Spurgeon in the Evening

If you do not have a copy of Charles Spurgeon's devotional Morning and Evening I urge to get one or read it off the internet each day. While it is no substitute for daily feasting on the inspired Word of God it is Biblical and encouraging. Each day it draws knowledge from a verse of scripture in a profound, but simple way. Each morning I begin the day with Spurgeon, and then go on to dig in God's Word for myself before reflecting my thoughts in my journal. I find that just a short paragraph or two from Spurgeon's devotional awakes my mind and prepares me to see the scriptures in the light of the cross and my personal experience. In the evening I again read Spurgeon just before bed, and fall asleep resting on the promises of God's Word and meditating on the day.

Just last evening I was blessed by Spurgeon's insight into Numbers 6, verse 4. You can read what he says here, and also find the readings for every morning and evening of the year. I hope you are blessed and edified by the writings of this man of God, as I have been.

Quotation Tuesday

For most Americans their number one fear is public speaking, after that they fear death the most. I cannot count myself among most Americans because I fear neither, in fact rather the opposite. I compete in homeschool speech and debate, and I have a national tournament coming up at the end of May. I love to speak in front of people, sharing my beliefs and interests. Neither do I fear death, unlike most people I relish it, I look forward to it.

"Death is no punishment to the believer: it is the gate of endless joy." -Charles Spurgeon

We live in a world where pain, grief, and sin are all to familiar, and all to common. For believers in Christ Jesus, death is the door to a place where there will be no more pain and no more tears. We will rejoice and worship the Almighty God and His Son Jesus Christ! Most wonderful of all there will be no more sin, we will be glorified in the presence of the spotless Lamb. Why do so many fear death? It is simply because they do not have the assurance that they will open their eyes to glory when they pass into eternity.

Yet, is it possible to live in another extreme; instead of a gripping fear of death to have a gripping desire for physical death so that we may live eternally with Him? I am sure it is possible, because that is where my heart is right now. Some days the longing for something higher, something purer, and something more beautiful keeps me from making the most of the days I have been given. My Lord knows the number of hairs on my head, he has a name for each star in the night sky. Can I not trust Him to bring me home in His own perfect time? And even more, can I not trust Him to provide me with the strength necessary to live for Him here and now.

We are in the midst of running a race, I do not want to stop running so that I can dream of the finish line, I will continue to run, keeping my eyes fixed on Him who waits for me at the finish line, gathering strength to run to the best of my ability all the way there. By His strength and in His timing may I see you all in the winner's circle on the other side of the finish line.

I am Thankful For...

I am thankful for a wonderful young lady named Betsy. She was my camp counselor this past summer, and she was a huge blessing to me! We are still in touch and I can tell her anything. She has taught me so much about the Lord and about myself. She is a great woman of God and one of my primary role models (after my Mom). Thank you Betsy, I love you!

This is for you. ;)

You are to love one another, not because of the gain which you get from one another, but rather because of the good you can do to one another. ~Charles Spurgeon

That is the way you love me. That is the way I love you and I hope to repay you one day. I love you!

Quotation Tuesday!

"He who marries today's fashion will be tomorrow's widow." ~Charles Spurgeon

I have lately been reading a great book called Unfashionable by Tullian Tchividjian. This book calls us to make a difference in the world by being different from the world. We are not to marry today's fashion, we are not to conform to this world (Rom. 12:2). In the world today Christians don't really stand out, instead they try to fit in. We wear clothes, play music, and even talk exactly like the world. We may put a Christian label on it, but that doesn't make that much of a difference. We are conforming to the world in such a subtle way that we don't realize that instead of standing out we are blending in! We have indeed married today's fashion and we will be tomorrow's widow. We will find that any influence we might have had is completely gone, or we will find that we have been influenced by the world so deeply that we don't even care to make a difference anymore! Beware of trends, beware of the fashion of this world. Do not conform, because the only way to make a difference in your world is by being drastically different from it.

Do not conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.... Romans 12:2