Hearthstone - March 2001

Contents
xxx	Volume 16, No. 3	March 2001
Tied Up In Knots Hugs 'N Tugs by Wendy Greiner Lefko Fulfillment Best of LifeLine by Rev. Larry W. Greiner Leave All With Him Shepherd's Prayer Damaged Goods Press On In What Are You Trusting?	MEDITATE ON THE "SON" Wax, when laid in cold places, becomes so hard and stiff that it will break rather than bend; but being laid in the sun, it becomes soft and pliable, fit for any impression. So when we neglect the duty of meditation on the Son of God, our hearts become wax hard. But when by meditation we draw nigh unto Him, the beams of His favor shining upon our hearts make them soft and flexible, and fit for any holy impression that He shall be pleased to stamp on them. "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success" (Joshua 1:8).

TIED UP IN KNOTS
	With thoughtless and Impatient hands We tangle up The plans The Lord hath wrought. And when we cry In pain, He saith, "Be quiet, dear, While I untie the knot." —Author unknown Back to Contents

HUGS 'N TUGS
By Wendy Greiner Lefko
	As any parent knows, raising kids has its ups and downs. Each day brings new challenges that can cause one to question one’s ability to guide and teach adequately. I’ve experienced my share of those moments, wondering why God chose me to be responsible, along with my husband, to raise four precious lives. It is in those times of self-doubt and insecurity that God sends gentle reminders of His omnipotent ability to work in the lives of our children, in spite of our imperfections. Such a reminder came the other day when our six-year-old son was preparing for another day in Kindergarten. It was show-and-tell time and the children had to bring in a picture of "someone or something they love." I knew how he treasured his toys, and thought perhaps his young mind would gravitate towards such material possessions, or maybe he’d choose a picture of our two cats, or better yet a picture of his family! But he caught me by total surprise when he said he was taking in "a picture of Jesus." I had secretly been hoping he would choose us, but instead he chose something better, something of greater importance than his family. I was overjoyed to see the Lord working in Christian's life at such an early age, and to see the Holy Spirit prompting his heart to seek out the One he loved most. He had chosen to take Jesus into his public-school classroom. When the children bring something to show-and-tell, they must not only "show" but also "tell" about what they have chosen. So the best part is that Christian got to share why he loves Jesus, how He died on the cross for his sins, and rose from the dead. It was his own choice and his own words. What an encouragement this was to us as parents. We teach and train our children in the way they should go, but in our shortcomings we begin to wonder if any of our guidance is sinking into their young hearts. Then God graciously encourages us with glimpses into the windows of their souls to show us that He is at work, in spite of our mistakes. He mercifully overrides our inadequacies and honors His Word by showing Himself to be real in their lives. As our children grow, they will continue to make decisions, both right and wrong. They will have to choose for themselves whom they will serve. God has been teaching me through the process of parenting what is really important. It’s not sports awards, popularity, or even straight A’s on a report card. It’s whom they love the most, and for whom they choose to live their lives. It is a choice they must make every day, and I’m deeply thankful for God’s mercy when they choose Jesus. God grant that it will always be so. The picture of Jesus our son took to school has a glass overlay with this verse and phrase printed on it: "Only one life, twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last." "For to me to live is Christ…" Philippians 1:21. Back to Contents

"I have never met a man who has given me as much trouble as myself."

— D.L.Moody

FULFILLMENT
	"My words . . . which shall be fulfilled in their seasons" (Luke 1:20). "Not one word hath failed of all He hath promised—all came to pass" (Joshua 23:14). Fulfillment! Ah, 'tis a lovely word! After all the weary years, After all the pain and tears, After all the doubts and fears— Fulfillment! Fulfillment! Yes, every promise kept! After waiting, longing, dread, After brightest hopes have fled, Lo, it is done, as He hath said— Fulfillment! Fulfillment! Such as ye cannot contain! Good measure pressed-down, running o'er, All He hath shown and so much more, A rending sky—an open door! Fulfillment! —Frances Metcalfe Back to Contents

BEST OF LIFELINE
By Rev. Larry W. Greiner
	A new minister came to a certain church. He was full of sophisticated knowledge, but he taught little from the Bible. One day, at the end of two years, he was told that one of the leading men of his church was gravely ill. Immediately he went to visit him in his home. It was evident that the man was dying. The doctor had said there was no hope. After some brief conversation, the minister asked, "Shall I read to you and pray with you?" "Yes," replied the man. He beckoned to his wife and said, "Could you please bring my Bible." The minister then took the man's Bible and opened it. What he saw startled him. Some of the books had been removed, some individual pages had been torn out, some chapters were missing, and a number of verses had been cut out. It was a shamefully mangled Bible. "Don’t you have a better Bible than this?" the minister asked. The dying man replied, "When you came to our church, I had a whole Bible. But as soon as you told me that one Book was fiction I tore it out. When you said that a certain chapter was not true, I removed it. When you mentioned that some Bible verses were not authentic, I cut them out. If I had another year under your teaching, I think I would have had only the two covers left and nothing else." Many preachers in our pulpits today do not take the Bible literally as the inspired Word of God without error. They have brought confusion and falsehood to their congregations. Satan does not want the Bible preached as the Word of God in our churches, so he will use certain men in the pulpits to water it down, misinterpret it, call the stories in it "allegories" or "fables" or not even preach from it at all. But when the Word of God is absent from our pulpits, the power of God is absent from our churches. Dear friends, make sure you are hearing the Word of God preached in your church as the final authority on all matters. If you are hearing "another gospel" then you need to make a change. Your spiritual life depends on it. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16,17). Back to Contents

We face a humanity that is too precious to neglect.
We know a remedy for the ills of the world too
wonderful to withhold. We have a Christ who is too
glorious to hide. We have an adventure that is
too thrilling to miss. —Selected

LEAVE ALL WITH HIM
	I learn, as the years roll onward And I leave the past behind, That much I had counted sorrow But proves that God is kind; That many a flower I had longed for Had hidden a thorn of pain, And many a rugged bypath Led to fields of ripened grain. —Unknown Back to Contents

SHEPHERD'S PRAYER
	The old shepherd who offered prayer in a Welsh revival meeting put it exactly right when he lamented his backsliding. He said, "Lord, I got among the thorns and briars and was scratched and torn and bleeding, but, Lord, it is only fair to say that it was not on Thy ground. I had wandered out of Thy pasture." Back to Contents

DAMAGED GOODS
	A minister purchased a used book entitled "The Soul Winner" by Charles H. Spurgeon. Because it was a worn, second-hand copy, the minister got it for a trifle. The clerk wrote on the bill: "One Soul Winner — Damaged — 30 cents." Likewise, many of God's people are so preoccupied with the things of the world that they have become damaged souls winners and are not worthy of even "thirty cents." Back to Contents

PRESS ON
	The work is solemn; therefore, do not trifle. The task is difficult; therefore, do not relax. The opportunity is brief; therefore, do not delay. The path is narrow; therefore, do not wander. The prize is glorious; therefore, do not faint. —D.M.Panton Back to Contents

IN WHAT ARE YOU TRUSTING
	Trust in yourself, and you are doomed to disappointment. Trust in your friends, and they will die and leave you. Trust in money, and you may have it taken from you. Trust in reputation, and some slanderous tongue may blast it. Trust in God, and you are never to be confounded in time or eternity! Back to Contents

No physician ever weighed out medicine to his
patients with half so much care and exactness as
God weighs out to us every trial. Not one grain too
much does He ever permit to be put in the scale.
—Henry Ward Beecher

By Wendy Greiner Lefko

By Rev. Larry W. Greiner