Evening Song - I Want to Know More

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 

John 14:2-3 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 

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The Thousand Word Project - Just for Pretty...

 

Is Today A Sad or Lonely Day?

If today is a sad day, a lonely day, a hard day for you, know this - there is One who sees your struggle and His love for you is greater than any human love ever could be. Faint not, weary one; you are of much value to Him. He sees, He cares, and He will be with you in your time of difficulty.

Lamentations 3:21-26  This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Matthew 14:27  But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

This may not be a cheerful day for you by the world's standards, but knowing that Jesus Christ is with you is a good reason to be of good cheer.

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It Is Jesus

There is a Voice through Earth's wild clamor calling,
To all the heavy laden and oppressed,
Sweet as the cooling dew at even falling;
"Come unto Me and rest."

It is the voice of Jesus still entreating,
To all the comfortless and all the sad;
Day after day His tender call repeating,
"Come unto Me and I will make you glad."

There is a Hand outstretched in tenderest pity,
Where all the weary and the wandering roam,
Waiting to lead them to the heavenly city,
To bring the homeless Home.

It is the hand of Jesus, still upholding,
Strong to deliver, mighty still to keep;
And none shall pluck from out that safe enfolding,
The weakest one of all His blood-bought sheep.

There is a Form that walks life's stormy ocean,
Bidding the noise of wind and tempest cease;
Crying along through all the wild commotion,
"In Me ye shall have peace."

Oh, it is Jesus coming o'er the waters,
As once He walked the waves of Galilee,
Speaking to all earth's shipwrecked sons and daughters,
"Be not afraid; have faith, have faith in Me."

There is a Love that longs with deep affection
To gather all the sin-sick sons of men,
Beneath its wings of shelter and protection,
And give them health again.

It is the love of Jesus, sweet with longing,
His full salvation to the world to give;
Crying to all the dead, earth's highways thronging,
"Come unto Me, come unto Me and live."

by Annie Johnson Flint

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

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johnmarshallfamily.com

Evening Song - The Peace of God

Because tomorrow may be a hard day for some people...

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

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The Thousand Word Project - Winter Evening Lace

 

Evening Hymn

Daylight is fading, twilight is shading

Meadow and hill with a deepening gray;

Heavenly Father, now as we gather,

Let us give thanks for the beautiful day.

Light of the morning, bright in the dawning,

Blessings that come to us all the day long;

’Tis of Thy giving, God of the living,

That we can offer this evening song.

But in its splendor, gracious and tender,

Wondrous Thy love that can cast away fear;

Dearer and rarer, richer and fairer,

Best of all gifts that Thou givest us here.

Elizabeth W. Denison

Eggnog Oatmeal - Recipe Link

Here is a recipe for eggnog flavored oatmeal over at Simple Inspirations. I haven't tried it yet because I have sadly had to limit my consumption of oatmeal because it really does seem to make me hurt more (how weird is that?). I have not idea why. But, I still would like to eat it regularly if I could, so I'll share this tasty looking recipe with you. :-)  Since it has egg and milk it has more nutrition than plain oatmeal, and the sugar is really quite low in it. Enjoy!

Photo property of Simple Inspirations.

Eggnog Oatmeal Recipe

Thoughts from the Past – You May Never Know On Earth

1 Corinthians 3:7  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Here is an article I wrote years ago about the subject of witnessing for Christ but not seeing immediate results. Sometimes it can get discouraging when you hand out tracts or witness, or minister to others in whatever way you do, and you don’t see the fruit of your efforts. This article was written as a reminder that it is God that giveth the increase and that our job is to be faithful stewards. We may never know till we get to heaven some of the fruit that results from our efforts to plant and water. 

This article includes an amazing story my dad tells about a work among Muslims in Nigeria many years ago. Please take time to read the whole article, I promise that you will be blessed if you love the Lord!

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1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

Giving out tracts at the stores where we shop, trying to live a godly life that will glorify our Father in heaven, giving a word to the weary, telling someone what the Bible says about something -- these are some of the things that we do that we may never hear any fruit from.  It can be a temptation to be discouraged and feel that our efforts are in vain, especially for ladies who keep the home.  We may feel like we're just not doing that much sometimes.  We answer to God, though, not to others or even ourselves.

Much emphasis is put on the necessity of winning souls among some Fundamental Baptists and other Christians to such a point that if you don't win a lot of souls regularly, they consider you backslidden and may even start questioning your salvation.  In some places, such as Hyles Anderson College, there is (or was last we heard) an actual quota that each student was to win each week or month. This is no different than the Charismatics who think they can make God preform on their schedule.  It is disgusting, to say the least.

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.   Winning souls is wise, but far be it from us to demand the fruit from God on our terms!  

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Vintage graphic - unknown.
This post was first published here Dec. 2014.

Article updated 2022.

Evening Song - It Is God that Gives the Increase

1 Corinthians 3:6-9 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

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johnmarshallfamily.com - We recommend the Marshall's music. You can buy it here - both recordings and some printed music composed by members of the family.

The Thousand Word Project - Frost Feathers

 

Job 37:9 Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.

Poems for the Storm Tossed Soul

 

His Billows

They are God's billows, whether they go over us
Hiding His face in smothering spray and foam,
Or, smooth and sparkling, spread a path before us,
And to our haven bear us safely home.

They are God's billows, whether, for our succour,
He walks across them, stilling all our fear,
Or to our cry there comes nor aid nor answer,
And in the lonely silence none is near.

They are God's billows, whether we are toiling
Through tempest-driven waves that never cease,
While deep to deep with clamor loud is calling,
Or at His word they hush themselves in peace.

They are God's billows, whether He divides them,
Making us walk dry shod where seas had flowed,
Or lets tumultuous breakers surge about us
Rushing unchecked across our only road.

They are God's billows, and He brings us through them;
So has He promised, so His love will do;
Keeping and leading, guiding and upholding,
To His sure harbor, He will bring us through.

Annie Johnson Flint

Psalm 42:7-8 and 11 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life... Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Not Down, But Through

 

"When Thou passest through the waters,"

Deep the waves may be and cold,

But Jehovah is our refuge,

And his promise is our hold;

For the Lord himself has said it,

He, the faithful God and true;

"When you come to the waters

You will not go down, but through."

Seas of sorrow, Seas of trial,

Bitter anguish, fiercest pain,

Rolling surges of temptation

Sweeping over heart and brain...

They will never overflow us

For we know His work is true;

All His waves and all His billows

He will lead us safely through.

Threatening breakers of destruction,

Doubt's insidious undertow,

Will not sink us, will not drag us

Out to ocean depths of woe;

For His promise will sustain us,

Praise the Lord, whose word is true!

We will not go down, or under,

For He says, "You will pass through."

Annie Johnson Flint

Isaiah 43:2-4 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour...

Evening Song - 'Til The Storm Passes By

Psalm 107:29-30 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 

Isaiah 25:4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. 

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The Thousand Word Project - Morsels of Cold

 

Psalm 147:17-18 He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow. 

Worth Repeating - Thoughts On Darkness and Light

I wrote this in March of 2015, but it feels appropriate right now as well. November was a very dark and cloudy month here and, though we needed the rain, it became difficult at times. This post talks about the growing spiritual darkness and what, or rather Who, we should be focusing on instead of dwelling on the darkness - namely, on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Light of the world!

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Clouds, clouds, clouds. We’ve had so much cloudy weather here in Central Texas since December. It may be “normal,” but we haven’t seen this much of it since we moved here almost 7 years ago. With my seasonal affected disorder this weather can be a real challenge. Up until recently I have been doing pretty well with it, but it’s starting to get to me – even with all the things I do to deal with it. (See Dealing with SAD – Seasonal Affected Disorder.)

One enigma to me is that when the sun does come out for a few days or part of a day, sometimes it’s almost as if it were “too much” now. I should be used to lots of sunshine! After all this is Texas! But, still I tend to get a headache sometimes or feel like it’s too bright. This doesn’t happen every time, but it has been enough to notice. I have to conclude that I’ve grown used to the darkness.

That makes me think, though. How much is our spiritual vision impacted by the increasing spiritual darkness of the world we live in? How much have we grown accustomed to the gloom of sin and sorrow and wickedness. I wonder if some or all of us wouldn’t be rather over-dazzled by the glory of the Lord if we had occasion to really “see” it.

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Evening Song - I'll Be Home Before the Darkness Falls

1 Thessalonians 5:1-10 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

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Mother's Question

I think as the night draws nigh
Of an old house on the hill,
Of a yard all wide and blossom-starred
Where the children played at will.
And when the night at last came down,
Hushing the merry din,
Mother would look around and ask,
"Are all the children in?"

'Tis many and many a year since then.
And the old house on the hill
No longer echoes to childish feet,
And the yard is still, so still.
But I see it all, as the shadows creep,
And though many the years have been
Since then, I can hear mother ask,
"Are all the children in?"

I wonder if when the shadows fall
On the last short, earthly day,
When we say good-bye to the world outside,
All tired with our childish play.
When we step over to Jesus' Land
Where mother so long has been,
Will we hear her ask, just as of old,
"Are all the children in?"

By One of the Children
Altered

The Thousand Word Project - In the Evening...