Mountain Musings

Quilted Love

"Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."  ~ Jeremiah 31:3

Special thanks to my friend, Chris, for the lovely quilted love mat. Since I'm not a coffee drinker, I'm enjoying using it with my mug of morning milk!

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you who stop by to read the blog. We appreciate you!

~ Deb

Rejoicing to Yield

“Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”

Romans 3:31

When the believer is adopted into the Lord’s family, his relationship to old Adam and the law ceases at once; but then he is under a new rule, and a new covenant. Believer, you are God’s child; it is your first duty to obey your heavenly Father. A servile spirit you have nothing to do with: you are not a slave, but a child; and now, inasmuch as you are a beloved child, you are bound to obey your Father’s faintest wish, the least intimation of his will.

Does he bid you fulfil a sacred ordinance? It is at your peril that you neglect it, for you will be disobeying your Father. Does he command you to seek the image of Jesus? Is it not your joy to do so? Does Jesus tell you, “Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”? Then not because the law commands, but because your Saviour enjoins, you will labour to be perfect in holiness. Does he bid his saints love one another? Do it, not because the law says, “Love thy neighbour,” but because Jesus says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments;” and this is the commandment that he has given unto you, “that ye love one another.” Are you told to distribute to the poor? Do it, not because charity is a burden which you dare not shirk, but because Jesus teaches, “Give to him that asketh of thee.”

Does the Word say, “Love God with all your heart”? Look at the commandment and reply, “Ah! commandment, Christ hath fulfilled thee already—I have no need, therefore, to fulfil thee for my salvation, but I rejoice to yield obedience to thee because God is my Father now and he has a claim upon me, which I would not dispute.” May the Holy Ghost make your heart obedient to the constraining power of Christ’s love, that your prayer may be, “Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.” Grace is the mother and nurse of holiness, and not the apologist of sin.

C.H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

Sunday Scripture

"And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."    ~ Psalm 1:3

~Deb

Continuing On

"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And all that believed were together, and had all things common."  ~ Acts 2: 42,44

* photo taken at Sherbrooke Village, Nova Scotia

~ Deb

He put a new song in my mouth

In 2008, Hannah received a New Harmonia Sacra hymnbook for her birthday.There are many new songs included that are unfamiliar to us and which will be enjoyable to learn!

From a previous post:

What is Harmonia Sacra? "It is based on a shape-note tune book first published as Genuine Church Music by Joseph Funk in Winchester, Virginia in 1832. This book, later renamed the Harmonia Sacra, and since revised in 25 editions down to the present, is the oldest shape-note book in continuous use. Approximately 16 annual singings are held from it in Mennonite communities in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, and some in Indiana." See this web page for some more information on the background of the Harmonia Sacra tradition.  The Serven Clan wrote an interesting post earlier this year about Sacred Harp, which is a related style of harmony.

Some more interesting information about Joseph Funk and Harmonia Sacra singing can be found here.

One Saturday night a couple of months ago, Dad and Mom were off running errands, and the three of us pulled out Hannah's hymnbook and attempted a new song together. With Jonathan on guitar, we quickly learned it and were able to sing it for Dad and Mom when they got home. Then the next morning at church we learned it together as a congregation.

The words are a wonderful testimony of God's grace! We can't find any information on who the author was, only that this is a folk hymn. Also, this past week the three of us recorded this together, with Hannah and me singing and Jonathan providing instrumental accompaniment.  So if you wish to hear the tune with the words, you can click here.

Redeeming Grace

Come all who love my Lord and Master,

And like old David I will tell,

Though chief of sinners, I've found favor,

By grace redeemed from death and hell;

Far as the east from west is parted,

So far my sins by dying love,

From me by faith are separated,

Blest antepast of joys above.

I late estranged from Jesus wandered,

And tho't each dang'rous poison good;

But He in mercy long pursued me

With cries of His redeeming blood;

Though like Bartimeus I was blinded,

In nature's darkest night concealed,

But Jesus' love removed my blindness,

And He His pard'ning grace revealed.

Now I will serve Him while He spares me,

And with His people sing aloud,

Though hell oppose and sinners mock me

In rapt'rous strains I'll praise my God.

By faith I view the heav'nly concert,

They sing high strains of Jesus' love,

Oh! with desire my soul is longing,

And fain would be with Christ above.

~Sarah

Sunday Devotional

"And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest." ~ Genesis 28:15

Do we need journeying mercies? Here are choice ones--God's presence and preservation. In all places we need both of these, and in all places we shall have them if we go at the call of duty, and not merely according to our own fancy.... in every region the Lord is [our] dwelling place, even as he has been to his saints in all generations.

We may miss the protection of an earthly monarch, but when God says, "I will keep thee," we are in no real danger. This is a blessed passport for a traveler, and a heavenly escort for an emigrant.

Jacob had never left his father's room before: he had been a mother's boy, and not an adventurer like his brother. Yet he went abroad, and God went with him. He had little luggage, and no attendants; yet no prince ever journeyed with a nobler bodyguard. Even while he slept in the open field, angels watched over him, and the Lord God spoke to him. If the Lord bids us go, let us say with our Lord Jesus, "Arise, let us go hence."

~Taken from devotional: The Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith by Charles Haddon Spurgeon, one who lived the life of faith (1834 - 1892).

~Deb

Unceasing Importunity

“Go again seven times.”
1 Kings 18:43

Success is certain when the Lord has promised it. Although you may have pleaded month after month without evidence of answer, it is not possible that the Lord should be deaf when His people are earnest in a matter which concerns His glory. The prophet on the top of Carmel continued to wrestle with God, and never for a moment gave way to a fear that he should be non-suited in Jehovah’s courts. Six times the servant returned, but on each occasion no word was spoken but “Go again.” We must not dream of unbelief, but hold to our faith even to seventy times seven.

Faith sends expectant hope to look from Carmel’s brow, and if nothing is beheld, she sends again and again. So far from being crushed by repeated disappointment, faith is animated to plead more fervently with her God. She is humbled, but not abashed: her groans are deeper, and her sighings more vehement, but she never relaxes her hold or stays her hand. It would be more agreeable to flesh and blood to have a speedy answer, but believing souls have learned to be submissive, and to find it good to wait for as well as upon the Lord. Delayed answers often set the heart searching itself, and so lead to contrition and spiritual reformation: deadly blows are thus struck at our corruption, and the chambers of imagery are cleansed.

The great danger is lest men should faint, and miss the blessing. Reader, do not fall into that sin, but continue in prayer and watching. At last the little cloud was seen, the sure forerunner of torrents of rain, and even so with you, the token for good shall surely be given, and you shall rise as a prevailing prince to enjoy the mercy you have sought. Elijah was a man of like passions with us: his power with God did not lie in his own merits. If his believing prayer availed so much, why not yours? Plead the precious blood with unceasing importunity, and it shall be with you according to your desire.

C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

~Hannah

Fervent Prayer

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16

If you have been a regular reader of Mountain Musings for any length of time, you know that my friend, Dorothy, is a faithful commenter on the blog.

Dorothy and her husband, Jay, recently found out that he has multiple myeloma bone cancer. Needless to say, they are asking everyone for fervent prayer for their family.

I have copied below part of Dorothy's email, and I know she and Jay would appreciate your intercession on their behalf. 

First, we want to thank you for your prayers, love, and concern for us over the past 10 days while Jay has been in the hospital.  We've had so many visits, cards, and phone calls.  It encouraged us greatly. 

After many tests, we have been told that Jay has multiple myeloma bone cancer.  We will be meeting with the hematologist/oncologist on Dec. 17th to chart the course of treatment.  It will involve radiation,  chemotherapy, and a stem cell transplant over the course of the next year. 

God has provided wonderful doctors and great nurses and staff and has given us many opportunities to share the Gospel and why we are so hopeful and not desperate. 

Please know that we are encouraged by the prognosis, which is good. God has given us the peace that surpasses all human understanding. We are trusting God with all our hearts, knowing that He loves us deeply and will provide for all our needs throughout this process of treatment.

We know our heavenly Father was aware of all this, and we are excited to see how He moves and guides each day through this entire situation.  Please pray for healing in Jay's body.  Please join us in praying for God to be honored in all we do and say.  Please pray for the salvation of our unsaved family members and neighbors who will be watching us every step

of the way.  May we always bring glory to God! (1Corin. 10:31)  Thank you for praying! 

Love, Jay and Dorothy

~ Deb

Spurgeon on the Father sending the Son

"The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world." --1 John 4:14

It is a sweet thought that Jesus Christ did not come forth without His Father's permission, authority, consent, and assistance. He was sent of the Father, that He might be the Saviour of men. We are too apt to forget that, while there are distinctions as to the persons in the Trinity, there are no distinctions of honour. We too frequently ascribe the honour of our salvation, or at least the depths of its benevolence, more to Jesus Christ than we do the Father. This is a very great mistake. What if Jesus came? Did not His Father send Him? If He spake wondrously, did not His Father pour grace into His lips, that He might be an able minister of the new covenant? He who knoweth the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost as he should know them, never setteth one before another in his love; he sees them at Bethlehem, at Gethsemane, and on Calvary, all equally engaged in the work of salvation.

O Christian, hast thou put thy confidence in the Man Christ Jesus? Hast thou placed thy reliance solely on Him? And art thou united with Him? Then believe that thou art united unto the God of heaven. Since to the Man Christ Jesus thou art brother, and holdest closest fellowship, thou art linked thereby with God the Eternal, and "the Ancient of days" is thy Father and thy friend. Didst thou ever consider the depth of love in the heart of Jehovah, when God the Father equipped His Son for the great enterprise of mercy? If not, be this thy day's meditation. The Father sent Him! Contemplate that subject. Think how Jesus works what the Father wills. In the wounds of the dying Saviour see the love of the great I AM. Let every thought of Jesus be also connected with the Eternal, ever-blessed God, for "It pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief."

~Charles Spurgeon, Morning by Morning devotional

Sunday Night at the Movies

Showing tonight in the Mountain Musings family room: How to Disciple Your Family - A Plan for Generational Victory by Vision Forum - 10 DVDs.

Notes taken from the first DVD:

7 Prayers to Pray for our Children

• That the Lord would save the souls of all of our children early in life and that none be lost. Lord, save our children.
• That the Lord would place in the heart of our children to be covenant keepers of the God of their fathers. Have mercy on them, Lord.
• That the Lord would send blessed, well-suited, Christ-loving spouses to our progeny. Lord, we pray for no divorce for 200 years.
• That all our children will continue to home educate their own children, following the Biblical model for discipleship. Lord, may all our children home-educate.
• That God would bless the wombs of our daughters and daughters-in-law with a multitude of children who love Christ and who will be mighty in the Lord.
• Lord, bless and make faithful the labors of the family in all of its generations.
• That children will honor their fathers and mothers and be faithful to the godly and applicable visions their fathers give to them.

Wonderful prayers to pray for our children. We're looking forward to hearing more of the DVDs another evening.

~Deb