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"Keep a stiff upper lip," we're told. Buck up. Life is capable of throwing a withering sequence of blows at us, bringing even the strongest to their knees - literally. For if our hope is in God, our future is very bright, no matter how grim the present.
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?
Faith And Real Life
November 16, 2008
"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and he Lord has taken away. May the name of the Lord be praised." In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. Job 1:21-22
Living in the 1600's in Massachusetts, Anne Bradstreet was the quintessential pioneer woman - resilient was her middle name. Her home contained over 600 books, and her education made her capable in writing about a variety of subjects. But tragedy struck one night in 1666 at a time when she was already dealing with the effects of tuberculosis, not to mention the recent death of her daughter Dorothy.
What got her through? Sure, she had a buck-it-up "woman-tality" that she could call on. But her confidence was faith in her faithful God, a God who she knew to be sovereign in all the events of her life, a God who always works something good out of the bad his righteous children experience. Listen to her reflect as she combs through the ashes.
In silent night when rest I took,
For sorrow nearer I did not look,
I waken'd was with thundering noise
And Piteous shreiks of dreadfull voice.
That fearfull sound of fire and fire,
Let no man know is my Desire.
I, starting up, the light did spy,
And to my God my heart did cry
To strengthen me in my Distress
And not to leave me succourless,
Then coming out beheld a space,
The flame consume my dwelling place.
And, when I could no longer look,
I blessed his Name that gave and took,
That laid my goods now in the dust:
Yea so it was, and so 'twas just.
It was his own: it was not mine;
Far be it that I should repine.
He might of All justly bereft,
But yet sufficient for us left.
When by the Ruins oft I past,
My sorrowing eyes aside did cast,
And here and there the places spy
Where oft I sat, and long did lie.
Here stood that Trunk, and there that chest;
There lay that store I counted best:
My pleasant things in ashes lie,
And them behold no more shall I.
Under thy roof no guest shall sit,
Nor at thy Table eat a bit.
No pleasant tale shall 'ere be told,
Nor things recounted done of old.
No Candle 'ere shall shine in Thee,
Nor bridegroom's voice ere heard shall be.
In silence ever shalt thou lie;
Adieu, Adeiu; All's vanity.
Then straight I gin my heart to chide,
And didst thy wealth on earth abide?
Didst fix thy hope on mouldring dust,
The arm of flesh didst make thy trust?
Raise up thy thoughts above the sky
That dunghill mists away may fly.
Thou hast an house on high erect
Fram'd by that mighty Architect,
With glory richly furnished,
Stands permanent tho' this be fled.
It's purchased, and paid for too
By him who hath enough to do.
A Prize so vast as is unknown,
Yet, by his Gift, is made thine own.
There's wealth enough, I need no more;
Farewell my Pelf, farewell my Store.
The world no longer let me Love,
My hope and Treasure lies Above.
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.
If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16
"The roads are rugged, the precipices are steep; there may be a feeling of dizziness on the heights, gusts of wind, peals of thunder, nights of awful gloom - fear them not." Pere Didon
Faith has nothing to do with circumstances. It deals entirely with the word of God. Faith does not feed upon the experiences of others, though these may be a stimulus; its food is the promises of God. GOLD CORD, page 58
Living in the 1600's in Massachusetts, Anne Bradstreet was the quintessential pioneer woman - resilient was her middle name. Her home contained over 600 books, and her education made her capable in writing about a variety of subjects. But tragedy struck one night in 1666 at a time when she was already dealing with the effects of tuberculosis, not to mention the recent death of her daughter Dorothy.
What got her through? Sure, she had a buck-it-up "woman-tality" that she could call on. But her confidence was faith in her faithful God, a God who she knew to be sovereign in all the events of her life, a God who always works something good out of the bad his righteous children experience. Listen to her reflect as she combs through the ashes.
In silent night when rest I took,
For sorrow nearer I did not look,
I waken'd was with thundering noise
And Piteous shreiks of dreadfull voice.
That fearfull sound of fire and fire,
Let no man know is my Desire.
I, starting up, the light did spy,
And to my God my heart did cry
To strengthen me in my Distress
And not to leave me succourless,
Then coming out beheld a space,
The flame consume my dwelling place.
And, when I could no longer look,
I blessed his Name that gave and took,
That laid my goods now in the dust:
Yea so it was, and so 'twas just.
It was his own: it was not mine;
Far be it that I should repine.
He might of All justly bereft,
But yet sufficient for us left.
When by the Ruins oft I past,
My sorrowing eyes aside did cast,
And here and there the places spy
Where oft I sat, and long did lie.
Here stood that Trunk, and there that chest;
There lay that store I counted best:
My pleasant things in ashes lie,
And them behold no more shall I.
Under thy roof no guest shall sit,
Nor at thy Table eat a bit.
No pleasant tale shall 'ere be told,
Nor things recounted done of old.
No Candle 'ere shall shine in Thee,
Nor bridegroom's voice ere heard shall be.
In silence ever shalt thou lie;
Adieu, Adeiu; All's vanity.
Then straight I gin my heart to chide,
And didst thy wealth on earth abide?
Didst fix thy hope on mouldring dust,
The arm of flesh didst make thy trust?
Raise up thy thoughts above the sky
That dunghill mists away may fly.
Thou hast an house on high erect
Fram'd by that mighty Architect,
With glory richly furnished,
Stands permanent tho' this be fled.
It's purchased, and paid for too
By him who hath enough to do.
A Prize so vast as is unknown,
Yet, by his Gift, is made thine own.
There's wealth enough, I need no more;
Farewell my Pelf, farewell my Store.
The world no longer let me Love,
My hope and Treasure lies Above.
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.
If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16
"The roads are rugged, the precipices are steep; there may be a feeling of dizziness on the heights, gusts of wind, peals of thunder, nights of awful gloom - fear them not." Pere Didon
Faith has nothing to do with circumstances. It deals entirely with the word of God. Faith does not feed upon the experiences of others, though these may be a stimulus; its food is the promises of God. GOLD CORD, page 58
