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Faith’s region


Trust Means Joy

For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. (Psalm 33:21)


The root of faith produces the flower of heart-joy. We may not at the first rejoice, but it comes in due time. We trust the Lord when we are sad, and in due season He so answers our confidence that our faith turns to fruition, and we rejoice in the Lord. Doubt breeds distress, but trust means joy in the long run.

The assurance expressed by the psalmist in this verse is really a promise held out in the hands of holy confidence. Oh, for grace to appropriate it. If we do not rejoice at this moment, yet we shall do so, as surely as David’s God is our God.

Let us meditate upon the Lord’s holy name that we may trust Him the better and rejoice the more readily. He is in character holy, just, true, gracious, faithful, and unchanging. Is not such a God to be trusted? He is all wise, almighty, and everywhere present; can we not cheerfully rely upon Him? Yes, we will do so at once and do so without reserve. Jehovah-Jireh will provide; Jehovah-Shalom will send peace; Jehovah-Tsidkenu will justify; Jehovah-Shammah will be forever near; and in Jehovah-Nissi we will conquer every foe. They that know Thy name will trust Thee; and they that trust Thee will rejoice in Thee, O Lord.

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Film Reviews


So I have been trying to get a few movie reviews done but work, doctor appointments, and a variety of other petty things have stolen my time away so that I couldn’t sit down and write.  So to remedy that situation I am going to do five quick reviews now.

Fisherman’s Friends
Based on the true story of a group of Cornish fishermen who signed a record deal with Universal Records and got a top ten hit from their debut album. I liked the singing, but the story was so-so. I give it three stars you can find it on Netflix.

The Dig
Based on the Sutton Hoo excavation in 1939 it focuses mainly on the self-taught archaeologist-excavator, Basil Brown, hired by the landowner Edith Pretty who wanted him to look at the mounds on her land. This led to one of the greatest archaeological finds in England. While I enjoyed the slow pace of the movie my wife did not. I however thought that love affair of the married female archaeologist didn’t move the story at all. I give the dig two stars. This is on Netflix.

The Professor and the Madman
Based on the book by the same name, (Published as the Surgeon of Crowthorne in England). The story is about James Murray who be came the director of the Oxford University Press project: The New English Dictionary on Historical Principals. The purpose was to define the English language and track where the words came into use historically. W.C. Minor a doctor suffering from severe PTSD from being in the civil war and confined to a lunatic asylum for killing a man while suffering delusions contributes more than 10,000 entries while confined Frankly I find this movie interesting. There is shocking violence as well as themes of grace, love, friendship, and redemption. Four stars. This is on Netflix.

The 33 Based on the 2010 Chilean mining disaster where 33 minors were trapped in the San Jose Mine for 69 days until they were rescued through the efforts of the Chilean government and the people around the world who came to help.. While I found the film interesting it was lacking in a certain je ne sais quoi that wold have made it a great film. Two stars and this is on Hulu.

The Mitchell’s vs The Machines
This is a fun family cartoon. The robot apocalypse has come and the weirdo Mitchell family is the only ones who can save the world. I haven’t belly laughed like that for a long time. Five stars and this is on Netflix.

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Faith’s Checkbook


Spiritual Sowing

He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:8)


Sowing looks like a losing business, for we put good corn into the ground never to see it anymore. Sowing to the Spirit seems a very fanciful, dreamy business; for we deny ourselves and apparently get nothing for it. Yet if we sow to the Spirit by studying to live unto God, seeking to obey the will of God, and laying ourselves out to promote His honor, we shall not sow in vain. Life shall be our reward, even everlasting life. This we enjoy here as we enter into the knowledge of God, communion with God, and enjoyment of God. This life flows on like an ever-deepening, ever-widening river till it bears us to the ocean of infinite felicity, where the life of God is ours forever and ever.

Let us not this day sow to our flesh, for the harvest will be corruption, since flesh always tends that way; but with holy self-conquest let us live for the highest, purest, and most spiritual ends, seeking to honor our most holy Lord by obeying His most gracious Spirit. What a harvest will that be when we reap life everlasting! What sheaves of endless bliss will be reaped! What a festival will that harvest be! Lord, make us such reapers, for thy Son’s sake

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Faith’s Checkbook


What to Leave Children

The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. (Proverbs 20:7)


Anxiety about our family is natural, but we shall be wise if we turn it into care about our own character. If we walk before the Lord in integrity, we shall do more to bless our descendants than if we bequeathed them large estates. A father’s holy life is a rich legacy for his sons.

The upright man leaves his heirs his example, and this in itself will be a mine of true wealth, How many men may trace their success in life to the example of their parents!

He leaves them also his repute. Men think better of us as the sons of a man who could be trusted, the successors of a tradesman of excellent repute, Oh, that all young men were anxious to keep up the family name!

Above all, he leaves his children his prayers and the blessing of a prayer-hearing God, and these make our offspring to be favored among the sons of men. God will save them even after we are dead. Oh, that they might be saved at once!

Our integrity may be God’s means of saving our sons and daughters. If they see the truth of our religion proved by our lives, it may be that they will believe in Jesus for themselves. Lord, fulfill this word to my household!

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Faith’s Checkbook


He Never Fails

I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. (Joshua 1:5)

This word to Joshua is often quoted; it is the basis of that New Testament word “He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Beloved, a life of warfare is before us, but the Lord of Hosts is with us. Are we called to lead a great but fickle people? This promise guarantees us all the wisdom and prudence that we shall need. Have we to contend with cunning and powerful enemies? Here is strength and valor, prowess and victory. Have we a vast heritage to win? By this sign we shall achieve our purpose; the Lord Himself is with us.

It would be woe to us indeed if Jehovah could fail us; but, as this can never be, the winds of disquietude are laid to sleep in the caverns of divine faithfulness. On no one occasion will the Lord desert us. Happen what may, He will be at our side. Friends drop from us, their help is but an April shower; but God is faithful, Jesus is the same forever, and the Holy Spirit abideth in us.

Come, my heart, be calm and hopeful today. Clouds may gather, but the Lord can blow them away. Since God will not fail me, my faith shall not fail; and as He will not forsake me, neither will I forsake Him. Oh, for a restful faith!