DON’T QUIT …

I have a shorter version of this little poem on my fridge and always seem to focus on it at just the right moment (if you know what I mean) …

DON’T QUIT

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow–
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out–
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit–
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

– Author unknown

WHY AREN’T THE SHEPHERDS PROTECTING THE SHEEP?

Just wanted to share something that happened last month. We went back to the nursing home (where my father resided) to visit some of the residents. I was chatting with a sweet elderly Christian lady when it came out during our conversation that she had gone to a Catholic meeting (held within the facility) and was learning to pray the rosary. I shared with her as gently as I could about the danger etc. She listened politely and appeared to receive what I said but I am not sure she understood or if she thought I was being critical. This woman told me she was raised in the protestant church. My point is that during her whole life in “church” she never learned of the grave danger of Rome.

During the same visit another precious believer, another very sweet lady, told me that she watches TBN all the time. She’s a young woman confined to a nursing home so she does the best she can, not realizing that she cannot trust TBN. I told her to be cautious because TBN promotes Rome etc. Again, I’m not sure if she received what I said or thought I was being critical.

I don’t think I would be loving these people if I just kept quiet, so I speak. But when what you say is not backed up by other believers it’s difficult. I want to add that both of these women have full mental capacity.

(Matthew 7:15) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

PILGRIM’S PROGRESS by John Bunyan

Pilgrim’s Progress is an excellent book.  It depicts the true Christian experience as we walk through this world …

Read free online edition  here …

PILGRIM’S PROGRESS

LEARNING FROM OUR TRIALS

Luke 6:22-23 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

When we suffer for speaking truth we can also rejoice because we know that God’s Word has been preached and precious seed has been sown.  We can rejoice because the Gospel has gone forth and souls have had the opportunity to respond to the Gospel call.

Luke 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

Family Bible  Notes:

Christ, in his providence, tries the hearts of men, and gives them opportunity to see themselves, and to manifest to others whether they love him supremely. If they do and show this by giving up whatever is incompatible with his will, they greatly increase their present enjoyment, and secure eternal life.

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Albert Barnes Commentary:

Deceiving your own selves. It is implied here, that by merely hearing the word but not doing it, they would deceive their own souls. The nature of this deception was this, that they would imagine that that was all which was required, whereas the main thing was that they should be obedient. If a man supposes that by a mere punctual attendance on preaching, or a respectful attention to it, he has done all that is required of him, he is labouring under a most gross self-deception. And yet there are multitudes who seem to imagine that they have done all that is demanded of them when they have heard attentively the word preached. Of its influence on their lives, and its claims to obedience, they are utterly regardless.

Acts 7:59-60 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

We forgive.  We want to see people saved and well.  We do not want to see anyone harmed, even if they have harmed us.

Romans 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

John Wesley’s Notes:

The Lord grant we may find mercy in that day; and may it also be imparted to those who have differed from us! yea, to those who have censured and condemned us for things which we have done from a desire to please him, or refused to do from a fear of offending him.

ARE YOU WASHED?

Our lives are busy, busy, busy.

We are concerned about (and distracted by) so many things.

In the process most neglect the most important thing in the whole entire world.

So I ask …

ARE YOU WASHED IN THE BLOOD?

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Refrain

Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Refrain

When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Refrain

Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb!

Refrain

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/r/aruwashd.htm

See  …

THE BLOOD ATONEMENT

SALVATION