Thank God for Hiding the Future!

There is no more gracious provision for our happiness, than what is contained in that brief saying of Scripture, "You do not know what will happen tomorrow!" James 4:14 

If we knew in full, in this grief-stricken world, all that would befall us in the future  how sad would existence be! It would leave even prosperity without a note of gladness; for the certainty of losing our blessings, would rob us of all their enjoyment while we retained them. And thus moments of unbounded pleasure, would be clouded with the dark characters of anticipated sorrow. How would the mother's joy be marred, as the object of her tender solicitude and affection was sporting by her side, or as she hung over the infant cradle if she could pry with certainty into the future, and read the mournful sequel of that little history the lingering sickness, the early grave, the blighted hopes, the desolated household, the broken heart. 

To know the future, would convert the few brief years of possession of her blessing, into consecutive hours of agony the consciousness and foreknowledge that every moment was drawing nearer the fatal one sitting by Time's sand-glass and marking grain by grain, as they dropped and fell, until the last grain of the diminishing heap announced, "The long-dreaded hour has arrived!" But, thank God that the future is veiled! The storm and coming wreck are concealed, in order that the calm of the present waveless sea may be enjoyed. Yes, we again say, thank God for hiding the future, and allowing us only to be conversant with the joys and sorrows of today. 

[John MacDuff] 

James 4:14 ... Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

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A Minister's Confession

 O God,

I know that I often do Your work without
Your power, and sin by my dead, heartless, blind service,
my lack of inward light, love, delight,
my mind, heart, tongue moving without Your help.

I see my sinful heart in seeking the praise of others.
This is my vileness to seek my own glory. It is my
deceit to preach and pray in order to generate
admiration; whereas I should consider myself
more vile than any man in my own eyes.

Help me to rejoice in my infirmities and to
acknowledge my deficiencies before others.

Keep me from high thoughts of myself or my work,
for I am nothing but sin and weakness. In me no
good dwells, and my best works are tainted with
sin. Humble me to the dust before You. Root and
tear out the poisonous weed of pride, and show
me my utter nothingness. Keep me sensible of
my sinnership. Sink me deeper into penitence
and self-abhorrence.

Break the 'Dagon' of pride in pieces before
the ark of Your presence!

Demolish the 'Babel' of self-importance
and scatter it to the wind!

Level to the ground my 'Jericho walls'
of a haughty, rebel heart!

Then grace, free grace, will be my experience and
message. This is my ministry, my life, my prayer,
my end. Grant me grace that I shall not fail.

[A Puritan Prayer]

Our Only Hope!!

No matter who becomes the president in America, Jesus is King.

Revelation 19:16 ... And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords. ❤

Long to Soar!!

Do not I love You, Oh my Lord? 

Behold my heart and see, 

And turn each cursed idol out, 

That dares to rival Thee! 

 You know I love You, dearest Lord, 

But oh, I long to soar, 

Far from the sphere of mortal joys,

 And learn to love You more! 

 [Philip Doddridge]

Psalm 55:6 ... And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. 

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What is Christianity?

Christianity centers in the glorious Person of Christ! The aim and purpose of every Scripture truth is to fix the eye on Christ Himself! 

He is the Alpha and Omega of Christianity. From Him proceeds every ray of spiritual light. To Him all believing hearts are drawn. The Christian finds consolation and strength only in Him. Every motive for Christian living is from Him. The glorious privileges which Christians possess, can only be enjoyed from union and communion with Him. Their highest standard of duty is to follow His footsteps, and to walk even as He walked. 

Christianity, in fact, is Christ! It is Christ in the Scriptures, Christ in the Manger, Christ on the Cross, Christ, the Risen One, Christ, the Ascended One, Christ, the Prophet, the Priest, the King, Christ in His Glorious appearing, to be revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels! All our trust, all our love, all our obedience, is due to Him! The more the eye and the heart is turned fully towards Him the more true and genuine is our Christianity. 

[George Everard] 

Colossians 3:11 .. Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 

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He Ran!!

This is what the lost lamb saw. The loving Shepherd running towards him, rescuing him, and bringing him back to the pasture. There is no doubt in my mind that He ran, He called out, He searched, and He pursued the lost sheep. Such a beautiful picture of what He does for us as well.

 www.ChristianPhotoshops.com

Luke 15:4-5 ... What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?  And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.❤

Happy Sickness!

Affliction comes upon all! 

None are exempt from the suffering's incident to our fallen nature. The young, the old, the rich and the poor alike feel the withering touch of affliction and of sorrow. Disease invades the strongest constitution, and affliction prostrates the mightiest energy. Often those in the prime and vigor of life are laid down on the bed of sickness and made to feel that they are dying creatures. How true it is, that "How frail is humanity! How short is life, and how full of trouble!" (Job 14:1)  

The children of God are not exempted from the afflictions of this life, but it is their blessed consolation to know that in all their sorrows and sufferings, they have a caring and divine Friend to sympathize with them! Oh! How often does the blessed Jesus wonderfully manifest His love to His afflicted ones! How often does He whisper words of peace and love and consolation in their ears! How often, in the manifestation of His love, do their souls overflow with joy, even when their bodies are racked with severe pain! 

All the afflictions of the children of God are designed for their good. They come from a kind and wise heavenly Father from a God of love; and one of their designs is their purification and sanctification. Afflictions make us fit for glory. They enable us to obtain a correct view of the emptiness of all worldly vanities. They tend, through grace, to fix our souls on Jesus, in whom alone we can find true happiness and immortal joys. 

Happy sickness, that leads the soul to Jesus the only source of blessedness! Afflictions, then, promote our spiritual welfare, and are ordered for our good. 

[David Harsha] 

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Psalm 119:71 ... It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

Psalm 119:75 ... I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

John 16:33 ... These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. ❤

The Holy Spirit ~

The Spirit is given to supply the Savior's absence, and to apply to our souls the redemption finished on Calvary. It is His blessed work to glorify Jesus to testify of Him. Through His power we are renewed and sanctified, filled 'with all joy and peace in believing,' and 'abound in hope' of a blissful immortality. 

The Spirit reveals the Savior to our souls in a manner that renders Him exceedingly precious in our estimation. He shows us His excellence, the perfections of His divine nature, as the brightness of the Father's glory His power, as the Creator of all things, His wisdom, His immutability, His eternity! 

The Spirit exhibits to us the amazing love of Jesus to sinners, the wonders of His incarnation, the amiableness of His life on earth, the spotless purity of His character, the unparalleled sufferings of His life, the fruits of His death, resurrection, ascension and intercession! 

The Spirit shows us His suitableness to our needs as sinners. He points us to Calvary, and whispers in our ears the cheering truth that we have redemption through the blood of Jesus, even the forgiveness of sins! 

The Spirit comforts us amid all the tribulations of earth: by assuring us that our trials are but light and momentary, by perfecting His strength in our weakness, by bringing to our remembrance the many precious words of the Lord Jesus, by communicating to us the things of God, by lifting our hearts above the world, and by pointing us to a home of rest and glory beyond the skies where tribulation, and anguish, and death, never come! 

Yes, by His divine power thus operating on our minds, He enables us to look far beyond the present. He direct faith's far-reaching eye to our Father's house, and the fountains of immortal life, flowing through those sweet fields beyond the swelling flood the sight of which makes us long to be there, that we may see Jesus as He is, and taste His goodness on the shores of the promised land! 

[David Harsha]

John 14:26 ...  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

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Be Still...

Do not get involved with things too great or too wondrous. Instead, be a calm and quieted my soul.

  www.ChristianPhotoshops.com

Psalm 131:1 ... Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.

Psalm 46:10 ... Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Proverbs 3:5 ... Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. ❤

Eat!!

Two learned doctors were angrily disputing the nature of food and allowing their meal to lie untasted; while nearby, a simple farmer was eating heartily of that which was set before him. 

Just so, the religious world is full of quibblers, critics, and debaters, who, like the doctors, argue over religious controversies, without profit either to themselves or others. Those are far happier, who imitate the farmer and feed upon the Word of God, which is the true food of the soul. Questioning with honesty and candor is not to be condemned, when the object is to "prove all things, and hold fast that which is good." (1 Thessalonian 5:21)

But to treat Scripture as if it were a football to be kicked from man to man, is irreverence, if not worse! Study the Word of God; lay hold upon it and spend your time in feasting upon precious truth! 

Reader, argue, if you please but remember that communion with the Lord Jesus gives infinitely more enjoyment than disputing can ever afford you. Eat, don't argue! 

[Charles Spurgeon]

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Jeremiah 15:16 ... Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.

1 Peter 2:2-3 ...  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Matthew 4:4 ...  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. ❤

Do Any Startle at This Plain Assertion?

In the early Christian Church religion did not consist in talking finely, but in living well. We, alas! are not now what these primitive Christians were burning and shining lights. The lamentation of the prophet is sadly too descriptive of our state: "Our silver has become dross, and our wine is mixed with water." (Isaiah 1:22)  

The world has tainted the Church by its unhallowed admixture. Where is the simplicity, the self-denial, the zeal, the entire devotedness, of these first Christians to be found? Certainly not among the great mass of religious professors! Long continued prosperity has induced a spirit of slumber. Without any breach of that charity which hopes all things, we are compelled to declare this painful truth: that thousands who are moral, and regular in all the outward duties and decencies of religion are still as far distant from the spirit and practice, the principles and feelings, of the true believer, as the East is from the West! 

Do any startle at this plain assertion? Where, we would ask, is their deep contrition, their sincere repentance, their hatred of sin, their application to the Savior, their love to His name, their delight in His service, their attachment to Him, their self-denying obedience, their renunciation of the world, their patience under suffering for the Gospel's sake? Where, in short, is the new creature in Christ Jesus to be seen in them? It has no existence! They have a name to live, being called Christians, and professing to believe in Jesus but they are dead! 

The general truths of the Gospel may dwell in their understandings, but they have no abiding place in their hearts. The Apostle has well described the character of these nominal Christians: "They profess that they know God, but in works deny Him." (Titus 1:16) "They have the form of godliness but deny the power thereof." (2 Timothy 3:4-5) 

These are the people who, frequenting the house of God, sneer at 'conscientious piety'. Yet, they have full confidence in the mercy of God, and deem it most uncharitable, even to breathe a hint that they are in danger of eternal perdition. 

[Thomas Reade]

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