The Plan of God |
Discipleship |
Faith |
Sin |
Perseverence |
Prayer |
Communion With God |
Pursuing God |
Devotion |
Following Jesus |
Time With God |
Sanctification |
Spiritual Warfare |
Trust |
The Word of God |
View All Categories
The book of Hebrews lets us know that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. And that very fact should spur us on to greater faith and perseverance. What can be learned from those who ran well? How much time do you have?
Recent Entries
Making Sense Of It AllJanuary 30, 2012
Where are things headed? Is there rhyme and reason to the endless cycle of summer, fall, winter and spring? Is there a plan in place, or is randomness the explanation?
Suffering Saints
January 25, 2012
We get nervous thinking about it - suffering for the sake of Christ. How necessary is it, and what does it produce in us?
George Herbert on Prayer Meetings
January 21, 2012
Prayer Meetings are a thing of the past. Or so it seems. What has been lost? Maybe more than we realize.
When Fear Is Good
January 7, 2012
NO FEAR, we are told. And the point is well taken. But fear can be healthy, at least when it comes to eternal matters.
Happy, Happy, Happy
January 4, 2012
The declaration of independence holds up the pursuit of happiness as a right. Did you ever consider the reading the bible might be the one source that will never let you down?
The Twelve Signs Of Grace
December 22, 2011
Self-examination is not easy to do. The tendency is to let ourselves off easy. But examine we must, for eternity is at stake.
"Ouch!!"
July 22, 2011
Spiritual pride is hard to detect. Jonathan Edwards gives some tips. The process can be painful, but necessary.
Speaking Of Saints....
October 8, 2008
God's saints are shining lights
Who stays here long must pass o're dark hills,
Swift streams, and steep ways as smooth as glass
But these (that is, God's saints) all night like candles, Shed their beams and light us unto bed
Henry Vaughn (1621-1695)
Kenneth MacRae was a Scottish preacher who toiled for the Lord in the first half of the 20th century, and much of his ministry was itenerate. Upon his death, his wife handed over boxes of diaries he had kept from his years of ministry, which Iain Murray edited it down to one volume - one very wonderfully inspiring volume!
The "peek" we get into the man's heart is so helpful, for humility is evident on every page. For instance, MacRae in one entry titles it Self-Examination....
(1) Worldliness (2) Lack of care over tongue (3) Faithlessness - omitted to say something for my Master in saying 'Good-bye' to Annie and May Carsewell who leave for Glasgow on Saturday (4) Pride in measuring myself with others and in listening critically to a man's prayer instead of helping him in it.
In reflecting on sermon prep, he is concerned that "sermon-making may become a wilderness to me and that in providing for the souls of others I may have no time to bethink me of my own poor, starved soul."
MacRae, whose life has now impacted me, was inspired by the Life of Dr. Moody Stuart. "How thankful I am that He (God) has given me another drink in the wilderness and that He has put this helpful book into my hands!" And in the same spirit I say "Amen!" for being led to the life of Kenneth MacRae!
MacRae had a gift with words, and his description of a sunset moves me every time I read it. Enjoy.
"In afternoon walked across to Staffin through the hill. The day was perfect and the scene, looking back from near the top of the Bealach in the light of the dying day, was perhaps the most exquisite ever I have looked upon."
"The sky was bright, almost flashing, with cloudlets of brilliant hues, the mountains black, sharply outlines against the sky, and the moor before me shadowy with the gloom of coming night."
"As I stood there, not a soul broke the stillness, not a bird cried, not a breath of wind ruffled through the silence. Nature herself seemed to be holding her breath at the beauty of the sight."
"I wished that by some means I might have been able to take away a reproduction of the picture to show it to the world, but I had to leave it behind me in the loneliness of the wilderness until night came and blotted it out."
For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
For the Apostles’ glorious company,
Who bearing forth the Cross o’er land and sea,
Shook all the mighty world, we sing to Thee:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
For the Evangelists, by whose blest word,
Like fourfold streams, the garden of the Lord,
Is fair and fruitful, be Thy Name adored.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
For Martyrs, who with rapture kindled eye,
Saw the bright crown descending from the sky,
And seeing, grasped it, Thee we glorify.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
All are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
And singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Who stays here long must pass o're dark hills,
Swift streams, and steep ways as smooth as glass
But these (that is, God's saints) all night like candles, Shed their beams and light us unto bed
Henry Vaughn (1621-1695)
Kenneth MacRae was a Scottish preacher who toiled for the Lord in the first half of the 20th century, and much of his ministry was itenerate. Upon his death, his wife handed over boxes of diaries he had kept from his years of ministry, which Iain Murray edited it down to one volume - one very wonderfully inspiring volume!
The "peek" we get into the man's heart is so helpful, for humility is evident on every page. For instance, MacRae in one entry titles it Self-Examination....
(1) Worldliness (2) Lack of care over tongue (3) Faithlessness - omitted to say something for my Master in saying 'Good-bye' to Annie and May Carsewell who leave for Glasgow on Saturday (4) Pride in measuring myself with others and in listening critically to a man's prayer instead of helping him in it.
In reflecting on sermon prep, he is concerned that "sermon-making may become a wilderness to me and that in providing for the souls of others I may have no time to bethink me of my own poor, starved soul."
MacRae, whose life has now impacted me, was inspired by the Life of Dr. Moody Stuart. "How thankful I am that He (God) has given me another drink in the wilderness and that He has put this helpful book into my hands!" And in the same spirit I say "Amen!" for being led to the life of Kenneth MacRae!
MacRae had a gift with words, and his description of a sunset moves me every time I read it. Enjoy.
"In afternoon walked across to Staffin through the hill. The day was perfect and the scene, looking back from near the top of the Bealach in the light of the dying day, was perhaps the most exquisite ever I have looked upon."
"The sky was bright, almost flashing, with cloudlets of brilliant hues, the mountains black, sharply outlines against the sky, and the moor before me shadowy with the gloom of coming night."
"As I stood there, not a soul broke the stillness, not a bird cried, not a breath of wind ruffled through the silence. Nature herself seemed to be holding her breath at the beauty of the sight."
"I wished that by some means I might have been able to take away a reproduction of the picture to show it to the world, but I had to leave it behind me in the loneliness of the wilderness until night came and blotted it out."
For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
For the Apostles’ glorious company,
Who bearing forth the Cross o’er land and sea,
Shook all the mighty world, we sing to Thee:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
For the Evangelists, by whose blest word,
Like fourfold streams, the garden of the Lord,
Is fair and fruitful, be Thy Name adored.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
For Martyrs, who with rapture kindled eye,
Saw the bright crown descending from the sky,
And seeing, grasped it, Thee we glorify.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
All are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
And singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
