It is difficult to define Hiraeth, but to me it means the consciousness of man being out of his home area and that which is dear to him. That is why it can be felt even among a host of peoples amidst nature's beauty. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
. . like a Christian yearning for Heaven. . .
Friday, September 7, 2007 at 09:27PM 
CAMP PIEDMONT
Wet suits,
Sandy beds;
Boating, swimming, eating.
Bad food,
Good friends;
Singing, laughing, flirting.
You can read more Photo Poems in 15 words or less at Wordy Girls.
You can find more Poetry Friday Poems by clicking on the button in the sidebar.
Want to play along? You can learn more here.
Friday, September 7, 2007 at 07:03AM 
September 7
The Reach of Almighty Grace
It shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. (Hosea 1:10)
Sovereign grace can make strangers into sons, and the Lord here declares His purpose to deal thus with rebels and make them know what He has done. Beloved reader, the Lord has done this in my case; has He done the like for you? Then let us join hands and hearts in praising His adorable name.
Some of us were so decidedly ungodly that the Lord's Word most truly said to our conscience and heart, "Ye are not my people." In the house of God and in our own homes, when we read the Bible, this was the voice of God's Spirit in our soul, "Ye are not my people." Truly a sad, condemning voice it was. But now, in the same places, from the same ministry and Scripture, we hear a voice, which saith, "Ye are the sons of the living God." Can we be grateful enough for this? Is it not wonderful? Does it not give us hope for others? Who is beyond the reach of almighty grace? How can we despair of any, since the Lord has wrought so marvelous a change in us?
He who has kept this one great promise will keep every other; wherefore, let us go forward with songs of adoration and confidence.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Thursday, September 6, 2007 at 06:05AM September 6
A Strong Heart
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)
Wait! Wait! Let your waiting be on the Lord! He is worth waiting for. He never disappoints the waiting soul.
While waiting keep up your spirits, Expect a great deliverance, and be ready to praise God for it.
The promise which should cheer you is in the middle of the verse—"He shall strengthen thine heart." This goes at once to the place where you need help. If the heart be sound, all the rest of the system will work well. The heart wants calming and cheering, and both of these will come if it be strengthened. A forceful heart rests and rejoices and throbs force into the whole man.
No one else can get at that secret urn of life, the heart, so as to pour strength into it. He alone who made it can make it strong. God is full of strength, and, therefore, He can impart it to those who need it. Oh, be brave; for the Lord will impart His strength to you, and you shall be calm in tempest and glad in sorrow.
He who penned these lines can write as David did—"Wait, I say, on the Lord." I do, indeed, say it. I know by long and deep experience that it is good for me to wait upon the Lord.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at 03:36PM 
One week from today, Sept. 12, Leslie from Lux Venit will be hosting the next Recipe Round-up. This month: Soups and Stews! Is there anything more satisfying than a delicious soup and a slice of good bread and butter?
I'm really looking forward to this Round-up, so start thinking about which recipe(s) you will be sharing!
I've got some really good recipes to share, so check back on the 12th!
Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at 07:14AM Here we go!
Pristine and clean. Give it a week and it will sprout kleenexes, food wrappers, empty glasses and plates and paper, paper, paper!
Courses:
Algebra II
Chemistry
French II
English
American Literature
US History and Government
Bible (book of James)
Electives:
1st semester: Food Preparation
2nd semester: "Family Relationships"
aka
Sex, Love and Romance God's Way
Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at 06:28AM Pam, of a rustling of leaves, asks: What suggestions do you have for Women's Bible Studies?
What have you done in the past that really impacted your Christian walk and why?
Studying and memorizing the Shorter Catechism.
Do you favor a workbook with once a day bible study or glean your own from a book that has no questions?
No study guide for me! I detest them. Well, that's strong, but I really think they have a way of limiting conversation and causing people to prepare the questions instead of the lessons.
Do you ever do a video style bible study with the teacher and then you have discussions afterwards?
Have done it once. It was OK.
Do you create your own weekly questions from Scripture as you do a topical, verse by verse
or Book study?
For own study? No. But I take notes and observations. I'm just getting ready to start a study of the book of Hebrews with my study group. We will each be studying a section of the book on our own throughout the week, each using a different commentary, and we'll come together to discuss what we've learned. I'm going to come up with several general questions as a guideline and to sort of keep the conversation going.
Do you do a once a week or once a monthly study? Group study?
I do two studies. One is once a week, the other is every other week. I also study or at least read something theological for myself all the time.
Do you do one-on-one or a group of women?
I've done both, but I prefer a minimum of three to lead a study.
Do you have the study at Church or in a home?
I've done both and believe it or not, I prefer doing it at a more neutral place like church. Homes are wonderful and cozy, but I find that conversations drift more in private homes and it's harder to get to the meat of the study sometimes.
What has not worked for you?
Having small children "playing in the basement." Doesn't work.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at 06:26AM September 5
With Me Wherever I Am
The Lord will be with you. (2 Chronicles 20:17)
This was a great mercy for Jehoshaphat, for a great multitude had come out against him; and it will be a great mercy for me, for I have great need, and I have no might or wisdom. If the Lord be with me, it matters little who may desert me. If the Lord be with me, I shall conquer in the battle of life, and the greater my trials the more glorious will be my victory. How can I be sure that the Lord is with me?
For certain He is with me if I am with Him. If I trust in His faithfulness, believe His words, and obey His commands, He is assuredly with me. If I am on Satan's side, God is against me and cannot be otherwise; but if I live to honor God, I may be sure that He will honor me.
I am quite sure that God is with me if Jesus is my sole and only Savior. If I have placed my soul in the hands of God's only-begotten Son, then I may be sure that the Father will put forth all His power to preserve me, that His Son may not be dishonored.
Oh, for faith to take hold upon the short but sweet text for today! O Lord, fulfill this word to Thy servant! Be with me in the house, in the street, in the field, in the shop, in company, and alone. Be Thou also with all Thy people.
(And be with me and so many other teachers and students today as another year of schooling begins. . .)
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at 12:33PM 
I'm not much of a joiner or an enter-er but I can't resist this one! Tim Challies has teamed up with Monergism Books and will be giving away three prizes in the Great September Giveaway:
* First prize: All six available volumes of the Reformed Expository Commentary series. * Second prize: Any three volumes of the Reformed Expository Commentary series (to be selected by the winner). * Third Prize: Any one volume of the Reformed Expository Commentary series (to be selected by the winner).I'm about half way through my first Reformed Expository Commentary (Hebrews) and it is fantastic! If you'd like to enter, you can click on the banner at the top of this post. If you do, I'll get credit for another entry. Once you register, you can do the same! Someone is going to win these great books; might as well be you (or me!)
Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at 07:51AM 
CHAPTER V
Of Providence
CHAPTER VI
Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof
Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at 06:09AM September 4
Victory Without Battle
But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the Lord their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen. (Hosea 1:7)
Precious word. Jehovah Himself will deliver His people in the greatness of His mercy, but He will not do it by the ordinary means. Men are slow to render to God the glory due unto His name. If they go to battle with sword and bow and win the victory, they ought to praise their God; yet they do not, but begin to magnify their own right arm and glory in their horses and horsemen. For this reason our Jehovah often determines to save His people without second means, that all the honor may be to Himself alone.
Look, then, my heart, to the Lord alone and not to man. Expect to see God all the more clearly when there is no one else to look to. If I have no friend, no adviser, no one at my back, let me be none the less confident if I can feel that the Lord Himself is on my side; yea, let me be glad if He gives victory without battle, as the text seems to imply. Why do I ask for horses and horsemen if Jehovah Himself has mercy upon me and lifts up His arm for my defense! Why need I bow or sword if God will save? Let me trust and not be afraid from this day forth and for evermore. Amen.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Monday, September 3, 2007 at 06:38AM What a wonderful, relaxing week we had at Big Crooked Lake, Wisconsin. Unlike much of the rain soaked Mid West, the North Woods have been dry, dry, dry this year, so we had about 30 more feet of beach to enjoy. Just look at the difference!
Monday, September 3, 2007 at 06:36AM September 3
Out of Spiritual Death
And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves. (Ezekiel 37:13)
Indeed it must be so: those who receive life from the dead are sure to recognize the hand of the Lord in such a resurrection. This is the greatest and most remarkable of all changes that a man can undergo—to be brought out of the grave of spiritual death and made to rejoice in the light and liberty of spiritual life. None could work this but the living God, the Lord and giver of life.
Ah, me! How well do I remember when I was lying in the valley full of dry bones, as dry as any of them! Blessed was the day when free and sovereign grace sent the man of God to prophesy upon me! Glory be to God for the stirring which that word of faith caused among the dry bones. More blessed still was that heavenly breath from the four winds which made me live! Now know I the quickening Spirit of the ever-living Jehovah, Truly Jehovah is the living God, for He made me live. My new life even in its pinings and sorrowings is clear proof to me that the Lord can kill and make alive. He is the only God. He is all that is great, gracious, and glorious, and my quickened soul adores Him as the great I AM. All glory be unto His sacred name! As long as I live I will praise Him.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Sunday, September 2, 2007 at 08:06AM "The ability to quote is a serviceable substitute for wit."
--W. Somerset Maugham
Sunday, September 2, 2007 at 05:55AM September 2
Follow to Know
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord. (Hosea 6:3)
Not all at once, but by degrees shall we attain to holy knowledge, and our business is to persevere and learn by little and little. We need not despair, though our progress may be slow, for we shall yet know. The Lord, who has become our Teacher, will not give us up, however slow of understanding we may be; for it is not for His honor that any degree of human folly should baffle His skill. The Lord delights to make the simple wise.
Our duty is to keep to our main topic and follow on to know, not this peculiar doctrine nor that, but Jehovah Himself. To know Father, Son, and Spirit, the Triune God, this is life eternal. let us keep to this, for in this way we shall gain complete instruction. By following on to know the Lord, we learn healing after being torn, binding up after smiting, and life after death. Experience has its perfect work when the heart follows the trackway of the almighty Lord.
My soul, keep thou close to Jesus, follow on to know God in Jesus, and so shalt thou come to the knowledge of Christ, which is the most excellent of all the sciences. The Holy Ghost will lead thee into all truth. Is not this His gracious offiice? Rely upon Him to fulfill it.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Saturday, September 1, 2007 at 06:43AM September 1
Abiding in Obedience, in Love
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love. (John 15:10)
These things cannot be parted -- abiding in obedience and abiding in the love of Jesus. A life under the rule of Christ can alone prove that we are the objects of our Lord's delight. We must keep our Lord's command if we would bask in His love. If we live in sin we cannot live in the love of Christ. Without the holiness which pleases God we cannot please Jesus. He who cares nothing for holiness knows nothing of the love of Jesus.
Conscious enjoyment of our Lord's love is a delicate thing. It is far more sensitive to sin and holiness than mercury is to cold and heat. When we are tender of heart and careful in thought, lip, and life to honor our Lord Jesus, then we receive tokens of His love without number. If we desire to perpetuate such bliss we must perpetuate holiness. The Lord Jesus will not hide His face from us unless we hide our face from Him. Sin makes the cloud which darkens our Sun: if we will be watchfully obedient and completely consecrated we may walk in the light, as God is in the light, and have as sure an abiding in the love of Jesus as Jesus has in the love of the Father. Here is a sweet promise with a solemn "if," Lord, let me have this "if" in my hand; for as a key it opens this casket.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Friday, August 31, 2007 at 05:51AM August 31
Divine, Ever-Living, Unchanging
But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:25)
All human teaching and, indeed, all human beings shall pass away as the grass of the meadow; but we are here assured that the Word of the Lord is of a very different character, for it shall endure forever.
We have here a divine gospel; for what word can endure forever but that which is spoken by the eternal God?
We have here an ever-living gospel, as full of vitality as when it first came from the lips of God; as strong to convince and convert, to regenerate and console, to sustain and sanctify as ever it was in its first days of wonder-working.
We have an unchanging gospel which is not today green grass and tomorrow dry hay but always the abiding truth of the immutable Jehovah. Opinions alter, but truth certified by God can no more change than the God who uttered it.
Here, then, we have a gospel to rejoice in, a word of the Lord upon which we may lean all our weight. "For ever" includes life, death, judgment, and eternity. Glory be to God in Christ Jesus for everlasting consolation. Feed on the word today and all the days of thy life.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 06:34AM August 30
Solace, Security, Satisfaction
Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow. (2 Samuel 23:5)
This is not so much one promise as an aggregate of promises -- a box of pearls. the covenant is the ark which contains all things.
These are the last words of David, but they may be mine today. Here is a sigh: things are not with me and mine as I could wish; there are trials, cares, and sins. These make the pillow hard.
Here is a solace -- "He hath made with me an everlasting covenant." Jehovah has pledged Himself to me, and sealed the compact with the blood of Jesus. I am bound to my God and my God to me.
This brings into prominence a security, since this covenant is everlasting, well ordered, and sure. There is nothing to fear from the lapse of time, the failure of some forgotten point, or the natural uncertainty of things. The covenant is a rocky foundation to build on for life or for death.
David feels satisfaction: he wants no more for salvation or delectation. He is delivered, and he is delighted. The covenant is all a man can desire.
O my soul, turn thou this day to thy Lord Jesus, whom the great Lord has given to be a covenant to the people. Take Him to be thine all in all.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Wednesday, August 29, 2007 at 08:47AM 
Tuna Brownies