The Lord Reigns

August 12, 2009

Daily Wisdom

The Lord loves both Christian and sinner with equal fervor and calls each of us to His throne of grace that we should humble ourselves, repenting our sins and come to the foot of the cross. To those that come, God will grant redemption from their sins and new life in Christ. Sadly some will reject Gods offer and continue to delight in the pleasures of this world living in darkness serving only the prince of darkness. We therefore by living a renewed life reflect the Light revealing God’s love and forgiving spirit to those still living in darkness so that they may see the light and seek also the new life in Christ. Let us rejoice therefore that the God who reigns over the earth shall give all men opportunity to taste His loving grace.
Jim Haynes – August 12, 2009

"The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice."
Psalms 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 favorites, 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."

Adopted by Christ is the Light Ministries - from Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - by Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)

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Seek What Will Be

August 11th AM

Daily Wisdom

Carnal man often considers it easier to find happiness in the mirror where the outcome is sure, then it is in the present where we have not yet fully achieved, nor do we seek to find peace on the horizon where only the uncertainty of vague prophecies await. Man therefore tends to greet each new day with a questioning heart as to the outcome finding only small comfort in yesterday’s haphazard victories. Only the man of God, the omniscient, can bring peace of mind into the day in the sure knowledge that God will rule that day bringing victory in the face of the imposable. Each new day brings new challenges with its pits and hurdles to overcome, yet for us time has given proof that we can place our complete trust in God’s concern for our well being as one who loves us and has the ultimate power to overcome all adversity in our lives. Do you love and trust God enough to joyfully accept whatever He allows into your life? Then the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your minds and hearts in Christ Jesus and your joy will be found today in the clouds not the mirror.
Jim Haynes – August 11, 2009

"Oh that I were as in months past."
Job 29:2

Numbers of Christians can view the past with pleasure, but regard the present with dissatisfaction; they look back upon the days which they have passed in communing with the Lord as being the sweetest and the best they have ever known, but as to the present, it is clad in a sable garb of gloom and dreariness. Once they lived near to Jesus, but now they feel that they have wandered from Him, and they say, "O that I were as in months past!” They complain that they have lost their evidences, or that they have not present peace of mind, or that they have no enjoyment in the means of grace, or that conscience is not so tender, or that they have not so much zeal for God's glory. The causes of this mournful state of things are manifold. It may arise through a comparative neglect of prayer, for a neglected closet is the beginning of all spiritual decline. Or it may be the result of idolatry. The heart has been occupied with something else, more than with God; the affections have been set on the things of earth, instead of the things of heaven. A jealous God will not be content with a divided heart; He must be loved first and best. He will withdraw the sunshine of His presence from a cold, wandering heart. Or the cause may be found in self-confidence and self-righteousness. Pride is busy in the heart and self is exalted, instead of lying low at the foot of the cross. Christian, if you are not now as you "were in months past”, do not rest satisfied with wishing for a return of former happiness, but go at once to seek your Master, and tell Him your sad state. Ask His grace and strength to help you to walk more closely with Him; humble yourself before Him, and He will lift you up, and give you yet again to enjoy the light of His countenance.

Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - For August 11th AM By Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)

We Shall Love Him

August 7th AM

Daily Wisdom

Only in the mind of modern man can an intense emotion such as love become so distorted and perverted as to lose its foundation. A term meant to convey the greatest of depths in human bonding of body, soul and spirit, has been rendered meaningless in all but the most casual of relationships. In Christ alone can we find the true meaning of this word; for God so loved the world that He literally died for it… Love in its purest form brought the Son of God to the cross in order to redeem the damned of this world. All those living in bondage to pride, lust and all manner of evil desires have already been judged and sentenced death save for the Love of God and the redeeming blood of Christ. God so loved the people of His creation that He came down from Heaven and allowed Himself to be nailed to a tree that those trusting in Him may live!
Jim Haynes – August 7, 2009

"The upright love You"
Song of Solomon 1:4

Believers love Jesus with a deeper affection then they dare to give to any other being. They would sooner lose father and mother then part with Christ. They hold all earthly comforts with a loose hand, but Him they carry locked fast in their hearts. They voluntarily deny themselves for His sake, but they are not to be driven to deny Him. It is scant love which the fire of persecution can dry up; the true believer's love is a deeper stream than this. Men have labored to divide the faithful from their Master, but their attempts have been fruitless in every age. Neither crowns of honor, nor frowns of anger, have untied this more than Gordian knot*. This is no every day attachment which the world's power may at length dissolve. Neither man nor devil have found a key which opens this lock. Never has the craft of Satan been more at fault than when he has exercised it in seeking to plow under this union of two divinely welded hearts. It is written, and nothing can blot out the sentence, "The upright love You.” The intensity of the love of the upright, however, is not so much to be judged by what it appears to be, as by what the upright long for in the depths of their soul. It is our daily lament that we who love cannot love enough. Would that our hearts were capable of holding more, and reaching further. Like Samuel Rutherford. (1600-1661), we sigh and cry, "Oh, for as much love as would go round about the earth, and over heaven, yes, the heaven of heavens, and ten thousand worlds, that I might let all out upon fair, fair, only fair Christ.” Alas! Our longest reach is but a brief span of love, and our affection is but as a moment compared with God’s vast deserts. Measure our love by our intentions, and it is high indeed; it is in the way we trust that our Lord does judge. Oh, that we could give all the love in all hearts in one great mass, a gathering together of all loves to Him who is altogether lovely!
*The Gordian Knot is a legend associated with Alexander the Great. It is often used as a metaphor for an intractable problem, solved by a bold stroke

Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - For August 7th AM by Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)

Christ Is The Light

Daily Wisdom

We have been called into the Light and having seen that light to reveal it to a world living in bondage to the darkness of sin. We are not the light ourselves but are called to reflect that light outward, but unless we also abide in the Light, we will lack the power to drive away the darkness even from our own house. The world will pay little attention to what we say if it is not reflected in what we do. We must therefore be doers of the Word not just hearers, Jesus said if any would follow Him let them take up His cross and come that the world may know we are His disciples. We are called therefore to live our lives in the light of Christ so that the world may see that light in us. Do not listen to those who say you may continue to live in the world for grace alone will save you, for all those who remain in the darkness will soon themselves smother the light so that their deeds may remain hidden. Earnestly seek therefore to live in the light basking daily in God’s word so that those of the world who continue living in the darkness may see that the Light is a better way and come.
Jim Haynes – August 3, 2009

"The Lamb is the light thereof."
Revelation 21:23

Light in Scripture is the emblem of joy as well as knowledge and wisdom. The joy of the saints in heaven is comprised in this: Jesus chose us, loved us, bought us, cleansed us, robed us, kept us, and glorified us; we are here entirely through the Lord Jesus. Light is also the cause of beauty. Nothing of beauty is left when light is gone. Without light no radiance flashes from the sapphire, no peaceful ray proceeds from the pearl; and thus all the beauty of the saints above comes from Jesus. As planets, they reflect the light of the Sun of Righteousness; they live as beams proceeding from the central orb. If He withdrew, they must die; if His glory were veiled, their glory must expire. Light is also the emblem of knowledge. In heaven our knowledge will be perfect, but the Lord Jesus Himself will be the fountain of it. Dark providences, never understood before, will then be clearly seen, and all that puzzles us now will become plain to us in the light of the Lamb. Oh! What un-folding there will be and what glorifying of the God of love! Light also means manifestation. Light manifests. In this world it doth not yet appear what we shall be. God's people are a hidden people, but when Christ receives His people into heaven, He will touch them with the wand of His own love, and change them into the image of His manifested glory. They were poor and wretched, but what a transformation! They were stained with sin, but one touch of His finger, and they are bright as the sun, and clear as crystal. Oh! What a manifestation! All this proceeds from the exalted Lamb. Whatever there may be shining brilliantly in splendor, Jesus shall be the centre and soul of it all. Oh! To be present and to see Him in His own light, the King of kings, and Lord of lords!

From Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - For August 3rd AM by Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)

Abundance Of Promises

Daily Wisdom

"Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn."
Ruth 2:2

It has been said that by immersing yourself in God’s word and infusing it into your soul you become rigid and angry losing touch with the so called real world. How foolish, it is true you do find in there the harsh words of the law and the wrath of God towards a stiff necked and disobedient people yet, to those who love the Lord you also find there the love of God, His redeeming grace at the hands of Jesus along with the sweet promises of forgiveness, mercy and protection from the evil one who would hold you in bondage to sin, the promise of freedom and eternal life, all of this contained in the Kings covenant with His chosen. All this is waiting for you, if you would but repent and come to the cross of Christ. Come sinner, says the Lord, glean the harvest fields, simply pick it up and claim it as your own, and you also will receive your inheritance, for it is the Fathers good pleasure to receive you into His family as his very own child and heir.
Jim Haynes – August 1, 2009

Downcast and troubled Christian, come and glean today in the broad field of promise. Here are abundance of precious promises, which exactly meet your needs. Take this one: "He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax.” Does not this promise suit you? A reed, helpless, insignificant, and weak, a bruised reed, out of which no music can come; weaker than weakness itself; a reed, and that reed bruised, yet, He will not break you; but on the contrary, will restore and strengthen you. You are like the smoking flax: no light, no warmth, can come from you; but He will not quench you; He will blow with His sweet breath of mercy till He fans you to a flame. Would you glean yet another ear? "Come unto Me all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” What soft words! Your heart is tender, and the Master knows it, and therefore He speaks so gently to you. Will you not obey Him, and come to Him even now? Take another ear of corn: "Fear not, you worm Jacob, I will help you, said the Lord and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” How can you fear with such a wonderful assurance as this? You may gather ten thousand such golden ears as these! "I have blotted out your sins like a cloud, and like a thick cloud your transgressions.” Or this, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Or this, "The Spirit and the Bride say, Come, and let him that is thirsty come, and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely.” Our Master's field is very rich; behold the handfuls. See, there they lie before you, poor timid believer! Gather them up; make them your own, for Jesus bids you take them. Be not afraid, only believe! Grasp these sweet promises, thresh them out by meditation and feed on them with joy.

Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - For August 1st AM by Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)

Somthing To Consider

Society today is obviously all too aware of the decadent and perverse lifestyles which are prevalent in the world and are generally prepared to accept their presence in the name and spirit of freedom of choice. Living an unordered life with no restrictions gives the secular spirit the feeling of power over their own destiny without obligation to any form of higher authority or deity. As a consequence it is mandatory that Society suppress any serious threat to that which they perceive as their serene little world. Even those religious institutions purporting themselves to be Christian, in the interest of maintaining a peaceful coexistence more commonly referred to as “not rocking the boat” have adopted a cocoon mentality content to remain huddled safely in cloistered little gatherings being generally quick to say that the world has their standards and we have ours. Therefore it would seem we as Christians must either adopt a live and let live philosophy in some kind of vain attempt to be more palatable to those living destructive lifestyles or exclude ourselves from the world and lock ourselves in our rooms where they won’t see us and be angry. The problem here becomes we cannot do that without compromising those beliefs on which our Christian foundations rest. In Johns Gospel Jesus clearly tells us that we are not “of” the world yet we must remain “in” the world. God has called us to live by example the Gospel message that the world may see and come to the cross, we cannot answer that call from the closet!

Thought for the Day

The foolish man will place himself in jeopardy by flirting with evil when by definition temptation is the very thing he lusts for in his heart requiring only a little enticement therefore for him to fall. It is through no great struggle that Satan wins these battles for in fact victory is virtually thrust upon him. If therefore a man would honestly wish to avoid the temptation to sin let Him flee from its presence before he comes upon the power of the thing. Listen to the whisper of the Holy Spirit when it urges you elsewhere for God will offer you another way which is far more pleasing to Him and at the end of the day more beneficial to you for your soul will be a peace with itself having won a victory at least this day.

Change But At What Cost

August 15, 2008
Random Thought

The biggest mistake a man can make is to trust a man who has no friends, for a man without friends is so with reason. Oh you may befriend him if you will but never trust until he has proved himself in the fire.

Change But At What Cost

Is it just me or is every body out there sick and tired of hearing about the Clintons. Come on people, they are out of it, dead and buried lets leave them that way. Why do I care whether or not Hillary is campaigning against Obama or whether or not she likes this or that? What I care most about is the fact this certified broom riding witch along with her pet monkey is out of my face and hopefully my life forever. Enough is enough most of our ex-presidents had the dignity to ride off into the sunset and appear again only on state occasions as a curtsy to our visiting dignitaries. I would certinly hope that these two socialist want-ta-bee’s would have the decency to do the same. Can’t they comprehend that the people have spoken and there message is, “Go Away”! Or are their egos so huge that they could actually think real people like them. Not!!! Since we are on the subject maybe they can take that braying jackass Jimmy Boy Carter with them. He has done enough damage to this country on his sojourns around the world that our reputation is permanently trashed. Not to mention the damage he did by pardoning Clinton for acts of treason and John “Screw them I’m out of here” Kerry for his questionable if not less than honorable service during the Viet Nam War. Oh yeah John baby we still remember,” Golly Gee Martha maybe them Quickie Boats folk were right, he is a looser!”

Anyway… don’t get me started it seems every time I try to get laid back and chilled, some fool trucks a Liberal Democrat into my office and sets me off on another tirade whereby I want to genetically purify the race of all but certified conservative Republicans. Yeah I know, still, it would be more peaceful. Now don’t get me wrong I am sure that these people can’t help being gullible and socially impotent, it is the result of all that inbreeding by the drugged out hippies. I wonder how many of these people have the first or middle name of “Charlie”… Anyway we have to remember the Democrats of three or four decades ago were a different breed. Most of them were patriots at heart, they served in the Military, worked hard, and were family oriented not to mention the fact that most were darn fine neighbors. Even my Mom and Dad were Democrats and in fact, please forgive me for this, so was I for a time. That is until LBJ tried to get a whole bunch of folk killed by sending them unarmed and hands tied behind their back, right into the arms of Charlie. Dear old Linden B. Johnson, I always wondered how that big of a man, and I use the term biologically only, could walk around upright without having any form of a spine at all. Amazing! Oh well he is just another fly speck on the leaf of a history book now. Nor do I blame LBJ alone, I also remember that Congress had a vary large part in that war, too large. I could never figure out how a bunch of straight legged (Non-Airborne) civilians could even imagine that they were smart enough to run a war without screwing it up, and screw it up they did. You know someone reminded me the other day and unfortunately I don’t remember who it was, anyway, they reminded me that the founders of this nation were men of commerce, hard working business men with strong ethical principles. They focused on the business of government and expected people to exercise there freedom to run their own lives without stepping on their neighbors turnip patch. They expected each state to govern it self within the confines of the Constitution and Bill of Rights which were constructed in such a manner to insure that the individual rights and freedoms of every citizen was guaranteed and protected by law. Under these men who would serve only a short term in office and then return to their business, the nation prospered and grew into a model of honest highly principled government, a beacon to those seeking freedom and opportunity. It wasn’t until we started putting Lawyers and professional politicians in office and then leaving them there that things started to rapidly go down hill. You know, people are crying out for change and that is truly what we need in this country, change. We need to change our dipper, throw out the old nasty one in politics now, and go back to a fresh innocent one like the ones we started with. It is simple as that folks, the only change we need to make is to find and elect people with integrity into office and then change them frequently. Career politicians become accustomed to power and begin to use it for their own good to the exclusion of the electorate. Which is precisely what Nancy Pelosi is doing on vacation right now. She said that she is preventing an up and down vote on drilling for the good of the people! What people? That statement is pure politics and pure and simple is nonsense! If she cared for the people she would submit to the will of the majority not pander to special interest groups. No, what she is doing is protecting her power base and hoping to keep the American people from finding out that she and her fellow Democrats are doing what is best for themselves and their special friends. If I had a nickel of my own I would bet it all on the belief the she has found a way to increase her personal fortunes by not drilling and is quite willing to put her constituents up to their ears in debt in the process. One can only wonder if her hubby has any interest in the development and production of alternative fuels. Hmmmm! With friends like these in Washington we don’t really need any enemies!

Oh well, this is after all folks, only my considered opinion of what is happening. I do firmly believe however that we are in deep trouble and if the American people don’t stand up and take our country back from these leaches otherwise we will be, Ohhh so screwed in 2009.

You have good night; this is the Big J saying God Bless and keep the faith.