Psalm 91:4

He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

Psalm 91:4 NAS

God covers me with His strong wings and feathers.  I’m comforted in the knowledge that I can rest safely and securely in His love.  He is my shelter, He is my protector, He is my defender, He is my assurance, He is my deliverer, He is my fortress.  God surrounds me with His love, He covers me with His armor, His promise is true, His faithfulness is great, His love is matchless, His love is divine.

This verse has special meaning to me. I’ve read it over and over and over again.  I hold each word close to my heart.  When I’m afraid, when I’m alone, when I’m empty, when I’m struggling, when I’m confused,  when I’m grieving, when I’m tired, when I’m insecure, when I have nothing more to give, I can hide in God. 

God is my precious hiding place.   

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quick quotes

A W Tozer:

An honest man with an open Bible and a pad and pencil is sure to find out what is wrong with him very quickly.

The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.

One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always.

journey to joy - reprise

”May not a single moment of my life be spent outside the light, love, and joy of God's presence and not a moment without the entire surrender of my self as a vessel for Him to fill full of His Spirit and His love.” -Andrew Murray

My life. I can either be grateful for it, or grumble about it. I can be satisfied with what I have been given, or envy what others possess. Life is a journey that I can either tolerate or enjoy. I’d rather my life have J-O-Y.

My life. But, it’s not all about me. As a child, I learned that J-O-Y was Jesus 1st, Others 2nd, and You last. Jesus is the one, true source of everlasting joy. By giving my time and energy to others, I receive joy in return. I’d rather my life have J-O-Y.

My life. Because God lives within me, my joy may be eternal. Someone once said, “God made you for Himself, and it is only when you find His purpose for your life, that you will also find His peace and His joy in your life”. I’d rather my life have J-O-Y.

You reveal the path of life to me;
in Your presence is abundant joy;
in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.
(Psalm 16:11 The Holman Christian Standard Bible)

"I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”
(John 15:11 The Holman Christian Standard Bible)

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burdens & backs

Don’t pray for lighter burdens, but for stronger backs.

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depression, gratitude and Charles Spurgeon – part 2

Sometimes depression can be a preparation for something greater.  Charles Spurgeon knew this well.  He preached through adversity.  How?  He saw ‘his depression as the design of God for the good of his ministry and the glory of Christ’.

These are but two excerpts written about him that clearly show how he allowed God to use him just the way he was:

For the suffering that he endured was tremendous, and at times overwhelming, yet he would say that it was during these times that he truly longed for, because during these times he could do nothing else but to draw near to his Savior and Lord. This is when Spurgeon would climb under the wings of refuge, and gain his strength in spirit, mind, and will, to do his part in fulfilling the great commission.  

Spurgeon was no stranger to depression, and therefore his words have all the more credibility. And as Spurgeon was a great champion of God’s sovereignty in all things, he serves as a reminder that people of great faith and trust in God can nonetheless be brought low in depression. While that thought may be depressing to those who haven’t known much depression, it will be liberating to those who have.

Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.

Psalm 42:5 NAS

pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 NAS

depression, gratitude and Charles Spurgeon – part 1

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (June 19, 1834 – January 31, 1892)

I enjoy reading quotes, sermons, and devotionals written by Charles Spurgeon.  He’s one of my all-time favorites.  He was a prolific author who wrote great works, with great meaning, with great insight, with great knowledge, with great clarity, with great honesty, with great feeling, with great belief, with great perspective, and with great sincerity. 

To learn more about his life and ministry, I recently googled him, and was especially surprised at what I stumbled upon.  Charles Spurgeon wrestled with depression most of his life.

As well as recurrent battles with depression, he also suffered from extreme, painful physical illness.  Yet, his attitude was unbelievably positive.  He said, “This depression comes over me whenever the Lord is preparing a larger blessing for my ministry. The cloud is black before it breaks and overshadows before it yields its deluge of mercy”.

“Knowing by most painful experience what deep depression of spirit means, being visited therewith at seasons by no means few or far between,.....and that sadder men might know that one upon whom the sun has shown right joyously did not always walk in the light.”

This was a man who was incredibly used by God, despite his life of intense pain and suffering. 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NAS

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