"The person who would do great things well

must practice daily on little ones;

and she who would have the assistance of the Almighty in important acts,

must be hourly accustomed to consult His will in the minor affairs of life."

~ Emily Judson ~

(pen-name, Fanny Forester)

"May we never take a dry-eyed look at sin,

lest ere long we have a tongue parched in the flames of hell."

-- Charles Spurgeon --

~Brittany

For Those Tears I Died ~ Acapella

Tayte wanted to sing this song with Breanna and I this evening.  It's a neat song, and one we used to sing and listen to quite a bit with some very dear Amish friends of ours.  So, because of our past experience, my opinion is that there is no better way than acapella on this one!  The only thing I would change about this recording would be to turn up the base. :-) I hope you enjoy it.
~Brittany

~Brittany

This day I may be exposed to great peril,

let me have the serpent’s wisdom to keep out of it and avoid it.

The wings of a dove may be of more use to me to-day

than the jaws of a lion.

It is true I may be an apparent loser by declining evil company,

but I had better leave my cloak than lose my character;

it is not needful that I should be rich,

but it is imperative upon me to be pure.

No ties of friendship, no chains of beauty,

no flashings of talent, no shafts of ridicule

must turn me from the wise resolve to flee from sin.

The devil I am to resist and he will flee from me,

but the lusts of the flesh, I must flee, or they will surely overcome me.

O God of holiness preserve thy Josephs,

that Madam Bubble bewitch them not with her vile suggestions.

May the horrible trinity of the world, the flesh, and the devil,

never overcome us!

- Charles Spurgeon -

-taken from Charles Spurgeon's Morning Meditation for July 25th

~Brittany

A thought to ponder...

~Breanna

Randomness :-)

Yesterday Brittany and I went to Lane Southern Orchard to pick up our peaches to can this year.  Two years ago, we had a semi load shipped to Ohio.  How neat it was to actually meet Duke Lane that I worked with two summers ago to get the load up there and to see their operation and facility. 

True education . . . :-)  Titus, actually none of the younger children have ever been to Krispy Kremes and gotten to watch a doughnut being made.  (See how our younger children are missing out Jenese without your family's imput into our daily lives)  :-)   I needed to drop off and then pick up the next day a radiator for Seth, so I sought to make the most of the time with Titus one day and treated him to his first experience of watching the doughnut making process and his first HOT and NOW.  He thought it was great!  Such fun with such a precious little guy!

 The girls and I have been having such fun as we are putting some of our touches into the kitchen and dining room.  I present . . . our kitchen sink area. 

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed,

because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning:

great is thy faithfulness.

The Lord is my portion, saith my soul;

therefore will I hope in him.

The Lord is good unto them that wait for him,

to the soul that seeketh him.

It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait

for the salvation of the Lord.

It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth."

~ Lamentations 3:22-27 ~

"How much strength each man hath is best proved

by occasions of adversity:

for such occasions do not make a man frail,

but show of what temper he is."

- Thomas a' Kempis -

"He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow,

but labors joyfully and with a great heart.

"For he giveth His beloved, as in sleep."

They must work and watch,

yet never be careful or anxious,

but commit all to Him,

and live in serene tranquility;

and with a quiet heart,

as one who sleeps safely and quietly."

- Martin Luther -

~Brittany

How are you doing in the fire?

Excellent exhortation by Brother Chris Pappas, pastor of Collins Road Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, on trials. Lessons from the book of Daniel chapter 3:19.

Daniel 3:19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.

Is your faith being tested in the furnace?? Be encouraged to stand firm as you listen to this message.

What is your banner?

By sundry miracles, by divers mercies, by strange deliverances,

Jehovah had proved Himself to be worthy of Israel's trust.

Yet they broke down the hedges

with which God had enclosed them

as a sacred garden;

they forsook their own true and living God,

and followed after false gods.

O true believer,

called by grace and washed

in the precious blood of Jesus,

thou hast tasted of better drink

than the muddy river of this world's pleasure

can give thee;

thou hast had fellowship with Christ;

thou hast obtained the joy of seeing Jesus,

and leaning thine head upon His bosom.

Do the trifles, the songs, the honors, the merriment

of this earth content thee after that?

Good Rutherford once said,

"I have tasted of Christ's own manna,

and it hath put my mouth out of taste

for the brown bread of this world's joys."

Methinks it should be so with thee.

The waters of Sihor may be sweet to the Egyptians,

but they will prove only bitterness to thee.

- Charles Spurgeon -

~Brittany

In their Christian graces

no one virtue should usurp the sphere of another,

or eat out the vitals of the rest for its own support.

Affection must not smother honesty,

courage must not elbow weakness out of the field,

modesty must not jostle energy,

and patience must not slaughter resolution.

So also with our duties,

one must not interfere with another;

public usefulness must not injure private piety;

church work must not push family worship into a corner.

It is ill to offer God one duty

stained with the blood of another.

Each thing is beautiful in its season, but not otherwise.

-Charles Spurgeon-

~Brittany

Each thing is beautiful in its season,

but not otherwise.

We must take care to know our place,

take it, and keep it.

We must minister as the Spirit has given us ability.

Our Lord Jesus taught us not to covet the high places.

Far from us be an envious, ambitious spirit,

let us feel the force of the Master's command,

and so as He bids us,

keeping rank with the rest of the host.

-Charles Spurgeon-

-Evening Meditation for July 18th

~Brittany

Speak, O Lord

We had never heard this hymn before.  Love it!  David Wesley is a new favorite singer around here as well!  Love the accapella!!  Hope you enjoy as much as we are.  :-)

Lyrics

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of your holy word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfil in us
All Your purposes, for Your glory.
Teach us Lord full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility.
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise
Cause our eyes to see,
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of power that can never fail;
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.
Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us.
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time,
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises;
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, 'til your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

- See more at: http://www.stuarttownend.co.uk/song/speak-o-lord/#sthash.ql9x692E.dpuf

Lyrics

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of your holy word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfil in us
All Your purposes, for Your glory.
Teach us Lord full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility.
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise
Cause our eyes to see,
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of power that can never fail;
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.
Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us.
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time,
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises;
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, 'til your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

- See more at: http://www.stuarttownend.co.uk/song/speak-o-lord/#sthash.ql9x692E.dpuf

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You

To receive the food of your holy word.

Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;

Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,

That the light of Christ might be seen today

In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.

Speak, O Lord, and fulfil in us

All Your purposes, for Your glory.

Teach us Lord full obedience,

Holy reverence, true humility.

Test our thoughts and our attitudes

In the radiance of Your purity.

Cause our faith to rise

Cause our eyes to see,

Your majestic love and authority.

Words of power that can never fail;

Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;

Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us.

Truths unchanged from the dawn of time,

That will echo down through eternity.

And by grace we'll stand on Your promises;

And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.

Speak, O Lord, 'til your church is built

And the earth is filled with Your glory.

Lyrics

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of your holy word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfil in us
All Your purposes, for Your glory.
Teach us Lord full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility.
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise
Cause our eyes to see,
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of power that can never fail;
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.
Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us.
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time,
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises;
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, 'til your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

- See more at: http://www.stuarttownend.co.uk/song/speak-o-lord/#sthash.ql9x692E.dpuf

Lyrics

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of your holy word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfil in us
All Your purposes, for Your glory.
Teach us Lord full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility.
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise
Cause our eyes to see,
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of power that can never fail;
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.
Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us.
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time,
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises;
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, 'til your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

- See more at: http://www.stuarttownend.co.uk/song/speak-o-lord/#sthash.ql9x692E.dpuf

Lyrics

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of your holy word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfil in us
All Your purposes, for Your glory.
Teach us Lord full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility.
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise
Cause our eyes to see,
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of power that can never fail;
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.
Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us.
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time,
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises;
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, 'til your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

- See more at: http://www.stuarttownend.co.uk/song/speak-o-lord/#sthash.ql9x692E.dpuf

Purging the Dross

“Let not one of them escape.”  - 1Kings 18:40
When the prophet Elijah had received the answer to his prayer, and the fire from heaven had consumed the sacrifice in the presence of all the people, he called upon the assembled Israelites to take the priests of Baal, and sternly cried, “Let not one of them escape.” He took them all down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. So must it be with our sins-they are all doomed, not one must be preserved. Our darling sin must die. Spare it not for its much crying. Strike, though it be as dear as an Isaac. Strike, for God struck at sin when it was laid upon his own Son. With stern unflinching purpose must you condemn to death that sin which was once the idol of your heart. Do you ask how you are to accomplish this? Jesus will be your power. You have grace to overcome sin given you in the covenant of grace; you have strength to win the victory in the crusade against inward lusts, because Christ Jesus has promised to be with you even unto the end. If you would triumph over darkness, set yourself in the presence of the Sun of Righteousness. There is no place so well adapted for the discovery of sin, and recovery from its power and guilt, as the immediate presence of God. Job never knew how to get rid of sin half so well as he did when his eye of faith rested upon God, and then he abhorred himself, and repented in dust and ashes. The fine gold of the Christian is oft becoming dim. We need the sacred fire to consume the dross. Let us fly to our God, he is a consuming fire; he will not consume our spirit, but our sins. Let the goodness of God excite us to a sacred jealousy, and to a holy revenge against those iniquities which are hateful in his sight. Go forth to battle with Amalek, in his strength, and utterly destroy the accursed crew: let not one of them escape.
- Charles Spurgeon's Evening Meditation for July 17th
~Brittany

~Brittany

"He gives the very best

to those who leave the choice with Him."

- Selected -

~Brittany

Prayer and Secret Devotion

Keep the altar of private prayer burning.

This is the very life of all piety.
The sanctuary and family altars borrow their fires here,
therefore let this burn well.
Secret devotion is the very essence, evidence, and barometer,
of vital and experimental religion.
For if this fire should be smothered beneath the ashes of a worldly conformity,
it will dim the fire on the family altar, and lessen our influence
both in the Church and in the world.
Let us use texts of Scripture as fuel for our heart’s fire,
they are live coals; let us attend sermons, but above all,
let us be much alone with Jesus.

- Charles Spurgeon -

~Brittany

Body Parts Required- A "Good Life" Can't Share the Gospel

I was very blessed and challenged by this exhortation from one of my favorite blog writers, Matthew Jacobson.  "To be a faithful Christian requires telling people about the Gospel. It's not enough to live a good life." I hope it's a blessing and challenge to some of you as well!

~Breanna

As children, we learn early in life . . .

Don’t stand out
Blend in with the crowd
Don’t make a stir
Do what everybody else does
Don’t be different

At some point, we experience the truth of the old Japanese proverb:

 

 “The nail that sticks up will be hammered down”

Who likes being hammered? So we conform, keep our heads down, and carry on.

Except for the woman ringing up my purchases at Target.  I guessed she was about 47, which made her unkempt royal blue and pale pink hair, with a few brown patches that had been missed, stand out all the more.

Why would she do that? Now, beauty is in the eye of the beholder but, I seriously doubt she looked in the mirror after the dye-job and said, It’s so beautiful!

She was more like a nail, sticking up. You have problem with that? Too bad for you. I did it to send a message: I don’t care what you think. 

When it comes to who we are and what we are doing in the world, most Christians could use a little pink and blue die in their hair (not the snark, just the spine) and should stop worrying about Japanese proverbs.

We care too much about what others will think.

We forget who we are.
We forget why we’re here.

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light . . . 1 Peter 2:9

If you are a true follower/disciple of Jesus, you have been enlightened in this dark and perverse generation. But being called “into his marvelous light” has a purpose far beyond an inner, personal glow.

Oh, I understand . . . I’m supposed to “show his praises” like lifestyle evangelism . . . I don’t have to say anything, just be a good Christian so maybe people will notice Jesus in me . . .

Followers of Jesus are called to live an exemplary life but that’s not enough. A good life cannot share the Gospel. We are called to be nails that stick up, too.

The popular adage attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words, has a grain of truth in it (don’t be a hypocrite) like many unbiblical ideas.

It is impossible to be obedient to the Word and to avoid telling people the good news of the Gospel when God gives opportunity. Relying on “lifestyle evangelism” impedes the spread of the Gospel. Lifestyle evangelism is an excuse to avoid the reproach that comes from speaking the Truth of God’s Word into the darkness of this world.

 

Christians are called to open their mouths about the Gospel. The Apostle Paul didn’t sit in his tent-making booth hoping people would notice his exemplary life and strike up a conversation about Jesus dying on the cross for their sins. As God called him and gave him opportunity, he spoke, telling people that God’s wrath was satisfied in the death of Jesus Christ and His gift of life was now available to those lost in sin.

Romans 10:17 says, “ . . . faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”

No one is interested in hearing a message from someone who isn’t living it. Our lives must conform to the message of the Word but, the Word must be spoken.

1 Peter 2:9 says we are to “ . . . show forth the praises of him who has called us . . .”

What does that phrase actually mean? Just let people see our life, and how it praises God?

No. Body parts are required, the mouth, for instance. The definition of this phrase has a lot more to do with blue hair and nails sticking up than engendering chance interest in some observer of our lives.

The definition of  “show forth” is:
a) to tell out or forth
b) to declare abroad, divulge, publish
c) to make known by praising or proclaiming, to celebrate

 

Brothers & Sisters, we’ve got some showing forth to do. Everyone of has a story. Everyone of us has been radically saved . . . we’ve passed from darkness to light . . . and the God Who did that awesome work wants us to tell others how awesome He is . . . to show forth His praise.

Maybe you’ll be the one who plants the seed of the Gospel in a dry, broken place in someone’s heart.

Maybe you’ll be the one who waters a Gospel seed planted by someone else. Maybe you’ll be the nail that gets hammered . . . remember Stephen?

God is calling us to obedience. The results are up to Him. Are we willing to seek only His approval?
~Matthew L. Jacobson

~Brittany

"Patience is the fair handmaid and daughter of faith; we cheerfully wait when we are certain that we shall not wait in vain. It is our duty and our privilege to wait upon the Lord in service, in worship, in expectancy, in trust all the days of our life. Our faith will be tried faith, and if it be of the true kind, it will bear continued trial without yielding. We shall not grow weary of waiting upon God if we remember how long and how graciously He once waited for us."

- Charles Spurgeon -

~Brittany

Encouragement ~ Praying for Your Future Spouse

“Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart.  And this I pray, that your love may about yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”  - Philippians 1:2-7a,9-11

Even though I very much look forward to when the Lord brings the special man He has created me to be a helpmeet to into my life, I sometimes struggle with discouragement as to when and how the Lord will bring him.  Sometimes it's hard for me to pray for him, partially because I don't know who he is or what he needs.  This, I know, sadly stems from a lack of faith.  The Lord is so good and gracious though.  I know that I should pray for my future husband.  I should do him good all the days of my life.  So even though I don't know him yet, I can still be helping him by being a prayer warrior for him.  The Lord has given me many reminders lately about faith and patience, and about being the woman He wants me to be so that I can truly best serve Him with my life.  That will help me someday to be a better wife.  (Marriage is not a goal in life, but rather a means by which the Lord chooses for His children to serve and glorify Himself.)

A few days ago I asked some family friends if they would be willing to share Scripture passages or other spiritual thoughts that are encouragements to be faithful in praying for one's future spouse.  One friend shared part of the above passage, which I was very blessed by.  It was very much an encouragement to me as to how I can pray for my future husband.  I decided to start compiling Scripture passages that I can turn into prayers for my future husband.  This was the first to go in that document.  Also, I put a small part of this passage in a picture, kind of as a substitute of that special man, as a reminder to be faithful in praying, and in patiently waiting and keeping my heart.

 I know this may seem somewhat silly to think, or worry about, or even share.  But I wanted to share it, because I know I'm not the only young person in the world dealing with these things.  I am hopeful that it will be a blessing and encouragement to others of you.  May the Lord help us all to press on to know and love Him more, and to serve Him with our whole hearts.  And may He also help us to be faithful in praying for our future spouses, as they need His grace and strength right now, and it will help us all to serve Him better in the future.

~Brittany

Virtue - Measured by Conduct

“The virtue of a man ought to be measured,

not by his extraordinary exertions,

but by his everyday conduct.”
- Blaise Pascal -

~Brittany

He Who Began a Good Work Will Be Faithful to Complete It

A dear family friend shared this song with me today and I was so blessed by it!  I have heard the chorus many times, but had never heard the verse in-between.  A very comforting promise.  I hope this is a blessing and encouragement to you all as it was to me.
~Brittany

A friend took this picture and added the verse.  It really blessed me, and I hope it is a blessing to some of you as well.  It is such a comforting promise.
(Picture credit to Joy Lancaster.)
~Brittany

We Glory...Because the Love of God

“…We glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

and patience, experience; and experience, hope:

and hope maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts...”

Romans 5:3b,4,5a

Tribulation

pressure (literally or figuratively): - afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.

Patience

cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: - enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).

Experience

test (abstractly or concretely); by implication trustiness: - experience (-riment), proof, trial.

Hope

(to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstract or concrete) or confidence: - faith, hope.

We read this passage during our family devotions this morning.  I was blessed and encouraged as I did a little studying of it during my personal devotions.  If we will submit ourselves to the Lord, and to His will, then He can use tribulations in our lives to strengthen and build our trust and confidence in Him, to increase our love for Him as we see His love for us, and it can make us stronger and better able to serve the Lord and be a blessing and encouragement to others.  If we don't submit ourselves to trusting the Lord, we can become distracted and discouraged, and even bitter and angry.  This will only lead us away from the Lord, and down a path certainly not leading to victory and joy in Christ.  May we put our confidence in the Captain of our salvation and may He do His glorious work in our lives to exalt His name and fulfill His purposes!

~Brittany

"Every man must decide if he will be a man of honor or a man of pleasure."
-- Caleb Romanowitz --

“Biblical orthodoxy without compassion is surely the ugliest thing in the world.”
-- Francis Schaeffer --

~Brittany

"Peace lies in the trusting acceptance of
His design, His gifts, His appointment of place, position, capacity.

It was thus that the Son of Man came to earth--embracing
all that the Father willed Him to be,

usurping nothing--no work, not even a word--that
the Father had not given Him."
~ Elisabeth Elliot ~

"Children of the jungle tribe I knew years ago did not complain
because they had not been taught to."

~ Elisabeth Elliot ~

"Lord, we give You thanks for all that You in Your mercy have given us
to be and to do and to have.
Deliver us, Lord, from all greed to be and to do and to have anything
not in accord with Your holy purposes.
Teach us to rest quietly in Your promise to supply,
recognizing that if we don't have it we don't need it.
Teach us to desire Your will--nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else.
For Jesus' sake.  Amen."

~ Elisabeth Elliot ~

-taken from her book, Keep a Quiet Heart

~Brittany