LOVE IS

LOVE IS... being willing to have your life complicated by the needs and struggles of others without impatience or anger.

LOVE IS... actively fighting the temptation to be critical and judgmental toward another while looking for ways to encourage and praise.

LOVE IS... making a daily commitment to resist the needless moments of conflict that come from pointing out and responding to minor offenses.

LOVE IS... being lovingly honest and humbly approachable in times of misunderstanding.

LOVE IS... being more committed to unity and understanding than you are to winning, accusing, or being right.

LOVE IS... a making a daily commitment to admit your sin, weakness, and failure and to resist the temptation to offer an excuse or shift the blame.

LOVE IS... being willing, when confronted by another, to examine your heart rather than rising to your defense or shifting the focus.

LOVE IS... making a daily commitment to grow in love so that the love you offer to another is increasingly selfless, mature, and patient.

LOVE IS... being unwilling to do what is wrong when you have been wronged, but looking for concrete and specific ways to overcome evil with good.

LOVE IS... being a good student of another, looking for their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs so that in some way you can remove the burden, support them as they carry it, or encourage them along the way.

LOVE IS... being willing to invest the time necessary to discuss, examine, and understand the relational problems you face, staying on task until the problem is removed or you have agreed upon a strategy of response.

LOVE IS... being willing to always ask for forgiveness and always being committed to grant forgiveness when it is requested.

LOVE IS... recognizing the high value of trust in a relationship and being faithful to your promises and true to your word.

LOVE IS... speaking kindly and gently, even in moments of disagreement, refusing to attack the other person's character or assault their intelligence.

LOVE IS... being unwilling to flatter, lie, manipulate, or deceive in any way in order to coerce the other person into giving you what you want or doing something your way.

LOVE IS... the willingness to have less free time, less sleep, and a busier schedule in order to be faithful to what God has called you to be and to do as a spouse, parent, neighbor, etc.

LOVE IS... a commitment to say no to selfish instincts and to do everything that is within your ability to promote real unity, functional understanding, and active love in your relationships.

LOVE IS... staying faithful to your commitment to treat another with appreciation, respect, and grace, even in moments when the other person doesn't seem deserving or is unwilling to reciprocate.

LOVE IS... the willingness to make regular and costly sacrifices for the sake of a relationship without asking for anything in return or using your sacrifices to place the other person in your debt.

LOVE IS... being unwilling to make any personal decision or choice that would harm a relationship, hurt the other person, or weaken the bond of trust between you.

LOVE IS... refusing to be self-focused or demanding, but instead looking for specific ways to serve, support, and encourage, even when you are busy or tired.

LOVE IS... daily admitting to yourself, the other person, and God that you are unable to be driven by a cruciform love without God's protecting, providing, forgiving, rescuing, and delivering grace.  [By Paul Tripp. The above resource is from Paul Tripp Ministries. For additional resources, visit www.paultripp.com. Used with permission.]

DANGERS OF ENTERTAINMENT

This is a painful note, and requires proper discernment, even so, may it bring us to seek God in Scripture and prayer./// It is difficult to distinguish him from the unconverted man! (A.W. Tozer) "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind!" Romans 12:2 For centuries the Church has stood solidly against worldly entertainment, recognizing it for what it was: a device for wasting time, a refuge from the disturbing voice of conscience, a scheme to divert attention from moral accountability. For this she got herself abused roundly by the ungodly. But of late she has become tired of the abuse, and has given up the struggle. She appears to have decided that if she cannot conquer the great god 'Entertainment' she may as well join forces with him and make what use she can of his powers. The average church member lives a life so worldly and careless, that it is difficult to distinguish him from the unconverted man! "The world had absorbed the Church, and the church is content that it should be so!" Horatius Bonar

THY WAY NOT MINE

"There is much that passes for real faith, which is no faith." ~ Octavius Winslow (1808-1878) "Thy way, not mine, O Lord, however dark it be, lead me by thine own hand, choose out the path for me." ~ Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)

INWARD GRACES

"Keep down thy vain heart by this consideration, that God values no man by outward excellencies, but by inward graces." ~ John Flavel (1627-1691)

SEEN BY CHRIST

"A sincere heart loves to do much for Christ, and not to be seen by any but Christ." --- Thomas Brooks

LOOSE HAND

"Hold everything earthly with a loose hand, but grasp eternal things with a death-like grip." ~ Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)

GREAT NEED

"I have a great need for Christ: I have a great Christ for my need." ~ Charles Spurgeon

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 48:35 It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there.

Ezekiel 44:28 And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I am their inheritance: and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession.

WINTER PREPARES

The winter prepares the earth for spring, so do afflictions sanctified prepare the soul for glory. -- Richard Sibbes.

GIVE HIM ALL THE GLORY

: "If Christ has visited your soul, give Him all the glory. The only reason you are saved is the sovereign compassion of Jesus."
...
"My only safety is to know, feel and confess my helplessness, that I may hang upon the arm of Omnipotence." - M'Cheyne.

Why do you love the World?

: "What has the world done for you, that you love it so much? Did the world die for you? Will the world blot out your sins?" - M'Cheyne.

CRYING WILL BE HEARD NO MORE

"The sound of weeping and crying will be heard no more!" Isaiah 65:19

The glorified weep no more--because all causes of grief are gone! 
There are no broken friendships, nor blighted prospects in Heaven. 
Poverty, famine, peril, persecution and slander--are unknown there. 
No pain distresses, and no thought of death or bereavement saddens.

They weep no more--because they all are perfectly sanctified! 
No "evil heart of unbelief" prompts them to depart from the living God. 
They are without fault before His throne, and are fully conformed to His image! 
Well may they cease to mourn--who have ceased to sin!

They weep no more--because all fear of change is past! 
They know that they are eternally secure!
Sin is shut out--and they are shut in! 
They dwell within a city which shall never be stormed! 
They bask in a sun which shall never set! 
They drink of a river which shall never run dry! 
They pluck fruit from a tree which shall never wither!

Countless cycles may revolve--but eternity shall not be exhausted; and while eternity endures, their immortality and blessedness shall co-exist with it. They are forever with the Lord!

They weep no more--because every desire is fulfilled! 
They cannot wish for anything--which they don't already have in full possession. 
Eye and ear, 
heart and hand, 
mind and imagination, 
desire and affection,
all the faculties--
are completely satisfied!

As imperfect as our present ideas are of the things which God has prepared for those who love Him--yet we know enough, by the revelation of the Spirit, that the glorified saints are supremely blessed. 
The joy of Christ, which is an infinite fullness of delight, is in them. 
They bathe forever in the bottomless, shoreless sea of infinite blessedness!

That same joyful rest remains for us! It may not be far distant. Before long, the weeping willow shall be exchanged for the palm-branch of victory! Sorrow's dewdrops will be transformed into the pearls of everlasting bliss!

"The sound of weeping and crying will be heard no more!"
  
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain!" Revelation 21:4 

"Therefore comfort one another with these words."

"I know their sorrows!" Exodus 3:7

(Ashton Oxenden, "The Blessings and Trials of Sickness" 1863)

"I know their sorrows!" Exodus 3:7

Thank God for this! I have often said within myself, "No one knows my sorrows--no one can tell what I suffer!" But now I hear, as it were, a voice from Heaven, saying to me, "I know your sorrows!"
It is my heavenly Father who speaks these words. He measures out every sorrow to me. There is not one too many. There is not one heavier, or sharper, than is needful. Neither am I called upon to bear them one day longer than is good for me.

No matter what my sorrow is; whether it arises from pain of body or anguish of heart--it is the cross that my Father has laid upon me, and I will cheerfully bear it. I will kiss the hand that smites me, for it is my heavenly Father's hand!

It is no small comfort to feel that the Lord "knows our sorrows." Therefore we may be quite sure He will not lay upon us more than we can bear. As the refiner of silver carefully watches the metal while it is in the hot furnace--so does Jesus watch over His suffering people. There is no trial too small, and no pang too hidden--for His eye to reach, and His heart to pity. He feels for them, and tenderly loves them.

Oh, welcome sorrow! welcome suffering--if it only weans me from this treacherous world, and drives me to my Savior's arms!

Quotes for the Day

Justification is through faith, not on account of faith.

Author: B.B. Warfield

Set no time to the Lord the creator of time, for His time is always best.--Samuel Rutherford

 "Faith is not our savior. It was not faith that was born at Bethlehem and died on Golgotha for us. It was not faith that loved us, and gave itself for us; that bore our sins in its own body on the tree; that died and rose again for our sins. Faith is one thing, the Savior is another. Faith is one thing, and the cross is another. Let us not confound them, nor ascribe to a poor, imperfect act of man, that which belongs exclusively to the Son of the Living God. Our security is this, that it matters not how poor or weak our faith may be: if it touches the perfect One, all is well. God has asked and provided a perfect righteousness; He nowhere asks nor expects a perfect faith. So a feeble, very feeble faith, will connect us with the righteousness of the Son of God; the faith, perhaps, that can only cry, ‘Lord, I believe; help mine unbelief.’" - Horatius Bonar

YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE FURNACE

"Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows!" John 16:33 

Dear friend,
You have lately been in the furnace--and are now brought safely out. I hope you have much to say of the grace, care, and skill of the great Refiner, who watched over you; and that you have lost nothing but dross. Let this experience be treasured up in your hearts for the use of future times. Other trials will come--but you have found the Lord faithful to His promise, and have good encouragement to trust Him again.

I doubt not, but you will have your share of trials; but when the love of God is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Spirit, it sweetens what bitter things the Lord puts into our cup, and enables us to say, "None of these things move me!" 

Yes, the life of faith is a happy life, and
  if attended with conflicts--there is an assurance of victory;
  if we sometimes get a wound--there is healing balm near at hand;
  if we seem to fall--we are raised again; and
  if tribulations abound--consolations shall abound likewise. 

Is it not happiness--to have an infallible Guide, an invincible Guard, an almighty Friend! to be able to say of the Maker of heaven and earth, "He is my Beloved, my Shepherd, my Savior, and my Husband!"

Oh the peace that flows from believing . . .
  that all events in which we are concerned, are under His immediate disposal; 
  that the hairs of our head are all numbered; 
  that He delights in our prosperity; 
  that there is a need-be, if we are in heaviness, and 
  that all things shall surely work for our good! 

How happy to have such views of God's sovereignty, wisdom, love, and faithfulness--as will enable us to meet every painful dispensation with submission, and to look through the changes of the present life--to thatunchangeable inheritance to which the Lord is leading us, when all evil shall cease, and where joy shall be perfect and eternal! "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away!" Revelation 21:4

THEY SHALL WANDER

"Behold, the days are coming," declares the Lord GOD, "when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the LORD, but they shall not find it." - Amos 8:11-12

SPARE IT NOT

Use sin as it will use you; spare it not, for it will not spare you; it is your murderer, and the murderer of the world: use it, therefore as a murderer should be used. Kill it before it kills you; and though it bring you to the grave, as it did your Head, it shall not be able to keep you there. - Baxter

A HEAVY HEART

The road to the Kingdom is not so pleasant, and comfortable, and easy, and flowery, as many dream. It is not a bright sunny avenue of palms. It is not paved with triumph, though it is to end in victory. The termination is glory, honor, and immortality; but on the way, there is the thorn in the flesh, the sackcloth, and the cross. Recompense later; but labor here! Rest later; but weariness here! Joy and security later; but here endurance and watchfulness – the race, the battle, the burden, the stumbling block, and oftentimes the heavy heart. - Horatius Bonar

ALL THINGS WORK, BY WATSON

(Thomas Watson, "All Things for Good")

"We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

See what cause the saints have to be frequent in the work of thanksgiving! In this, Christians are defective; though they are much in supplication, yet they are little in thanksgiving. The apostle says. "In everything give thanks!" 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Why so? Because God makes everything work together for our good. We thank the physician, though he gives us a bitter medicine which makes us nauseated--because it is to make us well. We thank any man who does us a good turn; and shall we not be thankful to God--who makes everything work for good to us?

God loves a thankful Christian! Job thanked God when He took all away: "The Lord has taken away--blessed be the name of the Lord!" (Job 1:21). Many will thank God when He gives; Job thanks Him when He takes away, because he knew that God would work good out of it.

We read of saints with harps in their hands--an emblem of praise (Revelation 14:2). Yet we meet many Christians who have tears in their eyes, and complaints in their mouths! But there are few with their harps in their hands--who praise God in affliction.

To be thankful in affliction--is a work peculiar to a saint.
Every bird can sing in spring--but few birds will sing in the dead of winter!
Everyone, almost, can be thankful in prosperity--but a true saint can be thankful in adversity!

Well may we, in the worst that befalls us--have a psalm of thankfulness, because God works all things for our good. Oh, be much in giving thanks to God!

GROWS BY TEARS

The Father is ever training the members of this family for their everlasting abode with Him in Heaven. He acts as a gardener pruning his vines, that they may bear more fruit. He know the character of each of us . . .
  our besetting sins,
  our weaknesses,
  our peculiar infirmities,
  our special needs, 
  our trials, 
  our temptations, 
  and our privileges. 

He knows all these things, and is ever ordering all for our good. He allots to each of us, in His providence, the very things we need, in order to bear the most fruit. He gives us . . .
  as much of sunshine as we can stand--and as much of rain;
  as much of bitter things as we can bear--and as much of sweet.

Trials are intended . . .
  to make us think,
  to wean us from the world,
  to send us to the Bible, and
  to drive us to our knees!

JC RYLE
////////
"The Christian grows by tears--and withers by smiles. God's vines thrive the better for pruning." (Stephen Charnock)

SECURE

“Precisely because his was an actual, not an imaginary or hypothetical, sacrificial death in which he vicariously bore their curse, paid their debt, endured their judicial rejection by God, as evidenced by his cry of dereliction from the cross, and died their death, Christ actually accomplished and procured everything essential to the salvation of the elect. In sum, he did not simply open the way of salvation to all men and promise to aid them if they would also do something to procure it and keep it their own. Nor did he simply make the salvation of the elect possible. Rather, he actually did everything necessary to the infallible securing of the salvation of the elect, his people, his sheep, his own–even those whom the Father gave to him.“

Taken from A New Systematic Theology Of The Christian Faith [2nd Edition] (pp.667-668)

----------------------

Stolen from: Reymond on the Perfection of Christ’s Cross Work

from Cal.vini.st by Nathan W. Bingham

PASSION FOR EVANGELISM, NOT WALLOWING.

I wrote this on a friend's wall in discussion of a "passion for evangelism" ///

I constantly tell myself to "rest", this does not mean that we are inactive, but we cannot let our passion be some paralyzing sorrow. Our hearts do grieve, but only God can save. We are to lovingly and humbly present the truth in word, deed, and life; then we confess that only God gives the increase. Sometimes passion turns into a pitiful wallowing, and that is not a sign of faith nor submission to what God has designed.

DEATH IS DREADFUL

(Thomas Brooks, "A Heavenly Cordial" 1665)

Death is dreadful to the unbelieving sinner, for it puts an everlasting end to all his temporal . . .
  mercies,
  comforts,
  contentments, 
  and enjoyments.

Death will put an everlasting end to all his pleasures of sin. Now the sinner shall never more have one merry day. In Hell there is no . . .
  no singing--but howling;
  no music--but madness;
  no sporting--but sighing;
  no dancing--but wringing of hands 
and gnashing of teeth for evermore!

In a word, now the sinner shall find by woeful experience, that death will be an inlet to three dreadful things: 
   1. To judgment, Hebrews 9:27; 
   2. To an irreversible sentence of condemnation, Matthew 25:41; 
   3. To endless, ceaseless, and remediless sufferings!

EDWARDS ON ARMINIANISM

“There seems to be the utmost danger, that the younger generation will be carried away with Arminianism as with a flood.” 
― Jonathan Edwards, The Works of Jonathan Edwards: Vol 1

“reason to fear that Arminianism, Arianism, and even Socinianism, in destruction to the doctrines of free grace, are daily propagated in the New England colleges.” 
― Jonathan Edwards, The Works of Jonathan Edwards: Vol 1

GOD IS OUR ETERNAL DELIGHT

“God will be what will forever entertain the minds of the saints, and the love of God will be their everlasting feast. The redeemed will indeed enjoy other things; they will enjoy the angels, and will enjoy one another; but that which they shall enjoy in the angels, or each other, or in any thing else whatsoever that will yield them delight and happiness, will be what will be seen of God in them.” 
― Jonathan Edwards, Selected Sermons Of Jonathan Edwards

FOR ABRAHAM'S COMFORT

“For when God is said by these things to try men and prove them, to see what is in their hearts and whether they will keep His commandments or no, we are not to understand, that it is for His own information, or that He may obtain evidence Himself of their sincerity (for he needs no trials for His information); but chiefly for their conviction, and to exhibit evidence to their consciences...
So when God tempted or tried Abraham with that difficult command of offering up his son, it was not for His satisfaction, whether he feared God or no, but for Abraham's own greater satisfaction and comfort, and the more clear manifestation of the favour of God to him.” 
― Jonathan Edwards, The Religious Affections

NEVER PRESS PEOPLE TO DECISION

“By the grace of God we will never pluck unripe fruit. We will never press people to decision, because we'll lead them to damnation and not salvation.” 
― Jonathan Edwards

WE CANNOT DRAW A BREATH

“When indeed it is in God we live, and move, and have our being. We cannot draw a breath without his help.” 
― Jonathan Edwards, Selected Sermons of Jonathan Edwards

I AM UNABLE

“Being sensible that I am unable to do any thing without God's help, I do humbly entreat Him, by His grace, to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ's sake.” 
― Jonathan Edwards, The Works of Jonathan Edwards, 2 Volumes

PRIDE SPEAKS

“Spiritual pride tends to speak of other persons’ sins with bitterness or with laughter and levity and an air of contempt. But pure Christian humility rather tends either to be silent about these problems or to speak of them with grief and pity. Spiritual pride is very apt to suspect others, but a humble Christian is most guarded about himself. He is as suspicious of nothing in the world as he is of his own heart. The proud person is apt to find fault with other believers, that they are low in grace, and to be much in observing how cold and dead they are and to be quick to note their deficiencies. But the humble Christian has so much to do at home and sees so much evil in his own heart and is so concerned about it that he is not apt to be very busy with other hearts. He is apt to esteem others better than himself.” 
― Jonathan Edwards

THEIR FOOT SHALL SLIDE

“That the reason why they are not fallen already and do not fall now is only that God's appointed time is not come. For it is said, that when that due time, or appointed time comes, their foot shall slide. Then they shall be left to fall, as they are inclined by their own weight. God will not hold them up in these slippery places any longer, but will let them go; and then, at that very instant, they shall fall into destruction; as he that stands on such slippery declining ground, on the edge of a pit, he cannot stand alone, when he is let go he immediately falls and is lost.” 
― Jonathan Edwards, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

CONTRIBUTE NOTHING

“You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.” 
― Jonathan Edwards

KNOW HIM AND TRUST HIM

“Men will trust in God no further than they know Him; and they cannot be in the exercise of faith in Him one ace further than they have a sight of His fulness and faithfulness in exercise.” 
― Jonathan Edwards, The Religious Affections

VIGOR

“Who will deny that true religion consists, in a great measure, in vigorous and lively actings of the inclination and will of the soul, or the fervent exercises of the heart? That religion which God requires, and will accept, does not consist in weak, dull, and lifeless, wishes, raising us but a little above a state of indifference. ” 
― Jonathan Edwards

BENEFIT

“Seek not to grow in knowledge chiefly for the sake of applause, and to enable you to dispute with others; but seek it for the benefit of your souls.” 
― Jonathan Edwards

KNOWLEDGE ONLY

“He that has doctrinal knowledge and speculation only, without affection, never is engaged in the business of religion.” 
― Jonathan Edwards

SENSIBLE

“A truly humble man is sensible of his natural distance from God; of his dependence on Him; of the insufficiency of his own power and wisdom; and that it is by God's power that he is upheld and provided for, and that he needs God's wisdom to lead and guide him, and His might to enable him to do what he ought to do for Him.” 
― Jonathan Edwards

HEART WORK

"Heart-work is hard work indeed. To shuffle over religious duties with a loose and careless spirit, will cost no great difficulties; but to set yourself before the Lord, and to tie up your loose and vain thoughts to a constant and serious attendance upon him: this will cost you something. To attain ease and dexterity of language in prayer and to be able to put your meaning into appropriate and fitting expressions is easy; but to get your heart broken for sin while you are actually confessing it; melted with free grace even while you are blessing God for it; to be really ashamed and humbled through the awareness of God's infinite holiness, and to keep your heart in this state not only in, but after these duties, will surely cost you some groans and travailing pain of soul."; "JOHN FLAVEL"

NEEDED WINTER

"It is said that in some countries trees will grow, but will bear no fruit because there is no winter there."; "JOHN BUNYAN"

BRUISED REEDS AND DISQUIETMENTS

"Ignorance of God and of ourselves is the great principle and cause of all our disquietments; and, this ariseth mostly not from want of light and instruction, but for want of consideration and application."; "JOHN OWEN"
Here God gives his people some taste, that they may not faint; and he gives them but a taste, that they may long to be at home, that they may keep humble, that they may sit loose from things below, that they may not break and despise bruised reeds, and that heaven may be more sweet to them at last."; "THOMAS BROOKS"

VERY GLORIOUS

"Men think all things would be very glorious, it they might be done according to their mind. Perhaps, indeed, they would -- but with their glory, not the glory of God."; "JOHN OWEN"

NOT CONTINGENT

We do have a responsibility to make wise decisions or to discover the will of God, whichever term we may prefer to use. But God's plan for us is not contingent upon our decisions. God's plan is not contingent at all. God's plan is sovereign. It includes our foolish decisions as well as our wise ones.

    Author: Jerry Bridges
    Source: Trusting God, 1988, p. 170.

wisdom

A contented heart looks to God’s disposal, and submits to God’s disposal, that is, he sees the wisdom of God in everything. In his submission he sees his sovereignty, but what makes him take pleasure is God’s wisdom. The Lord knows how to order things better than I. The Lord sees further than I do; I only see things at present but the Lord sees a great while from now. And how do I know but that had it not been for this affliction, I should have been undone. ~ The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs -

Music Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peWd3Td9Xl8 Gary McSpadden He is the King

BEEKE QUOTE

Joel Beeke writes in an excerpt from "A Salutation from the Throne of Heaven"; If Christ is unchangeable as the Son of God, we may submit our lives to Him (Job 23:13–14), set our hopes on His promises (Ps. 33:11), and commit our plans to Him (Prov. 19:21), while expecting eternal blessings from Him (Heb. 6:17–18), believing that He will always work for our good (James 1:16–18). How futile, then, it is to challenge Him, His Word, His people, or Christianity itself (1 Sam. 15:29; Num. 23:19; Heb. 1:10–12, 2:1) when we may live by the immutability of the Lord who is and was and is to come. Christ is also almighty and omnipotent over history. In our English Bible, Christ describes Himself as “the Almighty” by using the Greek word pantokrator, meaning “ruler of all” and in the Old Testament by using El Shaddai—“God Almighty.” As El Shaddai and Pantokrator, Christ wields the very might of God to bring all things into subjection to Himself as God’s anointed king and “governor among the nations” (Ps. 22:28). Christ is Lord and Master of history, never its slave or pawn. Whatever powers oppose Him, Christ will prevail. This claim is central to Revelation. Though the power of Christ is contested, He masters all the powers of creation, puts His enemies to flight, conquers the world, establishes His kingdom, condemns the wicked, and brings His loved ones safely home to God.

FATIGUE

"There are not wanting here and there the signs that good Christians are suffering from a kind of spiritual metal-fatigue. In our fellowships iron rarely sharpens iron any longer. Much preaching that is orthodox lacks that ring of conviction which is needed to thrust it home into sinners’ consciences. A guilty tameness smothers our zeal. Prayers are hum-drum and predictable. The apostolic fire has died down and looks like dying away. The gospel, even where it is preached at all, is clothed with the impeding garments of excessive politeness and respectability. Our sermons are frequently no more than a gentle homily or a quiet talk about good religious ideas. Slowly and imperceptibly evangelical people are coming to terms, emotionally and intellectually, with the spirit of the age. Though we should not care to say so, we nonetheless betray our inner despair of ever seeing revival, or even a reversal of the present trend downwards.

CHRISTIANS NEED NOT BE DISCOURAGED

Creatures sometimes would help us--but they cannot; and sometimes they could help--but they will not. Yet the Christian need not be discouraged; he has a Friend who can, and is always willing to help him: it is his God--his sure resource. He may be disappointed by others--but this is divinely appointed, in order to lead him to trust only in his God. Beloved, our God Himself loves to help us. It is His delight to do us good. He is pleased to see us coming to Him for assistance, or for grace, or for His blessing; especially if we come in a filial spirit, as children to a Father. Help is sure to be needed--for we have . . . many difficulties to overcome, many foes to conquer, many trials to endure, many duties to perform, and many privileges to enjoy. But not one of them can be attended to with success--without divine help. --James Smith

THE LORD IS MY HELPER

Believer, see what you have to expect! You will be tried. You will feel your own weakness. You will learn more and more--your need of divine help. Yes, you will be brought to see that only the Lord can afford you the help you need--that you need a helper, who is . . . infinite in wisdom, omnipotent in power, and whose grace is immutable and free. See to whom you are to look for help in every duty, trial or conflict--to the Lord, to the Lord always, for all that you need--and to Him alone. "The Lord is my helper!" Hebrews 13:6 : James Smith

GOD EXALTED

"A true Christian delights to have God exalted at his own abasement, because he loves him. He is willing to own that God is worthy of this, and it is with delight that he casts himself in the dust before the most high, from a sincere love to him." ~Jonathan Edwards"

GOD HAS ORDAINED

God has ordained the measure of fruit which each servant of His shall reap from his labours, the degree of success which each Gospel lamp-bearer shall have. He has determined what number of souls should be edified, and which shall be hardened by his light. "So that neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth ; but God that giveth the increase." (1 Cor. 3:7) Arthur W. Pink ~ The Ordained Lamp

TIMID MOUSE

It is for this reason that God suffers it to appear that the best of men are but men at the best. No matter how richly gifted they may be, how eminent in God’s service, how greatly honored and used of Him, let His sustaining power be withdrawn from them for a moment and it will quickly be seen that they are “earthen vessels.” No man stands any longer than he is supported by Divine grace. The most experienced saint, if left to himself, is immediately seen to be as weak as water and as timid as a mouse. AWP.

SIN DARKENS

Sin darkens the understanding, so that man is unable to perceive his real state before God. Satan "hath blinded the minds of them which believe not" (2 Cor. 4:4). The deep-rooted pride of our hearts makes us think the best of ourselves, so that if a question is raised in our hearts, we are ever prone to give ourselves the benefit of the doubt. A spirit of sloth possesses us by nature, so that we are unwilling to go to the trouble which real self-examination calls for. Hence the vast majority of religious professors remain with a head knowledge of the Truth, with outward attention to forms and ceremonies, or resting on a mere consent to the letter of some verse like John 3:16, refusing to "make their calling and election sure." - A.W. Pink, An Exposition of Hebrews

KEPT LOW

"The man whom the Lord uses has to be kept low: severe discipline has to be experienced by him, if the flesh is to be duly mortified. How humbling! Alas, how little is man to be trusted: how little is he able to bear being put into the place of honour! How quickly self rises to the surface, and the instrument is ready to believe he is something more than the instrument! How sadly easy it is to make of the very service God entrusts us with a pedestal on which to display ourselves. But God will not share His glory with another, and therefore does He 'hide' those who may be tempted to take some of it unto themselves. It is only by retiring from the public view and getting alone with God that we can learn our own nothingness."--Arthur Pink, "The Life of Elijah"

Who Can Thwart Him

Arthur Pink ( The Sovereignty of God) For the Lord Almighty has purposed--and who can thwart Him? His hand is stretched out--and who can turn it back?" Isaiah 14:27 To say that God is sovereign, is to declare that He is the Almighty, the Possessor of all power in Heaven and earth--so that none can . . . defeat His counsels, thwart His purpose, or resist His will. Whatever takes place in time--is but the outworking of that which He has decreed in eternity. The sovereignty of the God of Scripture, is . . . absolute, irresistible and infinite! We insist that God does . . . as He pleases, only as He pleases, always as He pleases! "But our God is in the heavens--He has done whatever He has pleased!" Psalm 115:3 "The Lord does whatever pleases Him, in the Heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths!" Psalm 135:6 "All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as He pleases with the powers of Heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to Him: What have you done?" Daniel 4:35

Heart Rending, and other quotes to keep

CHS- Heart-rending is divinely wrought--and solemnly felt. It is a secret grief which is personally experienced, not in mere form--but as a deep, soul-moving work of the Holy Spirit upon the inmost heart of each believer. It is not a matter to be merely talked of--but keenly and sensitively felt in every living child of the living God. It is powerfully humiliating and sin-purging! But also, it is sweetly preparative for those gracious consolations which proud unhumbled souls are unable to receive! This heart-rending distinctly belongs to the elect of God--and to them alone.

It is not long life, but public service for God, that we are to esteem a blessing in this world. A little time filled up with service and duty is inexpressibly to be preferred before a multitude of days spent in unprofitableness and vanity. ~John Owen

There is nothing in the Bible which can remotely give the impression that some people are good and some people are bad, and being good is how we get God to accept us. We're all bad. The Bible draws a sweeping and devastating picture of human beings in Adam as corrupt, greedy, foolish, selfish, mean, envious, hateful, sexually perverse, cruel and violent. And even if we do not always exhibit all these characteristics outwardly, the germ of all these acts dwell in each heart. That is why those who declare that certain individuals are 'born this way' and so cannot change only understand half the truth. We were ALL 'born this way' captive to our lusts and corruptions and none of us can do anything pleasing to God to appease His displeasure with us (See Rom 1-3). This is no hyperbole. Our state is so hopeless that we can do nothing, except, by the grace of God, acknowledge that we justly deserve God's wrath save for Jesus Christ alone. Given that we are 'born this way' our only hope is to be born again... and since we cannot give birth to ourselves, this is only something God can do.
Sat, 01/17/2015 - 12:30 -- john_hendryx

He was born for His people.
He kept the law for His people.
He suffered for His people.
He died for His people.
He arose from the dead for His people.
He ascended into glory for His people.
He rules all things for His people.
He intercedes for His people.
He is coming again for His people.
Listen to the reverberation of God's distinguishing grace as the apostle Paul sounds the gospel trumpet: "Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her . . . to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless!" Ephesians 5:25-27
---- from grace gems.

(Thomas Brooks)
"The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time!" Genesis 6:5
There is the seed of all sins, of the vilest and worst of sins--in the best of men!
Did God leave us to act according to our sinful natures--we would all be incarnate devils, and this world would be an absolute Hell!
"He has rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins!" Colossians 1:13

"By nature man is independent, self-sufficient, self-confident: what a miracle of grace has been wrought when he now feels and owns his helplessness!"~ Arthur Pink, "Practical Christianity"

"When the Gospel is presented to the sinner, not only is his understanding completely ignorant of its glorious contents, but the will is utterly perverse against it. Not only is there no desire for Christ, but there is inveterate hostility against Him. Nothing but the almighty power of God can overcome the enmity of the carnal mind."~ Arthur Pink, "The Holy Spirit"

"It is extremely painful not to wait patiently, for it points out our unwillingness to accept God’s timing, which is really a spirit of insubordination. Fretful impatience takes issue with God’s authority and calls into question His goodness."~ Arthur Pink, "Gleanings from Paul - The Prayer for Patience"

DELIGHTING TO HAVE GOD EXALTED

"A true Christian delights to have God exalted at his own abasement, because he loves him. He is willing to own that God is worthy of this, and it is with delight that he casts himself in the dust before the most high, from a sincere love to him." ~Jonathan Edwards

A post on Prayer by J.A.M.

Scripture calls us to pray all the time. We all know this. We all know we should pray, but we don’t always pray. If we are honest with ourselves we don’t always want to pray. We cannot always focus in prayer. There are times when we just do not want to pray, it is the last thing we would want to do. Most of us probably wouldn’t admit this. John Bunyan, however, was willing to admit this. I came across this quote while I was preparing last week to teach on the Holy Spirit’s ministry of intercession and supplication. I think we’d all do well to share in Bunyan’s honesty and reliance on the Holy Spirit in those times where we loathe prayer. May I but speak my own experience, and from that tell you the difficulty to praying to God as I ought; it is enough to make you poor, blind, carnal men, to entertain strange thoughts of me, for, as my heart, when I go to pray, I find it so loathe to go to God, and when it is with him, so loathe to stay with him, that many times I am force in my prayers; first to beg God that he would take mine heart, and set it on himself in Christ, and when it is there, that he would keep it there (Psalm 86:11). Nay, many times I know not what to pray for, I am so blind, nor how to pray I am so ignorant; only (blessed be Grace) that the Spirit helps our infirmities [Romans 8:26]. Oh the starting-holes that the heart hath in time of prayer! None knows how many by-ways the heart hath, and back-lanes, to slip away from the presence of God. How much pride also, if enabled with expressions. How much hypocrisy, if before others? And how little conscience is there made of prayer between God and the soul in secret, unless there Spirit of supplication [Zech. 12:10] be there to help. – as quoted in, A Puritan Theology by Joel Beeke and Mark Jones. p. 426. May we pray with Bunyan for the Lord to constantly set our affections and set it on himself in Christ, and once our hearts rest there that He might keep our hearts there. May we pray with the disciples, “teach us how to pray.”

A Wonderful Prayer

Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. BCP (Contemporary Collects); Thanks Lee.

Our labors are not intended

What is God's remedy for dejection at apparent failure in our labours? This - the assurance that God's purpose cannot fail, that God's plans cannot miscarry, that God's will must be done. Our labours are not intended to bring about that which God has not decreed. A.W. Pink

THE MEEK SUBMIT

The meek are those who quietly submit themselves to God, to His Word and to His rod, who follow His directions, and comply with His designs, and are gentle toward all men. Matthew Henry

THE END OF ANXIETY

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety. George Muller

ETERNITY

Eternity to the godly is a day that has no sunset; eternity to the wicked is a night that has no sunrise. Author: Thomas Watson

PRAISE THEE AS I OUGHT

When I see Thee as Thou art, I’ll praise Thee as I ought. Author: John Newton

Affliction Sanctified

Affliction Sanctified Whatsoever is good for God's children they shall have it, for all is theirs to further them to heaven; therefore, if poverty be good, they shall have it; if disgrace be good, they shall have it; if crosses be good, they shall have them; if misery be good, they shall have it; for all is ours, to serve for our greatest good. Richard Sibbs

A DUNGEON WITH CHRIST

"A dungeon with Christ is a throne, and a throne without Christ is a hell." ~ Martin Luther

O PRIZE CHRIST

O prize Christ, who, to redeem lost man, did hang upon a tree, and drink the cup of wrath as the bitter fruits of sin, and was buried in a garden. The first Adam ate of the forbidden tree, and Christ hung on the cursed tree. Adam’s preposterous love to his wife made him sin, and Christ’s love to his spouse made him suffer. Our first parents pleased their sensual appetite with the taste of the pleasant fruit of the forbidden tree; and therefore Christ got vinegar mixed with gall to drink upon the cross tree. Adam sinned in a garden, and in a garden was Christ buried. By eating the forbidden fruit, death came upon all men to condemnation; and by eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ, life is brought to the soul. O then, sinners, flee unto the Lord Jesus Christ, who hath restored that which the first Adam took away; and ye shall be reinstated in all that happiness and favour with God, which he forfeited by eating the forbidden fruit. -Thomas Boston-

UNION WITH CHRIST

Union with Christ is not to be understood as a “moment” in the application of salvation to believers. Rather, it is a way of speaking about the way in which believers share in Christ in eternity (by election), in past history (by redemption), in the present (by effectual calling, justification, and sanctification), and in the future (by glorification). ‪#‎MichaelHorton‬

SPURGEON ON PREDESTINATION

I am persuaded that the doctrine of predestination is one of the 'softest pillows' upon which the Christian can lay his head, and one of the 'strongest staffs' upon which he may lean, in his pilgrimage along this rough road. ~CH Spurgeon

CURE A MUNDANE DAY

Maybe the cure for a mundane day has nothing to do with changing the events and circumstances of the day, but everything to do with the mindset and attitude in those events and circumstances.

CHEERFULLY ACQUIESCE

"It is our interest, as well as duty, cheerfully to acquiesce in the will of God, whatever befalls us. That we may not complain of what is, let us see God's hand in all events; and, that we may not be afraid of what shall be, let us see all events in God's hand." --Matthew Henry

COMPLETE IN HIM

Oh desponding Christian, is not your grief caused by looking within yourself? Is not that miserable feeling of failure and disappointment, caused by your strange fixation upon your hollow heart of iniquity? You look within, hoping to find something good, something pure, something precious, something clean--but what do you see? Nothing but sin! To stare into one's self--is to stare into a bottomless pit of despair and hopelessness! "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked!" Jeremiah 17:9

Will we ever learn this? There is nothing within us to give us hope, rest, or peace. Have we ever found anything within us that gave us joy? Of course not! Then why do we continue to stare into the darkness? All that we see within is foul, ugly, and grim! One glance within ought to sicken us. We would sooner find diamonds in a dunghill or roses growing in a sewer--than find goodness dwelling within!

In ourselves we are sinful, guilty, and vile! But bless God forever! Our standing before God is not in ourselves; it's in Christ! He is . . .
our Salvation,
our Righteousness,
our Hope,
our Holiness, and
our Acceptance with God!

Change the direction of your gaze--and look up! Stop staring into the empty void of your heart--and fix your eyes upon Jesus your Lord, in whom all fullness dwells. Our hope is not within, but without, seated at the right hand of the Father! Lift up your head that is bowed down with guilt and shame! Behold Christ your Savior! Behold your glorious Redeemer! Bid sorrow goodbye and fear depart! Rejoice, for "You are complete in Him!"

Believers are perfect in Christ. To be complete in Christ is to be perfect in Christ. Perfect is not something that we will be, or strive to be--but something that we are right now, by virtue of our eternal union with God's darling Son.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are, by the free grace of God, complete in Christ our Savior!
We lack nothing!
All that He is--we are in Him!
All that He has--we have in Him!
All that He has done--we've done in Him!
We possess the infinite fullness of eternal life and everlasting salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord!

We are completely righteous in Him!
We are completely holy in Him!
We are completely forgiven in Him!
We are completely accepted in Him!
We are completely, everlastingly, perfectly sinless in Him!

"Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith" Hebrews 12:2

~Frank Hall

HOW DO WE MEASURE GROWTH

Why do we have a perpetual tendency to major in minors? As Christians, we want to be recognized for our growth in sanctification and for our righteousness. Which is easier to achieve, maturity in showing mercy or in the paying of tithes? To pay my tithes certainly involves a financial sacrifice of sorts, but there is a real sense in which it is cheaper for me to drop my money into the plate than it is for me to invest my life in the pursuit of justice and mercy. We tend to give God the cheapest gifts. Which is easier, to develop the fruit of the Spirit, conquering pride, covetousness, greed, and impatience, or to avoid going to movie theaters or dancing? We also yearn for clearly observable measuring rods of growth. How do we measure our growth in patience or in compassion? It is much more difficult to measure the disposition of our hearts than it is to measure the number of movies we attend. R.C. Sproul

WHY BE REGENERATE AT ALL

"If we hold that we become regenerate because we have already believed, then we have to show why we need to be regenerated at all... The doctrine of regeneration has a great deal to say about election and this doctrine of divine choice... The natural man hates this doctrine more than any other."-Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Ephesians - God's Ultimate Purpose)

PEOPLE IN AWE OF GOD

The complaint that church is boring is never made by people in awe. 
~~ R. C. Sproul ~~

Questions about the Sabbath

a.  How many of the 10 commandments had ceremonial and moral elements woven into it's one command?

b.  How many of the 10 commandments (or any moral command) pointed to the "eternal rest"

c.  How many of the ceremonial laws pointed to the "eternal rest" but not to Christ.

d.  How many of the ceremonial laws were abrogated by Christ without vestige?

e.  Considering that all the ceremonial Sabbaths had their origin from either the 10, or the Creation, it seems hard to understand why they did not retain the moral elements of their very name and their very origin.

f.  What other ceremonial laws (or civil laws) are based in origin from the other 9 commands, but retained only ceremonial and civil features while abandoning it's moral features and origin.

g.  Are we saying that among the Creation Ordinances that Adam would not have had Civil laws before the fall.  Yes, Adam would have naturally kept the 10 commandments, but even so 7 Billion upright persons would still need a Civil structure of how things are shared and operate: who gets to live by the beach, will there be a speed limit for cars, will there be a hunting license to maintain deer populations,  can I chop your favorite tree down for my house.

h.  How many of the 10 commandments (or any moral command) were altered in observance upon the resurrection of Christ/entrance of the New Covenant.

d.  How many things in the creation ordinance had "ceremonial" and "moral" elements.

Thomas Boston Good Quote

Thomas Boston, Works, 2:73:

 The law is perfect, and requires a full conformity thereto. It requires the utmost perfection in every duty, and forbids the least degree of every sin. So that life and salvation are absolutely unattainable by it, since no man can perform such an obedience to it as it requires. Our salvation is suspended in obedience to the law; which since we cannot perform, let us be induced to betake ourselves to the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, by which the law is magnified and made honourable, and with which God is well pleased; and will be pleased with every sinner that takes the benefit thereof.