Monday, 9 November 2009

~Abide In Christ~ day 3

Okay folks, I am most definitely not the brightest crayon in the box. LOL


As I was reading my book today, I realized at the top that it said . . . Day Three, it clicked!!! This just isn't a book, duh, it's a 1 month devotional. How slow, I mean really.



Anyway . . . . . . this book (devotional) is really good. I'm enjoying it tremendously, although I will need to read it over and over to get out of it what all the Lord would have for me, but nonetheless, I like it.


Day Three:


". . . I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." --Phil. 3:12

More than one admits that it is a sacred duty and a blessed privilege to abide in Christ, but shrinks back continually before the question: Is it possible, a life of unbroken fellowship with the Saviour? . . . . .The more they hear of this life, the deeper their sense of its glory and blessedness, and there is nothing they would not sacrifice to be made partakers of it. But they are too weak, too unfaithful -- they never can attain to it.

Dear souls! how little they know that the abiding in Christ is just meant for the weak, and so beautifully suited to their feebleness. It is not the doing of some great thing, and does not demand that we first lead a very holy and devoted life. No, it is simply weakness entrusting itself to a Mighty One to be kept -- the unfaithful one casting itself on One Who is altogether trustworthy and true. Abiding in Him is not a work that we have to do as the condition for enjoying His salvation, but a consenting to let Him do all for us, and in us, and through us. It is a work He does for us -- the fruit and the power of His redeeming love. Our part is simply to yield, to trust and to wait for what He has engaged to perform.

And if ever doubts again arise, or the bitter experience of failure tempt you to despair, just remember where Paul found His strength: "I am apprehended of Christ Jesus". In that assurance you have a fountain of strength. From that you can look up to the whereunto on which He has set His confidence that the good work He hath begun He will also perform. And in that confidence you will gather courage, day by day, afresh to say, " ' . . .I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus'. It is because Jesus has taken hold of me, and because Jesus keeps me, that I dare to say: Saviour, I abide in Thee".

Taken from 'Abide in Christ" ~Andrew Murray

Until the Shout,
Sis. Tammy



Sunday, 8 November 2009

~Started a Book~

I just started a new book today. It is called "Abide in Me" by Andrew Murray.

It is a powerful book. I've only read the first 2 chapters (which are only a few pages long) so far. You know how them old fashioned preachers are, they write very deeply and I like to be able to take my time and read; many times reading and rereading certain parts until I have comprehended them and taken them in. I find it helpful to read them out loud also.

I thought I'd leave you with just a nibble of what the Lord has blessed me to read. I will most definitely find it hard to condense, as there are soooo many wonderful truths written in these pages to help along life's journey.

Day 1:
"Come unto me ..." -- Matt. 11:28
"Abide in me ..." -- John 15:4

And it may please Thee, blessed Saviour, indeed, to speak to us; let each of us hear Thy blessed Voice. May the feeling of our deep need, and the faith of Thy wondrous love, combined with sight of the wonderfully blessed life Thou art waiting to bestow upon us, constrain us to listen and to obey, as often as Thou speakest: "Abide in me". Let day by day the answer from our heart be clearer and fuller: "Blessed Saviour, I do abide in Thee".


Day 2:
"Come unto me ... and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me ... and ye shall find rest unto your souls" -- Matt. 11:28,29

Entire surrender to Jesus is the secret of perfect rest.
Giving up one's whole life to Him, for Him alone to rule and order it; taking up His yoke, and submitting to be led and taught, to learn of Him; abiding in Him, to be and do only what He wills--these are the conditions of discipleship without which there can be no thought of maintaining the rest that was bestowed on first coming to Christ. The rest is in Christ, and not something He gives apart from Himself, and so it is only in having Him that the rest can really be kept and enjoyed.

Blessed rest! The fruit and the foretaste and the fellowship of God's own rest! Found of them who thus come to Jesus to abide in Him. It is the peace of God, the great calm of the eternal world, that passeth all understanding, and that keeps the heart and mind. With this grace secured, we have strength for every duty, courage for every struggle, a blessing in every cross, and the joy of life eternal in death itself.

O my Saviour! if ever my heart should doubt or fear again, as if the blessing were too great to expect, or too high to attain, let me hear Thy voice to quicken my faith and obedience: "Abide in me"; "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me ... ye shall find rest unto your souls".

Until the Shout,
Sis. Tammy