Poetry Friday: Tolkien

I Sit Beside the Fire and Think
Bilbo's Song

I sit beside the fire and think
of all that I have seen,
of meadow-flowers and butterflies
In summers that have been;

Of yellow leaves and gossamer
in autumns that there were,
with morning mist and silver sun
and wind upon my hair.

I sit beside the fire and think
of how the world will be
when winter comes without a spring
that I shall ever see.

For still there are so many things
that I have never seen:
in every wood in every spring
there is a different green.

I sit beside the fire and think
of people long ago,
and people who will see a world
that I shall never know.

But all the while I sit and think
of times there were before,
I listen for returning feet
and voices at the door.

Today I begin work on lettering this poem/song as a framed piece, so I thought I'd post it as my Poetry Friday entry this week.  In the Recorded Books audio version of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Trilogy, the narrator, Rob Inglis, composed a haunting tune to go along with Bilbo's song.

Today's Poetry Friday is being hosted at Big A Little a. 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

August 10
He Lowers to Raise

Thy Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. (1 Samuel 2:7)

All my changes come from Him who never changes. If I had grown rich, I should have seen His hand in it, and I should have praised Him; let me equally see His hand if I am made poor, and let me as heartily praise Him. When we go down in the world, it is of the Lord, and so we may take it patiently: when we rise in the world, it is of the Lord, and we may accept it thankfully. In any case, the Lord hath done it, and it is well.

It seems that Jehovah's way is to lower those whom He means to raise and to strip those whom He intends to clothe. If it is His way, it is the wisest and best way. If I am now enduring the bringing low, I may well rejoice, because I see in it the preface to the lifting up. The more we are humbled by grace, the more we shall be exalted in glory. That impoverishment which will be overruled for our enrichment is to be welcomed.

O Lord, Thou has taken me down of late and made me feel my insignificance and sin. It is not a pleasant experience, but I pray Thee make it a profitable one to me. Oh, that Thou wouldst thus fit me to bear a greater weight of delight and of usefulness; and when I am ready for it, then grant it to me, for Christ's sake! Amen.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

In 50 words or less

 In 50 words or less:

It's never the wrong time to do the right thing.

 James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Slumpity slump

Experiencing serious blog slump; going downhill and picking up speed.

 Expect  crash soon.

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

August 9
Pruning for Fruit-Bearing

Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (John 15:2)

This is a precious promise to one who lives for fruitfulness. At first it seems to wear a sharp aspect. Must the fruitful bough be pruned? Must the knife cut even the best and most useful? No doubt it is so, for very much of our Lord's purging work is done by means of afflictions of one kind or another. It is not the evil but the good who have the promise of tribulation in this life. But, then, the end makes more than full amends for the painful nature of the means. If we may bring forth more fruit for our Lord, we will not mind the pruning and the loss of leafage.

Still, purging is sometimes wrought by the Word apart from trial, and this takes away whatever appeared rough in the flavor of the promise. We shall by the Word be made more gracious and more useful. The Lord who has made us, in a measure, fruit-bearing, will operate upon us till we reach a far higher degree of fertility. Is not this a great joy? Truly there is more comfort in a promise of fruitfulness than if we had been warranted riches, or health, or honor.

Lord Jesus, speedily fulfill Thy gracious word to me and cause me to abound in fruit to Thy praise!

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

August 8
Confidence Not Misplaced

The Lord God will help me. (Isaiah 50:7)

These are in prophecy the words of Messiah in the day of His obedience unto death, when He gave His back to the smiters and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. He was confident in divine support and trusted in Jehovah.

O my soul, thy sorrows are as the small dust of the balance compared with thy Lord's! Canst thou not believe that the Lord God will help thee? Thy Lord was in a peculiar position; for as the representative of sinful men—their substitute and sacrifice—it was needful that the Father should leave Him and cause Him to come under desertion of soul. No such necessity is laid upon thee: thou art not bound to cry, "Why hast thou forsaken me?" Did thy Savior even in such a case still rely upon God, and canst not thou? He died for thee and thus made it impossible that thou shouldst be left alone; wherefore, be of good cheer.

In this day's labors or trials say, "The Lord God will help me." Go forth boldly. Set your face like a flint and resolve that no faintness or shamefacedness shall come near you. If God helps, who can hinder? If you are sure of omnipotent aid, what can be too heavy for you? Begin the day joyously, and let no shade of doubt come between thee and the eternal sunshine.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Tuesday Linkage

Quondam

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

August 7
Rules for Prosperity

Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. (Joshua 1:7)

Yes, the Lord will be with us in our holy war, but He demands of us that we strictly follow His rules, Our victories will very much depend upon our obeying Him with all our heart, throwing strength and courage into the actions of our faith. If we are half-hearted we cannot expect more than half a blessing.

We must obey the Lord with care and thoughtfulness. "Observe to do" is the phrase used, and it is full of meaning. This is referred to every part of the divine will; we must obey with universal readiness. Our rule of conduct is "according to all the law." We may not pick and choose, but we must take the Lord's commands as they come, one and all. In all this we must go on with exactness and constancy.   Ours is to be a straightforward course which bends neither to the right nor to the left. We are not to err by being more rigid than the law, nor turn out of levity to a more easy way. With such obedience there will come spiritual prosperity. O Lord, help us to see if it be not even so! We shall not test Thy promise in vain.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

August 6
Go; Take Your Property

Behold, the Lord thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged. (Deuteronomy 1:21)

There is a heritage of grace which we ought to be bold enough to win for our possession. All that one believer has gained is free to another. We may be strong in faith, fervent in love, and abundant in labor; there is nothing to prevent it; let us go up and take possession. The sweetest experience and the brightest grace are as much for us as for any of our brethren; Jehovah has set it before us; no one can deny our right; let us go up and possess it in His name.

The world also lies before us to be conquered for the Lord Jesus. We are not to leave any country or corner of it unsubdued. That slum near our house is before us, not to baffle our endeavors, but to yield to them. We have only to summon courage enough to go forward, and we shall win dark homes and hard hearts for Jesus. Let us never leave the people in a lane or alley to die because we have not enough faith in Jesus and His gospel to go up and possess the land. No spot is too benighted, no person so profane as to be beyond the power of grace. Cowardice, begone! Faith marches to the conquest.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Teach Me O Lord

Teach Me, O Lord, Thy Way of Truth
                                               
Teach me, O Lord, Thy way of truth,
And from it I will not depart;
That I may steadfastly obey,
Give me an understanding heart.

In Thy commandments make me walk,
For inThy law my joy shall be;
Give me a heart that loves Thy will,
From discontent and envy free.

Turn thou mine eyes from vanity,
And cause me inThy ways to tread;
O let thy servant prove thy Word
And thus to godly fear be led.

Turn Thou away reproach and fear;
Thy righteous judgments I confess;
To know Thy precepts I desire;
Revive me inThy righteousness.

Original Trinity Hymnal, #451
From Psalm 119:33-40

 Psalm 119:33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes,
         And I shall keep it to the end.
 34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law;
         Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
 35 Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
         For I delight in it.
 36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies,
         And not to covetousness.
 37 Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things,
         And revive me in Your way.
 38 Establish Your word to Your servant,
         Who is devoted to fearing You.
 39 Turn away my reproach which I dread,
         For Your judgments are good.
 40 Behold, I long for Your precepts;
         Revive me in Your righteousness.

Search Lines

Sorry, you came to the wrong place.  Giving away my dog(s) is a concept that has never been discussed on Hiraeth, nor shall be.

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

August 5
Law in the Heart

The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. (Psalm 37:31)

Put the law into the heart, and the whole man is right. This is where the law should be; for then it lies, like the tables of stone in the ark, in the place appointed for it. In the head it puzzles, on the back it burdens, in the heart it upholds.

What a choice word is here used, "the law of his God"! When we know the Lord as our own God His law becomes liberty to us. God with us in covenant makes us eager to obey His will and walk in His commands. Is the precept my Father's precept? Then I delight in it.

We are here guaranteed that obedient-hearted man shall be sustained in every step that he takes. He will do that which is right, and he shall therefore do that which is wise. Holy action is always the most prudent, though it may not at the time seem to be so, We are moving along the great highroad of God's providence and grace when we keep to the way of His law. The Word of God has never misled a single soul yet; its plain directions to walk humbly, justly, lovingly, and in the fear of the Lord are as much words of wisdom to make our way prosperous as rules of holiness to keep our garments clean. He walks surely who walks righteously.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Quote of the Week: J. C. Ryle

I would cheer those readers who have walked in the way of God, and yet are afraid of falling. Why should you be afraid? What should make you fear? What should make you suppose that you shall ever be allowed to fall away, while Jesus Christ lives at the right hand of God to make intercession for you? All the power of the Lord Jesus Christ is pledged upon your behalf. He has undertaken to care for all the flock that God the Father has committed into His hand. He will care for it. He has cared for it. He went to the cross for it. He died for it. He is ever at the right hand of Gcd, and has not ceased to care for it. Every member of that flock—the weakest, the feeblest sheep or lamb—is equally dear to the Lord and Savior, and none shall pluck the least of Christ's sheep out of God's hand. Can you stop the tides of the sea, and make them not rise at your command? Can you make the waters stop when the tide begins to come? Can you prevent the sun in heaven going down in the west, or prevent the same sun from rising tomorrow morning in the east? You cannot do it—these things are impossible. And all the power of devils, all the power of the world, and all the enemies of the Christian, shall not be able to pluck out of the hand of Jesus Christ one single soul who has been brought by the Spirit's teaching to true union with Christ, and for whom Jesus Christ intercedes. The days of Christ's weakness have passed away. He was "crucified through weakness," and was weak on our account when He went to the cross. (2 Cor. 13:4.) The days of His weakness are over—the days of His power have begun. Pilate shall no more condemn Him—He shall come to condemn Pilate. All power is His in heaven and earth, and all that power is engaged on behalf of His believing people.

Christ's Power to Save
(On the Intercessory Work of Christ)
by J. C. Ryle

It's a Jungle Out There

The yard has been woefully neglected for the past several weeks.  This morning we're going to get out our machetes and fight our way into the jungle, attacking the weeds and the overgrowth, trimming the trees and bushes. 

 I hope we're too big to be carried off by the mosquitos. 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

August 4
He Blesses and Keeps

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee. (Numbers 6:24)

This first clause of the high priest's benediction is substantially a promise. That blessing which our great High Priest pronounces upon us is sure to come, for He speaks the mind of God.

What a joy to abide under the divine blessing! This puts a gracious flavor into all things. If we are blessed, then all our possessions and enjoyments are blessed; yea, our losses and crosses and even our disappointments are blessed. God's blessing is deep, emphatic, effectual. A man's blessing may begin and end in words, but the blessing of the Lord makes rich and sanctifies. The best wish we can have for our dearest friend is not "may prosperity attend thee," but "the Lord bless thee."

It is equally a delightful thing to be kept of God; kept by Him, kept near Him, kept in Him. They are kept indeed whom God keeps; they are preserved from evil; they are reserved unto boundless happiness. God's keeping goes with His blessing, to establish it and cause it to endure.

The author of this little book desires that the rich blessing and sure keeping here pronounced may come upon every reader who may at this moment be looking at these lines. Please breathe the text to God as a prayer for His servants.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Poetry Friday: Rev. Lawrence Keister

Vacation

"Come ye apart and rest a while,"
Where friendly nature serves;
Where mountains rise in majesty,
Where men renew their nerves.

 Relax, thy hand, release thy soul,
Command they fret to flee.
The One Who all the world upholds,
That One upholdeth thee.

With Him find rest whose kindly care
Assigns thy welcome task;
Whose love anticipates thy need
And thy desire to ask.

If rest and work are in His plan
Who shapes thy life for thee,
As sacred then thy days of rest
As those of work can be. 

The Shining Pathway
Rev. Lawrence Keister 

 You can peruse more poems at this week's host blog, The Miss Rumphius Effect.  Or, click the Poetry Friday image in the side bar.

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

August 3
The Right to Holy Things

But if the priest buy any soul with his money, he shall eat of it, and he that is born in his house: they shall eat of his meat. (Leviticus 22:11)

Strangers, sojourners, and servants upon hire were not to eat of holy things. It is so in spiritual matters still. But two classes were free at the sacred table, those who were bought with the priest's money and those who were born into the priest's house. Bought and born, these were the two indisputable proofs of a right to holy things.

Bought. Our great High Priest has bought with a price all those who put their trust in Him. They are His absolute property—altogether the Lord's. Not for what they are in themselves, but for their owner's sake they are admitted into the same privileges which He Himself enjoys, and "they shall eat of his meat." He has meat to eat which worldlings know not of. "Because ye belong to Christ," therefore shall ye share with your Lord.

Born. This is an equally sure way to privilege. If born in the Priest's house we take our place with the rest of the family. Regeneration makes us fellow-heirs and of the same body, and, therefore, the peace, the joy, the glory, which the Father has given to Christ, Christ has given to us. Redemption and regeneration have given us a double claim to the divine permit of this promise.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

He Divides Seas

The word “bridge” does not occur in the Bible. There may be two reasons. One is that God doesn’t build bridges, he divides seas. The other is that usually his people must pass through the deadly currents of suffering and death, not simply ride over them. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you” (Isaiah 43:2). They may drown you. But I will be with you in life and death.

So John Piper reminds us in his post, Putting My Daughter to Bed Two Hours After the Bridge Collapsed. 

In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.  Jn. 16:33

Let us pray for the people of Minneapolis/St. Paul and  all those who have been affected by this tragedy.

Recipe Round-up: Grillin'

Here's my take on Lake Geneva, Wisconsin's Mia Bella Bistro's Grilled Chicken Sandwich.

First, combine diced tomatoes, garlic, fresh herbs from the garden, and olive oil to make a bruschetta style topping and let the flavors blend while preparing the rest of the components.

Pound 4 chicken breasts until they are of uniform thickness, then grill them in a screaming hot grill pan; about 7 minutes per side (or until cooked through and nicely marked with those criss crosses of carmelization) If you don't have a grill pan you could do them in an iron skillet or other heavy bottomed pan, or on the gas grill.

While those are grilling, cut four, 1/2 in. slabs of Italian bread, cover them with provolone cheese and pop them under the broiler until browned.  Remove from broiler and set aside.  (This forms a barrier so the bread doesn't get soggy and who doesn't like MORE CHEESE!?)

Once the chicken is cooked through and nicely caramelized, it's time to assemble the open faced sandwich.  Put the grilled chicken on top of the bread and top that with a couple of tablespoons of homemade pesto.  Don't have any pesto on hand?  Just substitute a covering of basil leaves and spinach.  Cover it all with more provolone and mozzerella cheese and stick under the broiler until cheese is bubbly and just starting to brown. Remove from broiler and top with the tomato mixture (drained through a slotted spoon).

 
Serve with a knife and fork!  

Ellen, our very own Happy Wonderer, is hosting this month's Round-up.  You can find more recipes over there.  If you want more details about the Round-up, just click on the button in the side bar! 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

August 2
Speak What He Teaches

Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. (Exodus 4:12)

Many a true servant of the Lord is slow of speech, and when called upon to plead for his Lord, he is in great confusion lest he should spoil a good cause by his bad advocacy. In such a case it is well to remember that the Lord made the tongue which is so slow, and we must take care that we do not blame our maker. It may be that a slow tongue is not so great an evil as a fast one, and fewness of words may be more of a blessing than floods of verbiage. It is also quite certain that real saving power does not lie in human rhetoric, with its tropes, and pretty phrases, and grand displays. Lack of fluency is not so great a lack as it looks.

If God be with our mouth, and with our mind, we shall have something better than the sounding brass of eloquence or the tinkling cymbal of persuasion. God's teaching is wisdom; His presence is power. Pharaoh had more reason to be afraid of stammering Moses than of the most fluent talker in Egypt; for what he said had power in it; he spoke plagues and deaths. If the Lord be with us in our natural weakness we shall be girt with supernatural power. Therefore, let us speak for Jesus boldly, as we ought to speak.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon