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. 

Philippians: 117 Love

“But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel.” Philippians 1:17

•   •   •   •   •   •   •   •   •   

Some were moved to action from envy and strife. Some from love. 

What moves you and me?

What is our motivation?

What holds our dedication?

What ties our heart strings fast to God,

And draws us to salvation?

What forms the fiber of our souls?

And lays the start to plans and goals?

What is the earth from which we grow,

As grew the frogs from small tadpoles?

Is selfishness the root and start

That fills our mind and soul and heart?

Or could it be a purer spring

From which our character takes part?

The highest, purest, deepest well

From which our actions ought to swell,

So simple, yet profound and broad:

'Tis love alone that must compel.

Philippians: 110 More

“That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.” Philippians 1:10

More and more and more of love,

Produces goodly fruit.

It overflows the branches of

What groweth from the Root.

It blossoms in sincerity,

In being true and pure.

And this is Christ-like purity,

Not earthly to be sure.

It does not leaf out in offense,

To lead a soul in sin.

Nor to be led to sin commence,

For Christ was clean within.

It gives discernment to all those

Who have its precious store,

To see a piece of what God knows,
His love yields so much more.

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.

Simple Song - Unfathomable God// pt. 6 Story in the Sky

There is little before the eye that shrinks humanity into as much insignificance as does the sky. Space has been explored, yes, by humans. But the start or end of it’s span? How can something comprehend something that is bigger than itself?

The star of the earth, whose “going forth is from the end of heaven” (Psalm 19:6), is not a grapefruit sized burning ball. Its radius is 109 X the earth. The galaxy in which earth orbits, the Milky Way, is home to at least 100 billion stars. That’s speaking conservatively. The number could in fact be as large as 400 billion. One of our neighbors, the Andromeda galaxy is estimated to contain 1 trillion stars. 

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handywork. Psalm 19:1. 

Statistically, earth is non-existent in this eternality of space. Humanity? Well, we are nothingness: a tiny dot, on a tiny planet, that is not even there mathematically. 

But, the God who is bigger than space, who knows it’s span and can count it’s stars, He is Immanuel—God with us. From the greatest knowledge, to the smallest iota, we are known by Him whose heart is infinite love. Far beyond the end of space, from everlasting to everlasting, the love of God continues in richest glory. Into the deepest and darkest of places, smaller than the smallest of numbers, He has sent His love. Such is His heart toward you. 

Some of us learn best by grasping, touching, manipulating. Let me tell you, space cannot be grasped, but the heart of God is broader still. Of course, there are also those that learn by seeing, but prey tell: how do you see the start of something beyond the power of human eyes to pierce? Telescopes only get you so far. Lastly, there is the auditory group who find listening and speaking to be the best route to comprehension. At first, they would seem to have to the greatest chance at apprehending the sky, and the sum of God’s love. Unfortunately however, language is silenced to what knowledge has not attained. Eternity would cease before the love of God would end.

This is the story in the sky. 

My God is so great, so strong, and so mighty,

There’s nothing my God cannot do.

My God is so great, so strong, and so mighty,

There’s nothing my God cannot do.

The mountains are His, the valleys are His… 

                        …the skies are His handywork too.

My God is so great, so strong, and so mighty,

There’s nothing my God cannot do… 

For you!

Simple Song - Unfathomable God// pt. 5 Valley of Victory

There’s something about being in a valley. Everything else is uphill. Valleys have the tendency to keep drawing you downward too. No matter that a valley floor leads to a valley side, which does actually lead to a mountaintop. The valley is like quicksand. Lofty heights are obliterated by dense green forest. Azure blue sky is textured with needle studded silhouettes. The trail is dark. The eyes strain to see it. Shadows come quickly and leave slowly. Every cracking branch is magnified into some great big hungry creature, seeking whomsoever it may devour. 

•  •  •  •  •  •  •

He had been to the top. He had seen that the mountains belonged to God, but this was something else. Mile after mile he ran. Just to get somewhere, anywhere, perhaps nowhere. Nowhere where his enemies would follow. 

So he runs down to the valley of discouragement. Hungry, exhausted, afraid. He presses on, but this leads him only to a deeper basin: self-pity. 

Having seen the glory of God displayed in such magnificent grandeur upon Mt. Carmel, Elijah should have known that God had not left His throne. But the lesson is for us. 

We all have days after a mountaintop. The trail continues beyond each peak, but while we have the option of plunging to the lowest low, we don’t have to do that. There is a higher plain. A plain found through faith, prayer, and work. 

Remember that there was a valley before victory at Ai. That place of earlier defeat and discouragement was still to be conquered, and of all things, Israel had to march through a valley to get there. Talk about daunting. Notice however, that victory is not gained by evading all valleys. As the Psalmist said, Yea, though I walk through the valley…

            …I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me… 

Elijah was not loved less of heaven when he felt brokenhearted and rejected by men and God, then when God sent fire from above in answer to his very own prayer on Mt. Carmel. The mountains belong to God, but so do the valleys. 

Perhaps you find yourself in a valley today. Maybe it plunges beneath the valley of victory. Perhaps it’s a valley of discouragement or defeat. Or perhaps it’s a valley of test and trial. 

Take heart. You are not loved less. With Christ, a valley is a place of victory, and a place of peace. If God led you here, His dream is that you conquer Ai. If, like Elijah, your pit is despair, God’s longing is that you leave it in the arms of faith. The victory is in getting up, and going back to work. We can’t conquer Ai, or climb out of self-pity with finite arms. We need help. We need a great.. strong.. mighty.. God.. 

      …a God who rules the valleys too. 

Simple Song - Unfathomable God // Part ll Of Strength and Mountains

My God is so great…

Really now! Mental image pops up: wide-eyed, awestruck youngster, stretching his arms wide for all he’s worth. My daddee's bigger dan dat! The words ring with finality, perfect confidence, perfect trust. 

Yup! Buddy, you’re right. Far more right than many who are rich in years. For that simple, that child-like faith knows: My Father’s bigger than that.

MmmHmm. And it doesn’t end there.

…so strong… Yes?

When my thoughts take to flight like an army of horses, I need a strong God. When selfishness rises up as an unconquerable mountain, I need a strong God. When love must come out of my most unlovely heart, I need a strong God. 

You do too. I don’t know your mountains, but I know your need.  

Courage my friend: A horse -even an army of them- is a vain thing for safety, but God is our refuge and strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary when climbing high mountains, but they that wait upon the Lord… shall mount up with wings as eagles. Even the strongest in this life cannot conquer the grave, but love is strong as death.*

And God.is.love.

For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. Psalm 48:14

Simple song...

Unfathomable God...

...to be continued...

* Ps 33:17, Ps 46:1, Is 40:30-31,Ecc 8:8, Song of Solomon 8:6

Simple Song - Unfathomable God

      There are certain childhood lyrics that ought to stay in childhood, or perhaps never make their mark at all. But there are those words that still come to mind, after however many moons, richer with meaning, fuller of thought. 

My God... Stop.

      Whose God? Not Paul’s God. Not Peter’s God. Not the God of the faithful Daniel, the immoveable Joseph, the meekest man Moses. Little, timid, me. My.God. 

...Is so great. Stop again. 

      Is what? Understatement if I ever heard one. He who placed the sun where it would keep the earth from turning to ice, yet not burn it to a barren waste; the One who directs atoms, yet space cannot contain, language cannot describe, and time cannot limit; He to whom mountains are small, and oceans as dry land to walk upon, He is great. Exactly. 

      The Same, took the form of humanity, lived upon this spec of matter called earth, bought us from darkness by His own Light, and bridged the chasm between nothing and everything. Yes, that One. 

Words so simple, so small, but so utterly broad.

My God is so great…

Simple song. 

Unfathomable God. 

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.

The Gift of Pain

There is so much of it in this world. Rare is the day when a patient answers me in the negative. Huh? No pain? I croak. If they only knew how uncommon they are.

Two weeks have given me a taste of where the world lives. Small taste for sure. Nonetheless, it paints a different color to life. Endure. Get through. Look beyond. 

It's a gift- the pain. When a middle-aged patient is sobbing right there, moaning in distress, what is this 21 year old supposed to say? Maybe these last weeks will help to answer that question next time. 

Seems superficial though. The pangs of the world are too deep for human compassion. 

So the gift. Much bigger, as God does things. Musculoskeletal aches,  and tingling nerves aside. My pain by proxy on His back. Broader, deeper, sharper than anything etched in language, heavier than anything we can lift, is that burden. Willingly He shouldered what would have... should have crushed us. I can't relate to their pain, but He can. Therefore, He can gaze into the eyes of a hurting world, and say, I know. I felt that anguish times infinity.

So here's the call. Their pain is an opportunity for His love. Jesus doesn't just remove our burden of pain. Rather, He gives a burden of love in its place. It's a love that's willing to hurt, to pound with the pangs of the human heart. 

The aim is not in the hurting though. It's in the healing. Eternally. No more pain- for the former things are passed away. 

Let us be persuaded. There is a Balm in Gilead. Nothing shall separate us from it. No depth. No height. No throbbing ache. No nothing. The pain He took was deep, but His heart of love was deeper. 

Still is. 

Marvelous Love. Marvelous Gift. 

love.Me.more

{John 12:24-26, Matthew 20:28}

My English: {With help from Strong’s Concordance}

This is very true: A Seed of wheat must fall into the earth and give away its breath, its life, or else that Seed will remain alone. But, by yielding it’s existence, the seed is multiplied. 

(Self-sacrifice is really self-preservation. Self-serving is self-destruction. The seed that protects itself has no fruit at harvest time. Only in giving is there gain.)

If you are a friend to your own life, if you fondle over your breath, you will smother it. But if you love temporal life less, you will be preserved. You will guard, keep, and save your breath for the place, time, and purpose of eternal life. 

If you are My friend, come walk with Me on the road I travel. Accompany Me. Be My servant. Wherever I go, My servant will go and do there what I ask of them. If you are My friend, your breath, will be prized by My Father. He will hold it dear. He will honor it. It will be beloved by the One who gave it: the One who also calls you to love it less. 

In exactly the same way as I ask you to love your life less, I came. I was born with the face of a human on this earth- not to be accompanied or served, but to perform menial duties, to serve, and to give up My breath, which means freedom for you. 

That’s the way I am.

    I gave My life to the soil of humanity. Will you?

        I walked through life as a servant. Will you?

            I gave My breath for you. But will you give yours for Me?

Whatever the cost, whatever is lost, despise not My cross,

love.Me.more

Stream bed

The cooler temperatures of morning awaken my senses. I drink it in. The sky is exquisite. Light and dark, blending, shading, fading. The clouds are what really get me. So beautiful, but so soon never to be again.

Heaven's tapestry of blue and gold will fade. Soon the sky is the hue of day. Soon the clouds disappear.

Then it hits.

It's a gift about to be opened- poured out upon the earth. It's highest purpose is to bless the ones who thirst. From cloud to stream to lake and ocean, ever giving, ever given. Though the substance that quenches thirst, it changes the dry, thirsty places into streams of living water. Living because it's giving.

"No one can live the law of God without ministering to others." - DA 584. But we can only give another what Heaven gave us. We are merely the stream bed. He is the Water. He is the Giver.

Take it. Give it. Drink it. Live it.

Thank You Lord for pouring out Yourself upon the dryness of the earth. For making fountains where before was thirsting desert. For giving, and giving, and giving.

Thank You.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

An ever flowing fountain;
A well that's never dry;
Like rain upon a mountain,
Whose stream will never die;
The love of God is ceaseless,
It's end cannot be found.
It's Source has more than excess,
To quench the thirsty ground.

As palm trees shading Elim,
And rushes in its sand,
Our life may draw a pilgrim,
To Water near at hand.
For when a thirsting trav'ler
Sees life in desert waste,
It beckons to that wond'rer,
"Don't leave this place in haste."

For still the quenching river
Flows from the smitten Stone,
Salvation to deliver,
In depths of love unknown.
And those who taste it's value,
Not only will receive,
But take to give its virtue,
Another to relieve.

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. 

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!

Happy Birthday, Rachel!

Some time ago, our hearts were bound,
With ties of friendship dear
For God did sow seeds in the ground,
Where love would soon appear ;)
My sister now, and still my friend,
Though physically not near,
I pray God's blessings start to end
On this your newest year!

A Song to Sing

There is a song I have to sing

Of simple praise unto my King
For He has laid His grace on me
Who would be lost eternally

Were it not for the gift of One
Who loved me as His only Son
Who lived and loved and sought and died
Between two robbers crucified

I could not taste His grace so sweet
Nor ever hope His face to meet
I could not be made pure and white
Had God not pitied human plight

But pitied He and more than this
He walked on earth in holiness
That not of man's nor angel's heart
But of God's own He will impart

No seriph knows the Father's grace
But Adam's sinful, helpless race
Can taste and see its matchless strength
Its height and depth, and endless length

That human flesh- corrupt with sin
Could become pure and whole within
Is tribute to the grace of One
Who will not cease what He's begun

For even in eternity
Upon that clearest crystal sea
This song the saints will ever raise
In earnest, heartfelt, grateful praise

To Him who brought new life and birth,
To dying sinners on this earth
Not just in "them" this change to be,
But also Lord, I pray in me!

Elmshaven - A Place of Sacrifice

A place of history... a place of commitment... a place of sacrifice.

Flowers do not cease their blossom in a place of sacrifice. At the age when many seek retirement and relief from caring labor, Mrs. White continued her toil in the gospel field. Letters, book writing and editing, an incredible amount of preaching, a steady stream of guests, visitation, evangelism, medical missionary work filled her life.

Early morning hours were no strangers to Mrs. White. This is the chair in Mrs. White's bedroom in which she often studied and wrote.

One of the tile bordered fireplaces of the home.

Much was written during Mrs. White's time at Elmshaven. Volumes 6-9 of Testimonies for the Church; The Ministry of Healing; Gospel Workers; & Education among other books; numerous articles, and letters written from a heart that loved her Savior, a heart that shrank not from sacrifice.

How can a person live so continually for God and others? How can a person  endure constant sacrifice? 

When sacrifice springs from love, love creates its perception. Love engulfs it, turning it into something unimaginable. The sacrifice is still there, but the eyes look higher. They see the Love that changes any offering into privilege, and sacrifice to joy.

The carriage often took Mrs. White to her neighbor's doors, to visit them, pray for, and encourage them. 

Elmshaven may be a National Historic Landmark, but history is passed. Yes, Elmshaven saw sacrifice... and it also saw love... A deep love for humanity and for the One Altogether Lovely... An active life lived from love for God's service. But what of Your-haven and My-haven? Do we know sacrifice?

Do we know Love?

Praise God!

      The day after... 

      To see such love to the lovers expressed in service... hard work... coordination... practice... prayers... faith... from so many precious people. It's a memory that I will cherish. 

      Words fail. What can I say but Praise God? 

            Indeed, words may fail, but our God will not. Did not. Has not. No, never.

Praise God.

Nothing's Too Small...

Nothing's too small,
For our Father's care
No mountain's so tall,
That God is not there

No chapter's too dark,
For Jesus to read
No hunger's so stark,
That He cannot feed

No crisis can rise,
Or happiness please
But our Father's eyes,
Behold it, He sees

No question confounds,
The One who is wise
No problem astounds,
The heavenly skies

Then trust in Him now,

The One who is Love

Let peace clothe your brow,

For God reigns above!

The Goldsmith's Counsel

      I have a rock. It is a very pretty rock. It shines, and when you turn it in the sunlight, it seems to glow. It is genuine. Yes, it is really the real thing. It’s a bona fide, authentic, veritable piece of counterfeit gold. 

      While it is a lovely little rock, any goldsmith could prove it as having little worth. It would not stand the test of refinement. It is pretty now, but it’s beauty has not come from the loving, careful hand of the Refiner. The shine that spells genuine, purified gold comes only by the painful process of refinement. “The gold here recommended as having been tried in the fire is faith and love. It makes the heart rich; for it has been purged until it is pure, and the more it is tested the more brilliant is its luster.”– {4T 88.2}

       There is a Goldsmith who knows the genuine, He possesses the genuine. Christ says to each of us, “I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich.” Revelation 3:18. Hmmm… “that thou mayest be rich.” As Solomon said, “Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.” Proverbs 23:5. Earthly riches vanish. They are not genuine, they are like my piece of pyrite. They are like fool’s gold. True richness comes only from the Owner of the cattle upon a thousand hills. It is too valuable to be paid for by any amount of money, but even the poorest can obtain all of these riches that they desire. The most hated, mistreated, destitute, and robbed person on earth can also overflow with these riches, for there is One who did. A person, though stripped of all they possess, cannot be robbed of authentic wealth. This is the gold of character after the similitude of Christ. The one who possesses it is never poor, the one who lacks it is never rich. Christ says, “Riches and honour are with Me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.” Proverbs 8:18. A few verses earlier, Christ says “Counsel is Mine.” What is the counsel of the One who possesses counsel? Buy of Me. “My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold.” Proverbs 8:19. What is His fruit, but love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.

      “Receive my instruction,” says the Counselor who is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life, “and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all things that thou mayest desire are not to be compared with it.” Proverbs 8:10-11. I look at my piece of genuine, counterfeit gold… “Lord, You couldn’t be more right!”