MAKING IT WORK...UNDER STAIRS READING NOOK

After completing our spontaneous loft project, we figured while we were at it...

 

Why not build a reading nook under the stairs as well?

 

So, we repurposed some wood we already had
(with the efforts of our trusty "helpers", but of course!),

 

 

...built a bench frame,

 

...added some wainscoting, molding, and paint leftovers from the loft,

 

 

 ...padded it with one of our favorite quilts plus some pillows,

 

  ...and voila!

A new something-from-nothing reading nook is born...and for nearly free! 

Thank you for your hard work, Brodie (yet again)!!
Your generous, patient, willing heart is such an encouragement to mine!!!

"Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God."
Psalm 84:3

MAKING IT WORK...LOFT PROJECT

What to do when the Lord gives 8, 9, maybe 10 children and yet clearly keeps us here in our 1400+ square ft, 3 bedroom house?

 

MAKE IT WORK!

 

So, that's what we're doing...again.

 

Over the years we've learned how to bloom where we're planted, make the most of our home and life circumstances, and keep perspective on how a large portion of the world lives...in poverty, hungry, without electricity or clean water. In many countries around the globe, we would be seen as rich for having the amount of space, necessities, and luxuries we DO have. So, we choose to be thankful and realize the things which truly make a home have very little to do with bricks and beams.

"By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;

by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches."

Proverbs 24:3-4

 

I've written before about our most common question during the course of our first adoption, "Is our house big enough?" Time and again we've landed on our answer, "Yes," and though I've wrestled with this at times, I know the truth is if we were supposed to be somewhere different, we would be. We've always said that money shouldn't be a road block to adding another child to our family and I'm starting to believe space really isn't either. Like the loaves and the fish, somehow God keeps multiplying not only our LOVE for each child, but also the room in our home. He always provides! He is faithful.

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19

 

"“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life,
what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.
Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 

And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Matthew 6:25-33

 

There is great comfort in the promises of Scripture. They remind us never to fret for our needs because our Father God who loves us will always give us what's best for us. In plenty or in less should He will, we can be sure that He is a good God and perfectly able to supply our every need!

Though we find ourselves content in our current home, we are still many people in not so much space. And, considering the timing of when we bought our house it's safe to say we're here...for a while...until the real estate market recovers (if it recovers?). And, we'd like to make the most of it. Literally.

 

So, just as we've done before when the Lord has added children to our family, the nesting instincts are kicking in and we're making it work here in our home (a common occurrence I admit). This is not the first time we've made a choice to make the best of our circumstances and I'm confident it won't be the last.

 

I'm thankful for the home God's chosen for us (for now) and even more thankful for how our children embrace our space and love it here. It encourages me as their mom to see how they appreciate the "coziness". We bunk in and snuggle up and cherish closeness with one another. We also step on toes and seek out quiet corners and learn patience every day. We value both sides of this coin we've been given and we wouldn't want it any other way because we know it's God's best plan for us.

 

In this American dream world we live in, especially here in Southern California, it can be disheartening to be surrounded by the pursuit of pride. My prayer is that we can embody God's heart for humility by accepting His will for us in this season with gratitude. May we never wish it away, but rather soak in the lessons we're learning.

 

"But he gives more grace.

Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'”
James 4:6

 

As we anticipate some pretty big decisions soon, including welcoming another new family member (or 2) into our clan, 

we're out to make it work around here and we're having tons of fun in the process!

 

Here's to documenting our latest space-maximizing project:

 

 

This was our landing BEFORE.

 

We decided to remove our book shelves/storage cabinets, find new spots for our {MANY} books, 

and move the existing wall back into our master walk in closet to create a new reading nook and loft area.

 

(We love nooks!)

 

Our kids have been just a bit excited about all of this!

 

Ah yes, home projects are SUPER fun with 8 willing helpers...

 

Let's just say, I might be married to the most patient guy on the planet!

 

 

I can just hear Brodie's voice saying, "Thaaaank yoooou,"

as his eager trusty sidekicks rearrange and hand him one hazardous tool after the next. Oy!

 

 

These girls are definitely not afraid to get their hands dirty.

 

We never did have enough clothing to justify a walk in closet anyway.

The wall goes up! We can start to see the room taking shape.

 

 

The loft goes in...let the fun begin!

The upper level is where all of our Legos will be from now on...

up and away where I won't step on them daily. :)

 

The railing is up, wainscoting too. Now we're starting to see where we're headed.

Who knew this would take so long?! Oh yes, my husband did. What a great sport to do it anyway!

 

 

After some deliberation over what to do with the lower level, we decided to go with a built in nook

for reading, snuggles, and movie nights (with balcony seating too!)...almost complete...

 

 

We're done! Painting and all (though I might add some more colorful pillows in the future...pillows are expensive!

So, for now we're going with what we already had...and anyway, I always love white.) 

 

It's been great fun. It's been awfully challenging at times. But, all in all, we're so excited we decided to create this new space for our growing family. We've still got our books, but now we have 2 new spaces to hang out and read them in as well...and we've learned so many life lessons in the process (not just about carpentry)!

 

We're making it work around here, so thankful for all that we have, and on the lookout for creative ways to make the most of our home while we're here. Which corner of the house can we get creative with next?!

 

THANK YOU, Brodie/Daddy, for your patient, enduring labor of LOVE for our family!

We SOOO appreciate all that you willingly and joyfully do!!

 

 

(BEFORE AND AFTER)



"My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."

Isaiah 32:18

L.O.V.E.

 

 "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."

1 John 4:12-13



WHAT DOES HE WANT THEM TO KNOW?

As the school year forges on, I'm met anew with thoughts of what I'd like my children to know.

I ask myself and seek the Word, pray for the Holy Spirit to guide.

 

What does HE want them to know?

 

Who made the first American flag? Who was the 14th President of the United States of America? What is the capital of Greece? The best way to do long division? The most creative way to "dress up" a sentence? The history behind haiku?!

 

These facts and fundamentals matter. Our world operates and functions around such scholarship. But, I ask myself with respect to eternal significance, and as I contemplate how we as a family spend our time, what matters more...pedagogy or prayer? Learnedness or love? Handwriting or hearts?

 

What does God want my children to know and how can I train them best?

 

What does HE want them to know?

 

I'm not really asking what state standards suggest my children know, though I'm not out to dismiss their credibility.
I'm also not asking what other homeschooling parents think is most important to know, or even how they choose to spend their time, though there's validity in considering such things.

What I'm leaning hard and long into my Savior about,
what I'm asking His Word for answers on is what does HE want my children to know? 

How would HE have us spend our time?
How can we glorify God BEST by the choices we make as a family?
What is MOST important to the Lord as I educate my children at home?
 

“You shall love the Lord your God

with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind,

and your neighbor as yourself.”
Luke 10:27

 

I could have the smartest kids in town, but if they have not LOVE, then what good will their minds produce? My children could win spelling bees one after the next, but if they know not Christ, then what will come of them eternally? Our family could don achievements, awards, and trophies from every offered activity under the sun, but if we don't stop to consider others before ourselves and live a life marked by God's love, then in the eyes of Christ would we have attained any success at all?

 

What does the Lord our God want for us to know?
 

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge,

and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

 

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.

It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends.

 

As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.

When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.

Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

 

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is LOVE."

1 Corinthians 13

 

Balance.

 

I'm educating minds, encouraging hearts, and sweating through an education of my own mommy heart in the process.

As with most things, I take a bend toward relationships, love, and eternal perspective. I press into my Lord and ask of Him that He guide my intuition by His holy Word when it comes to what He wants us to know.

 

I want my children to be smart. I'd like them to be well educated.
But these achievements will never save their souls.
What I really want for my children to know is how profoundly Jesus loves them...
with so great a love that He gave His very life for theirs.
What I really want them to acquire is the fruit of the Spirit.
Who I'd most like them to grow up to be are devoted disciples of Christ
who sense the needs of others and pour out kindness, sensitivity, and compassion.

 

This is where my treasure lies as a homeschooling mom and thus my heart and actions follow.

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Matthew 6:21
 

I believe this is God's will for our family. I believe this is how He has created us to be for His purposes in using us for His glory and it seems to me there are simplified ways to live where we can best hone in on these aspirations. This is not always a popular choice. It can come with misunderstanding. But Jesus didn't take an easy (or popular) road...and He hasn't called His followers to such either. In fact, the more likely response is persecution.
 

"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
2 Timothy 3:12
 

When I consider how I delight myself in the Lord and ask that He direct the desires of my heart, it all makes perfect sense.

These inclinations are from Him. They are not haphazard personal preferences.

These inclinations to focus on the heart come from a devoted parent heart that follows a heavenly Father's heart.

 

Oh, that God would hold me close and never let me stray!

Oh, that I might sing with confidence the song He's given me to sing!

 

"Trust in the Lord, and do good;
    dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him, and he will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
    and your justice as the noonday."

Psalm 37:3-6

 

In regard to education, Wikipedia states,

"any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts may be considered educational,"

and I concur.
 

It's an education of the heart that we're seeking most earnestly around here. We see homeschooling as an effective avenue to simultaneously teach and receive instruction from the Lord for the heart, mind, and soul.

 

Language and love?

Check.

Papers and patience?

Yes.

History, heart?

Organize, obey?

Check. Check. Yes and check!

 

Everything we do falls under the umbrella of education, in particular when we hold fast to an eternal mindset.

Everything we do is for the glory of God and He guides us as we seek Him each day.

 

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Matthew 6:33

 

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

1 Corinthians 10:31
 

It's really quite simple that which Jesus wants us to know...and everything else follows.

With one accord, we believe in our hearts that "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."

 

With childlike faith we submit our lives to our heavenly Father and pray to follow His gentle lead as we lead our children.

I thank Him for His Word which reminds me that He's in control. I offer His love gifts, these cherished children of mine, back to Him from whom they came and praise Him for knowing His plans for them.
HE will accomplish His goals for their lives, with or without me.

"He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms;

he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young."

Isaiah 40:11

 

I most certainly do not have all the answers, but the one thing I'm sure of is Christ's love for us which overflows and pours out more, multiplies light and love in a dark world. We submit to the One who loves us beyond what we can grasp, take hold of the Rock, our foundation, trust the Word of God and ask the Lord to yield a harvest with our empty vessel lives. We choose to be both hearers and doers of the Word and hold onto faith in the saving truth of the gospel.
 

He does the rest. He creates the aroma which pleases Him most. He produces all good for His glory and we offer praise, in awe, that He would choose to set His love upon us. He has set His love upon us! And His story will play out as He intends, regardless of our flaws, in spite of our many weaknesses, whether we succeed by the world's standards or not. A mere glace through the characters of the Bible confirms this and reminds me never to fear, especially when it comes to my children. They are His and He's got this!

"Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from my hand;
I work, and who can turn it back?”
Isaiah 43:13
 

Jesus LOVES us and He desires we love Him in return. He wants us to trust Him, follow Him wherever He leads, remain in Him, love others with His love, believe with innocent faith that He will accomplish His holy and perfect will on earth as in heaven. Sure, He can use our education. He can use our successes. He can use our shortcomings. He can even use our failures.
But, at the end of the day, what He's really after is our hearts.

 

I'm thinking that's what He wants us to know.
 

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; 

my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Psalm 23

THE BEATITUDES

"Seeing the crowds, [Jesus] went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

 

And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

 

'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

 

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

 

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

 

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

 

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

 

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

 

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

 

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.'"

 

Matthew 5:1-12

NEW HORIZONS

This summer our lives were touched by a special little boy.
 

 

God knows him by name. He loves him.

"O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

you discern my thoughts from afar."

Psalm 139:1-2

 

He knew ALL the days He planned for this precious child of His before time began.

 "My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being made in secret,

intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

the days that were formed for me,

when as yet there was none of them."

Psalm 139:15-16

 

He's known every heartache. He's been there all along...every day of this little boy's life.

He's been there. He will always be with this boy...no matter what...no matter where.
 

"You search out my path and my lying down

and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue,

behold, O Lord, you know it altogether."

Psalm 139:3-4

 

God placed His love on this child and chose to allow him into our lives...to pray for him...to play with him.

This summer, thanks to the New Horizons For Children hosting program,

our hearts have expanded through meeting this little Chinese boy. We won't forget him.
We trust the Lord will remain close to him all the days of his life...especially now since his return to China.

We don't know what the future holds for this child of God, but the Lord does.
He planned it long ago. He created him fearfully and wonderfully with purpose.

"For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

Psalm 139:13-14

Though solitary, this boy is not alone.
God will never leave him nor forsake him. He's promised in His Word and I believe.

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5

We're thankful for the New Horizons summer hosting program and the opportunity we've had to grow in love and compassion for one of God's children, to make a new friend. It's broadened our horizons and opened our hearts to more. It's contributed to our adoption story for which we're grateful, and the story isn't finished yet...

As I remember and pray, I'm comforted to know that Jesus will care for our friend.
He knows him and loves him and His plans are always good.

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3

WWW.NEWHORIZONSFORCHILDREN.ORG

 

 "Orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names.

They are easier to ignore before you see their faces.

It is easier to pretend they're not real before you hold them in your arms.

But once you do, everything changes." -David Platt

CHINA ADOPTION UPDATE #2

We're almost ready.

 

After nearly 6 months of scurrying, then waiting, working hard, then being still, taking quick action, and then doing nothing for weeks at a time...we're nearly to the finish line of getting our China dossier logged in.

 

When we began this adoption process, we knew we might go to all this effort only to miss the opportunity to be matched with the little one we've prayed for and loved for over 2 1/2 years now.

It's going to come down to days at this point...and of course, God's perfect will.

 

Each month or so, China puts out a new "shared list" of children ready to be matched with adoptive families. The child we've been pursuing will be on one of those lists any day. With each list that comes out without him on it, I wonder more and more if God's plan really will be to bring him into our family. If we are logged in before his file is released, then our agency has the chance to try and get it for us, and even then they may not be able to do so. If he is on a list that comes out in the next week or so before we are logged in, then most likely he will be matched to another family as a regular referral.

 

It's definitely a challenge for me to imagine him being placed with another unknowing family as a blind referral when we feel as though he's been a special part of our family in way for well over 2 years now. He's so personal to us.

But should it be the Lord's sovereign plan to place him into another family, I can't change that and 

I wouldn't want to change that, because I believe God's plan is best.

 

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Jeremiah 29:11

 

There have been tears over the prospect of never holding in my arms this boy I've held in my heart for so long now.
He is a part of my mommy-heart story and I'll always love him and pray for him no matter where he may be.
How I long for him to come into our family, though. I've had to work very intentionally on holding him loosely because my natural inclination is deep, wide, mother's love for this child I've never met.

 

How do I LOVE someone so dearly whom I've never met??

 

It's perplexing, but God has a plan.
He has used our love for this child to bring us to this place
and He will use our love for the Lord to accomplish the best outcome to this story.

 

"I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.

Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live."

Psalm 116:1-2
 

 In preparation for the "what ifs" of this adoption process, we have written all of our paperwork up for 2 children, both genders, including a broad age range. We did this because we didn't know if we would miss out on adopting the boy we are pursuing, then choose to adopt another child, then face a "what if" scenario if something fell through with his adoption process.

If that were to happen, we figured being prepared for 2 would allow us the opportunity to still adopt him should he become available for adoption yet again. After all, that's what happened with the beautiful Joy and Linda story last year :) and we've seen the Lord work it all out for His wonderful glory! We want to be prepared.

 

Now, here we find ourselves in this place of being SO close to ready, SO many "what ifs" on the table, SO many unanswered questions and daydreams of how this may all play out...and I pause...quietly, intentionally, still beyond my human ability.

"Be still, and know that I am God."
Psalm 46:10

"The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."
Exodus 14:14

 

"The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all."
Psalm 103:19
 

 There are NO "what ifs" with God. He does not contend with questions or daydreams of how things may or may not pan out. There is simply a wise, loving, eternal, purposeful, holy, perfect plan that He determined long ago for His best outcome of HIS amazing story. That He would even think to jot us in swells gratitude for our minuscule role, yet that is what He's done. He's let us in on this piece of His puzzle. He's grafted us into His family and He's allowed us the privilege to adopt children into ours in His name.

What an honor!

 

Over the course of the past 2 months (since we were told our little one's paperwork might be available within 1-2 months), we met a boy who opened our hearts to the idea of more. He taught us more of God's compassion for the needy and reminded us of how we are His hands and feet here on earth. He helped us to see that we have even more room in our hearts than we knew. He brought the millions of orphan faces to life, yet again, who need families to step in and we're open.

 

We're open to more. We desire more. More of Him, less of us, and yes, even more children should that be God's plan. We accept that all we have to give is His love. We come to the table empty-handed. But, God's storehouse is abundant, unending, overflowing. His love poured out through empty vessels like us is boundless. It has NO end! He is more. He is more than we could ever dream to be. He is perpetually more of what we need when we find ourselves depleted. He is consistently more of what we have to give.

 

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Ephesians 3:14-19

 

We track back to our original homestudy report and wonder why the Lord had us write it all up for 2. Could there be another child in our future we never saw coming? We don't know the answers to these questions, but what we do know is that the Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over ALL. (Psalm 103:19) He knows ALL the plans He has made for us to fulfill His purposes while we live here on earth. (Jeremiah 29:11) He knows ALL the days. (Psalm 139) He has called us out and asked us to give Him more of our lives, even to lose our lives for the sake of His glory.

 

And we say YES.

 

We just say,
"Yes, Lord.
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
May we spend ourselves for YOUR GREAT NAME. 
May we embody your LOVE for the needy.
May we be your temple.
May you multiply your love for others THROUGH us as we give ALL we have to you.
Please use us, spend us, extend us, Lord, in whatever way you choose. 
We are yours."

 

That's our honest prayer in this hour. We don't know what's around the bend, but we know it's good.
I spoke with a missionary recently of his grueling work and he made himself very clear:

 

"I want to get to heaven all beaten and bruised and worn and tattered and SPENT for the sake of the gospel," he said.

 

And, I second his wise words. He knows his life isn't about here, except for how it impacts there...eternity.
It's just life on earth and he knows.

 

"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
Matthew 10:39

 

So, we say YES...to whatever the Lord deems best through this adoption journey He called us into.
We stepped in without a clue as to where we were headed, but we knew it was God's will. He confirmed it!
He busted open tightly closed doors and prepared the way He'd like us to be used in this season because HE KNOWS.
He knows precisely what He's doing and He's chosen to let us take part in the journey.

 

This life is not ours. It's not about us. It's about Jesus Christ. And His love controls us. His love beckons we do uncomfortable things. His LOVE leads hearts into beautiful stories of faith and trust in a Father God who reigns in heaven and on earth and we trust Him.

To be continued...(again)...

 

"For the love of Christ controls us."

2 Corinthians 5:14

 

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Ephesians 3:20-21

 

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Our Lord in His infinite wisdom and superabundant love, sets such a high value upon his people's
faith that He will not protect them from those trials by which faith is strengthened.

 

You would never have possessed the precious faith that now supports you
if the trial of your faith had not put you through the fire.

 

You are a tree that never would have rooted as well if the wind had not rocked you to and fro
and made you take a firm hold upon the precious truths of God's gracious covenant.

 

Worldly ease is a great enemy to faith; it loosens the joints of holy zeal and snaps the sinews of sacred courage.

 

The balloon never rises until the cords are cut; affliction provides this service for believing souls.

 

While the wheat sleeps comfortably in the husk, it is useless to us;
it must be threshed out of its resting place before its value can be known.

 

Thus it is good that the Lord tests the righteous, for it causes them to grow rich toward God."

 

Charles Spurgeon - Morning and Evening revised & updated by Alistair Begg