Needy Hearts

Here are the three final pairs of mittens I made for the Moldovan orphan children. These were fashioned for tiny hands (between five and eight inches in length). In all, I was able to knit fifteen pairs in all different sizes and colors. Fifteen... so few among the 300 children. How I wish there were some way I could have knitted enough mittens to warm each and every pair of hands!

This week, we received a current prayer letter from the McCurdy's, the missionary family in Moldova that we support. I love reading missionary letters! There is no excitement equaling that of hearing of the Lord's work in different countries, of the souls that are being saved and of the lives the Holy Spirit is changing. The McCurdy's told of their plans and preparations for the Christmas program they will be doing at the orphanage next month. Many of the teenagers in the orphanage will be a part of the play which they will be putting on. They included several photos taken during last year's Christmas program. It was sobering to actually see how many needy children there are in that single orphanage. So needy for daily comforts we take for granted. So needy for family and security and love. Because of the McCurdys' faithful outreach, they are being told of the Savior's love and how they can be adopted by the most wonderful Father there is, a Father to Whom they can go to for every need and in every circumstance! If you think to, please keep the McCurdy's and their orphanage ministry in your prayers. Especially pray that the Lord will work in many hearts during the Christmas program.

Entrance to One Door

"Often at the beginning of a new life we attempt to forecast the work that we hope to accomplish. We take into account our desires and aptitudes, our faculties and talents, our birth and circumstances. From these we infer that we shall probably succeed best along a certain line of useful activity. But as the moments lengthen into years, it becomes apparent that the door of opportunity is closing in that direction. It is a bitter disappointment. We refuse to believe that the hindrances to the fulfillment of our cherished hopes can be permanent. Patience, we cry, will conquer every difficulty. The entrance may be narrow, but surely it is passable. At last we shall reach the wide and large place of successful achievement. ... It is only after such a period of disappointment that we come to perceive that God's ways are not as our ways, nor are His thoughts as our thoughts, and that He has other work for us to do for which He has been preparing us, though we knew it not.

"Not till long years have passed have we realized that the Lord's plan was much wiser and grander than our own. Then suddenly we have awakened to discover that while we were desiring to do one thing, God was leading us to do another and that what we have counted secondary was primary, for His glory, and for the lasting satisfaction of our own heart.

"Whenever you are doubtful as to your course, submit your judgment absolutely to the Spirit of God and ask Him to shut against you every door but the right one."

-- F.B. Meyer
from his book, The Life of Paul

1 Corinthians 16:9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

2 Corinthians 2:12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,

We must wait for God to open the one door of entrance to His course for our lives. His will cannot be forced or hurried. If we miss that one door, we miss His perfect will in the succeeding steps, and that is something we cannot afford! His plan is so much grander than our most excellent goals--exceeding abundantly grander. Where we are presently is truly the place He has chosen for us to work and to wait. It does not pay to fret impatiently against His purposes, perhaps growing so restless that we feel we have no choice but to launch out foolishly on the path we believe to be acceptable.

May our hearts take faith and delight in the Lord Jesus, fully believing to see His goodness fulfilled. When at last we see the door of opportunity begin to open, with God's hand extended lovingly toward it, how complete will be our glad thankfulness... knowing the wait was worth every moment.

"Trusting Him whate'er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all."

Information concerning paintings:

1) "At the Garden Gate" by Charles Lidderdale
2) "At the Cottage Door" by David Woodlock

The Blessing of Cheerfulness

Written by J.R. Miller (source of article)

I pray this article will convict and challenge, shame and inspire you as it did me. How I love and admire cheerful people. Simply with a heartfelt smile, merely with joy shining in their eyes, they can bless and encourage my heart. Before reading these sagacious words, I was of the mindset that a perpetually cheerful disposition is just naturally born to a fortunate few. This understanding was very wrong! We are told to daily be renewed in the spirit of our mind (Rom. 12:2, Eph. 4:24). Our thinking, thwarted by the flesh, must be molded continually by the Word of God. "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." (2 Cor. 4:6)

Refusing to be cheerful is, quite simply, selfishness. Somehow we think we have a right to be unhappy and downcast, and in a way we'd rather abide in that gloomy, grumpy frame of mind. In such times, we need die to self. We need to get our eyes on others, particularly our families. We need to seek to be a blessing in our homes by being cheerful, loving, kind, and helpful, going out of our way to meet needs--to just be sweet! Cheerfulness isn't far off. Mark Twain said, "The best way to cheer yourself up is to cheer up someone else."

Yet, sometimes when we do manage to get our eyes off ourselves and onto others, all we behold are their faults and their own lack of cheerfulness. "Well, they're not being cheerful; why should I be?" We've forgotten one essential thing of the utmost importance. We must put the Lord Jesus first, even before others, far above anything. Before we can obtain this glad cheer and, in turn, share it with others, He must bestow it unto us. So simple, and yet so difficultly trying, is the achievement of the success we so desperately strive and long for. But it's not beyond reach--no, indeed! The admired trait of cheerfulness is truly within our grasp. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Phil. 4:13) "Whatever He demands or whatever He delights in from you ought to be responded to favorably. All that He wants should be forthcoming from you. Just do it!" - Evangelist Tim Green

Some who read this may, at present, be bearing pressing loads. It is true that in the world we shall have tribulation. Christ our Lord assured us it would be so, but He also said that we should be of good cheer for, praise God, He has overcome the world! "And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." (I John 5:4b) Below, J.R. Miller says, "It would have been of no avail, however, merely to command them to be of good cheer, if he had not put sources of joy within their reach. ... The secret of joy which Christ gives we learn from his own words." We can possess untold joy amid any trouble, however it may attempt to distress and dishearten us. "These words have I spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace." The God of all comfort surely has enough for you! "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." (II Cor. 1:3-4)

Indeed, I pray this will be a blessing to you. It so encouraged me. Open your heart, renew your mind, let the Holy Spirit conform you to the image of our wonderful Lord Jesus Christ!

Introduction

We are set in this world to be happy. We should not falter in our great task of happiness, nor move ever among our fellows with shadows on our face when we ought to have sunlight.

We have a mission to others--to add to their cheer. This we cannot do unless we have first learned the lesson of cheerfulness ourselves. We cannot teach what we do not know. We cannot give what we do not have.

In this little book a lesson is set for you, my reader. It may seem a hard lesson to learn; nevertheless, it is one you want to learn, and one you can learn, if you will surrender your life wholly to the great Teacher.

There are many ways in which we may bless others. A ministry of helpfulness is a perpetual benediction. Of course, one who feeds the hungry, visits and relieves the sick, the poor, and the orphan, and comforts sorrow, is a blessing to the world. One who uses his money to do good is a blessing. One who speaks wholesome words which enter other lives, and influence, guide, strengthen, inspire, or enrich them, blesses the race.

But can one be a blessing merely by being cheerful? Yes; moral beauty of any kind exerts a silent influence for good. It is like a sweet flower by the wayside, which has a benediction for everyone who passes by. A legend tells how one day in Galilee the useful corn spurned the lilies because they fed no one’s hunger. “One cannot earn a living just by being sweet,” said the proud cereal. The lilies said nothing in reply, only seemed the sweeter, then the Master came that way; and while his disciples rested at his feet, and the rustling corn invited them to eat, he said, “Children, the life is more than meat. Consider the lilies, how beautiful they grow.” It certainly seemed worthwhile then just to be sweet, for it pleased the Master.

Gracious Pilot

On an overcast day in June of 2006, my sister Emily and I were all packed and ready to fly out of our small Eskimo village beside the Arctic Ocean. Gracious friends from Bible Baptist Church in Fairbanks, Alaska had made it possible for these two grateful missionaries’ daughters to attend their teen Bible camp and a reviving youth conference. Though reluctant and a bit fearful to be on our own for such a length of time, we were genuinely looking forward to our "vacation."

Modes of travel in the Alaskan bush are indeed limited, the most popular, available, and convenient approach being air travel. We had prior made arrangements with a missionary-pilot, Bro. Les Zerbe, to fly us the 500 miles to Fairbanks. Bro. Zerbe has an excess of 20,000 hours of bush flying (experienced both in the wilderness of Alaska and the jungles of Africa) under his belt. His numerous horrifying and hilarious life’s stories in the air and on land are a source of entertainment and inspiration. We did not know of another licensed pilot more capable of safely transporting us to our destination.

We expected Bro. Zerbe to arrive early in the evening but, due to weather conditions, it was not until eight o’clock that he buzzed our house with his Cessna six-passenger plane. With hugs and goodbyes to those remaining at home, Emily and I seated ourselves behind Dad on our four-wheeler, luggage-laden wagon following, and commenced for Wainwright’s terminal-devoid, dirt runway airport.

I Am a Scripturalist

Devotional by Evangelist Tim Green

II Tim. 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

"A what?" Don't worry; you read it right. I am a scripturalist. No, I am not starting a new denomination or fellowship. We have a plethora of those already.

"What is a scripturalist?" It's what I want to be. It's the inner urging of my redeemed soul and transformed mind. (My flesh isn't too interested.) A scripturalist, according to Webster's 1828 dictionary, is "one who adheres literally to the Scriptures and makes them the foundation of all philosophy." That's it! I want--I intend--to adhere to "thus saith the LORD." The King James Bible, the one I hold in my hand, will be the Book that forms the bedrock of my belief, the touchstone of my thinking, the foundation of my faith and the cornerstone of my convictions. I long to live a life consistent with God's written Word. Yes, I am a scripturalist!

I trust that all of us will abide by the Bible and earnestly endeavor to live our lives according to God's Book. This old world doesn't deserve it (Heb. 11:36-38), but instead of being dim, flickering lights all but out in this dark world, may we be blazing torches in a blackened sky to help lead the blind to our Savior, Jesus Christ.