The Birds of the Air.

So Jesus was saying, "What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it?

It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”  Luke 13:18,19

In the spring I watch the birds from my balcony. They wing their way back and forth from the large tree a few feet away from my apartment building. They bring food back to their nests and I can hear the little ones chirping.

In the winter, every evening, dozens of birds fly back home into the same tree. They chatter away for awhile before going to sleep. I don't know why, but this always makes me smile. I guess because I know it is wonderful to have a home to sleep in. 

Jesus said, "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?"  Matthew 6:26

I have read hundreds of stories of how God has provided food for those who have none. If we are homeless, penniless with no food, I know God will take care of us if we ask Him. 

"Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows."  Matthew 10:29-31

When you see a bird, remember God loves them and is with them. Then think of how much God must love you - a child of his in a broken world. He loves you - I know it because he loves me and I am a mess! lol  

Speaking to the Dead.

Written by Dwight L. Moody (abridged)

I want to say right here, that I think in this day a great many children of God are turning aside and committing a grievous sin. I don’t know as they think it is a sin, but if we examine the Scriptures, I am sure we will find that it is a great sin.

We are told that the Comforter is sent into the world to “guide us into all truth,” and if He is sent for that purpose, do we need any other guide? Need we hide in the darkness, consulting with mediums, who profess to call up the spirits of the dead?

Do you know what the Word of God pronounces against that fearful sin? I believe it is one of the greatest sins we have to contend with at the present day. It is dishonoring to the Holy Spirit for me to go and summon up the dead and confer with them, even if it were possible.

I would like you to notice the 10th chapter of 1st Chronicles, and 13th verse: “So Saul died for his transgression which he had committed against the Lord, even against the Word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it; and inquired not of the Lord: therefore He slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.” God slew him for this very sin.

Of the two sins that are brought against Saul here, one is that he would not listen to the Word of God, and the second is that he consulted a familiar spirit. He was snared by this great evil, and sinned against God. Saul fell right here, and there are a great many of God’s professed children to-day who think there is no harm in consulting a medium who pretends to call up some of the departed to inquire of them. But how dishonoring it is to God who has sent the Holy Spirit into this world to guide us “into all truth.”

There is not a thing that I need to know, there is not a thing that is important for me to know; there is not a thing that I ought to know but the Spirit of God will reveal it to me through the Word of God, and if I turn my back upon the Holy Spirit, I am dishonoring the Spirit of God, and I am committing a grievous sin.

You know we read in Luke, where that rich man in the other world wanted to have some one sent to his father’s house to warn his five brothers, Christ said They have Moses and the prophets, and if they will not hear them, they will not hear one though he rose from the dead. Moses and the prophets, the part of the Bible then completed, that is enough.

But a great many people now want something besides the Word of God, and are turning aside to these false lights There is another passage which reads, “And when they shall say unto you, seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep and mutter: Should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?” What is that but table-rapping, and cabinet-hiding? If it was a message from God, do you think you would have to go into a dark room and put out all the lights? In secret my Master taught nothing. God is not in that movement, and what we want, as children of God, is to keep ourselves from this evil.  And then notice, the verse following, quoted so often out of its connection. “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

 It is folly for a man or woman to think that they can get through this evil world without the light of God’s Word and the guidance of the Divine Spirit. God sent Him to guide us through this great journey, and if we seek to work independent of Him, we shall stumble into the deep darkness of eternity’s night. But bear in mind the Words of the Spirit of God; if you want to be guided, you must study the Word; because the Word is the light of the Spirit. 

In the 14th chapter of John and 26th verse, we read: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” Again in John xvi, 13: “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.

The Holy Spirit in Us.

Photograph: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Freska_u_kaloti_krstionice,_manastir_%C5%BDi%C4%8Da,_Srbija.jpg

"In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."

Romans 8:26-27

I love this verse because sometimes if I am feeling overwhelmed I remember it and ask the Holy Spirit to complete my prayers. 

"Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" 

"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:35,38,39

I remember when my husband was very ill in the hospital. He had forgotten who he was, where he was and who I was. He had forgotten everything and everyone. But he said as he was laying there thinking he did remember Jesus and God. He felt peace of mind because he knew God was with him. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Love Fulfills the Law.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22,23

Excerpt from the book, "Secret Power," by Dwight L. Moody

The fruit of the Spirit, as you find it in Galatians, begins with love.

There are nine graces spoken of in the sixth chapter, and of the nine different graces Paul puts love at the head of the list; love is the first thing—the first in that precious cluster of fruit. Some one has put it in this way: that all the other eight can be put in the word love.

Joy is love exulting; peace is love in repose; long suffering is love on trial;
gentleness is love in society; goodness is love in action;
faith is love on the battlefield; meekness is love at school; and temperance is love in training.

So it is love all the way; love at the top; love at the bottom, and all the way along down these graces; and if we only just brought forth the fruit of the Spirit, what a world we would have; there would be no need of any policemen; a man could leave his overcoat around without some one stealing it; men would not have any desire to do evil.

Says Paul, “Against such there is no law;” you don’t need any law. A man who is full of the Spirit don’t need to be put under law; don’t need any policemen to watch him. We could dismiss all our policemen; the lawyers would have to give up practicing law, and the courts would not have any business.

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”  Mark 12:30,31

Thirsty for An Answer.

“Come, all you who are thirsty,

come to the waters;

and you who have no money,

come, BUY and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without cost.

Why spend money on what is not bread,

and your labor on what does not satisfy?

Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,

and you will delight in the richest of fare.

Give ear and come to me;

listen, that you may live...

Seek the Lord while he may be found;

call on him while he is near.

Let the wicked forsake their ways

and the unrighteous their thoughts.

Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,

and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,”

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

As the rain and the snow

come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

You will go out in joy

and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

will clap their hands.

Instead of the thorn bush will grow the juniper,

and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.

This will be for the Lord’s renown,

for an everlasting sign,

that will endure forever.”  Isaiah 55

What, Me Worry?

There is a lot of talk today on how evil and frightening the world is becoming. Wars of all kinds, terrorism and natural disasters fill the headlines. It is natural to be concerned, but I was reading Psalm 36 this morning and God's words tell us what to do when we feel this way.

Do not fret because of those who are evil

or be envious of those who do wrong;

for like the grass they will soon wither,

like green plants they will soon die away.

Trust in the Lord and do good;

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Take delight in the Lord,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in him and he will do this:

He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,

your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still before the Lord

and wait patiently for him;

do not fret when people succeed in their ways,

when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;

do not fret—it leads only to evil.

For those who are evil will be destroyed,

but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

Psalm 36

Instead of looking at what evil there is in the world, let us look up to God for strength, help and hope.

Making the Best of Everything.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." 

Philippians 4:8

A Triple Best.

by Arch. Alexander  (abridged)

Some time ago I came across the life-motto of George Stephenson, the "father of the locomotive," as he has been called. He said, "Make the best of everything; think the best of everybody; hope the best for yourself." 

First, MAKE THE BEST OF EVERYTHING.  In every set of circumstances possible or conceivable, there are always, at any rate, two ways of acting.  You can look for the helpful, bright, and hopeful things, and "freeze on" to these meantime.  Or, you can select all the doleful, somber aspects, and sit down in the dust with them.  Now, if it did not matter which a man did, there would be no good saying any more.  But it has long since become abundantly clear that the man who makes the best of his circumstances, however hard they be, comes most happily out of them in the end.  In other words, it pays to make the best of things. It is the cheery people who recover quickest when they are sick.  There are men who, if their house should fall in ruins about them, will contrive some sort of shelter meantime with the broken beams!  

Nobody pretends that it is easy, when we have failed, to gather our powers together and try again.  But nearly all the big men have had to do that very thing.  It certainly is not easy, when you have a heavy burden of your own, to spare a cheery word or a hand of sympathy for somebody who is really much better off, but there are plenty of people doing it at this moment.  Nero's palace is the last place in this world where you would expect to find a company of loyal Christian folk.  Yet there were such people there, "the saints of Cæsar's household."  And the grace of God that made that possible can achieve all these lesser wonders too.

Second, THINK THE BEST OF EVERYBODY.  The way to get the best out of people is to think the best about them. Let a man see that you have good hopes of him, and recognize what is best in him, and, in ways of which science can give no explanation, you add to his chances of reaching better things.  In any case, who would not wish to stand on Christ's side rather than on Judas's.  "This ointment might have been sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor." That is Judas.  "Let her alone.  Why trouble ye her?  She hath wrought a good work in me.  She hath done what she could."  That is Jesus Christ.

Third,--Don't leave yourself out of the picture. 
 HOPE THE BEST FOR YOURSELF.  Hope the best for yourself, and you are already a good way on the road to it.  Suggestion is a tremendously powerful instrument, even when you make it yourself. By self suggestion, the psychologists tell us, you can influence your actions, your character, and your general outlook in a wonderful fashion, either to your advantage or your hurt.  Therefore, they say, be careful never to suggest evil to yourself.  Never say to yourself, "I'm going to make a mess of this," or "I am not fit for that." Suggest success, happiness, health, and you beckon them to you.  

Hope the best for yourself, and you pave the way for its coming. On higher planes, the same holds true.  Hope on, and, though you fall you will rise again.  Believe that you will be enabled to face your trouble or temptation, and you will be brought through it somehow. Even when the end of life is near, hope still, for beyond this best there is a better, and God's road winds uphill all the way. 

But, you say, this is just faith.  I know it is.  Run your hopes for yourself up as high as you can reach, and they will touch God and become faith.  That is why you are to hope the best for yourself because God the Father loves you, and desires the best for you too.

I believe in the optimism which Stephenson's motto embodies, because I believe in the Fatherhood of God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  That is why I counsel you to go on hoping that the best is yet to be.  Not that we can earn it at all, or that we deserve it at all.  But--because God, our Father.  And, for the daring and faith of that saying, this sufficient ground.--Because--Jesus Christ.