Monday Meditation: Perfecting His Work In You

 

"And I am convinced and sure of this very thing:  that He Who began a good work
in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ, right up until the time of His return,
developing that good work and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you."
(Philippians 1:6)

Wintertime at the East Point Lighthouse

Maurice River Township
 Cumberland County, New Jersey

(2012)

Patrick Moyer

Image courtesy/ Fine Art America

The fourth of the apostle Paul's Prison Letters, which he wrote while
incarcerated in Rome,  having received a gift from the assembly of
believers in Philippi, he wrote a letter of thanks to them for their
thoughtfulness and concern.

Because of their extraordinary kindness and generosity, the assembly
at Philippi held a special place in Paul's heart, especially in their selfless
 giving when he had collected funds from them for the church in Jerusalem.

 Now they had remembered him in his lonely prison cell.

Paul further wrote to encourage the Philippians to stand firmly
  together in the face of increasing persecution, and shunning
pride and arrogance, to embrace humility in their walk of faith.
    

Sunday Night In Uncle Walt's Vault: The Young Loner

 

A rebellious orphan boy (Butch Patrick) learns about trust and responsibility from
 an aging sheep herder (Frank Silvera) and the woman he works for (Kim Hunter)
 in this 1968 episode from Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color.

The Young Loner

(1968)

Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color

Dave Hunt: Amazing Prophecies From Scripture

 

Can you prove without any reasonable doubt that God exists,
that the Bible is God's Word, and that Jesus Christ
 is the only Savior of sinners? 

 In this classic presentation  Dave Hunt (1926-2013) Christian apologist,
author, and  the founder of The Berean Call Ministries answers many
 questions asked about the Word of God, and how it not only can be
trusted as the Truth, but he also refutes many of the so-called
contradictions and errors in the Bible that people like to point out.

Amazing Prophecies from Scripture

Dave Hunt

Kerugma Productions

The Things That Matter

 "So we look not at things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen;
for the things which are visible are temporal, just brief and fleeting, but the
 things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable."
(2 Corinthians 4:18)

Dramatic Gray Sky Sunset Over The Pacific Ocean In California

Image courtesy/Freepik

Standing on the shore with the waves of the Pacific rolling to my feet, I looked over

the waters as far as my eyes could reach until the gray of the ocean merged with the

gray of the horizon's rim.  One could not be distinguished from the other. 

Where, within my vision, the waters stopped and the skies began I could not tell,

so softly they blended one into the other. The waves rolled in regularly, beating a

rhythm of time, but the skies above them were unmeasured-so vast and far-reaching

that the mind of man could not comprehend it.

A symbol of time and eternity-time spaced by our counting into years, breaking at
our feet as the waves break on the shore; and eternity, unmeasurable as the skies
above us-blending one into the other at the farthest reach of our earthly vision.

As the New Year comes, seemingly with ever-increasing swiftness, there is a 
feeling that life is too short to accomplish the things we must do. But there is all
eternity blending with the end of time for the things that are really worthwhile.

We are so overwhelmed with things these days that our lives are all, more
or less, cluttered.  I believe it is this, rather than the shortness of time, 
 that gives us that feeling of hurry and almost of helplessness.  

Everyone is hurrying and usually just a little late.  

Notice the faces of the people who rush past on the streets or on our
country roads!  They nearly all have a strained, harassed look, and anyone
you meet will tell you there is no time for anything anymore.

Life is so complicated! The day of the woman whose only needed tool
was a hairpin is long since passed.  But we might learn something from her
and her methods even yet, for life would be pleasanter with some of the
strain removed-if it were no longer true, as someone has said, that,
"things are in the saddle and rule mankind."

Here is a good New Year's resolution for us all to make: To simplify our lives
as much as possible, to overcome that feeling of haste by remembering that
there are just as many hours in the day as ever, and that there is time enough
for all the things that matter if time is rightly used.

Then, having done the most we may here, when we reach the limit of time,
we will sail on over the horizon rim to new beauties and greater understanding.

Image courtesy/PBS

"The Things That Matter"
(January 1924)
Laura Ingalls Wilder
(1867-1957)
Prolific American writer
and pioneer girl.
Author of the "Little House" series.
An essay from the book,
Little House In The Ozarks
A Laura Ingalls Wilder Sampler
The Rediscovered Writings
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Edited by Stephen W. Hines
(1991)
Guideposts Edition

Flashback Friday: There! I've Said It Again

 

Bobby Vinton

(1964)

Photograph courtesy/Wikipedia

Teen idol Bobby Vinton,  a.k.a. "The Polish Prince" was at the top of the
 record charts with his classic romance song, "There! I've Said It Again"
 this first week of January in 1964.  Great music never goes out of style!
 
 

There! I've Said It Again

(1964)

Bobby Vinton

Glorious Things Of Thee Are Spoken

"Shake yourself from the dust; arise, sit erect in a dignified place, O Jerusalem,
loose yourself from the bonds of your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion."
(Isaiah 52:2)

Jerusalem From The Mount Of Olives

(1870)

Frederick Edwin Church

(1826-1900)

American landscape painter

Glorious things of thee are spoken,

Zion, city of our God.

He whose Word cannot be broken,

formed thee for His own abode.

On the Rock of Ages founded,

what can shake thy sure repose?

With salvation's walls surrounded,

thou may'st smile at all thy foes.

See, the streams of living waters,

springing from eternal love,

well supply thy sons and daughters

and all fear of want remove.

Who can faint while such a river

ever flows their thirst to assuage?

Grace, which like the Lord, the Giver,

never fails from age to age.

'Round each habitation hov'ring,

see the cloud and fire appear

for glory and for a cov'ring,

showing that the Lord is near.

Thus deriving from their banner

light by night and shade by day,

safe they feed upon the manna

which He gives them on their way.

Savior, since of Zion's city

I through grace a member am,

let the world deride or pity,

I will glory in Thy name.

Fading is the worldling's pleasures,

all his boasted pomp and show;

solid joys and lasting treasures

none but Zion's children know.

"Glorious Things Of Thee Are Spoken"
(1779)
John Newton
(1725-1807)
Hymn writer and ardent abolitionist
against slavery

Wednesday's Word: Tower Of The Flock/A Christmas Afterthought

 

"And you, O tower of the flock, the hill and stronghold of the Daughter of Zion,
unto you the former dominion shall come, the kingdom of the Daughter of Jerusalem."
(Micah 4:8)

Image courtesy/Beth Ariel Congregation

Migdal Edar-The Birthplace of the Messiah

"Seven hundred years before the birth of Christ, the Jewish prophet Micah
foretold the birthplace of the Messiah.  The Tower of the Flock, (Migdal Edar
in Hebrew) was first mentioned in Genesis 35: 21, in connection with the
death of Jacob's wife, Rachel.  In ancient times, it was also a military
watchtower, to view the valley near what was later called Bethlehem.

From David and Solomon's day, until the time of Jesus' birth, it became
the functioning Tower of the Flock.   It was there where the sacrificial lambs
were prepared and the priests examined, cleaned, and wrapped (in
swaddling clothes) the newborn lambs.  These lambs were designated
for sacrifice, for the sins of the people, at the Temple in Jerusalem.

The Levitical shepherds knew the prophetic promise of the coming
Messiah and the importance of Migdal Edar.  They knew the lambs must
be without spot or blemish, and it was their job to deliver and watch over them.

  In Luke 2:11-12, the angel of the Lord said to the shepherds,
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour which is
Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the
Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

The priestly shepherds knew exactly where to go.

Adoration of the Shepherds
(1650)
Matthias Stom
(1600-1652)
Dutch painter

And so the shepherds came with haste, and found the "Lamb of God"
 Who was without blemish, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." 

  "The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah"
by Alfred Edersheim
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
Grand Rapids, Michigan
1971 (3rd ed./1973) Book II Chapter VI pp. 186-187

Another Year Is Dawning

"Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart
and mind and do not rely on your own insight and understanding.
In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, 
and  He will direct and make straight and plain your paths."
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

Image courtesy/Wikipedia

Another year is dawning

Dear Father let it be,

In working or in waiting,

Another year with Thee;

Another year of progress,

Another year of praise,

Another year of proving

Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies,

Of faithfulness and grace;

Another year of gladness

In the shining of Thy face;

Another year of leaning

Upon Thy loving breast;

Another year of trusting,

Of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service,

Of witness for Thy love;

Another year of training

For holier work above.

Another year is dawning:

Dear Father, let it be,

On earth or else in heaven,

Another year for Thee.

Frances Ridley Havergal

Image courtesy/Wikipedia

"Another Year Is Dawning"
(1874)
Frances Ridley Havergal
(1836-1879)
English Christian poet and hymnwriter

An Amish Recipe For Happiness In The Coming Year

"Whatever is your task, work at it heartily from the soul,
as something done for the Lord and not for men."
(Colossians 3:23)

Amish Country Barns

Colleen Eubanks

Image courtesy/Fulcrum Gallery

"Happiness involves not letting the things we can't have, don't have,
and shouldn't have spoil our enjoyment of the things we can and do have.
A lesson is learning to be happy without the things we cannot or ought not have."
-Emma Byler

Recipe For Happiness

2 heaping cups of patience

2 hearts full of love

1 dash of laughter

2 hands full of generosity

1 head full of understanding

1 tbsp. courtesy

Mix well with humility.  Sprinkle generously with kindness and plenty of faith.
Spread over a lifetime.  Serve to family, friends, and strangers.

"For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence
and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever
is lovely and loveable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if
there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise,
think on and weigh and take account of these things, fix your mind on them."
(Philippians 4:8)

 I would like to thank everyone who looks at my blog for taking
 the time to read my daily posts.  I really appreciate it!

May you all have a very beautiful and blessed New Year!

"Recipe For Happiness"
Emma Byler
From the book,
"Plain & Happy Living
Amish Recipes & Remedies"
By Emma Byler (Jonas Em)
Copyright 1991
Goosefoot Acres Press
Cleveland, Ohio

Monday Meditation: And Whatever You Do...

"And whatever you do, no matter what it is, in word or deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in dependence
upon His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him."
(Colossians 3:17)

 New Jersey Pine Barrens Snowstorm

(2021)

Photograph courtesy/Richard Lewis

Richard Lewis Photography