"O How the Grace of God Amazes Me" - a hymn by Emmanuel T. Sibomana. Sibomana (1910-1975) was a Baptist minister who grew up around Burundi, and lived near Musema. I came by the hymn through reading Sinclair Ferguson's book, By Grace Alone: How the Grace of God Amazes Me. In fact, Ferguson wrote the entire book … [Read more...]
Never Give Up Praying
Never give up praying. Pray without ceasing! In one of his sermons Spurgeon admonishes us: "Long as they live must Christians pray, For only while they pray they live." As we breathe without ceasing, so must we pray without ceasing. As there is no attainment in life, of health, or of strength, or of muscular vigor … [Read more...]
Inner Sanctuary and True Joy
The following thoughts on true joy are taken from Charles Ross' almost forgotten little book called The Inner Sanctuary. Ross' book is an exposition of John Chapters 13-17, often known as the Upper Room Discourse. From Banner of Truth: Charles Ross was brought to a knowledge of the truth while very young. He … [Read more...]
Matthew Henry on the Method of Prayer
Matthew Henry is perhaps best known for his Bible Commentary. I first came across him when I downloaded my first copy of the E-Sword Bible program. His commentary is available as a free download. Henry (1662-1714) died after finishing Genesis through to Acts. The rest of his commentary was finished by friends utilizing … [Read more...]
Happy Earth Day – But When?
You will see it in your social media news feed around April 22nd every year - it's Happy Earth Day! Earth Day is promoted by an environmentalist group Earth Day Network. It appears to be part of the Green movement - one which has New Age religious overtones. One of its partners is Interfaith Power & Light. … [Read more...]
Gloomy Dark and Sad Gethsemane
Gloomy, Dark and Sad Gethsemane! These are expressions used by the great hymn writers. For one night it surely was a place of doom and gloom. Yet Christ was victorious. A Place Called Gethsemane Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and … [Read more...]
Prayer For Deliverance From The World
A Prayer For Deliverance From The World. This is a prayer by Philip Doddridge. It appears in the book Piercing Heaven - Prayers of the Puritans. The beginning of the book has a quote from Puritan Thomas Watson (1620-1686): That prayer is most likely to pierce heaven which first pierces one's own heart. The … [Read more...]
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Prayer to the Holy Spirit. This prayer by Richard Baxter is taken from the book, Piercing Heaven- Prayers of the Puritans. Paul wrote: Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which … [Read more...]
Praying from God’s Word
Praying from God's Word... In "Piercing Heaven: Prayers of the Puritans" there's a prayer titled "Show me the Way from your Word." Puritan prayers and hymns were driven by Scripture though they didn't generally note the texts. This was true of so many devotions by Charles Spurgeon. The more I read him the more I … [Read more...]
Heaven and the New Jerusalem
Many people struggle to imagine what Heaven and the New Jerusalem will be like. We are only granted glimpses in Revelation chapter 21. There are varying interpretations of what the Heavenly City will look like. Is it a cube or more like a pyramid? What will the New Jerusalem be like? We'll never know for sure this side … [Read more...]
