GRIN AND BEAR IT

Yes, I am still sick.

And not feeling up to writing anything *new* this week.

So, I'm posting some words written by John Charles Ryle (1816-1900), who was the first Anglican bishop of Liverpool.  He was a writer, pastor and an evangelical preacher.  Ryle was described as having a commanding presence and vigorous in advocating his principles albeit with a warm disposition.

His words fit nicely into a series I used to feature on my blog called "Quaint Words."

And they are most encouraging to my weak and ailing body, and my flagging spirit...

Might this also encourage you!



Welcome to "Quaint Words!"

These posts will contain thoughts, poems, and prayers from old books that I have found at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales (with an occasional treasure from a bookstore).

I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!


"There may be much weakness and infirmity, even in a true Christian.

You have striking proof of this in the conduct of the disciples...when the waves broke over the ship.  They awoke Jesus in haste.  They said to Him, "Master, care You not that we perish?"

There was impatience.  They might have waited until their Lord thought fit to arise from His sleep.

There was unbelief.  They forgot that they were in the keeping of the One who had all power in His hand.

There was distrust.  They spoke as if they doubted their Lord's care and thoughtfulness for their safety and well-being...

But, after all, let us understand this is only a picture of what is constantly going on among believers in every age....Many of God's children get on very well so long as they have no trials.  They follow Christ very tolerably in the time of fair weather.  They fancy they are trusting Him entirely.  They flatter themselves they have cast every care on Him...But suddenly some unlooked-for trial assails them...Fear and doubt and distress and anxiety break in upon them like a flood, and they seem at their wits' end...

The plain truth is that there is no literal and absolute perfection among true Christians, so long as they are in the body.  The best and brightest of God's saints is but a poor mixed being.  Converted, renewed and sanctified though he be, he is still compassed with infirmity...

I want [you] to see that [you] may have true faith and grace, in spite of all the devil's whispers to the contrary, though [you] may feel within many doubts and fears...so long as [you] are in the body, [you] must not expect faith to be above the reach of fear...

I beseech every reader of this message to remember this.  It is a lesson worth attention.  The apostles believed in Christ, loved Christ and gave up all to follow Christ.  And yet you see in this storm the apostles were afraid.  Learn to be charitable in your judgment of them.  Learn to be moderate in your expectations from your own heart...

Let us learn, in the last place, how tenderly and patiently the Lord Jesus deals with weak believers...The whole of our Lord's conduct towards His disciples on earth deserves close consideration.  It throws a beautiful light on the compassion and patience that there is in Him...

Let all the world know that the Lord Jesus will not cast away His believing people because of shortcomings and infirmities..."


(From "Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots" by John Charles Ryle, c. 1877, enlarged 1879)




How does the compassion of Jesus console you in times of infirmity?

Still trying to grin
and
"bear" it!! 

 
"Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.  Instead, be very glad -- for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world." 
(1 Peter 4:12-13, NLT)

"And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.  So be truly glad.  There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.  These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold -- though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.  So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." (1 Peter 1:5-7, NLT)

"Dear brothers and sisters,a when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." 

(James 1:2-4, NLT)

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment.  For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." (Romans 5:3-5, NLT)

"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.  To him be the dominion forever and ever.  Amen." 

(1 Peter 5:10-11, ESV)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

QUAINT WORDS - The Flower of Heart-Joy

Welcome to "Quaint Words!"


These posts will contain thoughts, poems, and prayers from old books that I have found at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales (with an occasional treasure from a bookstore).

I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!


"For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name." (Psalm 33:21)


"The root of faith produces the flower of heart-joy. We may not at first rejoice, but it comes in due time. We trust the Lord when we are sad, and in due season He so answers our confidence that our faith turns to fruition and we rejoice in the Lord.

Doubt breeds distress, but trust means joy in the long run...

If we do not rejoice at this moment, yet we shall do so, as surely as David's God is our God. Let us meditate upon the Lord's holy name, that we may trust Him the better and rejoice the more readily...

Can we not cheerfully rely upon Him? Yes, we will do so at once, and do so without reserve.

Jehovah-Jireh will provide, Jehovah-Shalom will send peace, Jehovah-Tsidkenu will justify, Jehovah-Shammah will be forever near, and in Jehovah-Nissi we will conquer every foe.

They that know thy name will trust thee; and they that trust thee will rejoice in thee, O Lord."


(From "Daily Reading by C. H. Spurgeon" by Charles Haddon Spurgeon, c. 1834-1892)


HALLELUJAH!!


"...let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy." (Psalm 5:11, NLT)

"The LORD is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him." (Nahum 1:7, NLT)


"The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.  He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.  He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me..." 
(2 Samuel 22:2-3, NLT)


*How do you find joy in your sadness?


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

QUAINT WORDS - For The New Year

Welcome to "Quaint Words!”

These posts will contain thoughts, poems, and prayers from old books that I have found at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales (with an occasional treasure from a bookstore).

I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!

ONE BY ONE

One by one the sands are flowing,

One by one the moments fall,

Some are coming, some are going -

Do not strive to grasp them all.

One by one thy duties wait thee,

Let thy whole strength go to each;

Let no future dreams elate thee;

Learn thou first what those can teach.

One by one (bright gifts from heaven),

Joys are sent thee here below;

Take them readily, when given,

Ready too to let them go.

One by one thy griefs shall meet thee,

Do not fear an armed band;

One will fade, while others greet thee,

Shadows passing through the land.

Do not look at life's long sorrow,

See how small each moment's pain;

God will help thee for to-morrow -

Every day begin again.

Every hour that fleets so slowly,

Has its task to do or bear;

Luminous the crown, and holy,

If thou set each gem with care.

Do not linger with regretting,

Or for passion's hour despond,

Nor, the daily toil forgetting,

Look too eagerly beyond.

Hours are golden links, God's token,

Reaching heaven one by one;

Take them lest the chain be broken,

Ere the pilgrimage be done.

(From The Changed Cross, by Henry Altemus, c. 1897)

"No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." (Philippians 3:13-14, NLT)

*How will you spend your *moments* - one by one - in 2014?

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

QUAINT WORDS - Jesus, The King

Welcome to "Quaint Words!”

These posts will contain thoughts, poems, and prayers from old books that I have found at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales (with an occasional treasure from a bookstore).

I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!

(A listing of books and authors, and also dates of individual postings from those books, will be found on my "QUAINT WORDS" page)

"And remember...the King whom you are seeking is not to be found in a palace, nor among the rich and powerful...the light for which the world is waiting is a new light, the glory that shall rise out of patient and triumphant suffering. And the kingdom which is to be established forever is a new kingdom, the royalty of perfect and unconquerable love.

I do not know how this shall come to pass, nor how the turbulent kings and peoples of earth shall be brought to acknowledge the Messiah and pay homage to Him. But this I know. Those who seek Him will do well to look among the poor and the lowly, the sorrowful and the oppressed."

(From "The Story of the Other Wise Man" by Henry van Dyke, c. 1899)

"There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance,

nothing to attract us to him.

He was despised and rejected—

a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.

We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.

He was despised, and we did not care.

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;

it was our sorrows that weighed him down.

...he was pierced for our rebellion,

crushed for our sins.

He was beaten so we could be whole.

He was whipped so we could be healed.

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.

We have left God’s paths to follow our own.

Yet the LORD laid on him

the sins of us all.

He was oppressed and treated harshly,

yet he never said a word.

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.

And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,

he did not open his mouth.

Unjustly condemned,

he was led away.

No one cared that...his life was cut short in midstream.

...He had done no wrong

and had never deceived anyone.

But he was buried like a criminal;

he was put in a rich man’s grave.

But it was the LORD’s good plan to crush him

and cause him grief.

Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,

he will have many descendants.

He will enjoy a long life,

and the LORD’s good plan will prosper in his hands.

When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,

he will be satisfied.

And because of his experience,

my righteous servant will make it possible

for many to be counted righteous,

for he will bear all their sins."

(From Isaiah 53, NLT)

*How is Jesus a surprising Savior to you?

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

QUAINT WORDS - The Eyes Of Faith

Welcome to "Quaint Words!"


These posts will contain thoughts, poems, and prayers from old books that I have found at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales (with an occasional treasure from a bookstore).

I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!


"Because God is not visibly present to the eye, it is difficult to feel that a transaction with Him is real.  I suppose that if, when we made our acts of consecration, we could actually see Him present with us, we should feel it to be a very real thing...What we need, therefore, is to see that God's presence is a certain fact always, and that every act of our soul is done before Him, and that a word spoken in prayer is as really spoken to Him as if our eyes could see Him and our hands could touch Him.  Then we shall cease to have such vague conceptions of our relations with Him, and shall feel the binding force of every word we say in His presence.

I know some will say here, "Ah, yes; but if he would only speak to me...I would have no trouble then in believing it."  No, of course you would not; but then where would be the room for faith?  Sight is not faith, and hearing is not faith, neither is feeling faith; but believing when we can neither see, hear, nor feel, is faith; and everywhere the Bible tells us our salvation is to be by faith. Therefore we must believe before we feel, and often against our feelings, if we would honor God by our faith."

(From "The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life" by Hannah Whitall Smith, c. 1888)


"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

For in this hope we were saved.  But hope that is seen is no hope at all.  Who hopes for what they already have?

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

For we live by faith, not by sight."

(Hebrews 11:1, NLT / Romans 8:24, 2 Corinthians 4:18, 2 Corinthians 5:7, NIV)


*What helps you know that God is real?


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

QUAINT WORDS - New December Feature!

Welcome to "Quaint Words!"


This is a feature that I have done before, and I thought it would fun to reprise it for the month of December!

These posts will contain thoughts, poems, and prayers from old books that I have found at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales (with an occasional treasure from a bookstore).

I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!


"To some the love of the ringing praises of men made strong appeal and they forgot that the silence of death hushes all but the voice of God.  Others for the love of bodily ease set a-hungering for the delicacies of this world and sapped their stalwartness in their service of their King.  Yet others again have let the love of a fellow-creature steal in upon a heart that should have had a single Lover and Him upon the altar-throne.  So they all let other and mean loves come into their lives and cheat their God of an undivided heart...

Jesus, save me from my own heart's truancy.  I know it well that You must be the only object of my love and in my thankful moments I would have it always so - but then!  Away I go, back to the tinseled, loud-mouthed world, and many, many a time my heart is weaned from You, at least in little things. Teach me, dearest Master, teach this backward child that Yours is the only love worth having, that You and Heaven are the only goals worth striving for."

(From "My Changeless Friend" by Francis P. Le Buffe, c. 1921)


"...'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'..."  (Luke 10:27, NIV)


*What is the one thing that seems to *steal* you away from the Lord?


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

QUAINT WORDS

Welcome to "Quaint Words!"

This post will contain thoughts from an old book that I found in my travels. I love browsing at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales - (not to mention bookstores!)

I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!

"It is good to understand that Christ's service never did secure a man from all the ills that flesh is heir to, and never will. If you are a believer, you must reckon on having your share of sickness and pain, of sorrow and tears, of losses and crosses, of deaths and bereavements, of partings and separations, of vexations and disappointments, so long as you are in the body.

Christ never undertakes that you shall get to heaven without these.

He has undertaken that all who come to Him shall have all things pertaining to life and godliness; but He has never undertaken that He will make them prosperous, or rich, or healthy, and that death and sorrow shall never come to their family...

If you desire to serve Christ...I entreat you to take the Lord on His own terms. Make up your mind to meet with your share of crosses and sorrows, and then you will not be surprised.

...leave to the Lord Jesus to sanctify you in His own way. Rest satisfied that He never makes any mistakes. Be sure that He does all things well.

The winds may howl around you, and waters swell. But fear not, 'He is leading you by the right way, that He may bring you to a city of habitation' (Ps. 107:7)."

(From "Holiness" by J. C. Ryle, c. 1816-1900)

(A listing of books and authors, and also dates of individual postings from those books, will be found on my "QUAINT WORDS" page)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Deceive

Welcome to "Fan the Flame" Friday.

This is a weekly post that will be "short and sweet" (kinda like me...)

Just a word and a phrase, a sentence or a question...just a little something to "fan the flame" of your creativity!

Today's word: deceive

What does it mean to deceive someone?

How does the world deceive us?

How does the devil deceive us?

Do you ever deceive yourself? In what ways?

Let me know what you think!!

"This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:6-7)

(SIDENOTE: Tomorrow I'm starting a new weekly feature called SATURDAY STROLL. I will be *interacting* with Scripture - making it a conversational walk of faith. C'mon over and join me - you know we can all use the exercise!!)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

QUAINT WORDS

Welcome to "Quaint Words!”

These posts will contain thoughts, poems, and prayers from old books that I have found at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales (with an occasional treasure from a bookstore).

I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!

"In the temptation of our Lord there was of course no question of morality. The devil's aim was to draw Him away from the path of dependence upon God, and specially to divert Him from the path which led to the Cross.

It was this also which brought such a terrible rebuke upon Peter when the Lord addressed him as "Satan". And when Satan asked to have Peter (as he had asked to have Job) it was his faith he sought to destroy.

...And with the memory of this before him no doubt it was that the apostle wrote the words, "Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom withstand stedfast in your faith" (1 Peter:8-9).

...he is called "the deceiver of the whole world"...he is represented as the leader in the great coming struggle between faith and unfaith, between the acknowledgement of God and the denial of Him...In his "devices" upon men the Satan of Scripture is the enemy, not of morals, but of faith.

...with the strongest and holiest of men "the whole armour of God" is the only sure defence against the attacks of Satan."

(From "The Silence of God" by Sir Robert Anderson, c. 1897)

"'Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail.'" (Luke 22:31-32, NLT)

(A listing of books and authors, and also dates of individual postings from those books, will be found on my "QUAINT WORDS" page)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

QUAINT WORDS

Welcome to "Quaint Words!"

These posts will contain thoughts, poems, and prayers from old books that I have found at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales (with an occasional treasure from a bookstore).

I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!

"Then He comes to us, walking on the sea, and says: 'Fear not. It is I. Be not afraid.' And we whisper to ourselves, 'It is the Lord.'

Yes, then it is easy. Then we understand. Then we wonder that we should have doubted. Then we are ashamed of our wavering. What a beautiful tribute to Christ would have been our trust!

...What a joy to hear Him say, 'Come,' and we go, really walk upon the sea, really do wonders until some tremendous sorrow-wave dashes up between us and Christ, and for a moment we lose heart and...cry out, 'Lord, save me!' And immediately (that word immediately is so full of love!) stretching forth His hand, He takes hold of me, and when He is come into my heart-boat the wind ceases.

It is only after Christ has taken - has been given - full control of our heart-boat that the winds cease. This is the struggle of our life - to let Christ rule.

...[when] we have emptied our lives of everything that could raise a tempest in the heart, then Christ will sit at the helm, and the waves may toss, and the winds blow about the boat, but we are calm, for we have no cause to fear.

Christ sits at the helm and rules."

(From "Spiritual Pastels" by J. S. E., c. 1918)

(A listing of books and authors, and also dates of individual postings from those books, will be found on my "QUAINT WORDS" page)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

QUAINT WORDS

Welcome to "Quaint Words!"

These posts will contain thoughts, poems, and prayers from old books that I have found at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales (with an occasional treasure from a bookstore).

I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!

"'In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.' (Psalm 18:6)

O that Bethesda's God may make this day, though but a day of small things, productive of great things to the souls of all who hear...

Look, look to him, all who live in these ends of the earth...Come to him all you who are weary and heavy laden, and he will give you rest.

He will give you rest from the guilt, rest from the power, rest from the punishment of sin; he will give rest from the fear of divine judgments here, and rest with himself eternally hereafter.

Fear not, though your beginnings are but small, Christ will not despise the day of small things. A bruised reed will he not break, and the smoking flax he will not quench, until he bring forth judgment unto victory.

His hands that laid the foundation shall finish it; yet a little while and the top-stone shall be brought forth with shouting."

(From " Daily Readings by George Whitefield" by George Whitefield,

c. 1714-1770)

(A listing of books and authors, and also dates of individual postings from those books, will be found on my "QUAINT WORDS" page)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

QUAINT WORDS

Welcome to "Quaint Words!”

These posts will contain thoughts, poems, and prayers from old books that I have found at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales (with an occasional treasure from a bookstore).

I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!

"And is not God ready to do unto them even as they fear, though with another feeling and a different end from any which they are capable of supposing? He is against sin...and thus He is altogether and always for them...

When we say that God is Love, do we teach men that their fear of Him is groundless? No. As much as they fear will come upon them, possibly far more...The wrath will consume what they call themselves; so that the selves God made shall appear.

For that which cannot be shaken shall remain. That which is immortal in God shall remain in man."

(From "George MacDonald - An Anthology, 365 Readings" by George MacDonald, c. 1824-1905)

(A listing of books and authors, and also dates of individual postings from those books, will be found on my "QUAINT WORDS" page)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

QUAINT WORDS

Welcome to "Quaint Words!"

These posts will contain thoughts, poems, and prayers from old books that I have found at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales (with an occasional treasure from a bookstore).

I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!

"...[The Holy Spirit] will witness to our sonship; he will enthrone Christ as king of our life; will keep the self-life in the place of death; will give us a hunger for the things of God; he will give power in witness-bearing.

In order to have a strong and blessed Christian experience, the one thing is to see that we do not grieve the Spirit.

...we may greatly limit and restrain his gracious work by insincerity of speech, the nursing of an unforgiving spirit, any kind of over-reaching or fraudulent dealing, impurity of speech, or failure in love.

We may be bound, so as not to be able to move our arms, by a number of cotton threads, quite as tightly as by a strong rope-thong. Let us take care not to grieve him by such inconsistencies.

Prayer: Fulfill in me, O God, those desires of goodness which thou hast created in my heart, and perfect the work of faith, that Jesus Christ may be glorified in me. Amen."

(From "Our Daily Walk" by Frederick Brotherton Meyer, c. 1840-1929)

(A listing of books and authors, and also dates of individual postings from those books, will be found on my "QUAINT WORDS" page)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

QUAINT WORDS

Welcome to "Quaint Words!”

These posts will contain thoughts, poems, and prayers from old books that I have found at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales (with an occasional treasure from a bookstore).

I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!

"The true Christian is called to be a soldier and must behave as such from the day of his conversion to the day of his death. He is not meant to live a life of religious ease, indolence and security. He must never imagine for a moment that he can sleep and doze along the way to heaven, like one traveling in an easy carriage...

If the Bible is the rule of his faith and practice, he will find his course laid down very plainly in this matter. He must "fight."

With whom is the Christian soldier meant to fight?

...The principal fight of the Christian is with the world, the flesh and the devil. These are his never-dying foes. These are the three chief enemies against whom he must wage war. Unless he gets the victory over these three, all other victories are useless and vain.

...with a corrupted heart, a busy devil and an ensnaring world, he must either "fight" or be lost."

(From "Holiness" by J. C. Ryle, (1816-1900)

(A listing of books and authors, and also dates of individual postings from those books, will be found on my "QUAINT WORDS" page)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

QUAINT WORDS

Welcome to "Quaint Words!”

These posts will contain thoughts, poems, and prayers from old books that I have found at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales (with an occasional treasure from a bookstore).

I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!

"Dryness -

That man is perfect in faith who can come to God in the utter dearth of his feelings and desires, without a glow or an aspiration, with the weight of low thoughts, failures, neglects, and wandering forgetfulness, and say to Him, 'Thou art my refuge.'"

(From "George MacDonald - An Anthology, 365 Readings" by George MacDonald, c. 1824-1905)

(A listing of books and authors, and also dates of individual postings from those books, will be found on my "QUAINT WORDS" page)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

QUAINT WORDS

Welcome to "Quaint Words!”

These posts will contain thoughts, poems, and prayers from old books that I have found at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales (with an occasional treasure from a bookstore).

I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!

"We need never be anxious about our mission. We need never perplex ourselves in the least in trying to know what God wants us to do, what place He wants us to fill. Our whole duty is to do well the work of the present hour.

There are some people who waste entire years wondering what God would have them to do, and expecting to have their life-work pointed out to them. But that is not the divine way.

If you want to know God's plan for you, do God's will each day; that is God's plan for you today. If He has a wider sphere, a larger place for you, He will bring you to it at the right time, and then that will be God's plan for you and your mission.

Our lives we cut on a curious plan,

Shaping them, as it were, for man;

But God, with better art than we,

Shapes them for eternity."

(From "In Green Pastures" by J.R. Miller, c. 1840-1912)

(A listing of books and authors, and also dates of individual postings from those books, will be found on my "QUAINT WORDS" page)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

QUAINT WORDS

Welcome to "Quaint Words!"

These posts will contain thoughts, poems, and prayers from old books that I have found at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales (with an occasional treasure from a bookstore).

I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!

"'As through one trespass [the result was] unto all men condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness [the result was] unto all men to justification of life.'

If words have any meaning this declares that the death of Christ has efficacy as complete and universal as the sin of Adam...

But the work of Christ goes infinitely further than this. The Eden trespass ushered in the reign of sin...and sin claimed the very throne of God as an agency for enforcing its just demands.

But Calvary has dethroned sin, and grace now reigns supreme. And this, not at the expense of righteousness, but through righteousness. And as sin reigned unto death, so grace now reigns unto eternal life...

'There is now no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon Him; for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

Eternal life is thus brought within reach of every human being to whom this testimony comes. How, then, is it possible that so few receive the benefit? The answer to this question claims a chapter to itself."

(From "The Silence of God" by Sir Robert Anderson, c. 1897)

(A listing of books and authors, and also dates of individual postings from those books, will be found on my "QUAINT WORDS" page)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

QUAINT WORDS

Welcome to "Quaint Words!”

These posts will contain thoughts, poems, and prayers from old books that I have found at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales (with an occasional treasure from a bookstore).

I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!

"Do not let any of these things [of the world] move you, for the rest that Jesus Christ has prepared for you is an ample recompense for all you may meet with here.

This rest is the fruit of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ: O how will it fill our souls with love, to think that through the streams of this blood, we have overcome the violence of the world, and the snares of the devil.

My dear brethren, be not discouraged at the treatment you meet with here, but let it be a means to stir you up to advance in the love of the Lord who has prepared a rest for you."

(From "Daily Readings by George Whitefield" by George Whitefield, c. 1714-1770)

(Today is the memorial service for my aunt. I miss you a bunch, Auntie Phyllis - but I'll see you again! Rest in the love of the Lord.)

(A listing of books and authors, and also dates of individual postings from those books, will be found on my "QUAINT WORDS" page)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

QUAINT WORDS

Welcome to "Quaint Words!”

These posts will contain thoughts, poems, and prayers from old books that I have found at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales (with an occasional treasure from a bookstore).

I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!

"All those minds shall be truly stayed, that are stayed on God. They shall be as Mount Zion, firm as it is; a mountain supported by providence, much more as a holy mountain supported by promise. They cannot be removed from confidence in God...

Committing themselves to God, they shall be safe from their enemies. Even mountains may molder and come to nothing, and rocks be removed, but God's covenant with his people cannot be broken, nor his care of them cease.

Their troubles shall last no longer than their strength will bear them up under them. The rod of the wicked may come...only it cannot reach their souls. And though it come upon their lot, it shall not rest thereon.

The Lord will make all work together for their good...

God considers the frame of his people, and will proportion their trials to their strength by the care of his providence, as well as their strength to their trials by the power of his grace."

(From "Daily Readings by Matthew Henry" by Matthew Henry, c. 1662-1714)

(A listing of books and authors, and also dates of individual postings from those books, will be found on my "QUAINT WORDS" page)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

QUAINT WORDS

Welcome to "Quaint Words!”

These posts will contain thoughts, poems, and prayers from old books that I have found at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales (with an occasional treasure from a bookstore).

I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!

"Jesus protests against the tendency to compare one's self with another to the other's disadvantage. He does not protest against the legitimate desire for the greatness that consists in being one's best and doing his utmost, but against the desire to see another man less than one's self in any particular.

The normal child simply and spontaneously does his best. This is the spirit of the Kingdom of Heaven.

It is...the expression of one's power for the good of others and the desire to see others, also, make their highest possible contribution to the general welfare. Jesus Himself is identified in spirit with every quiet soul that desires to do his utmost...

O God, may there be something in my life that shall inspire every one who comes within its reach to be his best and do his utmost."

(From "Christ in Everyday Life" by Edward Increase Bosworth, c. 1910)

(A listing of books and authors, and also dates of individual postings from those books, will be found on my "QUAINT WORDS" page)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"