Do you ever feel, "homesick at home?"

“I had often called myself an optimist, to avoid the too evident blasphemy of pessimism. But all the optimism of the age had been false and disheartening for this reason, that it had always been trying to prove that we fit in to the world. The Christian optimism is based on the fact that we do not fit in to the world…The modern philosopher had told me again and again that I was in the right place, and I had still felt depressed even in acquiescence. But I had heard that I was in the wrong place, and my soul sang for joy, like a bird in spring…I knew now..why I could feel homesick at home.” 

G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

Do You Know God's Design in Distress?

"There is always design in our distress. God so values our trust in him alone that he will graciously take away everything else in the world that we might be tempted to rely on: even life itself if necessary."
Sam Storms

Have you learned the secret of counting your blessings and downplaying your struggles?

The Spirit of God extenuates (downplays) evils and crosses, and magnifies and amplifies all mercies; and makes all mercies seem to be great, and all afflictions seem to be little. But the devil goes quite contrary,..he lessens God's mercies, and amplifies evil things. Thus, a godly man wonders at his cross that it is not more, a wicked man wonders his cross is so much.."
Jeremiah Burroughs,
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

Are you living for heaven?

"I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after my death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others do the same."
C.S. Lewis

As quoted in "Heaven," by Randy Alcorn, p. 455

Enjoying studying the idea of finding our "refuge" in God and how this ultimately relates to heaven. Thank God for this summer "sabbatical".

Sent from my mobile phone

Are you aware of Satan's devices?

Very helpful reading from Charles Spurgeon for today:

"Satan hindered us."—1 Thessalonians 2:18.

Since the first hour in which goodness came into conflict with evil, it has never ceased to be true in spiritual experience, that Satan hinders us. From all points of the compass, all along the line of battle, in the vanguard and in the rear, at the dawn of day and in the midnight hour, Satan hinders us. If we toil in the field, he seeks to break the ploughshare; if we build the wall, he labours to cast down the stones; if we would serve God in suffering or in conflict—everywhere Satan hinders us. He hinders us when we are first coming to Jesus Christ. Fierce conflicts we had with Satan when we first looked to the cross and lived. Now that we are saved, he endeavours to hinder the completeness of our personal character. You may be congratulating yourself, "I have hitherto walked consistently; no man can challenge my integrity." Beware of boasting, for your virtue will yet be tried; Satan will direct his engines against that very virtue for which you are the most famous. If you have been hitherto a firm believer, your faith will ere long be attacked; if you have been meek as Moses, expect to be tempted to speak unadvisedly with your lips. The birds will peck at your ripest fruit, and the wild boar will dash his tusks at your choicest vines. Satan is sure to hinder us when we are earnest in prayer. He checks our importunity, and weakens our faith in order that, if possible, we may miss the blessing. Nor is Satan less vigilant in obstructing Christian effort. There was never a revival of religion without a revival of his opposition. As soon as Ezra and Nehemiah begin to labour, Sanballat and Tobiah are stirred up to hinder them. What then? We are not alarmed because Satan hindereth us, for it is a proof that we are on the Lord's side, and are doing the Lord's work, and in His strength we shall win the victory, and triumph over our adversary."

Morning & Evening, Aug 7th