A Steadfast Anchorby Evelyn P. Johnson An anchor is an instrument attached to a ship which, when cast out, the crew can depend upon to hold the ship securely in one spot. In our lives we have all sorts of anchors to which we attach our faith. My earliest anchor was my parents—and home. Near the home fires and within the loving care of mother and father, I felt safe from all fear and worry. As I grew up this anchor lightened and gave me more and more rein until, finally, I cast it aside for another—the loves of the man I married. Once again I was secure in the warmth of home. Stormy water came with World War II; and the death of my husband, while he was in service, left my three daughters and me without the strong anchor we had depended upon. Somehow I made it through the teenage years of my children. When the last one married, I was completely alone. Shortly thereafter, I found love again and remarried. That union, too, was broken when death claimed my second husband. It was then that I realized how transient all my anchors had been, and I felt a vacuum in my life that could not be filled. In my groping for something to cling to, I turned to the Bible. The Scriptures told me to "cleave unto the Lord" (Joshua 23:8) and it was there I found the promise that "the foundation of God standeth sure" (2Timothy 2:19). It is only natural that we cherish family relationships and take pride in our homes, but we will find that all this is temporal. We live in an ever-changing world where there are always events to break into our happiness, or new occurrences to throw us into a tempest of confusion. It is then we need the stronger anchor of faith in Christ.When we place all our faith in Him, look to Him for guidance and trust all our cares to Him, then we have a steadfast ANCHOR that will never let us down. If we cling to Him, it will be impossible to drift entirely away. And when we are faced with the inevitable trials of life, we can overcome them with His help. Trials, discouragements. and disappointments still come to me daily, but the love of my Saviour never fails to help me rise above them. His love is all-abiding and His sacrifice was all-encompassing. I know I can rely on Him as a spiritual Anchor through all  adversities because "hope we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and steadfast" (Hebrews 6:19).

Growing Faith Through Prayer

Genuine, authentic faith must be definite and free of doubt. It is not general in character or a mere belief in the being, goodness, and power of God. It is a faith which believes that the things which “he saith, shall come to pass.”  As faith is specific, so the answer will also be definite. “He shall have whatsoever he saith.” Faith and prayer select the things, and God pledges Himself to do the very things which faith and persistent prayer name and ask Him to accomplish. We might also translate Mark 11:24 this way: “All things whatsoever you pray and ask for, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.”  Perfect faith has always in its keeping what perfect prayer asks for. Our major concern is our faith—the problems of its growth and the actions of its strong development. A faith which holds onto the very thing it asks for, without wavering, doubt, or fear—that is the faith we need. We need faith, like a pearl of great price, in the process and practice of prayer.

The above statement about faith and prayer quoted by Jesus is of supreme importance. Faith must be definite and specific. It must be an unqualified, unmistakable request for the things asked for. It should not be a vague, indefinite, shadowy thing. It must be something more than an ideal belief in God’s willingness and ability to do something for us. It should be a definite, specific asking for, and expecting the things for which we ask.

Note Mark 11:23,

“Whosoever . . . shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” Just like the faith and the request is definite, so the answer will be definite. The giving is not something other than the things prayed for, but the actual things sought and named.   ~E.M. Bounds

Remembering my dad on Father's Day. His everyday attire would be overalls and a cap or a straw hat. He was a hard worker. Always up at the crack of dawn to milk the cows, separate the milk, and feed the calves. When he was through, he'd head back to the house for breakfast, which my mom had prepared. ♥  Picture was taken in June, 1958.

Charles E. Knuth November 3, 1894 - April 11, 1977

A Name I Highly Treasure

by Oscar C. Eliason

I’ve learned to know a name I highly treasure,

Oh, how it thrills my spirit through and through!

O precious name, beyond degree or measure,

My heart is stirred whene’er I think of You!

 

My heart is stirred whene’er I think of Jesus,

That blessed name which sets the captive free,

The only name through which I find salvation

No name on earth has meant so much to me.

 

That name brings gladness to a soul in sorrow;

It makes life’s shadows and its clouds depart;

Brings strength in weakness for today,

tomorrow; That name brings healing

to an aching heart.

 

That name still lives and will live on forever,

While kings and kingdoms will forgotten be.

Through mist or rain, ‘twill be beclouded never;

That name shall shine and shine eternally.

 

My heart is stirred whene’er I think of Jesus,

That blessed name which sets the captive free,

The only name through which I find salvation

No name on earth has meant so much to me.

~~~~~~~~~~

The Power of Christian Song

Author Unknown

There’s something about a fine old hymn

That can stir the heart of a man;

That can reach to the goal of

his inmost soul

Such as no mere preaching can.

 

It’s more than the tune of

the song he sings

And it’s more than the poet’s rhyme—

It’s the Spirit of God working

through these things

That gives them their power sublime!

 

 So we thank Thee, Lord,

for the fine old hymns;

May we use them again and again

As we seek to save from a hopeless grave

The souls of our fellow men!

Grandma’s Hands

Author Unknown

Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. She didn’t move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands. When I sat down beside her she didn’t acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if she was okay.

Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at the same time, I asked her if she was okay. She raised her head and looked at me and smiled. “Yes, I’m fine, thank you for asking,” she said in a clear strong voice.

“I didn’t mean to disturb you, Grandma, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were okay,” I explained to her.

“Have you ever looked at your hands,” she asked. “I mean really looked at your hands?” I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making.

Grandma smiled and related this story:

“Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled, shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life.

“They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor. They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war.

“They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special. They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse.

“They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn’t understand. 

“They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well, these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer.

“These hands are the mark of where I’ve been and the ruggedness of life. But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when He leads me Home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ.” 

I will never look at my hands the same again. But, I remember God reached out and took my grandma’s hands and led her Home. When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and husband, I think of grandma. I know she has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God. I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face.

FRIENDS

by Horace G. Halse

Of all the many blessings that our gracious Father sends,

I thank Him most of all today for loyal-hearted friends;

Friends who know about my faults and keep on loving still,

Friends whose friendship changes not with happy days or ill,

Friends to whom my inmost secrets safely I confide,

Friends who make me happy just to have them by my side;

Yes! of all the many blessings that our gracious Father sends,

I thank Him most of all today for loyal-hearted friends.

I like my friends to meet each other—

those for whom I care,

I feel their friendship’s worth so much I want the rest to share;

Friendship’s like the miracle of loaves in Galilee,

Though shared by many others, there’s none the less for me,

And since I’ve thought of you, dear friend, in friendship’s closest tie,

I’ve longed to introduce you to a Friend, for He and I ~

Spend many hours together in a happy solemn tryst,

How I wish that you might know Him!

My best friend, Jesus Christ.

When God Makes Up His Mind

"For I am the Lord. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass." Ezekiel 12:25 NKJV

There are two possible explanations for what happened in Swan Quarter, North Carolina, in 1876. It was either the most astounding coincidence, or an act of God literally. The Methodist Episcopal Church South needed a new building, so when somebody donated a lot on Oyster Creek Road they accepted. It was low-lying land so they constructed a sturdy little white-frame church and put it up on brick pilings. Days later a storm lashed the town and those within sight of Oyster Creek Road witnessed something amazing. The church building still intact was afloat! The flood had lifted it off its pilings and sent it down the road. They tried to moor it with ropes but the church moved on. At the town centre, as dozens of people watched helplessly, it made a sharp, inexplicable right turn and continued on. Finally, in the same decisive manner it veered off the road. It headed straight for a vacant lot and stopped dead in the centre! The flood waters eventually receded but the building is still there. In fact, 130 years have passed since the church, now called Providence Methodist Church, floated itself to the most desirable property in town. What's amazing is this: The lot where it settled had originally been the congregation's first choice for their building, but landowner Sam Sadler turned them down. The morning after the flood, he presented the pastor with the deed.

  "For I am the Lord. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass?" (Ezek 12:25 NKVJ). No doubt about it; when God makes up His mind, nothing gets in His way!  ~Bill & Debby Gass 

Xanga friends ...

Does anyone know how to download posts from Xanga? There are some very important ones I'd love to save. Thanks for any help.

Carolyn

WHEN YOUR FAITH FAILS

"Man’s  EXTREMITY is God’s  OPPORTUNITY” said the “prince of preachers”—Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Yes, shipmate of mine, when you and I have come to the end of our rope, that’s the time to tie a prayer knot and hang on. Your extremity is God’s opportunity to help you.

The Apostle Peter discovered this in a dramatic way one night on a Palestinian sea. Peter and the other disciples, were in a boat when suddenly a storm arose. It tossed the boat from one side to another. And naturally the men were afraid. To add to their confusion, they all agreed that they saw somebody out there in the storm, walking firmly on the storm-tossed waves.

“It must be a spirit! It must be a ghost!” they exclaimed fearfully, their hearts thumping rapidly. “No, it is I,” Jesus shouted to them. “Be not afraid.” All the disciples took the words at face value except dear old Peter. He replied, “If it’s really you, Lord, tell me to come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “Come!”

With faith and enthusiasm, Peter let himself down the side of the boat and started walking on the water.” As D. L. Moody told a drunken heckler, “It’s easier to walk ON WATER than ON ALCOHOL.”

Well, Peter was well on His way to his goal of being with Christ when suddenly he looked at the raging wind and the white-capped waves and all the faith he had suddenly disappear. Fear always lets a person down, you know, so Peter began to sink. “Lord, save me!” he hollered in desperation.

The Bible says, “And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand and caught him, and said unto him, ‘O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?’”  Now, shipmate of mine, there are three things I want you to remember from this sea adventure

First, don’t condemn Peter because he became fearful. All the other disciples stayed in the boat. Only Peter had the courage and faith to step out on that stormy water. Spectators don’t make history. Participators do. At least Peter made a good beginning. Some people never start anything because they’re afraid of failure.

Second, Peter learned that his faith was not as strong as he thought when he started. He found that fear, like a crouching tiger, lies in the shadows of all of our minds just waiting for the opportune moment to pounce on us.

As the Bible says, “He that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.” None of us is as strong in the Christian faith as we like to think. We all need to confess, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”

Third, Peter discovered that even when his faith failed, all hope was not gone, for underneath were Christ’s everlasting arms.If his faith wouldn’t have failed him, he never would have fully understood the mercy and concern of the Lord who reaches out to save a soul that’s sinking.

If Peter would be living today, I’m sure his favorite gospel song would be, “LOVE LIFTED ME . . . When nothing else could help, LOVE LIFTED ME.”

Yes, shipmate of mine, even where our faith seems to fail, when we feel unable to reach heaven through prayer, the Lord is still with us. He does not condemn us. Rather, He reaches out His arms of love and saves us from sudden destruction.

Taken from The Log of the Good Ship Grace - Volume 32 – Number 28 - 1966

TUNNEL VISION

 

Jesus told them, "Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen – the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor." – Matthew 11:4-5 NLT

I was thinking the other day about blinders. You've probably seen a horse wearing blinders before. They are used to keep the horse's eyes focused on its destination, by preventing them from seeing anything but what is immediately in front of them. Without those coverings, the horse can become easily distracted. With blinders, the horse is only aware of what is ahead of it. For horses, blinders are useful.

Sometimes, people wear blinders too. They aren't physical blinders, mind you, but ones of the heart and mind that serve to focus our attention. These blinders can serve a positive role, but, oftentimes, they are negative, especially when we become focused on our problems and miss the bigger picture of what God is doing.

For an example, the Gospel of Matthew relates a story about John the Baptist. From prison, John the Baptist sends his disciples to ask Jesus if he is the One. As a result of his ministry, John had been thrown into prison. Now, this same man who clearly recognized Jesus as the Messiah, suddenly couldn't see past his own circumstances. His circumstances had blinded him to the bigger picture, causing him to doubt who Jesus was. Jesus‘ response to John's question is found in Matthew 11. He told John's disciples to report to him what they have seen. In essence, Jesus was asking John to remove the blinders caused by his circumstances; to see beyond his cell walls and realize all that Jesus was doing.

What is your vision like? Is it hard to see God working because you have blinders on? Is it hard to believe or trust or take steps of faith because all you can see is what's right in front of you? Sometimes life is not as you thought it would be, and you've put blinders on and can only see life based on your circumstances. Maybe you wonder why God isn't working in your life or showing Himself to you anymore. Perhaps you need to stop wondering where God is and take off the blinders that hinder your vision. Understand that our circumstances never change who God is. Our challenge is to trust God even in the midst of our circumstances.

When you doubt or find it difficult to trust God, know that He wants to help you take off your blinders. Don't get trapped in your circumstances and lose sight of who you know the Lord to be. Rev. Timothy Satryan