A Spurgeon Quote re being a Peacemaker:

"Blessed are the peacemakers, and one sure way of peacemaking is to let the fire of contention alone.  Neither fan it, nor stir it, nor add fuel to it, but let it go out of itself.  Begin your ministry with one blind eye and one deaf ear." (CHS - 'Lectures to My Students')

Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face

One of the most difficult things for me to grasp in this past year, has been a practical application of God's sovereignty, without that aspect of faith which must go hand in hand with God's love (Romans 8:28), life becomes lacking in direction and purpose in times of trials. Thanks be to God for such grace poured out in our lives to give us such precious truths. And thanks to God's people for faithfully and patiently pointing me to my Lord, and all the hope He offers.

 I am presently working through John Murray's booklet 'Behind a Frowning Providence'.  I stopped at Forest Lake on the way home the other day, for a few quiet moments. The hundreds of birds twittering as they settled for the night - a reminder of how perfectly God takes care of us his beloved children, for He even watches the sparrow fall and is moved. Silhouetted swans gracefully nestling together, pelicans still paddling ever hopeful of filling their colossal stomachs and ducks roosting in places strange enough to make you smile. There was a gloriously beautiful sunset - it struck me how we never think to focus on the dark murky water beneath the beautiful reflections of sky and dancing colours of the sunset reflected on the water's ripples. So it should be with God's providence... we should not be focusing on all the sad and seeming depressing aspects of His providence, rather looking to Him as He reveals Himself to us in majesty and glory, as the Light of the world. We no doubt grasp just a small reflection of all His glory, but with time it will be fully revealed - oh what a glorious day to look forward to indeed!

.... one thing I have learnt is that my faith is very weak and and oh so small, small, small....I have walked as Peter walked upon the sea - looking at the waves tossing to and fro instead of at my Saviour. How often my Lord has rescued me of little faith, from drowning simply because I have so small a faith, so dimmed and hazy a view of who He is. May I look more faithfully to my beloved Lord and 'walk on the water', by His enabling, grace and merciful help. (Photographs By Jessica-Helen Grace Murray, copyright. 2008. Used with permission)

Our world would have been one continuous Hell!

From Grace Gems again:

(James Smith, "The Love of Christ! The Fullness, Freeness, and Immutability of the Savior's Grace Displayed!")

But for the love of Christ, our world would have been one continuous Hell--and every one of its inhabitants would have been suffering Jehovah's tremendous curse!
Despair would have erected its dreadful throne upon it;
darkness would have spread its horrifying wings over it; and
the never-dying worm would have preyed upon every one of its miserable inhabitants!

O let us then admire the love of Jesus! From this blessed fountain, flows all our present comforts and all our future prospects!

To the love of Jesus, every Heaven-bound pilgrim has been indebted . . .
  for every gleam of hope,
  for every ray of comfort,
  for every delightful foretaste of the glory which is to be revealed!

To the love of Jesus, we shall be everlastingly indebted for all that we have--and for all that we are!
Thanks, eternal thanks to Jesus--for His unspeakable love!

"May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully!" Ephesians 3:19

   ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

God moves in mysteryious ways by William Cowper 1731 - 1800

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sov’reign will.

 Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flow’r.

 

 Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

 (Photographs By Jessica-Helen Grace Murray, copyright. 2008. Used with permission)