No words can ever express the gratitude we owe to Him who loved us even when we were dead in trespasses and sins.
The love of Jesus is unutterably precious, and worthy of daily praise.
No songs can ever fitly celebrate the triumphs of that salvation which He wrought single-handed on our behalf.
The work of Jesus is glorious beyond all comparison, and all the harps of angels fall short of its worthy honor.
We prize His bounty to us, but we worship HIM.
His gifts are valued, but He Himself is adored.
While we contemplate with mingled feelings of awe, admiration, and thankfulness–His atonement, His resurrection, His glory in Heaven, and His second coming–still it is Christ Himself, stupendous in His dignity as the Son of God, and superbly beautiful as the Son of man, who sheds an incomparable charm on all those wonderful achievements, wherein His might and His merit, His goodness and His grace appear so conspicuous.
For HIM let our choicest spices be reserved; and to HIM let our sweetest anthems be raised.
Our choicest ointment must be poured upon His head; and for His own self alone our most costly alabaster boxes must be broken.Β
“He isΒ altogether lovely.”
Not only is . . .Β Β HisΒ teachingΒ attractive, Β HisΒ doctrineΒ persuasive, Β HisΒ lifeΒ irreproachable, Β HisΒ characterΒ enchanting, and Β HisΒ workΒ a self-denying labor for the common good of all His people, but He Himself is altogether lovely!
Do not look for anything lovely outside of Jesus, for He has all the loveliness.
All perfections are in Him making up one consummate perfection. And all the loveliness which is to be seen elsewhere, is but a reflection of His own unrivalled charms.
Jesus is the monopolizer of all loveliness!
He is the engrosser of all that is admirable in the entire universe!
“Yes, He is altogether lovely!Β This is my Beloved,Β and this is my Friend!”Β Song of Songs 5:16
“You are to have honest balances, honest weights, an honest dry measure, and an honest liquid measure; I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.” Leviticus 19:36
Weights, and scales, and measures–were to be all according to the standard of justice.
Surely no Christian will need to be reminded of this in his business–for if justice were banished from all the world beside, it should find a shelter in true Christian hearts!
There are, however, other scales and balances which weigh moral and spiritual things–and these often need examining. We will call in the Judge right now.
Those scales in which we weigh our own and other men’s characters; are they quite accurate? Do we not turn our own ounces of goodness, into pounds; and other people’s pounds of excellence, into ounces? See to just weights and measures here, Christian!
Those scales in which we measure our trials and troubles; are they according to standard? Paul, who had far more to suffer than we have, called his afflictions light. Yet we often consider our afflictions to be heavy! Surely something must be amiss with the scales! We must see to this matter, lest we get reported to the court above for unjust dealing!
Those scales with which we measure our beliefs; are they quite fair? The precepts and doctrines should have the same weight with us as the promises–no more and no less! With many, one scale or the other is unfairly weighted. It is a grand matter to give just measure in God’s truths. Christian, be careful here!
Those scales in which we estimate our obligations and responsibilities look rather small. When a rich man gives no more to the cause of God, than the poor contribute–is that an honest weight, an honest measure, a just balance?
Reader, we might lengthen the list–but we prefer to leave it as your day’s work to find out and destroy all unjust scales, balances, weights, and measures!
“The hope which is laid up for you in Heaven” Colossians 1:5
Many Christians have but little in hand, but they have much in hope. They have little on earth, but they have unsearchable wealth in Heaven! The present is the worst state they will ever be in. All beyond death is bright, blissful and glorious!
The Christian’s hope consists in both freedom and possession.
The Christian’s hope consists in freedom from . . . all the pains which we now experience, both in mind and body; all the hindrances which are so thickly strewed in our way in this evil world; all the fears which now beset, agitate, and harass us day by day; all the forebodings which often make our lives bitter and gloomy; all the sins which are now our plague, disease, and torment; all our needs, and all possibility of needing–for God will fully supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Oh, what a mercy it will be to enjoy such freedom, and to possess the inward consciousness that it will be enjoyed forever!
The Christian will not only be free from all that is painful and distressing, but he will also possess . . . perfect, settled, and everlasting peace; sinless faculties and immortal powers with which to serve and enjoy God forever; permanent, perpetual, and uninterrupted joy; the presence and enjoyment of Jesus, we shall see Him, be with Him, and be like Him; ALL that we can consistently wish or desire!
Our hope is laid up for us in Heaven. This betokens . . . its excellency–being kept in so excellent a place; its certainty and security–no thieves can break through to steal; its nature–it is spiritual, holy, Heavenly.
O glorious hope! O blessed prospect! It leaves us nothing to long for, nothing to desire!
What a mercy it is . . . when comforts run short, when trials press sorely, when a dreary winter of affliction sets in, to remember that we have a priceless inheritance–an inheritance that is kept in heaven for us, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay!
How this blessed hope should . . . quicken our zeal, animate our spirits, and raise us above fear and despondency.
It is not what we have now–but what we shall have in Heaven which should affect us.
Our glorious inheritance is vast beyond calculation, it is safe beyond the possibility of failure!
The wilderness will soon be passed, the storms of life will soon subside–and eternal calm and unclouded sunshine, will soon be our happy, endless portion!
Please don’t forget to say hello, like, comment and follow my blind trail adventures on my FitBlitz blog. I’d love to meet with you there…And it’ll stop me keep Reblogging on here too lol! π€£
Hi Frozen FitBlitz Friends! I think you can guess that i really didnβt want to go out on the trail this morning, but thatβs not the FitBlitz attitude is it, lol! After checking the weather app and it confirming that it was freezing (well below freezing, lol) my first thought was βat least the pond photo should look nice and white for all of you guysβ π So really itβs your fault why iβm having to go out and freeze to death, lol! π€£
I didnβt want to stand still for too long as iβd end up being one of those ice sculpturesβ¦So i quickly took the wide angle and normal zoom to get the 2 shots and crunched my way towards the path. There wasnβt too many other people out today (donβt know why, lol) so i thought iβd get a couple of photos today for you to enjoyβ¦
“My heart is burdened with a sense of my short-comings!Β Β Β EveryΒ dutyΒ I perform is so imperfect.Β Β Β Β Β EveryΒ purposeΒ I form is so soon frustrated.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β EveryΒ hopeΒ of seeing better days is so soon beclouded.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β MyΒ heartΒ is so fearfully depraved.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β MyΒ lifeΒ is so unlike the life of Jesus.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β MyΒ temperΒ is so unholy.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β MyΒ prayersΒ are so brief and heartless.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β MyΒ praisesΒ are so feeble and fitful.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β IΒ doΒ so little good.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β IΒ liveΒ to so little purpose.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β MyΒ evidencesΒ are so dim.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β MyΒ prospectsΒ are so overcast.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β I am harassed sometimes with theΒ fear of death.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β I cannot realize the glories ofΒ Heaven.Β Β Β Β Β Β Β I am dissatisfied with theΒ world, and yet glued to it!Β Β Β Β Β I hateΒ sin, and yet fall into it!Β Β Β I am a riddle, a mystery, a mass of inconsistency!Β Β Is it, then, any wonder that I am cast down?”Β
No, if you look atΒ yourself, and pore over the things you have named–then it is no wonder that you are cast down! They are enough to cast anyone down! But if you carry them to theΒ throne of grace, if you thereΒ confessΒ them before God, if youΒ look to JesusΒ to save you from them–then, in spite of them, you will not long be cast down.Β
I know it is difficult to do this. There is aΒ natural pronenessΒ to pore over such things. One feels at times aΒ secret likingΒ to indulge in gloomy thoughts.Β
But we must look away fromΒ self; for if we do not, we shall become anxious, doubting and gloomy! We mustΒ run the race, not looking atΒ ourΒ imperfections, short-comings, and failures–but looking untoΒ Jesus. He knows what weΒ are. He knew what weΒ wouldΒ be, before He called us by His grace; yes, before He shed His blood for us!Β HeΒ lovedΒ us, as sinners.Β HeΒ diedΒ for us, as sinners.Β HeΒ calledΒ us, as sinners.Β HeΒ savesΒ us, as sinners.Β He will have all the glory of saving us, and He will get great glory by doing so,Β because we are such great sinners;and do not, cannot,Β doΒ anything toΒ repayΒ Him for His wondrous love! Salvation is byΒ free grace, from first to last! Believe this, and it will raise up your drooping mind!Β
The life-boat of free graceΒ has put you on board theΒ vessel of salvation–and that will convey you safely to theΒ port of glory!Β Do not look at your spiritual destitution, or feebleness, or incapacity, or imperfections–but trust in yourΒ Pilot, rely on yourΒ Captain, and expect His mercy and merit to land you safe in Heaven at last!Β
As imperfect as youΒ now are, and as imperfect youΒ will be–yourΒ dying prayerΒ will still be,Β “God be merciful unto me, a sinner!”
Hope in God! HisΒ mercyΒ is great unto the heavens,Β HisΒ graceΒ is as free as the air,Β HisΒ loveΒ is as changeless as His nature, HisΒ promiseΒ is as immutable as His love.Β
Hope in God, for you shall yet praise Him. He will save you for His own sake, and present you before assembled worlds as aΒ monument of His mercy,Β and aΒ trophy of His grace!
“For every look atΒ self–take ten looks atΒ Christ!” McCheyne
“Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest!” Psalm 55:6
The trials of a believer are often severe. Many a storm has he to endure, many a river to ford, and many a fire to pass through–in his way home to the promised land. Little did the Christian think, when he first stepped into the liberty of the gospel, that there were such rough roads, dark nights, and terrible storms before him; but, more or less, every traveler to Mount Zion must experience them. It is generally found to be a rough road, which leads to the Celestial City. Many a Christian has found his courage fail him, and his heart misgive him, on his way home.
The darkness is sometimes so dense, the cross is at times so heavy, the disappointment is at some seasons so great –that the stoutest heart quails, and unites with the timid spirit, in exclaiming, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest!”
These trials are necessary to . . . try our sincerity, exercise our graces, and render the promises sweet and precious.
When all goes smooth, and everything is pleasant . . . we attach but little importance to the promises, have little power in prayer, and are too apt to over-value ourselves. But trying times . . . endear the throne of grace, strip us of pride and self-importance, and strengthen our trust in Jesus.
Never is Christ so precious, as in times of peculiar trial. Never is the Bible so valued, as in the day of trouble and distress.
The wilderness with its barren burning sands, its storms and tempests, its dangers and its difficulties–endears the promised land; and makes the pilgrim occasionally to cry out, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest!”
Rest! O how sweet is the thought of rest to the weary, way-worn, exhausted traveler! Rest! O how sweet is the thought of rest to the afflicted, tried, and tempted Christian! He most generally thinks of Heaven as a place of rest: rest from suffering, rest from sorrow, rest from toil, and rest from conflict.
Rest with Jesus.
Rest in the home of God.
Rest, perfect and perpetual rest.
Peaceful and glorious rest.
We have the foretastes of it occasionally now, which makes us at times long for its fullness and perfection. Like the grapes of Eshcol, which when tasted, stimulates us to hasten across the wilderness that we may take possession of the promised land; so the inward calm, the secret repose, the rest at times enjoyed in the soul, urges us on, and makes us cry out, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest!”
Hi FitBlitz family! After more rain this morning (the fine stuff that soaks you through, lol) i thought my walk would be cut short, when i stumbled upon this fallen tree. For anyone else this wouldnβt be a problem, but for this blind man it means stop and turn around and go home! Butβ¦As i stood there taking this photo for you guys i heard somebody walking towards me, i couldnβt see them but my hearing is fantastic, yay! My plan was to look busy and wait until they arrived and then iβd try and figure out how they navigated this obstacle?!
They didnβt go around the tree so i knew it must be a long one, they just stepped over it with little effortβ¦Excellent now itβs my turnβ¦I walked up until i kicked the tree and did a large exaggerated step over (nearly kneeing myself in the face, lol)β¦Yayβ¦
“She grabbed him by his garment and said, ‘Sleep with me!’ Β But leaving his garment in her hand, he escaped andΒ ran from the house.” Genesis 39:12
In contending with certain sins, there remains no mode of victory but byΒ flight.Β
He who would be safe fromΒ actsΒ of evil, must hasten away fromΒ occasionsΒ of it.Β
A covenant must be made with our eyes, not even to look upon the cause of temptation; for such sins only need aΒ sparkΒ to begin with, and aΒ blazeΒ follows in an instant!
Who would wantonly enter the leper’s hut, and sleep amid its horrible corruption?Β He alone who desires to be leprous himself, would thus court contagion.Β
If the mariner knew how toΒ avoidΒ a storm, he would do anything rather than run the risk of weathering it.Β
Cautious navigators have no desire to try howΒ nearΒ the quicksand they can sail, or how often they may touch a rock without springing a leak. Their aim is to keep as nearly as possible in the midst of a safe channel.Β
Today I may be exposed to great peril, let me have wisdom to keep out of it andΒ avoidΒ it. TheΒ wings of a doveΒ may be of more use to me, than theΒ jaws of a lion.Β I may be an apparent loser by declining evil company–but I had better leave my cloak, than lose my character!
It is not needful that I should beΒ rich, but it is imperative upon me to beΒ pure. No ties of friendship, no chains of beauty, no flashings of talent, no shafts of ridicule–must turn me from the wise resolve toΒ flee from sin.Β
I am toΒ resist the devil, and he will flee from me.Β But the lusts of theΒ flesh, I mustΒ flee–or they will surely overcome me!
O God of holiness, preserve yourΒ Josephs,Β lestΒ Madam BubbleΒ bewitch them with her vile suggestions.Β
May theΒ horrible trinityΒ of theΒ world, theΒ flesh, and theΒ devil–never overcome us!
“The Lord Almighty is with us! The God of Jacob is our fortress!” Psalm 46:7
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31
Who can prevail against us? Who can really injure us? Let us daily think of God’s glorious perfections, and view them as engaged for us at all times.
His power is engaged to support, defend, and strengthen us.
His omniscient eye is constantly upon us, watching over us for good.
His omnipresence is our safeguard from all our foes, for no one can come and find our God absent from us.
His justice and righteousness shine in all His dealings with us, and are like lofty mountains round about us.
His holiness shines in all His purposes and plans, and forbids the thought that He will act unsuitably towards us.
His mercy is ever great towards us, and by it He sympathizes with us in all our sorrows, griefs, and woes.
His goodness will constantly supply us, and is sufficient to fill us with admiration and astonishment.
His truth renders certain, every promise He has given and recorded in His Word.
His immutability bears us up and bears us on, confirming our faith and hope in His Word.
His wisdom frustrates the designs of our foes, and arranges and manages all for our welfare.
His eternity is the date of our happiness, and the duration of our unspeakable blessedness!
Here is enough to . . . engage our thoughts, overflow our minds, and forever fill us with adoration and praise!
What a God is Jehovah! And Jehovah in Jesus, is ours!
How cheering this fact, and what sweet support it yields to the mind–to meditate on God’s perfections and glorious attributes, seeing them all in Jesus–and in Him, engaged for our present and everlasting welfare!
What could shake our minds, if we did but firmly believe that God’s omnipotence is engaged to defend us to the uttermost?
What could tempt us to commit any known sin, if we were realizing that God’s omniscient eye is ever upon us; yes, that God is present with us, and that He is our sin-hating Father?
What could lead us into murmuring and rebellion, if we were fully persuaded that God’s holiness and justice are for us, and will shine resplendent in all His dealings with us?
What could lead us to think that our prayers would not be answered, nor our petitions be regarded–if our minds were influenced by the assurance that God is truth?
How could we believe that He would ever turn against us, if we rightly viewed His immutability?
Or, how could we think that our affairs could be disordered, if we felt satisfied that His wisdom was working for us at all times!
“The Lord Almighty is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress!” Psalm 46:7
Hi friends! After having the whole Q4 celebrating my 2 fundraisering ultra walks last yearβ¦Yes the ultra walks i thought this blindman would never be able to achieve, but thanks to all of you out there who supported, cheered and donated i completed them, thank you so much! π
But now itβs Q1 iβve really got to get back on it and get walking those trails! As it was a massive 3 months since iβd been out on my usual trail i t was very difficult as itβs winter and the paths are different and some of my markers have goneβ¦But i managed it safely and got back home in one piece, a great start towards my goal of removing this unwanted weight after too much celebratingβ¦I never said this weight loss journey was easy, lol! π¨
How are you guys doing? I hope you havnβt been as bad asβ¦
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart”Matthew 11:29
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5
Christians should excel in the manifestation of Christ’s character. The mind which was in Jesus, should be in them. They should consider His character as a model of their own; and be conspicuousfor their . . . poverty of spirit, meekness, gentleness, and love.
It is matter of surprise and regret, that many people seem to think that Christianity has nothing to do with character! And that provided they are free from gross sins, and have lively feelings in devotional exercises, they may be as petulant, irritable, and implacableas they please! This is a dreadful error, and has done great mischief to the cause of God!
A sour, ill-natured Christian is like a lamb with a wolf’s head; or like a dovewith a vulture’s beak!
If there be any one word which above all others should describe a Christian’s character, it is that which represents his divine Father; and as it is said, that ‘God is love’, so should it be also affirmed, that a Christian is love–love embodied, an incarnation of love! His words, his conduct, his very looks–should be so many expressions of love!
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us!” Ephesians 4:32-5:2
Hi all! Wow it seems like ages since iβve connected with you guys on here. Iβve been having problems with WordPress on my ancient mac, so iβm trying to find ways of posting using my iPhone with the screenreaderβ¦Not easy!! π€£
This is my first attempt to post using the WordPress appβ¦So what better way to post than a fantastic praise song! Me and Sarah are loving this song and are playing along to it all the time. As you may know Sarah plays the flute and a whole variety of woodwind instruments so this song is fantastic and i love listening to her! Also i play the drums and the acoustic guitar to this song (not at the same time, lol) So please give it a listen and sing praise to our Lord with us!! π π
I hope all of you guys are doing well too? I canβt wait to get things sorted out with this app so i can connect with you all againβ¦Miss you lots and God bless! π
Yay this blindman has somehow managed to drag this classic body 500 miles and reach 1 million steps to complete the challenge with 6 days to go!! Iβm seriously heading for the pits to be restored and give my legs a rest so they wonβt be as swollen and battered. πͺπΌ π
Youβll be pleased to hear i wonβt be doing any more charity challenges this year, so i wonβt be hounding you for donationsβ¦But as this is my last opportunity and iβve already smashed one of my two goals (the steps) please could you help me smash my fundraising goal??!!
During this agonising challenge and battling an omnifarious amount of emotions, iβve learned that brittle type 1 diabetes is a million times worse than iβve been feeling, and it simply never gives up, stays the same and definitely never rests! I really have full respect for myβ¦
“You do not understand now what I am doing, but afterwards you will understand.” John 13:7
We are to walk by faith, not by sight. We are to trust His heart, when we cannot trace His hand!
We are to believe Him, when we cannot understand His mysterious workings!
The Lord is now working in nature, providence, and grace–and He does many things which we do not understand at present. But when His work is complete, and it lies stretched out before us in the light of eternity, we shall then . . . comprehend His design, admire His wisdom, and adore His divine workings!
Beloved, is God cleansing you by fiery trials, or causing you to pass through deep waters? Are you at a loss to know what His design is, or where the present affliction will end?
Be still. Wait His time.
There is a divine working time, which is the present; and there is a divine revealing time, which is to come.
The wisest Christians are often in the dark now, but the simplest Christians will see all things clearly by and by. A little more patience, a little more faith–and all will end well.
“We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God, and who are called according to His purpose!” Romans 8:2
Man is this challenge still going?! I donβt know about you but i was fed up after the 1st monthβ¦I think Iβm having βpost challenge bluesβ but during the challenge, lol! π€£
I think my legs are shorter, iβm really starting to hate walking and most of all my lovely new trainers burned out after 300 miles!! π I canβt believe this challenge is still going on, iβm seriously not doing another endurance challenge again (not sure how true this statement will be once iβve finished).
Oh i almost forgotβ¦Iβm meant to be celebrating passing 900,000 steps (thatβs around 450 miles) which is fantastic and further than iβve ever walked without a days rest! I hope you can celebrate for me as iβm still on the floor exhausted and lacking the power to go on.
I know brittle type 1 diabetes is a million times worse than iβmβ¦
Wow i thought my βUltra Step Challengeβ during advent 2020 for Blood Pressure UK was gruelling, and that was only 24 days, lol! π¨ Iβm now 2 years older and this current challenge is double the milageβ¦But after a wayward week in the slough of despond, iβm happy to be awarded the 600,000 step badge (thatβs 300 miles).
If i ever mention iβm doing another endurance charity challenge in the future, can you tell me NO, lol! π
Sarahβs Messageβ¦π€
Whilst out on my walk this morning (i didnβt want to go but i did) i was flagging on about mile 4 until i recieved this message from my lovely wife Sarah:
βOooh you are strong and amazing. πͺ I love you very much and am inspired by your determination to get these steps doneβ¦ however hard it is. You are my amazing wonderful hero husbandβ¦β¦
Itβs day 33/61, and this blindman has walked over 260 miles (over half a million steps) and i canβt believe i still have 28 days to goβ¦If i could stop right now, i would! Itβs such a gruelling challenge that just keeps goingβ¦Itβs by far the worst one iβve done so far, but i have to keep going some how?!π¨
Type 1 diabetes never gives Sarah a rest, so I donβt want to have one either during my fundraising challenge!
Every donation countsβ¦β€οΈ
Please help and hit the donate button and support my stepping challenge. Every step and every donation counts. Join me and letβs help everybody living with diabetes. For all the mums, dads, wives, husbands, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, grandparents, and best friends, creating a world where diabetes can do no harm.
One million steps is around 500 miles, and itβs going to be a reallyβ¦
“You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand!” Psalm 16:11
HEAVEN! What is it? It is . . . God’s residence, the Savior’s home, our Father’s house, a paradise of pleasure, a temple of worship, and the residence of perfect purity and peace!
There . . . God unveils His glory, the Savior exhibits His charms, the angels perform their service, and the saints are entirely happy with their God.
In Heaven . . . sin is banished, holiness is perfected, life is a continual feast, and mortality is swallowed up in life!
From Heaven . . . all pain is banished, all enemies are excluded, and all causes of sorrow are shut out!
In Heaven . . . all our prayers are answered, all our desires are gratified, and all our needs are supplied. There is no weeping, wailing or wishing there.
In Heaven . . . our knowledge will be perfect, our happiness will be abiding, our pleasures will be ever new.
In Heaven we shall . . . see Jesus, be with Jesus, and be like Jesus, forever!
HEAVEN! Who are there? All tried and tempted followers of Jesus are there. All doubting and fearing disciples of Jesus are there. All poor and despised believers are there. Multitudes, who felt totally unworthy of such glory, and feared they would never reach the place–are there.
All who were chosen by the Father, all who were redeemed by the Son, and all who were sanctified by the Holy Spirit–are there.
HEAVEN! What do they enjoy there? Who can answer this question, but one who has been there; and he would need a new language to state, and new figures to represent the enjoyments of Heaven. They enjoy rest from their pains, and a full supply of all their needs. They enjoy perfect satisfaction, a fullness of joy, and pleasure forevermore. They . . . see all that they believed, realize all that they hoped for, and possess all that they loved.
They have . . . health, without sickness; pleasure, without pain; and holiness, without sin.
Every sense is gratified, every power is pleasurably employed–and they are perfectly and perpetually happy!
O Heaven, in you there is . . . no tempting devil, no ensnaring world, no indwelling corruption, no doubts, fears, or misgivings! And best of all, there is no sin!
O Heaven, in you I shall . . . see my God, possess my Savior, and enjoy the fullness of the Holy Spirit!
O my God, in Heaven I shall be satisfied–for I shall be with You, serving and enjoying You without weariness or cessation!
HEAVEN! Who will yet get to Heaven? Who? Ah, perhaps many we little think of! We shall miss many whom we expected to find there–and find many whom we never expected would reach that glorious place!
Who will go to Heaven? That poor man who is striving against sin, mourning over corruption, and loathing himself before God. That poor woman, who sighs because she sins, pants for perfect holiness, and clings to the cross of Jesus. Do you see that poor soul on his knees, confessing his transgressions, pleading for pardon, and seeking grace to sanctify his nature–he will go to Heaven. Do you see that lowly Christian who is visiting the sick, pointing sufferers to the cross, and trying to alleviate human woe, out of love to Jesus–he will go to Heaven. Do you see that Sunday School teacher, who, after a hard week’s work, is regularly in his class, speaking loving words in tender tones, to win the little ones for the Savior–he will go to Heaven. Do you see that preacher who exalts Christ in his ministry, honors the gospel in his life, and travails in birth for souls–he will go to Heaven.
Heaven will be peopled by all who believe in Jesus, love the brethren, and worship God in Spirit and in truth. There will be a numberless multitude there, all . . . deeply indebted to free mercy, washed in the Savior’s blood, and sanctified by the Spirit’s grace!
Reader, there is a way–but only one way to Heaven! Only those found in that way will ever reach it! You yourself, may be within an hour or two of either Heaven or Hell! Do you know which? If called away suddenly, to which would you go? You have a Heaven to obtain, or a Hell to endure–to all eternity! Which shall it be? O that you were wise, that you properly realized this, that you would consider your latter end!
Heaven with all its glories, or Hell with all its horrors–must be your eternal portion! If you despise the Savior, make light of the Gospel, and neglect God’s great salvation–then Hell, an eternal Hell, with all its unspeakable horrors, is your portion!
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined–what God has prepared for those who love Him!” 1 Corinthians 2:9
“Only when Jesus saved me from it all did I realise just how stressful chasing after false spirituality really is.”
Another Wisdom & Truth filled post by Lana!! π π
This blindman is celebrating hitting the half way mark of this gruelling challengeβ¦The 500,000 steps (around 250 miles) badge! π
I canβt believe iβve not posted in 6 days!! π¨ But i just wanted to let you know iβm not deadβ¦Although i think iβm a little shorter now, or is it just the tread wear on my trail shoes, lol! π€£
The Gruelling Challengeβ¦π°
Diabetes is relentless and simply never stopsβ¦But neither do I!
For the last 18 years iβve seen first hand how my lovely wife Sarah battles, struggles and copes with her βbrittle Type 1β diabetes. Sheβs such a warrior and is truly my inspiration on perseverance, determination and drive to keep fighting.
Please click HERE and read my story, donate and please share it everywhere you can!!
As we Christians advance in life, and know more of human nature and the power of temptation–the greater interest should we take in the young, and the more urgently should we seek their salvation. It is a lovely sight to see aged Christians endeavoring to bring young people to the Savior. And this we ought constantly to see, for they know the power . . . of youthful lusts, of the world’s attractions, of Satanic influence, of the deceitfulness of the heart, and the value of the immortal soul!
Aged friends, do you feel and act, as you should for the young? Do you do all that you can to snatch them as brands from the burning?
Solomon was an old man when he wrote the book of Ecclesiastes, and in that book he manifests great solicitude for the young. Again and again he addresses them in different ways, but with what touching and subtle irony does he speak to them in one place: “Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see. BUT KNOW that for all these things, God will bring you to judgment!” Ecclesiastes 11:9
The Youth’s Practice. He is happy in his youth, in his physical vigor, personal attractions, and newly acquired liberty. Feeling strong, he puts the day of judgment far from him. Vain of his person, he is proud of his appearance and abilities. Freed from the restraints of home, he removes the reins from the neck of his lusts. His heart cheers him on, and urges him forward in the pursuit of folly! He walks in the way of his heart, which is always evil. He is ignorant of its powers of deception. He is therefore deceived by the corrupt principles that work within it. He hushes his conscience to sleep, or by violence constrains it to be silent.
He then yields to the alluring influence of the world. And while so doing, Satan tempts him to proceed farther and farther, plotting his eternal damnation!
He does what he thinks best in his own eyes, allowing them to mislead him. He walks by sight, not according to God’s Word. He is led away by appearances, and despises the counsel and example of the godly. He refuses to listen to, or be guided by the advice of parents. He despises, or slights, the preacher’s admonition, and will be a law unto himself. He chooses vain people for his companions, and follows the example of the foolish! Let us now listen to:
The Preacher’s Prescription. “Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see. BUT know that for all these things, God will bring you to judgment!”
Take your own course, if you are determined.
Go on in the way which you prefer, if you think it best.
Persevere in the path that you have chosen.
BUT KNOW that there is an end to your course, and that end is a judgment!
The judgment day is fixed, and it is therefore certain.
The judge stands at the door, it is therefore near.
The dead, small and great, shall stand before God–it is therefore universal.
Every one of us shall give account of himself before God, it is therefore personal.
Before this final judgment, shall be gathered all nations–it will therefore be open and public.
God will judge in justice and uprightness, it will therefore be righteous.
It will be the great day, the last day–and will therefore be final.
“BUT KNOW that for all these things, God will bring you to judgment!”
You will not be able to escape!
You will not be overlooked or forgotten!
You will be personally summoned, and there will be no evading!
Death will arrest and cast you into prison. From thence, the angels will bring you out, and Jesus will judge you! For “He has set a day when He is going to judge the world in righteousness, by the Man He has appointed!” Acts 17:31
Young man! Young woman! To you is this word of solemn admonition sent! See how many young people are being called away by death! Fatal diseases and accidents–how common. Sudden deaths–how frequent. It is very probable that God may soon call for YOU! How necessary then that you be ready, for death very often gives but a short notice, or no notice!
God warns you by His providence; He directs you in His Word; He invites you by His ministers; and He will judge you by His Son!
Whenever therefore you are tempted to indulge in any unholy amusement or practice, remember these words: “BUT KNOW that for all these things, God will bring you to judgment!”
“These all died in faith . . . they confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” Hebrews 11:13
The day of life with them is ended. Its duties are ended. Its responsibilities are past. Its hours are fled away.
What a trying day some of them had! How stormy. How sultry. How often overcast. How gloomy. But it is now past, and past forever! The toils of the wilderness are over! They had much to afflict and pain them . . . a difficult and dangerous journey, a long wearisome march, many a heavy cross to carry, many a stubborn foe to face, many a painful doubt, numerous gloomy fears.
But now the wilderness is all behind them! The afflictions of the pilgrimage are terminated. Those sufferings were sharp, and some of them continued long. Many of them were endured in secret without sympathy, and without relief. They were soul sorrows, agony of mind–as well as sharp pains of body. But however multiplied, however severe, however protracted those sorrows–they are past and gone, never, never to return!
The sweetest repose is now enjoyed. The poor tabernacle has been taken down, and is laid in a quiet resting-place, until the resurrection morning. The soul is gone to be with Jesus. It has traveled through the rough path of life, and is now in God’s presence, where there is fullness of joy, and pleasures for evermore!
As Christians, we are going to the same place. The graves will soon be ready for our bodies, and themansions of glory for our souls. We are going home! Home to our Father’s house! Home where our hearts have long been. Home where all our prayers will be answered, and all our best desires will be gratified. “Home, sweet home! There is no place like home!” Especially our home! A paradise without a tempting serpent! A paradise where all are holy, all are safe, all are happy. Those pure and perpetual joys, which are at God’s right hand, await us! We taste them now, and are delighted with asip–but there we shall soon drink full draughts of eternal glory, eternal joy, and eternal blessedness!
Amidst present toils and trials, dangers and distresses, when wearied, way-worn, and tempted to fret–remember that you will soon be HOME! Think, think, O my soul, of an eternity of enjoyment, when the sufferings of time are ended! “Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning!” Psalm 30:5
Yayβ¦Itβs only thanks to you guys for your kind and generous donations towards this gruelling challenge , that iβve recieved the βOne Million Step Challengeβ t-shirt. Diabetes UK send you the t-shirt once youβve raised over Β£100β¦So i canβt thank you guys enough! πͺπΌ
As youβve probably guessedβ¦I love charity t-shirts as i can hardly see them whilst iβm out walkingβ¦But everyone else has to look (and read) my wearable advertising board, llol! π€£ πͺπΌ
A quick shout outβ¦π£
Iβd just like to give a quick shout out to Dayle (from βTip of my icebergβ blog), as her message βSteve, I hope this will encourage you a little. Know that our prayers are with you! Congratulations of pursuing this!β left on my fundraising page really helped me over the last 2 days, when my motivation was a little flatβ¦It was a timely message toβ¦
Awww is it only day 22 of 61!! π¨ Itβs going to be a really short post today as iβm happy iβve reached over 420,000 steps (around 200 miles)β¦But itβs hard to stay motivated whilst your body is aching and trying to be substituted off the playing field! Sorry i donβt have anything funny or mildly interesting to say today, but iβll be back tomorrow when iβll be hopefully full of beans?! π€
Itβs day 19/61, and this blindman has walked over 160 miles and iβve earned my 350,000 steps badge this weekβ¦Yes iβm tired and hurting as i battle my way along this gruelling challenge! π° Can you help this charity close to my heart? Please donate or share everywhere (or both, lol)!
Type 1 diabetes never gives Sarah a rest, so I donβt want to have one either during my fundraising challenge!
Iβve had 3 kind donations this weekβ¦One from Ian (from church), an anonymous donation and one from Ann & Michael (also from church). I canβt tell you how humbling and motivating it is to get such generous support., it also inspires me to keep going through this endurance challenge and keep fighting to help this great charity thatβs close to my heart, as my lovely warrior wife Sarah has βBrittle Type 1 Diabetesβ. β€οΈ πͺπΌ
Yayβ¦Iβm celebrating that this blindman has reached over 350,000 steps!! Iβm also trying to calm my aching legsβ¦But i already feel like a battered βGroup Bβ rally car after being thrashed around the rally stages, and iβve only done a third of the challenge!
I think i need to break out my old panel beating skills to repair and restore my old classic bodywork. It needs lots of repairs,planishing and some putty filler, lol! π€£
Getting lost in the woodsβ¦π¨
As you may know itβs taken me about 2 years to finally create a 2.5 mile lap in my local woodsβ¦But as Iβm now using my new microsoft soundscape GPS app to navigate me through the woods, i had a bright idea to try and lengthen my trail lapβ¦Bad idea! π€£
At least it was nice as i was getting lost, lol! π€£
“Your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things!” Matthew 6:32
The Lord Jesus, as the great teacher, is instructing His disciples in the doctrine of divine providence, and teaching them to exercise faith in God. He tells them that God feeds the sparrows and clothes the lilies, and therefore He will not neglect, or refuse to feed and clothe His redeemed children!
He would have us act like His children! As children who view the Most High God as their Father! As children who are absolutely dependent upon Him! As children who look to Him for all; and expect Him to supply them with all.
God is our FATHER. He has adoptedus by His grace. We were by nature fatherless, so far as spiritual relationship is concerned. Or, to be more correct, we did have a father, it was the devil! Said Jesus, “You belong to your father, the devil!” John 8:44. We were in an abject and dreadful condition!
But in His infinite mercy, and for the glory of His own free grace, God adopted us and placed us among His children!
We still have a heavenly Father who caresfor us! And as the heaven is high above the earth, so far does God’s relationship exceed all human relationships. To have God for our Father, is the height of blessedness; it is the crowning privilege!
Nothing can exceed this, for His love is infinite, and embraces all His children. His love cannot change, for that would imply a change in His nature. But He says, “I am Jehovah, I do not change!” Everything outside of the Divine nature will change. But Jehovah Himself loves His people, and as His nature cannot change, neither can His love!
His resources are boundless, and He supplies all of His children. They are never sent to any other quarter for supply, but always bidden to come to their Father for all that they need.
His pity is exquisite, and He sympathizes with all of His children. “Like as a father pities his children, so the Lord pities all who fear Him. He knows our frame, He remembers that we are but dust.”
His knowledge is perfect, therefore He is fully acquainted with them all. “All things are naked and open to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” He knows exactly where each one is, and each of their wants, woes, and wishes! For “the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on the behalf of all those who hearts are sincere towards Him.”
His strength is omnipotent, and protects them all. He says, “No one is able to pluck you out of my hand! I will strengthen you! I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.”
His nature is unchangeable, and His covenant is sure; therefore He will be to us, and do for us, all that He has promised to us!
Scripture history unfolds God’s love to, and the method of his dealing with His children. He is “the same yesterday, today, and forever!”
What a mercy, to have a Father–and such a Father!
What anastounding blessing, to have God for our Father–in a world like this, and in times like these!
What a comfort, to look up to the High and Lofty one who inhabits eternity, and rejoice that He has a father’s heart, and that His heart beats with unutterable love to me!
What an encouragement, to be able in the midst of trials, troubles, temptations, losses, crosses, disappointments, and vexations–to look up to my heavenly Father and say, “I will cry unto God most high, unto God who performs all things for me!”
“Your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things!”
Wow i canβt believe iβve already earned this award and itβs only day 17! I normally just sneak the badge in right at the end of the monthβ¦But with my βOne million step challengeβ which started 1st August, it meant iβve nailed it already as iβve been stomping over 10 miles a day without a rest so far! πͺπΌ π
Saturday and Sunday were both scorches at 33ΛC and i knew it would be tough getting lots of steps doneβ¦So as my T1D warrior wife Sarah was off work, she first made the nicest iced coffee and then we headed off to the ponds in the nature reserve. β π
I put my AirPods in and shouted out everything my new microsoft soundscape app was telling meβ¦Sarah said it was really useful and we could try it everywhere we go, yay a win! π€£ When we arrived at the point that you guys know well (itβs the edge of the pond i always photograph through each season) my app shouted out βFishing platformββ¦Of course it is, why didnβt i think of that, lol! π€£ Now i wonder if there is such a thing called blind fishing? π€
After Sarah shouted at me to get my photo taken withβ¦
The magnificent tree in our backyard has been gaining in stature and strength since it was put in as a sapling 27 years ago. It was ready to hold a β¦
Itβs day 12/61, and iβve done over 110 miles and iβve just earned my 250,000 steps badge this morningβ¦Yes iβm tired and hurting especially through this heatwave! π° Can you help this charity close to my heart? Please donate or share everywhere (or both, lol)!
Type 1 diabetes never gives Sarah a rest, so I donβt want to have one either during my fundraising challenge!
Iβve had 2 kind donations this weekβ¦The 1st from my lovely wife Sarah and the 2nd friend from Dayle (blogger from the USA) which is not only humbling and motivating, it also inspires me to keep going through this endurance challenge and keep fighting to help this great charity thatβs close to my heart! πͺπΌ π
Sarahβs message βThanks for doing this amazing challenge to support diabetes UK my lovely husband. I just wanted to contribute and get you started on what isβ¦
To laugh out loud and run free without a care in the world. Itβs what childhood should be. It sounds unbelievably wonderful. As a child, all I could β¦
Iβve already pounded over 100 miles wearing my super bright Inov8 Trailfly G300 max trail shoesβ¦And as a reward for earning the first donation Diabetes UK sent me some metal shoe lace charms to wear during the challenge:
βWhen you receive your first donation weβll send you aΒ shoelace charmΒ as a special reminder that every step counts and we must always look after our feet. Weβll post this to you automatically if youβve opted to receive rewards. Weβll send these out throughout the challenge.β
Sarah tells me they look fantastic and fit perfectly on the trail shoe. Iβm defo looking after my feet with these stupendous shoesβ¦I really donβt want to burn them out but the challenge is worth it!! πͺπΌ π
About The Blind Navigation Soundscape appβ¦π²
Iβve been out on my trail again this morning, finding places where i can add new waypoints along myβ¦
Today was not only another hot 29ΛC, but i had to wait in for some deliveriesβ¦Which meant i had to fight for my steps today! πͺπΌ I managed an early quick few miles before the start time of the deliveries, as i wanted to try out my new βSoundscapeβ app on my trail. Iβm at the beginners stage of the app so just managed to place some map markers along my route, to see if my earphones can pick them up in 360Λ audio beacon targeting thingy, which would be cool and very useful when i get lost!! π
I also did some workouts on apple fitness plus in my living room to try and keep my steps upβ¦I managed quite a few steps whilst bombing around the room, lol! π€£ Now iβll probably spend the rest of my challenge trying toβ¦
Yeah iβm still walking, lol! π€£ Itβs day 8 of this monumental 61 day challenge, and i have another heatwave to look forwards too for nearly 2 weeks! π¨ Itβs 29ΛC today and iβm getting my well rounded tan as i walk my circular lapβ¦Well at least thatβs a bonus, lol! π€£ Walking in the sun is an absolute killer for me, as the brightness fries my eyes, brain and drains me really fast no matter what hat, cap or sunglasses combo i tryβ¦Itβs just the sight i have to put up with..At least i get a break when iβm asleep, and i even dream fully sighted some of the time which is weirdβ¦But brittle Type One Diabetes never gives Sarah a rest so iβll stop complaining, lolβ¦And itβs why iβm doing this challenge without a rest day too! π¨
I, even I, am he who comforts you and gives you all this joy. So what right have you to fear mere mortal men, who wither like the grass and disappear?
Isaiah 51:12 Living Bible
Pray with me please.
Father God, Thank You for being our Healer, for making all things new, and for holding all wisdom. You are the God of all of our days. We give You all of our praise. No matter what goes on in our lives, You are still God and You are worthy of all of our praise. Thank You for the comfort and the joy that You give us. Thank You for leading and guiding us. You are so awesome. Thank You for being our all in all. Thank You for the answers that You provide us in Your word. Thank You for being all these things that the song says. You areβ¦
“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” Acts 18:9-10
What kind of a citywas it? Corinth was one of the most worldly and immoral cities of the east. Here was the temple of Venus, with its degrading and disgraceful services. What kind of peoplewere they? “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders northieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were! But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God!” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. This is the apostle’s own reply to the question.
Observe:
1. The Lord’s people are often found in the most unlikely places! Who would have expected to find God’s chosen people, a multitude of them–in a place so foul, so polluted, so degraded, as Corinth? God’s jewels are often found buried in the worst filth!
2. The Lord chooses the most unlikely people! Who would ever have thought that the Lord would have chosen the sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, slanderers, swindlers–to be saved? But He did! God’s people are picked off the foulest dunghills! O the wonders of sovereign grace!
Youβre never going to believe this (i didnβt)β¦Me and my lovely wife Sarah were sat in the rear garden of our favourite restaurant (Sicily Restaurant), and just as Grace was placing the stunning βTiramisuβ on to the tableβ¦The muppets theme tune blasted out of my pocket from my iPhone!! I looked straight at Sarah (or as near as possible) as we both knew what the tune meantβ¦A donation!! π²
The incredible Tiramisu from Sicily restaurant! π
The Donationβ¦π²
Before i had chance to click through and read the amazing message my phone blasted out again as iβd been awarded the badge above! πͺπΌ The loving donation actually took my fundraising to Β£166. π²
Sarah was reading the many shocked looks from my face and asking who it was from? I kept saying youβre never going to believe who itβs from?? I said βitβs in US Dollars againββ¦
Itβs day 5/61, and iβve done 57 miles and over 115,000 stepsβ¦Yes iβm tired and hurting, lol! π€£ Can you help this charity close to my heart? Please donate or share everywhere (or both, lol)!
Type 1 diabetes never gives Sarah a rest, so I donβt want to have one either during my fundraising challenge!
So if youβre feelinginspiredβ¦Please hit the donate button and support my stepping challenge. Every step and every donation counts. Join me and letβs help everybody living with diabetes. For all the mums, dads, wives, husbands, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, grandparents, and best friends, creating a world where diabetes can do no harm.
One million steps is around 500 miles, iβve already donated Β£25β¦Itβs going to be a really tough challenge and itβs the furthest iβve ever walked by a long way!! Please help! π¨
Every penny given will go towards Diabetes UK careβ¦
Wow that train track is close, lol! π¨ Iβm so glad i stayed where i was when i took this photoβ¦I thought i wouldnβt get the tracks in the shot, but once i arrived home and zoomed in on my iMacβ¦Itβs right there!! π At least i know not to step any closer, and maybe i can get a slow motion video of the train as i can hear when it comes.
My Steps So Farβ¦πͺπΌ
At the time of this post iβm just over 115,000 steps after 5 daysβ¦Iβm hoping for some more steps this evening, as iβm trying to build a surplus before my legs burn off, as you never know what can happen to this blindman whilst out on the trailβ¦So iβll get the steps in when i can! πͺπΌ
Todayβs Theme: βRoundβ π€
I spent my walk thinking about what i could postβ¦
Yay i actually managed to get me and a bit of the trail in a selfie this morning! π² I thought iβve been taking hundreds of photos whilst on my trail walksβ¦But not one of me on the trail which could lead to you thinking iβm just posting anyones photos, lol! π€£ I canβt see my iPhone at all so donβt take many selfies, mainly as iβm old and think the camera should be pointing the other way (others come first). π€£
Please let me know if you like seeing me in the frame with the trail, and iβll have to start trying to get better at itβ¦Meanwhile here is a normal photo of my trail! π€£
I managed 8.5 miles today in the hot sun and had no dramas. I was trying to slow down to just over 3 mph but my body just wonβt slowβ¦
When i first posted on Facebook about this crazy challenge and how i wanted to do it in 2 months instead of 3, and for Diabetes UK for my lovely wife Sarah as inspiration and motivationβ¦ I received a comment from our friend Anita saying she wanted to do it too! Anita then set up this βSarahβs Walking Warriorsβ fundraising page and i quickly joined. Wow what a name!!! π
Anita used to work with Sarah at βWorld Cancer Research Fundβ and quickly became friends with Sarah (who wouldnβt??) so she got to know quite a bit about type one diabetes and soon joined me on this challenge. Anita also was one of the βCrazy Clappersβ on my first βBlind Steveβ challenge which was the βTough Mudderβ back in Oct 2018. πͺπΌ
Anita is an absolute walking machine and is the master thatβ¦
“And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” Romans 8:9
This is Paul’s criterion. No matter what a man has, if he does not have the Spirit of Christ–“he does not belong to Christ!”
This divine agent, as the Spirit of Christ, always convinces the soul of its need of Christ. He always leads to the cross of Christ! He will not allow the soul to stop at, or rest in, sacraments, ceremonies, or any duties it may perform. He points to the cross. He leads to the cross. He fixes the sinner’s eye upon the cross. He brings peace to the soul through the cross. He dedicates and devotes the sinner to God’s service at the cross. Every one who has the Spirit of Christ, knows something of the worth, virtue, and efficacy of the cross of Christ.
The Spirit of Christ always conforms to the image of Christ. Christ is the model after which the Spirit works; and by the Word and ordinances, by providence and His own inward operations–He stamps the likeness of Christ upon the soul. He fixes the eye on Jesus, who, as a mirror, represents and sets forth the glory of God; and by looking at Jesus, a divine transformation takes place, and we are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Unless, therefore, we have been taught our need of Christ as a Savior; unless we have been led to the cross of Christ to seek salvation there; unless we are in some degree conformed to Christ, and are daily seeking more conformity–we have not the Spirit of Christ. “And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.”
The Spirit of Christ is the greatproof that we are Christ’s. There may be much feeling, a moral reformation, and a profession of religion, without this. But if we have the Spirit of Christ, our thoughts will be engaged with Him, our hearts will be going out to Him, and we shall at times long to depart that we may be with Him, and see Him as He is!
The Spirit of Christ always renders Christ precious, and produces the highest possible esteem of Him.
The Spirit of Christ always makes its possessor like Christ. Not perfectly, here on earth–yet He kindles and keeps alive a desire for perfect likeness. This is the great, the grand, the habitual aim of the soul, always and everywhere–to be like Christ!
Wow that was tough!! For the last couple of miles i was staggering like a zombie in an 80βs dodgy horror film, lol! π€£ I know my new extended trail lap is harder as it has more uphill sections, but this was crazyβ¦I was exhausted, dripping with sweat as itβs still hot here and drinking my water like a dying man. But i managed the 9.3 miles (about 29,000 steps) before lunchtime, and iβve only got 59 days to go, lol! π€£ π¨
The sunflower above is one of Sarahβs in the garden. I managed to earn some more steps last night by watering the flowersβ¦Well once iβd picked myself off the ground after my first 9.3 miles walk yesterday! π€£ And as this flower hit me in the faceβ¦I thought iβd take a photo of it. Wow itβs nearly as bright as a Sarah smile! π²
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us!” Romans 8:18
Paul compares present sufferings, with future glory.
Believers are exposed to all kinds of suffering–and instead of obtaining an exemption from afflictions, they are assured that it is through much tribulation that they must enter into the kingdom of God.
Some endure inwardsuffering, with which no one is fully acquainted but God Himself. They have such darkness, gloom, distress, agitation, trouble, and sorrow–as would not be easy to describe.
Some suffer much in body, from the stressed and disordered state of the nervous system, from chronic diseases, or deformities in the physical frame. They seldom move without suffering, and for years together have but little freedom from weakness and pain. They live a life of suffering, a kind of dying life, and think much of Heaven as of a place where there is no more pain.
Some suffer muchΒ financially. Scarcely anything seems to prosper with them, losses, crosses, and opposition meet them at every turn. And though they live honestly, and conduct their business honorably–they are thwarted, hindered, and filled with perplexity. No one can tell what they suffer from financial trials and difficulties.
Others suffer from reproach, misrepresentation, strife, and persecution in the world, or in the Church, or both! No one seems to understand them, or is prepared to sympathize with them; they are like “a sparrow alone upon the house-top.” False friends and open enemies unite to trouble and distress them, so that they often sigh, and say, “O that I had wings like a dove, for then would I fly away and be at rest!”
Others in the domestic circle, or from some of the relationshipsof life, are called to suffer long and seriously.
But whether from trouble of mind, sickness of body, trials in business, family difficulties, or persecution for Christ’s sake, all suffer, and most believers suffer much!
But compare their present sufferings, with their future glory: Glory which will exclude all pain and suffering; all sin and sorrow! Glory beyond the reach of all foes and the cause of all trouble! Glory which includes happiness; perfect, perpetual, never-ending happiness! Glory which includes honor; the highest, holiest, and most satisfying honor! Glory, or splendor, which will fill the soul, clothe the body, and dignify the entire person forever!
Filled with light, peace, and joy; clothed with beauty, brightness, and magnificence, they will appear with Christ in glory, filling them with wonder and unutterable delight!
This glory will be possessed by us, as part of our marriage portion and inalienable inheritance. But we can form no adequate idea of that glory, for “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him!” 1 Corinthians 2:9
Well this is it, the start of my gruelling 500 mile step challenge. I put on my stupendous new trail shoes, my backpack with water, lucozade and maybe a protein bar or two, lolβ¦When Sarah said βQuick you need to have a photo for the start of your challenge, and to show the Fitblitz family that youβve startedββ¦Above is the photo of the old blind guy trying to walk 500 miles, lol! π€£
Stepsβ¦
I managed a 9.3 mile (2 of my new laps) to kick off this morning steps. It worked out at 19,062 steps, so i quickly logged it on my fundraising pageβ¦A good start and i still have more to come on this first day! π
Todayβs Theme: Pinkβ¦
During this challenge iβd joined the βOne million stepβ Facebook group, and they have a theme for each day to keep things interesting. As youβ¦
January 19, 2023 
iChristian 
Recent Comments