HOW DO YOU SPELL C-R-O-S-S

“See”

Look at Calvary. Don’t turn away. I know it’s not easy. What is done to Him is shameful. I know. But look closely! Past the spittle. Beyond the blood. There. In His eyes. Friend, that is love. It is love for you! See the nails in His hands and feet, fastening Him to a tree He created for man’s use. Look at the love He has for you!

“Are”

Are you able to see that He bled for you? Are you willing to admit that you are lost without Him? Are you ready to submit to His will, to obey Him, and to live for Him? Are you prepared for eternity? Are you convinced?

 “Oh”

Hear His cries of pain and agony. The death of a thousand deaths. Bitter moans of His disciples. The gasp of heaven’s angels. The sorrow of a Father for His only begotten Son! The gasps and exclamations of a hateful mob.

“SS”

That’s the hiss of the beguiling serpent. The one who is bruising the heel of the perfect One (Genesis 3:15), putting God the Son in the tomb. This is the moment of his triumph. Though resurrection will soon bring the ultimate victory for Christ and hope for man, at the cross of Calvary the devil must be enjoying his front row seat. Doesn’t he anger you? Disgust you? Motivate you? Live for Jesus. Don’t live for the snake!

Friends, the cross spells the difference between heaven and hell, hope and helplessness, joy and sorrow, day and night! The cross spells life!

“And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross…” (Ephesians 2:16).

Author Unknown

Not Wasted

A young woman, who was a great lover of flowers, had set out a rare vine at the base of a stone wall. It grew vigorously, but did not bloom. Day after day she cultivated it and watered it and tried in every way to coax it into bloom. One morning, as she stood disappointedly before it, her invalid neighbor, whose back lot adjoined her own, called over and said, “You can’t imagine how much I have been enjoying the blooms of that vine you planted.” The owner looked and on the other side of the wall was a mass of blooms. The vine had crept through the crevices and flowered luxuriantly on the other side.

So often we think our efforts are thrown away because we do not see their fruits. We need to learn that in God’s service, our prayers, our toils, our crosses are never in vain! Somewhere they bear fruit and hearts will receive blessings and joy.

Author Unknown

Recipe for a Happy New Year

Take 2 cups of kindness, fresh from the Christian heart; add 1 cup of very thoughtful prayer and cream together with a pinch of prepared tenderness. Beat this mixture very lightly into a large bowl of love, generously seasoned with joy and laughter. Now, add enough faith, hope and charity to fill the bowl almost to the brim. Then, as you moisten this mixture with a dash of the tears of heartfelt sympathy, the bowl will be heaping full and running over. Fold in 2 teaspoons of pure joy for richer flavor. Pour into a pan previously prepared by the lining of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, and bake in the oven of a tender, eager heart, until mellow and firm. Serve this with your main course, the BIBLE, in very large portions, as often as possible, to those desiring to learn the way of truth more perfectly. These directions, faithfully followed, will give you a most happy and rewarding new year.

Recipe for a Happy New Year

Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from all old memories of bitterness, rancor, hate, and jealousy; cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past – have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time.

Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts. This batch will keep for just one year. Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so may persons spoil the entire lot in this way), but prepare one day at a time, as follows:

Into each day put twelve parts of faith, eleven of patience, ten of courage, nine of work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), eight of hope, seven of fidelity, six of liberality, five of kindness, four of rest (leaving this out is like leaving oil out of the salad – don’t do it), three of prayer, two of meditation, and one well-selected resolution. If you have no conscientious scruples, put in about a teaspoon of good spirits, a dash of fun, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.

Pour into the whole love ad libitum and mix with vim. Cook fervently in a fervent heat; garnish with a few smiles and a sprig of joy; then serve with quietness, unselfishness, and cheerfulness; a Happy New Year is a certainty.

via Gospel Advocate, January 9, 1941

This. . .

                        This Book unfolds Jehovah’s mind;

                        This Book salutes in accents kind;

                        This Friend our needs will amply meet;

                        This Foundation sends forth joys sweet.

                        This Mine affords us boundless wealth;

                        This Good Physician gives us health;

                        This Sun renews and warms the soul;

                        This Sword both wounds and makes us whole.

                        This Letter shows our sins forgiven;

                        This Guide conducts us safe to heaven;

                        This Charter has been sealed with blood;

                        This Volume is the Word of God.

Author Unknown

20th Century Christian - February 1945