Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ. Philippians 3:8 NLT

Jesus is the balancing point of life. He is the center of joy and giver of the peace that passes all understanding. He is at the heart of all contentment, and He is at the core of all completeness. He is the focal point of our faith and the epicenter from whom all blessings flow.

When Jesus is at the center of who you are it means you are at peace in His peace. You are at rest in His rest. His yoke is your yoke. His will is your delight. His plan is your pleasure.

When Jesus is at the center of what you do, it means you are content to go or stay, to have or have not, to possess or let go, to be active or quiet, to be recognized or unknown, to abound or be abased.

In all things and for all things you have Jesus. He is all wisdom, all power, all life, all love. To know Him, to treasure Him, and to have Him, is to gain all.

While place we seek, or place we shun,
The soul finds happiness in none;
But, with a God to guide our way,
‘Tis equal joy to go or stay.

Could I be cast where thou art not,
That were indeed a dreadful lot;
But regions none remote I call,
Secure of finding God in all.

I hold by nothing here below;
Appoint my journey and I go;
Though pierced by scorn, oppressed by pride,
I feel thee good—feel nought beside.

No frowns of men can hurtful prove
To souls on fire with heavenly love;
Though men and devils both condemn,
No gloomy days arise from them.

Ah, then! to his embrace repair;
My soul, thou art no stranger there;
There love divine shall be thy guard,
And peace and safety thy reward.

-Madam Gyon

Note: We recently posted the poem The Master Weaver’s Plan. At the time we listed it as “author unknown.” Since that time we have received information that the author was Benjamin Malachi Franklin 1882-1965. He wrote the poem in the late forties. It was first published in ‘The Memphis Commercial Appeal’ newspaper in 1950, per his grandson Bob Corley.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10 NKJV

Is there a trial you are facing, a difficulty you are walking through, a sorrow you are carrying, a burden you are bearing, or a heartache that is causing you pain?

You are not alone in these trying times or through these difficult circumstances. There is one alone who is a very present help in time of need. In Jesus you have a Warrior who has won the battle, a Champion who has defeated the foe, a Conqueror who will lead you in triumph.

He is your Light in the darkest night, your Companion in the deepest valley, your Guide through the densest forest, your Rock on the shakiest ground, your Shelter from the strongest storm, your Oasis in the driest desert, your Captain on the roughest seas.

He is Master, Savior, Healer, Deliverer, Shepherd, and Friend.  In His name is your strong and high tower. He is your security, your shelter, your shield.

Run to Jesus! Run to His name. Run to His love. Run to His care. Run to His strength. Run in faith. Run in confidence. Run with all your heart and be safe.

He may not tell you how He will care for you, but He does assure you that you will always be in His care—1 Peter 5:7

He may not tell you when He will answer your prayer, but He does assure you that it will be in His time and for His purpose—Ecclesiastes 3:1

He may not tell you where you will be in a few years, but He does assure you that He is leading you on the right path—Psalm 23:3

He may not tell you what He will use to shape and mold your life, but He does assure you that He is conforming you to the image of His Son—Romans 8:29

He may not tell you why you are going through certain difficulties and trials, but He does assure you that nothing will separate you from His love—Romans 8:37-39

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Thank you so much for the wonderful collection of quotes you sent in to Meet Me in the Meadow over the weekend. I was blessed, challenged, and inspired by so many of them. Let’s do it again soon. Look for another posting of “Great Quotes” later in the month.

My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. John 10:29 NKJV

The other day I was helping clean some valuable antiques that had gotten covered with soot from a house fire. I approached the cleaning job very carefully, making certain none of the pieces got damaged. The first piece was a tea pot with a floral design. I placed it in some warm, soapy water, rubbed it down with a wash cloth, and watched it clean up nicely.

The second piece was a pottery container with a removable lid. It was made in England and was over a hundred years old. I started with the container. After dipping it in the warm, soapy water and applying the wash cloth, the container began to sparkle. When I finished, I picked up the lid. “This should clean up easily,” I thought.

I put the lid through the same cleaning cycle as the tea pot and the container. The soot began to disappear. On the top of the lid was a small raised knob that was part of the design. As I put some pressure on it to wipe off the remaining soot, I felt it move in my hand. I couldn’t believe it! This lid, that had survived more than a hundred years of use, met its end while in the grip of my hands. I felt terrible.

When I began the cleanup project, I was excited to be able to bring these antiques “back to life.” Even though I tried my best to do a good job, and took extra care not to damage anything, I failed to deliver. It was a powerful reminder that even though we have the best of intentions and try our best to please, we can still fall short. None of us has the power to completely control the things we hold in our hands.

Like those antiques, our lives are fragile, but with a far, far greater value. Into whose hands can we place our lives? Who can we trust to keep and protect us? Many have taken the risk of placing their lives into the hands of someone they trusted, only to have that person fail them and leave their lives broken. When someone we’ve trusted fails us, it can be hard to trust again.

Regardless of what our experience has been with people, God calls us to trust Him. People fail. It is God alone who never fails. People err. It is God alone who does not make mistakes. People disappoint. It is God alone who remains faithful.

It is God alone who calls you to place your life fully in His hand. How awesome is God’s hand! His hand formed the heavens, touched and cured a leper, opened the eyes of one born blind, blessed the children, lifted the lame, washed the disciples’ feet, broke bread and fed a multitude.

It is in God’s hand alone that you will be kept, cared for, and protected. It is God alone who can say, “No one can pluck you out of my hand.”

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16 NKJV

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What is your destiny? Why did God create you and for what purpose are you here? Where do you find your completion and your fulfillment?

You will not find the answer to these needs in your ministry, job, or social status. Your completion is not found in any human relationship, and your fulfillment is not found in your work, how much you have, how much you are recognized, or how much you achieve.

Your destiny, your completion, and your fulfillment are found in Jesus! You were not created for yourself or your own pleasure. You we were made for Jesus and His pleasure. You are complete in Him! Your fulfillment is to know Him, walk with Him, fellowship with Him, delight in Him, enjoy Him, love Him, and serve Him. To have Him is to have the highest, the greatest, the wisest, the purest, and the best.

What a glorious, wondrous, marvelous destiny God has purposed, planned, and provided for you in Jesus.

“In Christ alone is the fulfillment of high destiny” J. Sidlow Baxter  

Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:17-19 NLT

He is not the God of the “half empty” or “half full” in our lives.
He is the God of the “exceeding abundantly above all we could ask or think.”
His will for us is not just “joy” but “great joy”…
Not just “peace” but “peace that passes understanding”…
Not just “love” but “fullness of love”…
Not just to be a conqueror, but to be “more than a conqueror.”
When He fills our cup, it is overflowing;
When He flows through us, it is as rivers of living water;
When He meets a need, He does it out of the riches that are in Christ.

Today’s posting is from Always Loved, a devotional book by Roy Lessin, available on dayspring.com