The Bible’s First Promise

The Bible’s First Promise – “And I will put emnity between thee and the woman, between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”—Genesis 3:15

THIS is the first promise to fallen man. It contains the whole gospel and the essence of the covenant of grace. It has been in great measure fulfilled. The seed of the woman, even our Lord Jesus, was bruised in His heel, and a terrible bruising it was. How terrible will be the final bruising of the serpent’s head! This was virtually done when Jesus took away sin, vanquished death, and broke the power of Satan; but it awaits a still fuller accomplishment at our Lord’s second advent and in the day of judgment. To us the promise stands as a prophecy that we shall be afflicted by the powers of evil in our lower nature, and thus bruised in our heel: but we shall triumph in Christ, who sets His foot on the old serpent’s head. Throughout this year we may have to learn the first part of this promise by experience, through the temptations of the devil, and the unkindness of the ungodly who are his seed. They may so bruise us that we may limp with our sore heel; but let us grasp the second part of the text, and we shall not be dismayed. By faith let us rejoice that we shall still reign in Christ Jesus, the woman’s seed.
– Charles Spurgeon

The 7-Ups for 2019

The 7-Ups

I’m not sure where I found this. It is not original to me, but I don’t know whom to give credit. Regardless, these are 7 good thoughts for each day in 2019.

1. Wake Up - Decide to have a good day. "Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice & be glad in it" Psalms 118:24

2. Dress Up - The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" I Sam 16:7

3. Shut Up - Say nice things & learn to listen. God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. "He who guards his lips guards his soul" Proverbs 13:3 "Gossip betrays confidence avoid men who talk too much" Proverbs 20:19 "Listen to advice, accept instruction and in the end, you will be wise" Proverbs 19:20

4. Stand Up - For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good…" Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look Up - To the Lord. "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13

6. Reach Up - For something higher. As Jiminy Cricket sings "High Hopes" Always try to better yourself. Have FAITH. "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews11:1

7. Lift Up - Your Prayers. "Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING" Philippians 4:6

PLEASE SHARE THESE 7-UPS WITH OTHERS.

What a Difference a Day Makes!!

Two days ago I was 84 years old and now today I am 85. Never in my wildest dreams as a young man would I have ever thought I would live this long. I'm not sure who said it, may have been Will Rogers, anyway, "If I had known I would have lived this long I would have taken better care of myself."

Reading several old posts to this blog, most of them are old since I have not written any in a while. Some of them make me a little sad as I miss my sweetheart who is with the Lord. But, others blessed me as I remember how the Lord has cared for me and lead me over mountains and through valleys as well. This reminds me of a Gospel song, I hope it blesses any who may chance to read this post as it has me.

BTW, we are coming upon the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one. Keep these words in mind as you face the challenges of 2019.

God Leads Us Along

In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet
God leads His dear children along
Where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet
God leads His dear children along

Some through the waters, some through the flood
Some through the fire, but all through the blood
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song
In the night season and all the day long

Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright
God leads His dear children along
Sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night
God leads His dear children along

Though sorrows befall us and evils oppose
God leads His dear children along
Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes
God leads His dear children along

Away from the mire, and away from the clay
God leads His dear children along
Away up in glory, eternity’s day
God leads His dear children along

Songwriters: Burgess / Krogstad / G.A. Young

INSP–Old Henry

If you haven’t seen the little mini-series presented on INSP TV. They were aired on Little House on the Prairie, The Walton’s and Matlock back in 2013.

Ralph Waite, of the Walton's, was Old Henry.

He made a statement that caught my attention, (and my heart), when he said,

“I never knew how deep love could be – ‘til I was forced to love without any reward for it and that’s enough.”

This came along about the time when I was not getting much response from Billie, my sweetheart. We had been in this time for about 18 months, not realizing that she would be going home to the Lord about 6 months later.

Of course, I know that someone would have to see the series to fully appreciate what he was talking about, and one can see the series at

[Hold down your CTRL (control) key and click on this link to see the videos.]

MOMENTS.ORG.

Feel Like You Are in a Furnace?

Received this in a newsletter from gracegems.org. It is a little long, but well worth the read. It was written by, John Newton, the author of Amazing Grace. May our dear Lord bless it to each one who takes the time to read it. It speaks to the tests, trials, and burdens we are often called upon to endure.

---BroJames

~  ~  ~  ~

I perceive that your heavenly Father has again put you into the furnace!

(Letters of John Newton)

My Dear Madam, 
I perceive that your heavenly Father has again put you into the furnace, and I trust that He will divinely impress upon your heart, that there is a needs be for it--and that the outcome of your present trial shall surely end in good to your soul.

His Word tells us that trials are absolutely necessary, and why they are so--as He would not afflict those whom He loves, but for their real profit. So He chooses those afflictions for us, and appoints them for us at such seasons, and attended with such circumstances--as He sees will be (all things considered) most for our spiritual advantage. The afflictions and trials of His people are always sent, either to cure--or to prevent something still worse.

Satan is compared to a fowler, and we sometimes are as little upon our guard as a thoughtless bird--the danger is close to us, but we are not aware of it. But, as a sudden noise affrights the bird, and makes it take wing and escape the snare--so the Lord often disappoints the devices of the enemy, by sending a seasonable trial to His dear children, which arouses them, and makes them flee to Him for safety.

I have often thought that if David had fallen and broke his leg when he was going up to the housetop--he would have missed the sight of Bathsheba, and that long train of evils which made him cry out of broken bones in a still more painful sense. 

Just so, we do not know how things might have been with us--if such or such a painful dispensation had not happened. A course of continual prosperity might have lulled us to sleep. We must admit this, when we find ourselves still apt to be drowsy--even though the Lord is pleased to put thorns into our pillow. 

Notwithstanding the feeling proofs we have of the vanity of the present state, our spirits are still too apt to cleave to the dust. What then might have been the case--had our path been always smooth?

He is a good master to serve--I have found Him to be so for thirty years. 

Cheer up, dear Madam, the Lord does all things well! Do not be afraid of storms--for you have an infallible Pilot who will guide you with His eye, uphold you with His arm, and is every minute bringing you nearer to the harbor of eternal rest and peace!

We have just began harvest in these parts. The grain has passed through a variety of weather. Frosts and winds, rains and heat, each of which, singly, would have destroyed it--have each in their places (through the blessing of the Lord's overruling providence) concurred to bring it to its present maturity. The farmers here, as well as elsewhere, have had different fears and complaints at different times; they have thought sometimes the weather too cold or too hot, too wet or too dry, by turns. But their fears were groundless and vain--the crop is ripe, the stalks are loaded, and bend under the weight of the grain. 

Is not this an emblem of the spiritual life? What changes of weather have we passed through, since the seeds of grace were first sown in our hearts! How often have we been ready to murmur at the appointments of the Heavenly Gardener! How hardly could we be persuaded that the afflictions, temptations, and trials which we have been exercised with--have, in their places, been no less subservient to our growth, than the more pleasing sunshine we have been sometimes favored with? 

Yet, I trust, we are still growing and getting forward. Neither frost or floods have been able to destroy us; and Oh, Madam, (may our hearts rejoice at the thought!) the harvest is approaching! When He sees that we are fully ripe--when all that He has designed to do for us, in us, and by us, is completed--then He will separate us from these clods of earth, and remove us into His dwelling place, where we shall be done with fears and trials forever!

We shall not then live this poor dying life--neither shall we have to complain of an evil heart of unbelief. We shall not complain of a cold and careless heart--because we shall be at the fountain-head of all our best wishes and desires! We shall be enjoying, through eternal ages, that ineffable bliss which is prepared for all who love God, and who have been called by divine grace, out of the service of sin, Satan, and the world--to love and serve Him who is the Rock of eternal ages. Yes, my dear Madam, we shall, with unspeakable delight--see Jesus as He is, and be completely like Him! Let us, then, not be weary in well doing; for, in due season, we shall reap, if we fail not.

I am, my dear Madam,
Your obliged and affectionate Servant,
John Newton