Tried With Fire

Do not look back — as Lot's wife did. Do not look within — as too many do. Do not look around — as David did. But "look up!" Look up to God — He is your Father, your Friend, your Savior. He can help you. He will help you. He says, "Look unto Me, and be delivered — for I am God!" Look up for light to guide you — and He will direct your path. Look up for grace to sanctify you — and the grace of Jesus will be found sufficient for you. Look up for strength to enable you to do and suffer God's will — and His strength will be made perfect in your weakness. Look up for comfort to cheer you — and as one whom his mother comforts, so will the Lord comfort you. Look up for courage to embolden you — and the Lord will give courage to the faint; and to those who have no might — He will increase strength. Look up for endurance to keep you — and the God who preserves you will enable you quietly to bear the heaviest burden, and silently to endure the most painful afflictio...

And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. Rev. 21:5 That same Spirit of God who taught us that we were ruined in our old estate, led us gently by the hand till we came to the New Covenant promise and looked to Jesus, and saw in Him the full atonement for sin. Happy discovery for us, it was the kindling of new life in us. From the moment that we trusted in Jesus, a new life darted into our spirit. I am not going to say which is first, the new birth, or faith, or repentance. Nobody can tell which spoke of a wheel moves first, it moves as a whole. The moment the divine life comes into the heart we believe; the moment we believe the eternal life is there. We repent because we believe, and believe while we repent. The life that we live in the flesh is no longer according to the lusts of the world, but we live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us. Our spiritual life is a new-born thing, the creation of the Spirit of life. We have, of...

Beloved friends, as the Lord has graciously spared us to enter upon another portion of time, it befits us to ask: How shall we begin it? Much often depends on the beginning. It is important to begin well. Let us reflect. Let us inquire. Let us decide. Shall we not begin it in FAITH? This is the stay, the staff, the stimulus of the soul. Let us afresh exercise faith in God as our Father — in Jesus as our Savior — in the Holy Spirit as our Comforter. Let us believe the love which God has to us — that "God is love." Let us take up the promises as the pledges and proofs of his love. He made them to inform us, to cheer us, to draw out our love to him, and our confidence in him. He will fulfill them. He never violated a promise yet. He never will. It is impossible for God to lie, or to prove unfaithful. His throne is not more stable than his promise . Let us therefore believe the word, seek the blessings, and expect the favors. He has promised us . . . wisdom — to understand...

I am thankful for... - A week with extended family over Christmas. We enjoyed one another's company and ate far too much food. I am especially thankful that my parents are still with us and how sacrificially my sister and brother-in-law serve them. - My daughter completed her Associate's degree this month and will be continuing her education at a local university after the New Year. She worked very hard, and I am very proud of her. As Providence would have it, a brother in our church will be her academic advisor, which is another blessing. - A pastor who stretches his congregation theologically and a local church that rises to the challenge. I am also thankful for a church where there is no dichotomy between sound doctrine and practical Christian living. - God who is immutable and impassible. This is a great comfort when the world seems to be in constant flux. This is also an unshakeable anchor for my soul in the coming year.

What do you want to experience, to have, to do, to enjoy, and be preserved from in the New Year? James Smith, Spurgeon's predecessor at the New Park Street Chapel, has a few suggestions, and I couldn't ask for anything better for my loved ones or myself. Read more  here .

"You have not passed this way before." Joshua 3:4 How solemn is the reflection that with a new cycle of time, commences a new and untrodden path with each traveler to Zion. New events in his history will transpire; new scenes in the panorama of life will unfold; new phases of character will develop; new temptations will assail; new duties will devolve; new trials will be experienced; new sorrows will be felt; new friendships will be formed; new mercies will be bestowed. How truly may it be said of the pilgrim, journeying through the wilderness to his eternal home, as he stands upon the threshold of this untried period of his existence, pondering the unknown and uncertain future, "You have not passed this way before." But there is another thought inexpressibly soothing. Untried, untrodden, and unknown as that new path may be, it is each step mapped and arranged, and provided for in the everlasting and unchangeable covenant of God. To Him who l...

“I will never leave you, nor forsake you ” has been proven by God’s saints in all the ages that are past. Turn to the pages of your Bibles and see if ever a man was ashamed that put his trust in Christ! See if he that wrestled with the invisible God was ever confounded. Has not the Lord stayed with His people at all hazards—broken the necks of kings and scattered empires like chaff before the wind sooner than that one of His faithful ones should come to ruin? It has been so even in your own experience. You, too, have found the text to be true. You have gone through fire and through water, but He has never left you nor forsaken you! Your vessel scarcely had enough water to stay off the bottom, but though she had almost grated on the gravel, yet she has kept afloat and though, perhaps, you have been wrecked, yet you have come safely to shore. You have lost much, you say, but you have been a gainer by your loss and where you are today you are by et...

Our follies past forgive; Our souls divinely cheer; And help us more to thee to live, Dear Lord, in this new year. Samuel Medley

This time last year, I prayed that God would restore my joy. My verse for 2009 was 1 Peter 1:8, Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory . God was faithful and restored my joy. He even restored my odd sense of humor. I probably laughed more in 2009 than the previous three years combined, even though this was a hard year emotionally. It just proves the power of God's grace. It seems like a lifetime was rolled into one year considering all that happened in 2009. I am so grateful to the Lord for upholding us through this difficult season. I am so grateful to the church and saints who have prayed and stood with us. As 2010 draws nigh, I am praying for hope. The coming year is full of unknowns and more change. I dislike unknowns, and I don't like change. I also realize that I am somewhat afraid to hope. Perhaps it's because the one thing I hoped and prayed for was answered with a "no...