http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship King David could say that his soul thirsted after God, as in a dry and thirsty land. When we finally come to the point in our lives where we realize that nothing in this world will ever satisfy us -- Then we are able to find a full, and complete, and an abundant satisfaction in the very God who created us, knows all about us, and has reserved a place in His Heavenly home, far beyond anything that our heart or mind could ever image. Nothing can compare to the wonder, the majesty, the completely transforming power of the eternal God. "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever, Amen" "Thine, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory" en soundwords soundwords Mon, 14 Mar 2011 01:48:00 +0100 daily 1 Choice excerpts from Thomas Brooks' Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices Soul-killing plots, devices, stratagems & machinations! " Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we  are not ignorant of his devices ." 2 Corinthians 2:11 Christ, the Scripture, your own hearts, and Satan's devices, are the four prime things that should be first and most studied and searched. If any cast off the study of these, they cannot be safe here, nor happy hereafter. It is my work as a Christian, but much more as I am a Watchman, to do my best to discover . . .   the fullness of Christ,   the emptiness of the creature,   and the snares of the great deceiver. Satan being fallen . . .  from light to darkness,  from felicity to misery,  from heaven to hell,  from an angel to a devil, is so full of malice and envy that he will leave no means unattempted, whereby he may make all others... Mon, 14 Mar 2011 01:48:00 +0100 http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Remedies-against-the-enemy/52/ http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Remedies-against-the-enemy/52/ The unsearchable riches of Christ! There is everything in Christ to encourage the greatest sinners to believe on Him, to rest and lean upon Him for all happiness and blessedness. Christ is . . .   the greatest good,   the choicest good,   the chief good,   the most suitable good,   the most necessary good   a pure good,   a real good,   a total good,   an eternal good,   a soul-satisfying good! Sinners, are you poor? Christ has gold to enrich you. Are you naked? Christ has royal robes, and white clothing to clothe you. Are you blind? Christ has eye-salve to enlighten you. Are you hungry? Christ will be manna to feed you. Are you thirsty? He will be a well of living water to refresh you. Are you wounded? He has a balm under his wings to heal you. Are you sick? He is a physician to cure you. Are you prisoners? He has laid down a ransom for you. " The unsearchable riches of Christ! " Ephesians... Sun, 13 Mar 2011 20:05:54 +0100 http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Unsearchable-riches-of-Christ/51/ http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Unsearchable-riches-of-Christ/51/ More of Christ! More of Christ! by James Smith, 1860 What is it my soul, which causes this uneasiness, this dissatisfaction, this deep inward yearning after something which you have not, or do not at present enjoy? I am not at rest. I am not rejoicing in God. I am not singing from the heights of Zion. Yet, I have no slavish fears, I have no gloomy doubts of my saving interest in Christ, I have no actual dread of death or the judgment. But I feel a desire to climb higher , to know more, and to enjoy the power of religion within — as I have not of late. It seems to me that all my needs lead me to Christ, and all my desires go out toward Christ. I want — well, what do I want? I want to feel more of my NEED of Christ. I have imagined at times, that I could not have a deeper sense of my need of Christ, and of all that Christ is, and has — than I have already experienced. But I am... Thu, 11 Nov 2010 20:55:49 +0100 http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/More-of-Christ/50/ http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/More-of-Christ/50/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Zephaniah 3:17   The Purpose of Man The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love; He will joy over thee with singing. ZEPHANIAH 3:17 MADE for Thyself, O God! Made for Thy love, Thy service, Thy delight; Made to show forth Thy wisdom, grace and might; Made for Thy praise, whom veiled archangels laud; O strange and glorious thought, that we may be A joy to Thee. F. R. HAVERGAL IT is not of God's severity that He requires much from man; it is of His great kindness that He will have the soul to open herself wider, to be able to receive much, that He may bestow much upon her. Let no one think that it is hard to attain thereunto. Although it sound hard, and is hard at first, as touching the forsaking and dying to all things, yet, when one has reached this state, no life can be easier, or sweeter, or fuller of... Wed, 22 Apr 2009 01:08:16 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Our-Purpose/49/ http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Our-Purpose/49/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Psalm 110:3   Job 24:13   On Through the Darkness They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof. JOB 24:13 Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power. PSALMS 110:3 SEE, in Thy hands I lay them all-- My will that fails, my feet that fall; My heart that wearies everywhere, Yet finds Thy yoke too hard to bear. KATHARINE T. HINKSON THE way may at times seem dark, but light will arise, if thou trust in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. That light may sometimes show hard things to be required, but do not be distressed if thy heart should rebel; bring thy unwillingness and disobedience to Him, in the faith that He will give thee power to overcome, for He cannot fail. "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world," so keep close to Him, and the victory will be won. But do not, I... Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:17:19 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Pressing-Onward/48/ http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Pressing-Onward/48/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Psalm 40:8-8   Changing Discontent to Delight I delight to do Thy will, O my God; yea, Thy law is within my heart. PSALMS 40:8 CROWN us with love, and so with peace; Transfigure duty to delight; Our lips inspire, our faith increase, Brighten with hope our darkest night. Bring us from earthly bondage free To find our heaven in serving Thee. HENRY WILDER FOOTE WE often make our duties harder by thinking them hard. We dwell on the things we do not like till they grow before our eyes, and, at last, perhaps shut out heaven itself. But this is not following our Master, and He, we may be sure, will value little the obedience of a discontented heart. The moment we see that anything to be done is a plain duty, we must resolutely trample out every rising impulse of discontent. We must not merely prevent our discontent from interfering, with the duty itself; we must not merely prevent it from... Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:01:18 +0100 http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Cheerfulness/47/ http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Cheerfulness/47/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Psalm 43:4   Psalm 40:16   Weariness into Joy Let all those that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee; let such as love Thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified. PSALMS 40:16 Then will I go unto the altar of God; unto God, my exceeding joy. PSALMS 43:4 WE doubt the word that tells us: Ask, And ye shall have your prayer; We turn our thoughts as to a task, With will constrained and rare. And yet we have; these scanty prayers Yield gold without alloy; O God, but he who trusts and dares Must have a boundless joy! GEORGE MACDONALD TELL them that, until religion cease to be a burden, it is nothing,--until prayer cease to be a weariness, it is nothing. However difficult and however imperfect, the spirit must still rejoice in it. EDWARD IRVING From a weary laborer, worn with slavish and ineffectual toil, I had become as a little child... Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:21:52 +0100 http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Weariness-into-Joy/46/ http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Weariness-into-Joy/46/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Psalm 140:13   Psalm 91:1   Living in God's Presence He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. PSALMS 91:1 The upright shall dwell in Thy presence. PSALMS 111:13 My soul and all its powers Thine, wholly Thine shall be; All, all my happy hours I consecrate to Thee: Me to Thine image now restore, And I shall praise Thee evermore. CHARLES WESLEY IF the wish is wakened in our soul to be ever in His presence, let us go to Him this moment, and ask Him what to do, and how to feel, believing that He is more ready to hear than we to pray. He will give us realization of His love, and convictions of duty. Let us follow those convictions implicitly; let us ask Him every day to teach us more, and help us more; and we shall soon say, with Paul, "Thanks be unto God, for His unspeakable gift!" WILLIAM R.... Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:28:41 +0100 http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/In-God-s-Presence/45/ http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/In-God-s-Presence/45/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Matthew 5:19   The Small Things Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of heaven. MATTHEW 5:19 THE great sterling duties, the exact truth of word, the resolute refusal to countenance wrong, the command of temper, the mastery of indolence, the unstained purity,--these, and such as these, form the character, and fashion our souls into instruments in God's hands for high and heavenly purposes in His Providence. But the carefulness over details, the watchfulness against faults which we know to be faults, but which, notwithstanding, seem venial, the devout regularity and attention in our private prayers, the invariable good-humor of our manners, the seeking for occasions of kindness and unselfishness, the avoidance of little temptations, the care not to cause little annoyances and little troubles,--to attend to all this... Sat, 08 Nov 2008 16:56:38 +0100 http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Small-Things/44/ http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Small-Things/44/ Source: Streams in the Desert Scripture Reference: Numbers 9:19   Waiting is Hard "When the cloud tarried . . . then the children of Israel . . . journeyed not" (Num. 9:19). This was the supreme test of obedience. It was comparatively easy to strike tents, when the fleecy folds of the cloud were slowly gathering from off the Tabernacle, and it floated majestically before the host. Change is always delightful; and there was excitement and interest in the route, the scenery, and the locality of the next halting-place. But, ah, the tarrying. Then, however uninviting and sultry the location, however trying to flesh and blood, however irksome to the impatient disposition, however perilously exposed to danger--there was no option but to remain encamped. The Psalmist says, "I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry." And what He did for the Old Testament saints He will do for believers... Sat, 01 Nov 2008 20:32:43 +0100 http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Waiting-for-God-s-Will/43/ http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Waiting-for-God-s-Will/43/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Colossians 2:2   Psalm 119:28   Possibilities in Love My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen Thou me according unto Thy word. --PSALMS 119:28 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love. --COLOSSIANS 2:2 WHEN I am with Thee as Thou art with me, Life will be self-forgetting power; Love, ever conscious, buoyant, clear, and free Will flame in darkest hour. --GEORGE MACDONALD EVERYTHING becomes possible to those who love. The commands of the Lord are no longer grievous, for the soul that loves is gifted by that love with fresh energies; it discovers in itself unsuspected possibilities, and is supplied with ever-flowing currents of new vigor. We shall be enabled to do so much if only we love. We live by loving, and the more we love the more we live; and therefore, when life feels dull and the spirits are low, turn and love God, love your neighbor,... Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:00:16 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/The-Effects-of-Love/42/ http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/The-Effects-of-Love/42/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Deuteronomy 30:19-20   Obey the Call Choose life, . . . that thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him; for He is thy life, and the length of thy days.   --DEUTERONOMY 30:19,20 GOD gently calls us every day: Why should we then our bliss delay? He calls to heaven and endless light; Why should we love the dreary night? Praise, Lord, to Thee for Matthew's call, At which he rose and left his all; Thou, Lord, e'en now art calling me; I will leave all, and follow Thee.   --WILLIAM WALSHAM HOW OBEY His blessed call now, and, having obeyed it once, never again disobey any call within you, to do His will. While we mourn our neglect of past calls, our sorrow, which is still His gift and call within us, will draw down His gladdening look, which will anew call us unto Him. Pass we by no call which,... Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:22:23 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Obey-the-Call/41/ http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Obey-the-Call/41/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Psalm 91:1   Give Him All Things He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. --PSALMS 91:1 AS soon as I woke in the morning I threw myself into the arms of Divine Love as a child does into its father's arms. I rose to serve Him, and to perform my daily labor simply that I might please Him. If I had time for prayer, I fell on my knees in His divine presence, consecrated myself to Him, and begged Him that He would accomplish His holy will perfectly in me and through me, and that He would not permit me to offend Him in the least thing all through the day. I occupied myself with Him and His praise as long as my duties permitted. Very often, I had not leisure to say even so much as the Lord's Prayer during the day; but that did not trouble me. I thought it as much my duty to work for Him as to pray to Him, for He Himself had taught me, that all that... Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:13:31 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Give-Him-All/40/ http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Give-Him-All/40/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 10:5   Keeping the Focus Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.   --2 CORINTHIANS 10:5 "I WILL lift up mine eyes unto the hills." The vision of God unseals the lips of man. Herein lies strength for conflict with the common enemy of the praying world known as wandering thoughts. If the eye is fixed on God, thought may roam where it will without irreverence, for every thought is then converted into a prayer. Some have found it a useful thing when their minds have wandered off from devotion and been snared by some good but irrelevant consideration, not to cast away the offending thought as the eyes are again lifted to the Divine Face, but to take it captive, carry it into the presence of God and weave it into a prayer before putting it aside and resuming the original topic. This is to lead captivity captive.   --CHARLES H. BRENT Each... Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:20:49 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Keeping-Focus/39/ http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Keeping-Focus/39/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Psalm 61:4   Psalm 16:7   Not the Asking, But the Kneeling I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever; I will trust in the covert of Thy wings. --PSALMS 61:4 I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel. --PSALMS 16:7 WOULD it not be possible for every man to double his intellectual force by keeping much in the company of Infinite Wisdom? --E. P. TENNEY I cannot help the thought which grows steadily upon me, that the better part of prayer is not the asking, but the kneeling where we can ask, the resting there, the staying there, drawing out the willing moments in heavenly communion with God, within the closet, with the night changed into the brightness of the day by the light of Him who all the night was in prayer to God. Just to be there, at leisure from ourselves, at leisure from the world, with our souls at liberty, with our spirit feeling its kinship to the Divine Spirit, with... Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:29:40 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Prayer-to-God/38/ http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Prayer-to-God/38/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Psalm 65:8-11   Psalm 33:5   The Glory of God Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice. Thou crownest the year with Thy goodness.   --PSALMS 65:8,11 He loveth righteousness and justice: the earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord.   --PSALMS 33:5 (R. V.) I SING because Thy works are fair, Thy glory makes me glad, The garments bright of praise I wear, For Thou art brightly clad. Full triumph doth my soul possess, Because Thy ways are right; The glory of Thy righteousness Maketh my dear delight.   --THOMAS H. GILL THE fulness of joy is to behold God in all; for by the same blessed might, wisdom, and love, that He made all things, to the same end our good Lord leadeth it continually, and there to Himself shall bring it, and, when it is time, we shall see it.   --MOTHER JULIANA God gives us richly all things... Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:22:58 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/God-s-Glory/37/ http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/God-s-Glory/37/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Luke 10:39   Psalm 119:16   Seeing the Master I will delight myself in Thy statutes: I will not forget Thy word.   --PSALMS 119:16 Which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His word.   --LUKE 10:39 Lo! at Thy feet I wait Thy will, Let that alone my being fill, All earthly passions calm and still.   --C. S. WHATEVER happens let us not be too busy to sit at Jesus' feet. We shall not really lose time by enjoying this; nay, we shall redeem the time; for there is usually much more time and strength forfeited by friction than by toil, and we shall gain in blessedness and enjoyment of our work, and gain in the quality of our work; and, above all, we shall gain in that we shall give Him pleasure where otherwise we might only grieve Him. And this is indeed the crown of all our endeavors. He who pleases Him does not live in vain.   --WM. HAY M. H. AITKEN A... Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:47:37 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/At-Jesus-Feet/36/ http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/At-Jesus-Feet/36/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Psalm 86:4   Peaceful Time Rejoice the soul of Thy servant; for unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. --PSALMS 86:4 AH, dearest Lord! to feel that Thou art near, Brings deepest peace, and hushes every fear; To see Thy smile, to hear Thy gracious voice, Makes soul and body inwardly rejoice With praise and thanks! --CHRISTIAN GREGOR PRAYER is a habit; and the more we pray the better we shall pray. Sometimes to go to be alone with God and Christ in the fellowship of the Spirit, just for the joy and blessedness of it; to open, with reverent yet eager hands, the door into the presence chamber of the great King, and then to fall down before Him, it may be, in silent adoration; our very attitude an act of homage, our merely being there, through the motive that prompts it, being the testimony of our soul's love; to have our set day-hours of close communion, with which no other friends... Mon, 11 Aug 2008 03:39:44 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Peace-in-Prayer/35/ http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Peace-in-Prayer/35/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Isaiah 63:9   Psalm 103:13   His Love, Not Ours In His love and in His pity He redeemed them.   --ISAIAH 63:9 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.   --PSALMS 103:13 GOD only knows the love of God: Oh, that it now were shed abroad In this poor stony heart; For love I sigh, for love I pine; This only portion, Lord, be mine, Be mine this better part.   --CHARLES WESLEY DON'T measure God's mind by your own. It would be a poor love that depended not on itself, but on the feelings of the person loved. A crying baby turns away from its mother's breast, but she does not put it away till it stops crying. She holds it closer. For my part, in the worst mood I am ever in, when I don't feel I love God at all, I just look up to His love. I say to Him, "Look at me. See what state I am in. Help me!" Ah! you... Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:09:27 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/God-s-Love/34/ http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/God-s-Love/34/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Deuteronomy 13:4   Complete Devotion Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear Him and keep His commandments, and obey His voice, and ye shall serve Him, and cleave unto Him.   --DEUTERONOMY 13:4 GOD visits a soul when He brings before it a new vision of truth or duty, a new range of opportunities, a new endowment of force as well as insight, at some time to which all that precedes has led up, and from which all that follows depends in its solemn history. No Divine visitation leaves us where it found us; it always leaves us better or worse; if not better, then certainly worse.   --HENRY PARRY LIDDON The issues are with God, and His servants know not the word disappointment, for they are incapable of reading His designs. Only this they know, that the slightest hesitation in obeying what they believe to be a divine impulse, produces a suffering more intense than any consequences which may... Sat, 02 Aug 2008 15:44:11 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Devotion-to-God/33/ http://www.blogigo.com/fellowship/Devotion-to-God/33/