Midnight

Last night I was awake for quite some time...my mind racing as it often does. I picked up an old copy of Springs in the Valley, edited by Mrs. Chas. E. Cowman, and found the following thought:

"Go unto Him at midnight!" Let us go when all other doors are barred and even the heavens seem brass, for the gates of prayer are open evermore; and it is only when the sun is gone down and our pillow is but a stone of the wilderness, that we behold the ladder that reaches unto heaven with our Infinite God above it, and the angels of His Providence ascending and descending for our help and deliverance. He is a friend in extremity. He is able for the hardest occasions. He is seated on His throne for the very purpose of giving help in time of need.

No matter if the case is wholly hopeless, and your situation one where you have nothing, and the hour is dark as midnight, "GO UNTO HIM". Go unto Him at midnight. He loves the hour of extremity. It is His chosen time of Almighty interposition.

There's a budding morrow in midnight

So fold your griefs away,

And wait for the bud to open,

A fragrant and fair new day.

Wait for the bud to open,

Cease to worry and to grope;

There's a budding tomorrow in midnight

It's name is The Dawn of Hope.

So today, my friend, remember - He is a friend in extremity! Run to Him and let Him enfold you in His everlasting arms.

"Go unto Him at midnight." - Luke 11:5 (KJV)

No Scar?

Dr. Stephen Olford writes the following words concerning Amy Carmichael:

Amy Carmichael was an Irish missionary who spent 53 years in South India without a furlough. She founded the Dohnavur Fellowship, a refuge for children in mortal danger. For a great part of her life she was bed-ridden with an incapacitating affliction but she never let up in serving others by her prayers, writings and personal counseling. The Spirit of God, to whom she was totally committed, has wafted the fragrance of her life across the Christian world.

Her life and ministry are best reflected in this challenging poem:

Hast thou no scar?
No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand?
I hear thee sung as mighty in the land;
I hear them hail thy bright, ascendant star.
Hast thou no scar?

Hast thou no wound?
Yet I was wounded by the archers; spent,
Leaned Me against a tree to die; and rent
By ravening beasts that compassed Me,
I swooned.
Hast thou no wound?
No wound?

No scar?
Yet, as the Master shall the servant be,
And piercèd are the feet that follow Me.
But thine are whole; can he have followed far
Who hast no wound or scar?

by Amy Carmichael

Sabbatical

For years I've dreamed of taking a sabbatical from some of my regular routines. It's always been near to impossible. How do you leave a job, forsake a family, drop the important things? Usually you can't.

Over the past several years I've resigned from the boards of several organizations in an effort to simplify my life. It has helped somewhat.

Tonight I decided to take a sabbatical, for at least 40 days, from Facebook.

It's so easy to become addicted to some of these social network systems that are so popular these days. There's a lot of value in these if we discipline ourselves and use them to build and maintain positive relationships and to minister to others but all too often I've found myself leaving silly comments and spending too much time writing things that weren't really that uplifting.

And so...I'm taking some time off.

I'm going to try to concentrate on writing encouraging, thought-provoking posts both here on The Barnabas Blog and over at my other site, Pilgrim Scribblings.

Thanks for your prayers as I seek to refocus...by the enabling of the Spirit of God.

Be encouraged today!

David

Specific Plans

I've always appreciated Joni Eareckson Tada's godly perspective on life and suffering. Today's devotional thought in her excellent book Pearls of Great Price ministered to me in a special way.

Joni writes:

"God's plan is specific. He doesn't say, 'Into each life a little rain must fall,' and then aim a hose in earth's general direction to see who gets the wettest. He doesn't wind up nature and then sit back to watch its sunny days and devastating hurricanes. God doesn't let Satan prowl about totally unrestricted. Do you feel as though God has taken a hands-off policy to certain hardships in your life? Right now, place them under His sovereign care. Commit to trust Him with His plan for your life."

Good stuff! Agree?