Cross-less "Christianity"

Please read this article. What this article says is true, the modern "church" is preaching a cross-less "gospel", and that is really scary because of its deadliness to thousands of souls. Prayerfully, L.T.

On Fear

Lately my family has had several discussions about fear, and how its grip on one's mind can damage his trust in and relationship with God. There are many Bible verses on the subject, some of which are listed below.

One of the things my Mother has recommended to a couple of folks lately, is this: to write down their fears (each one they can think of) and to give each individually to the Lord in prayer. We can have confidence in our God, because He is faithful. He know what will happen in our futures, and how to help us in the things that we fear, and how He will work in our hearts through bad things that may happen. The point is this: not letting our fears take over our minds, but to keep Christ first and foremost in our thoughts.

I think that the Psalmist David did this repeatedly in Psalms, though I don't know at this moment which Psalms are like this. David would cry out to the Lord and basically say, "The bad guys are chasing me, and my soul's in distress, and my body is nigh unto the grave, and......" Then at the end of all that the Lord would help David to focus on God's goodness and faithfulness, and David could say (as in Psalm 56:3-4), "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?". PRAISE GOD for victory over fear.

When we were praying about me possibly going on a trip last summer, I had several fears, which I won't list here. The Lord led me to list them to Him, entrust them to His loving care, and rest in His goodness. Guess what? Every one of those fears were unnecessary, I don't even know if one was "fulfilled". I was resting in Him, and He took care of all needs associated with that trip. He is trustworthy, whether it's in a "small" situation like mine, or in the "bigger" fears of those in hospitals all over the country, who are fearing death and disease. It's not that those things will never happen, they do sometimes; but we can rest in a God of wisdom, grace, and infinite love for us, Who is "work[ing] all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).

Here are some verses to encourage and challenge if you are struggling with fear:

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18)

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)

"For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"" (Hebrews 13:5b-6)

"For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."" (Romans 8:15)

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things." (Philippians 4:6-8)


From The Triumph of John and Betty Stam by Mrs. Howard Taylor, this text, including a poem by Betty, is on the subject of fear, and might be of some benefit to a fearful heart who may happen to read this post.

Betty wrote to her father in explanation of her poem, (This is a direct quote from the book) "This poem expresses the distress of soul and fear of mind that were mine before I surrendered my all--even inmost motives, so far as I know--to God's control. The fourth stanza is His gracious acceptance of my unworthy self; the last tells of the joy, satisfaction, and peace of assured guidance that Christ my Saviour gives me, now that He is Lord of my life."

Stand Still and See by Betty Stam

I'm standing, Lord:
There is a mist that blinds my sight.
Steep, jagged rocks, front, left and right,
Lower, dim, gigantic, in the night.
Where is the way?

I'm standing, Lord:
The black rock hems me in behind,
Above my head a moaning wind
Chills and oppresses heart and mind.
I am afraid!

I'm standing, Lord:
The rock is hard beneath my feet;
I nearly slipped, Lord, on the sleet.
So weary, Lord! and where a seat?
Still must I stand?

He answered me, and on His face
A look ineffable of grace,
Of perfect, understanding love,
Which all my murmuring did remove.

I'm standing, Lord:
Since Thou hast spoken, Lord, I see
Thou hast beset--these rocks are Thee!
And since Thy love encloses me,
I stand and sing.

"Afraid? Of What?" - By Rev. E. H. Hamilton

I have been thoroughly enjoying reading and have been benefiting spiritually from reading The Triumph of John and Betty Stam (by Mrs. Howard Taylor) in the past week or so. I would like to post here on my blog some of the things I've been thinking about because of my reading, and some things directly from the book, such as poems by Betty (Scott) Stam (and others).

John and Betty Stam were godly young people, Rebelutionaries of their time. They have become heroes of mine, because of their steady, undying, faithful, serving devotion to Christ, and because of their passion for sharing Christ with all, through words and actions.

The following poem was written by a missionary (in China)- Rev. E. H. Hamilton and is made up of thoughts regarding the trustful peacefulness of Rev. J. W. Vinson at the time of his martyrdom in North China. This poem was a great encouragement to John Stam, missionary, who with his wife, Betty, was martyred in China on December 8, 1934.



Afraid? Of What? -- By Rev. E. H. Hamilton

Afraid? Of What?
To feel the spirit's glad release?
To pass from pain to perfect peace,
The strife and strain of life to cease?
Afraid--of that?

Afraid? Of What?
Afraid to see the Savior's face,
To hear His welcome, and to trace
The glory gleam from wounds of grace?
Afraid--of that?

Afraid? Of What?
A flash, a crash, a pierced heart;
Darkness, light, O Heaven's art!
A wound of His a counterpart!
Afraid--of that?

Afraid? Of What?
To do by death what life could not--
Baptize with blood a stony plot,
Till souls shall blossom from the spot?
Afraid--of that?



Truly, if Jesus calls one of His own home, even before expected, we can be at peace as others have, not dreading the short pain; for surely in that moment we will see our Savior and King! But until that day Jesus calls us home, we must serve Him diligently with all our hearts, here on earth, "Not lagging in diligence, [but] fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." (Romans 12:11)

He has the victory for us and jobs He wants us to do. Let's be faithful to Him all of our lives, whether we're at home, school, work, in ministry, or wherever else. He wants to use us in our "spheres of influence", let's not disappoint our Lord and Master, our Savior who deserves our all.

"LEAD ON, OH KING, ETERNAL!"

Mother's Day (poem? --I try.)

I can only thank You, Lord,
for the gift I've had in Mother;
For truly You are the giver
of all "good and perfect gifts" (James 1:17).

You made my Mother
planned before she was born;
in Your book her days were written
when as yet there were none of them (Psalm 139:16).

You planned, and You dreamed,
You worked out your will,
You planned Mother and Daddy
be married as one,
You led and You guided,
protected and initiated,
You grew them as children, as youth, as adults,
You grew them in love, and they became one.

You planned each of us children,
to live in their care,
be taught by Your wisdom,
through them in all areas of life.
You've done great things, Lord,
and now I give thanks, for giving me Mother,
and for all who she is.

Thank you for the example, my Mother's to me:
For her kindness and wisdom, and hospitality.
For her love and correction, her diligent hands,
Her prayers and her tears for folks all o'er the land.
- People with sickness, strife, and alarm -
She brings them to Jesus, on a [more than] daily basis.
Thank you for how Mother exemplifies Truth,
is ready to give, an answer for You.
Thank you for strength, that You give her each day,
physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual, too.
Thank you for how You help her to be,
always a good, likeness of Thee.

To summarize, my thanksgiving to You,
I thank You for inventing the idea of a Proverbs 31 Woman! :)
Then I thank You for making Mother one of the best examples [I know] of She.