SPF 246: Don't Miss the Sweetness in Faithful Plodding
Sometimes we miss the point of the plod. God made the plod. Sharing Christ, living for Christ, exalting Christ in our daily work takes faithful, patient diligence. It's a slow but rewarding work. Today I'm sharing how we can prove faithful in the plod.
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Faithful Plodding
In the spheres of our duties as Christian women, there is a lot of plodding. In motherhood, in being a wife, in domesticity, in being a servant of the Lord. Every day there is plodding - being patient, diligent, and persevering. All the faithful little steps add up over time and they get us somewhere.
Plodding means slow, it means patience and diligence and that seems burdensome these days. Especially when we live in a culture of immediate. And a culture that is set on results. The destination is the goal, and how quickly you can get there.
We need to watch where that influence of immediate results might seep into our hearts and homes.
Because the plod involves patience and perseverance, we can sometimes be tempted to wish the plod away. Culture may say hurry over the hurdles, but we as christians can find the sweetness in them. It's living out Ephesians 5:20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, - Because we are Christians we can give thanks always and for everything.
We grow in the plod. When there are sufferings in the plod, it produces endurance. That means we can keep going. We don't have to quit. We have endurance. And that built up endurance in our being makes us ready and capable for the next thing. And that endurance gives way to character - character like faithfulness and self control, goodness, kindness, forgiveness, contentment, humility, love, joy - and that character produces a hope in us and that hope does not disappoint because it's rooted in a sure expectation of God's love and grace.
Sometimes we miss the point of the plod.
God made the plod.
He made gardens grow slow.
He made weeds grow fast.
He made babies need their mothers milk. . . .a lot.
He made toddlers need attention and indpendence at the same time.
He made us need to learn to read.
He made us need rest.
He made people to need us.
He made us to need food everyday and the people who need us need food every day - and snacks.
He made us to need Him.
Wishing the plod away or giving up being faithful because we are not seeing desired results - we are missing the point of the plod.
The plod is about faithfulness and trajectory. Where are you going? It's not about the speed. It's about the destination. It's not about all that you can't do. It's about what God is asking you to do today. It's some physical things but it's also a lot of heart things. Making breakfast . . . with a thankful heart. Cleaning dishes . . . with a happy heart. Cleaning up shredding toilet paper in your independent and also attention given toddler's room for the 13th time . . .with a cheerful heart.
Our trajectory is God's glory through God's grace.
He gave us the plod and there are difficult challenges and great enjoyments. There are meaningful sufferings and fulfilling memories. But it's all for his glory and to hear the words "well done, good and faithful servant."
The plod is what creates traditions, and memories, and character. It creates a toughness and a tenderness in us.
I will leave us with a little wisdom from dear old Charles Spurgeon from his sermon called “Our Motto” from Ephesians 6:7 "With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men."
“Grace makes us the servants of God while still we are the servants of men: it enables us to do the business of heaven while we are attending to the business of earth: it sanctifies the common duties of life by showing us how to perform them in the light of heaven. The love of Christ makes the lowliest acts sublime. As the sunlight brightens a landscape and sheds beauty over the commonest scene, so does the presence of the Lord Jesus. The spirit of consecration renders the offices of domestic servitude as sublime as the worship which is presented upon the sea of glass before the eternal throne, by spirits to whom the courts of heaven are their familiar home.”
Resources
Charles Spurgeon Sermon: https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/our-motto/#flipbook/
The Magic Thread story: http://www.davidgaultiere.com/the-magic-thread/
(amazon links are affiliate links)
SPF 245: Three Things Robbing your Joy in Doing Good Works
The Lord has called us to do good works and they are for our joy. Our good works glorify God and are a gift for us that bring us joy, purpose, challenge, opportunity, and build character. But what happens when we are not joyful in our good works? Today I'm sharing three things that rob us of our joy in doing good things.
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Good Works
The thing about good works is they should be a source of joy for us and not of burden. They should be a place where we are satisfied, even if we are also tired, worn out and even a bit dazed at the end or beginning of the day if you have a nursing child. Good works are not here to take away our joy, but to be a source of them because they are a gift of God to us.
Good works glorify God and are a gift for us to do from God that bring us joy, challenge, opportunity, make us fruitful, productive, build character. Some good works are more pleasant or exciting or we enjoy more (like the good work of making and eating dessert in our house), and some are a bit painful or arduous or mundane and ordinary (like wiping counters. my least favorite good work. The one I have to watch my attitude about).
But sometimes they are not joyful to us.
Three Robbers of Joy
Your good works are your hope in pleasing God.
You’re believing Satan’s lies that you’re a failure that can’t keep up, leading to despair
Your attitude is poor and thinking certain good works are just in the way or you hate doing them.
Remember the purpose of good works - not to earn your righteousness. Doesn’t that take the pressure off to enjoy?? Like the difference between throwing a big party and attending one?
We get to enjoy the good works because Christ has satisfied the wrath of God with His good works - something that we could never do!
If you feel despair, go to the Word or pray. Remember who you are and who God is. The truth will set you free. There is no condemnation in Christ.
And check your attitude. Are you honoring the Lord with your thoughts? Are you mad about doing a good work you know you should be doing? Draw near to God and repent. and ask for a clean happy heart. and the perseverance to get 'er done.
SPF 243: Apples Don't Grow on Pear Trees (Bearing Good Fruit)
Jesus teaches us in Matthew 12 Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. How do we identify fruit as good or bad when it’s being deceptively packaged as kind, loving, or helpful? And as Christians, how can we prove faithful in bearing good fruit in our own lives?
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Is Tomato a Fruit?
This is an age old debate but take a look:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/even-supreme-court-maintains-tomato-vegetable-180963133/
Bearing Good Fruit
Apples don’t grow on pear trees - no apples there, they only grow pears.
Mat 7:15-20 ESV - 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
John 15:16 - God appointed us to go and bear fruit
We were created to be fruitful!
And what kind of fruit were we created to bear?
Phil 1:11 says we are to be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
And Colossians 1:10 says
We are to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and in the knowledge of God.
And the reason we bear fruit is to the praise and glory of God
And how we are able to be fruitful is through the power of Christ at work in us.
Five ways to Bear Good Fruit
If you want to bear good fruit:
No. 1 We need to be in contact with living water:
Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
No. 2 We will be spiritually receptive people - people who hear the word and understand it
Math 13:13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
No. 3 We will die to our old self and old life - we no longer live for ourselves but we live for God and have his kingdom and glory in mind
John 12:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
No. 4 God prunes us to make us to be more fruitful
John 15:2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
No. 5 Good fruit comes through abiding in Christ
Joh 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Resources
Rain for Roots - The Kingdom of Heaven is Like
https://rainforroots.bandcamp.com/track/good-fruit-feat-katy-bowser
SFP 242: A Critical Spirit & Other Thoughts About Judgement
“Judge not!” does not mean don’t judge at all, but judge with right standards and without a critical, or judgmental attitude. Today I’m sharing what we can do to throw off a critical spirit, and to love others even in confrontation.
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Judgement Vs Being Judgemental
Matthew 7:1-6
“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
Morality exists and morals are determined by God. This passage isn’t teaching us that judgement shouldn’t exist or that there is no moral standard, but that we are not to have an attitude of judgementalislm where we create our own imperfect standard and measure everyone to that measuring stick.
The problem with that is, we all fall short of the glory of God. And funny enough. We even fall short of our own.
WE need right judgement.
We need the standard of God.
We need to be careful that we are not lowering the standard with our own standard of what is good, right and beautiful.
And we need to watch ourselves that we are not possessing an attitude of judmentalism where we are blind to the faults we are accusing others of having.
Examine ourselves first. It doesn’t mean ignore sin but we can’t go in with a log blocking our view. We need to see rightly before we dig around in someones eye.
JC Ryle said, “There is no surer mark of backsliding and falling off in grace than an increasing disposition to find fault, pick holes, and see weak points in others.”
Resources
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SPF 241: Why We All Can't Live "Our Truth"
Pilate infamously asked, “What is truth?” when Jesus was on trial before him. Why is truth so important and why is it impossible for us all to live our own truths? And why is having thick skin and soft hearts important in our quest as ministers of truth?
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Truth is Truth
If it agrees with God it’s true. Even non Christians can be right about truth, if it agrees with God.
The problem with those without the Truth
If there is something that is always true, it means there is an authority that established the truth - and that authority is God.
Authority feels pretty crummy when you don’t like the rules.
Authority exists - just like oxygen, just like gravity.
And God is the ultimate authority of what is true.
No person is an island, and therefore our choices and actions and beliefs impact others around us. If someone is no living according to what is true, it will have negative implications on them, on their family, on the culture.
SPF 240: Asking God for Things
Puritan Steven Charnock “Our Savior joins the promise and the petition together; the promise to encourage the petition, and the petition to enjoy the promise.” We have the blessedness of partaking in the promises of God everyday. Jesus tells us to ask in His name. Today I am sharing truth about asking and waiting in prayer.
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Praying in Jesus’Name
John 14
Jesus tells us to ASK. We are invited into a humble position to receive from the Lord.
SPF 239: When Christians are Superstitious
What are some superstitions Christians practice? What is the motivation behind being superstitious and what is the biblical response? Today my husband, Andy, joins me on the podcast to talk about Christians and the object of their worship.
Enjoying the She Proves Faithful Podcast?
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Give $5 monthly on Patreon to the SPF Podcast and get access to extra resources. Learn more at patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful.com
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Superstitious Christians
Let’s start with a definition.
I went to good ol websterdictionary1828.com SUPERSTI’TION, noun [Latin superstitio, supersto; super and sto, to stand.]
1. Excessive exactness or rigor in religious opinions or practice; extreme and unnecessary scruples in the observance of religious rites not commanded, or of points of minor importance; excess or extravagance in religion; the doing of things not required by God, or abstaining from things not forbidden; or the belief of what is absurd, or belief without evidence.
Superstition has reference to god, to religion, or to beings superior to man.
2. False religion; false worship.
3. Rite or practice proceeding from excess of scruples (doubts, reservations) in religion. In this sense, it admits of a plural.
They the truth
With superstitions and traditions taint.
4. Excessive nicety; scrupulous (extremely detailed) exactness.
5. Belief in the direct agency of superior powers in certain extraordinary or singular events, or in omens and prognostics.
What do you think Christian superstition is motivated by?
Christian superstition driven by fear - fear of evil, fear of displeasing God; and also driven by trying to manipulate fate or be in charge of an outcome by doing something they think will guarantee it.
Protection and fate or outcome.
Solution to Superstition
"To follow the imagination of one’s heart in the realm of theology is the way to remain ignorant of God, and to become an idol-worshipper – the idol in this case being a false mental image of God, ‘made unto thee’ by speculation and imagination” - J.I. Packer Knowing God
repent when we don’t trust in God
biblical literacy - knowing the TRUE God of the Bible
Not putting our faith in something we make up
SPF 238: Crippling Doubt After Epic Faith
Have you ever had these epic moments of trusting God in the midst of the impossible or difficult and are completely amazed at His faithfulness and provision and then wake up a few days later only to meet the next trial with crippling doubt. Well you’re not alone. Today I’m sharing some encouraging examples from Scripture and give a few truths to combat that doubt.
Enjoying the She Proves Faithful Podcast?
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Give $5 monthly on Patreon to the SPF Podcast and get access to extra resources. Learn more at patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful.com
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Crippling Doubt After Epic Faith
How many times in our own lives have we had these moments where our faith is rock solid? We are trusting in the Lord anything come our way, and we are ready to believe God's goodness, his faithfulness. We are cleaning to his promises, and we feel that maturity in our heart. We feel the growth in our souls. And then we get through the trial we see the Lord's provision were amazed at him. We give thanks we give praise, and then it's like the next trial that pops up we shrink back.
We are not alone.
It happens to any Christian. When I think about it, there are many faithful godly people in the Bible, who have experienced the same thing of having faith for one circumstance, and then turning around and having doubt and the other.
“Failures of faith, often come immediately after victories of faith. David's refusal to take personal vengeance on Saul was a high watermark of faith, his consulting with himself, and fleeing to Achish was a low point. Notwithstanding the number of times, God had preserved him, David convinced himself that sooner or later Saul would succeed. He thought about negative possibilities, rather than the certain promises of God. We must never let down our guard, and must remember that we are often most susceptible to falling immediately after times of blessing and spiritual victories.” - Joel Beeke Family Worship Bible Guide
Building up our Faith
Be on your guard after victories of faith. Pray, “Lord, give me faith.”
Be on guard against long trials. Pray, “Lord, deliver us from temptation.”
Do not consult your heart without the Scripture and godly counsel.
Don’t stay afraid alone. Share it with a godly person.
Remember how the Lord has preserved you and His promises.
Two Truths About God
God’s Providence
Jerry Bridges “God's providence is his constant care for, and his absolute rule over his creation for his own glory, and the good of his people.”
God ways are not our ways
you never know what God is accomplishing and how God is working beyond our own understanding.
Resources
(amazon links are affiliate links that support the podcast)
Matthew Henry Commentary
Trusting God Even When Life Hurts - Jerry Bridges
Family Worship Bible Guide - Joel Beeke
SPF 237: Envy Makes Enemies Out of Allies
There are enemies, and then there are people that shouldn’t be enemies that we make into our enemies. Today I’m sharing how envy can turn us against our biggest allies.
Enjoying the She Proves Faithful Podcast?
Consider supporting the podcast in one of these ways:
Give $5 monthly on Patreon to the SPF Podcast and get access to extra resources. Learn more at patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful.com
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Check out my Amazon Storefront - it’s full of all my recommended resources and categorized for ease of finding just what you are looking for! Plus with every click and/or purchase, you support the podcast! See the store here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/sheprovesfaithful
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Don’t forget to take advantage of 10% of your purchase at dakotacanyonranch.com with code SHEPROVESFAITHFUL10
Book Rec: The Songs of a Warrior
The Songs of a Warrior Saul and David: A Retelling by Katy Morgan
This is published by The Good Book Company and it’s a fantastic read aloud for kids or a independent reader for late elementary, middle schoolers. My husband read this at night to the kids and it puts the biblical narrative about David and Saul into a story that is full of action and lessons. The book is faithful to the retelling of the biblical account but also adds in some characters to help with the story telling yet it does not deviate from the truth. There is a cast of characters, a map, and notes on each chapter in the back that tells the scripture references, any detail she may have left out and explanations of her writings. It’s a great read.
Good Book Company: https://www.thegoodbook.com/the-songs-of-a-warrior
Amazon: https://a.co/d/1Kt3TLk
Envy: Making Enemies out of Allies
David was a loyal servant of King Saul. Saul’s son was David’s best friend and Saul gave his daughter to David to be his wife. David wasn’t just a servant but also family. And when Saul saw the success of David he grew angry. His anger was out of envy.
Envy puts enmity between neighbors.
Envy creates enemies because it wants something someone else has. Envy is covetousness.
We are not to take our eyes off the Lord and fix our affections on what other people have.
It makes us envious.
Envy is not only covetousness but also ill will.
Envy paves the way to do things that are the opposite of righteous.
It sounds silly when we think about wanting someones pants to not fit, but these thoughts, these matters of the heart create animosity and even enmity. These sisters in Christ become our enemies when we should be linking arms with them and practicing the one another’s with them for the glory of God and for building them up. The church, Christ bride, is full of people that are different than us, but we have Christ and His Kingdom in common. And part of that is to flee from the temptation to make them our enemies. These are the people we want to do battle against darkness WITH - teammates, running mates, people who give us encouragement, hope, and build up our faith with truth because the same Jesus is our Saviour and King.
Thoughts on Envy
No. 1 The fruit of envy is rot.
Proverbs 14:30 A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot. I know we want fruit that is sweet and beautiful and lovely, not that smells like decaying flesh. Remember that when we are mulling around some envious thoughts about so and so we are traversing into rotting territory. It leads to bitterness, ungratefulness and selfishness. It’s about me. My wants, my needs, my way.
No. 2 Keep you affections on God by being thankful
Envy takes our eyes off of the Good Father who gives good gifts. It takes our affection off of Him and shines a spotlight on the hole we think we have in our lives. This is missing over here and I’m going to focus my attention and affections on it.
When you envy
Repent and replace envy with truth.
Psalm 23:1 that says, “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.”
The word want means “to lack, be without, decrease, be lacking, have a need.”
So we can read that verse “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be without; or I shall not be lacking, or I shall not have a need.”
I think of:
2 Cor 1:19-20
19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. 20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
Ephesians 1:3-6
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He [a]made us accepted in the Beloved.
Matthew 6
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
The cure for envy is thankfulness to God.
It’s living in the reality of all the great treasures we have in Christ and how God provides for our needs as He sees fit. He is doing a good work in us that sometimes we don’t even realize until we look back and see an orchard. God is for us because of Christ. God has given us promises that are yet because of Christ. God knows our needs and provides for us in Christ.
Let us be thankful.
SPF 236: Bad Company in Unlikely Places
1 Corinthians 15:13 says, “Do not be deceived, bad company ruins good morals.” Can one bad apple spoil the whole bunch? Today I’m sharing a few places to be mindful of bad company and the blessedness of good company.
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In the company of Bad Apples
“Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 1 Corinthians 15:33
It’s tempting to think that will we rub off more on the bad company than the bad company on us. Scripture says it’s not so.
Rush Dooney asks the questions, “you can catch a cold from your friends, but can you catch good health?”
When we think of evil, we need to recognize two things - what evil is, and it’s contagious nature. It’s easy to think evil is the absolute worst of the worst crimes, but really, evil is wickedness, and wickedness is hostility against God. So evil and wickedness ranges from murder to pride. It’s against God and it’s contagious. Bad company corrupts good morals.
By contrast, Righteousness is not contagious. As Rush Dooney says, "it is a product of saving faith and a steady growth in holiness in a process known as sanctification.” When God saves us we are fully saved. Completely righteous in our justification (I did a podcast on this) before God. But also, we are in process of continually putting off the old self and putting on the new self. It takes work and discipline and is a product of our faith in Jesus and his work on the cross.
Too much contact with things that are hostile to God and we can be affected by it. And we need to be sharp or as scripture says, shrewd. Wickedness destroys quickly. Like a house fire. A home can be destroyed by fire in an hour, but takes months to rebuild.
Unlikely Company:
Social Media influencers
“Christian” motivational influencers
Books
Media/news
Hebrews 5:14
But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Psalms 1
Book One
The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
Charles Spurgeon
"Let us not sleep, as do others."
1 Thessalonians 5:6
“There are many ways of promoting Christian wakefulness. Among the rest, let me strongly advise Christians to converse together concerning the ways of the Lord. Christian and Hopeful, as they journeyed towards the Celestial City, said to themselves, "To prevent drowsiness in this place, let us fall into good discourse." Christian enquired, "Brother, where shall we begin?" And Hopeful answered, "Where God began with us." Then Christian sang this song;
"When saints do sleepy grow, let them come hither,
And hear how these two pilgrims talk together;
Yea, let them learn of them, in any wise,
Thus to keep open their drowsy slumb'ring eyes.
Saints' fellowship, if it be managed well,
Keeps them awake, and that in spite of hell."
Christians who isolate themselves and walk alone, are very liable to grow drowsy. Hold Christian company, and you will be kept wakeful by it, and refreshed and encouraged to make quicker progress in the road to heaven. But as you thus take "sweet counsel" with others in the ways of God, take care that the theme of your converse is the Lord Jesus. Let the eye of faith be constantly looking unto him; let your heart be full of him; let your lips speak of his worth. Friend, live near to the cross, and thou wilt not sleep. Labour to impress thyself with a deep sense of the value of the place to which thou art going. If thou rememberest that thou art going to heaven, thou wilt not sleep on the road. If thou thinkest that hell is behind thee, and the devil pursuing thee, thou wilt not loiter. Would the manslayer sleep with the avenger of blood behind him, and the city of refuge before him? Christian, wilt thou sleep whilst the pearly gates are open;t he songs of angels waiting for thee to join them; a crown of gold ready for thy brow? Ah! no; in holy fellowship continue to watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation.”
Charles Spurgeon Morning and Evening Devotional
SPF Podcast
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