ANOINTING WITH OIL FOR HEALING

It bothers me that when someone is anointed with oil for healing they are basically rubbed on the forehead with a finger that has been pressed onto an oily pad or else had a drop of oil put on it. This bothers me because I have a feeling that this is not the meaning of the word 'to anoint' in the Bible.  I have a feeling that the true meaning and therefore the proper practice would be to pour a quantity of oil over the one who is to be healed so that it runs down over them.  From what I remember reading of when people were anointed in the Bible (Old Testament anyway) this is what was done. I have one of those gut feelings that if people did it this way then healings would occur, maybe even immediately.

I suppose all that remains now is for me to study it and see for sure what it really means to be anointed. I'll add it to the list of the others things I think I should study!

Where the Rubber Meets the Road

God gets jealous when we don't abide (remain, continue or stay) in him.

1John 4v14-15 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God

James 4:4 Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 
James 4:5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

Deu_31:6Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."

Deu_31:8It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed."
Jos_1:5No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.

1Ki_8:57The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers. May he not leave us or forsake us,

1Ch_28:20Then David said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.

Heb_13:5Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

On PRAYER:
Occasionally, God's silences are His Answers - is that okay with us?
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On SILENCE:
- - ALL Hear Silence! Most run from it, terrified. Many rail at it, contemptuously. Others wander about whining. God Speaks and also Hushes. ***The fear of silence is but another symptom of a soul running from an Encounter with Divinity.***

- - 'There are three kinds of silence. Silence from words is good, because inordinate speaking tends to evil. Silence, or rest from desires and passions is still better, because it promotes quietness of spirit.

But the best of all is silence from unnecessary and wandering thoughts, because that is essential to internal recollection, and because it lays a foundation for a proper reputation and for silence in other respects.'

...Madam Guyon, [1648-1717], French, Christian 'Mystic'
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'It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little. Do what you can!' --Sydney Smith


'Rebellion against your handicaps gets you nowhere. Self-pity gets you nowhere. One must have the adventurous daring to accpet oneself as a bundle of possibilities and undertake the most interesting game in the world - making the most of one's best!' --Harry Emerson Fosdick"
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On ZEAL:
Let us take heed we do not sometimes call that
'zeal for God and His gospel' which is nothing else
but our own tempestuous and stormy passion.
True zeal is a sweet, heavenly, and gentle flame,
which makes us active for God--but always within
the sphere of love. It never calls for fire from heaven
to consume those who differ a little from us. It
strives to save the soul--but hurts not the body.
True zeal is a loving thing, and makes us always
active to edification, and not to destruction. --Cudworth, 1647.
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POEM

"It is His Will that I should cast my cares on Him each day; He also tells me not to cast my confidence away --

But oh!, how foolishly I act, when taken unawares; I cast away my confidence, and carry all my cares!"

--Anonomous
(worry is sin against trust, which is mutiny against Love)
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"I thank God for my handicaps, for, through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God!"

--Helen Keller
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On FAITH

"There is no way of learning Faith except by trial. It is God's school of faith and it is far better for us to learn to trust God than to enjoy life." From Streams in the Desert vol 1 March 7th.

"Faith grows but by exercise in circumstance impossible" Miss Mary Butterfield (From Streams in the Desert vol 1 March 9th.)

Things to do ALWAYS

Luk 18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to teach them that they should always pray and never become discouraged. GOOD NEWS BIBLE

1Co 15:58 Therefore, my dear brethren, be firm, unmovable, busily occupied at all times in the Lord's work, knowing that your toil is not fruitless in the Lord. WEYMOUTH NT

Gal 4:18 But it is right to be zealous at all times in what is right, and not only when I am present with you. DARBY

Eph 5:20 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, always give thanks for everything to God the Father. GOOD NEWS BIBLE

Php 4:4 Always be glad because of the Lord! I will say it again: Be glad. CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION.

Col 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. ESV

1Th 5:15 And beware, lest any of you return evil for evil, but always follow good deeds, towards one another, and towards all men. MURDOCK

1Th 5:16 Be rejoicing always! ANALYTICAL-LITERAL TRANSLATION

TODAY'S EXCERPT:

What are life's unnumber'd cares
Sorrow, torment, passing measure?
O'er my short-lived pains and fears
Surely ruleth Thy good pleasure.
Boundless is Thy Love for me
Boundless then my trust shall be.

from a Hymn the first line of which begins: Love of love and Light of light.

TODAY'S EXCERPTS:

The surrender to a full obedience to all His will is the secret to full access to all the blessings of His fellowship.

From Waiting On God chapter 12 by Andrew Murray. The text for this chapter was Psalm 37:34 - Wait on (or, 'with') the LORD and keep His Way and He shall exalt you to inherit the land... (KJV).

You must be crucified not only in desires and habits which are sinful but in many more which appear innocent and right.

From entry from Streams in the Desert for 21st September which was itself taken from 'In the Hour of Silence'. The text for this entry was Philippians 3:8 - I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord (KJV).

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

But the pains which he endured, Alleluia!
our salvation have procured, Alleluia!
now above the sky he's King, Alleluia!
where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

Easter Hymn (Lyra Davidica, 1708;
arranged by William Henry Monk, 1823-1889)


6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 PETER 5 (KJV)

JESUS CHRIST PROMISES:

Mat 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Mat 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Blessed are they who observe justice,
who do righteousness at all times!

PSALM 106:3 RSV


O Lord, enlarge our scanty thought
To know the wonders thou hast wrought;
Unloose our stammering tongues, to tell
Thy love immense, unsearchable.

What are our works but sin and death,
Till thou thy quickening Spirit breathe?
Thou giv'st the power thy grace to move:
O wondrous grace! O boundless love!

How can it be, thou heavenly King,
That thou shouldst us to glory bring;
Make slaves the partners of thy throne,
Decked with a never-fading crown?

Hence our hearts melt, our eyes o'erflow,
Our words are lost; nor will we know,
Nor will we think of aught beside,
My Lord, my Love is crucified!

First-born of many brethren thou;
To thee, lo! all our souls we bow;
To thee our hearts and hands we give;
Thine may we die, thine may we live!

Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf, 1700-60 (verse1);
Johann Nitschmann, 1712-83 (verses2-4);
Anna Nitschmann, 1715-60 (verse5);
tr. by John Wesley, 1703-91.

I bring my sins to Thee,
The sins I cannot count,
That all may cleansed be
In Thy once opened Fount;
I bring them Saviour, all to Thee;
The burden is too great for me.

I bring my griefs to Thee,
The grief I cannot tell;
No words shall needed be,
Thou knowest all so well;
I bring the sorrow laid on me,
O loving Saviour, all to Thee.

My joys to Thee I bring,
The joys Thy love has given,
That cause me here to sing
And make me think of heaven,
I bring them, Saviour, all to Thee,
Who hast procured them all for me.

My life I bring to Thee,
I would not be my own;
O Saviour, let me be
Thine ever, Thine alone,
My heart, my life, my all I bring
To Thee, my Saviour and my King.

By Frances Ridley Havergal, 1836-79

For the beauty of the earth,
for the beauty of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies,
Refrain:
Christ our God, to thee we raise
this our sacrifice of praise.

For the beauty of each hour
of the day and of the night,
hill and vale, and tree and flower,
sun and moon, and stars of light, Refrain

For the joy of ear and eye,
for the heart and brain's delight,
for the mystic harmony
linking sense to sound and sight, Refrain

For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth, and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild, Refrain
For each perfect gift of thine
to our race so freely given,
graces human and divine,
flowers of earth and buds of heaven, Refrain

For thy Bride that evermore
lifteth holy hands above,
offering up on every shore
this pure sacrifice of love, Refrain

For the martyrs' crown of light,
for thy prophets' eagle eye,
for thy bold confessors' might,
for the lips of infancy, Refrain

For thy virgins' robes of snow,
for thy maiden Mother mild,
for thyself, with hearts aglow,
Jesus,Victim undefiled, Refrain

---

Words: Folliot Sandford Pierpoint, 1864

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

by Charles Wesley, 1707-88

Jesus, my Strength, my Hope,
On Thee I cast my care,
With humble confidence look up,
And know Thou hear’st my prayer.
Give me on Thee to wait
Till I can all things do;
On Thee, almighty to create,
Almighty to renew.

I want a sober mind,
A self-renouncing will,
That tramples down and casts behind
The baits of pleasing ill;
A soul inured to pain,
To hardship, grief, and loss,
Bold to take up, firm to sustain
The consecrated cross.

I want a godly fear,
A quick discerning eye
That looks to Thee when sin is near
And sees the tempter fly;
A spirit still prepared
And armed with jealous care,
Forever standing on its guard
And watching unto prayer.

I want a heart to pray,
To pray and never cease,
Never to murmur at Thy stay,
Or wish my sufferings less.
This blessing, above all,
Always to pray, I want,
Out of the deep on Thee to call,
And never, never faint.

I want a true regard,
A single, steady aim,
Unmoved by threat’ning or reward
To Thee and Thy great Name.
A jealous, just concern
For Thine immortal praise;
A pure desire that all may learn
And glorify Thy grace.

I rest upon Thy Word;
The promise is for me;
My comfort and salvation, Lord,
Shall surely come from Thee.
But let me still abide,
Nor from my hope remove,
Till Thou my patient spirit guide
Into Thy perfect love.

I want with all my heart
Thy pleasure to fulfill,
To know myself, and what Thou art,
And what Thy perfect will.
I want I know not what,
I want my wants to see,
I want—alas! what want I not,
When Thou art not in me?

Words by Charles Wesley

1Jo 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

1Jo 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

O Love, who formedst me to wear
The image of Thy Godhead here;
Who soughtest me with tender care
Thro’ all my wanderings wild and drear;
O Love, I give myself to Thee,
Thine ever, only Thine to be.

O Love, who ere life’s earliest dawn,
On me Thy choice hast gently laid;
O Love, who here as Man wast born,
And wholly like to us wast made;
O Love, I give myself to Thee,
Thine ever, only Thine to be.

O Love, who once in time wast slain,
Pierced through and through with bitter woe;
O Love, who wrestling thus didst gain
That we eternal joy might know;
O Love, I give myself to Thee,
Thine ever, only Thine to be.

O Love, of whom is truth and light,
The Word and Spirit, life and power,
Whose heart was bared to them that smite,
To shield us in our trial hour:
O Love, I give myself to Thee,
Thine ever, only Thine to be.

O Love, who thus hast bound me fast
Beneath that easy yoke of Thine;
Love, who hast conquered me at last,
Enrapturing this heart of mine—
O Love, I give myself to Thee,
Thine ever, only Thine to be.

O Love, who lovest me for aye,
Who for my soul dost ever plead;
O Love, who didst that ransom pay
Whose power sufficeth in my stead;
O Love, I give myself to Thee,
Thine ever, only Thine to be.

O Love, who once shalt bid me rise
From out this dying life of ours;
O Love, who once o’er yonder skies
Shalt set me in the fadeless bowers;
O Love, I give myself to Thee,
Thine ever, only Thine to be.

Johann Scheffler, 1624 - 77;
Tr. by Catherine Winkworth, 1829 - 78.

Jesus, still lead on, till our rest be won,
And, although the way be cheerless,
We will follow calm and fearless,
Guide us by Thy hand to our fatherland.

If the way be drear, if the foe be near,
Let no faithless fears o’ertake us,
Let not faith and hope forsake us,
For through many a woe to our home we go.

When we seek relief from a long felt grief;
When temptations come alluring,
Make us patient and enduring;
Show us that bright shore where we weep no more.

Jesus, still lead on, till our rest be won;
Heavenly Leader, still direct us,
Still support, control, protect us,
Till we safely stand in our fatherland.

Amen.

Nicolaus Ludwig Von Zinzendorf, 1700-60;
tr. by Jane Laurie Borthwick [H.L.L], 1813-97.

Hear the tune of the above hymn here: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/s/jstilllo.htm

Grace and Glory

Most of us have probably heard that we have all sinned and come short or fall short of the Glory of God (Romans 3:23) and I think most of us are willing to admit it. How many of us have heard that we are to look diligently lest we fail (same word translated as come short in Rom 3:23) of the Grace of God??? Do you think this could happen through neglecting our salvation???

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; KJV

Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; KJV

Heb 2:1 We must give our full attention to what we were told, so that we won't drift away.
Heb 2:2 The message spoken by angels proved to be true, and all who disobeyed or rejected it were punished as they deserved.
Heb 2:3 So if we refuse this great way of being saved, how can we hope to escape? The Lord himself was the first to tell about it, and people who heard the message proved to us that it was true. CEV

Lord God, I don't want to miss out on the Grace you have given me, please help me to walk worthy of it and attain to the Resurrection to Life Eternal. Amen.

1John 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. KJV.

What does it mean to call you Lord of my life if I ignore the things that you say.

Jesus Christ: God's Man and man's God!

Psa 85:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. LORD, thou hast been favorable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
Psa 85:2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
Psa 85:3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.
Psa 85:4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
Psa 85:5 Wilt thou be angry with us forever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
Psa 85:6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
Psa 85:7 Show us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.
Psa 85:8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
Psa 85:9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
Psa 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Psa 85:11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
Psa 85:12 Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.
Psa 85:13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.

Come down, O love divine, seek Thou this soul of mine,
And visit it with Thine own ardor glowing.
O Comforter, draw near, within my heart appear,
And kindle it, Thy holy flame bestowing.

O let it freely burn, til earthly passions turn
To dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
And let Thy glorious light shine ever on my sight,
And clothe me round, the while my path illuming.

Let holy charity mine outward vesture be,
And lowliness become mine inner clothing;
True lowliness of heart, which takes the humbler part,
And o’er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.

And so the yearning strong, with which the soul will long,
Shall far outpass the power of human telling;
For none can guess its grace, till he become the place
Wherein the Holy Spirit makes His dwelling.

Bianco Da Siena

Lord, I'm not much of a singer at all, or a musician or a song writer! Help me to appreciate skillful vocalists and musicians and song writers and to enjoy the gift you have given them to share with us. Bless my Brethren that have these gifts and cause them to increase in skill to the Glory of Your Name, Amen. Save even Lord, souls that have these gifts from you but do not Know you as Saviour and Lord - Holy Spirit move amongst communities and individuals with these talents to convict them of their sins and of the Truth of the Gospel so that they might Repent! Amen.