Be Not Blind

 Photo by EL.G

Be Not Blind to the Shining of His Face - Amy Carmichael

Far in the future lieth a fear;
Like a long, low, mist of gray,
Gathering to fall in dreary rain;
Thus doth thy heart within thee complain.
And even now thou art afraid, for round thy dwelling
The flying winds are ever telling
Of the fear that lieth gray
Like a gloom of brooding mist upon the way.

But The Lord is always kind;
Be not blind, be not blind To the shining of His face,
To the comforts of His grace.
Hath He ever failed thee yet?
Never, never. Wherefore fret?
O fret not thyself, nor let They heart be troubled,
Neither let it be afraid.

Near, by thy footfall, springeth a joy, Like a new-blown little flower
Growing for thee, to make thee glad.
Let thy countenance be no more sad,
But wake the voice of joy and health within thy dwelling,
And let thy tongue be ever telling,
Not of fear that lieth gray, But of little flowers beside the way.

For the Lord is always kind,
Be not blind, be not blind To the shining of His face,
To the comforts of His grace.
He hath never failed thee yet.
Never will His love forget.
O fret not thyself, nor let Thy heart be troubled,
Neither let it be afraid.

(Image Credit: Filatova Marina)

“Of man's first disobedience, and the fruit

Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste

Brought death into the world, and all our woe,

With loss of Eden, till one greater Man

Restore us, and regain the blissful seat,

Sing heavenly muse”

~John Milton, Paradise Lost

It Is Finished

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18

Image: http://heycheng.tumblr.com

Eye Fixed on Christ

 

Keep Your Eye Fixed on Christ

Beware of hindering yourselves with any weight of earthly cares. Examine your hearts most closely, and purge out each besetting sin with a godly prayerful jealousy. Remember that blessed rule, "looking unto Jesus." Peter did run well for a time, when he left the ship to walk upon the sea to Jesus—but when he saw the waves and the storm he was afraid and began to sink. Thus many a one sets out courageously—but after a while corruptions rise high within, corruptions are strong without, the eye is drawn off Jesus, the devil gets an advantage—and the soul begins to sink. Oh, keep your eye steadily fixed on Christ, and you shall go through fire and water and they shall not hurt you.

~ J.C. Ryle

Softly and Tenderly

Could I Do More?

Must I be carried to the skies,

A flow'ry beds of ease,

While others fought to win the prize,

And sailed through bloody seas?

This stanza from the beloved hymn "Am I a Soldier of the Cross" brings tears to my eyes often when I sing or read it. Who am I that life should be so easy as a Christian? Surely I must be willing to endure SOMETHING more for the cause of Christ. We've been hearing about the latest soldier in this battle to be condemned to dare to love the Savior. I haven't been keeping up with the situation with Pastor Youcef in Iran nearly as well as I should. Certainly it's an easy task to pray for these saints. I have to admit to sometimes getting so busy with the mundane things of my life that I neglect to be more diligent even in that . Praying for the persecuted is the least we can do. But sometimes do you like I yearn to do more?

Are there no foes for me to face?

Must I not stem the flood?

Is this vile world a friend to grace,

To help me on to God?

A Birthday Prayer

Lord Thou hast been our dwelling  place in all generations. Psalm 90:1

My dwelling place, Lord, You have been,
The God who saved me from my sin.
Yet as I see the years roll by
And know that I so soon must die ,
I cannot help but make this plea
That You would give me eyes to see ;
My days to count your grace impart
That I might gain a prudent heart ;
With steadfast love please satisfy
That you alone may gratify
The deepest longings of my soul
And constitute my all and all.  

~ My Birthday Prayer

~ B. Gonzales

Am I in God's Stead?

 

And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel; and he said, am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? Gen. 30:2

All our mercies are to be traced up to our God, and all our miseries to ourselves. We are constantly making ourselves wretched, by departing from our God, or by putting creatures in His place.

We often put persons and things in God's stead in reference to our affections, loving them inordinately; in reference to our dependence, trusting them instead of Him; in reference to our worship, idolizing them instead of adoring Him; and in reference to our expectations, expecting them to relieve, comfort, or deliver instead of Him.

But insufficiency is written upon every created object. No creature can fill the place of Jehovah, take the richest - the wisest - the kindest - the nearest relative or friend, and you must exclaim, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." But Jehovah can fill the place of all; He can be instead of Father, Husband, Child, Wealth, Health, yea, of all things.

Creatures may say, Am I in God's stead? If not, why look to me? why depend on me? why expect from me? why grieve so to part with me? Am I in God's stead? If so, He will remove me, or I shall disappoint you.

Heavenly Adam, life divine,
Change my nature into Thine :
Move and spread throughout my soul,
Actuate and fill the whole.
Now my fainting soul revive,
There for ever walk and live.

The Believer's Daily Remembrancer by James Smith

After he had patiently endured he obtained the promise. - Hebrews 6:15
Abraham was long tried, but he was richly rewarded. The Lord tried him by delaying to fulfil His promise; Satan tried him by temptations; men tried him by jealousy, distrust, and opposition; Hagar tried him by contemning her mistress; and Sarah tried him by her peevishness.

But he patiently endured. He did not question God's veracity, nor limit His power, nor doubt His faithfulness, nor grieve His love: but he bowed to divine sovereignty, submitted to infinite wisdom, and was silent under delays, waiting the Lord's time.
And so, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

God's promises cannot fail of their accomplishment. Patient waiters cannot be disappointed. Believing expectations shall be realized. Beloved, Abraham's conduct condemns a hasty spirit, reproves a murmuring one, commends a patient one, and encourages quiet submission to God's will and way."

Remember, Abraham was tried; he patiently waited; he received the promise and was satisfied; imitate his example, and you will share the same blessing.

All anxious cares I fain would leave,
And learn with sweet content to live
On what the Lord shall send;
Whate'er He sends, He sends in love,
And good or bad things blessings prove,
If blessed by this Friend.

The Believer's Daily Remembrancer by James Smith

 

A New Year Prayer

A NEW YEAR PRAYER

O Lord,
Length of days does not profit me
except the days are passed in thy presence,
in thy service, to thy Glory.

Give me a grace that precedes, follows, guides, sustains, sanctifies, aids every hour,
that I may not be one moment apart from thee,
but may rely on thy Spirit
to supply in every word,
direct every step,
prosper every work,
build up every mote of faith,
and give me a desire
to show forth thy praise;
testify thy love,
advance thy kingdom.

I launch my bark on the unknown waters of this year,
with thee, O Father, as my harbor,
thee, O Son, at my helm,
thee, O Holy spirit, filly my sails.

Guide me to heaven with my loins girt,
my lamp burning,
my ear open to thy calls,
my heart full of Love,
my soul free.

Give me thy grace to sanctify me,
thy comforts to cheer,
thy wisdom to teach,
thy right hand to guild,
thy counsel to instruct,
thy law to judge,
thy presence to stabilize.

My thy fear be my awe,
thy triumph my joy.