God’s Bridge

God began to build his bridge,
So many years ago;
But not the usual kind of bridge,
Beneath which waters flow.
This bridge began at Calvary,
And it is not finished yet;
A chasm still exists you see—
Conditions must be met.

On this side of the chasm, there is selfishness and sin.
On that side of the chasm—only holiness has been;
On this side of the chasm, there is greed and what is vile.
On that side of the chasm, there is happiness and smiles.

To walk along the Bridge of God,
Will take a thousand years;
It’s strong enough to take the weight,
Of mankind’s pain and tears.
There is no need to worry,
No need to run and chase;
For great and small—yes, everyone,
Is invited to a place…

A place where love shall be the law,
And everyone a friend;
A place where TRUTH the password is,
And kindness never ends.

So if upon God’s Bridge you’d tred
Look to the one who made—
The Bridge of God quite possible,
For down his life he laid.
Yes, on that hill at Calvary,
He died for you and me;
He is the Way, the Truth, the Life—
The Bridge of God, you see.

Sr. Rosemary Page — 2017

Suggested Further Reading

What Does Being Consecrated To The Lord Mean?: https://biblestudentsdaily.com/2017/01/01/romans-121-what-does-being-consecrated-to-the-lord-mean/

All Flesh TO Be Blessed – Spread the GOOD NEWS!: https://biblestudentsdaily.com/2016/07/12/all-flesh-to-be-blessed-spread-the-good-news/

The Joy of the Lord Is Your Strength: https://biblestudentsdaily.com/2016/12/20/nehemiah-810-the-joy-of-the-lord-is-your-strength/

Excerpt from Reprint Number 1243-1245, “Views From The Tower,” from “The Original Watchtower and Herald of Christ’s Presence.” This reads, as follows:

“The only safe place for God’s children is as far as possible out of all the strife. Remember the statement of the Bible, “Godliness with contentment is great gain,” and lay in a large stock of both. These two qualities will serve to separate you and your aims from the worldly and their aims, ambitions and greeds. Rather be willing to be classed as “old fogy” and “lacking ambition,” and to earn a humbler living with godliness and contentment and the great gain of peace of heart, communion with the Lord and some more time to spend in his service, doing good unto all as you have opportunity—especially to the household of faith.

Look at the list below and choose which you will have as your experience. You cannot mix them: an attempt to do so will only discomfort yourself and others. Choose the second list and endeavor to shape your course accordingly.

Ambition for self: Ambition for God:

Selfishness Godliness
Discontent Contentment
Impatience Patience
Pride Meekness
Rudeness Gentleness
Anger Self-control
Malice Brotherly kindness
Hatred Love
Strife Joy, Peace
Bitterness of soul Fellowship with God

The Lord says to all, even to those who are not saints: “Seek righteousness, seek meekness; it may be that ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.”

Leave, in general, most of your grievances and wrongs for the Lord to make right.

Trust in the Lord and do good, and verily thou shalt be fed and generally blessed.—Psalm 37:3.

LOVE AS A STIMULUS.

Ah, yes! Love would do instead of ambition and selfishness to push the world along the highway of progress. But how few have pure, unadulterated love. This love is one of the choicest fruits of the spirit of God. It is not, consequently, to be found growing wild in the worldly heart. It is found only very imperfectly developed in Christian people, absolutely perfect in none, and approximately perfect only in a very few—the saints. And of these few we remember that the Lord declares there are not manyrich or great or wise. This “little flock” is mainly composed of the poor of this world (both in mind and in purse), whose only riches are riches of faith. The world will not think of these, their words and examples, but will go on blindly, talking about love and practicing selfishness, hatred, malice and envy, and all the unlovely elements of the spirit which is the reverse of the spirit of love, until the great time of trouble, which God’s Word predicts, shall be precipitated.

GOD’S WAY.

While presenting, above, the only course of peace and blessing under the present condition of society governed by ambition and selfishness, we well know that the moderate course will not be pursued. Selfishness, envy, covetousness and hatred are souring the hearts of all classes, except the few in whom the very spirit of gratitude and love and appreciation of the numberless blessings of our day lead to thankfulness of heart toward God, the giver of every good gift.

What lies between the present and that grand perfection for men? The Millennium—a thousand years of discipline under the most just and loving and sympathetic government conceivable; and yet under the strictest rule the world has ever known. This is God’s bridge for spanning the chasm between the present state of sin, selfishness and imperfection and that future state of holiness, love and perfection. Its foundations were laid eighteen hundred years ago [NOTE: today, it is now nearly 2000 years ago] at Calvary—when “the man Christ Jesus gave himself a ransom for all;” and soon it shall be testified in God’s due time to all men, and all shall have the fullest opportunity of crossing over by obedience and love to perfection and life by the bridge of restitution, and such alone as will not cross will perish in the second death.

But God’s word reveals, too, that selfishness will be permitted to bring upon men one more final and to many an everlastingly profitable lesson, before the bridge of restitution is thrown open. This lesson will come in connection with the entrance of the world upon the restitution age, which as a bridge connects the present with the state of final perfection. In their rush for the coveted blessings and liberties God designs to give to all, selfishness is about to cause the great crush—the time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation, nor ever shall be again.

It is toward this bridge or age of judgment and trial, leading to Paradise restored, that all men, though ignorantly, are heading…

…It is God, through Christ, that is opening up the times of restitution of all things. They think that present day inventions and blessings are of men—an increase of human wisdom. They do not see that the flood of light which is now illuminating the world is of God, who has raised the curtain so that, as predicted, men are running to and fro and knowledge is increased.—Daniel 12:4.

A very few scattered here and there understand the real situation. These are God’s holy ones, his special friends. He has revealed to them the real situation through his Word. They know what others are ignorant of, that the blessings now beginning are but a foretaste of greater ones yet to come, and long promised by Jehovah “by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” (Acts 3:19-21.)

These strive not so anxiously as the others for their full rights and full share of present blessings.

They thankfully take what comes, acknowledging that every good and perfect gift comes from their Heavenly Father.

And what they do get, even in the present time, thus affords them more pleasure than the greater number of comforts does to others.

“The little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.” (Psalm 37:16.)

Even their faces distinguish them from others.

Whatever their condition, whether sickness or health, whether very poor or in comfortable circumstances, these have peace within and realize that godliness with contentment is a great gain. Theirs is indeed a peace that the world can neither give nor take away. (John 14:27.)

These are always rejoicing, and now so much the more as they see the great blessings of the Millennium drawing near.

They are content to receive their share of coming blessings in God’s way and in God’s due time.

These, if they cannot obtain their rights under present laws and regulations, will wait for justice, remembering the Apostle’s words:

“Be patient, brethren; the coming of the Lord draweth nigh”—his Kingdom will give full justice to all; wait for it. (James 5:7.)

They remember that it is written,

“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord;” and again,

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath;” and again,

“The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all, apt to teach, forbearing, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves.” (2 Timothy 2:24,25.)

They remember, too, the outward characteristics of godliness enumerated by the Apostle—sobriety, modesty, hospitality; not strikers, not greedy of filthy lucre, patient; not brawlers, not covetous. (1 Timothy 3:2,3.)

They remember, also, that they are to follow in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus, who was the personification of gentleness, humility and love.

These may be in the very midst of the trouble and anxiety of the world and yet retain in their hearts the peace of God which passeth all understanding. “

URL: https://biblestudentsdaily.com/2017/06/14/gods-bridge/

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Our Treasure – Christ the Lord

Malachi 3, 17-18.jpg

Priceless bars of burnished gold,

My whole being does enfold;

I know at last the Master’s will,

With jewels rare, my heart is filled.

Pearls and rubies, em’ralds bright,

Gems that shine throughout the night;

I’m richer than an earthly queen,

For with the Master, I have been.

I’ve traveled to his palace fine,

I’ve drank with him the sweetest wine;

No more to sip from Bab’lon’s cup,

The true vine’s yield does fill me up.

Lord of Lords and King of Kings,

Conveys the gift of angel’s wings;

Upon that faithful little flock,

Who opened to the Master’s knock.

I see the place prepared for me,

By the One who set me free;

From self, the world and Satan too,

He’s making all things so bran new.

This treasure’s not the earthly kind,

The world will seek-but never find;

For every piece I hold in store,

Is safe behind great heaven’s door.

If you also want a share,

In this treasure-oh, so rare;

Then you must choose to stand alone,

With Christ-beside the heavenly throne.

Consecrate your all to him,

If the prize you want to win;

You’ll find no treasure can compare,

With Jesus Christ, the Kingdom heir

Sr. Rosemary Page

Suggested Reading

The New Jerusalem, Br. George Tabac, “The Herald of Christ’s Kingdom” Magazine—http://www.heraldmag.org/2006/06ja_9.htm

Unique Among Gems, “The Herald of Christ’s Kingdom” Magazine — http://www.heraldmag.org/2011/11so_6.htm

ROMANS 12:1 – What Does Being CONSECRATED TO THE LORD mean— BIBLE Students DAILY, https://biblestudentsdaily.com/2017/01/01/romans-121-what-does-being-consecrated-to-the-lord-mean/

URL for this post: https://biblestudentsdaily.com/2017/05/29/our-treasure-christ-the-lord/

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Gethsemane

GETHSEMANE - Matthew 26, 36-39

GETHSEMANE! The Garden’s lonely shade the world’s
Redeemer sought that night. He went alone to pray
For grace and strength to drink the last drop in His Cup.
Great souls crave solitude in sorrow’s hour. Not e’en
His well-beloved three might share the sacredness
Of that deep woe, – He bade them tarry, while He went
A little farther on, and fell upon His face.

Gethsemane! A solitary place, apart,
No mortal feet may press in sympathy that dark,
Encrimsoned earth. No human hand the fevered brow
May cool, no other heart can share its agony,
No voice but God’s may break the solemn silence there, –
A place where every soul must drink alone the Cup
The Father’s hand hath poured, and given to His child.

Gethsemane! A desert place, alone, apart?
Ah, no! The anguished heart doth never cry in vain
To Him who marks the smallest sparrow when it falls,
For He shall send His Angel with the message, “Fear
Thou not, for I am with thee! I will ne’er forsake,
Nor let thee fail! My right hand shall uphold, My love,
My power shall keep thee, even to the bitter end!“

Gertrude W. Seibert

Matthew 26:36-46 KJV

^“36Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

³⁷And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

³⁸Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

³⁹And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

⁴⁰And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

⁴¹Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

⁴²He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

⁴³And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

⁴⁴And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

⁴⁵Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

⁴⁶Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.”

SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER

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Like Doves Dwelling in Rocks

“Leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, O inhabitants of Moab! Be like the dove that nests in the sides of the mouth of a gorge.” Jeremiah 48:28

When the days are cold and drear,
To the Lord, we can draw near;
Like the doves, who seek their nests,
We fly back home to peace and rest.

Underneath our Father’s wings,
We serve the Master, King of Kings;
Sweet solace for our hearts we find,
Away from joys of earthly kind.

Though the road may seem long and dark,
But like the doves, inside the ark;
We know, one day, we shall fly free,
Away from all the carnal troubles that around us we see.

Faint not, dear hearts, but do be still,
And LOOK TO THE HEAVENLY FATHER-your needs to fill;
For human minds do not aspire,
To that plane—the highest one there is …

Higher than all earthly love,
The JOY that comes from up above;
When we seek to only know and do
Our Heavenly Father will, as He carries us faithfully through.

Almighty Heavenly Father be near,
When others mock, the little doves, inside the rocks.
May our Beloved brethren in CHRIST
Patiently endure all, cheerfully, like our Beloved Jesus who so willingly sacrificed.

Based on Sr. Rosemary Page’s original poem titled “Like the Dove (That Dwells in the Rock)”

ROCK OF AGES – sung in this video by the Antrim Menninite Choir

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The Sacrifice

psalm-40-8-11

I laid my life on the altar, I said…

“dear Lord it is thine.”

Hence forth Thy will is my only law, my humble heart Thy shrine.
Barely I went forth to conquer, ready to die for His sake.
No sacrifice that He could ask seemed too great for me to make,
And the more I learned of His wonderful love, the dearer my Lord became,
Till I thought I could follow His pathway through any loss or shame.

But he led me by pleasant waters, where the sky was clear and bright,
And fed me in sweet green pastures and sheltered me at night.
Like a lamb I was shielded, protected. I knew no pain or fear,
Why should I shrink or falter when the tender Shepherd was near?
I had nothing that I could give in return, nothing to sacrifice.

Then I found in my pathway a jewel bright and fair,
In facets threw back the sunlight in beauty beyond compare.
I took that lovely, precious gem and hid it in my breast.
It kindled a fire that seared my heart. My spirit could not rest.
I feasted upon its beauty. I watched its glory shine,
Rejoicing in the wonderful thought that this beautiful gem was mine.

Then something dimmed its luster. It gave me grief and pain.
I brushed and polished my treasure but it would not shine again.
Then I heard the Savior whisper, “Can you give this treasure to me?”
But I said “It has no beauty now. It is dark and lifeless you see.”
I thought about my early vows, all, all I would give to Him.
Could it be that the cloud that had come between was making my jewel dim?

Could I lay at His feet a treasure whose beauty had faded away?
A jewel devoid of luster, all colorless and gray?

I laid my gift on the altar, I felt alone and bereft
Such a small and worthless offering, how could my Lord accept.

But the clouds rolled back and the sun shone out.

My jewel sprang to life;
There on the altar it blazed and burned, a thing with beauty rife.

My dear Lord smiled upon me and my heart was glad and free;

The jewel my heart had treasured so had never belonged to me.

He had tested my love, I had almost failed; I wanted that jewel so.

And the spin it cost me to see it fade, only the Lord can know;

I had treasured it still when its beauty was gone and fondled it to my breast;

But not till my Lord had accepted it could my weary heart find rest.

There is not grief so bitter that His love cannot share.
There is no trial of faith so great that His hand is not there.
He guarded me from the snare prepared to tangle my erring feet.
He shielded me from my own desire and tempered the cruel heat.
The fire that burned in my aching heart did but consume’ the dross;

For the soul that is really committed to Him can never suffer loss.

by L.K. Poole

“1Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1).

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

SACRIFICING WITH CHRIST

“He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked” (1 John 2:6).

May we encourage all who suffer with Christ in any measure to bear it with the same humility, benevolence and fortitude that characterized him under the most crucial tests of endurance.

Our Beloved Jesus knew that he was in an unfriendly world bound by sin and largely under the dominion of the prince of darkness.

Therefore he expected reproaches, taunts and persecutions, all of which he endured patiently while his great loving heart, almost unmindful of its own sufferings, was full of pity and of loving concern for others. May we like our Master, suffer with Christ, meekly bearing reproach and trusting to heaven’s vindication of us in due time.

“If, when ye do well and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God; for even hereunto were ye called. Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he reviled not again. When he suffered he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:20-23).

“Consider him that endured such contradictions of sinners against himself, lest we be wearied and faint in our minds” (Hebrews 12:3).

It is a privilege to prove our devotion to the Lord by enduring hardness in his service as
good soldiers of the Cross of Christ.

Let us keep melodies of joy in our hearts as we walk along the narrow way, pressing onward and upward fellow pilgrims of the Cross of Christ, putting righteous effort into all we do “all for Jesus all for Jesus” as diligent stewards, to bring our Heavenly Father, Jehovah, all praise and glory and honor forevermore!

Here are 3 songs for your consideration, to build faith and strengthen our hope in Christ as by God’s grace we are transformed moment by moment, experience by experience into the character likeness of God’s dear Son and our Redeemer—Christ Jesus.

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The Cost of Discipleship

luke-9-23-bible-students-daily-poem

Would you be my disciples? Consider again:
Can you follow my footsteps through trial and pain?
Can you throw away pleasure, and glory, and fame,
And live but to honor my cause and my name?

Can you turn from the glitter of fashion and mirth,
And dwell like a pilgrim and stranger on the earth.
Despising earth’s riches, and living to bless?
Can you follow the feet of the shelterless?

Can you ask from your heart the forgiveness of men?
Can you list to reproaches, nor answer again?
Can you pray that repentance to life may be theirs
Who have watched for your falling, who have set for you snares?

When you hear I am come, then can you arise,
The joy of your heart springing up in your eyes?
Can you come out to meet me whatever the cost be,
Though you come on the waves of a storm-crested sea?

When I call, can you turn and in gladness “come out”
From the home of your childhood, the friends of your heart?
With naught but my promise on which to rely,
Afar from their love — can ye lie down and die?

Yes! We’ll take up the cross and in faith follow you
And bear your reproach, your disciples to be.
Blest Savior, for courage to you we will fly;
Of grace you has promised abundant supply.

This poem is from “Poems of Dawn.”

*******

Hebrews 12:1-12 (KJV)

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

²Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

³For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

⁴Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

⁵And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

⁶For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

⁷If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

⁸But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

⁹Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

¹⁰For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

¹¹Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

¹²Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

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Our Trial

1 Peter 4, 12-13 - poem OUR TRIAL.jpg

Come into the furnace, brother dear,
Do trust the Lord, for he is near;
You must not faint, be of good cheer,
Our trial, it soon shall end.

Forget all thoughts of world or self,
And every coin of earthly wealth;
God’s holy spirit-means good health!
Our trial, it soon shall end.

Cut all ties of earthly kin,
For the prize we want to win;
Farewell to every taint of sin,
Our trial, it soon shall end.

Though every friend should be a foe,
Our hearts, the Lord, does surely know;
He has no doubt-we love him so,
Our trial, it soon shall end.

From Where Eagles Gather
By Sr Rosemary Page

1 Peter Chapter 4

1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13 But rejoice,

inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.

16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

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Give In … (and Know That I am GOD)

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“Be still, and know that I am GOD. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalm 46:10

I only wish to teach you right,
Why do you ignore the light?
You have to kick against the goads,
Clinging to your heavy load.

Will you not accept his way?
And praise him ever–all your days;
It truly is, son, for the best,
And then you would be really blessed.

You must give in and don’t fight GOD,
Yes, tread the way the Master trod;
Be submissive–do his will,
With JOY-your days He’ll fill.

He says “Give in, please do not fight,
To serve me you must know is right;
I am your Master, I am the LORD,
The one who bears the mighty sword.”

And soon will come the reign of peace,
The will to struggle–it will cease;
For everyone shall know my name,
The reason why–Christ Jesus came.

For soon the iron rod will rule,
So listen please, don’t be a fool;
For Jesus loves you–serve him now,
For soon to him all knees will bow.

A poem from “Where Eagles Gather” by Sr. Rosemary Page of Blackpool, England

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Do Not Rush In – (…Where Angels Fear to Tread.)

Gradually, Jehovah God, reveals to us his plan,
Of all the wondrous things he’ll do, to raise up sinful man;
How often in the past we’ve seen, so many rush ahead,
And lose out on the blessings that they could have had instead.

We do recall the bowl of stew that Esau rushed to eat,
And thereby lost the birthright-he cast it to his feet;
Saul rushed ahead of Samuel, offered up the sacrifice,
And so doing, lost the Kingship-he valued not the price.

Judas the betrayer, he rushed in to “meet the sword”
For thirty silver pieces, he so surely sold the Lord;
And Peter he did rush to say, “My Lord I’ll ne’er deny,”
But later begged with deep regret, forgiveness from on high.

And even Lot’s two daughters, rushed ahead to found the seed,
Lacking faith in God, who would, provide the One we need;
And not forgetting Moses, who rushed in and struck the rock,
The Promised Land was never his, for God held key and lock.

And though King David was a man after God’s own heart,
He rushed ahead-against God’s will-a census he did start;
Then, looking at Bathsheba, he did steal Uriah’s wife;
And the price, he had to pay, was his offspring’s life.

Ananias and Sapphira-rushed in and lived a lie,
They grieved God’s holy spirit, and so they had to die;
Achan hid the garment, the silver and the gold
He was stoned for disobedience, back there in days of old.

So many lessons we can learn, by looking to God’s Word,
For waiting on God patiently is much to be preferred…
To rushing in, where even…all God’s angels fear to go,
So, let’s follow their example, all God’s people have below.

A poem from “Where Eagles Gather” – Rosemary Page, Blackpool, England

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The Expanse of Divine Love – 3 poems

THE EXPANSE OF LOVE DIVINE

He loves me! Oh how much the thought entails,
Love that is perfect, love that never fails.
That strengthens me in sorrow or in strife,
Soothes all the trials and the cares of life.

Higher than highest Heaven; so sublime
This love that lifts me up to heights Divine,
Enfolds me, fills my grateful heart with praise,
And lights my pathway with its golden rays.

So high it overlooks man’s dreadful sin
And plans the fallen race to save, and win
Mankind for righteousness. To give them life
And free them from the bonds of sin and strife.

A love so deep that nothing can molest
The calm and stillness of its perfect rest;
So deep the very lowest of our race,
In Time shall feel His power and know its grace.

Not e’en the silent shadows of the grave
Can hide from Him the soul He seeks to save;
For in due time He’ll call them back again,
Reveal His love, mankind shall serve Him then.

Its length? It teaches out through endless ages–
This love that’s sung by prophets and by sages–
The love that never fails, knows no cessation–
Eternity its limit of duration.

So broad, this love, it takes the whole world in.
It sees the vast extent of human sin,
Yet knows no barriers of blood or race
But reaches all with its unfailing grace.

It fills the universe, it lights the stars.
No selfishness its perfect beauty mars.
Increasing–as the need for it increases–
It knows no limits, varies not, nor ceases.

Lord let me lose myself in that great love,
Knowing Thou watchest o’er me from above.
Oh let me feel the Everlasting Arms
That shield from all that threatens or alarms.

Then shall the earthborn shadows flee away
And self shall be absorbed in love’s pure ray.
Thine image on this faulty tablet trace
And every earth stain from my heart efface.

Till love like Thine I may–in measure–know
And daily like the perfect pattern grow.
Then, by Thy grace, I’ll hear Thy sweet “Well done.”
Life lived in love, eternity begun.

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16, NIV).

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6, ESV).

[Note: “supplication” is the action of asking or begging for something earnestly and humbly.]

“One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple” (Psalm 27:4 ).

————

THE STRONGER LOVE

All earthly love is a thread of gold,
Most fair but what the touch of time may sever:
But His is a cable sure, of strength untold
O, His love, it lasteth ever!

And this great love he will on thee bestow
The fullness of his grace make known,
Earnest of glory grant thee here below
If thou wilt be his own!

————

“For GOD so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

*******

LOVE DIVINE

Yahweh God to us in Christ hath given
The proof and pattern of a love divine,
And human love above, though nobly striven.
God’s love is greater far than thine or mine.
For Christ came down from heights unknown to us,
And thus did show to God and man a love–
A love maintained through trial torturous;
A love beyond all loves, save God’s above.

*******

God Is Love

1 John 4:7-21 (ESV) reads,

7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from GOD, and whoever loves has been born of GOD and knows GOD. 8Anyone who does not love does not know GOD, because GOD is love. 9In this the love of GOD was made manifest among us, that GOD sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.

10 In this is love, not that we have loved GOD but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11Beloved, if GOD so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen GOD; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

13By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of GOD, GOD abides in him, and he in GOD.

16So we have come to know and to believe the love that GOD has for us. GOD is love, and whoever abides in love abides in GOD, and GOD abides in him. 17By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

19We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, “I love GOD,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love GOD whom he has not seen. 21And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves GOD must also love his brother.