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Trusting God in Difficult Times by George Morrison

January 20, 2012 by ADMIN

Psalm 55

“But I will trust in thee.” (Psalm 55:23) …The value of a word and the power that it has over our hearts depends largely upon the man who speaks it and on the circumstances of its utterance. When Paul said to the Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord, and again I say rejoice,” how inexpressibly these words are deepened by the circumstances of the Apostle—no longer young nor free, but a prisoner in a Roman cell with his life-work seemingly shattered at his feet. Living words have the quality of life. They are born and bear the fashion of their birth. They may be robbed of meaning, or may be filled with meaning, by the hour in which the spirit utters them. So it seems to me the only way to enter into the grandeur of our text is to learn the circumstances of the Psalm. What kind of man was this who said so confidently: “But I will trust in thee?” What were his circumstances? Was he happy? Was everything going very well with him? A study of the psalm will show us that. Continue Reading »

Posted in George Morrison, Reforming Reflections |

The Great Birthday by Charles Spurgeon

December 6, 2011 by ADMIN

The Great Birthday

Charles Spurgeon

“The angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” — Luke 2:10

There is no reason upon earth beyond that of ecclesiastical custom why the 25th of December should be regarded as the birthday of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ any more than any other day from the first of January to the last day of the year; and yet some persons regard Christmas with far deeper reverence than the Lord’s day.  You will often hear it asserted that “The Bible and the Bible alone is the religion of Protestants,” but it is not so.  There are Protestants who have absorbed a great deal besides the Bible into their religion, and, among other things, they have accepted the authority of what they call “the Church” and by that door all sorts of superstitions have entered.  There is no authority whatever in the word of God for the keeping of Christmas at all, and no reason for keeping it just now except that the most superstitious section of Christendom has made a rule that December 25th shall be observed as the birthday of the Lord, and the church by law established in this land has agreed to follow in the same track.  You are under no bondage whatever to regard the regulation.  We owe no allegiance to the ecclesiastical powers which have made a decree on this matter, for we belong to an old-fashioned church which does not dare to make laws, but is content to obey them. Continue Reading »

Posted in C. H. Spurgeon, Reforming Reflections |

The Essential Question by C. H. Spurgeon

October 7, 2011 by ADMIN

“Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me?” – John 21:17

 

This is a pointed question, which demands a personal answer and should, therefore, stir up full and frequent self-examination.  “Lovest thou me?”  It is a probing question that is likely to excite much grief when pressed home to the sensitive, tender-hearted disciple, even as Peter was grieved because the Lord said unto him the third time, “Lovest thou me?”  Yet it is a pleasing and profitable question to so many of us as can give a like solemn and satisfactory response to that of Simon Peter, “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.” Continue Reading »

Posted in C. H. Spurgeon, Reforming Reflections |

It’s Visa Time! … (October 2011 Update)

September 30, 2011 by ADMIN

I have lots to do this month but the big item is going to Poland to renew my visa.  It is something I will have to do every year and this will be my first experience with it.  Ukraine only grants 1 year religious visa now and mine expires on December 1st.  Since I will be teaching all of November, I cannot leave to renew my visa.  So I will be doing this in October (12-16).  Also, Ukraine changed their visa laws this September.  Now, to renew your visa, you have to leave the country , go to a Ukrainian Embassy outside of Ukraine (Poland is the closest and cheapest), and then you return to Ukraine with a 45 day visa that has to be submitted to the Ministry of Culture to be changed into a 1 year visa.  So there is a lot of red tape to go through (not to mention waiting in lines and hoping you are in the right one).  Katya will be going also so she has to get a visa to be able to go with me to Poland.  So … this month is “visa month” for us.  Be praying that we can get our visas and that everything will go smoothly as planned. Continue Reading »

Posted in Jim Ehrhard, Ministry Updates |

The Reason We Trust God by Jim Ehrhard

September 12, 2011 by ADMIN

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life. (Psalm 36:7-9)
One way to grow in trusting the Lord is to spend much time meditating on His lovingkindness.  Lovingkindness is an Old Testament term similar to the idea of grace in the New Testament.  It combines the idea of His mercy in not punishing us as we deserve with the His goodness in giving to us “exceedingly, abundantly, beyond all we could ask or think.”  It shows the zealous, active love of God for His people.  No wonder David said: How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God. Continue Reading »

Posted in Jim Ehrhard |

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