What Will You Give?

The wise men brought their treasure,

Their gold and precious spice

They gave in heartfelt measure,

Not shrinking at the price

The lad his loaves he offered—

His lunch for Christ that day

So small, yet gladly proffered

—his own to give away

The woman brought her oil,

—the savings of a year

To One she reckoned Royal,

She poured her gift so dear

The widow in her trouble,

Her poverty and need

Delighted, not in double,

But all to give indeed 

Behold and see all heaven

Was poured out for our race

For Christ Himself was given—

Amazing gift of grace!

::Refrain::

What will you give for Jesus—who’s given all for you? What will you give? What will you give? He’s given all for you. 

86,400 Seconds to say Thanks

Have you ever played the game 20 questions? It’s where someone thinks of a “thing” such as a Bible character, and then everyone else can make 20 guesses to determine what that “thing” is. 

Ok. Ready? …(My guess is that this will be more like twenty clues and not 20 questions, but anyways, here it goes.) 

So I’m thinking of a certain type of medicine. It has no negative side effects, but it is somewhat contagious. It affects not only the people who take it, but also everybody else around them. Studies indicate that it extends life expectancy for older adults. Beyond that, it improves the quality of life without requiring a change of any outward circumstances. It’s unique as a medication, because the more you take it, the more you will take. Now what could be better than that? For one thing, it’s free. And it doesn’t require a dose of decadent dishes on November 27. 

A merry (rejoicing) heart is good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones. Proverbs 17:22. 

Gratitude. It’s free. It’s contagious. It’s good for your health. But it takes a choice.

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a package and not giving it. ~William Arthur Ward

God has given us 46,800 seconds today.

Have we used one of those seconds yet to say thank You?

Photo Credit: Kristen Pool

Philippians: 113 Freedom

“So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;” Philippians 3:13

The world was bound in chains of sin,

With no hope of release.

All earth was darkness, and within

There was no trace of peace.

Then to our rescue came God’s Son,

Though bound Himself with chains.

And yet He freed us, every one,

With mercy that constrains.

For Christ was bound with higher bands—

The bands of freest love,

Yet chose to let them bind His hands,

Which proves He rules above.

And we may know this freedom rare,

That true submission holds.

For through Christ’s bondage we may share

The freedom love unfolds.

Philippians: 109 Abundance

“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgement.” Philippians 1:9

O when the Savior I behold,

How beautiful is He!

The smallest part cannot be told

Of what mere man can see.

And all eternity we’ll spend

Unfolding Heaven’s grace:

How Jesus came to be our Friend,

And how we see His face.

But as we learn more of the Lord,

We’ll see there’s more and more.

For Jesus’ love cannot be stored

All folded in a drawer.

It’s bounds are far beyond all time,

It’s end cannot be found.

Agape love—so rare, sublime,

Yet in us to resound.

We ourselves can’t make this love,

But as we share, we’ll gain

More and more abundance of

The love in Heaven’s vein.

Philippians: 107 Partake

“Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.” Philippians 1:7

What is in your heart tonight?

What holds its presence there?

Is it things that pass away,

Though costly, precious, rare?

Some things quickly pass away-

Some in trial leave,

But assured are heaven’s goods

To all who will believe.

What is in your heart tonight?

Salvation’s precious gold?

Do you hunger after souls

With longing heart untold?

Some things are forevermore,

Because they’re born of love.

Salvation’s joy and happiness

Continue up above.

What is in your heart tonight?

Is the Savior there?

Is He precious more than all- 

Above, beyond compare?

Some things go beyond all time-

At this, time ends and starts:

With Paul partaking of the gift

Of grace which God imparts.

Philippians: 102 Rest

“Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:2. 

Context: Who is "you"? Verse one tells us, “all the saints in (in = relation of rest) (with) Christ Jesus which are at (interestingly, at also = relation of rest) Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.” 

This was no external rest. Humanity, Philippian or not, hunger for a rest that reaches the deepest turmoil. It is a rest in the soul that the sons and daughters of Adam lack. This rest, the Philippians found in God. Thus, they obtained rest also in their relation to life: at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons. This rest, this quietness is not an earthly commodity. It is a rest that is possible even amid earthly unrest. It is experienced only through connection with Heaven. And such a link is our only access to grace and peace. Calvary’s cross is that link. It bridges the impassable gulf between the soul and salvation. Apart from Christ, peace is as illusive as a shadow. “In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.” - Isaiah 30:15. 

Psalm 85:12 says, Yea, the Lord will give that which is good. And this He gives. Grace with power of change. Peace though submission to Christ. Rest that reaches the heart.

Reflections on His Heart

Though disease obeyed His voice
And the blind received their sight,
Though the deafness had no choice
But to hear without a fight,
Though the waves of Galilee
Could not rise against His word,
Yet their minds refused to see
What the lake itself had heard.

Though He took the servants' role
Grasping not for wealth or fame,
And though while a King paid toll
When the crown, His right to claim,
Though His kingdom was not of
Earthly prowess, strength, or throne,
Yet rejected was His Love
For it "seeketh not her own."

Though He read the traitor's heart
Though He knew that base design,
Yet He bore it from the start
Yes, both Judas' sin, and mine.
Though He saw His love refused
As a millstone in a stream,
Yet He chose to be thus bruised
That some soul He might redeem.

Remember

Let distractions, delusions, deceptive delights, and disarming duplicity be forgotten. Despite the cost, there is but one Desire worth desiring. That "one thing" the psalmist sought. A closeness with the Man of Sorrows, the Master, the Redeemer, the Conquering King.  

"...Praise our God, all ye His servants, and ye that fear Him, both small and great." Revelation 19:5.

•  •  •  •  •  •  • 

When afflicted for My sake

Remember Me.

When oppressed and soon to break

Remember Me.

When rejected on this earth,

Don't forget to Me you're worth

Every cross I bore from birth.

Remember Me.

When your duties seem severe

Remember Me.

When like mountains they appear

Remember Me.

When your burdens are too great,

When they have a dreadful weight,

Then My own cross contemplate.

Remember Me.

When you'd shrink from the ordeal

Remember Me.

When too great the pain you feel 

Remember Me.

For I live to intercede,

I, who answers human need,

I, who also in this lead.

Remember Me.*

*See the book, Desire of Ages page 659.2

Thank You, Father

Father, thank You for this day,

For the privilege to pray

For communion with the King,

And a song of praise to sing

Thank You Father for the way,

You lead Your children day by day

Though all things to You are known,

To us, just what we need is shown

Thank You that Your grace is high,

Above, beyond the reach of sky

Yet it grasps the lowest soul,

That yields itself to Your control

Thank You that Your strength is there,

When all our own is weak as air

That You lend to us Your arm,

To lift us from the waves of harm

Thank You for the gift of hope,

That is to us a telescope

Bringing near what's far away,

And making clear a better day

Thank You Lord for Your commands,

That each enables its demands

Though impossible alone,

With You to fail is never known

Thank You- O how weak the word,

But it so graciously is heard

By our Father and our Friend,

From whom all good gifts do descend!

As thy days...

      I lay in the darkness. My heart is wrapped in a warm glow of thankfulness, joyfulness, relief. But something nags at my reverie. What if it hadn’t turned out wonderfully? Would I still be here rejoicing in the Lord’s goodness?

      Tuesday. Treadmill day. Stress-test day. For me too. Hydro-massages have definitely been my preferred arena, but treadmill day finds me in the clinic. Running the machine or setting patients up for their test are both interesting, and both have their own challenges. This time, set-up.

      No way to rearrange staff or shadow someone again. The previous night saw less sleep, but it saw prayer. A heart thirsting for trust. For me, that’s when the stress-test began.

      “Grace be unto you, and peace from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come… and from the seven spirits which are before His throne” Revelation 1:4. See Isaiah 11:2.

      The One who has seen treadmill day way before I got here says “Grace and peace.” The One who knows my limited experience and knowledge says, “Favor you don’t deserve and calmness to the sea of your soul… right now.” The One who has the spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, the fear of the Lord; the One who is one with the Spirit of God says, “It’s true, you’re not a perfect offering. You don’t deserve my gift, but I give it for my love. Believe Me. You can know My peace when looking on that which is to come.”

      Worship. The words hit home: 

...Strength I find to meet my trails here

Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment, 

I’ve no cause for worry or for fear

He whose heart is kind beyond all measure, 

Gives unto each day what He deems best

As thy days… So. Shall. Thy. Strength. Be.

      God proved His faithfulness. Again. His mercy. Again. His love… again. But would I lay at night praising the Lord if things had not run smoothly at the clinic? Would I say, “The Lord hath done great things for me”, if all I could see was blackness? 

      Gentle whisper: As thy days… So. Shall. Thy. Strength. Be. If your day sees blackness, you can be assured, I will give you strength for blackness. If light, strength for light. 

As thy days… So. Shall. Thy. Strength. Be. 

Thank You, Lord. Thank You.

The Greatest Miracle

The greatest miracle is not
To make the sun stand still
Nor even fill a flour pot
Without the grain or mill
It's not to calm a raging sky
Nor walk upon the sea
It's not to make a fleece that's dry
When dripping it should be

The greatest miracle is more
Than opening blind eyes
Far better it, than to restore
And make the dead to rise
Great miracles of God these are
But just a glimpse they give
Into that one which is by far
Worth every life to live

When out of human life there shines
The glory of God's face
When in the soul are drawn the lines
Of heaven's matchless grace
When God His love to us imparts
Oh wonder at the sight
That God can place in human hearts
His love so pure and bright

The greatest miracle is this-
Unthinkable it be
That God Himself, the Lord of bliss
Should touch the heart in me
Having bridged the great abyss
Himself eternally
To plant in us Love's highest kiss
-His love beyond degree!

A New Year ;)

A new year has begun for me,
I know not what it holds
I cannot count the joys I'll see,
Until it's path unfolds
I can't foretell the cliff ahead,
The valley I must meet
The dangers through which I must tread,
Or what distress I'll greet

But this I know, in this I rest,
That He the future keeps
Who's felt earth's joys and trial's test,
Whose watch-care never sleeps
This One abides beyond our sphere,
His view sees start and end
On Him, through all this coming year,
On Him we can depend

Dependance is a wondrous thing-
A weakness to pursue
For when to God in faith we cling,
His grace will see us through
Then may we know this more and more,
Our need and His supply
That we will grow to trust the store,
On which we can rely

So in this year may you and I,
Grow more to lean on Him
Who every need can satisfy,
With overflowing brim
Through what may come within its day,
If on God we depend
He'll lead us in His perfect way,
Unto the very end!

True Holiness

True holiness

Is not a bliss
That raptures us away
It's not a life 
Devoid of strife
'Til heaven's perfect day

True holiness

Is eagerness
To do the Father's will
It sees a need
Performs a deed
God's purpose to fulfill

True holiness
Is trustfulness
When in the dark we are
It sees the light
Both day and night
By faith it sees afar

True holiness
Is truly this
A heart devoid of self
It is the soul
To God the whole
Surrendered to Himself

True holiness
Of this consists
Of resting in God's love
Of trusting when
We fall and sin
That still, God saves above

True holiness
God's holiness
A working out of grace
In us to be
Eternally
The beauty of God's face 

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