The Lord preserves His people

Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
"A Glance Into Heavenly Bliss"
by James Meikle, Superb!

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The Lord preserves His people

(Letters of John Newton)

March 1, 1769
Dear madam,
Through grace, I can say, that, as I never saw more of my own vileness--so I never saw Jesus more precious and desirable; or was more clearly sensible of the vanity of everything without Him, than I have of late. "None but Jesus!" is my motto. All wisdom, righteousness, holiness and happiness, which does not spring from and center in Him--I renounce!

The heart is deceitful,
the world is ensnaring,
the enemy is subtle and powerful.
But we know Him who has said, "My grace is sufficient for you!" He is able to keep us from falling, in every circumstance and situation to which His providence calls us.

The Lord preserves His people--by putting His fear in their hearts, by making them sensible of their dangers, and drawing them to come boldly to His throne of grace, that they may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in every time of need.

Our daily prayer should be, "Hold me up--and I shall be safe!" Psalm 119:117

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The more vile we are in our own eyes

Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
"He is my Beloved!"
by John Newton, precious

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The more vile we are in our own eyes

(Letters of John Newton)

The more vile we are in our own eyes,
the more precious Christ will be to us!

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We have posted the following:

Children's Stories
by J. C. Ryle

The Two Bears

Children Walking in Truth

Little and Wise

No More Crying!

The Happy Little Girl

Seeking the Lord Early

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Daily Battles

Everyday I battle against competing desires and motivations.  Everyday, I am tempted to invest my time, money, and energies into those things with do not push me towards God.  Are all of those things wrong or sinful.  Absolutely not.  Many, if not all ,of them are not.  Yet, man of the things that compete for my attention have no value or influence in causing me to love God more.  If something does not cause me to love God more and desire to serve Him better, then why would I waste my time?  I ask this question, knowing the answer and even battle with myself over that.  I have come to the realization that I must begin everyday with committing to and praying for strength to put away, to sacrifice, to willingly give up all of those things which will not push me towards God today.  I want everything in my life to be pushing me towards a greater love and devotion to God and I want that to overflow to my family.  It is far to easy to justify my activities because they are not sinful or wrong.  Yet, If I want to have the zeal of Paul, the purpose of Christ, I must be willing to give up even those things which are not sinful in order to pursue a greater, more passionate life purpose of serving my Savior and my God.

Pray for me, would you?

What do I want?  How am I going about getting what I want?  What does God want?  Very revealing questions if you are honest.

If it doesn't matter on the day you die, it doesn't matter.  

There is no such a word in the 'dictionary of faith'

Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
"No wonder Satan gets into the saddle!"
William Secker, on overcoming temptation

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There is no such a word in the 'dictionary of faith'

(Letters of John Newton)

"Godliness with contentment is great gain." 1 Timothy 6:6

There is many a thing which the world calls 'disappointment', but there is no such a word in the 'dictionary of faith'. What to others are disappointments, are divine appointments to believers.

If two angels were sent down from heaven--one to conduct an empire, and the other to sweep a street--they would feel no inclination to change employments.

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in need." Philippians 4:11-12

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If I ever reach heaven, I expect to find three wonders there

Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
"If you are not as wicked as others"
by Thomas Brooks, most humbling

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If I ever reach heaven, I expect to find three wonders there

(Letters of John Newton)

If I ever reach heaven, I expect to find three wonders there:

  first, to meet some I would not have expected to be there;

  second, to miss some I would have expected to be there;

  third, the greatest wonder of all--to find myself there!

"By the grace of God I am what I am!" 1 Corinthians 15:10

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The Fight!

Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
"Keep me entirely to Yourself!"
A precious prayer, one minute long

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The fight!

(Letters of John Newton)

September 1764
My dear Madam,
I understand something of your warfare. Paul describes his own case in few words, "Conflicts on the outside, fears on the inside." Does not this comprehend all you would say? And how are you to know experimentally, either your own weakness--or the power, wisdom and grace of God, seasonably and sufficiently afforded--but by frequent and various trials? How are the graces of patience, resignation, meekness and faith, to be discovered and increased--but by the exercise of trials?

The Lord has chosen, called, and armed us for the fight! Shall we wish to be excused from the battle? Shall we not rather rejoice that we have the honor to appear in such a cause, under such a Captain, such a banner and in such a company?

God has graciously provided:
a complete suit of armor,
formidable weapons,
precious balm to heal us--if we receive a wound, and
precious cordials to revive us--when we are in danger of fainting!

Further, we are assured of the victory beforehand! O what a crown of glory is prepared for every conqueror, which Jesus, the righteous Judge, the gracious Savior--shall place upon every faithful head with His own hand!

So let us not be weary and faint, for in due season we shall reap! The time is short! In a little while, the struggle of indwelling sin, and all the conflicts surrounding us, shall be known no more! "Be faithful, even to the point of death--and I will give you the crown of life!" Revelation 2:10

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When we complain about the weather!

Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
"The moment after our friends say we are dead!"
 by J. R. Miller, on Heaven--very uplifting!

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When we complain about the weather!

(Arthur Pink, "The Sovereignty of God")

"He spreads snow like wool;
 He scatters frost like ashes;
 He throws His hailstones like crumbs.
 Who can withstand His cold?
 He unleashes His winds, and the waters flow."
    Psalm 147:15-18

What a declaration is this! The changes of the elements are beneath God's sovereign control. It is God who withholds the rain--and it is God who gives the rain . . .
  when He wills,
  where He wills,
  as He wills, and
  on whom He wills!

"I also withheld the rain from you while there were still three months until harvest. I sent rain on one city--but no rain on another. One field received rain--while a field with no rain withered. I struck you with blight and mildew; the locust devoured your many gardens and vineyards, your fig trees and olive trees! I sent plagues like those of Egypt; I killed your young men with the sword . . . says the Lord." Amos 4:7-10

"The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen. He loads the clouds with moisture; He scatters His lightning through them. At His direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever He commands them. He brings the clouds to punish men--or to water His earth and show His love." Job 37:10-13

Truly, then, God governs the elements!

Earth and wind,
fire and rain,
hail and snow,
stormy winds and angry seas
--all obey His omnipotent word--and fulfill His sovereign pleasure! Therefore, when we complain about the weather, we are, in reality, murmuring against God!

Let His Word speak once more: "The Lord does whatever He pleases throughout all heaven and earth, and on the seas and in their depths. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain, and releases the wind from His storehouses." Psalm 135:6-7

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"All things are in the hands of God, have Him for their Author, and are directed and governed by Him to such ends as are most suitable to His wise providence. Whoever complains of the weather--complains of the God who ordains the weather!" William Law

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It is radical, revolutionary, lasting!

Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
"The house appointed for all the living"
 by Thomas Boston, very sobering

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It is radical, revolutionary, lasting!

(Arthur Pink, "The Sovereignty of God")

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

In the new birth, God exerts a quickening influence or power upon His own elect. Regeneration is very, very much more than simply shedding a few tears because of some temporary remorse over sin. It is far more than changing our course of life, the leaving off of bad habits and the substituting of good ones. It is something different from the mere cherishing and practicing of noble ideals. It goes infinitely deeper than coming forward to take some popular evangelist by the hand, signing a pledge-card, or "joining the church." The new birth is no mere turning over a new leaf--but is the inception and reception of a new life! It is no mere reformation, but a radical transformation. In short, the new birth is a miracle--the result of the supernatural operation of God. It is radical, revolutionary, lasting!

   In the new birth:

God lays hold of one who is spiritually dead--and quickens him into newness of life!

God takes up one who was shaped in iniquity and conceived in sin--and conforms him to the image of His Son!

God seizes a drudge of the Devil--and makes him a member of His holy family!

God picks up a destitute beggar--and makes him joint-heir with Christ!

God comes to one who is full of enmity against Him--and gives him a new heart that is full of love for Him!

God stoops to one who by nature is a rebel--and works in him both to will and to do of His good pleasure!

By His irresistible power, God transforms . . .
  a sinner--into a saint;
  an enemy--into His friend,
  a drudge of the Devil--into His beloved child!

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I am still sadly deficient in practice!

Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
"The sheep's clothing will soon
be stripped from the wolf's back!"
by William Secker, Outstanding!

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I am still sadly deficient in practice!

(Letters of John Newton)

Who that had seen me as a slave in Africa, could have expected what has since taken place! How unworthy am I of all that I have received--and most unworthy of the honor of preaching the Gospel, which I too long despised and blasphemed! The language of Psalm 40:5 suits my soul well, "Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders You have done. The things You planned for us no one can recount to You! Were I to speak and tell of them--they would be too many to declare!" There is no end to the inventory of my mercies! May He who has given so much to me, and done so much for me--add the crowning mercy of a thankful heart! Though I can talk of thankfulness, I feel much insensibility and hardness of heart; but, I know that, while sin dwells in me, it will have such effects.

Alas! though I know in theory what a Christian should be--I am still sadly deficient in practice! I am a poor creature, and see much to be ashamed of every day, and in every circumstance. Yet, though sin will distress--it cannot condemn, those who believe in Jesus! "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!" Romans 8:1

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Desiring God Blog

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The Loving Meaning of the Leftovers Posted: 29 Jun 2009 12:26 AM PDT (Author: John Piper) After Jesus had fed both the 5,000 and the 4,000 with only a few loaves and fish, the disciples got in a boat without enough bread for themselves. When they began to discuss their plight, Jesus said, "Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand?" (Mark 8:17). What didn't they understand? They did not understand the meaning of the leftovers, namely, that Jesus will take care of them when they take care of others. Jesus said: "When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They said to him, "Twelve." "And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" And they said to him, "Seven." And he said to them, "Do you not yet understand?" Understand what? The leftovers. The leftovers were for the servers. In fact the first time there were twelve servers and twelve basketfuls left over (Mark 6:43). The second time there seven basketfuls left over—the number of abundant completeness. What didn't they understand? That Jesus would take care of them. You can't outgive Jesus. When you spend your life for others, your needs will be met.

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