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Thursday, April 30, 2009
Minced Oaths
I just love these things!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Happy. Blessed. Joyful
Happy. Blessed. Joyful.
This was my facebook status yesterday. I was reflecting on the past two days over my birthday and was reminded how blessed I am.
But I was convicted by this statement as well. I realized that my happiness, feelings of being blessed, and joyful attitude were during pleasant and good circumstances. The question suddenly occurred to me, would I still be joyful if my wife was angry and not talking to me, my kids were screaming and fighting non-stop, my boss was on my case to get things done quicker, and/or any other number of not so pleasant circumstances. I was challenged to begin viewing all of my life as blessed and joyful, not just those moments that are pleasant and easy.
He who eats the grapes of Sodom
Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
The heaviest afflictions on this side of hell"
by John Berridge, on afflictions, superb~ ~ ~ ~
He who eats the grapes of Sodom
(Charles Spurgeon)
"As long as he is a Nazirite, he must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins." Numbers 6:4
Nazirites had taken, among other vows, one which debarred them from the use of wine. In order that they might not violate the obligation, they were forbidden to drink the unfermented juice of grapes, nor even to eat either fresh or dried grapes. They were, in fact, to avoid even the appearance of evil.
Surely this is a lesson to the Lord's separated ones, teaching them to come away from sin in every form; to avoid not merely its grosser shapes--but even the appearance of evil. Strict walking is much despised in these days--but rest assured, dear reader, it is both the safest and the happiest course. He who yields a point or two to the world--is in fearful peril. He who eats the grapes of Sodom--will soon drink the wine of Gomorrah!
A little crevice in a large dyke may soon break open--so that a whole town is drowned. Worldly conformity, in any degree, is a snare to the soul, and makes it more and more liable to presumptuous sins.
Doubtful things--we need not doubt about; they are wrong to us!
Tempting things--we must not dally with--but flee from them with haste!
Careful walking may involve much self-denial--but it has pleasures of its own which are more than a sufficient recompense!
Grace Gems (choice ELECTRONIC books, sermons & quotes)
Grace Audio Treasures (choice AUDIO sermons)
Sovereign Grace Treasures (choice PRINTED books)
Friday, April 24, 2009
Birthday Surprise
I did not get a chance to write yesterday as I was hoping to be able to do. My wife surprised me with a wonderful birthday present. She had arranged for us to go to a bed and breakfast and have dinner out. My in-laws arrived on Wednesday night, supposedly just to surprise me for my birthday. Truth be told, they were here to watch the children for us while we left the next day to go to our special retreat! WOW, she had me good on this one!
As I sit here now, in the quiet morning while my wife and infant son still sleep and look around at the beautiful room I sit in, I am reminded how blessed I am to have been given the gift of such a wonderful wife. Not BECAUSE of what she has done for me but because what she has done for me REVEALS her heart and character. I celebrate now, not because she gave me this incredible gift and did this incredible thing for me, but because of what that gift reveals about her character and her heart.
What a great picture and a great reminder of our relationship with God. Our love for and devotion to God should not be based primarily on the things that we receive from Him. This would make our love and devotion conditional on Him continuing to give those things to us. Rather, we need to be reminded to see those gifts that He gives us as an outward expression of His unchanging character and nature. God will always continue to give because He is God and it delights Him to do so. However, we ought not to base our love for Him on whether or not we continue to get good things from Him. When we base our love and devotion to HIm on those things, we will face great problems when difficult times come. When we begin to face trials, tribulations, persecutions and the like, we will turn away from God if our only reason for following Him is the good things He gives.
No, beloved, let us see beyond the gifts to the character, nature, and heart of the Giver. Jesus death on the cross was the greatest gift because it gives us salvation from sin and death. But look at the heart of the Giver. This gift reveals God's perfect holiness and righteousness. It reveals His anger toward sin and His love of righteousness. It reveals that He is a just God, bringing down due punishment for sin. It shows His love for mankind in that He knew we could never pay the debt we owed to Him and so He provided a way for the payment to be made in order that we would be saved from sin and death. It shows His great mercy and grace. His shows HIs great compassion and love. It shows His great power and ability.
The gift reveals the heart of the Giver. The gift reveals the character and nature of the Giver. Let us look beyond the gifts, beyond the lavish blessings and love the Giver, not the simply the gift.
O blessed hurricane!
Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
"Flesh-pleasing pulpit opiates!"
J. A. James, powerful & insightful~ ~ ~ ~
O blessed hurricane!
(Charles Spurgeon)
"On My arm, they shall trust." Isaiah 51:5
In seasons of severe trial, the Christian has nothing on earth that he can trust to, and is therefore compelled to cast himself on his God alone. When his vessel is quickly sinking, and no human deliverance can avail--he must simply and entirely trust himself to the providence and care of God.
Happy storm--that wrecks a man on such a rock as this!
O blessed hurricane--that drives the soul to God and God alone!
When a man is so burdened with troubles, so poor, so friendless, so helpless that he has nowhere else to turn--he flies into his Father's arms, and is blessedly clasped therein! Oh, tempest-tossed believer--it is a happy trouble which drives you to your Father!
Grace Gems (choice ELECTRONIC books, sermons & quotes)
Grace Audio Treasures (choice AUDIO sermons)
Sovereign Grace Treasures (choice PRINTED books)
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
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