Persist To The End

'Your work and your life must go off the stage together. Persisting to the end will be the burr in your saddle- the thorn in your flesh- when the road ahead seems endless and your soul begs an early discharge. It weighs down every other difficulty of your calling. We have known many who have joined the army of Christ and liked being a soldier for a battle or two, but have soon had enough and ended up deserting. They impulsively enlist for Christian duties, are easily persuaded to take up a profession of religion, and are just as easily persuaded to lay it down. Like the new moon, they shine a little in the first part of the evening, but go down before the night is over.

This persevering is a hard word! Taking up the cross daily, praying always, watching night and day and never laying aside our armour to indulge ourselves, sends many sorrowful away from Christ. Yet this is your calling: to make the Christian faith your daily work, without any vacation from one end of the year to the other.'
~ William Gurnall

HT: Liyah McDonnell

Biblical Manhood and Biblical Womanhood

Ryan Fullerton, Pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, agreed to come and speak on Biblical manhood and womanhood this week at my church.
So far it has been a huge blessing and I would like to encourage you to listen to his sermons in this series. 
Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
Part 1: Men and Woman; Who are we?
Part 2 : Biblical Manhood What Is A Real Man?
Part 3: Biblical Womanhood The Godly Woman

I pray that the Lord might encourage your hearts with these sermons and open your eyes to who you were meant to be in Christ.

My times are in Thy Hand

My times are in Thy hand;

My God, I wish them there;

My life, my friends, my soul I leave

Entirely to Thy care.

 

My times are in Thy hand,

Whatever they may be,

Pleasing or painful, dark or bright,

As best may seem to Thee,

 

My times are in Thy hand;

Why should I doubt or fear?

My Father's hand will never cause

His child a needless tear.

 

My times are in Thy hand,

Jesus, the crucified!

Those hands my cruel sins had pierced

Are now my guard and guide.

 

My times are in Thy hand;

I'll always trust in Thee;

And, after death, at Thy right hand

I shall forever be.

 

~William Freeman Lloyd

HT: Liyah McDonnell

Messages on Faith by Charles Leiter

"The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith!'" ~Luke 17:5

The Importance of Faith

Little Faith

"O Lord, if only my will may remain right and firm towards You, do with me whatever will please You.  For it cannot be anything but good, whatever You will do with me.  If it is Your will I should be in darkness, may You be blessed.  If it is Your will I should be in light, may You again be blessed.  If You deign to comfort me, may you be blessed.  If You will have me afflicted, may You be equally blessed.  O Lord, for Your sake I will cheerfully suffer whatever will come on me with Your permission."  --Thomas A Kempis