Much Fruit - A Poem by Annie Johnson Flint

It is the branch that bears the fruit that feels the knife;

To prune it for a larger growth, a fuller life;

Though every budding twig be lopped, and every grace

Of swaying tendril, springing leaf, be lost a space.

O thou, whose life of joy seems reft of beauty - shorn,

Whose aspirations lie in dust, all bruised and torn;

Rejoice! Though each desire, each dream, each hope of thine,

Shall fall and fade; it is the hand of Love Divine,

That holds the knife, that cuts and breaks with tenderest touch,

That thou, whose life has borne some fruit may'st now bear much!

- Annie Johnson Flint -

John 15:1-5 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 

Worship and Thanks and Blessing - A Hymn and A Story

Worship and Thanks and Blessing

Worship, and thanks, and blessing,
And strength ascribe to Jesus!
Jesus alone defends His own,
When earth and hell oppress us!
Jesus with joy we witness
Almighty to deliver;
Our seals set to, that God is true,
And reigns a king for ever.

Omnipotent Redeemer,
Our ransomed souls adore Thee;
Our Savior Thou, we find it now,
And give Thee all the glory.
We sing Thine arm unshortened,
Brought through our sore temptation;
With heart and voice in Thee rejoice,
The God of our salvation.

Thine arm hath safely brought us
A way no more expected,
Than when Thy sheep passed through the deep,
By crystal walls protected.
The glory was our rearward,
Thy hand our lives did cover,
And we, e’en we, have passed the sea,
And marched triumphant over.

Save as devoted Peter
Betwixt the soldiers sleeping,
Like sheep we lay to wolves a prey,
Yet still in Jesus’ keeping.
Thou from th’ infernal Herod,
And evil expectation,
Hast set us free! All praise to Thee,
O God of our salvation.

The world and Satan’s malice
Thou, Jesus, hast confounded;
And, by Thy grace, with songs of praise
Our happy souls resounded.
Accepting our deliverance,
We triumph in Thy favor,
And for the love which now we prove,
Shall praise Thy name forever.

Charles Wesley

Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

One of the fiercest riots Charles Wesley ever faced was that at Devizes in February, 1747. The Rev. John Meriton, a clergyman from the Isle of Man, who died in 1753 and spent his last years in accompanying and helping the Wesleys, was his companion.

The mob surrounded the house where they were staying, broke the windows, tore down the shutters, blocked the door with a wagon. Next day they poured water on the house with a hose. A constable carried this off, but they obtained the larger engine, flooded the rooms, and destroyed the furniture. The mob untiled the roof that they might get hold of the Methodist preacher.

At last the friends mounted their horses, and were escorted out of the town by the constable and his posse. ‘We rode a slow pace up the street, the whole multitude pouring along on both sides, and attending us with loud acclamations. Such fierceness and diabolical malice I had not seen in human faces. We felt great peace and acquiescence in the honour done us, while the whole town were spectators of our march.’

When they reached Wrexal, ‘We joined in hearty praises to our Deliverer, singing the hymn, Worship, and thanks and blessing, &c.’

John Telford. The Methodist Hymn-Book Illustrated, pp. 286–87.

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Original artwork by Mary E. Stephens.

The Thousand Word Project - Lantana Brights

The days are glid­ing swift­ly by,
The days so bright and gold­en,
In leaf and flow­er the sum­mer writes
Her po­em sweet and old­en.

Mrs. Leland

Through A Glass Darkly - by Martha Snell Nicholson

Through A Glass Darkly

There seems so little I can know

As on this darkened path I go.

The future looms, a fearsome thing,

Shapeless and dim. What it may bring

My spirit dares not contemplate.

Yet I, a child of God, may wait

Its coming with a lifted heart

And soul serene. My only part

To TRUST. I thank upon my knees

The wise and tender Lord who sees

My future clearly as my past,

And who will lead me home at last.

Martha Snell Nicholson

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.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Word of the Day - Palace

PA'LACE. n.s.  ...A royal house; an house eminently splendid.

- Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

1 Kings 16:18-19 And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died, For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin. [Somehow, it is interesting to me that the first mention of a palace in the Bible, as far as I could tell, is in the context of defeat and suicide. Palaces in history are not known for their pristine and lovely histories. They tend to have ugly stories attached to them. This is curious.]

1 Chronicles 29:1 Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.

Esther 1:5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace;

Psalm 45:8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

My Lord has garments so wondrous fine,

And myrrh their texture fills;

Its fragrance reached to this heart of mine

With joy my being thrills.

Out of the ivory palaces,

Into a world of woe,

Only His great eternal love

Made my Savior go.

In garments glorious He will come,

To open wide the door;

And I shall enter my heav’nly home,

To dwell forevermore.

Henry Barraclough

Continue Reading.

Summer - A Poem

Summer

The long, long days of summer,

The sunny days are here;

The ripening grain is bending,

The air is soft and clear.

O God, Thy tender mercies

Like evening dews descend;

Thou givest rain and sunshine,

On Thee our hopes depend.

The glowing heat at noontide,

The hush of evening’s calm,

Remind us of Thy presence,

To Thee we raise our psalm.

In life’s fair summer weather,

Oh, may we look to Thee;

And when the storms o’ertake us,

Our refuge Thou shalt be.

Julia H. Johnston

Psalm 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

Psalm 74:16-18 The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun. Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter. Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.

Tennessee Memories - Summer Day Part 1

All things bright and beau­ti­ful,
All crea­tures great and small,
All things wise and won­der­ful:
The Lord God made them all.

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Al­migh­ty,
Who has made all things well.

Cecil F. Alexander

Summer Suns Are Glowing

 

Summer suns are glowing

Over land and sea;

Happy light is flowing,

Bountiful and free;

Everything rejoices

In the mellow rays;

Earth’s ten thousand voices

Swell the psalm of praise.

God’s free mercy streameth

Over all the world,

And His banner gleameth,

By His church unfurled;

Broad and deep and glorious,

As the heaven above,

Shines in might victorious

His eternal love.

Lord, upon our blindness

Thy pure radiance pour;

For Thy lovingkindness

We would love Thee more;

And when clouds are drifting

Dark across the sky,

Then, the veil uplifting,

Father, be Thou nigh.

We will never doubt Thee,

Though Thou veil Thy light;

Life is dark without Thee,

Death with Thee is bright;

Light of light, shine o’er us

On our pilgrim way;

Go Thou still before us

To the endless day.

William W. How

Philippians 1:21  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Psalm 4:6  There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

Isaiah 60:1-2  Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

Tennessee Memories - Spectacular Evening

From every stormy wind that blows,

From every swelling tide of woes,

There is a calm, a sure retreat:

'Tis found beneath the mercy seat.

Hugh Stowell

Behold the Lovely Springtime - by Fanny J. Crosby

Behold the Lovely Springtime

Behold the lovely springtime!
We hail its rosy hours,
We welcome back the sunshine
And cool, refreshing showers;
There’s beauty all around us,
And music everywhere;
O praise our great Creator
Who makes the earth so fair.

Come, children, join the chorus,
Ring out in joyful strain
A song of love to God above;
The spring has come again.

Our youth is like the springtime,
Our hearts are like the flowers;
Our smiles like playful sunbeams
That cheer its passing hours;
And may our deeds of kindness,
As one by one they fall,
Be like the gentle raindrops
Our Father sends to all.

Each tender bud and blossom,
From out its dewy leaves,
Gives back to God who made it
The sweet perfume it breathes;
Then let us give to Jesus
Our youthful hearts today,
And in life’s happy springtime,
Begin the heavenly way.

Fanny J. Crosby

Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

Song of Solomon 2:12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

May Joy Be Thine - A Poem by Annie Johnson Flint

 

May Joy Be Thine

The Springtime joy be thine:---
Joy of the wind across vast spaces sweeping
And like a giant on the forest leaping;
Joy of the trees from slumber rudely shaken,
From dreams of living unto life to waken;
Joy of the little bird that flies and sings
For very rapture of it song and wings;
Joy of the stream, whose penthouse roof of snow
Muffles no more its glad, impetuous flow;
Joy of the silver showers that gleam and pass
And leave a trail of green o'er tree and grass;
Joy of the mounting sap, the bursting seed,
The joy of life from death's dominion freed;---
This joy be thine.

The Resurrection joy be thine:---
The joy of those who, weeping
Because their dead, in straitened chambers sleeping,
Have left them for a while,
Yet know, that loosed from all earth's tribulations
They have passed on to heavenly habitations,
To Life eternal and the Father's smile;
The joy of those who hear
Beyond all doubt and fear,
Through jarring echoes of discordant strife,
That one Voice sounding clear:---
"I am the resurrection and the life;
They who believe on me
From death's dark thrall I free;
I drank that bitter cup, I passed that gloomy door,
Through that lone valley I have gone before,
Because I live, they live for evermore."
This joy be thine.

Annie Johnson Flint
altered

John 11:25-26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Worth Repeating - On Calvary We've Adoring Stood

On Calvary We've Adoring Stood

On Calvary we've adoring stood,

And gazed on that wondrous cross

Where the holy, spotless, Lamb of God

Was slain in His love for us;

How our hearts have stirred at that solemn cry,

While the sun was enwrapt in night,

"Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?"

Most blessed, most awful sight.

Our sins were laid on His sacred head,

The curse by our Lord was borne;

For us a victim our Saviour bled,

And endured that death of scorn;

Himself He gave our poor hearts to win--

(Was ever love, Lord, like Thine!)

From the paths of folly, and shame, and sin,

And fill them with joys divine.

We've watched by the tomb where our Saviour lay

When he entered the gloomy grave;

And by death the power of death might slay

And His lambs from the lion save.

Oh! glorious time when the Victor rose!

He liveth, no more to die;

He hath bruised the head of our mighty foes,

For us was His victory!

The gates of heaven are opened wide,

At His name all the angels bow;

The Son of man who was crucified

Is the King of glory now:

We love to look up and behold Him there,

The Lamb for His chosen slain;

And soon shall His saints all His glories share,

With their Head and their Lord to reign.

And now we draw near to the throne of grace,

For His blood and the Priest are there;

And we joyfully seek God's holy face,

With our censer of praise and prayer.

The burning mount and the mystic veil,

With our terrors and guilt, are gone;

Our conscience has peace that can never fail,

'Tis the Lamb on high on the throne.

By James G. Deck, 1807- 1884

From Hymns For the Little Flock, No. 212

Hebrews 9:11-14 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 

Word of the Day - Ship

Mark 6:47-51 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

There is many a storm on the Jesus-way,
Many a storm I see,
When black is the cloud and the wind is loud
And the waves go over me.
But the Lord Himself is in my little ship
And the storm obeys His will;
At the word He hath said - "Be not afraid"
My heart and the sea grow still.

- Annie Johnson Flint -

Continue Reading.

Treasures - A Poem by Martha Snell Nicholson

Treasures

One by one He took them from me,

All the things I valued most,

Until I was empty-handed;

Every glittering toy was lost.

And I walked earth's highways, grieving.

In my rags and poverty.

Till I heard His voice inviting,

"Lift your empty hands to Me!"

So I held my hands toward heaven,

And He filled them with a store

Of His own transcendent riches,

Till they could contain no more.

And at last I comprehended

With my stupid mind and dull,

That God COULD not pour His riches

Into hands already full!

by Martha Snell Nicholson

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Suffering and Rest

Suffering and Rest

My Saviour! I can think of Thee,
And rest upon Thy Name,
Through changing scenes Thou leadest me
But Thou art still the same.
When I am feebler than a child,
Too faint to lift a cry,
Thy strength is with me all the while,
I know that Thou art nigh.

O precious Lord! I hear Thy voice,
In accents soft and sweet,
When wearied is my aching head,
And worn my willing feet.
I lay me down in peace and sleep,
In safety I abide,
My hand in Thine, Thou still dost keep,
Thou'rt watching by my side.

Lord Jesus! it is sweet to pause
And be alone with Thee,
To feel, shut out from all beside,
That Thou art all to me.
'Tis joy to know Thou wilt complete
The work Thou hast begun,
And Oh! how comforting and sweet
The rest when work is done.

by Hannah K. Burlingham

Psalm 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Hebrews 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 

Another Year Drawing to A Close

 
1 Samuel 7:12 Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

A year of precious blessings
And glorious victories won,
Of earnest work progressing,
Its onward course has run;
To Thee, O God, our refuge,
Whose goodness crowns our days,
Within Thy earthly temple,
We lift our souls in praise.

Fanny J. Crosby

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 

1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 

From Mom’s Collection – Thoughts On Time

This selection from my Mom's Collection was first published here in 2015. It seems appropriate as an end of year post and is Worth Repeating.

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Psalms 31:15  My times are in thy hand...

As this is time change Sunday here in the U.S., I thought I’d share some things on the subject of time. Two of the items come from my mom’s collection.

This first item she typed on a page from a little red ring-binder she used at least as far back as the time of her wedding. (I know this because her list of expenditures is in it.)

Do you have a problem with TIME? 

My name is Time. I haven’t always been, and I won’t always be.  But right now I’m on the move, measuring out life.  Men wait for me, submit to me, fear me; but no one can stop me.  EXCEPT GOD.  He is in control, and He says I am running out….Most men couldn’t care less.  They think I’m on the move forever.  But I’m not.  And when I stop, eternity will keep right on going…. 

[Author unknown]

My thought:  This is very interesting to think about. We don’t usually consider that time had a beginning, and even though the scripture tells us that time shall be no more (Rev. 10:6), I’m afraid we don’t often think about it ending. Time is limited, not just because our own lives have a limit, but because God plans to end time itself some day. Yet, eternity will go right on without it.  As I mentioned last week, being eternal without reference to time is difficult for us to comprehend. 

 
How important it is that we should treat time as the rare treasure that it is. We value diamonds and gold because of their amazing durability – their ability to withstand the wear and tear of time.  But, how often we forget that this most precious thing is running out. As surely as the sun rises and sets upon another day, so time is going away.

Ephesians 5:15-17  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

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The second item from my mother is this poem which is hand written on a very yellowed sheet of paper.

The Day Before

Sometime some ordinary day will come,
A busy day, like this, filled to the brim
With ordinary tasks – perhaps so full
That we have little care or thought for Him.

And there will be no hint from silent skies,
No sign, no clash of cymbals, roll of drums…
And yet that ordinary day will be
The very day before our Lord returns!

The day before we lay our burdens down,
And learn instead the strange feel of a crown!
The day before all grieving will be past,
And all our tears be wiped away at last!

O child of God, awake, and work and pray!
That ordinary day might be – today!
Make ready all thine house – tomorrow’s sun
May dawn upon the Kingdom of God’s Son.

[Author unknown]

Matthew 24:42-46 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

My thought: The hope of Jesus’ coming should be a blessing to us, but if we don’t live like we anticipate it, it is apt to be a fearful thing. And, while we are looking for His return to gather us unto Himself (when His kingdom will technically begin for us), let’s strive to live our daily lives so that we might look forward to the end of time with hope and joy.

1 John 3:2-3 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

This is one of my favorite hymns – “The Sands of Time Are Sinking”.

The Thousand Word Project - Fast Fades the Day

 

The Daylight Fades

The day­light fades, the ev­en­ing shades

Are ga­ther­ing round my head;

Father above, I praise that love

Which night­ly guards my bed.

While Thou art near, I need not fear,

The gloom of mid­night hour;

Blest Je­sus, still from ev­ery ill

Defend me with Thy pow­er!

Pardon my sin, and en­ter in

To sanc­ti­fy my heart;

Spirit di­vine, O make me Thine,

And fill me, every part!

by Thomas O. Summers
(altered)

Trusting - A Poem by Martha Snell Nicholson

Trusting

You ask how you learn to trust Him?

Dear child, you must just let go!

Let go of your frantic worry,

And the fears which plague you so;

Let go of each black tomorrow,

Which you try to live today;

Let go of your fevered planning,

He knoweth all your way.

Fear not lest your slipping fingers

Let go of your Savior too, --

Trusting is only knowing

He’ll not let go of you!

Martha Snell Nicholson

Matthew 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow:

for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.

Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

John 10:28-29 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck

them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me,

is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck

them out of my Father's hand.

 Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own understanding. 

Evening Song - A World We Never Touch

Matthew 20:29-34 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him. 

Christ has no hands but our hands

To do His work today;

He has no feet but our feet

To lead men in His way;

He has no tongues but our tongues

To tell men how He died;

He has no help but our help

To bring them to His side.

Excerpt from The World's Bible

by Annie Johnson Flint

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