The Saw Does Not Cut By Itself

Recently I was having a conversation with my father on some of the things I was learned recently about individuals who have forsaken God. So often as a result of things like war and deaths we turn from God. My father reminded me that my uncle felt the same not because of war experiences, but because of the loss of two children. I reminded my dad that Job had lost everything and he still praised God by exclaiming, “the Lord giveth the Lord taketh away, Blessed be the name of the Lord.” As we continued to talk I pondered how much my father had changed in the past few years. As a child my father always took us to church and I was in every way a “good little Methodist girl.” My dad was a Sunday School Director and Lay Leader with the Methodist Men, I went to SS and church. From about 7th grade I helped with VBS. I went to summer youth retreats and was president of the MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship). I took some early admissions tests to ensure I could go to Duke…

I knew the Apostles Creed, the 23rd Psalm, John 3:16 and most of the 10 commandments and beatitudes by heart….. and that was it. Though for many years we had a time of devotional grace for before dinner, that was all the family worship outside of Christmas and Easter.  Scripture reading -0-, Mission time -0-, prayer time individually. Why? Why had this man that had been raised in the book not raised us in the book? Because the churches we attended drew farther and farther away from the Bible.  With topical sermons the Pator would preach on modern issues and some how relate it to the Lord. Or he would preach the same Bible stories we heard in SS with some adult words and quotes. No conviction, no application and never did we hear we were sinners.

  After getting off the phone and thanking God that my fathers words had changed as a result of sitting under a Pastor that preaches the Word of God, I realized all the foundation that had been laid over 70 years ago was being cultivated and was showing wonderful fruit.

Then I remembered… my childhood bible. The “adult” bible I had received as a child of seven years old. In our church each child received a bible when they passed to the third grade. I pulled the bible off the shelf so that I could read what was written on the presentation page. The Superintendent of SS completed all the info on that page… name… date… and church.

Opening the bible it all came back to me as I read what had been written there:

Presented to

Cynthia Elaine Russell

By

Princess Anne Plaza Methodist Church

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Date

August 30, 1964

and then the post script found only in my bible:

May you use this always to guide you in life.

Your Dad, Superintendent of Sunday School

Can I say that I followed that wise counsel? Tragically not enough. My father had given me a saw and had told me to cut and I had never really picked up the tool and used it.

The Lord presented us with everything we need for life and godliness.

The inerrant, infallible Word of God……

If you know about The Word of God, if you have a copy of The Word of God, pick it up and begin reading. As you read you will saw each piece of wood to build a life in Christ.

Leaving the saw on the shelf as I had done so often… well it rusted! So by the time I pulled it down to use it, well there was a lot of work to clear through the rust of misconceptions and worldly knowledge I had built up over the years. A lot of work before that saw could sing in my heart rejoicing in the author and perfector of my faith. Singing out to glorify the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

I am so very glad that at 86 years old, my dad. My earthly Abba father is still with us and I believe he will go home to glory in God’s time. But in the meantime we can now share biblical truths as we could not when I was a young girl.

I am praying that wherever you are at this time in your life you will always turn to the Lord and His Word for all your needs.

If you have never heard about The Bible or the Saviour Jesus Christ, I encourage you to continue to read of  the onlysource of  Hope for any of us….

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What’s the Gospel?

What’s the gospel? I’ll put it in a sentence.

The Gospel is the news that Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, died for our sins and rose again, eternally triumphant over all his enemies, so that there is now no condemnation for those who believe, but only everlasting joy.

That’s the gospel.

You Can’t Outgrow the Gospel

You never, never, never outgrow your need for it. Don’t ever think of the gospel as, “That’s the way you get saved, and then you get strong by leaving it and doing something else.”

No! We are strengthened by God through the gospel every day, till the day we drop.

You never outgrow the need to preach to yourself the gospel.

How the Gospel Strengthens

Here’s an illustration, and I use it not because it’s any big deal to speak from my life, but because it’s what I walked through and where I most pointedly in the last year experienced the power of the gospel to make me strong. (Many of you are walking through things much heavier than prostate cancer—much heavier.)

Do you remember the verses that I shared with you back in February that were almighty for me? It was that moment right after the doctor says, “I think we need to do a biopsy,” when this stab of fear comes. It didn’t last long, mercifully.

And then came—what? 1Thessalonians 5:9-10. It’s just as pure gospel as you can get.

God has not destined you for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,who died for you so that whether you wake or sleep you will live with him.

Settled. Peace like a river.

The Gospel Is Perfect for Your Needs

That’s just gospel—perfectly timed, perfectly applied, perfectly suited to my need. That’s why the Bible is so thick—because there are so many different needs that you have. And there are suitable places where the gospel is unfolded for you, so that if you immerse yourself in the whole book, always with an eye for what Christ has wrought for you and purchased for you in this thick, glorious history of God’s interaction with people, he will give you what you need.

Therefore, everything in me says, and I hope to say until the day I die, “Now, to him who is able to strengthen me, according to Paul’s gospel, to him—to that God—be glory forever and ever.”

God came into history in Jesus Christ; he died in order to destroy the power of hell and death and Satan and sin; and he did it through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

A Plea to Believe

I know that there are people reading this who are not trusting Jesus Christ, and therefore can only expect condemnation. So I’m just going to plead with you here at the end, lay down that rebellion. Lay it down. And simply embrace the gospel that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Righteous One, died for your sins. He was raised on the third day, triumphant over all his enemies. He reigns until he puts all of his enemies under his feet. Forgiveness of sins and a right standing with God comes freely through him alone, by faith alone.

I plead with you, don’t try to be strong in your own strength; it will not be there when you need it. Only one strength will be there—the strength that God gives according to the gospel.

Don’t put it off.

[This text is an edited transcript of the audio. It is excerpted from the sermon, “God Strengthens Us by the Gospel.”]

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Our Great Physician

Confession: this week has been a spiritual battle for me, and I’ve surrendered most of the early skirmishes. I just hate giving in to a week like that when I know good and well the Lord’s Supper is going to be celebrated on Sunday, and I’ve got to deal with it. Accountability is required.

So, reluctantly at first, I start to remind myself that God is good and compassionate and forgiving, and flies to help his sinning children when they turn back. Maybe, just maybe, I can salvage Sunday. Ha, who am I kidding, only God can salvage this.

Enter the rainy day, a gift: one of my favorite times, alone in the car with a lot of errands to accomplish, and one or two good CD’s for company and inspiration. For some reason, fog on the outside seems to clear the fog in my brain. And so my thoughts, which since my heart surgery have been like peeling away the layers of an onion, turn to the many ways the surgery has been like our experience with Jesus, those of us who once ran from him but have now come to love him.

My heart was bad, bad enough to kill me, but I was totally ignorant of it. It began to give me a few warning signs how sick it was, but I was busy with my life and figured I had plenty of time left to do something serious about it.

When the true condition of my heart was revealed to me, I went into my Dr. Mom mode, thinking I still had time to try my own efforts at a cure. Maybe some lifestyle changes? Would taking some pills do the job? To be honest, I was pretty artful about this, religiously put a lot of research and study into it, and dragged out the time frame as long as I could.

As providence would have it, I got stuck with a very blunt doctor. No, two very blunt doctors. “You failed the test.” “It’s only a matter of time before a very bad event happens to you.” At that point I became irate (oh, how it hurts to admit this) and vowed I would not have the recommended cure. I would take my chances with my destiny rather than go into that bottomless pit of misery. Yes, I did indeed say that. Me, the Responsible Mom.

The surgeon was called in, and he would not let me out of the surgery. He wasn’t very talkative, nor did he have a dazzling personality. That didn’t matter. He radiated authority and commanded attention, because he was willing to be out there, doing the hard work to save lives. He knew a radical change was the only fix, and he insisted on it. Finally I had to give up all my own pathetic efforts, and in doing so I had no choice but to stake my whole future on him. I had to put myself totally at his mercy. On the day of surgery there were a lot of other people present, but I was depending on him alone to take me through that dark valley and bring me out with life.

I found he did more than I thought he would…four arteries instead of three. He did a complete fix. I found he was not only competent, but compassionate as well. I didn’t see it at first because I thought he was maybe just a bit…harsh. It wasn’t until after the surgery that I could put the depth of his concern into the picture. He tells me I have a good heart now, one that will give me a second life.

I still bear the marks of the surgery, and always will. Most people don’t see the marks, but they see the change. And it is good.

I will always remember; I will always be grateful. How could I not? He gave me life.

Would I commend this physician to people who, like me, have bad hearts that will kill them?

Would you?

I’m still on this journey; I haven’t totally arrived. I still have twinges and pangs in my heart, reminding me how bad it once was. But it is fundamentally a good, healthy heart. And there is medicine to take for those troublesome pains.

So, when I face a struggle like the one I’ve had this week, I can call on the Physician, who is good and compassionate, and who has promised in his faithfulness to forgive and cleanse.

And I am reminded that celebrating the Lord’s Supper isn’t about whipping ourselves into reluctant obedience, so that we can present a facade of worthiness. It’s about knowing that Jesus is the only one with an answer for our sick hearts, and turning to him sooner rather than later. It’s about considering the one who really did go into a bottomless pit of misery, so that we wouldn’t have to dwell there forever. It’s about remembering his deep compassion for us in dying to give us life. It’s about honestly bringing our hearts which do still give us twinges and pangs of sin, and letting Jesus continue to do his work in them, because he has promised to complete the work he began.

This was written by a very sweet friend Jean. God Bless her for sharing.

Let there be Light

Some of you out there may be familiar Patsy Clairmont. She is a ball of fire and a real Woman of Faith. The story I am about to tell is a story told by Patsy in reference to one of her best friends and how God works.

Patsy begins by sharing how she and Carol had been friends over 50 years and since Carol was the reticent type, Patsy was often her voice.
She describes Carol as very quiet and demure.

As she continues Patsy shares that a little over a year ago Carol was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Patsy says she saw this small quiet woman stand up straight, shoulders back and assured. Medical treatment was begun and the outcome… sucess!

And then came more news. The cancer was back, but this time not just in one location but all over. The friend who had been assured and confident, was now bent over in sadness.

As Patsy went to the throne of grace in prayer for her precious friend she called upon the Lord to provide His Word for Carols comfort. As she prayed and meditated, a little voice inside said, let there be light Patsy recognized this as Genesis 1:3, she read it all and asked God for the rest of His message, and once again the voice inside said…LET THERE BE LIGHT!!!… now at this point Patsy starts to really “talk” to God… saying, Now God I know that Genesis 1:3 is important, it is right there in the beginning and this is great…. BUT???
Carol needs comfort Lord…remember in the middle of Your Word…those things called Psalms. Maybe that would be better.

At this point she pauses in the telling of the story and asks…. Have you ever tried to “counsel” God!!…… and exclaims… I would not advise it!

She hesitated before picking up the phone to call Carol, what was her friend going to think about, let there be light? Hearing Carol’s voice on the other end of the phone she begins to speak about how she has been praying for her and that she believes God has a scripture to share with her and quickly says let there be light you could have heard a pin drop in Carols house, such was the stillness on the other end of the phone. Again Patsy says, Let there be light and slowly Carol says thanks.

Patsy ends the conversation and begins to talk to God; again. Lord, I don’t understand but I told her. You heard her, silence. I don’t think it was very comforting. Loudly she hears “let there be light“

As time went by Patsy continued to pray for Carol and did not bother God with “her” ideas of what scripture may be best for Carol. Once again the phone rang. It is Carol.

Carol bgins to talk so fast, Patsy can barely understand what she is trying to say. “Patsy, I did not get it at first. The doctor was showing me my scans and guiding me through what to look for, as I looked he said light, we want to see light, see the light Carol, that those are your antibodies killing the cancer, The light is great!

Her sullen and downcast friend was elated.

You see friends she was elated because Patsy had been faithful to intercede on her behalf. She had approached the throne of grace for a word from God for her friend, she had “questioned” God not out of a lack of repsect for God, but out of a love for Carol. She had faithfully delivered God’s message even when it was evident it had not been recieved well.

Now the two women could praise God, that through their doubt or lack of understanding. He knew. He knew the light was in her body, He knew the cancer was being killed….. He knew.

Sisters, whenever you approach the Lord, strive to remember His words to us in Isaiah 55:8: “For My thoughts [are] not your thoughts, Nor [are] your ways My ways,” says the LORD.”

Listen, and follow Him, even when every thing within you says, “this does not make sense,” God does not have to make sense to us… He is God. The God who will heal your wounds and never forsake you.

Shalom

Tears Have a Voice…Your Pain is Known

“The Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.”
Psalm 6:8

In the past two weeks, I have had friends who have faced the death of a dear loved one. A Daughter grieves for her Mother, A Mother grieves for her unborn child, a sister grieves for her sister, and now just this morning, A Mother grieving for her youngest son, now a man. Additionally one of my husband’s hospice patients has died. Death as it were has been much on my mind of late. Looking through some devotions I have on grieving, I came across the following:

“Do not stand
at my grave and weep.
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds
that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight
on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awake in the
morning’s hush
I am the soft uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft star that
shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there.
I did not die.
— Anonymous

This is a beautiful picture and can be so comforting; but as a Christian I must realize that as my loved one departs there are only two possible destinations: Heaven or Hell. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, “Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” Knowing this we cannot look at anything and believe our loved ones spirit lives in the wind, the rain or even the sunlight. What we can say is this:

I am not there……
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep,
Remember me as you must,
With my Lord in whom I trust.
Rejoice each day as you may.
Knowing with the Lord I am to stay,
Remember me as you feel the rain,
As our Lord in heaven, knows your pain
Your tears have a voice,
He knows your pain
Stand not at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die
Long ago the Lamb was slain,
So with Him in heaven I remain
Crbailey © 2009

A prayer for the Grieving

Dear Heavenly Father,
We come to you today as your children crying out to our Father in Heaven, we have peace as we know you are a gracious and loving God who heals broken hearts and will bind up our wounds. We know that you are compassionate as you have seen the suffering of your only begotten son, Jesus Christ, who was persecuted and died, not because of any sin he committed bit as a result of our sinfulness. We praise you and thank you for this peace beyond understanding. We can rest as you will keep us in perfect peace as our hearts and minds are steadfast and we trust you. We rejoice with you this day as The Word tells us that precious in Your sight is the death of one of Your saints. We thank you Lord for the time, no matter how small, that you have graciously granted us with our now departed loved one. We praise you with the understanding that morning by morning new mercy see, as great is Your faithfulness. You are our portion and we wait on You. We exclaim with tears burning our eyes, The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away blessed be the name of the Lord. Amen and Amen

Who is Your Refuge?

He is my refuge and my fortress
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler[a]
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

I don’t know exactly why, but two weeks ago, I began to contemplate Psalm 91. I really don’t know why. It came to me by what in my mind was sheer coincidence. I remember the next 2 verses talking about though you are in battle and men are falling all about you God will keep you (A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you.) being quoted to the old man dying (supposedly) in the middle of the Sean Thornton/Red Will Danaher melee at the end of The Quiet Man. I had heard on a Biography Channel show about Jimmy Stewart that his father gave him a new Bible with the 91st marked for him when he went to Europe to fly B-17’s over Europe. But I can’t say I had a personal experience with the Psalm…I had with several…115, 40, 31, 103, 95. Well, in personal devotion and corporate worship, I have really gotten into many Psalms, but not 91. I don’t know why not, but I haven’t.

Then, as I said it came to me…well on second thought, not out of the blue, but through the Bible study our church is doing on Psalm 119. Psalm 119:114 speaks about God and His word being a “hiding place and shield.” It got to me. I cross referenced to Psalm 91. Hmmm. Last week when training in Atlanta I was asked to give a devotion for an IDT meeting (all the different care givers discuss the patients together), and of course I worked from the first 6 verses of Psalm 91. I will post that for you all a bit later. But Hospice folks, indeed all healthcare pros need a hiding place. A safe place to dump emotions they absorb from being exposed to the suffering they deal in and their own emotions and stresses. Indeed, everyone needs a refuge.

Today I met a lady on my first visit in God’s new ministry for me. We were bringing in both her mother and husband to the system. But on the way the nurse doing the initial interview called and said the mother may be dying in hours so we sped up. Needless to say, I spent most of my day with that family. The daughter/wife who is the main caregiver for both ailing patients needed a refuge. What better than Psalm 91. Just a short prayer with a lady beginning to grieve an imminent loss. Then a short talk with a non-responsive lady. The reading of a Psalm (yes 91) and telling her it was OK. Her daughter had a refuge and a fortress. Someone that would keep her from the snares and pestilence of hopelessness. It was as if I had never been away from the ministry of healthcare chaplaincy. It was home. It is home. Praise be to God who knows the desires of our hearts when even we don’t.

Find your Refuge, your Fortress. They are actually a person…a God. Jesus Christ.

This article was copied directly from Word4Men.WordPress.com