Letters of Hope

Dear Friends, 

One of our daily readings has aroused my interest in pearls, and I have found they present an eloquent allegory from nature.  

Pearls are among the most valued of gems.  Large, perfectly shaped pearls rank in value with the most precious stones.  However, they are very different from other gems.   Most gems are minerals that are mined from beneath the earth, but pearls are formed inside the shells of oysters.  Mineral gems are hard and usually reflect light.  However, pearls are rather soft, and ‘absorb’ as well as ‘reflect’ light. 

Oysters and other shell-forming mollusks make a special substance called ‘nacre’ (pronounced NAY kur), that lines the insides of their shells.  This smooth lining is called the nacreous layer, or pearly layer, and is often lustrous.  It is formed by certain cells in the body of the animal.  When a foreign substance, such as a grain of sand or a tiny parasite, enters the body of the mollusk, the nacre-forming cells begin to work.  They cover the invading substance with thin sheets of nacre.  They build successive circular layers of nacre until the foreign body is enclosed in the shell-like substance, forming the pearl. 

Very valuable pearls come from certain species of oysters and other mollusks that live in tropical seas. When a slice of pearl is examined under a microscope, the layers can be seen.  Because the layers are formed in a complete circle around the imposing substance, the cut pearl looks like a sliced onion.  The layers are made up of little crystals of a mineral substance called aragonite.  The tiny mineral crystals overlap and break up any light that falls on them into little rainbows of color.  This gives pearls their iridescence. 

God evidently considers pearls of great value, too.  Jesus likened the Kingdom of Heaven to “a merchant seeking goodly pearls and, having found one pearl of great price, He went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”  (Matt. 13:45, 46) 

I suppose there is more than one application of this allegory, but I think the following poem presents the truth beautifully in the personal application:- 

A tiny grain of sand came in
            my life to stay
I had no power to push it out -
            there was no way.

And when I struggled with the smart
            that sand did bring,
It grew to be yet more and more
            a hurting thing.

Then one day Someone came to pour
            upon that place
The wondrous Heaven-pure substance
            of His grace.

I looked to see the thing removed,
            but lo, it stayed;
Instead – exquisite miracle -
            a pearl was made!                  

 (Opal Leonore Gibbs)

There are ways in which God’s children may be likened to the pearl.  As with Paul the Apostle, the “thorn” is not always removed, but rather becomes the basis for the application of layer upon layer of God’s grace and patience that produces in us an inner beauty that softens our hearts and enables us to both ‘absorb and reflect’ the Spirit of Him Who is the Light.

 “Now the God of all HOPE fill you with all JOY and PEACE in the believing, that you may abound in HOPE, through the power of the Holy Spirit.”  (Romans 15:13)

 In Agape, Eulene

Read Full Post »

Greetings!

“I paid a dime for a package of seeds, and the clerk tossed them out with a flip.  “We’ve got ‘em assorted for every man’s needs,” he said with a smile on his lip.  “Pansies and poppies and asters and peas – ten cents a package, and pick as you please!” 

“Now seeds are just dimes to the man in the store, and the dimes are the things that he needs;  and I’ve been to buy them in season before, but have thought of them merely as seeds.  But it flashed through my mind as I bought them this time:  You have purchased a miracle here for a dime! 

“You’ve a dime’s worth of power no man can create.  You’ve a dime’s worth of life in your hand!  You’ve a dime’s worth of mystery, destiny, fate, which the wisest cannot understand.  In this bright little package, now isn’t it odd?  You’ve a dime’s worth of something known only to God!”  (Edgar A. Guest)

Yes, it’s just about seed-time again.  For those starting your own plants, you will have already begun to see the little seedlings grow.  For others, it will not be long until we’re outside planting in the garden.

Jesus had much to say about seeds and planting.  I’m sure we all remember his parable of the “sower who went forth to sow” and the various kinds of ground on which his good seed fell.  But I have been thinking of His statement recorded in John 12:24:  “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains what it was – a single grain;  but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.”  (Weymouth)

I have tried to imagine just what does happen to that little seed, buried in the soil, dark and moist.  Some miracle of life takes place because, in just a short time, a little green shoot appears above the surface of the ground, and one can almost watch it grow.  It is astounding to realize that, out of that tiny seed, whether wheat or some other grain, a vegetable like corn or peas, a fruit tree like an apple or pear, a great plant grows.  In time, it bears fruits containing hundreds more seeds just like the one that died.

Someone has made the profound observation that anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the apples in a seed!!

 A seed is such a little thing,
     So very insignificant;
Who e’er would think that it could grow
     Into a tree magnificent?
A tree whose branches offer shade
     To all the weary passersby;
Whose fruit provides the hungry souls
     With all they need to satisfy.

 Jesus said the “grain of wheat
     Must fall into the ground and die.”
Full knowing HE must be that “Seed”
     The curse of sin to nullify!
And so the “Grain of Wheat” – God’s Son,
     Grew into that Life-giving Tree -
A Living Tree that offers Life
     To “whosoever will believe.” 

(Eulene H. Moores, 2004)

After seeing Mel Gibson’s movie, The Passion of The Christ, it is not hard to visualize what Jesus meant concerning Himself:  “…He who loves his life shall lose it;  and he who makes his life of no account in this world shall keep it unto life eternal…for this cause I came unto this hour!…I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” (John 12:23-50)

Jesus willingly laid down His life – as seed buried in the ground – that you and I might have Life.  In His own words, “I am come that (you) might have Life, and that (you) might have it more abundantly.”  (John 10:10)  “Being born again, not of corruptible, but of incorruptible seed, by the Word of God, which lives and abides for ever.”  (1 Peter 1:23)

“Now the God of Hope fill you with all Joy and Peace in the believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.”  (Romans 15:13)

 In Agape, Eulene

 P.S.  All the verses of the foregoing poem may be found in the Hymns and Poems Pages of this website.

Read Full Post »

Greetings!

Recently I had occasion to share the words of an old 18^th century hymn with a precious sister who found herself in deep distress.  I have been singing hymns like this for more than 70 years, and it is wonder-full when the truth they convey becomes a part of one’s being.  These are the words:

 How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He has said -
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

Indeed, what more CAN He say than what He has already said?  “For all the promises of God in Christ are Yes, and Amen, unto the glory of God…”  (2 Cor. 1:20) 

There are a multitude of occasions recorded in the New Testament alone when the message was given to “FEAR NOT!” – To Mary, to Joseph, to Zacharias, the Shepherds, the Disciples, a Synagogue Ruler, the Apostle Paul, John on Patmos. To the “little flock” Jesus said, “FEAR NOT!’ 

 PROMISE:  To all of us, He says, “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings?  and not one of them is forgotten before God?  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.  FEAR NOT, therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.”  (Luke 12:6,7)

 “Fear not!  I am with you!  O, be not dismayed,
For I am your God, I will still give you aid;
I’ll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,
Upheld by my gracious, omnipotent hand.”

 PROMISE:  “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;  and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you…”  (Isaiah. 43:2a)

 “When through the deep waters I call you to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with you your troubles to bless,
And sanctify to you your deepest distress.”

 PROMISE:   “…when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned;  neither shall the flame kindle upon you, for I am the Lord your God, your Saviour.”  (Isaiah 43:2b)

 “When thru fiery trials your pathway shall be,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be your supply;
The flame shall not hurt you – I only design
Your dross to consume and your gold to refine.

 PROMISE:  ” And the Lord goes before you;  He will be with you, He will not fail you, neither forsake you.  Fear not, neither be dismayed.”  “For Jehovah loves judgment and does not forsake His saints;  they are preserved forever…”  (Deut. 31:8;  Heb. 13:5;  Psalm37:28)

 “The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I WILL NOT desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never – no, never – NO, NEVER forsake!”

 PROMISE:  “Be strong and of good courage…It is the Lord Who goes before you;  He will be with you, He will not fail you, nor forsake you;  FEAR NOT, neither be dismayed.”  (Deut. 31:8)

 What a wonderfully secure foundation is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!   Truly, what more can He say?!  Put your HOPE in God, and you will yet praise Him for His help.  (Psalm 42:11)

 “Now the God of all HOPE fill you with all JOY and PEACE in the believing, that you may abound in HOPE, through the power of the Holy Spirit.”  (Romans 15:13)

 In Agape, Eulene

 P.S.  The full text of “How Firm a Foundation” can be found in the Hymns & Poems Page of this website.

Read Full Post »

Dear Friends,

Concerning diet and nutrition, there is a common saying, “You are what you eat!”  To put it more accurately, “You become what you digest and your body absorbs.”  If you eat high-carb and high-fat junk foods, your physical health will be compromised, and you will sooner or later become victim to some debilitating degenerative disease.  On the other hand, if you eat good quality fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish and poultry, your body will thank you with vibrant health and energy.

 I cannot help but relate this truth to the greater need for the “nutrition” that God has supplied to feed our spirits.  I touched on this in last week’s letter, suggesting that a regular intake of and meditation on the Scriptures feeds our spirits.  As the Living Word shines His Light on the written word, assuring us of His glorious truth, it facilitates our growth, development and maturity “in Christ.”

 Jesus declared that “it is the Spirit that quickens (gives life);  the flesh profits nothing.  The words that I speak unto you are Spirit, and Life.” (John 6:63)

 David said, “How sweet are Your words unto my taste!  Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!…..The entrance of Your words gives Light;  it gives understanding to the simple.”  (Psalm 119:103, 130)

 And again:  “Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You.”  (Ps. 119:11)

 David constantly referred to the importance of his meditation of God’s laws and His testimonies, as well as the Lord Himself.  (Ps. 119:97, 99;  194:34)

 Jeremiah said, “Your words were found, and I did eat them;  and Your Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart…”  Note the progression from plurality to singularity!  Obviously he had meditated on those words until the Living Word became the joy of his heart.  (Jer. 15:16)

Words are very powerful – especially when spoken by Almighty God.  We recently heard a very dramatic presentation of how, when God spoke, Light burst forth from His mouth at 186,000 miles per second!  “And God said, ‘Let there be Light;  and there was Light!’”  An explosion of Light that illuminated the “darkness that was upon the face of the deep.”  (Gen. 1:1,3)

John expands on this in the first verses of his Gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing that exists came into being.  In Him was Life, and that Life was the Light of men.”  (John 1:1-4)

 It is truly Jesus Christ, the Living Word, Who sheds Light and Revelation into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.  And by Him we grow from childhood to sonship in His glorious Kingdom.

When John, the Beloved, expressed his desire that the believers might prosper and be in health, even as their souls prospered, I’m sure the premise was that their souls were prospering.  In other words, they were growing in Grace and in the knowledge of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Their spirits were feeding on the Living Bread and the Water of Life, all of which Jesus declared He was;  thus they were experiencing ‘spiritual prosperity.’  The emphasis on this verse has too often been diverted to physical health and prosperity with less emphasis on the growth and health of the spirit.  The result of this is too often a lack of spiritual maturity in the body of Christ.  (3 John 1:2-4;  2 Peter 3:18;  John 6:51;  7:37 )

We have learned that the skin, being the largest organ of the body, also requires nutrition!  Spiritually speaking, that too is provided by sanctification and cleansing with the “washing of water by the Word,” so that we may be presented to our Heavenly Husband “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing,” but having been made “holy and without blemish.”  (Eph. 5:26,27)

Paul’s admonition to Timothy is timely:  “Till I come, give attendance to reading…Meditate upon these things;  give yourself wholly to them that your profiting may appear to all…”  (1 Tim. 4:13-16)

Break Thou the Bread of Life, dear Lord, to me,
As Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea.
Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord;
My spirit pants for Thee, O Living Word.

Bless Thou the truth, dear Lord, to me, to me,
As Thou didst bless the bread by Galilee;
Then shall all bondage cease, all fetters fall,
And I shall find my peace, my All in all.

Thou art the Bread of Life, O Lord, to me;
Thy holy Word the truth that saveth me;
Give me to eat and live with Thee above;
Teach me to love Thy truth, for Thou art Love.

O send Thy Spirit, Lord, now unto me,
That He may touch my eyes and make me see;
Show me the truth concealed within Thy Word,
And in Thy book revealed I see the Lord.

 May Ann Lathbury, 1841-1913

 “Now the God of all HOPE fill you with all JOY and PEACE in the believing, that you may abound in HOPE, through the power of the Holy Spirit.”  (Romans 15:13)

 In Agape, Eulene

Read Full Post »