New Year

I came across the above in my great

 Grandma's remembrance book and

 thought it was a helpful reminder. 

Personally I seem to have mixed feelings

 about new years, so I'm very glad for this

 promise from Matthew 28. "lo, I am with

 you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen." "

No matter what happens in 2020, we don't 

face it alone. 

The Lord has promised to be with His 

people and His plans really are the best!

Some important truths to remember.

I was reminded of these verses at Church this morning.

We can trust the Lord. He is in control of all things.

Our lives and times are in His hands. 

He has promised many precious things in His Word and He will always be faithful!

Here's the link to the sermon. It's a good challenging one!

https://youtu.be/NjR21V_3JiM

I'm looking forward to that day!

A poem, a hymn, some verses and thoughts.

"I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek, more earnestly, His face.

‘Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust, has answered prayer!
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that in some favoured hour,
At once He’d answer my request;
And by His love’s constraining pow’r,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry pow’rs of hell
Assault my soul in every part.

Yea more, with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

Lord, why is this, I trembling cried,
Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?
“‘Tis in this way, the Lord replied,
I answer prayer for grace and faith.

These inward trials I employ,
From self, and pride, to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou may’st find thy all in Me.”

Written by John Newton

and I thought this hymn tied in quite well.

1. "Jesus, lover of my soul,
   Let me to Thy bosom fly,
   While the nearer waters roll,
   While the tempest still is high.
   Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
   Till the storm of life is past;
   Safe into the haven guide;
   Oh, receive my soul at last.
2. Other refuge have I none,
   Hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
   Leave, ah! leave me not alone,
   Still support and comfort me.
   All my trust on Thee is stayed,
   All my help from Thee I bring;
   Cover my defenseless head
   With the shadow of Thy wing.
3. Wilt Thou not regard my call?
   Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
   Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall—
   Lo! on Thee I cast my care.
   Reach me out Thy gracious hand!
   While I of Thy strength receive,
   Hoping against hope I stand,
   Dying, and behold, I live.
4. Thou, O Christ, art all I want,
   More than all in Thee I find;
   Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
   Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
   Just and holy is Thy Name,
   Source of all true righteousness;
   Thou art evermore the same,
   Thou art full of truth and grace.
5. Plenteous grace with Thee is found,
   Grace to cover all my sin;
   Let the healing streams abound;
   Make and keep me pure within.
   Thou of life the fountain art,
   Freely let me take of Thee;
   Spring Thou up within my heart;
   Rise to all eternity."
6. Written by Charles Wesley
7. 
   
8. Have we actually come to the place where we seek our all in Him? 
9. Where, as long as we have Him, we have everything we need?

As we enter 2018, let's seek the Lord more than we ever have before. 

His return is getting nearer. We must be ready!

Today's excerpt from Traveling toward Sunrise

"...To give unto them... the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness..." Isaiah 61:3

Thy feelings will ebb and flow, thy heart will grow warm in summer's glow, and cold in winter's chill, thou wilt be brave and steadfast today, downcast and anxious tomorrow. Thy streams will be full in the rainy season, and in the time of drought they will be bare beds of stone.
 Turn away from thyself! Hope in God! He fainteth not neither is weary.
 He is the unfailing fountain;
His affections do not decay; with Him is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. When thou are dismayed, He is still full of eternal peace. When thou art downcast, He is still untroubled.
It is impossible to keep cares from flocking in great swarms around us, but it is our fault if they are allowed to make nests in our hearts."

This really encouraged me. Hope it does the same for you too.

The ways of God

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV)

"As for God, His way is perfect..." Psalm 18:30

If you ever find yourself wondering why God allows something unexpected to happen, stop and remember these verses.

No, we're not necessarily going to understand it this side of heaven (and I think we might well have forgotten about it by the time we get there), but it is encouraging to remember that He is faithful and perfect.

Another quote on the subject from "The End of a Coil" by Susan Warner,
"His ways are wonderful and past finding out." 

Are you thirsty?

"And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts." Revelation 21:6

"And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." Revelation 22:17

"For I will pour water on him who is thirsty,
And floods on the dry ground;
I will pour My Spirit on your descendants,
And My blessing on your offspring;" Isaiah 44:3

"but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14

"On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:37-38

As I read through these verses, I noticed 3 things:

1) Those who are thirsty are promised the water of life.

2) Those who are thirsty must come and drink.

3) Those who are thirsty are invited to drink freely.

How thirsty are you?

Snow days!

Well, today is my second day not at work due to the snowy conditions! My car was stuck in snow twice yesterday!!! I was slipping around all over the place and it wasn't much fun! I was very glad people were so willing to help rescue me so I could get back to a nice warm house! Whilst it looks very pretty, it was a bitterly cold wind, causing some quite big drifts.
Keep safe, take care out there!

"“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool." Isaiah 1:18 NKJV

Yesterday's evening by evening by Spurgeon and Rejoice Again!

It ties in very nicely with some of the themes at Barn Camp so I thought I'd share it with you.

Conscious of their own natural defencelessness, the conies resort to burrows in the rocks, and are secure from their enemies. My heart, be willing to gather a lesson from these feeble folk. Thou art as weak and as exposed to peril as the timid cony, be as wise to seek a shelter. My best security is within the munitions of an immutable Jehovah, where his unalterable promises stand like giant walls of rock. It will be well with thee, my heart, if thou canst always hide thyself in the bulwarks of his glorious attributes, all of which are guarantees of safety for those who put their trust in him. Blessed be the name of the Lord, I have so done, and have found myself like David in Adullam, safe from the cruelty of my enemy; I have not now to find out the blessedness of the man who puts his trust in the Lord, for long ago, when Satan and my sins pursued me, I fled to the cleft of the rock Christ Jesus, and in his riven side I found a delightful resting-place. My heart, run to him anew to-night, whatever thy present grief may be; Jesus feels for thee; Jesus consoles thee; Jesus will help thee. No monarch in his impregnable fortress is more secure than the cony in his rocky burrow. The master of ten thousand chariots is not one whit better protected than the little dweller in the mountain’s cleft. In Jesus the weak are strong, and the defenceless safe; they could not be more strong if they were giants, or more safe if they were in heaven. Faith gives to men on earth the protection of the God of heaven. More they cannot need, and need not wish. The conies cannot build a castle, but they avail themselves of what is there already: I cannot make myself a refuge, but Jesus has provided it, his Father has given it, his Spirit has revealed it, and lo, again to-night I enter it, and am safe from every foe. Spurgeon

"This also comes from the LORD of hosts,
Who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance. " Isaiah 28:29

And here's today's J.C. Ryle quote which also ties in very much with Barn Camp!

Your trials may be many and great. Your cross may be very heavy. But the business of your soul is all conducted according to an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure. All things are working together for your good. Your sorrows are only purifying your soul for glory; your bereavements are only fashioning you as a polished stone for the temple above, made without hands. From whatever quarter the storms blow, they only drive you nearer to heaven! Whatever weather you may go through it is only ripening you for the garner of God. Your best things are quite safe. ~ J.C. Ryle

Rejoice!

Well, I was reminded at Barn Camp that we can and should rejoice all the time and there are so many reasons to rejoice about! Look at Psalm 103 for some of them! God is so good. God never promised us an easy road (I know we wish He had sometimes, but He didn't!) but, what He did promise is so much better: He will be with us every step of the way, strengthening us when we're too weak. This verse, found in Isaiah 41:10, says, "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." If that isn't something to rejoice about, please tell me something that is!