Hearthstone - February 2004

Volume 19, No.2 FEBRUARYA 2004
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CONTENTS Friend Of Sinners Hugs 'N Tugs The Best of Lifeline By Rev. Larry W. Greiner God's Awesome Presence Jesus Only A Home In The Wilderness A Child's Prayer A New Atmosphere He Will Lead God's Concern	FRIEND OF SINNERS Early in his life, Jerry McAuley was a thief and counterfeiter. As a result, he spent seven years in prison. Although he was converted there, it was a long time before he experienced the complete victory that is available in Christ. When he did, however, he began witnessing to other men who had sunk deep in sin. Later he opened America ’s first rescue mission in New York City , where he befriended the worst criminals and downtrodden people of society. Just before his death in 1884, he said to his wife, “I know that tuberculosis will soon take my life, but I want to die on my knees, still praying for the lost. I’d rather have some poor soul that I led to the Lord put one small rose on my grave than to have the wealth of a millionaire.” His wish was granted, for at his funeral, an aged, shabbily dressed man appeared. Handing one of the ushers a few flowers, he asked, in a voice trembling with emotion, that the flowers be placed on the coffin. Then the old man said apologetically, “I hope Jerry, who was my friend, will know that they came from old Joe Chappy.” Mrs. McAuley preserved that little bouquet for a long time in remembrance of the fact that her husband had been a true friend of sinners. Back to Contents
A candle loses nothing of its light by lighting another candle. —Author Unknown
Love is a deep, continuous, growing, and ever-renewing activity of the will, superintended by the Holy Spirit. —Mike Mason

HUGS 'N TUGS
	By Wendy Greiner Lefko Above our kitchen sink is a window on which, when steam rises from hot water running from the faucet, some images strangely appear—the outline of a few houses, some trees, and some perfectly formed snowflakes. At first glance one might wonder how this could be. For Christmas I had decorated this particular window with press-on vinyl cut-outs. Later, when I removed those clinging decorations, no visible marks remained. However, one evening when I was doing dishes, and the steam rose, I noticed the outline of those Christmas scenes “magically” appearing across the glass. Somehow they had left an impression upon the window that only became visible when the steam from hot water touched them. I began to wonder what images become visible in my life when the “steam” of trials and tribulation comes into contact with my soul? Whatever has been pressed upon my heart in times past and whatever choices I have clung to and whatever beliefs I have adhered to, that is what will be revealed when the hot water of life rises like a cloud of steam on the window of my soul. Have I allowed the Holy Spirit to impress His finger of conviction and righteousness upon my heart? Have I clung to the promises of God and His unfailing love for me? Have I adhered to the principles in His Word by living my life with the goal of Christ-likeness in mind? Nothing will reveal our true soul and those images after which we fashioned our lives like the hot steam of life’s troubles. We witness both kinds of images in others. Some reveal a self-centered, earthly-minded anger towards God and other people when things don’t go their way. Others reveal a humble acceptance and gracious gratitude toward the Lord and in turn towards their fellow man when life’s troubles rise with a fury. One can’t help but notice the difference between the two. Only by God’s grace can His image be revealed in us when we are tried and tempted on every side. It depends upon what we put there in the first place. Our true hearts will be revealed eventually, and nothing can hide what we have chosen to ingrain upon our souls. My prayer is that I would take greater care to seek only those heart “images” that God would find acceptable in His sight when my soul is laid bare before the eyes of the world. When others in my heart see clear Oh may they not see me. Lord, may the only image there Be always, only Thee. Back to Contents

BEST OF LIFELINE
	By Rev. Larry W. Greiner When former President Eisenhower was vacationing in Denver , his attention was called to a letter in the local newspaper which told how 6-year-old Paul Haley, dying of cancer, had expressed a wish to see the president of the United States , Mr. Eisenhower decided to grant the boy’s request. So one Sunday morning in August a big limousine pulled up outside the Haley home and out stepped the president. He walked to the door and knocked. Mr. Haley, wearing blue jeans, an old, torn t-shirt and a day’s growth of beard, opened the door. Behind him was his little son, Paul. “Paul,” said the president, “I understand you want to see me. Glad to see you.” He shook hands with the boy and took him out to see the Presidential limousine. He shook hands again and left. Little Paul could not believe what had just happened. It was the happiest day of his life. The Haleys and a lot of other people would talk about this kind deed of a busy President for a long time to come. Only one person was not entirely happy about it—that was Mr. Haley. He can never forget how he was dressed when he opened the door. “Those jeans, the old torn shirt, the unshaven face—what a way to meet the President of the United States ,” he lamented. It must have been embarrassing for Mr. Haley, and yet on a more serious matter, when Jesus comes for us, in what state will He find us? Will He find us living in sin, wrapped up in the things of this world? Oh, Christian, let’s be careful how we live moment by moment, for we know not the hour when He shall appear. “If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee” (Revelation 3:3). When Jesus comes to reward His servants, Whether it be noon or night, Faithful to Him will He find us watching, With our lamps all trimmed and bright? Blessed are those whom the Lord finds watching, In His glory they shall share; If He shall come at the dawn of midnight, Will He find us watching there? O can we say we are ready, brother? Ready for the soul’s bright home? Say, will He find you and me still watching, Waiting, waiting when the Lord shall come? —Fanny J. Crosby Back to Contents

GOD’S AWESOME PRESENCE
	John Hyde was known for his ministry of prayer. He was even nicknamed Praying Hyde. After Wilbur Chapman had met Praying Hyde, he wrote a friend about his experience: I have learned some great lessons concerning prayer. At one of our missions in England the audience was exceedingly small; but I received a note saying that an American missionary was going to pray God’s blessing down upon our work. He was known as “Praying Hyde.” Almost instantly the tide turned. The hall became packed and upon my first invitation, fifty men accepted Christ as Savior. As we were leaving, I said, “Mr. Hyde, I want you to pray for me.” He came into my room, turned the key in the door and dropped on his knees and waited five minutes without a single syllable coming from his lips. I could hear my own heart thumping and his beating. I felt the hot tears running down my face. I knew I was with God. Then, with upturned face, down which the tears were streaming, he said, “Oh, God!” Then for five minutes at least he was still again; and then when he knew that he was talking with God there came up from the depth of his heart such petitions for men as I had never heard before. I arose from my knees to know what real prayer was. We believe that prayer is mighty, and we believe it as we never did before. God is looking for men and women who will stand in the gap and pray in the harvest. It is not a glamorous ministry. The one who prays for the multitudes may never be known by men, but he will be known well by the Father. Back to Contents
	The soul would have no rainbow if the eye had no tears. —John Piper
The man who is to thunder in the court of Pharaoh with an imperious “Thus saith the Lord!” must first stand barefoot before the burning bush. —Donald Gray Barnhouse

JESUS ONLY

“Those who write to me say they go to church yearning to experience the actual presence of Jesus Christ. They want to hear from a shepherd who has been shut in with the Lord. They want no more entertainment, no more showmanship, not another method. Now they’re crying, ‘Give me Christ. Give me the melting, healing, awesome presence of Jesus.’” —David Wilkerson

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A HOME IN THE WILDERNESS

On the banks of the James River , a husband erected a tombstone in memory of his wife, one of those 100 maidens who had come to Virginia in 1619 to marry the lonely settlers. The stone bore this legend: “She touched the oil of Virginia with her little foot and the wilderness became a home.”

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Communion with God is a great sea that fits every bend in the shore of human need. —Fosdick

A CHILD’S PRAYER
	God make my life a little light, Within the world to glow; A tiny flame that burneth bright Wherever I may go. God make my life a little flower, That giveth joy to all, Content to bloom in native bower, Although its place be small. God make my life a little song, That comforteth the sad; That helpeth others to be strong, And make the singer glad. God make my life a little staff, Whereon the weak may rest, That so what health and strength I have May serve my neighbors best. —M. Bentham Edwards Back to Contents

A NEW ATMOSPHERE
	Christ, once known and understood and loved, brings with Him into a man’s life a different atmosphere, an atmosphere in which, spontaneously, the evil things begin to droop and the fine things burst to bloom. —David Brainerd Back to Contents

HE WILL LEAD
	In firm, clear handwriting, Amy Carmichael’s mother wrote: My Precious Child, He who hath led will lead All through the wilderness, He who hath fed will surely feed. . . . He who hath heard thy cry Will never close His ear, He who hath marked thy faintest sigh Will not forget thy tear. He loveth always, faileth never, So rest on Him today —forever. Back to Contents

GOD’S CONCERN
	The things that God is most concerned about are our coldness of heart towards Himself and our proud, unbroken natures. Christian service of itself can, and so often does, leave our self-centered nature untouched. —Roy Hession Back to Contents

Volume 19, No.2

FEBRUARYA 2004

Hearthstone Archives | Home Page

By Wendy Greiner Lefko

By Rev. Larry W. Greiner