June 30 Santa Maria

Mother and daughter day out.

Comments

Post a Comment

Be kind. Share your thoughts.

Popular Posts

The Great Imbalance

Image
Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. Acts 8:4 W e have long observed that when a right knowledge of God travels from the head down to the heart, it moves the feet, and brings forth a courage most peculiar. It is not the boisterous boldness of a loud nature, but a 'fearful apprehension' of the Almighty that simply outweighs the trembling fear of men. We see this same Spirit in the scholars and heralds of old, who found that their deep study was but a fire that must eventually find a vent. Among them was Hugh Binning, the youthful professor, who left the safety of his parchment to speak plainly to thick crowds of common folk, laboring his very soul to death by the age of twenty-six. There was George Wishart, who forsook the academic life to stand atop the stone walls of Dundee, preaching between the living and the dying. He was a Scottish Protestant Reformer and one of the early Protestant martyrs burned at the stake as a heretic. ...
Read more

Street Meeting Thirty Sixth

Image
T he Lord's Day is the most laborious and strenuous day of all the week for me. How differently did I once spend it! When we were yet in religion, our concern after the accustomed duties were ended was where the family should spend the remainder of the day, what cinema we should attend, or at which fine restaurant we should eat. Thus I thought to render somewhat unto God, and reserve the rest unto ourselves. I saw no great contradiction in it then. Having done those things which I accounted Christian, I persuaded myself that I had done God service, and the remaining hours might therefore be disposed of according to our own pleasure. I grievously decided what portion of the day God should receive, and was altogether insensible both to the command and to the duty of the day. Religion had received its portion, and self-indulgence might have what remained. How little did I understand that I was still my own master, even whilst imagining myself to be serving God. This late evening...
Read more

Awit

Image
Isang awit ng pasasalamat. Madaling araw, nang ako'y magising sa sakit dala ng karamdaman. Pakinggan mo, langit, ang aking sasabihin, unawain mo, lupa, ang aking bibigkasin. Pumatak nawang gaya ng ulan ang aking ituturo, ang salita ko nawa'y tulad ng hamog na namumuo; upang halama'y diligan at damo'y tumubo. Sapagkat si Yahweh ay aking pupurihin, ang kanyang pangalan ay inyong dakilain. Deuteronomio 32:1-3
Read more

Street Meeting Thirty Eighth

Image
When we arrived at the park, our dear brother had already preached the Word. This pleased me greatly. The work had not waited for my coming; Christ was already being proclaimed. He afterward told me of a little encounter which had taken place whilst he was distributing materials amongst the people. Several Christians belonging to a particular church gathered around him and began asking what it was that he was giving away. Upon learning that he professed himself a believer, they did not immediately receive him as such, but began quietly examining him. Who is Christ? How is man saved? And so the questions continued. I confess, the account brought me much pleasure. These brethren were not satisfied merely because a stranger called himself a Christian and carried religious materials in his hands. They desired first to know what Christ he confessed and what Gospel he proclaimed. What Bereans! Our brother answered them; and only after hearing his answers did their countenances change. Then...
Read more

Street Meeting Thirty Seventh

Image
A dear brother, himself a fruit of the work, took it upon him this day to preach Christ in two separate places. I bless the L ORD for such zeal in men, and it rejoiceth me greatly to behold one who hath received the Word beginning himself to carry it unto others. Yet I have lived long enough not to expect more from such beginnings than is necessary. In this work the end is of greater consequence than the beginning. Many may begin with heat who afterward grow cold; and therefore, whilst I rejoice, I would rather pray than presume. May it please the LORD to bless this dear brother with brokenness, with need, and with emptiness. These are good markings of vessels fit for the Master's use: men who have learned that they possess nothing in themselves, and therefore must continually go unto Christ for everything. We have more than enough supposed men of God who have words, learning, reputation, and yet are void of power.  What we greatly need are men with the fire of the Holy...
Read more

Street Meeting Twenty Fifth

Image
Matthew 21:23-46 / Mark 11:27-12:12 / Luke 20:1-19 "Tell us," the Pharisees arrogantly demanded, standing entitled in their own perceived righteousness, that Jesus should explain by what authority He performed His wonders. They sat as judges over the very Christ of God, determining in their biased minds to expose Him as an impostor, and somebody who is beneath them. So it is to this very day. Every audience present in the public proclamation of the Gospel assumes this same position of judgment. They size up the messenger as though he were a commoner, thinking whether what this fellow says is worth their attention, or if he is at least amusing enough to spare a few minutes of their vanity. The unregenerate soul looks upon the Truth not as a life-line to a drowning man, but as a curiosity to be measured against his own biases and the stubborn pride of his personal beliefs. More often than not, he judges the message of salvation to be a thing of so little weight that it may b...
Read more

The Lamb's Book of Life, And The Eternal Will Of God For The Security Of Those Who Have Been Graciously Called To Come & Believe

Image
A journal entry. One early morning of October. A study on my readings, on John 1:13, Ephesians 1:4, Revelation 13:8, 17:8 and 21:27.  From eternity past, even before the beginning of the beginning, the Lamb wrote a book.    In this book were special names. Names He had elected, in His gracious sovereignty, to be His very own people. His divine, covenantal will, was to bless them with the continual light of His presence, and to bring them to Himself, there to dwell before Him in blissful glory, for all eternity. These names were written in tender affection, with great love, and with great zeal, amidst a great plan to reveal to them this love, through sacrifice. He had written these names down permanently, determined and precisely, without any intention to erase or blot them out. He had written them down from eternity, and there will they remain throughout all eternity. He who wrote them embodies eternity, for He is eternity, and whom He loves He loves with a love that kno...
Read more