Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

August 29
Plentiful Refreshment

Their soul shall be as a watered garden. (Jeremiah 31:12)

Oh, to have one's soul under heavenly cultivation; no longer a wilderness but a garden of the Lord! Enclosed from the waste, walled around by grace, planted by instruction, visited by love, weeded by heavenly discipline, and guarded by divine power, one's favored soul is prepared to yield fruit unto the Lord.

But a garden may become parched for want of water, and then all its herbs decline and are ready to die. O my soul, how soon would this be the case were the Lord to leave thee! In the East, a garden without water soon ceases to be a garden at all: nothing can come to perfection, grow, or even live. When irrigation is kept up, the result is charming. Oh, to have one's soul watered by the Holy Spirit uniformly -- every part of the garden having its own stream; plentifully -- a sufficient refreshment coming to every tree and herb, however thirsty by nature it may be; continually -- each hour bringing not only its heat, but its refreshment; wisely -- each plant receiving just what it needs. In a garden you can see by the verdure where the water flows, and you can soon perceive when the Spirit of God comes.

O Lord, water me this day and cause me to yield Thee a full reward for Jesus' sake. Amen.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

From Russia. . .

I hope it's a good review. . .anybody read Russian?

Update on Monday, September 3, 2007 at 06:17AM by Kim from Hiraeth

Kyle tells us in the comments that this is a Turkish blog--not Russian.

Turkish, Russian?  It's all Greek to me!                      : D 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

August 28
Out of Any Circumstance

As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. (Psalm 55:16)

Yes, I must and will pray. What else can I do! What better can I do? Betrayed, forsaken, grieved, baffled, O my Lord, I will call upon Thee. My Ziklag is in ashes, and men speak of stoning me; but I encourage my heart in the Lord, who will bear me through this trial as He has borne me through so many others. Jehovah shall save me; I am sure He will, and I declare my faith.

The Lord and no one else shall save me. I desire no other helper and would not trust in an arm of flesh even if I could. I will cry to Him evening, and morning, and noon, and I will cry to no one else, for He is all sufficient.

How He will save me I cannot guess; but He will do it, I know. He will do it in the best and surest way, and He will do it in the largest, truest, and fullest sense. Out of this trouble and all future troubles the great I AM will bring me as surely as He lives; and when death comes and all the mysteries of eternity follow thereon, still will this be true: "the Lord shall save me." This shall be my song all through this autumn day. Is it not as a ripe apple from the tree of life? I will feed upon it. How sweet it is to my taste!

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Can She Excuse My Wrongs?

Sting, Songs from the Labyrinth

A rather lengthy interview about the background of "Songs from the Labyrinth"

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

August 27
Choice Men

I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. (Isaiah 48:10)

This has long been the motto fixed before our eye upon the wall of our bedroom, and in many ways it has also been written on our heart. It is no mean thing to be chosen of God. God's choice makes chosen men choice men. Better to be the elect of God than the elect of a whole nation. So eminent is this privilege, that whatever drawback may be joined to it we very joyfully accept it, even as the Jew ate the bitter herbs for the sake of the Paschal Lamb. We choose the furnace, since God chooses us in it.

We are chosen as an afflicted people and not as a prosperous people, chosen not in the palace but in the furnace. In the furnace beauty is marred, fashion is destroyed, strength is melted, glory is consumed, and yet here eternal love reveals its secrets and declares its choice. So has it been in our case. In times of severest trial God has made to us our calling and election plain, and we have made it sure: then have we chosen the Lord to be our God, and He has shown that we are assuredly His chosen. Therefore, if today the furnace be heated seven times hotter, we will not dread it, for the glorious Son of God will walk with us amid the glowing coals.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Westminster Confession of Faith

Unless it's raining, I'm lolling at the lake this afternoon, reading Richard Phillips' commentary on Hebrews or maybe Packer's Faithfulness and Holiness so I can't post a link to Kyle's Sunday post on the Westminster Confession of Faith, so scoot over there and see if he's posted it up for you yet.  Go on.  Chapter VI this week.  I'll catch up when we get home. . .

Quote of the Week: Ryle

The longer I live, the more I am convinced that the world needs no new Gospel, as some profess to think.  I am thoroughly persuaded that the world needs nothing but a bold, full, unflinching teaching of the "old paths."  The heart of man is the same in every age."

J.C. Ryle

as quoted in Faithfulness and Holiness, by J.I.  Packer

“ Stand in the ways and see,
      And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,
      And walk in it;
      Then you will find rest for your souls. 

Jeremiah 6:16 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

August 26
He of Tender Conscience

I will judge between cattle and cattle. (Ezekiel 34:22)

Some are fat and flourishing, and therefore they are unkind to the feeble. This is a grievous sin and causes much sorrow. Those thrustings with side and with shoulder, those pushings of the diseased with the horn, are a sad means of offense in the assemblies of professing believers. The Lord takes note of these proud and unkind deeds, and He is greatly angered by them, for He loves the weak.

Is the reader one of the despised? Is he a mourner in Zion and a marked man because of his tender conscience? Do his brethren judge him harshly? Let him not resent their conduct; above all let him not push and thrust in return. Let him leave the matter in the Lord's hands. He is the Judge. Why should we wish to intrude upon His office? He will decide much more righteously than we can. His time for judgment is the best, and we need not be in a hurry to hasten it on. Let the hard-hearted oppressor tremble. Even though he may ride roughshod over others with impunity for the present, all his proud speeches are noted, and for every one of them account must be given before the bar of the great Judge.

Patience, my soul! Patience! The Lord knoweth thy grief. Thy Jesus hath pity upon thee!

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Time to put up the "Gone Fishin' " sign

Well, not exactly; I'm going to be doing the kind of fishing the guy in Norman Rockwell's painting is doing! That's right!  R and R. 

I am going to be taking a "last week of summer--last week before school starts" break .  We're heading out to the North Woods in the morning.

I've got some stuff ready to post automatically, but regular posting won't resume until after Labor Day. Might even be a little sketchy for a week or two after that, while we get our home school routines established.

Books I'm taking this year:

Bible
Hebrews Commentary by Richard Phillips
Faithfulness and Holiness by J. I. Packer
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

August 25
Food and Rest

I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God. (Ezekiel 34:15)

Under the divine shepherdry saints are fed to the full. Theirs is not a windy, unsatisfying mess of mere human "thought," but the Lord feeds them upon the solid, substantial truth of divine revelation. There is real nutriment for the soul in Scripture brought home to the heart by the Holy Spirit. Jesus Himself is the true life-sustaining Food of believers. Here our Great Shepherd promises that such sacred nourishment shall be given us by His own self. If, on the Lord's Day, our earthly shepherd is empty-handed, the Lord is not.

When filled with holy truth the mind rests. Those whom Jehovah feeds are at peace. No dog shall worry them, no wolf shall devour them, no restless propensities shall disturb them. They shall lie down and digest the food which they have enjoyed. The doctrines of grace are not only sustaining but consoling: in them we have the means for building up and lying down. If preachers do not give us rest, let us look to the Lord for it.

This day may the Lord cause us to feed in the pastures of the Word and make us to lie down in them. May no folly and no worry but meditation and peace mark this day.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Poetry Friday: Escalator Down

 

photo credit Laura Salas
used by permission

 ESCALATOR DOWN

Attention required
only at the end

Bad policy
for escalators

Bad policy
for life

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. 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

August 24
God Above Human Philosophy

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. (1 Corinthians 1:19)

This verse is a threatening so far as the worldly wise are concerned, but to the simple believer it is a promise. The professedly learned are forever trying to bring to nothing the faith of the humble believer, but they fail in their attempts. Their arguments break down, their theories fall under their own weight, their deep-laid plots discover themselves before their purpose is accomplished. The old gospel is not extinct yet, nor will it be while the Lord liveth. If it could have been exterminated, it would have perished from off the earth long ago.

We cannot destroy the wisdom of the wise, nor need we attempt it, for the work is in far better hands. The Lord Himself says, "I will," and He never resolves in vain. Twice does He in this verse declare His purpose, and we may rest assured that He will not turn aside from it.

What clean work the Lord makes of philosophy and "modern thought" when He puts His hand to it! He brings the fine appearance down to nothing; He utterly destroys the wood, hay, and stubble. It is written that so it shall be, and so shall it be. Lord, make short work of it. Amen, and amen.

Better Book Reading

5 Tips for Better Book Reading.  When I saw this link over at Challies.Com you KNOW I just had to follow.  I'll let you go to the link to read Stephen Altrogge's whole post, but I've cherry picked his "five" seven tips and invite you to respond as well:

Read Books By Dead People

    I've never read a book written by a dead person, (**grin**) but I suspect that at least 85 percent of all the books I read have been written by men who have long since died.

 Find A Dead Historical Hero

   Mine is Jonathan Edwards.  In every way, his writings have challenged not only my thinking but the way I think.

Read Books Recommended By Godly Men
    My love for theology and the Puritan writers was born out of the recommendations of a good friend of mine, Pilgrim, from The Highway.  My life has been immeasurably enriched by the example he set for me in the reading and study of good books through the recommendations he has made over the years.

Read Books That Make You Laugh
    I don't doubt that this is a great tip, but I can't really say that I've read all that many funny books.  Or at least, nothing comes to mind at present.  Do you have any recommendations for me?

Read Biographies of Godly Men and Women
    I recommend the 2 volume biography of the life of The Doctor, Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, by Iaian Murray.  His biography of Jonathan Edwards is also recommended, as is the George Marsden's bio of Edwards.  If you could only recommend one biography, what would it be?

Read One Good Book Over and Over
    I have read Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings over and over and over and over.  They are in a class by themselves, in my opinion.  However, if I could get you to read one book over and over, it would be Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo.  It is my favorite novel of all time.

Read "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "The Lord of the Rings"

    Chronicles of Narnia?  I've read them four or five times, but they are not in the same league as, nor as dear to my heart as, Tolkien.  To my way of thinking, there is really no comparison.  How about you?  C.S. Lewis vs. Tolkien.  On whose side do you land?

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

August 23
Love and Seek True Wisdom

I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. (Proverbs 8:17)

Wisdom loves her lovers and seeks her seekers. He is already wise who seeks to be wise, and he has almost found wisdom who diligently seeks her. What is true of wisdom in general is specially true of wisdom embodied in our Lord Jesus. Him we are to love and to seek, and in return we shall enjoy His love and find Himself.

Our business is to seek Jesus early in life. Happy are the young whose morning is spent with Jesus! It is never too soon to seek the Lord Jesus. Early seekers make certain finders. We should seek Him early by diligence. Thriving tradesmen are early risers, and thriving saints seek Jesus eagerly. Those who find Jesus to their enrichment give their hearts to seeking Him. We must seek Him first, and thus earliest. Above all things Jesus. Jesus first and nothing else even as a bad second.

The blessing is that He will be found. He reveals Himself more and more clearly to our search.... Happy men who seek One who, when He is found, remains with them forever, a treasure growingly precious to their hearts and understandings.

Lord Jesus, I have found Thee; be found of me to an unutterable degree of joyous satisfaction.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

August 22
Wrath to God's Glory

Surely the wrath of man shall raise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. (Psalm 76:10)

Wicked men will be wrathful. Their anger we must endure as the badge of our calling, the token of our separation from them: if we were of the world, the world would love its own. Our comfort is that the wrath of man shall be made to redound to the glory of God. When in their wrath the wicked crucified the Son of God they were unwittingly fulfilling the divine purpose, and in a thousand cases the willfulness of the ungodly is doing the same. They think themselves free, but like convicts in chains they are unconsciously working out the decrees of the Almighty.

The devices of the wicked are overruled for their defeat. They act in a suicidal way and baffle their own plottings. Nothing will come of their wrath which can do us real harm. When they burned the martyrs, the smoke which blew from the stake sickened men of popery more than anything else.

Meanwhile, the Lord has a muzzle and a chain for bears. He restrains the more furious wrath of the enemy. He is like a miller who holds back the mass of the water in the stream, and what He does allow to flow He uses for the turning of His wheel. Let us not sigh, but sing. All is well, however hard the wind blows.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Tuesday Linkage

Bible Memorization??

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

August 21
Night of Weeping; Joyous Day

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)

A moment under our Father's anger seems very long, and yet it is but a moment after all. If we grieve His Spirit, we cannot look for His smile; but He is a God ready to pardon, and He soon puts aside all remembrance of our faults. When we faint and are ready to die because of His frown, His favor puts new life into us.

This verse has another note of the semi-quaver kind. Our weeping night soon turns into joyous day. Brevity is the mark of mercy in the hour of the chastisement of believers. The Lord loves not to use the rod on His chosen; He gives a blow or two, and all is over; yea, and the life and the joy, which follow the anger and the weeping, more than make amends for the salutary sorrow.

Come, my heart, begin thy hallelujahs! Weep not all through the night, but wipe thine eyes in anticipation of the morning. These tears are dews which mean us as much good as the sunbeams of the morrow. Tears clear the eyes for the sight of God in His grace and make the vision of His favor more precious. A night of sorrow supplies those shades of the pictures by which the highlights are brought out with distinctness. All is well.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Ain't No Sunshine

Sting

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

August 20
Deliverance Not Limited

He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. (Job 5:19)

Eliphaz in this spoke the truth of God. We may have as many troubles as the workdays of the week, but the God who worked on those six days will work for us till our deliverance is complete. We shall rest with Him and in Him on our Sabbath. The rapid succession of trials is one of the sorest tests of faith. Before we have recovered from one blow it is followed by another and another till we are staggered. Still, the equally quick succession of deliverances is exceedingly cheering. New songs are rung out upon the anvil by the hammer of affliction, till we see in the spiritual world the antitype of "the Harmonious Blacksmith." Our confidence is that when the Lord makes our trials six, six they will be and no more.

It may be that we have no rest day, for seamen troubles come upon us. What then? "In seven there shall be no evil touch thee." Evil may roar at us, but it shall be kept at more than arm's length and shall not even touch us. Its hot breath may distress us, but its little finger cannot be laid upon us.

With our loins girt about us, we will meet the six or the seven troubles and leave fear to those who have no Father, no Savior, and no Sanctifier.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Quote of the Week: Spurgeon

Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows but only empties today of its strength.

Charles H. Spurgeon