Tried With Fire

Shall trial shake us? Nay, in all this we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. Shall sorrow move us? Faith tells us of a land where sorrow is unknown. Shall the death of saints move us? Faith tells us not to sorrow as those who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, them also that sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. Shall the pains and weariness of this frail body move us? Faith tells us of a time at hand when this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and death shall be swallowed up in victory. Shall privation move us? Faith tells us of a day when the poverty of our exile shall be forgotten in the abundance of our peaceful, plenteous home, where we shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more. Shall the disquieting bustle of this restless life annoy us? Faith tells us of the rest that remaineth for the people of God—the sea of glass like unto crystal on which the ransomed saints shall stand—no tempest, no tumult, no shipwreck there. Sh...

Congratulations to Ray, providential winner of Night of Weeping and Morning of Joy by Horatius Bonar and the Matthew Smith CD. Thanks to everyone who entered!

It's time for the last giveaway of 2012! I'll be giving away one copy of Night of Weeping and Morning of Joy by Horatius Bonar, the 19th century Scottish theologian.  In  Night of Weeping ,  Bonar deals with suffering in the life of the believer. He writes from the perspective that this is the family badge of the people of God. But rather than being punitive in nature, our Heavenly Father deals with us in love and faithfulness. "He is too faithful a Father to suffer sin in his children unreproved."  1 In  Morning of Joy , Bonar writes of the consolation we find in the hope of spending eternity with the Lord: "Beyond the death-bed and beyond the grave, she (the church) sees resurrection. Beyond the broken hearts and severed bands of time, she realizes and clasps the eternal love-links; beyond the troubles of the hour, and beyond the storm that is to wreck the world, she casts her eye, and feels as if transported into the kingdom that cannot be moved, as...

Shall the disquieting bustle of this restless life annoy us? Faith tells us of the rest that remaineth for the people of God - the sea of glass like unto crystal on which the ransomed saints shall stand - no tempest, no tumult, no shipwreck there. Shall the lack of this world's honors move us? Faith tells us of the exceeding and eternal weight of glory in reserve. Have we no place to lay our head? Faith tells us that we have a home, though not in Caesar's house, a dwelling not in any city of earth. Are we fearful as we look around upon the disorder and wretchedness of this misgoverened earth? Faith tells us that the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Do thoughts of death alarm us? Faith tells us that "to die is gain" and whispers to us, "What, are you afraid of becoming immortal, afraid of passing from this state of death, which men call life, to that which alone truly deserves the name!" Such is the family life - a life of faith. We live upon things unsee...

If you've had an old physical injury, there are times when you feel a twinge even though the damage was done years ago. I wonder if this is the case when you've gone through a trial? God mends broken hearts. You go on by His grace. But like an old war wound, the pain can be triggered unexpectedly. I was listening to an audiobook this week-end when a plot twist brought so many memories to mind, painful ones that I thought were laid to rest. I was surprised because I didn't expect to feel such sadness again. God's grace has healed so many hurts, but there's a grief for the brokenness of this world that may not go away in this life. Even though God has put joy in my heart once more, I don't think I can stop mourning for the sin that tramples over so many lives. But maybe these war wounds are a good thing. Our past experiences change how we pray for those in similar circumstances. Sympathy becomes empathy, and we can comfort with the comfort wherewith we were ...