A prayer for wisdom in numbering our days – Psalm 90 : 12

Numbering your days – what does this mean in practical terms? How are we supposed to do this? To make this clear, for a moment compare life with a book with each day having a new page. At night, we turn over the page – another day! However, no matter how many pages the book you are reading has, eventually you will come to the final page. Well, the same applies to the book of our life. Also concerning this book, eventually there will come a day that we will reach the final page, i.e. the page where it no longer reads, “to be continued”, but instead it will read “The End!” That’s the day, when we will die. Unless Christ returns earlier, one day we all will come to that final page of the book of our life.

New Year Eve 2012 – another year has passed. Back to the image of the book, we have come one year closer to the final page. How quickly it went. Time flies by, as we often say it. Somewhere I read, time is like water, if you try to hold on to it, it slips through your fingers and disappears. Well, this happened also to the Year 2012. It slipped through our fingers, just like that. A few more hours, and the Year 2012 will have disappeared. This leaves all of us with this question: as time flies by, how do we number our days.

In Psalm 90, Moses prays for the Israelites that they may number their days in such a way that as fruit of this numbering they may receive a heart of wisdom. Well, that’s how we too should number our days: to gain wisdom!

What kind of wisdom? The answer is very simple: wisdom in seeing God’s hand in our life, God’s hand in each day and each night of the past year. That’s how this on New Year’s Eve we should take time, also in the family circle, to reflect upon the year gone by, closing the year off in a different way than the world around us does it. Out in the world tonight, people are just partying the year away with yet another stubby, another glass of wine or champagne, just to forget for a moment the bitter reality of life. However, they are simply deceiving themselves. When tomorrow morning they wake up with a tremendous hangover, they will have to conclude that nothing has changed. Life just carries on as before.

 In faith, we know it’s different. Reflecting upon another year gone by, we know also 2012 was a year of the LORD; a year that brought us closer to Christ’s return, i.e. closer to the final destination of our life. That’s how in faith we reflect upon the year gone by, seeing God’s hand in all the events that took place during the past year.  Have you seen God’s hand in all these events? After all – even though in many ways it surpassed our understanding – none of these events happened by chance, but they all came from God’s fatherly hand.

See, that’s wisdom, if you can see it like this. If we can see it like this also concerning all the events that took place in our personal life during the year gone by: God’s hand when there were joyful days to number, but also when there were sad days to number, days of which at the time we perhaps thought, how will I ever get through this day? Yet God carried us through.

So in numbering all these days of the past year can you say that you have gained wisdom? Or to say it in more personal way, can you say that through all that happened during the past year in the world as well as in your personal life > on this New Year’s Eve can you say 2012 has brought me closer to God. If that is the case, you have numbered well.

2012 – the year is almost gone. As from midnight, all that has happened during this year belongs to the past. It’s passed, we cannot turn it around: the things we did wrong, for example. Yet, instead of therefore trying to forget them, since we can’t change it anyway, perhaps we should give them some thought, acknowledging also the dark pages of our life, which there were during the past year, pages with our sins all over it. In addition, where we have confessed to God what was written on those dark pages, next, let the light of God’s grace shine over them and rejoice. That’s how despite the many things we did wrong during past year, we still may close off this year on a high note, by clinging to God. When doing so, don’t forget to count also the many blessings God bestowed upon you during the past year, thanking Him for it.

Numbering your days in faith makes you wise, wise in Jesus Christ, who came into this world, assumed our flesh, a true human nature, in which He numbered 33 years with us. 33 years, during which our Lord and Saviour bore in body and soul the wrath of God against the sin of the whole human race. He did so for us, for you and me, in our place, so that today we may number our days in the light of God’s grace, no matter how dark at times it may seem from a physical point of view. In faith we may look beyond this and in doing so we may number our days differently.

When reflecting upon the year gone by this way, we can only stand in awful admiration of God’s wonderful grace during each day of the past year. Then we look at all that we received, not only materially, but also spiritually, and this despite the many sins and shortcomings there daily were from our side, despite the lack of zeal and thankfulness there often was from our side. Despite all this – instead of having been consumed by God’s wrath, God’s mercies were new every morning. Yes, then one stands in awe of the goodness of the LORD: “LORD, how great is Thy faithfulness towards me a sinner”

I wish all who read this a blessed 2013. We keep numbering, how long still. None of us knows. The Year 2013 might be the year of Christ’s return. It might also be that during the coming year we will face the day that it no longer reads “to be continued”, but “The End!” instead. Is this something to be scared off? It’s not when we keep numbering our days in faith, holding God’s hand; the hand which guides history and which guides also your and my life. In that knowledge, with that wisdom given from above, we will be able to cope, whatever 2013 may have in store for us.

 

Reflections of a retired minister

Although I officially retired only three weeks ago, now already people ask me, “How is it going?” Well, let me say the reality of it still has to set in, though my wife and I enjoy it that during a time which was often hectic in the ministry (December) we now can relax and have more time for the family and for each other.

At present there is still a lot of reminisce on what has been. When doing so, I stand in awe of God’s amazing grace that I was allowed to work in the ministry for 37 years. It was a humbling experience each Sunday again to be allowed to pass on the riches of the gospel, often feeling weak, knowing – as the apostle Paul writes it in 2 Cor. 4, 7 – that we carry this treasure in an earthen vessel. Looking back today,  things that come to mind are more often than not the shortcomings, failures and sins, visits that should have been brought, yet were forgotten or missed; times when the message could have been passed on more correctly. As ministers, we are in need of God’s grace as much as each member of the congregations.  Thus, looking back upon 37 years of ministry, I can cling to God’s grace only!

Although often humbling, nevertheless it was a joy to do the work of a minister, a wonderful task. If I had to make the choice again, I would not choose anything else, even though at times it was also difficult work, especially when I think back of those beginning years; years during which consistories were less considerate as far as exchanges are concerned than today. Less considerate at times also were it concerned off-loading the work. You were a minister, you had been called and so you had to it. It surely was a learning curve. Yet the LORD in His grace gave strength.

Reflecting upon the work I was allowed, next to the preaching I also think of the pastoral work in visiting the members of the congregation in joy and in sadness, in days of struggle and turmoil. In all those circumstances, it was a privilege to pass on the Word of God, a privilege to be a tool in God’s hand to comfort and to encourage, but also when there was need to warn and admonish.

I think of the many baptism visits, always a joy to bring; the pre-marital sessions with young couples preparing themselves for marriages – always great evenings! I also think of many a visit in which I had to warn – often feeling helpless, but again there was the power of the Word God. To Him be glory!

When I think of the young people of the church, I think of the joy of teaching catechism, trying to give them practical guidance. Drawing the circle a bit wider, I also think of the many congresses, where I was invited to speak. I vividly remember the congress with the theme “Living Holy Lives” as well as the National Youth Convention earlier this year. Yet I think also back of the earlier Bible Study Camps, organized by the youth of Albany each year around Australia Day, the Bible Study Camps at Camp Quaranup, where later on also the first marriage enrichments camp were held.

Reflecting on all these things, all thanks goes to God alone, who in His grace gave me the strength and the wisdom to do all this.

When thanking God, I also want to thank Him for all that He gave me in my wife as a wonderful support. She was always there, never thinking of herself, but trying to be there for me. To be there for the children, when Dad had to go on yet another trip be it to PNG or Tasmania, or during the days in Albany for another trip to Perth, often from Friday to Monday. She never complained.

So what will retirement be like?  First, I hope to get better. It’s our fervent prayer that the LORD will give energy back and then I hope to be able to preach again and also do some writing. Hopefully during the course of 2013 the book “Learning the alphabet of faith” will be published with the sermons I delivered on the ABC of faith. If the LORD gives health and strength, I also hope to write some meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism. Perhaps I can run a few more marriage enrichment’s camps. I would love to do this. Yet it’s all the Lord willing. My wife and I also hope to have more time now for children and grandchildren. We pray that we may still be there for them for a long time.

As the festive season draws near and we come close to the end of another year, I wish all of you a joyful Christmas; joyful, when we reflect upon the peace given to us in the coming of Christ, our Lord and Saviour. As for the year to come, we pray that this wonderful peace may fill your hearts each day, whatever may lay ahead.

 

Early retirement

This is from today's local bulletin in Southern River

From the manse at 5 Leven Place

It is now almost a year ago that I indicated to consistory that I was not coping so well, feeling extremely tired, finding it hard to do my work 100%. My local GP diagnosed me with suffering chronic fatigue, even though I myself would rather call it a total burnout. Over the years, I have done my work always full of enthusiasm, always trying to give it 100%. I loved caring for the sheep the LORD had entrusted in my care. Yet by the end of 2011, I felt burned out, lacking the energy needed to give that full 100 % care.

I had hoped that after having had three months off, I would have regained enough energy to do some work again. The three months leave indeed did help. Yet in hindsight, I can now see that I started work too early, even though it was with a reduced workload. More and more it became too hard even to cope with this reduced workload. The desire was there to bring more visits, interacting with the sheep of the flock, who were in need of pastoral care. Yet energy was lacking.

About six weeks ago, my wife and I discussed all this at length, also asking the LORD for guidance. Together we concluded that the time had come to ask consistory for early retirement. This would take the pressure away. Yet we also thought of the pastoral care of the congregation, which needed a minister who can care for the flock 100%. A few weeks ago, on a Sunday looking at the congregation in front of me, it crossed my mind how much need there is for pastoral care. Yet at present, I simply lack the energy to give that care.

My wife and I are thankful that consistory without any reserve has acceded to our request, which means that pending the concurring advice of classis I will be retiring from my tasks in Southern River as from Sunday 25 November, when the Lord willing I hope to deliver my last sermon in active service. It is our sincere wish and prayer that in due time the LORD will restore health and give energy back, allowing me still do some work within the bond of churches.

Concluding this note, we would like to thank all of you for your prayerful support during my time of sickness. We also like to thank you for making my birthday very special in passing on your good wishes via Facebook, emails and cards, and personally on Friday evening during an open house function. It has been overwhelming.  In all this, we have experienced the warmth of the communion of saints. The past year has not always been easy, yet we thank the LORD for His sustaining grace, by which He carried us every day. What a great comfort it is to know that this wonderful grace will be there also for the coming year. Undeserved – LORD, how great is Thy faithfulness.

 

Rev. & Mrs. Veldman

"Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee..." (Psalm 84, 5)

A poem - author unknown

I have been through the valley of weeping,
     The valley of sorrow and pain;
But the "God of all comfort" was with me,
     At hand to uphold and sustain.

As the earth needs the clouds and sunshine,
    Our souls need both sorrow and joy;
So He places us oft in the furnace,
     The dross from the gold to destroy.

When He leads through some valley of trouble,
     His omnipotent hand we trace;
For the trials and sorrows He sends us,
     Are part of His lessons in grace.

Oft we run from the purging and pruning,
     Forgetting the Gardener knows
That the deeper the cutting and trimming,
     The richer the cluster that grows.

Well He knows that affliction is needed;
     He has a wise purpose in view,
And in the dark valley He whispers,
     "Soon you'll understand what I do."

As we travel through life's shadowed valley,
     Fresh springs of His love ever rise;
And we learn that our sorrows and losses,
     Are blessings just sent in disguise.

So we'll follow wherever He leads us,
     Let the path be dreary or bright;
For we've proved that our God can give comfort;
     Our God can give songs in the night.

Fighting chronic fatigue – how is it going? Another update…..

It has been a while since I wrote my last blog. The main reason is that I’m still struggling with chronic fatigue. I had hoped and I have prayed fervently as well that by now there would be improvement in having more energy again. Yet the LORD is His wisdom decided differently. Hence I’m still doing the work of ministry on a reduced workload.

I’m thankful that although on a reduced workload the LORD gives strength to make sermons and that  I am also able to deliver these sermons on Sundays.  The remainder of my time is dedicated to pastoral visits and one hour of catechism teaching. I hope and pray that with some breaks in between I can carry on this way, praying that I still may finish my active ministry at the set time, even thought it might be with some limitations.

The above also means that for the first time in my active ministry in Australia I’m not involved at all in the work of synod, not even as a deputy for relations with churches abroad. I’m thankful that I could finish my work as deputy last year in signing of the work done and in finalizing the report to synod. It’s a strange feeling though. It makes one realize that eventually the time comes that with respect to certain task in life one has to admit “that has been!”

Closing off on a more positive note, I thank the LORD for the many blessings in that He still gives health and strength to be active in His service, which each day anew is a humbling experience.

Last sermon in the series of sermons on the ABC of faith

Yesterday afternoon I delivered the concluding sermon in the series of sermons on the ABC of faith. In this series, the focus was on how to live our faith. The reason for preaching this series, putting particular emphasis on living our faith, was that generally from a doctrinal point of view most church members are quite able to tell what we as churches stand for. We treasure our confessions. Often we have no difficulty either in quoting specific texts fitting the occasion, be it to comfort or to warn fellow members.
I don’t want to deny how important all this is. However, now to live it as well, practising what we say – often that’s much more difficult. This is a struggle for all of us on a daily basis. Well, this is why this series was preached with the aim to equip the saints in this daily battle, as a reminder of what God requires of us in living our faith to the glory of His Name and the well-being of our neighbour.

Throughout this series quite a number of active verbs had the attention, each time one verb being allocated to a specific letter of the alphabet, all active verbs, i.e. all do-words focusing on how to live our faith in the nitty gritty of everyday life. Twenty-four verbs had the attention. Twenty-four - since I started this series with focusing on a promise. Starting with the first letter of the alphabet, the letter ‘A,’ the focus was on the word ‘Amen’. The text was 2 Cor. 1, 20, where it reads that all God’s promises are ‘Yes’ and ‘Amen’ in Jesus Christ.

One may wonder, why first a promise and there after all active verbs. The reason for this was in living our faith we need God’s promises to hold on to, God’s ‘Yes’ to us in Jesus Christ as the sure foundation of our life. It is only on this sure foundation, knowing that daily we are sustained by God’s grace, only in this way we are able to live the life God wants us to live in active faith.

For this same reason, I also concluded this series with focusing on God’s promises. Looking back on all the active verbs that were dealt with, showing us how God wants us to live, one may wonder, “LORD, who am I to live up to this high standard. LORD, I’m weak.” Well, that's why concluding this series, I wanted to come back to where I had started started, namely that we can do this, yet only by daily being sustained by God, who Himself as the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, will complete His work in us, by His zeal bringing it to final glory.

Thus dealing with the letter ‘Z’, the focus was on the zeal of Him who is not only the Alpha, the ‘A’ of everything, but also the Omega, the ‘Z’ of everything. Two text were chosen:

Isaiah 9 : 7b. where it reads that the zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform it

Rev. 22 : 13, where the glorified Christ reveals Himself as the Alpha and The Omega (The A and the Z)

How to receive strength in faith...

It is not within our power to create the wind or to change its direction, but we raise our sails to catch it when it comes.  We do not create electricity, yet we can tap into it with a wire that will conduct it, allowing it to work.

We do not control God's Spirit, but we can place ourselves before the Lord out of obedience to what He has called us to do, and we will come under the influence and power of His mighty breath.

From "Stream in the Desert", June 5

"Do not worry about your life....Look at the birds of the air..." (Mat. 6 : 25 + 26)

Birds don’t get together and say, “We’ve got to come up with a strategy to keep ourselves alive.” They have no self-consciousness or ability to reason. But God has planted within them the instinct or divine capacity to find what is necessary to live. God doesn’t just create life; He also sustains it.

Job 38 : 41 and Psalm 147 : 9 tell us that baby birds cry out to God for their food. Jesus said that even though they don’t sow, or reap, or gather surplus into their barns, their heavenly Father hears and provides for them. Now that isn’t an excuse for idleness. You won’t see a bird standing on the edge of a tree with its mouth wide open. Perhaps you’ve noticed: it never rains worms! God feeds birds through the instinct that tells them where to find food. They work hard for it. They’re always busy searching, gobbling up little insects, migrating with the seasons, preparing their nests, caring for their young, then teaching them to fly and pushing them out of the nest at the right time, and so on.

Birds don’t worry about where they are going to find food; they just go about their business until they find it, and they always do because God is looking out for them. Birds have no reason to worry and if they don’t, what are you worrying for? . . .

Are you not much better than a bird? No bird was ever created in the image of God; no bird was ever designed to be a joined heir with Jesus Christ; ….If God sustains the life of a bird, don’t you think He will take care of you? Life is a gift from God. If God gives you the greater gift of life itself, don’t you think He will give you the lesser gift of sustaining that life? Of course He will, so don’t worry about it.

Keep in mind, of course, that like a bird, we have to work because God has designed that people should earn their bread by the sweat of their brows (Gen. 3 : 19). If we don’t work, it is not fitting that we eat (2 Thess. 3 : 10). Just as God provides for the birds through their instinct, so God provide for people through their efforts.

Taken from the book of John MacArthur Jr., "Anxious for Nothing", pages 22 - 24

---

"My cup overflows..." (Psalm 23 : 5)

There is always something "over,"
    When we trust our gracious LORD;
Every cup is overflowing,
   His great rivers are all broad.
Nothing narrow, nothing sparing,
   Ever springing from His store;
To His own He gives full measure,
   Overflowing, evermore.

There is always something "over,"
   When we, from Father's hand,
Take our portion with thanksgiving,
    Praising for the path He planned.
Satisfaction, full and deepening,
    Fills the soul, and lights the eye,
When the heart has trusted Jesus
    All its needs to satisfy.

There is always something "over,"
   When we tell of all His love;
Unreached depths still lie beneath us,
   Unscaled heights rise far above:
Human lips can never utter
   All His wondrous tenderness,
We can only praise and wonder,
   And His Name forever bless.

                                                               Margaret E. Barber

"He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all -
how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8 : 32

From "Streams in the Desert", May 28th

The beauty of God's commandments, wholesome for life!

Being busy with a sermon dealing with LD 41, HC ("What does the seventh commandment teach us?) it was brought home to me again in a wonderful way how wholesome for life God's commandments are, including the seventh commandment.

In the beginning God created everything beautifully, also in creating man male and female including the special feelings that come with it, emotionally, hormonally and so on. It's good to stress this in a society which is dominated by the term 'equality', equal rights both for men and women. Today people don't want to hear about the fact that God created male and female differently with the aim that they could complement each other beautifully in perfect harmony, not only in marriage, but also beyond marriage in the wider context of society.

Playing on man's sinful desires, today's society offers nothing else but a twisted picture of what God once created beautifully. So easily this can also affect our thinking. In this context I think in particular of how society interprets the word 'love' and speaks about sexual matters in a way that is complete focused on self-pleasure.
How would you describe the word 'love'? Scripture teaches love is an unconditional, self-denying, total commitment for life in good days and bad, in health and sickness, in riches and poverty as long as husband ans wife shall live.
Considering this, are we still willing to learn and practise what Scripture teaches about the beauty of marriage? Are we willing to fight for our marriage also when there are struggles? Note that in Christ there is restoration for every broken marriage.

The seventh commandment addresses equally also those who are single. We all are called to live holy. Single people too have their sexual feelings and by the power of the Holy Spirit  they too have to control these feeling equally as much as married people.
I would like to add that in a similar way they too are called to use the gift of being created either as male or as female to the glory of God, also in their single state.

We often look at God's commandment negatively in what God forbids. Yet working on this sermon it reminded me again that we should look more at God's commandments positively, how we in honouring them we can bring glory to God, but also how in honouring them we can be a salt in the midst of today's corrupt society.

May God help all of us to stay focused on the beauty of sexual differences and also how to use these differences to the glory of God and the society we live in. Highlighting these differences has nothing to do with discriminating the female gender, instead noting these differences is wholesome for life in every respect.

When clouds cover our life....

Remember, clouds are always moving ahead of God's cleansing wind!

I cannot know why suddenly the storm
Should rage so fiercely round me in its wrath;
But this I know - God watches all my path,
            And I can trust.

I may not draw aside the unseen veil
That hides the unknown future from my sight,
Nor know if for me waits the dark or light;
          But I can trust.

I have no power across the tide,
to see while here the land beyond the river;
But this I know - I will be God's forever;
          So I can trust.

From "Streams in the Desert"

Let me finish of with one of my favourite text from Scripture, Jer. 29, 11,
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, say the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

What a great promise to hold on to.
The Lord willing, I will deliver a sermon on this text coming Sunday morning in West Albany. In the same service our special granddaughter Indi will be baptized.

As for today, I wish you all a blessed day in God's service!

Mother's Day 2012

Happy mother's day to all caring mothers who day and night have the true well-being of their children at their heart, and who keep praying for them even in the darkest hours.
A true loving mother never gives up on her children, but always keeps hoping and paying for them.
In faith we may know that these prayers will never go unheard in heaven.
What a great comfort this is, especially when we grieve about the spiritual well-being of our children.

I leave you with a quote I came accross:

"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts."

Washington Irving

The shadows of darkness are the shade on the road leading to our heavenly home

Poem from "Streams in the Desert" (May 8)

"The road is rough, " I said;
   "It is uphil all the way;
No flowers, but thorns instead;
   And the skies overhead are grey."
But One took my hand and the entrance dim,
And sweet is the road that I walk with Him.

"The cross is too great," I cried -
   "More than the back can bear,
So rough and heavy and wide,
   And nobody near to care."
And One stooped softly and touched my hand;
"I know. I care. And I understand."

Then why do we fret and cry;
   Cross-bearers all we go:
But the road ends by and by
   In the dearest place we know,
And every step in the journey we
May take in the Lord's own company.

Don't let the song go out of your life...

It is easier to sing your worries away than to reason them away.

Why not sing in the morning? Think of the birds - they are the first to sing each day, and they have fewer worries than anything else in creation.
And don't forget to sing in the evening, which is what the robins do when they have finished their daily work. Once they have flown their last fight of the day and gathered the last bit of food, they find a treetop from which to sing a song of praise.

Oh, that we might sing morning and evening, offering up song after song of continual praise throughout the day.

Don't let the song go out of your life;
   Although it sometimes will flow
In a minor strain; it will blend again
   With a major tone you know.

Although shadows rise to obscure life's skies
   And hide for a time the sun,
The sooner they'll lift and reveal the rift,
   If you let the melody run.

Don't let the song g out of your life;
   Though the voice may have lost its trill,
Though the quivering note may die in your throat,
   Let it sing in your spirit still.

Don't let the song go out of your life;
    Let it ring in your soul while here;
And when you go hence, it will follow you thence,
   And live on in another sphere.


From "Streams in the Desert", May 5

Next sermon in the series of sermons on the ABC of faith, which will deal with the letter X

Coming Sunday, the Lord willing, in the series of sermons on the ABC of faith, I hope to deal with the letter X, to which I have allocated the active verb ‘to examine’. I realize this verb does not actually start with the letter X. However, I chose this verb, since it is closely connected to the word X-ray. We all know what an X-ray is. It is an examination of the body or of a part of the body as a diagnostic aid to show things, which otherwise would not be picked up by a doctor. Hence, in most instances an X-ray offers help for further treatment to become healthy again. Well, in a similar way an X-ray of our spiritual life can be very helpful too in order to enhance the health of our spiritual life.

In this series of sermons on the ABC of faith, the main accent is on the aspect that we must also live our faith. In the sermon dealing with the letter X, the question addressed will be, “Do we really live our faith, not just outwardly, but also inwardly in our thoughts, in the contemplations of our heart, when making decisions, for example? In all these things, do we really live our faith? Can it stand the test, when the light of God’s Word would penetrate our life like an X-ray?” In other words, the question is not what people can see, but what God can see, when X-raying also the things, which at times we neatly hide from others.

What would the picture of your life, your faith-life, look like when it would be X-rayed this way? We all know the answer. It would show a lot of dirt, a lot of things that should not be there, sins, of which others don’t know. We are all very good in putting on a nice front.

Hence, there is reason for self-examination. The text chosen for this sermon is 2 Cor. 13, 5, where we read the following, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.” The way in which the verb ‘examine’ is used in the original Greek refers to a continual examination. It means keeping continually an eye on our life whether we really live our faith on a daily basis. From the text we learn also that we are to examine ourselves not as to whether we have faith, but whether we are in the faith, i.e. whether we live our faith.

How are we to do this? The simple answer is by letting the searchlight of God’s Word shine into our life. It is – as I read it somewhere – giving thought to your life in the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified and this enlightened by the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us. When doing this, the picture of our life might show up more dirt then without this thorough examination. Yet, it is needed to see who we really are, who we really are, when God would search even our inmost thoughts.

 Is this a scary thought to you, to have your life X-rayed in this way? Let me tell you there is no need to be afraid of this. There is no need to be afraid of this, if we are willing also to confess our sins and to break with them and then turn to Christ.

This turning to Christ is referred to in the second part of 2 Cor. 13, 5 the text, where Paul says, “Do you not know yourselves that Christ is in you?” In our words, are you truly aware of Christ’s presence in your life? If so, we don’t have to be afraid of the outcome of the X-ray test of our spiritual life. For what is true faith? In  Art. 22 Belgic Confession it reads, “True faith embraces Jesus Christ and all His merits, makes Him our own, and does not seek anything besides Him.” Well, in order to see that we need Christ in this very first thing we need a clear X-ray of ourselves. It’s necessary exercise but also a very comforting exercise, since it will drive us to Christ and isn’t that what faith is all about.

The glory of tomorrow is rooted in the harship of today

Fighting chronic faitigue remains hard. At the moment there is not much progress.
I can do some work again, yet I would love to do more. Even the little bit I do, seems to be too much at times. Did I go back too early? I hope not.
I enjoy my preaching. I enjoy making sermons. The visits I make I also enjoy. So I'm thankful for what I can do and just have to be patient.

My daily meditations often remind me of this.
Let me just share from "Streams in the desert" what I read today, April 26:
"We tend to feel we are doing the greatest good in the world, when we are strong and fit for active duty and when our hearts and hands are busy with kinds of active service. Therefore when we are set aside to suffer, when we are sick, when we are consumed with pain, and when all our activities have been stopped, we feel we are no longer of any use and accomplishing nothing.
Yet if we will be patient and submissive, it is almost certain we will be  a greater blessing to the world around us during our time of suffering and pain than we were when we thought we were doing our greatest work."

For the candle to shine, first it has to be lit to burn!

It's lesson at times hard to learn and yet it is so true.

God knows what is best for all of us.

ANZAC DAY - a Christian perspective

PSALM 107 : 43,

Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.”

Lest we forget....

What do these words actually mean for us. Let us turn to Scripture and see the connection between Psalm 106 and Psalm 107.

Psalm 106, is a psalm full of the wondrous deeds of the LORD. It mentions how the LORD led His people out of Egypt with an outstretched arm and a mighty hand. Via wondrous signs, the LORD showed His people His almighty power. However, already at the Red Sea, they like to go back to Egypt. After the LORD had led them through the deep and had saved them from the hand of their enemy, they sing their praises to God. Yet this is only for a moment. A short time later once again they have forgotten His works. That’s how it went with Israel in the desert, but also later on in the Promised Land. You could call this selctive memory.

This danger of selective memory threatens God’s people continuously.  Let me just give you a couple of examples. Say you suffered a heart attack. You were taken to hospital. Laying at the monitor in the intensive care unit you prayed fervently, “Lord, please let this not be the end. Please, grant that I may return home again.” In that same prayer, you also promised Lord, “If I may recover I will change my life. From now on it will be a life in thankfulness towards Thee.” If the Lord indeed would grant recovery, you could not imagine that you would ever forget this critical moment in your life. Well, the Lord gave recovery. You were in the clouds. You appreciated good health more than ever before. Yet after some time, it slowly faded away. You got into your old rut again. What did actually become of that life of thankfulness you promised? Once again, you are so preoccupied with other things that you forget to look back and thank God for what He gave you.

Another example: Say you had to sit for an exam you dreaded. Your future career depended on it. Imagine you were to fail. You prayed, “Lord, please help me through; I will always remain thankful for it.” The Lord helped you through. Yet where is that constant thankfulness towards Him? You are busy making new plans and God hardly features in these plans. Thankfulnes is often short-lived.

In this context I think also of ANZAC Day, a day on which we as God’s people do not boast in men and what they have done, but we reflect on God’s hand in history. For it is God who throughout World War I and II, as well as the Korean and Vietnam War gave freedom to thousands of people.

I realize we can’t identify the history of Israel under the Old Testament with what God has done in the previous century. Nevertheless, we too are called to remember thankfully God’s wondrous deeds worked in the history of mankind also in the 20^th century. As God’s children we too are called to sing a song of praise on the mighty works of the LORD.

 “Whoever is wise, will observe these things;

 and they will understand the lovingkindness  of the LORD.”

 The fool leaves God out of the picture. He may do well in life, being a successful student or businessman. Yet he is truly a fool. He fails to see and acknowledge the dominating force in history and life: the LORD, our almighty and ever-present God!

Giving heed to the deeds of the LORD should cause us to speak differently about what is going on this world, in our own country and in society. This also means on ANZAC Day we give thought not first of all to national freedom. But the main point is that through this freedom conquered in World War I and II as well as in the Korean and Vietnam War, Christ’s church gathering work could continue. God gave freedom to preach the Word. He gave freedom to thousands of people to serve Him. That’s how we ought to commemorate ANZAC Day in thankfulness towards the LORD that we too may still serve Him in freedom.

When seeing ANZAC Day in this perspective, it can become clear also, that we ought to show this thankfulness not only once a year.  ANZAC Day is not meant to commemorate the events of the past just for one day, where after we can simply return to our normal life as if nothing has happened. Instead, we are to use the freedom we have received to the glory of God in His service, lest one day this freedom will witness against us.

 Lest we forget....

The limitedness of God's abundant love

I was reminded of this in one of my daily meditations this week (Springs in the Valley, April 18th)

God does never anything smalll. When He makes an ocean, He makes it so deep that no man can fathom it. When He makes a mountain, He makes it so large that no one can measure or weigh it. When He makes flowers, He scatters multiplied millions of them where there is no one to admire them but Himself. When He makes grace, He makes it without sides or bottom and leaves the top off. Instead of giving salvation with a medicine dropper, He pours it forth like a river.
When God sets out to do a thing for us, He does it with a prodigality of love-promted abundance that fairly staggers one who reckons things by coldly calculating standards of earth.
Whatever blessing is in our cup it is sure to run over. With the LORD the calf is always a fatted calf; the robe is always the best robe; the joy is always unspeakable; the peace passeth understanding; the grace is so abundant that the recipient has all-sufficiency for all things, and abounds to every good work.

How great it is to have this God as our Father. May the LORD through His Spirit help all of us daily to live from these abundant riches to bring glory to Him!

The next sermon in the series of sermons on the ABC of faith

I referred to this series also in an earlier blogpost (31 January) It is a series of sermons, whereby I have allocated an active verb to each letter of the alphabet, a do-word, to show that what we confess we must also live. The series started with the letter 'A', to which I allocated the word 'Amen', starting with God's promises, which are all Yes and Amen in Jesus Christ ( 2 Cor. 1 : 20). However, having this security in Christ we must now also live our faith, walk with the LORD each day.

I started this series in February 2010. Due to all kind of circumstances it has taken a while to finish it. I am up to the letter 'W', to which I have allocated the active verb 'to wait', to wait for the LORD. In January, I wrote that the text would be Isaiah 30 : 18. Yet I changed this and have now chosen Psalm 27 : 14.

Here is a bit of a preview of what, the LORD willing, I hope to deal with coming Sunday.

The English dictionary gives the following definition of the verb ‘to wait’: it is ‘to stay in one place or remain inactive in expectation of something’. To remain inactive, just wait – how hard this can be under certain circumstances, or even in general, when the pressure is on. To wait patiently – this is not something that runs in our blood. Especially in today’s climate, everything has to happen quickly. We want quick solutions to our problems. Life is hectic, therefore we can’t wait and in cases we have to it often causes a lot of stress.

It’s a picture of the life we live in today’s hectic society: a rushed life with little or no time for quiet moments. I am afraid that at times this starts to affect also our relationship with God, to the extent that we find it hard ‘to wait for the LORD’, to wait patiently, firmly believing that the LORD will provide in His time, will answer also our prayers, yet again in His time.

In His time – oftentimes this is difficult for us to accept. The result can be that we start to despair or even worse rebel and give up on the LORD. We have prayed so fervently and yet there seems to be no change. Why does God not act, e.g. in cases where children have walked away from the LORD? We pray and pray, but there remains a hardening of the heart. Why, O LORD? As regards other examples, I think of childless couples, who dearly love to have children or others who have only one child and would love to have more children, or single persons who like to get married, but don’t see their heart’s desire fulfilled. Do all these prayers go unheard? We struggle, at times finding it hard to cope.

It because of these struggles and other struggles as well, which many people in the congregation face, that I have chosen the verb ‘to wait’, to wait for the LORD.  By waiting for Him, the LORD will teach us: give it to Me, wait for Me, stop worrying, instead entrust the cause of your life with all the worries there are – entrust it to Me. Only then, you will receive strength to be able cope and only then, you will receive also inward peace. Wait for Me!

"Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ..." (2 Cor. 10 : 5)

Who can control his mind and yet – as I read it somewhere – carelessness with thoughts is as dangerous as toying with explosives. That's why the apostle Paul writes in Ph. 4 : 8, “Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good repute, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”

This verse shows there is more to the battle for the mind than simply to stop thinking bad thoughts that are dragging us down in our Christian life. More positively, we must fill our mind with good thoughts. The battle for the mind is to have a mind that is pure and honourable before the LORD.

How to do this? The very simple answer is to live close to Scripture. In more practical terms this means to make time for and with the LORD, half an hour a day, as a bare minimum, so to speak; making time for the holy exercises of godliness, about with we read in Canons of Dort, Ch. 5, Art 2.

In Psalm 1 we read, “Blessed is the man ..., whose delight is in the law of the LORD and meditates on it day and night. He shall be like a tree, planted by the rivers of water... Whatever he does shall prosper.”

So, what are the things, we fill our mind with? In 2 Cor. 10, 5, the apostle Paul says that we must bring all our thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Only in this way will we be able to live truly Christian lives. Indeed, this starts in the mind.

Next, we also have to put this into action. We must take our thoughts captive for Christ, but then not just let them stay as thoughts, but also put it into practice, as the apostle Paul in his own life had given example of this. If we do so, says Paul, the God of peace will be with you, Ph. 4 : 9

May God give to all us what is needed in fighting this battle!

Grieving parents (2) - follow up of previous post

In response to my previous post, someone wrote me an email asking whether I had found some helpful material that could be passed on to parents who struggle with the heartache of prodigal children.

Over the years, I have read a lot of books about parenting, also about prodigals and how to deal with this. Yet with respect to most of these books, in the end the prodigal always comes home, as long as you pray hard enough. That's what I have against most of these books, since we have no assurance that this will happen.

We can learn from books about parenting: "Growing kids God's way, Shepherding a child's hearts, yet most of these book come across with the message: as long as you push the right buttons it will come all right, even though this may happen via the detour of a child for a while turning his or her back upon God.

One of the better book I have read on prodigals is: "Come back, Barbara..."  It might be out of print, but you can still order it at Amazon. A review can be found at  http://www.cpyu.org/Page.aspx?id=163098 I have given this book to many struggling parents. The drawback, however, is that also Barbara comes back.

Knowing by own experience the heartache of children, who have left the church. I like to make a few comments.
First of all, keep the door of communication always open. Don't cut ties. After all, how otherwise can we keep reaching out to these wayward children with the gospel of salvation.
Don't preach, but in your contacts/visits use the opportunities when they arise. Keep radiating love and live by example. In case you share a meal at the house of your wayward children, do what you normally do: pray aloud and ask if you can share Scripture with them. Also, keep inviting them to family get togethers. Try to draw them in, even though they will feel that the bond is different to what is was before.
I'm afraid that at times we highlight the sentence "let him be to you like a Gentile and a tax collector", yet forget that the Form for excommunication also reads "warn him as a brother!"

Due to what happened in our own family, I receive a lot of questions re how to deal with prodigals, especially in view of some members of the church, who indeed believe we have to cut ties.
I think it would be nice if we could share each others heartache a bit more and also pray for one  another. In this context, I have thought that perhaps once in a while we could come together as parents who suffer these heartaches, share and pray together.
If reading this post, you think this will be a good idea, just let me know and then I will see what we can do in this area.

In general, over the last years I have to come to realize that it is better to share some of your sufferings (also in other areas) with people who struggle in a similar way, than just putting up a brave front. A good cry at times can be very helpful!

Reflections, after having watched the movie Courageous

Last week, visiting Kooring Bookshop with my daughter I bought the DVD the movie Courageous: http://www.courageousthemovie.com/  I had read the book already, but not yet watched the movie, which my wife and I did last Saturday evening in the peaceful surroundings of our living room. I enjoyed the movie. It surely has a good message.

In 1988 at a Women's League Day in Albany, I had a speech, which had as title "Mother, where are you?" In that speech I addressed the issue of working mothers, at times at the expense of the raising of their children.
Equally the question could be asked, "Fathers, where are you?" Do you spend time with your children and do you give them the attention they need. At times, they can be craving for this attention even by showing a negative attitude.

I don't put this question, as if I myself was always such a good Dad. Looking back at my own life, I realize I could have spent more time with my children. At times church work took priority, of which in hindsight I wonder: was it right?
True, we are on this earth, not in the first place for ourselves. Our priority should be "God above all!"
Over the years, however, I have come to realize that this should never be at the cost of the family. At the various marriage enrichment camps I have been alllowed to run, I teach the following:
In order of priority:
God comes above all
Then your spouse
Then your children
Then your work (including church work)

Of course then at times an elder has to suffer precious family time, when he has to go on a home-visit or antoher visit, yet this should never go at the expense of being a good Dad. I admit that this is a learning curve, especailly when life is hectic. But a Dad should spend time with his children and also as a husband with his wife. Though I always have tried to do this, I also realize I could have been there more. The movie surely re-affirmed this.

Why this personal confession in public? In sharing we can learn from each other and help each other.
Not so long ago I advised an elder, who celebrated his wedding anniversary on a day, when at night there was a consistory meeting, to skip this meeting and to take his wife out for dinner instead. After all, caring well for your wife is as much kingdom work as attending a consistory meeting, where once in a while you can be missed, since there are other priorities. Likewise, this could be done occasionally when a child needs his of her Dad.

Many fathers looking back upon life will admit that they could have done a better  job. At the same time, however, the most important lesson we can teach our children is the example we give them: living a life for and with the LORD. Can children see in the life of their parents that  love for the LORD determines their life in everything, e.g. also in the way we live our life as husband and wife in marriage.

Finally, don't think your job as a father is done, when all the children have left home. As I read it in the guideline that comes with the movie: as long as your children are still your children, you are remain their father, a father also for your married children. They too still need their father. This never stops!

Grieving parents

I would also like to address those who are grieving about children, who have left the church. So often we blame ourselves: If only I had done this or done that. And perhaps there are things we could have done differently. Yet the main thing is: we cannot give our children faith.  If only we could, but wer can't! Yet why do children, covenant children, at times turn their back upon God, leaving the church, breaking also the hearts of their parents.
In John 10 : 29, the Lord Jesus says, "No one can snatch them out of my Father's hand." But what about these children of God, baptised in front of the church, young members who full of enthusiasm confessed their faith, but who strayed away from the church, following the lusts of their own sinful flesh. Was Satan able to snatch these lambs out of Christ’s hands?
Many a parent who has a child that no longer goes to church struggles with this very question. It’s a very difficult question, to which I don’t have a clear-cut answer. Yet the promise of John 10 stands and to that promise parents may cling, as long as we live in today’s grace. For those children are still God’s children to whom God gave promises, and therefore there is always a way back. God is a God full of mercy.

A few years ago, I read a meditation on the passage where David cries out his heart when Absalom had died. He cries out, “O my son Absalom, if only I had died in your place.” David’s arms were too short to reach his son. How often don’t we have that same feeling, when children stray away from the Lord. Our arms are too short to help them. Yet, there is One, who arms are never too short to help.

The Good Shepherd died so that His sheep might live. He laid down His life for the flock. And so, where we no longer can reach our children, He can. We can’t give our children faith. Yet He can through His Spirit. His love goes out also to those lost sheep. He let His body be nailed on the cross also for them. He gave His life for us and our children. That’s the promise parents may plead with.

No, this promise does not mean that our children will always walk in the ways of the Lord. When they grow up they also have their own responsibility to make the right choices. Yet as long as there is life and we live in today’s grace, there is hope. Then we may fold our hands, day and night, to lay the names of our children in the hands of this Shepherd, praying,

“Lord, we often feel so helpless. Lord, we raised our children with many sins and weaknesses. Yet they are still Thine, O Lord, and therefore wilt Thou keep them safe.”

“Loving Shepherd, ever near

Teach Thy lambs Thy voice to hear

Suffer not their steps to stray

From the straight and narrow way.

Where Thou leadest may they go,

Walking in Thy steps below;

Then, before Thy Father’s throne,

Saviour, claim them for Thine own.”

---

"Love is of God..." - 1 John 4, 7

In my last blog post, I addressed the matter of ‘forgiving one another’, which at times might be hard, according to us, hard to show true love always under all circumstances, unconditional, self –denying. Who is really able to give this love always?

Yet before saying, “I can never do this!”, may I point you a wonderful message recorded in the  first letter of the apostle, 1 John 4, 7, where it reads, “love is of God”. After all, from ourselves we will never be able to muster the unconditional love God requires of us. It is beyond our capabilities. At times, we may think, if I try hard enough things might change in my life. Yet, it is not our good intentions that in the end will get us there. It’s beyond us. From ourselves we will never attain it. Instead – the same message as my previous blog post – only by abiding in God’s wonderful love, by which He loved us first, we are also able to express true love.

Abiding in God’s wonderful love by which He loved us first – this means: standing in awe of this love, marvelling how much God loved us in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of our life. Warming ourselves in this great love will cause life to flourish.

Love is of God, we cannot muster it by certain good intentions to change our life. However, this should not cause us simply to sit on our laurels so to speak. Love remains also a commitment we have to make, be it through power from above. God requires of us to show this love in our actions towards Him, but also towards our neighbour. It remains a command, for example in marriage, even when it might be hard at times, for example when confronted with brokenness in marriage. It can happen in some marriages that at times it may cross our mind that we live with somebody that is unlovable and therefore it is difficult to keep on loving that person. However, when this happens, a husband or a wife should remember this: redeemed by Christ, not only by His blood but also by His Spirit, thus having become a new creature in and through Christ, we are commanded to love. I like to note, this does not only apply to marriage relationships, but in all relationships, we are called to show this love always. This should never depend on how loving the other person is.

In Eph. 5,2, the apostle Paul writes, “Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma.” This verse clearly shows the standard for loving is the way Christ loved us: unconditional, even to people we think might not be deserving of our love. Be imitators of God as dear children. Dear – i.e. loved by God; hence, we too are called to walk in love, because we ourselves have been loved so much!

So, to love God with all your heart, soul and mind and to love your neighbour as yourself, perfect love 100 %, 24/7, is this hard to do. It is not hard when daily we warm ourselves in God’s love for us, being amazed at God’s love for me a sinner. Who am I that in response I would not also express this same love? 

Warming yourself in God’s love, God Himself will give you the ability to show this wonderful love each day anew, when you indeed walk with Him, walking in love radiating it as a pleasing aroma to God, but also to everyone who God may cause to cross your path.

So never forget: love is of God, He will give to you when you walk with Him, warming yourself in the love by which He loved us first.

"Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another..."

This post is lengthier than normal, yet I hope you will make it to the end.
Forgiving each other can be hard at times, especially when we have been hurt deeply. This post is meant to offer some help.
Over the last year I have addressed this matter in a sermon, in some articles, which I wrote, and at the beginning of this year also at the National Youth Convention which had as theme "Loving your neighbour as yourself."

"Forgiving one another..."

To forgive one another can be hard at times. However, at the same time I wonder why this is, especially when looking at the fact that each day again we may rejoice in God forgiving us our sins. Should joy in this great miracle not bear as fruit that we become also more ready to forgive one another? If not, why is this?  I realise at times the hurt caused by people can leave scars for life, especially in cases of physical or emotional abuse, or other instances where trust has been broken so much so that we may wonder whether this ever can be restored again. The result can be that bitterness takes hold of us, so that we no longer want to forgive someone for the hurt he or she has caused us.

How do we overcome this bitterness – this grudge that we hold? Should we simply try to forget what has happened and move on with life, in the meantime avoiding all contact? No matter how hard we might try, often this simply does not work. Deep down it still seems to be eating us away, especially when the name of the person concerned is mentioned or when we meet him or her, even in passing.

In a book that I read when dealing with this subject, I came across the following statement: “If we choose not to forgive those who have hurt us, we put ourselves under their control. If we are under

their control, we cannot be free for God to heal us and set us free.” Though this statement has some Arminian tendency, there is a lot of truth in it. As long we keep harbouring bitterness towards certain people, somehow they still control our life. We will never feel completely free, unless by God’s grace we can let go of it. To phrase this in a slightly different way, unless we learn to understand what grace actually means, i.e. unless we see the miracle of grace, we will continue struggling with forgiving one another.

Hence, the point is do we really understand what grace is. We are saved by grace. However, do we really understand these words and does it cause us daily to stand in awe of it.

Through faith in Jesus Christ I am righteous before God, which means – Answer 60, HC – God imputes to us the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, to the extent that God sees us now, “as if I had never committed any sin, and as if I myself had accomplished all the obedience which Christ rendered for me.” When reading these words, one starts wondering, "Really, LORD?" It makes me stand in awe of God’s forgiveness – a miracle indeed.  Standing in awe of this miracle will also help us to forgive one another. After all, who am I who have been forgiven so much, that I would be unwilling to forgive my neighbour?
For a moment think of the parable of the unforgiving servant. The apostle Peter has asked the Lord Jesus, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Peter thought seven times is already quite something. In response, Jesus says to Peter, forgiving is not a matter of mathematics, but it has to come from the heart. Not seven times, but seventy times seven, i.e. endlessly.

Summarizing all this, for a start when asking God for forgiveness we must always do so fully aware of the greatness of our debt towards God. This awareness will help us in forgiving our neighbour. Then, because of the hurt we are feeling, this might be difficult. However, we will only receive true inward peace when we let go of our bitterness and hatred, and give them over to God. We can do this only by power from above.

Then it might be that because of what has happened full trust will never be restored. Yet giving it to God will free us from bitterness in our hearts. We can look the other in the eye again, knowing we did what God wanted us to do. That’s what counts. Let us never make forgiving our neighbour dependant on the reaction we might receive. I can extend the hand of forgiveness regardless whether the other wants to accept it or not.

I would like to note that forgiving my neighbour does not mean – when from their side there is no repentance – that I should forgive them the things they did wrong. Yet I can forgive them the emotional hurt that they caused me, so that this hurt is no longer eating away at me. The truth is, if we don’t do this, somehow the person who has hurt us still has us under his control. Whenever we see him or her, we cringe and feel uneasy. However, Christ wants to set us free also of those feelings.

That’s why He says in the Sermon on the Mount that to receive the full blessing of forgiveness of sin, we must also be willing to forgive one another. If you find it difficult to do so, pray for strength from above. After all, none of us can do this in our own strength. So cry it out before God. If you do so sincerely, God will provide. Trust in Him. That’s what faith is all about. It’s clinging to something that we cannot see with the physical eye, like jumping off a cliff and still believing God’s mighty arms are underneath us.

I wish you all God's blessing, also in living harmony with your neighbour, loving him as yourself!

---

Small steps... (another update on dealing with chronic fatigue)

How did the first week back at work go?
Relatively well. I could do some visits. I taught one catechims class with much joy.
I could prepare a sermon for tomorrow morning. This was not rostered, yet I will be leading the service in Byford, the Lord willing, in which also our youngest grandchild will be baptized.
If things continue to go well,  next week Sunday afternoon I hope to be back at the pulpit in Southern River. I'm looking forward to that. I  have already been busy with a sermon for that service.
I'm still quicky tired, and don't sleep well at all, suffering from imsonia.

Yet I thank the LORD for small steps on the road to recovery. May He continue to restore health.

Do you ever feel burdened....?

The burdens of life can really wear us out. For those who feel this way sometimes, here is a poem I would like to share with you. It puts our burdens in the right perspective, which hopefully will also help all who read this in carrying your burdens in faith, looking at the trials in life not only negavetively, but also positively. I'm praying that God may bless you all! Our strength lies in Him alone!

                                                    LIFTED ABOVE THE BURDENS

                                                             (By Miss  Mary Butterfield)

One day when walking down the street,
On business bent, while thinking hard
About the "hundred cares" which seemed
Like thunder clouds about to break
In torrents, Self-pity said to me:
"You poor, poor thing, you have too much
To do. Your life is far too hard.
This heavy load will crush you soon."
A swift response of sympathy
Welled up within. The burning sun
Seemed more intense. The dust and noise
Of puffing motors flying past
With rasping blast of blowing horn
Incensed still more the whining nerves,
The fabled last back-breaking straw
To weary, troubled, fretted mind.

"Ah, yes, 'twill break and crush my life;
I cannot, bear this constant strain
Of endless, aggravating cares;
They are too great for such as I."
So thus my heart, condoled itself,
"Enjoying misery," when lo!!
A "still small voice" distinctly said,
"Twas sent to lift you—not to crush."
I saw at once my great mistake,
My place was not beneath the load,
But on the top! God meant it not
That I should carry it. He sent
It here to carry me. Full well
He knew my capacity
Before the plan was made. He saw
A child of His in need of grace
And power to serve, a puny twig
Requiring sun and rain to grow,
An undeveloped chrysalis,
A weak soul lacking faith in God.
He could not help but see all this
And more. And then, with tender thought
He placed it where it had to grow—
Or die. To lie and cringe beneath
One's load means death, but life and power
Await all those who dare to rise above.
Our burdens are our wings; on them
We soar to higher realms of grace;
On planes of undeveloped faith,
(For faith grows but by exercise
In circumstances impossible).

Oh, paradox of Heaven, the load
We think will crush was sent to lift us
Up to God! Then, soul of mine,
Climb up! for naught can e'er be crushed
Save what is underneath the weight.
How may we climb! By what ascent
Shall we surmount the carping cares
Of life! Within His Word is found
The key which opes His secret stairs;
Alone with Christ, secluded there,
We mount our loads, and rest in Him.
* * *