Volume 20, No.3

MARCH 2005

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CONTENTS

The Crucible of Testing

Best of LifeLine
By Rev. Larry W. Greiner

Jumping to Conclusions

Hugs 'N Tugs 
By Wendy Greiner Lefko

God Is Faithful

She Could not Sink

Careful & Troubled

Servants Needed

My HeavenlyFather

What Would You Say?

Praise & Prayer

Greiner Itinerary

 

 

THE CRUCIBLE OF TESTING

The richest, the fullest, the most fruitful lives are those that have been in the crucible of testing, that have been broken upon the wheel of tribulation.  We have no right to believe that God will do anything with our lives until He has broken us.  There are in this world few entirely unbroken lives that are useful to God.   There are few men and women who can fulfill their own hopes and plans without interruptions and disappointments all along the way.  But man’s disappointments are ever God’s appointments, and what we believe are tragedies are only blessings in disguise, and the very opportunities through which God wishes to exhibit His love and grace.

Are you, my friend, being broken today?  Has the dearest in life been torn from you?  Have all your dreams faded?  Have all your hopes failed? Then remember that if you could see the purpose of these thorns in your life from the standpoint of God’s wisdom and of eternity, if you could interpret these trials in the aggregate of life’s blessings, you would be able to dry your tears and praise the Lord for them all.  We have His promise that He will not withhold any good thing “from them that walk uprightly,” and even though the best thing in our lives is not our way but His way, the way of testing and trial and sorrow, it will still be the best.   —M. R. DeHaan

Not now, but in the coming years,
It may be in the better land,
We’ll read the meaning of our tears,
And there, some time, we’ll understand.

Then trust in God thro’ all the days;
Fear not, for He doth hold thy hand;
Though dark thy way, still sing and praise,
Some time, some time, we’ll understand

                                                 —Author Unknown

 “He knoweth the way that I take: when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold (Job 23:10 ).

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THE BEST OF LIFELINE

                        By Rev. Larry W. Greiner

To Billy Sunday, the great evangelist, his Bible was His treasure chest.  The following was found written in his Bible after his home-going.

“Twenty-nine years ago, with the Holy Spirit as my Guide, I entered at the portico of Genesis, walked down the corridor of the Old Testament art galleries, where pictures of Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Isaac, Jacob, and Daniel hung on the wall.  I passed into the music room of the Psalms where the Spirit sweeps the keyboard of nature until it seems that every reed and pipe in God’s great organ responds to the harp of David, the sweet singer of Israel .  I entered the business office of Proverbs and on into the observatory of the prophets, where I saw telescopes of various sizes, pointing to far off events, concentrating on the bright and morning Star which was to rise above the moon-lit hills of Judea for our salvation and redemption.

I entered the audience room of the King of Kings, catching a vision written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  Thence into the correspondence room with Paul, Peter, James and John writing their Epistles.

I stepped into the throne room of Revelation where tower the glittering peaks, where sits the King of Kings upon His throne of glory with the healing of nations in His hands and I cried out:

All hail the power of Jesus’ name
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of all.

 Do we see our Bible this way?  Is it our true treasure chest on earth?  If not, may it become so,  transforming our minds and hearts, as we open the wonders of God’s Word, allowing the Holy Spirit to direct our lives by it in submission to the will of God.  Only then will we, daily, have the mind of Christ, seeking to exalt our loving Savior and magnifying Him in our bodies.

“According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death.  For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.   (Philippians 1: 20-21)     

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JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS

A fellow had finished laying carpeting in a home.  He was so pleased to have it done, because he finished a little early.  But he noticed, as he looked over the carpet, that there was a little lump in the corner.   He didn’t want to rip the carpeting all up.   Then he noticed that his package of cigarettes was gone.   And he thought, “That’s what the lump is.”   So he hit it with a hammer and mashed it down nice and flat so the carpet was nice and flat.  Satisfied, he walked out, got in his pickup, and noticed his cigarettes were on the dashboard of his truck.  Then he heard the woman of the house holler out the door, “Have you see my parakeet?” 

Lord, keep me from hasty and faulty decisions.                              

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HUGS ‘N TUGS

By Wendy Greiner Lefko

Whether it’s a splinter in the finger,  the sting of a bee, or the latest flu bug, whenever our 6-year-old daughter Grace encounters any discomfort or pain of any kind, there’s one thing she inevitably asks of me—“Does that ever happen to you?”  Whenever she would get a “boo-boo” or not feel well in any way, I’d always try to comfort her by letting her know I knew how she felt.  I’d share a similar experience with her from my own past to let her know I understood exactly how she felt, and it always seemed to ease the hurt to let her know that this pain was not exclusive to her.  So now whenever she faces any kind of grief physically or emotionally, one of the first things she’ll ask is “Does that ever happen to you?”

In this world we will experience many types of pain and discomfort, grief and disappointment, both physically and emotionally.  It’s a fact of life in this fallen world.  Whether it’s physical pain in our body or the deepest heartache in our very souls, pain is part of human experience.  The greatest comfort to our hearts often comes from one who has experienced the same sort of pain or grief.  We realize they know exactly how we feel in a way that others may not be able to fully understand.  There is great relief when we find someone who can answer “yes” when we ask “Does that ever happen to you?”

But the greatest support we will ever find is the common bond we share with our Savior Jesus Christ.  He is the One Who can truly say with the deepest sympathy imaginable, “Yes, that has happened to Me.”  If we are in physical pain, He was too.  If we are heartbroken, He was too.  If we are despised and rejected by those we love, He was too.  Whenever we hurt, we can turn to our Lord, and He will be able to say with the utmost empathy, “Yes, that has happened to Me.” 

There is nothing we will ever go through in this life that is “uncommon to man”, and that our Heavenly Father cannot fully understand and guide us through.  Yes, it has happened to Him. He understands and He loves you, no matter what.  And that is the greatest comfort of all. 

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15 , 16).

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GOD IS FAITHFUL

Some years ago, Dr. Russell Conwell was conducting a prayer meeting.  He asked those who had tithed through a number of years to give a simple testimony, telling of God’s faithfulness in blessing them.  Seven stood. Six gave glowing testimonies of the blessing received through the years.   Then, the seventh, a frail, gray-haired woman said reluctantly, “I have skimped and saved and denied myself through many years in order to tithe my income.  I wish I could give testimony to the faithfulness of God. But now I am old. I am losing my position.  I have no means of support. I do not know what I shall do!”  Those who heard her words were depressed. The next day, Dr. Conwell was the guest of John Wanamaker at lunch.  At the dinner table, Mr. Wanamaker said, “Dr. Conwell, you will be interested to know that we are beginning a pension system for our employees.  We have thought of it for years, and the plan has finally been worked out.  Today, we are to issue our first pension to a woman who has served our firm for twenty-five years!”  Then Mr. Wanamaker mentioned the name of the woman, and it was that of the lady who had given such a sad and hopeless testimony at the prayer meeting the night before.  God was and is faithful to His dear children!

The next day, Dr. Conwell was the guest of John Wanamaker at lunch.  At the dinner table, Mr. Wanamaker said, “Dr. Conwell, you will be interested to know that we are beginning a pension system for our employees.  We have thought of it for years, and the plan has finally been worked out.  Today, we are to issue our first pension to a woman who has served our firm for twenty-five years!”  Then Mr. Wanamaker mentioned the name of the woman, and it was that of the lady who had given such a sad and hopeless testimony at the prayer meeting the night before.  God was and is faithful to His dear children!

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 Pride is the only disease known to man that makes everyone sick except the person who has it.

SHE COULD NOT SINK

Those about the bedside of one of God’s saints said, “She’s sinking!” With a smile of confidence on her face, the dying saint said, “Ah, no! How can one sink through a Rock?” 

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CAREFUL AND TROUBLED

Careful and troubled– so filled with unrest, 
Dreading the dawn with its toils and its test, 
Trust Him your courage and strength to renew,
He will give grace for each task you must do.
Nothing is hid from His all-seeing eye,
Never a teardrop, not even a sigh;
“Careful and troubled,” you never need be,
Trust Him completely and worry will flee!

                                                       —Anonymous

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We should all be concerned about the future; 

because we will have to spend the rest of our lives there.

SERVANTS NEEDED

The nature of ministry is service.  You may be surprised to know that the word “minister” or “ministry” has in its root form in Greek the term for “service” or “to serve.”  Remember our Lord Himself “did not come to be served, but to serve,” (Mark 10:45 ).

In a day of upholding a big image, it is easy to miss the value of service. We indeed suffer.  As John R. W. Stott has written, we suffer “the shameful cult of human personalities.”    

—Chuck Swindoll

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MY HEAVENLY FATHER   

     A little girl told a friend that she was going to give her father a pair of slippers for his birthday.  The friend asked, “Where will you get your money?” She replied, “Why, my Dad will give me the money!”

                Let us remember that all we have comes from our Heavenly Father.

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WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

      A minister was nailing up a trailing vine in his garden.  A little boy was watching him with great interest. “Well, my young friend,” asked the minister, “are you trying to learn how to garden?”  “No, sir,” said the lad, “I am just waiting to see what you will say when you hammer your thumb!”

      All around us there are people who are watching us. They are watching to see how we live.  They are listening to hear what we say.  Will Christ be honored by it?

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PRAISE & PRAYER

* Praise for His faithful provision from day to day.

* Thanks for your continued prayers for Claire.  On February 16 a Cat-Scan revealed a large abscess in his abdomen between the liver and lungs.   A tube was inserted to start draining the poison. He was in the hospital 6 days while they determined the cause of the infection and the right antibiotics.   He is home but has to continue taking intravenous antibacterial medication 4 hours a day for the next 28 days.   Home nursing has helped Ruth learn the necessary techniques to administer the medication.    Doctors believe the poison from the abscess has been the cause of Claire’s recurring temperatures and general lethargy and weight loss.   He continues to have blood tests and weekly shots to build up the red cells.

* Pray for Larry as he directs the ministry.  

* Praise for new opportunities for ministry.

* Pray for the Korean work and Bob’s leadership there.

* Praise for letters such as the following:   “What a powerful Sunday service with you dear ones.   It was so appropriate at this time in our church.   We had said goodbye to several of our dear brothers and sisters this past year (many with cancer both young and old).   Claire, thank you for your testimony and know that you and all of your family are in our prayers.” —T. Bucy

 

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GREINER ITINERARY    

                      

March 6 A.M.     Laurelton Park Baptist
         & P.M.       Larry  and Sharon
                         Brick, NJ.

March 12 A.M.     Laurelton Park Baptist
           & P.M.    Larry &Sharon                                                                        Brick Town , NJ

March 8                 FCI Board Meeting

March 25               Good Friday Service
                          Lawndale Baptist Church                                                          Philadelphia , PA

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