From “Morning Thoughts” by Winslow

“As many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” Acts 13:48

THERE can be nothing in the Bible adverse to the salvation of a sinner. The doctrine of predestination is a revealed doctrine of the Bible; therefore predestination cannot be opposed to the salvation of the sinner. So far from this being true, we hesitate not most strongly and emphatically to affirm, that we know of no doctrine of God’s word more replete with encouragement to the awakened, sin-burdened, Christ-seeking soul than this. What stronger evidence can we have of our election of God than the Spirit’s work in the heart? Are you really in earnest for the salvation of your soul? Do you feel the plague of sin? Are you sensible of the condemnation of the law? Do you come under the denomination of the “weary and heavy laden”? If so, then the fact that you are a subject of the Divine drawings-that you have a felt conviction of your sinfulness-and that you are looking wistfully for a place of refuge, affords the strongest ground for believing that you are one of those whom God has predestinated to eternal life. The very work thus begun is the Spirit’s first outline of the Divine image upon your soul-that very image to which the saints are predestinated to be conformed.

But while we thus vindicate this doctrine from being inimical to the salvation of the anxious soul, we must with all distinctness and earnestness declare, that in this stage of your Christian course you have primarily and mainly to do with another and a different doctrine. We refer to the doctrine of the Atonement. Could you look into the book of the Divine decrees, and read your name inscribed upon its pages, it would not impart the joy and peace which one believing view of Christ crucified will convey. It is not essential to your salvation that you believe in election; but it is essential to your salvation that you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. In your case, as an individual debating the momentous question how a sinner may be justified before God, your first business is with Christ, and Christ exclusively. You are to feel that you are a lost sinner, not that you are an elect saint. The doctrine which meets the present phase of your spiritual condition is, not the doctrine of predestination, but the doctrine of an atoning Savior. The truth to which you are to give the first consideration and the most simple and unquestioning credence is, that “Christ died for the ungodly”-that He came into the world to save sinners-that He came to call, not the righteous, but sinners to repentance-that in all respects, in the great business of our salvation, He stands to us in the relation of a Savior, while we stand before Him in the character of a sinner. Oh, let one object fix your eye, and one theme fill your mind-Christ and His salvation. Absorbed in the contemplation and study of these two points, you may safely defer all further inquiry to another and a more advanced stage of your Christian course. Remember that the fact of your predestination, the certainty of your election, can only be inferred from your conversion. We must hold you firmly to this truth. It is the subtle and fatal reasoning of Satan, a species of atheistical fatalism, to argue, “If I am elected I shall be saved, whether I am regenerated or not.” The path to eternal woe is paved with arguments like this. Men have cajoled their souls with such vain excuses until they have found themselves beyond the region of hope! But we must rise to the fountain, by pursuing the stream. Conversion, and not predestination, is the end of the chain we are to grasp. We must ascend from ourselves to God, and not descend from God to ourselves, in settling this great question. We must judge of God’s objective purpose of love concerning us, by His subjective work of grace within us. In conclusion, we earnestly entreat you to lay aside all fruitless speculations, and to give yourself to prayer. Let reason bow to faith, and faith shut you up to Christ, and Christ be all in all to you. Beware that you come not short of true conversion-a changed heart, and a renewed mind, so that you become a “new creature in Christ Jesus.” And if as a poor lost sinner you repair to the Savior, all vile and guilty, unworthy and weak as you are, He will receive you and shelter you within the bosom that bled on the cross to provide an atonement and an asylum for the very chief of sinners.

 

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From “Morning Thoughts” by Winslow

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24

IF, then, the first implantation of the divine life in the soul is sudden; the advance of that work is in most cases gradual. Let this be an encouragement to any who are writing hard and bitter things against themselves in consequence of their little progress. The growth of divine knowledge in the soul is often slow-the work of much time and of protracted discipline. Look at the eleven disciples-what slow, tardy scholars were they, even though taught immediately from the lips of Jesus; and “who teaches like Him?” They drank their knowledge from the very Fountain. They received their light directly from the Sun itself. And yet, with all these superior advantages-the personal ministry, instructions, miracles, and example of our dear Lord-how slow of understanding were they to comprehend, and how “slow of heart to believe,” all that He so laboriously, clearly, and patiently taught them! Yes, the advance of the soul in the divine life, its knowledge of sin, of the hidden evil, the heart’s deep treachery and intricate windings, Satan’s subtlety, the glory of the gospel, the preciousness of Christ, and its own interest in the great salvation, is not the work of a day, nor of a year, but of many days, yes, many years of deep ploughing, long and often painful discipline, of “windy storm and tempest.”

But this life in the soul is not less real, nor less divine, because its growth is slow and gradual: it may be small and feeble in its degree, yet, in its nature, it is the life that never dies. How many of the Lord’s beloved ones, the children of godly parents, brought up in the ways of God, are at a loss, in reviewing the map of their pilgrimage, to remember the starting-point of their spiritual life. They well know that they left the city of destruction-that by a strong and a mighty arm they were brought out of Egypt; but so gently, so imperceptibly, so softly, and so gradually were they led-“first a thought, then a desire, then a prayer”-that they could no more discover when the first dawning of divine life took place in their soul, than they could tell the instant when natural light first broke upon chaos. Still it is real. It is no fancy that he has inherited an evil principle in the heart; it is no fancy that that principle grace has subdued. It is no fancy that he was once a child of darkness; it is no fancy that he is now a child of light. He may mourn in secret over his little advance, his tardy progress, his weak faith, his small grace, his strong corruption, his many infirmities, his startings aside like “a broken bow,” yet he can say, “Though I am the ‘chief of sinners,’ and the ‘least of all saints’-though I see within so much to abase me, and without so much to mourn over, yet this ‘one thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see.’ I see that which I never saw before-a hatefulness in sin, and a beauty in holiness; I see a vileness and emptiness in myself, and a preciousness and fullness in Jesus.” Do not forget, then, dear reader, that feeble grace is yet real grace. If it but “hungers and thirsts,” if it “touches but the hem,” it shall be saved.

From “Morning and Evening” by C.H. Spurgeon

“He shall not be afraid of evil tidings.”  – Psa_112:7

Christian, you ought not to dread the arrival of evil tidings; because if you are distressed by them, what do you more than other men? Other men have not your God to fly to; they have never proved his faithfulness as you have done, and it is no wonder if they are bowed down with alarm and cowed with fear: but you profess to be of another spirit; you have been begotten again unto a lively hope, and your heart lives in heaven and not on earthly things; now, if you are seen to be distracted as other men, what is the value of that grace which you profess to have received? Where is the dignity of that new nature which you claim to possess?

Again, if you should be filled with alarm, as others are, you would, doubtless, be led into the sins so common to others under trying circumstances. The ungodly, when they are overtaken by evil tidings, rebel against God; they murmur, and think that God deals hardly with them. Will you fall into that same sin? Will you provoke the Lord as they do?

Moreover, unconverted men often run to wrong means in order to escape from difficulties, and you will be sure to do the same if your mind yields to the present pressure. Trust in the Lord, and wait patiently for him. Your wisest course is to do as Moses did at the Red Sea, “Stand still and see the salvation of God.” For if you give way to fear when you hear of evil tidings, you will be unable to meet the trouble with that calm composure which nerves for duty, and sustains under adversity. How can you glorify God if you play the coward? Saints have often sung God’s high praises in the fires, but will your doubting and desponding, as if you had none to help you, magnify the Most High? Then take courage, and relying in sure confidence upon the faithfulness of your covenant God, “let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

From “Morning and Evening” by C. H. Spurgeon

“The breaker is come up before them.” – Mic_2:13

Inasmuch as Jesus has gone before us, things remain not as they would have been had he never passed that way. He has conquered every foe that obstructed the way. Cheer up now thou faint-hearted warrior. Not only has Christ travelled the road, but he has slain thine enemies. Dost thou dread sin? He has nailed it to his cross. Dost thou fear death? He has been the death of Death. Art thou afraid of hell? He has barred it against the advent of any of his children; they shall never see the gulf of perdition. Whatever foes may be before the Christian, they are all overcome. There are lions, but their teeth are broken; there are serpents, but their fangs are extracted; there are rivers, but they are bridged or fordable; there are flames, but we wear that matchless garment which renders us invulnerable to fire. The sword that has been forged against us is already blunted; the instruments of war which the enemy is preparing have already lost their point. God has taken away in the person of Christ all the power that anything can have to hurt us. Well then, the army may safely march on, and you may go joyously along your journey, for all your enemies are conquered beforehand. What shall you do but march on to take the prey? They are beaten, they are vanquished; all you have to do is to divide the spoil. You shall, it is true, often engage in combat; but your fight shall be with a vanquished foe. His head is broken; he may attempt to injure you, but his strength shall not be sufficient for his malicious design. Your victory shall be easy, and your treasure shall be beyond all count.

“Proclaim aloud the Saviour’s fame,
Who bears the Breaker’s wond’rous name;
Sweet name; and it becomes him well,
Who breaks down earth, sin, death, and hell.”

 

 

My Prayer to the Father, August 15, 2012

Heavenly Father
My cup overflows with Your love;
You who give me all that
I have keep giving me more.
Father, You have blessed me
Beyond measure.
Father, You have given me
Such a place
Within Your mind and heart
So filled with Your
Love and goodness
That I am overflowing with it,
And it’s strength
And it’s beauty
And it’s purpose
Is something that I cannot
Ignore.

Heavenly Father
You have given me
Streams of living water;
You have made me
A fountain that overflows
With love
& joy
& peace
& strength
& faith
& trust.
You have given me Wisdom
And Knowledge.
You have given me
In my inward parts
Truth!

Heavenly Father
All that is beautiful
I have
Because You have given
It to me.
You have held no good
Honorable
Beautiful
Praise worthy
Thing from me.
You have given me that
Greatest gift;
That most treasured,
And precious gift
That shines upon my soul
Brighter than the
Brightest light
In My beloved
Lord and Savior
Jesus.

Heavenly Father
I come to You tonight
And I ask You
In the name of He who is
Holy and Perfect and True
In the name of Jesus.
Father I ask You
To do only what You can;
Father
I pray for my brothers and sisters
In Christ
Who have stood beneath
The cleansing flood
Of His precious blood,
And I ask You
To give to them what
You have so graciously given
To me.
Father,
I pray that You do whatever
You have to do
To bring them to the point
Where they, too
Can feel the cup of joy
Overflowing within them.
Father
Make their light to shine
In the darkness;
Make their life
A beacon , a lighthouse
That can safely guide
Those who still
Sail upon stormy seas.

Heavenly Father
I see so many of my beloved
Brothers and sisters
Stuck in the quicksand
Of this grasping world
Struggling and in despair
Wanting and wanting to let go
Of sin.
Trying to hold on
And let go
To that which should it
Maintain it’s grasp
Will lead them
Where no one should have
To go.

Heavenly Father
I beg You to send
Those of your children
Who have Your strength
And Your love
And Your truth
Flowing ever onwards
In and through them
To those
Whom You love
To pull them from the
Quagmire.

Heavenly Father
Send Your faithful servants
With their loins girt with Your truth
And their feet shod with the
Preparation of the Gospel of peace,
And wearing the helmet of their salvation
Upon their heads;
With their shields of faith,
With their breastplates of righteousness,
And With their mighty swords,
And let them
Stand before and around
Your little ones,
And let them cut a swathe
Through the clutching hands
Of evil
To clear the path
To where You are ever waiting.

Heavenly Father
Show Your Children
All Your Children
That Love is mighty;
Love is true;
Love seeks not it’s own way
But the way for others;
Show them love
Holds no hand with compromise;
But stands against it
Ever ready with the truth.
Show them love
Is not to embrace or yield
To evil
But to confront it
And to turn from it’s path
Those who walk upon it.

In Jesus name, I pray
Amen.

 

 

My Prayer to the Father, August 13, 2012

Heavenly Father
I come before Your throne, Father,
In worship and praise
Of who You are.
Father, I look forward
To that blessed and beautiful day
When with all my brothers
And sisters
I may bow before You
And give You praise,
And honor and glory.
Oh what a wonderful day
That will be.

Heavenly Father
It doesn’t seem possible that
It could be so
That one day I shall stand
In the presence of angels
And cherubim
And I shall proclaim
And magnify You
Above all;
And oh, to think that
Right there in front of me
I shall see my Lord Jesus’ face.

Heavenly Father
It’s too far beyond my comprehension
To think and scarcely believe
That You have prepared me a place
That I will never know until
I get home, my Eternal home
All that You’ve prepared for me.
Even in my dreams
As I walk and breath the life You give
I can not fathom
The beauty, the perfection
Of all You’ve given me
Title to;
Bought and paid for
By the precious blood
Of my dear Savior.

Heavenly Father
I just want to Thank You;
I want to fall down before You
And give You all I have in
My heart
All I am
All I want to be
All I could be
All, every part of me.
May there be nothing within me
But a heart that glories
And is filled with gladness
In knowing that
My soul, forever and a day,
Belongs solely to You.

Heavenly Father
I’ve only one thing to ask;
Give us, Your children,
A vision of our eternal home,
A taste of what it will be like there,
So that we may be filled
With a great and insatiable desire
To share that
Which we have already within
Our hearts
With all who are so lost
And in danger
Of throwing away
Their immortal souls.
Father, please give us a need
That cannot be quenched
To spread the glorious Gospel
Of Your message
To anyone and everyone
We meet.

In Jesus name, I pray,
Amen.

 

May I Share A Thought With You

Dear Brother in Christ,

May I please share a thought on this subject with you. I do not mean to cause offense or embarrass anyone, but rather to engage in a meaningful dialogue in which perhaps we can all learn something.

I agree with and think you are absolutely right that you can’t argue anyone into heaven, and equally right that you shouldn’t fall into meaningless dispute, and debate, arguing the word, but we are called to defend, and to take a stand.

The Bible is very clear that when we see a brother or sister in error we are to go to them, and with gentleness confront them in love. We are to correct those who call themselves “Christians” especially when they’re misleading those who are babes in Christ.

If you see your brother or sister in danger would you not stand in front of them, or do what you could to help them? Would you just stand by and let someone beat them, or kill them? Would you not at least raise an alarm, yell, draw attention, beg for someone to call the police?

As Christians, we do not have to debate, but that does not mean that we aren’t to confront and to stand in defense of the Gospel. The Bible is full of stories of men and women who stood and proclaimed the “Word of God.” We are to proclaim God’s truth, and to stand against evil. We shouldn’t go looking for a fight, but nowhere in the Bible does it say that we’re to tuck tail and run.

Eleven of those who followed our Lord and Savior were all persecuted and died for their faith and belief in Jesus. Thousands upon thousands of men and women who aren’t living in the USA are martyred, beaten, jailed, and persecuted in all kinds of disturbing and horrific ways.

Are we just to sit by, and pray, “God, I sure hope You help them people.” I’m not downplaying the importance of prayer. Prayer is vital. Prayer is life affirming, transforming, and of eternal importance,” but prayer is not the end of our daily walk is it? Isn’t it the beginning? Then we go out and by giving the “Holy Spirit” our feet, our hands, our mouth, mind, heart, and soul we do as we’re led and go where He leads. Christians, lets certainly be people of prayer, but let’s also be people who put our prayers into practice.

Doesn’t the Bible teach that the “Holy Spirit” gives us all different gifts for the service of Christ. Some to prophecy, some to teach, ect… We as Christians, must believe what the Bible says and all that it says. A careful reading of the Scriptures will reveal much about the “Holy Spirit,” and His work in and through our lives.

 

 

This cannot be ignored…

The following is something that must be opposed by God’s people.  This cannot be ignored nor should it be.  We as God’s people must stand for truth at all cost.  Please read this and prayerfully consider what it being said here, and that the Heavenly Fathers’s will be done.  Here’s the http://keriwilliams.wordpress.com/2012/07/31/a-better-conversation-about-homosexuality/#comment-592

The following is my comment to this post.  I have posted it here so that every one can see should it not be seen there though I think it will be.

I’m sorry, and though I don’t know your motivation, for posting this, I can tell you on the full authority of God’s Holy Word, that those of you who’ve written all the above posts except for the one made by Lyn Leahz are deceived at best, and the sons and daughters of the devil himself at worst.  You are in danger of eternal hell fire and damnation.  You argue, and yet some of you know that you are in the wrong.  The spirit that lives within you knows this!  You deny the truth that will set men free, and exchange a lie for what is Holy and just and the only way God has made for the saving of your souls.  You are liars, and worse than liars, for no man or woman who truly knows the God we serve, nor the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ would dare to do as you have done.  You are worse than liars because you have shown that you have no love in your hearts for that which is true as spoken by our God and our Lord Jesus Christ.  You proclaim tolerance, but what you show is hate, the very hate that Satan himself has for all mankind.  You have children.  You say you have love for them, but how can you love when you have no knowledge of the truth of God’s Holy Word?  I pray that God wake you from your apathy and steer you from the lies that are presented here!

Please know and understand that I do not support and will not support the “Homosexual Community”  and it’s agenda to redefine marriage, or in their desire for universal acceptance.  I love people, and I know that people sin, myself included, and I know that Jesus Christ died for all and – I repeat all – who sin!  All sin can be forgiven by God, and is, but you cannot practice sin as a “lifestyle” and be recognized as a Child of the Eternal God, and as brother to He – Jesus Christ – who gave His life for us.  You cannot attack the “Word of God” and say that it’s a lie and and that it’s misunderstood, and not be held to give account!  I know and fully realize that there are those who will hate me for me this stand, and will come against me.  If I suffer, I suffer, it shall be nothing new, and I shall glorify my Heavenly Father if and when He calls me to suffer for this stand I have taken in Him.  He only is worthy of Worship, Honor and Praise, and I commit myself to Him and to His Holy Word, and He can do with me as He will.  As for Me and my house “We Will Serve the Lord!”

Please…

check out my new categories, Prayers, Voices of the Past, and my new poll.
I’d love to hear what you think and if you have any suggestions
for how I can improve this blog. Thank You so much, and God Bless you.

My Prayer to the Father – July 29th, 2012

Our Father In Heaven
I come to Thee in humble adoration and gratefulness
Praising You, Father, as the One worthy of my Worship.
You, Heavenly Father, who created the heavens and the earth,
You, Father, who have given us all that we have, and know.
Heavenly Father, I know that You are love,
And without You we would not know Love
Not in it’s purest form, not in the way
That Love heals and restores.
You, Heavenly Father, are the Author of Love
As written in Your beautiful expression
Of Your Beloved Son, Jesus.
You, Father, who wrote it forever on the hearts
Of those of us who believe in Him.
Of those of us who know that He died for our sins
And thus are forever in Your debt.

Heavenly Father,
I come before You, Father, knowing what
A privilege it is to come before Your eternal throne.
Overjoyed in knowing that You, the Creator,
Not only hear my prayers, but
Are anxious to hear them.
I know Father that You love my prayers,
And not mine, only, but all that come
From a secure position in Your Son,
My Beloved Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father,
It is with true sadness that I come before You.
So sad that I live in a country that
You gave as a gift to all who desire to be free.
To all who desire to Love and Worship You,
And to express the best things You gave to us
As a dim reflection of who You are
In Your glorious and eternal Image.
We, who used to be the best representation
Of Your love and Grace
To a world lost and blind,
And in denial.

Heavenly Father,
I’m so sorry for my part in the smearing
Of what was once so grand and glorious,
And Father, I ask Your forgiveness
Not only for my part,
But that You forgive all who have
Done so much to dim a light
That at once was a beacon that
Shined all across the world.
Not our light, Father, but Yours.
A light of love and grace and strength
That brought forth all the best
That my Beloved Lord Jesus exampled.

Heavenly Father,
In my heart, I know that what has been done
Cannot be undone.
We who have mocked You;
We who have brought untold shame upon
That which You gave us.
We who have taken that which was precious
And thrown it among the dogs and swine
Are deserving of Your wrath.
We who have taken the innocent and that which
Is incarnated in beauty
And we through our silence
Have allowed those who have no soul
To kill and destroy by the millions
what You deem so precious
Life!

Heavenly Father,
If that were our only Sin
It would be enough to bring forth the fires of hell,
But to my most unutterable shame
It is only the first in a long line of that which
We should bow down before You
In sackcloth and ashes
And bewail the terror which we have
Inflicted upon ourselves.
But, no, Father, we not only have taken Life,
But we have done worse if it can be so described
In that we have taken our position
As Saints, as the Royal Priesthood You
Proclaim us to be,
And we have disrobed before the world,
As well as our families and neighbors.
Heavenly Father,
We have built great and towering monuments to You,
And we call them churches
But they are no more and no better
Than the tower of Babel.
We have raised them to raise ourselves
And only we do they truly honor
For Your Word in all it’s truth
Has been sublimated to no more
Than a cheer and a rah, rah, rah,
And a self-help, and self-love philosophy
That were the very things
That put my precious Lord Jesus on the cross
And left him to bleed and die.

Heavenly Father,
I beg You to send a fire of revival throughout
Our land; not to save it;
Though I wish it so,
But that through it those of Your children
Who have yet to realize their state
Might meet Your son, my glorious Savior
And fall before Him in love and faith.
That we might at least once more
Cast our light so brightly around the world
That we leave a last shadow.

Heavenly Father,
I would have no strength to bear my shame
Of this country I have loved were it not
For Your love and grace,
And the certain knowledge
That I am only a stranger here waiting
Until my Beloved comes for me.
Until such time, Father, let me not be slack
In that which You have called me to do.
Let me be bold in my love,
And unswerving in my devotion to the
Mission You have called all Your children to.
Let me proclaim Your Son, My Lord Jesus
To all I meet; to stand upon a hill
And raise my voice so that all can hear,
And stand in the path of all who propose wickedness
In the name of my Lord,
And thus express the Love He paid so much
To bestow upon me.

Heavenly Father,
I come to You on behalf of all in this country
And the world who are suffering
In their bodies and their spirits.
Who are struggling mightily
To pursue that which they know to be true
And to proclaim Him who is.
Heavenly Father,
Please I beg, I plead with You Father
To put a hedge of protection around
All my brothers and sisters
In Christ
Who are enduring the worst pain,
Who are being persecuted without mercy
In lands I’ll never see.
Sear our hearts with love and compassion
And a desire that will not be quenched
To pray for them with our all,
And to give them aid
In all the ways we are so capable of.

Heavenly Father,
Please be with my brothers and sisters
In Christ, and all who are in so much pain in whatever
Form it manifests itself in
And who are struggling to find their way
Through the darkness that’s enveloped this land
And this world.
Help us as those who truly love Your Son
To light our candles and lead the way
To He who is the Bright and Morning Star.

In Jesus Name,
Amen.