Midnight Meditations

Last night I was awake for quite some time...my mind racing as it often does. I picked up an old copy of Springs in the Valley, edited by Mrs. Chas. E. Cowman, and found the following thought:

"Go unto Him at midnight!" Let us go when all other doors are barred and even the heavens seem brass, for the gates of prayer are open evermore; and it is only when the sun is gone down and our pillow is but a stone of the wilderness, that we behold the ladder that reaches unto heaven with our Infinite God above it, and the angels of His Providence ascending and descending for our help and deliverance. He is a friend in extremity. He is able for the hardest occasions. He is seated on His throne for the very purpose of giving help in time of need.

No matter if the case is wholly hopeless, and your situation one where you have nothing, and the hour is dark as midnight, "GO UNTO HIM". Go unto Him at midnight. He loves the hour of extremity. It is His chosen time of Almighty interposition.

There's a budding morrow in midnight

So fold your griefs away,

And wait for the bud to open,

A fragrant and fair new day.

Wait for the bud to open,

Cease to worry and to grope;

There's a budding tomorrow in midnight

It's name is The Dawn of Hope.

So today, my friend, remember - He is a friend in extremity! Run to Him and let Him enfold you in His everlasting arms.

"Go unto Him at midnight." - Luke 11:5 (KJV)

Missions Mandate

Recently my friend Stephen Kennedy made this telling statement in his column in the magazine he so ably edits.

He wrote, regarding missionaries, "They are ministering to human need in places where need is all you see. They are preaching the gospel and making disciples in places most of us would not choose to visit, let alone live."

So true! What sacrifices these faithful servants of the most high God have made to share His love!

John Piper has stated very succinctly that we as Bible-believing Christians have but three options when it comes to missions. We can GO, we can SEND or we can DISOBEY. What will your choice be?

God has given us our marching orders! What are we waiting for?

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." - Matthew 28:19,20 (ESV)

Sought-After Sabbatical

For years I've dreamed of taking a sabbatical from some of my regular routines. It's always been near to impossible. How do you leave a job, forsake a family, drop the important things? Usually you can't.

Over the past several years I've resigned from the boards of several organizations in an effort to simplify my life. It has helped somewhat.

Tonight I decided to take a sabbatical, for at least 40 days, from Facebook.

It's so easy to become addicted to some of these social network systems that are so popular these days. There's a lot of value in these if we discipline ourselves and use them to build and maintain positive relationships and to minister to others but all too often I've found myself leaving silly comments and spending too much time writing things that weren't really that uplifting.
And so...I'm taking some time off.

I'm going to try to concentrate on writing encouraging, thought-provoking posts both here on Pilgrim Scribblings and over at my other site, The Barnabas Blog.

Thanks for your prayers as I seek to refocus...by the enabling of the Spirit of God.

Be encouraged today!

David

Friends Forever

Matthew (13) and his good friend Alex at our youth group's WHITEOUT retreat this winter. They are inseparable! Good friends! For a long time!

7 Days Make 1 Week

Wow! I've gone 7 days without posting anything on Pilgrim Scribblings. What a week it's been.

Last Saturday I was in Ottawa to watch the Senators defeat the Buffalo Sabres 6-3. That was exciting.

This morning I spoke to the men's group at Living Hope church in Peterborough. We had a great time!

Things are going well at SIM Canada. Had a productive week there.

Spring break is upon us and Matthew and Nathan are off school for two whole weeks. We're not sure what's happening yet.

The Petes are still in the playoff hunt.

God is good!

There, I posted something!

P. S. C. S. Lewis (pictured) is still dead!

God's Plan Is Specific

I've always appreciated Joni Eareckson Tada's godly perspective on life and suffering. Today's devotional thought in her excellent book Pearls of Great Price ministered to me in a special way.

Joni writes:

"God's plan is specific. He doesn't say, 'Into each life a little rain must fall,' and then aim a hose in earth's general direction to see who gets the wettest. He doesn't wind up nature and then sit back to watch its sunny days and devastating hurricanes. God doesn't let Satan prowl about totally unrestricted. Do you feel as though God has taken a hands-off policy to certain hardships in your life? Right now, place them under His sovereign care. Commit to trust Him with His plan for your life."

Good stuff! Agree?

Snowed Under

This article appeared in the latest edition of The Millbrook Times:

What a winter it’s been! Record snowfalls have kept us shovelling out from under the drifts. Just when you think the driveways and sidewalks are finally clear we get dumped on again. If you enjoy the white stuff you’re on cloud 9. If not, you wish the snow would stay up there in the clouds. Snow blower manufacturers are thrilled. Retailers have sold out of shovels several times already this winter. I’m praying for an early spring but I’m realistic enough to know it’s just a pipe dream.

Snowed under! It’s become a common phrase in these northern climes. Over the Christmas season we were snowed under with “to do” lists and festive events to fit into our hectic schedules. As we approach RSP deadlines and tax time (don’t remind me) accountants are snowed under with work.

With the wet, icy weather housewives are snowed under with laundry, cleaning and tending to sick kids. Writers are snowed under with stories to complete, articles to write, deadlines to meet. We can get snowed under with trials, sickness and burdens too heavy to bear.

Unfortunate, difficult, unplanned circumstances can paralyze us and render us helpless…but not hopeless.

In the midst of our blizzards there’s a God who rides with us through the storm. Nothing escapes His watchful eye. He will not leave us alone in the midst of life’s downpours. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. He never will. His promises are certain. He cannot lie.

Feeling snowed under? Call upon the One who creates life and everything in it and walks with us through every trial. He will lift the clouds and send a rainbow…in His time.

“God's voice thunders in marvellous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.'” – Job 37:5,6 (NIV)

© David W. Fisher – February 2009

Some Guys Will Wear Anything

Last night I wore a tuque in the hot tub but I'd never be seen in public with a lid like this.

Sorry, Steve, I just had to comment. I know you'll respond with something even more embarrassing about me but that's the chance I have to take.

Where did you pick up that thing anyway? Siberia?

I wonder how many mice they had to kill to make that hat!

Additional note...added Tuesday, March 3rd:

The handsome guy in this photo is a good friend of mine from our church. I wouldn't be so cruel to a stranger! Steve is actually one of the nicest guys I know and there have been days recently when I wished I had a hat like his...I think! - David

You're Invited

This morning I used Your Personal Invitation (shown here) as part of my message at the Communion service at our church.

Note: Please click on the graphic and you'll get a larger, more readable shot.

I've also included the main text of my message here:

Exactly two years ago today I was in London, England, standing in front of Buckingham Palace, watching The Changing of the Guard. What a regal ceremony! Of course I wondered if the Queen was inside and speculated what it would be like if she appeared outside...even for a moment.

What a stir that would cause! What emotion would that stir within the gathered throng? But she didn’t make an appearance!

I’ve never been in the presence of royalty although I’ve rubbed shoulders with some very famous people and, no, I was not at the Senators’ game last night.

Earlier this week I was speaking from Romans 12:1 & 2. Here the apostle Paul challenges the Roman Christians to respond to the many mercies that have been richly bestowed by a loving God.

He writes, “Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.” vs. 1 In other words, the apostle is saying, “because of all that God, in Christ Jesus, has done for you…here’s the response that should follow:…”

Earlier in this epistle Paul has written concerning all that God has done. He has provided:

Righteousness through faith in Christ – chap. 3, verse 22

Justification through faith – chap. 5 verse 1

Access by faith into His grace – chap. 5 verse 2

The hope of the glory of God – chap. 5 verse 2

Salvation from God’s wrath through Christ – chap. 5, verse 9

Eternal life, the gift of God, through Jesus Christ – chap. 6, verse 23

No condemnation for those in Christ – chap. 8, verse 1

The Spirit of Sonship making us heirs with God and joint heirs with Christ – chap. 8, verses 15,17

Victory through Christ. We are more than conquerors though Him – chap. 8, verse 37

Security in Christ. As believers, nothing can separate us from Him – chap. 8, verses 38,39

And the list isn’t complete. We’re just scratching the surface of all God has done for us in and through His Son Jesus Christ.

What is your response to Him this morning in view of His mercies? He is here with us today. We are in the presence of the King!

Who Will Go? Another Reminder...

I've posted these missions quotes before...several times...but they can never be quoted too much. God is calling! Who will go?

Here they are again:

"I have seen, at different times, the smoke of a thousand villages - villages whose people are without Christ, without God, and without hope in the world." - Robert Moffat

"The command has been to "go," but we have stayed - in body, gifts, prayer and influence. He has asked us to be witnesses unto the uttermost parts of the earth…but 99% of Christians have kept puttering around in the homeland." - Robert Savage

"And people who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives…and when the bubble has burst they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted." - Nate Saint

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

"If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him." - C.T. Studd

"Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't." - John Piper

"No reserves. No retreats. No regrets.” - William Borden