Morning and Evening: April 6

Spurgeon said on April 6th;

"You cannot grown in grace to any high degree while you are conformed to the world. The life of separation may be a path of sorrow, but it is the highway of safety; and though the separated life may be painful and make every day a battle, yet it is a happy life after all. No joy can excel that of the soldier of Christ; Jesus reveals Himself so graciously and gives such sweet refreshment that the warrior feels more calm and peace in his daily strife than others in their hours of rest."

One of my most favorite things to do is to look back on my past. Through all the hardship I've been through the last years, I love that I can look back and see His hand in it all. What a comfort that is to me! I can see where He took something away from me, then after a time, He brought something similar along that was even better! Even though He took that away too, I know that He will bring something even better than that was. 

I hear people say all the time, "Oh, God's going to provide something even better that what you had." But the thing is, they can say it and not believe it. But I've seen it personally... He's done it in my own life... I know He can do it! 

My life has been a battle, but I would not change it for anything! Through all the hard, He has brought so much happiness in my life. Because of Him, I can look back on my past with a smile. He is in control! And how sweet that is! 

Ways You Don't Expect

I love it when God shows you things when it couldn't have been more perfect. What an awesome way He shows us He cares for us! 

Monday was my first day back to school. And rather than starting my day in the books, I started it with Spurgeon's Morning and Evening. The devotion for January 16 was titled I Am the One Who Helps You, Declares the Lord. I couldn't help but smile! This was the devotion for the day I start school? It felt as if God was speaking the words right to me! 

Spurgeon says, "This morning let us hear the Lord Jesus speak to each one of us: "I will help you.""It is but a small thing for Me, your God, to help you. Consider what I have done already. What! Not help you? Why, I bought you with My blood. What! Not help you? It is the least thing I will do for you; I have done more, and will do more. Before the world began I chose you. I made the covenant for you. I laid aside My glory and became a man for you; I gave up My life for you; and if I did all this, I will surely help you now. In helping you, I am giving you what I have bought for you already. If you had need of a thousand times as much help, I would give it to you; you require little compared with what I am ready to give. It is much for you to need, but it is nothing for me to bestow. Help you? Fear not! If there were an ant at the door of your granary asking for help, it would not ruin you to give him a handful of your wheat; and you are nothing but a tiny insect at the door of My all-sufficiency. I will help you."

He helped us in the most desperate time in our lives, why would He not help us now? Why would He leave us to fend for ourselves? He wouldn't! He isn't! One of my all-time favorite verses says, "For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who says to you. "Fear not, I am the one who helps you." (Isaiah 41:13). He's right here with us, He is helping us run this race.

It's only by His grace, but I have a totally different perspective going into this new semester. I can't explain it, but I have this peace I haven't had yet with school. I'm not overwhelmed, I'm not questioning if this is what I'm suppose to be doing. I got home late today from work... did I finish all that was on my schedule for school today? Nope. And I'm ok with that. Because I know His grace is sufficient! He is going to help us!!!! What a great God He is!!!!

Morning & Evening

One of my wonderful gifts this Christmas from my parents was Charles Spurgeon's book Morning and Evening. As I was reading it tonight, one part stood out, which I would love to share with you.

January 6 - Evening
"That glorious right hand that molded the world can renew my mind; the unwearied hand that bears the earth's huge pillars can sustain my spirit; the loving hand that encloses all the saints can cherish me; and the mighty hand that breaks in pieces the enemy can subdue my sins. Why should I not feel that hand touching me this evening? Come, my soul, address God with the potent plea that Jesus' hands were pierced for your redemption, and you shall surely feel that same hand upon you that once touched Daniel and set him upon his knees that he might see visions of God."

Isn't that a crazy thought? Just think about that. The same God who created the heavens and the earth cares for me! He cares for you! The very God that walked with Adam and Eve in the garden, cares for you! The very God that flooded the whole earth, cares for you! The very God that holds the universe in His hands cares for you! What an amazing thought!
"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows." (Luke 12:6-7)
If He cares for the sparrows of the sky, why should He not care for you? Like one of my favorite Sovereign Grace songs says, "Yesterday, today and forever, You are the same, You never change." And how true that is!!! And even though you may feel beat down, and that no one cares for you, I've been there too... and the truth is, someone does care for you. And even though it doesn't look like good to you, most of the time He's trying to teach us something. Scratch that... He is always teaching us something. Persevere! You are doing better than you deserve!