The Sacrifice Has Been Accepted (Spurgeon’s Faith’s Checkbook)

From Charles Spurgeon’s “Faith’s Checkbook”
The Sacrifice Has Been Accepted
September 25
If the Lord were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have showed us all these thing. (Judges 13:23)

This is a sort of promise deduced by logic. It is an inference fairly drawn from ascertained facts. It was not likely that the Lord had revealed to Manoah and his wife that a son would be born to them and yet had it in His heart to destroy them. The wife reasoned well, and we shall do well if we follow her line of argument.
The Father has accepted the great sacrifice of Calvary and has declared Himself well pleased therewith; how can He now be pleased to kill us! Why a substitute if the sinner must still perish? The accepted sacrifice of Jesus puts an end to fear.
The Lord has shown us our election, our adoption, our union to Christ, our marriage to the Well-beloved: how can He now destroy us? The promises are loaded with blessings, which necessitate our being preserved unto eternal life. It is not possible for the Lord to cast us away and yet fulfill His covenant. The past assures us, and the future reassures us. We shall not die but live, for we have seen Jesus, and in Him we have seen the Father by the illumination of the Holy Ghost. Because of this life-giving sight we must live forever.

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

 

A Change of Name (Spurgeon’s Faith’s Checkbook)

From Charles Spurgeon’s “Faith’s Checkbook”
A Change of Name
July 26
And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali; for I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name. (Hosea 2:16-17)

That day has come. We view our God no more as Baal, our tyrant lord and mighty master, for we are not under law but under grace. We now think of Jehovah, our God, as our Ishi, our beloved husband, our lord in love, our next-of-kin in bonds of sacred relationship. We do not serve Him less obediently, but we serve Him for a higher and more endearing reason. We no longer tremble under His lash but rejoice in His love. The slave is changed into a child and the task into a pleasure.
Is it so with thee, dear reader? Has grace cast out slavish fear and implanted filial love? How happy are we in such an experience! Now we call the Lord’s day a delight, and worship is never a weariness. Prayer is now a privilege, and praise is a holiday. To obey is heaven; to give to the cause of God is a banquet. Thus have all things become new. Our mouth is filled with singing and our heart with music. Blessed be our heavenly Ishi forever and ever.

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

 

The Sacrifice Has Been Accepted (Spurgeon’s Faith’s Checkbook)

From Charles Spurgeon’s “Faith’s Checkbook”
The Sacrifice Has Been Accepted
September 25
If the Lord were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have showed us all these thing. (Judges 13:23)

This is a sort of promise deduced by logic. It is an inference fairly drawn from ascertained facts. It was not likely that the Lord had revealed to Manoah and his wife that a son would be born to them and yet had it in His heart to destroy them. The wife reasoned well, and we shall do well if we follow her line of argument.
The Father has accepted the great sacrifice of Calvary and has declared Himself well pleased therewith; how can He now be pleased to kill us! Why a substitute if the sinner must still perish? The accepted sacrifice of Jesus puts an end to fear.
The Lord has shown us our election, our adoption, our union to Christ, our marriage to the Well-beloved: how can He now destroy us? The promises are loaded with blessings, which necessitate our being preserved unto eternal life. It is not possible for the Lord to cast us away and yet fulfill His covenant. The past assures us, and the future reassures us. We shall not die but live, for we have seen Jesus, and in Him we have seen the Father by the illumination of the Holy Ghost. Because of this life-giving sight we must live forever.

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

 

An Eternal Pledge (Spurgeon’s Faith’s Checkbook)

From Charles Spurgeon’s “Faith’s Checkbook”
An Eternal Pledge
July 22
And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving kindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness; and thou shalt know the Lord. (Hosea 2:19-20)

Betrothment unto the Lord! What an honor and a joy! My soul, is Jesus indeed thine by His own condescending betrothal? Then, mark it is forever. He will never break His engagement, much less sue out a divorce against a soul joined to Himself in marriage bonds.
Three times the Lord says, “I will betroth thee.” What words He heaps together to set forth the betrothal! Righteousness comes in to make the covenant legal; none can forbid these lawful bans. Judgment sanctions the alliance with its decree: none can see folly or error in the match. Lovingkindness warrants that this is a love union, for without love betrothal is bondage and not blessedness. Meanwhile, mercy smiles and even sings; yea, she multiplies herself into “mercies” because of the abounding grace of this holy union.
Faithfulness is the registrar and records the marriage, and the Holy Spirit says “Amen” to it as He promises to teach the betrothal heart all the sacred knowledge needful for its high destiny, What a promise!

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

 

The Sacrifice Has Been Accepted (Spurgeon’s Faith’s Checkbook)

From Charles Spurgeon’s “Faith’s Checkbook”
The Sacrifice Has Been Accepted
September 25
If the Lord were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have showed us all these thing. (Judges 13:23)

This is a sort of promise deduced by logic. It is an inference fairly drawn from ascertained facts. It was not likely that the Lord had revealed to Manoah and his wife that a son would be born to them and yet had it in His heart to destroy them. The wife reasoned well, and we shall do well if we follow her line of argument.
The Father has accepted the great sacrifice of Calvary and has declared Himself well pleased therewith; how can He now be pleased to kill us! Why a substitute if the sinner must still perish? The accepted sacrifice of Jesus puts an end to fear.
The Lord has shown us our election, our adoption, our union to Christ, our marriage to the Well-beloved: how can He now destroy us? The promises are loaded with blessings, which necessitate our being preserved unto eternal life. It is not possible for the Lord to cast us away and yet fulfill His covenant. The past assures us, and the future reassures us. We shall not die but live, for we have seen Jesus, and in Him we have seen the Father by the illumination of the Holy Ghost. Because of this life-giving sight we must live forever.

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

 

The Reason for Singing (Spurgeon’s Faith’s Checkbook)

From Charles Spurgeon’s “Faith’s Checkbook”
The Reason for Singing
September 19
The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

What a word is this! Jehovah God in the center of His people in all the majesty of His power! This presence alone suffices to inspire us with peace and hope. Treasures of boundless might are stored in our Jehovah, and He dwells in His church; therefore may His people shout for joy.
We not only have His presence, but He is engaged upon His choice work of salvation. “He will save.” He is always saving: He takes His name of Jesus from it. Let us not fear any danger, for He is mighty to save.
Nor is this all. He abides evermore the same, He saves, He finds rest in loving, He will not cease to love. His love gives Him joy. He even finds a theme for song in His beloved. This is exceedingly wonderful. When God wrought creation He did not sing but simply said, “It is very good”; but when He came to redemption, then the sacred Trinity felt a joy to be expressed in song, Think of it, and be astonished! Jehovah Jesus sings a marriage song over His chosen bride. She is to Him His love, His joy, His rest, His song. O Lord Jesus, by Thine immeasurable love to us teach us to love Thee, to rejoice in Thee, and to sing unto Thee our life-psalm.

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

 

 

And He Still Loves Her…An Anniversary Tribute to my Sister and Brother-in-Law

In love, together forever and ever!

My sister and her husband

Fourty-four years ago this month, a young Airman and a younger woman walked down the aisle, said vows before God, their families, and many friends.  They vowed to stay together, to honor and cherish each other, for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and health, forsaking all others, until death do they part.  In a world that a lasting commitment has become a rare thing, this couple has become an example that it can happen, if they truly love each other, respect each other, care for each other, take care of each other, and allow God to not only bless their marriage but to put his will first in their marriage.  That couple is my 3rd oldest big sister, and her husband.  Now I have to tell you that all 3 of my oldest sisters and my oldest big brother have been married to their first loves forever.  But I’m writing this to honor this sister and her husband who are celebrating their 44th Wedding Anniversary this month of May, 2012.  Around 12 years ago I wrote some lyrics for a song that were inspired by this sister of mine.  I have always admired how her husband, no matter how long they have been married, still seemed to be courting her.  He would write her little love notes each day, call her while he was at work just to say that he loved her, and when they were together he opened doors for her, held her hand, and usually had his arm around her.  Now I have to tell you, that when I was younger and having trouble with my dad, it was my brother-in-law who usually I looked up to as an example of a good father.  My sister and brother-in-law would take us places, let us stay with them in the summer, and were like a second set of parents to us younger siblings.  When I needed clothes, they often bought me things to wear.  My sister and I would often have the same dress, in the same colors, because they would know I needed one too.  When I was 15 and ran away from home because of something Dad said, and something one of my brothers did to hurt my sister, it was my Brother-in-law and sister who came to get me as I was walking and took me to their house to stay.  This is the sister and brother-in-law who took us to the drive-in movies with them, introduced us to mugs of rootbeer, took us to his mom and dad’s home, told us jokes, took me to the hospital for the births of both of my natural daughters, and in fact, my sister was in the delivery room with me when Jk was born by C-section.  She was the one who nicknamed Jk, Ladybug, and her husband was the one who actually came up with Jk’s first name.  So you can see they have been a big part of my life.  I don’t know what life would be like without my sister and brother-in-law in it.  My sister told me today that the reason their marriage has lasted so long is because Jesus Christ was in the center of it, and they worked at it.  So today, I’m sharing the lyrics I wrote for them as an anniversary tribute to their lasting love.

On their wedding day, 44 years ago.

And He Still Loves Her

Reminiscing on days gone by,

when first he held her close,

There was no doubt inside his heart,

That he would love her most.

He knew back then he’d spend his days

Showing her the love inside.

It wasn’t something he’d hold back,

Nor something he could hide.

 

 

And he still loves her,

More and more each day.

And he still loves her,

More than words can say.

So he takes a moment everyday

To share the love he feels,

In a note, a call, and a little touch,

So she’ll know his love is real.

 

 

Reminiscing on days long past,

As she stood right by his side,

Remembering all the love he felt,

As she then became his bride.

How willingly she made the vow,

That promised him her heart.

He knew right then that this special love,

Would never let them part.

 

 

And he still loves her,

More and more each day.

And he still loves her,

More than words can say.

So he takes a moment everyday,

To share the love he feels,

In a note, a call, and a little touch,

So she’ll know his love is real.

 

 

Today they sat together,

In rockers side by side.

His eyes are filled with love,

Her heart is filled with pride.

He’ll know no other lover,

Who’ll take his heart away,

And forever he will love her,

Long past their dieing days.

 

 

And he still loves her,

More and more each day.

And he still loves her,

More than words can say.

So he takes a moment everyday,

To share the love he feels,

In a note, a call, and a little touch,

So she’ll know his love is real.

 

 

Over fourty years have passed,

Since he first made her his bride.

They vowed that day before their God

As they stood there side by side.

The Lord has been there ever since,

To help them keep their vow.

His presence in their hearts and lives,

Still keeps their love strong now.

 

 

And he still loves her,

More and more each day.

And he still loves her,

More than words can say.

So he takes a moment everyday,

To share the love he feels,

In a note, a call, and a little touch,

So she’ll know his love is real.

And He still loves her.
Yes, He still loves her.

He’ll always love her.

    By:  Bonita L. Ledzius… copyright 1999

 

My sister and brother-in-law with their children.

Still walking together, with his arm around her.

Being silly, but they are just down home good people.

Happy 44th Anniversary, B.J. and Nelda!

(I invite anyone who would like to send blessings to them on this special anniversary to leave a comment below.)