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I hope this blesses you like it did me! (Old fashioned language as it was written quite a while ago.)  " And if Christ is thus the source of satisfaction to His people , He has communicated to them ten thousand other sources of joy : — all of them connected with His Cross and with His love . None but a Christian can say , " I will go unto God my exceeding joy - the Lord God is my strength and song . " He alone can take up the language of the psalmist , " I will be glad , and rejoice in Thee ; " but he can do so , because God is reconciled to him through Christ , and has become his God. A covenant has been sealed and ratified through the blood of the Cross ; and the attributes of God, once so full of terror , are become his shield , his stronghold , and his triumph ; and he can think of all the glorious perfections of the Almighty, and then say , " I will go unto God , my exceeding joy. " His resistless power , His infinite wisdom, His unchanging fidel...

 The other day I saw that Elizabeth Prentiss also wrote more books besides Stepping Heavenward so I looked and found that one can read them for free on Google books. I just finished "the story of the Percys, or A mother's influence" which had me in tears several times. Here's one part that particularly stood out to me. I hope you are also encouraged by it. 

 In His Hands 'Twixt gleams of joy and clouds of doubt Our feelings come and go; Our best estate is tossed about In ceaseless ebb and flow.   No mood of feeling, form of thought Is constant for a day; But thou, 0 Lord, thou changest not: The same thou art alway. I grasp thy strength, make it mine own, My heart with peace is blest; I lose my hold, and then comes down Darkness, and cold unrest. Let me no more my comfort draw From my frail hold of Thee, In this alone rejoice with awe—- Thy mighty grasp of me. Out of that weak, unquiet drift That comes but to depart, To that pure heaven my spirit lift Where thou unchanging art. Lay hold of me with Thy strong grasp, Let Thy almighty arm In its embrace my weakness clasp, And I shall fear no harm. Thy purpose of eternal good Let me but surely know; On this I'll lean—let changing mood And feeling come or go— Glad when Thy sunshine fills my soul, Not lorn when clouds o'ercast, Since Thou within thy sure control Of love dost hold me ...

 𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗨𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗥𝗘! My ruling desire is to be wholly given up to the Lord and to His work, and to show forth His praises from day to day. But when I aim at this most--I am baffled, opposed, and always hindered! I see what is wrong, but cannot avoid it. I see what is right, but cannot attain unto it. I know what I wish, but I cannot enjoy it. I read what God commands, but I cannot perform it. In the midst of all, I bless God . . .    for Jesus Christ,    for free grace,    for a full salvation,    for abiding comfort,    for a good hope,    for sweet views of Jesus,    for a glorious inheritance,    for an assurance of victory, and    for the promise of eternal triumph! Nothing can . . .   separate me from Jesus,   turn the current of His love from me, or   change the purposes of His grace for me. His love is astonishing! His ways are marvelous! I change; He remains ...

I hope these quotes from Elizabeth Prentiss, (1818 – 1878), challenge, bless and encourage you, as they do for me.   The longer I live, the more conscious I am of my human frailty—and of the constant, overwhelming need I have of God's grace. Dying grace is not usually given until it is needed. Death, to the disciple of Jesus, is only stepping from one room to another and far better room of our Father's house. And how little all the sorrows of the way will seem to us, when we get to our home above. You never will be really happy—until Christ becomes your dearest and most intimate friend. Seek God—not joy. God delights to try our faith by the conditions in which He places us. What are trials, but angels to beckon us nearer to Him. What does it matter, after all, from what point of time or space, that we go to our eternal home. O how we shall smile after we get there—that we ever gave it one moment's thought. In proportion to your devotion to the Savior—will be the blessedness...

  Thank You Heavenly Father for Your amazing Love for Your people. 

 A friend lent me a very encouraging booklet. Here's one of the many true accounts I read in it today. I hope you are also encouraged by it.  "Dr. F. B. Meyer was once crossing the Atlantic. The captain asked him to preach in the saloon on Sunday morning. He spoke on “answered prayer” and gave a number of illustrations. An agnostic was present and someone said to him, “What do you think of Meyer’s sermon?” “Oh,” he said, “I don’t believe a word of it.” Dr. Meyer was speaking that afternoon to the passengers in the steerage (second-class) end of the ship. The agnostic picked up two oranges, put them in his pocket and walked over to the meeting. As he threaded his way in and out amongst the steerage folk, he came across an old lady with silvery hair, her eyes closed in sleep, her head back and her hands open on her lap. He took the two oranges out of his pocket and placed them in her hands, and went on to the meeting. When he came back the old lady was eating one of the oranges....

 

 I think this seems an appropriate piece to share. I hope you find it an encouraging blessing.  "PROVIDENCE AND GRACE "This is the resting place, let the weary rest; and this is the place of repose"— "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord." "The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord." Psalm 37:23, 39 Here are two fronds of God's palm-grove bending over His true people. Comforting, as we have seen, is the great fundamental truth of theology—"The Lord reigns"—that all events are ordered and controlled by a supreme superintending Providence. But there is a special comfort to believers—the spiritual Israel of every age—that their 'steps,'—their plans and purposes in life (in a better and nobler than the heathen sense—their "destinies")—are overruled by a gracious covenant-Jehovah. That is a beautiful picture given in Hosea (11:1-5) of God, as a Father, watching and guiding the steps of His own children. I...

 I was listening to a sermon this morning and this phrase the preacher repeated caught my attention because I remembered reading a poem about it. I found the lyrics and a tune but can't find who authored it. 

  The Grace of God "My grace," 'tis the God of all grace who hath spoken, Whose word in the heavens forever is set; Whose covenant promise hath never been broken; Who never can fail or forget; Who knoweth my needs and who seeth my sorrows, However so many and great they may be; Who heareth my prayers for the days and the morrows; His grace is sufficient for me. "My grace;" all His blessings this work is unfolding, His love and His power in harmony blend; 'Tis grace that hath saved me, and grace that is holding, And grace that will keep to the end; 'Tis grace that hath written redemption's glad story, And grace all the song of the ransomed shall be; 'Tis grace that transforms me from glory to glory; That grace is sufficient for me. "My grace is," not "was," and not "will be;" 'tis flowing Each hour and each moment my need to supply, The deeper I dip, still the deeper 'tis growing, No drought can diminish or dr...

 I was looking through Grandad's poems yesterday and wanted to share these 2 excerpts. Thank You Heavenly Father for a goodly heritage. 

"Lord! my soul is burdened By a weight of care, And my foot is taken in the fowler's snare; ​Darkness gathers o'er me, I shall fall or flee: Helper of the helpless, Rise and succor me! Dangers seem to threaten, Tempters' wiles assail; In Thy light I see them, Yet I weakly quail. Strange unholy terrors In my bosom rise; "What distrustful language— Heavy groans and sighs! Thoughts of sin's defilement Born of faithless mood, Hosts of unclean devils, guests of hell's dark brood, Leave me lame and mourning, Blind to seek and trace All the glorious beauty Of Immanuel's face. Look, oh, look upon me! See my wounds! and hear In my soul's veiled chambers, what dishonoring fear! Withered arms for service, And a palsied frame That hath scarce a heart-throb At Thy precious name. Touch me, cleanse me, heal me! Thou didst give me life; Speak the word, and save me From this deadly strife. Thine is full salvation, And the gift is free: Helper of the helpless, Rise ...

 

"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 pr...

 I trust you will also find this very encouraging.

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! 

 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, ...

  “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God, and are called according to His purpose!” Romans 8:28 If you are a sincere believer in Jesus, whatever may be your present difficult circumstances, however trying, however perplexing, “It will all end in mercy!” You may not think so now. You may be writing bitter things against yourself. You may be misinterpreting the designs of God’s providence. You may be doubting the precious promises of God’s holy Word. But, notwithstanding your mistakes, your doubts, your fears, your false conclusions – “It will all end in mercy!” You do not think so- nor did Jacob once, nor did Joseph once, nor did Job once, nor did thousands once – who are now in glory! They were mistaken – and so are you! They judged by appearances – and so do you! They changed their minds- and so will you! All your troubles are appointed in infinite love! They are all weighed out by sovereign goodness! They are all limited by perfect...

  I came across this book recommendation recently and I’ve found it delightful and helpful. “Stepping Heavenward” by E. Prentiss. (born 1818, died 1878). "A fictional story of a young girl and the many challenges she confronts in her adult life." These excerpts are some I found particularly encouraging.   “After alluding to my complaint that I still “saw men as trees walking,” he says: “Yet he who first uttered this complaint had had his eyes opened by the Son of God, and so have you. Now He never leaves His work incomplete, and He will gradually lead you into clear and open vision, if you will allow Him to do it. I say gradually, because I believe this to be His usual method, while I do not deny that there are cases where light suddenly bursts in like a flood. To return to the blind man. When Jesus found that his cure was not complete, He put His hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up; and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. Now this must be done for you; an...