100 Sermon Illustrations on Dedication

Legendarily tough and hard-drinking reporter Don McKay of the Daily Star (London tabloid) once got an exclusive interview with Pope John Paul II. He got the help of a man in a wheelchair who was waiting in a crowd for the pope’s blessing. McKay rolled the man’s chair forward, only to shove the invalid out of the way when they reached the pope. “He never came back without the story.”

On another occasion a small town in Spain planned to celebrate a festival by taking a local donkey and piling as many riders as possible on its back at once, beginning with the village’s fattest man. A rival paper launched a crusade to save the donkey from being crushed to death. Unfortunately, McKay found Blackie’s owner and bought the beast before the rival could carry out its own rescue plan. The Star had a one-word headline for its coup: GOTCHA!

#379

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The late Sam Shoemaker stated, "To be a Christian means to give as much of myself as I can to as much of Jesus Christ as I know."

Joan Ganz Cooney, head of Children's Television Network, said this:

“Most people who call themselves Christian would not follow Jesus if he returned today. His teachings were, after all, very radical - love your enemies, turn the other cheek, shelter the homeless, feed the hungry ... I am not strong enough to be a true follower. A true follower, I believe, would have to take a vow of poverty. Jesus was quite clear on that point.”

________

From “Context,” 4/1/88

Read by Ledgewood Baptist Sunday School superintendent Pam Freund:

"The attendance at Sunday morning worship shows the popularity of the church.

The attendance at Sunday evening study shows the popularity of the preacher.

But the attendance at prayer meeting shows the popularity of Jesus."

When Bill Veeck, perhaps the most creative promoter that baseball has ever seen, bought the Chicago White Sox in 1975, he hired as coach Minnie Minoso, who starred for the Sox as well as other teams in the 40's, 50's and 60's. Always one for crowd-pleasing events, Veeck decided a year later to play Minoso, who was in his fifties, in several games.

Mike Veeck, Bill's son, recalls seeing Minoso bat in one of those games. "He hit a ground ball, a pitiful, routine, groundball with such a passion, with such a pride. It was stirring, inspirational, just to see him run. The fans gave him a standing ovation."

Minnie Minoso gave it his all, and in so doing made a ground out more inspiring and more significant for others than a home run.

The greatest speech in American history is Lincoln's Gettysburg address:

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met here on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of it as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But in a larger sense we can not dedicate - we can not consecrate - we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but can never forget what they did here.

It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they have, thus far, so nobly carried on. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion -that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom; and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

(John Hay draft)

Christians need to remind themselves of the determined commitment of the true disciple of Jesus Christ. A young pastor in Zimbabwe has the following tacked up on his wall:

I am part of the fellowship of the un-ashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of His. I will not look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight-walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotion, or popularity. I do not have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and labor by power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven. My road is narrow, my way rough, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not give up, shut up, or let up. I will go on until He comes, and work until He stops me.

I am a disciple of Jesus.

________

From "Commitment as a Christian," a tract by Bob Morehead for "Hands for Christ," Roanoke, Virginia

A young man was very excited because he just won a ticket to the Super Bowl. His excitement lessened as he realized his seat was in the back of the stadium. As he searched the rows ahead of him for a better seat, he found an empty one right next to the field. He approached the man sitting next to the empty seat and asked if it was taken. The man replied, "No." Amazed the young man asked, "How could someone pass up a seat like this?"

The older gentleman responded, "That's my wife's seat. We've been to every Super Bowl together since the day we were married but she has passed away."

"Oh, how sad," the young man said. "I'm sorry to hear that, but couldn't you find a friend or relative to come with you?"

"No," the man said, "they're all at the funeral."

Series in Malachi. Communion Malachi 1:6-11

HOW TO HONOR GOD

================

I. The "I love you" computer infection.

II. God loves us.

A. A statement of his love.

B. God's defense: Jacob and Esau.

C. Does God hate people?

III. Do we love God? 1:13

A. Lip-service is popular.

B. God deserves more. 1:10

C. How can we love God? 1:6

IV. God deserves our best.

A. Jews tried to cut corners.

B. We do the same. 1:8

V. How to honor God with our best.

A. The example of medieval Christians.

B. Areas where we can give our best.

VI. God is G-R-E-A-T!!

A. He is not limited to our little corner of the world. 1:11

B. Each person can acknowledge the greatness of God.

*

"Quit!" "Give up, you're beaten," they shout and plead there's just

too much against you now, this time you can't succeed. And as I start to hang my head in front of failure's face, my downward

fall is broken by the memory of a race. And hope refills my weakened will as I recall that scene, for just the

thought of that short race rejuvenates my being. A children's race, young boys, young men; how I remember well,

excitement sure, but also fear, it wasn't hard to tell. They all lined up so full of hope, each thought to win that race or

tie for first, or if not that, at least take second place. Their fathers watched from off the side, each cheering for his son,

and each boy hoped to show his dad that he would be the one. The whistle blew and off they went, young hearts and hopes of fire, to

win, to be the hero there, was each young boy's desire. One boy in particular, his dad was in the crowd, was running near the

lead and thought "My dad will be so proud." But as he speeded down the field across a shallow dip, the little boy

who thought to win, lost his step and slipped. Trying hard to catch himself, his hands, flew out to brace, and mid

the laughter of the crowd he fell flat on his face. So, down he fell and with him hope, he couldn't win it now.

Embarrassed, sad, he only wished to disappear somehow. But as he fell his dad stood up and showed his anxious face, which to

the boy so clearly said, "Get up and win that race!"

He quickly rose, no damage done, behind a bit that's all, and ran with

all his mind and might to make up for his fall. So anxious to restore himself, to catch up and to win, his mind went

faster than his legs, he slipped and fell again.

He wished that he had quit before with one disgrace. "I'm hopeless as

a runner now, I shouldn't try to race." But, in the laughing crowd he searched and found his father's face,

that steady look that said again, "Get up and win that race!"

So he jumped up to try again, ten yards behind the last, if I'm going

to gain those yards, he thought, I've got to run real fast. Exceeding

everything he had, he regained eight or ten, but trying so hard to

catch the lead, he slipped and fell again.

Defeat! He lay there silently, a tear dropped from his eye, there's no

sense running anymore -- three strikes I'm out -- why try? The will to rise had disappeared, all hope had fled away, so far

behind, so error prone, closer all the way.

"I've lost, so what's the use," he thought, "I'll live with my

disgrace." But then he thought about his dad, who soon he'd have to

face. "Get up," an echo sounded low. "Get up and take your place. You were

not meant for failure here, get up and win that race."

With borrowed will, "Get up," it said, "you haven't lost at all, for

winning is not more than this; to rise each time you fall." So, up he rose to run once more, and with a new commit, he resolved

that win or lose, at least he wouldn't quit.

So far behind the others now, the most he'd ever been, still he gave

it all he had and ran as though to win. Three times he'd fallen stumbling, three times he rose again. Too far

behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end. They cheered the winning runner as he crossed, first place; head high

and proud and happy -- no falling, no disgrace. But, when the fallen youngster crossed the line, last place, the crowd

gave him the greater cheer for finishing the race. And even though he came in last with head bowed low, unproud, you

would have thought he'd won the race, to listen to the crowd. And to his dad he sadly said, "I didn't do so well." "To me, you won,"

his father said. "You rose each time you fell." And now when things seem dark and hard and difficult to face, the

memory of that little boy helps me in my own race. For all of life is like that race, with ups and downs and all. And

all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall. "Quit!" "Give up, you're beaten," they still shout in my face, but

another voice within me says, "Get up and win that race." Family Times

Wilma didn't get much of a head start in life. A bout with polio left

her left leg crooked and her foot twisted inward so she had to wear

leg braces. After seven years of painful therapy, she could walk without her

braces. At age 12 Wilma tried out for a girls basketball team, but

didn't make it. Determined, she practiced with a girlfriend and two

boys every day. The next year she made the team. When a college track

coach saw her during a game, he talked her into letting him train her

as a runner. By age 14 she had outrun the fastest sprinters in the

U.S. In 1956 Wilma made the U.S. Olympic team, but showed poorly. That

bitter disappointment motivated her to work harder for the 1960

Olympics in Rome--and there Wilma Rudolph won three gold medals, the

most a woman had ever won. Today in the Word, Moody Bible Institute, Jan, 1992, p.10

In Matthew Henry's _Commentary_, in his notes on \reference{Acts

11}{Acts 11}, he makes this rather profound statement. "The Word of God was preached to them, which was a greater honor than

they had expected. Thus often are the prejudices of pride and bigotry

held fast against the clearest discoveries of divine truth. It was

enetertained and submitted to by them, which was a better work wrought

upon them then they expected. The looked upon them as not inclined to

religion, and were therefore surprised to hear that they had received

the Word of the Lord. We are too apt to despair of doing good to those

who yet, when they are tried, prove very tractable."

A young pastor visited the church where Robert Murray McCheyne had ministered. The pastor was taken around by the custodian to see the church where McCheyne had preached. The custodian took him into a little room and there was a little stool. The old custodian said, “Sir, You see that stool?” The young man thought, well that’s strange, to show me a little stool. The old custodian said, “That’s the stool where Pastor McCheyne would kneel and weep before he’d ever preach.” Then he took him into the pulpit and the pastor saw this great Bible in the pulpit. He saw that it was all watered and stained and he said, “Well, what is all this on the Bible? The custodian said, “Well, that’s the tears that Brother McCheyne would shed while he preached.” He is dead but he is still moving lives.

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Another version from SermonCentral.com, February 12, 2007:

Years ago a young minister visited Dundee, Scotland, deeply concerned that his ministry was producing such meager results. He decided to visit the scene where years before Robert Murray McCheyne had ministered in such evident power of the Spirit of God. McCheyne died at the age of 30, but not before God used him to turn Scotland upside down. The visitor asked the old sexton at St. Peter’s if he could tell him the secret of the amazing influence of Robert McCheyne. The old man led the young minister into the vestry. “Sit down there,” he said. “Now put your elbows on the table.” He did so. “Yes, that was the way McCheyne used to do it,” said the old man. “Now put your face in your hand.” The visitor obeyed. “Now let the tears flow! That was the way McCheyne used to do!” said the sexton.

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EXPLORE THE PSALMS, Vol. 2, John Phillips, 1988, pages 478-9; contributed by Gene Gregory

The Koh-i-nor diamond is among the most spectacular in the world. Queen Victoria received it as a gift from a maharajah when he was a lad. Later as a grown man this maharajah visited Queen Victoria again. He requested that the stone be brought from the Tower of London to Buckingham Palace. The maharajah took the diamond and, kneeling before the Queen, gave it back to her, saying, "Your Majesty, I gave this jewel when I was a child, too young to know what I was doing. I want to give it to you again in the fullness of my strength, with all of my heart and affection, and gratitude, now and forever, fully realizing all that I do."

As believers in Jesus Christ, we need to reiterate those words offering again our lives to Jesus Christ: "I want to give You back my life, Lord Jesus, that I gave You several years ago. I want to give it again to You with gratitude, fully cognizant of all that I am doing."

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Another version from David Jeremiah:

Queen Victoria received the stunning Kohinoor Diamond as a gift from a maharajah when he was a boy. Later as a grown man this maharajah visited Queen Victoria again and asked for the stone. Taking the diamond and kneeling, the maharajah gave it to the Queen again, saying, “Your Majesty, I gave you this jewel when I was a child, too young to know what I was doing. I want to give it to you again in the fullness of my strength, with all my heart and affection and gratitude, now and forever, fully realizing all that I do.”

David Jeremiah observes, “Many Christians gave their hearts to Jesus as a child, but how wonderful to come with greater knowledge and maturity and to say, ‘I know I’m Yours, but I want to be Yours with all my heart and affection, fully realizing all that I do.’

“Sometimes we need to renew our vows to Him, just as Peter did following the Resurrection. Sacrificing for God is worth it, and a renewed commitment is like a fresh start with a tried and true Friend.” (Turning Point Daily Devotional, 1/12/07)

[see also HolwickID #17247]

A mother was teaching her child to pray. When he got to the part,

"I surrender everything to Thee, everything I own," he abruptly broke

off and whispered to himself, "except my baby rabbit."

Robert LeTourneau, successful businessman and consecrated Christian, tells of an early experience when he had little capital to set up manufacturing for himself. He sold some patents on machinery to a man. Then this man asked him what wages he would ask to enter his service as an employee. LeTourneau was not too eager to do this, so named a price that was high. The man accepted him at once. Then he said, “You have some machinery in that little shop of yours, haven't you?” And when LeTourneau assented, his new employer told him, “Make a list of every piece of machinery you have, together with the amount you would be willing to take for it.” LeTourneau did so and, when he presented it to the business executive in his office, he was handed a check for the entire amount, as the businessman said, “All your equipment is mine now.”

Mr. LeTourneau adds: “I said to myself, This man is a keen business executive. Why did he buy me out? I did not have to study very long before the answer became clean to me. I had been engaged to give my undivided attention to his affairs, and he did not want me to return to my old interests. The experience taught me a great lesson: God demands that we sell out to Him. We must have no side issues.”

________

W.W. Clay, “Choice Illustrations,” pg. 77-78

When Dr. David Livingstone was working in Africa, a group of friends wrote him: "We would like to send other men to you. Have you found a good road into your area yet?" According to a member of his family, Dr. Livingstone sent this message in reply: "If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all."

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Another version from SermonCentral.com:

THE CHRISTIAN PATH

David Livingstone went to darkest Africa as a lone missionary. After some time his missions committee wrote to him saying, “Some people would like to join you. What’s the easiest road to get where you are?” He replied, “If they’re looking for the easiest road, tell them to stay in England. I want people who will come, even if there’s no road at all!”

Sometimes the pathway of the Christian life appears to change from a smooth-surfaced road to a stony track or peter out altogether.

________

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize

*

Three men walked by a building, one at a time. The first man said,

"That's my house." The second man, "That's my house." The third man,

"That's my house."

All spoke the truth - the first man built it, the second man bought

it, and the third man rented it. So, the triune God owns every

believer on the same three counts. The Father created us. The Son

bought us. The Spirit indwells us.

I am a soldier in the army of my God! The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer! The Holy Bible is my code of conduct! Faith, prayer and the word are my weapons of warfare!

I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity and tested by fire! I am a volunteer in this army, and I am enlisted for eternity! I will either retire in this army at the rapture or die in this Army; But I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out! I am faithful, reliable, capable and dependable!

If my God needs me, I am there! If He needs me in Sunday School, to teach children, work with the youth, help adults or just sit and learn, He can use me, because I am there!

I am a soldier! I am not a baby! I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up or pepped up!

I am a soldier! No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me or lure me!

I am a soldier! I am not a wimp! I am in place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name and building His kingdom!

No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards, candy or give me handouts! I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for or catered to!

I am committed! I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around!

I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside! I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit!

When Jesus called me into this army, I had nothing! If I end up with nothing, I will still come out even! I will win!

My God will supply all my needs! I am more than a conqueror! I will always triumph! I can do all things through Christ!

Devils cannot defeat me! People cannot disillusion me! Weather cannot weary me! Sickness cannot stop me! Battles cannot beat me! Money cannot buy me! Governments cannot silence me and HELL CANNOT HANDLE ME!

I am a soldier! Even death cannot destroy me! For when my commander calls me from this battlefield, He will promote me to a captain and then bring me back to rule this world with Him!

I am a soldier, in the army, and I'm marching, claiming victory! I will not give up! I will not turn around!

I am a soldier, marching heaven-bound! Here I stand!

WILL YOU STAND WITH ME?

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-- J. Michael Walls

Submitted by: Patty Cutler; email - jwort77@aol.com

1. I love to tell the story of unseen things above,

Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love;

I love to tell the story because I know ‘tis true,

It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.

Chorus

I love to tell the story!

‘Twill be my theme in glory –

To tell the old, old story

Of Jesus and His love.

2. I love to tell the story – ‘tis pleasant to repeat

What seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet;

I love to tell the story, for some have never heard

The message of salvation from God's own holy Word.

3. I love to tell the story, for those who know it best

Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest;

And when in scenes of glory I sing the new, new song,

‘Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.

*

1. How I praise Thee, precious Saviour,

That Thy love laid hold of me;

Thou hast saved and cleansed and filled me

That I might Thy channel be.

Chorus

Channels only, blessed Master –

But with all Thy wondrous pow'r

Flowing through us, Thou canst use us

Evr'y day and evr'y hour.

2. Emptied that Thou shouldest fill me,

A clean vessel in Thy hand,

With no pow'r but as Thou givest

Graciously with each command.

3. Witnessing Thy pow'r to save me,

Setting free from self and sin,

Thou who boughtest to possess me,

In Thy fullness, Lord, come in.

4. Jesus, fill now with Thy Spirit

Hearts that full surrender know,

That the streams of living water

From our inner man may flow.

*

When England's Queen Mother died, the British people poured out their affection and respect by lining up for hours to honor her. Her crown was displayed, including the massive, 105-carat diamond - what is known as the Kohinoor Diamond. Actually, Kohinoor means "mountain of light". The story, as I was told it, is that years ago that diamond was given to Queen Victoria by an Indian maharajah when he was a boy. Later, as a grown man, he visited the queen and requested that the diamond be brought from the Tower of London to Buckingham Palace. Kneeling before the queen, he gave it back to her saying, "Your Majesty, I gave you this jewel when I was a child, too young to know what I was doing. I want to give it to you again in the fullness of my strength, with all of my heart and gratitude, now and forever, fully realizing all that I do."

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Updated Love."

A childhood commitment, updated and confirmed as an adult. That's important when it comes to your relationship with the King - the King of all kings, that is. It may be that many years ago you made a childhood commitment to Jesus Christ. And a child's commitment to Jesus can be very real. In fact, Jesus didn't say children had to believe with adult-like faith - He said adults need to come to Him with faith like that of a little child.

But there can be two problems with a childhood Christian experience. One is that your life has grown, but your commitment has not. Maybe you're trying to run your grownup life on the strength of something you did with Jesus as a child. But what have you done with Jesus lately? He told us to "take up your cross daily." (Luke 9:23)

Once you begin your relationship with Christ, it's important that you give Him each new day, that you enlarge the sphere of His control daily by giving Him today's temptations - today's struggles, today's challenges - giving Him today's you, not just settling for a one-time experience you had with Him many years ago as a child. If you're wondering why your relationship with Jesus doesn't seem more real, maybe it's because you've never given Him the grownup you!

The other problem with a childhood Christian experience can be that maybe you never really had your own personal saving transaction with Jesus. You agreed with what you heard ... maybe somebody prayed for you ... maybe you went through a ritual that you thought gave you Jesus. But listen to Romans 10, beginning with verse 10, our word for today from the Word of God. "It is with your heart (not just your head) that you believe and are justified ... everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Now, it could be that somehow in your childhood Christianity, you missed Christ. Maybe today you need to backtrack, step up to the cross where Jesus died for your sins, and really give yourself to Him. And if you have any doubt if you've ever done that, do it for sure today - so you'll know from today on.

It's time to give all that you know about you now to all that you know about Jesus.

________________

Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

[see also HolwickID #12330]

"The devoted daughter who dedicated her life to praising God."

Occasionally, you have the privilege to meet someone who is really too "good" for this tarnished world - someone who is kind, caring and for whom transitory pleasures and the pursuit of material gain mean nothing. Instead, their whole being is suffused by a love of God which illuminates their personality. Frances Ridley Havergal was just such a person.

She was born in the village of Astley, Worcestershire, in 1836, a few months before the Accession of Queen Victoria. Frances was the youngest in the family of two Sons and four daughters of the Rev. William Henry Havergal and his wife Jane. He was a gifted musician with a wide knowledge of psalmody who composed and published church services as well as hymn tunes and chants. A fervent evangelical clergyman, he had a reputation as an effective preacher and a caring pastor, and was later made an Honorary Canon of Worcester Cathedral.

Frances was a high-spirited and affectionate child with a mop of golden curls, who was dubbed "Little Quicksilver" by the family. She reveled in the countryside around her home and developed a deep love and knowledge of Nature.

Taught both by her sisters and her mother, who had grown up in the Sussex town of East Grinstead where she had been known as the "lovely Jane Head", Frances proved a bright pupil. By the time she was seven years old, she was writing her own hymns and, having inherited her father's musical talents, she was soon writing tunes for them as well.

When Frances was aged eight, the Rev. Havergal was appointed vicar of St. Nicholas's Church in Worcester and the family had to move into the town. Frances desperately missed the garden and countryside surrounding their former home and said she felt like "a caged lark". However, at least she had a room of her own in the new rectory and had the benefit of a view of sky and clouds from her own window which she soon learnt to level as much as the birds and the flowers.

In 1848, Frances's beloved mother died after a long illness. Shortly before her death she had said to her daughter:

"Fanny, pray to God to prepare you for all He is preparing for you." Frances never forgot those words and she later said the message became "a life prayer" for her.

It was eventually decided that Frances should continue her education at "Belmont", a boarding school near Campden Hill in London. The school was run by a Mrs. Teed and it was renowned for its fervently evangelical teaching. Frances, who had many doubts and worries about her faith, found the school provided the spiritual guidance she was seeking and, soon after she was 15, she recorded: "I committed my soul to the Saviour, and earth and heaven seemed bright from that moment."

In 1851 the Rev. Havergal married again. His bride was Caroline Cooke who had been a teacher of Frances at one time, and Frances was brought back from London to a school at Powicke Court, near Worcester. However, she did not stay long as her previously robust health began to fail. Instead she stayed at home with her father and stepmother, travelling with them to Germany in 1852 where the Rev. Havergal wanted to consult a specialist about problems with his eyesight. They stayed for quite some time and Frances attended a school at Dusseldorf, mastering the German language so quickly that she came out top of her school class. An amazing feat for an English girl of 17. Later she stayed with a German pastor and his family and wrote one of her early hymns during the visit.

Soon after the family's return home, Frances was confirmed in Worcester Cathedral in a service which left a deep impression on her. She wrote that when the words: "Defend, O Lord, this Thy child with Thy heavenly Grace, that she may continue Thine for ever" were pronounced over her head "if ever my heart followed a prayer, it did then; if ever it thrilled with earnest longing, not unmixed with joy, it did at the words 'Thine for ever'". She continued ever after to mark the anniversary of her confirmation.

Frances read a great deal, but within the narrow confines dictated by her father's very Puritan tastes. Some poetry was permitted, but he would not allow her to read any classics of English literature - even Shakespeare was taboo! The Bible was the only book he really approved of and as a result Frances virtually knew it by heart. She had a great gift for languages and became proficient in German, French, Latin, Italian, Greek and Hebrew. However, by far the most important language to her was music which she regarded as "a sort of alphabet of the language of heaven - not any more equal to it, of course, than an ABC book is to Milton - but a sort of introduction".

If Frances fretted and rebelled against her rigid upbringing, it is not recorded. Instead, she seems to have been the perfect vicar's daughter, throwing herself wholeheartedly into philanthropy. She started Sunday School and Bible classes and went around the community helping others wherever possible and regarded herself as "a maid of all work in the household of God".

In 1861 her father left Worcester for reasons of health and moved to a living at Snareshill, a Staffordshire village near Wolverhampton. Frances went to live with one of her sisters at Oakhampton, not far from her old home at Astley. There she took on the education of her nieces for nine years until the youngest of them went to school in 1867. By this time Frances was a regular contributor of hymns, poetry and articles to a number of publications and was inundated with requests for her work.

She said that her work had nothing to do with her being "clever" or "gifted" because God spoke the lines to her. He had not given her a poetic chest of gold to do whatever she wanted, but instead kept hold of the treasure and gave her a gold coin every now and again.

In 1867 her father retired to Leamington Spa in Warwickshire and, like the devoted daughter she was, Frances returned to care for her aging father and stepmother. She took a holiday to Switzerland when she was 32 and was awed by the Alps. The tips of the mountains were so near to Heaven and the unsullied snow seemed to represent perfect peace and purity. Frances loved mountainous scenery and made almost annual visits to Switzerland, as well as trips to Scotland and North Wales.

The first volume of her poems appeared in 1869 under the title of The Ministry of Song and she dedicated the book to her beloved father. His sudden death the following year was a great blow to Frances, but she dutifully continued to care for her stepmother until her death eight years later.

Early in 1874 Frances went on a five-day visit to a friend's house. There were about 10 people there, some of whom were unbelievers and others who were lukewarm Christians. She prayed that everyone in the house would be given the blessing of true faith, and her prayer was granted. On the very last night of her visit she was woken up by the governess of the two daughters of the household. They were very upset and confused, but Frances talked to them and suddenly they, too, became firm believers. Frances was so happy that she could not sleep and the words of a hymn formed themselves in her head until they ended with the words "Ever, only, all for Thee!" This was the story behind Frances Ridley Havergal's most famous hymn "Take My Life, and Let it Be". She always sang the hymn to the tune "Patmos" which her father had written, although now it is sung to a variety of different tunes including "St. Bees" by J.B. Dykes, and also "Consecration" which is attributed both to William Havergal and Mozart!

In the same year - 1874 - another book of her work was published. Entitled Under the Surface it proved as popular as the earlier volume. Frances also wrote a number of children's stories which achieved a wide circulation.

After the death of her stepmother, Frances went to live with her maiden sister, Maria, at Caswall Bay, near the Mumbles in Wales. Even though she had recurring bouts of ill-health, her workload seemed to grow rather than diminish. There were increasing demands for her work, as well as the needs of her new community to administer to. It was because she insisted on addressing a temperance meeting on a wet and misty day towards the end of May 1879 that she caught a chill which turned into a fever. Her condition rapidly deteriorated but she viewed her dangerous illness with joy rather than dismay. She knew that she would soon be in her true home, which all her life she had been striving to be worthy of. Frances Ridley Havergal died on 3rd June, 1879.

Two years before her death Frances had written: "I am not one of those terrible 'strong-minded women', I think we have quite 'rights' enough in proportion to our powers and position."

It's a comment that was very typical of a Victorian lady although it would make some modern women cringe. However, despite her modesty about her weakness in resolve and her creative ability, Frances Ridley Havergal proved to be one of the most remarkable hymn-writers of her time. Like the words of her famous hymn, her life was consecrated to God, and she had the will and the determination to live "ever, only, all for Thee".

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Source: This England - Britain's loveliest magazine, Spring 2001

PO Box 52, Cheltenham

Gloucestershire, GL50 1YQ

I know I live in a world of computers, but I think I have an incurable case of technophobia. But during the last few years, I have slowly made friends with these monsters. Early in my computer life, some of my non-technophobic friends were explaining a computer installation to me. And after using all these words I didn't understand, they said, “We'll have to install a dedicated line.” Oh, yes! At last I heard a word I understood!

I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about “A Dedicated Line.”

Actually, computers and faxes have helped me understand that word “dedicated” more clearly than ever before. Long before computers, Paul was writing about the same idea in our word for today from the Word of God. It's from 2 Timothy 2, beginning in verse 20. Except then, it was dedicated tools and containers. Here's what he said.

“In a large house, there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” Now, in those days, it was probably the difference between what held your garbage and what held your gold. Paul was talking about dedicated vessels, dedicated tools. Dedicated as in reserved for special use, for special purposes like a dedicated line.

I think we have a lot of undedicated lines at our house. You know, they're used for all kinds of purposes: running a hair dryer, a microwave, the lights, the TV. But certain machines, like a computer, for example, need a dedicated line reserved for a singular purpose - a direct line between the computer and the power supply so there is no interference, no competition, no intrusion.

Now Paul didn't know about computers. His word processor was some guy taking dictation in the corner. But he knew about things being reserved for a special purpose - actually, people being reserved for a special purpose. You are meant to be a dedicated line - one through whom God can send His love, His thoughts, His power without any interference or competition. How are you doing?

Maybe you've allowed your dedicated body to do things that could not be called “noble” or your mouth to express what a dedicated mouth should never talk about. Maybe your hands have touched what dedicated hands should never touch. Your eyes have seen what dedicated eyes should never look at, or you've allowed your dedicated mind to collect garbage. And while you're trying to live pure, your mind keeps flashing back to sinful scenes, sinful pictures, sinful punch lines. You're too special for that.

Jesus gave His life for you, not just to get you a free ticket to heaven, but to make you an island of clean in a sea of polluted. God's Son made you. God's Son paid for you with His life, and He wants to send His best through you. But God cannot use a dirty instrument. You need to live as if there is a sign on you that says in bold letters, “Reserved for holy purposes. Reserved for the Master's use.” Your body, your mind, your mouth, your eyes, your ears, your talents are His. You are the Lord's dedicated line!

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Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

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You are probably a believer in heliocentricity. Now, that is not a new denomination. It just means that the sun is the center of our solar system and all the planets, including this little tennis ball we live on, are revolving around the sun. We do sound a little confused about this sometimes - like when we say, "Isn't that a beautiful sunset?" Actually, the sun isn't going anywhere - we're the ones who are moving. But who wants to go for a romantic walk to watch a beautiful earthset? Well, apparently, not everyone's got this orbit thing straight - the American Scientific Association did a survey a few years ago and found that 21% of Americans surveyed thought the sun orbited around the earth - and 7% said they didn't know.

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A WORD WITH YOU today about "When A Planet Becomes Your Sun."

So, there's some confusion about the fact that the planets revolve around the sun, not the sun around the planets. That's not just a scientific issue - it's a spiritual issue, too. Because too many of us have forgotten what is supposed to be the "sun" at the center of our life - we've put one of the "planets" of our life in the center - and, in reality, everything is revolving around it. The Bible would call that a word we wouldn't like to accept - it's an idol.

Someone listening today is living in violation of the First Commandment, as recorded in our word for today from the Word of God in Exodus 20:3. Heading the fundamental Law of God, the Ten Commandments, is this imperative: "You shall have no other gods before Me." Our instinctive response is: "Well, excuse me, but I don't have any little images that I pray to in my closet." That's blatant, covert idolatry. But idolatry is far more than that. That's why, for example, greed is called idolatry in Colossians 3:5.

In real life terms, your "god" isn't what you say you believe in - it's whatever you revolve your life around - what you think about most of the time, what you spend your time and money on, whatever is your bottom line in your life choices. Obviously, we are to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deuteronomy 6:5) He is the sun in the universe of every life - everyone and everything else is just a planet that is supposed to revolve around Him. And our beliefs agree with that. It's our everyday behavior that's the problem. It could be that at this moment in your life, you are actually revolving around one of the planets in your life - and you're treating Jesus like He should revolve around it, too.

Maybe the real "sun" in your personal universe is your children - they're supposed to be very important to you, but not the center of your life. Maybe your marriage - or your strong desire to be married - is what you've put at the center. Your business or your career can become an idol ... a relationship ... your stuff ... your plans ... even your ministry can become an idol if you've started serving the work instead of serving the Lord.

If the sun were to ever leave its place at the center of our solar system, it would mess up everything else. When you put what's supposed to be a "planet" in your life at the center, nothing works right. And it could be that Jesus is not really the sun around which everything else in your life is revolving right now - and the result is going to be chaos, confusion, and collapse.

That's why this wakeup call from God to put the sun - actually, the Son of God - back at the center of everything you're about. Remember God's first order to the human race - "No other gods." And pray with the hymn writer - "The dearest idol I have known, help me to tear it from the throne - and worship only Thee."

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Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

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