Hope

My precious daughters sent this message of encouragement to me this morning.  How blessed I am!  I am so hopeful, as it was such an encouragement to me, that it might be also be to someone else out there.  ~Karen

Dealing with the Harder Things of Life ~ Faith, Hope, Trust, Purpose, Peace, and Joy

These are just a few things that I've read recently that have been an encouragement to me.  I hope they will be to some of you as well.

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered, according to the will of God.  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  We are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

Romans 8: 18, 24-26, 27b, 28, 31, 37b

 

“Today as I sit in my lonely room, this passage of God's Word flies in like a white dove through the window, "And now men see not the sun which is in the clouds; but the wind passes and clears them." Job 37:21. To my weak vision, dimmed with tears, the cloud is exceeding dark, but through it stream some rays from the infinite love which fills the Throne with an exceeding and eternal brightness of glory. By-and-by we may get above and behind that cloud—into the overwhelming light. We shall not need comfort then; but we do need it now. And for our present consolation, God lets through the clouds some clear, strong, distinct rays of love and gladness.

One truth which beams in through the vapors is this—God not only reigns, but He governs His world by a most beautiful law of compensations. He sets one thing over against another. Faith loves to study the illustrations of this law, notes them in her diary, and rears her pillars of praise for every fresh discovery. I have noticed that the deaf often have an unusual quickness of eyesight; the blind are often gifted with an increased capacity for hearing; and sometimes when the eye is darkened and the ear is closed, the sense of touch becomes so exquisite that we are able to converse with the sufferer through that sense alone.

This law explains why God put so many of His people under a sharp regimen of hardship and burden-bearing in order that they may be sinewed into strength; why a Joseph must be shut into a prison in order that he may be trained for a palace and for the premiership of the kingdom.”

Theodore Cuyler

"Those who dive into the sea of affliction, bring up rare pearls!"

Charles Spurgeon

"Afflictions tend to wean us from the world--and to fix our affections on things above."

John Angell James

 

Do you ever wonder what Paul’s thorn in his side was (2 Corinthians 12:8)?

I wonder all the time. Did he have this thorn before he was a believer? And, if so, how long had he had it? Or, did his thorn enter his life after it changed forever on the road to Damascus?

All I know is that Paul does not say what his thorn was. How mysterious of him!

I think we all have thorns that we’ve wished we could pray away. I know I’m guilty of it.

How many times I’ve come before the Lord and asked him why he’s allowed certain things to happen in my life.

While God is more than capable of erasing history, He doesn’t.  Why doesn’t He make exceptions…?

I think it’s because He calls us to be strong and courageous. (Joshua 1:9) He knows that we have His strength to handle whatever life throws our way, even if we don’t think we’re strong enough.

The Courage to Trust

We need to trust His strength, because God wouldn’t have allowed us to endure this pain otherwise. We can stand tall and be courageous…because it takes courage to trust.

While we may not have been given the ability to change our history and rid ourselves of our thorns, we have been given the power to embrace them…which is hard (I know).

It is possible to make lemonade out of those flying life-lemons.

It begins with the trusting choice of saying, “This will not defeat me.” Christ has already won the biggest battle of our lives (Romans 8:37), but the deceiver will do anything he can to convince us that we don’t have the strength to win the smaller ones.

But quite the opposite is true. God is in the business of making beautiful things . . . and every rose has its thorn.

~ Chels {Catz in the Kitchen}

http://club31women.com/

~Brittany

Sanctified Gladness ~ Songs of Praise

"It is always beneficial to praise the Lord;

 it cheers the day and brightens the night;

it lightens toil and softens sorrow;

and over earthly gladness it sheds a sanctifying radiance

which makes it less liable to blind us with its glare.

Have we not something to sing about at this moment?

Can we not weave a song out of our present joys,

or our past deliverances, or our future hopes?

By the love of Jesus, let us be stirred up

to close the day with a psalm of sanctified gladness."

-- Charles Spurgeon --

~Brittany

Hope Thou in God

"Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.  Why art thou cast down, oh my soul?  Hope thou in God for I shall yet praise Him."

~ Psalm 27:3; 42:5 ~

Take away faith, and in vain we call to God.  There is no other road betwixt our souls and Heaven.  Blockade that road and we cannot communicate with the Great King.  Faith links us with Divinity.

An outstanding minister said that one evening he found himself staggering along under a load that was heavy enough to crush half a dozen strong men.  Out of sheer exhaustion he put it down and took a good look at it.  He found that it was all borrowed.  Part of it belonged to the following day; part of it belonged to the following week, and here he was borrowing it that it might crush him now - a very stupid but a very ancient blunder.

Never yield to gloomy anticipations.  Who told you that the night would never end in day?  Who told you that the winter of your discontent should proceed from frost to frost, from snow and ice and hail to deeper snow?  Do you not know that day follows night, that flood comes after ebb, that spring and summer succeed winter?  Place your hope and confidence in God.  He has no record of failure."

- Mrs. Charles E. Cowman

- taken from Streams in the Desert, Volume 2, December 26th

~Brittany

Of trials, storms and hope...

Before the winds that blow do cease,
Teach me to dwell within Thy calm;
Before the pain has passed in peace,
Give me, my God, to sing a psalm;
Let me not lose the chance to prove
The fullness of enabling love.
~Amy Carmichael

Thou art the Lord who slept upon the pillow,

Thou art the Lord who soothed the furious sea,

What matter beating wind and tossing billow

If only we are in the boat with Thee?

Hold us in quiet through the age-long minute

While Thou art silent, and the wind is shrill:

Can the boat sink while Thou, dear Lord, art in it?

Can the heart faint that waiteth on Thy will?

~Amy Carmichael

Song: He Already Sees

~Breanna

The Christian's Hope ~ An Eternal Perspective

I was very blessed by reading this tonight, and hope that maybe it will encourage some of you as well.

The minor afflictions and major troubles of this life can mount up to seem like a wall of obstruction and discouragement on so many levels but nothing believers are called to deal with, face, endure is to be compared with what our Lord has planned for them who love Him.

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered
the heart of man what the Lord has prepared
for them that love Him.

1 Corinthians 2:9

If this life was all happiness, ease and triumph, we would come to love being here so well that we would forget this world is not our home and what’s more, is passing away. If we never faced hardship, this world would be to us the prison it is to so many . . . a gilded cell we would never want to leave.

But no, the longer we live and the more that challenges mount (physical or relational . . . persecution for some) the more clear the illusion of this world becomes so that we see on the horizon a future far brighter than any passing moment we experience here.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.

If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 John 2:15

The Christian’s hope is not in this life. I’m reminded just now of a few lines from an old hymn I love . . .

“My God, I Thank Thee” by Adelaide A. Proctor.

I thank Thee more that all our joy
Is touched with pain,
That shadows fall on brightest hours,
That thorns remain;
So that earth’s bliss may be our guide,
And not our chain.

An eternal perspective reminds us not to love the world.

- written by Matthew L. Jacobson, on his website: Matthew L. Jacobson, article entitled: A Question for Dr. Stephen Hawking: What Do You Hope For?

~Brittany

Patience Makes Perfect

"Possess your souls with patience.

Never complain.  Never murmur.

Never feel sorry for yourself."

- Brother Chris Pappas -

We were very blessed this past Lord's Day to make one of our semi-frequent visits to a church body we have come to love and appreciate very much.  Pastor Pappas's messages were such a blessing to our family that day, (as they always are!) and the fellowship was sweet and encouraging.  Towards the end of his message for second service he stated the above quote.  It really spoke to me as I feel the Lord has been teaching me much about patience (and many other things) over the past couple of years.  The Lord brought this message just when I needed it and I wrote it down in my journal so I wouldn't forget.  It brings to mind the following passages:

"And not only so, but 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

by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

~  Romans 5:3-5 ~

"But let patience have her perfect work,

that ye may be perfect and entire,

wanting nothing."

~ James 1:4 ~

Patience is such an important lesson to learn.  We must have hope and be patient.  The Lord is doing His perfect work.  We must just simply, quietly trust and wait on Him.  I hope this is a blessing to some of you as well.  May the Lord bless and guide the rest of your week.

~Brittany

After I had finished writing this, I was trying to decide what to title the post when the thought struck me - patience makes perfect (from the above verse).  We've all heard the saying "Practice makes perfect", but what a neat spiritual thought that "patience makes perfect!"  Wow!  The Lord is so good!  His Word is always fresh and bringing new encouragement! :-)

"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

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

If thou but suffer God to guide thee,

And hope in Him thro' all thy ways,

He'll give the strength, what-e'er betide thee,

And bear thee thro the evil days;

Who trust in God's unchanging love

Builds on the rock that naught can move.

Obey, thou restless, heart, be still

And wait in cheerful hope, content

To take what-e'er His gracious will,

His all discerning love, hath sent;

Nor doubt our inmost wants are known

To Him who chose us for His own.

Sing, pray, and swerve not from His ways;

But do thine own part faithfully.

Trust His rich promises of grace,

So shall they be fulfilled in thee.

God never yet forsook in need

The soul that trusted Him indeed. Amen

Georg Neumark (Catherine Winkworth, Translator)

Inter-Varsity Hymnal

~Brittany

~Brittany

~Brittany

The Blood of Jesus

"We are come to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel."—Hebrews 12:24.

Reader, have you come to the blood of sprinkling? The question is not whether you have come to a knowledge of doctrine, or an observance of ceremonies, or to a certain form of experience, but have you come to the blood of Jesus? The blood of Jesus is the life of all vital godliness. If you have truly come to Jesus, we know how you came—the Holy Spirit sweetly brought you there. You came to the blood of sprinkling with no merits of your own. Guilty, lost, and helpless, you came to take that blood, and that blood alone, as your everlasting hope. You came to the cross of Christ, with a trembling and an aching heart; and oh! what a precious sound it was to you to hear the voice of the blood of Jesus! The dropping of His blood is as the music of heaven to the penitent sons of earth. We are full of sin, but the Saviour bids us lift our eyes to Him, and as we gaze upon His streaming wounds, each drop of blood, as it falls, cries, "It is finished; I have made an end of sin; I have brought in everlasting righteousness." Oh! sweet language of the precious blood of Jesus! If you have come to that blood once, you will come to it constantly. Your life will be "Looking unto Jesus." Your whole conduct will be epitomized in this—"To whom coming." Not to whom I have come, but to whom I am always coming. If thou hast ever come to the blood of sprinkling, thou wilt feel thy need of coming to it every day. He who does not desire to wash in it every day, has never washed in it at all. The believer ever feels it to be his joy and privilege that there is still a fountain opened. Past experiences are doubtful food for Christians; a present coming to Christ alone can give us joy and comfort. This morning let us sprinkle our door-post fresh with blood, and then feast upon the Lamb, assured that the destroying angel must pass us by.
-Charles Spurgeon, Morning Meditation, April 17th
~Brittany

A Woman of Strength Has Faith

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."  James 1:2-4

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.   And not only so, but 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 by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."  Romans 5:1-5

 ~Brittany

His Grace is Sufficient

 

“My grace is sufficient for thee.”
- 2Corinthians 12:9

If none of God’s saints were poor and tried, we should not know half so well the consolations of divine grace. When we find the wanderer who has not where to lay his head, who yet can say, “Still will I trust in the Lord;” when we see the pauper starving on bread and water, who still glories in Jesus; when we see the bereaved widow overwhelmed in affliction, and yet having faith in Christ, oh! what honour it reflects on the gospel. God’s grace is illustrated and magnified in the poverty and trials of believers. Saints bear up under every discouragement, believing that all things work together for their good, and that out of apparent evils a real blessing shall ultimately spring-that their God will either work a deliverance for them speedily, or most assuredly support them in the trouble, as long as he is pleased to keep them in it. This patience of the saints proves the power of divine grace. There is a lighthouse out at sea: it is a calm night-I cannot tell whether the edifice is firm; the tempest must rage about it, and then I shall know whether it will stand. So with the Spirit’s work: if it were not on many occasions surrounded with tempestuous waters, we should not know that it was true and strong; if the winds did not blow upon it, we should not know how firm and secure it was. The master-works of God are those men who stand in the midst of difficulties, stedfast, unmoveable,-
“Calm mid the bewildering cry,
 Confident of victory.”
He who would glorify his God must set his account upon meeting with many trials. No man can be illustrious before the Lord unless his conflicts be many. If then, yours be a much-tried path, rejoice in it, because you will the better show forth the all-sufficient grace of God. As for his failing you, never dream of it-hate the thought. The God who has been sufficient until now, should be trusted to the end.
-Spurgeon Morning Devotional

~Posted By Breanna

Learning How to Talk (to Yourself)

  

by: Ryan Griffith

Do you talk to yourself?

I don’t mean when you’re wrestling through your taxes or walking through your to-do list. But do you talk yourself, really? When you are fearful, do you command your soul to trust in the Lord? When your affections are low, do you command your heart to bless the Lord? As Paul Tripp is fond of saying, “No one is more influential in your life than you are because no one talks to you more than you do.”

In the particularly difficult moments of the day, how do you talk to yourself? How do you specifically exhort yourself to hope in God?

Psalm 103 has been immensely helpful for me as a pattern for commanding my soul in seasons of low affection. The Psalm begins (Psalm 103:1–2) and ends (Psalm 103:20–22) with David’s exhortation to his own soul to bless the Lord.

When you’re talking to yourself, are you reminding yourself of what God has done for you in Christ Jesus? Do you have specific texts with which you exhort your soul? When the days are darkest, don’t let your soul take command. Summon your soul to bless the Lord. Find specific texts by which you can fight the fight of faith — perhaps some short ones like these: Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5–6; Isaiah 41:10) and long ones (Romans 8:26–39; John 10:7–18; Psalm 103.

“May the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” (Colossians 3:16).

Click here to read full and original article posted at Desiring God
 

Posted by Breanna

God's Plan for the Nations

I can not tell you how blessed I feel to be married to Seth!  I could share so many wonderful things that I admire about my husband.  He of course would tell me as he has MANY times how unworthy he would be of my praise but I assure you that is NOT how I nor the children see it.  I so appreciate my husbands leadership of our family.  This year he has taken over guiding Tayte's education.  Oh I can not tell you how wonderful that has been for all of us!  Boys need their dads!!!!  Seth has thoroughly been inspired by the task as well.  This year they have worked through a book by Stephen McDowell called God's Providential History.  Seth took the time to compile the high lights of their learning this year for ease of reference.  We hope that it will serve to bring you hope and Biblical guidance in these most turbulent days that we find our selves in and facing.  We are not defeated foes!  God's Word has the answers that we need.  We must be willing to search them out as for hidden treasure!    

Seth doing catechism with the little ones.  He prays, sings hymns, works on Bible memory and teaches them through the shorter catechism each morning. 

God’s Plan for the Nations

The Need For World Reformation (Romans 8:19,21)

God created man responsible to rule over His created earth (Genesis 1:28)

God has commissioned His followers to make disciples of the nations (Matthew 28:19)

Christians are to judge and govern the world (1 Corinthians 6:2)

The Lord taught us to pray “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9,10)

Origins of Liberty

God ordained Civil government to punish the evil doers and protect the innocent (1 Peter 2:13-14); (Romans 13:1,3,4)

God formed a republic with Biblical Civil Laws (Exodus 20)

Guidelines for Resistance to Tyranny

Protest and legal action (Mt. 27:14; Luke 13:31-32; Luke 10:11; Acts 13:51; Acts 16:37; Acts 24-26)

A time for flight (Mt. 10:23; Mt. 24:15-18; Acts 8:1-4)

A time for force in self-defence (Old Test Israel everywhere; Luke 22:36,38; Luke 22:49; Mt. 26:52;

Restoration of Biblical Church Government

A covenant commitment (Col 2:19; 3:14)

A plurality of elders (Acts 14:23; Tit. 1:5; 1 Tim. 3:1-5; Prov. 11:14)

Senior elders (Acts 12:17; 15:13,19; 21:18: Gal. 2:12)

Education

Colossians 2:8

Disciple the nations (Mt. 28:19-20)

Pastors and teachers to educate in Christian principles

God’s Defense of Christian Liberty

American Revolution

Many examples with Israel

Building a Christian Nation

God holds Christians responsible (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Christians must rebuild the foundations (Psalm 11:3; Rom. 10:14; 1 Tim. 3:15)

Christians must teach:

1)      Creation - God made the world

2)      Lordship - God is Lord of heaven and earth

3)      Providence – God Himself gives to all life and breath and all things… for in him we live and move and exist

4)      Sovereignty – God made… every nation… having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation

Acts17:24-28

Jesus Christ is the ruler of the earth (1 Tim. 6:16; Heb. 2:14)

Satan is a defeated foe (John 12:3; Col. 2:15)

Christians must provide and teach society to provide for the poor throught the tithe (Deut. 14:27-29)

As Christians commit themselves once again to being the salt of the earth, corruption shall subside, the righteous will be in authority, and the people will rejoice (Prov 29:2; 14:34)

Principles of Liberty

1) The Principle of Power and Form (the power which is internal precedes the form, which is external)

2) God’s principle of individuality

3) The Christian principle of self-government (1 Tim. 3:5)

4) The principle of Christian character (Rom. 8:29)

5) The principle of Christian union (the Church)

6) The principle of Christian education (we reap what we sew; Mark 4)

7) The principle of Christian economics, or of property (stewardship)

A Checklist For Reforming America

Personal and Family

( ) I will acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus in my life

( ) I will remember God and His Providential hand in history

( ) I purpose to implant the Principles of Liberty in my heart

( ) I purpose to be self-governed in the use of the property God has given me by tithing to my local church and supporting ministries and those in need as God directs.

( ) I will take responsibility in education my children in the Biblical principles of liberty, effectively communicating the vision to them.

Church

( ) I will continually receive instruction from my pastor on applying God’s Word to every aspect of life.

( ) I will support my church in fulfilling Christ’s command to make disciples of all the nations.

Education

( ) Since the education of my children is my responsibility, I will carefully choose who I delegate that responsibility to, and to what schools my children go.

( ) I will become aware of who is on the school board in my community and will work to replace those who do no act in accordance with Godly principles.

( ) I will work to educate my neighbor in Biblical principles.

( ) I will work to see that our public schools and universities begin operating on the Biblical base which was their foundation.

( ) I will work to establish a media with a biblical worldview

Civil Government

( ) I will take responsibility for choosing and instructing those who stand in my place in every area of civil government

( ) I will register to vote

( ) I will participate regularly in a political party on the local level

( ) I will keep informed on political issues affecting myself, my community, my state, and my nation 

Beauty in the Broken~Song

Someone had recently shared this song with me and I was very blessed by the truth in the lyrics of this song.  I hope you are blessed and encouraged by it as well!

 In light of the current crisis in our country, and the many fears of possible future events:

I would rather die with other like-minded Christians, than to be safe all by my self.

In the end, only those who's garments have been made white by Christ will be safe.  These are the ones who overcome the tribulations of this world.  (see Revelation 7:13-14)  So if Christ is our only source of true safety, we should make sure we are with other like-minded Christians.  Then we can be an encouragement to each other, ban together to stand up and fight for what is right, and be stronger to reach out and share our hope with those around us.    

Posted by: Brittany

Hope ~ Romans 5:2-5

In interesting word study from my personal reading this morning. :-)

“Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”  -Romans 5:2-5

This list of steps in the growth of our Christian walk is sandwiched with hope.

Hope is:

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

Anticipate:

To foretaste or foresee; to have a previous view or impression of something future.

Expectation:

The act of expecting or looking forward to a future event with at least some reason to believe the event will happen. Expectation differs from hope. Hope originates in desire,and may exist with little or no ground of belief that the desired event will arrive. Expectation is founded on some reasons which render the event probably. Hope is directed to some good; expectation is directed to good or evil.

Confidence:

A trusting, or reliance; an assurance of mind or firm belief in the integrity, stability or veracity of another, or in the truth and reality of a fact.

Safety, or assurance of safety; security.

Boldness; courage.

“Courage is fear that has said its prayers.”  -Michael Lederman

“Hope is a gift of God's grace, and is implanted in regeneration, but abounds, increases, and becomes more strong and lively by experience of the love, grace, mercy, power, and faithfulness of God.”  - John Gill’s Commentary