Manicured, styled,
expensively suited,
they stood
and they smiled
as if programmed, computed
by specialist fed;
yet I knew within each
beat a heart living-dead.
The smiles were a mask;
the lifestyles they led
at beast a brave showing,
pretending, not being,
while You Who created
are God, the Allknowing,
are God, the Allseeing.
Lord, we cannot see
as You see above,
behind and within.
We can only love. —Ruth Bell Graham
Hi lovelies. One of my favorite writers is Ruth Bell Graham. I treasure her words and thoughts as if my own Grandmother would be speaking them to me. I came across this poem that a young Ruth wrote to herself as Billy Graham's wife. More than a poem, or even words to herself, I believe this to be an encouragement to those women who are wives... wives to husbands that are given to studies, career, ministry or what not. I dedicate this post to all the wives in my life who love deeply, cry often, and pray fervently for their husbands.
Love
without clinging;
cry
if you must—
but privately cry;
the heart will adjust
to the newness of loving
in practical ways:
cleaning
and cooking
and sorting out clothes,
all say, “I love you,”
when lovingly done.
So—
love
without clinging;
cry—
if you must—
but privately cry;
the heart will adjust
to the length of his stride,
the song he is singing,
the trail he must ride,
the tensions that make him
the man that he is,
the world he must face,
the life that is his.
So
love
without clinging;
cry—
if you must—
but privately cry;
the heart will adjust
to being the heart,
not the forefront of life;
a part of himself,
not the object—
his wife.
-
Into the heart of the Infinite can a mere mortal
hope to gain access,
what with no part of me geared to His greatness,
to His vastness my infinite less?
Yet the longing for Him was so wide and so deep,
by day it crowded life’s thronging,
by night it invaded my sleep.
Then came the pain:
again …
and again …
and again …
As if a wing tip were brushing the tears
from my face
for the breath of a second I knew the unknowable,
glimpsed invisible grace.
And I lay where for long in despair I had lain;
entered, unshod, the holy There where God
dwells with His pain –
alone with the pain of the price He had paid
in giving His Son for a world gone astray
– the world He had made.
My heart lay in silence,
worshipped in silence;
and questioned no more.
Theload
that lay
like lead lifted:
instead:
peace.
The dread
that hung
fogthick, gray, faded away;
and with release,
day.
The trial
the same... unsolved, but this:
now it is His.
-Ruth Bell Graham
It is a foolish woman who expects her husband to be to her that which only Jesus Christ Himself can be: always ready to forgive, totally understanding, unendingly patient, invariably tender and loving, unfailing in every area, anticipating every need, and making more than adequate provision. -Ruth Bell Graham
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
This week has been most wonderful. My week starting with me a few miles away from home attending a conference with the theme being "What the Spirit says to the Churches". It really was a great and refreshing time. Proverbs 25:11 says, A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. The conference as a whole was a word fitly spoken and all the speakers were apples of gold in settings of silver.
These are just random notes:
Monday-
Session 1 Pedro Garcia, Rev 2:1-7, Church of Ephesus/ the loveless church
they were an active church
they didn't lose their first love, for that would be hopeless but rather they left their first love
they hit cruise control and lost their child-like wonder
ALL IS NOT LOST: to regain the passion: remember where you have come from, repent and repeat the first work
Session 2 Marl Balmer, Rev 2:8-11, Church of Smyrna/ the suffering church
we don't have the wisdom to do life without God
Smyrna produced much myrrh. Myrrh- the resin of a tree used for it's great scent and used as an embalming ointment. The bark had to be crushed for the scent and oil to be infused. (same with us)
God says, "have hope" Psalm 71:5
everytime we speak, give the people hope
remember people and their hurts- give hope
God knows our tribulation and He cares
Jesus says, "you're rich right now"- we have the Holy Spirit in us
Jesus says, "do not fear"- the battle belongs to the Lord
Be faithful to pass the test- faith that isn't tested can't be trusted
faith like a muscle needs to be exercised for it to grow
Jesus says, "Heaven is better"- share the good news, lost people matter to God.
By the fullness of the gospel the world is changed. 2 Tim 2:8-9 the Word of God cannot be chained
God has me in this exact place and this exact time to preach the Gospel
I am not alone
Don Richardson, Luke 24:44-48 Learning from our Past
verse 45- Jesus had to reshape their thinking, Lord do the same with me
verse 47- cross country missions
God is a God if missions, am I?
Gen 12-Abraham received the promise that God would bless all the people through him
Gen 22- God is under oath to bless those who the seed of Abraham blesses
Gen 26, 28:14- "like dust on the earth" spread the word of God around the world without limitation
Tuesday-
Session 3 Pancho Juarez, Rev 2:12-17, Church of Pergamos/ the compromising church
teach healthy doctrine always
men who don't have a calling or aren't anointed by God "conduct" hopeless business in the name of Jesus but offer no cure/healing other wise known by Pancho as Bufoonery (I love that!!!)
the word of God undefiled is the only thing that changes lives
be not tolerant to distorted doctrine- confront!
disciple
Session 4 Skip Heitzig, Rev 2:18-29, Church of Thyatira/ the corrupted church
• located in a small city outside of the town- corruption has no bounds
• Jesus' evaluation is the only one that matters
• do I allow evaluation of me? of my ministry?
• strengths of this church- love and service
• no room for lazy preachers- do the work!
• weakness of this church- they tolerated ungodliness and the language of diplomacy
• use discernment and test every Spirit
• every church has the ability to change and grow
• do not forsake righteousness for relevance
Session 5 Pancho Juarez (he loves his kendall people, lol), Rev 3:1-6 Church of Sardis, the church without life
• they were running without the Holy Spirit
• they lived on reputation
• they may have a "religious degree" but have not been born again
• completion and perfection is found in Christ, the 7spirit and 7stars
• there is a possibility of going to a dead church and not being morally defiled and wear the garments of white (righteousness)
• Remember (we need to be reminded) where God took you from
• hold fast, hang on tight
• repent: stop, consider, make a decision to change, make a u-turn
• a loveless church is a Spiritless church
• Sardis were decent people and they had a reputation that they lived off of
• we need to have an honest awareness of our life- alive, dying or dead
• if you don't see change in the lives of the people, the church is probably dead
• know the times- wake up!
• don't make an appetite for the flesh
• it is time for those of us who are alive to mingle with those who are dying and bring them back to preach to those who are dead!!! Powerful!
Session 6 Mike Macintosh, Rev 3:7-13, Church of Philadelphia/ the faithful church
• humble church, loving God's word and people
• Jesus cautions them not to be discouraged
• we must be faithful to preach and God takes care of the rest
• 1 John 4:19-Father, John 13:34-Son, Romans 5:5-Spirit
• LOVE THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD
• don't let people be a blur
• don't compare people to an inordinate object like a tree
• these people had little strength- Phil 1:6 He has not completed the cord-Ecc 4 a 3 fold cord : accountability- Gal 2:20 Christ lives in me- Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me
• Do not give up God for a successful ministry
• hang on the hem of His garment
David Payne- An Evening with C.S.Lewis
This is a short preview of the awesome monologue. To watch the entire skit click here (if you want to skip straight to the monologue, begin at 24:55 into the service).
This skit really ministered to me.
Wednesday- Session 7 Skip Heitzig, Rev 3:14-22, Church of Laodiceans/ the lukewarm church
a good physician tell you the truth, Jesus who is the Amen is absolute truth
the actual city had a terrible if none on water supply. The surrounded cities had two different water supplies, from one end the water was hot (healing water) and from the other end cold (refreshing)
hot for healing, cold for refreshing but when lukewarm it does neither no healing and no refreshing
be zealous
a painted fire cannot warm anyone
enthusiasm for the Lord and the things of God should never be held back
Laodicea was compacent, proud in their ministry, they were the financial capitol of the area, apathetic and measuring by human standards rather than by God's
Session 8 Mike Macintosh, What the Spirit says: Freedom in the Spirit
Proverbs 10:12 Love covers a multitude of sin
take heed that no man deceive you
2 Corinthians 13:3-5 examine myself
Love the bretheren and keep ministry simple
Don't put your fingerprints on anything, it's all God's print on His work
It was a special time of sitting at the feet of Jesus and hearing what He has to say to me. So many things hit me like the hot springs, healing and restoring, other things refreshed but overall I was encouraged to continue to run my race with joy. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58
Great Quotes from the Conference:
May God work in you and through the your churches.- Chuck Smith
You will never get a complete picture of Christ until you get the churches together. Not one church has the full image. -Skip Heitzig
If God doesn't destroy America, He is going to have to apologize to Sodom and Gmorrah. -Ruth Bell Graham
Be known for what you stand for, not for what you are against. -Mark Balmer
We have a God that is on a move, if we follow Him becomes a movement if we don't we become monuments. -Pedro Garcia
Erroneous doctrine will have you shaving your head, wear a toga and hand out flowers in an airport while chanting. Erroneous doctrine will have you riding a bicycle for two years even though you hate bike riding. Erroneous doctrine will distort the Word of God. -Pancho Juarez
