Philippians: 114 Zeal

“And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” Philippians 1:14

It’s not a question of cost. The spark of zeal, burning in one soul candle, can light the wicks of many.

Because...

There’s something to live for, and Someone to die for.

There’s a mission to give for, and heaven to strive for.

The highest of goals— the saving of souls

And the glory of God is what we’re alive for.

My friends, take this vision, the gospel commission,

And mark with decision your highest ambition

That souls will be saved and God will be praised,

For life or for death, let this be your mission. 

Philippians: 105 Fellowship

“For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.” Philippians 1:5

There’s a friendship that goes deeper

Than just, Hi...I know your name.

It’s where brother is a keeper 

To the ones who some don’t claim.

It’s a friendship born in heaven,

It’s a service drenched in love.

It’s forgiveness more than seven—

Times the heart of God above.

It’s a fellowship of oneness,

With a burden for the lost.

It is fashioned with the impress

Of the one who paid the cost.

It’s where hearts are set on fire

And burn brighter day by day,

With the flame of God’s desire

Melting dissonance away. 

Philippians: 104 Intercession

“Always, in every prayer of mine for you all, making request with joy.” Philippians 1:4

Prayer reaches a power that all the forces of hell cannot dismay. In the closet of the christian victories can be won. The work of intercession- intervening in the plight of a sister or brother, sets aglow more than their soul. It sets aglow your own. 

The spirit that says, Give me souls, or I die, is a gift from God, it’s burden a blessing of the highest kind. 

Friends, let us pray for our fellow soldiers in the faith. 

And tell them that we do.

•   •   •   •   •   •   •   •   • 

When difficulties press and pound

The soldiers of the cross,

Let prayer to God for them abound, 

That there would be no loss.

When feet are sore, and hearts are tried

Around you on the road,

In earnest prayer press to their side,

To aid them with their load.

And when you intercede for those

Who labor under strain,

And of this fact to them disclose - 

It’s sunbeams in the rain!

One life. On fire.

      The faint smell of smoke greets me as my alarm informs of the time. It smells like camping, like a pine-wood fire way up in the mountains. A fire that somebody didn’t quite put out last night.

      I leave the house and walk into a haze. The smell is stronger outside. After a very few minutes, the smoke convinces me that exercise needs to happen somewhere else today.

{Up to the greenhouse. Out to the road.}

There it is. A plume of smoke bubbles vertically into the sky. As though something of honor, it is christened with pink and gold of morning. 

I don’t really know what is happening over there, but I know. I don’t see the fire. I can’t see the fire. No one I know has seen it. But there is not the shadow of a doubt, it is there. 

This makes me think. 

          One life. on fire. Huge impact. 

That one fire can touch areas so far removed from itself, that you cannot even know what -whom- is burning. 

The smell is in the air. It effects the way we live. We can see the evidence. 

One life. On fire.

May that be you. and me. 

For the Love of Sacrifice

Too often, it is reduced to a cotton-candy fluffiness. Nothing to satisfy. Nothing worth the price to gain.

Yet, it’s most gripping revelation is in sacrifice.

Where there is no sacrifice, there is no love.

But where there is Love, can it be called sacrifice? For the one who loves, nothing is too much to give. The genuine stuff doesn’t shrink at the word “all”. Love delights in it. Beyond the point of pain, Love gives. And loves to do it. 

The soldier’s sacrifice? It’s as nothing. For the King has taken pain from the hands of death. The scaffold, the fire, the dungeon, the most inhumane atrocity cannot sever one soul from His love. 

But at the cross, mystery. Love cut off from Love. Sacrifice beyond measure. Beyond comprehension. 

He gave, yet said, I delight. 

I give, and call it sacrifice. 

Oh, for the love that shrinks at nothing… and gives because it is it’s greatest delight to do so. To know no sacrifice save His, because mine has faded into absolute nothingness in the light of the love of the cross. 

Oh, to love sacrifice, because I love His love. 

Consider It Joy

Long centuries ago, a scripture was penned,

Enlightening the Christian's night
A precept to show, and blessing defend,
It still gives to Christian's their sight
This word in the flame, when taken to heart,
Will comfort, bring hope, and uplift
In floods, just the same, a gift t'will impart,
To buoy those who feel they're adrift

So what is this word, this most precious thought,
That cheers those who heed it's advice?
That tests those who've heard, entreating for naught,
The ones who make gloom to suffice?
Oh, "Count it all joy", is Heaven's high word,
To all who face trial and test
When troubles annoy, and grief seems assured,
This note rings above all the rest

Consider it joy, and count it the same,
When troubles and trials surround
When fear would destroy, all peace in the flame,
Faith holds, and so joy can abound
This joy will not come, apart divine grace,
- It's song is a gift from above -
But will overcome, in trial's dark face,
Through faith in God's mercy and love!

Stand for God

      The Hebrew worthies stood when the world bowed. What do we do? Do we bow to personal favor, popularity, or temporal pursuits? When human achievements call, do we answer and bow to them? Do we bow with the world, or do we stand with God? God stood. The three noble Hebrews stood. What about you and I?


Stand for God in a bow-down world,
Christ stands for me and you
When Satan's colors are unfurled,
We may to God be true

When all within us would bow down,
Christ offers us His hand
By faith behold a better crown,
Through faith in Jesus stand

We're called as witnesses for Christ,
And yet to stand we fear
But He who calls us knows the price,
And says, Be of good cheer

The One for whom we're called to stand,
Stood by the noble three
In flames, though bound by human hand,
With Jesus they were free!