Hope - Not Just A Pipe Dream

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.  Psa 31:24

"Hoping does not mean doing nothing... It is the opposite of desperate and panicky manipulations, of scurrying and worrying. And hoping is not dreaming. It is not spinning an illusion or fantasy to protect us from our boredom or our pain.

It means a confident, alert expectation that God will do what He said He will do. It is imagination put in the harness of faith. It is a willingness to let God do it His way and in His time."

--Eugene Peterson

http://tollelege.wordpress.com

Quiet Service Brings Greatest Rewards

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. Luke 7:44

It is a greater honor to serve Christ in the most menial capacity than to occupy the throne of the Caesars. I speak of honor, I may also dilate [i.e., expand] upon the happiness of the service of Jesus! It is the purest of pleasures. We long to express our affection for Jesus by acts of zeal. Love pants for expression, and is not obedience the tongue of love? That love is feigned which does not declare itself in some practical form or other, by deeds of kindness, or gifts, or sacrifices, or patient endurance, or hearty praise.

-Charles Spurgeon
http://www.thedailyspurgeon.com

Christ Will Build His Church

Forever let us thank God that the building of the one true Church is laid on the shoulders of One who is mighty. Let us bless God that it does not rest upon man. Let us bless God that it does not depend on missionaries, ministers, or committees. Christ is the almighty Builder. He will carry on His work, though nations and visible Churches do not know their duty. Christ will never fail. That which He has undertaken He will certainly accomplish!

~ J.C. Ryle

http://jcrylequotes.com

Tim Hawkins - What I Believe

I Needed The Quiet

I needed the quiet so He drew me aside

Into the shadows where we could confide,

Away from the bustle where all the day long

I hurried and worried when active and strong.

I needed the quiet, tho' at first I rebelled,

But gently, so gently, my cross He upheld

And whispered so sweetly of spiritual things,

Tho' weakened in body, my spirit took wings

To heights never dreamed of when active and gay;

He loved me so greatly He drew me away.

I needed the quiet.  No prison my bed,

But a beautiful valley of blessings instead--

A place to grow richer in Jesus to hide.

I needed the quiet so He drew me aside.

unknown...

"All Praise to Thee, Eternal God"

All praise to Thee, eternal God,

Who, clothed in garb of flesh and blood,

Dost take a manger for Thy throne,

While worlds on worlds are Thine alone.

Hallelujah!

Once did the skies before Thee bow;

A virgin's arms contain Thee now,

While angels, who in Thee rejoice,

Now listen for Thine infant voice.

Hallelujah!

A little Child, Thou art our Guest

That weary ones in Thee may rest;

Forlorn and lowly is Thy birth

That we may rise to heaven from earth.

Hallelujah!

Thou comest in the darksome night

To make us children of the light,

To make us in the realms divine,

Like Thine own angels, round Thee shine.

Hallelujah!

All this for us Thy love hath done;

By This to Thee our love is won;

For this our joyful songs we raise

And shout our thanks in ceaseless praise.

Hallelujah!

By Martin Luther, 1524

http://tollelege.wordpress.com

O Those Christmas Lights!

His Star

  "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." Matthew 2:2

Bible students and astronomers alike have puzzled over that star. Some have thought it to be a rare conjunction of bright planets. Others, that it was a comet, or smaller heavenly body, brought into the bright range of earth view for that occasion. Others, that it was a specially created and directed heavenly body.

"His Star" may puzzle us, but it cheered and directed the wise men of old. They were not greatly concerned as to the nature of the star or the manner of its display. They saw it as the fulfillment of promise and as the guide to "the Desire of all nations."

The earth is a small planet so "His star" must have been visible to many thousands of people. Most of them did not notice it. They were not looking for His sign in the heavens. Others that saw it were merely curious about it. "His star" bore no message to them.

But some pious wise men who had heard of the Star of Jacob, whose hearts had begun to yearn for His appearing, were looking for His star that night. Doubtless they had looked for many nights, maybe hundreds of them. The God who watched their eager hearts, and who had planted hope and desire in those hearts, hung "His star" in the sky one night.

No doubt was in their minds. The King was born. When they arrived in Jerusalem they never asked of Herod whether He was born: they only asked where.

Some people look only for stars. They live to see one meteor after another, and are quick to follow any new light. The wise men were looking for Him. Even stars can deceive men—if their hearts are vain. But Christ Jesus may be found, and He never leads men astray.

In a sense, all that we ever see now are but "His stars." We do not see Him, though we have found Him and rejoice with joy unspeakable. For now we only see through a glass, darkly, not face to face. But there shines from "His star" more radiance than glows from a thousand atomic sunbursts created by man.

The stars are still shining this Christmas. But one star, “His Star" outshines them all. Thank God, it has been given unto me to see that star and to find and worship Him.

George E. Failing

His Unspeakable Gift

Say, what is the meaning of Christmastide,

The Day that is dearer than all beside?

Say, what is its message, what does it tell,

That childhood and age should love it so well?

It meaneth that once in the long ago,

A Baby was born in a manger low.

While Seraphim sang of His wondrous birth,

And sages came forth from the ends of the earth.

It means that the Christ in the heart is born

As truly as once on the Christmas morn;

And all who will welcome Him to abide

Will find that each day is a Christmastide.

It ringeth a message more loud and clear,

Proclaiming the glad Millennial Year.

For Bethlehem’s Star has risen once more,

And the world’s long night is almost over.

Ring louder, ye bells of the Christmastide;

Ye heralds, re-echo it far and wide;

Tell out the nations again and again,

The Gospel of peace, good will to men.

A. B. Simpson

10 Things Your Pastor Wants For Christmas

Every year people struggle with what to give their pastor.  Does he or she need a new bible, another book to read?  How about trying these great stocking stuffers:

1.  Love God with your whole heart...

2.  Invite people you know to church...

3.  Fulfill your promises to God...

4.  Place your family first...

5.  Serve Sacrificially...

6.  Read your bible daily...

7.  Share your faith boldly...

8.  Give with a cheerful heart...

9.  Pray for the lost daily...

10.  Don't forget to thank God everyday for His blessings...

Creative Christmas Presentation

Eternity, Eternity! who can tell its length?

Supposing there was a ball of sand as big as the whole earth.  Suppose a grain of this is to be annihilated in a thousand years: Which would be more preferable, --to be happy while this ball was wasting away at the rate of one grain in a thousand years, and be miserable ever after? --or to be miserable, while it was wasting away at that proportion and happy ever after?

What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Matt 16:26

"The Writings of John Wesley" - Mitchell

Christ, The Hiding Place

When troubles come; or days are long,

When illness strikes; or things go wrong,

When problems press; or foes I face.

I turn to Christ, my hiding place.

For He can ease the troubled heart

Or brighten days; make ills depart.

    He rights the wrongs and helps erase

                                 Our problems at the hiding place.

                                         For Christ, the Rock, is there for all,

                                              He listens to the sinner’s call.

                                                   And He will save those, by His grace.

                                                         Who seek Him at the hiding place.

by Esther Tank

Preach From A Deep Well

One thing more, and it is this. Let us, dear brethren, try to get saturated with the gospel. I always find that I can preach best when I can manage to lie a-soak in my text. I like to get a text, and find out its meaning and bearings, and so on; and then, after I have bathed in it, I delight to lie down in it, and let it soak into me. It softens me, or hardens me, or does whatever it ought to do to me, and then I can talk about it. You need not be very particular about the words and phrases if the spirit of the text has filled you; thoughts will leap out, and find raiment for themselves. Become saturated with spices, and you will smell of them; a sweet perfume will distill from you, and spread itself in every direction; — we call it unction. Do you not love to listen to a brother who abides in fellowship with the Lord Jesus? Even a few minutes with such a man is refreshing, for, like his Master, his paths drop fatness. Dwell in the truth, and let the truth dwell in you. Be baptized into its spirit and influence, that you may impart thereof to others. If you do not believe the gospel, do not preach it, for you lack an essential qualification; but even if you do believe it, do not preach it until you have taken it up into yourself as the wick takes up the oil. So only can you be a burning and a shining light.

-Charles Spurgeon

http://theoldguys.org

You Are My Hiding Place

Do Miracles Happen...

Circling The Drain

So mighty is the ever-rushing torrent of sin, that no arm but that which is as strong as Deity can ever stop the sinner from being hurried down to the gulf of black despair, and, when nearing that gulf, so impetuous is the torrent of divine wrath, that nothing can snatch the soul from eternal hell but an atonement which is as divine as God himself. Yet faith is the instrument of
accomplishing the whole work. It delivers the sinner from the stream of sin, and so, laying hold upon the omnipotence of the Spirit, it rescues him from that great whirlpool of destruction into which his soul was being hurried.

–Charles Spurgeon

http://www.apuritanatheart.com/

A Tough Lesson to Learn

He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman.  Shall we accept good from God and not trouble."  In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.  (Job 2:10)

Our times of adversity are also in God’s hand. As every sunbeam that brightens, so every cloud that darkens, comes from God. We are subject to great and sudden reverses in our earthly condition. Joy is often followed by grief; prosperity is often followed by adversity. We are on the pinnacle today; tomorrow at its bottom. Oh! What a change may one event and one moment create! But, beloved, ALL is from the Lord!

--Winslow

Foolish or Wise

At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. (Matt 25:1)

Until the Bridegroom comes there will always be some in the visible Church who have grace—and some who have no grace. Some will have nothing but the name of Christian—others will have the reality. Some will have the profession of religion—others will have the possession also. Some will be content to belong to the church—others will never be content unless they also belong to Christ. Some will be satisfied if they have only the baptism of water—others will never be satisfied unless they also feel within the baptism of the Spirit. Some will stop short in the form of Christianity—others will never rest unless they have also the substance.

The visible Church of Christ is made up of these two classes. There always have been such; there always will be such until the end. Gracious and graceless, wise and foolish, make up the whole Church of Christ. You are all written down in this parable yourselves. You are all either wise virgins—or foolish . You have the oil of grace—or you have none. You are all either members of Christ—or not. You are all either traveling towards heaven—or towards hell.

~ J.C. Ryle

http://jcrylequotes.com

Bethlehemian Rhapsody - Monday Morning Chuckles

Be Gentle With The Immature...

...but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. (I Thess 1:7)

Let us settle it in our minds, that grace must have a beginning in every believer’s heart, and that we have no right to say a person has no grace, because it does not come to full ripeness at once. We do not expect a child to do the work of a full-grown man, though he may one day, if he lives long enough. We mast not expect a learner of Christianity to show the faith, and love, and knowledge of an old soldier of the cross. He may become by and bye a mighty champion of the truth. But at first we must give him time. There is great need of wisdom in dealing with young people about religion, and, generally speaking, with all young disciples.

Kindness, and patience, and gentleness, are of the first importance. We must not try to pour in the new wine too quickly, or it will run over. We must take them by the hand and lead them on gently. We must beware of frightening, or hurrying them, or pressing them on too fast. If they have only got hold of the main principles of the Gospel, let us not set them down as godless, because of a few lesser matters. We must bear with much weakness and infirmity, and not expect to find old heads on young shoulders, or ripe Christian experience in those who are only babes.

~ J.C. Ryle

http://jcrylequotes.com

Not Just A Hearer...

"Christ as a Gift nourishes your faith and makes you a Christian; but Christ as an Example exercises your works. These do not make you a Christian but are performed by you, who have previously been made a Christian.  Christ is set before us and given to us as an example and pattern which we are to follow.  For when we possess Christ through faith as a free gift, we should go on and do as He has done for us
 and imitate Him in our entire life and sufferings."

-Martin Luther

A Walking Sermon

The world knows little of Christ, beyond what it sees of Him in His people. Oh, what plain clearly written epistles they ought to be! A holy believer is a walking sermon. He preaches far more than a minister does, for he preaches all the week round. Such a one does good indeed by his life, and after death what great broad evidences he leaves behind him! We carry him to the grave without one unpleasant doubt! Oh, the value and the power of a growing Christian! The Lord make you and me such!

~ J.C. Ryle

http://jcrylequotes.com

Labor Is Rest, Pain Is Sweet

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Ps 23:4)



How can suffering be consistent with happiness? Perfectly well. Many centuries ago, is was remarked by St. Chrysostom, "The Christian has his sorrows as well as his joys: But his sorrow is sweeter than joy." He may accidentally suffer loss, poverty, pain: But in all these things he is more than conqueror. He can testify,

Labor is rest, and pain is sweet,
while thou, my God, art here.

He can say, "The Lord gave: the Lord taketh away: Blessed be the name of the Lord!" He must suffer, more or less, reproach: "For the servant is not above his Master:" But so much so the more does "the Spirit of glory and of God rest upon him." Yea, love itself will, on several occasions, be the source of suffering.

-John Wesley "The Writings of John Wesley"

Christ-Our Holiness

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (I Pet 1:15-16

Would you be holy? Would you become a new creature? Then begin with Christ! You will do nothing, until you feel your sin and weakness—and flee to Him! He is the beginning of all holiness. He is not only wisdom and righteousness to His people—but sanctification also. People sometimes try to make themselves holy first—and sad work they make of it! They toil, labor, and turn over many new leaves, and make many changes—and yet they feel nothing bettered, but rather worse. They run in vain and labor in vain! Little wonder, for they are beginning at the wrong end! They are building up a wall of sand; their work runs down as fast as they throw it up. They are baling water out of a leaky vessel. The leak gains on them, not they on the leak. Other foundation of holiness, can no person lay, than that which Paul laid, even Christ Jesus. Without Christ, we can do nothing.

-J.C. Ryle

http://jcrylequotes.com

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

Enter His Gates With Thanksgiving

Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth! Worship the LORD with gladness.

Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He

made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give

thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good. His

unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness

continues to each generation. –Psalm 100 NLT

Take A Moment To Enjoy The Splendor Of God's Creation

For since the creation of the world 

God's invisible qualities

his eternal power and divine nature

have been clearly seen, 

being understood from what has been made, 

so that men are without excuse.  

Rom 1:20

There is Joy in the Labor

It must also be allowed, that as the love of God naturally leads to works of piety, so the love of our neighbor naturally leads all that feel it to works of mercy. It inclines us to feed the hungry; to clothe the naked; to visit them that are sick or in prison; to be as eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame; a husband to the widow, a father to the fatherless.

But can you suppose, that the doing of this will prevent or lessen your happiness? Yea, though you did so much, as to be like a guardian angel to all that are round about you? On the contrary, it is an infallible truth,

All worldly joys are less Than that one joy of doing kindnesses.

-John Wesley "The Writings of John Wesley"

I Give Thee Thanks

I am the Lord and there is no other.

"Of what value is an idol,

since a man has carved it?

Or an image that teaches lies?

For he who makes it trusts in his own creation;

he makes idols that cannot speak.

Woe to him who says to wood, 'Come to life!'

Or to lifeless stone, 'Wake up!'

Can it give guidance?

It is covered with gold and silver;

there is no breath in it.

But the LORD is in his holy temple;

let all the earth be silent before him."

Habakkuk 2:18-20

What is Religion?

Religion is the love of God and our neighbor; that is, every person under the heaven.  This love ruling the whole life, animating all our tempers and passions, directing all our thoughts, words, and actions, is "pure religion and undefiled."

Now, will anyone be so hardy as to say, that love is misery?  Is it misery to love God? to give Him my heart who alone is worthy of it?  Nay, it is the truest happiness; indeed, the only true happiness which is to be found under the sun.  So does all experience prove that justness of that reflection which was made long ago,

"Thou hast made us for thyself; and our heart cannot rest, until it resteth in thee."

Or does anyone imagine, the love of our neighbor is misery; even the loving every person as our own soul?  So far from it, that, nest to the love of God, this affords the greatest happiness of which we are capable.

-John Wesley "The Writings of John Wesley"

Increase Our Faith

Do you desire to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ? Would you bring forth much fruit? Would you be eminently holy and useful? Would you be bright, and shine as a light in your day? Would you, like Moses, make it clear as noonday that you have chosen God before the world? I dare be sure that every believer will reply, “Yes! yes! yes! these are the things we long for and desire.”

Then take the advice I give you this day: go and cry to the Lord Jesus Christ, as the disciples did, “Lord, increase our faith.” Faith is the root of a real Christian’s character. Let your root be right, and your fruit will soon abound. Your spiritual prosperity will always be according to your faith. He that believeth shall not only be saved, but shall never thirst, shall overcome, shall be established, shall walk firmly on the waters of this world, and shall do great works.

~ J.C. Ryle

http://jcrylequotes.com

So That We Are Without Excuse...

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (Rom 1:20)

Bright, however, as is the manifestation which God gives both of himself and his immortal kingdom in the mirror of his works, so great is our stupidity, so dull are we in regard to these bright manifestations, that we derive no benefit from them.

For in regard to the fabric and admirable arrangement of the universe, how few of us are there who, in lifting our eyes to the heavens, or looking abroad on the various regions of the earth, ever think of the Creator? Do we not rather overlook Him, and sluggishly content ourselves with a view of his works?

-John Calvin "Institutes"

Do You Not Know...

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? (I Cor 6:19)

While His perfections are thus most vividly displayed, the only means of ascertaining their practical operation and tendency is to descend into ourselves, and consider how it is that the Lord their manifests His wisdom, power, and energy,--how He their displays His justice, goodness, and mercy. John Calvin "Institutes"

How great are you works, O Lord, how profound your thoughts! The senseless man does not know, fools do not understand. (Ps 92:5-6)

The Lord Is Manifested By His Perfections

But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: (Rom 10:8)

When we feel their power within us, and are conscious of their benefits, the knowledge must impress us much more vividly than if we merely imagined a God whose presence we never felt. Hence it is obvious that, in seeking God, the most direct path and the fittest method is, not to attempt with presumptuous curiosity to pry into his essence, which is rather to be adored than minutely discussed, but to contemplate Him in his works, by which he draws near, becomes familiar, and in a manner communicates himself to us.

-John Calvin "Institutes"

What You Didn't Know About Amazing Grace

God's Needed Grace

It is the conviction that there is nothing in us or done by us at any stage of our earthly development because of which we are acceptable to God.  We must always be accepted for Christ’s sake or we cannot ever be accepted at all.  This is not true of us only “when we believe,” it is just as true after we have believed.  It will continue to be true as long as we live.  Our need of Christ does not cease with our believing nor does the nature of our relation to Him or to God through Him ever alter no matter what our attainments in Christian graces or our achievements in Christian behavior may be.


-B.B. Warfield

http://theoldguys.org

Seek Holiness In Christ Alone

Would you be holy? Would you become a new creature? Then begin with Christ! You will do nothing, until you feel your sin and weakness—and flee to Him! He is the beginning of all holiness. He is not only wisdom and righteousness to His people—but sanctification also. People sometimes try to make themselves holy first—and sad work they make of it! They toil, labor, and turn over many new leaves, and make many changes—and yet they feel nothing bettered, but rather worse. They run in vain and labor in vain! Little wonder, for they are beginning at the wrong end! They are building up a wall of sand; their work runs down as fast as they throw it up. They are baling water out of a leaky vessel. The leak gains on them, not they on the leak. Other foundation of holiness, can no person lay, t han that which Paul laid, even Christ Jesus. Without Christ, we can do nothing.

~ J.C. Ryle

http://jcrylequotes.com

To The One Who Hides Their Life In Christ.

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  Matt 25:34

And "the dead, small and great, stand before God, and are judged, every one according to his works." Then Shall the King say to them on his right hand," (God grant he may say to you!) "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."  And the angels shall tune their harps and sing, "Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, that the heirs of glory may come in."  And  then shall they "shine as the brightness of the firmament, and as the stars for ever and ever."

-John Wesley, "The Writings of John Wesley"