A day's march…

"A day's march nearer home" (James Montgomery)

What wonderful hope is packed into that line of Montgomery's! I've been thinking on that line from his poem For ever with the Lord for the past day or so. What a lovely heavenly perspective and such a personal way to speak of heaven — our home! All the warmth and comfort of our heavenly Father, the presence of His Son, the fellowship of our brothers and sisters — all this (and much more!) awaits our arrival there.

He speaks also of a 'march' — reminding us with military and pilgrimage-type language that the path is sometimes difficult, there are pitfalls along the way, but also that it's a deliberate place our lives and steps are focused towards. We're heading home! And, whatever the march involves, it will all be worth it when we get to our destination. Lovely language to sink our hearts into.

And, we're a day closer, a breath closer — each moment is moving towards that glorious day when 'we will see Him', when 'we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is'!

Take heart friend, we are 'A day's march nearer home'!

The LORD will provide

Just looking to a new year and considering the mighty promises of God's provision for whatever is to come. How comforting to be able to rest in his good care for 2007! John Newton aptly writes of this tremendous comfort for believers… 'no fearing or doubting with Christ on our side':

Though troubles assail,
And dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail
And foes all unite;
Yet one thing secures us,
However we're tried:
The Scripture assures us,
The LORD will provide.

When Satan appears
And hinders our path,
And fills us with fears,
We triumph by faith;
He cannot take from us,
Though often has tried,
This heart-cheering promise,
The LORD will provide.

No strength of our own
Or goodness we claim;
Yet since we have known
The Saviour's great name;
In this our strong tower
For safety we hide,
The LORD is our power,
The LORD will provide.

When life sinks apace,
And death is in view,
This word of his grace
Shall carry us through:
No fearing or doubting
With CHRIST on our side,
We hope to die shouting,
The LORD will provide.

—John Newton

Those who refresh our souls

A generous man will prosper;
he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:25

How thankful I am for those who come along and refresh my heart! I think it is interesting that the Word ties in such blessing to those who do so — they themselves will be refreshed. What an encouragement that is for us to be those eager to be a spiritual blessing and encouragement to those around us. Today, I am just thankful for those whom God has put in my path who deliberately seek to refresh me in my love for God and encourage me to press on. What an unhailed yet meaningful work that is!

Our comfort overflows into the lives of others

Joni Eareckson Tada has a great meditation today on 1 Corinthians 1:5-7. She writes…

"If you are distressed, it is for the comfort of others. If you are suffering, it has a bearing on the salvation of those who, even at a distance, witness your perseverance. God invites unbelievers (and a few vacillating believers) to examine the foundations of your faith. Your witness is as bold as the claims upon which your faith rest … and this makes skeptical people think twice about God."

I appreciate the perspective she gives here. We might not see the purpose of some of the suffering and struggles in our lives. We might wonder how God could ever really use this. But God (who so often does the "impossible") can make even the fact that we persevere in the faith through testing, a means of good in the lives of others. Kind of along the lines of Romans 8, where Paul speaks about working all things for good. This is just so "other" focussed and reminds me that "It's not all about me!" I just find that a comfort and encouragement today.

Hanging our hope on God

Just reading through some of William Cowper's Olney Hymns last night and came across this one. Rich in sea-faring imagery it speaks to the tempest of life and all the temptations that surround us and seek to turn us from God. Ultimately it is a plea for God to keep us when our "fears are great" and our "strength is small" and that we would continue to hang our hope in God, resting in his constant love and faithful care.

The billows swell, the winds are high,
Clouds overcast my wintry sky;
Out of the depths to thee I call, —
My fears are great, my strength is small.

O Lord, the pilot's part perform,
And guard and guide me through the storm,
Defend me from each threatening ill,
Control the waves, —say, "Peace be still."

Amidst the roaring of the sea,
My soul still hangs her hope on thee;
Thy constant love, thy faithful care,
Is all that saves me from despair.

Dangers of every shape and name
Attend the followers of the Lamb,
Who leave the world's deceitful shore,
And leave it to return no more.

Though tempest-toss'd and half a wreck,
My Saviour through the floods I seek;
Let neither winds nor stormy main
Force back my shatter'd bark again.

— William Cowper (Olney Hymns, XXXVII, Temptation)

Every day I live

Christina Rossetti has a very lovely poem called "The thread of life"... speaking about how our lives are our own to give "to Him Who gave Himself for me." This is the last stanza:

Therefore myself is that one only thing
I hold to use or waste, or keep or give;
My sole possession every day I live,
And still mine own despite Time's winnowing.
Ever mine own, while moons and seasons bring
From crudeness ripeness mellow and sanative;
Ever mine own, till Death shall ply his sieve;
And still mine own, when saints break grave and sing.
And this myself as king unto my King
I give, to Him Who gave Himself for me;
Who gives Himself to me, and bids me sing
A sweet new song of His redeemed set free;
He bids me sing, O Death, where is thy sting?
And sing, O grave, where is thy victory?

It is lovely how she shows that in Christ, the bitterness and "sting" of death is removed... and there is actually singing! What an encouragement to live for Christ, persevere in the battle, stand firm — and look to that day of true joy.