7/15/98

Good morning....
Jesus loves You!!  

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Happy is the child who happens in upon his parent from time to time to see him on his knees, ...or going aside regularly, to keep times with the Lord. -=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-.-=*=-

Hi Brethren!

Hope this finds your week going WONDERFULLY well! Mine is going really well. Just a quick reminder that this is a rerun from January...but it is one of my favs..and I wanted to share it with you again. I am taking a little sabbatical this month..and will start back with some fresh manna starting in August.

God go with you this week, Brethren.. You are in my thoughts and prayers.. See you at the end! ;)

....let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord, seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore. Psalm 105:3,4

You must have a good heart," one man said to his child, "if you are going to act right in this world." And then in illustrating his point he continued, "Suppose my watch was not keeping time very well. Would it do any good if I went to the town clock, and made the hands of my watch point exactly the same as those of the larger clock in the square? No, of course not! Soon my watch would be just as inaccurate as before. Rather, I should take my watch to a watchmaker, or to a jewelry store that repairs watches. It is only when my watch has been cleaned and repaired that its hands will be able to keep time accurately all day long."

When we spend time in prayer, we are, in like manner, going to the Heart Maker, asking Him to "clean and repair our hearts" from the damage caused by sins we have committed. We are asking Him to put us right again on the wrong. When our children see us doing this, they are much more likely to go to the Heart Maker when they feel their own lives in disarray or "out of sync"--rather than turn to the world and reset their souls according to its standards and priorities.

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FATHER ARE YOU THERE?

A little child lay in the dark;
The room was strange, he saw nowhere,
He was afraid; but then he called,
"Father, are you there?"

He felt a hand, so strong and warm,
Close clasping his: then calm and clear
He heard his father's tender voice,
"Yes, Lad, I am here."

Like the small child, we sometimes feel
That we are in the dark of care;
In terror of some harm, we call,
"O Father, are You there?"

We reach our hand to Him, and find
A blessed answer to our fear;
His hand holds ours; we hear His voice,
"Fear not, for I am here."

So though we tremble in the dark,
In need of strength and help and cheer,
We have a tender Father's word,
"Fear not, for I am here."

-By Dinnie McDole Hayes-

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HONEYSUCKLE HEAVEN 7/16/98

When I was a small child
a favorite pastime of mine
was sucking the sap out of
all of the honeysuckle.

I would go from tree to tree
drinking ever so freely,
savoring its flavor and
aroma smelling sweetly.

I remember those moments
so vivdly in my head.
Since then, only one thing can
compare to the joy in that . . .

For the honeysuckle I reach,
as I pray on bended knee.
And slowly I pull the stem
and come into His presence.

And drawing the sap to my lips,
His manifestation begins.
As my taste buds dance in delight,
I taste the sweetness of my Christ.

The more sap that I intake
the more of Him that I embrace.
And as I drink from tree to tree,
there's fullness of joy in His peace.

For the sap grows in abundance
throughout Honeysuckle Heaven,
where I can never get enough
of the Lord's everlasting love.
Lori A. Campisano

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Me again, Brethren!

Allow me to throw a little scenario atcha this morning...

My husband was leaving for work....lunch packed, breakfast eaten, toofies brushed...and he was headed out the door. I followed him to the door, and we embraced for a few moments. That is something we do most mornings...unless things are out of order..and chaotic.

If that is the case, we are in our own shell...introverted, and mumble a half- hearted "bye" .....as he pulls away. But I notice something, Brethren...and Jimmy had just mentioned this to me recently. He said, "You know, when our relationship with the Lord is 'out of sync,' then our relationship with each other is out of whack."

Boy, that is sooo true. I notice that ALL my earthly relationships hinge on my relationship to Christ. The thing I am beginning to notice more and more, is that a lot of people don't even realize that the possibility of "real intimacy with Jesus" could exist! There are times when we get ritualistic in our prayer life...and get off our knees way too soon.

When I was little, I used to suck the sap out of honeysuckle. Ever do that? You know, when you pull that little stem out...and there is a sweet clear liquid that comes out? We have a lot of honeysuckle in Alabama....and the reason I know is because I go lookin for it. All the southern bees hate my guts. hehe

That is the way it "could be" in our relationship with Jesus. We get on our knees....(reach for the honeysuckle)....we go into His Presence...(pull the stem)...and then, we get real...we allow Him to manifest Himself in our hearts....(drawing the sap, allowing it to hit our taste buds). Whewwwee!! Talk about a Sweetness that can't be compared!!!!

Brethren, as I was holding my husband...I saw the spiritual parallel. Our relationship with Christ is just like a marriage. We are the Bride of Christ. Jesus wants to hold us just like that. A few moments..of embracing. Maybe we talk....maybe we don't. Doesn't really matter after awhile, because this is what is happening: One Heart is communing with another.

I watched Jimmy drive away....and I didn't move from the door 'til he was out of sight. That is important to him. He wants to know that I am there when he leaves...and there when he returns. S

o when I get up off my knees...I don't walk away....from His Presence. I continue to bask in it. I remember the smell of Jimmy's shirt. I always tease him about going overboard with his deodorant. If I lean too far into his bosom, I can taste it. He makes BIG circles wif dat stuff.

But, that's the the way it is...with the Lord. I want to continue to remember the smell...and the taste, of "Honeysuckle Heaven".....after I have spent time with "Abba Father." Then, allow the "ripple effect" to flow into my husband, my children, and everyone else I come in contact with, especially you...Precious Brethren. God Bless you this day...and I love you soo much!! In Christ!!

Carol
Justaservn@aol.com

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