"He led them forth by the right way."

Morning & Evening

"He led them forth by the right way." — Psalms 107:7

Changeful experience often leads the anxious believer to enquire "Why is it thus with me?" I looked for light, but lo, darkness came; for peace, but behold trouble. I said in my heart, my mountain standeth firm, I shall never be moved. Lord, thou dost hide thy face, and I am troubled. It was but yesterday that I could read my title clear; to-day my evidences are bedimmed, and my hopes are clouded. Yesterday I could climb to Pisgah's top, and view the landscape o'er, and rejoice with confidence in my future inheritance; to-day, my spirit has no hopes, but many fears; no joys, but much distress. Is this part of God's plan with me? Can this be the way in which God would bring me to heaven? Yes, it is even so. The eclipse of your faith, the darkness of your mind, the fainting of your hope, all these things are but parts of God's method of making you ripe for the great inheritance upon which you shall soon enter. These trials are for the testing and strengthening of your faith-they are waves that wash you further upon the rock-they are winds which waft your ship the more swiftly towards the desired haven. According to David's words, so it might be said of you, "so he bringeth them to their desired haven." By honour and dishonour, by evil report and by good report, by plenty and by poverty, by joy and by distress, by persecution and by peace, by all these things is the life of your souls maintained, and by each of these are you helped on your way. Oh, think not, believer, that your sorrows are out of God's plan; they are necessary parts of it. "We must, through much tribulation, enter the kingdom." Learn, then, even to "count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations."
"O let my trembling soul be still,
And wait thy wise, thy holy will!
I cannot, Lord, thy purpose see,
Yet all is well since ruled by thee."

Carry Your Cross

"Take up the cross, and follow me." — Mark 10:21
You have not the making of your own cross,... but your cross is prepared and appointed for you by divine love, and you are cheerfully to accept it; you are to take up the cross as your chosen badge and burden, and not to stand cavilling at it. This night Jesus bids you submit your shoulder to his easy yoke. Do not kick at it in petulance, or trample on it in vain-glory, or fall under it in despair, or run away from it in fear, but take it up like a true follower of Jesus. Jesus was a cross-bearer; he leads the way in the path of sorrow. Surely you could not desire a better guide!...
Take up your cross, and by the power of the Spirit of God you will soon be so in love with it, that like Moses, you would not exchange the reproach of Christ for all the treasures of Egypt. Remember that Jesus carried it, and it will smell sweetly; remember that it will soon be followed by the crown, and the thought of the coming weight of glory will greatly lighten the present heaviness of trouble. The Lord help you to bow your spirit in submission to the divine will ere you fall asleep this night, that waking with to-morrow's sun, you may go forth to the day's cross with the holy and submissive spirit which becomes a follower of the Crucified. - C.H. Spurgeon

What a natural little expert my heart is at childish tantrums and inward focused despair. What a patiently loving Father, who persists in both requiring obedience and persuading with the sweet mercies of surrender - of which the utmost is relationship with himself.

"Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art."

photo: Longwood Gardens 9.15.12

prayer and love

C.H. Spurgeon from Morning and Evening for today:

Beautiful in God's sight is tearful, agonizing, unconquerable importunity. It means praying humbly, for the Holy Spirit never puffs us up with pride. It is his office to convince of sin, and so to bow us down in contrition and brokenness of spirit. We shall never sing Gloria in excelsis except we pray to God De profundis: out of the depths must we cry, or we shall never behold glory in the highest. It is loving prayer. Prayer should be perfumed with love, saturated with love - love to our fellow saints, and love to Christ.

Elizabeth P. Prentiss, 1818-1878:

More love to thee, O Christ, more love to thee!

Hear thou the prayer I make on bended knee.

This is my earnest plea: More love, O Christ, to thee;

more love to thee, more love to thee!

Dear Father, as fears and all flavors of anxieties arise, as you bring persons to mind, as I consider past, present, and future, may my heart and thoughts turn quickly to praying in love and for love. More love to thee, oh precious Lord!

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:4-7

photo: April 23, 2011 - tree on hill at church farm 

(now gone, as the building is going up!)

Free to be Glad

C.H. Spurgeon for Aug. 25:

When Jesus comes into the heart, he issues a general licence to be glad in the Lord. No chains are worn in the court of King Jesus. . . . Loose the chains of thy neck, O captive daughter, for Jesus makes thee free.

God is so good

He took my sin

Now I am free

He's so good to me

"God is so good" by unknown author

one war, many battles: Stand Still

Angela's new favorite song in the office is this one, and it's one of mine as well.

Kneeling on this battle ground

Seeing just how much You've done

Knowing every victory

Was Your power in us

Scars and struggles on the way

But with joy our hearts can say

Yes, our hearts can say...

Never once did we ever walk alone

Never once did You leave us on our own

You are faithful, God, You are faithful

Never Once by Matt Redman

I may be brought to my knees on the battlefield by a painful blow, and the healing process may be slow. But even while suffering injury in lonely shadows, unable to pick myself up, God is with me and at work. It matters not if my senses be numb to feel him near, nor if my eyes be temporarily blinded and thrown into confusion from wartime shrapnel. The General who gave my marching orders to the very place where I received my wound is also the great battlefield Surgeon, and I need not understand the working of his hand but simply trust his sovereign skill. So may I abide by his faint whisper of "peace, be still."
On that final day, we will trade our scars for perfect unity and love found in the scars of Christ.
May I live today in light of that day.


This particular passage keeps coming back to me from Spurgeon's Morning & Evening July 24th (Morning). It speaks directly to where I am, and have been for a while. I am thankful for that.

"Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord." - Exodus 14:3

These words contain God's command to the believer when he is reduced to great straits and brought into extraordinary difficulties. He cannot retreat; he cannot go forward; he is shut up on the right hand and on the left; what is he now to do? The Master's word to him is, "Stand still." It will be well for him if at such times he listens only to his Master's word, for other and evil advisers come with their suggestions. Despair whispers, "Lie down and die; give it all up." But God would have us put on a cheerful courage, and even in our worst times, rejoice in his love and faithfulness. Cowardice says, "Retreat; go back to the worldling's way of action; you cannot play the Christian's part, it is too difficult. Relinquish your principles." But, however much Satan may urge this course upon you, you cannot follow it if you are a child of God. His divine fiat has bid thee go from strength to strength, and so thou shalt, and neither death nor hell shall turn thee from thy course. What, if for a while thou art called to stand still, yet this is but to renew thy strength for some greater advance in due time. Precipitancy cries, "do something. Stir yourself; to stand still and wait, is sheer idleness." We must be doing something at once-we must do it so we think-instead of looking to the Lord, who will not only do something but will do everything. Presumption boasts, "If the sea be before you, march into it and expect a miracle." But Faith listens neither to Presumption, nor to Despair, nor to Cowardice, nor to Precipitancy, but it hears God say, "Stand still," and immovable as a rock it stands. "Stand still;"-keep the posture of an upright man, ready for action, expecting further orders, cheerfully and patiently awaiting the directing voice; and it will not be long ere God shall say to you, as distinctly as Moses said it to the people of Israel, "Go forward."

1st photo: WWII bunker in Cinque Terre, Italy 2007

2nd photo: last family trip to hunting cabin in Tioga County, 8/13/11

Strike! - motivation to persevere

Charles Spurgeon in Morning and Evening for July 17th wrote about battling sin. The week I read this, it resonated as life to my soul, and it still does.

Our darling sin must die. Spare it not for its much crying. Strike, though it be as dear as an Isaac. Strike, for God struck at sin when it was laid upon his own Son. With stern unflinching purpose must you condemn to death that sin which was once the idol of your heart. Do you ask how you are to accomplish this? Jesus will be your power. You have grace to overcome sin given you in the covenant of grace; you have strength to win the victory in the crusade against inward lusts, because Christ Jesus has promised to be with you even unto the end. If you would triumph over darkness, set yourself in the presence of the Sun of Righteousness. There is no place so well adapted for the discovery of sin, and the recovery from its power and guilt, as the immediate presence of God.  

The connections he makes are so powerful. Strong absolute truths of God, all connected. So centered on the cross and glory of God. So hope filled. Grace will triumph over sin. Good versus evil will prevail. The presence of God is both the goal and the way. Our fight against sin is not hopeless, not with Christ on our side. It is a worthy battle. I should not shirk it off. Why strike at sin? Because "God struck at sin when it was laid upon his own Son." How can I, a feeble wretched sinner, strike at my sin that so easily entangles me? Only by the power of Christ, which is mine because the Father "struck at sin when it was laid upon his own Son." Where do I go when I go to battle my sin? Under the shelter of His wing, in the presence of the most Holy One.

I want to know more of my God, and I want to kill more of my sin. I want others to help me. I want to help others. We are instruments in our Redeemer's hands for each others' sanctification, and we are in this together. But the only one worth having on our side is our God - and he is absolutely, irrevocably, eternally, comprehensively "for us!" His glory is at the center of his passion, and he will not be mocked. He has bought us and tied us permanently to himself. He is for us, and he has the victory.

If I have my eyes set on the goal, set on Christ, then I am equipped to strike sin.

John Piper, at New Attitude 2008:

Jesus himself, and all that God is for us in him, is our great reward, nothing less. Salvation is not mainly the forgiveness of sins, but mainly the fellowship with Jesus. Forgiveness just gets everything out of the way so this can happen.

There is purpose in this life. Depression speaks a dark and gloomy lie contrary to the brilliance of the light of truth. My purpose, my vision, is Christ. I am made for him. And I am called to spend this life preparing for eternity with him. That means putting to death sin and growing in my love for my Savior, all to the glory of God by his power and might. God will receive all the credit for every good thing. And he will be glorified in the suffering and perseverance of his saints. We are in this together, and he is "for us."

"I believe; help my unbelief!" - Mark 9:24

photo: July 7, 2007 - Hamburg, Germany (Vinson's hand)

For Us

C.H. Spurgeon, Evening July 18th:

"When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me." - Psalms 56:9

It is impossible for any human speech to express the full meaning of this delightful phrase, "God is for me." He was "for us" before the worlds were made; he was "for us," or he would not have given his well-beloved son; he was "for us" when he smote the Only-begotten, and laid the full weight of his wrath upon him - he was "for us," though he was against him; he was "for us," when we were ruined in the fall - he loved us notwithstanding all; he was "for us," when we were rebels against him, and with a high hand were bidding him defiance; he was "for us," or he would not have brought us humbly to seek his face. He has been "for us" in many struggles; we have been summoned to encounter hosts of dangers; we have been assailed by temptations from without and within - how could we have remained unharmed to this hour if he had not been "for us"? He is "for us," with all the infinity of his being; with all the omnipotence of his love; with all the infallibility of his wisdom; arrayed in all his divine attributes, he is "for us," - eternally and immutably "for us"; "for us" when yon blue skies shall be rolled up like a worn out vesture; "for us" throughout eternity. And because he is "for us," the voice of prayer will always ensure his help. "When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies be turned back." This is no uncertain hope, but a well grounded assurance - "this I know." I will direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up for the answer, assured that it will come, and that mine enemies shall be defeated, "for God is for me." O believer, how happy art thou with the King of kings on thy side! How safe with such a Protector! How sure thy cause pleaded by such an Advocate! If God be for thee, who can be against thee?

Jesus is my Protector and my Advocate. It is true. He loves me greatly. Only because of this am I able to live and love.

Knowing that the almighty and loving God is for me should give me great comfort and security. And knowing he is for us should compel me by example and empower me by the grace purchased at the cross to also be "for you," my dear brother or sister. Because his great love has been and continues to be for me, my faith should be strong and my love for another should likewise mirror his unconditional, sacrificial, and self-denying love.

Oh that God would open my eyes to see more of how he is for me and for his dear church. And oh that he would give me a persevering love for others in my life that I might boldly be "for them"in my heart, mind, and actions - past, present, and future. He calls me to love, because he first loved me. This requires laying myself aside continually.
But I will never come close to tasting what it would be like to pour myself out in the excruciating way that my dear Christ Jesus did for me.

Behold and see, was there ever sorrow like unto his sorrow that is done unto him? All ye that pass by draw near and look upon this spectacle of grief, unique, unparalleled, a wonder to men and angels, a prodigy unmatched. Behold the Emperor of Woe who had no equal or rival in his agonies! Gaze upon him, ye mourners, for if there be not consolation in a crucified Christ there is no joy in earth or heaven. If in the ransom price of his blood there be not hope, ye harps of heaven, there is no joy in you, and the right hand of God shall know no pleasures for evermore. We have only to sit more continually at the cross foot to be less troubled with our doubts and woes. We have but to see his sorrows, and our sorrows we shall be ashamed to mention. We have but to gaze into his wounds and heal our own (Spurgeon, Morning & Evening, July 22).

Nothing I can know can compare to what Jesus knew on the cross - I will never know the same depth of pain nor height of love. But may I count it all joy whenever I am privileged to reflect, even the most dimly, some of this sweet gospel in my life.

My heart is not there day by day, but dear Lord grant sight to my blind heart and perseverance. "Draw me deeper into the glories of Calvary."

"I believe; help my unbelief!" - Mark 9:24

photo: church farm - November 7, 2010

Look

Spurgeon:

"Behold the man!" - John 19:5

We have only to sit more continually at the cross foot to be less troubled with our doubts and woes. We have but to see his sorrows, and our sorrows we shall be ashamed to mention. We have but to gaze into his wounds and heal our own. If we would live aright it must be by the contemplation of his death; if we would rise to dignity, it must be by considering his humiliation and his sorrow.

(Morning & Evening July 22)

Dear Father, may Christ and his cross fill more of my view. More of you and less of me.

Both Crying and Singing

Spurgeon in Morning and Evening for July 2nd:

Morning:

"Our heart shall rejoice in Him." - Psalms 33:21

Blessed is the fact that Christians can rejoice in the deepest distress; although trouble may surround them, they still sing; and, like many birds, they sing best in their cages. The waves may roll over them, but their souls soon rise to the surface and see the light of God's countenance; they have a buoyancy about them which keeps their head always above the water, and helps them to sing amid the tempest, "God is with me still." To whom shall the glory be given? Oh! to Jesus - it is all by Jesus. Trouble does not necessarily bring consolations with it to the believer, but the presence of the Son of God in the fiery furnace with him fills his heart with joy. . . .

Evening:

"Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit." - Psalms 28:1

A cry is the natural expression of sorrow, and a suitable utterance when all other modes of appeal fail us; but the cry must be alone directed to the Lord, for to cry to man is to waste our entreaties upon the air. When we consider the readiness of the Lord to hear, and his ability to aid, we shall see good reason for directing all our appeals at once to the God of our salvation. It will be in vain to call to the rocks in the day of judgment, but our Rock attends to our cries. . . .

How kind is God to give Spurgeon to me like an older wiser brother to point me to my Father and his revealed word? A picture came to my mind from his evening writing. Later in this passage, he says, "When God seems  to close his ear, we must not therefore close our mouths, but rather cry with more earnestness; for when our note grows shrill with eagerness and grief, he will not long deny us a hearing . . . surely the Lord will speak peace to our agitated minds, for he never can find it in his heart to permit his own elect to perish." It is like when my siblings and I were little children in our beds for the night. Wanting one or both of our parents to come back in to grant a request (a drink of water, the night light, a favorite stuffed animal, to sing us a song...basically anything to stall the necessity of going to sleep, but sometimes to pray with us to melt away nightly fears), we would yell their names from our beds. If they did not respond, we cried louder and louder. We would join our efforts into one voice together, "Maaaaaaaa-mee," or "Daaaaaaaa-dee." Spurgeon is like my older brother, encouraging me to cry louder to my Abba, and not to cry to another for what only He can help. He is not hushing a younger sibling out of annoyance, but spurring on by directing my cries to the only One who can hear and help.

Along with not chiding sorrowful cries, he is also promoting joyful songs in the midst of distress (in the morning passage). What a comfort to be allowed both "natural expressions of sorrow" and to "rejoice in deepest distress." My Father truly did send his Son to condescend to my level and his Spirit to commune with me. It is only his presence and promises that can unfailingly deliver joy in any moment whatsoever.

It does not matter if I be conflicted, confused, or numb, nor if tempted to sinful thoughts and feelings. My Father still calls me to himself. He still draws me. And he wants me to cry my griefs to him. And he wants me to sing praises to him. Whether tears on my checks one moment, or happy notes on my lips another - whether a despairing sickness that turns to knots in my stomach or a lightness of heart and eagerness for life reflecting trust like a child - my dear Abba welcomes both my sobbing cries and my joyful melodies of praise.

It is not up to me to understand. God holds me in his hand.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. - Psalm 16:11

There is nowhere I'd rather be than with my God. And guess what? He is always with me, and he is always drawing me. He wants me to come. And oh that I would learn to quietly come and be still at his side, knowing he is my God.

And he is more than enough. He always will be.

photo: AA field at Creation, Wednesday June 29th

Looking unto Jesus

Charles Spurgeon Morning and Evening, June 28:

Morning:
"Looking unto Jesus." - Hebrews 12:2

It is ever the Holy Spirit's work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but Satan's work is just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make us regard ourselves instead of Christ. . . . and we shall never find comfort or assurance by looking within. But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self: he tells us that we are nothing, but that "Christ is all in all." Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee - it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee - it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument - it is Christ's blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to thy hand with which thou art grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to thy hope, but to Jesus, the source of thy hope; look not to thy faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of thy faith. We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by "looking unto Jesus." Keep thine eye simply on him; let his death, his sufferings, his merits, his glories, his intercession, be fresh upon thy mind; when thou wakest in the morning look to him; when thou liest down at night look to him. Oh! let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus; follow hard after him, and he will never fail thee.

"My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness:
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name."

Evening:
...With an enthusiastic love for Jesus difficulties are surmounted, sacrifices become pleasures, sufferings are honours. But if religion is thus a consuming passion in the heart, then it follows that there are many persons who profess religion but have it not; for what they have will not bear this test. Examine yourself, my reader, on this point. Aaron's rod proved its heaven-given power. Is your religion doing so? If Christ be anything he must be everything. O rest not till love and faith in Jesus be the master passions of your soul!

Whether Working or Waiting

I wanted to post two items that have been highlighted to me this week.

1. I have found the words of John Murray, quoted by C.J. at Next 2010 (and here), to encourage, humble my heart, and motivate me in my endeavors, as well as call my soul to praise the Lord. I want to keep them in front of me:

The more persistenly active we are in working, the more persuaded we may be that all the energizing grace and power is of God.

2. Mark Altrogge's post on Why It's Good to Wait For God is also water to my soul. I am especially thankful to be reminded that as God calls me to wait on him,

He helps us to treasure him above the things we are waiting for. He teaches us to find our contentment in him. He is our portion, not anything in this world. Only Jesus can truly satisfy us. No person or thing we wait for can satisfy us like Christ.

How wonderful to have all I need, and ever will need, right here in this moment in Christ. As I look to the future and as I look at the present, I find that there is no joy in either, apart from Christ. Just as heaven would be nothing to me if all the blessings of God were there but He was not (which I think is an impossible scenario anyway), my life here on earth is empty without the presence of my God.

The greatest blessing God gives is his presence. - Charles Spurgeon (more of his
quote here).

Whether working or waiting, all points to Christ.

photo: Hamburg, Germany 2007 - city of Arche Church

I'm With Him

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, 

which cannot be moved, but abides forever. 

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, 

so the LORD surrounds his people, 

from this time forth and forevermore.

Psalm 125:1-2

If we're not constantly asking God to fill us with his Spirit, then we're going into a war zone with no gun and no protection. - Matt

The greatest blessing God gives is His presence. . . . When God is with us, there is no difference between Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace and a comfortable bed. It does not matter! We will be happy in either. If God is with us, if His divine love surrounds us, then we carry our own atmosphere and residence wherever we travel. - C.H. Spurgeon

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. - Matthew 28:20

photo: Bolzano, Italy 2007

Trials and the Blessing of God's Presence

Expect Trials to Multiply

Do not think that as you grow in grace your path will become smoother and the sky calmer and clearer. Quite the contrary. As God gives you greater skill as a soldier of the cross, He will send you on more difficult missions. As He more fully equips your ship to sail in storms, He will send you on longer voyages to more boisterous seas, so that you may honor Him and increase in holy confidence.
You would think that in Abraham's old age - after he had come to the land of Beulah, after the birth of Isaac, and especially after the expulsion of Ishmael - he would have had a time of rest. But "it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham" (Gen. 22:1). Let Abraham's story warn us to never plan on a rest from trials this side of the grave.
The trumpet still plays the notes of war. You cannot sit down and put the victory wreath on your head. You do not have a crown. You still must wear the helmet and carry the sword. You must watch, pray, and fight. Expect your last battle to be the most difficult, for the enemy's fiercest charge is reserved for the end of the day.

Lest that lead to discouragement and despair, Spurgeon reminds me that God is with me and so I may rejoice!

Blessed Beyond Measure

The greatest blessing God gives is His presence. If I could choose any of life's blessings, I certainly would not ask for wealth, because wealth cannot bring freedom from pain, concern, or anxiety. I certainly would not ask for popularity, because there is no rest for the world's leaders. My choice, my highest honor, would be to have God with me always.
When God is with us, there is no difference between Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace (Dan. 3:19) and a comfortable bed. It does not matter! We will be happy in either. If God is with us, if His divine love surrounds us, then we carry our own atmosphere and residence wherever we travel, and we can say with Moses, "Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations" (Ps. 90:1). The individual who can say this is full of heaven, full of God, and blessed beyond measure. This is the privilege of all who truly believe in Jesus, of all who come out from the world, and of all who, like Abraham, live a life of faith (Gen. 12:4). Bow your head, believer, and let the Lord God pronounce this blessing, "I will bless you."
If you are sorrowing, suffering, weary, or burdened, receive this blessing from God's own mouth, "I will bless you."
If you are poor, despised, or slandered, this blessing is not shortened. Take it with you, and go on your way rejoicing.

(Thanks to my friend Teresa for giving me a copy of these.)

photo: home - November, 2007