Est.

  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.  

Reading through the book of Matthew this morning, I came across this little phrase that struck me...  "But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?”"  The Lord looked with love on the one who was betraying Him.  Obviously we cannot hear the tone in which the Lord spoke it but what tender compassion He displayed for the man who was by that time personally indwelt by the enemy. How amazing that our Saviour would condescend to call any human "friend" but at that moment in those circumstances is past comprehension! He knew the depths of depravity and He still chose such a gracious loving response!!  I don't think I've ever suffered betrayal, but knowing our human nature I would imagine I would not feel at all kindly towards a betrayer. Only recorded in Matthew's account, Mark and John say nothing of Jesus's words to Judas in the garden of Gethsemane, while Luke recorded another equally challenging sentence, "But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are ...

Ho, every one that is thirsty in spirit, Ho, every one that is weary and sad; Come to the fountain, there’s fulness in Jesus, All that you’re longing for, come and be glad. Refrain: “I will pour water on him that is thirsty, I will pour floods upon the dry ground; Open your heart for the gift I am bringing; While you are seeking Me, I will be found.” Child of the world, are you tired of your bondage? Weary of earth-joys, so false, so untrue? Thirsting for God and His fulness of blessing? List to the promise, a message for you! Child of the Kingdom, be filled with the Spirit! Nothing but fulness thy longing can meet: ‘Tis the enduement for life and for service; Thine is the promise, so certain, so sweet. Although this hymn is in the Redemption hymnal, I hadn't noticed it there...  Written by Lucy Rider Meyer born in Vermont, 1849, died in 1922.

  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 ...

  “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...

 When I was putting some books away in my cupboard I came across this little gem called "Under the Surface". On closer inspection it turned out that it contains many hymns written by Frances Ridley Havergal. Here is a selection that stood out to me so far. 

 https://youtu.be/br90Cvs7JAQ

 https://youtu.be/fHg0kQDBPPg This is the latest one I uploaded, although I wrote most of it in 2020. I hope you will be blessed by the truth of it. 

  Awhile ago, I looked at what the Bible says about Heaven. The other day, a friend challenged me to tell them what the Bible says about Hell and the other names that seem to refer to the same place. Here’s my attempt.   Tartarus: only (1) ref in KJV : deepest abyss of Hades; eternal torment Abyss/bottomless pit (9) Hades, (10) “ unseen”  place or state of departed souls Gehenna (12) valley of Jerusalem, figuratively place or state of everlasting punishment Sheol, (65) world of the dead (as if subterranean retreat) and accessories and inmates: grave   In 2 Gospels, it states Capernaum will descend to Hades. Gates of Hades will not overpower the Lord’s Church. (interesting side note there was a cave in Caesarea Philippi where the Greco-Roman gods were worshipped/sacrificed to. It was here where Jesus told His disciples that the Gates of Hell would not prevail against the Church.) David spoke of Christ’s soul not being abandoned to Hades, nor decaying. The Living One h...