Since a lighthouse to Christians can be a symbol for the Lord Jesus, and likewise of God, I chose to use my photograph above to compliment the title of this post :"How To Spend The Day With God." Actually, this post's title is also the title of a 35 minute sermon by Matthew Henry which follows:
Matthew Henry was a Puritan (or "non-conformist" - which was any English Protestant who did not conform to the doctrines or practices of the established Church of England during the 1600's). Henry lived from 1662-1714. He was in poor health physically and intellectually; but spiritually he was gifted. As a child prodigy he was able to read out loud a chapter of the Bible when he was only 3 years old. Just a note, many persons- including myself - refer to his Bible Commentaries for reference.
The main point to consider is the content of the above sermon video. It is very encouraging to all of us in today's stormy times. One point he made is: "Though a stormy day... yet we must hope and have patience. Be joyful because Christ is in the ship and also at the helm." And ...." To wait on God is to live a life of desire towards God, to wait on Him in faith and expectation.....Be entirely conformed to God's will. ......Only the ones willing to do as they are taught by God will God continue to teach His ways. " There are many more gems of insightful and of helpful nature for us in the above video!
Following is an almost 3 minute video trailer about Matthew Henry's life and times:
When Matthew Henry was about 13 years old, he wrote a short biography concerning the saving of his soul. Quite insightful and impressive as to the knowledge and spiritual understanding of one so young! For those who are interested, here is the link to that: look for the portion titled " A Catalog of Mercies". http://www.sounddoctrine.net/LIBRARY/Bible%20Studies/MHenry-biography.htm
In considering our troublesome times during these last days of the Church Age, as well as the concerns and hardships and fears of many persons today as to what might lie ahead, here is a helpful quote - a short devotional by Charles Spurgeon, titled "Rain Without Clouds? Never!" Spurgeon bases his comments on Ecclesiastes 11:3 : "If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth."
Spurgeon comments: "Why, then, do we dread the clouds which now darken our sky? True, for a while they hide the sun, but the sun is not quenched; he will shine out again before long. Meanwhile, those black clouds are filled with rain; and the blacker they are, the more likely they are to yield plentiful showers! How can we have rain, without clouds? Our troubles have always brought us blessings, and they always will. They are the black chariots of bright grace. These clouds will empty themselves before long, and every tender herb will be the gladder for the shower. Our God may drench us with grief, but He will not drown us with wrath; nay, He will refresh us with mercy. Our LORD's Love Letters often come to us in black-edged envelopes. His wagons rumble but they are loaded with benefits. His rod blossoms with sweet flowers and nourishing fruits. Let us not worry about the clouds but sing because May flowers are brought to us through the April clouds and showers.
"O, LORD, the clouds are the dust of Thy feet! How near Thou art in the cloudy and dark day! Love beholds Thee and is glad. Faith sees the clouds emptying themselves and making the little hills rejoice on every side." - end of quote
"The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. The LORD hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet." - Nahum 1:3
"Men do not reject the Bible because it contradicts itself, but because it contradicts them." - unknown
"Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength." - Charles Spurgeon
"Tears clean the windows of your soul." - Nick Vujicic (Life without Limbs.org)
"Thou art still the God of my salvation and Thou wilt bear me up, and carry me through, and lighten all my pressure, until Thou shalt bring me home to behold Thy glory and to dwell with Thee forever." - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary.
"When in the hands of God, our regrets of yesterday turn to beautiful re-designs of tomorrow." - Janet Perez Eckles
"Christians, see your position, debtors to grace; show your gratitude by earnest, Christ-like lives, and as God has bidden you live, see to it that you live in earnest." - Charles Spurgeon
If Jesus were to return today or next week (no one knows the day or the hour - Matthew 24:36) - would you be Rapture Ready?
Perhaps, because of the turmoil and upheaval in the world today, maybe more people are considering their future and what might lie ahead. But how many of them are concerned with their eternity? That is the most important decision anyone can make! Meaning, of course, salvation that is found only in belief in Jesus Christ as the Savior - that He is the only way to heaven and to eternal life!
Following are some salvation Scriptures for you to take to heart and to lead you to a vibrant faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus ! As you read these verses, if you are not yet saved and born again, think about the cruel and painful death Jesus suffered on the cross - and He did it out of love for you! He took your place and your sins upon Himself at Calvary; shed His precious blood (as the sacrificial Lamb of God); He paid your sin debt in full - a debt so enormous that none of us could pay it on our own (by our works).
