Current Series

Great Trials, Great Saints

In these past few months, I have discovered a helpful exercise for the soul: studying the lives of great saints. These men and women often had great trials, and when I read about their trials it puts my own in proper perspective. Martyn Lloyd-Jones makes this point in the book Faith on Trial:

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man." 1 Co. 10:13

"Where the devil gets us is just here. He persuades us that nobody has ever had this trial before: no one has ever had a problem like mine, no one else has been dealt with like this. But Paul says, 'There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man,' and the moment you remember even that much, you feel better. All God's people know something about this: we are such strange creatures, and sin has had a strange effect upon us. We are always helped in our suffering by hearing that somebody else is suffering too!.... Some of the greatest saints that have ever adorned the life of the Church have experienced trials and troubles and tribulations which cause our little problems to pale into insignificance." Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Faith on Trial, pp. 56-57

So let me encourage you, sometime soon, to read a biography of a godly man or woman. Or, if you don't have time to read, listen to John Piper's biographical sermons online. For me, this spiritual exercise has caused my "little problems to pale into insignificance."

How to Bear Injuries

"They that love God as they ought, will have such a sense of his wonderful long-suffering toward them under the many injuries they have offered to him, that it will seem to them but a small thing to bear with the injuries that have been offered to them by their fellow-men."

~Jonathan Edwards, Charity and Its Fruits, p.78.

A Blessed Calm

“By faith we will slip our cable for another day’s cruise, and sail forth with Jesus into a sea of tribulation. Winds and waves will not spare us, but they all obey Him; and, therefore, whatever squalls may occur without, faith shall feel a blessed calm within. He is ever in the centre of the weather-beaten company: let us rejoice in Him. His vessel has reached the haven, and so shall ours.” ~Charles Spurgeon

Solid Ground

After our little earthquake yesterday, a friend from Arizona texted me:

"As if your world needed anymore shaking! Are you OK?"

When I assured her that we were all fine, she replied...

"Good to be secure on the rock of Christ!...He is the only solid ground. Love you!"

Amen.

Friday Favorites: Josh Garrels

These past few months we've all greatly appreciated the profound and poetic music of Josh Garrels. Especially this new album:

For the girls,

Nicole

Thank You

We wanted to take a moment and thank all of you for the countless messages of support, encouragement, and prayers we have received these past few months. You will never know this side of heaven just how much you have blessed us by your kindness. We thank God for you. Today we are also thankful for the biblical perspective Tim Challies shared on his blog. In the days ahead we look forward to telling you about the many ways we are experiencing the steadfast love of the Lord in the midst of this trial. God is doing a gracious work in Sovereign Grace Ministries and we look forward to seeing His good plan unfold.

Your grateful friends,
Carolyn, Nicole, Kristin, and Janelle