gentle and courteous as the Master, so we may have the privilege of leading many souls to the kingdom.

Blessings,
Jean

Pause

A pause from Thoughts, to share this wonderful statement with you:


"It is a law of nature that our thoughts and feelings are encouraged and strengthened as we give them utterance. While words express thoughts, it is also true that thoughts follow words. If we would give more expression to our faith, rejoice more in the blessings that we know we have—the great mercy and love of God—we should have more faith and greater joy. No tongue can express, no finite mind can conceive, the blessing that results from appreciating the goodness and love of God. Even on earth we may have joy as a wellspring, never failing, because fed by the streams that flow from the throne of God."—Ellen White, Ministry of  Healing, pp. 251-253.

Sincerely,
Jean

Thoughts from the Hour Part 3: Herod and the Message from the Wise Men

"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard [these things], he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him" (Matthew 2:1-3, emphasis added).

Herod, troubled? And everyone in Jerusalem? Strange, considering the Jews were waiting for the Messiah. What makes their attitude even stranger is that the chief priests and scribes knew where He was to be born, because they were able to tell the king (vv. 4-6). Why weren't they looking for Him themselves?

The Bible tells us that Herod asked the wise men to find the baby Jesus, and report back to him. They agreed, and went on their way. Once they saw the star over the house, "they rejoiced with exceeding great joy" (v. 10). They had found Him, the Promised One! Going in, they worshipped Him, and presented their costly presents (v. 11). Notice, they gave Him the best that they had to offer.

Whether they spent the night there or someplace else, we don't know; but the Bible does say that God warned the wise men through a dream not to return to Herod with the glad news. Rather, they were to go back to their own country via another route.

When Herod figured out that his directions hadn't been followed, he was very angry--"exceeding wroth", as the Bible puts it. His fury was murderous; he killed all the children two years old or younger in Bethlehem and her coasts. What a tragedy!

We know that Herod committed this act to prevent this King from usurping his throne; but reading this made me think of the verses in John which say this about Jesus: "He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto his own, and His own received Him not" (John 1:10-11). Herod most likely didn't know Who Jesus was; but often people who do know Who He claimed to be manifest the same hatred towards Him as Herod did. The question is, why?

Why do we not hail the news of the King of Kings with as great joy as the wise men? In John chapter one, verse 9, Jesus is called "the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." It is this Light that men do not know, this Light that men do not receive, as the following two verses point out. Why don't men receive this light? "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved" (John 3:20). Herein lies the answer. We have enthroned our evil selves as kings of our hearts, and we are anxious to be rid of Him, just as Herod was. Yes, rid of Him, lest we have to deal with the slightest suggestion that we are in the wrong, and that we should relinquish our kingdom to Another (even if it isn't in a coercive manner) Who can reign better than we. Yet, at the same time, our own rule hasn't been peaceful, and is quite wearying, to say the least. Our kingdoms are in shambles. What a quandary!

This King, King Jesus, has the power to rebuild them if only we will consent to abdicating and being His subject. Sad to say, we cannot abdicate on our own, no matter how hard we try. No, unfortunately not. The good news is, if we but admit this, King Jesus will freely grant us the power to abdicate. And once we take hold of it, we shall enjoy many prosperous years. So many, in fact, we will wonder why we didn't seek Him out to rule from the very first!

Blessings,
Jean

Thoughts from the Hour Part 2: Look into the Manger

Note: The original "Part 2" was changed to "Part 3" in keeping with the chronological order of the Gospels. It will be re-posted shortly.

"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:4-7, emphasis added).

She laid Jesus in a manger. A manger is nothing more than a trough that horses and cows eat out of. Think about it: she laid Jesus, the King of Kings, in a manger. I don't imagine it was the cleanest crib, and I doubt it smelled very nice. The King of Kings, used to a land of light and glory, become a babe and was lying in a dirty, smelly feeding box! And why? He did it for us, friends. He did it so that the poorest of the poor could never say He didn't know the struggles they passed through.

That is food for thought enough, but I want to bring something else to your attention today as you contemplate this scene. In light of this condescension made by Christ on our behalf, in light of the level of poverty to which His Majesty stooped, why do we allow ourselves to complain about not having this house or that car, this fridge or that blender, this dress or those shoes, or whatever it may be? Why do we let our hearts clamor for more, more, more? If Jesus passed by the luxurious homes of the rich when it came to where He should be born, why don't we pass them by?
I don't mean that in the physical sense; I mean that in regards to our way of looking at things, our mentality. Considering what our Lord had, should we not be utterly content? Most of us have far more than He ever did. Our hearts' striving for gain should be hushed, and thankfulness should take the place of griping. If some of us are indeed so poor that we have nearly nothing, then we should be cheered by the thought that the Master knows all about it; in fact, we should consider it an honor to tread the same path that He has trod, and we should remember that His grace is sufficient for any infirmity--even poverty.

Thinking about all this has subdued me. It has refocused my perspective, and has set my priorities straight. Once again eternal things are the most important things. I hope you can say the same after reading this, and that we all may attain them in the end.

Blessings,
Jean

Thoughts from the Hour Part 1: "Thou Shalt Call His Name Jesus"

What was the point of Jesus' being our Sacrifice? Some might answer, "It was to die for my sins." That is true, and praise God He was our substitute! Praise God He died so that we don't have to! That's not the only reason, however. It goes far deeper than that.

 Matthew chapter one records that Mary was "found with child of the Holy Ghost" before she and Joseph "came together" (v. 18). Joseph, of course, wasn't aware of that. He thought Mary had committed adultery, and wanted to privately divorce her. While he contemplated this, an angel came and explained the situation, thus stopping him from doing any such thing (vv. 19-20). The angel went on to say, "And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins" (v. 21).

"And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins." Notice the angel did not say, "He shall save His people only from the penalty of their sins." Oh, no. He said, "from their sins." Not in them, but from them. That is the other all-important reason why Jesus lived and died and rose again — to deliver us from our sins! That means that He came so that we might be the clean and good and noble people He intended us to be in the first place. People that love and worship Him, and that love and respect their fellow men, everywhere and all the time. He came so that we could have the power to stop killing each other (imagine — no wars!) ; so that children (young and old) could have the power to be good kids instead of brats; so that spouses could have the power to always be faithful to each other...Isn't it beautiful? I love thinking about it.

This is what Jesus was referring to when He said, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). The thief, or devil, only wants to steal us from God, to kill and destroy us; but Jesus came that we might live. Live physically, yes, but live aright as well. I could go on and on about this beautiful subject, but that might get a little tiring, so I will leave you to ponder it. In the end, I hope we'll have all let Jesus save each and every one of us from our sins, that we may happy, and be with Him forever.

Sincerely,
Jean

Introduction to Thoughts from the Hour

Photo courtesy of www.flickr.com

"It would be well to spend a thoughtful hour each day reviewing the life of Christ from the manger to Calvary. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination vividly grasp each scene, especially the closing ones of his earthly life. By thus contemplating his teachings and sufferings, and the infinite sacrifice made by him for the redemption of the race, we may strengthen our faith, quicken our love, and become more deeply imbued with the spirit which sustained our Saviour. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and faith at the foot of the cross." Ellen White, Gospel Workers (1892), p. 246.

To be completely honest, I don't often do this because I feel like I'm not doing it correctly, or like I don't have enough energy for other spiritual reading by the time I finish. Sometimes, however, I do try. I tried recently, and thought of many things. I don't want to lose them, so I'm going to endeavor to share them with you in a series of posts entitled Thoughts from the Hour. I hope you are blessed in some way by them.

Sincerely,
Jean

The Money Magazine

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The Bible says, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). "Trust in Him at all times; [ye] people, pour out your heart before Him: God [is] a refuge for us. Selah" (Psalm 62:8).

The last time I wrote, it was on allowing the Holy Spirit to do the work while I spoke less. I'm still trying to cultivate that habit; still trying to trust Him always, and let Him fight and speak for me. Well, I had an opportunity a week or so ago to do that. Sometimes we receive things in the mail that we haven't subscribed to. I'm sure you've experienced the same. This time it was a magazine all about money, addressed to my mother. As I looked at its cover, with the large, bold lettering and the prominent $100 bill on the front, I saw nothing but a lure. A means to lure away from eternal interests to temporal interests which would end in destruction. "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Timothy 6:10).

For a bit I said nothing, then asked if she had subscribed to it. She told me no. I believe it was a few days afterward that my sister and I asked her if she wanted us to throw it away, but I'm not certain. Whatever the case, she said, "No, I'd like to look at it." This made us both sad, and it made me worried. I had read enough and was familiar enough with my own heart to know what money could do. But instead of giving her a hard time, or throwing it away, we left it on the stool. I prayed about it privately, and Z. and I prayed about it together when our mother wasn't around. We claimed Genesis 3:15, and asked that God would put enmity between her it.

After a few days, my mother grabbed it. "Did you know someone put up a post on Facebook the other day about how unbiblical stuff like this is?" she commented as she walked over to the rubbish barrel and threw it away. Now, neither of us girls use Facebook anymore, but were we ever happy! God answered our prayer--and what's more is, He did it without us running our mouths.

The next time you may be tempted to nag somebody about something out of concern, pray and trust God instead. He didn't let us down, and He won't let you down either.

Blessings,
Jean

Thoughts on Speaking

Sometimes it is better to be silent and pray than it is to speak. We as humans tend to forget at times that God is a better Teacher than we are. I am not saying that we shouldn’t say anything to our brothers, but what I am saying is that speaking too much is no better than speaking too little. I tend to fall into the snare of the former trap–talking too much, for fear of shirking my duty.

I am trying to learn to pray and not utter a word when I or others are provoked. The Holy Spirit can help the situation far better than I can. Here is a perfect example. I was riding with my mother as we went to pick up my father from work. The woman in front of us was going very slow, and, apparently, not even doing the speed limit. My mother began to complain. I was tempted to remind her what she has often told me–that there is a reason for every delay. Knowing, however, that sometimes any words (even nice reminders) only make a bad situation worse, I remained silent and began to pray. Almost instantaneously the tide turned. “Well, all right, there must be a reason for this delay.”

This proves true the counsel of Proverbs 17:27: “He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.” He knows that no matter how many words he may speak, ultimately it is the Holy Spirit that makes them worth anything–and that sometimes it is better to let Him do the work Himself. "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6).

Blessings,
Jean

Will You Let Him Fight for You?

Have you ever felt a real heart-burden for someone? Have you ever watched what's happening to them and been overwhelmed with sorrow, but then when you tried to express your concern it came out in angry words, because of the grief that you feel? I have.

I have, and no matter how hard I try to control it and be kind, I end up coming across the wrong way. I can imagine saying it so clearly and sweetly in my head, but when it comes to actually speaking...all that unexpressed anger and grief just makes a mess of things. Even when I strive for a level tone and the right words, the other person just doesn't understand. And I for one seem hopeless to change my methods--at least, for the moment anyway.

I know it isn't all me, for other people that are around when I try to explain know exactly what I mean--nevertheless they think like I do, so I suppose that's not so far-fetched. But I do know that by trying to get the other person to see, is currently doing more harm than good. Yes, and especially when it comes to my representing my heavenly Father. I can't do it. For whatever reason, I can't verbalize my thoughts properly when upset. I know at least that I ought to be more instant in prayer during these times, as I often forget, but as to what else I need to do, I haven't a clue.

For now, I'm not going to try anymore. Instead of saying something to make myself clear when people make me upset or are upset with me, I'm just going to stay quiet and focus on praying. After all, the Holy Spirit knows exactly how I feel, and, moreover, exactly what needs to be done. Yes, He knows, and far better than I do. I can trust the case with Him.

God values, especially in a woman, "[the ornament] of a meek and quiet spirit" (1 Peter 3:4). Presently, I am at a loss to have such a spirit and make myself understood, even when I have good concern. In the interest of my God and my loved ones, I relinquish the choice to explain my side of things. "For now, I claim the promise, "The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace" (Exodus 14:14).

What about you? Will you let the LORD fight for you?

Blessings,
Jean

 

Peanuts and the Word of God

A peanut is technically a bean, but it is different from other beans. Whereas most other beans bear fruit above ground, the peanut grows under the ground. If someone altogether unfamiliar with peanuts and their growth process planted some, he might not think that it would amount to much at first. He might think it a waste of time to even bother cultivating them. He might think peanuts aren't worth the trouble. After all, it doesn't appear to be doing anything substantial, he would think. I just see a bunch of green leaves, but no beans. What he doesn't know is that a lot is happening underneath that soil, out of sight, and that there is indeed something substantial there.

So it is with the Word of God. Many people read the Bible and fail to see it in all its beauty. All they see is what seem to be leaves. They think it is of no greater value to them than any other book. This is because they do not take the time to honestly and earnestly dig beneath the surface; they do not take time to humbly and perseveringly penetrate the top soil, as it were. If they did, they would find something of inestimable worth--something worth more than anything they could imagine. The Word tells us that "the fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom" (Job 28:28); and of wisdom it is written that, "all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it" (Proverbs 8:11). It is even worth more than gold, silver, or rubies (Psalm 19:10; Psalm 119:72; Proverbs 3:15).

Yet, again we see that to find it we must humbly and diligently seek it. "My son, if thou wilt receive My words, and hide My commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as [for] hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:1-5, emphasis supplied). It is only as we receive the Word, only as we listen and seek to apply what we learn, it is only as we cry, seek, and search for its treasures, that we will be rewarded. A disinterested, half-hearted attempt will not yield us anything.

Rather than being of no use, peanuts are one of the most useful beans. They are over fifty ways to utilize this legume. If we seek to truly know the Bible, we will find that it has more uses than the peanut--an answer for every question, a solution to every perplexity, a remedy for every ailment. May we seek to become more acquainted with this wonderful Book.

Blessings,
Jean

Self-destruction

I couldn't understand why they didn't want to try harder to resist the temptation. In fact, I was angry about it. Did they not see what it was leading to? Did they not care about the long term consequences? The more I thought about it, the angrier I became.

Then it hit me. God must think the same thing when it comes to me and my sins. The question was, why don't I try harder? Why don't I see what each choice to give in brings with it? Why don't I care more about where this will leave me in the end?

More than that, why don't I see what this is doing to my Heavenly Father's heart? I was saddened as I watched that loved one give in, with, it seemed, very little remorse. Saddened to the point of anger. How much greater is my Father's grief each time I choose to be disobedient--each time I choose to lose my temper, each time I choose to oversleep, each time I choose to refuse drinking more water? I understood once more in those few moments, but a small measure of the heartache He must feel; I understood once more, to a degree, why He hates sin, and why He is so displeased when we refuse to let Him set us free.

It destroys, and by holding onto it, we are destroying ourselves. By destroying ourselves, we destroy others. Sin makes us evil, and thus we exert a detrimental influence on others when we cherish it, if only in part. Who wouldn't hate that? The very thought of it is detestable. We can't understand those who choose to be suicide bombers--we can't fathom why they choose to kill themselves, and consequently anyone who happens to be around them. We think they're insane.

But every time we choose to do wrong, we do the same thing. "But he that sinneth against Me," says the LORD, "wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate Me love death" (Proverbs 8:36). We have only to look in His Word to see that we wrong others, too, when we sin. 1 and 2 Kings speak of many kings who made others to sin by their conduct, and the Gospels tell us that it is our sins that crucified Christ, the Father's Son. (Acts 4:10; 1 Cor. 15:3).

Sin doesn't paint a pretty picture by any means, but may that picture point us to our only hope--that is, Christ. "O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in Me [is] thine help (Hosea 13:9). He longs to save us, and He is able. (Matt. 18:11; Hebrews 7:25).

I want to let Him save me, so I can stop walking this path of self-destruction. What about you?

Blessings,
Jean

The Right Thing

"Do the right thing because it is the right thing to do."

That's not an easy thing to do, or something we naturally want to do. But if we would be faithful subjects of King Jesus, we must—and praise Him that He imparts the desire and strength to do it if we ask and believe! I know this to be true personally.

In the adult Sabbath school quarterly, there was this statement in last week's lesson: "Everything that Christians do should be as transparent as the sunlight. Truth is of God; deception, in every one of its myriad forms, is of satan.... It is not a light or an easy thing to speak the exact truth."[1]

Some time ago, a friend confided in me. Some of the things they told me were very saddening and alarming to me, especially in light of what I believe about the great controversy between God and the devil for men's souls. At that point in time, my relationship with Jesus was not as strong as it is now. I didn't understand about going to Him alone with our troubles. Besides this, talking has always been one of my greatest faults. As a child, I was one of those kids that you were better off not telling secrets to. Even though I got a little better grip on it as I grew older, the problem was by no means gone. The burdening nature of the information shared with me, combined with my natural tendency to gab, made it difficult for me to keep silent. I ended up sharing the bulk of the information with my mother—but my friend knew nothing about this.

One day we were talking about our mothers via text. "It's a good thing you're close to your mom," he said. A few minutes later, he asked, "You don't tell her what I tell you right?"

At first, I avoided the question, hoping he would leave it alone. That wasn't to be. "Well do you?" he demanded.

"Not generally. Generally I just tell her about school and your Bible questions," I finally replied. I said a little more, but then we changed the subject. I tried to justify what I said—after all, that is what I generally did. It's not exactly a lie, I reasoned, but I still felt uneasy. Even so, I was scared to tell him the truth. My friend isn't exactly the most gentle, and I didn't want to face his wrath.

Instead, I determined from that day that I would cease to talk about my friends' personal issues—even with my family. Thankfully, the Lord was merciful and has helped me to progress in this matter; nevertheless, my roundabout deception would often come back to me. I was perplexed and afraid. I didn't know for certain what I had to do—was I just worrying about nothing? Was I being too fanatical? And even if I wasn't, what would he do if I told? Would he reject Jesus because of my failure?

Then came the day I saw the above quote about being transparent. The more I read it, the more I knew what I had to do. Since I'd written my friend many letters over the years, and because I didn't want to face a verbal onslaught via telephone, I opted to do that.

I quoted the statement in it, and explained my folly. I also explained that through Christ, I was seeking to follow the counsel of Proverbs 11: 13: "A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter." I told him that while I hadn't perfected this yet, the Lord was helping me. I ended by saying how freeing it felt to follow the verse, and I asked him to pray that I would overcome my bad habit.

 I prayed much as I wrote and sent it, hoping that God would be glorified somehow. I prayed that despite my shortcomings, he would see there was something to Christianity, at least because I was seeking to live up to what I knew by righting wrongs. I was hoping and praying  he would see that even confession isn't something that man wants to do on his own, that there must be Someone Who gave me the desire and the power to do it. I found out a few days afterward that he had not received the letter. He had moved, and he didn't know whether he had a forwarding address. He declined to give me the new one for whatever reason, so I wrote him an E-mail. Between the time I sent the letter and wrote the E-mail, I'd remembered something else I had been deceptive about, so I tried to clear that up too. I texted him a message to read it when he got the chance.

He did. "I thought Christians were supposed to be faithful," he wrote.

"They are. I have failed and I know that," I answered.

He went on to say that he would forgive me in time. I was happy, and praised God that it went much smoother than I expected. After some more pleasant exchanges, I shut the computer down to go for devotions. When I turned it on a few minutes later to refresh my memory on something, I unfortunately noticed a text that revealed my friend had misunderstood me again in regards to the second issue. I decided I would take care of it later, and went on looking for what I wanted. Not finding it, I returned to my devotions.

Later I attempted to clarify what I meant with the second issue. Long story short, last year I had repeatedly brought up memories of something that went on in the past. I had done this because he didn't remember it at all, and it hurt my pride. It hurt that he remembered other similar things with other people, but not when it came to me. Simply put, it was an I issue. During that period, I was also struggling with morose and gloomy thoughts that left me feeling like no one appreciated me, so I suppose I took more offense to his forgetfulness than I would have otherwise. Somewhat understandably, he had taken my bringing up the past to mean something plausible, but entirely different from what I had actually meant. While I had refuted this claim, I hadn't been truthful when I explained why I mentioned the memories again. Perhaps I was too embarrassed at the thought of his knowing just how big of an ego I had. Whatever the case, I told him the truth about that in the E-mail too, along with the other problem.

It seemed so simple to me. An admission of deception and pride. He didn't understand, and again started going on about what he claimed I was saying. I tried to set the record straight once more; but he persisted in thinking this way, and began to belittle me. As I answered each text, I had to stop and check the anger that welled up inside. Through Christ's grace, I didn't retaliate to the insults, but just kept trying to help him see that I was apologizing over an attempt to hide my hurt ego, and nothing else. I finally told him very plainly that what he thought was not the case, not at all. He understood that well enough, but I fear that my intent for apologizing is still lost on him. Looking back over the E-mail, I see that I didn't word things clearly, so I suppose I can't fault him. Perhaps it was the same with my texts. He has told me before that I get "too advanced" (or something like that) in my speech.

I forget sometimes that people who don't share my faith won't see things in the same vein that I do. While I'm sad that he can't seem to simply understand and forgive me, I am happy that, through Christ, I did the right thing because it's the right thing to do; I'm happy that my conscience is clear. I don't know what my friend will do, whether he will let this have a part in making or breaking his decision for Jesus in the end; but I do know that God uses all things for our good. If the good here is simply a clean conscience and further warning to always be tight-lipped yet truthful, that's enough for me. I hope this inspires you to do right for its own sake as well—even if it is a longwinded post!

Blessings,
Jean

---

[1] Ellen White. Reflecting Christ, p. 71

"In Perfect Peace"

"Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on Thee]: because he trusteth in Thee" (Isaiah 26:3). What a beautiful picture of what one can possess when he puts his trust in God! He will never be ruffled and he will never lose control, because he knows Who is with him, and isn't worried about anything. He commits all to the care of his God, and seeks strength from Him, that he may do what is required of him. Yes, that is the picture of one who whole-heartedly depends upon God.

But for most of us, this picture isn't indicative of our day-to-day lives. When we get right down to the heart of the matter, we discover that we trust ourselves more than we do Him. If this weren't the truth, we wouldn't lose our cool or plunge into despondency when things don't happen according to plan. Whether we want to admit it or not, we so often act this way because we want to control the situation instead of letting God control the situation. This leads to the question, why do we feel--even deep down--that we must be in charge--especially when we know God has nothing but our best interests at heart? We are afraid that if we completely surrender everything to Him that we will not be happy, that we will be missing out on something. We don't honestly trust Him.

Our reactions to situations shows better than anything else whether we have a living connection with God. If we do, we weather them well, no matter what; if not, sooner or later we fall apart. I pray that we all may learn to trust Him fully, that we may indeed be kept "in perfect peace."

Blessings,
Jean

The Example of Daniel and His Friends

When Daniel heard that the king of Babylon wanted to slay all the wise men, including him and his friends, what did he do? He asked the king for time, saying that he would "shew the king the interpretation" (Daniel 2:16). As soon as he had done this, Daniel went home and told his three friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, what was going on (v. 17). Why did he tell them? Was it to gossip about matters at court? No. Was it to sit there and fret, wondering how they could save themselves from certain disaster? No. The Bible tells us that Daniel told them for a far different reason.

 

He let them know, "that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise [men] of Babylon" (v. 18). It was so they could all pray about it together. Even though none of them knew Christ in person, they doubtless understood even then the principle He put forth when He said, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them"(Matthew 18:20) a few hundred years later. There is power in prayer, and even more power in group prayer. Was Daniel unrewarded for choosing to ask his friends to unite with him in requesting the aid of heaven? Did their petitions go unheard? "Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven" (Daniel 2:19). No; as we can see, it was because of their prayers that the secret was revealed; and that revelation blessed not only these youth and the people in their lifetime, but also people throughout every age. Why not follow this example today?

 

Blessings,

Jean

Available in Print

Hi all,

I just want to let you know that most of the posts here are available in print now. The title is Gems in the Sand. Some haven't been included, and there are many that have never made it here. As of this writing, it will be 3-5 days before it is available to buy on Amazon, but it is available for purchase here: I hope it will prove a blessing to someone!

Sincerely yours,
Jean LeBlanc

As Intended

My sister and I had given some money to a family member as a gift, so they could replace something they had lost. Well, they didn't use the money for what we had intended it be used for, and I have to admit, that bothered me a little. I suppose it wouldn't have been so bad if we hadn't said that it was to replace that item in particular. It felt somewhat like a misuse of our generosity, at least to me.

Then I had a thought: don't we misuse God's gifts, His generosity, to us? What I was thinking of especially was His grace. Many Christians believe, as I used to, that God's grace is there only to cover up our deformities; that it is because of His grace that we may do as we please and still be saved. In all actuality, such a mentality is an abuse of this wonderful gift.

Paul writes in Romans 5:20-21: "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

But is this grace that abounds there to give us license to do anything?

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (Romans 6:1-2). He goes on to say that if we were baptized, we are dead to sin, and that we are not to yield to sin, but to God's will (vv. 3-13). "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid" (vv.14-15). He continues by saying that we are servants to whomever we choose to obey. If we choose to sin, we are servants of the devil; if we choose to do right, we are God's servants.

However, we need His strength to choose to do right and to do it. That is part of what His grace is there for. It is by His grace that a dual miracle takes place; firstly, the miracle of justification, or in other words, being forgiven past sins and declared innocent because of Christ's sacrifice (Romans 3:24), and secondly, the miracle of sanctification, or the miracle of being able to live right in the future. This is seen over and over in the Bible. "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16, emphasis supplied). "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear": (Hebrews 12:28, emphasis supplied).

As we can see, grace is there to cleanse us and enable us to serve the God we love in the way that He desires us, not to release us from duty. May we all then start using this great gift as God intended, and be what He wants us to be!


Blessings,
Jean

"The Joy and Rejoicing of Mine Heart"

NOTE: Originally intended for January 8, 2015

I want to be temperate, but that is one area where I tend to struggle. For those of you who don't know, temperance often refers to refraining from alcohol, but also means "moderation or self-restraint in action, statement, etc.; self-control."[1] I'm neither moderate nor very adept at self-control. I often eat too much (whether vegan or not, too much food isn't good for health) and sleep too much, while I hydrate, exercise, and enjoy sunlight too little. Nevertheless, I know that temperance plays a key role in both physical and spiritual health, and it is a goal I long to reach. We are told that "intemperance lies at the foundation of all the moral evils known to man"[2], so I think I'm on the right track with wanting to fix this situation.

While there has been some progress in the exercise department, I have a long way to go. I knew that somewhere was as good a place to start as anywhere when it came to making more improvement, and I felt impressed to begin with rising and resting early. That sounds easy, right? Yes—except for one thing: I am not a morning person by nature. I enjoy the comforts of a soft bed, especially in the morning; and yet, I was keenly aware of the fact that I would never accomplish what I wanted if I allowed myself to be captive to blankets and pillows.

The night before the starting day, I set out the clothes I would wear on the bench in the bathroom so I could ask someone for them and put them on. That way, I would be less tempted to plod on back to bed after relieving myself. More than that, I prayed. Well, that didn't work out as I planned it would. I had an opportunity to have them, but I passed it by, and returned to the bedroom. The chance was there, but I didn't go to GOD for strength in that moment. The next day, I prayed and asked Him for help, but also determined to make an effort. With my attempts united to His strength, I succeeded. The same with the following day. The day after that my mother was busy and couldn't help me till later, but on the morrow I was again successful.

Today, I didn't feel like getting out of bed. There was the temptation to snuggle down and drift off to sleep again, but I clearly saw what it was, and even though my flesh wanted me to give in, I refused. I prayed, and called for my mom to come and help me. She brought me into the bathroom, and I think she asked, "Do you want the shawl, or do you just want your clothes?"

"Just my clothes," I replied. Since I had forgotten to have someone set them out the night before, she went and got them. I put them on, and began what turned into a productive, enjoyable day. While I can't remember exactly what I said this morning, I remember that on quite a few of the other successful days, I had latched onto Philippians 4:13—"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me"—along with praying. I believed it and acted upon it, and thus received the needed strength.

As we saw in my last post, in every command and promise there is the power to fulfill it. Well, I saw that proved again this morning. I'm finding that the Word is indeed powerful (Hebrews 4:12), and that by it I can and have, in a measure, overcome (1 John 2:14). I understand what Jeremiah meant when he said, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart": (Jeremiah 15:16). Such words are not physically eaten, but eaten by reading and applying them to the life through Christ's strength, and it really is a joy.


Blessings,
Jean




___________________________________

[1] from www.dictionary.com, definition 1


[2] White, Ellen. The Sufferings of Christ, pg. 12

More on the Promises

The apostle Peter, in his second epistle, wrote: "Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth" (2 Peter 1:12). It is this that gives me license to address yet again a subject I have already written about.

In fact, Peter mentions it in the very first verses: "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of GOD, and of Jesus our Lord, According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (vv. 2-4).

Within the Bible are precious promises that, if claimed, will enable us to develop the character of Christ. Some of you might be wondering whether this is really a possibility for you. Perhaps you are, like I was, more confident that they will be fulfilled to the next person sooner than yourself. Well it would be for you to remember that GOD "will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4). All includes everyone, even you and me.

"But," you say, "why would GOD be so good as to do that for me? I am not worthy of such kindness." Well, that, my friends, is true; but thank GOD that worthiness is not a requirement! All that is necessary is a sense of our need as well as a believing and willing heart. GOD cannot help us if we do not feel we need His help, "for thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him also [that is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones" (Isaiah 57:15). We must be believing because "without faith [it is] impossible to please [Him]: for he that cometh to GOD must believe that he is, and [that] He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:16). We must be willing because we are told in Isaiah 1:19 that "if ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land": That is all. If anyone is struggling to do this, don't be discouraged; He is ready and willing to forgive you. What is more, the strength you need to fulfill even these conditions is found in the verses themselves. Look:

"The word of God is the seed. Every seed has in itself a germinating principle. In it the life of the plant is enfolded. So there is life in God’s word. Christ says, “The words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63. “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life.” John 5:24. In every command and in every promise of the word of God is the power, the very life of God, by which the command may be fulfilled and the promise realized. He who by faith receives the word is receiving the very life and character of God."[1]

Friends, GOD's power is even in the commands, as well as His promises, and it is ours for the taking. Not only do I believe this theoretically, but also practically. I accepted it in theory when I heard of it, but I never took GOD at His Word personally. Over the past few months, I reached the place where I was willing to do that, and I did it. I can testify that it has made a difference. For example, as long as I claim Philippians 4:6-7, I hardly worry or have angry outbursts such as before. I have found it to be true, and I encourage you today to do so as well, to the end that we all may be fitted for that eternal kingdom.


Blessings,
Jean






White, Ellen. Christ's Object Lessons, pg. 38 (emphasis supplied). [1]

Rainbows and God's Promises

A rainbow is a marvelous display of color, a beautiful thing. Who isn’t cheered at the sight of one? They ought to do more than please our senses every time we see one, however; they ought to constantly bolster our faith. Yes, they should bolster our faith in the God Who gave it, especially as we remember the reason why.

“I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.” (Gen. 9:13-16).

It has been a few thousand years since Noah’s day, and the earth hasn’t been destroyed by a flood since. God has kept His word here; will He not do the same with every other promise He has made to us? I believe so–but more than that, the Bible says so. In 2 Corinthians 1:20, Paul the apostle tells us that “all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” If we ask in faith, and do what we can to cooperate with Him, He will fulfill His promises to us.

 “God stands back of every promise He has made. With your Bible in your hands say, I have done as Thou hast said. I present Thy promise, ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.'” In the book Education, on pages 257-258, she states, “Prayer and faith are closely allied, and they need to be studied together. In the prayer of faith there is a divine science; it is a science that everyone who would make his lifework a success must understand. Christ says, ‘What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.’ Mark 11:24. He makes it plain that our asking must be according to God’s will; we must ask for the things that He has promised, and whatever we receive must be used in doing His will. The conditions met, the promise is unequivocal. For the pardon of sin, for the Holy Spirit, for a Christlike temper, for wisdom and strength to do His work, for any gift He has promised, we may ask; then we are to believe that we receive, and return thanks to God that we have received.”

Here is one last word on rainbows: “The rainbow round about the throne is an assurance that God is true, that in Him is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. We have sinned against Him, and are undeserving of His favor; yet He Himself has put into our lips that most wonderful of pleas, ‘Do not abhor us, for Thy name’s sake; do not disgrace the throne of Thy glory; remember, break not Thy covenant with us.’ Jeremiah 14:21. When we come to him confessing our unworthiness and sin, He has pledged Himself to give heed to our cry. The honor of His throne is staked for the fulfillment of His word unto us.”[1] He has pledged Himself not only to “forgive us our sins” but also to “cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9).

Knowing that God is true to His word, knowing that He will grant us what we ask as long as it is His will and we cooperate with Him, knowing that He will especially give us that which we need to overcome–knowing all this, why do we so often live in a cloud of gloom? Why do we not think and speak about this wonderful privilege more often?

Blessings,
Jean

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[1] White, Ellen. Christ's Object Lessons, pg. 148