"A Little Way"

"A Little Way"

--Anonymous

"A little way! I know it is not far

To that dear home where my beloved are;

And still my heart sits, like a bird, upon

The empty nest, and mourns its treasures gone,

Plumed for their flight,

And vanished quite.

Ah me! Where is the comfort? Though I say

They have but journeyed on a little way.

"A little way! At times they seem so near,

Their voices even murmur in my ear,

To all my duties loving presence lend,

And with sweet ministry my steps attend.

'Twas here we met and parted company;

Why should their gain be such a grief to me?

This sense of loss!

This heavy cross!

Dear Savior, take the burden off, I pray,

And show me heaven is but--a little way.

"A little way? The sentence I repeat,

Hoping and longing to extract some sweet

To mingle with the bitter; from Thy hand

I take the cup I cannot understand,

And in my weakness give myself to Thee.

Although it seems so very, very far

To that dear home where my beloved are,

I know, I know,

It is not so;

Oh, give me faith to believe it when I say

That they are gone--gone but a little way."

I don't know about you but I thought that this was a rather good poem.

Hold on to Hope

"and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son." Revelation 21:4-7.

3 people recently challenged me to read the whole book of Revelation in one go. I had never thought to do that before...

The verses above have long been a favourite of mine. When things are seeming difficult to handle, I turn and read the last 3 chapters. It gives me much encouragement to press on; the end will be so wonderful!!

For my friends who are struggling with awful pain, I pray these help you hold on to the glorious hope.

"No more pain or sorrow and tears;

only Glory Forever. 

Hold on to hope, all weary ones;

We'll worship the Lamb together. 

The Lamb who was slain for us. 

Now reigns in Heaven on high. 

So trust in the LORD. He will not forget;

He promised your needs to supply. "

We have the Lord’s promise that life now will be tough, but He also promised that He will strengthen and help us. He will hear and answer our prayers. 

Thank You Heavenly Father for Your lovingkindnesses and Your faithfulness to keep all Your promises. 

John Macduff's "Throne of Grace"

 I trust you will also find this very encouraging.

A few quotes by Susanna Wesley (1669-1742)

“The child that never learns to obey his parents in the home will not obey God or man out of the home.”

“Would you judge the lawfulness or unlawfulness of pleasure, of the innocence or malignity of actions? Take this rule: whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes off the relish of spiritual things; in short, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind – that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself.”

“Help me, Lord, to remember that religion is not to be confined to the church… nor exercised only in prayer and meditation, but that every where I am in Thy Presence.”

“There are two things to do about the gospel. Believe it and behave it.”

“I am content to fill a little space if God be glorified.”

“When I had forgotten God, yet I then found He had not forgotten me. Even then He did by His Spirit apply the merits of the great atonement to my soul, by telling me that Christ died for me.”

“You, O Lord, have called us to watch and pray. Therefore, whatever may be the sin against which we pray, make us careful to watch against it, and so have reason to expect that our prayers will be answered.”

“He is so infinitely blessed, that every perception of His blissful presence imparts a gladness in the heart. Every degree of approach to Him is, in the same proportion, a degree of happiness.”

I don't believe I recall hearing or reading any of these quotes before...

I do remember the fact that she had 19 children... And everyday she would sit in her chair and covering her face with her apron, spend time in prayer. Her little ones knew not to disturb their mother when the apron was there... I didn't recall the fact that only 8 of her children were still alive when Susanna died. I'm still amazed by the fact that she taught them all Greek and Latin!!

I think I should be able to learn a few things from her example, and I'm glad the Lord gave us the hymns of her sons John and Charles. 

An account involving Mr. Sankey

Before Ira Sankey became D.L. Moody's mission partner, he had been a soldier in the American Civil War. One night he was out on guard duty; he lifted his eyes to heaven and began singing praise to the LORD. 

Years after the war ended, Sankey was sailing somewhere and a crowd of people recognised him and asked him to sing. He again looked Heavenward and sang a hymn. 

 A man from the crowd asked him if, on a certain night during the war, he had performed night duty for a certain infantry unit. "Yes, I did." was his reply. 

The man continued, "I was on the opposite side of the war, hiding by a bush near your camp. My gun was aimed at your head when you looked upward and began to sing. As I liked music I thought I'd let you finish the song before shooting you. Then I realised what you were singing. It was the same hymn my mother sang to me many times when I was a child; the one you sang tonight. I tried, but I was powerless to pull the trigger. I recognised that your Shepherd was strong to protect you. I have not yet made peace with Him. Please tell me how I can be saved. Sankey embraced his former enemy and led him to the LORD. 

(true story paraphrased from 2 sources)

This is the hymn he sang. 

Savior, like a shepherd lead us,

Much we need Thy tender care;

In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,

For our use Thy folds prepare:

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Thou hast bought us, Thine we are;

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.

2 We are Thine, do Thou befriend us,

Be the guardian of our way;

Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us,

Seek us when we go astray:

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Hear, O hear us when we pray;

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Hear, O hear us when we pray.

3 Thou hast promised to receive us,

Poor and sinful though we be;

Thou hast mercy to relieve us,

Grace to cleanse, and pow'r to free:

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Early let us turn to Thee;

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Early let us turn to Thee.

4 Early let us seek Thy favor,

Early let us do Thy will;

Blessed Lord and only Savior,

With Thy love our bosoms fill:

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Thou hast loved us, love us still;

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Thou hast loved us, love us still.

Some things we should know and some things we don’t according to the New Testament.

Mat_7:11  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Mat_9:6  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.”

Mat_13:11  And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

Mat_16:3  And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

Mat_20:22  Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.”

Mat_20:25  But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.

Mat_22:16  And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances.

Mat_22:29  But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.

Mat_24:32  “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.

Mat_24:33  So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.

Mat_24:42  Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

Mat_24:43  But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.

Mat_24:50  the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know

Mat_25:12  But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

Mat_25:13  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Mat_26:2  “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”

Mar_2:10  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—

Mar_9:30  They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know,

Mar_10:19  You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’”

Mar_10:38  Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”

Mar_10:42  And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.

Mar_12:14  And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?”

Mar_12:24  Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?

Mar_13:28  “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.

Mar_13:29  So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.

Mar_13:33  Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.

Mar_13:35  Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—

Luk_4:34  “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”

Luk_5:24  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”

Luk_8:10  he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’

Luk_10:11  ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’

Luk_11:13  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Luk_12:39  But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.

Luk_12:46  the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful.

Luk_12:48  But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

Luk_12:56  You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

Luk_18:20  You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’”

Luk_19:44  and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

Luk_20:21  So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God.

Luk_21:20  “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.

Luk_21:30  As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near.

Luk_21:31  So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

Luk_23:34  And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Joh_1:10  He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

Joh_1:26  John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know,

Joh_3:2  This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

Joh_3:8  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Joh_4:22  You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.

Joh_4:25  The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.”

Joh_4:32  But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”

Joh_4:42  They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Joh_5:32  There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true.

Joh_5:42  But I know that you do not have the love of God within you.

Joh_6:69  and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Joh_7:17  If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.

Joh_7:28  So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know.

Joh_7:29  I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.”

Joh_7:49  But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”

Joh_8:14  Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.

Joh_8:19  They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”

Joh_8:28  So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.

Joh_8:32  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Joh_8:37  I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you.

Joh_8:55  But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word.

Joh_9:31  We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.

Joh_10:4  When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

Joh_10:5  A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

Joh_10:14  I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,

Joh_10:15  just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Joh_10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Joh_10:38  but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

Joh_11:22  But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”

Joh_11:24  Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

Joh_12:35  So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

Joh_12:50  And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

Joh_13:17  If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Joh_13:18  I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’

Joh_14:4  And you know the way to where I am going.”

Joh_14:7  If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Joh_14:9  Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Joh_14:17  even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Joh_14:20  In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

Joh_14:31  but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

Joh_15:15  No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

Joh_15:18  “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

Joh_15:21  But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.

Joh_16:18  So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.”

Joh_16:30  Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.”

Joh_17:3  And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Joh_17:7  Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you.

Joh_17:8  For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

Joh_17:23  I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

Joh_17:25  O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.

Joh_18:21  Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.”

Joh_20:13  They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”

Joh_20:14  Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

Joh_21:4  Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

Joh_21:24  This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

Act_1:7  He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

Act_1:24  And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen

Act_2:22  “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—

Act_2:36  Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Act_10:28  And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.

Act_15:7  And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.

Act_22:14  And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth;

Rom_1:32  Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Rom_2:2  We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.

Rom_2:18  and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law;

Rom_3:19  Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.

Rom_6:3  Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

Rom_6:6  We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

Rom_6:9  We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.

Rom_6:16  Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Rom_7:1  Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives?

Rom_7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.

Rom_7:18  For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

Rom_8:22  For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

Rom_8:26  Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Rom_8:28  And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Rom_11:2  God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?

Rom_13:11  Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

Rom_14:14  I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.

Rom_15:29  I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

1Co_1:16  (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)

1Co_1:21  For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

1Co_2:2  For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

1Co_3:16  Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?

1Co_5:6  Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

1Co_6:2  Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?

1Co_6:3  Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!

1Co_6:9  Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,

1Co_6:15  Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!

1Co_6:16  Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.”

1Co_6:19  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

1Co_8:1  Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.

1Co_8:2  If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.

1Co_8:4  Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.”

1Co_9:13  Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?

1Co_9:24  Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

1Co_12:2  You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.

1Co_13:9  For we know in part and we prophesy in part,

1Co_13:12  For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

2Co_1:7  Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

2Co_2:4  For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

2 Co_5:1  For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2Co_5:6  So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,

2Co_8:1  We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,

2Co_8:9  For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Gal_1:11  For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel.

Gal_2:16  yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Gal_3:7  Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.

Gal_4:13  You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first,

Eph_1:18  having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

Eph_3:19  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Php_1:12  I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,

Php_3:10  that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Php_4:12  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

Col_2:1  For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face,

Col_4:6  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

1Th_1:4  For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,

1Th_1:5  because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

1Th_3:3  that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.

1Th_3:4  For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.

1Th_4:2  For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

1Th_4:4  that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,

2Th_2:6  And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.

2Th_3:7  For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you,

1Ti_1:8  Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully,

1Ti_3:15  if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

1Ti_4:3  who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

2Ti_1:12  which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.

2Ti_2:23  Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.

Heb_8:11  And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.

Heb_10:30  For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”

Heb_12:17  For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

Jas_1:3  for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

Jas_1:19  Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

Jas_3:1  Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Jas_4:4  You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Jas_4:14  yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Jas_5:20  let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

2Pe_1:12  Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.

1Jn_2:3  And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

1Jn_2:4  Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

1Jn_2:5  but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

1Jn_2:13  I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.

1Jn_2:14  I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

1Jn_2:18  Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.

1Jn_2:21  I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

1Jn_2:29  If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

1Jn_3:2  Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

1Jn_3:5  You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.

1Jn_3:14  We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.

1Jn_3:15  Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

1Jn_3:16  By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

1Jn_3:19  By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;

1Jn_3:24  Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

1Jn_4:2  By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

1Jn_4:6  We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

1Jn_4:8  Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

1Jn_4:13  By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

1Jn_4:16  So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

1Jn_5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.

1Jn_5:13  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

1Jn_5:15  And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

1Jn_5:18  We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

1Jn_5:19  We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

1Jn_5:20  And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

3Jn_1:12  Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.

Some things Jesus knows about His Church:

Rev_2:2  “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.

Rev_2:3  I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary.

Rev_2:9  “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

Rev_2:13  “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

Rev_2:19  “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.

Rev_2:23  and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.

Rev_3:1  “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

Rev_3:3  Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

Rev_3:8  “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Rev_3:15  “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!

And how awful it would be if the Lord has to say He doesn’t know us!

Luk_13:25  When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’

Luk_13:27  But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’

 

With our song

 https://youtu.be/ZNhLOtLGcyk

Here's the link to the latest song I've uploaded to YouTube. 

Another old poem by William Luff

I found this poem an encouragement.

 Hope you do too! 

Are you eagerly awaiting His return?

I can't grasp how wonderful it will be to see the Saviour face to face, but I know it will be far more glorious than anything and everything else this life brings! 

I just read this and thought it worth sharing.

 "Thoughts of Home;

I've been thinking of home, 

of "my Father's house,

Where the many mansions be," 

Of the city whose streets are paved with gold, 

Of its jasper walls, so fair to behold,

Which the righteous alone shall see.

I've been thinking of home, 

where they need not the light

Of the sun, nor moon, nor star; 

Where the gates of pearl 

"are not shut by day, 

For no night is there," 

but the weary may

Find rest from the world afar.

I've been thinking of home, 

of the river of life

That flows through the city so pure; Of the tree that stands 

by the side of the stream, 

Whose leaves in mercy 

with blessings teem,

The sin-wounded soul to cure.

I 've been thinking of home, 

of the loved ones there,

Dear friends who have gone before, With whom we walked 

to the death river side, 

And sadly thought, 

as we watched the tide,

Of the happy days of yore.

I've been thinking of home, 

and my heart is full

Of love for the Lamb of God, 

Who His precious life 

as a ransom gave 

For a simple race, 

e'en our souls to save

From justice's avenging rod.

I've been thinking of home, 

and I 'm homesick now;

My spirit doth long to be 

In "the better land," 

where the ransomed sing 

Of the love of Christ, 

their Redeemer, King,

Of mercy so costly, so free.

I've been thinking of home, yea,

 "home, sweet home;

O, there may we all unite

With the white-robed throng, 

and forever raise 

To the triune God 

sweetest songs of praise,

With glory, and honor, and might!" 

Found in Samuel Rutherford's 

Garden of Spices. 

James Smith on the topic of "God's sweetest attribute"

 Men are deficient in mercy — but God, our God in Jesus, will display the greatest kindness and compassion to His children. This renders Him so amiable, suitable, and glorious in the estimation of His people. Mercy is God's sweetest attribute . . .

  as beautiful as the morning light,

  as measureless as the waters of the ocean,

  as boundless as illimitable space,

  as refreshing as the early dew,

  as glorious as the noon-day sun!

God's mercy is like His nature — pure, lovely, and eternal. His mercy is suited to all the needs of His children — it is free, full, and meets every case! Christian, the Lord assures you that He has mercy for you!

He has pardoning mercy — which will suit your sinfulness; mercy which will blot out your sins, and remove them from you as far as the east is from the west!

He has delivering mercy — which will meet your misery; mercy which will deliver you from . . .

   the power of sin,

   the bondage of Satan,

   the curse of the law,

   the fear of death,

   the terrors of judgment, and

   all the soul-troubles which may fall upon you on earth!

His mercy is tender mercy — which will suit the sickness of your soul. He will sympathize with you, pity you, and manifest the greatest forbearance and love. His mercy is so tender, that it will not break the bruised reed, or quench the smoking flax. It will . . .

  encourage the weak desire,

  fan the feeble spark into a flame,

  and take the will for the deed.

His mercy is supplying mercy — to meet your needs and defects. It will supply all your needs,according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Whether your needs are temporal or spiritual — He will supply you. He will give you both grace and glory; and no good thing will He withhold from you, if you walk uprightly.

It is also sanctifying mercy — to suit your impurity. It will wash you in the laver of the Word, and in the fountain of a Savior's blood. It will teach you to wash your robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. It will sanctify your troubles, and make all things work together for your good.

It is rescuing mercy, which will appear for you, and deliver you from all the dangers which may line your way — and at last present you faultless before the throne of God!

In a word — God's mercy will meet every case, circumstance, and condition in which it is possible for you to be placed!

Reader, let me exhort you to dwell much on this excellent attribute of your God. Meditate on God as all-merciful and all-sufficient for our every state!

More quotes from D. L. Moody

 

I hope you are as encouraged by these as I have been! 

Garden of Spices by Samuel Rutherford

Samuel Rutherford was born in Scotland in 1600 and he died in 1661. I recently started reading his "Garden of Spices" and wanted to share a couple of the poems found therein.

Some may find the very old fashioned language harder to understand but I think they're worth reading. 

I hope you also find them encouraging. 

Things to remember in2024

Here are a couple of things I want to remember as we head into 2024.

No matter what the coming year has in store for us, we can rejoice in the fact that our Saviour is completely faithful and He holds us securely. We can rejoice knowing we are extremely blessed to be part of His family. 

We belong to Him so we should serve and worship Him joyfully and gratefully. 

He is our Help, our Refuge, our Strong Tower. When we fully trust Him and desire to please Him He will be honoured and glorified. 

He invites us to pour out our hearts to Him.

Scripture promises there will be difficult times ahead but while we walk humbly with Him, He will always be with us, so we need not fear. 

 

I hope you are encouraged by the above quote by J. C. Ryle. 

 

Glad tidings! Adapted from a carol by F. Crosby and a writing of James Smith

 https://youtu.be/bkjhP9hfFCU?si=BjaniSAxJNwfJHhk

I found this piece by James Smith encouraging. I hope you would also be blessed by pondering on these truths. 

"This is God's representation of the gospel. It brings tidings from Heaven, tidings for sinners, tidings of good things for them; yes, tidings of the very best things — for the very worst of men! Not for them exclusively, but for men as sinners, including the very worst of them. It is the glorious glad tidings of the blessed God, giving correct views of his nature, revealing his loving heart, publishing his gracious thoughts, and making known his mercy to sinful men. These tidings calculated to gladden the saddest heart, cheer the desponding mind, and fill the despairing soul with joy and peace. Never were there such Glad Tidings! No one but an infinite God could have devised them. No one, but the All-merciful God would have sent them to rebellious sinners! O that Heaven and earth would unite to praise, bless, magnify, and adore his holy name for them!

The best thing in these glad tidings, is the SAVIOR — one who is able save such sinners as we are; one who not only can — but willing to do so. Here we are informed, that God has sent his Son, to be the Savior of the world. That the only begotten Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, possessing the nature of the Father, and equal to the Father, in majesty, power, and glory — that this only begotten Son, came into our world, took our nature, made an atonement for sin, and opened a way in which any sinner, and every sinner who will, may be saved — saved certainly, honorably, and eternally. Yes, any sinner can be saved now. Every sinner who will, shall be saved now.

There is no impediment in the path. There is no legal difficulty in the way. Jesus has all the qualifications required in one who is to save the vilest, to save freely, and to save all who apply to be saved by him.

The glad tidings forbid despair, they prohibit despondency, they are intended to dispel every doubt and fear. There is in reality no room for a single doubt, no room for a solitary fear, if the gospel is truly understood and believed. Any sinner, be he who he may — every sinner, be he what he will — may be saved — and be saved the moment he hears the gospel, let it find him where it will, or in whatever state it will.

Jesus is an almighty Savior. Jesus is an ever willing Savior. Jesus is a loving Savior. There is no reluctance on his part. It is no difficulty to him. Therefore he calls sinners to him — sinners of every name, sinners under all circumstances. His invitations embrace all. The glad tidings exclude none. The man or woman who reads these lines, is as really, as sincerely invited by Jesus, to come and be saved by him, as if a letter had been hand-written by Jesus and addressed to that person by name. All who hear or read are invited, all who are invited are desired to come, all who come are welcomed, and all who are welcomed are saved.

Can you conceive of anything better than this?

A Savior for vile sinners;

a Savior to deliver sinners from the lowest Hell;

a Savior to raise sinners to the highest Heaven;

a Savior from sin — the cause of suffering;

a Savior from guilt — the source of fear;

a Savior from the world, which is doomed to destruction!

Precious Redeemer, may your name be soon universally known; and may the glorious glad tidings of your saving love, power, and mercy, be published in every land, in every tongue, to every soul!

Next to the Savior, comes the free and full forgiveness of all sin, and the gospel is the glad tidings of this.

Without pardon — we perish.

Without pardon — we cannot know peace with God.

Without pardon — we cannot be holy.

Without pardon — we cannot have fellowship with God.

Without pardon — there can be no Heaven.

Now, the gospel is the glad tidings of pardon — the pardon of all sin, the instantaneous pardon of all sin, the eternal forgiveness of all sin — for every one who believes in Jesus. All the prophets bear witness, that through Jesus, and by faith in his name — pardon may be obtained. All the apostles preached a full, free, and everlasting pardon of all sin — for every one who believes in Jesus. And by the gospel, a complete pardon of every sin, and the perfect and everlasting justification of every person, is guaranteed to every one one that believes on the Son of God. A pardon without penance — a pardon without confession to a priest. A pardon without delay. For the moment a sinner renounces all dependence on himself and his own works, places his confidence in the finished work of Christ, and confesses his sins at a throne of grace — he is forgiven all trespasses.

And, as often as he is overcome by temptation, falls into sin, and brings guilt upon his conscience; confessing his fault, pleading the name of Jesus, and trusting in God's mercy — he is pardoned afresh. Daily sins are forgiven by a gracious Father — and by constantly applying to the all-cleansing blood of Jesus, the conscience is kept clean, peaceful and happy. O what a mercy to have an open fountain! O what a privilege to have the promise of a free and perfect pardon on confession of sin and exercising faith in Jesus! This the gospel presents to us, not once in our lives — but every day, every time we hear or read it — well therefore may it be called "glad tidings of good things."

The gospel is also the good news of a better country, even a Heavenly one. HEAVEN is . . .

a rest for the weary,

a home for the homeless, and

the best company for the lonely and desolate.

Heaven comprises . . .

all that can feast the intellect,

all that can satisfy the heart,

all that can fill the soul.

It is enriched with all the wealth of God,

it is filled with the glory of God, and

it is the house and home of God.

In Heaven there is . . .

no pain or privation,

no grief or sorrow,

no losses or crosses,

no temptations or trials,

no wants or woes.

Heaven contains the highest manifestations of the greatness, grandeur, and magnificence of God. Heaven is the home of the brightest, holiest, and most dignified of God's intelligent creation. Heaven! what is it? Heaven! What does it comprise and comprehend? "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined — what God has prepared for those who love Him!" No one can give the faintest guess at what Heaven is — but whatever it is, whatever it contains, the gospel tells us that it is for saved sinners.

Nor is Heaven a place difficult of access, or hard to obtain. There is a new and living way to it, and Jesus is the way. By coming to him, and trusting in him, we enter on the way; and by confiding in him, and walking with him, we make progress in the way. The path to Heaven, is not by works of righteousness which we have done or can do — it is not by any sufferings we have endured or can endure — but it is by simple faith in Jesus. He who believes has everlasting life, and shall never come into condemnation. Whoever believes in him shall not perish — but have eternal life. Nor can we have life, escape condemnation, or arrive at Heaven in any other way — for God's word is plain and decisive, "He who believes on the Son of God — has everlasting life; and he who believes not the Son — shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him."

Reader, the kingdom of God has come near unto you — will you enter it? The good news of a Savior is made known to you — will you embrace it and act upon it? The pardon of all sin is presented to you — will you accept it? Heaven, God's Heaven, and the way to it, is set before you — will you believe and make use of it?

The gospel is God's best message to man. It contains the promise of all that man can need, and all that God can give, to every one who sincerely believes the message, is willing to receive the grace, and applies for it. No sinner that reads or hears the gospel, perishes because he cannot be saved — but because he will not. Take heed therefore how you treat the gospel, for we can conceive of no greater sin, than disbelieving God's message; or of any greater insult offered to God, than to treat his message with contempt.

Believe the gospel, and it will make you glad. Believe Christ, as presented in the gospel, and it will satisfy your soul. Enter on God's consecrated way to glory, and Heaven with all its joys, pleasures, and glories are yours. But, if you refuse the gospel — you will surely perish! If you neglect the gospel — you will surely die! If you put off — it may be too late. Now, the glorious glad tidings are presented to you — presented to you as from God.

You are told that there is a Savior, and a great One — a Savior for sinners, for sinners such as you are — a Savior for you if you will receive him, employ him, and give yourself up to be saved by him.

A pardon is now offered you, the pardon of all your sins whether secret or open, past or present, of heart and life — a pardon that will bring peace to your conscience, holiness to your heart, and a foretaste of Heaven into your soul. A pardon that will fit you for fellowship with God now, and communion with God forever.

Heaven is now set before you, you may obtain it — and eternally possess it. Is it possible, that such sinners as we are — so vile, so poor, so feeble, so utterly worthless — may obtain God's Heaven, and dwell in it with the Savior forever? It is, and more than possible, it is comparatively easy — only believe and all is yours — nor is faith left to be done by your own power, for the Holy Spirit, who works faith in the sinner's heart, is plainly, positively, and solemnly promised to every one that asks for him. With that sweet and precious assurance, as it dropped from the Savior's lips, we close our remarks on the glad tidings; "If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."

Latest song called Maranatha

 https://youtu.be/krA83x6jGng

Here's the latest song I wrote and recorded, stemming from a few conversations and sermon snippets...

As the days are getting darker, we need to be reminded to look up for our Redeemer is coming quickly! 

Thank You Heavenly Father for the blessed hope!!

I hope you are blessed and encouraged.