Wait

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried:

Quietly patiently, lovingly, God replied.

I plead and I wept for a clue to my fate

And the Master so gently said,

“Child, you must wait.”

“Wait? You say, wait!” my indignant reply,

“Lord I need answers, I need to know why!

Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heart?

By faith, I have asked, and I’m claiming Your Word.”

My future and all to which I can relate

Hangs in the balance, and YOU tell me WAIT?

I need a “Yes” or a go-ahead sign,

Or even a “No” to which I can resign.

And Lord, You promises that if we believe

We need but to ask, and we shall receive.

And Lord, I’ve been asking, and this is my cry:

“I’m weary of asking! I need a reply!”

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,

As my Master replied once again, “You must wait.”

So I slumped in my chair defeated and taught

And grumbled to God, “So, I’m waiting …for what?”

He seemed, then, to kneel,

And His eyes wept with mine,

And tenderly said, “I could give you a sign.

I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun.

I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run.

All you seek, I could give, and pleased you would be.

You would have what you want-

But you wouldn’t know Me.

You’d not know the depth of My love for each saint;

You’d not know the power I give to the faint

You’d not learn to see though the clouds of despair;

You’d not learn to trust just by knowing I’m there;

You’d not know the joy of resting in Me;

When darkness and silence were all you could see.

You’d never experience that fullness of love

As the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove;

You’d know that I give and I save, for a start,

But you’d not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

The glow of My comfort late into the night,

The faith that I give when you walk without sight,

The depth that’s beyond getting just what you asked

Of an infinite God, who makes what you have last.

You’d never know, should your pain quickly flee,

What it means that, “My grace is sufficient for thee.”

Yes, your dreams for your loved one

Overnight would come true,

But, Oh, the Loss! If I lost what I’m doing in you!

So, be silent, My child, and in time you will see

That the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me.

And though oft’ may My answers seem terribly late,

My most precious answer of all is still, “wait.”

Author Unknown

Which one are You?

"Abby!" Abby kept on reading. "Abby, Abby, Abby!" The little hand on her knee became more insistent.
 "What do you want?" She mumbled, still looking at her book.
"I...I got a poblem." Abby finally unglued herself from her book and looked at the youngster. He was standing there with his legs together holding on to the top of his very full shorts.
Diapers... ugh! Abby thought as she settled back down into her book.
"Abby!"The little hand thumped her knee again.
"Go see Mommy, she's in the kitchen." The toddler turned to go, waddling in his uncomfortably droopy drawers. Abby, already back in the wonderful world of books, didn't care. In the kitchen, Hannah took the dish cloth from her mother. Moving quickly and methodically she wiped the dishes dry, stacked and put them away, and whisked her cloth across the counter; being sure to scrub the sticky spots. Ryan came in, his problem very evident. "Nanna, I got a poblem! Where's Mommy?" "She's feeding the baby..." Hannah looked at the mess of pans on the stove and the broom in the corner. "Go find Ginnie, she'll fix it." Hannah turned away. It was Ginnie's problem, Ginnie was Ryan's partner after all, besides she was just too busy.
     Ryan turned to go. "Ryan! Ry!.. Oh, theres my partner. I need your help! Ginnie came flying around the corner into the kitchen. Quickly, but carefully she scooped up the little man in her arms so he wouldn't have to waddle and headed for the bathroom. As Ginnie walked past and disappeared around another corner, Abby heard Ryan giggle and squeal. Ginnies' soft voice could be heard as they excitedly planned all the fun they would have pulling the covers up on their beds and washing the mirrors in the bathroom. "Why don't they ever like to be with me?" Abby wondered. But not for too long for she was lost in the last chapter of her book. Which one are you?







All to many times I am "Abby." I ignore obvious needs, just because I know one of my capable sisters or my wonderful mother will take care of them if I don't, but is this the attitude that Jesus demonstrated while He was here on earth?

"So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, 'Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.'" John 13:12-17 NKJV


Thank you BethMarie,

Dear Jesus

You died on the cross

For my sin

You loved me before 

The world did begin

You see me

Everywhere that I go

Everything I do,

You know

In heaven You're preparing

A home for me

A place with You

Eternally.

How come?

Yeilding

Lord, all my little well laid plans
have turned to vapor dust,
I need to give them all to You,
And, in fact, I must!
But I want what I want, 
and I want it my way!

I want to try just one last thing,
To have just one more say,
I want to do my own planning!
I'm never defeated, ok?
So.... I'll have what I want!
And I'll have it my way!

Ugh! Help me give all to You on this day
And practice submission to Your will,
I say that I listen and do things Your way,
But it seems that I fight You still!
Help me want what You want, 
and want it Your way!

Do You Pray?

     "I have a question to offer you. It is contained in three words.

 Do you pray?"

This morning as I was having my quiet time, I was struck with this question. It was from a pamphlet that Daddy had read aloud to us by J C Ryle, but that I had not thought about for a long time. 

"To be prayerless is to be without God, without Christ, without grace, without hope, and without heaven. It is to be on the road to hell. Now can you wonder that I ask the question, Do you pray?"

Do I pray? Yes, but what am I praying about? 

"a man may pray without heart and without sincerity. I do not for a moment pretend to say that the mere fact of a person's praying proves is everything about his soul. As in every other part of religion, so also in this, there may be deception and hypocrisy."

 What do I pray about on a regular basis? Do I pray about the right things?
" I commend to you the importance of reverence and humility in your prayers. Pray without form or ritual. Pray with perseverance and earnestness. Pray with faith, believing that God has heard your cry and will requite it. Come boldly before the throne of grace. Confess much. Ask for much. Thank for much. be particular. bear in your prayers the world, the body of believers around the world, the heathen, your country, your congregation to which you belong, your household, your relations, your friends."
 What about you? I know that I had to ask forgiveness this morning and start over. Do you pray?


 The complete pamphlet by J C Ryle 

Tongues o' Fire

The Bible has a lot to say

About my little tongue

It's a fire that want's it's way

And hurts friends one by one.

Lord, Help me to remember
You're looking straight at me
And help me guard my mouth-gate
Very thoroughly.

The Colors of Friendship

Friends share the same purpose and goal,

Love God, and through Him love others,

Friends are forever heart and soul,

Sacrificing our wishes for each others.

Friendship is always pink in tone,

For pink means forever and ever, 

So  wether we contact by face or through phone,

We're friends forever, together.

Friendship is bright, shimmering, white,

No malice, not jealous, just pure,

A spark'ling, refreshing, innocent sight,

not biting the 'self-seeking' lure.

Friendship at heart is a brilliant deep red,

The red of the fragrant spring rose,

Keeping and treas'ring the words that are said,

Loyally loving through smiles and woes.

 

My Heart Christ's Home

 (Part 6)

My heart, Christ's home, by Robert Boyd Munger

The Hall Closet
     There is just one more matter that I might share with you. One day I found Him waiting for me at the door. An arresting look was in His eye. As I entered, He said to me, "There is a peculiar odor in the house. There is something dead around here. It's upstairs. I think it is in the hall closet." As soon as He said this, I knew what He was talking about. Yes, there was a small closet up there on the landing, just a few feet square, and in that closet, behind lock and key, I had one or two little personal things that I did not want anyone to know about and certainly I did not want Christ to see them. I knew they were dead and rotting things left over from the old life. And yet I loved them, and I wanted them so for myself, that I was afraid to admit they were there. Reluctantly, I went up with Him, and as we mounted the stairs the odor became stronger and stronger. He pointed at the door. "It's in there! Some dead thing!"
     I was angry. That's the only way I can put it. I had given Him access to the library, the dining room, the living room, the workroom, the playroom, and now He was asking me about a little two-by-four closet. I said to myself, "This is too much. I am not going to give Him the key."
      "Well," He said, reading my thoughts, "if you think I'm going to stay up here on the second floor with this odor, you are mistaken. I will take my bed out on the back porch. I'm certainly not going to put up with that." Then I saw Him start down the stairs. When you have come to know and love Christ, the worst thing that can happen is to sense His fellowship retreating from you. I had to surrender. "I'll give You the key," I said sadly, "but You'll have to open the closet and clean it out. I haven't the strength to do it."
     "I know," He said. "I know you haven't. Just give me the key. Just authorize me to take care of that closet and I will." So with trembling fingers I passed the key to Him. He took it from my hand, walked over to the door, opened it, entered it, took out all the putrefying stuff that was rotting there, and threw it away. Then He cleaned the closet and painted it, fixed it up, doing it all in a moment's time. Oh, what victory and release to have that dead thing out of my life!
Transferring the Title
     Then a thought came to me. I said to myself, "I have been trying to keep this heart of mine clear for Christ. I start on one room and no sooner have I cleaned that then another room is dirty. I begin on the second room and the first room becomes dusty again. I am so tired and weary trying to maintain a clean heart and an obedient life. I am just not up to it!" So I ventured a question: "Lord, is there any chance that You would take over the responsibility of the whole house and operate it for me and with me just as You did that closet? Would You take the responsibility to keep my heart what it ought to be and my life where it ought to be?"
      I could see His face light up as He replied, "Certainly, that is what I came to do. You cannot be a victorious Christian in your own strength. That is impossible. Let me do it through you and for you. That is the way. But," He added slowly, "I am not owner of this house. I am just a guest. I have no authority to proceed, since the property is not mine." I saw it in a minute and dropping to my knees, I said, "Lord, You have been a guest and I have been the host. From now on I am going to be the servant. You are going to be the owner and Master and Lord."
     Running as fast as I could to the strongbox, I took out the title deed to the house describing its assets and liabilities, location and situation and condition. I eagerly signed it over to belong to Him alone for time and eternity. "Here," I said. "Here it is, all that I am and have forever. Now You run the house. I'll just remain with You as a servant and friend." He took my life that day and I can give you my word, there is no better way to live the Christian life. He knows how to keep it in shape and deep peace settles down on the soul. May Christ settle down and be at home in your heart as Lord of all!
 

My Heart Christ's Home

Part 5)

My heart, Christ's home, by Robert Boyd Munger

The Workroom
Before long, He asked, "Do you have a workroom in your home?" Down in the basement of the home of my heart I had a workbench and some equipment, but I was not doing much with it. Once in a while I would play around with a few little gadgets, but I wasn't producing anything substantial or worthwhile. I led Him down there.
     He looked over the workbench and what little talents and skills I had. He said, "This is quite well furnished. What are you producing with your life for the Kingdom of God?" He looked at one or two little toys that I had thrown together on the bench and held one up to me. "Are these little toys all that you are doing for others in your Christian life?" "Well," I said, "Lord, that is the best I can do. I know it isn't much, and I really want to do more, but after all, I have no skill or strength to do more." "Would you like to do better?" He asked. "Certainly," I replied. "All right, let me have your hands. Now relax in me and let my Spirit work through you. I know that you are unskilled, clumsy and awkward, but the Holy Spirit is the Master-Worker, and if He controls your hands and your heart, He will work through you." And so, stepping around behind me and putting His great, strong hands over mine, controlling the tools with His skilled fingers He began to work through me.
     There's much more that I must still learn and I am very far from satisfied with the product that is being turned out, but I do know that whatever has been produced for God has been through His strong hand and through the power of His Spirit in me. Do not become discouraged because you cannot do much for God. Your ability is not the fundamental condition. It is He who is controlling your fingers and upon whom you are relying. Give your talents and gifts to God and He will do things with them that will surprise you..
The Rec Room
I remember the time He asked me about the playroom. I was hoping He would not ask about that. There were certain associations and friendships, activities and amusements that I wanted to keep for myself. I did not think Christ would enjoy them or approve of them, so I evaded the question.
     But there came an evening when I was on my way out with some of my friends, and as I was about to cross the threshold, He stopped me with a glance and asked, "Are you going out?" I replied, "Yes." "Good," He said, "I would like to go with you." "Oh," I answered rather awkwardly. "I don't think, Lord Jesus, that You would really want to go with us. Let's go out tomorrow night. Tomorrow night we will go to prayer meeting, but tonight I have another appointment." He said. "That's alright. Only I thought that when I came into your home, we were going to do everything together, to be close companions. I just want you to know that I am willing to go with you." "Well," I said, "we will go someplace together tomorrow night."
     That evening I spent some miserable hours. I felt wretched. What kind of a friend was I to Jesus when I was deliberately leaving Him out of my associations, doing things and going places that I knew very well He would not enjoy? When I returned that evening, there was a light in His room, and I went up to talk it over with Him. I said, "Lord, I have learned my lesson. I can't have a good time without You. From now on we will do everything together." Then we went down into the playroom of the house and He transformed it. He brought into life real joy, real happiness, real satisfaciton, new friends, new excitement, new joys. Laughter and music have been ringing through the house ever since.

My Heart Christ's Home

(Part 4)

My heart, Christ's home, by Robert Boyd Munger

The Living Room
     We walked next into the living room. This room was rather intimate and comfortable. I liked it. It had a fireplace, overstuffed chairs, a sofa, and a quiet atmosphere. He also seemed pleased with it. He said, "This is indeed a delightful room. Let us come here often. It is secluded and quiet, and we can fellowship together." Well, naturally as a young Christian I was thrilled. I couldn't think of anything I would rather do than have a few minutes with Christ in intimate companionship. He promised, "I will be here early every morning. Meet me here, and we will start the day together."
     So morning after morning, I would come downstairs to the living room and He would take a book of the Bible from the bookcase. He would open it and then we would read together. He would tell me of its riches and unfold to me its truths. He would make my heart warm as He revealed His love and His grace He had toward me. These were wonderful hours together. In fact, we called the living room the "withdrawing room." It was a period when we had our quiet time together. But, little by little, under the pressure of many responsibilities, this time began to be shortened. Why, I'm don't know, but I thought I was just too busy to spend time with Christ. This was not intentional, you understand; it just happened that way. Finally, not only was the time shortened, but I began to miss a day now and then. It was examination time at the university. Then it was some other urgent emergency. I would miss it two days in a row and often more. I remember one morning when I was in a hurry, rushing downstairs, eager to be on my way.
   As I passed the living room, the door was open. Looking in, I saw a fire in the fireplace and Jesus was sitting there. Suddenly in dismay I thought to myself, "He was my guest. I invited Him into my heart! He has come as Lord of my home. And yet here I am neglecting Him." I turned and went in. With downcast glance, I said, "Blessed Master, forgive me. Have You been here all these mornings?" "Yes," He said, "I told you I would be here every morning to meet with you." Then I was even more ashamed. He had been faithful in spite of my faithfulness. I asked His forgiveness and He readily forgave me as He does when we are truly repentant. "The trouble with you is this: you have been thinking of the quiet time, of the Bible study and prayer time, as a factor in your own spiritual progress, but you have forgotten that this hour means something to me also. Remember, I love you. I have redeemed you at great cost. I value your fellowship. Now," He said, "Do not neglect this hour if only for my sake. Whatever else may be your desire, remember I want your fellowship!" You know, the truth that Christ desires my companionship, that He loves me, wants me to be with Him, wants to be with me and waits for me, has done more to transform my quiet time with God than any other single fact. Don't let Christ wait alone in the living room of your heart, but every day find some time when, with your Bible and in prayer, you may be together with Him.

My Heart Christ's Home

(Part 3)

My heart, Christ's home, by Robert Boyd Munger

The Dining Room
From the study we went into the dining room, the room of appetites and desires. Now this was a very large room. I spent a good deal of time in the dining room and much effort in satisfying my wants. I said to Him, "This is a favorite room. I am quite sure You will be pleased with what we serve." He seated Himself at the table with me and asked, "What is on the menu for dinner?" "Well," I said, "my favorite dishes: money, academic degrees and stocks, with newspaper articles of fame and fortune as side dishes." These were the things I liked - worldly fare. I suppose there was nothing radically wrong in any particular item, but it was not the food that should satisfy the life of a real Christian. When the food was placed before Him, He said nothing about it. However, I observed that He did not eat it, and I said to Him, somewhat disturbed, "Master, don't You care for this food? What is the trouble?" He answered, "I have meat to eat that you do not know of. My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me." He looked at me again and said, "If you want food that really satisfies you, seek the will of the Father, not your own pleasures, not your own desires, and not your own satisfaction. Seek to please Me and that food will satisfy you." And there at the table He gave me a taste of doing God's will. What a flavor! There is no food like it in all the world. It alone satisfies. Everything else is dissatisfying in the end. Now if Christ is in your heart, and I trust He is, what kind of food are you serving Him and what kind of food are you eating yourself? Are you living for the lust of the flesh and the pride of life - selfishly? Or are you choosing God's will for your meat and drink?

My Heart Christ's Home

(Part 2)

My heart, Christ's home, by Robert Boyd Munger

The Library
       The first room was the study - the library. Let us call it the study of the mind. Now in my home this room of the mind is a very small room with very thick walls. But it is an important room. In a sense, it is the control room of the house. He entered with me and looked around at the books in the bookcase, the magazines upon the table, the pictures on the walls. As I followed His gaze I became uncomfortable. Strangely enough, I had not felt badly about this before, but now that He was there looking at these things I was embarrassed. There were some books were there that His eyes were too pure to behold. There was a lot of trash and literature on the table that a Christian had no business reading, and as for the pictures on the walls - the imaginations and thoughts of the mind - these were shameful.
        I turned to Him and said, "Master, I know that this room needs a radical alteration. Will you help me make it what it ought to be? - to bring every thought into captivity to you?" "Surely!" He said. "Gladly will I help you. First of all, take all the things that you are reading and looking at which are not helpful, pure, good and true, and throw them out! Now put on the empty shelves the books of the Bible. Fill the library with Scriptures and meditate on then day and night. As for the pictures on the walls, you will have difficulty controlling these images, but here is an aid" He gave me a full-size portrait of Himself. "Hang this centrally," He said, "on the wall of the mind." I did, and I have discovered through the years that when my thoughts are centered upon Christ Himself, His purity and power cause impure thoughts to back away. So He has helped me to bring my thoughts into captivity. May I suggest to you if you have difficulty with this little room of the mind, that you bring Christ in there. Pack it full with the Word of God, meditate upon it and keep before it the immediate presence of the Lord Jesus.

Why Can't I?

   May 2007,  I flopped on the bed and hid my face in the quilt. Why? Why could I not have the amazing relationship with God that I had read of so many Christians having? Why did other people I knew have this relationship and I didn't? Why?

As I sat there thinking, a dear friend of mine walked into the room and gave me some advice.

          1.) The thought that you CAN'T have that relationship with Christ is a big fat lie from Satan.

          2.) God loves you and wants to spend time with you. That is what He made you for, to worship and glorify Him of your own free choice, and with all of your being. That is the kind of 'all out' relationship you're designed to have with God. God is ready.

          3.) The problem is, are you? Have you been diligent to look for God? To seek Him as if for buried treasure... every day?..... Every minute of every day? Are you fulfilling your end? Friends don't ignore each other and never talk to each other!

     I wiped my tears off and thought about it. I knew for a fact that I was not being diligent in that area. My friend gave me a little pamphlet. I have read and re-read it over and over. Finally, I began to understand.

(Part 1)

My heart, Christ's home, by Robert Boyd Munger

             In Paul's epistle to the Ephesians, we find these words:
"That (God) would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith" (Ephesians 3:16). Or, as another has translated, "That Christ may settle down and be at home in your hearts by faith." Without question one of the most remarkable Christian doctrines is that Jesus Christ Himself through the presence of the Holy Spirit will actually enter a heart, settle down and be at home there. Christ will make the human heart His abode.
       Our Lord said to His disciples, "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him" (John 14:23). It was difficult for them to understand what He was saying. How was it possible for Him to make his abode with them in this sense?
       It is interesting that our Lord used the same word here that He gave them in the first of the fourteenth chapter of John: "I go to prepare a place for you .. that where I am, ye may be also." Our Lord was promising his disciples that, just as He was going to heaven to prepare a place for them and would welcome them one day, now it would be possible for them to prepare a place for Him in their hearts and He would come and make His abode with them. They could not understand this. How could it be? Then came Pentecost. The Spirit of the living Christ was given to the church and they understood. God did not dwell in Herod's temple in Jerusalem! God did not dwell in a temple made with hands; but now, through the miracle of the out-poured Spirit, God would dwell in human hearts. The body of the believer would be the temple of the living God and the human heart would be the home of Jesus Christ. It is difficult for me to think of a higher privilege than to make Christ a home in my heart, to welcome, to serve, to please, to fellowship with him there. 

My heart, Christ's home

One evening I invited Jesus Christ into my heart. What an entrance He made! It was not a spectacular, emotional thing, but very real. It was at the very center of my life. He came into the darkness of my heart and turned on the light. He built a fire in the cold hearth and banished the chill. He started music where there had been stillness, and He filled the emptiness with His own loving, wonderful fellowship. I have never regretted opening the door to Christ and I never will - not into eternity! This, of course, is the first step in making the heart Christ's home. He has said, "Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20). If you are interested in making your life an abode of the living God, let me encourage you to invite Christ into your heart and He will surely come After Christ entered my heart and in the joy of this new relationship I said to Him, "Lord, I want this heart of mine to be Yours. I want to have You settle down here and be perfectly at home. Everything I have belongs to You. Let me show You around and introduce you to the various features of the home that you may be more comfortable and that we may have fuller fellowship together." He was very glad to come, of course, and happier still to be given a place in my heart.

Casting Down Strongholds

Strongholds of Satan

Within my heart

By renewing my mind

Must now depart

No longer there

May Satan reign

My heart God can transform

And Satan chain

Lord, guard my heart

And mind from deceit

Discipline self

Satan RETREAT!

Replace my thoughts 

With things that pleaseYou

And put on the 'New Man'

My mind renew.

Am I a Soldier of Surrender?

        In ancient times, when a knight surrendered, he would drop on one knee and offer his sword to the victor. In that position, the conqueror could do anything with the knight. Anything. He could even turn and kill the knight with his own sword if he chose. That sword was a symbol of who had the control over his life.
     We as Christians have a choice every day. Am I going to surrender to God, give Him my sword, and let Him do whatever He wishes with me today?
          When my little brothers and sisters evade their chores, or don't obey when I ask them to do something, I feel like grabbing that sword back, pointing the blade, and yelling, "I have the sword, YOU surrender!" But...Is that surrendering to God, and doing what He wants, when He wants, and how He wants it done? No. That is my 'old man'. My 'new man' is patient, kind, and just.
          When my Mother calls, and I am in the middle of something, what do I choose to do? Who do I choose to listen to? My old man takes the sword and says "You can have about 30 more seconds to your self, don't worry, you can go in a minute." My 'new man' gives the sword back to God, my Conqueror, and says "Yes Mommy, I'm coming." Without asking why or waiting. Just going.
           When I don't feel good, or tired,  My old man ignores the command "Whatever thy hand finds to do, do it with thy might." but takes the sword and says, "Your not feeling good, you can get by with being grumpy!" My 'new man' gives the sword back and says, "Everyone already knows you're tired, show them that with God, you can be kind anyway."
          God is calling you and I every day to yield our swords, sacrifice self, and live in the 'new man', to be a soldier of surrender.
Will you join me?