Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

October 7
Always First In Fellowship

He goeth before you into Gailee; there shall ye see Him, as He said unto you - Mark 16:7

Where He appointed to meet His disciples, there He would be in due time. Jesus keeps His trust. If He promises to meet us at the mercy seat, or in public worship, or in the ordinances, we may depend upon it that He will be there. We may wickedly stay away from the appointed meeting place, but He never does. He says, "Where two or three are met together in my name, there am I"; He says not, "There will I be," but, "I am there already."

Jesus is always first in fellowship: "He goeth before you." His heart is with His people, His delight is in them, He is never slow to meet them. In all fellowship He goeth before us.

But He reveals Himself to those who come after Him: "There shall ye see him." Joyful sight! We care not to see the greatest of mere men, but to see Him is to be filled with joy and peace. And we shall see Him, for He promises Himself to them. Rest assured that it will be so, for He does everything according to His word of promise: "As he said unto you. Catch at those last words, and be assured that to the end He will do for you "as he said unto you."

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

October?

This afternoon, it was 85 degrees with a heat index of 92 degrees.

 We waited until after dark to walk the dogs tonight.   Didn't help much. . .

 

Still hot tomorrow. . . 

Wasp Nest Update

Remember when Tom was stung and chased down the ladder by wasps back in June?

 Well, several months and three cans of wasp spray later, he managed to get the tree trimmed--including the branch that housed the nest.

 

This is what it looked like in June.

Over the past few months it grew to almost twice that size.  I didn't have the presence of mind to take a picture before Tom trimmed it out, but I did get some good photos of the nest after it came down.

 

 

Been Squeezed Lately?

God can never make us into wine if we object to the fingers He chooses to use to crush us. We say, "If God would only use His own fingers, and make me broken bread and poured-out wine in a special way, then I wouldn’t object!" But when He uses someone we dislike, or some set of circumstances to which we said we would never submit, to crush us, then we object. Yet we must never try to choose the place of our own martyrdom. If we are ever going to be made into wine, we will have to be crushed— you cannot drink grapes. Grapes become wine only when they have been squeezed.

I wonder what finger and thumb God has been using to squeeze you? Have you been as hard as a marble and escaped? 

Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

October 6
The Leadership Of Our Guide

Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all Truth - John 16:13

Truth is like a vast cavern into which we desire to enter, but we are not able to traverse it alone. At the entrance it is clear and bright; but if we would go further and explore its innermost recesses, we must have a guide, or we shall lose ourselves. The Holy Spirit, who knows all truth perfectly, is the appointed guide of all true believers, and He conducts them as they are able to bear it, from one inner chamber to another, so that they behold the deep things of God, and His secret is made plain to them.

What a promise is this for the humbly inquiring mind! We desire to know the truth and to enter into it. We are conscious of our own aptness to err, and we feel the urgent need of a guide. We rejoice that the Holy Spirit is come and abides among us. He condescends to act as a guide to us, and we gladly accept His leadership. "All truth" we wish to learn, that we may not be one-sided and out of balance. We would not be willingly ignorant of any part of revelation lest thereby we should miss blessing or incur sin. The Spirit of God has come that He may guide us into all truth: let us with obedient hearts hearken to His words and follow His lead.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Playoffs Update

Let’s see, how am I doing on my playoff picks?  

Red Sox over the Angels – start off with something positive, Red Sox lead 1-0 with game 2 today.

Yankees over the Indians – I want the Tribe to win because they’ve always been my favorite team. They won big last night and lead the series 1-0, but I picked the Yankees.  Hope I lose this one.

Cubs over Arizona – guess I shouldn’t go with my hunches; Arizona is up 2-0 and only needs to win one of the next three (if it goes that far).  I’m still "root, root, root"ing for the Cubbies.  I want to hear Go Cubs Go at least one more time.

Philadelphia over Colorado – Did I really pick the Phillies and say that Colorado’s magic was over?  Wow, was I way off on this one.  The Rockies lead 2-0 and look great.  

I realize that nothing has been decided yet but my picks aren’t looking too good. Good thing I’m not a gambler.

Tom

And now, how am I doing with MY playoff picks? 

A bit better than Tom!  (I'm just saying. . .)

The Cubs are the only fly in my oinment.  But won't it be wonderful if they overcome this 2 game hole?!  I have faith.

Filed under the category of "things hoped for."

Kim 

Jake

Sam

Still playing with my new toy.

I used a watercolor filter on this photo of Sam. 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

October 5
At God's Bidding

And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men - Micah 5:7

If this be true of the literal Israel, much more is it true of the spiritual Israel, the believing people of God. When saints are what they should be, they are an incalculable blessing to those among whom they are scattered.

They are as the dew; for in a quiet, unobtrusive manner they refresh those around them. Silently but effectually they minister to the life, growth, and joy of those who dwell with them. Coming fresh from heaven, glistening like diamonds in the sun, gracious men and women attend to the feeble and insignificant till each blade of grass has its own drop of dew. Little as individuals, they are, when united, all-sufficient for the purposes of love which the Lord fulfills through them. Dew drops accomplish the refreshing of broad acres. Lord, make us like the dew!

Godly people are as showers which come at God's bidding without man's leave and license. They work for God whether men desire it or not; they no more ask human permission than the rain does. Lord, make us thus boldly prompt and free in Thy service wherever our lot is cast.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

John

 

Playing around with old photos and a new photo editing program.

Isn't he cute?

He's 26 now.

Where did that little boy go? 

Sneaky Dog

Poor Eve is getting old.  Her face is getting whiter and whiter and it looks as though she is wearing white bobby socks.  Another, less attractive sign of aging has happened a time or two when she is in a very deep sleep--she has "leaked" a little.  We keep the couch covered at all times with various blankets and throws and quilts, but her days on the furniture are over, poor thing.  We bought her a soft, thick pillow and have been training her to keep off the furniture.  It's been hit or miss.  We put the ottomons upside down on the couch when we can't keep two eyes on her to shoo her down.  She's trying, but she still sneaks up from time to time. 

She really hasn't been the problem; it's been Ivy.  We decided that we'd have to keep her off the furniture, too, so as not to confuse poor Eve.  Ivy is not happy.  She has always considered the couch her property and her favorite part of the day is when she snuggles with me on the couch in the evening.  With Eve, it is a matter of forgetting--with Ivy, it is outright refusal and rebellion.

 Here's Eve, obediently snoozing on her new pillow.

Ivy was curled up on hers, too, but somehow she got around Jake and Tom (who were watching the Tribe win and not paying attention, apparently) and she found a way to get on the couch.  Look at this:

 

Those pillows that we piled on the end of the couch to keep her off?  Not a problem.  She just hid under them!

Sigh. . .she has a way of outsmarting us, or at least keeping one step ahead. . . 

More Morning Sunshine

In 15 Words or Less Poems

photo by Laura Salas

used by permission 

A Steeping Pot

It's overcast today.
Clouds are forming,
Rain is threatening.
Have a cup with me?

 

Hosted every week at Laura Salas. 

 Hosted this week at . . .whimsy. . .

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

October 4
The Mighty Magnet

And I, if l be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me - John 12:32

Come, ye workers, be encouraged. You fear that you cannot draw a congregation. Try the preaching of a crucified, risen, and ascended Savior; for this is the greatest "draw" that was ever yet manifested among men. What drew you to Christ but Christ? What draws you to Him now but His own blessed self? If you have been drawn to religion by anything else, you will soon be drawn away from it; but Jesus has held you and will hold you even to the end. Why, then, doubt His power to draw other? Go with the name of Jesus to those who have hitherto been stubborn and see if it does not draw them.

No sort of man is beyond this drawing power. Old and young, rich and poor, ignorant and leaned, depraved or amiable--all men shall feel the attractive force. Jesus is the one magnet. Let us not think of any other. Music will not draw to Jesus, neither will eloquence, logic, ceremonial, or noise. Jesus Himself must draw men to Himself; and Jesus is quite equal to the work in every case. Be not tempted by the quackeries of the day; but as workers for the Lord work in His own way, and draw with the Lord's own cords. Draw to Christ, and draw by Christ, for then Christ will draw by you.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Sun Patterns

New season, new light patterns.

I love fall. 

First Round Playoff Predictions

This just in:  Tom's first round Playoff Predictions:

National League:

Philadelphia over Colorado (The Rockies end of season magic comes to an end)

Chicago over Arizona (Just a hunch that the Cubs will make it through the first round)

American League:

Boston over Los Angeles (Red Sox are clearly better)

New York over Cleveland (It pains me to pick New York because the Tribe is my favorite, but Cleveland always struggles against the Yankees)

 Mine?

National League: 

Colorado over Philadelphia (I believe in magic)

Chicago over Arizona (The Cubs MUST win if they are to play the Indians in the World Series.  I have faith.) 

American League:

Boston over Los Angeles (Since Cleveland will be advancing, I'd rather have them play Boston)

Cleveland over New York ( Cleveland always struggles against the Yankees.  Let's not talk like that.  Go Tribe!!)

I KNEW it!!

You Belong in Dublin

Friendly and down to earth, you want to enjoy Europe without snobbery or pretensions. You're the perfect person to go wild on a pub crawl... or enjoy a quiet bike ride through the old part of town.

What European City Do You Belong In?

I've always wanted to go to Ireland. I think my Irish blood calls out for it. Remember that scene in Gone with the Wind where Scarlett's father picks up the clump of red Georgia clay and waxes eloquent about the land? That's what I think of when I think of Ireland. Maybe it's because Gerald O'Hara had such a lovely Irish accent. . .

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

October 3
Reflections Of The Lord's Beauty

As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness - Psalm 17:15

The portion of other men fills their bodies and enriches their children, but the portion of the believer is of another sort. Men of the world have their treasure in this world, but men of the world to come look higher and further.

Our possession is twofold. We have God's presence here and His like-ness hereafter. Here we behold the face of the Lord in righteousness, for we are justified in Christ Jesus. Oh, the joy of beholding the face of a reconciled God! The glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ yields us heaven below, and it will be to us the heaven of heaven above.

But seeing does not end it: we are to be changed into that which we gaze upon. We shall sleep a while and then wake up to find ourselves as mirrors which reflect the beauties of our Lord. Faith sees God with a transforming look. The heart receives the image of Jesus into its own depths, till the character of Jesus is imprinted on the soul. This is satisfaction. To see God and to be like Him-what more can I desire? David's assured confidence is here by the Holy Ghost made to be the Lord's promise. I believe it. I expect it. Lord, vouchsafe it. Amen.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

New Template

So, what do you think?

 Too dark?

Just right? 

Tuesday Linkage

Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast

 Originally posted on Hiraeth April, 2007, edited for clarity