Thursday, November 29, 2012

The Father-less Heritage...

We think of orphans only as little girls and lads,
Who haven’t any mothers and who haven’t any dads.
They are grouped with other children and in groups they’re put to bed
With some stranger paid to listen while their little prayers are said.
All the grown-ups look with pity on such lonely children small
And declare to be an orphan is the saddest fate of all.
But someti
me I look about me and with sorrow hang my head
As I gaze on something sadder than the orphans of the dead.
Far more pitiful and tragic as the long days come and go
Are the orphans of the parents they’re not allowed to know.
They’re orphans of the living, left alone to romp and play.
From their fathers and their mothers by ambition shut away.
They have fathers who are busy and so weighted down with cares
That they haven’t time to listen to a little child’s affairs.
They have mothers who imagine life could give them, if it would,
Something richer, something better than the joys of motherhood.
So their children learn from strangers, and by stranger’s hands are fed,
And the nurse, for so much money, nightly tucks them into bed.
Lord, I would not grow so busy that I cannot drop my task
To answer every question which that child of mine may ask.
Let me never serve ambition here so selfishly, I pray,
that I cannot stop to listen to the things my children have to say.
For whatever cares beset them, let them know I’m standing by,
I don’t want to make them orphans till the day I come to die.

Edgar A. Guest


- Psalm 127:3-5 -
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one's youth.
Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Confessing or "Muttering" about Jesus.

An interesting mixture of people (but a typical society) are found in John 7. To which group of people would YOU belong? (read vss 25-49)

"And there was much “muttering” about him among the people." 

 - Some said, “He is a good man,” – v. 12

 - Others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” – v. 12 

 - Some who didn’t believe in Him (v. 48); heard the “muttering” these things about him, and...sent officers to arrest him. (v. 32); condemning those who muttered for not knowing the Bible. (v. 49). 

 - Some said, “This really is THE Prophet” – v. 40

 - Others said, “This IS the Christ” – vss. 41-42

 - Some couldn’t agree on the definition of ‘born’, saying: “The Bible says that the (real) Christ would come from Bethlehem; not Galilee” 

Thus, per v. 43 – “there was a division among the people over him."

Some things never change...

What is ‘MUTTERING’?
It means to murmur, to grumble, to say anything against in a low tone. In the bible, when describing people, it refers to:
a) those who confer secretly together; and b) those who discontentedly complain.

The lesson? “Muttering” is not the way to confess Jesus as the Christ; it is not the way to witness for Him; nor does it reflect that you are His disciple; don’t ‘follow’ Jesus afar off, in fear; cling to the ‘ROCK’.