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 |    We live much of life amid unique choices. Joy is anchored in The One beyond our life. |
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“There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on His Word spiritual strength for labour in his service. We ought to muse upon the things of God, because we thus get the real nutriment out of them. . . . Why is it that some Christians, although they hear many sermons, make but slow advances in the divine life? Because they neglect their closets, and do not thoughtfully meditate on God's Word. They love the wheat, but they do not grind it; they would have the corn, but they will not go forth into the fields to gather it; the fruit hangs upon the tree, but they will not pluck it; the water flows at their feet, but they will not stoop to drink it. From such folly deliver us, O Lord. . . .” ― Charles Spurgeon “Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strengths.” ― C. H. Spurgeon “Hope itself is like a star- not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity.” ― Charles Haddon Spurgeon “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.” ― Charles Spurgeon “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” ― Charles Spurgeon “Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.” ― Charles Spurgeon “When your will is God's will, you will have your will.” ― Charles Spurgeon https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/2876959.Charles_Haddon_Spurgeon (Philippians 2:13, KJV)    |
The sun, that shines in brightness rare declares the new day's come. The hope to live in peace o'er there are joyful thoughts in sum. Salvation bought on Calvary's cross by Jesus, Son of God shows the Light of life, restoring loss in One we all must laud. Up from the grave He surely rose, fore'er His right to reign. The sons He made in lives He chose await His coming again. Be faithful all, who hope in Him. Returns He soon enough. To praise His Name in lasting hymn erases pain, now rough. Uncertain days, a century at best are all endured on Earth, but Heaven's abode beyond the test is given through His new birth. Receive Him, now, this very day, transformed, renewed, and whole you'll be forever on display, a blessing ever told. For Jesus Christ, the loving Lord endured a moment's loss to save forever says His Word upon one cruel cross. He died and rose forevermore to save souls in their need. Just look to Him, no long implore, redeemed, His lasting seed. by Jay O’Toole on April 19th, 2022 |
They started walking down the road without much hope in sight. Their saving Lord, and closest Friend had died, now all was night. A Stranger came and matched their gait. So pleasant, seemed they odd. He asked of life, their sad, low mood, "unknowing" the fate of their God. "You're sad on this most pleasant day," He spoke in Question's tone. "You seem as though you've lost a Friend. Your words in softness moan." "So, where have you been these past few days? Do you not know the news? Did you leave shipping 'round the world, that the Teacher missed your views?" "I'd hoped He'd be the new day's dawn, but now the day is dawned and new. It's been three days since He was killed. Our hope is gone since His life's through." "And now we feel another loss for women of our group have said, 'We've seen the grave. It's empty, clean,' and now our loss is weighed with dread." "O fools, and slow of heart to grasp all that the prophets spoke so true. Ought not the Christ to suffer tests, and enter Glory as His due?" He spoke to them of Scriptures all the things, concerning what He did. The day was long, but still, He walked, until, "Please, stay the night," they bid. Then, sitting down to nightly meat, He took the bread and blest it the same as when the seder He did lead, and gave Himself to take our blame. And when He break and gave to them, their eyes were opened, and they knew Messiah stood as risen now, yet vanished 'fore they aught could do. O, serious fools, we ought to have known this One, Who warmed and touched our hearts. The Scriptures point us to His Throne. What wisdom through His mouth imparts. Then waiting not, they braved the dark, returning to Jerusalem. They found the eleven huddled, stark. They told the truth. He'd been with them. They said, "The Lord is risen, indeed, and He appeared to Simon's eyes. He walked along, and kept our speed. When breaking bread, we saw our prize. And as they spoke dear Jesus stood in the midst of them to lift each heart. He said to them in His tender mood, "Peace be to you. Let Hope now start." Affrighted, that He was a ghost, they shook and trembled in His wake. "Why are you fearful, all this host? Your thoughts, that arise, are quite a mistake." "Behold, my fleshly hands and feet. Come. Touch and see. I'm flesh and bones. A spirit cannot do this feat to be of flesh, and walk through stones." While showing them it all was true, He asked for meat, that He could eat. Consuming food could none dead do. He ate fish, and honeycomb, a treat. So many things, He taught them more. To many more, He showed, alive. The future's full of His great store, and with Him, we shall ever thrive. When walks we take, alert we must seek hope beyond the daily test. The Lord will help our wavering trust by being with us ever blest. by Jay O’Toole on April 18th, 2022 |
The door was opened in a rush. "He's risen!" came the blurted words. This startled man's still heartfelt crush could hear the chirping of the birds. "He died. How can you say these things? A dead man stays all wrapped, and still." "The normal can't apply to kings. He overrules all earthly will." Alert enough to find his feet, he stood and followed through the door. The walkers soon ran pretty fleet, until the grave they stood before. "What's down there, Peter? Is it safe?" As John just stood there all transfixed impetuous Peter explored the grave, while John's own hopes and fears were mixed. "He's gone! Come see the cloths, that lie. The stone is cold, but my heart's warm. I sense, that there's a new thing nigh, a thing, that stops all felt alarm." "What can it be?" John's question, true. "The women said they saw Him here, but I've not seen, nor yet have you. When will we know, and see it clear?" A body stealing? Could it be? Within John's mind, a maelstrom roiled. Returning home with thoughts not free. His hopes were dark, the future foiled. 'Twas later in that same first day, so new the week, so sad the heart, but meeting friends some fear allayed, where hope could find a smallish start. Then Jesus came and stood right there. "SHALOM, my friends. There's hope for you." They staggered at some answered prayer they hadn't prayed in this day so new. He showed His hands and side as proof. He bid them live in peace as sent. The days to serve for these few youth would go where the Holy Spirit went. In eight days hence, dear Thomas joined, and he convinced became a force. He ne'er would glory have purloined, but humbly stayed on the God-bid course. When Jesus died, they hid, they ran. They knew the corners, shadows deep, but when they saw Him, bold to stand, they sought the sheaves, began to reap. They preached, "Redemption for all men! The Savior, dead, has risen, lives! O, bow the knee. Repent of sin, receive Salvation, that He gives!" They served, and died, and serve Him now. This Savior of all childlike hearts. When all Earth's souls before Him bow, His lasting Kingdom daily starts. O, Christian, in this modern day let service be your life's blest call. "Well done," your hope to hear Him say. Your crown before His Feet will fall. by Jay O’Toole on April 17th, 2022 |
O, “He arose!” The birds now sing. That He's a rose the garden shows. O, “He arose!” The bells now ring. Sweet. He’s a rose the image grows. No grave could keep the Son of God. The Earth explodes to bring Him forth. My hopeful heart will full applaud to show the Christ of lasting worth. The ground is level at the cross. All humans have no statured grace. Salvation’s Hope removes all loss. For in the Lord we now have place. “We bring Him spices to anoint. He died and now our hope is gone. The door is open. What’s the point? He’s gone, and we are all alone." The angel said, “He is not here. He went to Galilee as told." They fled away from the musty tomb. Belief now lost. They felt so cold. The sun now shines more bright than day. Salvation’s Light illumines hearts. He is alive. We need obey Receiving Hope, redemption starts. We daren’t refuse to trust the Lord. It is not good for our own lives. “Arise” was promised in His Word. In joyful Hope believers thrive. Belief transforms each purposed thought. We live and breathe and serve throughout. Receiving Hope as we are taught will show to all what we’re about. The weakness of our faith is sad, but not at all the final loss. We serve Him with each heart, that’s glad. Our life is service at His Cost. by Jay O’Toole on April 17th, 2022 |
"A day ago my Friend was killed upon a cruel cross. I thought He was Messiah, who would save me from all loss." "But here I sit with head in hand in this dark upper room alone, not with the former band, who supped before the tomb." "His words were odd. I could not tell what He could possibly mean. 'I'll rise again. I'll be quite well, the life you've never seen.'" "But that was then, and this is now. 'Twas great while it did last. I really must go on somehow, and put that in the past." "The sabbath gives me a moment's rest, but what to do next week? Return to fishing? Pack and wrest my life to new life seek?" "There's nothing left for me right here. Messiah, and my friend, is dead and gone. My life is drear. How can I ever mend?" "I pride myself on being blest to know one's character, but I'm just stupid. Now, I've messed my life up. What's left here?" "I hope, that when my life doth end, I'll live with Adonai, but sin is where He cannot bend. I hope, that I won't fry." "I wish I knew the way to go to live my life, again. Much better, if I did not know this one, who was my Friend." "What's left to do, but go to sleep, and hope I never wake. If He is dead, I'm not His sheep, but one big, black mistake." "A pile of flax, my tunic rolled, and tears to serve as meat. My hope is gone. I can't be bold. I'm a tare and not some wheat." "O, give me sleep, Dear Adonai. Make me forget my pain. Please make the morning blessings nigh, that I may hope, again." "I hold you in my arms, Dear Child. The waiting's almost through. The pain you feel will seem as mild when I am holding you." "The task I've lived, I did obey, that you could live with me. The death I died has more to say when from this death I'm free." "My child, the Morning is so blest. You'll wake refreshed, and see, your faith is stronger through this test. Forever you're with me." by Jay O’Toole on April 16th, 2022 |
Good Friday? Why do we call it thus? A man was beaten, killed so raw. Such shamefulness He bore for us to bring us good in lasting awe. Good Friday? A man upon a cross, He suffered there in the breathless dark. In awful pain, He bore my loss before the world in shame so stark. Good Friday? Ne'er had a man been wronged to die in innocency so pure, but ne'er before had guilty songed to live in Bliss forever sure. Good Friday? When is good so sad, that awful souls get off scot-free, and He, Who never has done bad brought life, and love, and health to me? Good Friday is of fairness naught. The Son of God a criminal? Eternal life for me He bought. His perfect life paid the debt in full. Good Friday was for God, great bad, yet also was for God, great good. The Father took all that He had to make Him sons of ones so rude. Good Friday in one moment made the rift be gone, that Sin once tore. The Son to Father full obeyed, that Sin be naught forevermore. Good Friday is the dividing line between eternal bad and good. To rest my debt on Him I'm fine. To see despite, no lasting food. Great Aslan lay 'neath witching knife, "He's dead, no more to rise, again." So thought the fiend of lasting strife, the one, who killed us in our sin. Good Friday in the victory bad became great good in the third day's sun. The world of Sin danced joyous mad until new life began His run. Good Friday was not surface good. He died for wrongs He had not done. The Blessed Savior on the wood made me a righteous man and son. Good Friday is great good for me. It is great good for Him as well. His stripes and resurrection free the ones, so lost and bound for Hell. Good Friday can be good for you if you let Him give you His Gift. The days of lostness can be through if in Christ's Hands your soul be lift. Good Friday was transacted best when lasting Good did pay for Sin. He vanquished ev'ry earthly test to save dear souls in lasting Win. Good Friday's Balance has been met as Judgment's Wrath sees Mercy and Grace. Salvation given is always let by Smiling Good upon His Face. by Jay O’Toole on April 15th, 2022 |
He served His loved ones with His All, He washed their feet and served the meal. He died to save, obeyed the call. He was the only hope, so real. 'Twould be some days before the new would change the world and save the Day, but now He served these ones He knew with physical strength, and the words He'd say. The path to honor shows its best through gentle hands, and a loving heart. Humility will know it's blest when peace extends, and others start. On Maundy Thursday at the meal this Jesus took the bread and wine. "The broken bread, my body heals, and poured out blood to make you fine." "You must not bite my arm to eat my flesh as now I true demand. You must not make my finger bleed to drink my blood by Father's Plan." "To eat my flesh, and drink my blood is vivid language for One Truth. Consume the Truth I AM, that's good. Receive me with your core as youth." "'Except you come as children small, you cannot enter my Kingdom's rest.' 'But he, who on my name doth call will sav-ed be, and truly blest.'" "I'll die, tomorrow, then I'll rise. The third day's dawn is when you'll see your savior's new with Him the prize, and one day you will be with me." The men with Him were broken, sad. This could not possibly be true. Emotions swirled in feelings, bad, unable to yet think it through. He spoke of one, who would betray. He told another, "You'll deny." They wondered who, until He'd say which chosen man, so very nigh. This flustered flock of frozen men were not more saintly than we are. He called them to Himself with sin. He'd save them to His Perfect Bar. "The ones my Father gives to me are always saved, transformed, and blest. The one, who comes will always be received by One, who passed their test." by Jay O’Toole on April 14th, 2022 |
The world keeps turning 'round and 'round. It seems like a cliché, but winter leaves and new life's found as flower graves obey. The elm has tresses flowing green from crown to near the earth. This beauty statuesquely preens in joy as a grand new birth. The Japanese Red Maple shines in its beauteous first year. It bids, "Relax in soft recline as the Creator's gifting's clear." As ferns transition from the cold to humid, summer fare some leaves are brown and burnt as told, "Environments you bear." Hibiscus bushes, royal blooms, as summer sentries stand. All feasts from tropics, fully groomed as their Good Maker planned. The frozen months of winter brought a shroud of deathly white. Each need to cling to warmth has taught Earth's residents Your might. Each day we traverse farther toward the core of springtime's sweet we sense the beneficial chord of Three-in-One, replete. The Christ, Messiah, fully bloomed from planting, three days hence. The rock, a nap, not kept entombed. No moment caused Him wince. He took His beating, breathed His last, inert His Body lay. Through Joseph's wrapping, spicing task the call fulfilled, obeyed. Then up He rose, those few wounds marked the Savior as the Lord. New physical life He then embarked fore'er, so says His Word. by Jay O’Toole on April 13th, 2022 |
| The depths of ev'ry heart is filled with sadness on our own, until we see, that One once killed has risen all alone. "I am not good enough to save. I'm awful, and despised. Too much of me has sinned, depraved. Too much I hate, once prized." "You cannot be the good at all, that comes to me to live. You need just heed my Father's call, a gift to me He'd give." The pain of ev'ry human heart is our own Hell on Earth. One touch from Jesus truly starts real Hope through His new birth. Redemption's Price was paid by One, Who died, that I might live to make me His own blessed son to joy, and ever thrive. I've known my sadness in Despond's dark murky, smelly Slough, but He has rescued oft beyond. His Smiling Help it's through. The vict'ry's not one aught my own for He has rescued me. He stepped down from His blinding Throne to mortal weakness free. He makes me new with strength, not mine. He keeps me in His Hand. Now grafted in His lasting vine He teaches me to stand upon the heights I could not go, except He placed me there. He's making me to ever know He frees me from each care. Though still I face the tests of day and nights without the moon, I know I'll live with Him for aye, called "morning, night or noon." by Jay O’Toole on April 11th, 2022 |
Oh, He has risen. Yes, indeed! It's more than sentimental creed. It's more than hope-so for the day when He will call each soul, "Away." Indeed, arose this full bloom Rose, within some hearts, He grows and grows. within a life, that He once bought is Joy and Peace, He's honed and taught. His death on Friday, wounded heel but wounded head of serpent's real. Endured He momentary pain, that souls, His Bride would ever gain. The sunshine of that blessed morn shined light upon the mend, once torn. The veil now torn from top to floor lent cloth to clothe by loving Lord. He makes us righteous by His deed to turn us white by crimson's bleed. Forever Hope is now our home in His to live no more to roam. by Jay O’Toole on April 10th, 2022 |
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