This poem including the introduction is from Jack Hyles. It has been a blessing to me.
One day the load was especially heavy and the burdens were many. I had so many appointments that night and to be quite frank, I rebelled a little bit at having to solve the problems of others when I had so many myself. After counseling with many people, it was about midnight. As I started to go home, I had the following thoughts. Please read this poem very carefully.
"I have a burden, Pastor, that
I'd like to lay on you."
I listened, tho he never knew
I had a burden too.
I took a tearful look toward mine;
Then his came into view.
'Twas plain to see my burden was
The larger of the two.
I saw his load alongside mine,
And, tho they both were real,
The yoke he bore was made of wood,
And mine was made of steel.
To him I said, "Come unto me;
I'll gladly carry thine";
Then whispered unto selfishness,
"But who will carry mine?"
I softly laid my burden down
To help him his to bear,
While knowing that my heavy load
I'm not allowed to share.
I'll help him with his burden, then
Regain mine after while,
When I will sigh and weep once more,
While now I force a smile.
I felt the CHAINS OF BONDAGE till
A CAPTIVE came to me.
He bade me help him break the bands,
And aid him to be free.
I saw the fetters binding him,
And felt a pity pain.
For his were made of little rope,
And mine of heavy chain.
I laid aside my heavy chains,
So he, my help, could borrow.
I'll help free him of bondage now,
And think of mine tomorrow.
A DOUBTER knocked at study door;
I had an urge to groan,
"Why bring your pebble doubt to me,
When mine is made of stone?"
I smiled at him and listened, while
Believing in my doubt.
I laid it down reluctantly,
And feigned about a happy shout.
I sat ALONE in darkened room,
And felt a shadow's knife.
Another came to share with me
Some darkness in his life.
As I compared my night with his,
His dark possessed a lack.
For his was just an evening shade,
While mine was midnight black.
I slowly laid my nighttime down,
To help him seek for light.
I'll tread my dimming path again,
When I have made his bright.
A TROUBLED SOUL came to my door,
A problem to confide.
I had a problem, too, that day;
'Twas hard for me to hide.
My problem was a mountain steep,
And his was just a hill.
My problem was an ocean wide,
And his a tiny nil.
Yet, 'tis my lot to fill his need,
And put mine on the shelf.
For I must lay my heartache down,
And hide it from myself.
He told me of a broken heart,
While mine was breaking too.
I told him of a mending God
Who maketh all things new.
He told me of his thirsty soul;
I gave him living water.
He said he was a broken vase;
I told him of the Potter.
Another came when I was SICK
To say he had the flu.
His fever was a hundred-one,
And mine a hundred-two.
Another came when I was FAINT,
To say that he was weak.
Another came when I was DUMB,
To say he could not speak.
Another WEEPING SEEKER came,
For me, his tears to dry.
I went alone and wiped my eyes,
Then told him not to cry.
Another came when I was TIRED,
To say he needed rest.
I lifted him with weary arms,
And tried to give him zest.
AND NOW, IT'S LATE, and all have gone,
Each one to his abode.
So I must find my problems, and
Regain my heavy load.
Where is the burden I had borne?
I had it while ago!
Where is the problem I must solve?
I left it here, I know!
Where is the darkness I once knew?
I now see only light.
The chains, the tears, the pains, the fears,
Are nowhere now in sight!
I cannot find my broken heart!
Where is my fevered brow?
I have a song! the tears are gone!
I cannot find them now!
My sickness, now, bath turned to health!
And trust replaceth fright!
Assurance covers all my doubts;
My darkness now is light!
I heard a voice from Heaven say
"My child, 'tis always true:
When you take care of others' needs,
I will take care of you."
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Sunday, September 03, 2006
Saturday, September 02, 2006
You Know!
There was a little boy in our church that was reading a children’s book at home. It had a recurring line “You know! But you just don’t want to say it!” It became his favorite saying.
How old are you?
“You know! But you just don’t want to say it!”
What is your name?
“You know! But you just don’t want to say it!”
Eventually the phrase was shortened to just “You know!!”
Sometimes this childish phrase fits the situation, as in the case of Jehoshaphat and Ahab.
Jehoshaphat had visited Ahab and while he was there, Ahab flattered him and convinced him to send his armies to fight together with Ahab’s armies. Yet even in the midst of this bad decision, Jehoshaphat wanted to hear what God said about it. Ahab called 400 of his prophets and with one voice they told the two kings “Go up! You will win.”
The only problem was something didn’t ring true in their prophesying. Jehoshaphat recognized this, and asked “Don’t you have any other prophets? I really want to hear what God says.”
Well…I do…but he never prophesies good about me.
Nonetheless, Jehoshaphat convinced Ahab to call Micaiah. When Micaiah arrives, at first he goes along with what everyone else says. Now, even Ahab can recognize this is not the truth, and admonishes Micaiah to tell the truth, Micaiah did, and Ahab ignores the warning. Jehoshaphat, who wanted to hear what God would say, doesn’t want to believe what God said. Off to battle they go, and soon Ahab dies.
How often, the false prophets speak, and deep within, we know it is not the truth.
“You know!”
The fault-finders criticize and bend the truth…
“You know!”
Leaders are attacked because of their stand for righteousness and separation…
“You know!”
The Holy Spirit bears witness within and we know what is right. That was one of the things that was so refreshing when I came to NTCC, I knew what they were saying was right.
When others criticize, and attack, we know what spirit they are of, and maybe, just maybe, it is time to say it!
Follow @ddevonshire
How old are you?
“You know! But you just don’t want to say it!”
What is your name?
“You know! But you just don’t want to say it!”
Eventually the phrase was shortened to just “You know!!”
Sometimes this childish phrase fits the situation, as in the case of Jehoshaphat and Ahab.
Jehoshaphat had visited Ahab and while he was there, Ahab flattered him and convinced him to send his armies to fight together with Ahab’s armies. Yet even in the midst of this bad decision, Jehoshaphat wanted to hear what God said about it. Ahab called 400 of his prophets and with one voice they told the two kings “Go up! You will win.”
The only problem was something didn’t ring true in their prophesying. Jehoshaphat recognized this, and asked “Don’t you have any other prophets? I really want to hear what God says.”
Well…I do…but he never prophesies good about me.
Nonetheless, Jehoshaphat convinced Ahab to call Micaiah. When Micaiah arrives, at first he goes along with what everyone else says. Now, even Ahab can recognize this is not the truth, and admonishes Micaiah to tell the truth, Micaiah did, and Ahab ignores the warning. Jehoshaphat, who wanted to hear what God would say, doesn’t want to believe what God said. Off to battle they go, and soon Ahab dies.
How often, the false prophets speak, and deep within, we know it is not the truth.
“You know!”
The fault-finders criticize and bend the truth…
“You know!”
Leaders are attacked because of their stand for righteousness and separation…
“You know!”
The Holy Spirit bears witness within and we know what is right. That was one of the things that was so refreshing when I came to NTCC, I knew what they were saying was right.
When others criticize, and attack, we know what spirit they are of, and maybe, just maybe, it is time to say it!
Follow @ddevonshire
Friday, September 01, 2006
Thursday, August 31, 2006
What would you do if you knew?
Asa became king and began putting the kingdom in order. He took away the altars of the strange gods, cut down the groves (they were used in idolatrous worship) and commanded Israel to seek the Lord and do His commandments.
How it happened, I don’t know. The zeal waned, the work slowed, the fire fizzled and Asa needed some help.
Asa is like a lot of us. When Christ comes in our lives, we go “Great guns for God”, full speed ahead and feel as if we could take on hell with a water pistol.
Then it happens. Slowly. The comments about “getting religion”, the remarks about being a little overboard, the fear of no longer fitting in, and we pull back, but just a little. “Great guns for God” becomes “Simply slingshots for our Savior”, full speed ahead, well that’s a little dangerous, don’t you think? We need some help.
In Asa’s hour of need, the Spirit of God came upon Azariah, and he prophesied to Asa. “God is with you, as long as you are with him! If you forsake Him, He will forsake you.”
Asa heard loud and clear. God is with me?! He is at my side?! Then I don’t need to fear! I will do what I know I need to do. And he did.
He took courage and:
• Removed the idols
• Renewed the altar of the Lord
• Gathered the people together to make a covenant with God
• Commanded them to pray, and if they didn’t, had them put to death
• Even removed his mother from being queen because she was an idolater
What would you do if God sent someone to tell you “God is with you!”
• Hey! God is with me; let me get rid of these idols in my life.
• Hey! God is with me; let me renew my covenant with Him.
• God is with me! Let me become a soulwinner and gather others to hear the good news!
• God is with me! Even if my family doesn’t live for God, I will!
What would you do if you knew…God is with me?
Mat 28:20b …and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Follow @ddevonshire
How it happened, I don’t know. The zeal waned, the work slowed, the fire fizzled and Asa needed some help.
Asa is like a lot of us. When Christ comes in our lives, we go “Great guns for God”, full speed ahead and feel as if we could take on hell with a water pistol.
Then it happens. Slowly. The comments about “getting religion”, the remarks about being a little overboard, the fear of no longer fitting in, and we pull back, but just a little. “Great guns for God” becomes “Simply slingshots for our Savior”, full speed ahead, well that’s a little dangerous, don’t you think? We need some help.
In Asa’s hour of need, the Spirit of God came upon Azariah, and he prophesied to Asa. “God is with you, as long as you are with him! If you forsake Him, He will forsake you.”
Asa heard loud and clear. God is with me?! He is at my side?! Then I don’t need to fear! I will do what I know I need to do. And he did.
He took courage and:
• Removed the idols
• Renewed the altar of the Lord
• Gathered the people together to make a covenant with God
• Commanded them to pray, and if they didn’t, had them put to death
• Even removed his mother from being queen because she was an idolater
What would you do if God sent someone to tell you “God is with you!”
• Hey! God is with me; let me get rid of these idols in my life.
• Hey! God is with me; let me renew my covenant with Him.
• God is with me! Let me become a soulwinner and gather others to hear the good news!
• God is with me! Even if my family doesn’t live for God, I will!
What would you do if you knew…God is with me?
Mat 28:20b …and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Follow @ddevonshire
Red, White and Blue
I liked it and thought you might.
CALLED
I'm looking for something in Green.
Cameo face paint hides a fighting machine.
Backpacks and jump boots and weapons galore,
We'll need it all if we must go to War.
Forged in the spirit of my Uncle Sam,
It called to me, here I am.
I'm looking for something in Red.
With bold gold stripes that turn people's heads.
A backdrop of khaki, a flash of bright blue,
Yes it's a Marine, and I am one too.
A dedicated nephew of my Uncle Sam,
I answered the call, here I am.
I'm looking for something in White.
With shiny brass buttons, gold wings on dress whites.
A catapult launch and a tailhook stop.
The crews are the best, they'll work till they drop.
The seagoing arm of my Uncle Sam.
I heard the call, here I am.
I'm looking for something in Blue.
I've got to aim high, got a big job to do.
Fighters and bombers and missiles abound.
We fight in the air, protecting our ground.
I fly the birds of my Uncle Sam.
The call was to me, here I am.
I'm looking for Red, White and Blue.
That's my country's flag, is she waving at you?
Soldiers and Sailors, Airmen, Marines.
We're all Uncle Sam's fighting machines.
All will give some, and some will give all.
Here we are, we answered the call.
Gerald Churchill, USAF, Ret Follow @ddevonshire
CALLED
I'm looking for something in Green.
Cameo face paint hides a fighting machine.
Backpacks and jump boots and weapons galore,
We'll need it all if we must go to War.
Forged in the spirit of my Uncle Sam,
It called to me, here I am.
I'm looking for something in Red.
With bold gold stripes that turn people's heads.
A backdrop of khaki, a flash of bright blue,
Yes it's a Marine, and I am one too.
A dedicated nephew of my Uncle Sam,
I answered the call, here I am.
I'm looking for something in White.
With shiny brass buttons, gold wings on dress whites.
A catapult launch and a tailhook stop.
The crews are the best, they'll work till they drop.
The seagoing arm of my Uncle Sam.
I heard the call, here I am.
I'm looking for something in Blue.
I've got to aim high, got a big job to do.
Fighters and bombers and missiles abound.
We fight in the air, protecting our ground.
I fly the birds of my Uncle Sam.
The call was to me, here I am.
I'm looking for Red, White and Blue.
That's my country's flag, is she waving at you?
Soldiers and Sailors, Airmen, Marines.
We're all Uncle Sam's fighting machines.
All will give some, and some will give all.
Here we are, we answered the call.
Gerald Churchill, USAF, Ret Follow @ddevonshire
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Funny Sign Category #4
Pic quality isn't the best because I used my phone's camera, but I think the message is still clear. Follow @ddevonshire
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Cooking Filipino Style
This is a great example of the resourcefulness of the average Filipino. Instead of spending the 450-500 pesos ($9-$10 US) for gas for their stove, many make their own stove. This one is made out of a stone. If you look carefully in the back you can see the exhaust pipe which was made out of tin cans. One large hole in the middle, and two on the sides, a little firewood, and a long blow tube to stoke the flames and soon you are eating Galonggong!!(type of fish) The man told us the stone itself stays hot for quite a while, and the wood become charcoal, which some folks sell later!
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Monday, August 28, 2006
A Woman's Place - New Blog
I am glad to see Sis. Eury started a blog. She is an excellent writer and a quick wit. I think you will enjoy it, as I have already.
Check it out: A Woman's Place Follow @ddevonshire
Check it out: A Woman's Place Follow @ddevonshire
Family Appreciation Day Picture Collage
Here is the photo of some of the families that came to the Family Appreciation Day....Collage Form Follow @ddevonshire
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