Do You Know Him?

From The Narrow Gate Facebook

Christ Exalted

"In this also Christ appeared gloriously above the guilt of men. For he offered a sacrifice that was sufficient to do away all the guilt of the whole world. Though the guilt of man was like the great mountains, whose heads are lifted up to the heavens; yet his dying love, and his merits, appeared as a mighty deluge that overflowed the highest mountains, or like a boundless ocean that swallows them up, or like an immense fountain of light that with the fullness and redundancy of its brightness, swallows up men’s greatest sins, as little motes are swallowed up and hidden in the disk of the sun.

"In this Christ appeared above all the corruption of man, in that hereby he purchased holiness for the chief of sinners. And Christ in undergoing such extreme affliction, got the victory over all misery; and laid a foundation for its being utterly abolished, with respect to his elect. In dying he became the plague and destruction of death. When death slew him, it slew itself. For Christ, through death, destroyed him that had the power of death, even the devil (Heb. 2:14). By this he laid the foundation of the glorious resurrection of all his people to an immortal life."

~ From "Christ Exalted" by Jonathan Edwards 

Hallelujah. Meditate on this during this holy weekend.

The Measure of Days and Years

 

(Photo by letoirina)

For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Psalm 90:4

"The Holy Ghost expresseth himself according to the manner of men, to give us some notion of an infinite duration, by a resemblance suited to our capacity. If a thousand years be but a day to the life of God, then as a year is to the life of man, so are three hundred and sixty-five thousand years to the life of God: and as seventy years are to the life of man, so are twenty-five millions five hundred fifty thousand years to the life of God. Yet still, since there is no proportion between time and eternity, we must dart our thoughts beyond all these, for years and days measure only the duration of created things, and of those only that are material and corporeal, subject to the motion of the heavens, which makes days and years."

~ Stephen Charnock

As the Lord has been our stay for 2012, may He again be so for 2013. Have a blessed and Christ-filled New Year.

It Is Finished

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18

Image: http://heycheng.tumblr.com

Mothering Her Savior

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Luke 1: 46-47

She had every reason to rejoice. Yes, to fear also, but this servant of the Lord was being given the highest honor that would ever be bestowed on any woman. The above drawing is a favorite of mine. Why? It's because of her hands. What other response could there be for this woman to this Child?

May we too bow to Him, now exalted, and rejoice.

Christmas blessings to any and all who may stop by. Praying that Mary's Savior is yours also.

Handel's Reflection

Think on this as we enjoy the Hallelujah chorus this Christmas season.

"What a wonderful thing it is to be sure of one's faith! How wonderful to be a member of the evangelical church, which preaches the free grace of God through Christ as the hope of sinners! If we were to rely on our works--my God, what would become of us?"

~ George Frideric Handel

A Manger Was a Throne

’Tis He that Life and Spirit doth infuse:
Let ev’ry thing
The Praises sing
Of Christ the King of Jews;
Who makes things green, and with a Spring infuse
A Season which to see it doth not use:
Old Winter’s Frost and hoary hair,
With Garland’s crowned, Bays doth wear;
The nipping Frost of Wrath b’ing gon,
To Him the Manger made a Throne,
Du Praises let us sing,
Winter and Spring.

From On Christmas Day, by Thomas Traherne

Looks like a white Christmas around here, as we're coming out from one of the biggest snowstorms in a very long time. Spring seems so far off when you have a huge storm this early, but we can be assured it's coming. I happened upon this poem today and thought this particular stanza fitting. I love what it says about the the "Nipping Frost of Wrath" being gone and the call for both Winter and Spring to sing the praises of the Christ Child.

But the phrase I love the most is the one about the Manger being made a throne. Isn't that just a fantastic thought? Wow. Yes, that is pretty deep, but how true. You see, wherever the King of Kings rests Himself, it is indeed a throne.

From here at Scraps of Glory, may I wish whoever it is that comes by, a most blessed Christmas, bowing before His throne, even when a manger.

Happy Mother's Day

If you've arrived here at this page during the week of May 10th, 2009, this wish is for you. If you are a mother, cherish the children and grandchildren that God has given you. If you have a mother, honor and cherish her today. If like me, your mother has gone on before you, I pray your memories will be sweet today.

If Mother's Day is difficult for you for any reason, embrace the Lord Jesus. May He fill whatever void you may have.

Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: But God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Psalm 73:25-26

In the Garden

Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden. and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. John 19:41-42.

I hadn't thought much about the fact that there was a garden there, until this morning's devotions. I was reading in Meditations on the Gospels by George H. Morrison [which book I highly recommend] and he wrote absolutely wonderful thoughts about it. It made me decide to mention this garden on each of my blogs. Then a commenter on Nanna's Reflections made me think of this:

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.

Refrain

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

~C. Austin Miles

Just think. In the place where He was crucified there was a garden. Think about that, friends. His sepulchre was in a garden. So when He rose from the dead, He was in a garden. For me, that's a beautiful thought.

Praying these thoughts will make your holiday just a bit more precious.

New Year Wishes

I asked the New Year for some motto sweet,
Some rule of life by which to guide my feet.
I asked and paused; it answered soft and low,
"God's will to know."
`Unknown

I wish this for you and me, dear friends. I appreciate each and every one who stops by to visit. Your comments and encouragements have meant more than you can know. Blessings for the year 2009 and beyond. Signing off with words from one of my favorite hymns for the new year:

O Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me, my Master and my Friend:
I shall not fear the battle if Thou art by my side,
Nor Wander from the pathway if Thou wilt be my guide.

~ John E. Bode

Christmas Blessings

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

I pray that you know Him this holiday season. Christmas blessings are wished for you from my house to yours.

Thou Didst Reign on High

This Christmas song says it all. It tells of the great humility of our King who reigned on high, yet willingly adorned Himself in human flesh and humbled Himself to not only be born in the poorest of circumstances, but to live a lowly life, and die the cruel death at Calvary's cross. It also tells of a victorious conqueror who has returned to His throne on high but will return again to claim His own. Do we not have a Savior worthy of praise? Can we not sing these wonderful words with thankfulness? All may be crumbling around us, but can we not know the truth of the lyrics penned by Emily Elliott over a century ago and know they are just as applicable today?

Emily was a woman after my own heart because of her love for children and teaching them the truths of Scripture. I read that her life was filled with benevolent activities in rescue missions and in the Sunday school movement of her time. Now that's a life worth living! Teach this precious hymn to your children and grandchildren, dear ones. I intend to.

Thou dost reign on high with a kingly crown,
Yet thou camest to earth for me,
And in Bethlehem's home was there found no room
For thy holy nativity:
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for thee.

Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst thou come to earth,
And in great humility:
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for thee.

The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest,
In the shade of the forest tree;
But thy couch was the sod,
O thou Son of God, in the deserts of Galilee:
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for thee.

Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word
That should set thy people free;
But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn,
They bore thee to Calvary:
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
Thy cross is my only plea.

When heav'n's arches shall ring,
And her choirs shall sing,
At thy coming to victory,
Let thy voice call me home,
Saying, "Yet there is room,
There is room at my side for thee."
And my heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
When thou comest and callest for me.

~Emily E.S. Elliott

He Became Poor

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9

For the season that's suddenly come upon us, I thought I'd use my lack of time to make some posts that don't require a lot of thought or preparation. Also, I see everyone decorating their blogs for the holidays, while I don't have time for that either. So, I've decided that I'll be posting my favorite verses and carols which have to do with our Savior's first coming to this sinful world, with a smattering of Christmas images to decorate my blog.

The verse posted here is my favorite; I think I write it on cards and in holiday reflections more than any other. It goes with the hymn/carol that I'm posting next. Can anyone guess which one that will be? Of all the beautiful aspects of the incarnation, this one touches me most: God the Son left all of the riches that were His in glory, to become as one of us, clothed in human flesh, born in the humblest of circumstances. What a Savior.