Be Thou My Vision

  I think this is an excellent article, so I am sharing it with you. It is from one of Pacific Garden Mission's newsletters. They are a great ministry who minister to homeless men, women and children in Chicago. Check out their websites: www.pgm.org and www.unshackled.org   They have been a Gospel Lighthouse in the Chicago area since 1877.   It seems that the devil likes to attack us after times of great victory in our Christian lives. He uses several methods. He tempts us with thoughts and sights which will hinder our spiritual life. Or he will do his best to let our circumstances discourage us. I believe our strongest weapon against such attacks is God's Word. When we read in Matthew 3:16-17 we see an example of great spiritual victory in the Baptism of Jesus. However, immediately after that we are told in Matthew 4:1 "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil." When we read of the three temptations, we sho...

Christ wants the best. He in the far-off ages Once claimed the firstling of the flock, the                 finest of the wheat, And still He asks His own with with gentlest pleading To lay their highest hopes and and brightest                  talents at His feet. He'll not forget the feeblest service,                humblest love; He only asks that of our store we give to Him                The best we have. Christ gives the best. He takes the hearts we offer; And fills them with His glorious beauty,                joy and peace; And in His service as we're growing stronger, The calls to great achievements still increase. The richest gifts for us on earth, or in                 the heavens above, Ar...

   Our Reason For Being         -by William MacDonald In planning your career, you should remember this: the real goal of your life is to glorify God and to represent His interests on earth. Everything else is incidental. Christians have bigger business than to give their best to the unworthy world. We are born to soar with eagle's wings, not to crawl in muck.  The believer has one great occupation - to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. The only possible justification for a 'job' or a 'profession' is to meet daily needs and to be able to give everything above that to the work of the Lord. The big problem today is how to keep 'apostleship' and 'tent-making' in proper balance. The 'tent-making industry' wants an ever increasing share of your time and your strength and your skill. The big moguls don't have any vision when it comes to 'apostleship.' All they're interested in is more and bigger and finer tents...

    Abbotskerswell, Devon, England.   Leisure What is this life, if full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep or cows. No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like stars at night. No time to turn at Beauty; glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance. No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began. A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.                                                 -W.H Davies  I read this poem in a wonderful book called "For the Family's Sake" by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay. It is about the value of home in everyone's life. I will share a few excerpts from the book below.      My little sister Lydia and I   ...

(Hebrews vii. 24, 25.) Sweet to trace His toiling footsteps      Here amidst the desert sands; Bear in memory all His sorrow,     Thorn-clad head and pierced hands! Learn His love beside the manger,     Learn it on the stormy wave, By the well, and in the garden-     Learn it by the Cross and grave. Yet not only in remembrance     Do we watch that stream of love- Still a mighty torrent flowing     From the throne of God above. Still a treasure all uncounted-     Still a story half untold- Unexhausted and unfathomed,     Fresh as in the days of old. Christ at God's right hand unwearied     By our tale of shame and sin, Day by day, and hour by hour,     Welcoming each wanderer in; On His heart amidst the glory,     Bearing all our grief and care. Every burden, ere we feel it,     Weighed and measured in His pr...

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."                                                                                         Psalm 119:105 The old fashioned lamp referred to here is hand-held, for personal use in the night. What a lovely picture of the Scriptures. It is absolutely essential to grasp the tenets and principles of the Word of God for oneself. To trim the wick and replenish the oil is a daily necessity- and daily reading and study and meditation is essential to survive in this dark world. Are you reading the Bible, daily looking for that light and guidance?  -Brian Russell Oh, Word divine! Oh, Book sublime! Oh, Wisdom so transcending! We look to Thee, we cling to Thee For guiding light unending. S. F...

                                                   Joys are flowing like a river,                                                   Since the Comforter has come;                                                   He abides with us forever,                                                   Makes the trusting heart His home.                                            ...