THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH

The Spirit of Truth

By Susie Hale and Susan Slade, 6/28/16

Everything the Father has is shared with Jesus the Son;

the Spirit has access to all of it because the three are One.

The Holy Spirit guides us in understanding truth.

I, for one, am thankful He has done this since my youth.

When Christ returned to Heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit

To reveal God’s way to us when we draw near to hear it.

As we immerse ourselves in God’s word and in prayer,

The Holy Spirit directs us and keeps us in God’s care.

He comforts us and strengthens us that we may be bold,

For the Spirit helps us share the news that truly is pure gold.

ACTS 4:29

Acts 4:29 Reaction

By Susie Hale on March 10, 1983

Lord, if the early church could pray

for boldness in persecution’s day

to speak Your word to all mankind;

then why can’t I just set my mind

to ask You for the Spirit’s power

to witness in this easy hour

in a country where I’m free to be

committed to You publicly?

Lord, grant me renewed desire

to share Your word and never tire

of leading other men to You.

To this my mission make me true.

Acts 4:29 (AMPC)

And now, Lord, observe their threats

and grant to Your bond servants [full freedom]

to declare Your message fearlessly,

Acts 4:29 (VOICE) And now, Lord,

take note of their intimidations intended to silence us.

Grant us, Your servants, the courageous confidence we need

to go ahead and proclaim Your message

PHILIPPIANS 2 POEM

Philippians 2 Poem – Susie Hale 1986

Jesus left His kingly throne;

Set aside His rightful glory.

As a tiny babe He came;

Yes, we know the Christmas story.

          But have you thought of what I meant

                For Him to come as just a baby?

        To rely on someone else

                To wrap Him in the swaddling clothes?

        To become not only man,

                But man in his most helpless state?

        Have you thought

                Of the humility this shows?

As He grew to be a man,

He obeyed His heavenly Father;

Then became the sacrifice

For there could not be another.

        But have you thought of what it meant

                For Him to walk to Calvary?

        To lie down for someone else

                To drive the nails into His hands?

        To obey God unto death,

                Not only death but cruelest torture?

        To humbly obey

                The Father’s plan?

The resurrected Christ,

Now restored to all His glory,

Asks of us not just to tell

But to live each day His story.

        Have you thought of what it means

                For us to be like-minded?

        To follow His example

                And to have the mind of Christ?

        To esteem all others better

                Than ourselves and be as servants?

        Next to what He’s done for me

                     It seems a minor sacrifice.

NO GREATER LOVE

No Greater Love

Jesus had told His disciples

He would call them servants no more.

He shared the Father’s intent with them;

They were beloved friends He adored.

And then He explained the measure

Of His love for these intimate brothers

That He would willingly give His life

For them and so many others.

Jesus laid down His life for me,

A sinner He chose to befriend.

No greater love story has ever been known

Than the one Jesus lived and John penned. 

A BRANCH ON GOD'S VINE

A Branch on God’s Vine

I am a branch in God’s vine, Jesus.

I must remain attached.

I cannot function as I should

If I become detached.

As a vine gets nutrients from the sap,

The Holy Spirit flows through me.

He nourishes and gives me strength

To be what Christ wants me to be.

Any accomplishment I achieve

Is truly due to Jesus Christ

For He is the source of my energy

He is the giver of life.

The Father tends this living vine,

Waters, prunes, and feeds.

Since I am a branch in God’s vine,

I know He will meet all my needs.

LEGACY OF PEACE

Legacy of Peace

          Jesus gives us perfect peace. His peace is not dependent upon circumstances. We can have His peace in the middle of chaos because God is amazing, He’s awesome, He’s all-powerful. It is an all-consuming peace that envelopes the believer like a father’s arms fold around a frightened child. Stuff is still going on but the child feels safe in daddy’s embrace.

          There is a famous painting titled “Peace in the Midst of the Storm” by Jack E. Dawson.  There are several hidden images in it, but the best known is a perfect illustration of the peace that Jesus left as a legacy to all who would believe. In the middle of a violent storm with crashing waves, a white bird (dove?) has found quiet refuge in a cleft of the rocky cliff. The bird is completely undisturbed even though the world seems to be swirling around it.

          The peace the Lord grants us is not an absence of trouble but confidence that God will see us through the storm. Jesus does not take away every uncomfortable or even painful experience, but He does enable us to be calm and peaceful not just after a trial but during it. Do you have this kind of peace? It is available to all who trust in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior. 

OUR DWELLING PLACE

Jesus is eternal,

          Our dwelling place forever.

But where is it that we’re going?

          Toward what do we endeavor?

If it is security

          That mankind strives to find,

Just think on God’s stability.

          Let His peace fill your mind.

Man’s life is but a moment

          As upon this earth he lives,

But he can live forever

          Through Christ who loves and forgives.

Some people live for now,

          Get all they can today;

Then wonder what it all was for

          When life begins to fade away.

There really is a purpose

          For life upon this earth.

God shows to man the reason

          When man receives rebirth.

Jesus is eternal.

       The reason for each day

Should be to live each moment

          In preparation for the way

That Jesus Christ will lead

          As we walk upon these roads.

Trust in his ability

             To lighten all life’s loads.

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

I know the way to where my Jesus lives,

For He has told me in the Word that He gives.

Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, says the Lord.

To get to the Father, we must all heed these words.

He goes to prepare a place for those who believe.

Therefore, he’ll come again the saved to receive.

We will then swell within the mansions of His home.

Forever to be with God and never to roam.

Jesus, the only way to Heave above;

Jesus, who holds the key to peace and to love;

Sent the Holy Spirit who abides now in me

Preparing me every day the Lord’s face to see. 

PRAYER

My Prayer

By Susie Hale on May 15, 1982

Thank You, Lord, for Christian friends,

People who really care,

People who take the time to listen

When I have a burden to share.

Thank You for brothers and sisters

Who reach out to give so much,

Who are sensitive to my needs,

Who will give me a smile or a touch.

Thank You for the blessing

Of our Christian family,

Friends who can comfort when I am down

Or when happy, rejoice with me.

Help me to be the sister-friend

That each of them needs to know.

Show me the ways that I can help them.

Through me, may Your love show.

KNOWN BY LOVE

When we begin to show our love

the way that Jesus would,

to forget ourselves and focus in

on others as we should;

When we begin to love our brothers

and sisters in the Lord

and do for them what we’d like done for us

according to God’s word;

When we are truly more concerned

about our brother’s needs

and help him through agape love

and not for praise of deeds;

Then the world will see this love

that cannot come from man,

and we can bear witness love comes from God

and tell them of His plan.

By Susie Hale, July 15, 1982

FOOT WASHING

Not Just Washing Feet

Humbly He washed the disciples’ feet,

The God of the universe stooping low,

Their master clothed in servant’s garb,

His intense love Jesus wanted to show.

If the One who created everything

Could wash those smelly, dusty feet,

They should be willing to do the same

to share His love, His work to complete.

His example was not limited to bathing feet,

His intent was that we be continually serving,

To be humble enough to do lowly tasks

Even for those who seem undeserving.

For those who would lead in the Kingdom of God

Must learn to be servants to one another

In Jesus’ name with a joyful heart

Ministering faithfully to sister and brother.

ABOVE THE CIRCUMSTANCES

By Susie Hale

March 20, 1982

Notes on devotional talk by Carol Ann Draper

Even when the sun is blocked from my sight,

Through Christ I know I am still in the light.

When clouds of circumstance drift about,

I can rise above them if I do not doubt.

When I look at the Lord instead of the problems,

They won’t defeat me; the Lord will solve them.

He does not take circumstances away

But gives victory over them every day.

He uses the direst of problems we know

To bring us to Him, His love to show.

THE BLOOD

I Will Continue to Talk About His Blood

By Susie Hale – March 24, 1982

“Let’s not talk about the blood,” they say,

“That turns off the people of today.”

But don’t they know it’s the only way

to know the God, who His own Son did slay?

God sent Christ to die in our place.

The blood that He shed provides God’s grace

to save us from hell to Heaven and God’s face.

It covers our sin and leaves not a trace.

If it had not been for the blood Jesus shed

from His hands, His feet, His side, His head;

if He had not died then arose from the dead,

there would be no hope. There’d be only dread.

So I’ll think of His precious blood and I’ll sing.

I’ll rejoice in Him and praises I’ll bring.

To tell of His blood glorifies Christ the King.

To receive its power is a wonderful thing.

I’ll thank the Lord that He died for me.

I’ll tell others about Him and pray they will see

that the blood of the Lamb can set them free.

The blood brings the greatest joy there can be.

I’ll continue to talk about his blood without shame.

I’ll sing the Lord’s praises for taking my blame

He died in my place, and I’ll never be the same.

I love Him, I’ll praise Him and glorify His name.