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 Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:02:02 +0100 daily 1 February 3 " Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days ." (Ecclesiastes 11:1) If we literally throw bread into the water, can we expect to find it again? Certainly not! It may seem to us just as useless to give the bread of life, the gospel of God's grace, to the world that is like the troubled sea. But this is far from useless. God tells us, " Be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord " (1 Corinthians 15:58). If we faithfully give the gospel to souls, even if we see no results all our lives, there will be results, though those "many days" may take us to the judgment seat of Christ. (The Lord is Near) N.J. Hiebert - 3969 February 4 " Cease to do evil; learn to do well ." (Isaiah 1:16,17) Do you seek to pursue the steady, onward, upward path of pure and elevated discipleship. And, whether or not you thereby... Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:02:02 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5643/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5643/ January 27 " And whatsoever ye do, do it HEARTILY, as to the Lord, and not unto men ." (Colossians 3:23) Integrity is more than not being deceitful or slipshod.  It means doing everything " heartily as unto the Lord ." A year or so ago, a picture appeared in a magazine of the Statue of Liberty . . . taken from a helicopter and it showed the top of the statue's head.  I was amazed at the detail there.  The sculptor had done a painstaking job with the lady's coiffure, and yet he must have been pretty sure that the only eyes that would ever see this detail would be the uncritical eyes of seagulls.  He could not have dreamt that any man would ever fly over this head.  He was artist enough, however, to finish off this part of the statue with as much care as he had devoted to her face and her arms and the torch and everything that people can see as they sail up the bay. . . .  When you are creating a work of art, or any other kind of work,... Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:15:00 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5641/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5641/ January 24 " Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven ." (Matthew 5:16) Annie Johnson Flint had no sympathy with those who made great profession of believing the whole Bible and yet were constantly manifesting a spirit contrary to all its deepest teaching. Her thought of the Bible was to have it transfered into the life that it transfigures. In one of her poems on " The World's Bible ", she says, We are the only Bible The careless world will read, We are the sinner's gospel, We are the scoffer's creed, We are the Lord's last message, Given in deed and word. What if the type is crooked? What if the print be blurred ? (Annie Johnson Flint) N.J. Hiebert - 3959 January 25 " Grace to help in time of need ." (Hebrews 4:16) Wisdom and philosophy never found out God; He makes Himself known to us through our needs; necessity finds Him... Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:28:00 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5640/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5640/ January 17 " And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men ." (Colossians 3:23) With God To talk with God no breath is lost; - Talk on! To walk with God no strength is lost; - Walk on! To toil with God no time is lost; - Toil on! Little is much, if God is in it; Man's busiest day not worth God's minute: Much is little every where, If God the business doth not share. So, work with God, - then nothing's lost; Who works with Him does well and most. (Submitted by a reader) N.J. Hiebert - 3952 January 18 " I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep ." (John 10:11) It is not enough when I wring my heart when I see Christ the Son of God becoming Son of man to bear all that He bore down here?  And then He went back to God.  Can I see Him here and see Him there, and not fall down and worship?  Oh, what a revelation of God in the... Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:07:53 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5639/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5639/ My apologies for the advertising pop-up ads recently added to this blog site.  Additional Bible gems archived monthly back to 2003 can be found on a separate web site without any advertising. You can read these Bible gems at http://biblegems.blogspot.com Thu, 14 Jan 2010 04:27:00 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Bible-gems/5638/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Bible-gems/5638/ January 11 "Let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee!" (Psalm 5:11) Do we hold dear the Lord's name?  The apostle found joy in declaring and suffering for His name.  The early church enjoyed fellowship in the name of Jesus Christ.  Bearing the Lord's name is not easy!  Paul was selected to suffer for Christ's name.  The Lord warned His disciples that they would be hated because of His name, but it they continued praying in His name, that His joy would abide in them.  The Lord chose not to make a name for Himself in His first advent.  Let us endeavor to joyfully make a name for Him now.  What a privilege to communicate the very name on earth which the Father has already exalted above all in heaven!   (Warren Henderson) Name of Jesus!  Highest Name! Name that earth and heav'n adore! From the heart of God it came,... Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:43:00 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5637/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5637/ January 6 " Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth ." (2 Timothy 2:15) George Mueller was asked what was the secret of his service? There was a day when I died, utterly died: Died to George Mueller, his opinions, preferences, tastes and will, died to the approval or blame even of my brethren and friends, and since then I have studied only to show myself approved to God! May we be able to say: The service of Christ is the business of my life. The will of Christ is the law of my life. The presence of Christ is the joy of my life. The glory of Christ is the crown of my life. (Selected) N.J. Hiebert - 3941 January 7 " Behold I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book ." (Revelation 22:7) The first thing that His near return should effect in our hearts is renewed obedience to His precious Word. How sad it would be... Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:48:00 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5636/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5636/ December 29 " Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men ." (Luke 2:14) The introduction of the cross changes the aspect of things entirely .  - There I find God dealing with sin in such a manner as to glorify Himself infinitely. - I see the magnificent display and perfect harmony of all the divine attributes.  - I see love, and such love as captivates and assures my heart, and weans it, in proportion as I realize it, from every other object.  - I see wisdom, and such wisdom as baffles devils and astonishes angels.  - I see power, and such power as bears down all opposition.  - I see holiness, and such holiness as repulses sin to the very furthest point of the moral universe, and gives the most intense expression of God's abhorrence thereof that could possibly be given.  - I see grace, and such grace as sets the sinner in the very presence of God - yea, puts him into His bosom.  Where could I see... Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:41:24 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5635/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5635/ December 22 "Behold I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. "   (Revelation 3:11)  "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13)  When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all up hill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, and you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest if you must, but don't quit! Life is tough with its twists and turns, As every one of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about, When he might have won had he stuck it out; Don't give up, though the pace seems slow, You may succeed with another blow. Often the goal is nearer than It seems to a faint and faltering... Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:49:33 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5634/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5634/ December 20 " And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto Him, Lord, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head ." (Luke 9:57,58) Christ puts him to the test.  You cannot go if you do not take up your lot with One who had not where to lay His head ; for you may sooner go to the birds of the air for a nest, or to the foxes for a hole, than to the Son of Man for a home in this world.  They were not now to come to Him as the One who had the promises, but to One whose portion was utter and entire rejection.  Following Him could not be accompanied with ease and comfort here.  He was to be delivered into the hands of men.  At His birth we see the same things.  Every one found room in the inn save He, but any who wanted to find Him whom angels celebrate must go to the manger.   (J.N. DARBY)     ... Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:13:07 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5633/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5633/ December 17 The Eraser of Confession " If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins ." (1 John 1:9) From the time that Joseph Dixon (1827-1869) began producing the pencil during the US Civil War, the only substantial change in its design has been the addition of an eraser.  Consider for a moment this unique little writing stick.  At one end is a hard black point and at the other a small rubber tip.  This simple instrument can be used to scribble, sketch, compute complicated formulas, or compose lofty poetry.   But it can also quickly correct an error, change a figure, or start all over. Each day the Christian inscribes words and deeds on the record of his personal history.  But as he reflects upon what he's said and done, he becomes aware that some of what's been written is not of the quality that will please the Saviour.  He remembers attitudes and actions that should never be part of a believer's life. ... Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:18:41 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5632/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5632/ December 14 "When they were come unto the place called  Golgotha. . .  they crucified Him." (Matthew 27:33,35) Golgotha: the place of the skull.  If one approaches this holy, awful place with human reasoning alone, the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus would seem to be the most mindless act of all time.  But for those whose hearts having been opened by the Spirit of God, we can see that through this greatest miscarriage of justice ever enacted, our sins were put away - in perfect justice .  As we draw near to Golgotha today, may our hearts be open to the Spirit of God and may we worship in spirit and in truth.   (DREW CRAIG) Can it be  true that Thou didst bear, upon the accursed tree, My load of sin, its curse, its sting, its stripes, instead of me? N.J. Hiebert - 3918 December 15 "All Thy waves and... Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:07:00 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5631/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5631/ December 12 "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge." (Psalm 46:7,11) "The God of Jacob."  Why not the God of I srael ?   "The Lord of hosts" gives us the sense of His power; "the God of Jacob" tells us the kind of people He shows mercy to, and the omnipotence of that mercy.  None but God could have gone on with Jacob, and at the last brought him to worship as, in the weakness of death,  he leaned upon his staff. "The God of Jacob."  How it appeals to us, for is there not something of Jacob in each of us?  Scheming, plotting, covetous man!  As Jacob, there is nothing, absolutely nothing, to commend him.  He took advantage of his brother's dire need to deprive him of his birthright.  He deceived his blind old father to secure it.  His aftercourse was marked by intrigue and weakness.  And yet the psalmist at a later... Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:37:00 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5630/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5630/ December 9 " The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever He will ." (Proverbs 21:1) " Man's goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way ?" (Proverbs 20:24) There is no monarch so great that he can act in independence of God.  Whether he owns it or not, Jehovah is controlling him as He controls the flow of the water brooks.  He who " hath His way in the whirlwind and the storm " can make the wrath of man to praise Him, and restrain the remainder thereof.  (H.A. IRONSIDE NOTES ON PROVERBS) N.J. Hiebert - 3913 December 10 " Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it ." (Proverbs 22:6) The whole business of Christian education is summed up in two brief sentences: Count on God for your children, and, train your children for God .  The first without the second... Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:09:00 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5629/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5629/ December 6 " For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure ." (Philippians 2:13) When we know that it is God who works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure, ought there not to be fear and trembling, and a solemn feeling - not on the ground of what we are, but of what God is doing in us?  If He has taken me up for Christ, and is blessing me and working in me, to make me like Christ, there ought to be a very practical feeling in my soul as to walk.  (G.V. WIGRAM - GLEANINGS) N.J. Hiebert -  3910 December 7 " Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me ." (Luke 22:42) What anguish in Gethsemane drew the blood-like sweat from the Man of Sorrows as He contemplated " this cup ."  Peering into its sable depths, He knew it's loathsome consequence, to be " made sin ."  In that cup, He " saw the place afar off ," the " land not... Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:07:00 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5628/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5628/ December 3 Snapshots of Time " So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom ." (Psalm 90:12) The designers of an innovative Web site call their creation a "snapshot" of our world.  Every hour, computers monitor international news sources, select the most frequently occurring words and pictures, then display them as an interactive image.  Over time, these hourly snapshots compose a mosaic of unfolding world events. If a computer could track our words and and actions, what would a snapshot of yesterday reveal?  Over the weeks and months, what patterns would emerge?  And what theme would dominate the final mosaic of our lives? Psalm 90, a prayer of Moses the man of God, is a powerfully honest look at the brevity and significance of life.  The writer compares an entire lifetime to a dream or a blade of grass, and cries out to God: " So teach us to number our days , that we may apply our hearts... Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:25:00 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5627/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5627/ November 28 " And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings ."  (Ezekiel 1:25) What is the letting down of the wings?  People so often say, "How do you get the voice of the Lord?"  Here is the secret.  They heard the voice when they stood and let down their wings. We have seen a bird with fluttering wings; though standing still, its wings are fluttering.  But here we are told they heard the voice when they stood and had let down their wings . Do we not sometimes kneel or sit before the Lord and yet feel conscious of a fluttering of our spirits?  Not a real stillness in His presence. A dear friend told me some time ago of a certain thing she prayed about, "But," said she, "I did not wait until the answer came." She did not get still enough to hear Him speak, but went away and followed her own thought in the matter.  And the result proved disastrous and she... Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:26:00 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5626/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5626/ November 25 " There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.  And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both ." (Luke 7:41,42) We are conscious of how much depends upon the style of an action.  Indeed, there is frequently far more power in the style than in the substance.  How often have we heard such words as these, "Yes, I own he did me a favour; but then he did it in such a way as to take away all the good of it."  Now, the Lord has His style of doing things, blessed he His name.  He not only does great things, but He does them in such a way as to convince us that His heart is in the doing of them.  Not only is the substance of His acts good, but the style most charming. Look, for instance, at Christ's touching word to Simon the Pharisee, Luke 7:41,42 (above).  Now, so far as the mere matter of the debt was concerned, the result would have been the same whatever... Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:10:00 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5625/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5625/ November 19 " . . . your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask Him." (Matthew 6:8) He knoweth the way that I take; Each step of that way He hath planned: And, walking through sunshine or storm, I walk in the shade of His hand. In deserts untrodden and drear, Where foes in the darkness may hide,  He leaveth me never alone; He sendeth me light and a guide. He knoweth the need of my soul - The trial that calls for His grace, The weakness that leans on His strength, The fear that looks up to His face. He knoweth what sifting is best To scatter the chaff from the wheat And lay all my self-righteous pride Low down in the dust at His feet. (ANNIE JOHNSON FLINT) N.J. Hiebert - 3893 November 20 "Unto you... Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:11:00 +0100 http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5624/ http://www.blogigo.co.uk/soundwords/Gems-worth-pondering/5624/ 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/