http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords These are selected from Bible ministry gems sent out by N.J. Hiebert (njhiebert@sympatico.ca) en soundwords soundwords Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:12:00 +0100 daily 1 November 13 " But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death ." (James 1:14-15) For years, twice a day, a circus man called a large pet snake from a cage and had it wrap itself around his body. At a command, the snake would uncoil and return to its cage. One night the snake refused to uncoil and after repeated commands, it suddenly choked the man to death. Our flesh is like the snake. What the man thought was controllable brought him to his death. Unchecked lusting leads to sin and unrepentant sin brings separation from God. Don't trust in your flesh, it is more dangerous than you know! (WARREN HENDERSON) N.J. Hiebert - 3887 November 14 " Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law ." (2 Chronicles 15:3) It is the work of the teacher to minister the... Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:12:00 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5623/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5623/ October 30 " How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth and thy want as an armed man ." (Proverbs 6:9-11) You've got to get up every morning with determination if you're going to go to bed with satisfaction. ___________________________________________________________________ " Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ ." (Galatians 6:2) Test your strength by lifting a burden from another's shoulder. ___________________________________________________________________ " We spend our days as a tale that is told---for it is soon cut off, and we fly away ." (Psalm 90:9,10) A minute is a little thing, but minutes make a day. So crowd in some kind deeds before it slips away. ___________________________________________________________________... Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:04:00 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5622/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5622/ October 20 " . . . the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys ." (Exodus 40:36) Spend and be spent would we, While lasts life's brief day; No turning back in coward fear, No lingering by the way. Onward we press in haste, Upward our journey still; Ours is the path the Master trod, Through good report and ill. The way may rougher grow, The weariness increase; We gird our loins and hasten on, The end, the end is peace . (AUTHOR UNKNOWN) N.J. Hiebert - 3863 October 21 " God is faithful " - 1 Corinthians 1:9 " God is faithful ." - 1 Corinthians 10:13 This short, yet profound, phrase occurs twice in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. The first time in chapter 1 reminds us that God was faithful in calling us. But, lest we get discouraged by the hardships of the Christian life, we are later encouraged by the fact that He remains faithful throughout all of life's trials. He has not... Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:50:25 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5621/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5621/ October 15 " Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift ." (2 Corinthians 9:15) - People with a heart for God have a heart for people. - The joy of living comes from a heart of thanksgiving. - In the desert of grief, God provides an oasis of grace. - Selfish gratification will lead to spiritual stagnation. - Running with patience is perseverance in the "long run." (SOME THOUGHTS TO CONSIDER - R.K.) N.J. Hiebert - 3858 October 16 " Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends ." (John 15:13) Love That Exceeds The ascending affections are never equal to the descending . A child never loves a parent with the intenseness with which a parent loves his child. Yes, and more than this - the parent is satisfied to have it so. A father is satisfied to know that his love will never get its " recompense in the same " from the bosom of the child. Our heavenly Father knows that... Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:18:00 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5620/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5620/ October 8 " But without faith it is impossible to please Him: . . . He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him ." (Hebrews 11:6) If you want your faith to grow, there are four rules that you must adopt. 1. Be willing to have a great faith. When men say they cannot believe, ask, "Are you willing to believe?" because if the will is toward faith, the Holy Spirit will produce a great faith. 2. Use the faith you have; the child with its slender arm muscles, will not be able to wield the sledgehammer unless he begins step by step to use them. Do not, therefore, stand on the boat's edge and wait to be able to swim a mile, but throw yourself out from its side into the water and swim a yard or two; for it is in these smaller efforts that you are to be prepared for the greater and mightier exploits. 3. Be sure to put God between yourself and circumstances. Everything depends on where you put God. 4. Live a life of daily obedience to God's will.... Tue, 13 Oct 2009 05:14:00 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5619/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5619/ My sincerest apologies for the new advertising pop-up ads on this site, which I have used since 2005. You can read these Bible gems without advertising at http://biblegems.blogspot.com Don Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:56:23 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-archived-monthly/5618/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-archived-monthly/5618/ October 6 " Put on as the elect of God, kindness ." (Colossians 3:12) There is a story of an old man who carried a little can of oil with him everywhere he went, and if he passed through a door that squeaked, he poured a little oil on the hinges. If a gate was hard to open, he oiled the latch. And thus he passed through life lubricating all hard places and making it easier for those who came after him. People called him eccentric, queer, and cranky; but the old man went steadily on refilling his can of oil when it became empty, and oiled the hard places he found. There are many lives that creak and grate harshly as they live day by day. Nothing goes right with them. They need lubricating with the oil of gladness, gentleness, or thoughtfulness. Have you your own can of oil with you? Be ready with your oil of helpfulness in the early morning to the one nearest you. It may lubricate the whole day for him. The oil of good cheer to the downhearted one - Oh, how much it may mean!... Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:30:10 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5617/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5617/ October 3 " For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world . . ." (2 Timothy 4:10) The want of a distinct apprehension of the difference between the flesh and the Spirit, keeps people in a very low state.  They may be safe for eternity, and yet may grieve and quench the Spirit.  If you have got salvation but have worldly notions and a worldly walk, you will be incessantly grieving the Spirit, accrediting something in your walk which God wants to strip off.  God cannot accredit Demas's love of present things.  He cannot accredit anything of the flesh in Christians.  If the Spirit of Christ is in me, all that is of myself must be judged . In a cup of water, how could you displace the water?   By putting something heavier into the cup.  If you have a heart full of lusts and vanities, how are you to give them all up?  By the precious gold of God poured into the vessel - all there will be displaced by it.  (GLEANINGS - G.V. WIGRAM)  ... Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:09:49 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5616/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5616/ October 1 " The joy of the Lord is your strength ." (Nehemiah 8:10) The story is told about a man who was invited to become a Christian by someone with a very unhappy countenance.  The man replied that he had enough worries of his own without becoming involved with the Christian's!  What message do we give to the world around us by our demeanor?  Do they see us as sour, ill- pleased, discontented, pessimistic, depressed sorts?  Or do we reflect the joy that should belong to those who know their sins forgiven, and their heaven secure?  Take a look in the mirror.  What do you see?  May the Lord enable us to show the joy of the Lord in our daily lives, and thereby attract others to Christ.  (W.H. BURNETT) N.J. Hiebert - 3844 October 2 " But when he was a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him ."  (Luke 15:20) Compassion is what makes a person... Thu, 01 Oct 2009 01:39:00 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5615/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5615/ September 27 "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16) An important part of praying is a willingness to become part of the answer. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Let another man man praise thee and not thine own mouth; a stranger and not thine own lips." (Proverbs 27:2) You can't push yourself  forward by patting yourself on the back. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things.  Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth!"  (James 3:5) The tongue - being a wet spot, is very apt to slip. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ... Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:52:50 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5614/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5614/ September 23 " And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with Him, then he heard the voice of One speaking unto him from off the mercy seat ."  (Numbers 7:89) In prayer we speak to Him; by His Word He speaks to us ; and both are necessary for the maintenance of heart communion with the Lord.  God fades out of the life of the man who ceases to use them.  He may retain a vocabulary; but to living experience of the power and presence of God he will be a stranger, and his heart and life will become a spiritual Sahara (desert).  On the other hand, "How much God has to speak into the stilled and waiting heart - precious secrets that will set the joy-chords vibrating throughout the entire being.  There is nothing selfish in the gladness which throbs at the heart of Jehovah - He longs to pour of its wealth into the hearts of His people; but it is only as they come into utmost union with His plan for their lives that this can be.  How... Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:06:00 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5613/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5613/ September 17 " Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day ."  (2 Corinthians 4:16) The old house is breaking down; with some of us the roof is thatched now with white hair, and we are reminded that day by day we shall soon move out unless Christ Himself returns.   But we are not disheartened, we are not discouraged, for " though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day ."  My hope is brighter now than it ever was; my joy in Christ is greater than it has ever been; the world means less to me today than it has ever meant, and the applause of men means less.  But the approval of the Lord means more than it has ever meant.  (EXTRACT) Heaven is commenced already for the heart that is in the joy of resurrection, and in association with Christ . N.J. Hiebert - 3830   September 18 " Come up in the morning . . . and present thyself unto Me in the top of... Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:04:00 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5612/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5612/ September 12 " He was moved with compassion ."  (Matthew 9:36) " The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy ." (James 5:11) Jesus . . . could say, " I have glorified Thee ."  The more evil there was done here, the more the Father was glorified.  Never did irritation enter into Him; no contradiction ever prevented His having the same heart for man and for God. When we study Christ's life down here, and what His heart and motives were, how shallow we are, . . . and how deep and far beyond our view the sufferings of His soul down here! A broken heart is suited to a heart-healing God. Whatever produces a care in us produces God's care for us . There is much more reality in a living loving care of us than we are aware of.  The Lord takes pains to assure us of His love, to persuade us of His love.    "Ye are of more value than many sparrows."  (PILGRIM PORTION FOR THE DAY OF... Tue, 15 Sep 2009 22:59:00 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5611/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5611/ September 9 " Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  And they said, 'believe on the Lord Jesus Christ , and thou shalt be saved' ." (Acts 16:31) God does not call upon a sinner to believe in anything that Christ did , but to believe in Christ .  He knows what He did, and accepts the sinner who believes in Him according to His own knowledge of the value of Christ's work, and not according to the knowledge the sinner possesses of it; still it deepens and strengthens the believer in the knowledge of God and His grace, as the soul comprehends how the judgment of God for sin has been borne by the Son of God - how He ended in Himself that to which the judgment attached - and, rising out of the dead, is the One in whom every one believing in Him lives.  (F.G. PATTERSON) N.J. Hiebert - 3822   September 10 " A bruised reed shall He not break, and a smoking flax shall He not quench, till He send forth judgment unto... Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:34:00 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5610/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5610/ September 3 " In My Father's house are many mansions ." (John 14:2) Spoken to His disciples . . . their earthly sun was sinking, but the stars were coming out in the sky to tell of a greater and a grander universe.  Somewhere in that great universe, in the infinite realms of space, God has a place which He calls His "Home"; a house of many mansions, to which, one by one, He welcomes His children; and to which, sooner or later, He shall conduct all who are His. " My Father's House!  No strange and foreign land; No wonderful new world, too coldly grand; But Home - and a Father's outstretched, welcoming hand ." Those whose experiences in this world have made them conscious of homelessness and loneliness, can look forward to mansions of eternal abode, to couches of eternal rest, to the board of an eternal festival .  Meantime, they are strangers and pilgrims on the earth: strangers because they are from... Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:54:00 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5609/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5609/ August 28 " Christ is all and in all ."  (Colossians 3:11) True service is love in work clothes. To gain self control, give Christ control! Our love has limits but God's love is boundless. Contentment is realizing that God has already given me all I need. Attachment to Christ is the secret of detachment from the world. Confession is the soil in which forgiveness flourishes. (SOME THOUGHTS TO CONSIDER - R.K.) N.J. Hiebert - 3810 August 29 " Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth ." (Proverbs 27:1) D.L. Moody said one of the  greatest mistakes he ever made occurred October 8, 1871.  On that night he addressed the largest crowd he had ever spoken to in Chicago.  His message dealt with the trial of Jesus in Pilate's hall, and was based on the text, " What then shall I do with Jesus ?"  He concluded his... Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:46:00 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5608/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5608/ August 24 " For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need ."  (Hebrews 4:15,16) When Christ had gone into heaven, the way of approach for us was made through the rent veil of His flesh, and He made His throne a throne of mercy.  If free to approach boldly, is it anything in self that gives you liberty?  No; it comes forth from Him, through the blood sprinkled there.  You could not have right to say, even, " God be merciful to me a sinner ," unless you knew the blood to be there.  In no other way could you have got into a place where the light is never eclipsed, having always boldness there, in virtue of the rent veil.   (GLEANINGS FROM the TEACHING of G.V. WIGRAM) N.J. Hiebert - 3806 August 25 ... Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:13:00 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5607/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5607/ August 20 " O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth (or displayed, or painted, or portrayed, or depicted), crucified among you ?" (Galatians 3:1) Paul had told them the story of that terrible day at Golgotha outside the gates of Jerusalem when the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified.  Paul had told them that story till the Galatians saw it all.  They saw the mocking, the scourging, the crown of thorns, the purple robe.  They saw the holy Son of God go forth bearing His cross.  They saw Him stripped of His clothes, and those cruel nails driven through His hands and feet.  They saw Him hanging on the cross between two thieves and they gazed on all His agony.  Then they had watched the sun darkened, and they had heard that bitter, bitter cry, " Eli, Eli, lama Sabachthani ," - " My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me ?"  They had seen all... Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:31:00 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5606/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5606/ August 16 "Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward." (Job 5:7)   THE PREVALENCE OF SORROW " Man is born to sorrow as the sparks fly upward. - All history narrates it;  - All poetry sings of it;  - All biography confesses it;  - All experience teems with it;  - There is not one beating heart among us all that does not know it.   And mark that while righteousness brings blessedness and peace, it does not bring exemption from life's bitter trials ." So said a great preacher of the Victorian era; and the testimony of the Bible and the experience of the saints right down the centuries bear witness to the truth of his words.  Philosophers may deride the third chapter of Genesis, but they cannot account for the facts of life without its aid.  For that little section of the... Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:37:00 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5605/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5605/ August 12 " They looked unto Him, and were lightened ." (Psalm 34:5) O Lord! we would delight in Thee, And on Thy care depend, To Thee in every trouble flee, Our safe unfailing Friend. When human cisterns all are dried, Thy fulness is the same, May we with this be satisfied, And glory in Thy name . (RYLAND -1777) Which would you rather have, a smooth path, or a path so rough that the Lord is compelled to show His face to you every step of the way? Christ wept; but He wept as in the sight of God. . . .  Let us see to it that the sorrows we have flow from Himself, and flow toward Him in God; they will be all the deeper, I am sure, but what is from God and to God is sustained by God , and so we can give thanks always for all things. "What pleases Thee, Lord, pleases me" is a grand motto for rest and peace and quiet, and for the stopping of all repining about what we have not got. It is a great... Fri, 14 Aug 2009 21:38:00 +0200 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5604/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5604/