"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!

How Do I Overcome My Depression When I Don't Know Why I'm Depressed?

It has been my personal observation that at least once a day I become "low in spirit." Usually I can't pinpoint why I'm feeling so low, although I always search my list of possible culprits: How's my blood sugar right now? What did I just read or watch that is causing me to be fearful? Have I done my devotions yet today? If so, do I need to do them again? Am I experiencing grief over the loss of a loved one or over the state of our nation? And on and on and on...

Sometimes I am able to locate the problem, but more than likely I cannot. 

So what can I (we) do about shaking off this type of "causeless depression?"  Ed Welch has two ideas for us in the following video. He is a great writer, counselor, Professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Seminary and a faculty member at CCEF - Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation. The video is only 2.35 minutes long - but quite memorable. 

I hope this helps all of us as we try to fight depression whenever it hits.

Click here for the video.

The Saddest, Most Celebratory Community On Earth

I read the following post from Paul Tripp and just had to share it with you:

It appears that this global pandemic that has occupied so much of our thinking and emotions and has restructured our living is beginning to lift (at least in Philadelphia, where I live).

As life returns to a new state of normal, what lessons have you learned?

For me, I was again reminded of the two types of responses that the Bible calls us to all the time. These pathways of gospel living aren’t just reserved for a time of global emergency; they are appropriate for the mundane little moments of everyday life, too.

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15, ESV)

😢 The Bible calls us to weep and to mourn. COVID-19 gives us reason to weep. We should weep for:

●The suffering that has enveloped the world
●The many people who have suffered through this virus
●The tens of thousands of those who have died
●Their families who have had to watch their loved one die alone, unable to be close to them

But we ought to weep for something else. We should weep for what has been exposed about our hearts at this moment. I don’t know about you, but COVID-19 exposed my pride, autonomy, delusions of self-sufficiency, and tendency to grumble and complain.

Most importantly, COVID-19 was a reminder of a deeper, greater pandemic–the sin that lives inside of us. And for that, we should weep every day.

🙌 There’s a second type of response Scripture calls us to: rejoice! “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4, ESV)

There is never a day in your life, no matter what is going on, that you don’t have reason to rejoice. You have reason to rejoice in God’s faithfulness, nearness, provision, and that his mercies are new every morning.

We should rejoice in the little moments of life and the significant, but there is something even deeper to celebrate, something eternal. The lesson I cherish above all because of COVID-19 is that the most valuable thing in our lives, the thing that has changed our life now and forever, no one nor anything can take away.

Coronavirus should make us weep, but it should also cause us to rejoice, because we are “sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39, ESV)

Rejoice because nothing can take away your eternal inheritance, the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, the wisdom found in the Word of God, and the rescuing, transforming, forgiving, delivering power of grace!

You have called me
to the place of tears,
you have taken my hand
and led me down sorrow’s
pathway.
Your grace has filled my heart with
sadness,
you have invited me to weep
tears only you can dry.
The broken-hearted are met by
you,
the low in spirit find
your comfort in your mercy.
You never turn your back on those who
mourn,
I drop my tears on your altar.
You have called me to
to the place of rejoicing,
you have taken my hand
and led me down joy’s
pathway.
Your grace has filled my heart with
jubilation.
You have invited me to gladness,
sacred celebration
that only comes from
you.
The jubilant find
sustaining strength,
you never fail to give them reason for
hope.
I celebrate at your altar.
Sorrow combines with joy,
sadness mixes with celebration.
Mourners rejoice,
tearful jubilation.
Two pathways running together,
until sorrows are no more
and unfettered joy reigns
forever.

May we be the saddest, most celebratory community on earth. May that weeping and rejoicing be the response of our hearts today, tomorrow, and the days that follow.

Faith + Works = Expressions of the Grace of Almighty God!

Last Tuesday our Women's Bible Study groups completed a 4 week consideration of James 2:14-26, which is perhaps the most famous and difficult part of this wonderful book. The heading is entitled "Faith Without Works Is Dead." What is the connection between faith and works? Very often during those classes we were led to other passages which enlightened us as to the definition and application of the word "works." As we know, Scripture interprets Scripture.

Using my Bible reading plan the next morning I 'happened' to read Philippians 2: 12-13, which turned out to be very relevant to the discussions that we had the previous day.

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."

This was followed in my Bible by a beautiful prayer written by Anselm who lived from 1033-1109. He was Archbishop of Canterbury in England and was renowned for his godly character, sharp intellect, and his vital contributions to the church's understanding of Christ's work. [This description of Anselm was provided in the Author Index in the back of my Bible.]

"O Father, most merciful, who in the beginning did create us, and by the passion of your only begotten Son have created us anew, work in us now, we ask you, both to will and to do of your good pleasure. And for as much as we are weak, and can do no good thing of ourselves, grant us your grace and heavenly benediction, that in whatever work we engage we may do all to your honor and glory; and that, being kept from sin and daily increasing in good works, so long as we live in the body we may ever show forth some service to you; and after our departure may receive pardon of all our sins, and attain eternal life."

What an ending to our study of James 2! Both our faith and works are expressions of the grace of Almighty God. To Him be all glory forever!

My Favorite Televangelist

I'd like to take this opportunity to brag about my husband for a bit. Steve has really been amazing during these challenging times of quarantining and lack of in-person worship services. He has been creative and very hard-working trying to keep Exeter Presbyterian Church going forward in love and service to God and others. (And yes, I am biased. 😉)

The reason I'm mentioning this today is because Steve is beginning a new devotional video series each morning on the topic of Revelation. Revelation???  Yes, this book of the Bible is different from most of the others. It is often confusing, strange, beautiful, full of hope, and hard to understand all at the same time. But Steve will be focusing on the main point of each chapter - something that will be easily understood and memorable. The end result will be 22 videos, each with 5 minutes of teaching and a concluding prayer.

SO: I heartily recommend this series. Here is the link to the first one: click here

If you would like to receive the daily link each morning there are three ways to accomplish this:

1. Send an email to candymagee@gmail.com and I will sign you up for the link and prayer email of EPC.

2. Send me an email and I will sign you up just for the link, understanding that those of you not affiliated with the life of our church might just want the access to the video.

3. You can always go directly to YouTube and search each time for stevemagee57 to see the variety of videos Steve has done since mid-March, i.e. all the morning videos on various topics and Sunday church services as well. Unfortunately YouTube does not put them in chronological order so you may have to keep track of which video you watched the previous day.

Be blessed,
Candy