Bible Gems

Jan 11, 2006 at 00:22 o\clock

Gems for the Week

by: soundwords

January 7-12
 
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness, temperance . . ." 
(Galatians 5:22,23) 
 
Joy - is love exulting
Peace - is love in repose
Longsuffering - is love on trial
Gentleness  - is love outflowing
Goodness - is love in action
Faith - is love confiding
Meekness - is love yielding
Temperance - is love in training
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2485
 
" . . . For what is your life? 
It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time,
and then vanishes away."  (James 4:14) 
 
The year (2005) is history.  Time speeds swiftly onward in its ceaseless course, and you and I  are carried along, no more able to retard our progress than leaves on a stream can stop their watery flight, or a fragile feather hold back a whirlwind.  Ask a man seventy years old, "How long is life?" and no doubt his reply will be, "It is short, and passes swiftly; it seems but a few days."  Approach middle-aged persons, even younger ones, and make the same inquiry.  Their answers will be the same,  "The years have slipped from our grasp as nothingness."  For that reason James says: "For what is your life?  It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."  Yes, our lives are like the mists that hang low over the landscape at daybreak, and suddenly dissolve in the warm rays of the morning sun.  The writer of Ecclesiastes compares life to a shadow: one moment it dances upon the earth's grassy carpet and then a cloud passes over and the elusive shade is swallowed up, never to return.   Hezekiah refers to life as a thread which is soon cut off; while Psalm 90 compares it to "a tale that is told."  In Psalm 73 our existence is likened to a dream which vanishes when we awaken.
    The fact that time passes so swiftly should encourage us to make the most of every moment.  We are not to squander life, but to "redeem the time, for the days are evil."
    No doubt as we look back over (2005) there will be many regrets over our folly in neglecting opportunities, and for our foolishness in idling away precious hours.  Let us at the threshold of a brand new year confess these faults to the Lord, and then, "forgetting those things which are behind," determine to make the most of the time which the Lord in His grace may yet allot to us.  (R.W.D.)       
 
I do not know, I cannot see
What God's kind hand prepares for me,
But yet I know, that o'er it all,
Rules He who notes the sparrow's fall!  (Anon)
 
ONLY ONE LIFE, 'TWILL SOON BE PAST,
ONLY WHAT'S DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST!
 
Our Daily Bread, RBC Ministries, Copyright - 1966, Grand Rapids, MI  Reprinted Permission  
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2486
 
"How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!"  (Proverbs 16:16)
 
-  At eighty-seven the mother of Francis Willard was asked what she would have done differently had she to live her life over again.   She replied, "I would blame less and praise more." 
 
-  However much wrong is on the other side - what of the wrong of not forgiving the wrong - or of not seeking to win back as a brother one who has wronged you?
 
-  The final test of our love for man - is our willingness to reach out and help every man in all the world, as we are able: but the severest test is our attitude to those next to us because they try us in more ways and more intimately.
(THINGS TO THINK ABOUT)
 
N.J. Hiebert # 2487

"Let love be without dissimulation. 

Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 

Be kindly affectioned one toward another with brotherly love;

in honour preferring one another; 

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation;

continuing instant in prayer." (Romans 12:9-12)     

Happiness keeps you Sweet

Trials keep you Strong

Sorrows keep you Human

Failures keep you Humble

Success keeps you Glowing

But only GOOD keeps you Going (Anon)  

N.J. Hiebert # 2488

"I am the least of the apostles . . . because I have persecuted the church of God.  But by God's grace I am what I am." (1 Corinthians 15:9-10)  

What if I am just a failure? / What if all I've seemed to do

Is travel on and leave in shambles What I've touched as I've passed through?  

What if as a parent / Or a mate, I've seemed to fail?

What if I've to crime resorted; / What if I've been sent to jail?  

What if I have lost a fortune? Foolish waste has cost it all.

 

What if every turn I've taken, / Led me up against a wall?  

How can ever in this life / Jesus use someone like me?

How can Jesus use a failure? / What good on earth could my life be?  

Friend, Jesus shops for future leaders / Often in the failure store.

Often those He picks to cherish / Have tried and failed before.  

 

From the rubbish heap of failure / Sovereign Holiness will choose

Men and women oft defeated, / Saying, "Here is one I can use."  

So it was with Abraham, / Father of the world to be,

Childless still at ninety, then / God's miracle his eyes could see.  

So it was with Moses, / "Lead my people out" his chore,

Not until he'd failed completely / Could God open up the door.  

 

So it was with Joseph, / Dad's beloved dreamer; fool!

Not until he was sold in slavery / Could he really be God's tool.  

That's the message oft repeated / From the Holy Spirit's pen,

God delights to turn life's failures / Into His successful men.  

What if I am just a failure? / What if all my marks are poor?

I may very well be / Just what God is looking for! (D. Engli)  

N.J. Hiebert # 2489

"What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"  (Mark 8:36-37)

There is nothing which the men of this world dread more than solitude and reflection.  They would rather be overpressed with engagements than have leisure for thought.  The conscience, ill at ease, will at such times lift up its voice; but its warning voice must be hushed by that convenient word "duty," and its honest speech is soon and willingly forgotten.  Sins - many sins - are there, and the thought of God as the Judge of sin is dreadful.  The condition of the soul is such that it cannot bear the light, therefore darkness is loved.  The activities of this present life are sought and welcomed, that the crushing weight of reflection may be escaped.  The pleasures of the world, too, in due time and place, serve a similar purpose.     

Thus every care is taken that solitude may be avoided, and that there may be no opportunity for calm and serious reflection.  The solemn and eternal realities of the soul have no portion of thought or time allowed them; the higher, nobler, and better part of man is totally neglected, and left uncared-for, and unprovided-for, notwithstanding its deep, pressing and eternal need.  (Andrew Miller)    

N.J. Hiebert # 2490