~ Bird ! ~

"A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because IT has a song."
(Chinese proverb)

~ A Tribute ~

"The captive Hebrew singers sat beside the rivers of Babylon and wept as they remembered how life had been in their homeland. Their enemies tormented them, demanding that they sing happy songs of Zion. But the Hebrews were so discouraged that they ceased singing and hung their harps on a willow tree.

I awakened on a Sunday morning eagerly looking forward to being in the house of the Lord. Instead I was taken to the local hospital. My good health was shattered overnight. A CAT scan had revealed a brain tumor, and I became a captive in a strange land. I ceased singing my songs of praise and "hung up my harp."

Early the next morning, a young couple visited me. Joseph prayed. Janet read a letter of praise and encouragement that I had written to her six years earlier when she faced the decision of whether or not to have an abortion to save her life. (She chose to trust God and delivered a perfect baby boy!)

I was sent home for 30 days and then went back for more tests to determine the prognosis. The CAT scan indicated that the tumor was half the original size and was no longer a problem. The new diagnosis was multiple sclerosis.

Once again I was tempted to stifle my song, that is, until I discovered El Shaddai, the All-sufficient One (Jesus), who is always with us.

You will not find my harp on any willow tree. It is accompanying my songs of praise - I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; . . . When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted (Psalm 138: 1, 3)." R. LUCAS

* See associated post dated 27/11/2010 - Eternity!

'CRUISING' with the .. LORD !

"You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory" (PSALM 73:24).

"Recently, while driving down the interstate, instead of putting the "pedal to the metal," I sat back, enjoyed the scenery and let our cruisematic do all the work. I had never realized just how easy it is to be an inconsistent driver, but the cruisematic has taught me some lessons.

WITH the cruisematic in control, there is no slowing down when going up a hill or rounding a curve; no speeding up when passing another vehicle, no slowing down when passing a radar detector! You no longer slow down when talking or speed up when singing, or whatever else you do when you drive. All you have to do when the cruisematic is functioning is steer.

I thought about the cruisematic in relation to the Christian life. The Holy Spirit in us wants full control so that He can steer us around, over or through every circumstance in a way that will bring glory to God. Our will is like the steering wheel. We aim the car in the direction we want it to go. Sometimes we get into difficulty and wish (hope for - mine interpretation.k.) we were somewhere else.

IF we will only let the Holy Spirit, our "cruisematic", take full control and determine in our hearts to allow Him to take over our will or "steering wheel," we will have joy and peace in our circumstances. We will also find our lives becoming more consistent and disciplined". YVONNE DAVEY

(*See associated post dated 27/11/2010.)