Finish Strong!

 

It is important how we finish.  Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote to Timothy the following:

 

2 Timothy 4:6-8 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

 

David Livingstone, the great missionary, wrote on his 59th birthday the following entry into his journal:

19th March, 1872. Birthday. Lord, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. Sever any ties save the tie that binds me to Thy heart. My Jesus, my King, my life, my all, I again dedicate my whole self to Thee.
– from DAVID LIVINGSTONE (1813-1873)

Inscription: “This Engraving, for which I supplied the materials, represents my meeting with Dr. Livingstone at Ujiji, Lake Tanganyika; and is as correct as if the scene had been photographed.” – Henry Morton Stanley

 

 

 

Quotes for the Week

Quotes for the Week

 

He that would live in peace and at ease must not speak all he knows or all he sees.
Benjamin Franklin

We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum. AW Tozer

 When I got saved I got such a jerk from Heaven, I've been out of step with the world ever since. Jack Hudson

"We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give" - Winston Churchill

It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret.

No matter the Question: Jesus is the Answer

Practice makes perfect, so be careful what you practice.

"Look to the cross, think of the cross, meditate on the cross, and then go and set your affections on the world if you can." ~ J.C. Ryle

"A man who is intimate with God will never be intimidated by men." Leonard Ravenhill

 

Scottish Hebrides Revival of 1949

Scottish Hebrides Revival of 1949

In 1949 on the Scottish Hebrides islands was one of the greatest revivals the world has ever seen.  It was started when two elderly sisters (age 82 and 84) took to heart a challenge from their church leaders to examine their spiritual state and to petition God to send repentance before it was too late.

Peggy Smith was blind, her sister, Cristine was crippled with arthritis yet they prayed with fervor from 10 each night until 2 or 3 in the morning. Their main concern was the same concern that many shared in the church and that was a burden for the lack of spirituality in their teenagers. Peggy believed that God had revealed to her that He was going to send revival soon and she convinced her minister, James Murray MacKay to send to the mainland for Evangelist Duncan Campbell.

The rest of this story is on another site where it is transcribed from Duncan Campbell.  I am reminded of how much prayer makes a difference in our lives. It is a lengthy article and you may or may not agree with his doctrine.  However it is a fascinating first hand account of one of the greatest revivals the world has seen. Click and enjoy.

Scottish Hebrides Revival: Duncan Campbell's Testimony

 

Staying on the Straight and Narrow Path

 

I once heard a man say; If you don’t want to end up in Sin City, don’t get on the road leading to Sin City.  The reverse could be said as well.  If you want to live in Righteousville, travel on the road leading there.

 

Proverbs 4:26-27 (KJV) ²⁶ Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. ²⁷ Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

 

Here in Proverbs 4 the Word of God instructs us on the importance of the roads we travel in life.  Our walk is to be:

 

1.         A Planned Walk:

 

The word ponder in verse 26 means to weigh in our minds, to examine, to view with deliberation. It means to make a road flat and straight. 

 

The word way means a way, a journey, a course of life.

 

The word established means set, firmly fixed.  To be sure and firm.

 

The teaching here is clear.  We are to plan the steps of our life.  Each step in our course of life is to be firmly, carefully, and deliberately made.  Benjamin Franklin said; By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.

 
Each decision we make should be viewed with the end result in mind. It should be viewed by where it will lead us. 
 
2.         A Perfect Walk:

Turn not to the right hand, nor to the left:

Our path, our way needs to be a righteous way.  Is it possible to live perfectly?  No, but we can establish a more perfect way of life.  We do not have to be enslaved to sin.  We do not have to walk on the path of sin. 

Our decisions should be based on right and wrong defined by God’s Word.  We should seek to do what is right and make our decisions on what Jesus would do. 

3.         A Protected Walk:

…remove thy foot from evil.

There are places we simply should not go.  I do not really see the need to define these places, as we know where we should not go.  The Scripture is teaching a protected walk.  A walk that is protected because there are places we no longer go.

How is your walk today?   Is it prepared?  Are you planning your day with God in mind? Are you planning to walk the path that God would have you walk?  Is your walk perfect?  Are you making decisions based on what is right and wrong?  Are your decisions Bible based?  Are you refusing to go to the places you should not go?  Are you planning, perfecting, and protecting your way of life?