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More Thoughts From Charles Spurgeon

Greetings Friends,

Some days are slower than others. For me, today is not one of them! Therefore, I will be sending out a much shorter thought! I spoke with someone on a call earlier today and they mentioned how they bought a book I recommended -- "Beside Still Waters - Words of Comfort for the Soul." It is a book with the writings of Charles Spurgeon updated into today's language by Roy Clarke.
In our conversation she said, "It's amazing how many of them speak so clearly into what we are going through now." In light of her words I simply opened my copy and decided to send the first one I looked at. She was right. Enjoy.

"God has fixed the time of our death (Job 7:1). It is useless to dream of living here forever. A time of departure must come unless the Lord returns. If He returns before our departure, then "we who are alive and remain shall be caught up... in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord" (I Thess. 4:17).

Here diseases wait in ambush, eager to slay. But, "He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge... You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near to you" (Psalm 91:4-7). We are immortal until our work is done. Then we shall receive our summons home.
If duty calls you into danger, if you have to nurse the contagious sick, do not hold back. You will not die by a stray arrow from death's quiver; only God can take your breath. Your death is not left to chance. It is determined by a heavenly Father's gracious will (Psalm 139:16). Therefore, do not be afraid. Now do not be reckless and rush into danger without reason, for that is madness. Yet, never fear to face death when God's voice calls you into danger.
Here is comfort: If the Father of our Lord Jesus arranges all, then our friends do not die untimely deaths. Believers are not cut off before their time. God has appointed a time to harvest His fruit. Some are sweet, even in the early Spring, and He gathers them. Others, like baskets of Summer fruit, are taken while the year is young. Yet some remain until Autumn mellows them.. Be sure of this: Each will be gathered in its season. God has appointed the commencement, the continuation, and the conclusion of your mortal life. Do not be afraid."
Blessings on your week. As I have told my flock a couple times now, this is for many a time when God has sovereignly opened your schedules and blessed you with extra time. Make sure you use some of that time to pray and get into the Word. It's not a time for binge watching TV, or old reruns, or the same old movies, it's a God-given opportunity to be alone with the Father who loves you, and to speak with Him in prayer, and listen as He speaks to you through His Word. Disconnect from streaming and the internet and pray. As John Piper has said, "One of the greatest uses of Facebook will be to prove on the Last Day that prayerlessness was not due to a lack of time." No one who is in the Word can ever say, "God never speaks to me."

In His Grace, Pastor Jeff

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