Weekend Words

From Our Daily Bread...

Artist: Abbot Fuller Graves - American painter (1859 - 1936)

Love Beyond Boundaries - Read Psalm 103:8-17

"So great is his love for those who fear him." - Psalm 103:11

"God has been so good to us!  I want to thank Him for our anniversary."  Terry's voice was steady, and the tears in her eyes showed her sincerity.  Those in our small group were deeply moved.  We knew what past years had held for Terry and her husband.  Though a believer, Robert suffered from the sudden onset of severe mental illness and had taken the life of their four-year-old daughter.  He would be institutionalized for decades, but Terry visited him, and God did a beautiful healing work, helping her forgive.  Despite profound heartache, their love for each other grew.  

Love and forgiveness like that could only come from one source.  David writes about God this way, "He does not treat us as our sins deserve ... As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:10, 12).

The mercy God shows us comes through His expansive love: "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love" for us (v.11).  Love so profound compelled Hm to go to the depths of the cross and grave to take away our sins so that He could bring all who "receive him" (John 1:12) home to Himself.

Terry was right.  "God has been so good to us!"  His love and forgiveness reach beyond unthinkable boundaries and offer us life that never ends.

- James Banks

From In Green Pastures...

Artist: William Kay Blacklock - British painter (1872 - 1924)

Serving Christ in His People.

When we lay our lives at Christ's feet in consecration, and tell him that we want to serve him with them, he gives them back to us again, and bids us use them in serving his people, our fellow-men.  In the humblest and the lowliest of those who bear Christ's image Christ himself comes to us.  We do not know when he stands before us in a lowly one who needs our sympathy or our help.  It would be a sad thing if we turned him away unfed from our doors some day, or neglected to visit him in his sickness.  Let us not say we love Christ if we are not ready to serve those whom he sends to us to be served.

Weekend Words

 From Be Still and Know...

"The joy of the Lord is your strength." - Nehemiah 8:10

Many physical fitness programs have been developed to produce strong bodies.  There are programs for developing strong muscles, programs for exercise and diet, programs for taking a series of vitamins and minerals.  This is done to increase the strength and energy needed for each day.

In God's Word we are given a prescription for increasing our strength.  One ingredient of this prescription is joy; and inner joy produced by the Spirit of God.

Nehemiah and his people were observing the Feast of Tabernacles.  As the law was read the people began to weep over their sins.  But Nehemiah and Ezra said, "This day is holy to our Lord, and be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold" (Nehemiah 8:10, Amplified).

Nehemiah encouraged them to rejoice in the Lord as they read the Word.

There is a special inner joy that overflows from the heart.  It shines from the eyes.  It gives special beauty to the lives of people.  The secret of this joy is the Lord, for He is the source of the joy.

When we have the joy of the Lord we are strong in the midst of trials and tensions, fears and frustrations of life.  Joy gives strength to our bodies and spirit.

The Amplified Bible reads, "Strength and stronghold."  He who trusts and rejoices in the Lord has a strong fortress in which he is safe.  The joy of the Lord transforms our weakness into His strength.  It is not every joy that brings strength, but the joy of the Lord.  His joy is the joy of salvation, the joy of a yielded will, the joy of fellowship with Him, the joy of His steadfast love.

Do we know that inner joy that brings strength because we spend time with Him who is its source?

Someone has said, "The oil of gladness reduces friction and eases the wear and tear of living."

A joyful heart gives a joyful face.

"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine" (Proverbs 17:22).

From Behold the Lilies...

"And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.  And all the people saw him walking and praising God." - Acts 3:8-9

Did this man overdo it with his thanksgiving?  He had something to be thankful for, and he was not ashamed to let others know about it.  In his gratefulness, he probably even forgot that there were onlookers.

Can those around us tell by our lives that we appreciate what Christ has done for us?  Do we express our thanks to God?  Or are we like the nine lepers who, although glad to be healed, forgot to say, "Thankyou"?

Do we dwell upon God's benefits to us, or do we think negatively?  Do we lift our hearts in praise, or are we prone to discontentment?  Our circumstances do not determine whether we rejoice or not.  As the saying goes, "If Christians do not rejoice, it is because they do not live up to their privileges."  May it be our common experience to give thanks in everything.

Be of Good Cheer - There's Nothing to Fear

Cheerful thoughts like sunbeams lighten up the darkest fears,

For when the heart is happy there's no time for tears...,

For the nature of our attitudes towards circumstantial things

Determines our acceptance of the problems that life brings.

And since fear and dread and worry cannot help in any way,

It's much healthier and happier to be cheerful every day.

And if you'll only try it, you will find, without a doubt,

A cheerful attitude's something no one should be without,

For when the heart is cheerful, it cannot be filled with fear,

And without fear, the way ahead seems more distinct and clear,

And we realize there's nothing that we must face alone,

For our heavenly Father loves us, and our problems are His own.

- Helen Steiner Rice

Weekend Words

From Our Daily Bread...

Retrieval Practice: Read Exodus 20:8-11

"Remember the Sabbath day." - Exodus 20:8

Have you ever been in the middle of telling a story and then stopped, stuck on a detail like a name or date you couldn't recall?  We often chalk it up to age, believing that memory fades with time.  But recent studies no longer support that view.  In fact, they indicate our memory isn't the problem; it's our ability to retrieve those memories.  Without a regular rehearsal of some kind, memories become harder to access.

One of the ways to improve that retrieval ability is by regularly scheduled actions or experiences of recalling a certain memory.  Our Creator God knew this, so He instructed the children of Israel to set aside one day a week for worship and rest. In addition to the physical rest that comes from such a respite, we gain an opportunity for mental training, to recall that "in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them" (Exodus 20:11).  It helps us to remember there is a God, and it's not us.

In the rush of our lives, we sometimes lose our grip on the memories of what God has done for us and others.  We forget who keeps close watch over our lives and who promises His presence when we feel overwhelmed and alone.  A break from our routine provides an opportunity for that needed "retrieval practice" - an intentional decision to stop and remember our God and "forget not all his benefits" (Psalm 103:2)

- John Blase

From Oasis of Hope...

Rest and Be Restored

"And He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest awhile." (Mark 6:31a NASB)

"Rest awhile."

You might be saying, "Yeah, right!  Have you seen my life?"

Life has gotten so fast-paced and chaotic.  Everywhere we turn, often at all hours of the day, something or someone is competing for our attention.  Television, computers, smartphones, text messages, email, and social media clamor at us continually.  Our spouses, children, friends, and co-workers have legitimate needs we have to fill.  Where in our hectic, busy lives can we rest awhile?

When Jesus told His disciples to get away by themselves to a secluded place and rest, they had just returned from a busy time of sharing the message of Jesus.  They brought the sad news of John the Baptist's tragic death.  Especially in times of stress and grief, we need to intentionally seek out time alone with the Lord.  If there is something specific causing us unease, we need to leave it for a time so we can be restored and ready to deal with it once again.

Jesus knows of our need for physical, emotional, and spiritual rest.  Being human Himself while on earth, He had the same needs for rest as we have.  Jesus often intentionally went away to spend time alone with God the Father.  By example, He taught us how to live a healthy life of abundance.  Part of doing that included drawing away for rest when He needed it.  He showed us we are not being selfish to care for ourselves in undisturbed rest with Him.  In resting at the feet of Jesus, our souls can be refreshed.  By taking time away from the busyness of life, we are better equipped to deal with it when we return because we are refreshed.

Take some time today, if possible, to intentionally get alone with the Lord and rest in His presence. 

- Jodine Zeitler

"We observe the Sabbath best when we use it for both rest and worship." - Billy Graham

Weekend Words

 From Beside the Still Waters...

Seeing Jesus - Read: Luke 19:1-10, Revelation 1:4-7

"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him." - Revelation 1:7

Today's Bible reading tells about Zacchaeus trying to see Jesus in a crowd.  He was short of stature, so he ran out ahead and climbed into a sycamore tree to see Jesus.  Zacchaeus got the surprise of his life when Jesus saw him and called him by name!  Jesus took special interest in Zacchaeus, and he experienced salvation even though the people considered him a sinner.  Zacchaeus showed real signs of repentance by his promise to give to the poor and to restore fourfold what he had taken wrongfully from others.  

Jesus takes special interest in each one of us too, and He wants us to receive salvation.  Zacchaeus saw Him in His human body, but we see Him with eyes of faith.  John 1:1 tells us that Jesus is the Word, so as we read and study the Word, we are seeing Jesus.  

In Luke 23:8, Herod was "exceeding glad" when he saw Jesus, because he had long desired to see Him.  However, Herod's motive was not right.  He hoped to see Jesus perform a miracle, but Jesus wouldn't do that.  In fact, Herod probably never heard Jesus speak a word.

After Jesus rose from the dead. His followers saw Him but nobody else did.  He appeared to His disciples a number of times, sometimes behind closed doors.  Only His disciples saw Him ascend into heaven.  Soon afterwards His followers began boldly preaching that Jesus had risen from the dead, and they were strongly opposed for it, but they would not stop telling people that they had seen Jesus alive after His resurrection.  Today's key verse says that someday "every eye shall see him."  We as His followers can already see Him today, and we need to watch every day for His return.

Benuel Glick - Palmer, MA

From In Green Pastures...

The Touch of Christ

No one can read the gospel story without being impressed with the marvelous power of Christ's touch.  Wherever it was felt blessing came.  We find ourselves sometimes mourning the loss of his touch, and wishing that we could feel it and get its benediction.  But really we have not lost it.  Christ has indeed passed out of our sight into the heavens, but his hand is stretched out still.  It is laid just as of old upon sufferers, and has lost none of its power to comfort, to heal, to open blind eyes.  Christ lays his hand upon our heads every time we bow at his feet in prayer.  When we are in trouble he comes and comforts us with his warm touch of sympathy.  When we are sick or in pain he is by our bed, and his hand is laid on our fevered brow to give rest and peace.

Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus - 

To reach out and touch Him and say that we love Him.

Open our ears, Lord, and help us to listen:

O Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus.

Weekend Words

From Beside the Still Waters...

True Wisdom - Read: Proverbs 2

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." - Proverbs 9:10

Today's Bible reading shows the importance of seeking wisdom diligently.  True wisdom draws us closer to God and helps us more fully understand the fear of God.  It not only gives us spiritual protection but also keeps us from making foolish choices.  This is well illustrated in Jesus' parable about the wise man who built his house on a rock, and the foolish man who built his house on sand.

True heavenly wisdom is described in James 3:17: "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy."  Clearly there is a great difference between worldly wisdom and godly wisdom.  Worldly wisdom makes a person look good and sound good, but somehow it makes little difference in whether he lives an upright life.  Godly wisdom directly produces godly living.  As today's Bible reading indicates, what we do is just as important as what we say.  True wisdom is not only about talking right; it also requires doing right.  Our words carry the most weight when our walk and our talk agree.

Jesus strongly condemned hypocrisy.  He said of the scribes and Pharisees, "Therefore, whatever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not" (Matthew 23:3).  These leaders had many wise and wonderful things to say, but their lives didn't match their words.  Is it the same way with us?  Is our wisdom only in what we say?  Such wisdom is earthly and has little value.  It is a stumbling block for those who follow us as examples.  Let's pray that God would give us a plentiful supply of the "wisdom that is from above."

Titus Yoder - Thorndike, ME

"Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom." - James 3:13

From Amish Peace...

Light of the World

"You are the light of the world - like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket.  Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house." - Matthew 5:14-15

September is a time when Amish children head back to school.  Many believe that Amish children only attend school in one-room schoolhouses, but many Amish scholars also go to public school.  Once, I even met an Amish man who taught at a public school!

So what is it like to attend public school as an Amish person?  Elizabeth Coblentz, author of The Amish Cook, describes it this way:

When I was at school age, we went to a two-room public school.  First to fourth grade were in one room (the little side), and fifth through eighth was called the "big side".  A room for lunch buckets and coats divided the two.  Then we moved to a different place, which brought us to grade nine and a high school.  Was so different from a country school of eight grades.  At the high school, they served a noon lunch, but who could afford it? ... 

When our eight children went to public school where lunch was prepared, I thought it was healthier to let them eat a warm meal at school.  Made less work to pack the lunch and keep those buckets clean.

As you can imagine, Amish students will stand out among their peers in public school - from their faith to the way they dress to the size of their families.  They aren't your typical students.  Yet standing out isn't always a bad thing.  God calls us to be salt and light in this world.  In our daily lives, we will often interact with those who are different from us in some way.  Instead of being intimidated by the situation, we have a chance to share God's love with those who may never have heard about Him.  When someone takes note of you because you are different, use it as your chance to shine the light of Jesus in that person's life!

Dear heavenly Father, I often feel awkward when I am different from those around me.  Help me to use any attention I receive to glorify You.

I am a humble pensioner, myself, for my daily bread;

Shall I forget my brothers who seem in greater need?

I know not how it happened that I have more than they,

Unless God meant that I should give a larger part away.

The humblest wayside beggar and I have wants the same,

Close side by side we walked when God called out one name.

So, brother, it but happened the name he called was mine;

The food was given for both - here, half of it is thine."

- Helen Hunt Jackson

Weekend Words

 From Beside the Still Waters...

Trachselwald Castle

The Trachselwald Castle - Read: Luke 12:33-59

"For unto whom much is given, of him shall much be required." - Luke 12:48

The Trachselwald Castle is prominently situated on a hill in the fertile Emmental Valley of Switzerland.  This castle is over a thousand years old and stands today much as it did when Anabaptist believers farmed the Emmental Valley.  Within the castle tower are cells constructed out of heavy lumber.  A cell often has iron chains fastened to the stone walls, with shackles on the other ends.  There is a crude bed with stocks for holding prisoner's feet, and a slot in the door where food was passed through.

In the 1500s and 1600s, scored of Anabaptists were taken to the Trachselwald Castle.  They were imprisoned and tortured, and many were martyred.  One of those imprisoned was my seventh-generation grandfather, a Mennonite minister, who is also the ancestor of most plain people in America with the Martin name.

Most readers of this devotional can freely practice their religion but many of the believers in the world still gather in secret because of persecution.  We should be thankful for the freedom to assemble publicly with other believers, sing hymns of worship to the Lord, preach the Gospel, and study the Scriptures.  We park our cars in a church parking lot and assemble in a building to worship without fear.  What we do with this privilege carries a great responsibility and will have effects in eternity.

These blessings were bought with a high price, first by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  Then they were passed down through the generations with much sacrifice and suffering.  In various ways we are like the servant who was given five talents.  Let us all be diligent and use these blessings to advance God's kingdom, so that we can hear the words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21).

Lester K. Burkholder - Womelsdorf, PA

The Three Dimensions of Thanksgiving - Read: Luke 17:11-19, 2 Timothy 3:1-5

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: ... abounding therein with thanksgiving." - Colossians 2:6-7

Having a thankful spirit with genuine appreciation for our many blessings is the first dimension of thanksgiving.  With the exception of the chronic complainers, the bitter, the never-satisfied grumblers, most people fit into this category to varying degrees.  The second dimension is not only to feel thankful but also to express gratitude sincerely to the One from whom all blessings flow.  Jesus healed ten lepers, but though nine of them assuredly were very thankful, they never passed beyond the first dimension.  Yet the second dimension was never intended to be a dead end either.

Thanksgiving is an action word that involves not only our emotions and words but also our doings.  We do not have the option of keeping to ourselves the things God gives us.  Spiritual, material, or even emotional blessings are entrusted to us to be shared, not hoarded.  Paul wrote, "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:2).  Being faithful stewards is the third dimension of thanksgiving.  It builds on the foundation of a thankful spirit, and it expresses heartfelt appreciation to our Lord for His bountiful blessings - but it does not end there.  If we are faithful stewards, we will use our blessings to glorify God and extend His kingdom, and we will generously share our time, talents, and finances with the poor and suffering.

Upon the conclusion of a soul-searching message, one man informed the minister that he had been deeply challenged.  "Good," replied the minister.  "Now what are you going to do about it?"  The same question applies to us who know that we are stewards of God's bountiful gifts.  What are we going to do about it?

Pete Lewis - Halsey, OR 

"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." - Galatians 6:10

Flowers Leave Their Fragrance on the Hand that Bestows Them

There's an old Chinese proverb that if practiced each day

Would change the whole world in a wonderful way.

Its truth is so simple, it's easy to do,

And it works every time and successfully, too.

For you can't do a kindness without a reward

Not in silver or gold but in joy from the Lord.

You can't light a candle to show others the way

Without feeling the warmth of that bright little ray,

And you can't pluck a rose all fragrant with dew

Without part of its fragrance remaining on you.

- Helen Steiner Rice

Weekend Words

From Beside the Still Waters...

Behold the Lamb of God - Read: Isaiah 53, 1 Peter 1:18-21

"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world." - John 1:29

The word behold means to pay special attention to.  John was telling the people to focus on the lamb of God.  Why?  Because He is the only one who can take care of the sin problem.  It is interesting that the prophet Isaiah had referred to that Lamb about 700 years before (Isaiah 53:7).  The Lamb was Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  Why was He called the Lamb?  One reason was that He had the characteristics of a lamb.  He was meek and lowly, and He did not retaliate when he was mocked, beaten, and crucified.  Also, lambs were used as sacrifices for sin in the Old Testament - though their blood could only cover sin, never take it away.

This perfect Lamb was without blemish and without spot, and His precious blood made forgiveness of sin possible for the whole world.  Even the very guilt of sins is taken away, and God remembers them no more (Hebrews 8:12).  Praise His name!

The sin question faces every soul that comes to understand his accountability before God, regardless of background, culture, or skin color.  Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

What can we do about our sins?  A number of times in the Gospels, Jesus called people to repentance, which means having godly sorrow for sin, forsaking all sinful practices, and choosing to serve God.  We need to confess our sins and believe that the blood of the Lamb can wash them away.  "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).  After this initial cleansing, we need to continue beholding the Lamb of God every day.

Cleason Martin - Stratton, ON

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing". - Revelation 5:12

Worthy - Read: Isaiah 6

"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power." - Revelation 4:11

Jacob said he was "not worthy of the least of all the mercies" that God had shown to him (Genesis 32:10).  Consider what a contrast that is to today's key verse.  the Lord God is supremely worthy of glory, honor, and power, but we are unworthy of the least of His mercies.

These eternal truths are not only factual, they are vital to our worldview and our perception of God and ourselves.  They are closely linked together.  Seeing God's worthiness clearly shows our unworthiness.  The more we see the greatness of God, the more we see our own smallness.  The more we see the power and sufficiency of God, the more we see our insufficiency and our need of Him.

In Isaiah 6, the prophet had a vision that set his perception straight.  He saw God's glorious throne and heard many angels saying, "Holy, holy, holy".  In fear he cried, "Woe is me! for I am undone; ... mine eyes have seen the King."  An angel took a live coal from the altar, touched his lips with it, and declared his sin purged.  Then God spoke: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?"  Isaiah responded, "Here am I, send me."

Isaiah's perception of God's worthiness and his own unworthiness was the key to his faithful service as a prophet of God.  We also need to behold the glory of God and see our own undoneness revealed by His Word.  Such a heavenly vision produces a realistic worldview and prepares us to serve the King.  This is not a one-time mountaintop experience, but an encounter with God that makes us aware of who God is and who we are.  It produces a heavenly outlook that will affect us the rest of our life.

David Schrock - Rutherford, TN

For eternity the redeemed will sing, "Worthy is the Lamb!"