Him

~ What, or Who, Is It YOU Seek? ~

Once it was the blessing; Now it is the Lord;

Once it was the feeling, Now it is His Word;

Once His gifts I wanted, Now the Giver own;

Once I sought for healing, Now Himself alone.

Once ’twas painful trying, Now ’tis perfect trust;

Once a half salvation, Now the uttermost;

Once ’twas ceaseless holding; Now He holds me fast;

Once ’twas constant drifting, Now my anchor’s cast.

Once ’twas busy planning, Now ’tis trustful prayer;

Once ’twas anxious caring; Now He has the care;

Once ’twas what I wanted, Now what Jesus says;

Once ’twas constant asking, Now ’tis ceaseless praise

Once it was my working, His it hence shall be;

Once I tried to use Him; Now He uses me;

Once the power I wanted, Now the Mighty One;

Once for self I labored, Now for Him alone.

Once I hoped in Jesus; Now I know He’s mine;

Once my lamps were dying; Now they brightly shine;

Once for death I waited, Now His coming hail,

And my hopes are anchored safe within the veil.   ~ Anonymous

Question  ~  What are you seeking?

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

It’s Only Friday

~ It’s Friday.  But Sunday’s Comin’ ~

It’s Friday. 

Jesus is praying. 

Peter is asleep. 

Judas is betraying. 

But Sunday's comin’. 

It’s Friday. 

Pilate is struggling. 

The council conspiring. 

The crowd vilifying. 

They don’t even know that Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. 

The disciples are running like sheep without a shepherd. 

Mary’s crying. 

Peter is denying. 

But they don’t know that Sunday’s a comin’.

It’s Friday. 

The Romans beat my Jesus. 

They robe Him in scarlet. 

They crown Him with thorns. 

But they don’t know that Sunday’s a comin’. 

It’s Friday. 

See Jesus walking to Calvary. 

His blood dripping. 

His body stumbling. 

And His spirit’s burdened. 

But you see, it’s only Friday. 

Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. 

The world is winning. 

People are sinning. 

And evil is grinning. 

But Sunday's comin’. 

It’s Friday. 

The soldiers nail my Savior’s hands to the Cross. 

They nail my Savior’s feet to the Cross. 

And then they raise Him up next to criminals.

But Sunday's comin’. 

It’s Friday. 

But let me tell you something:

Sunday’s coming’.

It’s Friday. 

The disciples are questioning:

What has happened to their King? 

And the Pharisees are celebrating that their scheming has been achieved. 

But they don’t know it’s only Friday. 

Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. 

He’s hanging on the Cross. 

Feeling forsaken by His Father. 

Left alone and dying. 

Can nobody save Him? 

Oh, it’s Friday. 

But Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. 

The earth trembles. 

The sky grows dark. 

My King yield’s His spirit.

But Sunday's comin’. 

It’s Friday. 

Hope is lost. 

Death has won. 

Sin as conquered. 

And Satan’s just a laughing. 

But Sunday's comin’. 

It’s Friday. 

Jesus is buried. 

A soldier stands guard, and a rock rolled into place.

But it’s Friday. 

It is only Friday. 

Sunday is a comin’.

~ S.M. Lockridge (1913-2000).  Mr. Lockridge was the Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego, CA for many years.  (In the last couple of decades Tony Compolo has frequently delivered his own message based on the topic “It’s Friday—But Sunday’s Coming.”)   

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Poem: 10 Christians

~ From That Prolific Writer: Anonymous ~

There is a human tendency to wear various masks in front of different audiences.  None of us is consistent.  Perhaps Halloween is a good time to examine the various roles we can play at different times.

Ten Little Christians

Ten little Christians standing in a line,
One disliked the pastor, then there were nine.

Nine little Christians stayed up very late,
One slept in on Sunday, then there were eight.

Eight little Christians on their way to heaven,
One took the low road, then there were seven.

Seven little Christians chirping like chicks,
One disliked the music, then there were six.

Six little Christians seemed very much alive,
But one lost his interest, then there were five.

Five little Christians pulling for Heaven’s shore,
But one stopped to rest, then there were four.

Four little Christians, each busy as a bee,
One got her feelings hurt, then there were three.

Three little Christians knew what to do,
One joined the sports crowd, then there were two.

Two little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done,
Differed with each other, then there was one.

One little Christian can't do much ‘tis true;
Brought his friend to Bible study, then there were two.

Two earnest Christians, each won one more,
That doubled their number, then there were four.

Four sincere Christians worked early and late,
Each won another, then there were eight.

Eight little Christians, if they doubled as before,
In just a few short weeks, we’d have 1,024.

In this little jingle, there’s a lesson true,
Do you belong to the building crew, or the wrecking crew?

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW