The Joy of the Lord

There were ninety and nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the fold,
But one was out on the hills away,
Far, far from the gates of gold--
Away on the mountains wild and bare,
Away from the tender Shepherd's care.



"Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine;
Are they not enough for Thee?"
But the Shepherd made answer: "One of Mine
Has wandered away from Me,
And although the road be rough and steep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep."


But none of the ransomed ever knew
How deep were the waters crossed,
Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed
through
Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
Far out in the desert He heard its cry--
Fainting and helpless, and ready to die.


"Lord, whence are these blood drops all the way
That mark out the mountain's track?"
"They were shed for one who had gone astray,
Ere the Shepherd could bring him back."
"Lord, why are Thy hands so rent and torn?"
"They were pierced tonight by many a thorn."


But all through the mountains, thunder-riven,
And up from the rocky steep,
There rose a cry to the gate of heaven,
"Rejoice, I have found My sheep!"
And the angels sang around the throne,
"Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!"
--Elizabeth C. Clephane.

I read this poem in the book "Ministry of Healing" it is found on page 505.

Whiter than Snow

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isaiah 1:18 KJV



The first snow is always the prettiest. And as I was watching the first heavy snow fall, the thought came to my mind "what a wonderful way to start the new year, with a beautiful perfect white, covering the earth." It reminded me of this verse, and what a wonderful Savior we serve. He has washed our sin's away and has made us "as white as snow".

Psalms 91

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him

King James Version

"Faithful in That Which Is Least"

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much:
and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. Luke 16:10.

The active service of God is directly connected with the ordinary
duties of life, even its humblest occupations. We are to serve God just
where He puts us. He is to place us individually, and not we ourselves.
Perhaps service in the home life is the place we are to occupy for a time,
if not always. Then a preparation for that work should be obtained, that we
may do our best in service for the Lord.

The Lord is testing and proving us to see what sort of timbers, or
attributes, we are bringing into the character building. If we are listless
and indifferent, negligent and careless, in the small, everyday duties we
shall never be fitted for any other service for God. . . . He that is
unfaithful in that which is least would certainly repeat this unfaithfulness
if placed in higher positions of trust and given larger responsibilities. .
. . The service of God will be done in a haphazard manner. . . .



The importance of little things is underrated just because they are
small, but the influence of the little things for good or evil is great.
They supply much of the actual discipline of life for every human being.
They are part of the training of the soul in the sanctification of all our
entrusted talents to God. Faithfulness in the little things in the line of
duty makes the worker in God's service reflect more and more the likeness of
Christ.

Our Saviour is a Saviour for the perfection of the whole man. He is not
the God of part of the being only. The grace of Christ works to the
disciplining of the whole human fabric. He made all. He has redeemed all. He
has made the mind, the strength, the body as well as the soul, partaker of
the divine nature, and all is His purchased possession. He must be served
with the whole mind, heart, soul, and strength. Then the Lord will be
glorified in His saints in even the common, temporal things with which they
are connected. "Holiness unto the Lord" will be the inscription placed upon
them.

>From That I May Know Him - Page 331

Happy New Year!

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Ps. 90:12.
Another year of life is now in the past. A new year is opening before us. What will be its record? What will we each inscribe upon its spotless pages? The manner in which we spend each passing day will decide this question. . . .



Let us enter upon the new year with our hearts cleansed from the defilement of selfishness and pride. Let us put away every sinful indulgence, and seek to become faithful, diligent learners in the school of Christ. A new year opens its unsullied pages before us. What shall we write upon them? ...
Seek to begin this year with right purposes and pure motives, as beings who are accountable to God. Ever bear in mind that your acts are daily passing into history by the pen of the recording angel. You must meet them again when the Judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened....
If we connect with God, the source of peace, and light, and truth, His Spirit will flow through us as a channel, to refresh and bless all around us. This may be the last year of life to us. Shall we not enter upon it with thoughtful consideration? Shall not sincerity, respect, benevolence, mark our deportment toward all?
Let us withhold nothing from Him who gave His precious life for us. . . . Let us all consecrate to God the property He has entrusted to us. Above all, let us give Him ourselves, a freewill offering.
May the beginning of this year be a time that shall never be forgotten--a time when Christ shall come in among us, and say, "Peace be unto you." John 20:19. Brethren and sisters, I wish you, one and all, a happy new year.
"We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths;
In feelings, not in figures on a dial.
We should count time by heart-throbs. He most lives
Who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best." Our High Calling page 7