Becoming Fit for Glory (Spurgeon’s Faith’s Checkbook)

From Charles Spurgeon’s “Faith’s Checkbook”
Becoming Fit for Glory
March 19
The Lord will give grace and glory. (Psalm 84:11)

Grace is what we need just now, and it is to be had freely. What can be freer than a gift? Today we shall receive sustaining, strengthening, sanctifying, satisfying grace. He has given daily grace until now, and as for the future, that grace is still sufficient. If we have but little grace the fault most lie in ourselves; for the Lord is not straitened, neither is He slow to bestow it in abundance. We may ask for as much as we will and never fear a refusal. He giveth liberally and upbraideth not.
The Lord may not give gold, but He will give grace: He may not give gain, but He will give grace. He will certainly send us trial, but He will give grace in proportion thereto. We may be called to labor and to suffer, but with the call there will come all the grace required.
What an “end” is that in the text — “and glory!” We do not need glory yet, and we are not yet fit for it; but we shall have it in due order. After we have eaten the bread of grace, we shall drink the wine of glory. We must go through the holy, which is grace, to the holiest of all, which is glory. These words and glory are enough to make a man dance for joy. A little while — a little while, and then glory forever!

From the Faith’s Checkbook Mobile Devotional Android app – http://www.LookingUpwardApps.com/fcb

 

Justice Satisfied (Spurgeon’s Faith’s Checkbook)

From Charles Spurgeon’s “Faith’s Checkbook”
Justice Satisfied
February 5
When I see the blood, I will pass over you. (Exodus 12:13)

My own sight of the precious blood is for my comfort; but it is the Lord’s sight of it which secures my safety. Even when I am unable to behold it, the Lord looks at it and passes over me because of it. If I am not so much at ease as I ought to be, because my faith is dim, yet I am equally safe because the Lord’s eye is not dim, and He sees the blood of the great Sacrifice with steady gaze. What a joy is this!
The Lord sees the deep inner meaning, the infinite fullness of all that is meant by the death of His dear Son. He sees it with restful memory of justice satisfied and all His matchless attributes glorified. He beheld creation in its progress and said, “It is very good”; but what does He say of redemption in its completeness? What does He say of the obedience even unto death of His well-beloved Son? None can tell His delight in Jesus, His rest in the sweet savor which Jesus presented when He offered Himself without spot unto God.
Now rest we in calm security. We have God’s sacrifice and God’s Word to create in us a sense of perfect security. He will, He must, pass over us, because He spared not our glorious Substitute. Justice joins hands with love to provide everlasting salvation for all the blood-besprinkled

From the Faith’s Checkbook Mobile Devotional Android app – http://www.LookingUpwardApps.com/fcb

 

Tears Shall Cease (Spurgeon’s Faith’s Checkbook)

From Charles Spurgeon’s “Faith’s Checkbook”
Tears Shall Cease
January 28
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. (Revelation 21:4)

Yes, we shall come to this if we are believers. Sorrow shalt cease, and tears shall be wiped away. This is the world of weeping, but it passes away. There shall be a new heaven and a new earth, so says the first verse of this chapter; and therefore there will be nothing to weep over concerning the Fall and its consequent miseries. Read the second verse and note how it speaks of the bride and her marriage. The Lamb’s wedding is a time for boundless pleasure, and tears would be out of place. The third verse says that God Himself will dwell among men; and surely at His right hand there are pleasures forevermore, and tears can no longer flow.
What will our state be when there will be no more sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain? This will be more glorious than we can as yet imagine. O eyes that are red with weeping, cease your scalding flow, for in a little while ye shall know no more tears! None can wipe tears away like the God of love, but He is coming to do it. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Come, Lord, and tarry not; for now both men and women must weep!

From the Faith’s Checkbook Mobile Devotional Android app – http://www.LookingUpwardApps.com/fcb

 

My latest book reviews for RadiantLit.com

 

 

Because of new policies at Radiant Lit.com I can no longer post my reviews for them in part or whole here, but I can post the links to those reviews on their site.  So I’m taking that time now to give you links to mine and Jk’s latest reviews so you can check these wonderful books out.  I will be doing this every few months instead of each time one comes out because of some impending surgery that I will be going through withing the next few months.  Right now most of my time is being spent in preparing myself and my family for that surgery and the possible outcomes of it.  I know my readers will love many of these books, especially since they hold to clean, wholesome, Christian literary works.

Here are the links…

For my reviews…

The Anniversary Waltz…by: Darrel Nelson… http://radiantlit.com/2013/01/review-the-anniversary-waltz/#

Jesus Heals the Sick…by: Crystal Bowman… http://radiantlit.com/2012/12/ya-review-jesus-heals-the-sick-2/

Jesus Feeds the Hungry…by: Crystal Bowman… http://radiantlit.com/2012/12/ya-review-jesus-feeds-the-hungry-2/

Borders of the Heart…by:  Chris Fabry…  http://radiantlit.com/2012/11/review-borders-of-the-heart/

Sinner’s Creed…by Scott Stapp and David Ritz…  http://radiantlit.com/2012/10/review-sinners-creed-a-memoir/

After All…by:  Deborah Raney…  http://radiantlit.com/2012/10/review-after-all-3/

A Time to Heal…by:  Seye Oke… http://radiantlit.com/2012/08/review-a-time-to-heal/

Objects of My Affections… by:  Jill Smolinski…   http://radiantlit.com/2012/07/review-objects-of-my-affection-2/

Heroes of My Daughter…by: Brad Meltzer…  http://radiantlit.com/2012/06/review-heroes-for-my-daughter/

Poems From Heaven…  by”  Uzoaga Kelechukwu… http://radiantlit.com/2012/06/review-poems-from-heaven/

Lady Anne’s Quest… by: Susan Page Davis…  http://radiantlit.com/2012/06/review-lady-annes-quest/

The Prodigal Girl… by: Grace Livingston Hill…  http://radiantlit.com/2012/06/review-the-prodigal-girl/

After the Fire… by: Clare Revell…  http://radiantlit.com/2012/05/review-after-the-fire/

Thank You, God…From Kids Around the World… by: Allia Zobel Nolan…  http://radiantlit.com/2012/05/review-thank-you-godfrom-kids-around-the-world/

The Beloved Stranger… by: Grace Livingston Hill…  http://radiantlit.com/2012/05/review-the-beloved-stranger/

Beauty For Ashes… by:  Dorothy Love…  http://radiantlit.com/2012/04/review-beauty-for-ashes/

Sage and Sweetgrass… by:  Loree Perry…  http://radiantlit.com/2012/04/review-sage-and-sweetgrass/

Unlikely Praise… by: Carla Rossi… http://radiantlit.com/2012/03/review-unlikely-praise/

Matthew’s Story…The Jesus Chronicles… by: Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins… http://radiantlit.com/2012/03/review-matthews-storythe-jesus-chronicles/

 

 

For Jk’s reviews…

Jesus Heals the Sick…by: Crystal Bowman… http://radiantlit.com/2012/11/ya-review-jesus-heals-the-sick/

The Admiral…by: Gregg and Deborah Shaw Lewis…  http://radiantlit.com/2012/11/ya-review-the-admiral/

Jesus Feeds the Hungry… by: Crystal Bowman… http://radiantlit.com/2012/11/ya-review-jesus-feeds-the-hungry/

Confessions of a Wannabe Cheerleader…Revenge of the Titans…By: Zoe Evans… http://radiantlit.com/2012/10/ya-review-confessions-of-a-wannabe-cheerleader-revenge-of-the-titans/

Whatever…A 90 Day Devotional for Livin’ the True,Noble, and Totally Excellent Life!… by:  Allia Zobel Nolan… http://radiantlit.com/2012/10/review-whatever-a-90-day-devotional-for-livin-the-true-noble-and-totally-excellent-life/

The Friendly Beasts…Book with CD…By Rebecca St. James… http://radiantlit.com/2012/10/review-the-friendly-beasts-2/

Cheer, Confessions of a Wannabe Cheerleader…Bevan vs. Evan (And Other School
Rivalries)… by:  Zoe Evans…  http://radiantlit.com/2012/10/review-cheer-confessions-of-a-wannabe-cheerleader-bevan-vs-evan/

 

Radiant Lit.Com is a great site for Christian Book reviews.  They just launched a YA Fiction review section, that parents can use to choose books for their children, tweens and teens.  This is a section Jk and I both review for, and I have been blessed to read and review for adults too.  Above are all the reviews we have posted to date, with a few more already in and waiting for posting.  There are many reviewers working for this site, getting the best possible book selections available for those who love to read.  I hope you will check out some of the other reviews as well.  Here is a link to the main site where you will find all the review, interviews with authors and commentary on some of the trends out in the literary world… http://radiantlit.com/

 

 

A Completed Sacrifice (Spurgeon’s Faith’s Checkbook)

From Charles Spurgeon’s “Faith’s Checkbook”
A Completed Sacrifice
January 23
And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering: and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. (Leviticus 1:4)

If by that laying on of his hand the bullock became the offerer’s sacrifice, how much more shall Jesus become ours by the laying on of the hand of faith?
My faith doth lay her hand
On that dear head of Thine,
While like a penitent I stand,
And there confess my sin.
If a bullock could be accepted for him to make atonement for him, how much more shall the Lord Jesus be our full and all-sufficient propitiation? Some quarrel with the great truth of substitution; but as for us, it is our hope, our joy, our boast, our all. Jesus is accepted for us to make atonement for us, and we are “accepted in the Beloved.” Let the reader take care at once to lay his hand on the Lord’s completed sacrifice, that by accepting it he may obtain the benefit of it. If he has done so once, let him do it again. If he has never done so, let him put out his hand without a moment’s delay. Jesus is yours now if you will have Him. Lean on Him – lean hard on Him – and He is yours beyond all question; you are reconciled to God, your sins are blotted out, and you are the Lord’s.

From the Faith’s Checkbook Mobile Devotional Android app – http://www.LookingUpwardApps.com/fcb

 

In Calm Repose (Spurgeon’s Faith’s Checkbook)

From Charles Spurgeon’s “Faith’s Checkbook”
In Calm Repose
January 4
I will make them to lie down safely. (Hosea 2:18)

Yes, the saints are to have peace. The passage from which this gracious word is taken speaks of peace “with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground.” This is peace with earthly enemies, with mysterious evils, and with little annoyances! Any of these might keep us from lying down, but none of them shall do so. The Lord will quite destroy those things which threaten His people: “I will break the bow and the sword, and the battle out of the earth.” Peace will be profound indeed when all the instruments of disquiet are broken to pieces.
With this pace will come rest, “So he giveth his beloved sleep.” Fully supplied and divinely quieted, believers lie down in calm repose. This rest will be a safe one. It is one thing to lie down but quite another “to lie down safely.” We are brought to the land of promise, the house of the Father, the chamber of love, and the bosom of Christ: surely we may now “lie down safely.” It is safer for a believer to lie down in peace than to sit up and worry.
“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures,” We never rest till the Comforter makes us lie down.

From the Faith’s Checkbook Mobile Devotional Android app – http://www.LookingUpwardApps.com/fcb

 

Clearly Supernatural (Spurgeon’s Faith’s Checkbook)

From Charles Spurgeon’s “Faith’s Checkbook”
Clearly Supernatural
November 18
In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them. (Zechariah 12:8)

One of the best methods of the Lord’s defending His people is to make them strong in inward might. Men are better than walls, and faith is stronger than castles.
The Lord can take the feeblest among us and make him like David, the champion of Israel. Lord, do this with me! Infuse Thy power into me, and fill me with sacred courage that I may face the giant with sling and stone, confident in God.
The Lord can make His greatest champions far mightier than they are: David can be as God, as the angel of Jehovah. This would be a marvelous development, but it is possible, or it would not be spoken of. O Lord, work with the best of our leaders! Show us what Thou art able to do–namely, to raise Thy faithful servants to a height of grace and holiness which shall be clearly supernatural!
Lord, dwell in Thy saints, and they shall be as God; put Thy might into them, and they shall be as the living creatures who dwell in the presence of Jehovah. Fulfill this promise to Thine entire church in this our day, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

From the Faith’s Checkbook Mobile Devotional Android app – http://www.LookingUpwardApps.com/fcb

 

Weapons Doomed to Fail (Spurgeon’s Faith’s Checkbook)

From Charles Spurgeon’s “Faith’s Checkbook”
Weapons Doomed to Fail
November 16
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)

There is great clatter in the forges and smithies of the enemy. They are I making weapons wherewith to smite the saints. They could not even do as much as this if the Lord of saints did not allow them; for He has created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire. But see how busily they labor! How many swords and spears they fashion! It matters nothing, for on the blade of every weapon you may read this inscription: It shall not Prosper.
But now listen to another noise: it is the strife of tongues. Tongues are more terrible instruments than can be made with hammers and anvils, and the evil which they inflict cuts deeper and spreads wider. What will become of us now? Slander, falsehood, insinuation, ridicule-these are poisoned arrows; how can we meet them? The Lord God promises us that, if we cannot silence them, we shall, at least, escape from being ruined by them. They condemn us for the moment, but we shall condemn them at last and forever. The mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped, and their falsehoods shall be turned to the honor of those good men who suffered by them.

From the Faith’s Checkbook Mobile Devotional Android app – http://www.LookingUpwardApps.com/fcb

 

Limitless Riches (Spurgeon’s Faith’s Checkbook)

From Charles Spurgeon’s “Faith’s Checkbook”
Limitless Riches
November 15
My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

Paul’s God is our God and will supply all our need. Paul felt sure of this in reference to the Philippians, and we feel sure of it as to ourselves. God will do it, for it is like Him: He loves us, He delights to bless us, and it will glorify Him to do so. His pity, His power, His love, His faithfulness, all work together that we be not famished.
What a measure doth the Lord go by: “According to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” The riches of His grace are large, but what shall we say of the riches of His glory? His “riches of glory by Christ Jesus”-who shall form an estimate of this? According to this immeasurable measure will God fill up the immense abyss of our necessities. He makes the Lord Jesus the receptacle and the channel of His fullness, and then He imparts to us His wealth of love in its highest form. Hallelujah!
The writer knows what it is to be tried in the work of the Lord. Fidelity has been recompensed with anger, and liberal givers have stopped their subscriptions; but he whom they sought to oppress has not been one penny the ~ nay, rather he has been the richer; for this promise has been true, “My God shall supply all your need.” God’s supplies are surer than any bank.

From the Faith’s Checkbook Mobile Devotional Android app – http://www.LookingUpwardApps.com/fcb

 

The Name to Use (Spurgeon’s Faith’s Checkbook)

From Charles Spurgeon’s “Faith’s Checkbook”
The Name to Use
November 14
If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. (John 14:14)

What a wide promise! Anything! Whether large or small, all my needs are covered by that word anything. Come, my soul, be free at the mercy seat, and hear thy Lord saying to thee, “Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.”
What a wise promise! We are always to ask in the name of Jesus. While this encourages us, it also honors Him. This is a constant plea. Occasionally every other plea is darkened, especially such as we could draw from our own relation to God or our experience of His grace; but at such times the name of Jesus is as mighty at the throne as ever, and we may plead it with full assurance.
What an instructive prayer! I may not ask for anything to which I cannot put Christ’s hand and seal. I dare not use my Lord’s name to a selfish or willful petition. I may only use my Lord’s name to prayers which He would Himself pray if He were in my case. It is a high privilege to be authorized to ask in the name of Jesus as if Jesus Himself asked; but our love to Him will never allow us to set that name where He would not have set it.
Am I asking for that which Jesus approves? Dare I put His seal to my prayer? Then I have that which I seek of the Father.

From the Faith’s Checkbook Mobile Devotional Android app – http://www.LookingUpwardApps.com/fcb