The Hay Field That Got No Rain

An unusual story as told by Martha grace green in “daybreak,” a publication of Piedmont Bible College, Winston-Salem, NC.  Mrs. Green gave me permission to reproduce her story many years ago. enjoy!

 

 

It is an unusual story. When I first heard it a few years ago I went straight to my father and asked him if it were true. "Yes," he replied slowly. "It's incredible," I said. "You've never told me this before. Why not?"

 

He answered carefully, "Honey, God is no respector of persons. When sometimes He seems to bestow a special favor on one of His children, the favored one should be only grateful, never boastful. Besides, I don't have to tell it," he grinned---"they tell it for me!"

 

From all reports here is the story: One Saturday morning my father circled his Ford tractor around the field and watched the old sickle mower gracefully toppled his lespedeza hay. That afternoon he walked to the general store and saw three of his neighbors. "Hello there, Harvey Sorber," greeted Jed Varner. "We were just talking about your hay. Never saw a better crop."

 

"Yep," joined in Bob Brayant, "prettiest lespedeza around. Les Peddy agreed. "When you gonna' bale it?" "Monday," Dad answered. About eight o'clock Sunday morning Jed phoned. "Mr. Harvey, just heard on the radio that it's gonna' rain and there are bad rain clouds already headed this way. If you get to it quick, you might salvage your hay before the rain gets here."

 

"Oh, no, not on Sunday!" Dad replied. "I sure would if it was mine. It'll ruin if it gets wet." "Thanks, Jed, but I couldn't today. Sunday's God's day and the hay is His. If He wants to let it get wet and ruin, well, it's up to Him."

 

Dad taught his usual Bible class and was sitting in church when it came--a savage, thundering down-pour! The roar almost drowned out the preacher's voice. The congregation was soaked getting home. Hard and steady for four hours it poured . . . then quit. Shortly afterward, Jed, whose house is next to Dad's field, shouted excitedly on the phone, "Mr. Harvey, it didn't rain on your hay!"

 

"What?" asked Dad, puzzled. "It's true! Lil and I were standing at the window and we saw the rain stop at your fence line. We wondered about it then, but just now we walked over there, and honest, everywhere, all around your field is soaked. There's water running in the ditches and standing in puddles surrounding your field. It's like a canopy was hung over it. I'm tellin' you Mr. Harvey, your hay field's as dry as dust! I called Bo and Les and they came and saw it too, and they'll tell you it's the truth. Honest!"

 

On Monday morning as planned, Dad raked, baled and stored his hay---all dry and perfectly cured!  I recall a promise made by the Lord that goes like this: ". . . them that honour me I will honour . . ." I Samuel 2:30. It seems fitting somehow."

 

Copied by permission of the author: Martha Grace Green, M.Ed. The article is from "DAYBREAK", a publication of Piedmont Bible College, Winston-Salem, NC. Mrs. Green taught public speech at Tennessee Temple College in Chattanooga, TN and at Piedmont Bible College. Her husband, Dr. G. Carl Green, taught the Greek language in both schools and pastored several churches. They have two sons, one of which died while trying to rescue the pilot of his chopper, downed in Viet Nam.  I (Dan Carr) studied speech with Mrs. Green and studied Greek with Dr. Greek.

 

 

Dan Carr

 

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.  (Jer 33:3)

 

 

The Encourager Newsletter - Vol.5 Issue 3 - March 11,2011 - Earthquakes and the Bible - Caleb A Servant of the Lord

The Encourager Newsletter

Toward Knowing God and Walking With Him

A FREE WEEKLY PUBLICATION with a BIBLICAL WORLD VIEW –Volume 5 Issue 3 – March 11, 2011

Dan Carr, Editor

 

Earthquakes and the Bible

The whole world is focused on the massive earthquake that has hit Japan this week. We are glued to our TV and computer screens, trying to make sense of this awesome thing we would like to dismiss as a bad dream. The ocean tsunami appears to be far more devastating than the shaking and destruction of buildings. The wall of water comes inland, sweeping everything in its path, and then it goes back into the ocean, sweeping everything—including people—into the ocean, carrying it for miles back into the sea. These pictures show damage and a world map of how far the damage has gone. (From www.vancouversun.com)

…the LORD was not in the earthquake:  (1Kings 19:11b) The Lord does not cause every bad thing that happens on the earth, including all earthquakes.  It is equally true that the Lord sometimes directs the weather and earthquakes as His messengers and instruments of judgment. Sometimes the Lord simply predicts what is going to happen. One guiding principle is this: God either causes or permits everything to happen that happens or He would not be God. But there is a world of difference between God causing something to happen and His permitting something to happen. He does have His way, regardless.

The LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. (Nahum 1:3) The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. (v.5) Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. (Nahum 1:6)

Sometimes the Lord looks down to preserve His own in the day of calamity. The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. (Nahum 1:7)  For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him… (2Chronicles 16:9).

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity (2Timothy 2:19).

 

Sometimes God predicts or causes things as a sign to the world. We have this straightforward warning from our Lord Jesus Christ: For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers (different) places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows (the beginning of birth pangs)  (Mark 13:8).

 

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  (1Thessalonians 5:2-4) Please read the entire chapter five of I Thessalonians. There are no signs for the rapture of the church. But there are plenty of signs for the coming of the Messiah to reign upon the throne of David in Jerusalem for a thousand years.

 

The reference to "a woman in birth pangs, travail" is used also by these:  Psa_48:6; Isa_21:3; Jer_4:31, Jer_6:24, Jer_13:21, Jer_22:23; Hos_13:13; Mic_4:9-10.  These references are hyperlinked for instant reading.

 

 

Caleb A Servant of the Lord—Barbara Carr

I have been doing some reading in the Bible about Caleb, a mighty warrior of great faith. We are people of faith and our roots go back many centuries ago. Getting Caleb's family tree figured out requires a little study. In America there's a revival of people searching government records, family Bibles and searching out cemeteries looking for ancestral roots.

Alex Haley got involved in that and 30 years ago released a best seller that was made into a popular movie: Roots. It tapped an inner yearning of millions of people to know who they are. The people of Bible faith also spend a lot of time searching who we are. Knowing something about Caleb is a worthwhile study.

Caleb was the son of Jephunneh, but  we read in Chronicles 2 about a Caleb who was the son of Hezron and Hur.  And Caleb the son of Hezron begat children of Azubah his wife, and of Jerioth: her sons are these; Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon.  (1Chronicles 2:18) 

 

These were the sons of Caleb the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah; Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim,  (1Chronicles 2:50) 

 

We know Caleb the scout had a daughter named Acsah (Joshua 15:16-17) and the Caleb of

1 Chronicles 2:49 also had a daughter named Achsa.  I realize two men could have named their daughter Acsah, but after searching many commentaries, I came to the conclusion that he is the son of Jephunneh.  Scripture uses "son of" often in reference to descendants.

 

Caleb was with the Israelites when they left Egypt.  He saw first the pillar of fire by night and the cloud by day that protected them.  He saw all the miracles the Lord performed—the parting of the Red Sea, the water from a rock, manna from Heaven and witnessed Moses bringing the Ten Commandments down from Mount Sinai.  He knew the power of the Lord; he trusted and believed God. 

 

Caleb was a man who was willing to give up everything for the Lord.  Read chapter thirteen of Numbers 13.  Here the Lord told Moses to select twelve men to go spy out the land of Canaan. Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.  (Numbers 13:6) 

 

These men explored the land for forty days and returned to camp.  They reported that the land was magnificent—a land flowing with milk and honey.  However, some of the spies reported that the land was filled with giants and made them feel like grasshoppers.

 

And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.  But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.  (Numbers 13:30-31) 

 

Two men, Caleb and Joshua, brought the same facts as the others. The difference is in their interpretation of the facts. These men believed God and therefore included God in their thinking. These people certainly needed God. Caleb and Joshua insisted that if God would delight in them, He would bring them into the land. But how can God delight in them unless they believe Him? They must trust Him.  Caleb and Joshua shouted to the people:

If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.  Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.  (Num 14:8-9) 

 

Because the people were not willing to believe God, Moses turned the multitude around and headed them into the wilderness where they wandered for forty years.  Some scholars say that there was a corpse for every step they took in their desert wandering. Caleb must have thought through this whole experience hundreds of times. He may have questioned the Lord many times.  He was forty when they started out.  He would be eighty by the time they arrived in Canaan.  Yet, his belief and trust were strong. 

God told Moses He was going to kill them all but Moses intervened and pleaded with God to let them live.  God relented, but said all the people over twenty would die along the way—all the people except Caleb and Joshua.  The people mourned because of God's decision. Nevertheless, Moses carried out the Lord's words.

 

Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me:  Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD.  (Num 32:11-12) 

 

Numbers 17 begins with the death of Miriam and ends with the death of Aaron.  This chapter marks the end to their wandering.  They were back at the place they were before the unbelief at Kadesh.  I hope you will read the complete book of Numbers.  It is so interesting.

 

In chapter one of Deuteronomy Caleb is still with them and will enter the promised land to receive his portion. Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the LORD.  (Deu 1:35-36) 

 

In Deuteronomy, we have the death of Moses. And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.  And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.  (Deu 34:7-8)

 

I don't believe you will be able to stop here and not continue a study on Caleb.  He fought alongside Joshua and they conquered many lands.  However, this group of people didn't remember all the mighty miracles God had performed.  They had their land and were content to plow their fields and enjoy their families.  I wonder if Caleb didn't try to remind them of the old stories. 

 

They probably tried to show interest, but their hearts were elsewhere.  Caleb probably wondered why they couldn't see that failing to trust the Lord and allowing other gods to come into their land would eventually bring tragedy to them .  Caleb was a warrior and couldn't understand why the young men didn't want to drive God's enemies out of the land. Caleb's daughter, Acsah, will rise up to help deliver Israel. 

 

 

 

 

This article can also be viewed at www.biblewalking.blogspot.com

To be removed from this mailing list, please click here. In the subject line type "remove."  ●To subscribe to this and other Encourager

 

mailings, click here. In the subject line, type "AAAsubscribe." Also, please give your email name, email address, U.S. Mailing address, & phone  number.. ●Please set your spam system (contact list) to accept  encourager@biblewalking.com 

and  dan@dancarr.org.   ●Thank you for accepting our mail and passing it on. Photo: Heinrich Holman 1890 - Wikipedia

 

 

The Encourager Newsletter

Toward Knowing God and Walking With Him

A FREE WEEKLY PUBLICATION with a BIBLICAL WORLD VIEW –Volume 5 Issue 3 – March 11, 2011

Dan Carr, Editor

 

Earthquakes and the Bible

The whole world is focused on the massive earthquake that has hit Japan this week. We are glued to our TV and computer screens, trying to make sense of this awesome thing we would like to dismiss as a bad dream. The ocean tsunami appears to be far more devastating than the shaking and destruction of buildings. The wall of water comes inland, sweeping everything in its path, and then it goes back into the ocean, sweeping everything—including people—into the ocean, carrying it for miles back into the sea. These pictures show damage and a world map of how far the damage has gone. (From www.vancouversun.com)

…the LORD was not in the earthquake:  (1Kings 19:11b) The Lord does not cause every bad thing that happens on the earth, including all earthquakes.  It is equally true that the Lord sometimes directs the weather and earthquakes as His messengers and instruments of judgment. Sometimes the Lord simply predicts what is going to happen. One guiding principle is this: God either causes or permits everything to happen that happens or He would not be God. But there is a world of difference between God causing something to happen and His permitting something to happen. He does have His way, regardless.

The LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. (Nahum 1:3) The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. (v.5) Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. (Nahum 1:6)

Sometimes the Lord looks down to preserve His own in the day of calamity. The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. (Nahum 1:7)  For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him… (2Chronicles 16:9).

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity (2Timothy 2:19).

 

Sometimes God predicts or causes things as a sign to the world. We have this straightforward warning from our Lord Jesus Christ: For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers (different) places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows (the beginning of birth pangs)  (Mark 13:8).

 

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  (1Thessalonians 5:2-4) Please read the entire chapter five of I Thessalonians. There are no signs for the rapture of the church. But there are plenty of signs for the coming of the Messiah to reign upon the throne of David in Jerusalem for a thousand years.

 

The reference to "a woman in birth pangs, travail" is used also by these:  Psa_48:6; Isa_21:3; Jer_4:31, Jer_6:24, Jer_13:21, Jer_22:23; Hos_13:13; Mic_4:9-10.  These references are hyperlinked for instant reading.

 

 

Caleb A Servant of the Lord—Barbara Carr

I have been doing some reading in the Bible about Caleb, a mighty warrior of great faith. We are people of faith and our roots go back many centuries ago. Getting Caleb's family tree figured out requires a little study. In America there's a revival of people searching government records, family Bibles and searching out cemeteries looking for ancestral roots.

Alex Haley got involved in that and 30 years ago released a best seller that was made into a popular movie: Roots. It tapped an inner yearning of millions of people to know who they are. The people of Bible faith also spend a lot of time searching who we are. Knowing something about Caleb is a worthwhile study.

Caleb was the son of Jephunneh, but  we read in Chronicles 2 about a Caleb who was the son of Hezron and Hur.  And Caleb the son of Hezron begat children of Azubah his wife, and of Jerioth: her sons are these; Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon.  (1Chronicles 2:18) 

 

These were the sons of Caleb the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah; Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim,  (1Chronicles 2:50) 

 

We know Caleb the scout had a daughter named Acsah (Joshua 15:16-17) and the Caleb of

1 Chronicles 2:49 also had a daughter named Achsa.  I realize two men could have named their daughter Acsah, but after searching many commentaries, I came to the conclusion that he is the son of Jephunneh.  Scripture uses "son of" often in reference to descendants.

 

Caleb was with the Israelites when they left Egypt.  He saw first the pillar of fire by night and the cloud by day that protected them.  He saw all the miracles the Lord performed—the parting of the Red Sea, the water from a rock, manna from Heaven and witnessed Moses bringing the Ten Commandments down from Mount Sinai.  He knew the power of the Lord; he trusted and believed God. 

 

Caleb was a man who was willing to give up everything for the Lord.  Read chapter thirteen of Numbers 13.  Here the Lord told Moses to select twelve men to go spy out the land of Canaan. Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.  (Numbers 13:6) 

 

These men explored the land for forty days and returned to camp.  They reported that the land was magnificent—a land flowing with milk and honey.  However, some of the spies reported that the land was filled with giants and made them feel like grasshoppers.

 

And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.  But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.  (Numbers 13:30-31) 

 

Two men, Caleb and Joshua, brought the same facts as the others. The difference is in their interpretation of the facts. These men believed God and therefore included God in their thinking. These people certainly needed God. Caleb and Joshua insisted that if God would delight in them, He would bring them into the land. But how can God delight in them unless they believe Him? They must trust Him.  Caleb and Joshua shouted to the people:

If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.  Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.  (Num 14:8-9) 

 

Because the people were not willing to believe God, Moses turned the multitude around and headed them into the wilderness where they wandered for forty years.  Some scholars say that there was a corpse for every step they took in their desert wandering. Caleb must have thought through this whole experience hundreds of times. He may have questioned the Lord many times.  He was forty when they started out.  He would be eighty by the time they arrived in Canaan.  Yet, his belief and trust were strong. 

God told Moses He was going to kill them all but Moses intervened and pleaded with God to let them live.  God relented, but said all the people over twenty would die along the way—all the people except Caleb and Joshua.  The people mourned because of God's decision. Nevertheless, Moses carried out the Lord's words.

 

Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me:  Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD.  (Num 32:11-12) 

 

Numbers 17 begins with the death of Miriam and ends with the death of Aaron.  This chapter marks the end to their wandering.  They were back at the place they were before the unbelief at Kadesh.  I hope you will read the complete book of Numbers.  It is so interesting.

 

In chapter one of Deuteronomy Caleb is still with them and will enter the promised land to receive his portion. Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the LORD.  (Deu 1:35-36) 

 

In Deuteronomy, we have the death of Moses. And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.  And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.  (Deu 34:7-8)

 

I don't believe you will be able to stop here and not continue a study on Caleb.  He fought alongside Joshua and they conquered many lands.  However, this group of people didn't remember all the mighty miracles God had performed.  They had their land and were content to plow their fields and enjoy their families.  I wonder if Caleb didn't try to remind them of the old stories. 

 

They probably tried to show interest, but their hearts were elsewhere.  Caleb probably wondered why they couldn't see that failing to trust the Lord and allowing other gods to come into their land would eventually bring tragedy to them .  Caleb was a warrior and couldn't understand why the young men didn't want to drive God's enemies out of the land. Caleb's daughter, Acsah, will rise up to help deliver Israel. 

 

This article can also be viewed at www.biblewalking.blogspot.com

To be removed from this mailing list, please click here. In the subject line type "remove."  ●To subscribe to this and other Encourager

 

mailings, click here. In the subject line, type "AAAsubscribe." Also, please give your email name, email address, U.S. Mailing address, & phone  number.. ●Please set your spam system (contact list) to accept  encourager@biblewalking.com 

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The Encourager Newsletter - Vol.5 Issue 2 - Feb. 4, 2011 - Jesus Prayed

 

The Encourager Newsletter

Toward Knowing God and Walking With Him

A FREE WEEKLY PUBLICATION with a BIBLICAL WORLD VIEW –

Volume 5 Issue 2 – February 4, 2011 Dan Carr, Editor

 

Jesus Prayed

The picture at left by Heinrich Holman (1890) may be the most recognized painting of Christ in prayer. He was praying in the garden of Gethsemane before he was crucified. The grove of olive trees there contained an oil press for pressing oil out of the olives. Jesus labored in prayer here until great drops of blood came out of His forehead and ran down his face as though He were being pressed in an olive press. It was His Gethsemane. We are introduced to Jesus' prayer life with this look at Gethsemane but His praying did not begin here.

Jesus prayed much throughout His ministry because the human side of him needed communion with His heavenly Father. He had no sins to confess. But, He did need to commune with His heavenly Father and to renew his conscious connection with Him even as we must breathe repeatedly. Prayer is also our spiritual breath.

With His disciples they observed the Feast of the Passover in the Upper Room (John 13).  Matthew and Mark mention that the last thing they did was to sing a hymn (Matthew 26:30). The singing of a hymn to close the Passover observance was a well-established practice—not just any hymn. It was Psalm 118:22-26:

 

The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.  This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.  This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.  Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.  Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

 

As they sang this hymn, surely the disciples must have remembered Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the quoting of the last part of this hymn by the thousands of people who rejoiced in His riding an ass through the walls of the city and His cleansing of the Temple. 

 

And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.  (Matthew 21:9)

 

They left the room and began walking toward the Garden of Gethsemane. For three years Jesus had walked the dusty roads of Israel with His disciples and had talked with them many, many hours as they walked from one town to the next. This was to be the last walk they would ever take together and, as usual, Jesus was talking to them.  He talked with them for three chapters (John 14-15-16)

Jesus prayed as He walked with His disciples toward Gethsemane. (This is the longest prayer of Jesus recorded anywhere in the Bible.) Suddenly He stopped talking to His disciples and lifted His eyes toward Heaven and began talking to His heavenly Father. Walking and talking with His disciples and a sudden switch to talking with His Father may have been a common thing and thus was no surprise to the disciples. So far, everything was following the usual pattern—except the content of this prayer. They were going to cross the Brook Cedron on the east side of Jerusalem and continue on their way up the hill to the Garden of Gethsemane.

This prayer, as He walked between the Upper Room and the Garden of Gethsemane reveals more of how Jesus talked in His praying than any other place. This is the real Lord's Prayer. The Model Prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray was not His prayer. He had no sins to confess and He had no grudge to get rid of through forgiving. No, that prayer was for us to pray. John 17 is The Lord's Prayer and it was prayed walking along before entering the Garden of Gethsemane.

In this prayer He told His heavenly Father that His hour had come. While performing His first miracle in Cana of Galilee, He stated to His mother that His hour had not yet come. He would perform all of His miracles at the time they were due. One commentator speculates that she wanted Him to perform a miracle to clear her name of having born Jesus outside of wedlock. This would clear her name and His name if He would only perform a miracle. Whatever the core truth is, His hour had not yet come and we know that He did indeed convert the water into some form of wine that everybody thought was the best.

On another occasion some furious people would have killed Him but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come (John 7:30).

But in this prayer in John 17, He said to the Father that His hour had come. He had finished the work He had been given to do. He had glorified the Father's name and given His out His word. He had lost none of His disciples except Judas. Then He prayed earnestly for His disciples that they might be one just like He and the Father were one that the world might believe that His Father had sent Him. He longed for His redeemed ones to be with Him and share the glory He had before the world was ever created. He prayed this as He walked with His disciples. He was going to pray some more but it would have to be alone, in the garden.

Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane on the eve of his death. This is the hardest praying Jesus ever did and His human side began to show. Not only did He need His heavenly Father—He needed His disciples and He especially needed Peter, James and John. But they were tired to the bone and fell asleep while the Lord of Glory bore His sorrow all alone.

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.  Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 

 

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.  (Matthew 26:36-39)

 

Jesus was calling on His closest friends and allies to stay awake and watch while He prayed. They could not possibly know what He was going through. But, like us at times, they were bone-tired and fell asleep like dropping a rock. Not once, but three times they fell asleep. But Jesus did not fuss on them or rail on them. God is not going to beat us with a stick to get us to serve Him. He wants service from the heart or not at all.

 

And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.  He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.  (Mat 26:40-42)

 

And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.  And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.  (Matthew 26:43-44)

 

Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.  (Matthew 26:45-46)

 

It is anti-climactic to mention the earlier and lesser times of prayer in Jesus' life but it is nevertheless very practical and helpful for us to look at some other aspects of Jesus' prayer life.

Jesus prayed in the morning. We read: …in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. (Mark 1:35)  David said: My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. (Psalm 5:3)

 

Many praying people favor the early morning as the best time to pray. May I suggest that Jesus went to bed early as was the common practice.  Electric power in a house prolongs our work day and interrupts sleep. Jesus rose early to pray.  He removed himself from others in the house that might also be up at that early hour. He wanted to be alone with His Father. Whatever time is best for you in your schedule is the best time for you to pray.

 

Jesus prayed during the day.  And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.  (Matthew 14:23)

 

Jesus prayed all night.  And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.  (Luke 6:12)

 

I must confess my own selfish motives in writing this article: Jesus Prayed. The material is not mine, for I have copied scripture and gleaned from the studies of other students of the Word of God. I don't know if I have ever had an original thought. Everyone I meet is my teacher. Everyone I meet knows some things I do not know. So, this piece is extremely valuable to me. I will keep it and read it many times and talk to the Lord about it.

 

The immediate question to me is: If Jesus needed to pray a lot, why is it that I don't think I need to pray a lot? What air of superiority has afflicted me worse than a cancer that persuades me that I don't need to pray and pray and pray until God is pleased for me to walk with Him because we are walking in the same direction?

 

We are living in difficult days and they are not going to get any better with yet another election or one more college degree. We are left with the proposition given to us by Hebrews 11:6 and James 4:8:

 

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  (Hebrews 11:6)

 

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.  (James 4:8)

 

This article can also be viewed at www.biblewalking.blogspot.com

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The Encourager Newsletter - Vol.5 Issue 1 - January 28, 2011 - The Snow & The Woman I Want To Be

The Encourager Newsletter

Toward Knowing God and Walking With Him

A FREE WEEKLY PUBLICATION with a BIBLICAL WORLD VIEW –

Volume 5 Issue 1 – January 28, 2011 Dan Carr, Editor

The Snow

Ava Holcomb is enjoying the snow at her home in Flat Rock, Alabama. Lots of snow this year:  seven inches, nine inches, one inch. Ava is our grand-niece and lives on the very edge of Sand Mountain.

The Bible mentions snow 24 times. One of King David's "Mighty Men" was Benaiah who slew a lion in a pit in the time of snow (2Samuel 23:20).

After King David sinned with Bathsheba and had her husband, Uriah, killed to cover it up, he was a miserable wretch. After God sent His prophet, Nathan to confront David, he wrote Psalm 51 which contains this:Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.  (Psalm 51:7). How dirty and despicable David was. He prayed for God to apply the blood of atonement to him with the aid of a sprig of hyssop.

 

The Book of Job is the oldest book in the Bible. Job commented about how he could possibly be clean in the sight of God. He said, "If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; 

Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.  (Job 9:30-31)

 

To Job, the cleanest thing he could think of was to wash himself with snow water. But he knew that his own righteousness was as dirty and foul as the water in a ditch which would make him smell terrible. This was not a declaration that God would throw him in a ditch but was a figurative picture of the trouble he was in. He was as dirty as a stinking ditch and even washing himself with snow water would not make him clean.

 

Isaiah had observed himself and all the people around him and realized that none of them were in any condition to stand before a Holy God. He confessed:

 

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.  (Isaiah 64:6-7)

 

Isaiah had thought it over and concluded that the filthy things people avoided touching were a picture of how they were inside themselves. This figure of speech used by Isaiah under the anointing of the Spirit of God is offensive. Several commentators, who dare go the whole distance to tell the truth, can only say one thing: they are "menstruous rags."  Matthew Henry says we are like the rags that have been used to wrap the oozing sores of lepers. No one is as holy as God but are we that bad? It all comes down to whether we want to know what the Prophet Isaiah said about us.

 

The Apostle Paul takes up the theme of righteousness before God. He says his personal righteousness is as dung. The vilest thing imaginable, fit only to be thrown to wild dogs; the worst dregs purged from silver; excrement of the worst sort. Paul counted his personal righteousness as fit only to flush down the toilet.

 

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  (Philippians3:8-9)

 

A mother worked all morning scrubbing the family's white shirts, blouses, underwear and sheets. She used her best homemade soap and added some bleach to make sure they were clean. It was really rough on her hands. She wet-wiped the clothesline to make sure it was clean.

 

She wrung the clothes out of the second rinse water as good as she could with her hands and hung them on the clothesline in the back yard by the kitchen window. At last the clothes were on the line to dry. She went into the house and took one last look through the kitchen window at her morning's work. She could be proud of herself and proud of the clothes that would be ready for her family.

 

She fixed herself a snack, poured some coffee and retired to the living room to put up her tired feet to rest. She ate her sandwich and drank her coffee and laid her head back—and dozed off. After a couple of hours she awakened and hurried to the kitchen window. Looking out the kitchen window, she opened her mouth wide in disbelief at what she saw! Snow had covered the ground and she looking at her clean sheets and shirts against the background of pure white snow. Her clean clothes now looked dingy and yellow compared to the snow. Then she understood why the Bible and the church hymnal talked about "whiter than snow."

 

The Woman I Want To Be—Barbara Carr

 

"There is a woman I want to be, Lord . . . 

She never doubts your existence or strays from your ways.  She never fails people or herself, or you. She is an ideal wife; A perfect mother; A neighbor and friend everyone loves and respects.  Yet she is all this without sacrificing her own dreams.

  

I keep thinking this woman will turn up some day, God—wearing my clothes—wearing my face.  But somehow she eludes me.  I catch only glimpses of her.  I see just enough of her now and then so that I don't despair entirely. Lord, dear patient Lord—thank you for showing me at least these fragments of the woman I want to be!"  (From the book Hold Me Up A Little Longer Lord by Marjorie Holmes)

  

The woman I want to be is showcased by four women in the Bible.

Naomi was a faithful witness and godly mother-in-law.  It is true that she joined her husband in leaving Israel during a time of famine. But, look at what she went through in the loss of her husband and two sons and her courageous decision to go back home and face familiar people and the ruins of her deserted farm and home. Naomi had lost face with her kin people who had stayed in their homeland and toughed out the famine.

 

She drew Ruth to cling to her in loyalty and love and to accept her God (Jehovah) over the Moabite god, Chemosh. Naomi did not brow-beat her daughter-in-law to follow her or her God.  Naomi never lost sight of the Lord Jehovah and faithfully spoke of Him and reflected the law of God in her daily living. Naomi is the kind of woman I want to be.

 

Ruth was willing to go with Naomi to live with people who believed in Johovah.  Ruth was blessed in her decision by giving birth to Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. Ruth cheerfully abandoned her own country.  She was determined to cling to the one true God even to death; to trust totally in Him and worship Him. Ruth is the kind of woman I want to be.

 

"And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:"  (Ruth 1:16) 

 

Esther was not only a Persian queen but has proven to be a queen of influence on millions of women around the world through many centuries. A book of the Bible bears her name. I hope you will read it.

 

"And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter."(Esther 2:7)  (Hadassah was her Hebrew name, which means Star. Esther was her Persian name.)

 

Esther was the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, so she would have been Mordecai's cousin.  Under the instructions of her Cousin Mordecai, Esther showed her loyalty to God and her people, the Jews.  More than once, she risked her life by advising the King in making the right decisions.  She was afraid at times, but continued to sway the King's favor to her people.

 

The book of Esther doesn't mention God, prayer or religion.  However, you can feel the strong faith of Mordecai and Esther.  As you read, you can see God working behind the scenes and keeping His chosen people safe.

Esther obeyed in faith and was rewarded. Esther is the kind of woman I want to be.

 

"And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her."  (Luke 1:38) 

 

Mary, a virgin, was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus.  The Bible says she was "highly favored and blessed among women." (Luke 1:28, 42)  She knew the Jewish law and understood at least some of the rejection and persecution she would receive.  Yet, her answer was "be it unto me according to thy word."

 

Later, the prophet Simeon told her: "… Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;  (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."  (Luke 2:34)  These words were not lost on Mary.

 

Jesus grew into manhood and began his ministry with the disciples he had chosen. Rumors spread about Jesus, how he was a threat to the Jewish priesthood and perhaps against the government of Rome:  Insurrection! Punishable by death!  Mary and her sons went to seek out Jesus.  Maybe, she could get Him to come home with her—to a safe haven.

 

Jesus' answer must have crushed her. Or, did she realize His answer was not a rebuke, but to show the people His love was the same to all believers?  Mary was a person who "pondered all these things in her heart" from the time the shepherds visited them in Bethlehem when Jesus was born. No doubt, she still pondered things in her heart.

 

"While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.  Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.   But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?   And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!"  (Matthew 12:46-49) 

 

Mary was very brave and obedient from a child of about fifteen to Jesus death on the cross.  I don't read in the Bible of her blaming God or losing faith. Mary is the kind of woman I want to be. Ω

 

 

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