One of my favorite albums, to stir and compose my soul
One of Sovereign Grace Music’s — takes you to the foot of the cross.
https://sovereigngracemusic.org/music/albums/valley-of-vision-2/
Book to Read on Missions
John Piper’s landmark book, Let the Nations Be Glad, opens with: “Missions exists because worship doesn’t.” That sets the tone for everything else in a book that every Christian needs to read about God’s heart for the lost in a way you might have never heard before: https://www.amazon.com/Let-Nations-Glad-John-Piper/dp/1596446153/
Book I am Revisiting
Wayne Grudem’s book, Business for the Glory of God, is back on my reading list for a second time, and thought it is brief, unlike most of his books, it packs a punch and is relevant for anyone who wants to honor the Lord in business, whatever the vocation. I commend it to you: https://www.amazon.com/Business-Glory-God-Teaching-Goodness/dp/1581345178
Quote that I am pondering:
Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter.
Charles Spurgeon
“I Know Not What Shall Befall Me”
Mary Brainard’s poem of trust in God’s character and His providence is well worth a read—aloud, of course, as poems are meant to be read (from Tim Challies).
I know not what shall befall me,
God hangs a mist o’er my eyes,
And each step in my onward path
He makes new scenes to rise,
And every joy He sends to me
Comes as a sweet surprise.
I see not a step before me
As I tread on another year,
But the past is still in God’s keeping,
The future His mercy shall clear,
And what looks dark in the distance
May brighten as I draw near.
For perhaps the dreaded future
Has less bitter than I think;
The Lord may sweeten the waters
Before I stoop to drink;
Or, if Marah must be Marah,
He will stand beside its brink.
It may be He has, waiting
For the coming of my feet,
Some gift of such rare value,
Some joy so strangely sweet,
That my lips shall only tremble
With the thanks they cannot speak.
O, restful blissful ignorance!
’Tis blessed not to know:
It keeps me still in those arms
Which will not let me go,
And hushes my soul to rest
In the bosom that loved me so!
So I go on—not knowing;
I would not if I might,
Rather walking with God in the dark
Than going alone in the light;
Rather walking with Him by faith
Than walking alone by sight.
My heart shrinks back from trials
Which the future may disclose,
Yet I never had a sorrow
But what the dear Lord chose;
So I send the coming tears back
With the whispered word, “He knows!”
