Write...Your Life Depends On It

Recently I came across a quote by David Bryant in his book on the prospects of another revival entitled "The Hope At Hand".

Bryant writes of a phrase that came to his mind while driving with his wife to a conference on prayer. He couldn't erase it from his thoughts and he felt it was God's call concerning him for the rest of his life. Those words were, "Write as if your life depended on it - because it does." That resonated with my heart.

Being involved in a letter-writing ministry of encouragement to athletes (and everyone else) and also being a writer of prose, poetry and articles, those words challenged me. I MUST write. My life and livelihood depend on it. God called me to write notes of encouragement. If I fail to carry out His call I become irritable and miserable and I won't bring Him pleasure.

The truth of that phrase is almost as important as these words, "Breathe as if your life depended on it - because it does."

When God calls we must obey!

"Faithful is He who calls you who also will do it." - 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Check out The Writer's Crucible and Epistle Sports Ministries.

Matters of the Heart - Part 2

It's been almost a week since I was taken to the local hospital with atrial fibrillation. What a scary experience! I'm booked for a stress test and several other tests in the next week or two. What is the condition of my heart?

More important...how is my "spiritual" heart in its relationship with my sovereign Creator God?

This morning I saw this picture on Ann Voskamp's Holy Experience blog. God reveals the expansiveness of his "heart of love" to us...even in the clouds.

You are loved today, dear friend. The Father's eyes are focused on His children. He loves you!

ELIM - A Place of Refreshing

This summer I have had many opportunities to explain to visiting guests how Elim Lodge got its name.

The children of Israel wandered aimlessly back and forth through the desert en route to the promised land. In Exodus 15:27 we read, "Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water."

This morning I read Exodus 15, the entire chapter, and was thrilled with the references to our sovereign God. Phrases like, "majestic in holiness", "awesome in glory", "the greatness of your majesty" and "highly exalted".

Here are some gems I mined from that passage:

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD:

"I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted.
The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea.

The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father's God, and I will exalt him.

The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name.

"Your right hand, O LORD, was majestic in power.
Your right hand, O LORD, shattered the enemy.

In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble.

"Who among the gods is like you, O LORD ? Who is like you—
majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?

"In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

The LORD will reign for ever and ever."

"Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea."

He said:

"If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you."

Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.

I Wish

I wish...

- I could hear D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preach
- I could pick his brain and get to know what made him "tick"
- I could influence the masses the way he did during his pastorate at Westminster Chapel

But I can't so I will...

- Benefit from reading his books
- Enjoy reading the biographies about him
- Pray that I will be as godly a man as he was

Another Sunrise Today

This afternoon I saw this card at a Hallmark store and just had to buy it.

The sun rose again this morning just like it has for every day of the 63 years that I've been here on this planet.

Like the card states, it was another reminder that God is still in the miracle business.

I needed that gentle nudge because we need a miracle...a big one...and we're trying to wait patiently.

Thank You, Father, for every proof of your faithfulness. We are trusting You.

R. A. Torrey on George Muller

"One of the mightiest men of prayer of the last generation was George Mueller of Bristol, England, who in the last sixty years of his life (he lived to be ninety-two or ninety-three) obtained the English equivalent of $7,200,000.00 by prayer.

But George Mueller never prayed for a thing just because he wanted it, or even just because he felt it was greatly needed for God's work. When it was laid upon George Mueller's heart to pray for anything, he would search the Scriptures to find if there was some promise that covered the case.

Sometimes he would search the scriptures for days before he presented his petition to God. And then when he found the promise, with his open Bible before him, and his finger upon that promise, he would plead that promise, and so he received what he asked. He always prayed with an open Bible before him."

- R. A. Torrey on George Müller; "The Power of Prayer," 1924 (P. 81)

Evidence for God

The following post was taken from Ann Voskamp's Holy Experience blog. Thank you, Ann, for your thought-provoking and awe-inspiring writing. Keep it up!

Ann writes:

I found the evidence yesterday, unexpectedly, on the trail to the woods. It was at the the curve, just before that large made-for-sitting-on stone, where one can see down into the valley of fields from the top of the hill.

A sea of corn tassels stood stilled, waiting for me to know. The woods behind the fields, dark and green, worshipped silently, anticipating the unveiling, in the morning coming down. Yet I would have missed it not for the words on the open page of the Bible in hand:

“…but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness.

For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.”

Looking up from His Word, I saw plainly. Right there, on the walk to the woods, stood the stark evidence of the reality of God. Right there, across the undulating fields: undeniable evidence of the Creator of the Universe, spread out before my very eyes.

The earth beneath my feet was damp from the rains He had sent in the night. (Acts 14:17 NLT)

The good crop of corn stood stock still , iron bars bearing tons of produce. We had food on the table, in mason jars lining the pantry, in bags of summer sealed in the freezer.

And my heart, the last witness to give testimony to the evidence of God: yes, my heart was full.


The evidence was unmistakable, the proof of God and His goodness so obvious...in a moment in time on the walk to the woods.

I saw and I know.

Lord, You left the evidence where I couldn’t miss it. And to think I almost did. But You unveiled it: rain, good crops, food, joyful hearts. Now to remember: You are real.

Matters of the Heart

On Saturday afternoon I received quite a scare. While cutting the lawn my heart began to race and I suddenly felt very fatigued and weak. I rested for awhile but later I sensed that something was definitely wrong with my heart. When I stood up I experienced severe dizziness and went to bed.

Carol wasn't home but when she returned I told her how I was feeling and she drove me to our local hospital. It's a good thing she did.

My heart rate was twice what it should be and then it would slow right down and speed up again. I was rushed inside immediately and intravenous was administered within 10 minutes to stabilize my heart. They gave me an ECG and a doctor saw me within minutes. They were concerned with the extreme variation in my heartbeat and, after all the blood work was done and chest x-rays taken they monitored me closely.

My heart rate stabilized within an hour or so and they kept me for another six hours so they could repeat the blood tests and do another ECG. They let me go home at 2 in the morning but the doctor who saw me consulted with a cardiologist and I will be having a battery of tests done in the next little while.

They told me that what I had experienced was atrial fibrillation.

Here is some information on this condition from the internet:

Atrial fibrillation (A-tre-al fi-bri-LA-shun), or AF, is the most common arrhythmia (ah-RITH-me-ah). An arrhythmia is a problem with the speed or rhythm of the heartbeat. A disorder in the heart’s electrical system causes AF and other types of arrhythmia.

AF occurs when rapid, disorganized electrical signals in the heart’s two upper chambers, called the atria (AY-tree-uh), cause them to contract very fast and irregularly (this is called fibrillation). As a result, blood pools in the atria and isn’t pumped completely into the heart’s two lower chambers, called the ventricles (VEN-trih-kuls). When this happens, the heart’s upper and lower chambers don’t work together as they should.

Often, people who have AF may not even feel symptoms. However, even when not noticed, AF can lead to an increased risk of stroke. In many patients, particularly when the rhythm is extremely rapid, AF can cause chest pain, heart attack, or heart failure. AF may occur rarely or every now and then, or it may become a persistent or permanent heart rhythm lasting for years.

I'm feeling much better today although I am still very tired. Thanks for your prayers, fellow pilgrims.

~ David

Pilgrim Hymnology

Last night while laying in bed I was singing (in my mind) some hymns containing the word "pilgrim". We truly are pilgrims on our journey home and the scribblings on this blog reflect that fact.

Consider this...

A pilgrim was I and a wand'ring,
In the cold night of sin I did roam;
When Jesus the kind Shepherd found me
And now I am on my way home.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days, all the days of my life;
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days, all the days of my life.
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever,
And I shall feast at the table spread for me.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days, all the days of my life.

And also...

While we walk the pilgrim pathway
Clouds may overspread the sky,
But when traveling days are over
Not a shadow not a sigh.

When we all get to heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus
We'll sing and shout the victory!

May you sense the Father's loving care and protection as you continue your journey today.

Elim Lodge...A Place of Refreshing

I'm home for a few minutes before going to work at Christian Horizons at 11:00 p.m. This is only shift I've had to work during the two week period while I'm the Chapel Director at Elim Lodge.

Tomorrow we pick up Nathan at Joy Bible Camp and then the whole family will join me at Elim for the next week. I've also agreed to lead the chapel services for the last week in August and the Labour Day Weekend Conference.

The ministry this week has been rich and profitable and I've enjoyed interacting with the "missionary of the week" and the chapel speaker.

Next week the speaker is Rev. John Rush who I have known for a number of years. He's serving the Lord with HCJB presently and I'm looking forward to a great time.

The singing tonight was especially good! What a thrill to lead the congregation in worship! We sang All Hail the Power of Jesus Name (the Diadem tune) tonight and almost raised the roof.

Please continue to pray for a financial miracle for us! God is able, as many of you have been assuring me, and I thank you for your intercession on my behalf. It means so much!

I'll try to post again early next week. Sunday will be a busy day at Elim with a packed chapel for the morning service and again in the evening.

Thanks for your love and encouragement.

With much love in our wonderful Lord,

~ David

The Pilgrim's Ongoing Progress

Dear Fellow Pilgrims:

Rather than posting a separate entry here on PILGRIM PILGRIMS, I'm posting the e-mail update I sent out earlier today. Some of you will already have received this. THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS!

Lots of love,

David

Here's the update:

Update on Mom's Surgery:

First of all, thank you to all who have inquired about mom's surgery. We thank God for your concern and for your faithful prayer support. I have passed along your love and greetings to her.

Mom had her surgery last Saturday and it went well. She had to have her 9-year-old replacement hip removed due to infection that had set in. It was a long and difficult surgery because the hip had bonded so well with the rest of the surrounding area that they had to do a controlled break where it attaches to the femur to remove it. She has a concrete spacer where the hip was and it is filled with antibiotics which seep out into the hip area to eliminate any possible further infection.

Mom will be hospitalized for another 6-8 weeks after which they will put in a new replacement hip. She seems to be in great spirits but values the prayers of God's people. Thanks for continuing to pray!

Elim Lodge:

This afternoon (Saturday) I will begin my 2nd two-week stint as Chapel Director at Elim Lodge. I'm responsible to lead all 14 chapel services each week and be available to anyone who requires spiritual assistance. I enjoyed carrying out my responsibilities there in early July and I'm looking forward to this time away. Carol and the family will join me for the entire 2nd week that I'm there.

Epistle Sports Ministries:

Earlier this week I was at the ballpark in Toronto and had a very meaningful visit with Cito Gaston, the Blue Jays' manager. As you know, John Gibbons the former manager and I had a great relationship and I was sad to see him go. Cito was always very congenial and co-operative with me in the past and will continue to be that way. Following the game I had dinner with Gabe Gross, the former Blue Jay who is now with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Please Pray:

The summer months are always difficult times for Christian ministries and Epistle Sports Ministries is experiencing a huge drop in gifts and donations. We need a miracle in the next few weeks and we're trusting God to provide in His usual, unpredictable, wonderful ways. Thanks for your prayers and practical expressions of love and support. It means so much!

Gifts may be sent to:

Epistle Sports Ministries

294 Rink Street, Suite 101

Peterborough, ON K9J 2K2

Thank you!

And Finally:

Please be sure to check out our PILGRIM SCRIBBLINGS web site at http://www.pilgrimscribblings.blogspot.com Our George Muller site has been getting a good number of "hits" recently as well. Please check it out.

God bless each of you and thank you for your love, friendship and prayers.

In His great love,

David