To Have the Faith of Jesus

Oh to have the faith of Job,
When in the floods we are
To see beyond this earthly globe,
To brighter scenes afar

To have the faith of Stephen,
When facing sacrifice
To not withhold the giving,
Of any cost or price

To have the faith of Jesus,
That conquers self and sin
To talk it more, to live it more,
To cherish it within 

To keep the faith of Jesus,
When tested, tried, and worn
To keep it's fullness in our lives,
Unto that perfect morn

In Christ

      Whatever environment we are in, it is changed in Christ. Wherever we happen to dwell, whatever we pass through on our journey to the Heavenly Canaan, it is refashioned by the riches of the grace of Christ.

      That which is terrifying becomes a peaceful habitation. That which is wearying to body and soul, becomes a place of rest—in Christ. A windy place becomes a sheltered spot of safety and joy. A tempestuous situation no longer is—in Christ. Christ becomes to us all things when we are in Him. He is our rest. He is our peace.

      Isaiah 32:1 says, "...a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land." 

In Christ is joy and peace for life,
His service knows not gloom
Although this world is clothed in strife,
Its dread is not our doom

In Christ is joy and peace today,
Why seek a "better time?"
We have no reason to delay,

And wallow in sin's slime

In Christ is joy and peace for me,
His grace- it reaches far
Beyond all that my eye can see,
Christ shines, the brightest star

An Ordinary Loaf

      Bread making is a favorite task of mine. Specifically, making something special, or different. I relish the hours that I can spend in devising a new bread recipe. Repeating the same recipe every week can get too predictable for my taste. I like something other than ordinary: Cranberry-Orange, Rye, even regular old bread made in a different way. 

      I highly enjoy visiting bakeries to see and smell of the baker’s art. Often the aroma of baked goods pervades the very air about the shop, and inside it seems you could almost taste it. There are large loaves, puffy and white; crusty round peasant breads, which are neither puffy, nor white; granary loaves bursting with cracked grains and seeds; and a host of other sweet and savory breads, all endeavoring to suit the customer’s palate. 

      The reason I like going to a bakery is not because I want to buy bread. I like going to glean ideas for my own baking: ideas that will help me make that which is common—regular whole wheat bread, turn into something uncommon. 

      Most people live a rather common life. I suppose that statement is obvious. Once in a while something extraordinary happens, but there is ordinary life surrounding the extraordinary. It is more palatable that way. Savory herb bread is much more appetizing than a heap of herbs by themselves. It needs the bread to be something special.

      There’s no denying that common, ordinary bread certainly is a blessing. But is it common after all? An inspiring book entitled, The Desire of Ages, says, “To the death of Christ we owe even this earthly life. The bread we eat is the purchase of His broken body.” Having been purchased in such an extraordinary way we cannot have an ordinary existence. The value that has been placed upon you and me means that we are not common. Even our food is the purchase of Christ. No matter what common duties and joys fill our lives, they are made most precious by the investment that Christ has made in us. 

      If you see yourself as an ordinary loaf of bread, take courage. With our Heavenly Father’s care, your common walk will be something altogether uncommon. Your ordinary service, when done for the Savior, will become something extraordinary. Though you are an ordinary loaf, rejoice, for “The cross of Calvary is stamped on every loaf.” – {DA 660.3}

Make Me Lord a Blessing

O can I be a blessing,
To anyone today?
Can I loose a burden's weight,
By what I do or say?
I want to be a blessing,
To lift a load of care
To pass on the refreshing,
That with me God does share

Please make me Lord a blessing-
A channel for Your grace
Unfold in me your likeness,
My selfish heart replace
Purge the dross that stains my soul,
And may I truly be,
Yielded under Your control,
A blessing Lord from Thee

With heaven's light descending,
Illumining our all,
We then can be a blessing,
In answer to Christ's call
Christ's given us immeasurably,
More blessings than we know
So let us share the bounty,
His blessings let us show

Only Then

Amazed at the thought, I studied the passage again. “The light was shining in darkness; ‘but the darkness apprehended it not.’ John 1:5” This darkness was certainly not reflecting the light that it received. The words of a humble peasant boy had moved them more than they had ever been moved by human lips. Yet they apprehended it not. 

Reflection, according to my dictionary, means the throwing back by a body or surface of light... without absorbing it. While the priests and rulers in the temple considered themselves to be the expositors of truth, they had some similarity to a black hole. As the light of Jesus’ words shown upon their darkened minds, they apprehended it not. No more could they reflect the light they had received, than could a bottomless pit. 

“But Jesus in the temple had been taught by God. That which He had received, He began at once to impart.” -{DA 78.3} Reflection...throwing back of light without absorbing it. Imparting...to continue receiving. Give and it shall be given unto you. Is it any accident that we are enjoined to give first? We have been given exceedingly abundantly above our comprehension, already. Were we to wait until we felt we had something to share, we might never rise to the task. Or, if we felt that we ourselves had something to give, it would be likely proof that we did not. 

Taught of God, at the age of twelve, the Sun of Righteousness was shining truth onto the pathways of those around Him. Can we do same? Only as we reflect His light. Only then. 

Keep Pressing On!

As we journey on the way,
And see the setting of a day,
Remember darkness turns to dawn,
Therefore my friends, keep pressing on!

If your footsteps seem to fail,
Of climbing more upon the trail,
Recall that it is not your brawn,
That's kept you firmly pressing on.

Then my friends by faith see light,
Where now appears to be the night.
God's guiding arm is not withdrawn,
Therefore my friends keep pressing on!