Friday, April 25, 2014

Here Am I, Send Me

Today on Jewels of Jesus, the emphasis is placed on the call that we have as Christians. I am sharing some of my personal story and the call that I recieved to serve in Nicaragua.

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Thursday, April 24, 2014

But the Greatest of These is Love!

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned , and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 
4 Charity suffereth long , and is kind ; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself , is not puffed up , 
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly , seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked , thinketh no evil; 
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 
8 Charity never faileth : but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail ; whether there be tongues, they shall cease ; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away . 
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 
10 But when that which is perfect is come , then that which is in part shall be done away . 
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly ; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known . 
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 KJV



Blessings to you as you love as Jesus does!

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Would We Truly Long for Heaven?

Would We Truly Long for Heaven?
Would we truly long for heaven 
If this life was perfect here,
If we had no pain or heartache,
If we never shed a tear?
 

If we had no disappointments,
And our dreams would all come true,
Could we keep that heav'nly vision
And that deep eternal view?

Would we truly long for Heaven
If we never gave a sigh,
If the old were always taken,
And the young would never die?

If we had no cherished loved ones
Waiting at the eastern gate,
Would we truly long for Heaven
And reunion that awaits?

Would we truly long for Heaven
At the ending of the road,
If our backs were never bleeding
From the burden of the load?

If the sun was always shining,
If we never felt a gale,
Would we long for Heaven’s Harbour
To be safe within the veil?
Would we truly long for Heaven
And the bliss of yonder shore,
If we had no loved ones tugging
On the line at Heaven’s door?

If our precious family circle
Never was broken here below,
Would we truly long for Heaven
Where our loved ones we shall know?

Yes, dear Savior, we are longing
To be safe on Heaven’s shore,
And these trials only make us
Long for Heaven more and more.

And we see that Thou art using
Every trial of each day
As a tug from Heaven’s anchor
Just to pull us Heaven’s way.
 
--Elizabeth Drudge

This song really struck a chord this weekend as I listen to the Buffalo Valley Men's Octet at Wilkes-Barre Mennonite Church Sunday morning. If my life was perfect, what would I have to look forward too? If no one ever died, who would I miss? 

Then I thought, do I truly long for heaven with each passing day? Does each day find me longing for the day when I will see my Savior's face? Scriptures reveal the day is fast approaching - 

"18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye 
have heard that antichrist shall come, even 
now are there many antichrists; whereby we 
know that it is the last time.(1 John 2:18)

Many false teachers are in our presence, attempting to teach "new" doctrine and doing away with "old" doctrine. But God's Word is unchanging! He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

My challenge to you is to truly long for heaven. Stay strong in the True faith of God as we are in the last days. Heaven awaits for those who have remained faithful to the calling of God on their lives. some final Scripture for you -

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary
 the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, 
seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8)

5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (Revelations 21:5-7)

The joy that awaits us truly outweighs the pleasure and luxury of this world!

Truly longing for heaven!

Friday, April 11, 2014

Thank You for Being Kind

Thank you for being kind!
Five simple words, but how they stopped me in my tracks. Made me think, reflect back on my actions and wonder what had been the reason behind those words. And I was reminded of the words of my Saviour in Matthew 25:

"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed theeOr when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matt 25:34-40(KJV)

I was convicted as I thought of my actions from day to day. Did I truly strive to make a difference in the life of an individual who I may never see again? Did I stop to listen to the person who was lonely and just needed someone to talk to? Did I give a glass of water to a little one? Stop and see the little house the little girl had made?

Or did I turn my back on the lonely individual? Frown at the little girl who just wanted someone to look at her little house? Hurry on my path, even though it would have taken a scarce minute to hand the individual a glass of water?

Have I taken time today to place myself in another's shoes? Feel what they may be feeling? Loneliness because their family is far away? Sadness because a loved one has passed on? Joy at the birth of a new soul? Rejoice at the small steps their little child is taking?

Do I truly care about the individuals that I see each and every day? 

The challenge I leave for you and for me is to take time to listen. Listen to the heart cry. Listen to the heart rejoice. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of the my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Let the love of Christ in your life, reflect who you are. A new being, a caring soul. Be willing to listen and place them in the care of the Father. Not only will you be rewarded with simple words as "thank you for being kind," but also the eternal reward is one that I can't even begin to imagine. Do as Jesus did and take them "on your knees." 


Blessings to you as you "listen" to others.