In the complete writings of “Murray On Prayer,” published by Whitaker House, we read this about the author. Andrew Murray (1828-1917) lived and ministered as both a pastor and author from the towns and villages of South Africa. His earliest writings were written to provide nurture and guidance for Christians of all ages and were actually an extension of his pastoral work. He wrote to give daily practical help to many of the people in his congregation who lived out in the farming communities and could only come into town for church services on rare occasions. Most of Murray’s writings revolved around prayer and he adopted the practice of placing many of his more devotional books into thirty-one separate readings to correspond with the days of the month.

Would you believe that, finally, at the age of 78, Murray resigned from the pastorate and devoted the last eleven years of his life to his manuscripts, writing profusely, moving from one book to the next with an intensity of purpose and a zeal that few men of God have ever equaled? He often said of himself, rather humorously, that he was like a hen about to hatch an egg; he was restless and unhappy until he got the burden of the message off his mind! It was during these later years of his life that these manuscripts were compiled into books that have been influential in the lives of believers the world over for more than eighty years!

The Scriptures have always encouraged me during tough times (I Peter 5:10; Psalm 34:19; Isaiah 24:15; 61:10) but also the writings of great men of God. Years ago I came across an article on how Andrew Murray, going through a very painful experience in his life, worked through trials. It has been a real blessing to me and I trust it will be an encouragement to you also. Maybe you should clip and place it in the flyleaf of your Bible.

“First, He brought me here, it is by His will I am in this strait place: in that fact I will rest. Next, He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace to behave as His child. Then, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow. Last, in His good time He can bring me out again–how and when He knows. Let me say I am here….by God’s appointment, in His keeping, under His training, for His time!”

Psalm 139:1-24

The closing of another year in the journey of life should always cause us to pause, reflect, inspect and envision, particularly in light of God’s invisible hand working behind the scenes of our story. Everyone has a story in life. King David had a story and Psalm 139 tells us much about his attentive gaze into his own heart recognizing that God was omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent in all areas of his life. As we watch another year conclude, let’s marvel with David as he acknowledges the amazing attributes of God unfolding before him, both in the UP times and the DOWN times. And how he responds in such humility and submission. David’s God is our God. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. [Read more…]

“Now the Word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time….” Jonah 3:1

“After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples….Jesus said to Simon Peter…follow me!” John 21:1, 15, 19

Many times in my walk with the Lord, I am thankful for His forgiveness, and trusting me again and again to be His servant in the path He has laid out for me to follow. He came again to Jonah after his running away from an important assignment; He came again to Peter after denying Him three times just as predicted; and he came again and again to others of His children who, for one reason or another, felt that their way was better than God’s way. In Jonah chapter 1, it is said of Jonah three times that he went down from the presence of the Lord. It is never good to go “down” when God is up!

My siblings and I were reared in an unchurched home. I placed my faith in Christ as a teenager and in my senior year of high school yielded my life fully to Him and chose to go to a small Bible College rather than a nearby University to learn more about God and what He was doing in my life. Thankfully, through God’s amazing grace, I have enjoyed a walk with the Master for many years but for my younger brother, it was a different story. Let me tell you about it. [Read more…]

July – 2014

“Bring. . . the books!” (II Timothy 4:13). These were some of Paul’s last words to Timothy. If books were not important they would not have been on his “wish” list. Someone said, “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested. “Andrew Bonar said that “Reading good books will wean us from the world and take us within the veil. ”His brother, Horatius said, “Whatever you read begin with God’s blessing on it. ” Solomon wisely said, “Of making many books there is no end and much study is wearisome to the flesh” (Eccl. 12:12). I do not wish to visit with you about the “many” books of which there are no end, but only a few select books that need to be “chewed and digested”. [Read more…]

As I reflect upon this Holy week preceding Resurrection Sunday, I see it in a new and fresh perspective having recently visited Israel for the very first time.  I stood in that place where John the Beloved leaned upon the Savior’s breast; where Jesus warned that one would betray Him; where all would say, “Lord is it I,” but Judas responded, “Rabbi, is it I?”  I stood in that place where Jesus picked up the bread and gave thanks saying, “Take, eat, this is my body.”  Then He took the cup and giving thanks said, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” I stood in that place where Jesus then said, “I say unto you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”  I stood in that place where they concluded their gathering by singing a hymn and then went out to the Mt. of Olives where Jesus was found praying while the three disciples were sleeping. From the Upper Room to the Garden Tomb there were several places along the path Jesus must trod which would lead to the fulfillment of many O.T. prophecies as well as His own. [Read more…]