Devotional readings from Spurgeon, Cowman, J.R. Miller, and others on living the Christian life. “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;” Ephesians 5:1
Nothing whatever, whether great or small, can happen to a believer — without God's ordering and permission. (J.C. Ryle, 'The Gospel of Luke' 1858) courtesy of gracegems.org 'I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that can do no more. . . . Are not five sparrows sold for …
Continue reading Our Father’s Hand | J.C. Ryle
“If you have ever gazed upon your child’s lifeless body and tried to will it back to life with the force of your love, then you know what it is to have your heart pierced. No, not pierced . . . Demolished.”
Wrung from the troubled spirit, in hard hours Of weakness, solitude, perchance of pain, Truth springs like harvest from the well-ploughed field, And the soul feels it has not wept in vain.
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 1 John 5:14-15 Every prayer I have ever uttered …
Continue reading God Hears Our Prayers
I am not ashamed to admit I am afraid of bears. To me, this is perfectly rational and after more than thirty-four years in Alaska I still can not get used to the idea of not being at the top of the food chain. So when I am fearful or anxious about something or concerned about someone, I sometimes end up dreaming about bears. To me, bears are the embodiment of all things terrifying.
Why go I mourning” Psalm 42:9 Canst thou answer this, believer? Canst thou find any reason why thou art so often mourning instead of rejoicing? Why yield to gloomy anticipations? Who told thee that the night would never end in day? Who told thee that the winter of thy discontent would proceed from frost to …
Continue reading After The Frost – Streams in the Desert 09/25
The power of death being in the hands of the Redeemer — the duration of human life is, in every instance, determined by Him.
Joined in God – Streams in the Desert 8/19 “As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing”2 Cor. 6:10 When Sorrow sang, her notes were like the low sweet call of the nightingale, and in her eyes was the unexpectant gaze of one who has ceased to look for coming gladness. She could weep in tender sympathy with …
Continue reading Joy and Sorrow United
Our best wisdom will be--to hold a loose grip on every comfort which can perish, and to fasten our grip on eternal things. The more we have our hearts in heaven--the less will the troubles of time distress us.
Joni Eareckson Tada on . . . What to Do When You Doubt God's Goodness … when doubts started to choke out my confidence in God, I quickly turned it around and reaffirmed my belief in His sovereignty… I have to start talking to myself… I have to remember His power and wisdom and goodness …
Continue reading Defeating Doubt
How do you survive the death of a child? Initially, the pain of child loss is so severe, that it is easy to wonder if it is survivable. Many women say they know, if it happened to them, they could not survive it. I want to tell them: Yes, you can. If I can, you …
Continue reading Survival is the Starting Point
From the day they are born, our minds are just wired to find them. I think it takes time for our mind to catch up with the reality of the absence of our children. Just when I think I am getting used to it, it hits me again: How can this be?
Child of sorrow! Mourning over the withdrawal of some beloved object of earthly affection — dry your tears! An early death has been an early crown! The tie sundered here, links you to the throne of God. You have a Christian parent, a brother, a sister, [a child], in Heaven! You are the relative of a redeemed saint.
Death is but a temporary separation. Those who are gone before us, are waiting for us. Oh! It will be a happy meeting before the throne of the Lamb--out of the reach of sin and sorrow, to meet and part no more!
You Can Trust Him 