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Complaining seems to come naturally, doesn't it? Being thankful is a whole different matter. We have to work at it, knowing that if we are obedient in this, God will get the credit he deserves, and our satisfaction in Him will expand.
Recent Entries
God? Who Needs Him?May 31, 2013
Self-sufficient humanism. Paul saw it coming – “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”
Imago Dei
September 12, 2012
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Why Can't I Pray?
August 18, 2012
The bible gives us several reasons, but according to Jeremy Taylor, a deceitful heart is at the root of prayerlessness.
It's Not Rocket Science
July 23, 2012
To keep in step with the Spirit should be our daily quest. And if we are successful at that, all of life falls into place.
Theological Steak
April 10, 2012
These words by P. T. Forsythe on the magnificence of Christ's work are to theology what Ruth's Chris is to a good steak.
Describing the Indescribable
February 11, 2012
What we have in Christ will take all eternity to describe. But for one segment of one sermon, a great preacher made a mighty attempt.
Making Sense Of It All
January 30, 2012
Where are things headed? Is there rhyme and reason to the endless cycle of summer, fall, winter and spring? Is there a plan in place, or is randomness the explanation?
Every Reason To Be Thankful
November 23, 2008
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.; give thanks to him and bless his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness through all generations. Psalm 100:4-5
If murmuring were a duty, some saints would never sin, and if mourning were commanded by God they would certainly be saved by works, for they are always sorrowing, and so they would keep his law.
Many of the saints of God are as mournful as if they were captives in Babylon, for their life is spent in tears and sighing. They will not chant the joyous psalm of praise, and if there be any that require of them a song, they reply, "How can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?"
But, my brethren, we are not captives in Babylon; we do not sit down to weep by Babel's streams; "the Lord has broken our captivity, he has brought us up out of the house of our bondage. We are freemen; we are not slaves; we are not sold into the hand of cruel taskmasters, but we that have believed do enter into rest:"
Moses could not give rest to Israel; he could bring them to Jordan, but across the stream he could not conduct them; Joshua alone could lead them into the lot of their inheritance, and our Joshua, our Jesus, has led us into the land of promise.
He has brought us into a land which the Lord our God thinks on; a land of hills and valleys; a land that flows with milk and honey; and though the Canaanites still be in the land, and plague us full sore, yet is it all our own, and he has said to us:
"All things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's:" 1 Corinthians 3:21-23.
We are not, I say, captives, sold under sin; we are a people who sit every man under his own vine and his own fig-tree, none making us afraid. We dwell in "a strong city, salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks:"
We have come unto Zion, the city of our solemnities, and the mourning of Babylon is not suitable to the palace of the great King, which is beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth.
"Let us serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with singing:" Psalm 100:2.
Many of God's people live as if their God were dead.
Their conduct would be quite consistent....
if the promises were not yea and amen;
if God were a faithless God.
If Christ were not a perfect Redeemer;
if the Word of God might after all turn out to be untrue;
if he had not power to keep his people, and
if he had not love enough with which to hold them even to the end...
then might they give way to mourning and to despair; then might they cover their heads with ashes, and wrap their loins about with sackcloth.
But while God is Jehovah, just and true;
while his promises stand as fast as the eternal mountians;
while the heart of Jesus is true to his spouse;
while the arm of God is unpalsied, and his eye undimmed;
while his covenant and his oath are unbroken and unchanged....
it is not comely, it is not seemly for the upright to go mourning all their days.
Children of God, refrain yourselves from weeping, and make a joyful noise unto the Rock of your salvation; let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and show ourselves glad in him with psalms.
C. H. Spurgeon MAGNIFICAT
If murmuring were a duty, some saints would never sin, and if mourning were commanded by God they would certainly be saved by works, for they are always sorrowing, and so they would keep his law.
Many of the saints of God are as mournful as if they were captives in Babylon, for their life is spent in tears and sighing. They will not chant the joyous psalm of praise, and if there be any that require of them a song, they reply, "How can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?"
But, my brethren, we are not captives in Babylon; we do not sit down to weep by Babel's streams; "the Lord has broken our captivity, he has brought us up out of the house of our bondage. We are freemen; we are not slaves; we are not sold into the hand of cruel taskmasters, but we that have believed do enter into rest:"
Moses could not give rest to Israel; he could bring them to Jordan, but across the stream he could not conduct them; Joshua alone could lead them into the lot of their inheritance, and our Joshua, our Jesus, has led us into the land of promise.
He has brought us into a land which the Lord our God thinks on; a land of hills and valleys; a land that flows with milk and honey; and though the Canaanites still be in the land, and plague us full sore, yet is it all our own, and he has said to us:
"All things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's:" 1 Corinthians 3:21-23.
We are not, I say, captives, sold under sin; we are a people who sit every man under his own vine and his own fig-tree, none making us afraid. We dwell in "a strong city, salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks:"
We have come unto Zion, the city of our solemnities, and the mourning of Babylon is not suitable to the palace of the great King, which is beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth.
"Let us serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with singing:" Psalm 100:2.
Many of God's people live as if their God were dead.
Their conduct would be quite consistent....
if the promises were not yea and amen;
if God were a faithless God.
If Christ were not a perfect Redeemer;
if the Word of God might after all turn out to be untrue;
if he had not power to keep his people, and
if he had not love enough with which to hold them even to the end...
then might they give way to mourning and to despair; then might they cover their heads with ashes, and wrap their loins about with sackcloth.
But while God is Jehovah, just and true;
while his promises stand as fast as the eternal mountians;
while the heart of Jesus is true to his spouse;
while the arm of God is unpalsied, and his eye undimmed;
while his covenant and his oath are unbroken and unchanged....
it is not comely, it is not seemly for the upright to go mourning all their days.
Children of God, refrain yourselves from weeping, and make a joyful noise unto the Rock of your salvation; let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and show ourselves glad in him with psalms.
C. H. Spurgeon MAGNIFICAT
