HIS WAY

Charles Spurgeon Movie

2012-02-05T08:31:00.000Z

Reflections

2011-12-31T15:28:00.000Z

How hast thou fared, my soul, throughout the year?
Survey the path thy pilgrim feet have trod;
Mark how His guiding hand was ever near,
Think of His kindness and give thanks to God.

How hast thou cared, my soul, for others' pains?
What priestly sympathies have stirred thy heart?
The year has had its fill of weeping rains.
Shared tears are heaven's dew-drops. Weep thy part.

How hast thou dared, my soul, to hold the faith?
To face the foe with all his hosts abhorred?
He is, who stands by what the Scripture saith,
A hero in the battles of the Lord.

How now prepared, my soul? Be not downcast;
Step out in faith into the dawning year.
Write "profits" o'er the lessons of the past,
And trade for Him. His coming draweth near.

I Y Ewan

December 25th

2011-12-25T09:27:00.002Z

The God who took a motherless woman out of the side of a man took a fatherless man out of the body of a woman.
Matthew Henry

Tender Heart

2011-09-04T03:13:00.000+01:00

"Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD." 2 Kings 22:19

This tenderness of heart was a mark in Josiah, on which the Lord, so to speak, put his finger; it was a special token for good which God selected from all the rest, as a testimony in his favour. The heart is always tender which God has touched with his finger; this tenderness being the fruit of the impression of the Lord's hand upon the conscience. You may know the difference between a natural conscience and a heart tender in God's fear by this, that the natural conscience is always superstitious and uncertain; as the Lord says, it "strains at a gnat, and swallows a camel." It is exceedingly observant of self-inflicted austerities, and very fearful of breaking through self-imposed rules; and whilst it will commit sin which a man who has the fear of God in his heart would not do for the world, it will stumble at mere unimportant trifles at which an enlightened soul would not feel the least scruple.

But here is the mark of a heart tender in God's fear; it moves as God the Spirit works upon it. It is like the mariner's compass, which having been once touched by the magnet, always turns toward the north; it may indeed oscillate and tremble backwards and forwards, but still it will return to the pole, and ultimately remain fixed at the point whence it was temporarily disturbed. So when the heart has been touched by the Spirit, and has been made tender in God's fear, it may for a time waver to the right hand or to the left, but it is always trembling and fluctuating till it points towards God, as the only and eternal centre of its happiness and holiness.

J.C. Philpot (Ears from Harvested Sheaves)

He hangs the earth upon nothing

2011-08-01T03:00:00.002+01:00

He hangs the earth upon nothing - Job 26:7

The vast terraqueous globe neither rests upon any pillars nor hangs upon any axle-tree, and yet, by the almighty power of God, is firmly fixed in its place, poised with its own weight. The art of man could not hang a feather upon nothing, yet the divine wisdom hangs the whole earth so. It is poised by its own weight, so says the poet; it is upheld by the word of God's power, so says the apostle.

What is hung upon nothing may serve us to set our feet on, and bear the weight of our bodies, but it will never serve us to set our hearts on, nor bear the weight of our souls.

Matthew Henry.

And the evening and the morning were the first day

2011-07-12T03:00:00.003+01:00

"And the evening and the morning were the first day." --Genesis 1:5

The evening was "darkness" and the morning was "light," and yet the two together are called by the name that is given to the light alone! This is somewhat remarkable, but it has an exact analogy in spiritual experience. In every believer there is darkness and light, and yet he is not to be named a sinner because there is sin in him, but he is to be named a saint because he possesses some degree of holiness. This will be a most comforting thought to those who are mourning their infirmities, and who ask, "Can I be a child of God while there is so much darkness in me?" Yes; for you, like the day, take not your name from the evening, but from the morning; and you are spoken of in the word of God as if you were even now perfectly holy as you will be soon. You are called the child of light, though there is darkness in you still. You are named after what is the predominating quality in the sight of God, which will one day be the only principle remaining. Observe that the evening comes first. Naturally we are darkness first in order of time, and the gloom is often first in our mournful apprehension, driving us to cry out in deep humiliation, "God be merciful to me, a sinner." The place of the morning is second, it dawns when grace overcomes nature. It is a blessed aphorism of John Bunyan, "That which is last, lasts for ever." That which is first, yields in due season to the last; but nothing comes after the last. So that though you are naturally darkness, when once you become light in the Lord, there is no evening to follow; "thy sun shall no more go down." The first day in this life is an evening and a morning; but the second day, when we shall be with God, for ever, shall be a day with no evening, but one, sacred, high, eternal noon.

(C. H. Spurgeon)

A Lesson from the Raven

2011-07-07T07:10:00.000+01:00

Who provideth for the raven his food?
JOB 38:41

Under the Mosaic law, the raven, or crow, was an unclean bird. Yet the Lord saw fit to care for it. This was the implication of the Lords question to Job. Even by natural standards, the raven is not an attractive bird. It has a tendency to feed upon dead carcases like a vulture. Yet despite its lack of appeal, the Lord has His eye upon it for good. It is unclean, yet a recipient of Gods mercy. How like man, defiled in thought, word, and deed, yet the object of the Lords kindness and grace! While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8).

The raven, as any farmer will testify, is a very noisy bird. In fact, Gods care for it is in answer to its cry, a sound that is not pleasant to the ear. It does not warble or cheep. Its call is more aptly described as a harsh, rasping squawk, repeated incessantly to the annoyance of all within range. Nevertheless, the Bible impresses upon us that the cry of the raven is heard on high. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry (Psa. 147:9). Every believer should remember the raven. The Lord is not interested in dry, formal prayers with well-constructed sentences and fine-sounding phrases. Rather would He hear a squawk from the heart, a fervent lifting up of the soul to seek His face in earnest supplication.

Again recall that Gods treatment of this bird is an encouragement to every believer to trust Him more. That is what the Lord wanted Job to do. He was enduring hard days and difficult times. Bitter thoughts had arisen in his heart. Did God really care? Had He forgotten him? The Lord directed Job to the raven. If He would extend mercy and care to a creature that was basically useless and of no real value to anyone, how much more would He care for those who look to Him from a contrite heart!

(Eagles Wings)

The Open Bible

2011-07-03T03:55:00.000+01:00

Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
PSALM 119:18

Robert Murray McCheyne of Dundee died at the early age of twenty-nine. His short but successful ministry continues to touch and bless lives through his memoirs, letters, and sermons. Writing to a young believer, he shared this spiritual advice: Turn the reading of your Bible into prayer. Thus, if you are reading the first psalm, spread the Bible on a chair before you and kneel down and pray, O Lord, give me the blessedness of this man; let me not walk in the counsel of the ungodly. This is the best way of knowing the meaning of the Bible and of learning to pray.

Speaking of the psalmist, McCheyne writes: He was not blind, his eye was not dim, and yet he felt that he needed to see deeper, to have the eyes of his understanding opened. He felt that if he had nothing but his own eyes and natural understanding, he would not discover the wonders which he panted to see. He wanted divine teaching, the eye salve of the Spirit; and therefore he would not open the Bible without this prayer.

If the man after Gods own heart felt like that, how much more should we? We must confess our natural inability to grasp divine truth and apply it to our lives. But natural inability is no barrier to a spiritual education. The psalmists prayer is one the Lord delights to answer. The Holy Spirit will always reveal spiritual truth to praying saints. He will open the eyes of our understanding and direct our hearts into the knowledge of our God.

Will you take McCheynes advice and cry for the eye salve of the Spirit? Learn to make the Bible your prayer book, not just your reading book, and you will be amazed at how much more you see in it.

(Eagles Wings)

A humble and prayerful spirit will find a thousand things in the Bible which the proud, self-conceited student will utterly fail to discern.
J. C. Ryle

Perverse and Foolish

2011-06-21T21:31:00.000+01:00

Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?
JOB 39:5

All creation, with a proper, Biblical interpretation, is a spiritual textbook. In every realm of nature there is a message for our souls. The Lord directs Job to consider the characteristics and abode of the wild ass.

The wild ass is a powerful example of a nature that cannot be tamed or governed. The whole tenor of Gods description of this beast shows its nature to be one of unrestrained lawlessness and unbridled licence. It will not be subject to rules and regulations. Even when captured, it cannot be entirely domesticated. It is noted for its stubbornness, obstinacy, and perverse determination. To the surprise of many, the Bible uses this animal to picture the state of man before God (Exod. 34:20). Under the law of the firstborn, some kinds of animals were declared unclean and could be delivered from death only by being redeemed by the sacrifice of a lamb. One of these animals was the ass.

It is with good reason that we see in the ass a picture of the perverseness of man. The carnal mind [that is, the natural mind of man] is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be (Rom. 8:7). When faced with the commandments of God, man behaves like the wild ass. He rebels against divine authority and, with dogged perseverance, pursues his own way. Moreover, if left to his own devices, he will always remain in a state of enmity against God. Like the ass, he is doomed to die unless he is redeemed by the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. It is only when the precious blood of Christ has been applied and the Lord Himself has entered into the human heart that it can be conquered, its perverseness rendered powerless, and its service freely given to God.

(Eagles Wings)

Getting light on the path of duty

2011-06-06T02:13:00.001+01:00

"My own experience is, that if I believe a certain course to be warranted by the Word of God, I must go forward, although I have not light given me on probable issues and consequences. If, under a sense of my weakness, I stipulate for light and liberty before I go forward, the Lord may withold it, because I am not yet in the actual need of it, and would most likely abuse it if I got it. It is usually in the peformance of duty, and not before it, that the Lord vouchsafes that light and strength which supports the poor weakling, and confirms him in the all-graciousness of Him "under whose wings he hath come to trust."

(Hugh Martin)

Wee, Sleekit, Cowrin, Timrous Beastie

2011-05-24T03:00:00.001+01:00

The mouse.
LEVITICUS 11:29

So wrote Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1785 when, with his plough, he disturbed a mouses nest. Moses mentions the mouse as an unclean animal. God decreed certain animals to be clean and others to be unclean, to give the Israelites continual reminders of the difference between holiness and sin. Every time they saw an unclean animal, they were reminded of their own sinful nature.

The mouse, mentioned only six times in Scripture, is a powerful picture of sin. It is unclean, and sin is moral uncleanness. While certain animals are found only in some parts of the world, the mouse is to be found everywhere. Sin is universal, for all have sinned.

Burns described the mouse as sleekit, an old Scottish word for sneaky. It darts quickly here and there and can get into a house through the tiniest of openings. How like sin! Give the devil the tiniest opening, and he will invade your life with the mice of sin.

Mice breed rapidly. One undisturbed pair in a house, with sufficient food and water, can multiply to three or four hundred in a year! Sin breeds rapidly, as David discovered when he sinned with Bathsheba. One look multiplied into adultery, lying, murder, and trouble in his own home that lasted for the rest of his life.

Mice are destructive and do great damage. Sin is always destructive and will adversely affect your life. Mice are attractive to some peoplethey keep little white mice. Sin can be attractive, and people talk of little white lies. Always remember, Sin fascinates, but then assassinates.

Mice must be dealt with, or they will overrun the home and destroy the quality of life. Likewise sin must be dealt with. Only Jesus Christ can effectively eradicate sin. The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin (I John 1:7). Be watchful today! Do not allow the devils mice in to ruin your day, or your life.

(Eagles Wings)

Mercy and Grace

2011-05-20T03:00:00.004+01:00

Mercy - God does not give to us what we deserve.
Grace - God gives to us what we do not deserve.

Beloved Children, Pleasing to God

2011-05-16T03:00:00.005+01:00

Our calling as Christians is to imitate Jesus Christ, but what big footsteps He left! The heavenly Father attested several times in the Scriptures, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased” (Matt. 3:17). How can we possibly live up to that?

Thankfully, the Lord does not expect us to be perfect like Jesus. Knowing that we are encumbered by the weaknesses of our flesh, He sees us as children who are still learning. Just like a mother who rejoices over the her baby’s first steps, so our heavenly Father delights in our early faltering steps of obedience as we seek to walk with Him.

The goal is growth. Once a toddler masters walking, his parents’ delight shifts to more mature achievements like running. As long as we keep growing in our faith, we will never cease learning new ways to please our Father. He loves us and patiently cheers us on at each new level of maturity.

What’s important to the Lord is the bent of our hearts. Amidst all our frailties, failures, and temptations, He sees the desires of our hearts and knows how much we love Him and want to be obedient. Even in our stumbling, He helps us up and encourages us with His Word.

Many of you are far more pleasing to the Lord than you think. If you’re prone to perfectionism, give yourself time to grow. The Father does; so learn to see yourself through His eyes. He’s waiting—not to berate your efforts but to help you develop into the person He designed you to be.

In Touch Ministries

2 Timothy 1:12

2011-05-11T03:00:00.001+01:00

"for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

Those who trust in Christ know whom they have trusted. The apostle speaks with a holy triumph and exultation, as much as to say, "I stand on firm ground. I know I have lodged the great trust in the hands of the best trustee." And am persuaded, &c. What must we commit to Christ? The salvation of our souls, and their preservation to the heavenly kingdom; and what we so commit to him he will keep.

There is a day coming when our souls will be enquired after: "Man! Woman! thou hadst a soul committed to thee, what hast thou done with it? To whom was it offered, to God or Satan? How was it employed, in the service of sin or in the service of Christ?"

There is a day coming, and it will be a very solemn and awful day, when we must give an account of our stewardship (Luke xvi. 2), give an account of our souls: now, if by an active obedient faith we commit it to Jesus Christ, we may be sure he is able to keep it, and it shall be forthcoming to our comfort in that day.

Matthew Henry

"WHAT THEN?"

2011-05-07T03:00:00.001+01:00

When the great factory-plants of our cities
Have turned-out their last finished works,
When our merchants have sold their last products,
And sent home the last of the Clerks;
When our banks have transacted their business,
And paid out the last dividend;
When the Judge of the Earth calls a reckoning,
And asks for a balance - WHAT THEN?

When the Church choir has sung its last anthem,
And the preacher has made his last prayer;
When the people have heard their last sermon,
And the sound has died out on the air;
When the Bible lies closed on the pulpit,
And the pews are all empty of men,
When each one stands facing his record,
And the Great Book is opened - WHAT THEN?

When the actors have played their last drama.
And the mimic has made his last fun,
When the film has flashed its last picture,
And the billboard displayed its last run;
When the crowds seeking pleasure have vanished,
And gone out in the darkness again,
When the trumpet of ages is sounded,
And we all stand before Him - WHAT THEN?

When the bugle-call sinks into silence,
And the long marching columns stand still;
When the captain repeats his last orders,
And they've captured the last fort and hill;
When the flag has been hauled from the mast-head,
And peace seems to reign among men,
When those who rejected the Saviour
Are asked for a reason - WHAT THEN?

Anon.

What must I do to be saved?

2011-05-03T03:00:00.004+01:00

"Lastly, you ask me what you must do to be saved. And I will never let a congregation go, I hope, till I have told them that. Hear, then, in a few words, the way of salvation. It is this.
Christ said to the Apostles, “Preach the Gospel to every creature—he that believes and is baptized shall be saved and he that believes not shall be damned.” Or, to give you Paul’s version, when he spoke to the jailor, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.” You ask what you are to believe. Why, this — that Christ died and rose again! That by His death He did bear the punishment of all Believers. And that by His Resurrection He did wipe out the faults of all His children! And if God gives you faith, you will believe that Christ died for you. And you will be washed in His blood and you will trust His mercy and His love to be your everlasting redemption when the world shall end!"

Rev C. H. Spurgeon

Minding earthly or heavenly things?

2011-04-30T03:00:00.001+01:00

People of the world fix their minds on earthly, worldly things (Philippians 3:19) and their hearts pursue carnal matters to the exclusion of all else. If they are active in a form of meditation to an ungodly end, how much more should God's people meditate upon holy and godly things? What we constantly think about is what we may become. Fix attention upon matters of the flesh and we shall become worldly. Turn our attention heavenward and we shall find ourselves becoming heavenly.

While Peter looked at Jesus all was well, but once he took his eyes away, he began to sink beneath the waves as his faith failed. Look often to the Lord of glory and we shall always walk in faith upon the waters of life.

Brian Garrard

Free gift

2011-04-27T03:00:00.002+01:00

O marvellous mystery of astonishing grace! Sinners, you who see, know, and feel yourselves to be nothing but sin, yea, the very chief of sinners, have a right, by free gift, of free grace, to take, possess, and put on Christ.- William Mason.

Comfort to the weak and discouraged

2011-04-25T03:00:00.005+01:00

1. Though many poor, weak, doubting, trembling Christians dare not say that they have grace, yet they dare say that they prize the least dram of grace above all the gold and silver of the Indies. If they had all the world to dispose of they would give it for grace. Now certainly no man can sufficiently prize grace, but he that has grace. Holy Bradford, writing to one, saith, "Thy sins are undoubtedly pardoned, &c. For God hath given thee a penitent, believing heart; that is, a heart which desireth to repent and believe."

2. Though many poor, doubting Christians dare not say that their condition is safe and happy, yet they dare say that they would not for ten thousand worlds change their condition with the vain men of the world who delight in sin. They would rather be like Lazarus than Dives.

3. Though poor, doubting Christians dare not say that they do not sin, because there is not a just man upon earth that doth good and sinneth not; yet they would not willfully, resolutely, and habitually sin against the Lord to gain the whole world.

4. Though poor, doubting Christians dare not say that God is their God, or that Christ is their Redeemer, or that the Spirit is their Comforter; yet they dare say that if God and Christ and the Spirit, and grace, and glory were offered to them on the one hand, and all the honours, pleasures, and profits of the world on the other hand, they would certainly rather choose God, and Christ, and the Spirit, and holiness, and everlasting happiness though their choice should expose them to the greatest afflictions in this world.

5. Though poor, doubting Christians dare not say that they have such power against their sins as they would have, say, that when the Lord is pleased to give them grace to subdue their sins, these are the most joyful, comfortable, delightful, and refreshing seasons to their souls; and the language of their souls at such a time is, Oh that it may be always thus with them! Oh that every day one lust or another might fall before the power, the Spirit, and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

6. Though poor, doubting Christians dare not say that they enjoy as much advantage by the sermons they hear, or by their prayers, or by the Scriptures they read, or by the communion of saints that they enjoy as others do; yet they dare say that they would not for all the world cast off prayer, or hearing, or reading, or the communion of saints, and give themselves up to the ways of sin, and Satan, and the world.

7. Lastly, though poor, doubting Christians dare not say that Christ is their Saviour, yet they dare say that they desire and endeavour to honour Christ as their Lord; though they cannot find comfort, yet they will oppose sin; though they cannot close with the promises, yet they will close with the precepts; though they want strength to throw themselves into Christ's arms to save them, yet they will cast themselves at the feet of Christ to serve Him; though they walk in darkness, and see no light, yet they will trust in the Lord, and walk in His ways (Isaiah 50:10).

These seven things are strong probabilities of grace, and it may also be said, that they are solid and sound evidences of true grace and of an interest in Christ and salvation; and therefore all those poor doubting, and trembling Christians, who find all these, or any of these seven things in their own souls, ought for ever to bless the Lord, and speak well of His name upon these accounts. And therefore, O my soul, be thou much in adoring and admiring of free and infinite grace that hath wrought all those things in thee and for thee.

Consider that, from probabilities in outward things, men commonly gather a great deal of comfort, support, quietness, and satisfaction; when the pysician tells the patient that it is probable, yea very probable, that he will recover, live, and do well, O, what a support, comfort, and refreshment is this to the languishing patient! When there is a good voyage, how do the merchants' and the mariners' spirits rise! When there is but a probability of a good harvest, how does the husbandman sing! Where there is but some hope, some probability of a pardon for a condemned man, how do his spirits revive, and how does his heart even leap and dance for joy! And so, when a Christian has but some hopes, some probabilities of grace, of an interest in Christ, and of being saved, he may well cheer up and maintain his ground against fears and temptations.

(The Gospel Magazine - January 1766 - John Gillie's Collections)

A Glimpse of Glory

2011-04-21T09:50:00.000+01:00

Have been meaning to write the following up for some time. Taken from my copy of “Tales of the Covenanters”, the original is from a book called “Meditations, Representing a Glimpse of Glory” by Andrew Wellwood.

“How oft have I thought, if the wilderness is so sweet and pleasant, what must the inland be! Is there such ravishing variety of beauty, glory, and sweetness, all along in my pilgrimage – what can I imagine to behold in my native country? Is the habitation where devils, wicked men, and beasts inhabit, so excellent and glorious – what can I think of the place where Jesus, the Emmanuel, with His fair company of saints and angels everlastingly abides? Is my God’s footstool so glorious – what must His throne be? Is the under-vault of this base dungeon so majestic – oh, the higher hall of glory, where the glorious King and His magnificent court remain!”

Salvation on God's Terms

2011-04-13T09:49:00.001+01:00

He sent his word, and healed them.
PSALM 107:20

The Word of God has been given to us to cure us of the greatest sickness of all, sin. It is not enough to admire Gods remedy for sin; we must accept it and apply it to our hearts.

In II Kings chapter 5 we are introduced to Naaman, the general of the Syrian army. We are informed that he was a great man with his master, and honourable, . . . but he was a leper (II Kings 5:1). When Gods word came to him from Elisha to dip seven times in the river Jordan, we are told that Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? (II Kings 5:11-12).

Naaman was like many in our day who are afflicted with the dreadful disease of sin. They want to be cured, but they object to the simple remedy of faith in Christ alone for salvation. Instead they turn to good works or church attendance, only to discover that these are totally inadequate to meet their need. It is only when we obey the gospel and look to Christ and trust Him as our Saviour that we can be healed and saved (Acts 4:12).

C. H. Spurgeon wrote of the Bible: Remember dear souls, if you are sick, that the medicine that is to reach your case is somewhere between the covers of this Book. There is something here for every sin sick soul that seeks it.

(Eagle's Wings)

Brought to Christ

2011-04-03T04:25:00.000+01:00

The following is Charles Haddon Spurgeon's own account of his conversion. Taken from his sermon preached March 31st 1861.

I had been for years as a child in secret the prey of the most desponding feelings. One thought had crushed me. I was a sinner and God was angry with the wicked every day. I began to pray, prayer gave me no comfort, but made my burden more heavy. I read the Bible, the Bible was full of threats to me. I could find no promises there. I attended the house of God constantly but I never knew from all the preaching that I heard what I must do to be saved. My eyes were blind and my soul ignorant.

I heard a practical preacher, but what was the use of practice. It was like teaching a man to march who had no feet. I heard the Law thundered but it was not thunder that I wanted—but notes of mercy. I hope that no creature ever had more intense and awful sorrow of heart than I under conviction of sin—feelings which I
studied to conceal from all—and I was thought to be dull and idle because I had little heart for anything. As I have said before, I prayed daily and constantly but my groans seemed to be reverberated from a brazen Heaven and God gave no mercy to
me. It might have been so to this day if it had not been for the purpose and Providence of God which prevented me from going to my usual place of worship and compelled me to turn into a little Primitive Methodist chapel.

Now that day was so snowy that there were very few people there and the minister did not come. I think he was snowed up. But they found out some poor man, a local preacher and he was put into the pulpit. Blessed be God. Blessed be God for that poor local preacher. He read his text. It was as much as he could do. The text was, “Look unto Me and be you saved all the ends of the earth.” He was an ignorant man, he could not say much, he was obliged to keep to his text. Thank God for that. He began,
“Look, that is not hard work. You need not lift your hand, you do not want to lift your finger. Look, a fool can do that. It does not need a wise man to look. A child can do that. You don’t need to be full grown to use your eyes. Look, a poor man may do that, no need of riches to look. Look—how simple—how simple.” Then he went on, “Look unto Me. Do not look to yourselves, but look to Me, that is, Christ. Do not look to God the Father to know whether you are elected or not, you shall find that out afterwards, look to Me. Look to Christ. Do not look to God the Holy Spirit to know whether He has called you or not. That you shall discover by-and-by. Look unto Jesus Christ.” And then he went on in his own simple way to put it thus—“Look unto Me. I am sweating great drops of blood for you. Look unto Me, I am scourged
and spit upon. I am nailed to the Cross. I die. I am buried. I rise and ascend. I am pleading before the Father’s Throne and all this for you.”

Now that simple way of putting the Gospel had enlisted my attention and a ray of light had poured into my heart. Stooping down, he looked under the gallery and said—“Young man, you are very miserable.” So I was, but I had not been accustomed
to be addressed in that way. “Ah,” he said, “and you will always be miserable if you don’t do as my text tells you. That is, look unto Christ.” And then he called out, with all his might, “Young man, look! In God’s name look and look now.”
I did look, blessed be God! I know I looked then and there. And he who but that minute ago had been near despair, had the fullness of joy and hope. And that instant he who was ready to destroy himself could have stood up there and then to—
“Sing of Him, whose pardoning blood had washed sins away.”

The Three Appearances of Christ

2011-03-17T07:44:00.000Z

Christ . . . entered . . . into heaven . . . to appear in the presence of God for us: . . . once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin. . . . Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
HEBREWS 9:24-28

These three appearances of Christ vary as to time and location, but they are inseparably linked together as the successive stages of His high-priestly ministry. They set forth the character, continuity, and consummation of His priestly work.

When Christ came the first time it was for the specific purpose of putting away sin. To put away means to disannul, or to abrogate, or to annihilate. The atoning sacrifice of Christ removes completely from His people the guilt and the penalty of their sins. It was a full and final atonement. But Christs priestly ministry did not end with His crosswork. He has entered into heaven to appear in the presence of God. At the throne of grace He intercedes not for the world, but for them . . . given to Him, whose sins He put away (John 17:9). Furthermore, for those same people, He will appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Just as Aaron made the offering at the altar, entered the holiest of all, and then returned to the waiting people, so also will Christ come forth to consummate the salvation of His people. Then the redemption of their bodies will take place, and they will be changed.

Do you have this hope? Are you looking for Him? Wait on, for soon you will hear the joyful sound. Just as Israel heard the tinkling of the bells on Aarons robe, signalling His emergence from the tabernacle, so also will the saints hear the sound of the trumpet, the shout of triumph, and the voice of the archangel, and so shall they ever be with the Lord (I Thess. 4:17).

(Eagles Wings)

Christ died; Christ arose; Christ intercedes; Christ is coming again. These four pillars support the whole temple of gospel truth.
Alexander Simpson

Historical Word Popularity

2011-03-11T09:04:00.002Z

ngrams.googlelabs.com

This site produces graphs tracing popularity of any word through the ages from a large database of books.
Obviously one of the first words I keyed in was "Bible"

http://ngrams.googlelabs.com/graph?content=bible&year_start=1150&year_end=2011&corpus=0&smoothing=3

Quite fascinating to see the peaks and troughs and relating the graph to history.
Sad also, to see the great decline from the late 1850's onwards, coinciding with Darwin's "Origin"
and again on the plus side, it is encouraging to see a rise in popularity in recent years.

Restored to Usefulness

2011-02-25T10:28:00.000Z

A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench.
ISAIAH 42:3

The reed and the flax, or wick, are descriptions of what Gods people ought to be. The word translated reed signifies the stalk of wheat (Gen. 41:5, 22), from which we may deduce that we are to grow and produce fruit. It also signifies the branches of the candlestick in the tabernacle (Exod. 25:32), indicating that we are to be Christs witnesses. It also signifies the arm bone between the shoulder and the elbow (Job 31:22), teaching us that we are to be the Lords strong instruments to execute His will and to do His work. The reed was used in ancient times as a walking-cane. Christians are to be dependable in bearing the weight of trust placed in them by God and man. One kind of reed was used to produce sweet calamus for the holy anointing oil (Exod. 30:23). We are to have the holy fragrance of Christ about us. At times the reed was used in musical instruments to produce sounds of beauty and praise. There should be no sweeter sound on earth than a believers praise.

The flax is the wick of a lamp or torch. It is meant to burn brightly and dispel the surrounding darkness with its light. It reminds us that Christians are the light of the world (Matt. 5:14).

All this tells us what we ought to be. But bruised reeds and smoking flax only add noxious fumes to the darkness. Humanly speaking they are useless and hopelessbut not to Christ. If you have fallen into spiritual defeat and have lost your usefulness, there is grace for you. The Saviour can repair the broken reed. He can restore brightness to the smoking flax. He will not discard you. Remember, even if your brethren have given you up, the Lord has not.

(Eagles' Wings daily devotional)

Our path is often slippery!

2011-01-10T09:12:00.001Z

(James Smith, "Preservation Sought" 1865)

"But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped."
Psalm 73:2

The Christian is always on dangerous ground!

We may fall into sin--even when we cannot fall into hell.
We may break our bones--when we cannot break our neck.
We may make sad work for repentance--when we do not incur a sentence of final condemnation.
We are liable to fall by error--which is specious and powerful.
We are liable to fall by Satan--who is crafty and malicious.
We are liable to fall by our weakness--which is very great.
We are liable to fall by sinful pleasures--in which the flesh takes delight.
We are liable to fall by our unhallowed tempers--which need constant watchfulness and incessant prayer.
We are liable to fall by erroneous people--who may, like Satan, lie in wait to deceive us.

We therefore need keeping--constant keeping, divine keeping!

Our path is often slippery--and we are apt to be incautious. But it is our unspeakable mercy, that God has promised to keep us. "He keeps the feet of His saints."

But He will have us feel our weakness, and need of His keeping--and plead with Him to keep us: "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe" Psalm 119:117

The Vineyard of the Slothful.

2011-01-05T07:33:00.002Z

I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
Proverbs 24 - v 30-32

Our souls are our fields and vineyards, which we are every one of us to take care of, to dress, and to keep. They are capable of being improved with good husbandry; that may be got out of them which will be fruit abounding to our account. We are charged with them, to occupy them till our Lord come; and a great deal of care and pains it is requisite that we should take about them.

These fields and vineyards are often in a very bad state, not only no fruit brought forth, but all overgrown with thorns and nettles (scratching, stinging, inordinate lusts and passions, pride, covetousness, sensuality, malice, those are the thorns and nettles, the wild grapes, which the unsanctified heart produces), no guard kept against the enemy, but the stone-wall broken down, and all lies in common, all exposed.

Matthew Henry

Time and Eternity

2011-01-04T07:00:00.001Z

My days are swifter than a weavers shuttle.
JOB 7:6

Life is swift and short. Even if we live to what is generally called a ripe old age, it is soon cut off, and we fly away (Psa. 90:10). The Scriptures compare our life to a vapour, that . . . vanisheth away (James 4:14), to a watch in the night, and to a tale that is told (Psa. 90: 4, 9).

Thus our time on earth is precious. For our souls it is the valley of decision, the vestibule to eternity. Only in this life do sinners have the opportunity to repent and receive Christ. Only in this life can Christians stand for God, spread the gospel, and lay up treasure in heaven. That is why Paul urges us to redeem the time (Eph. 5:16) and exhorts us to holiness: The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness (Rom. 13:12).

Soon we will all be in a world where time will be no more. Someone has described eternity as being like God winding up a giant clock and setting the pendulum in motion. As it swings from side to side, its solemn ticking seems to say, For ever and ever, for ever and ever, for ever and ever. For every soul who grasps the brief opportunity life affords to get right with God by faith in Christ, eternity holds the prospect of glory for ever and ever. For every unbelieving, impenitent sinner it holds the prospect of woe for ever and ever.

At the beginning of another year, when our minds naturally turn to the passage of time and to our prospects for the future, let us think long and hard on these things. We now have time and opportunity to embrace the gospel and then to spread it. But it is a fleeting opportunity. Let us grasp it in the light of eternity.

Let the year be given to God in its every moment!
G. Campbell Morgan

What is your life?

2010-12-26T16:49:00.000Z

It is even a vapour, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.
James 4v14

We are all moving; we are all hurrying along through space, as this world turns on its axis and moves around the sun. But as we are travelling through space, so we are moving through time at a speed that is beyond calculation. The whole multitude of us are hurrying along — to what destination, remains to be decided by the test of our faith and the grace of God. But certain it is that we are all travelling.

Do not think that you are stable, fixed in one position. Fancy not that you are standing still; you are not. Your pulses each moment beat the funeral marches to the tomb. You are chained to the chariot of rolling time; there is no bridling the steeds, or leaping from the chariot. You must be constantly in motion.

When as a child I laughted and wept — time crept
When as a youth, I dreamed and talked — time walked.
When I became a full-grown man — time ran.
And later as I older grew — time flew.
Soon I shall find while travelling on — time gone.

C.H. Spurgeon

On the edge of eternity - or 30 seconds to live

2010-09-26T13:52:00.001+01:00

This is a hard post to write. Im not sure where my thoughts are at today. On many things. I hope writing this out will help me a bit.

As well as my main job, I do a little photography. Mainly sports photography, although I prefer landscape. Anyway, I was photographing a big rally motorsport event yesterday. I have being doing it for around 4 years. Its also a chance to catch up with some good friends, who I usually only see a few times a year at these events.

I have long wondered how I may better use my talent for photography.

What would we do if we knew we had only about 30 seconds left of our life on this earth? Jimmy drove around the corner towards us, the camera was raised, photo was composed and I took the shot, all without thinking. I have done it so often, it becomes automatic. He passed me, and this whole scene was over in less than 3 seconds. A few corners later, Jimmy has had a massive crash, and has died at the scene.

I have witnessed a death before at a rally event, which was mind-numbing. It was a long drive home yesterday in which to think. My thoughts are today, I dont know where... I feel cold, lifeless, lethargic. I have not gone to church, found it difficult to pray.

We are all perched on the edge of eternity. This 30 seconds could be our last. Are we ready for eternity?

On Dreaming

2010-09-23T11:17:00.001+01:00

When slumber seals our weary eyes,
The busy fancy wakeful keeps;
The scenes which then before us rise,
Prove something in us never sleeps.

As in another world we seem,
A new creation of our own,
All appears real, though a dream,
And all familiar, though unknown.

Sometimes the mind beholds again
The past day's business in review,
Resumes the pleasure or the pain;
And sometimes all we meet is new.

What schemes we form, what pains we take!
We fight, we run, we fly, we fall;
But all is ended when we wake,
We scarcely then a trace recall.

But though our dreams are often wild,
Like clouds before the driving storm;
Yet some important may be styl'd,
Sent to admonish or inform.

What mighty agents have access,
What friends from heav'n, or foes from hell,
Our minds to comfort or distress,
When we are sleeping, who can tell?

One thing, at least, and 'tis enough,
We learn from this surprising fact;
Our dreams afford sufficient proof,
The soul, without the flesh, can act.

This life, which mortals so esteem,
That many choose it for their all,
They will confess, was but a dream,
When 'waken'd by death's awful call.

John Newton

Sermon recommendations

2010-09-21T22:16:00.008+01:00

I would like to recommend Dr. David P Murray to you. His sermons were recommended to me some time ago now, and I have been much blessed by them, particularly;
The half was not told me
Hurry Lord
Rahab the Harlot

How good is it!

2010-09-16T04:18:00.002+01:00

I have received some most encouraging words.

Wednesday 15th September.
I finished work as usual and came home. Sat myself down with a mug of tea, and instead of rushing through my reading of the Proverbs… although I don’t really rush… I spent some time instead just in sitting, meditating and thinking. It was really nice just to stop and think during the week, instead of leaving it until the Sabbath day. I then felt strongly inclined to finish my reading of Proverbs – chapter 15 – at verse 23 today, and one thing that struck me here was the exclamation mark at the end of verse 23. I had never noticed one before in the Bible.

After spending quite a bit longer than usual at the Word this day, I turned on my pc to catch up on my emails, the news and various other worldly distractions, and was immediately overcome with an email I received. Just a short message, but full of the most encouraging words I have heard in such a long, long time. Joy washed over me as I thought on how to respond. I had so many thoughts about abounding in the work of the Lord, how the hearts of men are in His hands, about encouraging words, and of the providence of God.

I have been trying for some time now to update this blog with a suitable entry combining these thoughts, and was led to several verses including; Proverbs 5v21, Proverbs 21v2 – (which incidentally was the headline in my Daily Light this morning) - and Proverbs 21v1, which spoke to me most about the message I received – but somehow it still didn’t feel quite right.

Getting a little frustrated at this point, I remembered somehow the exclamation mark at the end of the 23rd verse earlier, and so did an online search for exclamation marks in the bible. After searching now, I am aware that there are in fact quite a few exclamation marks throughout the Bible. A quick re-read of verse 23 and my eyes were opened. These were the very words I needed, the very words that I had read earlier, but thought nothing of bar the exclamation mark!

“A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!” (Proverbs 15. v23)

A word spoken in due season, how good is it!
How good indeed. I pray that many will give and receive their own encouraging words this day.

Manna

2010-09-08T10:58:00.003+01:00

taken from the Christian Living Today website

... there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
Numbers 21:1-9

This is another name given to the manna by men. At best the word translated ‘light’ means insubstantial, and at worst ‘despicable’ or ‘disgusting’, coming from a root sometimes translated despised or cursed. Linked with this is another strong word. “Our soul ‘loatheth’ this light bread”. This word, according to Gesenius’ lexicon, is onomatopoeic and suggests the sound of vomiting. At best, Strong says it signifies ‘to be weary of’. Perhaps the range of aversion to the manna suggested by the words used existed among the people. This description of the manna suggests not now Christ incarnate or unrecognised but Christ rejected. “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isa 53:3).

The manna is said to have resembled coriander seed. Coriander seed is almost spherical, and this helps us to interpret the word translated ‘round’ (Exod 16:14), for it can have other meanings. Does it not speak of the eternal coming into time? It is also small and white, telling us of His amazing humility and absolute purity. On closer examination, this little seed reveals what lies behind the meaning of its name and thus yields another very precious picture of the Saviour. Coriander means ‘furrowed’: the seed is not smooth but has longitudinal furrows covering its entire surface. Thinking of these furrows our minds go to Psalm 129:3 “The ploughers ploughed upon my back: they made long their furrows”. We hear the rejected Christ say “I gave my back to the smiters” (Isa 50:6). It has been said that the manna “bore the marks of rough usage”.

Before the manna could become food for God’s people it had to be subjected to pressure and to heat (Exod 16:23; Num 11:8). Both of these things speak of trial, of suffering. Dwelling on the sufferings of the rejected Christ we too are strengthened for our journey through a hostile world. Paul, when “pressed out of measure, above strength” (2 Cor 1:8) rejoiced, “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ” (2 Cor 1:5). He was comforted by the one who had passed the way before. Peter, speaking of “the fiery trial” (1 Pet 4:12) exhorted the suffering saints to “rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings” (4:13). Both were feeding on the manna of a rejected Christ.

One Day At a Time

2010-09-05T09:02:00.003+01:00

One day at a time, with its failures and fears,
With its hurts and mistakes, with its weakness and tears,
With its portion of pain and its burden of care;
One day at a time we must meet and must bear.

One day at a time to be patient and strong;
To be calm under trial and sweet under wrong;
Then its toiling shall pass and its sorrow shall cease;
It shall darken and die, and the night shall bring peace.

One day at a time--but the day is so long,
And the heart is not brave, and the soul is not strong,
O Thou pitying Christ, be Thou near all the way;
Give courage and patience and strength for the day.

Swift cometh His answer, so clear and so sweet;
"Yea, I will be with thee, thy troubles to meet;
I will not forget thee, nor fail thee, nor grieve;
I will not forsake thee; I never will leave."

Not yesterday's load we are called on to bear,
Nor the morrow's uncertain and shadowy care,
Why should we look forward or back with dismay?
Our needs, as our mercies, are but for the day.

One day at a time, and the day is His day;
He hath numbered its hours, though they haste or delay.
His grace is sufficient; we walk not alone;
As the day, so the strength that He giveth His own.

Annie Johnson Flint

Diary

2010-09-05T08:41:00.001+01:00

As well as this blog, I keep a personal diary which is updated slightly more frequently than here. My more recent posts have, I have felt, been a bit too personal to post here right now.
It has been a strange few months, but all working together for good I must believe. There has been more prayer, more time at the word of God, more trials, a deeper awareness of my own weakness and sins, but also answers to prayers and much joy.

For the meantime, I will keep my personal posts to my private diary and aim to use this blog mainly to publish more edifying work which I come across either online or through various books I come across.

Psalm 119 v.25

2010-03-28T07:17:00.001+01:00

My soul cleaveth unto the dust

The remainders of in-dwelling corruption are a very grievous burden to a gracious soul. (Matthew Henry)

Psalm 118

2010-03-24T06:30:00.000Z

"O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever."

It appears here, as often as elsewhere, that David had his heart full of the goodness of God. He loved to think of it, loved to speak of it, and was very solicitous that God might have the praise of it and others the comfort of it. The more our hearts are impressed with a sense of God's goodness the more they will be enlarged in all manner of obedience. (Matthew Henry)

The roaring lion

2010-02-28T08:06:00.004Z

From sermon # 419 CHS – The roaring lion.

“Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
1 Peter 5:8, 9.

“Has he assailed you with some temptation obnoxious to your spirit? Yield an inch and you are undone, but become more watchful and more vigilant over yourself in that particular sin and resistance must certainly bring victory. Or has he injected blasphemy? Resist. Be more prayerful every time he is more active. He will soon give it up if he finds that his attacks drive you to Christ. Often has Satan been nothing but a big black dog to drive Christ’s sheep nearer to the Master. Often has he been like a tremendous crested billow which has just lifted the poor shipwrecked mariner on to the Rock and from very fear has made him cling the more tightly there. If he thrusts you thus, match him by turning even his temptations to good account and he will soon give up that mode of warfare and exchange it for another.

Resist him. But how resist him? “Steadfast in the faith.” Seek to obtain a clear knowledge of the doctrines of the Gospel and then get a good grip of them. Be ready to die sooner than give up a particle of God’s revealed Truth. This will make you strong. Then take hold of the promises of God which are yes and amen in Christ Jesus. Be ready for every attack of Satan’s commencing with, “Is it written?”—answer Satan with “Thus says the Lord”—“Steadfast in the faith.” Remember all the water outside of a ship cannot sink it. It is the water inside that perils its safety.

But there is another word added for our comfort—“Knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” This is well sketched by John Bunyan in that picture I have already alluded to, in the Valley of the Shadow of Death. “As Christian was going along the exceedingly narrow pathway, with a deep ditch on one side and a dangerous quay upon the other, he came to a stand and he had half a thought to go back and then again he thought he might be half-way through the valley so he resolved to go on. And while he pondered and mused, he heard the voice of a man as going before him, saying, ‘Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.’

“Then he was glad and that for these reasons. He gathered from thence that some who feared God were in this valley as well as himself and that God was with them though they perceived Him not. He hoped to have company by-and-by so he went on and called to him that was before, but he knew not what to answer for that he also thought himself to be alone.” Here honest John has our experience to the life. It is likely enough that as I am speaking this morning some of you will say, “I did not think that anybody ever felt as I feel.” And though I tell you these things and know that many of you have heard Satan roar, I am compelled to confess that I have frequently said in my own heart, “I do not believe that any other man ever had this temptation before me.”

Well, this text stands to refute our supposition—“The same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” Martin Luther was wont to say that next to Holy Scripture the best teacher for a minister was temptation—he put affliction next—but temptation he kept first in his view. When we have been tempted and tried ourselves we know how to succor others. I grant you it is hard to have the conviction on one’s mind that you are standing in a perilous place where never man stood before and tempted as never man was tempted before you. Come, Believer, we will talk this matter over for two or three seconds. Certainly your Lord has been there before for He was tempted in all points like as you are. Scripture says that all your Brethren have had some participation in your trials.

Now mark—as they suffered as you suffer—no temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man. As they came through the temptation safe and unharmed, so shall you. As they testified that their light afflictions worked out for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory—so that shall be your testimony. As they have overcome and now circle the Throne of God clothed in pure white garments—so will you. And inasmuch as their temptations have left no tears upon their brow, no stains upon their robes, no rent in their royal mantles—so neither shall Satan be able to disfigure or to mutilate you—you shall come out of every trial and of every struggle, losing nothing therein save that which it is well to lose—your dross and your tin, your chaff and your bran. You shall come forth from the deep waters washed, cleansed and purified. God
grant that so it may be with you—but it can only be so by your resisting Satan—steadfast in the faith.

Different degrees of glory.

2010-02-10T06:54:00.004Z

“One star differeth from another star in glory”

This was the evening headline from my daily light on the 2nd of February. It has been in my mind since then and the thought came to me that I am like one of the very faint stars in the night sky, one that you can’t quite see by directly looking at it. Only by looking not at it (if that makes any sense) can I see it. The light which I should be displaying in my life is so very faint that it is barely discernible.
Part of me is sometimes happy just to be a star and to have a little light to shine, although today I searched online for the above text and found a short sermon which has made me think differently.

A New Year

2010-01-17T07:57:00.000Z

Happy New Year.
With a new year comes new resolutions or renewed resolutions. I have only made a total of 8 posts on here last year. I have written a bit more in my personal diary, although I know I am capable of writing far more and publishing far more thoughts on here, hopefully to the edification/help of others and to the glorifying of God. I must stop making excuses in this area and resolve to do what I know I am capable of, whilst keeping in mind;
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)

Genesis 35. v 1, 2.

2009-11-08T06:41:00.007Z

1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. 2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

Before solemn ordinances, there must be solemn preparation. Wash you, make you clean, and then come, and let us reason together. Isa. i. 16-18.
(Matthew Henry)

A small part of Matthew Henry's exposition on this chapter this morning. I am too often guilty of not preparing myself solemnly, spiritually before prayer.

Sabbath 6th September

2009-09-06T10:46:00.001+01:00

So, nothing really to report over the last few weeks. It has been a time of relative peace and inner joy. Last week I finally finished reading the Old Testament. About 5 and a half years after beginning. Such a long time, although for much of that time it lay neglected after Sarah left and I backslided so much during these years also. I am within a chapter of concluding my third reading of the New Testament also, and looking forward to starting again at Matthew as I have done with Genesis.
I have so many reasons to be thankful; my health, inner peace and joy, answered prayers, time with my children, my good job, a roof over my head, food, drink, and warmth, to have God’s word readily before me, and the works of His godly ministers down through the ages easily available through the internet. I am especially thankful for Matthew Henry’s commentary which has been invaluable to me as a daily use along with my readings.

Sabbath 2nd August

2009-09-06T10:44:00.000+01:00

It has been a peaceful few weeks more or less. I put this down to spending more time at the word of God. I get up that extra bit early to read the OT along with Matthew Henry’s commentary. When I come home from work, I spend some more time working my way through the Psalms, and before bed a piece of the new testament, all followed by prayer. I believe two of the most important things I can do to keep my heart at peace is prayer and reading God’s word.

Gracegems

2009-06-07T14:21:00.004+01:00

www.gracegems.org
This is a great website. Join their mailing list and receive a daily devotional quote. Highly recommended.

Todays was;

Did you ever see my picture?

( Letters of John Newton )

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do--that I do not do; but what I hate--that I do. I have the desire to do what is good--but I cannot carry it out. For what I do--is not the good I want to do. No, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing!" Romans 7

Did you ever see my picture? It has been drawn by a masterly hand. And though another person, and one whom I am far from resembling, sat for it--it is as like me as one new penny is like another! The original was drawn at Corinth --and sent to the Christians at Rome . Many copies have been produced, and it has a place in most public and private libraries, and I would hope in most families. I had seen it a great many times, before I could discover one of my own features in it--but then my eyes were very bad.

What is most remarkable, is that it was drawn long before I was born! And now, having been favored with some excellent eye-salve , I quickly knew it to be my own. I am drawn in a posture which would be strange and peculiar, if it was not so common with me--looking two different and opposite ways at once, so that you would be puzzled to tell whether my eyes are fixed upon heaven-- or upon the earth! I am aiming at two things inconsistent with each other at the same time, so that I can accomplish neither.

According to the different light in which you view the picture, I appear to rejoice--or to mourn; to have nothing--or possessing everything; to be a conqueror--or a captive. In a word, I am a double person! I am a riddle ! So it is no wonder if you know not what to make of me--for I cannot tell what to make of myself!
I would--and I would not.
I do--and I do not.
I can--and I cannot.
I find the hardest things easy--and the easiest things impossible.
I am both rich--and poor.
I can do nothing--yet I can do all things.
I am opposed beyond my strength--yet I am not overpowered.
I gain when I lose--and I often am a loser by my gains.

But while I am in this perplexity , you will observe in the same picture--a hand stretched forth for my relief, and may see a label proceeding out of my mouth with these words, "Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!" The more I study this picture, the more I discover some new and striking resemblance, which convinces me that the Painter knew me better than I knew myself!

"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do--I do not do; but what I hate--I do. I have the desire to do what is good--but I cannot carry it out. For what I do--is not the good I want to do. No, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing!" Romans 7

In a word, I am a sinner , a vile one--but a sinner believing in Jesus!

I am a silly sheep --but I have a gracious, watchful Shepherd!

I am a dull scholar --but I have a Master who can make the dullest learn.

2009-05-05T09:11:00.000+01:00

Nothing will disquiet the heart of a good man so much as the sense of God's anger, which shows what a fearful thing it is to fall into his hands. The way to keep the heart quiet is to keep ourselves in the love of God and to do nothing to offend him.
Matthew Henry

Comfort to the weak and discouraged

2009-04-26T14:06:00.002+01:00

Spring

2009-04-19T13:28:00.003+01:00

Spring… songs 2 v.10-13… it is surely spring now. The winter has passed, the flowers are blooming and the sun is shining. I am even feeling more alive. I don’t like the winter much. The verses above were in my daily light a couple of days ago. In the cold of winter it seems that even my feelings grow cold, I become spiritually inactive more or less. I see this from my memory over the last 5 years and also from this diary from last year. Very few entries over the winter months compared to the other months. Is this common to other believers I wonder. Maybe its my job also. working permanent nightshift, I very rarely see light during the winter. Maybe there is something to believe about SAD (seasonal affective disorder)

A good read

2009-02-01T07:42:00.002Z

click here

A sermon in one word

2008-09-15T16:05:00.008+01:00

I came across this wonderful story some time ago now, and it was brought to mind again recently by the same text appearing twice in the last few days in my daily light. 1 Corinthians 15 v.58 - Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

It may be that we feel we struggle to do any work of, or for the Lord at all. Yet we know from this text that how ever so little the work, it will not be in vain. Like Arthur Stace, the work may be little in our own eyes, although done often, and it may be that we will not see the fruit of it. However He who knoweth all things will be sure to see and take note of it.

For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

Thursday 4th Sept

2008-09-04T11:28:00.002+01:00

struggling to update this as often as I would like. I have a lot of good notes jotted down on pieces of paper surrounding my pc, some of which I may put up here if I ever make the time. Have finished reading Holy War by John Bunyan. It was a bit of a struggle in places but became captivating towards the end. The last 2 or 3 pages were especially full of answers to me. Recommended.

Wed 20th

2008-08-20T12:33:00.001+01:00

I was thinking at work last night that I wish that I had kept this diary from the start – 4 years ago. How I have changed in that time. I remember having so many doubts and fears, also overconfidence at times in my salvation. I have backslided much during this time. Now there is (at this time) only peace and a quiet assurance within. I pray that many others could feel the way I feel, but one of my greatest weaknesses is in not having the courage to speak of my faith to those closest and most important to me. I did try 4 years ago, but know now that it was me trying to get them to believe, whereas I should have told the story of the gospel and prayed and left it in God’s hands.

back online

2008-08-15T07:38:00.004+01:00

I have had no internet access for the last 2-3 weeks due to ISP problems, a faulty router and a call centre in India. It has finally been sorted out now, and my internet is back on. Orange sent me a new router and it works fine, however after 2 weeks without the web, it felt like a bit of a novelty again and I wasted a fair bit of time on it yesterday after work. There are resolutions that I am determined to work on;
1 – to update this daily, even if its only a line or two
2 – to keep my internet use to a minimum, not switching the pc on first thing when I get up either
3 – praying and reading the word of God more; I have noticed recently (especially when I didn’t have access to the web), that I spent more time in prayer and in daily reading of the bible and consequently I have had more inner peace, more awareness of His providence, more delight in Him and more revelatory thoughts. Looking back over this diary between the sparse entries at the beginning of the year and becoming more regular now, I put it down to one thing only – prayer. How important this is.
4 – not spending too much time or caring overly much on worldly pursuits

Sabbath 20th July

2008-07-20T09:24:00.003+01:00

I got up early this morning, just after 4am and resolved to spend this day profitably, God willing. Begun with prayer and a reading of the bible. I had reached Jeremiah chapter 12. A couple of verses here seemed to stand out and I read them over a couple of times yet thought no more on them. (verses 8 and 9).

Later now being 8am, I have been reading on the internet, searching for tracts – I am thinking of either writing my own or finding one that has references to being lost or the wilderness which I can print out and take with me when I go hill walking. I came across a good site - The Wilderness - and found an article called; One day A Sparrow Fell

This led me to search for sparrows in the bible and the first search result was an article called Sparrow I haven’t read it all yet, in fact I had barely spent 2-3 minutes on it before I reached a mention of Jeremiah chapter 12 verse 9! Yes, the same verse that had stood out for me earlier.

Saturday 19th July

2008-07-20T09:22:00.001+01:00

"The Lord our God hath shewed us His glory." --Deuteronomy 5:24

God's great design in all His works is the manifestation of His own glory. Any aim less than this were unworthy of Himself. But how shall the glory of God be manifested to such fallen creatures as we are? Man's eye is not single, he has ever a side glance towards his own honour, has too high an estimate of his own powers, and so is not qualified to behold the glory of the Lord. It is clear, then, that self must stand out of the way, that there may be room for God to be exalted; and this is the reason why He bringeth His people ofttimes into straits and difficulties, that, being made conscious of their own folly and weakness, they may be fitted to behold the majesty of God when He comes forth to work their deliverance. He whose life is one even and smooth path, will see but little of the glory of the Lord, for he has few occasions of self-emptying, and hence, but little fitness for being filled with the revelation of God. They who navigate little streams and shallow creeks, know but little of the God of tempests; but they who "do business in great waters," these see His "wonders in the deep." Among the huge Atlantic-waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah, because we feel the littleness of man. Thank God, then, if you have been led by a rough road: it is this which has given you your experience of God's greatness and lovingkindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained by no other means: your trials have been the cleft of the rock in which Jehovah has set you, as He did His servant Moses, that you might behold His glory as it passed by. Praise God that you have not been left to the darkness and ignorance which continued prosperity might have involved, but that in the great fight of affliction, you have been capacitated for the outshinings of His glory in His wonderful dealings with you.

Taken from Mr Spurgeon’s morning devotional for Sat 19th July – once again I have fallen by the wayside…. The above has helped much.

John Flavel and a reason for keeping this blog

2008-07-11T11:59:00.001+01:00

The Mystery of Providence by John Flavel – One of the reasons for keeping this diary was a chapter in this book. I have just looked it out and it is chapter 13; “The advantages of recording our experiences of providence.” I tried searching for an online version so I could copy and paste, but there doesn’t seem to be a copy of this chapter, so I will type extracts from it here.

“I cannot but judge it the concern of Christians that have time and ability for such a work, to keep written memorials or journals of Providence by them, for their own and others’ use and benefit. There is a prudent, humble and seasonable communication of our experiences and observations of Providence which is exceeding beneficial both to ourselves and our brethren. Providence carries our lives, liberties and concerns in its hand every moment. Your bread is in its cupboard, your money in its purse, your safety in its enfolding arms; and surely it is the least part of what you owe to record the favours you receive at its hands.
Do not trust your slippery memories with such a multitude of remarkable passages of Providence as you have, and shall meet with in your way to heaven. It is true, things that greatly affect us are not easily forgotten by us; and yet, how ordinary is it for new impressions to raze out former ones? Written memorials secure us against that hazard, and besides, make them useful to others when we are gone, so that you do not carry away all your treasure to heaven with you, but leave these choice legacies to your surviving friends.
Take heed of clasping up those rich treasures in a book, and have frequent recourse to them, as oft as new needs, fears or difficulties arise and assault you. Now it is seasonable to consider and reflect, Was I never so distressed before? Is this the first plunge that ever befell me? Let me consider the days of old, the years of ancient times, as Asaph did (Ps.77. 5.)
Beware of slighting former straights and dangers in comparison with present ones. That which is next to us always appears greatest to us, and as time removes us farther and farther from our former mercies or dangers, so they grow less in our eyes. Make it as much your business to preserve the sense and value as well as the memory of former providences, and the fruit will be sweet to you.”

More from Sandwood

2008-07-10T11:30:00.002+01:00

Sabbath 22nd June

It has been raining hard and windy with strong gusts for several hours now and it is still only 8.30 am. Looks like the weather forecast was right. I’ve made tea, but not very hungry yet. Have just prayed, mourning my sins, asking for forgiveness. I have taken my bible up with me and intend to meditate and write down some thoughts today – not sure on what yet – possibly thoughts that I’ve had for some time now but haven’t managed to write down – maybe my testimony.

Psalm 51, v.17 – “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”

It was towards the end of 2004 – Sarah had left me in October that year. I remember I had had such harsh thoughts of God, I felt so hard done by. I stopped going to church, stopped praying and generally went back to my old ways. However I still had religious convictions, the Lord had awakened me in February of that year – I still believed, knew it all to be true, but tried to force myself not to think on such things.
I remember awaking one Sabbath day and having thoughts on the above verse – I do not know now why this verse came to mind. I was lying in bed and had such conviction of my sin and had such wonderful thoughts on this verse – My spirit was broken – I knew that, but why was that a ‘pleasing sacrifice’? Why would God not despise my broken and contrite heart? I had sinned much, sinned against light.
I couldn’t answer my question, but held it to be true, as it is written in the Word. This gave me some comfort and confidence in Him again – my spirit was broken, I had a broken and a contrite heart towards the Lord and He was pleased.
I began to pray again, to acknowledge that His ways are best, to trust in Him and not to lean unto my own understanding. There then followed a time of peace within, knowing that my sins were forgiven, prayers were being answered and it was a delight to read the bible.

There followed on one day a thought on what I call one of my favourite texts from scripture; Philippians 1, v.6. “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
It was whilst walking home from work one morning and I found myself thinking that He WILL perform it, not that He may but that He WILL. This was wonderful. It was His good work that He begun in me. Obviously a good work as God surely cannot do anything bad. He begun the work, it wasn’t anything in me. I know that so surely, and He WILL perform it – He WILL complete this work, surely God cannot leave a work only a little completed plus the fact It is written in the Word. This gave great comfort, confidence and patience knowing that He WILL complete this work which He hath begun in me. Being confident – as the Word of God is true.

It is 3pm and still raining. It hasn’t let up once.
He hath said I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

8.40pm – Finally it has stopped raining and the wind has died down too.
8.45pm – Spoke too soon – wind and rain again, had a quick look outside and the horizon does seem to be quite clear, so hopefully this wont last long.

9.15pm – Finally finally stopped raining .
10.30pm – Even managed to glimpse the sun low in the sky in a break in the clouds.

The Longest Day

2008-07-09T22:14:00.003+01:00

Sat 21st June

Been awake off and on since 4.30am. Finally got up about 8am. It was raining pretty heavily during the night. I made breakfast – tea, tortilla wraps with bacon and primula and a cereal bar – then went to search for a stream I knew was nearby for a daily supply of fresh water – it is about 20 minutes away. Back at the tent 3 people approached me, John, Andrew and Neil who are friends of my brother Brian down in Edinburgh and I hung around with them for most of the day, walking along the beach, chatting and playing football. Left them about 6pm and headed back to my own tent for a luxurious dinner of pasta, pesto, peppered salami, sundried tomatoes and peanuts and a small glass of red wine – who says you have to rough it whilst camping?
It is now 9.15pm and I am just back from topping up my water supply. It is a warm evening, the sun has been shaded by light clouds for most of this, the longest day, but it is still high in the sky. I am hoping for a really nice sunset for some great photo opportunities.
It is 11pm and the sun is now getting low in the sky, it is obscured still by light clouds, but the whole western end of the sky is a beautiful reddish/pink colour.

It is still more than bright enough to be able to write this and read inside my tent with just the natural outside light. The sound of the sea is beautiful – a perpetual roaring and crashing along this mile stretch of sandy beach. Tomorrow is meant to be a very very wet day according to the weather forecast I received before I left.

Friday 20th June

2008-07-09T06:49:00.006+01:00

Sandwood – Finished work this morning at 4am, finished packing, ate, showered and left. Arrived at Oldshoremore at 9am and began the long walk. Rucksack very very heavy, have I over packed this year also? Made it to the bay and found a fantastic spot at the far end high up on the hill overlooking the beach by midday. I can sit in the tent porch and have amazing views of this spectacular piece of land.
It is 5pm now, I’ve had a wee sleep, but the sun beating down makes it too hot in the tent for sleep.

Back from hols - July

2008-07-09T06:45:00.002+01:00

Such a peaceful time away..although now I am way behind on a lot of things..still it was worth it. Kept a diary whilst up there and I'll post some of it here.

Thursday 19th June 2008

2008-06-19T18:16:00.001+01:00

I have been a bit neglectful this week with my blog... I have had a few thoughts that I would like to get down but haven’t been able to make the time for them. I am away for my annual trip to Sandwood Bay straight after work tomorrow morning. It is 6.15pm at the moment and I'm just getting ready to go to work now. I will leave this one thought..
“Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown”
The good work that the Lord has begun in us, no matter how little we have a grasp of it, let us hold fast to what we do know of it.
I will add on this thought when I get back in July.

Sabbath 15th June 2008

2008-06-15T05:13:00.003+01:00

It is 4.20am and I have been up for about an hour now. As I work permanent nightshift I am often awake at this time on my days off. These last few days and weeks have been more or less a constant joy. I have experienced comfort within, unspeakable joy at the word and providence of God and delight in Him.

Going back to my entry on the 8th June, re the morning portion of my Daily Light on Psalm 37, v.3, I searched through the sermons here for a sermon on this verse, but there wasn’t one for v.3, but there was for v.4, which I posted a little about on the10th June.
I also daily read the morning and evening devotionals of Mr Spurgeon and Saturday morning’s entry contained a devotional on Psalm 37, v.4.;

I have experienced this several times over the past 4 years, where I have read the word of God; either in the Bible or my Daily Light or in a sermon or book, and a part of it has stood out for me, a text or a verse, and then I find that text replicated in some other place, within hours, sometimes minutes. I remember the first few times I thought, “What wonderful coincidence” – a text would stand out for me in the Daily Light first thing in the morning, I would have breakfast then pick up a book – maybe my Bible for my daily reading or a book containing sermons by someone, and there I would find the same text at the very point where I had left off previously.
I find it happens regularly when I am more diligent and careful about spiritual matters.

Thursday 12th June 2008

2008-06-12T10:41:00.001+01:00

I am feeling really tired today and not feeling up to making an entry. I am so looking forward to my holiday at the end of next week.

Tuesday 10th June 2008

2008-06-10T09:43:00.003+01:00

"Habit, if not resisted, soon becomes necessity."
St. Augustine

I am sitting here with a mug of tea, it is 9am and I am intent on updating this blog daily, to make it a habit, and hopefully a necessity.
I had a great visit with the children last night; it is always so good to see them.
Read a sermon by Mr Spurgeon the Sabbath just past on Psalm 37, v.4.
“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
I have had much delight in the Lord recently. Delight in such simple things, a great peace and joy with much comfort within. Delight in His word, and in His providence. I am learning to be content with His Will, to fully trust and know for sure that the good work that he has begun in me WILL be performed until the day of Jesus Christ.

My desires are the salvation of my children, of Sarah, my parents, brothers and sister and their families, my friends and work colleagues.
The desire to know Jesus
The desire to be turned from this world, to be subdued to His Will
The desire to bring forth fruit and for this work - my writing, to be blessed
The desire not to be scared to speak about gospel truths and of the ways of the Lord - His goodness, mercy and wonderful providence.
I also have another desire, but this is a desire of self; to have my own house once again, in North West Sutherland, overlooking the sea. But this is covetousness I fear.

Sabbath 8th June

2008-06-08T11:53:00.002+01:00

Whilst updating the William Sinclair Diaries blog, the latest entry contained the following lines from John Flavel;

"Then did the sunshine of Thy face,
And sweetest glimpses of Thy grace,
Like April showers and warming gleams,
Distil their dews, reflect their beams.
My dead affections then were green,
And hopeful buds were to be seen;
Oh joyful days, thrice happy state,
Each place was Bethel, heaven's gate.
What sweet discourse, what heavenly talk,
While daily I did with Thee walk;
Mine eyes o'erflow, my heart doth sink,
As oft upon those days I think.
For strangers now have come between
My God and me, and may be seen;
For what is now, and what was then,
'Tis just as if I were two men.
My fragrant branches blasted be,
No fruits like those now can I see;
Some canker worm lies at my root,
Which fades my leaves, destroys my fruit.
My soul is banished from Thy sight,
For this it mourneth day and night;
Yet why dost thou desponding lie?
Like Jonah, cast a backward eye,
That God who made the Spring at first,
When I was barren and accurst,
Can much more easily restore
My state to what it was before;
A word or smile on my poor soul
Would make it perfect, sound and whole."

Sabbath 8th June

2008-06-08T11:08:00.004+01:00

Thoughts after reading this morning's portion of my Daily Light;
Psalm 37, v.3 "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed."
To trust in the Lord with an active faith, in the daily reading of His word, spending time in prayer, meditating on His providence throughout the day, this is doing good and dwelling in the land, the spiritual land, spiritual Canaan, and verily thou shalt be fed - spiritually fed.
Having recently more, and yet still so little, trusted in my Lord, spending more time in prayer, I have been spiritually fed with this word this morning.

Sabbath 1st June

2008-06-01T14:14:00.004+01:00

I have come across this work by A T Schofield - Plain papers for young believers. I found it very well written, concise and practical. I especially enjoyed the second and third papers - The Two Natures, and Eternal Life. Reading the Two Natures paper, I was reminded of some good words from The Shorter Catechism Illustrated, by John Whitecross. I have just now looked it up;

"Two or three years before John Newton's death, when his sight was become so dim that he was no longer able to read, an aged friend and brother in the ministry called on him to breakfast. Family prayers following, the portion of Scripture for the day was read to him. It was taken from Boganky's Golden Treasury: 'By the grace of God I am what I am.' It was Newton's custom on these occasions, to make a short familiar exposition on the passage read. After the reading of this text, he paused for some moments, and then uttered the following affecting soliloquy: 'I am not what I ought to be. Ah! how imperfect and deficient. I am not what I wish to be. I abhor what is evil, and I would cleave to what is good. I am not what I hope to be; soon, soon, I shall put off mortality, and with mortality all sin and imperfection. Yet, though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I can truly say, I am not what I once was—a slave to sin and Satan; and I can heartily join with the apostle, and acknowledge, 'By the grace of God, I am what I am.' Let us pray."

Friday 16th May

2008-05-16T18:06:00.002+01:00

It has been a good week.
I have finally got in touch with Iain at Apples of Gold to say thanks for his work which has been of some enormous benefit to me over the past year and to ask him to pass on a request to Teri Summey that I hope she didn't mind me using a portion of her testimony in my last entry.
I have enjoyed an incredible quietness, a peace within me, joy even this week and at such simple things; my thoughts, my surroundings. Prayer has been easier this week also. I have been making time to read my bible, setting aside time for prayer, requesting much in prayer that I may be turned from this world.

Sabbath 11th May

2008-05-11T06:12:00.004+01:00

It has been 2 months now since my last entry, I find it so hard to make the time for this blog, yet have plenty of time for the joys of this world. Nothing much has happened these last 2 months. I have been a poor excuse for someone who professes to be born again. I have backslided somewhat once again, neglecting prayer and the word of God. But here I am again with more resolve. I have thought it may be easier to use portions of other peoples work which have helped me, and so here is the first;

"GOD IN HIS FAITHFULNESS began to reveal truth about Romans 12:2, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind". Our mind is not born again with the new birth, our spirit is. Throughout our lives, our mind has been conformed to the world's way of thinking and it needs to be transformed and renewed to God's way of thinking. The power of the Holy Spirit working through the Word of God transforms us into what God has purposed for us to be. The more time we spend thinking about God and His Word, the more power and ability we have to do it. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he and so does he become, because right action will always follow right thinking. Our behaviour won't change until we change our thoughts, so we must determine to choose right thoughts. When the way I think changes, my mind is renewed and that changes my emotions and the way I feel, and that changes my behaviour and the way I act. We are to put off the old man with all its wrong thinking and be renewed in the spirit of our mind by putting on the new man which was created according to God. It is a choice, this putting off and putting on, a deliberate act of our will, and our ability to choose is the greatest power God has given to us. We are also told to set our mind on things above, not on earthly things. When our mind is stayed on God because we trust in Him, God will keep us in perfect peace no matter what kind of storm we may be in the midst of. In Peter's storm when he was walking on the water to Jesus, the only reason he began to sink is because he took his eyes off of Jesus and began to fear and doubt as he looked at the storm. Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus and keeping our mind focused on Him is the only way to live above our circumstances and the storms of life."

Taken from Teri Summey's testimony.

Sabbath 9th March

2008-03-09T11:01:00.000Z

I was getting a bit down about not being with my children. I saw some photos of them online this morning and feel like I’m missing out on such a large part of their lives. Do they miss me?
I woke up early with a strong resolve to spend this Sabbath more profitably – to spend time in writing, though seeing the photos has thrown me a bit.
I returned to bed with paper and pen and M’Cheynes’ “A Basket of Fragments” – The bookmark was at sermon 19 – The quarrel between Abraham and Lot – Genesis 13, v 7-13. The first lines of this sermon;
“Domestic trials are not easy to bear. Most believers would like to go to heaven without a crook in their lot. I have no doubt that Jacob would have liked to have gone to heaven without the trial he had in the loss of Joseph.”
These words are a most timely reminder to me, and I am feeling so much better now. Although I am suffering the “loss” of my children, I am most thankful that I am still able to see them – even if only for a little while.
I must keep in remembrance that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Monday 28th January

2008-01-28T01:25:00.001Z

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

I wrote out the above text maybe 2 weeks ago meaning to write upon it, however other things have gotten in the way….the world, my sin………..
Some time ago now I remembered this text and was pondering upon it, maybe around the time of the 30th December entry……I couldn’t do anything remotely spiritual, holding onto hope and faith only.
I remembered the text as; if in my life, I only had hope in Christ, then I was of all men most miserable.
I pondered upon it and found it to be true.
The unconverted person has their own pleasures and their own ways to stay from misery. The joys of this world.
The converted person has their joy in Christ, in prayer, in fellowship, in inner peace, all in an exercise of active faith.
Let that active faith slip though, as it does when we get caught up all too easily in the cares and pleasures of this world, and we are left holding only onto hope, then we are of all men most miserable. We have experienced joy in an active faith, but no longer, we find it difficult to pray, no comfort do we find in the scriptures, we find no joy in the world if we cannot get near to Jesus.
Hope – one word, if that is all we are left with, we may be most miserable, but still let your mind think upon hope. We hope in Christ…. How can we have hope in someone unless we believe in that someone? Believe and be saved.

Sabbath 6th January

2008-01-06T13:27:00.004Z

Have picked up and read my bible for the first time in 2 or 3 weeks. Feel a bit of inner peace and a new resolve to serve God. Listened to a sermon by Angus Smith which I found linked to from the Free Presbyterian website on Job 23, verses 8-10.
I was actually at this communion service in 2004 when he preached it and it was good to hear it again. “He knoweth the way that I take”.
I know that there are seasons for the christian in his walk, and that lately I have been experiencing darkness, my soul has been downcast, but this sermon has reminded me that I am not alone in this, and that my thoughts are known.

Sat night 5th Jan 08

2008-01-06T13:22:00.001Z

"And God saw the light." --Genesis 1:4

“This morning we noticed the goodness of the light, and the Lord's dividing it from the darkness, we now note the special eye which the Lord had for the light. "God saw the light"--He looked at it with complacency, gazed upon it with pleasure, saw that it "was good." If the Lord has given you light, dear reader, He looks on that light with peculiar interest; for not only is it dear to Him as His own handiwork, but because it is like Himself, for "He is light." Pleasant it is to the believer to know that God's eye is thus tenderly observant of that work of grace which He has begun. He never loses sight of the treasure which He has placed in our earthen vessels. Sometimes we cannot see the light, but God always sees the light, and that is much better than our seeing it. Better for the judge to see my innocence than for me to think I see it. It is very comfortable for me to know that I am one of God's people--but whether I know it or not, if the Lord knows it, I am still safe. This is the foundation, "The Lord knoweth them that are His." You may be sighing and groaning because of inbred sin, and mourning over your darkness, yet the Lord sees "light" in your heart, for He has put it there, and all the cloudiness and gloom of your soul cannot conceal your light from His gracious eye. You may have sunk low in despondency, and even despair; but if your soul has any longing towards Christ, and if you are seeking to rest in His finished work, God sees the "light." He not only sees it, but He also preserves it in you. "I, the Lord, do keep it." This is a precious thought to those who, after anxious watching and guarding of themselves, feel their own powerlessness to do so. The light thus preserved by His grace, He will one day develop into the splendour of noonday, and the fulness of glory. The light within is the dawn of the eternal day”.

So much comfort from Mr Spurgeon's evening portion (above) tonight. Have been much in darkness lately… saw the children tonight. Was wonderful just being with them. On the way home stopped at fain for thought, looking at the stars and prayed for the first time in a wee while - sighing and groaning because of inbred sin.
This has helped much.

Sabbath 30th December

2007-12-30T13:55:00.000Z

Thoughts, thoughts thoughts……… another year almost over…….another week gone by with no writings to show for the week… have had plenty of revelatory thoughts since my awakening, but find it such a chore to make the time to sit down and write them up…although I find plenty of time to waste time surfing on the internet, playing games. I don’t want it to be a chore, as it is genuinely what I want to do.
I am finding it so difficult to pray... my sinfulness is getting in the way…. Holding on to texts….."Believe and be saved, he is able to keep you from falling, he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ". (He WILL perform it)
I need to pray for patience, for forgiveness…
I need to pray.

Sabbath 23rd December

2007-12-23T13:25:00.000Z

More than ever yet, I am feeling the conflict inside between the old man and the new.
This new life, although it has been almost 4 years since awakening, is so faint, so weak. I find it such a struggle to pray, instead getting caught up in the cares and pleasures of this world.
I had wanted this to be a daily blog, to be my fruit, the spirit is willing but the flesh is so weak.
I had quite a good week actually until yesterday, prayed often, enjoyed the inner peace and comfort, but now feel as though I am back to square 1.

Sabbath 16th December 2007

2007-12-16T22:08:00.000Z

Providentially

page 385 Free Presbyterian Magazine, volume 1

Sacramental address – “But where, you will perhaps ask, is this glorious One to be found? - At His table.”

Having prayed often for a more personal knowledge of Jesus, and having backslidden these last couple of weeks, I returned unto Him today in prayer mourning my many sins and weaknesses. I found the above answer upon resuming my reading of this book from where I had left of some weeks before.
Also later in this sacramental address, page 387, “By slow steps, and after many rebukes, does a believer begin to know experimentally that his strength is not in himself but in Christ.”

“At His table” – Now I must pray that I may have His strength to return unto church and so approach His table.
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.” Hebrews chapter 10. I have had this text in my mind for many months now.
Providentially
I have today reached Mr Spurgeon`s 91st sermon taken from the 10th chapter of Hebrews.
The daily light reading for today contains my verse - Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.