Cross of Wood, Tomb of Stone

A cross of wood, a tomb of stone

Could not destroy God’s very own

No hand of darkness can withstand

When “Loose My child!” is God’s command

What life, Love, and beauty casts He

On hearts that call Him brokenly

When final blow has cast its lot

In tangled web one now is caught

But as they grieve for all their wrong

He ushers in His healing song

Reserved for those who will repent

Redemption by His Son He sent

Awaken there, oh foolish man!

Call His Name while yet you can

Tarry not, the hour is late

There is no cause that you should wait

The life and Love and beauty there

A place to cast off all your care

Repentance brings His cleansing flood

Forgiveness through His redeeming blood

By Cherry Bieber 03-23-12

Weighing all things out by the Word of God

How easy it is to fall into complacency, self-pity, fear, and doubt when struggling with money, illness, and other ailments common to humanity.  In such temptations I ask myself, "Is God sovereign or is He not?"  I force myself to the point - to make up my mind.  If I allow myself to waiver, I reduce Him in my own mind to a "circumstantial" god, one to be praised when times are good and one to blame or accuse when times are bad.  In such thinking I am viewing Him like one might view a genie in a bottle who has no choice but to grant me my demands or be thrown out with the bottle. 

As harsh and ridiculous as this sounds, it is, sadly, much of today's modern "Christian" view and finds many "...moved by every wind of doctrine..." (Ephesians 4:14).  This is also the kind of thinking that finds many caught up in movements.  Lacking discernment, they are incapable of (or unwilling to) listening to speakers or music, watch movies, or read books without being swept away in the emotion of the moment.  They are unable (or again perhaps unwilling) to "eat the meat and spit out the bones."  There are many leaders who monopolize on this and do not encourage their followers to search a thing out and measure it by the Word of God.  They prefer and thrive on blind followers.

As Christians, we are to seek wisdom and discernment in all things, trusting the Word of God to light our way.  There are many great movements going on whose leaders do not desire people to follow them, but rather to seek the Word for guidance.  Those leaders to beware of are those who clearly prefer that you listen to, read, and watch only what they produce and present it as equal to or surpassing the Scriptures.  It is up to each individual to choose whom they will serve.