Looking to Calvary

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Too often I carry a load of guilt on my back that is useless. I lose focus on the cross and the gospel. The devil tempts me to look to myself and my shortcomings rather than my Savoir, who is my righteousness.

I thought these words were the perfect comforting reminder of where our focus should be. I came across them as I read a book written by Charles Spurgeon called: The Power of the Cross of Christ. 

May this point each of us in the right direction and cause the cares of this world to melt away in the light of the Son of God:

"The most earnest Christian man must sometimes have his doubts as to whether all is right with him. The more sincere a man is, the more does he tremble lest he should deceive himself. You may have your personal anxieties; certainly I have mine. But when I turn my eyes to Jesus upon the cross and view the thorn crown and the sacred head and the eyes that were red with weeping and the hands nailed fast to the wood and the feet dripping with blood, and when I remember that this shameful death was endured for love of me, I am so quiet and so happy in my spirit that I cannot tell how peacefully my life-floods flow. God must forgive my grievous fault, for my Redeemer has grievously answered for it. When I see Jesus die, I perceive that henceforth divine justice is on the sinner's side. How can the Lord God punish the same offence twice - first the Substitute and then the men for whom that Substitute has bled? Christ has bled as substitute for every man who believes in Him - therefore is every believer safe.

Oh brethren, when you are troubled, rest with us by looking to Calvary. And if the first glance does not quiet you, look, and look, and look again, for every grief will die where Jesus died. Not to Bethlehem, where the stars of Christmas burn, do we look for our greatest comfort, but to that place where the sun was darkened at midday and the face of eternal love was veiled. Because the Lord of life and glory was dying in extremis, suffering the most deadly pain for our sakes, therefore His wounds distilled the richest balm that ever healed a sinner's wound."

A time to gather....

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"There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on His Word spiritual strength for labour in his service. We ought to muse upon the things of God, because we thus get the real nutriment out of them. . . . Why is it that some Christians, although they hear many sermons, make but slow advances in the divine life? Because they neglect their closets, and do not thoughtfully meditate on God's Word. They love the wheat, but they do not grind it; they would have the corn, but they will not go forth into the fields to gather it; the fruit hangs upon the tree, but they will not pluck it; the water flows at their feet, but they will not stoop to drink it. From such folly deliver us, O Lord. . . .” 

― Charles H. Spurgeon

Through each hour of the day...

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"Our eyes should be taken off self, removed from our weakness and allowed to rest implicitly upon God's strength. A simple, confiding faith living day by day, and casting its burden on the Lord each hour of the day, will dissipate fear, drive away misgiving, and deliver from doubt." 

~E. M. Bounds

From drought to delight.

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I was going through a file filled with church bulletins this afternoon...

I'm not sure why I've kept so many, but as I went through them, I noticed something that refreshed me so much. The first ones were from the church we're going to now and I decided to keep most of them. And then I worked through to the bulletins I had filed away from a church we went to previously...

It stirred up memories. Memories that I didn't really care to remember. But then it dawned on me, that because of that dry and hard time I and my family went through going to that church, I and my family are reaping amazing joy and peace from it now. 

The discouragements and struggles ended up being a tool the Lord used to open our eyes to the immense greatness and awesome powerfulness of Christ. 

And it made me rejoice! God uses hard things. He changes heartaches into heartjoys ~ and it's all for His glory! 

In church yesterday our Pastor taught on James 1:2-5, and I realize reading them now that I've experienced these verses coming to life: 

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

Thank you, Lord for bringing pure delight and refreshment in knowing You deeper out of a time of dryness!! =) His hand is always at work, though it be invisible at the moment. 

There is always hope when we look to Christ!

Our help and our shield!

“Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in Him, because we trust in His holy name. Let Your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in You."  ~Psalm 33:20-22

A Love that will never let go.

One Sunday evening each month, we meet together with people from our church, to sing, sing, sing! Everyone loves to sing at our church.

This last singing night was hosted at an older man's home. In addition to our normal singing he wanted to play the piano for us and have us sing selected songs.

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go, was one of those songs.

I looked up the story of the author of these lyrics. (He was said to have written all four lyrics in 5 minutes!) He knew great brokenness. He said his life was: "an obstructed life, a circumscribed life... but a life of quenchless hopefulness..."

Such is the case for those of us who have Christ as our hope.
This Love with never let us go!

O Love that will not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in thee;

I give thee back the life I owe,

That in thine ocean depths its flow

May richer, fuller be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,

I cannot close my heart to thee;

I trace the rainbow through the rain,

And feel the promise is not vain,

That morn shall tearless be.
~George Matheson

Looking at life backwards.

"...all the days ordained for me were written in Your book

    before one of them came to be."  ~Psalm 139:16  

In moments when I begin to worry about the future, I've found that it helps me to look at life backwards. Yep, backwards. =)

Numerous times in the Bible the Lord tells us to trust Him. This pleases and glorifies Him, just as a parent is honored when their children joyfully trust and obey them. But it is hard to trust, especially when life seems so uncertain, and our eyes are focused on "now."

What do I mean by looking at life backwards? I basically  mean, seeing our life from an eternal perspective and fixing our gaze on how big and powerful God is. He knows what's in the past, the present, and the future. He knows exactly what the ending of our lives will be, because He has written our life stories! {Ephesians 2:10} 

The Lord knows when and where and how my story on this earth will end.  He knows who my children will be, when they will be born and what plans He has for them. Which means that if He knows who our children are, He knows who both of their parents are, which means that He knows exactly who we will marry. The Lord knows why we've gone through each circumstance in our lives. Everything ties together. But it will never clearly make sense to us now. I love how Martin Luther writes it:

"Our God is like a printer, who sets the letters backwards, so that here that is the way we must read them; when we are printed off yonder, in the life to come, we shall read all clear and straightforward."

Oh, the swell of joy we can have now - and will know in a greater way, when we see Him face to face - when we realize that all of this life is for His glory.

Fretting or worrying seem foolish when life is viewed "backwards" {Matthew 6:27}. Oh, my friend, trust in the Lord, the almighty and sovereign Creator! Cling to Him. Pray, work, trust; the Lord will faithfully lead us as we seek His will for our life and run this race with perseverance!  

"The providence of God is like Hebrew words - it can only be read backwards." ~ John Flavel

Letters to orphans.

As a young girl I was captivated by adoption and caring for orphans. It started when I saw a young family in our church going through an adoption process (don't ever think young children in your church aren't paying attention to what you do!). The whole idea that a family could open their hearts to a hurting child with no family and show Christ's love - rescuing them like Christ has rescued us - amazes and excites me.

As I've read the Bible I've come across so many verses showing how dear orphans are to the heart of God.  I was also struck from reading in the book The Bravehearted Gospel by Eric Ludy, how Job sought out the orphans, instead of waiting for them to knock on his door.

I've desired for a way to reach out to orphans in this time of my life - even if it were a small way. But many ways to help were closed for various reasons. I thought even an opportunity to write letters to them would be wonderful, but, I was mystified at how hard it was to find a way to do that.

So I prayed. Gave it to my Heavenly Father. And let it go.

In December I received an email from some friends who do missionary work to Russia through a certain organization, about writing letters to orphans. I was a little skeptical (why is it that I'm often skeptical at first to answers to prayer?!? )... plus I was busy that time of year. I did go ahead and write one letter.

The lady that I sent it to (she took my letter and the others with her to Russia) sent me a postcard thanking me for writing the letter and telling me to feel free to write more and that they could be used for other countries...

Hmmm... so I was still a bit skeptical.

Finally, a few months later, I couldn't let go of the thought to send this lady a message and ask her if she still could use some letters. She wrote back telling me "Yes you can write lots! We could use 10,000 by June! Thank you!" =) I was amazed! The Lord had flung this door wide open!!

So I wrote out several letters. Grateful that the Lord would open a way for me to reach out to those I haven't seen, but still care about... from my home! =)  (And no, I didn't write 10,000. ;-)

I know this may seem like a simple thing. Most people I've talked to recently have sent a letter to orphans at some point in their life. But I have to say, every time I look back and see how the Lord answers a cry of my heart, it makes me rejoice!

The Lord is so faithful to answer our prayers ~ whether they're little or big!