Wednesday, January 14, 2009, 6:00 a.m. – The Lord began with this song:
Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken / Henry F. Lyte / Mozart/ Arr. Hubert P. Main
Jesus, I my cross have taken,
All to leave and follow Thee;
Destitute, despised, forsaken,
Thou, from hence, my all shalt be.
Perish every fond ambition,
All I've sought, and hoped, and known;
Yet how rich is my condition,
God and Christ are still my own!
Let the world despise and leave me,
They have left my Savior, too;
Human hearts and looks deceive me;
Thou art not, like man, untrue;
And, while Thou shalt smile upon me,
God of wisdom, love, and might,
Foes may hate, and friends disown me;
Show Thy face, and all is bright.
Man may trouble and distress me,
'Twill but drive me to Thy breast;
Life with trials hard may press me,
Christ will bring me sweeter rest.
O 'tis not in grief to harm me,
While Thy love is left to me;
O 'twere not in joy to charm me,
Were that joy unmixed with Thee.
Go then, earthly fame and treasure!
Come, disaster, scorn, and pain!
In Thy service pain is pleasure;
With Thy favor loss is gain.
I have called Thee, Abba, Father,
I have stayed my heart on Thee;
Storms may howl and clouds may gather;
All must work for good to me.
Haste then on from grace to glory,
Armed by faith and winged by prayer;
God's eternal day's before thee,
God's own hand shall guide thee there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission,
Swift shall pass thy pilgrim days,
Hope shall change to glad fruition,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.
Yesterday, Tuesday Jan. 13th, I was feeling down and depressed. We had just returned from a week of visiting with and ministering to friends and family in Ohio, plus we had just been sick for 2-3 days. I was feeling sad and not knowing what the Lord wanted me to do next, but then he encouraged me to type up my quiet times that I had with him, beginning with January 1st, so that is what I did. And, as I wrote I began to be encouraged and strengthened in the faith.
I prayed: “Yet, Lord, should you have me cease this ministry of writing and testifying for you of your grace, your mercy, your justice, your coming judgment and your soon return for your bride, then I gladly yield to your will for my life. I surrender all to you Lord Jesus. Order up my day for me today, I pray in Jesus’ name. ‘Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’”
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read I Peter 4:
Living for God
1Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. 5But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Suffering for Being a Christian
12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And,
"If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"
19So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
In Summary: Wow! This passage of scripture and hymn could not have been much better suited to each other. How true are the words both in the hymn and in this passage of scripture, and so timely, too, for where we are presently in history as the church of Jesus Christ. The Lord encouraged me so much through both the hymn and the scripture passage concerning the prayer I prayed just prior to reading the scripture. Thank you, Jesus, so much for these words!
