For ten years we had a beautiful little beagle dog.  She had many cute little ways, especially one thing she often did at mealtimes.  She would come find me and then begin to herd me toward the supper dish.  She would dance and prance joyfully as I moved in the direction she wanted.  If I turned aside, her face fell.  She would block my progress in any direction except the desired one.  If I turned to the right, she ran over there and stood in front of me, if I tried to turn around, she got behind me and blocked my way.  As long as I went the way she wanted, she was very happy and danced along at my heels. 

     I often wonder if we try to herd God.  Are we only happy when He goes in the direction we want?  Do we dance along happily as long as His plans coincide with our plans?  If He turns aside, are we right there to block His work and redirect it the way we want?  How many times have we argued with God trying to convince Him that our plan would work much better than what He was trying to do? 

     As my little beagles owner, I knew what she wanted and what she needed and I had it in my plans to take care of her.  She didnt realize that she would have gotten exactly what she needed, what would make her happy, if she had just allowed me to continue in my own way.  God knows our needs and He has our happiness in mind, also.  If we let Him have His way, He will get us to something better than we could ever have imagined.

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The Trumpet Call
By Evangelist Edgar Martin

Our Fullness of Time and Our Acceptable Year

     “But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son. . .”—Galatians 4:4 “. . . To preach the acceptable year of the Lord”—Luke 4:19.

     Each New Year is a gift of God’s mercy and grace, offering us new hope that we may come to the fullness of times in the will of God for our lives.  For this we need a fresh visitation of the Son of God.  But more than a visitation, we need a habitation, a personal incarnation of Christ.  God’s Word says, “Unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Heb. 9:28).

     When Jesus first came, the time was right.  It was the “fullness of time, the acceptable year of the Lord” spoken of by the prophets.  Is the acceptable year of the Lord long past?  No!  The prophets announced the beginning of a new era, the dawning of the Gospel day.  The Apostle Paul said in Ephesians, chapter one, that we may have an inheritance in the dispensation of the fullness of times, that we, too, may be to the praise of His glory.  Fulfilled prophecies span years of history, but they also span the history of our personal lives.  Prophecies inspire us to believe for the unfolding of God’s plan for us.  In the expectant spirit of messianic prophecy, we wait for the fullness of God’s will in this coming New Year.  We have hope in Christ!

       As Jesus came proclaiming the acceptable year of the Lord, He brought a new day: the Gospel Day of grace that would never end (Isa. 61:2, Luke 4:19).  He banished the long winter of sin and death and gave us an eternal springtime of hope for repentant souls!  His light dispelled sin’s darkness and brought the dawn of redeeming grace!  It was, and is, the fullness of time!

     God said, “Behold I will do a new thing” (Isa. 43:19).  Jesus said, “I make all things new” (Rev. 21:5).  In Christ we are new creatures with new names and new hearts!  We live by a new covenant and walk in newness of life with a renewed mind and a fresh new fullness of joy (Gal. 4:4-7).  To make this year a “new” year for the soul we must ask some hard questions.  Will last year’s prayer life and passion meet the New Year’s challenges?  Will last year’s commitment be sufficient?  Is our faith strong enough?  Are our habits of reading, witnessing and serving adequate for this present age?  Are our families and marriages fortified for the New Year?  Will last year’s behavior at school or in the work place be acceptable?  Are we crying out in prayer, “Come, Emmanuel, thou long expected Jesus; bring us to our finest hour”?  Will this be the acceptable year of the Lord in our lives?

     We don’t know what this year may bring.  Our nation is at war for its own soul.  We are under the testing and judgment of radical terrorism, war, violent crime, the breakdown of the home, and the loss of moral fiber.  But through Christ our spiritual lives can brighten, strengthen, and flourish!  By God’s grace, you can come to the fullness of your time!   This can be the acceptable year of the Lord in your life!  Your desire, commitment, desperation in prayer and sincerity in repentance will determine it.  May the fire burn hot in your heart, and may you seek the Lord while He may be found that this may indeed be the fullness of your times.   May your joy be full and your life blessed.  Come, Lord Jesus, You are welcome in 2007, the year of our Lord!

      MESSAGES AVAILABLE ON CD:  For information contact us at info@heraldofhope.org