Reflections

Reflecting on life, living and other things

Dec

2015

Christmas 2015

2015 Is Nearly Over

Click to read newsletter

The year 2015 draws to its conclusion. It is my practice to share a few pictures and text each end of year, so there is a link to our annual PDF here. Click or tap to activate. . . and enjoy the short meditation on Micah 5.

If you enjoy reading our year-end newsletters, you could check out the link here to the one from last year, and the cluster of archive links to be found there!

To view a special piano rendering by Matthew of The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, activate the video below.

Aug

2015

When Everything Seems To Be Going against You

I Enjoy this Quote:

Aug

2015

The LORD Shall Preserve You from All evil

“. . . Nor the Moon by Night.”

Unseen Providence Marks and Directs Our Ways

Psalm 121 distills several thoughts in the compass of just eight verses. I do not make it a habit to frequently post details about myself, but I thought it would be helpful to some readers if I were to share some thoughts on God’s overruling providence in recent days. But first, consider the words of Psalm 121:

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Ever since I was a boy, the phrase “Nor the moon by night” has held some fascination for me. As the psalmist writes of the preserving power of God, he notes this very point–that nothing under God is unforeseen or out of His direct care and providence.

Old Volvo

Driving an elderly car–a 1996 Volvo which has traveled more than a quarter of a million miles–can lead to some interesting experiences.

Last week, unsuspectingly driving along, I heard the squeal of a fan-belt. The traffic was modestly heavy. “I wonder whose car has a squealing fan-belt,” I thought out loud to Sue and Matthew who were with me in the car. And with that, there was a vast burst of vapor from under the hood of the Volvo, along with the sizzling and smell of coolant on the engine cowling. Thankfully I was able to coast over the ridge of the hill and down the other side to a parking lot where I could inspect the damage. It was a relief that, when I went to a nearby shop, coolant was available for sale, so I trekked back to the car, filled it, and, notwithstanding whatever catastrophic event had taken place, I was glad to find that the system was able to hold enough fluid to enable me to drive home and get my car towed to the garage the next day. No harm, no damage, no danger to life, and a modest enough repair bill from the mechanic who faithfully nurses my vehicle–the replacing of the expansion tank that holds the coolant and that had suddenly cracked and sprung a leak.

Atlanta and the Braves!

“Do you think that the car is good to drive to Atlanta?” I asked.

“Sure, no problem,” was the encouraging response of the mechanic. I had promised my son we’d watch a ballgame as a special end-of-summer treat, and we had booked the tickets. The ride to Atlanta was uneventful, the temperature gauge for the engine reading just what it should, and we were excited at the thought of seeing the game after enjoying one or two treats downtown.

“What’s that smell?” Sue asked. Almost there, we were navigating heavy downtown Atlanta traffic, just a half mile from where we planned to park.

My heart sank. “Uh oh!” I exclaimed. “We’re about to blow up our engine.” Quickly navigating lanes, I turned as soon as I could into an empty parking space on a corner parking lot. The temperature gauge needle had literally jumped from normal to just under the red. Reaching for the ignition key, I was on the point of turning off the engine, but, alas, it was too late. A muffled explosion caused a blast of vapor to emerge from under the hood and a torrent of coolant cascaded from under the engine, ominously forming a large puddle and then running away to the sidewalk in an ugly green stream.

Matthew’s disappointment was intense. And the heat and brightness of the afternoon had a negative effect on Sue, who, having crossed the road was asking a traffic policeman some directions. The intense heat began to overcome her, and I had to steer her into a restaurant where she could revive.

Atlanta is 150 miles from where we live. Garages are not usually open on Saturday evenings, and I dreaded the thought of having to stay downtown in an hotel, especially on a nil-budget; and it turned out that the only person I knew in Atlanta whose phone number I had to hand was away out of town.

“I’ve Found a Tow Company to Take You Home”

Jim waiting in Atlanta (Picture by Matthew)

We easily panic in these circumstances. To cut a long story short, notwithstanding a lengthy waiting time, my insurance company was able to secure a tow truck with a manageable out-of-pocket extra payment, whose driver was prepared to piggyback the Volvo to our garage in Greenville SC, and also to give us a ride home to our house after that. He showed up after a wait of over six hours, to our great relief. It was after 2 am when we finally bade him farewell, thankful for a trouble-free ride back to our home. Notwithstanding expense and inconvenience, at no point were we in any of the danger that might so easily otherwise have been the case. Anyone who has ever driven in or near Atlanta will know what it would be like to break down in the middle of a seven-lane freeway!

And the Braves? Well, that will have to wait for another time. A lesson in how we have to let our priorities be determined from on high. In the meantime, we learn to live in greater dependence on Him whose ways are past finding out, and yet whose love and care never fails to take into consideration the detail of our circumstances.

Featured images from www.publicdomainpictures.net.

Jul

2015

Responding to God’s Sovereignty in Our Circumstances: A Reading from C H Spurgeon

A Meditation from C H Spurgeon

As I have mentioned before, the insights, perspectives and applications of the nineteenth-century English preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, are both remarkable and abiding.

His ability to perceive truth and to draw lines of application from it to the situations ordinary people face was nothing short of remarkable. A young child once listening to him preach turned to his nanny and asked her, “Miss, why is Mr. Spurgeon speaking directly to me?” Others recounted that what he said from the pulpit came, as it were, as words directed to them personally from heaven.

Many people are puzzled by the intersection of God’s sovereignty, on the one hand, and human responsibility on the other. How do these matters fit together? There is a measure of confluence in these that we are not able completely to analyze, but which nevertheless are a part of the dynamic of our ongoing experience of life.

Consider Spurgeon’s brief meditation here. It is from a book of daily readings based on sermons he preached in the earlier phase of his ministry. Readers in the USA may buy the book at a discounted price, shipping-free, here.

A Wise Desire

“He shall choose our inheritance for us.” Psalm 47:4

Suggested Further Reading: Genesis 45:4-11

If you turn to the pages of inspiration, and read the lives of some of the most eminent saints, I think you will be obliged to see the marks of God’s providence in their histories too plainly to be mistaken. Take, for instance, the life of Joseph. There is a young man who from early life serves God. Read that life till its latest period when he gave commandment concerning his bones, and you cannot help marveling at the wondrous dealings of providence.

Did Joseph choose to be hated of his brethren? But, yet, was not their envy a material circumstance in his destiny? Did he choose to be put into the pit? But was not the putting into the pit as necessary to his being made a king in Egypt as Pharaoh’s dream? Did Joseph desire to be tempted of his mistress? He chose to reject the temptation, but did he choose the trial? No; God sent it. Did he choose to be put into the dungeon? No. And had he anything to do with the baker’s dream, or with Pharaoh’s either? Can you not see, all the way through, from first to last, even in the forgetfulness of the butler, who forgot to speak of Joseph till the appointed time came, when Pharaoh should want an interpreter, that there was truly the hand of God?

Joseph’s brethren did just as they liked when they put him into the pit. Potiphar’s wife followed the dictates of her own abandoned lust in tempting him. And yet, notwithstanding all the freedom of their will, it was ordained of God, and worked according together for one great end; to place Joseph on the throne; for as he said himself, “Ye meant it for evil, but God intended it for good, that he might save your souls alive!”

For meditation: You may find yourself in undesirable circumstances, but God can take these bad things and work them together for your good and his glory if you are his child (Romans 8:28). The all-knowing God knows what is best for us and can direct us clearly by our circumstances (Isaiah 48:17).

Sermon no. 33
8 July (1855)

Jun

2015

July Thoughts

Pray for America!

As we move into July, my thoughts turn to this great nation’s need for prayer. Consider the words recorded by Billy Graham in 2013:

‘Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, ‘Woe to those who call evil good,’ but that is exactly what we have done.

We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.

We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.

We have killed our unborn and called it choice.

We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable…

We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.

We have abused power and called it politics.

We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition.

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.

We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from sin and Set us free. Amen!’

Heritage in a Hymn

Then consider the words of Samuel Francis Smith, composer of My Country, ‘Tis of Thee, in this prayer:

My country ’tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died!
Land of the Pilgrims’ pride!
From every mountain side,
Let freedom ring!

My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love.
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture fills
Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet freedom’s song.
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.

Our fathers’ God to, Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright
With freedom’s holy light;
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God, our King!

Below is a musical rendering you might also enjoy watching.

Jun

2015

John Calvin on This Present Life and Its Comforts

“Lawful Comforts”

One of the greatest thinkers of all time, John Calvin, is often thought as being rather a monochromatic personality. Yet his insights into life and liberty are both remarkable and refreshing. In The Institutes, Book 3 Chapter 10, he wrote about how we may make appropriate use of this present world and the enjoyable things if offers us. The two paragraphs lower down are taken directly from his writing. The full section may be accessed here.

I was reminded of the grace of God applied universally to people in His gifts of variety in fruit and vegetables. It made me think of how Calvin so eloquently articulates this point in the paragraphs below, using the examples of foods given not only for necessity but also for our delight; and so, too, in the analogy of the properties of substances such as gold, silver, ivory and marble, these substances being graced above other metals or stones.

Enjoy reading these short excerpts from Calvin’s writing!

[God] consulted not only for our necessity, but also for our enjoyment and delight . . .

2. Let this be our principle, that we err not in the use of the gifts of Providence when we refer them to the end for which their author made and destined them, since he created them for our good, and not for our destruction. No man will keep the true path better than he who shall have this end carefully in view. Now then, if we consider for what end he created food, we shall find that he consulted not only for our necessity, but also for our enjoyment and delight. Thus, in clothing, the end was, in addition to necessity, comeliness and honour; and in herbs, fruits, and trees, besides their various uses, gracefulness of appearance and sweetness of smell. Were it not so, the Prophet would not enumerate among the mercies of God “wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine,” (Ps. 104:15). The Scriptures would not everywhere mention, in commendation of his benignity, that he had given such things to men. The natural qualities of things themselves demonstrate to what end, and how far, they may be lawfully enjoyed. Has the Lord adorned flowers with all the beauty which spontaneously presents itself to the eye, and the sweet odour which delights the sense of smell, and shall it be unlawful for us to enjoy that beauty and this odour? What? Has he not so distinguished colours as to make some more agreeable than others? Has he not given qualities to gold and silver, ivory and marble, thereby rendering them precious above other metals or stones? In short, has he not given many things a value without having any necessary use?

Gold and silver, ivory and marble
. . . precious above other metals or stones . . .

3. Have done, then, with that inhuman philosophy which, in allowing no use of the creatures but for necessity, not only maliciously deprives us of the lawful fruit of the divine beneficence, but cannot be realised without depriving man of all his senses, and reducing him to a block. But, on the other hand, let us with no less care guard against the lusts of the flesh, which, if not kept in order, break through all bounds, and are, as I have said, advocated by those who, under pretence of liberty, allow themselves every sort of license. First one restraint is imposed when we hold that the object of creating all things was to teach us to know their author, and feel grateful for his indulgence. Where is the gratitude if you so gorge or stupify yourself with feasting and wine as to be unfit for offices of piety, or the duties of your calling? Where the recognition of God, if the flesh, boiling forth in lust through excessive indulgences infects the mind with its impurity, so as to lose the discernment of honour and rectitude? Where thankfulness to God for clothing, if on account of sumptuous raiment we both admire ourselves and disdain others? if, from a love of show and splendour, we pave the way for immodesty? Where our recognition of God, if the glare of these things captivates our minds? For many are so devoted to luxury in all their senses that their mind lies buried: many are so delighted with marble, gold, and pictures, that they become marble-hearted – are changed as it were into metal, and made like painted figures. The kitchen, with its savoury smells, so engrosses them that they have no spiritual savour. The same thing may be seen in other matters. Wherefore, it is plain that there is here great necessity for curbing licentious abuse, and conforming to the rule of Paul, “make not provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof,” (Rom. 13:14 ). Where too much liberty is given to them, they break forth without measure or restraint.

Image credit: Featured image of fruit from www.publicdomainpictures.net

May

2015

Human Accountability: A Reading from C H Spurgeon

Human Responsibility

“If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.” John 15:22

Suggested Further Reading: Matthew 24:29-31

The liar, the fornicator, and the drunkard shall have their portion with unbelievers. Hell was made first of all for men who despise Christ, because that is the A1 sin, the cardinal vice, and men are condemned for that. Other iniquities come following after them, but this one goes before them to judgement. Imagine for a moment that time has passed, and that the day of judgement is come. We are all gathered together, both living and dead. The trumpet-blast sounds exceeding loud and long. We are all attentive, expecting something marvellous. The exchange stands still in its business; the shop is deserted by the tradesman; the crowded streets are filled. All men stand still; they feel that the last great business-day is come, and that now they must settle their accounts for ever. A solemn stillness fills the air: no sound is heard. All, all is silent. Presently a great white cloud with solemn state sails through the sky, and then—hark! The twofold clamour of the startled earth. On that cloud there sits one like unto the Son of Man. Every eye looks, and at last there is heard a unanimous shout—“It is he! It is he!” and after that you hear on the one hand, shouts of “Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Welcome, Welcome, Welcome Son of God.” But mixed with that there is a deep bass, composed of the weeping and wailing of the men who have persecuted him, and who have rejected him. Listen! I think I can dissect the sonnet; I think I can hear the words as they come separately, each one of them, tolling like a death knell. What say they? They say, “Rocks hide us, mountains fall upon us, hide us from the face of him that sits upon the throne.”

For meditation: What we are going to say about Christ in eternity will be an amplified version of our attitudes towards him in time. In this life we have the opportunity to change our minds and trust Christ; in eternity we will never be able to change our tune (Matthew 25:30,46).

Sermon no. 194
16 May (1858)

365 Days with C.H. Spurgeon, Vol. 1. A unique collection of 365 daily readings from sermons preached by Charles Haddon Spurgeon from his New Park Street Pulpit.

This series of daily readings makes use of Spurgeon’s sermons, edited, prepared and formatted for daily readings, by Terence Peter Crosby.

This book is published by Day One Publications, and is available here at a discounted price and with free shipping.

Apr

2015

With Casual Sincerity

A Meditation from C H Spurgeon

The insights, perspectives and applications of the nineteenth-century English preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, are both remarkable and abiding. Do we speak with sincerity and care as we engage with friends, neighbors, colleagues, and associates in our casual, day-to-day interactions? How easily do we promise to pray for someone and yet within minutes forget what the matter for prayer even was? How unlike the Lord from heaven we prove ourselves to be!

The Best of Masters

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.” John 14:27

Suggested Further Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28

It is the same with the world at this day. Everyone greets us in writing with a “Dear sir,” or a “My dear sir,” and concludes with “Yours very truly,” and “Yours sincerely.” We call all “friends,” and if we meet but casually we express the utmost anxiety with regard to one another’s health, and we carefully enquire after each other’s families; when perhaps we shall no sooner have passed by the person than we shall forget his existence, and certainly shall entertain no anxious thoughts with regard to his welfare, nor any loving remembrance of him. The world gives very largely when it gives compliments. Oh, what blessings would descend upon all our heads, if the blessings uttered could be blessings bestowed. Even when the “Good bye” is given, which translated means, “God be with you”—if that could be but true, and if God could be with us, in answer to that prayer, so little understood, how rich might we be! But alas! the way of the world is, “Be ye warmed and filled;” but it has not that which should warm, nor that which should fill. It is a world of words; high-sounding, empty, all-deceiving words. Now this is not so with Christ. If he says “Peace be with you,” his benediction is most true and full of sweet sincerity. He left his own peace in heaven, that he might give the peace which he enjoyed with his Father, to us in this world of sorrow, for thus he puts it, “My peace I give unto you.” Christ, when he blesses, blesses not in word only, but in deed. The lips of truth cannot promise more than the hands of love will surely give. He gives not in compliment. Furthermore, even when the world’s wishes of peace are sincere, what are they but mere wishes?

For meditation: Greetings and best wishes from the lips of a Christian should be modelled on Christ, not the world. Do you go in for the “polite lie” or are your concerns for others genuine (Philippians 2:20; 3 John 2)?

Sermon no. 247
10 April (1859)

Apr

2015

Philip Henry and a Form of the Baptismal Covenant

A Form of the Baptismal Covenant from Philip Henry*

In our family devotions, we recently read the following from John Whitecross’ book, The Shorter Catechism Illustrated, Banner of Truth Trust reprint

Philip Henry drew up the following short form of the baptismal covenant, for the use of his children:

“I take God the Father to be my chief good and highest end. I take God the Son to be my Prince and Saviour. I take God the Holy Ghost to be my Sanctifier, Teacher, Guide, and Comforter. I take the Word of God to be my rule in all my actions, and the people of God to be my people in all conditions. I do likewise devote and dedicate unto the Lord, my whole self, all I am, all I have, and all I can do. And this do I deliberately, sincerely, freely, and for ever.”

This he taught his children; and they each of them solemnly repeated it every Lord’s Day in the evening, after they were catechized, he putting his amen to it, and sometimes adding, “So say, and so do, and you are made for ever.”

Online source citation

* Philip Henry, father of the Bible commentator, Matthew Henry, was a Puritan minister ejected under the Act of Uniformity 1662.

Feb

2015

Secret for the Time Being!

Launch Pending

I am not going into details at present, but anticipate being able to update you with an interesting development in the next few weeks. For the time being, consider this as being classified information that I’ll let out of the box below when I am ready.

As the saying goes, watch this (Blog)Spot!

Reflections

Christmas 2015

2015 Is Nearly Over

When Everything Seems To Be Going against You

I Enjoy this Quote:

The LORD Shall Preserve You from All evil

“. . . Nor the Moon by Night.”