Posted on 01/29/2006 11:26:47 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
God never speaks to us in dramatic ways, but in ways that are easy to misunderstand. Then we say, "I wonder if that is Gods voice?" Isaiah said that the Lord spoke to him "with a strong hand," that is, by the pressure of his circumstances ( Isaiah 8:11 ). Without the sovereign hand of God Himself, nothing touches our lives. Do we discern His hand at work, or do we see things as mere occurrences?
Get into the habit of saying, "Speak, Lord," and life will become a romance ( 1 Samuel 3:9 ). Every time circumstances press in on you, say, "Speak, Lord," and make time to listen. Chastening is more than a means of discipline it is meant to bring me to the point of saying, "Speak, Lord." Think back to a time when God spoke to you. Do you remember what He said? Was it Luke 11:13 , or was it 1 Thessalonians 5:23 ? As we listen, our ears become more sensitive, and like Jesus, we will hear God all the time.
Should I tell my "Eli" what God has shown to me? This is where the dilemma of obedience hits us. We disobey God by becoming amateur providences and thinking, "I must shield Eli, " who represents the best people we know. God did not tell Samuel to tell Eli he had to decide that for himself. Gods message to you may hurt your "Eli," but trying to prevent suffering in anothers life will prove to be an obstruction between your soul and God. It is at your own risk that you prevent someones right hand being cut off or right eye being plucked out (see Matthew 5:29-30 ).
Never ask another persons advice about anything God makes you decide before Him. If you ask advice, you will almost always side with Satan. ". . . I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood . . ." ( Galatians 1:16 ).
In 1910 Chambers married Gertrude Hobbs. They had one daughter, Kathleen, who still resides in London (as of 1992).
In 1911 he founded and became principal of the Bible Training College in Clapham, London, where he lectured until the school was closed in 1915 because of World War I. In October 1915 he sailed for Zeitoun, Egypt (near Cairo), where he ministered to Australian and New Zealand troops as a YMCA chaplain. He died there November 15, 1917, following surgery for a ruptured appendix.
My Utmost for His Highest, his best-known book, has been continuously in print in the United States since 1935 and in this, the last decade of the century, remains in the top ten titles of the religious book bestseller list with millions of copies in print. It has become a Christian classic. [from the flyleaf of the book]
Absolutely no flaming! These daily threads are intended to be devotional in nature. If a particular day's offering says nothing to you, please just go on and wait for the next day. Consider these threads a DMZ of sorts, a place where a perpetual truce is in effect and a place where all other arguments and disagreements from other times and places are left behind.
I can attest from personal experience that reading from Chambers daily will almost certainly change - not one's faith - but one's perspective of his/her own faith, and open up new vistas in your spiritual life. If - when - this happens to a reader of these threads, and they choose to share what has happened within them - we are treading on hallowed ground. Be respectful.
- Religion Moderator
GOODMORNING AND GRACE TO ALL BRETHREN!
"When thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees,
then thou shalt bestir thyself."
- 2 Samuel 5:24
The members of Christ's Church should be very prayerful, always seeking
the unction of the Holy One to rest upon their hearts, that the kingdom of
Christ may come, and that his "will be done on earth, even as it is in
heaven;" but there are times when God seems especially to favour Zion,
such seasons ought to be to them like "the sound of a going in the tops of
the mulberry trees." We ought then to be doubly prayerful, doubly earnest,
wrestling more at the throne than we have been wont to do. Action should
then be prompt and vigorous. The tide is flowing-now let us pull manfully
for the shore. O for Pentecostal outpourings and Pentecostal labours.
Christian, in yourself there are times "when thou hearest the sound of a
going in the tops of the mulberry trees.
" You have a peculiar power in prayer; the Spirit of God gives you joy and
gladness; the Scripture is open to you; the promises are applied; you walk
in the light of God's countenance; you have peculiar freedom and liberty
in devotion, and more closeness of communion with Christ than was your
wont.
Now, at such joyous periods when you hear the "sound of a going in the
tops of the mulberry trees," is the time to bestir yourself; now is the
time to get rid of any evil habit, while God the Spirit helpeth your
infirmities.
Spread your sail; but remember what you sometimes sing-
"I can only spread the sail;
Thou! Thou! must breathe the auspicious gale."
Only be sure you have the sail up.
Do not miss the gale for want of preparation for it.
Seek help of God, that you may be more earnest in duty when made more
strong in faith; that you may be more constant in prayer when you have
more liberty at the throne; that you may be more holy in your conversation
whilst you live more closely with Christ.
C.H.SPURGEON
SOLI DEO GLORIA!
Lord,
help me to discover
where my true treasure is,
not in my strong right hand,
not in the quickness of my mind,
the smoothness of my words,
the riches in my pocket,
the network of my friends,
the things I surround myself with,
not in anything
of I
or mine
or thing
or place.
You, O Lord,
are the true treasure,
the God who heals me,
who transforms me,
who draws me near
undeservedly.
Let me know
You,
who are my true strength,
you who are my true love,
you who holds me in the palm of his hand,
now and forever.
Let me be the tool in your hand,
to do your work,
when and as you wish it,
a lantern filled with your light
to shine your message forth,
let me be a little storehouse
of your love
to share with those whose lives I touch,
and Lord,
help me to always realize
you are the source,
and I the vessel,
you are the treasure,
and I the tool,
this day
and always,
Amen.
"Speak, Lord".
Amen and Amen.
Alamo-Girl and hosepipe, we were having a discussion the other day. It was on a different thread, and about the subject of the Stone of Seven Facets.
You encouraged me to delve into the the understanding of the foundations, the 12 gemstones of the New Jerusalem. While exploring this realm I've uncovered more about the Stone, and stones in general. Do you want to hear it? Is this the time and place?
In reference to the 12 foundations question, AG, I need your acumen: Would you please give me a simple, scientific, working and workable definition of "refraction" and "reflection"? (I'm not pleased with Webster's!)
Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his.He changes times and seasons;
he sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him.I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers:
You have given me wisdom and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you.Daniel 2
A gale indeed.
This would appear to be easy, but I don't think it is. One of the things I find hardest to do is to remain silent in prayer. I'm always rushing to conclusions, and then when that creates confusion, I look to find validation for my conclusions.
I really like these devotionals. As is most always the case, the Scripture references led me to different websites devoted to it, and I found the following by Rev. Stedman at Blue Letter Bible that really resonated.
Galatians comes to grips with the question of what real Christian life is like. The answer can be characterized by one word, "liberty." The Christian is called to liberty in Jesus Christ. The cry of this epistle is that Christians might discover the liberty of the sons of God in accordance with all that God has planned for man in the way of freedom and enjoyment. Its aim is freedom of our human spirits to the utmost extent, restrained only as necessary for us to exist in harmony with the design of God. Therefore, this letter has been called the "Bill of Rights of the Christian Life," or the "Magna Carta of Christian Liberty," the "Emancipation Proclamation" from all forms of legalism and bondage in the Christian experience.
I've been toggling back and forth between Acts and Galatians since yesterday because The History of Christianity by Paul Johnson led me there. When you've not been habituated to explore or rely on Scripture, once you do, the Vistas are incredible, and how I love St. Paul!
Absolutly 30carbine <-shoot.. Taking my own advice, I did too (consider New Jerusalem in its metaphorical aspects)..
If not here then, where?, I would say.. Ozzie Chambers is just to get the fellowship going here, I believe.. I'll start it off since I'm the resident Moonbat...
I see New Jerusalem as a spiritual place for spirits and since spirits have no need of gender, food, clothing, bathing, riches, or even SHAPE and a plethora of other earthly necessity's .. Description of it must be metaphorical to vaguely grasp the things "eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of them that love him"(verse in ICor).. No, New Jerusalem is a spiritual place for spirits in the spiritual dimension (whatever that is).. And the stones are the spirits themselves.. New Jerusalem is not a place FOR spirits but it is the spirits themselves.. Different kinds of spirits merged in the light fellowship as a foundation.. with other things (river of life etc.) as bases of conversation of the "mergings" of spirits in spiritual unity.. With harmony and joyful energy shining out in a musical orchestration as sound like crystal singing.. since ideas then will emit light and sound.. Language with words will not be needed because the spirits are merged making language obsolete..
Thats part of what I got.. a small part.. What did you get?.. Even if I only have a version of the reality of it.. as much as my mind can absorb now with my qualia.. It beats wandering around streets of gold as a lonely spirit which would quickly bore me..
John saw something in his "vision" to even wite Rev..21-22.. and shared as much as his qualia allowed.. The various quales in his "vision" are quite wonderful.. but metaphorical I think.. What do you think?.. Since we're playing as children in a spiritual playground..
God MUST be loving this.. us being his children..
These things "gemwise", are different than base definition.. maybe
Reflection is changing direction from 1 degree to 180 degrees(reversal) of ALL wavelenghts of light(photons)..
Refraction is spliting the light entering into separate wavelenghts.. (red, blue, green, yellow) or even into a mix of wavelenghts(like Opal does or Pearl)
That being said, there are wavelenghs of light invisible to humans like microwaves, radio and tv waves that are just as much light as visible light is.. even X-rays.. there may even be forms of light we(humans) don't even know exists.. i.e. dark energy.. gems are all about light..
Light and Gems, photons, lasing, approached in a spiritual "light"(metaphor) makes my mind reel.. After saying all that, the spirit/Spirit could in reality be a form of light.. Tangible in the extreme, maybe more tangible than matter.. I know I'm reaching.. ugh!.. pass the concepts.. (at this Lords table).. LoL..
This would appear to be easy, but I don't think it is. One of the things I find hardest to do is to remain silent in prayer. I'm always rushing to conclusions, and then when that creates confusion, I look to find validation for my conclusions.
Aye, "the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets" (1 Cor. 14:32).
That is in the Lord's hands! (; Though sometimes I feel I know what Jeremiah describes.
9But if I say, "I will not (A)remember Him Or speak anymore in His name," Then in (B)my heart it becomes like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, And (C)I cannot endure it.
Boy, that is excellent!
Studying stones brings up a question I have wondered about ...
Revelation 2:17 cdff
"... To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a 'white stone', and 'in the stone' a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."
Any insights?
Jesus said, "My Father is working until now and I Myself am working."
John 5:17
... suggesting that work is an ongoing process: perhaps we will establish new planets and worlds and life in our etherial forms ...
to me it seems that life here is definitely worth living and we hold on to it dearly, hoping to have long life ...
I have no doubt that heavenly existence will be filled with much to do and know and grow ...
Whether we travel thru the ethers and are part of the celestial music of the universe; or we meld into one consciousness, it will be heavenly and God's gift to us: hence good and beautiful ... as promised.
____________________________________________________________
Hence[".. Description of it must be metaphorical to vaguely grasp the things "eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of them that love him"(verse in ICor)..."]
Faith-sharing bump.
Hmmmm interesting find.. in this conversation.. groovey..
Could be more evidence that "stones" are "code" representing "spirit".. The white stone and name? "Holy Spirit/Jesus?" could be..
Hidden "manna" <<-(which means translated from Heb., What is it?) What is it? indeed.. Spirit, light, gems.. All metaphorical images represent "real things".. alluded to.. Even "born again" could be a metaphorical reference to some additional "light" being added our spiritual "light".. Ya think?..
Could be that the spiritual reality is so foreign to human existence only metaphorical images could get close to describeing it.. Almost makes some bibical "things" close to riddles.. Children love riddles.. Reminds of when the apostles were wondering who is the greatest.. Jesus took a little child and SAID.. Unless you become one of these.. Children don't care of what a Gem costs or is worth in money ... They(gems) are just "pretty"...
We might not be on Sesame Street anymore.. but on Big Birds journey to Jesus..
Thank you so much for the beautiful Spurgeon devotion!
Amen! Thank you for the beautiful prayer, Knitting a Conundrum!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.