But It Is So Awesome?

But It Is So Awesome?

Our reluctance to serve in Christ Copyright Doug Blair, Waterloo ON, 2020

(Taken from ​Come Ye Apart ​by ​J. R. MIller​) “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,”

Luke 1:46

No wonder that Mary sang that day. At the shut gate of the garden of Eden there was a promise given of a

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Saviour, a Saviour — who should be “the seed of the woman.” Ever after that, all along the line of the covenant, each woman hoped that she might be the mother of this Saviour. Centuries passed, and generations of disappointed hearts saw their hopes fade. At length one day a heavenly messenger came to this lowly Nazarite maiden, and announced to her that she should be the mother of this long-expected Messiah. What a glorious honour! No wonder she rejoiced. One strain of her song was, “My soul doth magnify the Lord.” We cannot make God any greater; He needs nothing from us. Can the candle add to the glory of the sun’s noon-day splendour? Yet we can so tell others of God that He will seem greater to them. It was said in praise of a distinguished preacher that in his sermons he made God appear very great. We can declare God’s goodness and grace. Then we can so live

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ourselves as to honour Him, and thus magnify His name.

Retzsch, a German sculptor, made a wonderful statue of the Redeemer. For eight years it was his dream by night, his thought by day. He first made a clay model, and set it before a child five or six years old. There were none of the usual emblematical marks about the figure, no cross, no crown, nothing by which to identify it. Yet, when the child saw it he said, “The Redeemer! the Redeemer!” This was a wonderful triumph of art.

We should exhibit in our life and character such a reproduction of the nobleness and beauty of Christ that everyone who looks upon us may instinctively recognize the features, and say, “Behold the image of our Redeemer!” There is no other way of magnifying the Lord that so impresses the world.

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Because You’re Here Cal March 14, 2011

Years ago Cal Bombay viewed the bombing devastation of southern Sudan with a civic leader named Manasseh.

He was close to the situation of the horrendous civil war between north and south and had played a significant role in raising funds to free Christians who had been enslaved. (I remember hearing appeals on the television broadcast of 100 Huntley Street that freedom could be purchased for 75 dollars Canadian per individual. At that time I thought, Wow, a life negotiated at that price!)

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But here on this landscape of churned earth Bombay could only present to his friend one question:

"What does it mean to you, Manasseh, when you read in the scriptures that my God will supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus?"

Without hesitation the man replied, "It means , my friend, here and now, that God will do as He says and provide... because you're here."

In the intervening years that conversation has proved both a stimulus and haunting challenge to Bombay, who has had vivid exposure to the blights of poverty, violence and hunger in Sudan and Ethiopia. At one point it seemed to him that God was saying, 'I want you to acquire farmland and to turn this potentially fertile ground around...50 farms of 2000 acres each'. The land has been acquired, and the challenge now is crop input

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and irrigation. Smaller farmers are also being helped in large numbers toward self-sufficiency

I can remember enjoying Cal's devotional-teaching input on the Toronto Huntley Street broadcast. He often hearkened back to his time on the farm in his faith illustrations. I always valued his teaching, sincerity and humour.

Now it appears that he has left broadcasting and conventional evangelism to become a farmer in earnest, and on a large scale. He sees in this compassionate outreach a demonstration of a hands-on Christ who is drawing and strengthening people.

All of this was made clear to me this evening on an excellent episode of "The Christian Link" radio program (on the local Faith FM channel 94.3)

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coordinated by Marc and Elizabeth Leacock and "Lianne".

Shepherd or Something Else?

Posted on ​February 2, 2020

Do you want to be a recreation director or a shepherd?

Is the building a sanctuary or a theatre for entertainments?

Do the meals and socials bring in the crowds better than holiness?

Is there really time in gathering to approach the one who is truly hurting?

Do missions abroad and funding them take the place of witnessing to neighbours; to workmates?

Are outsiders invited to share in exhortation, in testimony (Acts 13: 15)?

Are children always herded away from the adult worship; the adult example?

Do you ever have extensive reading from the actual Bible text, or do you throw only a lonely verse or two up on the overhead?

Does corporate prayer ever travel around the Room?

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Does the morning message/homily sound more like a college lecture appealing to sense knowledge? Or sweet personal anecdote missing any fragrance of Jesus?

Do you understand the life-begetting impact of simple Gospel preaching?

What did Jesus say, do, promise, warn, emphasize?

Take a heartfelt look at the following: https://issuu.com/blairdoug64/docs/a_cold_spring_field__thoughts_o n_revival__1_

When Prayers Started to Bless Posted on ​January 19, 2020

both lay me down and pray yes now and everyday in perfect peace the lone walk o’er the paced off floor your presence brings release. not always thus.

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I drove the bus of life for many years. it seemed the best as played the rest but most times brought just tears.

Then came the day I could not say Or do a thing to win.

The tears brought you Kind rescue too Oh Jesus please come in.

So quick to heal With comforts real You did what None else might.

Each prayer now joy

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For this changed boy To set the tests aright.

(Psalm 91 from the Message) 1-13 You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, Say this: “God, you’re my refuge.

I trust in you and I’m safe!”

That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards.

His huge outstretched arms protect you— under them you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm.

Listen to That Dry Shoulder!

“​Lake* had spent considerable time "preparing the soil" at this auditorium in Pretoria. He had focused on declaration and thanksgiving

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rather than praise in the early part of the meeting. His spirit was quick with the expectation of God's arrival in power.

How different this night had seemed from other village engagements outside the City. There simple faith without distraction had reached out to "touch Jesus" and had been more than amply blessed. Restored hearing. Restored eyesight. Restored sense of smell. A stiff leg made supple and strong.

Tonight things were going to happen. He knew it. Scriptures of healing had been shared in all sincerity. Mark. Luke. James' epistle. First Peter.

These were promises of Almighty God without expiry date. Lake's references to the compassion of Jesus seemed to be saturated with love and expectation.

But then he had noticed a half dozen men entering the back of the room.

Smirking expressions. Furtive movements. Trouble perhaps? Probably coming from the levity of the race track down the road. But he would not stop. Not now. A silent prayer was offered in the Spirit.

Lake could see at the rear left three individuals of middle age moving forward slowly. Much attention was being given to the woman in the middle, apparently accompanied by sister and husband. Her arms were stiffened out to the front and around as if hugging a large barrel. Lake stepped off the podium to meet them and to usher them to the platform.

He was informed that the woman's shoulders had been locked for a terrible period of time. Joints, bursa unworkable.

He informed the congregation that Jesus was about to operate. He explained the extent of the poor woman's disability. "Has any one of you never heard a dry shoulder?" Lake looked directly at the men promising trouble. "You sir, have you ever heard a dry shoulder’s awful grinding noise. “The racing enthusiast registered genuine dismay and even sympathy.

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"Sister stand behind your loved one with your hands on her shoulders while we pray. At the end of praying release her that she might lift both arms without pain in joy and thanksgiving."

And so it was accomplished. The hard casing of the meeting cracked open. Hearts were softened. Glory came down. *John G. Lake

The Christian Extra

(From a devotional by ​F. B. Meyer​)

"Whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain."-- Mat 5:41.

OUR LORD refers here to the usage of the East in the transmission of royal messages, which were carried forward by relays of messengers, much in the fashion of the fiery cross in the Highlands, as described in "The Lady of the Lake." The messengers were "press-men"; each town or village was compelled to forward the message to the next, and the first man happened upon was bound to forward the courier with his horses or mules.

In some such way emergencies are continually happening to us all. We arise in the morning not expecting any special demand for help, or any other circumstance to interfere with the regular routine of the day's work, and then suddenly and unexpectedly a demand bursts upon us, and we are obliged to go in a direction which we never contemplated. We are compelled to go one mile! Then the question arises. Now you have done your duty, performed what you were bound to perform, given what 12

any other person would have given, what are you going to do about the next mile? You had no option about the first; about the second you have an opportunity of choice. Your action in the matter which is optional determines whether or not you have entered into the spirit and ministry of Christ.

Let us not be stingy and niggardly in our dealings with men. There are certain things that must be done, but let us go beyond the must, and do our duty with a smile, and with generous kindness. It is not enough to pay our servants or employees, let us be thankful for their service; it is not enough to pay our debts, let us give the word also of appreciation; it is not enough to simply do the work for which our employer remunerates us, let us do it with alacrity and eagerness, willing to finish a piece of necessary service even at cost to ourselves. As the followers of Christ, we are to be stars bearing our light on the vault of night; flowers shedding fragrance on the world; fountains rising in the arid wastes; always giving love and helpful ministry to this thankless and needy world, and as we break and distribute our barley loaves and fishes, our hands will become filled again, and with the measure we mete, it shall be measured to us again (Luke 6:38).

Moment in Chains Posted on ​February 24, 2017

The chains held Him up The hook in dripping ceiling Strange rest‌and needed

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From the burdens and blame Needy crowds with thick ears Messages only half heard‌ Grace extended to Sickness sadness Hearts terribly alone While He offered them Father Heard from Father Mission ongoing.

Religion then available Proved so ugly So short-sighted.

Still He painted the Kingdom Til powers of men Taunted Him Tested Him Tethered Him Took Him to farcical

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Judgment seats.

Laying on those chains.

The hook in that ceiling Now offered short respite.

But‌ The Morrow held mobs And that Hill.

Almost through and accomplished.

The Resurrection promise Soon His only mainstay.

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