"The Invitation" by ~Oriah Mountain Dreamer

As the well spring flows out of me like a mountain stream that has no boundaries... I linger... here and there...
He never leaves nor forsakes me... I feel His presence... He speaks to my heart...

Today...   "Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart." 2 Chronicles 32:31

"God, by the power of his almighty grace, could have prevented the sin; but he permitted it for wise and holy ends, that, by this trial and his weakness in it, he might know, that is, it might be known (a usual Hebraism), what was in his heart, that he was not so perfect in grace as he thought he was, but had his follies and infirmities as other men. God left him to himself to be proud of his wealth, to keep him from being proud of his holiness. It is good for us to know ourselves, and our own weakness and sinfulness, that we may not be conceited or self-confident, but may always think meanly of ourselves and live in a dependence upon divine grace. We know not the corruption of our own hearts, nor what we shall do if God leave us to ourselves. Lord, lead us not into temptation. " Charles Spurgeon
Tonight...
"Soul desire seeks to push the edge in the places where we have drawn a line in the sand saying, “This is where I will not go, this is what I will not risk.” And what is easy for one may be hard for another. Wherever we have draw the line, the risk of crossing it feels very real. We risk failing to fulfill our desires, of being exposed for our deepest yearnings. We risk mistaking one desire for another, only to arrive at fulfillment held in the arms of disappointment. Sure that we ache for time apart we may walk away from another only to find our yearning unmet in aloneness. Reaching for the other with whom we can share life we may plunge into a relationship that brings us face to face with a loneliness we have never known in solitude. To move we have to allow ourselves to be the fool, the one who does not know, who starts again and again at the beginning." ~Oriah Mountain Dreamer from "The Invitation"

This well spring is flooding... it is overflowing and has no where to roam...
The soul yearns and churns as the froth of the crashing waves...
The rocks are dangerous...
The edge... the line drawn is so near... so very near...
...yet so, so far...

The sun has slowed... in prayer... I've experienced it...
Prayer always answered... never left to wonder...
...when sought out...

Lead in the way everlasting I pray...
Lead me beside the still waters...
Lead me in thy truth...



 

My Heart Cry's...

The song goes, "If ever I need Thee, my Jesus tis now..."  God always knows when I need Him...
Here is where I come to share those personal moments... here in my secret spot... away from everyone, away from the world...
The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away... but here He gave just what I needed... as always... may each of you who read these precious words know that He led you here today as well... they are as much for you as they were for me...


"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."  1 Peter 5:7
"It is a happy way of soothing sorrow when we can feel-"HE careth for me." Christian! do not dishonour religion by always wearing a brow of care; come, cast your burden upon your Lord. You are staggering beneath a weight which your Father would not feel. What seems to you a crushing burden, would be to him but as the small dust of the balance. Nothing is so sweet as to
"Lie passive in God’s hands,
And know no will but his."
O child of suffering, be thou patient; God has not passed thee over in his providence. He who is the feeder of sparrows, will also furnish you with what you need. Sit not down in despair; hope on, hope ever. Take up the arms of faith against a sea of trouble, and your opposition shall yet end your distresses. There is One who careth for you. His eye is fixed on you, his heart beats with pity for your woe, and his hand omnipotent shall yet bring you the needed help. The darkest cloud shall scatter itself in showers of mercy. The blackest gloom shall give place to the morning. He, if thou art one of his family, will bind up thy wounds, and heal thy broken heart. Doubt not his grace because of thy tribulation, but believe that he loveth thee as much in seasons of trouble as in times of happiness. What a serene and quiet life might you lead if you would leave providing to the God of providence! With a little oil in the cruse, and a handful of meal in the barrel, Elijah outlived the famine, and you will do the same. If God cares for you, why need you care too? Can you trust him for your soul, and not for your body? He has never refused to bear your burdens, he has never fainted under their weight. Come, then, soul! have done with fretful care, and leave all thy concerns in the hand of a gracious God."  Charles Spurgeon

Until next time,
Jean

I am ceaselessly amazed at the faithfulness of my Heavenly Father... when the days seem long and I am weary from the battle... He leads me beside the still waters... He annoints my head with oil...He calms my troubled soul with His precious Word and reminds me...He tends to my heart cries ever so faithfully... Oh how sad it must be to not know His love... to not know His tender mercies...Call unto Him, and He will be there...  "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."   Php 4:6-7
    "There are times when all the promises and doctrines of the Bible are of no avail, unless a gracious hand shall apply them to us. We are thirsty, but too faint to crawl to the water- brook. When a soldier is wounded in battle it is of little use for him to know that there are those at the hospital who can bind up his wounds, and medicines there to ease all the pains which he now suffers: what he needs is to be carried thither, and to have the remedies applied. It is thus with our souls, and to meet this need there is one, even the Spirit of truth, who takes of the things of Jesus, and applies them to us. Think not that Christ hath placed his joys on heavenly shelves that we may climb up to them for ourselves, but he draws near, and sheds his peace abroad in our hearts. O Christian, if thou art to-night labouring under deep distresses, thy Father does not give thee promises and then leave thee to draw them up from the Word like buckets from a well, but the promises he has written in the Word he will write anew on your heart. He will manifest his love to you, and by his blessed Spirit, dispel your cares and troubles. Be it known unto thee, O mourner, that it is God’s prerogative to wipe every tear from the eye of his people. The good Samaritan did not say, "Here is the wine, and here is the oil for you"; he actually poured in the oil and the wine. So Jesus not only gives you the sweet wine of the promise, but holds the golden chalice to your lips, and pours the life-blood into your mouth. The poor, sick, way-worn pilgrim is not merely strengthened to walk, but he is borne on eagles’ wings. Glorious gospel! which provides everything for the helpless, which draws nigh to us when we cannot reach after it-brings us grace before we seek for grace! Here is as much glory in the giving as in the gift. Happy people who have the Holy Ghost to bring Jesus to them."  Charles Spurgeon

“The Lord our God hath shewed us his glory.” Deuteronomy 5:24

a few words from Charles Spergeon...

"God’s great design in all his works is the manifestation of his own glory. Any aim less than this were unworthy of himself. But how shall the glory of God be manifested to such fallen creatures as we are? Man’s eye is not single, he has ever a side glance towards his own honour, has too high an estimate of his own powers, and so is not qualified to behold the glory of the Lord. It is clear, then, that self must stand out of the way, that there may be room for God to be exalted; and this is the reason why he bringeth his people ofttimes into straits and difficulties, that, being made conscious of their own folly and weakness, they may be fitted to behold the majesty of God when he comes forth to work their deliverance. He whose life is one even and smooth path, will see but little of the glory of the Lord, for he has few occasions of self-emptying, and hence, but little fitness for being filled with the revelation of God. They who navigate little streams and shallow creeks, know but little of the God of tempests; but they who “do business in great waters,” these see his “wonders in the deep.” Among the huge Atlantic-waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah, because we feel the littleness of man. Thank God, then, if you have been led by a rough road: it is this which has given you your experience of God’s greatness and loving kindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained by no other means: your trials have been the cleft of the rock in which Jehovah has set you, as he did his servant Moses, that you might behold his glory as it passed by. Praise God that you have not been left to the darkness and ignorance which continued prosperity might have involved, but that in the great fight of affliction, you have been capacitated for the outshinings of his glory in his wonderful dealings with you."

It is amazing how God works in our lives each and every day... He knows just what we need, just when we need it...

Until next time,
Jean
     

Heart Conditions...

“And I will give you an heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26

Charles Spurgeon is such an inspiration to me.  I love reading his devotions and sharing them with my readers when I feel led.  This was one of my devotion's  yesterday and I just had to share.  Gods word talks about when we are so distressed and know not what to pray, that the Holy Spirit will intercede with moaning's... our Heavenly Father knows our every need and He is there each day as we seek Him...
I pray you will be as blessed by this as I...

"A heart of flesh is known by its tenderness concerning sin. To have indulged a foul imagination, or to have allowed a wild desire to tarry even for a moment, is quite enough to make a heart of flesh grieve before the Lord. The heart of stone calls a great iniquity nothing, but not so the heart of flesh.

“If to the right or left I stray,
That moment, Lord, reprove;
And let me weep my life away,
For having grieved thy love”

The heart of flesh is tender of God’s will. My Lord Will-be-will is a great blusterer, and it is hard to subject him to God’s will; but when the heart of flesh is given, the will quivers like an aspen leaf in every breath of heaven, and bows like an osier in every breeze of God’s Spirit.

The natural will is cold, hard iron, which is not to be hammered into form, but the renewed will, like molten metal, is soon molded by the hand of grace. In the fleshy heart there is a tenderness of the affections. The hard heart does not love the Redeemer, but the renewed heart burns with affection towards him. The hard heart is selfish and coldly demands, “Why should I weep for sin? Why should I love the Lord?” But the heart of flesh says; “Lord, thou knowest that I love thee; help me to love thee more!”

Many are the privileges of this renewed heart; “‘Tis here the Spirit dwells, ‘tis here that Jesus rests.” It is fitted to receive every spiritual blessing, and every blessing comes to it. It is prepared to yield every heavenly fruit to the honor and praise of God, and therefore the Lord delights in it. A tender heart is the best defense against sin, and the best preparation for heaven. A renewed heart stands on its watchtower looking for the coming of the Lord Jesus. Have you this heart of flesh?"
                                 Charles Spurgeon

Until next time,
Jean

Forgiven!

"Do you believe that your sins are forgiven, and that Christ has made a full atonement for them? Then what a joyful Christian you ought to be! How you should live above the common trials and troubles of the world! Since sin is forgiven, can it matter what happens to you now? Luther said, “Smite, Lord, smite, for my sin is forgiven; if thou hast but forgiven me, smite as hard as thou wilt”; and in a similar spirit you may say, “Send sickness, poverty, losses, crosses, persecution, what thou wilt, thou hast forgiven me, and my soul is glad.” Christian, if thou art thus saved, whilst thou art glad, be grateful and loving. Cling to that cross which took thy sin away; serve thou him who served thee." Charles Spurgeon

We all like a bit of attention, whether we want to admit it or not.  We like to be esteemed and respected whether we are a he or a she. It feels good to the inner person when people say nice things about us... compliment something we  have done... acknowledge a good deed...  we are human and appreciation goes a long way. 

The opposite is true as well...   No one wants to be looked down on or spoken ill of... this not only hurts a persons feelings, but it can destroy relationships to the point of no return... we are human and hurts can take their toll...

But what do we do with unforgivness? How do we respond when we have put forth as much effort as we can and we are not forgiven by 'man'?  Charles Spurgeon puts it quite perfectly in the above quote I believe... When we know we have done the best we can do, with or without our failings... we must move forward in the Love of the Lord and not look back.  We must look to Him for His perfect guidance and trust that He will see us through these times.  God alone knows each our hearts and God alone will be the ultimate and final judge.  We will stand alone before Him and give account for each thing we have done, not our brother or sister, me alone.  We shall hear one of two things when that terrible day comes, but we will hear one... 'enter into to the joy of the Lord' or 'depart from me ye worker of iniquity'...

Be glad you can be forgiven... trust in Him and He will see you through... be glad in Him and His perfect love...

“Thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work.”  Psalms 92:4
Until next time,
Jean








     

The Lord Reigneth

"My Bleeding Heart" by, Jean Smith

The Lords day is my day of relief... I know that I can go to church and be fed of from His eternal word and that the Holy Spirit will minister to my weary soul...

Here are a few words from Charles Spurgeon... one of my daily devotional today

"The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice."
- Psa_97:1
"Causes for disquietude there are none so long as this blessed sentence is true. On earth the Lord’s power as readily controls the rage of the wicked as the rage of the sea; his love as easily refreshes the poor with mercy as the earth with showers. Majesty gleams in flashes of fire amid the tempest’s horrors, and the glory of the Lord is seen in its grandeur in the fall of empires, and the crash of thrones. In all our conflicts and tribulations, we may behold the hand of the divine King.
"God is God; he sees and hears
All our troubles, all our tears.
Soul, forget not, ‘mid thy pains,
God o’er all for ever reigns."
In hell, evil spirits own, with misery, his undoubted supremacy. When permitted to roam abroad, it is with a chain at their heel; the bit is in the mouth of behemoth, and the hook in the jaws of leviathan. Death’s darts are under the Lord’s lock, and the grave’s prisons have divine power as their warder. The terrible vengeance of the Judge of all the earth makes fiends cower down and tremble, even as dogs in the kennel fear the hunter’s whip.
"Fear not death, nor Satan’s thrusts,
God defends who in him trusts;
Soul, remember, in thy pains,
God o’er all for ever reigns."
In heaven none doubt the sovereignty of the King Eternal, but all fall on their faces to do him homage. Angels are his courtiers, the redeemed his favourites, and all delight to serve him day and night. May we soon reach the city of the great King!
"For this life’s long night of sadness
He will give us peace and gladness.
Soul, remember, in thy pains,
God o’er all for ever reigns."  Charles Spurgeon.

The Lord is ever faithful to those who trust in Him.  I long to do His will in my life that it may one that tells all around my deep adoration for Him...
Although I know I have failed so miserably in this, I trust that I can keep pressing on, trying to do His perfect will in my life...
I long to do good and be what I know He has designed me to be... Christian woman, wife and mother.
How do I accomplish all that is required of me and yet thrive in my spiritual life the way I long to?  This is my everyday challenge. When all the have to's are racing around me, and then my deepest yearning to have quiet study in His word... as my friend often says... this too shall pass...

quiet reflections of my heart,
Until next time,
Jean

This was my devotion the other morning... It never ceases to amaze me how the Lord works in my life... He is always so quick to give me the tender, as well as chastening words that I need to get me on.  May this bless you as it blessed me...

...a few word's from Charles Spergeon

“The Lord our God hath shewed us his glory.”  Deuteronomy 5:24
"God’s great design in all his works is the manifestation of his own glory. Any aim less than this were unworthy of himself. But how shall the glory of God be manifested to such fallen creatures as we are? Man’s eye is not single, he has ever a side glance towards his own honour, has too high an estimate of his own powers, and so is not qualified to behold the glory of the Lord. It is clear, then, that self must stand out of the way, that there may be room for God to be exalted; and this is the reason why he bringeth his people ofttimes into straits and difficulties, that, being made conscious of their own folly and weakness, they may be fitted to behold the majesty of God when he comes forth to work their deliverance. He whose life is one even and smooth path, will see but little of the glory of the Lord, for he has few occasions of self-emptying, and hence, but little fitness for being filled with the revelation of God. They who navigate little streams and shallow creeks, know but little of the God of tempests; but they who “do business in great waters,” these see his “wonders in the deep.” Among the huge Atlantic-waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah, because we feel the littleness of man. Thank God, then, if you have been led by a rough road: it is this which has given you your experience of God’s greatness and lovingkindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained by no other means: your trials have been the cleft of the rock in which Jehovah has set you, as he did his servant Moses, that you might behold his glory as it passed by. Praise God that you have not been left to the darkness and ignorance which continued prosperity might have involved, but that in the great fight of affliction, you have been capacitated for the outshinings of his glory in his wonderful dealings with you."

Until next time,
Jean

Prayer is a Souls Sincere Desire

"Tell me I pray thee wherein thy great strength lieth."  Jdg_16:6

"Where lies the secret strength of faith? It lies in the food it feeds on; for faith studies what the promise is-an emanation of divine grace, an overflowing of the great heart of God; and faith says, "My God could not have given this promise, except from love and grace; therefore it is quite certain his Word will be fulfilled."

Then faith thinketh, "Who gave this promise?" It considereth not so much its greatness, as, "Who is the author of it?" She remembers that it is God who cannot lie-God omnipotent, God immutable; and therefore concludeth that the promise must be fulfilled; and forward she advances in this firm conviction. She remembereth, why the promise was given,-namely, for God’s glory, and she feels perfectly sure that God’s glory is safe, that he will never stain his own escutcheon, nor mar the lustre of his own crown; and therefore the promise must and will stand.

Then faith also considereth the amazing work of Christ as being a clear proof of the Father’s intention to fulfil his word. "He that spared not his own Son, but freely delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"

Moreover faith looks back upon the past, for her battles have strengthened her, and her victories have given her courage. She remembers that God never has failed her; nay, that he never did once fail any of his children. She recollecteth times of great peril, when deliverance came; hours of awful need, when as her day her strength was found, and she cries, "No, I never will be led to think that he can change and leave his servant now. Hitherto the Lord hath helped me, and he will help me still." Thus faith views each promise in its connection with the promise-giver, and, because she does so, can with assurance say, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life!"  Charles Spurgeon

Prayer is the soul's sincere desire,
Unuttered or expressed,
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles in the breast...

When I lift my soul up in prayer to Him
I know He is there...

Until next time,
Jean