What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36
Four-high-stake gamblers lost $2 million on a casino gambling table. They claimed the table had been illegally modified. The court, however, dismissed the case and charged them an additional $15,000 in costs. Please don’t gamble with your soul and reject God’s salvation. The loss will be an eternity of suffering. Rather, acknowledge you are a sinner for whom Jesus died. The Bible’s assurance for you is in Acts 16:31, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” It can be so this very moment. —Arnot P. McIntee
To lose your wealth is much, to lose your health is more, But to lose your soul, is such a loss that nothing can restore. —Author Unknown
Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord. Psalm 5:1-3
It’s a wonderful fact that we have access to the God of heaven and earth through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ! We can meet with Him at any time. But it’s most important to start the day off with Him in peace and quiet before the busyness of life begins. —G. Frear
Consider my thoughts and my words O my Lord, Hear my cry, my King and my God; Each morning I’ll call and pray unto Thee, Trusting that You will have mercy on me. —G. F.
Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. Psalm 38:9
We can get up each morning, put on a happy face and say to anyone who asks—all is well. But the Lord knows what’s really going on. He hears our sighs and unspoken thoughts; He feels the deep churning in our souls. He sees our tears (Ps. 56:8) and keeps track of them—not one escapes His view. Be encouraged knowing that God sees, hears and feels what moves and troubles you. He has promised to be with you and deliver you in your time of need. Draw close to Him today! —Deborah Manera
Prince of peace, control my will; bid this struggling heart be still: Bid my fears and doubtings cease: hush my spirit into peace. —Charles Wesley
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me. Hebrews 10:4-5
Christ came to do what all other sacrifices never could—take away sins. For this great purpose His body was prepared, and at Calvary God’s justice was satisfied by the offering of the body and blood of Jesus Christ. And what delight is ours to know that He who thus died, lives! This verse declares it, “I know that my redeemer liveth” (Job 19:25). Soon we’ll see Him face to face and worship Him in glory. Until then, we gather, remember, worship and wait. —Carl Knott
My Redeemer! O what beauties in that lovely name appear; None but Jesus, in His glories, shall the honoured title wear. —Author Unknown
And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone. Exodus 18:14
In an assembly of the Lord’s people, gifts are given to each member by the risen Lord. How sad it is when one person or one family appears to be burdened with all the responsibility. Conversely let us make sure we play our part by delegating where necessary. We might well be surprised to discover who is willing to take up the reins. —Brian Russell
We share our mutual woes, Our mutual burdens bare, And often for each other flows, A sympathising tear. —John Fawcett
“It is always fascinating to read of the ways of God in the life of an individual and this book is no exception. The simple account of the life of Arthur Taylor, his salvation, call, and work for the Welland Canal Mission is told with freshness that communicates the zeal of the man and yet with the humility that befits a truly dependent servant.
From the tragedy of his father’s death at sea and his struggles at school, Arthur meets Judy who becomes instrumental in his salvation. For someone for whom Easter ‘only meant chocolate eggs and bunnies’, the transformation was significant – ‘I sensed an urgent need to get this good news out immediately to those that I knew’. His early forays into spreading the gospel are recounted with honesty: mistaking a Japanese cook for a Chinese led to him being chased out of the galley; his fumbling attempt at French causing offence; and the ‘hard lesson’ learned when another commitment took him away from an enquiring sailor who was killed that night. Yet, against that background it is clear that God used Arthur Taylor in leading sinners to Christ. However, as he acknowledges, ‘I’m left amazed that God delights to use me in His mighty work of reaching lost souls’.
This is a book that will enrich and enlighten the reader.”
“This morning, as believers around the globe lift up their hearts to God to begin their day, a familiar component of that process will be the Choice Gleanings calendar. The history of this much loved day-by-day devotional calendar is an interesting one and a testimony to the faithfulness of the Lord. It began in 1922, when the Lord burdened young William J. Pell of Grand Rapids, Michigan, to begin a ministry of printing quality Christian literature. He started in his mother’s parlour with a John 3:16 verse card, but soon moved to the basement of the building next door, printing gospel tracts and Sunday School curriculum. He called the print shop gospel folio Press, assuming it would only ever produce a little folio of four pages.
Gospel Folio Press had been functioning for almost twenty years when William became exercised about producing a daily devotional calendar. In the home of his parents hung a believers’ calendar printed in the Netherlands by the Voorhowven brothers. For many years William’s mother, who emigrated from the Netherlands at age eleven, made sure such a calendar was sent to her. Seeing the effects that the devotional calendar had on his mother gave William a strong desire to compile one of his own for the Lord’s people.
In spite of discouraging remarks from some who said it wasn’t feasible in North America, the calendar (initially named The Remembrancer but soon changed to Choice Gleanings) was launched in 1940. It was decided to print 800 the first year, as William figured he had that many friends to give them to if the sales did not go well. He need not have worried, as the calendar was an immediate success. Within a few years, the workers at gospel folio Press found themselves with the mammoth undertaking of producing 40,000 calendars annually.
The process of production did not vary for many years. Selecting the devotionals and finding coordinating poetry was the first step. The next job was planning which meditations would be used on which date. This ‘distribution’ of the devotionals throughout the calendar involved much thought and prayer as the goal was to ensure that the readers would receive a balance of comfort, challenge, doctrine, and encouragement throughout the year. Once placed in the calendar, the meditations were edited and then after several rounds of proofreading, came the typesetting, printing and assembly.
Originally material for the calendars was gleaned from books, but as time went by Mr. Pell began asking more brethren to contribute short devotionals and eventually the calendar included more original writing than ‘gleanings’. Today, almost sixty writers from around the world contribute meditations to the Choice Gleanings calendar.
When William went home to heaven in 1970, his sister Grace stepped into the role of editor. Grace carried the responsibility for about ten years with the help of her sisters and Jabe Nicholson. Since he was a teen Jabe had been helping at gospel folio Press and under his leadership the calendar continued through the 1980’s.
During the 1990’s, he worked closely with Sandy McEachern, not only selecting, arranging, and editing the devotions but passing on the vision and passion for the work that Jabe had learned first from William and later from the Pell sisters. By the end of the decade, the Choice Gleanings legacy was passed into Sandy McEachern’s care.
In 2001, gospel folio Press moved to Port Colborne, Ontario. The production of the calendar has evolved from mountains of paper to hundreds of electronic files exchanged via cyberspace. Contributors email their documents, which are maintained in a database throughout the year and arranged in a desktop publishing program. From here, the calendar is edited, proofread, and corrections entered. The workers rarely see each other face to face, but are bound by a shared dedication to this work for the Lord.”
There are many reasons for losing heart (or “losing courage”) these days. Three reasons are developed in this chapter. Perhaps we sense defeat in our own lives, and a failure to live up to the great demands of our call in the gospel (1-6). Or it might be the wrong response to all the suffering we endure for serving the Lord (7-15). Then again, we might have the wrong focus in our lives (16-18). Are we possibly placing too much emphasis on things that are outward, physical, and temporary—rather than on those things that are inward, spiritual, and eternal? May God help us not to lose heart. —N. C. Funston
O Jesus I have promised to serve Thee to the end , Be Thou forever near me, my Master and my Friend. —John E. Bode
Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob…What hath God wrought! Number 23:23
In this chapter we learn of Balak’s intense desire to have God curse Israel. He tried to get Balaam to do it but it proved to be impossible for him to curse God’s chosen people. He could only repeatedly tell of God’s blessing to them in spite of their many failures. Satan wants mankind to be cursed, but God’s Son has already borne the curse on the cross of Calvary. Now we can look back on our life and see only salvation blessings—His loving care in all situations. We too can joyfully exclaim “What hath God wrought.” —Mary Robins
And as He stands in victory, sin’s curse has lost its grip on me; For I am His and He is mine, bought with the precious blood of Christ. —Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
How excellent is thy loving kindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. Psalm 36:7 How often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Luke 13:34
This offer of shelter, protection, and care is still available today. Some will respond and find refuge and some will refuse and try to handle the storms of life on their own. How utterly foolish when such marvelous provision is offered to all who will come to Him. Don’t refuse His offer! —Wm. H. Gustafson
Simply trusting every day, trusting through a stormy way; Even when my faith is small, trusting Jesus, that is all. —Ed. P. Stites
Lost at Sea, Found In Heaven: The Arthur Taylor Story