meditation

2 Peter 1:4

by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

if you would know experimentally the preciousness of the promises, and enjoy them in your own heart, meditate much upon them. there are promises which are like grapes in the wine-press; if you will tread them the juice will flow. thinking over the hallowed words will often be the prelude to their fulfillment. while you are musing upon them, the boon which you are seeking will insensibly come to you. many a Christian who has thirsted for the promise has found the favour which it ensured gently distilling into his soul even while he has been considering the divine record; and he has rejoiced that ever he was led to lay the promise near his heart.

but besides meditating upon the promises, seek in thy soul to receive them as being the very words of God. speak to thy soul thus, “if i were dealing with a man’s promise, i should carefully consider the ability and the character of the man who had covenanted with me. so with the promise of God; my eye must not be so much fixed upon the greatness of the mercy—that may stagger me; as upon the greatness of the promiser—that will cheer me. my soul, it is God, even thy God, God that cannot lie, who speaks to thee. this word of his which thou art now considering is as true as his own existence. he is a God unchangeable. he has not altered the thing which has gone out of his mouth, nor called back one single consolatory sentence. nor doth he lack any power; it is the God that made the heavens and the earth who has spoken thus. nor can he fail in wisdom as to the time when he will bestow the favours, for he knoweth when it is best to give and when better to withhold. therefore, seeing that it is the word of a God so true, so immutable, so powerful, so wise, i will and must believe the promise.” if we thus meditate upon the promises, and consider the Promiser, we shall experience their sweetness, and obtain their fulfillment.

charles spurgeon, morning and evening

to all the papas [no, not mexican potatoes]

::  happy fathers day  ::

to Heavenly Father

to my earthly father.

to my father in law.

to my grandfathers.

to those about to be fathers…to ben.

to all the men of God who protect and provide and pray for their families.  thank you for being courageous leaders.  may you be abundantly blessed and strengthened as you continue to model, on this earth, the love of our Heavenly Father.  thank you for teaching us about responsibility, honor, compassion, diligence, and wisdom.  thank you for your positive attitude, sense of humor, wise choices, discernment, and for keeping your promises.

deuteronomy 6:6-9

and these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

if

rudyard kipling

if you can keep your head when all about you
 are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
 if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
 but make allowance for their doubting too;
 if you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
 or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
 or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
 and yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

if you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
 if you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
 if you can meet with triumph and disaster
 and treat those two imposters just the same;
 if you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
 twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
 or watch the things you gave your life to, broken
 and stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools;

if you can make one heap of all your winnings
 and risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
 and lose, and start again at your beginnings
 and never breathe a word about your loss;
 if you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
 to serve your turn long after they are gone,
 and so hold on when there is nothing in you
 except the will which says to them: “hold on!”

if you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
 or walk with kings—nor lose the common touch;
 if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
 if all men count with you, but none too much;
 if you can fill the unforgiving minute
 with sixty seconds’ worth of distance run—
 yours is the earth and everything that’s in it,
 and—which is more—you’ll be a man, my son!