Volume 20, No.6

JUNE 2005

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CONTENTS

Our Best For God

In His Presence

Hugs 'N Tugs
By Wendy Greiner Lefko

The Best of Lifeline
By Rev. Larry Greiner

Definition of A Dad

Divine Appointment

Adoration & Wonder

A Parent's Dilemma

The Gospel

Medicine Chest

God's Bigger Shovel

Praise & Prayer

 

OUR BEST FOR GOD

When our Lord answered the questioning lawyer concerning the great commandment, He set the divine standard for Christian experience. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." 


Here above everything else is the call to a love relationship which is to govern the life in its every part, and that to the fullest degree.


That thrice recurring all is significant, "With all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." It is just another way of saying that no part of the nature must be closed off from God, and that the whole of every part must be entirely His.


Throughout the entirety of our nature the love of God is to be allowed to flow and to have its fullest sway until the whole is love-possessed, and consequently God-possessed.   


This love-possessed life is to be ever at the Divine disposal with an ungrudging "Yes, Lord!" to every command, prompting, yea, even to the slightest suggestion or faintest whisper.

 

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. 
 --Jim Elliot

IN HIS PRESENCE

Do you want to "love the Lord with all your soul"? Then grant Him some peaceful moments and stay humbly in His Presence. At the beginning you may run out of praise or worship may be difficult for you. Be honest enough to tell Him, "Lord, open my mind so that I can exalt You and praise You with all my heart. I would like so much to be a subject of joy to You!" Then remain silent and wait respectfully while keeping your thoughts focused on His Person. The Lord will certainly provide you with reasons to praise Him that will surprise you. --Andre AdoulIf

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HUGS 'N TUGS

By Wendy Greiner Lefko

"What kind of friend am I?"  I found myself asking that question one day after our 6-year-old daughter Grace had a friend over and they were playing outside.  After her friend had left, Grace told me I’d need to put the sweater she was wearing in the laundry.  When I asked why, she said because she let her friend use it to wipe her nose after she sneezed outside.  When Grace's brother heard that, he sounded clearly disgusted at the whole concept and asked Grace why she let her friend do that.  Without a moment’s hesitation Grace responded, "Well, she needed to wipe her nose and she’s my friend, what else could I do?"

I could tell by the sound of Grace’s voice she couldn’t comprehend not helping out her friend in any way possible when she needed it.  She would have done anything for her friend, even let her use her sweater sleeve as a tissue.

It truly made me wonder what kind of friend I am and how far would I go to give of myself to help out my friends.  Am I willing to sacrifice my own level of comfort to lend a helping hand?  Am I willing to give of myself when it would be a sacrifice, just out of sheer love?  That's the kind of friend God wants me to be, and that's the kind I want to be for His sake.  The saying goes "What would Jesus do?", and that's how I want my life to be defined, to treat others as He would.  I bear His name and want to show His grace through all my actions.  And I pray it would be more like second nature to me to help without even thinking about it, to give and give and give again with my only thought being "What else could I do?"

                "A friend loveth at all times…" (Proverbs 17:17).

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THE BEST OF LIFELINE

                         By Rev. Larry W. Greiner

A little boy was detained in a country home one stormy night by some fascinating stories that were being told. Finally he went to the door to start home, but it was so dark he was afraid to go. He asked his friends to accompany him, but they, too, were afraid of the storm. 

          
The hour grew late and he cried, "Oh, I wish I were home!" Brushing back the tears, he opened the door as if to brave the storm, but a flash of blinding lightning and a deafening roar of thunder frightened him back. In a few minutes he went to the window and looked toward home. Suddenly his tears dried. Turning with a smile he said, "Now, I'm not afraid to go home."

His friends said, "But it is dark outside and still raining." To this he replied, "I'm not afraid of the dark now and I'm not afraid of the thunder and the rain, 'because I see a flashlight coming. It's my big brother coming after me. I'm not afraid of any storm when he holds my hand and carries a light, for he knows the way home. Nothing can hurt me when my big brother walks with me." 

With gladness of heart he joined his elder brother who held his little hand. Soon he was safely home where a prepared supper and anxious loved ones awaited his coming. 


Perhaps you find yourself in a dark storm. You don't know how you are going to "get home" to safety. Just remember that someone who is greater than a "big brother" will cross the stormy sea and rescue you in time.      He is never late. 

 

Just as Jesus Christ. our Savior, walked across the Sea of Galilee to save His disciples who were afraid they were going to perish in the storm, He will come and save you. Just call on His name and trust Him.  

 

Hear Him say as He did to the disciples, "It is I; be not afraid (John 6:20).  "For they all saw Him, and were troubled.  And immediately He talked with them, and saith unto them, 'Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid."  And He went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased" (Mark 6:50,51).

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FINDING RELIEF

                Here's the simple formula that will enable you to handle whatever success God may bring your way 
and will provide you with the relief you need while waiting:

SUBISSION + HUMILITY – WORRY = RELIEF

DEFINITION OF A DAD

Mender of toys, leader of boys,
Changer of fuses, kisser of bruises,
Bless him, dear Lord.

Mover of couches, soother of ouches,
Pounder of nails, teller of tales,
Reward him, O Lord.

Hanger of screens, counselor of teens,
Fixer of bikes, chastiser of tykes,
Help him, O Lord.

Raker of leaves, cleaner of eaves,
Dryer of dishes, fulfiller of wishes,
Bless him, O Lord.

                              --Unknown

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CHRISTIANITY HAS NOT BEEN TRIED AND FOUND WANTING; IT'S BEEN FOUND DIFFICULT AND NOT TRIED.

--G.K. CHESTERTON

A DIVINE APPOINTMENT

In the silences I make in the midst of the turmoil of life I have an appointment with God.  From these silences I come forth with spirit refreshed, and with a renewed sense of power.  I hear a Voice in the silences, and become increasingly aware that it is the Voice of God.  O how comfortable is a little glimpse of God! 

 --David Brainerd

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Life is a book in volumes three--the past, the present and the yet to be. The past is finished and laid away. The present we are living from day to day. The third and last, volume three is locked from sight, 
and God has the only key.

ADORATION & WONDER

Pause, my soul, adore and wonder,
Ask, O why such love to me?
Grace has put me in the number
Of the Savior's family.
Hallelujah!
Thanks, eternal thanks to Thee!
--Unknown

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Our best for God means God's best for us. 
These two cannot be separated; they flow through our lives together.

 

A PARENT'S DILEMMA

A father had a rather strong-willed son.  On the way to the store he kept telling the child, "Sit down and buckle the seat belt."  But the little kid just kept standing in the seat.  Again he said, "Sit down and buckle the seat belt."  And after a time or two more the boy was convinced he had better sit down or disaster would strike.  So he slipped down onto the seat, snapped the seat belt closed, and said, "Daddy, I’m sitting down on the outside, but I’m still standing up on the inside."   –Vance Havner

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 "I used to ask God if He would come and help me. 
Then I asked if I might come and help Him. 
Then I ended up by asking God to do His own work through me." 
-- Hudson Taylor

The only hope of a decreasing self is an increasing Christ. --F.B. Meyer

THE GOSPEL

 

You are writing a gospel, a chapter each day,

By deeds that you do, by words that you say.

Men read what you write, whether faithless or true.

Say, what is the gospel according to you?

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THE SMALLEST DEED IS BETTER THAN THE LARGEST INTENTION.

MEDICINE CHEST

For the blues, read Psalm 27. For an empty purse, read Psalm 37. If discouraged about work, Psalm 128. If people seem unkind to you, John 15. If you are losing confidence in people, 1 Corinthians 13. If you cannot have your own way, James 3. If you are all out of sorts, Hebrews 12. For a traveling companion, Psalm 121. -- The Treasure Chest

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 Some trials make common Christians into uncommon saints 

and fit them for being used in uncommon service.

Wherever you are, be all there.  

Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God. --Jim Elliot

GOD'S BIGGER SHOVEL

A farmer was known for his generous giving, but his friends could not understand how he could give so much away and yet remain so prosperous. One day a spokesman for his friends said, "We cannot understand you. You give far more than the rest of us and yet you always seem to have more to give." 

 

"Oh, that is easy to explain," the farmer said. "I keep shoveling into God’s bin and God keeps shoveling into mine, but God has the bigger shovel!" Here was a man whose ethics of giving were controlled by the power of an indwelling Lord.    

 

—Dr. Stephen Olford

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PRAISE & PRAYER

* Praise for God’s faithfulness. .

* Praise for responses for salvation through the various aspects of the ministry.

* Claire is responding well to the new chemo. He continues to share in the programs through preaching and music.  

* At the time of this writing we are in the process of moving to our new 2 bedroom apartment. It will also serve as the FCI office and headquarters.

* Larry & Sharon & Anna Daisy continue to seek God’s will regarding a pastorate.  Meanwhile he continues to minister faithfully in FCI.  Bevan  (and Julius), Betts, Dallas & Dalton give of themselves to the ministry outreach.  Pray for Bob and Wendy and her writing. After the removal of a mole on Wendy’s shoulder, a biopsy showed she has melanoma.   She is scheduled for further surgery and tests. Bobby graduated from Lancaster Bible College in May.   Cheryl begins there this fall.   Christian, Grace and Daniel continue to grow in the knowledge of the Lord.

Thank you for your love, support and prayers.   These are glory days as we seek His will in all things.   We treasure your friendship!   God bless you in your walk with the King.

In His loving service,  "The Greiners"

 

NEW PHONE:   (610) 337-2952 

NEW ADDRESS FOR HOME & OFFICE:

The Greiners
104 Monroe Blvd.
King of Prussia , PA 19406

MAILING ADDRESS FOR FCI
REMAINS THE SAME

P.O. Box 258 , Bala Cynwyd , PA 19004

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