Christmas 2020 Amidst Broken Dreams

Broken dreams? Should this be the focus of CandyceLand just a few days before Christmas? Well, yes, I believe so.  As I learned from GriefShare, Christmas is the "Sufferers Holiday"  because Jesus' birth marks the beginning of the end of suffering, pain, and broken dreams. It gives us the best reason ever to celebrate. Jesus was born in poverty and slept in a feeding trough, yet His humble birth leads to the death of all tragedies, hurts, tears, even to the death of death itself. 

But in the meantime, we live in the here and now on this side of heaven in 2020. While the future looks glorious, we do admit that some days it feels pretty bleak. Vaneetha Rendall Risner has written a wonderful article on how to reconcile this already/not yet life that we live. As a reminder, Vaneetha has the credentials for writing such an article - a firm and faithful believer and yet she has lived with immeasurable sorrows and physical trials since she was a very young girl. 

"Twenty-one surgeries (polio) by age thirteen. Years in the hospital. Verbal and physical bullying from schoolmates. Multiple miscarriages as a young wife. The death of a child (due to physician error). A debilitating progressive disease (now in≥ a wheelchair). Abandonment. Unwanted divorce." (From the back cover of her book The Scars That Have Shaped Me: How God Meets Us In Suffering.)

If you have time during this busiest of weeks, please read Vaneetha's perspective on this subject. And then reflect upon the following excerpt from "Joy To the World." Only with this solid hope of Christ's coming kingdom can we celebrate Christmas with the joy it deserves.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love

And wonders, wonders, of His love.

CandyceLand Invites You to Join In a Resolution To Read The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards

Jonathan Edwards was one of the most famous, and some would say, one of the most faithful and influential Minsters of the Gospel in American history. He was born in 1703 and died in 1758. Edwards was used mightily in The Great Awakening - an amazing spiritual revival in the US that took place in the 18th Century.

When Edwards was 18 or 19 years old, he wrote 70 resolutions that he hoped would keep him faithful and true to all of Scripture. I discovered them many years ago and thought they were wonderful, but somehow still seemed to lose track of them in the busyness of life. I recently came across them once again, and have made my own "resolution" to read one of these each day beginning on January 1st. Lord willing, and with His help, perhaps this is one resolution I will actually keep! 

Would anyone like to join me in reading one per day? The daily time commitment is 1 minute for reading and hopefully all day to contemplate their application to our individual lives. 😊

I have provided two links to choose from. Each has its own benefits. The first divides Jonathan Edwards' 70 Resolutions into topics and the second just lists them in the numerical way in which Edwards wrote them.

Topically: Click Here

In Numerical Sequence: Click Here

The Story Behind The Song

In case you didn't know this, CandyceLand has been around for a long, long time. I just checked and I've been writing since early August of 2009 - so more than 11 years. I often joke with people that if ever they experience insomnia they should feel free to read the 478 blogposts that I've written - a sure cure to make you fall asleep. 😂

Anyway, I digress a bit. Back 'in the day' I used to devote many articles to the "Story Behind the Song," meaning the background to the writing of sacred hymns. Somehow understanding how God used certain circumstances to plant music and words in a composition that we still sing today is both heart-wrenching AND beautiful. 

I have written before about my tendency to cry while singing hymns. Often it occurs because the words and music of a song touch my very soul, reaching down and taking hold of my emotions. Sometimes though, I cry because of the story behind the writing of these hymns. And most often it's a combination of the words, music, and personal history of the hymn writer that make me weep the most. 

Here is today's offering in a beautiful format. I was amazed to see and hear a wonderful performance of the history behind "It Is Well With My Soul."  Most of us know the story already, but this particular presentation is worth experiencing. It is narrated by Hugh Bonneville, known to many of us as Lord Grantham of Downton Abbey fame. What an orator! 

So when you have time, sit back (for 16 mins and 40 seconds) with your favorite cup of tea and a box of tissues and thank God that His sovereignty, even in the midst of sometimes devastating afflictions, has led to many precious songs that encourage us even centuries later. Enjoy!

Click Here To Watch

Duty AND Delight (Or Grapes VS. Honeycombs)

Candy's thoughts: I distinctly remember the day when Steve and I decided to tithe to our local church. We were new believers and the concept of giving a set amount to our church was truly daunting. We were living in one of the most expensive towns in the state of Connecticut, in the cheapest rental house we could find, and we had wild mushrooms growing up through the floor in one of our rooms! We just had our second child with a third one following soon after, the business that Steve was working in was struggling (and did fail), so financially we were looking at an uncertain future. But Steve did a biblical study on tithing as a Christian minimum and was persuaded that we should do this. So I said "Okayyyyyy, we'll see how this goes" and more than 35 years later I can validate C. H. Spurgeon's claim that "Our Father holds the funds, and what we lose for His sake He can provide for us."

Financial support of a local church is a Biblical duty, but that alone shouldn't be the end goal. Just a few days ago I was reading 2 Cor 9: 6-7 where Paul makes the "God loves a cheerful giver" statement that is famously known by many both in the church and outside of it as well. I hope you like Spurgeon's attempt to make us understand the delight part of the duty to give as much as I did:

Spurgeons' thoughts: "God loves a cheerful giver. What is meant by a 'cheerful giver?' It means giving not reluctantly or out of compulsion, not giving as though we wished we could avoid it, and therefore giving as little as possible. Not counting the pennies and reckoning them to be as precious as drops of blood, but giving with ease, spontaneity, freeness, pleasure - this is a cheerful giver. 

To be this cheerful giver, we must give  proportionately as the Lord has prospered us. Much has been said about giving a tenth of one's income to the Lord. I think that is a Christian duty that none should for a moment question. If it were a duty under the Jewish law, much more is it so now, under the Christian dispensation. But it is a great mistake to suppose the Jews only gave a tenth; they gave much more than that. The tenth was the payment they must make, but after that came all the freewill offerings, all the various gifts at different seasons of the year. We are not to make an estimate of what to give by what will appear respectable or by what is expected of us by other people. We are to give as God has prospered us.

A cheerful giver is also a willing giver. We are not to be like the young grape that must be pressed and squeezed to get the juice out because it is not ripe. Rather, we ought to be like the honeycomb dripping spontaneously with fresh honey...

The cheerful giver also gives earnestly, and that includes the gifts of time and service. A cheerful giver always wishes he could give ten times as much; a cheerful doer always wants to have more capacity for doing. God loves this cheerfulness, this heartiness, this wholeheartedness, this intenseness, this fire of the soul."

Facing A Task Unfinished

 

I freely admit that I have a strange mind. This entire last week I had planned on doing a post on a totally different subject than what you will read below. But yesterday I enjoyed (and I'm not being sarcastic!) 3 times of leaf-blowing while listening to music that I adore by people I trust in terms of sound theology and beautiful melodies. Despite sore arms from lifting the blower and shaky hands for hours later from the vibrations of the power surges from this mighty machine, I have LOVED listening with headphones cranked very high to overcome the noise of the blower to "Facing A Task Unfinished" by Keith and Kristyn Getty. This DVD was released the day after I saw them perform it at a conference I attended in Indianapolis about 4 years ago. 

The title of this CD gives a hint as to its focus: a mission to spread the gospel throughout the world. The Gettys do an amazing job in their compositions and lyrics to get all of us pumped to see that this goal is achieved. 

(Also, it occurred to me that the title song is a great reminder of another, much less important task: removing leaves from our home. I'm pretty sure I'm starting to recognize previously blown leaves! This task never ends. 😂😂😂) 

Here are just a few of the songs for you to sample. Enjoy!!!

Facing A Task Unfinished

The Lord Is My Salvation

For The Cause

Lift High The Name of Jesus

Quotables #8

It's time to clean up the screenshots on my phone, and so I present to you the best quotes I have found since August. Get ready to vote on your favorites!

Mine are #2, 3, 9, 10, 11

1. "There are, in truth, but two denominations upon this earth: The Church and The World - Those who are justified in Christ Jesus and those who are condemned in their sins."  C.H. Spurgeon

2.  "We shall not grow weary of waiting upon God if we remember how long and how graciously He once waited for us."  C.H. Spurgeon

3. "The pain now is part of the happiness then. That's the deal. To deny that loss is to deny the love." C.S. Lewis

4. "The most rapturous delights you have ever had - in the beauty of a landscape, or in the pleasure of food, or in the fulfillment of a loving embrace - are like dewdrops compared to the bottomless ocean of joy that it will be see God face-to-face (1 John 3:1-3)."  Tim Keller

5.  "The culture doesn't dictate truth; the Gospel dictates truth."  Voddie Baucham

6.  "The Bible tells of flawed people - people just like me - who make shockingly bad choices and yet still find themselves pursued by God."  Philip Yancey

7.  "Nothing can hurt God's people except and until God permits. We are all immortal till our work is done. To realize that nothing happens in the world except by the eternal counsels of our Father and according to His eternal plans, is one grand secret of living a calm, peaceful, and contented life."  J.C. Ryle

8.  "It is a good rule never to look into the face of a man until you have looked into the face of God." Charles Spurgeon

9. "The opening chapter of Genesis is a rejection of atheism (because there is a God), a rejection of polytheism (because there is only one God), a rejection of pantheism (because the creation is not God), a rejection of humanism (because man is not God), a rejection of naturalistic evolution (because the world and its creatures come into being by intelligent design), a rejection of materialism (because the physical world is not all that is really there), and a rejection of dualism (because both the spiritual and physical are not opposed)."  Kevin DeYoung

10.  "When you look at any human being, you are seeing someone for whom someone has wept and prayer, or at someone for whom no one has wept and prayed. Either way, humanity."  Marilynne Robinson

11.  "Trust God in the dark until the light returns."  A.W. Tozer

12.  "But while there is much weakness in our faith, there will be much strength in our fear."  John Flavel

13.  "The tongue exists to reveal our hearts."  John Calvin

14.  "At the heart of most religions is a moral code. At the heart of Christianity is a cross, planted in the middle of history."  Michael Horton

15.  "I pray with all my heart that God will awaken each one of us today, to the sweetness, the loveliness, the Glory of the Gospel, declared by Christ."  The final words of the last sermon preached by R.C. Sproul

Something Biblical, Practical, Beneficial, AND Uncontroversial Regarding the Election

Here are some helpful thoughts from Alistair Begg on the eve of the election:

You will probably be reading this letter within days of the election. If, as we are led to believe, the result will not be known for some time, here is an exercise for us—it is biblical, and practical, and extremely beneficial:

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.” (1 Thess. 5:16–18) 

It is the comprehensive nature of this exhortation (always, constantly, all ) that makes it so demanding. The good news is this: the exhortations of the Bible are never there without the enabling of the Holy Spirit.

When it comes to physical exercise, it’s not uncommon for me to sidestep it because I don’t feel like it. Whatever the outcome of the election, we may find ourselves responding similarly: “I don’t feel like being joyful, thankful, and prayerful. Why should I?” The answer is in the balance of the text: “for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

The Thessalonians had received the Word in much affliction. Life was no cakewalk, and so, if they functioned on the strength of their emotions, they would never have had the impact for which they were commended (1 Thess. 1:7). They had learned, as Spurgeon put it, to trust Him whose power is inexhaustible, whose love is unbreakable, whose kindness is unchangeable, whose faithfulness is unfailing, whose wisdom is unfathomable, and whose goodness is impregnable.  

It is surely providential that these political events come in the context of Thanksgiving. We may not sing around our tables, but we can at least recite these words from a harvest hymn: 

We thank you, then, O Father,

For all things bright and good:

The seed-time and the harvest,

Our life, our health, our food;

No gifts have we to offer

For all your love imparts,

But that which you desire now:

Our humble, thankful hearts!

Have You Read A BOB Lately?

One of my fondest moments in my life came when I was about 10 years old. I was sick with... wait for it... bronchitis. (Yes, bronchitis has been with me for a long, long time!) Anyway, while tucked away in bed my mother opened my door and placed a stack of 8 or so BIG library books right next to me and said "Have fun reading!"  What?!?  Was she thinking I could read all those? She answered "Of course you can" and walked away.  As usual, mothers know best and she was right. I became a BIG reader and some of my favorite times were walking to the local town library by myself and staying there for a long time while looking through all the rows and rows of books. Even now I can almost remember the 'smell' of the building and can almost 'see' the faces of the librarians. See the picture above! 

I then went to college and took a course in Russian Literature and was obsessed with Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. I then moved on to British Literature and really found my stride: Austen, Dickens, Gaskell, the Bronte sisters, and George Eliot. My American favorites? Alcott, Steinbeck, Hawthorne, Wharton. 

When asked, though, I could never really articulate WHY I loved all these "Classics." I found myself relying on standard phrases like "Timeless Treasures" or "Of Universal Appeal."  What I didn't know, and couldn't know until I became a Christ-follower, is that good books embody themes of sin and suffering and (hopefully) redemption. While not overtly using words like 'sin' and 'depravity' and the 'human condition' our minds can be expanded to look at the grander perspective of life through characters who struggle as we do. In a word, there is 'meaning' behind the story.

There has been a revival in the last few years of encouraging Christians to engage with Classic Literature, aka BIG OLD BOOKS.  Click here for the most recent article of this kind by Josh Irby published just a few days ago. [By the way, the author uses War and Peace as an example of how to read a book for the 'bigger perspective.' If you intend to read War and Peace and don't want any spoilers, you can skip those paragraphs.] I recommend that you read his column and hear from someone else the virtues of enhancing your spiritual life by the reading of good classic literature. As the author states: "As we spend hours observing the life of another—be it Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment, or Churchill in the The Last Lion, or Pierre in War and Peace—we cannot help but reflect on our own life and the state of our souls."

Finally, Josh concludes his message with this statement: "So, read the Bible. No literature could ever take its place. Read great Christian books. We need to hear the voices of our brothers and sisters through the centuries. But also make time for great literature. Read Big Old Books and find your Christian life enriched."

Keep Open Every Possible Connection

When I was a young mom of just one child, I joined a "Mother's Group" at our local church in Connecticut where we were living at the time. One day the leader asked us to go around the circle and tell everyone how we came to be believers. One answer really stands out, from a young mom of just one child as well. She said that she had never not believed, since everyone in her immediate AND extended family were confessing evangelicals, without exception. Someone asked "Are you sure?" but she replied yes. All of us were amazed and praised God for His unusual working in this one family.  

I have never heard that same kind of testimony again. Every Christian I have ever met or become friends with seems to have their own stories of how one family member (or many) have strayed from the faith. And 'prodigals' are not always just young adults. There are parents, grandchildren, spouses, siblings, and even pastors within our family or faith circles that have, for various reasons, departed from the Lord and His Church. Oh to imagine the parable of the Prodigal Son realized for one of our loved ones!

I found an article recently about the prodigals in our lives written a couple of years ago by Russell Moore, an ethicist and preacher within the Southern Baptist Convention. The following excerpt is what caught my eye and compelled me to read further. His encouragement gives me great hope for all those that have wandered. Perhaps it will for all of you as well as you pray continually for your dear family members and friends who need to be brought back to the faith they once confessed. 

"When dealing with those wandering away from the faith, we must recognize that sometimes they’ll not start evaluating the deep questions of their lives until they find themselves in a situation where they don’t know what to do. We must be the sort of parents and grandparents and churches who have kept open every possible connection, so that our prodigals will know how to get back home, and know we’ll meet them at the road, already planning a homecoming party."

Please Click Here for the entirety of Russell Moore's essay. You won't be disappointed, and it might even bring you some joy as you consider God's mercy for so many of us former prodigals!

The Prayingest Prayer

As is often the case, I arose this morning determined to write on a specific topic, but what you will read below isn't it! Either I am led by the Holy Spirt OR I am just a very fickle person. 😆

I started to read a small book today entitled Pray Big: Learn to Pray Like an Apostle by Alistair Begg. So far I can testify that Chapter 1 was great. The focus is 'Prayer Is Dependent.'  SPOILER ALERT: Begg's main point is that we need to recognize our dependence upon God for ALL things:

"To pray is an admission and and an expression of dependence. A self-assured person is not going to pray prayers of petition; there's no need to pray if you think you have got it all covered. A self-righteous person is not going to pray prayers of confession; there's no need to pray if you think you're good enough to earn God's blessing. But the person who knows their heart before God - the person who knows the depth of their need of forgiveness and help from God - does what Paul does. They bow their knees (Ephesians 3:14)."

Begg then addresses the issue of praying on one's knees and concludes with this summary: 

"I'm not saying we must kneel. The posture of our hearts and not our bodies is the issue. Are we coming to God in dependence? Are we asking him to bless our work, to empower our service, to change our flaws, to forgive our sins? What matters is a dependent heart, not a particular posture, as one of my favorite poems makes hilariously clear:

"The proper way for a man to pray,"

Said Deacon Lemuel Keyes,

"And the only proper attitude,

Is down upon his knees."

"No, I should say the way to pray,"

Said Reverend Doctor Wise,

"Is standing straight, with outstretched arms,

With rapt and upturned eyes."

"Oh no, no, no," said Elder Snow.

"Such posture is too proud;

A man should pray with eyes fast closed

And head contritely bowed."

"It seems to me one's hand should be

Astutely clasped in front,

With both thumbs pointed toward the ground,"

Said Reverend Doctor Blunt.

"Last year I fell in Hodgkin's well

Head first," said Cyrus Brown,

"With both my heels a-sticken up,

And my head a-pointing down;

And I done prayed right there and then

Best prayer I ever said,

The prayingest prayer I ever prayed,

Standing on my head."   (Sam Walter Foss)

Begg's final comment: "The "prayingest" prayer - real prayer - is a prayer of a dependent person to a divine Person."

Are You Wearing Your Ps39 (or Jms3) Mask?

Candy's thoughts: I believe that months ago I introduced you to our good friend Bob Bjerkaas who is a pastor in California. He writes a terrific blog and this week it was devoted to Ps. 39 and James 3 which is very relevant to our Women's Bible Study classes at EPC. I just love his imagery of a Scriptural masks and I hope that I will remember this lesson even when COVID-19 is just a distant memory. 

Bob's thoughts: Among the many things that we will never forget about the year 2020 is the ubiquitous mask.  Masks are everywhere.  They are in the car on the dashboard or center console.  They are on the end table, the kitchen counter, and the hutch in the dining room.  They are on my dresser.  They are in a pile on top of the clothes dryer.  They are everywhere.

And they are uncomfortable.  They make your glasses fog up.  The straps chafe behind your ears.  All of this is particularly unfortunate because they are required to be out and about in public.  Going shopping?  Don’t forget your mask – you won’t be allowed into the store without it!  Going out to dinner – bring your mask.  Going to church – masks required.  And should you be so unfortunate as to forget to put your mask on, prepare for our oh-so-polite culture’s stare downs and passive aggressive commentary!

But one thing that I appreciate about masks is the way they have reminded me to be careful what comes out of my mouth.  In Psalm 39:1, David says, “I will guard my ways, that I might not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle.”

Much like the purpose of our 2020 masks, the purpose of David’s muzzle was very simple – to keep bad stuff from leaving his mouth.

Think about how many times the things that you have said have either caused or contributed to some of your worst difficulties.  How often have your words caused others unnecessary stress and pain?  Your tongue is described in the Bible as either being a “tree of life” or a weapon.   You bless people with your tongue but you also use it to curse them.  (James 3:10).  You, dear friend, need to put a mask on!

For the foreseeable future, you and I will need to put masks on whenever we go out into public.  And we will get nasty looks when we forget!  Up until this year I never knew what an N95 mask was – or why they were so important to our medical professionals and health service providers.  Do you as a Christian know how important the PS39 mask is?  As you minister to the people around you by what you say, will you be sure to wear it?  Will you, like David in Psalm 39, guard your ways – avoiding sin with your tongue by wearing a muzzle?

I think that there has been a shortage of PS39 masks this year.  This is especially important in your homes.  Be careful and intentional in the way that you speak to your spouse and kids.  And carry that diligence into your workplace and neighborhood as well!  Just think of how the virus of hurtful and useless words could be reduced if we all wore the PS39 mask!

Treasures in Heaven

I would like to share with you parts of two letters that Samuel Rutherford (born around 1600) wrote to one of his parishioners on the occasion of the death of her infant daughter. I have sent these excerpts over the years to those grieving the death of a loved one, and the recipients have always been comforted by them, as I have over the years as well. 

As you read them, you can insert the actual name of someone you loved and lost. For ease of reading I have changed a few of the words to ones that are more familiar to modern-day readers. 

“You have lost a child: nay, she is not lost to you who is found to Christ. She is not sent away, but only sent before, like unto a star, which going out of our sight does not die and vanish, but shines in another hemisphere. You see her not, yet she does shine in another country.  If her hourglass was short, what she lacked of time she has gotten in eternity; and you have to rejoice that you have now a treasure up in heaven.”

And in another letter:

“Do you think her lost, when she is but sleeping in the bosom of the Almighty?  Think her not absent who is in such a friend’s house. Is she lost to you who is found in Christ?  If she were with a dear friend, although you should never see her again, your care for her would be but small. Oh, now, is she not with a dear Friend? And gone higher, upon a certain hope that you shall, in the Resurrection, see her again, when she shall neither be hectic nor consumed in body…  I do speak this fearing your weakness; for your daughter was a part of yourself; and therefore, nature in you, being as it were cut and halved, will indeed be grieved.  But you have to rejoice, that when a part of you is on earth, a great part of you is glorified in heaven.”

Laughter and the Lord

I'll admit it, I like to laugh. There is nothing quite like hearing an amusing story or pun or viewing a picture that is just plain funny. But I've always pondered how this relates to God. Surely He is the one who gives us the ability to chuckle... so does He laugh as well?

I think He does. The evidence is throughout the Bible - in both the Old and New Testaments. Consider many of the Proverbs, for example. What funny images are sprinkled throughout the 31 chapters of this Wisdom book:

"It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife." (Prov 21:9)

"The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth."  (Prov 19:24)

"As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed."  (Prov 26:14)

Of course there is a serious lesson to be learned within these passages, but God uses memorable images that make us laugh AND remember the folly behind each one.

Or take the story of Abraham and Sarah, for years longing for a baby. Long after the promise was made to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations, no baby shower could be planned. The Scriptures then tell us that "Therefore, from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore." God promised them a son, and a son they got, but not before the husband in question could eventually be described with the phrase "as good as dead" that always causes me to laugh.

And Sarah laughed too! While eavesdropping on the angels talking to Abraham she heard that within a year she would be holding a baby boy. When he was born, he was aptly named "Isaac" which means "He laughs/Will laugh."  

Here is one of my favorite songs by Michael Card that summarized this whole episode of "an impossible promise come true!" Listen Here.

Finally, as evidence that God appreciates and probably even laughed while creating some of His creatures, look at these pictures and admit that they made you smile, and maybe even laugh out loud, as I did!

What Does It Mean To Pray Without Ceasing?

The following excerpt is from a podcast recorded by John Piper 4 years ago. Here is the link if you wish to listen to the 11 minute audio recording.  

If you don't have time to listen, I've highlighted some important parts of his teaching:

John Piper:

“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). If that life sounds hard to you — “pray without ceasing” — then Paul gives a specific example of the kind of prayer in 1 Thessalonians 5:18. It is not just, “Help, Lord,” which, of course, we would pray all the time. I need help to live this way. But he goes on and says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Let’s keep in mind two things about that context. One is the everys and the alls: “Do good always to everyone.” “Rejoice always.” “Pray always [or without ceasing].” “Give thanks always [or in every circumstance].” The other contextual observation is that there seems to be a deepening to the question “How? How to live?”

Answer: Do good always to everyone, even when they don’t do good to you. How? Rejoice always. Find your joy in something other than the way you are treated. How? Pray without ceasing. How? Be in a continual disposition of thankfulness to God.

Three Meanings

So, in those contexts, what does “pray without ceasing” mean? I see at least three things here that it means.

1. Spirit of Dependence

First, it means that there is a spirit of dependence that should permeate all we do. This is the very spirit and essence of prayer: dependence. So, even when we are not speaking consciously to God, there is a deep, abiding dependence on him that is woven into the very essence of our faith.

In that sense, we are praying. We are experiencing a spirit of dependence continuously, and that kind of disposition is, I think, right at the heart of what God creates when he creates a Christian.

2. Repeated and Frequent

The second meaning that it has (and I think this is probably the one that is foremost in Paul’s conscious intention here) is that praying without ceasing means praying repeatedly and often. I base that on the way he used the word unceasing in Romans 1:9. Listen to how he uses the same word for without ceasing. He says, “For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you.”

Now, we can be sure that Paul did not make mention of the Romans in every minute or second of his prayers or his days or his preaching. He prayed and he spoke about lots of other things besides the Romans. But he mentioned them over and over. He mentioned them often. He mentioned them regularly. So he says, “I mentioned you without ceasing.”

It doesn’t mean that he was verbally and mentally always, every second, mentioning them. It means that over and over, always, repeatedly, without fail, when I get on my knees, you are in my prayer. That is basically what I think he means by “pray without ceasing” — repeatedly and often.

3. Staying Steadfast

The third thing I think he means is this: not giving up on prayer. “Without ceasing” means you should never come to a point in your life when you say, “Prayer doesn’t work. I am done. I am giving up on prayer.” That would be the very opposite of “without ceasing.” It means, “Don’t ever do that. Don’t ever get to that point.”

So, the key to rejoicing always is to pray continually — that is, to lean on God all the time and to call to him repeatedly and often. Never give up looking to him for help. Come to him repeatedly during the day, and come often. Make the default state of your mind a Godward longing and a Godward thankfulness.

Living Well In A World of Wickhams

Last week I introduced CandyceLand readers to a new book entitled A Jane Austen Devotional. (See image below.)  The premise behind this work is that through her writings and published prayers, we can see that Austen displayed characters and themes very much akin to her biblical worldview. Frequent topics include forgiveness, redemption, justice, mercy, and sacrificial love. Her main characters exhibit both the 'desires of the flesh' and the 'fruits of the spirit.'  The author of this devotional uses her own spiritual insights, but more importantly Scripture, to enable us to make good spiritual use of these novels.

Excerpt from Pride and Prejudice: "Mr. Gardiner did not write again till he had received an answer from Colonel Forster; and then he had nothing of a pleasant nature to send. It was not known that Wickham had a single relation with whom he kept up any connection, and it was certain that he had no near one living. His former acquaintances had been numerous; but since he had been in the militia, it did not appear that he was on terms of particular friendship with any of them. There was no one therefore who could be pointed out as likely to give any news of him. And in the wretched state of his own finances there was a very powerful motive for secrecy, in addition to his fear of discovery by Lydia's relations, for it had just transpired that he had left gaming debts behind him, to a very considerable amount. Colonel Forster believed that more than a thousand pounds would be necessary to clear his expenses at Brighton. He owed a good deal in the town, but his debts of honor were still more formidable. Mr. Gardiner did not attempt to conceal these particulars from the Longbourn family; Jane heard them with horror. 'A gamester?' she cried. 'This is wholly unexpected. I had not an idea of it.'"

Devotion written by Steffany Woolsey based on the above excerpt:  "The news that Wickham left town deeply in debt is sobering: in Jane Austen's day, any gentleman would not rack up debts and leave them unpaid. We have already seen evidence that Mr. Wickham is driven by the pursuit of money, in that he gambled away the fortune left to him by the elder Mr. Darcy, pursued young women like Miss King and Miss Darcy for their dowries, and now has run away with Lydia in an apparent effort to extort money from her family. Wherever he travels Wickham accrues debt, both emotional and monetary.

Interestingly, through his interaction with Wickham, Mr. Darcy is gradually revealed as a hero figure. He clears Wickham (and Lydia by extension) by paying off his outstanding credit and canceling the debt. Though Wickham may not appreciate the kindness, it does not go unnoticed by Elizabeth.

We criticize Wickham's selfishness, but how easily you and I forget our own debt. God in the beginning created us to love and honor Him; every time we sin, we rack up spiritual debt. Thankfully, we have a Redeemer who willingly acted as mediator and paid the ransom. This is what Jesus was referring to when He prayed, 'Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors (Matthew 6:12). Through His sinless life and substitutionary death, Jesus cleared our names and freed us to live new lives, resulting in an eternal inheritance!

Think how much you have been forgiven, the sacrifice made on your behalf. And the next time you start to hold a grudge or add up how much someone owes you, remember that the price for your life - now an eternal - has been paid; you are gloriously free to extend grace to others.'"

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, 

and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Mark 10:45

"Surely, You Must Know It Was All For You."

Before every vacation I tend to purchase a book (or two!) that I would like to bring with me to check out while I have extra free-time. This year it was A Jane Austen Devotional by Steffany Woolsey.

WOW! I think I just saw some serious eye-rolling by some of you!  😆  Yes, I admit to being an Austen fan but this book is really good and I'm going to prove it to you through sharing the introduction to the book. So there!

"For two centuries now, women have had the opportunity to curl up with a Jane Austen novel and get lost in the romantic stories of the English countryside. It is one of life's great pleasures to finish a book and feel the satisfaction of not only having read a well-crafted story, but of learning a valuable life lesson about God and human nature. Jane manages to accomplish all of that and more as she shows us through her words what love is. Hers is not a superficial, vain love, but a 1 Corinthians 13 love - one built on action, character, and honor. Any woman who has ever read or seen Pride and Prejudice longs for a hero like Mr. Darcy who comes to her and proclaims, 'Surely, you must know it was all for you.'

As the ultimate answer to all questions, the Bible is the standard by which we compare everything. Austen's writing is newly illuminated when held up to Scripture. In probing her novels for biblical insights on living and loving, we are reminded of humanity's innate desire for relationship with the Creator. Through Austen's varied and colorful characters, we learn not only about true love but meaningful character. We strive for the humility, wisdom, wit, and grace of a Jane Austen protagonist while learning to recognize the superficial vanity and worldliness of so many other characters who concern themselves only with their own gain.

This book was crafted with the hope that readers would take the opportunity to get lost in the world of Jane Austen - a place where we can all pause in solitude, as though we've just finished a stroll in the garden with Jane and are now sitting down with her to tea, reflecting on important life lessons and taking in the beauty of the countryside. Through excerpts from her work, short devotions, and Scripture, we hope this book will bring you moments of peace while you allow God's Word to shape your character.

And while you rest for a moment in the simplicity of Jane's words, perhaps your own life will grow a little simpler and more peaceful. Our wish is that through these spiritual insights into Jane's writing, you, too, will grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus, who through His death and resurrection woos you with the declaration, 'Surely, you must know it was all for you.'"

Have I piqued your interest? I'm only 7 days into it, but I have been very pleasantly surprised regarding how helpful, convicting, and thought-provoking this little book has been thus far. Lord willing next week I will give you an actual devotional example so that you may examine how this is all accomplished. 👍

CandyceLand is in VacationLand Plus Quotables #7

Hello friends,

This weekend Steve and I and our family are heading to VacationLand up north. Because of this I won't be posting for a while but wanted to clear out my phone of great quotes that I've saved since last month. As always, please let me know your favorites!  I also hope you all have a good and healthy few weeks, and I'll be back... sometime? maybe?  The pictures above do not even come close to doing justice to the absolutely gorgeous sunsets from our deck - the views (day and night!) are why we are returning to the same rental as last year - and why I might never come back home.  😳😜😎

My favorites are #2, 6, 9, and 12.


1. "Rest this morning, not because you're healthy or finances are good, but because God reigns for His glory and your good."  Paul Tripp

2.  "No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good."  C.S.Lewis

3.  "Prayer does not fit us for the greater work, prayer is the greater work."  Oswald Chambers

4.  "Nearness to God brings likeness to God. The more you see God the more of God will be seen in you."  C.H. Spurgeon

5.  "If you ask, 'Why is this happening?' no light may come, but if you ask, 'How am I to glorify God now?' there will always be an answer."  J.I. Packer

6.  "I want to hate my sins more than I hate the sins of others who sin differently than I do."
Buck Parsons

7.  I don't always FEEL His presence. But God's promises do not depend on my FEELINGS; they rest upon His integrity.  RC Sproul

8.  "The weakness of so many modern Christians is that they feel too much at home in the world."
A.W. Tozer

9.  "Visit many good books, but live in the Bible."  C.H. Spurgeon

10.  "Solitude with God repairs the damage done by the fret and noise and clamor of the world."
Oswald Chambers

11.  "One compromise here, and another there, and soon enough the so-called Christian and the man in the world look the same."  A.W. Tozer

12.  "A Christian who is saturated with the Word," my father wrote, "is likely to have a calm, wholesome outlook on life; to be kept steady in the path of God's will in either joy or sorrow, wealth or poverty; he is likely to be a pleasant companion, not voluble in aimless talk; and he will not be overly disturbed by world conditions."  Elisabeth Elliot

How Sweet The Sound!

On May 11th of this year I posted a video of people from all over the UK singing "The Blessing." I mentioned back then that I cried each time I watched it and thought maybe some of you would too.  I was correct and got many comments and emails from readers that "The Blessing," and the way it was performed, while in quarantine, was emotional for many. Click here to watch again.

Good news! I found another one, this time 50 different people from 50 different countries singing "Amazing Grace" in their native languages. Again I was overwhelmed with the reality of seeing these brothers and sisters in Christ from around the world singing perhaps the most well-known of all hymns. (Spoiler Alert: My tears started with the 2nd voice and location.)  My takeaway is that I have just seen 50 of my siblings! What amazing grace that God would allow us this joyful experience of global unity in Christ even now!

Click Here To Listen.

Then and Now: Psalm 23

Today I came across a very beautiful prayer based on Psalm 23, and I immediately felt it was God's leading that I should post both the Psalm AND the Prayer for today's post. After I typed it all up, I thought I should look through the Archives of this blog to verify that I hadn't shared this idea in the past. What I found was interesting: While I had not posted the George Matheson prayer, I had written an article about Psalm 23. So I decided to combine the two posts into one, the first published on July 12, 2010, and the second with today's date: July 27th, 2020. A decade contemplating The Lord Is My Shepherd.

2010: No walk through the Bible on the subject of death or Heaven would be complete without a consideration of Psalm 23. This Psalm is perhaps the best known chapter in the entire Bible - to believers and unbelievers alike. It is quoted most often at funerals or in other situations where death is imminent. It provides assurance and comfort in the most difficult of times.

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.

For most people, and in most contexts, this Psalm is particularly poignant and comforting when contemplating one’s own death. Very often this is quoted to those facing a terminal illness or some other end-of-life experience. At least, that’s how I looked at Psalm 23 until faced with the sudden death of my son. Now, I have a different perspective.

Those of us who have undergone the traumatic death of a loved one feel that we are actually living in the “valley of the shadow of death.” In the beginning, our loss pervades nearly every waking moment. As time passes and we work through our grief, the darkness lifts just a little. My own personal experience, and those of others who have walked this road before me, confirm that time in the valley can last for years. How can we survive such a long ordeal?

This Psalm helps us a great deal. We affirm that the Lord is our Shepherd. What do shepherds do? They are in charge of the flock every moment; they protect, shield, guide, and nourish the individual lambs. And that, of course, is what the Lord does for us.

We remind ourselves that we are to fear no evil because God’s rod and staff are there for us. Despite our grief, we can live out the rest of our days with the assurance and confident expectation that at some point our cup will overflow again with many gifts of goodness and mercy from the hand of God. And best of all, we have the sure hope that we will dwell forever in the house of the Lord.  That’s the kind of message we need to hear when the shadows around us seem so dark.

2020:  George Matheson's prayer (1842-1906): "Restore my soul, O God. There are green pastures around me for which my eye has no lens; there are quiet waters beside me for which my ear has no chord; restore my soul. The path on which I go is already the path of your righteousness; open my eyes, that I may behold its windows. The place I call dreadful is even now the house of the Lord; the heavens shall cease to hide you when you have restored my soul. May I be content to know that goodness and mercy shall follow me without waiting to see them in advance of me."

"Dear Refuge Of My Weary Soul"

I have become very fond of a beautiful hymn written by Anne Steele who lived long ago in the 18th Century. It is not very well known now, but is beginning to be back in fashion again because Kevin Twit of Indelible Grace - a traditional worship band begun in the PCA - took the words written by Anne and put them to new music. It is entitled "Dear Refuge Of My Weary Soul."   Click here to listen. 

I have ordered the biography of Anne Steele that is pictured on the right and upon which Kevin Twit has based this short summary of her life: 

"She was born in Broughton, England where her father, who was a fairly well-off timber merchant, preached at the Particular Baptist church for 60 years. She actually lived only 15 miles from the great Isaac Watts. Although it is unlikely that they ever met, she mentions his work with fondness in one of her hymns. Her mother died when she was 3 years old, and by 14 it seems she was bothered by chronic recurring malaria which took a progressive toll on her health. She also had painful stomach problems and severe teeth pain and her health was never very good. She received her education through being sent to boarding schools, even though the local pastor condemned her stepmother for doing this. Her home was one in which reading literature and poems was one of the fondest activities.

She was thrown from a horse and injured when she was 19, but makes no mention of this later in her diary and it is not true (as some have reported) that she was an invalid for life from this injury. It has been widely reported that when she was 21, she was engaged to Robert Elcomb, but that the day before the wedding he was drowned while bathing in a river! However, while he may have been courting her, they were not a day from their wedding when this tragedy occurred. In fact, she had numerous wedding proposals after this (including one from Baptist pastor and hymn writer Benjamin Beddome) but she chose a life of singleness. Her stepsister had a difficult marriage and this may have influenced Anne’s decision, but she also felt that singleness provided her the opportunity to serve the Lord in other ways. Had she chosen to become a busy pastor’s wife she may not have been able to write so many poems and hymns. So, she lived with her father and stepmother, who cared for her health problems, and who fixed her an elegant room with a fireplace to write her poems. She assisted her father in his pastoral labors, although for the last 9 years of her life, she was never able to leave her bed.

Still in spite of all of this her disposition was described as “cheerful and helpful” and her life as one of “unaffected humility, warm benevolence, sincere friendship, and genuine devotion.” In reading Sharon James’ account of her home-life I am reminded of the settings in some of Jane Austen’s novels. She was a bright and cheerful woman, but one who suffered greatly from her ongoing health problems. Her hymns reveal that her health problems provoked great spiritual struggles as well and she is often wrestling with doubts and assurance of salvation.

Caleb Evans describes her death, “Having been confined to her chamber for some nine years, she had long waited with Christian dignity for the hour of her departure. And when the time came, she welcomed its arrival; and though her feeble body was excruciated with pain, her mind was perfectly serene. She took a most affectionate leave of her weeping friends around her, and at length, the happy moment of her dismission arriving, she closed her eyes, and with these words upon her dying lips, ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth,’ she gently fell asleep in Jesus.”"

Quotables #6

As my faithful readers know, when I come across a good quote I snap a picture of it to save for later use. It's now been about 2 months since the last posting, so here are the ones I found helpful and inspiring since then:

(I also would love to know which are your favorites!  Mine are #1, 6, 7, 9, and 10.)

1.  "Remember this, had any other condition been better for you than the one in which you are, divine love would have put you there."  Charles Spurgeon

2.  "Pray as though everything depended upon God.  Work as though everything depended on you."  Augustine

3.  "While it looks like things are out of control, behind the scenes there is a God who hasn't surrendered His authority."  A. W. Tozer

4.  "The world will let a man go to hell quietly, and never try to stop him. The world will never let a man go to heaven quietly - they will do all they can to turn him back."  JC Ryle

5.  God does not give us everything we want but He does fulfill his promises leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself."  Dietrich Bonhoeffer

6.  "When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away your ticket and jump off. You sit and trust the engineer."  Corrie ten Boom

7.  "Now as a born again believer, I'm driven by the gospel of Jesus Christ, so I don't look for a black solution or a white solution or a blue solution. I look for a God solution."  Senator Tim Scott

8.  "Prayer isn't about requesting what you need to build your kingdom, but about seeking the grace you need to live for God's kingdom."  Paul Tripp

9.  "Be much in secret prayer. Converse less with man, and more with God."  George Whitefield

10.  "The preacher is not called to share, but to declare. He is not anointed to entertain, but to expound. He is not appointed to coddle, but to confront, convict, convert, and comfort."  Steve Lawson

It's About Time

"But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should reach repentance."  (2 Peter 3:8-9)

Time is an odd concept. I looked up the word 'time' in Webster's dictionary and found about 15 uses of the word 'time.'  And that was just in the section defining the noun form of the word: there were additional definitions when the word is used as a verb.  Think of the casual phrases we use in our conversations: "We are out of time."  "Please do this in a timely manner." "It's about time that happened."  "I have to work overtime today."  "We had a good time at the party."  "Time's up, put down your pencil" and on and on.

It's clear that in the above two verses Peter wants to inform us about "God's timing."  I have to admit that one day = thousand years just seems similar to the "time flies when you're having fun" sentiment. But Paul is informing us of a different aspect of time. Here is what John Calvin wrote regarding this passage:

"The Lord defers his coming that he might invite all mankind to repentance. For our minds are always prurient, and a doubt often creeps in, why he does not come sooner. But when we hear that the Lord, in delaying, shows a concern for our salvation, and that he defers the time because he has a care for us, there is no reason why we should any longer complain of tardiness. He is tardy who allows an occasion to pass by through slothfulness: there is nothing like this in God, who in the best manner regulates time to promote our salvation. And as to the duration of the whole world, we must think exactly the same as of the life of every individual; for God by prolonging time to each, sustains him that he may repent. In the like manner he does not hasten the end of the world, in order to give to all time to repent."

What a compassionate God we serve!  He is delaying because He wants all His people to repent. What does this mean practically? There have been periods of distress in my life when I have cried out, "Come, Lord Jesus!" and I meant at that very moment. Nevertheless, I really do want all my family and friends to turn to Jesus Christ so that they will be by my side when our Redeemer returns. Time is a precious commodity, and it is in God's hands. We should be patient as we wait for all of the Lord's children to be brought home. It is a good thing that God is not rushing His providence with no concern for others. Instead He is giving everyone "time to repent." Thank you, Lord!