What are you counting?

Count your blessings instead of your crosses:
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Love your neighbor as much as yourself.
-unknown-

The Nose of the Camel

The Nose of the Camel

Have you heard the story of the bedouin who found himself out in the middle of the desert on a very cold night? He unloaded his gear from his camel, pitched his tent, cooked a very meager dinner then curled up under some blankets and tried to go to sleep. It wasn't long before the camel stuck his nose between the tent flaps and pleaded, "Master, it's terribly cold out here and I worked so hard for you all day. Please let me warm up my nose for awhile." The bedouin thought to himself, "Yes, the poor thing has had a hard day. I should let him warm his nose, that's the least I could do to thank him for his labor." So he let the camel warm his nose and soon the bedouin was nodding off to sleep. After a short while he heard a noise and looked up to see the camel had pushed his entire head into the small tent. "Hey, what are you doing?" he shouted. "Please Master", said the camel, "My ears were freezing. Be so kind and let me warm up my ears for awhile." The bedouin thought, "I'll be nice to him. It is a very cold night." So he let the camel leave his head in the tent. It wasn't long before he was awakened again and found the camel had now pushed his front legs and shoulder into the tent. "Oh, please Master. Just let me warm my feet. It's freezing out there."

You get the drift. Before the night was over the bedouin was sharing his little tent with a big stinking camel and there was no way he could get him back out into the cold air.

This story is ancient. It has been told over and over to children, families, individuals, tribes, organizations and yes, even to churches to illustrate how important it is to be discerning with regard to what you are willing to accept.

2 John 10 "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house" (or tent)

On 7 January 1855 the minister of New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, opened his morning sermon as follows:

“It has been said by someone that 'the proper study of mankind is man'.  I will not oppose the idea, but I believe it is equally true that the proper study of God's elect is God;  the proper study of a Christian is the Godhead.  The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings , and the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father.

There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the Divinity.  It is a subject so vast, that all our thoughts are lost in its immensity; so deep, that our pride is drowned in its infinity.  Other subjects we can compass and grapple with; in them we feel a kind of self-content, and go our way with the thought, ' Behold I am wise'.  But when we come to this master-science, finding that our plumb-line cannot sound its depth, and that our eagle eye cannot see its height, we turn away with the thought that vain man would be wise, but he is like a wild ass's colt; and with solemn exclamation, 'I am but of yesterday, and know nothing'.  No subject of contemplation will tend more to humble the mind, than thoughts of God...

But while the subject humbles the mind, it also expands it.  He who often thinks of God, will have a larger mind than the man who simply plods around this narrow globe... The most excellent study for expanding the soul, is the science of Christ, and Him crucified, and the knowledge of the Godhead in the glorious Trinity.  Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing so magnify the whole soul of man, as a devout, earnest continued investigation of the great subject of the Deity.

And, whilst humbling and expanding, this subject is eminently consolatory.  Oh, there is, in contemplating Christ, a balm for every wound; in musing on the Father, there is a quietus for every grief; and in the influence of the Holy Ghost, there is a balsam for every sore.  Would you lose your sorrow?  Would you drown your cares?  Then go plunge yourself in the God-head's deepest sea; be lost in his immensity; and you shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated.  I know nothing which can so comfort the soul; so calm the swelling billows of sorrow and grief; so speak peace to the winds of trial, as a devout musing upon the subject of the Godhead.  It is to that subject that I invite you this morning...”

These words, spoken over a century ago by C. H. Spurgeon (at that time, incredibly, only twenty years old) were true then, and they are true now.

Treasures in Heaven

Matthew 6:19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Banks were closed in Cyprus after the government announced that it was going to confiscate 10% of every savings account to pay for the EU bailout of the country's failing financial system. ATM's were emptied within minutes of the announcement. A run on the bank is expected when the doors open for business. The question on the minds of many is, "Can this happen in Spain, in Portugal, in the U. S. of A.?  The financial experts seem to agree that, yes, it could happen in another country but not likely in exactly the same manner. They say that nothing is safe from the government if it wants to take it. In the USA they say it would more than likely be the seizure of a percentage of a stockholder's portfolio since that is where the bulk of saving are found.

 The point I'm trying to make is that nothing is really secure this side of heaven. They say that when we die, we can't take anything with us. True, but we can send something ahead. The vermin and thieves, whether they be four legged, two legged or bureaucratic will not be able to touch it. Jesus said that even a cup of water given in His name will be rewarded.  "In His name" has something to do with our motives.  I question whether my motives have always been for the glory of God and not for the glory of me.  I really want to send something ahead.

After a hiatus of over two years I'd like to begin sharing again. Hopefully, a thought each day.

I am privileged to have a few Italian-American friends. In the past several months we have gathered together a number of times for great fellowship and tasty Italian style cooking. At some point the accordion comes out and we sing. There are always gospel songs and sometimes a few traditional songs in Italian.

The grandson of William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, William E. Booth-Clibborn wrote the gospel song, "Down From His Glory". It was set to the music of "O Solo Mio". The last few times that the "Italian bunch" has gotten together we have tried our best to sing with gusto, "Down From His Glory". It has touched my heart because it reflects so accurately what I believe and how Jesus stooped into my darkness to pick me up and save my soul over 50 years ago while I served in the US Army. Here are the lyrics:

Down from His glory, Ever living story, My God and Savior came, And Jesus was His name. Born in a manger, To His own a stranger, A man of sorrows, tears and agony.

Refrain:  O how I love Him! (O solo mio) How I adore Him!  My breath, my sunshine, my all in all. The great Creator became my Savior, And all God’s fullness dwelleth in Him. 

What condescension, Bringing us redemption; That in the dead of night, Not one faint hope in sight, God, gracious, tender, Laid aside His splendor, Stooping to woo, to win, to save my soul. 

Refrain: O how I love Him...........

Without reluctance, Flesh and blood His substance, He took the form of man, Revealed the hidden plan, O glorious mystery Sacrifice of Calv’ry, And now I know Thou art the great “I Am.”

Refrain:  O how I love Him.............