“We serve a man of sorrows acquainted with grief” David Powlison CCEF
You would think he would be upset to have his feet and hands and head all wrapped up, but he really loves it.
We occassionally bundle him up like this when we go out for a walk. We bought this Columbia outfit from Ebay. They are hard to find in the stores out here in California. I suppose it’s not really cold enough to use it often. But when he looks like a little eskimo, it’s hard to resist using it! 
?I looked for him but did not find him.? (Song of Solomon 3:1, NIV)
Song of Solomon is more about looking for your lover than looking for Christ. Nevertheless, Charles Spurgeon meditated on the thought of losing Christ. Not losing in the sense of losing salvation, but losing in the sense of losing sight, or losing the presence of Christ
Have you lost Christ in the closet by restraining prayer? Then it is there you must seek and find him. Did you lose Christ by sin? You will find Christ in no other way but by the giving up of the sin, and seeking by the Holy Spirit to mortify the member in which the lust doth dwell. Did you lose Christ by neglecting the Scriptures? You must find Christ in the Scriptures. It is a true proverb, ?Look for a thing where you dropped it, it is there.?
Spurgeon, C. H. (1995). Morning and evening : Daily readings (January 19 AM). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
I sometimes feel as If I have lost the sight or presence of Christ in my workday. As my pace becomes busy, my thoughts are crowded by all the things I must do. In a sense, I lose peace and become frazzled by all the plans and goals that must be accomplished. How nice it would be to stay with Christ through it all. Perhaps I would feel more relaxed with the comforting presence of Christ. Perhaps I would think more clearly with the wisdom of Christ at my side.
So if I loose Christ in the business, then I will find him in the quietness. But how can I keep quietness during a busy day? I think the answer is prayer. I should pray throughout my day and quiet my inner self and bring the presence of Christ back into my day.
?Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God?s will for you in Christ Jesus.? (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV)
John W. Peterson and Alfred B. Smith collaborated in 1958 to write the popular hym that paraphrases Psalm 23. The inspiration of this hym has humorous beginnings.
It was written after receiving a letter from one of the descendants of P. P. Bliss, telling of Bliss?s first country school teacher, Miss Murphy, whom he dearly loved. It told of her teaching the class (before they could read or write) to memorize the 23rd Psalm. When the part ?surely goodness and mercy? was reached, little Philip thought it said, ?surely good Miss Murphy shall follow me all the days of my life.? This little incident focused our thoughts on the phrase which became the heart and title of the song.
A pilgrim was I, and a wand?ring, in the cold night of sin I did roam, when Jesus the kind Shepherd found me, and now I am on my way home.
He restoreth my soul when I?m weary, He giveth me strength day by day; He leads me beside the still waters; He guards me each step of the way.
When I walk thru the dark lonesome valley, my Savior will walk with me there; and safely His great hand will lead me to the mansions He?s gone to prepare.Chorus: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever, and I shall feast at the table spread for me. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days, all the days of my life.
Osbeck, K. W. (1990). Amazing grace : 366 inspiring hymn stories for daily devotions. Includes indexes. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications.
Psalm 23, as well as many other Psalms, are great for times of meditation and prayer. It is so satisfying to think that my Savior Jesus Christ walk with me and guide me besides still waters. I just pray that I don’t go running off in my own direction. If I hold hands with Jesus, all will be good.
Charles Spurgeon had pointed out the word “my” in the text and commented:
The sweetest word of the whole is that monosyllable, ?my.? He does not say, ?The Lord is the shepherd of the world at large, and leadeth forth the multitude as his flock.? If He is a shepherd to no one else, He is a shepherd to me. He cares for me, watches over me, and preserves me. The words are in the present tense. Whatever be the believer?s position, he is even now under the pastoral care of Jehovah.
I?ve been reading a devotion written by Charles Spurgeon called ?Morning and Evening: Daily readings.? Spurgeon is one of the more famous preachers in Christian history. His writings are filled with passion and rich in lessons. His January 17th, morning entry is on Revelation 14:1.
? Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion? (Revelation 14:1, NIV)
Spurgeon writes:
?Heaven and Christ are the same thing;? to be with Christ is to be in heaven, and to be in heaven is to be with Christ ... ?O my Lord Jesus Christ, if I could be in heaven without thee, it would be a hell; and if I could be in hell, and have thee still, it would be a heaven to me, for thou art all the heaven I want.? It is true, is it not, Christian? Does not thy soul say so?
Spurgeon, C. H. (1995). Morning and evening : Daily readings (January 17 AM). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
So often I contemplate heaven and I think about the problems that will go away. Asthma, allergies, back aches, or frustrations of life will be a thing of the past. I think about how beautiful a place it would be without pollution, traffic, death, or war. I think about how much more perfect my love will be. I will not think or feel any unrighteous thoughts. I will no longer need to seek spiritual growth because I will be perfected.
Perhaps all that is true, but what a thought from Spurgeon?s Daily readings; ?To be with Christ, is to be in heaven!? How great is our Lord that he is the crown jewel of heaven. I feel a little selfish now that I reflect on my own thoughts about heaven. It?s not just a place of ultimate comfort and peace. It is a glorious place to be with our Lord and Savior. It is a place that is illuminated by Christ himself.
?The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.? (Revelation 21:23, NIV)
The government is now recommending that the public stock up on the basics in case of a pandemic!
WebMD posted the article Flu Pandemic Guide: Stock Up on Basics citing that the federal government is recommending this action. The article goes into some detail about what to stock up on. It also discusses the notice from the federal government. There are some critics to this notice.
UPDATE: I checked on the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website and also check on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). I found that what was really released was a preparedness document to help families prepare in the even of a pandemic. This is one of a number of actions that government has been doing in light of the fact that we aren’t really prepared. Click here for the HHS Press Release
You can download the Pandemic Preparedness document and the Family Info document from here. If you click directly on the link, it will open in your browser. You can also right click the link and “Save Target As…” to your computer.
PandemicPreparedness.pdf
FamilyInfo.pdf
Are you going to stock up?
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