Thankful Thursday

Flowering quince

I'm thankful for a few days of spring-like weather after the bitter cold last week.

I've been blessed by the women's study on Philippians. I'm encouraged by the enthusiasm of the ladies and our discussion this week on approving what is excellent in our lives. We've been using Joy! by Keri Folmar.

I'm thankful for the sovereignty of God over everything including dying computers. My poor iMac gave up the ghost again (the logic board is my guess). I'm praying I can recover the hard drive. If not, God is sovereign over that too. Doesn't this truth help take the anxiety out of life?

I'm thankful for saints who have gone before but  still speak from the grave. Here's a gem from William Spurstowe (1605-1666).

Were the way, which leads to heaven a ladder of duties, and not a golden chain of free grace, I could not but fear, that the higher I climb, the greater would my fall prove to be; every service being like a brittle [rung] that can bear no weight; and the whole frame and series of duties at best, far short of the ladder in Jacob's vision... But the whole way of salvation from the first to last; is all of mere grace, that the promise might be sure (Rom. 4:16). Every link  of the golden chain is made up of free mercy... And therefore, I can challenge nothing of right, yet I may ask every thing of mercy, especially being invited by him who feeds not his people with empty promises, but gives liberally unto every one that asks, and upbraids not, either with former sins, or present failings (James 1:5).

From The Wells of Salvation Opened: Or, A Treatise Discovering the nature, preciousness, usefulness of Gospel Promises, and Rules for the right application of them quoted in Living By God's Promises, Joel R. Beeke & James A. La Belle, Reformation Heritage Books, 2010, pg. 40.