Christ Is In Heaven

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the
 Almighty. I will say to the LORD, 'My refuge and my fortress,
 my God, in whom I trust." Psalm 91:1-2

        Heaven would not be all that we love unless Christ was there. I would be unhappy, when I got to heaven, if I could not find him there who redeemed me, who died for me, who bought me with his own blood. Some one asked a Christian man once, what he expected to do when he got to heaven? He said he expected to spend the first thousand years in looking at Jesus Christ, and after that he would look for Peter, and then for James, and for John; and all the time he could conceive of would be joyfully filled with looking upon these great persons. But oh, it seems to me that one look at Jesus Christ will more than reward us for all that we have ever done for him down here; for all the sacrifices we can possibly make for him, just to see him; and not only that, but we shall become like him when we once have seen him, because we shall be like the Master himself. Jesus, the Savior of the world, will be there. We shall see him face to face. - D. L. Moody

• Can a Person Be Certain of Heaven?
• Heaven 4 Sure
• Hope Anchored in Heaven
  

Tiring Of Virtue?

       We have come to a time when multitudes are tired of law, and duty, honor, justice, and the old solid and substantial virtues of the fathers. Now and then this rebellious mood voices itself in the lips of some restless youth who exclaims boldly, "I hate the very word duty." Men are become like the cattle in the clover-field, that once the appetite is satisfied, tire of walking around knee-deep in rich, luscious grasses, and stick their heads through the fence, to strain toward the dog's kennel in the dusty lane. It is a singular fact that a colt in the field, up to its ears in clover, as soon as it has eaten and is full, envies the poor old forsaken horse, out in the lane, a mere bag of bones, deserted by its owner and left to die, and eating dirt in its hungry desire for a single mouthful of grass-roots. - Hillis

Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! Ezekiel 37:4

 "Can't Keep a Good Man Down" sung by Newsong

Accidental Success

       Protogenes, the Greek painter, was an impatient man. In painting a picture of a tired, panting dog, he met with satisfactory success except that he failed in every attempt to imitate the foam that should have been seen on the dog's mouth. He was so much provoked over it, that he seized the sponge with which he cleansed his brushes, and threw it against the picture with the intention of spoiling it. It happened to strike on the dog's mouth, and produced, to the astonishment and delight of the painter, the very effect that he had labored so persistently to imitate. Frank H. Stauffer, The Epoch. 

 A master painter sometimes will make a happy accident but that is not what defines him as a true artist. A true master painter can and does repeat exactly the action that he or she knows will result in the affect needed. Make sure that your successes are not based upon mere accidents. Live intentionally a life that reflects the practice of living like Jesus.

 "When Someone Offends You"

Hardship vicariously borne . . .

       Many, many years ago a fierce war raged in India between the English and Tipu Sahib. On one occasion several English officers were taken prisoners. Among them was one named Baird. One day the native officer brought in fetters to be put upon each of the prisoners, the wounded not excepted. Baird had been severely wounded and was suffering from pain and weakness.

       A gray-haired officer said to the native official, "You do not think of putting chains upon that wounded man?"

       "There are just as many pairs of fetters as there are prisoners," was the answer, "and every pair must be worn."

       "Then," said the noble officer, "put two pairs on me. I will wear his as well as my own." This was done. Strange to say, Baird lived to regain his freedom, and lived to take that city; but his noble, unselfish friend died in prison.

       Up to his death, he wore two pairs of fetters. But what if he had worn the fetters of all the prisoners? What if, instead of being captive himself, he had quitted a glorious palace, to live in their loathsome dungeon, to wear their chains, to bear their stripes, to suffer and die for them, that they might go free, and free forever? Sophie Bronson Titterington

• Christ Died for Our Sins That We Might Die to Sin
• The Wounds of Jesus

Moods of The Spirit

         Pantheism, atheism, agnosticism, materialism, pessimism - how many ugly, dangerous words there are in the dictionary, and how many young people imagine that they have all these spiritual diseases when, as a matter of fact, they are only in the way of normal spiritual development. A person comes to say of certain things that are mysterious, of which he or she thought they knew, "I don't know." Then people label themselves or allows himself or herself to be labeled an "Agnostic." No religious life for them. Another person sees that the great God can not stand apart from His universe, but must be working in it and through it all. They label themselves "Pantheist," or are so labeled. Other people suddenly discovers the abyss of actual wo in the world, the evil that, for the present at least, is without remedy. They are called "Pessimists" And still more people look to the right hand and to the left hand, and for the time do not see God. The final word for them is "Atheist." Now, we can not have a free expression of what people from time to time are actually believing until we get over our fear of all such names. We must have a faith that is wholesome enough and large enough to keep us from being afraid of our own thoughts. The fact is, that we are continually mistaking the passing moods of the spirit for the finalities of thought. These moods  through which we pass have been familiar to the most profoundly religious minds. - Samuel M. Crothers.

 An unidentified writer points out how different moods affect our minds:

When I am tired and weary.
And nothing goes my way.
I thank the heavenly Father
For two nights to every day.

But when, once more, I'm rested.
And all the world looks bright,
I thank Him that He sends me
Two days to every night !

There's the pause before the battle,
There's the respite from the fray ;
And that is how I reckon
Two nights to every day.

When the sunset glow has faded,
In a little while 'tis light!
And that is how I reckon
Two days to every night.

And so 'tis due, believe me,
To the way we look at things,
Whether we sigh and falter
Or whether we soar on wings!