New coop is up! Old coop is destroyed. #backyardchickens

Spurgeon's Faith's Checkbook (August 30th) Solace, Security, Satisfaction Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow — 2 Samuel 23:5 This is not so much one promise as an aggregate of promises - a box of pearls. The covenant is the ark which contains all things. These are the last words of David, but they may be mine today. Here is a sigh: things are not with me and mine as I could wish; there are trials, cares, and sins. These make the pillow hard. Here is a solace - "He hath made with me an everlasting covenant." Jehovah has pledged Himself to me, and sealed the compact with the blood of Jesus. I am bound to my God, and my God to me. This brings into prominence a security, since this covenant is everlasting, well ordered and sure. There is nothing to fear from the lapse of time, the failure of some forgotten point, or the natural uncertainty of things. The covenant is a rocky foundation to build on for life or for death. David feels satisfaction: he wants no more for salvation or delectation. He is delivered, and he is delighted. The covenant is all a man can desire. O my soul, turn thou this day to thy Lord Jesus, whom the great Lord has given to be a covenant to the people. Take Him to be thine all in all. #faith #bible #christian

If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me. — Robert Murray McCheyne #faith #bible #christian

I used some panels I had left over from a shed I had that got destroyed in a storm to improve what I call my "chicken compound". Then I added a nice heavy duty tarp to keep my girls dry. This is still a work in progress, but I'm happy with it. There will soon be 12 hens in there, 8 call it home right now. Next on the list is a bigger coop to add on the outside. Who else in nostr land has chickens? #backyardchickens

The angel of Yahweh encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them. — Psalm 34:7 #faith #bible #christian

Spurgeon's Faith's Checkbook (August 29th) Plentiful Refreshment Their soul shall be as a watered garden — Jeremiah 31:12 Oh, to have one's soul under heavenly cultivation; no longer a wilderness, but a garden of the Lord! Enclosed from the waste, walled around by grace, planted by instruction, visited by love, weeded by heavenly discipline, and guarded by divine power, one's favored soul is prepared to yield fruit unto the Lord. But a garden may become parched for want of water, and then all its herbs decline, and are ready to die. O my soul, how soon would this be the case were the Lord to leave thee! In the East, a garden without water soon ceases to be a garden at all: nothing can come to perfection, grow, or even live. When irrigation is kept up, the result is charming. Oh, to have one's soul watered by the Holy Spirit uniformly - every part of the garden having its own stream; plentifully - a sufficient refreshment coming to every tree and herb, however thirsty by nature it may be; continually - each hour bringing not only its heat, but its refreshment; wisely - each plant receiving just what it needs. In a garden you can see by the verdure where the water flows, and you can soon perceive when the Spirit of God comes. O Lord, water me this day, and cause me to yield thee a full reward, for Jesus' sake. Amen. #faith #bible #christian

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 1 Cor 15:20-22 #faith #bible #christian

Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him. — Psalm 32:10 #faith #bible #christian

Spurgeon's Faith's Checkbook (August 28th) Out of Any Circumstance As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me — Psalm 55:16 Yes, I must and will pray. What else can I do? What better can I do? Betrayed, forsaken, grieved, baffled, O my Lord, I will call upon thee. My Ziklag is in ashes, and men speak of stoning me; but I encourage my heart in the Lord, who will bear me through this trial as He has borne me through so many others. Jehovah shall save me; I am sure He will, and I declare my faith. The Lord and no one else shall save me. I desire no other helper, and would not trust in an arm of flesh even if I could. I will cry to Him evening, and morning, and noon, and I will cry to no one else, for He is All-sufficient. How He will save me I cannot guess; but He will do it, I know. He will do it in the best and surest way, and He will do it in the largest, truest, and fullest sense. Out of this trouble and all future troubles the great I AM will bring me as surely as He lives; and when death comes, and all the mysteries of eternity follow thereon, still will this be true: "the Lord shall save me." This shall be my song all through this autumn day. Is it not as a ripe apple from the tree of life? I will feed upon it. How sweet it is to my taste! #faith #bible #christian

Spurgeon's Faith's Checkbook (August 27th) Choice Men I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction — Isaiah 48:10 This has long been the motto fixed before our eye upon the wall of our bedroom, and in many ways it has also been written on our heart. It is no mean thing to be chosen of God. God's choice makes chosen men choice men. Better to be the elect of God than the elect of a whole nation. So eminent is this privilege, that whatever drawback may be joined to it we very joyfully accept it, even as the Jew ate the bitter herbs for the sake of the Paschal Lamb. We choose the furnace, since God chooses us in it. We are chosen as an afflicted people, and not as a prosperous people, chosen not in the palace, but in the furnace. In the furnace beauty is marred, fashion is destroyed, strength is melted, glory is consumed, and yet here eternal love reveals its secrets, and declares its choice. So has it been in our case. In times of severest trial God has made to us our calling and election plain, and we have made it sure: then have we chosen the Lord to be our God, and He has shown that we are assuredly His chosen. Therefore, if today the furnace be heated seven times hotter, we will not dread it, for the glorious Son of God will walk with us amid the glowing coals. #faith #bible #christian

Spurgeon's Faith's Checkbook (August 27th) Choice Men I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction — Isaiah 48:10 This has long been the motto fixed before our eye upon the wall of our bedroom, and in many ways it has also been written on our heart. It is no mean thing to be chosen of God. God's choice makes chosen men choice men. Better to be the elect of God than the elect of a whole nation. So eminent is this privilege, that whatever drawback may be joined to it we very joyfully accept it, even as the Jew ate the bitter herbs for the sake of the Paschal Lamb. We choose the furnace, since God chooses us in it. We are chosen as an afflicted people, and not as a prosperous people, chosen not in the palace, but in the furnace. In the furnace beauty is marred, fashion is destroyed, strength is melted, glory is consumed, and yet here eternal love reveals its secrets, and declares its choice. So has it been in our case. In times of severest trial God has made to us our calling and election plain, and we have made it sure: then have we chosen the Lord to be our God, and He has shown that we are assuredly His chosen. Therefore, if today the furnace be heated seven times hotter, we will not dread it, for the glorious Son of God will walk with us amid the glowing coals. #faith #bible #christian

Spurgeon's Faith's Checkbook (August 27th) Choice Men I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction — Isaiah 48:10 This has long been the motto fixed before our eye upon the wall of our bedroom, and in many ways it has also been written on our heart. It is no mean thing to be chosen of God. God's choice makes chosen men choice men. Better to be the elect of God than the elect of a whole nation. So eminent is this privilege, that whatever drawback may be joined to it we very joyfully accept it, even as the Jew ate the bitter herbs for the sake of the Paschal Lamb. We choose the furnace, since God chooses us in it. We are chosen as an afflicted people, and not as a prosperous people, chosen not in the palace, but in the furnace. In the furnace beauty is marred, fashion is destroyed, strength is melted, glory is consumed, and yet here eternal love reveals its secrets, and declares its choice. So has it been in our case. In times of severest trial God has made to us our calling and election plain, and we have made it sure: then have we chosen the Lord to be our God, and He has shown that we are assuredly His chosen. Therefore, if today the furnace be heated seven times hotter, we will not dread it, for the glorious Son of God will walk with us amid the glowing coals. #faith #bible #christian

Spurgeon's Faith's Checkbook (August 27th) Choice Men I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction — Isaiah 48:10 This has long been the motto fixed before our eye upon the wall of our bedroom, and in many ways it has also been written on our heart. It is no mean thing to be chosen of God. God's choice makes chosen men choice men. Better to be the elect of God than the elect of a whole nation. So eminent is this privilege, that whatever drawback may be joined to it we very joyfully accept it, even as the Jew ate the bitter herbs for the sake of the Paschal Lamb. We choose the furnace, since God chooses us in it. We are chosen as an afflicted people, and not as a prosperous people, chosen not in the palace, but in the furnace. In the furnace beauty is marred, fashion is destroyed, strength is melted, glory is consumed, and yet here eternal love reveals its secrets, and declares its choice. So has it been in our case. In times of severest trial God has made to us our calling and election plain, and we have made it sure: then have we chosen the Lord to be our God, and He has shown that we are assuredly His chosen. Therefore, if today the furnace be heated seven times hotter, we will not dread it, for the glorious Son of God will walk with us amid the glowing coals. #faith #bible #christian

"The kingdom is God’s historical program, bringing all areas of life on earth subject to Christ." - John Frame #faith #bible #christian

"The kingdom is God’s historical program, bringing all areas of life on earth subject to Christ." - John Frame #faith #bible #christian

Spurgeon's Faith's Checkbook (August 25th) Food and Rest I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God — Ezekiel 34:15 Under the divine shepherdry saints are fed to the full. Theirs is not a windy, unsatisfying mess of mere human "thought"; but the Lord feeds them upon the solid, substantial truth of divine revelation. There is real nutriment for the soul in Scripture brought home to the heart by the Holy Spirit. Jesus, Himself, is the true life-sustaining Food of believers. Here our Great Shepherd promises that such sacred nourishment shall be given us by His own self. If, on the Lord's Day, our earthly shepherd is empty-handed, the Lord is not. When filled with holy truth the mind rests. Those whom Jehovah feeds are at peace. No dog shall worry them, no wolf shall devour them, no restless propensities shall disturb them. They shall lie down and digest the food which they have enjoyed. The doctrines of grace are not only sustaining, but consoling: in them we have the means for building up and lying down. If preachers do not give us rest, let us look to the Lord for it. This day may the Lord cause us to feed in the pastures of the Word, and make us to lie down in them. May no folly, and no worry, but Meditation and Peace mark this day. #faith #bible #christian

Spurgeon's Faith's Checkbook (August 24th) God above Human Philosophy For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent — 1 Corinthians 1:19 This verse is a threatening so far as the worldly-wise are concerned, but to the simple believer it is a promise. The professedly learned are for ever trying to bring to nothing the faith of the humble believer, but they fail in their attempts. Their arguments break down, their theories fall under their own weight, their deep-laid plots discover themselves before their purpose is accomplished. The old gospel is not extinct yet, nor will it be while the Lord liveth. If it could have been exterminated it would have perished from off the earth long ago. We cannot destroy the wisdom of the wise, nor need we attempt it, for the work is in far better hands. The Lord Himself says, "I will," and He never resolves in vain. Twice does He in this verse declare His purpose, and we may rest assured that He will not turn aside from it. What clean work the Lord makes of philosophy and "modern thought" when He puts His hand to it! He brings the fine appearance down to nothing; He utterly destroys the wood, hay, and stubble. It is written that so it shall be, and so shall it be. Lord, make short work of it. Amen, and Amen. #faith #bible #christian

New article in the local paper by my pastor: You must become small to be great. "One day, the disciples asked Jesus who was the greatest in the kingdom. These were motivated dudes, after all, wanting to know how to advance, how to climb that ladder. Jesus pointed to a child and told them to become like that. Some preachers have turned this text into a “How To Be Saved” sort of story. They think the disciples were asking about entrance to the kingdom, not status within it. So, the evangelistic answer is that we must have a so-called childlike faith. They don’t consider this in light of places where Jesus recommends a lot of serious, sober consideration of what it means to follow him. The goal of biblical faith is not to become children. It’s maturity. There is no place in Scripture where people are urged to be childlike in their faith. They are constantly told that their immaturity is a problem, and they need to grow up. Their question was not, Lord, how may we enter your kingdom? The question was, Lord, who is the greatest in the kingdom? They were prone to having these types of discussions among themselves. The mother of James and John even got involved once, advocating for the status of her sons. This time, his answer surely baffled them: he pointed at a child. Become like this. Not so that you become immature and naive, much less gullibly willing to believe things without evidence or reason. No. Become like this lowliest member of society. Become like this one, who has no power over anyone. Become despised, not glorified. Be humble, not exalted. Be small, not great. This child can’t physically force anyone to do anything. It can’t force obedience from others. It has exactly zero executive control over anyone. Of course, anyone who’s had children knows they quickly figure out ways of manipulating people, so they get what they want. I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest that Jesus was not recommending that sort of thing. He was talking about status, and the power that comes with being great. The child was an object lesson against that. It was a lesson in conflict with the whole history of executive power. Executive power may be defined as the ability to force people to conform to your will. You can have it naturally, by showing up as the biggest, scariest guy around. Or, you can get it from an organization that supplies you with a title or position that allows you to wield the organization’s authority. In the ancient Roman empire, children were so unimportant, they were non-persons. They were throw-away people: it was legal to leave babies out to die of exposure or as prey to dogs, for instance. King Herod slaughtered a whole host of infants in Bethlehem without any injury to his career. “How can I be great, Lord?” Christ points at a small child and says, “Become this.” Stop seeking position and power. Jesus would further illustrate this, as in my last column, by taking up a towel and basin and doing the job of a household slave for all of them. Shortly after that, he would humble himself to the point of death for them. This is greatness in the kingdom. It’s not fancy, but it’s real. Gordan Runyan is the pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Tucumcari. Contact him at: reformnm@yahoo.com" #faith #bible #christian https://www.qcsunonline.com/story/2023/08/23/opinion/you-must-become-small-to-be-great/25054.html

“Because Christ is King of kings, Christians are assured of two things: warfare to the death against all would-be-gods; and the complete triumph of the Christian faith over all its enemies.” -David Chilton #faith #bible #christian

As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on thing and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down you cannot see something that is above you. C.S. Lewis