Plunge Into This River

O man, plunge into this river!
by Charles Hadden Spurgeon

"I have loved you." Isaiah 43:4.
Come, heir of heaven, listen a moment. God has loved you eternally. Before the stars began to shine, and before the sun knew his place and poured forth his oceans of light, God loved you in particular! He has loved you actively and effectually, giving the unspeakable gift of His Only Begotten Son for you! He has given you everything in Him; a boundless ocean of love! He has loved you supremely, better than the angels. He has loved you unchangeably, never less, and never more. In all your sin the same; in all your sorrow still the same. He has loved you immeasurably. You can never know the heights and depths of your God's love to you.

O man, plunge into this river!

If you have hitherto gone wading into it up to the ankles, now get heart high into it! Yes, commit yourself to the fathomless stream, and swim in it as in a sea of bliss! "I have loved you." Let that dwell richly in your heart, and ring out celestial music for your comfort and delight!

Lean Hard

from Winslow's, "The Burden Cast upon God"

"Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain you."

Psalm 55:22.

It is by an act of simple, prayerful faith we transfer our cares and anxieties, our sorrows and needs, to the Lord. Jesus invites you come and lean upon Him, and to lean with all your might upon that arm that balances the universe, and upon that bosom that bled for you upon the soldier's spear! But you doubtingly ask, "Is the Lord able to do this thing for me?" And thus, while you are debating a matter about which there is not the shadow of a shade of doubt, the burden is crushing your gentle spirit to the dust. And all the while Jesus stands at your side and lovingly says, "Cast your burden upon Me and I will sustain you. I am God Almighty. I bore the load of your sin and condemnation up the steep of Calvary, and the same power of omnipotence, and the same strength of love that bore it all for you then, is prepared to bear your need and sorrow now. Roll it all upon Me!"

"Child of My Love! Lean hard! Let Me feel the pressure of your care. I know your burden, child! I shaped it- I poised it in My own hand and made no proportion of its weight to your unaided strength. For even as I laid it on, I said I shall be near, and while she leans on Me, this burden shall be Mine, not hers. So shall I keep My child within the circling arms of My own love. Here lay it down! Do not fear to impose it on a shoulder which upholds the government of worlds! Yet closer come! You are not near enough! I would embrace your burden, so I might feel My child reposing on My breast. You love Me! I know it.

-

Doubt not, then. But, loving me, lean hard!"

The Ocean of Divine Love

by Octavius Winslow

The love of God to His people was as eternal as the eternity of His being, as everlasting as His uncreated nature. "I have loved you with an everlasting love." It panted, it yearned for an outlet. It sought and found it in Christ. Nowhere in the heavens above, or in the earth beneath, or in the waters under the earth; no star, no flower, no creature, so reveals, expresses, and embodies the love of God as the gift of His dear Son to die for our sins! Oh, what love is this! "God so loved the world!" So loved, that He gave Jesus! Jesus is the most precious exponent of God's love: Jesus descends from the bosom of His love; Jesus draws aside the veil of His love; Jesus is God's love expressed, God's love incarnate, God's love speaking, laboring, dying, redeeming! Beyond this it would seem impossible that love could go. Jesus is the channel through which the ocean of Divine love washed the shores of this earth, its soul healing waves spreading like a sea of life over our sin tainted, curse blighted, sorrow stricken humanity. Oh, let every affection of our heart, every faculty of our soul, every power of our mind, every action of our life, embody as its grateful response the words of the adoring apostle, "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift!"

His Reservoir Of Grace Will Never Dry Up

There is no reason for God to be good to me, yet He is so patient and gentle with me, the worst sinner I know. No one could love me like He loves me and forgive me like He forgives me. Though the cares of this world and my sin sometimes seems insurmountable, the Lord promises to strengthen us and will never leave or forsake us. His boundless reservoir of grace can never be exhausted! Taste and see that the Lord is good.

I will strengthen thee. Isaiah 41:10

God has a strong reserve with which to discharge this engagement; for he is able to do all things. Believer, till thou canst drain dry the ocean of omnipotence, till thou canst break into pieces the towering mountains of almighty strength, thou never needest to fear. Think not that the strength of man shall ever be able to overcome the power of God. Whilst the earth's huge pillars stand, thou hast enough reason to abide firm in thy faith. The same God who directs the earth in its orbit, who feeds the burning furnace of the sun, and trims the lamps of heaven, has promised to supply thee with daily strength. While he is able to uphold the universe, dream not that he will prove unable to fulfil his own promises. Remember what he did in the days of old, in the former generations. Remember how he spake and it was done; how he commanded, and it stood fast. Shall he that created the world grow weary? He hangeth the world upon nothing; shall he who doth this be unable to support his children? Shall he be unfaithful to his word for want of power? Who is it that restrains the tempest? Doth not he ride upon the wings of the wind, and make the clouds his chariots, and hold the ocean in the hollow of his hand? How can he fail thee? When he has put such a faithful promise as this on record, wilt thou for a moment indulge the thought that he has outpromised himself, and gone beyond his power to fulfill? Ah, no! Thou canst doubt no longer.

O thou who art my God and my strength, I can believe that this promise shall be fulfilled, for the boundless reservoir of thy grace can never be exhausted, and the overflowing storehouse of thy strength can never be emptied by thy friends or rifled by thine enemies.

Now let the feeble all be strong, And make Jehovah's arm their song.

-charles hadden spurgeon-

Dark Clouds

"Are you about to enter some dark cloud? Do you ‘fear to enter the cloud?’ Take courage! It will be with you, as with the disciples on their Mount of Transfiguration, unexpected glimpses of heavenly glory —unlooked-for tokens of the Savior’s presence and love await you. If your Lord leads you into the cloud follow Him. If He ‘constrains you to get into the ship,’ obey Him. The cloud will burst into blessings. The ship will conduct you (it may be over a stormy sea)to a quiet haven at last. It is only the surface of the ocean that is rough. All beneath is a deep calm, and in every threatening wave there is a ‘needs-be.’ Oh! trust Him who is emphatically ‘the wisdom of God’. “…the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His steadfast love…” - John MacDuff

His Love Stories

I know the following article is long, but I found it very helpful and encouraging, as well as convicting. There is no need to struggle with fear, doubt and imptaience concerning relationships or any area of life when we have such a loving and faithful God, and yet this article tells stories of real people struggling with those very things and how God changed their hearts and lead them to walk out their lives for their good and His glory. This article and many others can be found at www.boundless.org.

~

His Love Stories by Elisabeth Adams
At age 24, my sister Rachel was anything but looking for romance. Previously disappointed by a long-distance relationship, she longed for patient strength, laughter and bear hugs. "I guess what I'm asking," she wrote, "is for pigs to fly."

Last Christmas, my entire family spent a few weeks together in Jerusalem. Whether the 10 of us piled into two tiny rental cars, went on walking tours or decorated the house, I kept busy snapping pictures. And somehow, Rachel figured in more photos than anyone else, always with a megawatt smile on her face.

It wasn't hard to guess that she had found someone special.

When Rachel met Gabe, she did her best to scare him away. He should have been scared: After all, he had weathered his own heartbreak. But somehow, he just couldn't resist finding out what would happen if he took the time and effort to break through the defenses Rachel had built around her heart. And in spite of herself, Rachel let Gabe hang around because he was endearing: just an ordinary guy who embarrassed himself sometimes — but courageously insisted on being open with her, anyway. Oh, and the patient strength, laughter and bear hugs? Gabe spoke that love language fluently.

Before long, they fell in love. Past heartbreaks vivid in their minds, they were, quite frankly, scared. What gave them the courage to go forward? They looked for providences — and found them.

In Rachel's view, rather than a big thundering yes from heaven, it was more of a step-by-step being led. Gabe agrees:

In all our talking, and getting to know each other and her family ...

every time I have asked God if it's His will to let it happen, He has

[made it happen]. Somehow, there has always been a way.

Even a way to get engaged, when Gabe's job kept him anywhere but where Rachel was. Instead of fighting their circumstances, they allowed God to write a unique twist in their story. Inspired by her grandfather, who had to pop the question in a letter, he asked Rachel to marry him over the phone — and arranged for her best friend to deliver the ring. There was joy, laughter, tears.

Recently, I spoke about Rachel's engagement with a lady I had just met. After we savored all the girly details, she asked, "Do you have a boyfriend?" Good question. I am, after all, the older sister. Shy and unsure of where she was with God, I decided to go with the short answer. "No," I said. "Maybe someday."

Now I wish I'd had the courage to tell her the truth: God's goodness to Rachel does not leave me crushed or jealous, just hope-filled!

The Bible tells us that Jesus is the Word made flesh. I like to think that, in a small way, each of us is also the Word made flesh; that each of us has a story in which the kindness of God is made visible to the world. Think how clear His kindness is in your salvation story. And when you listen to the salvation stories of others, don't you see how unique is the way He captures each of our hearts?

That's why my favorite love stories are true ones. In fact, I've probably read or heard the stories of nearly 150 Christian couples, each one as unique as a fingerprint. Some couples called it "courtship," some called it "dating," and some met and married long before the terms acquired their present meanings. God's kindness is evident in them all.

Jason and Heather
Jason and Heather had been inseparable for a year. Not surprising, considering the fact that they taught in adjacent classrooms, attended the same church, and worked with the same youth group. But it wasn't until Jason left for a three-month mission trip that Heather realized she was in love with him.

Not wanting to lose their friendship, she chose not to mention or even show her feelings. Instead, she began praying — hard — and leaning hard on Jesus.

A second year went by. Prompted by a big decision he had to make about his job, Jason embarked on a three-day fast, and Heather joined him. As they compared notes over the phone, Jason asked, "Is this a good time to talk about us?" He knew, he said, that they'd be perfect together, but he didn't know why he just didn't have any feelings for her.

Once she recovered from her shock, Heather replied, "Well, if you ever do get feelings for me, you might as well just propose, because dating wouldn't look any different from the way we are right now." Knowing that Jason had made a commitment not to date until it could end in marriage, she suggested that he "try to think of her 'in that way.' After all, it had been seven years since he'd had a girlfriend, and he was used to not thinking of women 'in that way.'" Heather had no idea if she'd been crazy, or Spirit-led! But three and a half weeks later, Jason celebrated her 25th birthday by calling her to the front of the church — and asking her to be his wife.

Jeremy and Trina
At 19 years old and 5'9" tall, Trina had just two things she wanted her future husband to be: godly and taller. However, the man who came knocking on her door was godly ... and shorter. Encouraged by God's reminder that while "man looks on the outward appearance ... the LORD looks on the heart," Trina grew to love him for his heart.

After a few months, however, the relationship came to an unexpected end. Despite her pain, Trina felt the time had not been wasted. "I was now more convinced than ever that whoever the Lord brought for me as a mate, He would also provide the grace for me to love and respect him — no matter what his age, height, background, or personality."

Time passed. When her pastor's son began working closely with her dad, she discovered that Jeremy was talented, personable, and funny ... as well as shorter. You guessed it: They fell in love and were married.

Trina writes, "My experience has been that as I was open to the Lord's leading, making His will my deepest desire, He led me into a relationship with more compatibility and fulfillment than I could have ever dreamed." It's true that she once believed this stand would also protect her from a broken heart. She learned that "sometimes God's perfect plan includes heartbreak.... When Jeremy and I look back, we see how God shaped our hearts for each other through the trials we went through."

Anthony and Tracy
As a cancer survivor, Anthony agonized over this question: Was it fair for him to pursue marriage?

When he learned that Tracy had lost her boyfriend to cancer, he had to know what she thought. Grieved to think he was questioning his "right" to love, Tracy felt compelled to reassure him that the right woman would think it a risk worth taking! As they talked about the deeply painful lessons they had learned, their friendship grew.

Anthony was the first to say "I love you." Though she felt the same, love had meant pain to Tracy, and at first she simply could not respond. Anthony patiently waited for her, and soon God changed her fear into deep peace that He had brought them together.

"It just seemed more clear than ever," she says, "that God was reigning in every single moment of our relationship." Anthony felt the same.

Eager to share their news, they met with all four parents, and there they learned that Anthony was an answer to Tracy's parents' prayers, and she to the prayers of his parents. Tracy writes, "Our relationship has shown us more than ever how God delights in us and in doing wonderful things in our lives, and how He gives us his peace and rejoices in our happiness."

Telling His Stories
I could tell you so many more stories! Stories about people I know and love. There's Michael, who waited for Bethany five years. When she finally realized she was in love with her best friend, she flew to Israel to find out if it could work. (It did!)

There's my grandma Connie, who couldn't decide whether or not to marry John, who was 10 years her senior. They ended up being the kind of married couple whose kids hear them late at night, talking and talking.

There's Everett, who needed his sister's help to even notice Liz ... but fell in love with her all by himself.

There's Jonathon, the older widower who had to ask never-married Dorothy three times — but persisted until she said yes.

And Nathan, who told God he had given up on marriage, unless He brought someone to his doorstep. This is just how Julia came into his life, when she arrived to care for his elderly parents.

Before My Story Begins
In my house is a small pottery jar imprinted with two potentially life-changing sentences:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord.

"Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future."

I say "potentially life-changing" because there is a choice involved. First, to believe that my Heavenly Father is the source of all that's good. Second, to believe that His plans for me are good. And third, "to present my body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God ... that by testing I may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

If there is one Biblical way to "do" relationships, this is where it always begins.

I may be willing to risk my time, my affections and my emotional well-being with a reckless approach to relationships — but if I have given myself to Jesus, I don't have that right. I am not my own; I am His. Conversely, I may not be willing to risk my time, my affections, and my emotional well-being by committing to a relationship with a fallible human being. But these are not my own to hoard; I belong to Jesus.

I give the control to Him, not because it will make things easier, but because He has won my heart.

It was only because of the mercies of God that, after years of wrestling, I finally relinquished control of my love life to Him. Contrary to my expectations, it had nothing to do with ceasing to care about marriage. Instead I learned to become a living sacrifice: regularly, trustfully pouring out all my longings before Him.

And I am certain He hears. After all, God is "the best maker of all marriages," and I'm convinced that He loves to do it! He brought Eve to Adam. He prompted Eliezer's prayer for guidance, and then answered it by matching Rebekah with Isaac. He arranged for Ruth to "accidentally" bump into Boaz, inspired Naomi when she counseled Ruth to consider this man who seemed so beyond her grasp, and fueled Boaz's determination to finish the matter that very day.

This is a picture of God's heart. This is what He wants to do for all His children. This is what He wants to do for me.

If someday I live out my love story in light of the gospel, who can help seeing the pure and unconditional love of Jesus? That's an exciting thought!

But regardless of whether I marry or stay single, I deeply desire to make the kindness of God visible to the world. And I can, because the One who lives inside me now is the source of all that's good.

I asked the Lord that I might grow...

by Arthur Pink
"Make Your ways known to me, Lord; teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me." Psalm 25:4-5

There are two ways of learning of Divine things. The one is to acquire a letter knowledge of them from the Bible, the other is to be given an actual experience of them in the soul, under the Spirit's teaching. Many suppose that by spending a few minutes in a concordance, they can discover what humility is; that by studying certain passages of Scriptures, they may obtain an increase of faith; or that by reading and re-reading a certain chapter, they may secure more love. But that is not the way those graces are experimentally developed. Humility is learned by a daily smarting under the plague of the heart, and having its innumerable abominations exposed to our view. Repentance is learned by feeling the load of guilt, and the heavy burden of conscious defilement, bowing down the soul. Faith is learned by increasing discoveries of unbelief and infidelity. Love is learned by a personal sense of the undeserved goodness of God to the vilest of the vile. Patience cannot be learned from books—it is acquired in the furnace of affliction! It is thus with all the spiritual graces of the Christian.

Ah, my reader, we beg the Lord to teach us—but the fact is, that we do not like His method of teaching us! Fiery trials, storms of afflictions, the dashing of our carnal hopes—are indeed painful to flesh and blood; yet it is by them that the heart is purified.We say that we wish to live to God's glory—but fail to remember that we can do so only as SELF is denied and the Cross be taken up. God's ways of teaching His children are, like all His ways, entirely different from ours!

I asked the Lord that I might grow,

In faith and love and every grace,

Might more of His salvation know,

And seek more earnestly His face.

It was He who taught me thus to pray,

And He I trust has answered prayer.

But it has been in such a way,

As almost drove me to despair!

I hoped that in some favored hour,

At once He'd answer my request.

And by His love's constraining power,

Subdue my sins and give me rest!

Instead of this, He made me feel,

The hidden evils of my heart.

And let the angry powers of hell,

Assault my soul in every part!

Yes, more with His own hand, He seemed,

Intent to aggravate my woe.

Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,

Blasted my gourds, and laid me low!

"Lord, why is this?" I trembling cried.

Will You pursue Your worm to death?"

"This is the way" the Lord replied,

"I answer prayer for grace and strength."

"These inward trials I employ,

From self, and pride, to set you free;

And break your schemes of earthly joy,

That you may find your all in Me!"

—John Newton

Submit To The Appointments Of Our Maker

By John Newton
How highly does it become us, both as creatures and as sinners, to submit to the appointments of our Maker! and how necessary is it to our peace! This great attainment is to often unthought of and overlooked; we are prone to fix our attention upon the second causes and immediate instruments of events; forgetting whatever befalls us is according to His purpose, and therefore must be right and seasonable in itself, and shall in the issue be productive of good. From hence arise impatience, resentment, and secret repinings, which are not only sinful but tormenting; whereas if all things are in His hand, if the very hairs of our head are numbered, if every event, great and small are under the direction of his providence and purpose; and if he has a wise, holy, and gracious end in view, to which everything that happens is subordinate and subservient; then we have nothing to do, but with patience and humility to follow as He leads, and cheerfully to expect a happy issue. The path of present duty is marked out; and the concerns of the next and every succeeding hour are in His hands. How happy are they who can resign all to Him, see His hands in every dispensation, and believe that He chooses better for them then they possibly could for themselves!

Heavenly Father, You know the state of my heart this morning. Your know the darkness, doubt and fears I am struggling with. Help me to remind myself of the truth of Your word and Your promises. Help me hold fast to the fact that You are the "blessing of peace". You hold my past, present and futures days in Your hands. Thank you for the gift of perfect and complete atonement You have given. Help me to fully embrace that truth. Lead me down the path I should go. The path that will be for Your glory. Continue Your sanctifying work in my life and make my love for You grow into deeper and greater depths. Amen

Waiting On The Dawn

"Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you…And therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you.…blessed are all those who wait for Him…Isaiah 30:18"

I read the following excerpt from Spurgeon today. God is so kind to remind me of His promises. He waits to be gracious to us! God's sovereign hand and workings can be traced in every detail of our lives. It seems as though God has been constantly pointing my focus to not doubting His goodness and to never cease in my prayers. I was also reminded that waiting is not always easy. Jacob didn't get his desired blessing from the angel until the dawn of day...he had to wrestle all night for it. Paul, asked God several times to remove the "thorn in his flesh", but God kept him waiting so that He learned that He was enough and would sustain him. Who can pass up an offer from God to make requests of Him, trust Him and wait for Him to be gracious to us? Our prayers are not sitting in a trash can in heaven, but they have been carefully and lovingly filed. No matter how long the night seems, the dawn will always come.

“God often delays in answering prayer…Our Father has personal reasons for keeping us waiting. Sometimes it is to show His power and His sovereignty, so that we may learn that God has a right to give or to withhold. More often the delay is for our benefit…You are perhaps kept waiting in order that your desires may be more fervent. God knows that delay will quicken and increase desire, and that if He keeps you waiting, you will see your need more clearly, and will seek more diligently, and that you will treasure the mercy all the more on account of the wait.
Your prayers are all filed in heaven, and if not immediately answered they are certainly not forgotten, but in a little while they will be fulfilled to your delight and satisfaction. Do not allow despair to make you doubt, but continue to present your requests to God.” - charles haddon spurgeon

Everyone is that in reality, which he is at home.

It is easy for me to go from day to day and not have put any thought or effort into growing better in any specific areas. Okay, well maybe I have put some thought, but rarely any effort. I can often become discouraged and see no good end. But God is so kind to often bring inspiration from His word, encouragement from others or just motivating grace to me just when I need it most. So, one thing I am desiring to work on is to honor God more at home. To grow in unselfishness, diligence and piety. The home is a place I have daily access to. If I am living for God's glory at home, then I will most likely live for His glory outside the home. God is so kind to give me new mercy and new opportunities every morning.

"He does not deal with us according to our sins,nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth,so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west,so far does he remove our transgressions from us." -Psalm 103:10-12

~

"Devils in their homes!" by Thomas Brooks

A true Christian will endeavor to obey God in relative duties. He will not only hear, and pray, and read, and meditate, and fast, and mourn--but he will labor to be godly in domestic relationships. Remember this forever--everyone is that in reality, which he is at home. Many make a great profession, and have great abilities and gifts, and can discourse well on any pious subject--whose homes are not little heavens, but little hells. Some are very much like angels in public, saints in the church, and devils in their homes! Domestic graces and duties do better demonstrate true piety and godliness, than public or general duties do. For pride, vain-glory, self-ends, and a hundred other outward carnal considerations, may put a man upon the general duties of religion. But it argues both truth and strength of grace, to be diligent and conscientious in the discharge of domestic duties.

Killing Unbelief

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”-Matthew 7.7-11

“If all these things are available by simply knocking at mercy’s door then, my soul, knock hard this morning, and make large requests of your generous Lord. Do not leave the throne of grace until all your wants have been spread before the Lord and until by faith you are confident that they will all be supplied. You need not be shy about taking Jesus up on His invitation. No unbelief should hinder when Jesus promises. No coldheartedness should restrain when such blessings are to be obtained!”

"All God's gifts are prepared gifts laid away to meet wants He has foreseen. He anticipates our needs; and out of the fullness that He has treasured up in Christ Jesus, He provides from His goodness for the poor. You may trust Him for all the necessities you may face, for He has infallibly known every one of them…God is aware of all the requirements of His poor, wandering children and when those needs occur, supplies are ready. It is goodness that He has prepared for the poor in heart, goodness and goodness only. ‘My grace is sufficient for you.’ ‘As your days, so shall your strength be.’ You will never come into such a position that Christ cannot help you. You will never arrive at a place in your spiritual affairs in which Jesus Christ will not be equal to the emergency, for your history has all been foreknown and provided for in Jesus.”

charles haddon spurgeon morning and evening

Today the words of scripture accompanied by the words of Spurgeon drew my heart once again to God's faithfulness and goodness. I realized a long time ago, that my lack of going to God in prayer and petition stemmed from unbelief and pride. I didn't think I deserved anything I would ask for, which was not believing that I stood before God justified...just as if I had never sinned. But God, who is rich in mercy helped me to see that I was viewing Him as a stingy, tyrannical God. Over the years He has only continue to change my heart about this and I could not be more grateful. My communication with the Lord is one of my favorite and most cherished things. - "Father, continue to break down walls of unbelief and pride in my heart. May my prayers be pleasing to You and my motives honoring. Grant me the kind of faith that could move mountains. Help me to unselfishly ask great things of a great God. You have given us a key to Heaven's door...may I daily use it. Amen"

In Need Of Mercy

MERCY! by J. C. Philpot ("The Lord's Merciful Look Upon His People")

"Look upon me, and be merciful unto me." Ps. 119:132

When shall we ever get beyond the need of God's mercy? We feel our need of continual mercy . . .as our sins abound, as our guilt is felt, as our corruption works, as our conscience is burdened, as the iniquities of our heart are laid bare, as our hearts are opened up in the Spirit's light. We need . . .mercy for every adulterous look; mercy for every covetous thought; mercy for every light and trifling word; mercy for every wicked movement of our depraved hearts; mercy while we live; mercy when we die; mercy to accompany us every moment; mercy to go with us down to the portals of the grave; mercy to carry us safely through the swellings of Jordan; mercy to land us safe before the Redeemer's throne! "Look upon me, and be merciful unto me. "Why me? Because I am so vile a sinner. Because I am so base a backslider. Because I am such a daring transgressor. Because I sin against You with every breath that I draw. Because the evils of my heart are perpetually manifesting themselves. Because nothing but Your mercy can blot out such iniquities as I feel working in my carnal mind. I need . . . inexhaustible mercy, everlasting mercy, super-abounding mercy. Nothing but such mercy as this can suit such a guilty sinner!

This morning Philpot's words echo my own heart and thoughts. Though I believe God wants us to focus on Christs' work on our behalf far more then our sin, I think it's appropriate to remember why we need a Savior. Today I am tempted to feel condemned by my sin and overwhelmed with the truth of how unworthy I am, but instead I want to humbly go before the throne of grace, plead for mercy, and embrace that mercy. I know that the "evils of my heart are perpetually manifesting themselves", but I also know that God is working in me to make me more like Christ. This morning I need mercy and I know I will receive it from our merciful God. "God, have mercy on me a sinner". ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner! And Lord, I ask have the humility of the tax collector. Grant me the tears of a broken heart and the smile of a recipient of mercy. Amen’

Be Real...

This morning as I read the following quote by Spurgeon, I was provoked afresh with the desire to be "real". First and foremost I want to be real because that is what God has called me to be. To be real, honest, trustworthy and walking out my life in a worthy manner. The second reason, is because I don't want to bring reproach on God by living a hypocritical life and turn unbelievers off to the gospel. I know I have been hypocritical many, many times and I know I still am, but by God's grace there is hope to grow in becoming "real" for His glory. I can also struggle with the temptation to not be "real" for fear of getting hurt. It's true that without risk the potential to be hurt goes down, but so does the potential for blessing. Plus, God often uses all hurts as well as blessings to mold us into who we are suppose to be. - Another thing I was particularly convicted by was through Spurgeon's words about not flirting with Christ, but being married to Him. I know that there are areas in my life where I have not completely surrendered to Him or haven't been giving the attention that is needed. But God is faithful to continue His work in His children and I love how He stirs our hearts to desire greater holiness. God is good!

Be real! From Spurgeon's sermon, "Religion- a Reality"

Oh! you who profess to be Christians, do not live so as to make worldlings think that your religion is a trifling thing! Be cheerful, but oh! be holy! Be happy, for that is your privilege; but oh! be heavenly-minded, for that is your duty. Let men see that you are not flirting with Christ, but that you are married to him. Let them see that you are not dabbling in this as in a little speculation, but that it is the business of your life, the stern business of all your powers to live to Christ, Christ also living in you.

Nevertheless, I am continually with you...

"But for me it is good to be near God..." - Psalm 73:28

I woke up late this morning. There was no time for devotions as I hurried out the door for work. I was so exhausted my eyes were almost swollen shut and the cold air was not as welcomed as usual. But in spite of how the morning started, I was unexplainably filled with joy, peace and an overwhelming desire to be near to God. The awareness that God was ministering to my tired soul made me feel so grateful and undeserving. In the world's eyes, nothing has happened today that would merit the feelings I am having, but to me, a lot has happened. I, who am the worst of sinners, have been redeemed. God, who is Holy and Righteous in all His ways, has cloaked my heart and mind in a peace that surpasses my understanding. Even though He is God, He still takes time to relate to His children. He is ready and willing to comfort us, convict, encourage, guide and provide. The least I can do in return, should be to offer Him my heart, mind, strength, time, praise...my life.

Also, if I woke up tomorrow and didn't feel any of these things, it doesn't mean God is any less active and near, but after having tasted of the sweet presence of God, it would make me want to seek Him all the more.

God, thank you for Your kindness to me this morning. I have been blessed by Your presence, with the joy of Your salvation, Your peace and with a greater hunger for You and Your word. Thank you for stirring all of these things up in my heart. May I never stop being thankful and aware of the work You are doing. Help me always strive to love You better. I have tasted and seen that You are good...in any and every circumstance. Amen

Seemingly Unimportant Tasks

The other day I read a story from Elisabeth Elliot about a Sunday she remembered when she was a little girl. Her father, who was a pastor, had already left for church early and her mother had the task of getting six children ready for church. She then lists a number of things that were going wrong, but how in the midst of it all, her mother was ready, calm and got them all put together and to church on time. Her point in sharing this story was how on Sunday mornings or ordinary days, when we are trying to complete “ordinary or necessary” tasks, it can seem very unspiritual and unrelated to God. But she writes that is not the case!

“But everything in this scene (the Elliot’s getting ready for church) is the King's Business, which He looks on in loving sympathy and understanding, for, as Baron Von Hugel said, "The chain of cause and effect which makes up human life, is bisected at every point by a vertical line relating us and all we do to God." This is what He has given us to do, this task here on this earth, not the task we aspired to do, but this one. The absurdities involved cut us down to size. The great discrepancy between what we envisioned and what we've got force us to be real. And God is our great Reality, more real than the realest of earthly conditions, an unchanging Reality. It is His providence that has put us where we are. It's where we belong. It is for us to receive it--all of it--humbly, quietly, thankfully.

Sunday morning, the Lord's Day, can be the very time when everything seems so utterly unrelated to the world of the spirit that it is simply ridiculous. Yet to the Lord's lovers it is only a seeming. Everything is an affair of the spirit. Everything, to one who loves God and longs with a sometimes desperate longing for a draught of Living Water, a single touch of His hand, a quiet word--everything, I say, can be seen in His perspective.

Does He watch? Yes, "Thou God seest me" (Genesis 16:3). Is His love surrounding us? "I have loved thee with an everlasting love" (Jeremiah 31:3). "I will never leave thee or forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5). May I offer to Him my feeling of the dislocation between reality and my ideals, that great chasm which separates the person I long to be, the work I long to do for Him, the family I struggle to perfect for His glory--from the actuality? I may indeed, for it is God Himself who stirs my heart to desire, and He can easily see across the chasm. He enfolds all of it, He is at work in me and in those I pray for, "to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). I may take heart, send up an instant look of gratitude, and--well, get that beloved flock into the van and head down the freeway singing! Sir Thomas Browne wrote, "Man is incurably amphibious; he belongs to two worlds--to two sets of duties, needs, and satisfactions--to the Visible or This World, and to the Invisible or Other World".

I confess that I have often battled with conflicting feelings over reality and my ideals. I have desires I have of the person I long to be or things I long to do, while still having to hash out the daily duties I am called to. But it was so encouraging to read that God is desirous for us to bring those thoughts, feelings and struggles to Him, for He is the one who has stirred those things in us in the first place. Whatever desires God may fulfill and call us to in the future, the truth of the matter is that we aren’t doing anyone any good if we’re trying to live in that “future”. Today is what we have been called to. Everything, even the most boring, menial task is an affair of the spirit. I pray that I will follow the example of Elisabeth Elliot’s mother and accomplish today’s duties with gratitude and joy. Whether we realize it or not, God is fulfilling His sovereign future plans for us at every step and turn….I just have to make sure I’m being faithful with present plans He has called me to.