New Look

Sometimes you just need a change.

Tuesday Linkage

Reflections on Peter

Handyman vs. Hardware

Handyman:

 

Hardware Store:

 

We discovered that a rod that comes down in the center of the junction box is threaded, so with a washer, a spacer, and a bolt, the box is now secure and the light goes up this evening when Tom gets home.   

[Handyman's proposal?  Come back next Thursday.  Cut out a big old hole in the ceiling, (through the lathe and plaster from stud to stud), reinforce with 2x4's between studs, hang new box, re-wire box, replace lathe and plaster with a drywall patch, three tapings, sand and finish.  We prefered the "run to the hardware store (again) washer-spacer-bolt, tighten, hang the light tomorrow when there is still enough light left in the kitchen to see by" method ourselves.]

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

July 31
An Appeal; Deliverance

And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. (Psalm 50:15)

This is a promise indeed!

Here is an urgent occasion—"the day of trouble." It is dark at noon on such a day, and every hour seems blacker than the one which came before it. Then is this promise in season: it is written for the cloudy day.

Here is condescending advice, "Call upon me." We ought not to need the exhortation: it should be our constant habit all the day and every day. What a mercy to have liberty to call upon God! What wisdom to make good use of it! How foolish to go running about to men! The Lord invites us to lay our case before Him, and surely we will not hesitate to do so.

Here is reassuring encouragement: "I will deliver thee." Whatever the trouble may be, the Lord makes no exceptions but promises full, sure, happy deliverance. He will Himself work out our deliverance by His own hand. We believe it, and the Lord honors faith.

Here is an ultimate result: "Thou shalt glorify me." Ah, that we will do most abundantly. When He has delivered us we will loudly praise Him; and as He is sure to do it, let us begin to glorify Him at once.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

File this under "it happens every time"

Nothing is ever easy with an old house.  Simple home projects always require at LEAST three trips to the hardware store.  We've replaced nearly all the light fixtures in the house and every single one of them posed a unique challenge because of our old, 90 year old ceiling junction boxes.  But, since we like challenges and have  always managed to figure out a work-around, I wasn't too worried about the overhead kitchen light.  We'd figure it out.

Saturday, we took down the ugly, old fluorescent light so we could prepare the ceiling for paint. This is what we found:

 

I know.  Yuck.  A quick trip to the hardware store to get some pre-mixed plaster and some sanding supplies.  Most of the spots were easy to patch and sand, but the area around the ancient junction box was just impossible.  We decided to go see if we could find a ceiling medallion big enough to cover that spot.

 

 

This is what we came home with.  Not my favorite, but it was the biggest they had and it would cover the spot. It's amazing how your standards change the closer you near the completion of a project.

 

We brought it home and made sure it would cover all the  bad plaster and fit around the box in the ceiling.  It fit perfectly.  The patching and prep work was finished, so I got out the ceiling paint and got started. 

 

A note about the ceiling paint.  I  have a brand that I really love.  One coat and done.  No roller marks.  No smell. However, when we were in the paint department picking out the shade (I never paint my ceilings white.  What fun is that?) an older gentleman recommended another brand.  It was on sale--$3 less than "my" paint.  He told me that he was a painting contractor and that was the best paint he'd ever used.  So, naturally, I saved $3 and brought home a can of the "best paint he'd ever used."

 

I am not exaggerating; it may have been the WORST paint I have ever used.   Smelly and drippy and didn't come CLOSE to covering with one coat.  You could see every roller mark.  Took two coats and some touching up.  Grrrr.

 

Finally, the paint was dry and it was time to install my lovely ceiling medallion and my Pottery Barn light fixture.  You guessed it.  Problems.  We got the whole thing hooked up and the last step was to stuff all the wires into the light, screw the fixture onto the base with three little black screws.  But the decorative medallion made screwing the tiny little screws impossible because the screwdriver was angled too steeply. 

 

We had to un-install the light and go out to a different hardware store to see if we could find a flatter ceiling medallion that would allow us enough clearance to finish installing the teeny tiny screws.

 

We came home with this:

 

 

Actually, I like it better.  It's simpler and fits my plain jane kitchen much better than the ornate one did anyway.

 

Back to the light.  Again, we got it all installed, everything was going smoothly until Tom put in the last tiny screw. All of a sudden, the whole light fixture started moving.  We couldn't figure out what was going on, so we had to take the entire thing down again.  Once we got the ceiling medallion down we saw that a big chunk of old plaster had dislodged.  Apparently, that was the only thing that was keeping the ceiling junction box in place because it was  threatening to fall right out of the ceiling.  Defeated at last.

 

The handy man is coming to take a look this afternoon. . .  

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

July 30
Promise of Future Meeting

I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice. (John 16:22)

Surely He will come a second time, and then, when He sees us and we see Him, there will be rejoicings indeed. Oh, for that joyous return! But this promise is being daily fulfilled in another sense. Our gracious Lord has many "agains" in His dealings with us. He gave us pardon, and He sees us again and repeats the absolving word as fresh sins cause us grief. He has revealed to us our acceptance before God, and when our faith in that blessing grows a little dim, He comes to us again and again and says, "Peace be unto you," and our hearts are glad.

Beloved, all our past mercies are tokens of future mercies. If Jesus has been with us, He will see us again. Look upon no former favor as a dead and buried thing, to be mourned over; but regard it as a seed sown, which will grow, and push its head up from the dust, and cry, "I will see you again." Are the times dark because Jesus is not with us as He used to be? Let us pluck up courage; for He will not be long away. His feet are as those of a roe or young hart, and they will soon bring Him to us. Wherefore let us begin to be joyous, since He saith to us even now, "I will see you again."

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Quote of the Week: J. C. Ryle

Please follow the link at the end of this quote and take a few minutes to read the entire sermon.  You will not be disappointed. 

Would you know the secret of the security for the perseverance of God's own people? Would you know why it is that Christ's sheep shall never perish, and none shall ever pluck them out of His hand? It is a miraculous thing. When you look at the believer's heart, listen to the believer's prayers, mark the believer's confessions, when you see how a just man may fall, sometimes seven times—when you see, with all this, the believer's perseverance, it is a marvel indeed. To carry a candle in a stormy night, when winds and gusty blasts are blowing from every quarter—to carry it still burning, steadily burning, along the street—this is a wonderful achievement. To go over a stormy sea in a little boat—to mount billow after billow, and not see the waves breaking over the boat, and overturning it—this is well-near a miracle. To see a little child tottering along the crowded street, a child some three or four years old—to see it tottering on and making its way in safety, from one end of the town to the other—this is a mighty marvel.

But after all, what is this but the life, and history, and experience of every true Christian? Though he falls, he rises again; though he is cast down, he is not destroyed. He goes on from one position to another, like the moon upon a stormy night, plunging from one cloud into another, yet by-and-by shining out again and walking in brightness. What is the secret of it all? It is the continual intercession of a mighty Friend at the right hand of God—a Friend who never slumbers and never sleeps—a Friend who cares for the believer, morning, noon, and night. The intercession of Christ is the secret of the perseverance of the Christian.

Christ's Power to Save
J. C. Ryle 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

July 29
He Routs Our Enemy

He hath cast out thine enemy. (Zephaniah 3:15)

What a casting out was that! Satan has lost his throne in our nature even as he lost his seat in heaven. Our Lord Jesus has destroyed the enemy's reigning power over us. He may worry us, but he cannot claim us as his own. His bonds are no longer upon our spirits: the Son has made us free, and we are free indeed.

Still is the archenemy the accuser of the brethren; but even from this position our Lord has driven him. Our Advocate silences our accuser. The Lord rebukes our enemies and pleads the causes of our soul, so that no harm comes of all the devil's revilings.

As a tempter, the evil spirit still assails us and insinuates himself into our minds; but thence also is he cast out as to his former preeminence. He wriggles about like a serpent, but he cannot rule like a sovereign. He hurls in blasphemous thoughts when he has opportunity; but what a relief it is when he is told to be quiet and is made to slink off like a whipped cur! Lord, do this for any who are at this time worried and wearied by his barkings. Cast out their enemy, and be Thou glorious in their eyes. Thou hast cast him down; Lord, cast him out. Oh, that Thou wouldst banish him from the world!

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Dictionary Word of the Day: matutinal

 Harumph.  Just because I slept in until 8:11 this morning, I didn't expect the Dictionary Word of the Day to mock me:

matutinal \muh-TOOT-n-uhl\, adjective:
Relating to or occurring in the morning; early.

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

July 28
Bow Down; Be Lifted Up

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. (1 Peter 5:6)

This is tantamount to a promise: if we will bow down, the Lord will lift us up. Humility leads to honor; submission is the way to exaltation. That same hand of God which presses us down is waiting to raise us up when we are prepared to bear the blessing. We stoop to conquer. Many cringe before men and yet miss the patronage they crave; but he that humbles himself under the hand of God shall not fail to be enriched, uplifted, sustained, and comforted by the ever-gracious One. It is a habit of Jehovah to cast down the proud and lift up the lowly.

Yet there is a time for the Lord's working. We ought now to humble ourselves, even at this present moment; and we are bound to keep on doing so whether the Lord lays His afflicting hand upon us or not. When the Lord smites, it is our special duty to accept the chastisement with profound submission. But as for the Lord's exaltation of us, that can only come "in due time," and God is the best judge of that day and hour. Do we cry out impatiently for the blessing? Would we wish for untimely honor? What are we at? Surely we are not truly humbled, or we should wait with quiet submission. So let us do.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

And the Dog Days Give Away Winner is:

Well, I know that I said I would put all the names into my fancy-dancy sorting hat, but in the end, to make it easier, I found another way to chose a random winner.  After I took out all the ineligible entries, I used a random integer generator to chose the winner:

 

So, the winner is the 23rd (adjusted for repeats) entry in the comments box:   Angela from The Rock Pile

Congratulations, Angela!  I'll be contacting you by email shortly.

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

July 27
More than Mere Words

I will give you the sure mercies of David. (Acts 13:34)

Nothing of man is sure; but everything of God is so. Especially are covenant mercies sure mercies, even as David said "an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure."

We are sure that the Lord meant His mercy. He did not speak mere words: there is substance and truth in every one of His promises. His mercies are mercies indeed. Even if a promise seems as if it must drop through by reason of death, yet it never shall, for the good Lord will make good His word.

We are sure that the Lord will bestow promised mercies on all His covenanted ones. They shall come in due course to all the chosen of the Lord. They are sure to all the seed, from the least of them unto the greatest of them. We are sure that the Lord will continue His mercies to His own people. He does not give and take. What He has granted us is the token of much more. That which we have not yet received is as sure as that which has already come; therefore, let us wait before the Lord and be still. There is no justifiable reason for the least doubt. God's love, and word, and faithfulness are sure. Many things are questionable, but of the Lord we sing—

For his mercies shall endure
Ever faithful, ever sure.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Rainy Day and a Cup of Tea

Tuesday Linkage

OOps!  I forgot to post my link to this Tuesday's post at ChadVoller.Com.  It's the second part of last week's post.  In the future, I'll be posting my links under the title, "Tuesday Linkage" in case you want to check it out!

Jumping on the Bandwagon

Rebecca and Kim have posted their favorite "Pyro Poster."  Here's mine.  What's yours? 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

July 26
A Change of Name

And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali; for I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name. (Hosea 2:16-17)

That day has come. We view our God no more as Baal, our tyrant lord and mighty master, for we are not under law but under grace. We now think of Jehovah, our God, as our Ishi, our beloved husband, our lord in love, our next-of-kin in bonds of sacred relationship. We do not serve Him less obediently, but we serve Him for a higher and more endearing reason. We no longer tremble under His lash but rejoice in His love. The slave is changed into a child and the task into a pleasure.

Is it so with thee, dear reader? Has grace cast out slavish fear and implanted filial love? How happy are we in such an experience! Now we call the Lord's day a delight, and worship is never a weariness. Prayer is now a privilege, and praise is a holiday. To obey is heaven; to give to the cause of God is a banquet. Thus have all things become new. Our mouth is filled with singing and our heart with music. Blessed be our heavenly Ishi forever and ever.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

I am not my blog

Jules has written a post,  The Nature of the Blogging Beast, that struck a chord with me. 

But, for all our feigned intimacy with the blogs that we read, we’re really only relating to a section of their lives. Blogging is a neatly compartmentalized world. It is life condensed into bite-sized stories which the author crafts from the viewpoint of humor or faith or what have you. They are a snapshot, a glimpse into a life. They are not the embodiment of that life.

Well said, and something that I have had to remind well meaning blogging friends several times.

Yes, I blog about my dogs.  No, I don't (often) blog about my family. No, this does NOT mean I love my dogs more than my children.  Really.  It doesn't.  I promise.  It just means the dogs don't require or desire privacy but my family does!

Yes, I like Harry Potter.  I've had fun with the books on my blog.  But, no, I do not think that they are essential reading.  I thoroughly enjoy them but my life has not been particularly enriched by them nor do I think your life will be impoverished if you don't read them.  They are books--stories--fiction.

Yes, I am Reformed, as in Presbyterian.  PCA to be exact.  A well meaning friend has suggested--more than once--that I should try to write to a more general Christian audience, so as not to offend anyone or suggest that Reformed theology is correct theology.  Friends, I promise you; I am Reformed because I am convinced and convicted that Reformed Theology best reflects the Biblical record.  Would you expect me to set aside my deeply held convictions just because "not everybody believes that way?"

And yes, I drink wine.  Everytime I mention this in passing on my blog, one or more subscribers unsubscribe.  I'm sorry about that, but while I believe that drunkeness is a sin, I don't believe that having a glass of wine with my husband over dinner or on the patio is a sin.

There's a lot more going on in my life than what I chose to blog about.  There's a lot more going on in your life than I read on your blog.  I am not my blog.  Are you? (That is, are you your blog?)

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

July 25
Nothing to Alarm Us

But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. (Daniel 12:13)

We cannot understand all the prophecies, but yet we regard them with pleasure and not with dismay. There can be nothing in the Father's decree which should justly alarm His child. Though the abomination of desolation be set up, yet the true believer shall not be defiled; rather shall he be purified, and made white, and tried. Though the earth be burned up, no smell of fire shall come upon the chosen. Amid the crash of matter and the wreck of worlds, the Lord Jehovah will preserve His own.

Calmly resolute in duty, brave in conflict, patient in suffering, let us go our way, keeping to our road, and neither swerving from it nor loitering in it. The end will come; let us go our way till it does.

Rest will be ours, All other things swing to and fro, but our foundation standeth sure. God rests in His love, and, therefore, we rest in it. Our peace is, and ever shall be, like a river. A lot in the heavenly Canaan is ours, and we shall stand in it, come what may. The God of Daniel will give a worthy portion to all who dare to be decided for truth and holiness as Daniel was. No den of lions shall deprive us of our sure inheritance.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

July 24
Perfect Purity

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment. (Revelation 3:5)

Warrior of the cross, fight on! Never rest till thy victory is complete, for thine eternal reward will prove worthy of a life of warfare.

See, here is perfect purity for thee! A few in Sardis kept their garments undefiled, and their recompense is to be spotless. Perfect holiness is the prize of our high calling; let us not miss it.

See, here is joy! Thou shalt wear holiday robes, such as men put on at wedding feasts; thou shalt be clothed with gladness and be made bright with rejoicing. Painful struggles shall end in peace of conscience and joy in the Lord.

See, here is victory! Thou shalt have thy triumph. Palm, and crown, and white robe shall be thy guerdon; thou shalt be treated as a conqueror and owned as such by the Lord Himself.

See, here is priestly array! Thou shalt stand before the Lord in such raiment as the sons of Aaron wore; thou shalt offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving and draw near unto the Lord with the incense of praise.

Who would not fight for a Lord who gives such large honors to the very least of His faithful servants? Who would not be clothed in a fool's coat for Christ's sake, seeing He will robe us with glory?

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Curious about the WCF?

Ever thought about working your way through it someday?  Well, my friend Kyle, at Covenant in Blood, has started posting one chapter each Lord's Day.  He's including the proof texts and some commentary, too, so it'll be a good way to renew our minds every Sunday.