Est.

 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 ...

 I wonder if you've ever felt like this? I think it's probably that way for all believers at some point... I find it encouraging anyway. I hope you do too.   by James Smith  "I am cast down!" And why are you cast down? "My heart is burdened with a sense of my short-comings! Every duty I perform is so imperfect. Every purpose I form is so soon frustrated. Every hope of seeing better days is so soon beclouded. My heart is so fearfully depraved. My life is so unlike the life of Jesus. My temper is so unholy. My prayers are so brief and heartless. My praises are so feeble and fitful. I do so little good. I live to so little purpose. My evidences are so dim. My prospects are so overcast. I am harassed sometimes with the fear of death. I cannot realize the glories of Heaven. I am dissatisfied with the world — and yet glued to it! I hate sin — and yet fall into it! I am a riddle, a mystery, a mass of inconsistency! Is it, then, any wonder that I am cast down?" No, ...

  The world's politics, pleasures, and pursuits! The world and the Church are essentially and eternally  distinct  — and they ought to be  distinguishable . The Church ought not to  mix  with the world — but to bear a practical testimony against it, that its  works  and  ways  are evil. All through our Lord's prayer, He keeps up the distinction, and twice over He asserts of His disciples,  "They are not of the world — even as I am not of the world!" Believers are not of the world. They are born from above, and possess a  nature  far superior to that of the world — which  unfits  them for its pleasures and pursuits, and  qualifies  them for the enjoyments and employments of the Heavenly world. They are delivered from the  thraldom  of the world — and are raised above its pursuits and its joys. They will not be  conquered  by the world — but overcome it by faith. They will not be ...

I'd heard the name often enough but I had only read one or two of his quotes.  Here are a few that I thought are particularly worth sharing.  "For eighteen centuries every engine of destruction that human science, philosophy, wit, reasoning or brutality could bring to bear against a book has been brought to bear against that book to stamp it out of the world, but it has a mightier hold on the world today than ever before. If that were man’s book it would have been annihilated and forgotten hundreds of years ago…  It stands absolutely unshaken today. At times almost all of the wise and great of the earth have been pitted against the Bible, and only an obscure few for it. Yet it has stood." "The great need to-day in individuals, in churches and in preachers is that the Wind of God blow upon us."  "God has not changed; and His ear is just as quick to hear the voice of real prayer, and His hand is just as strong to save, as it ever was."  "There must ...

 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CHJUtUewPMo

  When I read this verse, it challenged me.  Do I actually wait on Him continually? Waiting implies that sometimes I will have to be patient. Do I struggle to submit to the Lord patiently?  Am I listening moment by moment for His voice? Or do I too often allow other voices to crowd my mind so hearing His voice is more difficult?  I found the first phrase encouraging.  It is only by His help that I can do anything! If I try to do things without His help, I will fail, but when He directs, He also gives the wherewithal to accomplish the task. What a great blessing it is to have His promises and to know He is holding us every step of the way. Nothing escapes His notice. He sees and knows what is around each corner. If we will simply trust Him and wait on Him continually, He will guide us safely home, no matter what unexpected hills or valleys we may have to traverse. He is so gracious and merciful and His way really is the best way. These words of an old chorus came...

When things don't seem to be going the way you hoped they would, or problems have come, and there's distress and uncertainty within and without, this verse is a comforting one to hang on to.  Nothing can ever take the Lord by surprise.  He knows exactly what He's doing.  Whether it feels like it or not,  His plan for your life is the best possible! (yes I'm preaching to myself again!)  He only always does what is right.  It's so good to remember He will reign forever. Nothing will ever change Him.  He will always be faithful. 

Yet again, this verse reminds me of the Lord's great faithfulness. What a blessed reassurance that our God never varies in the slightest.  He always gives good, perfect gifts, and He is light, in Whom is no darkness at all.  We can and should trust Him completely, and we should never stop thanking Him for His marvellous loving-kindness to us. What a privilege to be called His own dear children!

A command and a promise... I hope you have put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. If you have, you can rejoice in the salvation He gives. If you haven't, please don't leave it too late! He promised to save all who believe on Him.  He is the only One who is completely reliable.  You can depend on the One who never fails!  He will always be faithful!

Aren't you glad He's so faithful!?!?!?

Today I finished one of Tozer's books: "God's Power for your life: How the Holy Spirit transforms you through God's Word." It contains some great challenges and encouragements, including, "I love Thee, for I can trust Thee to always keep Thy Word. All around me are those who fail to keep their promises for one reason or another. Everyone at some time has disappointed me, but Thou, O Christ, hast never disappointed me. Thou hast been as good as Thy Word, and Thy Word hath been good to me. May I commit myself this day and surrender my heart, mind and life to the promises that have flowed into my heart. In Jesus' name. Amen." "The man of God says that we "have fled for refuge", and I can just see myself, with the devil one hot jump behind me, racing for the cross of Jesus, racing for Calvary's holy mountain. Just as I come panting in, the doors let down behind me, and the devil runs head-on into the gate and bounces off. He does n...