TODAY'S PROMISE

"For the mountains may move

and the hills disappear,

but even then my faithful love for you

will remain.

My covenant of blessing will never

be broken,'

says the LORD, who has mercy on you."

(Isaiah 54:10 NLT)

TODAY'S PROMISE

"Know therefore that the LORD your God,

He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His

covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth

generation with those who love Him and keep

His commandments;"   

(Deuteronomy 7:9 NASB)

GREAT OR FAITHFUL

photo courtesy of: www.bigfoto.com

I was setting in the other room pondering how insignificant I 

am.  And wanting my remaining time to be used for the Lord,

it seemed I am not making much headway.

You know even better than myself that the prevailing mind set

is to "attempt" great things for God.  This thought comes from 

the missionary William Carey, not the Scriptures.  Keeping this

thinking in the context he was speaking in - he is correct of course.  

But our tendency is to think of it as planning great things to do  

for God.  Then give it our all.   Hey!  We simply can't do it.

However it seemed that the Lord was telling me that he has not

called us (me) to do great things, but to be faithful in what he has

given us (me) to do.

In fact, I cannot even find the word "attempt" in the Bible.

Well, at least the King James Version.  But two instances

come to mind that make a real impact on myself.  And even

more so because it is two individuals simply living a real

Christian life.

Many years ago, perhaps around 1985, the pastor and I went to

a big Christian conference in another state.   There were some
big name Christian leaders there as speakers and teachers.  Do
you know how much I remember of their sermons or teaching?
Nothing.  That's right - nothing.

But I remember sister Elizabeth.

We were in the cafeteria of the hotel having lunch or something.
Sister Elizabeth was sitting on my right and she poised the question
if we (I - whoever) had been to Israel.  You have got to be kidding
sister.  I cannot afford to go to Israel.

Sister Elizabeth was a custodian in some school district and she was
not plush with funds either.  But she explained.  If she needed shoe laces
she ask her heavenly father for them.  If she wanted to go to Israel she
ask her heavenly father to send her.  At that time she had been to Israel
three times.

Now who preached the best sermon?  In my book, sister Elizabeth the
custodian who was simply sharing her life of faith.  [And, putting me
to shame.]

I just read a post on blogger that really spoke to me.
"The Day I was Supernaturally Healed"
Here Sarah was ministered to by another custodian used of God.
I have included the link to her post.  Read it.  It will bless you.

http://simplelifeabundantlife.com/

Here are two custodians that "preached" more enduring sermons
than any preacher by being faithful in living for Christ.  With
God's help I will simply try to be faithful to any task he gives me,
big or small.

TODAY'S PROMISE

"LORD, you are my God;
I will honor you and praise your name.
You have done amazing things;
you have faithfully carried out the plans
you made long ago."

 and
 "The poor and the helpless have fled to you
and have been safe in times of trouble."
(Isaiah 25:1 & 4 TEV)

******************

"The promises of the Lord can be trusted;

they are as genuine as silver refined

seven times in the furnace."

(Psalms 12:6 GNT)

1. Meditate on God's Promises.

2. Plead the Promises at the throne of Grace.

3. Act in Faith that God Will Perform His Promises.

(William Gurnall)

NEVER TOO OLD

This will not mean a thing to you kids

who have not even reached retirement

yet. But some of us older folks need

encouragement too.

Thursday of last week a brother in the

Lord turned ninety-two (92). Being the

pastor's grandfather, the pastor had him

preach. He has being preaching for the

Lord seventy-three years now. And still

out preaches most of the young preachers.

This brother over the years has been used

to bring hundreds to Jesus Christ. Praise

God for that. But one of the discouraging

things about it is that literally hundreds

that he won to Christ were "church members".

Yes, some of the converts were even preachers

who had never had an encounter with the living

God. It is such a sad commentary on the church

of today.

Just being in the presence of someone that

old - still on fire for Jesus - and being used of

God yet is an encouragement.

I pray that with God's help I might be on fire

for Jesus Christ as long as he gives me breath.

"The righteous will flourish

like palm trees;

they will grow like the

cedars of Lebanon.

They are like trees planted

in the house of the

Lord,

that flourish in the

Temple of our God,

that still bear fruit

in old age

and are always green and

strong."

-Psalms 92:12-14 TEV

[Emphasis mine]