BEAUTY FOR ASHES

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me...
To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion,

To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."

Isaiah 61:1,2c,3 (New King James Version)

Below is an excerpt from a sermon delivered by
C. H. SPURGEON. I wanted to share it with you this morning. It blessed me and I hope it will bless you too. He died in 1892 but his sermons live on.

"Observe, in the text, the change Christ promises to work for his mourners. First, here is beauty given for ashes. In the Hebrew there is a ring in the words which cannot be conveyed in the English. The ashes that men put upon their head in the East in the time of sorrow made a grim tiara for the brow of the mourner; the Lord promises to put all these ashes away, and to substitute for them a glorious head dress—a diadem of beauty. Or, if we run away from the word, and take the inner sense, we may look at it thus:—mourning makes the face wan and emaciated, and so takes away the beauty; but Jesus promises that he will so come and reveal joy to the sorrowing soul, that the face shall fill up again: the eyes that were dull and cloudy shall sparkle again, and the countenance, yea, and the whole person shall be once more radiant with the beauty which sorrow had so grievously marred.

I thank God I have sometimes seen this change take place in precious saints who have been cast down in soul. There has even seemed to be a visible beauty put upon them when they have found peace in Jesus Christ, and this beauty is far more lovely and striking, because it is evidently a beauty of the mind, a spiritual lustre, far superior to the surface comeliness of the flesh. When the Lord shines full upon his servants' faces, he makes them fair as the moon, when at her full she reflects the light of the sun.

A gracious and unchanging God sheds on his people a gracious and unfading loveliness. O mourning soul, thou hast made thine eyes red with weeping, and thy cheeks are marred with furrows, down which the scalding tears have burned their way; but the Lord that healeth thee, the Lord Almighty who wipeth all tears from human eyes, shall visit thee yet; and, if thou now believes "in Jesus, he shall visit thee now, and chase these cloudy griefs away, and thy face shall be bright and clear again, fair as the morning, and sparkling as the dew. Thou shalt rejoice in the God of thy salvation, even in God, thy exceeding joy. Is not this a dainty promise for mourning souls?"

BIBLE STUDY AND DISCIPLINE

I once heard a song that had the words, "He rocks me to sleep"...I thought that was so much how I feel when I go to sleep at night. I do think of God as a Father and me as his child. I don't feel like I am a grown up yet. I am trying to grow more mature but I know I still have a long way to go. I think I am no longer on milk but I don't think I have grown enough to say I am totally eating just the meat of the word. I am probably somewhere in between.

I do not study my Bible enough and I do not stay in constant prayer, a concept that I still have not wrapped my mind around yet. I do pray every night before I go to sleep and special prayers for those I know need the extra attention in my life. I know I could do so much better but I think I am weak. Not in faith, I believe with all my heart, but in being able to discipline myself. To really buckle down and study is one of my main goals. I love the word but I seem to always be doing other things when I should be reading my Bible.

I think I am going to pick out a particular subject for next week and just study all the scriptures on that. I have joined bible studies but can't seem to stay focused. It is a failing and I ask for prayer in this area of my life. Lord help me to study to show myself approved.

IT'S NOT WHERE YOU START

The painting is by Richard Serrin.
"Paul on the road to Damascus".







Every believer has a unique story of how they came to be saved. Some even keep a journal of their journey. I wish I had kept one but I didn't realize the impact being saved would have on the rest of my life, at the time.

Some are saved after years of drugs and immorality. Others attended church every Sunday and came to Christ after years of sitting in the church and not paying attention. Until one day, something clicked and they realized they did not have a personal relationship with Jesus.

The apostle Paul had a dramatic encounter with the Savior that turned him from a persecutor of Christ's followers like Stephen, into a preacher of the gospel (Acts 26). Timothy's story was quite different. He studied the Scriptures from early childhood, resulting in his salvation experience (2 Tim. 3:14-15).

No two people will have the same journey. But when each turn to the Lord Jesus in faith to be saved from sin and to receive a new heart, they are welcomed into the family of God with equal love. It doesn't matter where you start but where you finish that matters.

NATIONAL DAY OF ENCOURAGEMENT SEPT 12

I don't know if you realize it or not but today is "National Day of Encouragement" Day. No kidding. I have never heard of this before, but I am all for it. We all could use a little encouragement along the way.

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods and two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all of their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.
The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out.
When he got out, the other frogs said, "Did you not hear us?" The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.



The National Day of Encouragement was the idea of a few high school students attending the National Leadership Forum in Searcy, Ark in June of 2007. The students were challenged to come up with what they believe to be the biggest problem in their school. They decided that at the root of most problems, such as drugs and alcohol, lies discouragement. So, as one-way to help that, let’s have a day where we focus on encouraging one another. Get together with students from your church, school, other organizations or just yourself, and find ways to encourage people around you. Also, you can try and get your mayor or governor to sign a proclamation declaring September 12, 2008 as the Day of Encouragement for your city or state.

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THE WORLD STOPPED TURNING?

On Friday, November 16, 2001 Alan Jackson had the lyrics of his song "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning" read into the Congressional Record by His Honor, Congressman Mac Collins.
HONORABLE MAC COLLINS of Georgia
House of Representatives
Friday, November 16, 2001

"On September 11th, 2001 our nation suffered a cataclysmic attack of unprecedented proportion. More than 6,000 Americans lost their lives in less than 1 hour's time.

In the two months following that tragic day, our citizens have struggled for ways to accept and deal with such a horrific loss. We have held candlelight vigils, all night prayer groups, talked of memorials and rebuilding. We have launched a major military campaign to seek justice for those victims. But one young man, whose name is known to many of this body and many of the American people, has found a way to genuinely memorialize those victims and that day in song.

Alan Jackson was born in Newnan, Georgia in 1958. Since that time he has grown into one of the nation's most loved Country Music stars. Some have called him the conscience of Nashville for his actions and the type of music he makes.

On November 7th. at the Country Music Awards, Alan sang a song he wrote, which more than any other that I have heard, expressed the wide range of emotions experienced on September 11th, 2001. I would like to read those lyrics to you now. "



Where Were You [When The World Stopped Turning]
By Alan Jackson



Where were you when the world stop turning on that September day

Were you in the yard with your wife and children
Or working on some stage in L.A.

Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke
Rising against that blue sky

Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor
Or did you just sit down and cry

Did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved ones
And pray for the ones who don't know

Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
And sob for the ones left below

Did you burst out in pride for the red, white and blue
And the heroes who died just doin' what they do

Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
And look at yourself and what really matters

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man

I watch CNN but I'm not sure I could
Tell you the difference in Iraq and Iran

But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith, hope and love are some good things He gave us
And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stop turning on that September day

Teaching a class full of innocent children
Or driving down some cold interstate

Did you feel guilty 'cause you're a survivor
In a crowded room did you feel alone

Did you call up your mother and tell her you loved her
Did you dust off that bible at home

Did you open your eyes, hope it never happened
And you close your eyes and not go to sleep

Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
Or speak to some stranger on the street

Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
Go out and buy you a gun

Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watchin'
And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns

Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers
Stand in line and give your own blood

Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
Thank God you had somebody to love



"I would like to take this opportunity to commend and congratulate my former constituent, a great American who has used his gifts as a songwriter and performer to lift the American spirit in this great pursuit for justice. Alan Jackson has crafted a thoughtful memorial to the victims of September 11th and serves as an example of how all Americans can help heal our nation from the wounds we suffered on that tragic day. Thank you Alan, for helping us to remember those we lost and for helping to keep their memory alive."

A THOUSAND RED BIRDS

When I first got saved, I had a wonderful preacher who could bottom line anything. When I ask him how much faith I needed to be healed, he didn't give me the usual, "faith as of a grain of mustard seed", scripture. He looked at me squarely in the eye and said, "You need to worry about putting whatever amount of faith you have into action, it will be enough". I though of him when I saw this poem below. It doesn't matter how much faith you have if you don't use it. Activate your faith. Faith in motion is an awesome thing.


A THOUSAND RED BIRDS

We clutch our tiny bits of faith in tight fists
shoved firmly in our pockets.
We clutch it suspiciously, so unwilling to let it go
we don’t want to lose it.
We clutch it fearing that once it is spent,
we will be without hope,
cast adrift, out of luck.
Help us loosen our grip.
Help us to pull our hands out of our pockets.
Help us to uncurl our fingers stiffened over time.
to grow,
to shimmer,
to pulse,
to explode into the air
like a thousand red birds.

By Phil Porter

LOOK FOR ME FOR I WILL BE THERE TOO

Sam, Rusty, Howard and Vestal Goodman, known as the Happy Goodmans were a gospel singing group. Vestal is known for her powerful vioce. In this video, Rusty's daughter sings a song written by her Daddy who died of cancer in 1990. Sam died in 1991. She reachs out to touch Howard's hand when she sings this and you know they are both thinking of joining Rusty and Sam in Heaven one day. Sweet and touching. You don't have to be a Christian to be touched by this song, but if you are saved, it isn't a sad song at all. It is a beautiful reminder of that day when we shall all see Jesus and our family's once again.

Verse
When you finally make your entrance to that city
Of jasper walls and bright golden avenues
As you behold all its beauty and its splendor
Remember there’s just one request I make of you

Chorus
Look for me for I will be there too
I realize when you arrive there will be so much to view
After you’ve been there ten thousand years
A million, maybe two
Look for me, for I will be there too

Verse
As you go down your list of firsts there’s no question
We’re gonna have to see our loved ones, me and you
And when you feel you’ve shared your story with the last one
Who wants to hear just how you made it through

Chorus
Look for me for I will be there too
I realize when you arrive there will be so much to view
After you’ve been there ten thousand years
A million, maybe two
Look for me for I will be there too

Look for me for I will be there too
I will be there to