The Shepherd Boy sings in the Valley of Humiliation

He that is down needs fear no fall,
He that is low, no pride;
He that is humble ever shall
Have God to be his guide.

I am content with what I have,
Little be it or much:
And, Lord, contentment still I crave,
Because Thou savest such.

Fullness to such a burden is
That go on pilgrimage:
Here little, and hearafter bliss,
Is best from age to age.

~John Bunyan

O for a Thousand Tongues

O for a thousand tongues to sing my geat Redeemer's praise,
The glories of my God and King, the triumpohs of His grace.
My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim,
To spread thru all the earth abroad the honors of Thy name.
Jesus! the name that chams our fears, that bids our sorrows cease,
'Tis music in the sinner's ears, 'Tis life and health and peace.
He breaks the pow'r of canceled sin, He sets the pris'ner free,
His blood can make the foulest clean - His blood availed for me.
Hear Him, ye deaf; His prase, ye dumb, your loosened tongues employ;
Ye blind, behold your Savior come; and leap, ye lame, for joy.
Glory to God and praise and love be ever, ever giv'n
By saints below and saints above - the Church in earth and heav'n.

~Charles Wesley

Destruction of the Spanish Armada 1588

Perfect Woman

She was a phantom of delight,
When first she gleam'd upon my sight;
a lovely apparition, sent
To be a moment's ornament;
Her eyes as stars of twilight fair;
Like twilight's, too, her dusky hair;
But all things else about her drawn
From May-time and the cheerful dawn;
A dancing shape, an image gay,
To haunt, to startle, and waylay.

I saw her upon nearer view,
A Spirit, yet a Woman too!
Her household motions light and free,
And steps of virgin liberty;
A countenance in which did meet
Sweet records, promises as sweet;
A creature not too bright or good
For human nature’s daily food;
For transient sorrows, simple wiles,
Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles.

And now I see with eye serene
The very pulse of the machine;
A being breathing thoughtful breath,
A traveller between life and death;
The reason firm, the temperate will,
Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill;
A perfect Woman, nobly plann'd
To warn, to comfort, and command;
And yet a Spirit still, and bright
With something of angelic light.

~William Wordsworth

Bliss

"My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God." Proverbs 2:1-5

Oh the wisdom that I so long for! I have found the house in which she dwells. Where is this house in which men melt and crumble to pieces at her mere presence... Veritas.

Matthew Chapter Seven

I was reading today and in Matthew 7 and i noticed several things:

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." vv. 13,14

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" vv.21-23


The things that stuck out to me were that "few find" the narrow gate that does not lead to destruction.
Also it appears that the people that say "Lord, Lord" actually prophesied, drove out demons, and performed many miracles in his name, but it is the people who do the will of the Father who enter the kingdom.

"Therefore everyone who hears these word of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." vv.24-27

Many people in churches today hear the words of Christ, many people pray, cast out demons, and perform miracles in the Fathers name, but how many people are seeking to "do the will of the Father"? How many people put to practice what Jesus said? How many have entered through the narrow gate?

Should we be pushing for people to join the church or be part of a movement, or to simply do the will of the Father in heaven?

The Dying Christian to his Soul

Vital spark of heav'nly flame!
Quit, O quit this mortal frame:
Trembling, hoping, ling'ring, flying,
O the pain, the bliss of dying!
Cease, found Nature, cease they strife,
And let me languish into life.

Hark! they whisper; angels say,
Sister Spirit, come away!
What is this absorbs me quite?
Steals my senses, shuts my sight,
Drowns my spirits, draws my breath?
Tell me, my soul, can this be death?

The world recedes; it disappears!
Heav'n opens on my eyes! my ears
With sounds seraphic ring!
Len, lend your wings! I mount! I fly!
O Grave! where is they victory?
O Death! where is they sting?

~Alexander Pope