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| ISBN-13: | 9781780994864 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Hunt, John Publishing |
| Publication date: | 10/20/2005 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 300 |
| Sales rank: | 394,523 |
| File size: | 465 KB |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
God Calling
By AJ Russell
Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Copyright © 2011 Barbour Publishing, Inc.All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-60742-719-3
CHAPTER 1
January 1
Between the Years
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34
Our Lord and our God. We joy in Thee. Without Thy Help we could not face unafraid the year before us.
I stand between the years. The Light of My Presence is flung across the year to come—the radiance of the Sun of Righteousness. Backward, over the past year, is My Shadow thrown, hiding trouble and sorrow and disappointment.
Dwell not on the past—only on the present. Only use the past as the trees use My Sunlight to absorb it, to make from it in after days the warming fire-rays. So store only the blessings from Me, the Light of the World. Encourage yourselves by the thought of these.
Bury every fear of the future, of poverty for those dear to you, of suffering, of loss. Bury all thought of unkindness and bitterness, all your dislikes, your resentments, your sense of failure, your disappointment in others and in yourselves, your gloom, your despondency, and let us leave them all, buried, and go forward to a new and risen life.
Remember that you must not see as the world sees. I hold the year in My Hands—in trust for you. But I shall guide you one day at a time.
Leave the rest with Me. You must not anticipate the gift by fears or thoughts of the days ahead.
And for each day I shall supply the wisdom and the strength.
January 2
Arm of Love
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
You are to help to save others. Never let one day pass when you have not reached out an arm of Love to someone outside your home—a note, a letter, a visit, help in some way.
Be full of Joy. Joy saves. Joy cures. Joy in Me. In every ray of sunlight, every smile, every act of kindness, or love, every trifling service—joy.
Each day do something to lift another soul out of the sea of sin, or disease or doubt into which man has fallen. I still walk today by the lakeside and call My Disciples to follow Me and to become fishers of men.
The helping hand is needed that raises the helpless to courage, to struggle, to faith, to health. Love. Laugh. Love and laughter are the beckoners to faith and courage. Trust on, love on, joy on.
Refuse to be downcast. Refuse to be checked in your upward climb. Love and laugh. I am with you. I bear your burdens. Cast your burden upon Me and I will sustain thee. And then in very light-heartedness you turn and help another with the burden that is pressing too heavily upon him or her.
How many burdens can you lighten this year? How many hearts can you cheer? How many souls can you help?
And in giving you gain: "Good measure, pressed down, and running over." I your Lord have said it.
January 3
The Way Will Open
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. Isaiah 40:31 KJV
You must be renewed, remade. Christ, Christ, Christ. Everything must rest on Me. Force is born of rest. Only Love is a conquering force. Be not afraid, I will help you.
Be channels both of you. My Spirit shall flow through and My Spirit shall, in flowing through, sweep away all the bitter past.
Take heart. God loves, God helps, God fights, God wins. You shall see. You shall know. The way will open. All My Love has ever planned, all My Love has ever thought, you shall see each day unfold. Only be taught. Just be a child. A child never questions plans. It accepts gladly.
My Father is rich in houses and lands,
He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands!
Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold,
His coffers are full, He has riches untold.
I'm a child of the King,
A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior,
I'm a child of the King.
Harriet Eugenia Peck Buell (1834–1910)
PRAY:
Give me the heart of a child, never questioning Your love and grace, so abundantly sent my way. Give me the heart of a child, never doubting Your goodness I'm moving toward.
January 4
Do Not Plan
A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9
Shew us Thy Way, O Lord, and let us walk in Thy Paths. Lead us in Thy Truth and teach us.
All is well. Wonderful things are happening. Do not limit God at all. He cares and provides.
Uproot self—the channel-blocker. Do not plan ahead; the way will unfold step by step. Leave tomorrow's burden. Christ is the Great Burden-bearer. You cannot bear His load and He only expects you to carry a little day-share.
Tomorrow, Lord, is Thine
Lodged in Thy sovereign hand;
And if its sun arise and shine,
It shines by Thy command.
The present moment flies,
And bears our life away;
O make Thy servants truly wise
That they may live today.
Philip Doddridge (1702–1751)
January 5
Hoard Nothing
"And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things."
Luke 12:29–30
Love Me and do My Will. No evil shall befall you. Take no thought for tomorrow. Rest in My Presence brings Peace. God will help you. Desire brings fulfillment. Peace like a quiet flowing river cleanses, sweeps all irritants away.
You shall be taught, continue these prayer times, even if they seem fruitless. The devil will try by any means to stop them. Heed him not. He will say evil spirits may enter in. Heed him not.
Rest your nerves. Tired nerves are a reflection on, not of, God's Power. Hope all the time.
Do not be afraid of poverty. Let money flow freely. I will let it flow in, but you must let it flow out. I never send money to stagnate—only to those who pass it on. Keep nothing for yourself. Hoard nothing. Only have what you need and use. This is My Law of Discipleship.
This is Thy will, I know,
That I should holy be,
Should let my sins this moment go,
This moment turn to Thee.
O might I now embrace
Thy all-sufficient power,
And nevermore to sin give place,
And never grieve Thee more!
Charles Wesley (1707–1788)
January 6
Sharp and Ready
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this foreign land.
I am weak but Thou art mighty,
Guide me with Thy powerful Hand.
You must pray. The way will open. God cares and His plans unfold. Just love and wait.
Love is the Key. No door is too difficult for it to open.
What cause have you to fear? Has He not cared for and protected you? Hope on. Hope gladly. Hope with certainty. Be calm, calm in My Power.
Never neglect these times. Pray and read your Bible and train and discipline yourself. That is your work—Mine to use you. But My instruments must be sharp and ready. Then I use them.
Discipline and perfect yourselves at all costs. Do this, for soon every fleeting thought will be answered, every wish gratified, every deed used. It is a fearful Power, a mighty Power. Oh! be careful that you ask nothing amiss—nothing that is not according to My Spirit.
All thoughts harmful must be turned out. See how necessary I have made the purity and goodness of your own lives to you. Soon, you shall ask and at once it will come. Welcome the training. Without it I dare not give you this Power.
Do not worry about others' lives. You must perfect yourselves first in My Strength.
January 7
The Secret Pearl
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Look upon us with Thy favor, O Lord, while we behold "the land that is very far off" and yet so near to the seeing eye and the listening ear.
Wait. Wonders are unfolding. Tremble with awe. No man can stand upon the threshold of Eternity unshaken. I give unto you Eternal Life. A free gift, a wonderful gift—the Life of the Ages.
Silently comes the Kingdom. No man can judge when It enters the heart of man, only in results. Listen quietly. Sometimes you may get no message. Meet thus all the same. You will absorb an atmosphere.
Cultivate silence. "God speaks in silences." A silence, a soft wind. Each can be a message to convey My meaning to the heart, though by no voice, or even word.
Each word or thought of yours can be like a pearl that you drop into the secret place of another heart, and in some hour of need, lo! the recipient finds the treasure and realizes for the first time its value.
Do not be too ready to do, just be. I said, "Be ye therefore perfect" not "do" perfect things. Try and grasp this. Individual efforts avail nothing. It is only the work of the universal spirit—My Spirit—that counts.
Dwell in thought on this more and more; saints have taken a lifetime to grasp it.
January 8
Love Bangs the Door
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us afar more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Corinthians 4:16–17
Life with Me is not immunity from difficulties, but peace in difficulties. My guidance is often by shut doors. Love bangs as well as opens.
Joy is the result of faithful trusting acceptance of My Will, when it seems not joyous.
St. Paul, my servant, learnt this lesson of the banged doors when he said "our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Expect rebuffs until this is learned—it is the only way.
Joy is the daughter of calm.
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
John H. Sammis (1846–1919)
January 9
No Strain
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28–30
Be calm, no matter what may befall you. Rest in Me. Be patient, and let patience have her perfect work. Never think things overwhelming. How can you be overwhelmed when I am with you?
Do not feel the strain of life. There is no strain for My children. Do you not see I am a Master Instrument-maker? Have I not fashioned each part? Do I not know just what it can bear without a strain? Would I, the maker of so delicate an instrument, ask of it anything that could destroy or strain?
No! The strain is only when you are serving another master, the world, fame, the good opinion of men—or carrying two days' burden on the one day.
Remember that it must not be.
CONSIDER:
What burdens am I straining under? What can I let go of that isn't mine to handle anyway?
January 10
Influence
"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11
When you come to Me, and I give you that Eternal Life I give to all who believe in Me, it alters your whole existence, the words you speak, the influences you have.
These are all eternal. They must be. They spring from the life within you, My Life, Eternal Life, so that they, too, live forever. Now, you see how vast, how stupendous, is the work of any soul that has Eternal Life. The words, the influence, go on down the ages forever.
You must ponder on these truths I give you. They are not surface facts, but the secrets of My Kingdom, the hidden pearls of rare price.
Meditate upon them. Work at them in your minds and hearts.
Thy Word is a lamp to my feet,
A light to my path alway,
To guide and to save me from sin,
And show me the heavenly way.
Thy Word have I hid in my heart,
That I might not sin against Thee;
That I might not sin, that I might not sin,
Thy Word have I hid in my heart.
Ernest Orlando Sellers (1869–1952)
January 11
The Ache of Love
All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord's, and He rules over the nations. Psalm 22:27–28
Cry unto Me, and I will hear you and bless you. Use My unlimited stores for your needs and those of others. Seek My wonderful truths and you shall find.
But there was a time in the Upper Room, after My Ascension, when My disciples had to comfort themselves by saying, "Did He not speak to us by the way?"
There may come times when you sit in silence, when it seems as if you were left alone. Then, I command—command—you to remember I have spoken to you.
You will have the consciousness of My Presence when you hear no voice. Abide in that Presence. "I am the light of the world," but sometimes in tender pity, I withhold too glaring a light, lest, in its dazzling brightness, you should miss your daily path and work.
Not until Heaven is reached do souls sit and drink in the ecstasy of God's revelation to His Own. At the moment you are pilgrims and need only your daily marching orders and strength and guidance for the day.
Oh! Listen to My Voice, eagerly, joyfully. Never crowd it out. I have no rival claimants, and if men seek the babble of the world, then I withdraw.
Life has hurt you. Only scarred lives can really save.
You cannot escape the discipline. It is the hallmark of discipleship. My children, trust Me always. Never rebel.
The trust given to Me today takes away the ache of rejection of My love that I suffered on earth and have suffered through the ages. "I died for you, My children, and could ye treat Me so?"
January 12
Thanks for Trials
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Romans 12:10–13
You must say "Thank You" for everything, even seeming trials and worries.
Joy is the whole being's attitude of "Thank You" to Me. Be glad. Rejoice. A father loves to see his children happy.
I am revealing so much to you. Pass it on. Each Truth is a jewel. Some poor spirit-impoverished friend will be glad of it. Drop one here and there.
Seek to find a heart-home for each Truth I have imparted to you. More Truths will flow in. Use all I give you. Help others. I ache to find a way into each life and heart, for all to cry expectantly, "Even so, come Lord Jesus."
Thanks to God for my Redeemer,
Thanks for all Thou dost provide!
Thanks for times now but a memory,
Thanks for Jesus by my side!
Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime,
Thanks for dark and stormy fall!
Thanks for tears by now forgotten,
Thanks for peace within my soul!
August Ludvig Storm (1862–1914)
January 13
Friends Unseen
"I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people'; And each one will say, 'The Lord is my God.'" Zechariah 13:9
Never despair, never despond. Be just a channel of helpfulness for others.
Have more sympathy. Feel more tenderness toward others. Your lives shall not be all care. Gold does not stay in the crucible—only until it is refined. Already I hear the music and the marching of the unseen host, rejoicing at your victory.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from God Calling by AJ Russell. Copyright © 2011 Barbour Publishing, Inc.. Excerpted by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc..
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
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