The Lord Will Provide

Jehovah-Jireh 

(Genesis, xxii.14)

 The saints should never be dismay'd,

Nor sink in hopeless fear; 

For when they least expect His aid, 

The Saviour will appear.

This Abraham found: he raised the knife; 

God saw, and said, "Forbear! 

Yon ram shall yield his meaner life; 

Behold the victim there." 

Once David seem'd Saul's certain prey;

 But hark! the foe's at hand; 

Saul turns his arms another way, 

To save the invaded land. 

When Jonah sunk beneath the wave, 

He thought to rise no more;

 But God prepared a fish to save, 

And bear him to the shore. 

Blest proofs of power and grace divine, 

That meet us in His word! 

May every deep-felt care of mine 

Be trusted with the Lord. 

Wait for His seasonable aid, 

And though it tarry, wait: 

The promise may be long delay'd, 

But cannot come too late. 

William Cowper, Olney Hymns

I'm Thankful for...... [DAY1]

The bravest battle that ever was fought!

Shall I tell you where and when?

On the maps of the world you will find it not;

'Twas fought by the mothers of men.

Nay not with the cannon of battle-shot,

With a sword or noble pen;

Nay, not with eloquent words or thought

From mouth of wonderful men!

But deep in a walled-up woman's heart --

Of a woman that would not yield,

But bravely, silently bore her part --

Lo, there is the battlefield!

No marshaling troops, no bivouac song,

No banner to gleam and wave;

But oh! those battles, they last so long --

From babyhood to the grave.

Yet, faithful still as a bridge of stars,

She fights in her walled-up town --

Fights on and on in her endless wars,

Then silent, unseen, goes down.

Oh, ye with banners and battle-shot,

And soldiers to shout and praise!

I tell you the kingliest victories fought

Were fought in those silent ways.

-- Joaquin Miller (1839-1913) 

She fought upon her knees for me,

Then carefully chose each word she'd say.

My mother, girded, stood to fight-- 

My war against my flesh today. 

When conquered, seeking to do wrong, 

her wandering child she found--  

She drew her sword and in my place--

She stood upon my battle ground. 

As she fought she also taught, 

And slowly, I too learned to stand-- 

And face the enemy of my soul, 

My Sword held in my hand.

Glory to God for mothers who--

Sound forth their faithful battle cry,

Rallied 'round the cross of Christ--

Pray'n "save my child or let me die."

--Bethmarie 2012

Thank you God for Mothers!

[Guest Speaker] Darlene Diebler tells her story

A month or so ago, I mentioned an ordinary girl named Darlene Diebler Rose, who handed her life to Christ to use, and received a couple queries as to who she was, and how God used her. I can't post her whole autobiography, but this is a video of her telling 'the short version' of what God did with the life she gave to Him.

She is one of my heroes.

I always finish reading (or listening) wondering:
If I were to be put in her shoes, would I be as ready? 
The shear mass of scripture she has committed to memory has driven me on, over and over.
Would I be as faithful?

The Pineapple Story

Take a few minutes to listen to this missionary.

As you listen and laugh through the story, don't forget to listen to the heart call;

What am I holding back from my Savior?

What am I not willing to give?

What is holding me back from usefulness for my Saviour?

I Am The Lord That Healeth Thee

Jehovah-Rophi. 

(Exodus, xv.26) 

Heal us, Emmanuel! here we are, 

Waiting to feel Thy touch: 

Deep-wounded souls to Thee repair 

And, Saviour, we are such. 

Our faith is feeble, we confess, 

We faintly trust Thy Word; 

But wilt Thou pity us the less? 

Be that far from Thee, Lord! 

Remember him who once applied, 

With trembling, for relief; 

"Lord, I believe," with tears he cried, 

"Oh, help my unbelief!" 

She too, who touch'd Thee in the press, 

And healing virtue stole, 

Was answer'd, "Daughter, go in peace, 

Thy faith hath made thee whole." 

Conceal'd amid the gathering throng, 

She would have shunn'd Thy view; 

And if her faith was firm and strong, 

Had strong misgivings too. 

Like her, with hopes and fears we come, 

To touch Thee, if we may; 

Oh! send us not despairing home, 

Send none unheal'd away!

William Cowper, Olney Hymns

[Guest Speaker] The Secret Place

I am re-posting this again today, because no one watched the video. 

This is not posted lightly. 

Listen hard.

Listen open.

Meet David Gibbs:

An unrelated 'Something' : 
As the year comes to a rapid close, Becca-Ellen and I would like to set a precedent for the up coming year. We want to introduce you to people and places that have changed our thinking and shoved us a couple steps forward in our walk with the Lord. As we introduce these people to you, we want you to research them, their life, their words. Listen to their videos. Read their books. Meet them. Talk to them. Write to them.
These are not just people. These are Christians who are closely following in the steps of the Lord Jesus.

So far, you have met:

Preachers:
Voddie Baucham
Eric Ludy

K.P. Yohannan
Micah Currado
Ray Comfort
Doug Philips

From the Past:
Amy Carmichael
Andrew Murray

Faithful Christian Women:
Anna Sofia and Elisabeth Botkin
Leslie Ludy
Jasmine Baucham
 Lady Lydia
An we can't wait to introduce you to hundreds more from the past and present!

Don't just skim the post as it lands in your inbox!

 

[Guest Post] Persevering Prayer

Andrew Murray


And the Lord said, "Men ought always to pray, and not to faint."

There was in a city a judge, a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?"(Luke 18:1-8)

Of all the mysteries of the prayer world the need of persevering prayer is one of the greatest. That the Lord, who is so loving and longing to bless, should have to be asked, time after time, sometimes year after year, before the answer comes, we cannot easily understand. It is also one of the greatest practical difficulties in the exercise of believing prayer. When, after persevering pleading, our prayer remains unanswered, it is often easiest for our lazy flesh, and it has all the appearance of pious submission, to think that we must now cease praying, because God may have His secret reason for withholding His answer to our request.It is by faith alone that the difficulty is overcome. When once faith has taken its stand on God's word and the Name of Jesus, and has yielded itself to the leading of the Spirit to seek God's will and honor alone in its prayer, it need not be discouraged by delay. It knows from Scripture that the power of believing prayer is simply irresistible; real faith can never be disappointed. It knows that just as water, to exercise the irresistible power it can have, must be gathered up and accumulated until the stream can come down in full force, so there must often be a heaping up of prayer until God sees that the measure is full, when the answer comes. It knows that just as the peasant farmer has to take his ten thousand steps to sow his tens of thousands seeds, each one a part of the preparation for the final harvest, so there is a need for often repeated persevering prayer, all working out some desired blessing. It knows for certain that not a single believing prayer can fail of its effect in heaven, but has its influence, and is treasured up to work out an answer in due time to him who perseveres to the end. It knows that it has to do, not with human thoughts or possibilities, but with the word of the living God. And so, even as Abraham through so many years "who against hope believed in hope" (Romans 4:18), and then "followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."(Hebrews 6:12)

To enable us, when the answer to our prayer does not come at once, to combine quiet patience and joyful confidence in our persevering prayer, we must especially try to understand the words in which our Lord sets forth the character and conduct, not of the unjust judge, but of our God and Father, toward those whom He allows to cry day and night to Him: "I tell you that He will avenge them speedily." (Luke 18:8)

He will avenge them quickly, the Master says. The blessing is all prepared; He is not only willing, but most anxious, to give them what they ask; everlasting love burns with the longing desire to reveal itself fully to its beloved and to satisfy their needs. God will not delay one moment longer than is absolutely necessary; He will do all in His power to expedite and rush the answer.

But why, if this is true and His power is infinite, does it often take so long for the answer to prayer to come? And why must God's own elect so often, in the middle of suffering and conflict, cry day and night? He is waiting patiently while He listens to them. "Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain." (James 5:7) The farmer does, indeed, long for his harvest, but knows that it must have its full amount of sunshine and rain, and he has long patience. A child so often wants to pick the half-ripe fruit; the farmer knows how to wait until the proper time. Man, in his spiritual nature too, is under the law of gradual growth that reigns in all created life. It is only in the path of development that he can reach his divine destiny. And it is the Father, in whose hand are the times and seasons, who knows the moment when the soul or the Church is ripened to that fullness of faith in which it can really take and keep the blessing. Like a father who longs to have his only child home from school, and yet waits patiently until the time of training is completed, so it is with God and His children: He is the patient One, and answers quickly.

The insight into this truth leads the believer to cultivate the corresponding dispositions: patience and faith, waiting and anticipating, are the secret of his perseverance. By faith in the promise of God, we know that we have the petitions we have asked of Him. Faith takes and holds the answer in the promise as an unseen spiritual possession, rejoices in it, and praises for it. But there is a difference between the faith that thus holds the word and knows that it has the answer and the clearer, fuller, riper faith that obtains the promise as a present experience. It is in persevering, not unbelieving, but confident and praising prayer, that the soul grows up into that full union with its Lord in which it can enter upon the possession of the blessing in Him. There may be in these around us, there may be in that great system of being of which we are part, there may be in God's government, things that have to be put right through our prayer before the answer can fully come: the faith that has, according to the command, believed that it has received, can allow God to take His time; it knows it has prevailed and must prevail. In quiet, persistent, and determined perseverance it continues in prayer and thanksgiving until the blessing comes. And so we see combined what at first sight appears contradictory--the faith that rejoices in the answer of the unseen God as a present possession and the patience that cries day and night until it be revealed. The quickness of God's patience is met by the triumphant but patient faith of His waiting child.

Our great danger, in this school of the answer delayed, is the temptation to think that, after all, it may not be God's will to give us what we ask. If our prayer be according to God's word, and under the leading of the Spirit, let us not give way to these fears. Let us learn to give God time. God needs time with us. If only we give Him time, that is, time in the daily fellowship with Himself, for Him to exercise the full influence of His presence on us, and time, day by day, in the course of our being kept waiting, for faith to prove its reality and to fill our whole being, He Himself will lead us from faith to vision; we shall see the glory of God. Let no delay shake our faith. Of faith it holds good: first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear. Each believing prayer brings a step nearer the final victory. Each believing prayer helps to ripen the fruit and bring us nearer to it; it fills up the measure of prayer and faith known to God alone; it conquers the hindrances in the unseen world; it hastens the end. Child of God, give the Father time. He is patiently listening to you. He wants the blessing to be rich, and full, and sure; give Him time, while you cry day and night. Only remember the word: "I tell you that He will avenge them speedily." (Luke 18:8)

The blessing of such persevering prayer is unspeakable. There is nothing so heart-searching as the prayer of faith. It teaches you to discover and confess, and to give up everything that hinders the coming of the blessing, everything there may not be in accordance with the Father's will. It leads to closer fellowship with Him who alone can teach us to pray, to a more entire surrender to draw near under no covering but that of the blood and the Spirit. It calls for a closer and more simple abiding in Christ alone. Christian, give God time. He will perfect that which concerns you.

Let it be thus whether you pray for yourself or for others. All labor, bodily or mental, needs time and effort: we must give up ourselves up to it. Nature discovers her secrets and yields her treasures only to diligent and thoughtful labor. However little we can understand it, in the spiritual farming it is the same: the seed we sow in the soil of heaven, the efforts we put forth, and the influence we seek to exert in the world above, need our whole being: we must give ourselves to prayer. But let us hold firm the great confidence that in due season we will reap if we don't give up.
And let us especially learn the lesson as we pray for the Christ's Church. She is, indeed, like the poor widow, in the absence of her Lord, apparently at the mercy of her adversary, helpless to obtain restitution. Let us, when we pray for His Church or any portion of it, under the power of the world, asking Him to visit her with the mighty workings of His Spirit and to prepare her for His coming-- let us pray in the assured faith: prayer does help, praying always and not stopping will bring the answer. Only give God time. And then keep crying out day and night. "And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them?" (Luke 18:6-7)
 

This is life and death in front of us.

God is holding out His hand and asking for yours, "Can I have it?"
Paul, with his pride in his lineage and education stripped from him said "Yes,"and was used. George Muller with his truant childhood and debauched adulthood said "Yes,"and was used. D.L.Moody with an impoverished childhood and little education said "Yes,"and was used. Hudson Taylor with his, continual kicking of the gospel as a young adult said "Yes,"and was used.  Isabel Kuhn wandering in the antagonistic 'misty flats' said "Yes,"and was used. Darlene Deibler Rose as a common run of the mill girl said "Yes," and was used. Are you willing to say, "Yes." ?

Quotes from C.T. Studd

"God, I know I can hardly breath, and I can hardly walk, but God, send me."

• "If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him."

"Last June at the mouth of the Congo there awaited a thousand prospectors, traders, merchants and gold seekers, waiting to rush into these regions as soon as the government opened the door to them, for rumour declared that there is an abundance of gold. If such men hear so loudly the call of gold and obey it, can it be that the ears of Christ's soldiers are deaf to the call of God? Are gamblers for gold so many, and gamblers for God so few?"

"How could I spend the best years of my life in living for the honours of this world, when thousands of souls are perishing every day?"

"Too long have we been waiting for one another to begin! The time of waiting is past! The hour of God has struck! War is declared! In God's Holy Name let us arise and build! 'The God of Heaven, He will fight for us', as we for Him. We will not build on the sand, but on the bedrock of the sayings of Christ, and the gates and minions of hell shall not prevail against us. Should such men as we fear? Before the world, aye, before the sleepy, lukewarm, faithless, namby-pamby Christian world, we will dare to trust our God, we will venture our all for Him, we will live and we will die for Him, and we will do it with His joy unspeakable singing aloud in our hearts. We will a thousand times sooner die trusting only our God, than live trusting in man. And when we come to this position the battle is already won, and the end of the glorious campaign in sight. We will have the real Holiness of God, not the sickly stuff of talk and dainty words and pretty thoughts; we will have a Masculine Holiness, one of daring faith and works for Jesus Christ."

"The "romance" of a missionary is often made up of monotony and drudgery; there often is no glamour in it; it doesn't stir a man's spirit or blood. So don't come out to be a missionary as an experiment, it is useless and dangerous. Only come if you feel you would rather die than not come. Lord Wolsey was right: "A missionary ought to be a fanatic or he encumbers the ground." There are many trials and hardships. Disappointments are numerous and the time of learning the language is especially trying. Don't come if you want to make a great name or want to live long. Come if you feel there is no greater honour, after living for Christ, than to die for Him. That does the trick in the end. It's not the flash in the pan but the steady giving forth of light, it's shining on and on that we need out here. Our job is to make all hear the Word. God's job is to give penetration to His Word."

"I am getting desperately afraid of going to heaven for I have had the vision of the shame I shall suffer as I get my first glimpse of the Lord Jesus; His majesty, power and marvellous love for me, who treated Him so meanly and shabbily on earth, and acted as though I did Him a favour in serving Him! No wonder God shall have to wipe away the tears off all faces, for we shall be broken-hearted when we see the depth of His love and the shallowness of ours."

• 
  
• "Let us not glide through this world and then slip quietly into heaven, without having blown the trumpet loud and long for our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Let us see to it that the devil will hold a thanksgiving service in hell, when he gets the news of our departure from the field of battle."

 

Standing in the Gap

Do not watch this is if you do not want to be challenged.

Are you ready to give your life to Christ?

"Here am I! Send me!"

A short thought for today: