He is precious

Unto you therefore which believe, He is precious. I Peter 2:7

"The Lord takes up none but the forsaken; makes none healthy but the sick; gives sight to none but the blind; makes none alive but the dead; sanctifies none but sinners; and to all these He is precious." Luther

Mizpah for October 3rd.

this hope

Every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure. I John 3:3

"Many persons think they are seeking "holiness" when in fact they are seeking the "loaves and fishes". To be holy is to be like Christ, who, as the Captain of our salvation, was made perfect through suffering." Prof. Upham


Thomas Cogswell Upham(1799-1872) dominated American academic psychology in the mid-19th century. His popular and extremely successful textbooks brought prestige and funds to Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine. His personality, shy, bookish, conscientious and, self-effacing to ta fault, contributed to the stereotype of a dutiful academic, quietly teaching and publishing in a university career spanning many decades. Yet at the same time one has to recognize the extraordinary activity of Upham, not in the sense of an obvious, frenetic energy, but in his ability to accomplish so much, through persistence and diligence, in so many fields. Besides his long and distinguished academic career, Upham was an accomplished poet, a recognized leader in the New England anti-war and abolition movements, and if we may characterize his involvement with the "holiness movement" in such terms, a religious reformer.
Upham passed away the same year he published his poetry book, Christ in the Soul, following a stroke. His last coherent words reportedly were: "My soul....is with God"(1872)

Mizpah for October 1st

He shall increase you more and more. Psalm 115:14

Ever more and more bestowing
Love and joy in riper glowing,
Faith increasing, graces growing,
Such His promises to you;
He is faithful, He is true.
Frances Ridley Havergal

Havergal(1836-1879) was an English poet and hymn writer. Take my life and let it be and Thy life for me( also known as I gave my Life for Thee) are two of her best known hymns. Her tombstone in Astley, Worcestershire, England, reads, The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin. 1John1:7 Daughter of hymnist William Havergal, Frances was a bright but short lived candle in English hymnody. She was baptized by hymnist John Cawood. She was reading by age four, and began writing verse at age seven. She learned Latin, Greek and Hebrew, and memorized the Psalms, the book of Isaiah, and most of the New Testament.

Today we use the Howell family photograph in honor of Sarah(second row, first girl on left) who is getting married this evening.
The verse is most appropriate for the Howell family, who not only will increase in their family size, but have been increasing more and more in spiritual bounties.

Cannot I make the birds quote poetry?

Please Papa, read just one more line!
I promise I'll not make a sound this time.
And so the old grand read to the lad
By the glowing fire whispering so sad.
For in this day to read a metered line
Was considered equal to the highest crime.
Long before the books were banned
In the day rhymes rang throughout the land
The old grands and lads in hills would gather round
And read the sonnets flaming with poetic sounds.
Now in timid quiet he barely mouthed the words
Knowing how readily the shackles they loved to gird.
Sentences now were equated to years
And lines were where you stood in fear.
Rhymes were but discarded skins.
The longer he read curds mingled with his tears
And soon the little lad slept upon the oil cloth bed
Full from the rare fruit he had been fed.
The tatter worn volume was locked and hid in the knapsack
The embers were cold as they woke and began the journey back.
In the valley a dark fog spread its tentacles, engulfing their way.
But upon the hills, from where they came, did not the mockingbirds
repeat the poetry!

To Pluto Reprise

Mizpah for September 30th

Sanctify them through Thy truth. John 17:17

" Holiness is and must be a voluntary state. It is voluntary love, not a passive emotion. Emotions and feelings of blessedness are one of the results of holiness." Charles Grandison Finney.

Charles G. Finney was born in Warren,Conn. August 29, 1792, was the second President of Oberlin College(1851-1865).

"He shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the Master's use and prepared unto every good work." 2 Timothy 2:21.

These are the effects of a purifying separation from all unclean vessels----honor, purity, fitness and perpetual preparation for divine service and work. From the book, Daily Holiness Scripture Texts by Rev. E.I.D. Pepper, 1896.

Mzpah for September 29th

The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, He shall teach you all things. John 14:26

"Reading the Bible in the Spirit, we shall know the things that are freely given to us of God, because we shall have them. The Holy Spirit takes them, as it were, out of the Bible, and puts them into our hearts." Rev. Theodore Monod.

Theodore Monod(1836 to1921) was the pastor of the French Reformed Church in Paris. He was educated for the ministry partly in America, being a student for some years at Western Theological Seminary, Allegheny, Pa. In 1860 he entered upon his work in Paris, where his influence as an evangelical preacher has extended beyond the French Reformed Church, in which he has been a leading pastor during the past half century. Rev Monod, a contemporary with Dwight L. Moody, penned the hymn, "Oh the bitter shame and sorrow".

I recently had a conversation with a person on Facebook who posted this: Deuteronomy was quoted by Jesus Christ more than any other book. Think a moment, if you do not know and understand Deuteronomy, then how can you understand Jesus when he quotes it?
I replied, I do not even fathom Jesus loves me, this I know, save from Divine Illumination. She replied, What? I replied, You answered your own question. It was at this point it became interesting. She replied: No you did! You don't understand Gods laws if you really think you save (I'm assuming you meant saved or safe from) Divine Illumination... We are saved through baptism of our own free will, which requires full submersion and by following GODS LAWS. If your not understanding them then you can't follow them. If your not following them and claiming your saved because well you believe in God your being lied to by yourself and the church! Once saved always saved in a LIE!
Whew....I simply responded. Hmmmmm....think I need to re-read Acts 26:24-25, being somewhat tongue in cheek, meaning she should read it, in which Festus said to Paul, Much learning doth make thee mad!
Again, she responded: Yes you should...and don't forget the rest of the Bible as well. Because the Bible is clear and that it is IMPOSSIBLE to be saved, and then walk away from God and then return, IMPOSSIBLE is the word used. And there are no contradictions in the Bible and as Moses said in Deut, "there are no excuses for not following his laws." NONE.

The point I was making, to which was totally unseen, taking 'save' out of context in my statement, was that, without the Illumination of the Holy Spirit, to which Rev Monod spoke in this quote, you can read and re-read Deut. and all the scriptures until you are absolutely mad, for it is all LAW and void of any GRACE, that only the Holy Spirit can infuse.
In our flesh, we cannot begin to even comprehend the song of the child, Jesus Loves Me! It is the Spirit that gives life, Not the LAW.

To Pluto

Dogwoods bowing...

Mariposa manifestations....

Beggars all....

Then sings my soul....