HARAKEKE – FLAX

“‘When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. If it is not he, then who is it?'” – Job 9:24

STOP

“I will make an everlasting covenant with them:

I will never STOP doing good to them, and

I will inspire them to fear me,

so that they will never turn away from me.” – Jeremiah 32:40

“There is only one happiness in life to love and be loved.”

I read that yesterday again, when looking into one of the shop windows here in Kaitaia.

And how true is that!

And how blessed and enviably happy are those who love the Lord Jesus Christ and are loved by him.

All those who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ know that they are loved by him. In the Gospel of John in chapter 15 the Lord tells his disciples to remain in his love.  How do the disciples remain in his love? They remain in his love by doing what he tells them to do. That means obeying the commands of the Lord and his teaching. You can read that in  John  15:9-10 and there you find also that the Lord Jesus Christ is the example.

LOVE

Once more, how  do we love the Lord? Again and again the Lord tells us that we love him by doing what he says. That means that we must read the Bible.

All those who love the Lord are loved by the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are loved by the Lord himself. And the Lord will show himself to them. You can read that in John 14:21.

All those who love the Lord Jesus Christ become  the home of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. Please read that in John 14:23-24.

All those who love the Lord Jesus Christ are given the Counselor. You find that in John 14:15-16.

Some followers of the Lord who loved the Lord and knew that they were loved by him were so full of happiness, that they expressed their joy in hymns. Here is a Chorus by Constance B. Reid:

“love found a way, to redeem my soul,

Love found a way that could make me whole,

Love sent my Lord to the cross of shame,

Love found a way, O praise His holy name!”

“‘COME TO ME,

Matthew 11:28

all you

1.  who are weary and

2.  burdened, and

I will give you rest.'”

THE CROSS

“Mordecai

Esther 10:3

Intr.:

the Jew

______________________

1.  was second in rank to King Xerxes,

2.  preeminent among the Jews, and

3.  held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews,

End:

because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all Jews.”

“THE BOOK OF BOOKS”

UNTO THE HILLS is A DEVOTIONAL TREASURY written by Billy Graham.

Today is June 3, and he is writing about memorizing Scriptures. In fact he is urging the readers to memorize passages from the Bible.

Who is going to do it?

“Unbelief puts our circumstances between us and the Lord. Faith puts God between us and our circumstances.” – John Elliot, International Director, World Outreach International

UNBELIEF = us > our circumstances > Lord

FAITH = us > God  > our circumstances

John Elliot says also, “The saints of Hebrews 11 were fully persuaded that God’s promises were true.”

MUSIC

“In summer, the song sings itself.”

That quote by William  Carlos Williams has been on my mind for quite some time. I read it in the Summer 2011/12 Reader’s Digest not long ago.

June is the first month of winter here in New Zealand, where I live. And it is cold!