Hearthstone - December 1998

Contents
xxx	Volume 14, No. 11	November 1999
Unashamed Thanks Thanksgiving Thoughts The Need of a Touch Hugs 'N Tugs by Wendy Greiner Lefko The Ways of God The Best of LifeLine By Rev. Larry W. Greiner Safe at Home	THANKSGIVING "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name" (Psalm 100:4,5). Scottish minister Alexander Whyte was known for his uplifting prayers in the pulpit. He always found something for which to be grateful. One Sunday morning the weather was so gloomy that one church member thought to himself, "Certainly the preacher won't think of anything for which to thank the Lord on a wretched day like this." Much to his surprise, however, Whyte began by praying, "We thank Thee, O God, that it is not always like this."

UNASHAMED THANKS
	In a crowded restaurant, as Dr. Harry Ironside was about to begin his meal, a man approached and asked if he could join him. Ironside invited him to have a seat. Then, as was his custom, Ironside bowed his head in prayer. When he opened his eyes, the other man asked, "Do you have a headache?" Ironside replied, "No, I don't." The other man asked, "Well, is there something wrong with your food?" Ironside replied, "No, I was simply thanking God as I always do before I eat." The man said, "Oh, you're one of those, are you? Well, I want you to know I never give thanks. I earn my money by the sweat of my brow and I don't have to give thanks to anybody when I eat. I just start right in!" Ironside said, "Yes, you're just like my dog. That's what he does, too!" Back to Contents

THANKSGIVING THOUGHTS

"Hearty thanks must be given to God: such as cometh not from the roof of the mouth but the root of the heart." — John Trapp

"Those blessings are sweetest that are won with prayers and worn with thanks." — Thomas Goodwin

"Prayer without thanksgiving is like a bird without wings." —William Hendriksen

A thankful heart has a continual feast.

"Thanksgiving is good, but thanks-living is better." — Matthew Henry

Thanksgiving is the vibration of the soul's heartstrings under the soft touch of God's benevolence.

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THE NEED OF A TOUCH
	A twelve-year-old boy named David was born without an immune system. He underwent a bone marrow transplant in order to correct the deficiency. Up to that point he had spent his entire life in a plastic bubble in order to prevent exposure to common germs, bacteria, and viruses that could kill him. He lived without ever knowing human contact. When asked what he'd like to do if and when released from his protective bubble, he replied, "I want to walk barefoot on grass, and touch my mother's hand." Have you been isolated from God in a bubble of loneliness and despair? Do you long to touch His hand? Reach out by faith today! He is waiting with outstretched arms. Enjoy freedom in Christ! "They besought [Jesus] that they might only touch the hem of His garment: and as many as touched Him were made perfectly whole" (Matthew 14:36). Back to Contents

HUGS 'N TUGS
By Wendy Greiner Lefko
	Our five-year-old loves to write letters, put them in envelopes and give them to people. So when I realized I was getting low on envelopes, because of a certain little boy, I replenished my supply. As I reached for an envelope one day, after writing a letter myself, my son, who was playing behind me, quipped, "You're using my envelopes?" How quickly he had forgotten who bought and owned the envelopes he so freely used! Oh, how quickly we forget Who bought and owns us and all that we possess. We find it so easy to take for granted all our many blessings. We neglect to remember Who gave us our talents, our family, our worldly goods, our very life. And when we are asked to share from our wealth of blessings, we can tend to greedily claim ownership of these, and we fail to let the Lord use the very gifts He so freely allowed us to have. How selfish we can be with our money, our time, or our spiritual gifts. They all come from our wonderful Heavenly Father Who so selflessly gave His only Son on our behalf, that we might be partakers of abundant life! How dare we withhold any gift from Him Who gave us all things! At this time of year when we set aside a special day to give thanks to the One who gave His all, may we remember that all we have and are comes from Him. And may we show our true gratitude by giving back to Him all He has blessed us with— our talents, earthly wealth, our very lives—and use it for His glory. Thank you, Father, for Your many blessings! "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever"(Psalm 118:1). Back to Contents

THE WAYS OF GOD
	When God wants to drill a man And thrill a man and skill a man, When God wants to mold a man, When He yearns with all His heart To create so bold a man That all the world will be amazed, Watch His methods, watch His ways: How He relentlessly perfects Whom He royally elects; How hammers us and hurt us And with mighty blows converts us Into trial shapes of clay Which only God can understand, While our tortured heart is crying And we lift beseeching hands. How God bends, but never breaks When His good He undertakes; How He uses whom He chooses And with every purpose fuses us, By every act induces us To try His splendor out — God knows what He's about! —Author unknown Back to Contents

BEST OF LIFELINE
By Rev. Larry W. Greiner
	Blayne Greiner, my cousin, a full-time youth minister for twenty-two years, shared this powerful experience he had while taking a stand for God. "I was asked to be on a panel at a local high school to speak and answer questions on the subject of divorce and remarriage, family break-ups, etc. Also on the panel were a divorce lawyer and a psychologist. It was a rough time. Some of the students mocked me for my Christian stance, and the two panel members put me down as 'not relevant' with modern times. "But, near the end of the session a student raised his hand and asked a question to all three of us on the panel: ‘What is your current marital status?’ The lawyer said that he had been divorced twice and was presently living with a woman. The psychologist said he had been divorced five times and was also presently living with a woman. I said the following: ‘I have been married to the same beautiful, gorgeous, fantastic woman for almost twenty-five years, and I love her more today than ever, and I will stay committed to her until death.’ "Well, you wouldn't believe what happened next! The entire body of students and teachers stood to their feet and gave me a standing ovation that lasted for quite a while. I had to fight back the tears. In this present day the youth found it amazing that a man and a woman could love each other for twenty-five years! I give 100% of the glory and credit to my God! The Lord has been the glue in Betty's and my relationship." What a trophy to the grace of God! Is your marriage a trophy to the grace of God? In these last days of easy divorce, marriages can stay intact when couples live according to God's word. When Jesus Christ is our first love in the relationship, and we as husbands love our wives as Christ loved the Church, then there can be harmony and unity in our homes which will last a lifetime. It's not too late to put Christ first in your marriage. Marriage is more than finding the right person; it is being the right person. "Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it…. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband" (Ephesians 5:24-25,33). Back to Contents

The heavens have opened, a saint has gone home,
No fear, pain or worry, no days left to roam.
On the face of his Savior he has gazed with pure joy;
None can hinder such pleasure; none can hurt or annoy.
Oh, the glory and blessing, Oh, what peace evermore,
As the angels surround him as he steps on that shore.
Golden streets, pearly grates, crystal sea, jasper stone,
Naught on earth can compare with the scene 'round the throne.
And the hope of reunion of dear loved ones, how grand,
Waits for those who know Jesus, safe at home in that land.

—E.Ruth Greiner
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