Everyday Blogging Continues

Though I announced a very casual blogging break in yesterday's post, I wanted to briefly clarify that the blogging break is being applied to this particular blog only - so far.

To anyone remotely interested or just plain curious, I'm continuing to post the lessons to a bible study on 1 John, over at Everyday Theology. The posts there are insanely time and thought consuming, which is the other reason why posting around Justified has been so light for the last month or so.

My latest entry was on a lesson titled, "Called to Love". Phenomenal stuff and even if you may not have the time to read my own ramblings (otherwise referred to as 'commentary & notes'), take a look at the questions. Really good material.

Well, it's another gorgeous day, and enough time has been spent in front of the computer already! Off to play....

Ciao!

Fun in the Sun!

Summer is always a favorite time of year for me - especially since moving to Minnesota and knowing that in just two short months, the cold air of winter will begin blowing in. The children and I have tried our very best to make the most of our time together, and have had an amazing time of it so far!


This would help to explain the larger-than-normal gaps of time between posts, but I'm pretty confident that many of my readers have been spending some time playing outside too!


I could possibly get something written in the next week or so, but we've got another busy week looming ahead, so I doubt it. I know. People like me should never start blogs! I am reading some fantastic books though, so an occasional book review (or something resembling one) may pop up!


I do hope your summer has been a time of fun and refreshment with your families, and that God is using this time to knit families closer together.


I'll more than likely be away until the fall. See you then!

Why I Dream of Attending L'Abri One Day....

A very cool friend just alerted me to the fact that there's a L'Abri located in Rochester, MN. Which, is only about an hour or so from where I live right now. At the bottom of the page she linked me to, was this little gem (which consequently led to the title of this post):

The centrality of L'Abri teaching is that Biblical Christianity is true, and that it offers sufficient evidence to say 'it is the Truth'. It can be proclaimed and known without committing intellectual suicide or simply having to say 'just believe'. Because Christ is Lord of all life, Christianity speaks to all areas, not to only what might be called 'religious'. True spirituality is seen in lives, which, through Christ's redemption, are free to be fully human. Therefore, Christians can and should realize the implications and relevance of a Biblical worldview in the arts, sciences, politics, etc. If Christianity is 'the Truth', it will stand up to examination and provide satisfactory answers, and on this basis your questions will be taken seriously and addressed honestly.

So, I want to go. Anyone willing to fund my stay and care for my husband and children while I'm away, please don't be shy about letting me know ;)

To anyone who is completely lost at this point in the post, go HERE. One of my all-time favorite reads was Schaeffer's True Spirituality. I highly recommend it.

To Be Known

Timid

or

Fearless;

Peace-loving

or

Contentious;

Reserved

or

Boisterous;

Out-going

or

Detached;

Emotional
or
Callous;

A Goody-two-Shoes

or

Out of Control;

Uptight

or

Undisciplined;

Naive
or
a Know-it-All;

Innocent

or

Tainted;

A Mother

or

just a Kid;

Meek
or
Arrogant;

Young at heart

or

Too old for my age;

Quiet

or

Loud;

Sweet
or
Malicious;

Broken-hearted

or

Manipulative;

Victim

or

Instigator;

Godly
or
Worldly;

Submissive

or

Bossy;

Girly

or

a Tomboy;

a Conformist
or
Eccentric;

Giddy

or

Heavy-hearted;

Contemplative

or

Impulsive;

Well-adjusted
or
Dysfunctional;

A Good Listener

or

Too Talkative;

Introverted

or

In Your Face;

Wise
or
Foolish

Teachable

or

Haughty;

Forgiving

or

Vindictive;

Honest & Transparent
or
just a Fraud...

Father,

my heavenly Father...

When I feel lost

in the maze

of the world's perceptions of

who I am...

When they,

often with such conviction,

handle me,

And I'm

plagued with confusion

as I attempt to discern

who they think they're handling;

When I'm overwhelmed

by the weight

of this loneliness...

I can cry out to You

with tears that drip sore

And know

You know

who I am.

And to be known

like this,

And loved

like this,

Obliterates the Masks

I'm tempted to wear;

Softens the Sting

of a Rejection;

I don't understand;

Humbles a heart

tempted to rise up

in prideful anger;

And ultimately

Calms this young woman,

who needs to remember

this divine loyalty.

You know me.

You understand me.

You never respond to me

from a wrong interpretation of

who I am.

Because of what your Son,

My King,

My Brother,

My Advocate,

My Savior,

Accomplished for this

complicated,

not-always-easy to read

young woman,

I am Yours

and

You are Mine.

And that is

who I am.

Is Jesus Enough?

As part of my commentary on Lesson 3 (Opposing Forces in the Battle) in our study of 1 John, over at Everyday Theology, I wrote this:

Until you come to understand that the ultimate purpose for your intrinsic needs for intimacy, love, joy, community and identity is to ultimately have all those needs met and fulfilled, Supremely and completely in God through Christ as revealed in the gospel - you will remain lost on a futile path towards happiness and fulfillment that will never be found in the world.

The great lie that humanity [and not just those outside the church and professing Christianity!] has swallowed, is that you don’t need Christ as the supreme treasure in your life. Satan doesn’t need to convince you to dismiss Christ entirely, he only needs to convince you to wear Christ as an accessory. Yet the biblical gospel is that Christ is to be worn, not as the accessory, but as the whole garment – covering us with His beauty and His righteousness. The Christian life is to be lived in such a way that our lives reflect the radiance of that beauty. He is to be seen by the world in us as more far more worthy than anything it or anyone can offer.

“Jesus is Enough!” is the answer the gospel exclaims to a world of restless, empty and broken hearts.

I write that knowing, intimately and profoundly, the great difficulty with which our wandering, forgetful hearts learn this lesson. BUT God, in His great mercy, orchestrates the events in the lives of believers to teach us this lesson – over and over and over again. And it’s a lesson that will grant you more freedom and more contentment than anything or anyone in this world can charm you with.

I had written and re-written this particular portion of my commentary numerous times. There were so many ways to say it. And I brought it over here because I cannot even begin to tell you how often these specific truths are included in the conversations I have with people with whom I’m sharing the gospel with – whether they’re professing believers or not.

The reason being of course, these are the things that lie at the very heart of the Christian faith. I was curious as to how willing my readers over here would be to share how God has taught this profound, essential lesson, in your own lives.

A New Fave of Mine :: You'll Want to Check Her Out

PLUMB: I've known of her for some time and always considered myself a fan, but she's recently become a favorite - as indicated on the ever-increasing counts on her songs played on my ipod.

She's remixed a couple of older, precious hymns ("God Will Take Care of You" & "Children of the Heavenly Father"), and her songwriting continues to inspire, encourage and move me. The music which accompanies the amazing lyrics, is absolutely breathtaking.

She won't be everyone's cup-of-tea, but she certainly is mine. If you click on the image below, you'll be connected to a site where you can sample her newest cd and the story behind each song, in an interview she did.

It's softer than her previous cd, "Chaotic Resolve", and highlights her life as a wife and mother to two young boys.

Enjoy!

Opposing Forces in the Battle

Fellowship with God, the seriousness of sin, what do the biblical writers mean when they speak negatively concerning "the world" and "worldliness", what are the characteristics of the "antichrists" of whom John writes about in 1 John 2:18-27, why are false teachers so dangerous and why is it so crucial that we know that the Christian life is a battle.....

All of those things and then some are discussed in my commentary for Lesson 3, "Opposing Forces in the Battle", on 1 John 2:15-27 over at 'Everyday' as part of our series in 1 John.

And it all but completely did me in these last few days, so I apologize for not having much substance left to write about over here! You'll have to travel over there if that's what you're in the mood for ;)

Born Again (with Lyrics) by Third Day

I heard this in my car for the first time yesterday.

My conversion to Christ as my Treasure, my King, my Savior was in the summer of 2006 - just shy of 3 years ago. The memory of what that felt like is still quite fresh.

Since that time, God has placed many people in my life who I've had the unspeakable blessing of sharing the gospel with and the equally incredible blessing of becoming a part of their lives and loving them - oftentimes, witnessing the miracle of new birth in them - watching on as God's Spirit breathes new life into their souls and moves to transform them into the image of His Son. It's true that we can't see into their hearts, to see how or even if the gospel has truly taken root, but when you get to see their perspective (towards people, towards God, towards pain and suffering) and their attitudes change; and their softer, more humbled responses to the word of God -it's breathtaking.


All that to say that this song - the music and the lyrics - touched my heart... I hope you take 3 1/2 minutes out of your day to listen....

Today I found myself

After searching all these years

And the man that I saw,

he wasn't at all who I thought he'd be

I was lost when you found me here

And I was broken beyond repair

Then you came along

And you sang your song over me

***

[Chorus]

It feels like I'm born again

It feels like I'm living

For the very first time

For the very first time

In my life

***

Make a promise to me now

Reassure my heart somehow

That the love that I feel is so much more real than anything

***

I've a feeling in my soul

And I pray that I'm not wrong

That the life I have now,

It is only the beginning

***

[Chorus]

***

Wasn't looking for

Something that was more

Than what I had yesterday

Then you came to me and you gave to me

Life and a love that I've never known

That I've never felt before

***

[Chorus]

The 'New' Atheism: Primitive, Boring, and Whiny

That's Charlotte Allen's assessment anyways, as indicated in her recently published article for the LA Times' Opinion page, titled "Atheists: No God, no reason, Just Whining".

The tagline reads, "Superstar atheists are motivated by anger -- and boohoo victimhood."

It's not clear where Charlotte's spirituality resides, but it's quite clear why the 'new' atheism (think: Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris) annoys her so. To simply quote a few things she wrote:

"I can't stand atheists -- but it's not because they don't believe in God. It's because they're crashing bores."

"My problem with atheists is their tiresome -- and way old -- insistence that they are being oppressed and their fixation with the fine points of Christianity"

and then there's....

"The problem with atheists -- and what makes them such excruciating snoozes -- is that few of them are interested in making serious metaphysical or epistemological arguments against God's existence, or in taking on the serious arguments that theologians have made attempting to reconcile, say, God's omniscience with free will or God's goodness with human suffering. Atheists seem to assume that the whole idea of God is a ridiculous absurdity, the "flying spaghetti monster" of atheists' typically lame jokes. They think that lobbing a few Gaza-style rockets accusing God of failing to create a world more to their liking ("If there's a God, why aren't I rich?" "If there's a God, why didn't he give me two heads so I could sleep with one head while I get some work done with the other?") will suffice to knock down the entire edifice of belief."

It was while I was perusing Dan Philips latest blog entry that I found this little gem. If nothing else, it's terribly interesting. To those of us who seem to be engaged with these 'new' atheists on a continual basis, , the author wasn't sounding anything new or earth-shattering, but I did find a measure of satisfaction in seeing that I wasn't the only one to feel this way.

You should read it, if just to read how she concludes her thoughts on the matter.



I'll go one step further, however: though I can become irritated and annoyed with the ridiculous arguments made against Christianity by this group, more than anything else my heart is broken. Spiritual blindness is spiritual blindness and unless the Spirit of God opens the eyes of anyone's hearts, the gospel is going to be foolish and unbelievable.

Yeah, I know - it's awfully annoying to hear the same, old, primitive, regurgitated mess of philosophical dead-ends that've been discarded over the centuries for very good reasons, BUT....

Keep engaging them. Keep loving them. Keep praying for them.

But for the grace of God, we would all be stumbling around in that same dark dungeon, yes?

Freedom for Obedience & a Couple of Other Things...

I just wrapped up my commentary and notes on Lesson 2 for 'Everyday' 's study into 1 John!

This one was published with much less drama than Lesson 1, and I'm beyond relieved.

I also added two new features over there, that I will be adding here as soon as time makes itself available. If you check out the right hand sidebar (over there, not here obviously), you'll find "The Prodigal God" and "The Reason for God" button/links which will take you to Tim Keller's free sermons on the two phenomenal subjects. Like I said, I'll be putting them here soon, but if you can't wait (or whatever), you can go over there of course....

Since the commentary for those lessons seems to feel like the equivalent of writing 10 posts at once, I've been spending most of my 'blogging energy' over there. So, if you're looking around here and curious as to what I've been up to (because obviously it's been a little quiet over here on 'Justified'), feel welcome to check out 'Everyday'.

That, and I can always use your feedback. I have so much respect for my readers on this blog, and strongly, strongly value your opinions!

ciao

We Married Each Other *again*, Two Years Ago...

In light of the story God has given to us...

In light of this past year, in particular...



We made a night of it...


Fancy clothes, fancy dinner, fancy wine, the works!


My heart was and continues to be overflowing in gratitude and in awe of how God has used this part of my life, to change and grow me, more than any other. May He be honored, exalted and seen as the most precious treasure in my life!

"When Sorrow Comes"

My church recently hosted its annual Pastors Conference, and all who attended had the blessing of singing the newly composed hymn, "When Sorrow Comes", which was co-written by our church's worship director, David L. Ward and Eric Schumacher.

During last night's prayer meeting, just before we were to break up into our groups of 2 & 3 to pray, our congregation was able to sing it. There is this sweet yet almost haunting tone to the melody, and the lyrics are the kind that you simply hang on to, with each line.

It was beautiful, and I had to share it with you. Our church is incredibly blessed by so many talented people, and God has used them in such powerful ways to make me ever aware of Him, and all that He is.

I would also encourage you to visit ReformedPraise.org to check out the songs, make a purchase or donation, or simply encourage the faithful men who keep it up.

To access the song, click on the image to the right, and it should immediately take you to the specific post where you can listen to the song, played by David.

Songwriters : Eric Schumacher & David L. Ward

Copyright : © 2009 ReformedPraise.org

Shocking the 'Hell' Out of You...

It's roughly 4 1/2 minutes, but 4 1/2 minutes worth spending.








HT: Larissa!

The Post Which Enormously Threatened to Compromise my Diminishing Sanity

As part of the bible study I'm hosting over at 'Everyday', I published all of my commentary on Lesson 1, last night.


Well.

Actually...

Early this morning. You see, though I had spent the last three weeks praying about and thinking over the material, the questions and how I would comment on them, I never actually wrote any of that down. Now that you know that little gem of information, I can complete the picture of how last night went down:


It was 9 p.m. and I found myself staring at my computer in crazy frustration, suddenly plagued by the worst kind of writer's block. I begin typing anyways, because putting something on the screen was clearly better than having nothing staring right back at me; and besides, it'll get the 'juices' going, eventually - I tell myself. The 'juices' indeed began flowing, and before I knew it, I was typing my commentary on Question 7 (there are 8 total), AND it was all going to be wrapped up before midnight! My husband came in to check on me around this time (11:20 ish) and I was so happy with what had been put together that I called him over to the computer to show him.


Imagine my horror as I look back at the computer screen, just after I had looked up to smile and ask for him to accompany me by the computer desk, to find that the only thing on the screen was the last part of the last question I had recently commented on.


Don't ask me what happened. I don't know. To be honest, I didn't have the time to figure it out, either. Since nothing was written down previously, I had no way of knowing exactly how I had worded any of my comments.


The blessing would be this: I really know how I feel about the first 10verses of 1 John now, considering I wrote on them twice.


That, and God granted me measures upon measures of grace to complete it, email the notification to everyone on the mailing list and make sure it was published to my liking, before heading to bed....around 2 am.


So, am I happy with what was eventually produced? To be honest, the themes addressed in the study are so huge that it's nearly impossible to really dive in as deeply as I'd like, but I think what was written (and the ensuing discussion it'll produce, I hope!) is a start.


Check it out, if you'd like ;)

'DWYL' Rocks Somethin' New. And it's Very Cool.

Thanks to the DWYL Blog, I've got a brand new distraction to keep me from what I ought to be doing. Writing! But, I'm lovin' every second of it. Enjoy:



Hook (Cam)

Don't wanna waste my life

Verse 1 (LeCrae)

I know a lot of people out there scared they gone die/
couple of em thinking they'll be livin' in the sky/
but while I'm here livin' man I gotta ask why,
what am here fo I gotta figure out/
waste my life?/ no I gotta make it count/
if Christ is real then what am I gone do about/
everything in Luke 12:15 down to 21/
you really oughta go and check it out/

Paul said if Christ ain't resurrect then we wasted our lives/
well that implies that our life's built around Jesus being alive/
everyday I'm living tryin' show the world why/
Christ is more than everything you'll ever try/
better than pretty women and sinning and living
to get a minute of any women and men that you admire/

ain't no lie/ We created for Him/
outta the dust he made us for Him/
Elects us and he saves us for Him/
Jesus comes and raises for Him/
Magnify the Father why bother with something lesser/
he made us so we could bless Him
and to the world we confess him/
resurrects him/

so I know I got life/
matter fact better man I know I got Christ/
if you don't' see His ways in my days and nights/
you can hit my brakes you can stop my lights/
man I lost my rights/
I lost my life/
forget the money cars and toss that ice/
the cost is Christ/
and they could never offer me anything on the planet that'll cost that price.

Verse 2 (Dwayne Tryumph)
(Note: verse 2 is not part of the music video)

Armed and dangerous
So the devil jus can't handle us
Christian youth them a stand wid us
Livin' n driven/ given a vision/ fullfillin the commission he handed us

London to Los Angeles
Da rap evangelist
Ma daddy wouldn't abandon us
"I gotta back pack fulla tracts plus I keep a Johnny Mac"
So are you ready to jam with us

So lets go, gimme the word an lets go
Persecution lets go
Tribulation lets go
Across the nation lets go
Procrastination bes go

Hung on the cross in the cold
Died for da young and the old
Can't say you never know
Heaven knows
How many souls are going to hell or to heaven so we gotta go in and get em

Verse 3 (LeCrae)

Suffer/ Yeah do it for Christ
if you trying to figure what to do with your life/
if you making a lot money hope you doing it right
because the money is Gods you better steward it right/

stay focused
if you ain't got no ride/
your life ain't wrapped up in what you drive/
the clothes you wear
the job you work/
the color your skin naw you Christian first/

people living life for a job/
make a lil money start living for a car/
get em a house a wife kids and a dog/
when they retire they living high on the hog/
but guess what they didn't ever really live at all/
to live is Christ yeah that's Paul I recall/ to die is gain
so for Christ we give it all/
he's the treasure you'll never find in a mall/

Your money your singleness, marriage, talents, your time/
they were loaned to you to show the world that Christ is Divine/
that's why it's Christ in my rhymes/
That's why it's Christ all the time/
see my whole world is built around him He's the life in my lines/

I refuse to waste my life/
he's too true ta chase that ice/
here's my gifts and time cause I'm constantly trying to be used to praise the Christ/
If he's truly raised to life/
then this news should change your life/
and by his grace you can put your faith in place that rules your days and nights.

Al Mohler Writes of 'Love in a Time of Swine Flu'

"The history of humanity is the history of sickness, disease, and death. When sin came, death came, and sickness remains the leading agent of death. The horseman of pestilence has visited plagues and pandemics upon humanity throughout the centuries. Even in the age of modern medicine and the conquest of so many diseases, the very real risk of pandemic remains -- and we feel it in our souls.

The outbreak of swine flu now dominates the headlines and news programs, with at least 150 deaths in Mexico already recorded even as the disease is now confirmed around the world. For many years medical authorities have warned of a coming influenza pandemic -- a modern plague -- that could kill on a magnitude similar to the 1918 outbreak that killed over 100 million persons worldwide." Continue Reading

Where My 'Blogging' Energies are Currently Being Channeled...

After a wonderful time spent with mom and the girls, I'm back home to Minnesota and scrambling to not just recover the house and family from my 9-day absence, but also...


Hammering to get Everyday Theology's very first internet-based, online bible study going strong! There's still some much-needed tweaking and the sort to accomplish on the site itself, not to mention some additional study, prayer and pondering over the study and subject matter.

If you're interested in checking out the site, joining in on the study or just following along as a more casual observer, we'd love to have you over.

There were quite a few posts getting cooked up in my head while I was away, but I'll be pretty busy with Everyday for the next two weeks, so until then.....

Many, many sweet blessings of God's rich grace to you and your families.

9-day Solo-Excursion to Houston!

I will be away from the family and away from the internet for 9 days! I'm headed to my ol' stompin' grounds in Houston with my mother, sister and sister-in-law. It'll be a wonderful time, and I'm sure there'll be one or two posts that get put together in my head while I'm away.


To all of my readers: Have a wonderful Easter weekend, and may God grant us an even greater ability to live the reality of the truth of our risen Savior, in every way that we interact with our great God in heaven, the lost and our beloved family and friends.


Blessings!

Crushed for Our Iniquities - Good Friday Meditation

Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised,
and we esteemed him not.

Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?

And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring;
he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,and he shall bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53, ESV

What Does it Mean to Believe? Look!!

This past Sunday I had the sweet pleasure of taking a dear friend to church. Because the church I attend is too far away for most of the people God has placed in my life to share the gospel with, I have been bringing them to Bethlehem Baptist. Some of you may know that John Piper is the Pastor of Preaching and Teaching there, so though I have sincerely missed my own church family and the messages from Pastor Glenn which God has used so profoundly to change my life, He's made quite sure to keep me fed while I'm 'away'.

Last Sunday Piper delivered a message entitled, "The Son of Man Must be Lifted Up - Like the Serpent". Please know that this is not a summary of that message, but only one tiny glimpse into what was brought to light. As an evangelist, I'm constantly struggling to find a clear, simple, true way to explain what the word believe looks like. There are dozens upon dozens of definitions, articles, essays, books, etc. available to read and ponder. Some have been very helpful to me. This message in particular was very helpful. It had so much to it, and there's much that I could say, but the most powerfully helpful thing for me was the clarity and the simplicity with which Piper defined the word, believe.

What I wanted to share with my readers here, was what Piper used to conclude the message.

Who This is For:

My hope is that those who are in the midst of their own struggles to just believe the gospel; those who seem stuck; those who have tried and tried to believe but have felt nothing; to those who are believers but smack in the middle of a burning trial and fighting to believe the truths of the gospel for hope and comfort; to my fellow evangelists hoping to be used by God, as His Spirit awakens the hearts of sinners and point them to Christ....

This is an account of Charles Spurgeon's conversion. If you don't know who this man was, he's called by pastors, scholars and historians alike, the "Prince of Preachers". Unquestionably, the most profound preacher of the 19th century. A brilliant man, passionate preacher and evangelist, and one of my absolute favorites to read. Piper used this as the conclusion to his own sermon, but if you find the time, I would highly recommend that you listen to Piper's message in its entirety.

For now, here's Spurgeon in his own words. The year is 1850, and he is just 16 years old (a brilliant 16 year old who has already spent years studying theology and wrestling with what it means to believe the gospel):

I sometimes think I might have been in darkness and despair until now had it not been for the goodness of God in sending a snowstorm, one Sunday morning, while I was going to a certain place of worship. When I could go no further, I turned down a side street, and came to a little Primitive Methodist chapel. In that chapel there may have been a dozen or fifteen people. . . . The minister did not come that morning; he was snowed up, I suppose. At last, a very thin-looking man, a shoemaker, or tailor, or something of that sort, went up into the pulpit to preach. . . . He was obliged to stick to his text, for the simple reason that he had little else to say. The text was “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth [Isaiah 45:22].”

He did not even pronounce the words rightly, but that did not matter. There was, I thought, a glimpse of hope for me in that text. The preacher began thus: “My dear friends, this is a very simple text indeed. It says, ‘Look.’ Now lookin’ don’t take a
deal of pain. It ain’t liftin’ your foot or your finger; it is just, ‘Look.’ Well, a man needn’t go to college to learn to look. You may be the biggest fool, and yet you can look. A man needn’t be worth a thousand a year to be able to look. Anyone can look; even a child can look.

“But then the text says, ‘Look unto Me’. . . . Many of ye are lookin’ to yourselves, but it’s no use lookin’ there. Ye will never find any comfort in yourselves. Some look to God the father. No, look to him by-and-by. Jesus Christ says, ‘Look unto Me.’ Some of ye say, ‘We must wait for the Spirit’s workin’.’ You have no business with that
just now. Look to Christ. The text says, ‘Look unto Me.’”

Then the good man followed up his text in this way: “Look unto Me; I am sweatin’ and great drops of blood. Look unto Me; I am hangin’ on the cross. Look unto Me; I am dead and buried. Look unto Me; I rise again. Look unto Me; I ascend to heaven. Look unto Me; I am sittin’ at the Father’s right hand. O poor sinner, look unto Me! Look unto Me!”

When he had gone to about that length, and managed to spin out ten minutes or so he was at the end of his tether. Then he looked at me under the gallery, and I dare say, with so few present he knew me to be a stranger. Just fixing his eyes on me, as if he knew all my heart he said, “Young man, you look very miserable.” Well, I did, but I had not been accustomed to have remarks made from the pulpit on my personal appearance before. However, it was a good blow, struck right home.

He continued, “and you always will be miserable—miserable in life, and miserable in death—if you don’t obey my text; but if you obey now, this moment, you will be saved.”

Then lifting up his hands, he shouted, as only a primitive Methodists could do, “Young man, look to Jesus Christ. Look! Look! Look! You have nothing to do but to look and live.” I saw at once the way of salvation. I know not what else he said—I did not take much notice of it—I was so possessed with that one thought. Like as when the brazen serpent was lifted up, the people only looked and were healed, so it was with me. I had been waiting to do fifty things, but when I heard that word, “Look!” What a charming word it seemed to me! Oh! I looked until I could have almost looked my eyes away.

There and then the cloud was gone, the darkness had rolled away, and that moment I saw the sun; and I could have risen that instant, and sung with the most enthusiastic of them, of the precious blood of Christ, and the simple faith which looks alone to him. . . . And now I can say—

E’er since by faith

I saw the stream

Thy flowing wounds supply,

Redeeming love

has been my theme,

And Shall be till I die.

(C. H. Spurgeon Autobiography, Volume 1, 87-88)