Gems from April 2018

Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river. Isaiah 66:12

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: 

not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

John 14:27

Lord, Thou wilt ordain peace for us: for Thou also 

hath wrought all our works in us.

Isaiah 26:12

The Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means.

The Lord be with you all.

2 Thessalonians 3:16

When peace like a river attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

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April 1

“Watch ye therefore, and pray always.”

(Luke 21:36)

Time must be set apart for prayer.

Prayer is the key for the day, the lock for the night. 

(Corrie Ten Boom)

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April 2

“I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also 

I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”

(Philippians 3:12)

The Apostle Paul, looking back on his experience on the Damascus Road, sees it as an "arrest.” He was immediately and completely under the control of Another.

Doctrinally, it was “out of darkness, into the kingdom of His dear Son.”

Practically, it was to be the bond slave of Jesus Christ, 

to the point of bearing in his body, 

the brand marks of his Master.

We must remember that we, too, who profess His Name, are under arrest, by and to Him who bought us with His own most precious blood.

(Drew Craig)

I belong to Jesus; I am not my own;

All I have and all I am, shall be His alone.

(M. Fraser)

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April 3

“I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: which in His times He shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.” (1 Timothy 6:13-15) 

In one of his sonnets, the writer Percy Bysshe Shelly tells of a traveler from Egypt who, in a trek across a desert wasteland came upon the remains of a marble statue. 

All that remained on the pedestal were two feet and the lower part of two gigantic legs. Nearby, lying in the sand, was the cracked remnant of what had been the head. The face had a cruel sneer on its lips.

When the traveler rubbed the sand away from the pedestal, he found this inscription:  “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye mighty and despair!”

The traveler looked, and as far as the eye could see, there was naught but the sifting sand. Ozyymandias bestowed upon himself the name “king of kings,” but whatever kingdom and glory he once enjoyed had disappeared.     

In contrast, the true King of kings was meek and lowly of mind when he came into Jerusalem riding a donkey’s colt.  Here, riding into town in great humility, was the King of kings and Lord of lords—the king of all creation!

Napoleon observed at St. Helena; Can you conceive of Caesar as the eternal emperor of the Roman Senate and, from the depths of his mausoleum, governing the empire, watching over the destinies of Rome? Such is the history of the invasion and conquest of the world by Christianity; such is the power of the God of the Christians . . .” 

Jesus is the eternal King of kings, the Lord who reigns supreme.

No other has ever been or ever will be greater.

(With Thanks - F. Charters)

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April 4

"Mine eyes are unto Thee, O God the Lord:

in Thee is my trust."

(Psalm 141:8) 

"I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:

which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number."

(Job 5:8-9)  

I do not know what may befall of sunshine or of rain;

I do not know what may be mine of pleasure or of pain;

But this i know — my Saviour knows, and whatsoe’er it be,

Still I can trust His love to give what will be best for me.

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April 5

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us . . . and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

(Ephesians 2:4,6) 

We are apprehended of the Lord Jesus distinctly, not for what we are, but for what we shall be.

It is impossible when we come to know Christ, to stand still; we pass on from childhood to manhood and to fatherhood.

Every separate saint is being prepared for a prepared place in the Father’s house.

Seeing this, it becomes impossible to settle down here the question of self and all connected with it as dung and dross— the question of work—the setting Christ before you, pressing on towards the mark of the high calling of God in Him; these questions can only be settled in view of our heavenly position, our life up there.

Are you saying: “Christ loves me, and I must press on till I see Him;

nothing can satisfy me till I can get to Him”?

Christ has seen exactly where I shall be in the glory; the jewel will not be lost  which is to be put into His crown. The believer can walk in this world as one who is apprehended of Christ for glory.

Are your hearts occupied with Him in the glory?  It will be as a stream of

heavenly blessing in all troubles.

(G.V. Wigram)

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April 6

“My meditation of Him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.”

(Psalm 104:34)

“Heaven above is softer blue, earth around is sweeter green:

Something lives in every hue Christless eyes have never seen; 

Birds with gladder songs o’erflow, flowers with deeper beauty shine,

Since I know, as now I know, I am His; and He is mine”.

(G. W. Robinson)

But there is better yet: though there is so much that is truly loveable in the Lord’s own people, and so much that is lovely in His handiwork; we must turn our eyes elsewhere to behold the only One who is ”Altogether lovely” (Song of Sol. 5:16).

No flaw or disappointment we will ever find in Him, as we may in all else below; and yet, strange as it may seem, there was a time when we saw in Him “no beauty that we should desire Him”.

But now, through His infinite grace, we may say:

“My meditation of Him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.”

(Psalm 104:34)

(G. Christopher Willis)

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April 7

“Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith.”

(Hebrews 12:2)

UNTO JESUS and not at obstacles which meet us in our path.

As soon as we stop to consider them, they amaze us, 

they confuse us, they overwhelm us, incapable as we are of understanding either the reason why they are permitted, or the means by which we may overcome them. 

The apostle began to sink as soon as he turned to look at the waves tossed by the storm; it was while he was looking at Jesus that he walked on the waters as on a rock.

The more difficult our task, the more terrifying our temptations,

the more essential it is that we look only at Jesus.

(Theodore Monod - Translated from French by Helen Willis)

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April 8

“But do Thou for me, O God the Lord, for Thy name’s sake:

because Thy mercy is good, deliver Thou me.”

(Psalm 109:21)

The psalmist does not say what he wanted God to do for him.  He leaves it open. So this most restful prayer is left open for all perplexed hearts to appropriate ‘according to their several necessities.’

And so we leave it open for God 

to fill up in His own way.

Only a trusting heart can pray this prayer at all: the very utterance of it is an act of faith. We could not ask any one whom we did not know intimately and trust implicitly to ‘do’ for us, without even suggesting what.

Only a self-emptied heart can pray it. It is when we have come to the end of our own resources, or rather, come to see that we never had any at all, that we are willing to accept the fact that we can ‘do nothing,' and to let God do everything for us. 

Only a loving heart can pray it.  For nobody likes another to take them and their affairs in hand, and ‘do’ for them, unless that other is cordially loved.

We might submit to it, but we should not like it, and certainly should not seek it.

(Royal Bounty - F. R. H.)

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April 9

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, less his deeds should be reproved.” 

(John 3:19-20)

Be very sure of this--people never reject the Bible because they cannot understand it. 

They understand it only too well! They understand that it condemns their own behavior. They understand that it witnesses against their own sins, and summons them to judgment! They try to believe it is false and useless--because they don't like to believe it is true.

An evil lifestyle must always raise an objection to this Holy book. 

Men question the truth of Christianity--because they hate the practice of it!

(J. C. Ryle)

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April 10

A Man Apart

"But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD."  

(Genesis 6:8)

It is hard to be a Christian in days when sin is applauded and righteousness is despised.  We have to determine that we are going to be different. 

We will live by God’s standards and not those promoted in society. 

We will look to the Bible and not to the media for our guidance in matters of daily living.

Noah lived in an evil day. “God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6.5). He encountered the sins that still abound in the 21st century, for the heart of man has not changed.

Despite the wickedness all around him, Scripture records that 

“Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” 

(Genesis 6.8)

He was different. 

Before the gaze of heaven, he stood out. 

He was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. 

“Noah walked with God.” 

(Genesis 6.9). 

Before God he was righteous, before men he was blameless. 

Take courage in your Christian walk! It is possible to walk with God in the most evil days. 

He will have His eye upon you and will supply necessary grace.

(Christian Living Today)

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April 11

“There shall not any man be able to stand before Thee all the days

of thy life; as I was with Moses, so will I be with thee; 

I will not fail thee nor forsake thee.”

(Joshua 1:5)

We may be called to traverse strange ways, but we shall always have our 

Lord’s company, assistance and provision.

We need not covet money, for we shall always have our God, and He is better than gold;

His favour is better than fortune.

We must imitate Alpine climbers and keep strong hold of the guide 

as we climb toward the top.  Let us take short views.

If we look over precipices, we shall grow dizzy.

If we look too far ahead, we shall grow discouraged.

Let us rather put our weak hands into Christ’s strong loving 

grasp, and all the time listen to His cheering words, “Fear not, only trust!” 

(Theodore L. Cuyler)

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April 12

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

(Matthew 6:11)

THERE ARE SEVERAL ways to get a meal. You can prepare it yourself.  You can go down a cafeteria line and take what you wish. You can sit in a restaurant and wait until it is brought to you.

We need not ask God to do for us those things we can do ourselves by His Spirit.

Other blessings are ours for the taking, any time, always available.

Some things we must ask for and wait until they come. Some things are not provided because they are not good for us and God knows what is best for His children.

A man who waited in a restaurant for his breakfast finally went away leaving on the table a note that read,

“Out for lunch”! 

Some of us grow weary waiting.

We should distinguish between what we must wait for, what we may take,

and what we must provide for ourselves.

(Vance Havner)

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April 13

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish

but have everlasting life.”

(John 3:16)

Sir Harry Lauder, the Scottish singer, told how, when he had just lost his only son in the first world war, a man came to him in New York, and told him of an experience he had just had.

In American towns any household that had given a son to the war was 

entitled to place a star on the windowpane. 

“A few nights before he came to see me,” says Sir Harry, "this man was waking down a street in New York, accompanied by his wee boy.

The lad became very interested in the lighted windows of the houses, and clapped his hands when he saw a star.  As they passed house after house, he would say: 'Oh look, Daddy', there’s another house that has given a son to the war! And there’s another.  There’s one with two stars.  

And look: there’s a house with no star at all.’

"At last they came to a break in the houses.

Through the gap could be seen the evening star, 

shining brightly in the sky.  The little fellow caught his 

breath. ‘Oh look, Daddy, 'he cried: 

'God must have given His

 Son, for He has got a star in His window’.”

That illustrates the first word; and, as we think of it,

we can only say with wonder:

"Oh how great was the love that was shown to us, we can never tell why;

Not to angels but men, let us praise Him again, for the love that gave Jesus to die.”

(In Pastures Green)

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April 14

GOD’S WILL ENERGIZED BY LOVE

“Prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

(Romans 12:2) 

The will of God which has seemed in old far-off days a stern and fateful power, is only love energized; love saying, “I will.” 

And when once we really grasp this (hardly so much by faith as by love itself), the will of God cannot be otherwise than acceptable, for it is no longer a question of trusting that somehow or other there is a hidden element of love in it, but of understanding that it is love; no more to be dissociated from it than the power of the sun’s rays can be dissociated from their light and warmth.

And love recognized must surely be love accepted and reciprocated.

So, as the fancied sternness of God’s will is lost in His love, 

the stubbornness of our will becomes melted in 

that love, and lost in our acceptance of it.

With quivering heart and trembling will the word hath passed thy lips,

Within the shadow, cold and still, of some fair joy’s eclipse.

“Thy will be done!” Thy God hath heard, and He will crown that faith-framed word.

Thy prayer shall be fulfilled: but how?  His thoughts are not as thine;

While thou wouldest only weep and bow, He saith, “Arise and shine!”

Thy thoughts were all of grief and night, but His of boundless joy and light.

(Opened Treasures - Francis Ridley Havergal)

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April 15

Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”

(Revelation 19:6)

The times are gloomy—but the Lord reigns! To Him I would refer everything in public or in private life. 

There is political discontent in some hearts, and in some places.

But I ought to be discontented with myself—that I am not filled with wonder and praise, that things are so much better with us than we deserve!

The Lord's people, instead of amusing themselves with politics, may be stirred up to serve their country by prayer. If they sigh and mourn for the abominations in the midst of us, and stand in the breach to avert deserved judgments—then our peace and liberty may be yet prolonged. I rely more upon the prayers of God's people, than upon all our fleets and armies!

It is well both for ministers and private Christians to have as little to do with politics as possible. Politics is a pit that will swallow up the life and spirit, if not the very form of the religion of many professors. The Lord reigns, and every issue will be directed by infinite wisdom and goodness, without our interference. 

And can we wish them under better management? 

From poison and politics--good Lord deliver me!  A heart swallowed up in politics is as hurtful to the life of God in the soul—as poison is to the bodily frame!

(Letters of John Newton  1725-1807)

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April 16

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Matthew 16:26

To lose your wealth is much,

To lose your health is more,

To lose your soul is such a loss

As no man can restore.

(Robert H. Smith) 

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April 17

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and

to sing praises unto Thy name, O most High;

to show forth Thy loving-kindness in the

morning, and Thy faithfulness 

every night.”

(Psalm 92:1-2)

Pray in the early morning for grace throughout the day;

We know not what temptations and trials may cross our way.

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April 18

Jesus' disciples came unto Him, and said, this is a desert place,

and now the time is far passed: send them away, that they may go into the country  round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. 

(Mark 6:35-37)

Our Lord’s command must have astonished His disciples.  They had nothing to share with others, and they knew not where or how to obtain it. It was His desire to exercise them as to the need of the people and their responsibility in regard to it, even as He would have us concerned today about the spiritual dearth all about us, and our responsibility to seek to do our part in meeting its demands. 

We are all too apt to attempt to measure God’s ability to meet our need by that which our eyes behold, instead of remembering that we have to do with One who created a universe from nothing and sustains it by the Word of His power.

"How many loaves have ye? . . . five loaves and two fishes . . .” (Luke 5:13) Little as it a was, Jesus Christ could use it in a large way. In our emergencies we generally ask “Whence?” and “How?” Forgetting that nothing is too hard for the Lord.

"He commanded them to make all to sit down. . . . by hundreds, and by fifties.”  Our Lord's command to make the men sit down was significant.

Seated on the ground all are practically on one common level.

Distinctions of stature disappear.  It was the “no difference” doctrine acted out.

  

When the Lord Jesus broke the bread and gave to His disciples that they might pass it on to the multitude, no one would be excusable if he went away hungry.

So today, as we offer the living Bread to hungry souls, none need go without eternal blessing.

(H. A. Ironside)

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April 19

But he (certain lawyer), wanting to justify himself, 

said to Jesus, "and who is my neighbour?" 

(Luke 10:29)

WHO IS MY NEIGHBOUR?

Jesus depicted a victim of vicious robbery, in serious trouble, and needing help. Note the various responses of people who met him—responses which faithfully mirror our own.

To the thieves who robbed him he was a victim to exploit. They did not regard him as a person, but as a thing. To such people (most of whom are not literal thieves) other people exist only to satisfy their own whims and lusts.  They know all the angles about using other people, but know nothing of true friendship. 

To the priest and the Levite who passed by on the other side, the needy neighbour was a nuisance to avoid. These men were experts on religion and ritual, but had no time to get involved with the problems of others.

To the lawyer who originally asked the question, the victim presented an interesting case study. His contemporary cousins form committees, hold seminars, and pass resolutions.

Meanwhile, on the Jericho road, the victim remains half-dead.

To the Good Samaritan a neighbour represented a person to love and help regardless of the cost. He came to where the poor wretch was—beaten and bloody.  He loved him, dressed his wounds,  and took him to a place where he could receive further care.  He even put him on his own donkey, which meant that he himself had to walk.

Jesus Christ is that Good Samaritan who came to where we were in desperate need and met that need. His purpose now is to fill the world with people like Himself.  Are we among them?

(Grant Steidl)

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April 20

“To the praise of the glory of His grace,

wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved."

(Ephesians 1:6)

Christians stand in an incomparable position of favour 

before God—“accepted in the beloved”.

The believer need not wonder whether or not he will be cast out of the Almighty’s sight, for his acceptance is dependent on Christ’s position.

Since He is the One in whom is all the Father’s delight,

there is no question as to His standing in glory; it is unassailable.

His glorious grace has brought us into the most favoured position possible.

(Keith Keyser)

So near, so very near to God, I cannot nearer be;

For in the person of His Son, I am as near as He.

So dear, so very dear to God, more dear I cannot be,

The love wherewith He loves the Son: such is His love to me.  

(C. Paget)

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April 21

“Be careful for nothing . . .”

(Philippians 4:6)

Do you cross rivers before you come to them, dread troubles that never come, expect evil from the Lord instead of good?  In other words is your soul full of unnecessary care?

For that is what the word “careful” means — unnecessary care. 

“Do not worry” is a plain and simple command, but it is such a difficult one to follow. Some one has given a few beneficial suggestions for the person who feels defeated because of the common ailment of worry. 

The anxious Christian hurts more than himself; hurts the faith of those who know Him and the good name of his Lord who has promised to supply all his needs.  There is nothing we cannot pray about.                                     

"But in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known unto God.”  

What we can take to God we can trust to God.  What we put our fidelity into, He will perfect by His faithfulness.  While we work for the best, He works the best for us.

We may not succeeds as we hoped; we may have discipline we little expected, but the Father knows what His child needs.

What God has for us to do we can do, or to bear we can bear.

Is there not enough in His ocean to fill our pitcher?

With the need of every day will come His promised supply —  

“My grace is sufficient for thee.”

(Thoughts For Every-Day Living)  

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April 22

THE SALT OF THE EARTH

"Ye are the salt of the earth."

(Matthew 5:13)

With these words Jesus Christ describes the essential character of the Christian.

Salt does at least three things: 

There is first of all the task it fulfills—to prevent decay and corruption.  Just by being what he is, the Christian exercises a restraining influence upon evil. This influence may find expression politically, personally, socially, morally and spiritually, but such an influence there must be!  

There is also the taste it improves. 

We have all experienced having a bowl of soup and saying to ourselves, "a little more salt would improve this.”  The fact that a person is a Christian should improve and enrich his own life, and the lives of those he meets, not impoverish them.

Every experience, every relationship of life will be finer, richer, 

better because a man is a Christian.

Lastly, there is the thirst it creates.  Salt makes a person thirsty, and to meet a Christian should make other people thirsty for Christ.  

These are three functions that salt performs.  If we are Christians in reality, then we would do well to pause and ask ourselves if these three qualities are found in our lives.

(George Duncan)

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April 23

“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but 

the end thereof are the ways of death.”

(Proverbs 16:25)

Self-love and self-will lead into self-deception, 

whatever be the honesty that would oppose a conscious wrong.

We need therefore to look to Him who is greater than our heart, that we 

be guided by a wisdom above ourselves.

How terrible to have trusted what one should have judged, lest, to one 

following a way that seemed right, its end 

should be only a way of death!

   

He that hears and knows and follows the voice of Jesus finds 

Him not only the way but the truth and the life.  

Nor can one be too simple in listening to His words open to all. 

This is the Christian highway, and therefore is peace 

and joy, whatever the suffering and danger.

(William Kelly)

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April 24

“And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, arise, and take the young Child and His mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him. . . . And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my Son.” (Matthew 2:13,15)

Was it, then, to save His life that “the young Child” was carried into Egypt?  Did Israel of old leave Egypt to save their lives? Did Shadrach and his companions leave the Chaldean furnace to save their lives? Israel’s life was as safe in Egypt as out of it.  The Jewish children were as little hurt by fire in the furnace as out of it.

Israel left Egypt to witness the glory of Jehovah their Saviour; and so did Israel’s children the Chaldean fires. In like manner, and for the like end, “the young Child” was taken from Judaea, from the wrath of Herod the king.

The Son of God had taken the form of a servant.  He had not come in His own name, but in His Father’s. He had emptied Himself, made Himself of no reputation, and in the fulfilling of that form He began His course while yet but a “young Child”; and He was, among other humiliations, obedient even to a flight into Egypt, as though to save His life from the wrath of the king, for the glory of Him who had sent Him. 

(J. G. Bellett)

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April 25

“The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace.”

(Romans 15:13)

"The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, 

shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

(Philippians 4:7)

Peace that passes understanding is His gift of grace so free;

And the power of His presence is His promise unto me;

Blessed peace, divine contentment from the heart of God above!  

All the shadows turn to sunshine, walking with the Lord of love. 

(Unknown)

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April 26

“Thou art good, and doest good; teach me Thy statutes.”

(Psalm 119:68)

Some people like bitter chocolate and some prefer sweet.  Ancient Mayans in Central America enjoyed chocolate as a beverage and seasoned it with chili peppers.  They liked this “bitter water”, as they called it. Many years later it was introduced in Spain, but the Spaniards preferred chocolate sweet, so they added sugar and honey to counteract its natural bitterness.

Like chocolate, days can be bitter or sweet as well. The seventeenth-century, Brother Lawrence wrote, “if we knew how much God loves us, we would always be ready to receive equally . . .  from His hand the sweet and the bitter.“  Accept the sweet and the bitter equally? This is difficult!  What is brother Lawrence talking about? The key lies in God’s character. The psalmist said of God, “Thou art good, and doest good.”  

Mayans also valued bitter chocolate for its healing and medicinal properties.  Bitter days have value too. They make us aware of our weaknesses and they help us depend more on God.  The psalmist wrote, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Thy statutes (Psalm 119:71).

Let us embrace life today, with its different flavours—reassured of God’s goodness.  Let us say,

"Thou hast dealt well with Thy servant, O Lord, according unto Thy word.” (Psalm 119:65).   

(0ur Daily Bread - Keila Ochoa)

(Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries, Copyright (2018),  Grand Rapids Michigan, Reprinted permission.)

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April 27

"Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows:

yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”

(Isaiah 53:4)

"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.”

(Isaiah 53:5)

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

Isaiah 53:6

Alas! and did my Saviour bleed and did my Sovereign die?

Would He devote that sacred head for sinners such as I?

Was it for sins that I have done He suffered on the tree?

Amazing pity! grace unknown! and love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide and shut His glories in,

When Christ, the great Redeemer, died for man the creature’s sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face while His dear cross appears,

Dissolve my heart in thankfulness, and melt mine eyes to tears.

But drops of grief can ne’er repay the debt of love I owe;

Here, Lord, I give myself away—’tis all that I can do.

(Isaac Watts - 1674-1748)

We never know how deeply our actions affect the lives of others. This hymn by Isaac Watts has certainly touched the hearts of millions through the centuries. After drawing the stark contrasts between the sacrificial death of the mighty Maker and the unworthiness of the sinful creature, he concludes with the consecration, “Here, Lord, I give myself away—’Tis all that I can do.”   

A thirty-year-old blind woman heard a revival choir sing this simple hymn. Stanza after stanza stirred her heart, but when the choir came to the final line, “Here, Lord, I give myself away,” she gave herself away to the Lord as well. That blind lady was Fanny Crosby, who went on to become the greatest writer of gospel songs in the past century. 

We never know how deeply our lives will touch the lives of others.

(William J. Petersen & Randy Petersen)

N.J. Hiebert - 7065

April 28

“Our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we

 look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

(Philippians 3:20)

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:

for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead 

shall be raised incorruptible, and

we shall be changed.

(1 Corinthians 15:52) 

Our earthen vessels break; the world itself grows old;

But Christ our precious dust will take and freshly mould:

He’ll give these bodies vile a fashion like His own;

He’ll bid the whole creation smile, and hush its groan.

(Mary Bowley)

N.J. Hiebert - 7066

April 29

“And when He saw their faith, He said unto him,

Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.”

(Luke 5:20)

Only a step to Jesus!  Believe, and thou shalt live;

Lovingly now He’s waiting, and ready to forgive.

“But where sin abounded,

grace did much more abound.”

(Romans 5:20)

Only a step to Jesus!  A step from sin to grace; 

What has thy heart decided?  The moments fly apace.

“There came unto Him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment,

and poured it on His head, as He sat at meat.”

(Matthew 26:7)

Only a step to Jesus!  O why not come and say,

"Gladly to Thee my Saviour, I give myself away.”

(Treasures From Fanny Crosby)

N.J. Hiebert - 7067

April 30

Psalm 23

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”

I shall not want REST.  “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.”

I shall not want REFRESHMENT.  “He leadeth me beside the still waters.”

I shall not want REVIVING.  “He restoreth my soul.”

I shall not want GUIDANCE.  “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” 

I shall not want COMPANIONSHIP.  “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me.”

I shall not want COMFORT. “Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.” 

I shall not want SUSTENANCE.  “Thou preparest a table before me in the the presence of mine enemies.”

I shall not want JOY.  “Thou anointest my head with oil.”

I shall not want ANYTHING.  “My cup runneth over.” 

I shall not want ANYTHING IN THIS LIFE. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

I shall not want ANYTHING IN ETERNITY.  And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

(Comforted of God -  A. J. Pollock)

N.J. Hiebert - 7068