Reviews and Views

…in my opinion.

Are Trials Good?

Trials of life reveal your graces. Your faith looks more grand in the struggle of winter than in the fresh summer breezes. Hope is like a star that shines brightest in the darkness of adversity. 

As God’s children, we are trained not on beds of ease and luxury but in forced marches and hard service, fording through streams, swimming rivers, climbing mountains, and walking many a weary mile with loads on our backs. Sometimes, troubles are training grounds to get our eyes off ourselves and onto our loving Heavenly Father, who has gone before and still leads us.

~~~ an excerpt from C. H. Spurgeon

April 10, 2025 Posted by | Culture, Trials | , , | Leave a comment

Life’s Changes and Chances (Isaiah 42:6)

Fearless is the child of God when facing the changes and chances of this life. The Father knows each challenge and every course life takes. Each of His children can be full of hope that He will deliver them out of them as their hand rests in His hand, and He firmly grasps theirs. God will lead each of His children through all things. But when necessary, He will even bear them up in His arms when they cannot stand. 

The same everlasting Father who cares for you and me today will take care of our tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield us from suffering or give us unfailing strength to bear it. So, let us be at peace, putting aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.

~~~ paraphrase of Frances de Sales (1567-1622)

Consider: There is never a time when we may not hope in God. Whatever our necessities, however great our difficulties, and though, to all appearances, help is impossible, our business is to hope in God. Our hope will not be in vain. In the Lord’s choosing and time, help will come.

~~~ partial quote of George Mueller (1805-1898)

February 11, 2025 Posted by | Culture, Life | , , | Leave a comment

He Give Quietness (Job 34:29)

Job had days when earth and hell seemed set against him. Many of us have felt overwhelmed and near drowning with each wave after another of conflict, sickness, or financial challenges. How we long to hear Christ’s voice above the screams of the wind whipping through the cords holding the sails of our little boat. “Peace, be still!” He draws near and whispers the assurance of His presence. When He does, an infinite calm keeps our hearts and minds in peace.

January 31, 2025 Posted by | Bible, Culture, Hope, Life | , , , , | Leave a comment

Giving God some Elbow Room

We have so much to learn, don’t we? I know I do. Did you ever consider making room in your life for God to act? Haven’t we all boxed God into a particular way to interact with us?

We should give Him some “elbow room” to move more freely. We can often over-calculate or estimate when and how this or that could occur. As an accountant, I ran many “what if” scenarios in my younger years. It can drive others a little crazy. If you are not careful, you could overlook God and His plan. He always chooses when, where, and how He moves.

Do not look for God to come in a specific way but do look for Him. Be alert, but do not expect Him to move in a certain way or how He has done before. Learn this great lesson: At any minute, God may break through. There is always this element of surprise! Stay alert and remember, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.” Isaiah 55:8

~~~ a paraphrase from Oswald Chambers (1874-1917), My Utmost for His Highest, pg 35.

January 25, 2025 Posted by | advice, Culture, Religion | , | Leave a comment

Tempting the Conqueror

Though it may seem unlikely, temptation is necessary to settle and confirm us in the spiritual life. It acts like winds that cause the mighty cedars of the mountains to strike more deeply into the soil. 

Once a noted scientist observed that “early voyagers imagined that the coral-building animals instinctively built up the great circles of the Atoll Islands to afford themselves protection in the inner parts.” But this thought was disproved by showing that the insect builders can only live and thrive confronting the open ocean and in the highly aerated foam of its relentless surf. Likewise, many have held that protected ease is the most favorable condition of life. In contrast, all the noblest and strongest lives prove, on the contrary, that endurance of hardship makes men and is the factor that distinguishes between mere existence and vigorous vitality. Hardship makes character.

So it is with Christians. Temptation drives us deeper into our relationship with our Lord. He uses it to teach us that we can be victorious over those spiritual challenges. 

“In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” (Romans 8:37)

—- paraphrase of devotion from Streams in the Desert, January 13.

January 13, 2025 Posted by | Culture, Life | , , , , | Leave a comment

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