Volume 20, No.1

JANUARY 2005

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CONTENTS

Fellowship With God

The Peace of God

Him

The Best of Lifeline

Through The Fire

 Hugs 'N Tugs

Finger Facts of Faith

Fully Surrendering Our Lives to God

Praise & Prayer

Greiner Itinerary

 

 

FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD

The martyred Jim Elliot expressed fellowship with God in this way:  “To stand by the shadows of a friendly tree with the wind tugging at your coattail and the heavens hailing your heart, to gaze and glory and to give oneself again to God, what more could a man ask?  Oh, the fullness, pleasure, sheer excitement of knowing God on earth.  I care not if I never raise my voice again for Him, if only I may love Him, please Him.  Perhaps in mercy, He shall give me a host of children that I may lead through the vast star fields to explore His delicacies whose fingers’ ends set them to burning.  But if not, if only I may see Him, smell His garments, and smile into my Lover’s eyes, ah, then, not stars, nor children, shall matter — only Himself.”

THE PEACE OF GOD

“These things I said unto you that you might have peace.”  Here is a peace which is not broken by the noise and assault of brutal circumstances.  The most tempestuous wind cannot disturb the quiet serenity of the stars.  The Lord has “overcome the world,” and thou shalt share His victory.

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HIM

It would be sweet could I see it,
That land where the Savior walked,
The quiet roads in the gloaming,
The hills where He sat and talked.
My heart would be ever searching
For some dear trace of Him there,
His footprints in the meadows,
The tones of His voice in the air.
My hand would be ever questing,
With finger tips athrill,
For an ancient wall or rock where
His touch might linger still.
My feet would linger in languish
At the place where my dear Lord died;
My very soul would be sobbing;
My heart would be crucified.
Yes, it would be sweet could I see it.
But my cup is filled to the brim,
With the blessed hope of seeing soon
Not the place where He dwelt –but HIM!

                  −Martha Snell Nicholson

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THE BEST OF LIFELINE

By Rev. Larry W. Greiner

In the far west, during the Civil War Era, a missionary was speaking to a group of American Indians about the Lord Jesus Christ.  As he was speaking, an old Indian Chief arose. He walked forward and laid his tomahawk at the missionary’s feet. He said, “Indian Chief give his tomahawk to Jesus”.   The missionary continued to speak, telling of the love of God in Christ Jesus.  Rising from his seat the second time, the old Indian Chief walked forward, He took his blanket from his shoulders and laid it at the missionary’s feet. He said, “Indian Chief give his blanket to Jesus Christ.” Again he sat down.  The missionary continued.  He told how God had given the choicest of heaven’s gifts when He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to the world to redeem lost man.  Presently, the Indian Chief disappeared from the meeting place.  After a few minutes he returned, leading his horse to the missionary.  He tied the horse to a stake, then walked up to the missionary and said, “Indian Chief give his horse to Jesus.”  Once more, he took his seat.  He had given to Jesus all the THINGS he had! 

Now, the missionary was telling of the death of the Lord Jesus on the cross for their sins.  The old Chief still had no peace in his heart.  Tears began to stream down his bronzed cheeks.  He stumbled toward the front once more.  Kneeling before the missionary, he said with trembling lips, “Indian Chief give HIMSELF to Jesus!”  Then glorious peace and happiness flooded his soul! 

Of the early Christians in Corinth , Paul wrote, “And they did… (they) first gave their own selves to the Lord” (2 Corinthians 8:5) Have you given YOURSELF to the Lord Jesus Christ?  Why not make 2005 a year of 100% commitment to Him.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).

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AFFLICTIONS ARE OFTEN THE BLACK FOLDS IN WHICH GOD DOES SET THE JEWELS OF HIS CHILDREN’S GRACE TO MAKE THEM SHINE BETTER. −SPURGEON

THROUGH THE FIRE

While visiting in Nanjing , Dr. Ravi Zacharias,spent several hours with one of China ’s most renowned evangelists, Wang Ming Tau who had been imprisoned under Mao Zedong’s brutal regime.  Unable to face a life of permanent imprisonment, he had recanted his faith and been released.  As a free man he knew he had betrayed his Lord.  Troubled at his failure, he decided that if life in prison was what God wanted for him, then that was what he would gladly accept.  With a renewed commitment to his Lord he walked the streets of Beijing , shouting, “My name is Peter;  I have betrayed my Lord! My name is Peter; I have betrayed my Lord!” He was immediately rearrested.  For nineteen more years behind bars he suffered for Christ.  When he finished telling his story, he asked if he could sing a hymn he had sung in prison every day.  His body aged, and his hands all gnarled, with his wife, almost blind, sitting next to him, he sang,

All the way my Savior leads me—
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my guide?
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

Three young men were seated on the floor, their faces lifted to him as he sang.  They had come to visit him, and before they left they asked him to pray for them.  Ravi said, “There is something so moving about able-bodied young people seeking the prayers of an old, fragile man or woman.  But in the most biblical sense of the term they knew the principle of redemptive suffering, wherein one whose own life has been touched by the Savior in his or her own suffering can pray more honestly and effectively on behalf of those who have not yet gone through the fire.  I could picture Job smiling with approval.”

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HUGS ‘N TUGS

By Wendy Greiner Lefko

“OPEN ME FIRST.”  Those were the words printed boldly, not on a Christmas gift, but on one of several packages that arrived together as one shipment.  Opening this package first I found the instruction manual necessary to put together what was contained in the remaining packages.  Had I ignored the exhortation to open in a certain order, I was sure to be confused and waste time.

I’m sure we’re all familiar with packages that arrive marked with bold letters: “DO NOT OPEN ‘TIL CHRISTMAS!”  Oh how tempting it can be to pretend we don’t even see that warning, but we comply and tuck it away till the appropriate time.

Then there are the labels on fixtures other than packages that grab our attention such as fire alarms or heavy doors marked: “ONLY OPEN IN CASE OF EMERGENCY.”  Most people have no trouble obeying that sign as there’s no need to open it otherwise, but it is the first thing they might look for when in dire need of help.

When I consider all these labels, I see the many ways we may look at God’s Word.  Many of us “ONLY OPEN IN CASE OF EMERGENCY.”  We don’t see the need of spending time in God’s Word as a priority, yet it’s the first thing we run to when we are caught in a fiery storm of trouble.  We see it as a means of help when in need.  Then there are those who only seek God’s Word at special times such as Christmas when we celebrate His birth and are reminded of Him in such visible ways that we open His Word, but “NOT UNTIL CHRISTMAS.” 

The label we need to place upon the Word of God is “OPEN ME FIRST.”  After all, it is the instruction manual for life, and we are sure to make a mess of things if we ignore God’s plea to “seek first the kingdom of God ” and try to do it our own way.  It has all the directions we need to navigate and make sense of this puzzle of life.  The most precious part of God’s Word is that it is personal.  In fact God’s Word has one more label on it that has the sweetest sounding word anyone could find upon a gift—our own name.  God speaks to us personally. He gave the gift of His Son to each of us individually.  As we open the gift of a new year, may we not ignore the call of God upon our hearts to seek Him first, seek Him daily, and seek to live for Him in every area of our lives.    “Seek ye first the kingdom of God , and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33 ).

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Being boxed in with God, after the whole bottom of your life has fallen out, is a good place to be.  You learn to trust God for everything, and it’s all on His time schedule. −Vaughan Shatzer

FINGER FACTS OF FAITH

There are four five-word sentences that the Christian must keep in mind.

1. "Be filled with the Spirit"

2. My daily prayer and response to that should be:  "Place me under Your control."

3. What is God's response to everything that happens in my life as a result? Of every situation He says, "This thing is from Me!" In the book of I Kings ( 12:24 ) Rehoboam expected to be the recipient of his father's (Solomon) kingdom.  But God, in His providence, determined to allow the kingdom to be divided and Jeroboam was given the bulk of the tribes (10 in all) and Rehoboam only 2 tribes.  Perplexed and disappointed he determined to go to war over it.  That's when God stepped in and dissuaded him from doing so and said to him, "this thing is from Me!"  The lesson to be learned in all of this is a simple one — "God is in charge of whatever is under His control!"

4. "He'll take care of me." 

—Dr. Paul Anderson, Pastor

Chapel On The Hill, Cedar Grove , NJ

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One day you’ll understand that a short period of difficulty is a small price to pay for a clearer view of your King.

−Randy Alcove,  From Edge of Eternity 

Father,  I know You love me.  Help me feel it.  Give me peaceful sleep tonight, because You give me Your Spirit to confirm to my spirit that I’m Yours.  Help my pillow to be trust, my cover to be the warmth of Your love.  

 —Randy Becton
THE REASONABLENESS OF FULLY SURRENDERING OUR LIVES TO GOD.

1. God is all-wise and knows better than anyone else what is best for my life.

2. He is Almighty and has the power to accomplish what is best for me.

3. God loves me more than anyone else does.

Therefore the most logical thing I can do is surrender my life to the Lord.

−Robert Louise Sperry Chafer

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GRACE IS DIVINE ASSISTANCE FOR DAILY LIVING. − WILLIAM MACDONALD

PRAISE & PRAYER

* Praise God for successful surgery for Claire to reverse the colostomy and repair two large surgical hernias.  Healing is taking place, along with some pain and discomfort.  Further blood tests are in the works to determine the condition of the multiple Myeloma. Pray for renewed weight and strength lost in the recent surgery.

*  Pray for the major dental work Larry needs in 2005.

* Praise God for His faithful provision in meeting ministry and family needs.   He is Jehovah Jireh!
* Praise for reports of God’s blessing through the programs. internet and printed page.

* Praise for God’s blessing on the Korean youth ministry every Friday evening and Sunday morning.

 

Dear Saints of the Most High God,     

Thank you for your loving support and prayers.   Your Christmas greetings and letters ministered to us in ways we can’t describe.  What precious friends you are to our family. Day by day we march onward and upward to the drumbeat of eternity   We love you. 

Yours in the mighty name of Jesus,    

“The Greiners”

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 GREINER ITINERARY 

                                

Jan 9       P.M. Grace Bible Felllowship Church

            Reading , PA

Jan. 23 A.M. First Baptist Church

                Dover , DE

Jan. 25 FCI Board Meeting

Feb 6      A.M. St. Andrews United Methodist church

                Warminster , PA

 

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