Internet Missionary

 

  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. 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. The prophecy of the Man of Sorrows.  From Bible Gateway's verse of the day for today, the prophecy represents the foretelling of Christ, and to a lesser extent, the suffering of the believer in those early years of the Church.  Indeed, as is said that the word Martyr comes from Justin Martyr, one of the famous Christian apologists of his time, Christ and all the prophets ultimately were martyrs, except for John, who presumably lived to die of old age on the Isle of Patmos.   Of course, Christ is the ultimate martyr, slain by the dictates of an interpretation of the Mosaic Law, and we must remember that the prophets Isaiah and others often didn't meet natural ends e...

My own belief is that salvation is open to everybody and anybody regarding circumstances, but there are some traditions in the various denominations that disagree. Mind, God already knows who will choose him, but we don't know: none of us could know, except for God. Even murderers have being saved by God's mercy, had their eyes opened to love and truth; doesn't it seem plain that the love of God is available to anyone? God knows all. God loves all, or most everyone. God has the power to change your circumstances. We've witness a push-pull in the apostle's writings, talking about being content, that he can be content whether he is in need or wealthy, and though God already knows your circumstances, God listens to his children.   So take your problem into prayer and God will hear! You are loved, and though you are but one piece in God's plan, you are precious to God.

 

 

 As to the future, we are all of us blind and cannot see an hour before us; but the LORD Jesus will lead us even to our journey's end. Blessed be His name! -Charles H Spurgeon

  They say that springs of sweet fresh water well up amid the brine of salt seas; that the fairest Alpine flowers bloom in the wildest and most rugged mountain passes; that the noblest psalms were the outcome of the profoundest agony of soul. Be it so. And thus amid manifold trials, souls which love God will find reasons for bounding, leaping joy. Though deep call to deep, yet the Lord's song will be heard in silver cadence through the night. - LB Cowman

 Content made by Thomas Nelson Publisher for Bible Gateway

I was reading Cowman's daily email publication, an older one, about a woman in an unfamiliar land, inconsolable, sent to the local missionary, called by the natives, "Sky Pilot". Sky Pilot talked so much of nature, natural things.  These were the readily available apparent things, and he spoke of these familiar things to give the woman a reference point to God that she could access with her own facility. He spoke of the leaves, and the breeze, and of course the sky, but the earth, as well, to access her "agrarian" or natural reference point with which she could use as a natural mental bridge, through the familiar trappings of the neighborhood, for which to reach out to God, and not only that, but further appreciate God's hand at work in the natural landscape around her.

 

Another day, second day of spring in the Southeast USA.  

  By the way, friends: its the first day of spring in the southeast USA, here at the home of the ministry.  Plants are turning green, and first tender blooms are rising, the sap is running. It's like a renewal, nature's own, and it refreshes the spirit to see it.

*these memes are made for and distributed by Bible Gateway and Thomas Nelson Publisher.  

If we are indeed contending for truth and righteousness, let us not tarry till we have talent, or wealth, or any other form of visible power at our disposal; but with such stones as we find in the brook, and with our own usual sling, let us run to meet the enemy. -Charles Spurgeon 

What was the preparation of the son of Jesse for the songs like unto which none other have ever sounded on this earth? The outrage of the wicked, which brought forth cries for God's help. Then the faint hope in God's goodness blossomed into a song of rejoicing for His mighty deliverances and manifold mercies. Every sorrow was another string to his harp; every deliverance another theme for praise. -Anna Shipton

God loves you. As amazing and improbable as it may seem, it is all--every jot of it--God's plan. It seems amazing and improbable. Indeed, life itself is, by our understanding, amazing and improbable, but here we are, on God's own time, not our own, and leading, marching towards an end.  God foresees and preordains that end, even before time, and he gently nudges us towards the finish. Take heart.   The lesson of faith once learned, is an everlasting acquisition and an eternal fortune made; and without trust even riches will leave us poor.   -LB Cowman site tip jar here.  

Whenever fear comes in and makes us falter, we are in danger of falling into sin. Conceit is to be dreaded, but so is cowardice. "Dare to be a Daniel." Our great Captain should be served by brave soldiers. What a reason for bravery is here! God is with those who are with Him. God will never be away when the hour of struggle comes. Do they threaten you? Who are you that you should be afraid of a man that shall die? Will you lose your situation? Your God whom you serve will find bread and water for His servants. Can you not trust Him? Do they pour ridicule upon you? Will this break your bones or your heart? Bear it for Christ's sake, and even rejoice because of it. -Charles Spurgeon

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.   - Romans 15 (KJV)

"Early twentieth century biologists realized that biological systems are open, autopoietic (self-organizing), complex and emergent, revealing one long truth:  life seeks more life.  God is ahead of us, not behind us, and if we refuse the reality of a self-involving God, we risk everything."    -Center For Christogenesis   site tip jar here.  

 

The world may oppose us, misunderstand us, reject us, and trap us, but no one can cover the heavens from us. The Lord never changes. We should be clear about one thing: do not rejoice in the environment; rather, rejoice in our Lord.    -Watchman Nee

  Be willing to be only a voice, heard but not seen; a mirror whose surface is lost to view, because it reflects the dazzling glory of the sun; a breeze that springs up just before daylight, and says, “The dawn! the dawn!” and then dies away. Do the commonest and smallest things as beneath His eye. If you must live with uncongenial people, set to their conquest by love. If you have made a great mistake in your life, do not let it becloud all of it; but, locking the secret in your breast, compel it to yield strength and sweetness. -George Matheson site tip jar here.

 

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  -Romans 8 KJV  

 

I once thought, "I'm really mature in God.  I've learned so much.  Look at these gems I've dug out!  And I've experienced this, and I've climbed here, and I've looked from the heights."  Then the fog began to roll away, and I realized I hadn't even gotten out of the foothills yet. God just really amazes me. -Bayless Conley  

Both nations and individuals have tried Christianity and abandoned it, because it has been found too difficult; but no man has ever gone through the crisis of deliberately making Jesus Lord and found Him to be a failure. -Oswald Chambers

...sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear... -1 Peter 3 (in other translations "meekness and fear" are interchanged with "gentleness and respect")

Come, then, let us recall the LORD's former lovingkindness. We could not have hoped to be delivered aforetime by our own strength; yet the LORD delivered us. Will He not again save us? We are sure He will. As David ran to meet his foe, so will we. The LORD has been with us, He is with us, and He has said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee," Why do we tremble? Was the past a dream? -Charles H Spurgeon 

 

We feel led to take up and plead some promise from the page of Scripture, under the special impression that it contains a message for us. At such times, in confident faith , we say, “Do as Thou hast said.” There is hardly any position more utterly beautiful, strong, or safe, than to put the finger upon some promise of the Divine word, and claim it. -FB Meyer

It is good for us to remember how strong He is—and how weak we are.    -AW Tozer site tip jar here.

an interesting article on Godly solitude on Catholic Exchange.   read it here.

 

 

  Walking God's way, walking the way of Jesus Christ, because they are wonderful, regardless of mankind's sense of fashion or decorum; His ways is higher than our ways.

An article here from Christogenesis.org