Cut Down That You May Grow

“For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.” Job 14:7, 9.

Here, indeed, is hope! Dear child of God, have you been “cut down”? No matter, for “through the scent of water”—Living Water—you may bud again. The husbandman prunes that the tree may yield more fruit, and so it is with God. One has said “God is a zealous pruner, for he knows who, falsely tender, spares the knife but spoils the rose”. It is the truest Love that will “cut down” in order to grow a “tender branch” that “will not cease”.
An husbandman prunes only those trees which are his. What comfort you may take in being “cut down”; this is a reminder that you are truly God’s child and that he is caring for you. He is fulfilling his promise to perform a good work in you until the day of Jesus Christ. He is forming you more to his own image that you may bring more glory to his name.

~Cut down, that you may grow~

Finding Jesus Again

by

Leah S. Carpenter

In John 20:1-16 we have a beautiful picture of what we must do when we have lost the presence of Jesus in order to recover it. Mary had lost the presence of Jesus, and couldn’t keep still in her normal routine until she had found him again. She rose early in the morning the first possible day she could seek him, going to the place she knew he had last been. She had lost him there, and there she was determined to find him, if all she could have was his lifeless body to care for. Though he had apparently failed, she had faith and love enough to not give him up; she would stay there with him. She had no desire to live apart from him. She sought of all those around, asking them to “tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”, yet she would not leave without him, or at least a knowledge of where he was. Her grief was so great that she could not recognize Jesus as he stood before her until she heard his voice. He was not unmindful of her perseverance and devotion, even at the hour of returning to his Father and his glory. She was rewarded by his very presence and communion with him there, her deep sorrow turning to joy. When he made himself known to her, and she knew she had him again, there was only one thing she could do, and that was to worship.

Have you, too, lost the presence of Jesus? Return to the place you lost him and persevere there until he is again revealed to you. He will honour your devotion and will come to you again, if you are truly seeking him, restoring the communication so dear to your heart and necessary to your soul. Remain beside the grave of broken dreams, hopes, plans; remain even by the grave of what you thought was the Lord’s will for your life but that “fell through”; remain at the place you last saw Jesus; until he appears with words of peace to your heart. He will surely come to those who seek him again.

January 26, 2010

If I Had My Way

by

Leah S. Carpenter

If I had my way, there would be no more sorrow in the world. Joy would fill hearts, and happiness would no longer be fleeting. Families would love and remain close; church families would get along, edifying one another, building one another up in the Lord. There would be no sighs of longing after that which is so good to desire, yet out of one’s reach. If I had my way, there would be no pain – mental, emotional or physical. There would be no sickness, no weakness, no premature death. Precious dreams would remain and not fly away, unrealized. Life would continue a long course, with human life treasured and allowed to be held by those nearest it.

But if I had my way, there would be no softening, strengthening effects of sorrow, no compassion learned from pain. The greatest, most difficult – yet sweetest – influence in our lives would be swept away: sorrow, pain. Love would not be as deep, for it could not grow as well without sorrow, which is love’s sweetest, most nourishing water. Joy could not be as sweet, for it would not have the contrast of sorrow to teach us how to savour it. Life could not be as sweet, for, without brevity, we would not know to treasure it. Moreover, if I had things in my way, there would be no need of a Saviour, no need to turn to Jesus, our truest Treasure. There would be no need for the Comforter; no realization of Christ’s arms of love and his sufficient grace. Ah, then I shall leave in his hands the ordering of our lives, for he knows how to give the best to his children. He knows best how to give us all things richly to enjoy. Truly his way is best; let me not murmur, but cling to him.

I cannot end pain and sorrow, but one day, God will. I cannot end sickness, but one day God will. I cannot end sin, but one day God will make us perfect. I cannot hold my dear, hurting friends when they cry, but God not only holds them, he puts their tears into his bottle. I cannot mend their broken hearts, but God is mending them. I cannot use sorrow for their good, but God is – that is why he sent the pain. I cannot stop premature death, but God, the Sovereign of all the universe, knows that there is none, for all are in his hand. I cannot have things my way, but I have them the way they should be: ordered by the God of Love, who not only can do no wrong, but who promises to turn all things to good for those who love him. Ah, then let me have things God’s way, for his way is infinitely best.

Ah, then let me have things in God’s way,
For his way is infinitely best,
Let me embrace now God’s way,
For in his way I find rest.

Let me have things in God’s way,
For my way would ruin it all
For God knows best that in his way
There is no flaw at all.

My way has many lacked blessings
That would ruin his plan
For my way could never consider
The best that there is for man.

Let me joy now in God’s way,
And never a shadow of doubt
Cast at the wisdom of his way
And discontentment block out.

Because of Unbelief

by Leah S. Carpenter

“And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” Mt. 13:58

Is it so in our lives? Troubles surround us and we are not delivered. Sickness is present, and we are not healed. Loved ones are lost, and Christ is not calling them. Dear ones are backsliding, and they have not returned. We grieve and we cry, but God does not work: where are the miracles? Is it because of our unbelief? Is our lack of faith limiting God? He will allow us to limit him by our lack of faith, you know. If we ask in unbelief, we are not genuinely asking and God will not bless. Not worth asking means not worth having. Let us ask in faith, not wavering, that our Father may freely give us all things, as he desires. He stands ready, waiting, eager to give what we ask, to reveal what we seek, to open when we knock according to his will, even as a father who waits for his child to ask for help. Trust him, try him, and he will perform miracles for you. Ask in faith, begging for crumbs (*) of God’s power even when it seems he is denying you, until he says “be it unto thee even as thou wilt.” (Mt. 15:22-28). Let it not be said of our lives that God did not many mighty works because of our unbelief.

Just Crumbs

Just crumbs was all she asked that day

When she a miracle sought;

The truth of His mercy and who He was

She had firmly caught.

A dog she knew herself to be,

Unworthy before Him to come,

Yet she knew the miracle to Him

Was nothing more than crumbs.

She came to Christ in simple faith,

Believing all He had done,

And what she asked was to His power

Nothing more than crumbs.

Have I faith enough to ask

For nothing more than crumbs,

Just as the Gentile woman asked

Believing on the Son?

Give me faith, O Lord, I pray

That in faith I may come

Humbly asking, as this woman did,

For nothing more than crumbs.

Matthew 15:21-28

Please Visit This Site

I have been greatly enjoying Pastor Sample's messages. Please take some time to visit this church site and listen to some of these sermons.

And may you have a blessed and happy 2011.

Still He Doth Work

We know not His way, but still He doth work;
Let not in your heart a doubt of it lurk.
For He needeth not that thou have seeing eyes,

And He’ll show thee His working by and by.

The Lord often works while hidden from view;
This testing you’ll find your strength will renew.
Just rest in Him fully and trust in His Word
For He careth for thee more than His birds.

Our Lord still doth work thought we may not see;
The outcome you’ll find to be best for thee,
And know that He worked when you thought Him not there;
Simply trust in His kindness, love and care.

We know not His way and need not to know;
His all-seeing eye doth goodness bestow,
Without any help or assistance from thee,
And He’ll give what is best though thou canst not see.
~LSC~ 4/11/10

Ebenezer

by Leah S. Carpenter

“Then Samuel took a stone…and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.” 1 Sam. 7:12.

How often do we set up our own personal Ebenezer stones? The Lord most certainly has helped us hitherto, as he helped the Israelites. We should make a practice of setting up “stones for a memorial” of how our God helped or delivered us, both that we might remember his goodness and that we may teach our children and generations to come of his faithfulness. When the children of Israel crossed Jordan, Joshua commanded to take twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan—out of the midst of their difficulty, their testing, their barrier to victory—and set them up for a memorial such as this (Josh. 4) and so ought we to do. Set up stones of memorial out of the midst of every trial, difficulty and seeming defeat that God has brought you to and declare to all his goodness and mercy, his faithfulness and love, his power and might. Praise God that he has helped you hitherto and remember that he will continue the same.

~Ebenezer: the beauty and promise of God’s mercy~

No Other Book Like This Book

No other book like this Book, for it’s written by God’s hand.
No other book like this Book: forever it shall stand.
No other book like this Book, for its’ transforming power;
No other book like this Book – it’s needful every hour.

No other book like this Book to guide me all the way;
No other book like this Book, for it’s good for every day.
No other book like this Book; no error can be found;
No other book like this Book, each jot and tittle sound.

No other book like this Book; do you visit or explore?
No other book like this Book; we should love it more and more.
No other book like this Book – let’s spread excitement round.
No other book like this Book: Be often in it found.
~LSC~ 10/10/10
From sermon by Bro. Tyler Austin
Text: II Chronicles 34:14-33

Art Thou a Master in Israel and Knowest Not These Things?

“Jesus…said unto him, Art thou a master in Israel, and knowest not these things?” Jn. 3:10

Such sad words these, this question asked by the Master. “Art thou a teacher, an instructor, yet know not the basic, fundamental things?” he seems to be saying. Surely God hath hid these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them unto babes. Ah! the sadness of a teacher knowing not how to lead men to the Light. And Nicodemus came to him by night, ashamed, to be seen seeking the Master. Yet he came to the right place for instruction, which it seems he was seeking. He came to the very source of wisdom and, lo, it was imparted to him. So it may be with us.
Perhaps Nicodemus came at night, not from shame, but because his heart burned within him to seek the Master. Perhaps he could not wait for morning, but must needs come immediately. Oh that it may be thus with us. We may come anytime, expecting wisdom to be imparted, expecting instruction and knowledge freely given.
Let us never be ashamed or hesitate to be taught of Christ, even if we are “masters”, teachers ourselves. But rather let us ever be anxious, eager, unable to wait, for the instruction and wisdom of our Saviour, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not.

Remember:

• Those who lost their lives in what was planned as a normal day: enjoy your loved ones.
• Those left behind to carry on

• Those who volunteer to fight for your freedom and safety and
• Those they leave behind.
• Those who stay behind supporting the champions of freedom
• Those who have been left behind by the ones who have made the ultimate sacrifice
• Those who, though home, continue to fight more desperate battles, and to whom the war will never be over.

• Our beloved country: may God bless her as we, individually, examine ourselves to see that we are on "blessing ground"

Earth's Love Cannot Compare

Earth’s sweetest love can ne’er compare

To the love with Him that we may share
No love down here can equal His
Nor fill us with this heavenly bliss.

Earth’s dearest love, as sweet can be,
Though held close and treasured now by me,
Can’t satisfy my soul’s deep need
Nor all my joys or sorrows heed.

Yet Love Divine gives me my joys
And it heals my pains, eases annoys;
When I abide in Him, complete,
This Love my every need doth meet.

Earth’s sweetest love, though sweet indeed,
Is yet not the love my soul doth need;
But fairer love, and sweeter still –
The love, of God – my heart doth fill.
~LSC~ 3/12 & 4/4/10

Mirroring Christ

“And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye shall be mine.” Lev. 20:26

There must be a separation in your heart and life if you are a child of God. He himself has done the severing and bought you with his precious blood, that you should come out from the world and be ye separate. God has called you to be a holy and peculiar people now, distinctly separate from the world in thought, feeling, appearance and action. Only in this way may we be his. The severing must happen in order for the possession to take place.

At times you may feel severed from everyone, but it is not so. Elijah was severed unto God, yet there were seven thousand others who had also been severed as well as he. Many times you may feel as if everyone thinks you strange; if you are sure that you are following God, praise him! You are a peculiar people and that is a blessing, not cause to pout under a juniper tree.

If you have been severed from other people, that you should be God’s, then God is all you have to cling to. Do not try to cling to, or even lightly hold, the world. Hold fast to Christ, cling to him; he is your all.

~Severed from the world, that you may cling to, and mirror, Christ~

Quotes from recent sermons

Here are some quotes I have copied from sermons recently; I hope they are a blessing to you. The first 2 quotes are from Kyle Melton, CA. The rest are from George Riddell, Urbana, OH.

• "The only alternative to trusting God is to worry"
• "Resting in the arms of God is better than worrying in the arms of flesh"
• "If you have doctrine without practical application, you have Corinthians --knowledge that puffs up does no good."
• "If you are not living for Christ, please do not tell anyone you are a Christian"
• "We don't need to keep up with the world, we need to keep up with the Word.
• "Scripture does not have a multitude of meanings, but it does have a multitude of applications.
• "If we're going to magnify Christ, we'd better get our feelings out of the way and just follow His Word."

Unanswered Prayers

“Unanswered prayer”: How oft it doth seem
That He to Whom our burden we bring
Doth ne’er take note of our request;
We’re spurned as uninvited guest.

“Unanswered prayer”: Yet worship Him still
For His loved voice shall faithful souls thrill.
Plead on and make your case to Him,
And worship, though with eyes tear-dimmed

“Unanswered prayer”: Yet surely He works,
Though out of sight. Let doubt never lurk.
Believe and trust; leave in His hands
Thy problem – He’ll loose its’ bands.

“Unanswered prayer”: But ask it again;
Let Him not go till blessing He sends,
Believing fully in His pow’r
To yet deliver in this hour.

“Unanswered prayer”: In His love now rest
For He shall do for thee what is best,
And He doth love thee far too true
For ought but good to give to you.
~Leah S. Carpenter March 12, 2010
from message by Bro. Hansard.
Text: Mt. 15:21-28

He Made It Again

“And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.” Jer. 18:4

I knew and loved this verse, yet I began to understand it a little more as I sat sewing one day. Being a quilter, I cannot bear to throw my old dresses out. I wear them until they are worn, frayed, mended and coming apart, but there is still useful material there, especially in the skirt. There is always usable material left though the dress is of no use in and of itself. So, I took one of my worthless dresses and made a smocked dress out of the skirt. I made it again into something useful and more beautiful than the original. Is that not what Christ does? We are worn and ugly, in the way and of no use. Then the Great Potter comes and makes us again into something lovely and useful to Him. Is it not wonderful to think of how he humbles himself to work with such clay!? He takes away the unusable material about us and makes us again, as it seems good to him. Resent not his cutting—I cut away the unneeded scraps, the worn, mended, patched pieces in order to make a new dress—just thank God that he chose to use and remake you, an unworthy vessel of mercy.

He Cannot Deny Himself

"If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself." 2 Timothy 2:13


What a tremendous truth is here! God is still God, still in total, complete, sovereign control as King of kings and Lord of lords, without our faith or belief in him. He can be nothing else. "He abideth faithful" because he is faithfulness itself.

And yet we doubt him. In the midst of a trial, we doubt his presence. In the midst of the storm, we doubt that he will calm the sea. In the midst of temptation, we doubt that he will succor us. In the midst of affliction, we doubt his grace. "Yet he abideth faithful." Trust God: he cannot deny himself--cannot be other than faithful. Believe in him: he is worthy.


Believe in God, for he is faithful,
Trust in God, for he is true,
He cannot deny himself:
He will always care for you.

The Sweetest Lady I Know: A Tribute

Emma M. Brown-Kirkman

Loaned to us October 1, 1922

Went Home to The Father on February 17, 2010

She’s the sweetest lady I believe I have ever met, and a role model for me. If ever I have wanted to be like someone, it is her. She had the sweetest voice, so soft and gentle, and a soft little laugh. I know I’ve heard her laugh many times, for she laughed easily (such a gentle, joyous—or sympathetic—laugh) but I don’t really remember her laugh very much: her constant, sweet smile overshadowed that for me. It seems to me that anyone who sees her smile cannot go away the same person they were before. She rarely said much, and what little she said was usually confined to kindly questions about you and your family, but she would sit or stand beside you holding your hand in silence that was sweet, like everything else about her. Usually, one has to be very familiar with someone to be comfortable with silence between them, but you never thought of it with Mrs. Kirkman—there was no such thing as discomfort with her. You knew instinctively that you could trust her fully, that she was understanding and full of love—the love God had placed in her heart which and she had cultivated. I watched her growing more frail as the years passed, and knew we wouldn’t have her much longer. She had been sickly for a while, and I grieved to hear it, and, for her, was anxious for her summons Home, but it is hard to think that it will seem so long to me before I see her again. I know it sounds trite to say that earth’s loss is heaven’s gain, but it seems so true in this case. Her angels were Gentleness and Love, and how they must rejoice to have her Home at last. And I am thankful that I had her on earth as a friend and example for a little while. Her memory will live on in my heart, and I pray that her example will be followed by me and many other women. Words and space cannot allow a proper tribute to her life, because her life was devoted to God. She and her dear husband are an inspiration to all who know them. Their outpouring of God’s love to all they come in contact with are a testimony of His greatness and mercy. Her husband was spreading God’s love at the funeral service just as he always has each time I have seen him, even when he is weak and ill. I thought of both of them as I read James 3:17 & 18 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

One Thing Is Needful

One thing is needful,
What will you choose:
A prize forever yours
Or what you will lose?

One thing is needful
To give you sweet life;
If too busy serving
There will be some strife.

One thing is needful—
Not rushing about,
Not being so busy
That His presence you’ll doubt.

One thing is needful:
To hear His sweet Word
And dwell in the Spirit
In peaceful accord.

One thing is needful:
Sit at His feet
And listen to His words
As with you He doth meet.
~Copyright 2009 by Leah S. Carpenter~
From Luke 10:38-42

Thoughts on the Classics

I enjoy some of the classics. That rather surprised me, as I had never read any of them until I was out of school, but I found a few I could read, and now I am trying to get more to read (Aren't libraries nice?). Robinson Crusoe captivated me with not only its' moral teachings, but its' language. We don't get books whose language is that rich anymore. One of my favorites thus far is Ben-Hur. However, it drives me nuts! Why? Because I always feel that there is more in it than I am getting ahold of. I keep reading it, and thinking about it, and I always come back to the same thing: "There is more there. I'm just not getting ahold of it." And I want to read it until I get more out of it.

Well, there is more to the Bible than I am getting out of it. Do I want to read until I get ahold of all that is there? Do I think about it, trying to discover all that a certain passage means? Talk about a REAL classic! And nothing in English is richer than the language of the King James' Version. And it is the only one we need to understand. And we do need to understand it. So let's try digging into The Word of God as much as we do other things.

And have a wonderful day with Jesus.

Leave the "What Ifs" With Jesus

Leave the "what ifs" with Jesus and walk in his way

Look not behind, but at each step of the way

Look not thou forward, nor worry, nor fear;

Leave "what ifs" with The Planner, for He holds you dear.

Leave the "what ifs" with Jesus and walk in his might.

'Tis not for his child to walk in such fright,

Or live in regret, ever in the post;

Leave the "what ifs" with Jesus that his peace may last.

Leave the "what ifs" with Jesus--'tis vain to regret

Or hurry or worry or spend strength to fret.

Look not on thy way, but follow thou his;

Leave the "what ifs" with Jesus, he can handle this.

Encouragement in Trials

"God does not test worthless souls."--Mrs. Charles E. Cowman

'"God never wastes his children's pain."--Mrs. Charles E. Cowman

He Taught Them Again

"And as [Jesus] was wont, he taught them again." Mark 10:1b

What sweet promise is here! How often in life do we need wisdom, knowledge, or understanding? How many dilemnas do we face? How many perplexities come across our path? Here is a place we may turn. Jesus makes a habit of teaching those who resort to him.

Do you desire scripture to be opened to you? Do you desire wisdom for circumstances in your life? Do you desire to know God's will in a particular matter? Resort to Jesus. Resort to him seeking his teaching in all readiness of mind. Open your heart to receive his blessed instruction.

"He taught them again" He is so patient. He knoweth that our frame is but dust and is longsuffering toward us. He will teach us again until we have learned all he would have us learn.

~Jesus makes a habit of teaching; do we make a habit of resorting?~

No Grace Held In Store

No grace for tomorrow, no grace for today,
No grace for the next little step of the way;
No grace for the future, no grace held in store,
Just grace for this moment, for we need no more.

No grace treasured up, no measure more given,
But grace enough for the moment in which you are living.
Humbly take the grace that for the moment He gives;
In His abundant grace victoriously live.

No grace held in store, but more than enough
To carry you through each moment, though rough.
Our Jesus gives fully the grace that we need
When through His blood His promise we plead.

~Leah S. Carpenter~

Another Favorite Quote

Did not God sometimes withhold in mercy what we ask, we should soon be ruined at our own request.
~Hannah More~

Greater Calm

"And he [Jesus] arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." Mark 4:39



How fearful, how trying the storms of life are, at times! How we cry out to the Master for deliverance. The tempest is upon us, all thy waves and thy billows are over us. We see no reprieve and, worse yet, we see no purpose in this storm. Where is the Master of the wind? Does he not care that we perish?

Then...he speaks. All is calm; a calm made greater by contrast. Here is the sweetness of the storm, on the more full appreciation of the calm. Ah! there was calm before the storm, was there not? Yet we did not notice. We failed to praise and thank the Master for that blessing which we now fully appreciate. The extreme fury of the storm made the calm, which we had before, seem great. But now our faith is bolstered and we trust in the Master of the wind and there is great calm in our souls.





Trust thru the storm,
Rest through the strife;
The Master is near,
He cares for your life.
In time he will speak
And quiet the sea,
In contrast of storm
Greater calm there will be.

Thou Preparest a Table

"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies..." Ps. 23:5a

Ah! How often we seek for deliverance from trials and temptations, eagerly looking for Christ to remove them for us. Often we believe that we won't have perfect peace amid trials or temptations and we long to be delivered. Or we believe that we will be taught by passing thru trials, not abiding in them. But here we have promised a King's table--The King's Table--in the presence of our enemies. Let us look, not for deliverance, but for sustance; not for a new promise--one of deliverance--but for fulfillment of a promise already given. Let us look, not for healing, but for grace; not for deliverance from temptation, but for strength to resist. We are not in the furnace alone, nor solitary in the lions' den, nor lonely thru the wilderness, for there is always One preparing a table for us.

~Seek not deliverance, but The King's table~

Poem: What Wait I For?

What Wait I For?

What wait I for but more of Thee,
Thou blessed Lamb of Calvary?
Come and in Thy fullness dwell;
Fleshly desires fully quell.

I hope in Thee, Thou Blessed Son;
Of hope Thou art the only one.
Waiting only now for Thee,
Waiting now Thy way to see.

What wait I for, Lover Divine,
But just to be now wholly Thine?
Take my heart and mold my will.
My hopes and dreams Thou dost fulfill.
(7/20/08)

He's Everything I Need

He's everything I need--nay, more.
Of joy and peace He is my store.
Forgiveness and cleansing He giveth to me;
How beautiful life, with Him, proves to be.

He's everything I need--Before
I ask He always offers more,
And every need He so ably fills
My heart He so sweetly, fully doth thrill.
(3/27/09)

Another Quote

"The best way to get the most out of life is to be faithful in the small things" (Bro. Roloff)

A Favorite Quote

Your "believiour" ought to affect your behaviour. (Brother Roloff)