GOD IS NOT SLOW !!!

2 Peter 3:9 (NIV). 
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.......

Thoughts on This Verse... 
God wants all people brought to repentance so they can receive his grace and live with him in glory. 

If that is God's passion, how can we not make it our passion? 

"If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious."

"If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious."

1 Peter 2:3

If:--then, this is not a matter to be taken for granted concerning every one of the human race. 

"If:"--then there is a possibility and a probability that some may not have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 

"If:"--then this is not a general but a special mercy; and it is needful to enquire whether we know the grace of God by inward experience. There is no spiritual favour which may not be a matter for heart-searching.

But while this should be a matter of earnest and prayerful inquiry, no one ought to be content whilst there is any such thing as an "if" about his having tasted that the Lord is gracious. 

A jealous and holy distrust of self may give rise to the question even in the believer's heart, but the continuance of such a doubt would be an evil indeed. We must not rest without a desperate struggle to clasp the Saviour in the arms of faith, and say, "I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him." Do not rest, O believer, till thou hast a full assurance of thine interest in Jesus. 

Let nothing satisfy thee till, by the infallible witness of the Holy Spirit bearing witness with thy spirit, thou art certified that thou art a child of God. Oh, trifle not here; let no "perhaps" and "peradventure" and "if" and "maybe" satisfy thy soul. Build on eternal verities, and verily build upon them. Get the sure mercies of David, and surely get them. 

Let thine anchor be cast into that which is within the veil, and see to it that thy soul be linked to the anchor by a cable that will not break. Advance beyond these dreary "ifs;" abide no more in the wilderness of doubts and fears; cross the Jordan of distrust, and enter the Canaan of peace, where the Canaanite still lingers, but where the land ceaseth not to flow with milk and honey.

Today's reading is from:

Morning and Evening by Charles Spurgeon

DREAMS !!!

Genesis 37 (New International Version)

Genesis 37

Joseph’s Dreams

 ¹ Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan. ² This is the account of Jacob’s family line.

   Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.

 ³ Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate^[a] robe for him. ⁴ When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

 ⁵ Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. ⁶ He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: ⁷ We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”

 ⁸ His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.

 ⁹ Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

 ¹⁰ When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?”¹¹ His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

We're bound for glory !!!

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 (NIV). 

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. 

For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality....... 

Thoughts on This Verse... 

I'm going to be changed! 

You're going to be changed! 

We're not talking about a new wardrobe or haircut. 

We're not talking about a new car or a new place to live. 

We are talking major, heavy-duty overhaul! 

We're going to be made immortal. 

We're going to become indestructible. 

We will no longer be perishable goods! 

We're bound for glory. 

The LORD’s word is flawless !!!

2 Samuel 22:31 (New International Version)

    “As for God, his way is perfect:
   The LORD’s word is flawless;
   he shields all who take refuge in him.

"Marvellous lovingkindness."

"Marvellous lovingkindness."

Psalm 17:7

When we give our hearts with our alms, we give well, but we must often plead to a failure in this respect. Not so our Master and our Lord. His favours are always performed with the love of his heart. 

He does not send to us the cold meat and the broken pieces from the table of his luxury, but he dips our morsel in his own dish, and seasons our provisions with the spices of his fragrant affections. When he puts the golden tokens of his grace into our palms, he accompanies the gift with such a warm pressure of our hand, that the manner of his giving is as precious as the boon itself. 

He will come into our houses upon his errands of kindness, and he will not act as some austere visitors do in the poor man's cottage, but he sits by our side, not despising our poverty, nor blaming our weakness. Beloved, with what smiles does he speak! What golden sentences drop from his gracious lips! What embraces of affection does he bestow upon us! If he had but given us farthings, the way of his giving would have gilded them; but as it is, the costly alms are set in a golden basket by his pleasant carriage. 

It is impossible to doubt the sincerity of his charity, for there is a bleeding heart stamped upon the face of all his benefactions. He giveth liberally and upbraideth not. 

Not one hint that we are burdensome to him; not one cold look for his poor pensioners; but he rejoices in his mercy, and presses us to his bosom while he is pouring out his life for us. 

There is a fragrance in his spikenard which nothing but his heart could produce; there is a sweetness in his honey-comb which could not be in it unless the very essence of his soul's affection had been mingled with it. 

Oh! the rare communion which such singular heartiness effecteth! May we continually taste and know the blessedness of it!

Today's reading taken from Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening."

MESSAGE OF WISDOM !!!

Proverbs 6:20 (NIV). My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching....... 

Thoughts on This Verse... 
So often today, we discount the wisdom of those who have come before us and who want to share with us the collective wisdom that was handed down to them by their predecessors. 


Let's be especially attentive over the next few weeks to those who are older and have proven themselves faithful. 
At the same time, let's remind our children and our grandchildren how important obedience is to God, including the obedience of children to their parents.

 

HUMBLE BEFORE GOD ALMIGHTY, HE CONTROLS LIFE, TIME AND EVENTS..

GOOD FOLLOWERS !!!

Psalm 1:4 (NIV). 

[Those who follow the LORD are firmly planted, healthy, and full of life.] 
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away....... 
Thoughts on This Verse... 
No matter the temporary apparent benefits of wicked schemes and evil power, all these efforts end at the grave. 


They are swept away, leaving the wicked with nothing to show for their efforts and no Savior to plead their case as they stand before the righteousness and justice of the one true and holy God. 

"I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth."

"I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth."

Ecclesiastes 10:7

Upstarts frequently usurp the highest places, while the truly great pine in obscurity. This is a riddle in providence whose solution will one day gladden the hearts of the upright; but it is so common a fact, that none of us should murmur if it should fall to our own lot.

 When our Lord was upon earth, although he is the Prince of the kings of the earth, yet he walked the footpath of weariness and service as the Servant of servants: what wonder is it if his followers, who are princes of the blood, should also be looked down upon as inferior and contemptible persons? The world is upside down, and therefore, the first are last and the last first. 

See how the servile sons of satan lord it in the earth! What a high horse they ride! How they lift up their horn on high! Haman is in the court, while Mordecai sits in the gate; David wanders on the mountains, while Saul reigns in state; Elijah is complaining in the cave while Jezebel is boasting in the palace; yet who would wish to take the places of the proud rebels? and who, on the other hand, might not envy the despised saints? When the wheel turns, those who are lowest rise, and the highest sink. 

Patience, then, believer, eternity will right the wrongs of time.

Let us not fall into the error of letting our passions and carnal appetites ride in triumph, while our nobler powers walk in the dust. Grace must reign as a prince, and make the members of the body instruments of righteousness. The Holy Spirit loves order, and he therefore sets our powers and faculties in due rank and place, giving the highest room to those spiritual faculties which link us with the great King; let us not disturb the divine arrangement, but ask for grace that we may keep under our body and bring it into subjection. 

We were not new created to allow our passions to rule over us, but that we, as kings, may reign in Christ Jesus over the triple kingdom of spirit, soul, and body, to the glory of God the Father.

Today's reading taken from Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening."

God's precious gift "LIFE"

“Whoever welcomes !!!

Mark 9:37 (New International Version)

 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

"In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him."

"In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him."

Colossians 2:9-10

All the attributes of Christ, as God and man, are at our disposal. All the fulness of the Godhead, whatever that marvellous term may comprehend, is ours to make us complete. He cannot endow us with the attributes of Deity; but he has done all that can be done, for he has made even his divine power and Godhead subservient to our salvation. 

His omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, immutability and infallibility, are all combined for our defence. Arise, believer, and behold the Lord Jesus yoking the whole of his divine Godhead to the chariot of salvation! How vast his grace, how firm his faithfulness, how unswerving his immutability, how infinite his power, how limitless his knowledge! All these are by the Lord Jesus made the pillars of the temple of salvation; and all, without diminution of their infinity, are covenanted to us as our perpetual inheritance. 

The fathomless love of the Saviour's heart is every drop of it ours; every sinew in the arm of might, every jewel in the crown of majesty, the immensity of divine knowledge, and the sternness of divine justice, all are ours, and shall be employed for us. The whole of Christ, in his adorable character as the Son of God, is by himself made over to us most richly to enjoy. 

His wisdom is our direction, his knowledge our instruction, his power our protection, his justice our surety, his love our comfort, his mercy our solace, and his immutability our trust. He makes no reserve, but opens the recesses of the Mount of God and bids us dig in its mines for the hidden treasures. 

"All, all, all are yours," saith he, "be ye satisfied with favour and full of the goodness of the Lord." Oh! how sweet thus to behold Jesus, and to call upon him with the certain confidence that in seeking the interposition of his love or power, we are but asking for that which he has already faithfully promised.

Today's reading taken from Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening."

God hears my prayers !!!

Romans 8:26 (NIV). In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express....... 


Thoughts on This Verse... 


Isn't it incredible! Even in those times when my words are blocked and my heart is heavy, God hears my prayers. It is not because I am articulate, wise, or faithful enough to pray as I should. 
No, it is because God has graciously placed his Spirit in our hearts to make known what my words cannot capture and my mind cannot verbalize. 


God hears my groanings, my yearnings, my heartbreaks, and my heart-cries. He knows what I cannot think, but only feel. 

Through the work of the Holy Spirit, he answers those unuttered prayers with his presence, grace, and power. 

"So to walk even as he walked."

"So to walk even as he walked."

1 John 2:6

Why should Christians imitate Christ? They should do it for their own sakes. If they desire to be in a healthy state of soul--if they would escape the sickness of sin, and enjoy the vigour of growing grace, let Jesus be their model. 

For their own happiness' sake, if they would drink wine on the lees, well refined; if they would enjoy holy and happy communion with Jesus; if they would be lifted up above the cares and troubles of this world, let them walk even as he walked. 

There is nothing which can so assist you to walk towards heaven with good speed, as wearing the image of Jesus on your heart to rule all its motions. It is when, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you are enabled to walk with Jesus in his very footsteps, that you are most happy, and most known to be the sons of God. 

Peter afar off is both unsafe and uneasy. 

Next, for religion's sake, strive to be like Jesus. Ah! poor religion, thou hast been sorely shot at by cruel foes, but thou hast not been wounded one-half so dangerously by thy foes as by thy friends. Who made those wounds in the fair hand of Godliness? The professor who used the dagger of hypocrisy. The man who with pretences, enters the fold, being nought but a wolf in sheep's clothing, worries the flock more than the lion outside. 

There is no weapon half so deadly as a Judas-kiss. Inconsistent professors injure the gospel more than the sneering critic or the infidel. But, especially for Christ's own sake, imitate his example. 

Christian, lovest thou thy Saviour? Is his name precious to thee? Is his cause dear to thee? Wouldst thou see the kingdoms of the world become his? Is it thy desire that he should be glorified? Art thou longing that souls should be won to him? If so, imitate Jesus; be an "epistle of Christ, known and read of all men."

Today's reading taken from Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening."

VIRTUES OF JESUS CHRIST !!!

Romans 8:14 (NIV). ... 
those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God....... 
Thoughts on This Verse... 

The Holy Spirit is God's seal on us. The Spirit lives in us and his presence in us means we are God's temple. 
The Spirit works to transform us to be more like Christ. 
The Spirit helps us produce the virtues of Christ -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, and faithfulness.


The Spirit intercedes for us when we pray, communicates the groanings of our hearts when we don't have words, and fills us with power when we worship. In addition, the Spirit is our assurance that we are God's children. 


We are his. His future, his blessings, and his grace are ours. 

Episode 3 - A Symbol of Forgiveness with Sheila Walsh - Inspirational Videos

Episode 2 - A Symbol of Forgiveness with Sheila Walsh - Inspirational Videos

Episode 1 - A Symbol of Forgiveness with Sheila Walsh - Inspirational Videos

"Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy."

"Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy."

1 Timothy 6:17

Our Lord Jesus is ever giving, and does not for a solitary instant withdraw his hand. As long as there is a vessel of grace not yet full to the brim, the oil shall not be stayed. 

He is a sun ever-shining; he is manna always falling round the camp; he is a rock in the desert, ever sending out streams of life from his smitten side; the rain of his grace is always dropping; the river of his bounty is ever-flowing, and the well-spring of his love is constantly overflowing. 

As the King can never die, so his grace can never fail. Daily we pluck his fruit, and daily his branches bend down to our hand with a fresh store of mercy. There are seven feast-days in his weeks, and as many as are the days, so many are the banquets in his years. 

Who has ever returned from his door unblessed? Who has ever risen from his table unsatisfied, or from his bosom un-emparadised? His mercies are new every morning and fresh every evening. 

Who can know the number of his benefits, or recount the list of his bounties? Every sand which drops from the glass of time is but the tardy follower of a myriad of mercies. The wings of our hours are covered with the silver of his kindness, and with the yellow gold of his affection. 

The river of time bears from the mountains of eternity the golden sands of his favour. The countless stars are but as the standard bearers of a more innumerable host of blessings. 

Who can count the dust of the benefits which he bestows on Jacob, or tell the number of the fourth part of his mercies towards Israel? How shall my soul extol him who daily loadeth us with benefits, and who crowneth us with loving-kindness? O that my praise could be as ceaseless as his bounty! O miserable tongue, how canst thou be silent? Wake up, I pray thee, lest I call thee no more my glory, but my shame. "Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake right early."

Today's reading taken from Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening."

Deliverance is near !!!

1 Thessalonians 5:6 (NIV). 

So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled....... 
Thoughts on This Verse... 
So many sleepwalk through life. They never are awake enough to really live. 
But we are not going to do that with our lives! We are alive because we know Jesus has come and not only brought us life, but he has also showed us how to live. 


So we are going to be alert. 
We are going to be self-controlled. 
We are going to be fully alive, because we know Jesus' return is imminent and our day of salvation and deliverance is near. 

ALELUYA !!!

I AM GOING, 

HOW ABOUT YOU !!!

"All that believe are justified."

"All that believe are justified."

Acts 13:39

The believer in Christ receives a present justification. Faith does not produce this fruit by-and-by, but now. So far as justification is the result of faith, it is given to the soul in the moment when it closes with Christ, and accepts him as its all in all. 

Are they who stand before the throne of God justified now?--so are we, as truly and as clearly justified as they who walk in white and sing melodious praises to celestial harps. 

The thief upon the cross was justified the moment that he turned the eye of faith to Jesus; and Paul, the aged, after years of service, was not more justified than was the thief with no service at all. We are today accepted in the Beloved, today absolved from sin, today acquitted at the bar of God. Oh! soul-transporting thought! 

There are some clusters of Eshcol's vine which we shall not be able to gather till we enter heaven; but this is a bough which runneth over the wall. This is not as the corn of the land, which we can never eat till we cross the Jordan; but this is part of the manna in the wilderness, a portion of our daily nutriment with which God supplies us in our journeying to and fro.

We are now--even now pardoned; even now are our sins put away; even now we stand in the sight of God accepted, as though we had never been guilty. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." There is not a sin in the Book of God, even now, against one of his people. 

No sin on his book just his love an pardon by HIS blood !!!

Who dareth to lay anything to their charge? There is neither speck, nor spot, nor wrinkle, nor any such thing remaining upon any one believer in the matter of justification in the sight of the Judge of all the earth. 

Let present privilege awaken us to present duty, and now, while life lasts, let us spend and be spent for our sweet Lord Jesus.

Today's reading taken from Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening."

How rich are we?

Philippians 4:11 (NIV).

 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances....... 
Thoughts on This Verse...
Paul tells Timothy that one of life's greatest treasures is to find contentment in godliness (1 Tim. 6:6). 
With this treasure, our physical circumstances become far less important to us than the character we display in those circumstances. Our bottom line is less important than loving God from the bottom of our hearts. 
Those who are wealthy and show godliness, a very difficult challenge according to Jesus, are those who have demonstrated that they are content to be godly and will be that kind of person with or without wealth. 


Those who are poor and are godly have demonstrated the same ability. So the bottom line is not how rich are we in money, but how rich are we in grace! 

"Joint heirs with Christ."

"Joint heirs with Christ."

Romans 8:17

The boundless realms of his Father's universe are Christ's by prescriptive right. As "heir of all things," he is the sole proprietor of the vast creation of God, and he has admitted us to claim the whole as ours, by virtue of that deed of joint-heirship which the Lord hath ratified with his chosen people. 

The golden streets of paradise, the pearly gates, the river of life, the transcendent bliss, and the unutterable glory, are, by our blessed Lord, made over to us for our everlasting possession. 

All that he has he shares with his people. The crown royal he has placed upon the head of his Church, appointing her a kingdom, and calling her sons a royal priesthood, a generation of priests and kings. He uncrowned himself that we might have a coronation of glory; he would not sit upon his own throne until he had procured a place upon it for all who overcome by his blood. 

Crown the head and the whole body shares the honour. Behold here the reward of every Christian conqueror! Christ's throne, crown, sceptre, palace, treasure, robes, heritage, are yours. 

Far superior to the jealousy, selfishness, and greed, which admit of no participation of their advantages, Christ deems his happiness completed by his people sharing it. 

"The glory which thou gavest me have I given them." "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." 

The smiles of his Father are all the sweeter to him, because his people share them. The honours of his kingdom are more pleasing, because his people appear with him in glory. More valuable to him are his conquests, since they have taught his people to overcome. 

He delights in his throne, because on it there is a place for them. He rejoices in his royal robes, since over them his skirts are spread. 

He delights the more in his joy, because he calls them to enter into it.

Today's reading taken from Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening."