Saviour, Thy dying love Thou gavest me.
Nor should I aught withhold, dear Lord, from Thee.
In love my soul would bow, my heart fulfill its vow,
Some offering bring Thee now, something for Thee.
At the blest mercy seat, pleading for me,
My feeble faith looks up, Jesus, to Thee.
Help me the cross to bear, Thy wondrous love declare,
Some song to raise, or prayer, something for Thee.
Give me a faithful heart, likeness to Thee.
That each departing day henceforth may see
Some work of love begun, some deed of kindness done,
Some wanderer sought and won, something for Thee.
All that I am and have, Thy gifts so free,
In joy, in grief, through life, O Lord, for Thee!
And when Thy face I see, my ransomed soul shall be
Through all eternity, something for Thee.
We sang this at Church tonight and they're really powerful words that challenged, encouraged and blessed me. So, I hope you're blessed by them too.
Things I want to share with you.
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Praise the Lord!
Wow!! I saw a stoat this afternoon, so I looked up the differences between polecats, stoats, weasels and ferrets etc. Then I came across this picture!
All things really do praise the Lord!! How amazing is that!
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD! Psalm 150:6
(interesting fact: I have since been told that polecats and prairie dogs do this when they are in awe of the hawk or crow that is about to swoop down and eat them up.)I still think it may well have been praising the Lord anyway!:)
Friday, 29 July 2011
Some more great quotes! (+ I keep finding more!!)
“Think not of the sinner, or of the greatness of his sin, but think of the greatness of the Saviour!”—1895 - Spurgeon
“Beloved, you must know the bitterness of sin before you can know the blessedness of forgiveness! And you must have such a
sight of sin as shall break your heart before you can understand the blessedness of the Divine covering, that sacred cover which
hides sin effectually, blots it out, and even makes it cease to be. ‘Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is
covered.’”—1892 - Spurgeon
“‘My meditation of Him shall be sweet.’ ‘Of Him’—that is, of the Well-Beloved of the Father, of the Well-Beloved of the
Church, of the Well-Beloved of my own soul—of Him who loved me, in whose blood I have washed my robes and made them
white. It is meditation ‘of Him’ that is sweet—not merely of doctrine about Him, but of Him, of Himself—‘my meditation of
Him.’ Not merely of His offices, and His work, and all that concerns Him, but of His own dear Self! There lies the sweetness
and the closer we come to His blessed Person, the more truly have we approached the very center of bliss!”—1895 - Spurgeon
“If you believe, [in God], your belief will kill your sinning, or else your sinning will kill your believing! The greatest argument
against the Bible is an unholy life—and when a man will give that up, he will convict himself.”—1893- Spurgeon
The Lord Jesus, in whom the Gospel bids us believe, is, without doubt, almighty God–equal to the Father in all things, and able to save to the uttermost all those that come unto God by Him. But that same Jesus is no less certainly perfect man–able to sympathize with man in all his bodily sufferings, and acquainted by experience with all that man’s body has to endure. Power and sympathy are marvelously combined in Him who died for us on the cross. Because He is God, we may rest the weight of our souls upon Him with unhesitating confidence. He is mighty to save. Because He is man, we may speak to Him with freedom, about the many trials to which flesh is heir. He knows the heart of a man. Here is rest for the weary! Here is good news! Our Redeemer is man as well as God, and God as well as man.
~ J.C. Ryle
Believers, if you would have an increase of happiness in Christ’s service, labor every year to grow in grace. Beware of standing still. The holiest men are always the happiest. Let your aim be every year to be more holy–to know more, to feel more, to see more of the fullness of Christ. Do not rest on old grace: do not be content with the degree of Christianity which you have attained. Search the Scriptures more earnestly; pray more fervently; hate sin more; mortify self-will more; become more humble the nearer you draw to your end; seek more direct personal communion with the Lord Jesus; strive to be more like Enoch– daily walking with God; keep your conscience clear of little sins; grieve not the Spirit; avoid arguments and disputes about the lesser matters of religion: lay more firm hold upon those great truths, without which no man can be saved. Remember and practice these things, and you will be more happy.
~ J.C. Ryle
Saturday, 23 July 2011
Some great quotes everyone should read! More will follow!
"Compare yourself only with Jesus." - A.W. Tozer
"There is no place to hide except in the blood of the Lamb." - A.W. Tozer
"True repentance shows itself in a thorough breaking off from sin. The life of a repentant person is altered. The course of their daily conduct is entirely changed. A new King reigns within their heart. They put off the old man. What God commands they now desire to practice; and what God forbids they now desire to avoid. They strive in all ways to keep clear of sin, to fight with sin, to war with sin, to get the victory over sin. They cease to do evil. They learn to do well. They break off sharply from bad ways and bad companions. They labor, however feebly, to live a new life. When a person does this, you have the fourth step in true repentance."
~ J.C. Ryle
The Character and Intention of the Devil
12 Jul
"There is a devil! We have a mighty invisible enemy always near us–one who never slumbers and never sleeps–one who is about our path and about our bed, and spies out all our ways, and will never leave us until we die. He is a murderer! His great aim and object is, to ruin us forever and kill our souls. To destroy, to rob us of eternal life, to bring us down to the second death in hell, are the things for which he is unceasingly working. He is ever going about, seeking whom he may devour. He is a liar! He is continually trying to deceive us by false representations, just as he deceived Eve at the beginning. He is always telling us that good is evil and evil good–truth is falsehood and falsehood truth–the broad way good and the narrow way bad. Millions are led captive by his deceit, and follow him, both rich and poor, both high and low, both learned and unlearned. Lies are his chosen weapons. By lies he slays many."
~ J.C. Ryle
"I bear my testimony that there is no joy to be found in all this world like that of sweet communion with Christ." - C.H. Spurgeon
“Whenever you get one inch above the ground in your own esteem, you are that inch too high!”—1895 -C.H. Spurgeon
Enjoy and be challenged!!
"There is no place to hide except in the blood of the Lamb." - A.W. Tozer
"True repentance shows itself in a thorough breaking off from sin. The life of a repentant person is altered. The course of their daily conduct is entirely changed. A new King reigns within their heart. They put off the old man. What God commands they now desire to practice; and what God forbids they now desire to avoid. They strive in all ways to keep clear of sin, to fight with sin, to war with sin, to get the victory over sin. They cease to do evil. They learn to do well. They break off sharply from bad ways and bad companions. They labor, however feebly, to live a new life. When a person does this, you have the fourth step in true repentance."
~ J.C. Ryle
The Character and Intention of the Devil
12 Jul
"There is a devil! We have a mighty invisible enemy always near us–one who never slumbers and never sleeps–one who is about our path and about our bed, and spies out all our ways, and will never leave us until we die. He is a murderer! His great aim and object is, to ruin us forever and kill our souls. To destroy, to rob us of eternal life, to bring us down to the second death in hell, are the things for which he is unceasingly working. He is ever going about, seeking whom he may devour. He is a liar! He is continually trying to deceive us by false representations, just as he deceived Eve at the beginning. He is always telling us that good is evil and evil good–truth is falsehood and falsehood truth–the broad way good and the narrow way bad. Millions are led captive by his deceit, and follow him, both rich and poor, both high and low, both learned and unlearned. Lies are his chosen weapons. By lies he slays many."
~ J.C. Ryle
"I bear my testimony that there is no joy to be found in all this world like that of sweet communion with Christ." - C.H. Spurgeon
“Whenever you get one inch above the ground in your own esteem, you are that inch too high!”—1895 -C.H. Spurgeon
Enjoy and be challenged!!
Saturday, 16 July 2011
The "Comes" of Jesus, William Luff
I heard it first when, in a desert land,
Lost, I was wandering, blinded by the sand,
Where weary wastes spread round on every hand.
"Come unto Me, and rest." (Matthew 11:28)
My soul was fainting 'neath life's scorching sun,
Hot, fevered blood for many an hour had run
Through burning veins. Voice of the well-side One!
"Come unto Me, and drink." (John 7:37)
I had been toiling on a midnight sea
Without success, but morning brought to me
My absent Lord; O well I knew 'twas He,
By His sweet "Come and dine." (John 21:12)
Once, though I had nor fame, nor friend, nor dress,
He sent His servant after me, to press
His invitation on my dire distress, -
"Come to the marriage feast." (Matthew 22:4)
I sat and feasted in that palace hall,
And thought life but a banquet, - till a call
From Jesus roused me, as His lips let fall -
"Come, take thy cross, and follow." (Mark 10:21)
And soon I learned His gifts to me would claim
Gifts in return: that as the Priest He came
Unto His altar, calling upon my name-
"Come, offer here thy gifts." (Matthew 5:24)
Once, in a storm. it fell upon my ear,
When at a phantom form I cried with fear,
'Twas Jesu's voice, bidding my heart draw near,
In one short message, "Come." (Matthew 14:29)
Once I was busy with the multitude;
And they were many, troublesome, and rude,
So Jesus called me into solitude,
With His kind "Come apart." (Mark 6:31)
I longed for an acquaintance yet more true,
"Where dwellest Thou?" I asked. My heart He knew,
And called me with His favoured chosen few,
With a mild "come and see." (John 1:39)
Once I had climbed my leafy sycamore
Of prayers, and works, and merits. Jesus saw
Exalted self, viewing the low crowd o'er.
"Come down," He gently said. (Luke 19:5)
Humbled by grace, no longer I look down,
But upward gaze towards His high renown,
Until He beckons to the throne and crown,
And "Come up hither," cries. (Revelation 4:1)
Thrice blessed word! and when mankind shall meet
As sheep or goats around His judgment-seat,
There I shall hope to hear His lips repeat,-
"Ye blessed people, come." (Matthew 25:34)
Lost, I was wandering, blinded by the sand,
Where weary wastes spread round on every hand.
"Come unto Me, and rest." (Matthew 11:28)
My soul was fainting 'neath life's scorching sun,
Hot, fevered blood for many an hour had run
Through burning veins. Voice of the well-side One!
"Come unto Me, and drink." (John 7:37)
I had been toiling on a midnight sea
Without success, but morning brought to me
My absent Lord; O well I knew 'twas He,
By His sweet "Come and dine." (John 21:12)
Once, though I had nor fame, nor friend, nor dress,
He sent His servant after me, to press
His invitation on my dire distress, -
"Come to the marriage feast." (Matthew 22:4)
I sat and feasted in that palace hall,
And thought life but a banquet, - till a call
From Jesus roused me, as His lips let fall -
"Come, take thy cross, and follow." (Mark 10:21)
And soon I learned His gifts to me would claim
Gifts in return: that as the Priest He came
Unto His altar, calling upon my name-
"Come, offer here thy gifts." (Matthew 5:24)
Once, in a storm. it fell upon my ear,
When at a phantom form I cried with fear,
'Twas Jesu's voice, bidding my heart draw near,
In one short message, "Come." (Matthew 14:29)
Once I was busy with the multitude;
And they were many, troublesome, and rude,
So Jesus called me into solitude,
With His kind "Come apart." (Mark 6:31)
I longed for an acquaintance yet more true,
"Where dwellest Thou?" I asked. My heart He knew,
And called me with His favoured chosen few,
With a mild "come and see." (John 1:39)
Once I had climbed my leafy sycamore
Of prayers, and works, and merits. Jesus saw
Exalted self, viewing the low crowd o'er.
"Come down," He gently said. (Luke 19:5)
Humbled by grace, no longer I look down,
But upward gaze towards His high renown,
Until He beckons to the throne and crown,
And "Come up hither," cries. (Revelation 4:1)
Thrice blessed word! and when mankind shall meet
As sheep or goats around His judgment-seat,
There I shall hope to hear His lips repeat,-
"Ye blessed people, come." (Matthew 25:34)
Friday, 15 July 2011
Telling of Jesus (yes, you guessed it, a William Luff poem)
Telling of Jesus! how oft it would stay
Bickerings, slanderings, - Whisper them? Nay;
Sweeten thy lips with some Heavenly word,
Telling the love of thy crucified Lord.
Tell of Him ever to those who will hear:
Tell of Him even to those who forbear;
Though they despise Him, perhaps when they know
How He has loved them, some tear-drops will flow.
Talk of Him, walking alone with thy friend;
When o'er the dying thy whispers shall bend;
Breathe it to those who are sinking and sad:
Balm of the wounded, and joy of the glad.
Telling of Jesus! How vast is the theme!
None need to falter while telling of Him;
Evening and morning, by night and by noon:
Who can begin such a subject too soon?
Telling of Jesus, - the life that He lived;
Telling His death, and the curse He received;
Telling the love that still carried Him through -
Love to the sinner - His love unto you.
O! it will shorten the journey of life,
Hush its wild folly, its tumult and strife,
Lighten the spirit that bows 'neath its load,
Brighten the shadows that cross the rough road.
Sweetly the bosom with new love will beat:
At the glad music the wearying feet
Blithely will dance o'er the steep, thorny way,
Upward, still upward, toward the bright day.
Telling of Jesus wherever we go;
Telling of Jesus to friend and to foe;
Ever repeating the Name that we love,
Till we repeat it at Heaven's gate above.
Jesus, O touch with Thy finger this tongue;
Take in Thy hand this poor harp, long unstrung;
Tune its harsh discord, until it pour forth
Sweetly and fully Thine infinite worth.
Touch Thou my lips; nor my lips, Lord, alone;
Sprinkle Thy blood on this cold heart of stone:
Blood is its life; it is helpless and weak;
Quicken its life, and my lips shall then speak.
Another serious challenge!
Bickerings, slanderings, - Whisper them? Nay;
Sweeten thy lips with some Heavenly word,
Telling the love of thy crucified Lord.
Tell of Him ever to those who will hear:
Tell of Him even to those who forbear;
Though they despise Him, perhaps when they know
How He has loved them, some tear-drops will flow.
Talk of Him, walking alone with thy friend;
When o'er the dying thy whispers shall bend;
Breathe it to those who are sinking and sad:
Balm of the wounded, and joy of the glad.
Telling of Jesus! How vast is the theme!
None need to falter while telling of Him;
Evening and morning, by night and by noon:
Who can begin such a subject too soon?
Telling of Jesus, - the life that He lived;
Telling His death, and the curse He received;
Telling the love that still carried Him through -
Love to the sinner - His love unto you.
O! it will shorten the journey of life,
Hush its wild folly, its tumult and strife,
Lighten the spirit that bows 'neath its load,
Brighten the shadows that cross the rough road.
Sweetly the bosom with new love will beat:
At the glad music the wearying feet
Blithely will dance o'er the steep, thorny way,
Upward, still upward, toward the bright day.
Telling of Jesus wherever we go;
Telling of Jesus to friend and to foe;
Ever repeating the Name that we love,
Till we repeat it at Heaven's gate above.
Jesus, O touch with Thy finger this tongue;
Take in Thy hand this poor harp, long unstrung;
Tune its harsh discord, until it pour forth
Sweetly and fully Thine infinite worth.
Touch Thou my lips; nor my lips, Lord, alone;
Sprinkle Thy blood on this cold heart of stone:
Blood is its life; it is helpless and weak;
Quicken its life, and my lips shall then speak.
Another serious challenge!
Thursday, 14 July 2011
'Tis for thee (another poem by William Luff)
Hast thou found the sacred manna?
'Tis for thee.
'Tis the Bread Jehovah gives,
Bread of Heaven;
Bread by which the spirit lives,
Freely given;
Freely scattered round thy door,
Take it, trusting still for more:
'Tis for thee.
Hast thou found the gleaner's handful?
'Tis for thee.
He who owns the field has bade
Those who toil
Leave for all the poor and sad
Plenteous spoil.
Take it, though thy trembling hand
Reap not where the full sheaves stand;
'Tis for thee.
Hast thou found the "hidden treasure"?
'Tis for thee.
Finding, take it, keep it; sell
All that thou hast:
He who selleth all doth well,
Hold it fast!
All will fade, but having this,
Thou art rich in Heavenly bliss;
'Tis for thee.
Hast thou found a holy promise?
'Tis for thee.
Art thou guilty, seeking grace?
'Tis for thee;
Sighing for thy Father's face?
'Tis for thee.
Longing for the welcome Home?
Weary, wayworn wanderer, come!
'Tis for thee.
Hast thou heard of angels singing?
'Tis for thee.
O'er the prodigal restored,
They rejoice;
Lifting, as with sweet accord,
Heart and voice.
Promised pardon, Heaven in store,
All thy soul can need, and more, -
'Tis for thee.
(I should probably point out that this was written before 1893!!) but I still think they're really great poems! Hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
'Tis for thee.
'Tis the Bread Jehovah gives,
Bread of Heaven;
Bread by which the spirit lives,
Freely given;
Freely scattered round thy door,
Take it, trusting still for more:
'Tis for thee.
Hast thou found the gleaner's handful?
'Tis for thee.
He who owns the field has bade
Those who toil
Leave for all the poor and sad
Plenteous spoil.
Take it, though thy trembling hand
Reap not where the full sheaves stand;
'Tis for thee.
Hast thou found the "hidden treasure"?
'Tis for thee.
Finding, take it, keep it; sell
All that thou hast:
He who selleth all doth well,
Hold it fast!
All will fade, but having this,
Thou art rich in Heavenly bliss;
'Tis for thee.
Hast thou found a holy promise?
'Tis for thee.
Art thou guilty, seeking grace?
'Tis for thee;
Sighing for thy Father's face?
'Tis for thee.
Longing for the welcome Home?
Weary, wayworn wanderer, come!
'Tis for thee.
Hast thou heard of angels singing?
'Tis for thee.
O'er the prodigal restored,
They rejoice;
Lifting, as with sweet accord,
Heart and voice.
Promised pardon, Heaven in store,
All thy soul can need, and more, -
'Tis for thee.
(I should probably point out that this was written before 1893!!) but I still think they're really great poems! Hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
Netball pic
Here is the picture of us collecting our netball trophies. Sorry, I can't get it any bigger!
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
A Poem by William Luff (one of many more to come!!!)
I found a really good book the other day. 100 poems about Jesus by William Luff! It's quite an old one, but there's some great lines in there.
Trying to Please Jesus
Trying to please Him - O blessed employ!
Never had mortal such service of joy:
Never had servant such Master as He;
Never was service so pleasant, so free.
Trying to please Him - how simple the task!
Not the impossible Jesus will ask,
Not the preposterous, startling deed;
Little will please Him, if love shall but lead.
Trying to please Him - blest object in life!
Breathing His Spirit above the world's strife;
Scattering kindness, and comfort, and love;
Then looking up for a smile from above.
Pleasing my Saviour: - though others may frown,
Pass with indifference, coldly look down;
Let me but please the great heart of my God,
Little I care for the world's gracious nod.
Trying to please Him - be this the one aim,
Crowned and exalted, or branded with shame,
'Mid the vast multitude on the highway,
With the poor pilgrim where lonely I stray.
O! it would soften the actions we do,
Sweeten our thoughts and our whisperings too,
If, ere we acted, or uttered, or thought,
What would please Jesus, we evermore sought.
Be it our prayer in the morn when we wake,
Be it our wish as life's pathway we take,
Be it our hope when the day shall be o'er:
Pleasing the Saviour - Heaven asketh no more.
I think it's rather challenging too.
Lord, please help me to keep my mouth closed till I know the words to say that will please You, and please help me always to seek to please You in everything I do!
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Blessings and Challenges from God's Word
I was reading yesterday and today Colossians through 2 Thessalonians and 3 verses particularly jumped out at me. Colossians 2:6+7 says, "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving." And 2 Thessalonians 3:3 says, "But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one." It seemed to link in with Psalm 34 and 37, about how faithful God is. I have been really blessed and encouraged with all these. It has been speaking into some of the work situations when sometimes things happen that seem very strange and awkward. It's so good to know that He is in control and will guard us from the evil one.
I was also reminded that if we don't love the Truth (of God's Word), we will believe the lie (and the father of lies!) So, how important it is that we dig deep into the treasures in the Bible and that we are rooted and built up and established by Him.
I also wanted to share J C Ryle's devotion for today.
"Bringing forth fruits worthy of repentance is a truth which should always occupy a prominent place in our Christianity. It can never be impressed on our minds too strongly, that religious talking and profession are utterly worthless, without religious doing and practice. It is vain to say with our lips that we repent, if we do not at the same time repent in our lives. It is more than vain. It will gradually sear our consciences, and harden our hearts. To say that we are sorry for our sins is mere hypocrisy, unless we show that we are really sorry for them, by giving them up. Doing is the very life of repentance."
~ J.C. Ryle
I do hope you are also blessed and challenged and encouraged.
I was also reminded that if we don't love the Truth (of God's Word), we will believe the lie (and the father of lies!) So, how important it is that we dig deep into the treasures in the Bible and that we are rooted and built up and established by Him.
I also wanted to share J C Ryle's devotion for today.
"Bringing forth fruits worthy of repentance is a truth which should always occupy a prominent place in our Christianity. It can never be impressed on our minds too strongly, that religious talking and profession are utterly worthless, without religious doing and practice. It is vain to say with our lips that we repent, if we do not at the same time repent in our lives. It is more than vain. It will gradually sear our consciences, and harden our hearts. To say that we are sorry for our sins is mere hypocrisy, unless we show that we are really sorry for them, by giving them up. Doing is the very life of repentance."
~ J.C. Ryle
I do hope you are also blessed and challenged and encouraged.
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