Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening:

From Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening:(Biblesoft, PC Study Bible)

For me the morning reading was tough! I long for the day’s when I was red hot for the Lord when I first began. Seems I’ve been in the desert for years for how many I know not.

I think it started in 08. The process of loosing every thing, my home, savings, investments, having to retire early because of health issues.

Thankfully I have a home, am able to pay my bills though that’s all I can do, after that I’m broke, my wife buys food. That’s it, that’s all there is. My body is falling apart, I’m in pain most days, all day.

Seems I’m just waiting to go home.

I pray and talk to Him daily and don’t seem to hear from Him at least the way I used too. Still I know I’m protected by Him.

I know I am protected by the Lord and His grace, still it seems I’m stuck, can’t get ahead no mater what I try.

When I realize where I am I pray for His mercy every day and ask for help.

I know not what’s wrong but I know,

Rom 8:26-36

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
NIV

So, hears the readings,

Day 11

03/11/AM

“Sin . . . exceeding sinful.”
— Rom 7:13

Beware of light thoughts of sin. At the time of conversion, the conscience is so tender, that we are afraid of the slightest sin. Young converts have a holy timidity, a godly fear lest they should offend against God. But alas! very soon the fine bloom upon these first ripe fruits is removed by the rough handling of the surrounding world: the sensitive plant of young piety turns into a willow in after life, too pliant, too easily yielding. It is sadly true, that even a Christian may grow by degrees so callous, that the sin which once startled him does not alarm him in the least. By degrees men get familiar with sin. The ear in which the cannon has been booming will not notice slight sounds. At first a little sin startles us; but soon we say, “Is it not a little one?” Then there comes another, larger, and then another, until by degrees we begin to regard sin as but a little ill; and then follows an unholy presumption: “We have not fallen into open sin. True, we tripped a little, but we stood upright in the main. We may have uttered one unholy word, but as for the most of our conversation, it has been consistent.” So we palliate sin; we throw a cloak over it; we call it by dainty names. Christian, beware how thou thinkest lightly of sin. Take heed lest thou fall by little and little. Sin, a little thing? Is it not a poison? Who knows its deadliness? Sin, a little thing? Do not the little foxes spoil the grapes? Doth not the tiny coral insect build a rock which wrecks a navy? Do not little strokes fell lofty oaks? Will not continual droppings wear away stones? Sin, a little thing? It girded the Redeemer’s head with thorns, and pierced His heart! It made Him suffer anguish, bitterness, and woe. Could you weigh the least sin in the scales of eternity, you would fly from it as from a serpent, and abhor the least appearance of evil. Look upon all sin as that which crucified the Saviour, and you will see it to be “exceeding sinful.”
(from Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 1999, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Day 11

03/11/PM

“Thou shalt be called, Sought out.”
— Isa 62:12

The surpassing grace of God is seen very clearly in that we were not only sought, but sought out. Men seek for a thing which is lost upon the floor of the house, but in such a case there is only seeking, not seeking out. The loss is more perplexing and the search more persevering when a thing is sought out. We were mingled with the mire: we were as when some precious piece of gold falls into the sewer, and men gather out and carefully inspect a mass of abominable filth, and continue to stir and rake, and search among the heap until the treasure is found. Or, to use another figure, we were lost in a labyrinth; we wandered hither and thither, and when mercy came after us with the gospel, it did not find us at the first coming, it had to search for us and seek us out; for we as lost sheep were so desperately lost, and had wandered into such a strange country, that it did not seem possible that even the Good Shepherd should track our devious roamings. Glory be to unconquerable grace, we were sought out! No gloom could hide us, no filthiness could conceal us, we were found and brought home. Glory be to infinite love, God the Holy Spirit restored us!

The lives of some of God’s people, if they could be written would fill us with holy astonishment. Strange and marvellous are the ways which God used in their case to find His own. Blessed be His name, He never relinquishes the search until the chosen are sought out effectually. They are not a people sought to-day and cast away to-morrow. Almightiness and wisdom combined will make no failures, they shall be called, “Sought out!” That any should be sought out is matchless grace, but that we should be sought out is grace beyond degree! We can find no reason for it but God’s own sovereign love, and can only lift up our heart in wonder, and praise the Lord that this night we wear the name of “Sought out.”
(from Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 1999, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

As always, God bless America and you.

If your a Christian I know you’ve been here.

I’ve been going through it for some time now with small intervals of peace. You know the place in the desert where your all alone, it seems. When it seems like prayer stops at the ceiling, like you might as well be praying to yourself. Where you continue to struggle, wrestle and it just seems like things get worst. I’ve been here many times in my Christian walk and like all the times before, it works out. Turns out just fine and I become that much closer to God and my faith strengthened. Praise be to God! It’s just a rough place to be I’m sure you would agree especially after enjoying God’s peace for a long time.

I caught the tail end of The Hall Lindsey Report last weekend on DayStar. He was talking about faith and breaking “The Faith Barrier”. It was so right on time and I had never heard it explained like this and wanted to share encase someone may find themselves in the same situation. i found it in written for online. Take the time to read it all the way through, it to long I think to copy the whole thing here.

Here’s the first page, follow the link afterwards.

Journey To God’s Rest
#7 Breaking Through the Faith Barrier
“Chuck Yeager, a pilot in WWII, climbed into the cockpit of an experimental, rocket-powered
aircraft dubbed the Bell X-1, which was attached under the belly of a B-29 bomber. Up in
the stratosphere he was thrown back against the seat as he ignited the rocket engines and
rapidly accelerated toward what the test pilots had nicknamed “the demon that lurks at the
speed of sound.” As he approached the speed of sound, the plane shook violently; he thought
it would disintegrate at any moment. The control stick shook violently. Just as it seemed the
craft would rip apart, there was a loud boom and all became quiet and serene inside the
cockpit. The buffeting stopped, the controls responded again and the mach meter had
zoomed past mach one. Man had cracked the sound barrier. There were still great pressures
on the outside of the craft, but turbulent air had shifted from the leading edge to the rear.
“He was flying smooth and stable and the screaming noise and violent air was left behind as
he soared toward the dark blue edge of the earth’s atmosphere.”
Is there a Faith Barrier? We all have to “break through” the faith barrier in our lives. It is
very difficult to penetrate. To “crack the faith barrier,” we must STAND STILL and EXERT
NO HUMAN EFFORT which defies our human experience and logic.
We MUST learn to depend upon God and not self.
What causes the Faith Barrier? As we approach a circumstance, trial, etc., in our life, there
are great pressures and turbulences that fight against our feelings and experiences.
We are prone to use our own limited strength and knowledge.
At times, it is very difficult to stop trying and simply believe the Lord’s promises.
When you finally “crack through the faith barrier,” you will find the most wonderful
experience of God’s rest. It is an inner peace and strength that defies all external
circumstances.
Truth: “Even though the pressures and problems still exist, you will experience an incredible
peace and assurance in your heart. Amazing works are produced through you while you are
resting in the Lord, because it is not your effort that is the source, but the Holy Spirit’s.”
Point to Ponder: If I don’t “crack the faith barrier,” I will not have a victorious Christian life
that is fruitful for the Lord.
Hebrews introduces the principle of how to “crack the faith barrier” and enter God’s rest.
The only way to enter God’s rest is by FAITH.
Background of Hebrews: Written around AD 66 to the Hebrew-Christian community in
Jerusalem. This is shortly before the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman Tenth legion which
began in AD 68. They destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in AD 70. There was severe
persecution of Christians during a few years before the siege”. Read the rest here. Journey To God’s Rest #7 Breaking Through the Faith Barrier  Can’t you just relate to the opening part of the sound barrier being broke in you’r Christian walk, when you’r going through it? When you’re faith is being stretched, when it’s time to go through some trials, when it’s time to grow some more, time to take part some more in His sufferings, time to become conformed more into His image. “As he approached the speed of sound, the plane shook violently; he thought it would disintegrate at any moment”, “The control stick shook violently. Just as it seemed the craft would rip apart, there was a loud boom and all became quiet and serene inside the cockpit.” “There were still great pressures on the outside of the craft, but turbulent air had shifted from the leading edge to the rear. “He was flying smooth and stable and the screaming noise and violent air was left behind as he soared toward the dark blue edge of the earth’s atmosphere.”  Remember in past experience when you’ve come through it all? Strike that, when He’s brought you through it all!

Encase you’ve forgotten it or for some reason never seen it or read it. I have it hanging on the wall in my bedroom. Footprints in the Sand. 

 

This one would be a good desk top back ground. The footprints of God.

I want to share something I read this weekend from my devotional now that goes right along with this. “As long as Jesus is one of many options, He is no option. As long as you can carry your burdens alone, you don’t need a burden bearer. As long as your situation brings you no grief, you will receive no comfort. As long as you can take Him or leave Him, you might as well leave Him, because He won’t be taken halfheartedly. 

 “But when you mourn , when you get to the point of sorrow for your sins, when you admit that you have no other options but to cast all your cares on Him, and when there is truly no other name that you can call, them cast all your cares on Him, for He waiting in the mist of the storm”. Max Lucado.

If I’m honest, I find myself most always having some sort of back up plan if God doesn’t move or answer a prayer. If I look back on my walk I guess it’s always been like that. God has blessed me so much in spite of it though and I have enjoyed His peace before many times, for long periods of time. There is nothing like it in the world to be compared to. Guess it’s time to drop all other options. What a scary thought. God have mercy on me.

Remember 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  For some good readings check out the books of 1st and 2nd Peter.

God bless America and you.

Peace with GOD and a recent trial.

 Man, just went through a months worth of trials. Haven’t had one for awhile.
Loving the peace of the LORD again!
In the morning I love to sit out on the porch enjoy the view, the peace of the Lord and the morning with my cup of coffee and a smoke.

I mad the fatal mistake (not really mistake) of when talking to my mechanic friend who is a Christian, (BTW if you live in Hemet check out D&R Auto good honest Christian mechanic) and while sharing I told him that I finally understood the LORDS “Unconditional Love” referring to my fiance.

Always had a problem with love and relationships when I was younger and especially before I became a Christian.

I’m sure like many I was very selfish.

I don’t have kids so I can’t say I know about that kind of unconditional love, have a whole bunch of nephews and nieces though so I guess I kind of know a little about it.

Anyways the LORD in his infinite widow, shortly after making the statement to my friend decided to show me I don’t know jack about unconditional love.

I couldn’t figure out what was going on, we where in the mist of a move too, just to add a little more stress and fun to the mix.
What did I do wrong, what do you want from me, praying, asking for wisdom, on and on. You know the drill.

It was like asking for humility, we all know how that works out.LOL

Anyways HIS peace came back a couple of days ago.

One morning while sitting on my porch the LORD reminded me of my statement and the conversation and HIS peace was back.

Immediate prayer, thank you LORD and bless YOUR name. Thank YOU for YOUR unconditional love and care.

Just felt the need to share.