Stop leaving your babies behind

This is written to the the men, but it could also be written to the women also . Please people stop having children you can not commit to... Why is it when the child is born there's so much joy picking out a name and preparing for a life as a family unit .......

Then after a period of time the newness and excitement for some fathers is gone...For some un explain reason or reasons the relationship with the " baby momma" starts to sour, she's gain too much weight having your baby or like my mom, babies and the men start staying out and looking at greener pastures not realizing after while that grass has to be cut too..

( Relationship is more than lip service, or being eye candy but it is Work).

Well here's the problem, its OK to leave momma if that's making you so unhappy, but what about the children? You don't call, visit, some men don't even send child support, they will quit a job first before they will pay.....and some of the ones who do pay have to be court force and then payroll garnishment...this is so shameful!

Then these young kids grow up with a void and a emptiness a feeling of rejection, even though they have the love of the remaining parent, they still look back at the absent parents picture and ask why? Why did you not come back for me?

Why.....then they become adults entering relationships with only one perspective and then have babies and sometimes struggle to close the gap and give your family what you never got, a stable loving home. Sometimes that doesn't work and the cycle starts all over again....

Fathers stop leaving your babies behind, stop sowing your seed, like its a crop, because this ( harvest ) crop only brings and bares bitter and resentful fruit.....

How do I know?

This was once me ......when I was very young in the mind molding stages, my parents had a separation and as time went on a expected divorce later followed , my father was in the military and unfortunately for me and my siblings when he divorced my mom we were also divorced, this left a lot of unanswered questions of pain and rejection, until now as a adult, he is just a stranger on the street to me, I have forgiven him and moved on to a happier place in my life, ( you see if you don't know love how can you show love, My dad could only go emotionally as far he was taught as a child ) Thank God when I started my own family, I broke the generational cycle and built my family up on love and a strong faith in God then one day , I personally met a man name Jesus, who spoke relationship to my heart, taught and showed me mercy and grace all while restoring all the things that was missing from my heart due to a absent parent and now I can offer this same hope to you! .


©Samaritiandiva 2010

Lay Aside Every Weight !

Hebrews 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,


I recently read in the local Daily Press newspaper about 2 Deacons coming to blows ( fighting ) in a Church business meeting, and one Deacon was armed not only with the Word of God but a knife also, that was concealed, no doubt he carried every where he went.

As Christians we do have the right to bear arms, make sure that " arms " is the Word of God which is sharper than any two edged sword....when we carry or possessed a gun, we set our selves up as a judge and jury, we don't have that right, Jesus said vengeance belongs to Him.

This really was a shameful story in the newspaper, all this over a parking space. These leaders sit under a mighty every Sunday, it seems some body is not listening, their age was 70 and 61 even more shameful as theses were Elders.

How can we effect or impact others when we let jealous, envy and strife reside in our hearts and allow them to take root, things that take root will bear fruit and manifest itself in a way that will embarrass you and put you to a open shame, now these two brothers are forced to appear before the unjust judge.


Hebrews 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us


What they should have done was apologize , repent and move on and if needed seek council with their Shepherd, the Pastor of the church, all this behind closed doors, never allow a root of bitterness to take root in your life, shake it off repent, apologize to the offended brother/sister and keep it moving ....

there is too much work to be done in the ministry and too many souls in the earth that need to see a testimony not read about discord and strife in a local newspaper......

Let's rise up and walk in the light as sisters and brothers of Christ ! Putting off every weight that so easily besets us.

Hebrews 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

© Samaritiandiva 2010

Let Not Your Heart be Troubled !!!!

. John 14:27

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

I recently met a older lady today who crossed my path, she will remain nameless, as she could have been anyone... We are all going through and coping with something.....

Well life can be so wonderful in the beginning... The birth of a child brings so much joy, peace and happiness with so much hope for the future... Well the flip side is the ending of Life.... People with no hope , sorrow so deeply when they lose a love one to death.....the grief just shuts down the core of your spirit.....


The Word says to be absent in the body is to be present with the Lord...

Well this Lady crossed my path and the grief was on her tightly as a garment, her face was grief torn etched with wrinkles from life and worries, and you could perceive her heart had been broken or was breaking slowly, she looked dis leveled in her dress attire and her hair was nothing special , gray and tangled all managed under a knit cap.

I could sense she was grieving for a impending pain to come..... Her mom was home dying , a hospice patient sent home to transition this life with dignity and grace surrounded by the prayers, love, and care of a compassionate family.....

Why is is it we rejoice when a child is born but we grieve when a love one passes away?

And mourn the death for days and years,

Our spirit is not designed to carry grief for a long period of time...... We must learn to cast our burdens and cares on the Lord.....

He can carry and bear our burdens....... The Word said to come unto me......your burdens he will and can bear!

Cast your burdens on Jesus today!

John 14:1 (KJV)

1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.


(KJV). Matthew 11:30

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.Matthew 11:29-30. John 14:1-3 (King James Version)
John 14

2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

King James Version 40:1-3 Isaiah 40 (Whole Chapter) 2. Isaiah 52:9 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. Isaiah 52:8-10 Isaiah 52 (Whole Chapter)


Prayer for a Person Who is Grieving Over the Loss of a Loved One

Lord, Please help me in this time of loss of _____ I seem to be frozen with this overwhelming grief. 1 don't understand why my life is filled with this pain and heartache. But I turn my eyes to you as I seek to find the strength to trust in your faithfulness. You, Lord are a God of comfort and love and I ask You to help me to patiently wait on you and not despair; I will quietly wait for your salvation.

My heart is crushed, but I know that you will not abandon me. Please show me your compassion, Lord. Help me through the pain so that I will hope in you again. I believe the promise in your Word to send me fresh mercy each day. Though 1 can't see past today, I trust your love will never fail me. Jesus, You came to heal the brokenhearted and my heart is broken today Lord, and only you can heal my sorrow over losing ________.

I ask You, Lord to comfort me because You love me and have promised me everlasting consolation and hope through Your grace. Blessed be to God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforts me in all my tribulations, that I may be protected from any trouble and hurt as I walk with You, Lord, through the grief of losing _____________.

In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

( Comfort yourself with these Words! Continue to be blessed from the Well! ).

Get off the Milk !

Paul who was a traveling Evangelist,

sometimes when he went into a city, town or church to preach sometimes he
had to do a much needed cleaning up and setting thing in order according to the Word so that a much needed teaching or Word could go forth ,

He was hindered because of many reasons , various issues in the church, confusion over this and that (in house fighting) "milk issues" things that should not be named as becoming saints,

how can we effect or affect the world when we have no control over our flesh ? We are just out of control sometimes.......the sinners can't get into the house of God to affect and further kingdom building...(To bring to life the great commission in their lives, they can't get to the alter for all the saints around the alter)

Once again, how can I bring you glad tiding when in your mental state you so hung up over your past, your lost and missed opportunity that you can't receive the blessing that's right in front of you.......

The Word says in Timothy to stir up the gift.....put away theses things that so easily beset you and move on or as Jesus told the fisherman after they had fished all night with no success..... to cast their net on the other side of the boat. ( so many fish the net braked)

Sometimes you got to dare to be different, apply for that new car, go after that new job, ask your boss for a raise, ask your long term Girlfriend for her hand in marriage.......stop shacking and start stacking the blessings of God on your life through being obedient, respectful, showing honor, by being a man or woman of integrity..

You see the story says they had fished all night with no success, Jesus comes by and says simply to cast your net on the other side... Well you know the story the net broke, they experienced a overflow blessing!

You see what God has for you is for you! God will hold it up, slow it up just for you!

In my closing the next time a evangelist comes in your midst declaring and exhortation the Word of God in your midst, Mist that Evangelist back with hearty Amens , lift up and clap those hands and Praise the Lord.....

put away isms and schisms , put in its place the truths, the death burial and Resurrection of Jesus and tell a dying world the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life...

Leaders will not be punish as lay members that pick up the word at will, the word says woe to he that scatters the sheep, we won't be patted on the hands. We know through the Word , We will be hit with many strips..... for we know better and should learn to do better.

We have a leadership responsibility...... When you step out into the forefront, and say publicly that I will walk with the Lord in any capacity, it comes with a responsibility of leadership....

You are no longer on milk , but you are on meat , with elevation comes separation.....one of the main separations is self, self control, self denial, all theses self's that have their beginnings from the root selfish.......

.a word by its self speaks volumes. Arguing in public, disagreeing in a ungodly vocal way, all symptoms of the works of the flesh...these things should not be named among the becoming saints ...

It just amazes me the things that go on in the house of the Lord... I know it is our hospital , people who are sick need a Great physician , the church is our dressing room, the place where we practice getting along with people.... and learn about ourselves.

Church folks are the real reason why membership is down in so many houses of worship.....

, so busy catering to each other we forget,the Word say he that is great is to serve the other.


In house bickering, talking to each any kind of way, the works of the flesh are busy and in action The tongue reflects the heart/ we can not just say anything out of our mouth......where's your self control? What's in the heart will come out and embarrass you on Sunday morning. This is not a time for complaining but a time for understanding.

Sylvester Ofori from facebook so wisely said :

" Many who say Our Father on Sunday spend the rest of the week acting like orphans. The church is a hospital for sinners, not a rest home for saints. A cold church is like cold butter, it doesn't spread well. The Church that does not evangelize will fossilize. The more the Church loses its salt, the less thirsty the world becomes. When passion returns to the church, His presence walks in the door"

. . At no time do we have the right to embarrass the kingdom.

© Continue to be blessed from the Well!

No matter what trust God....

Whatever the particular call is, the particular sacrifice God asks you to make, the particular cross He wishes you to embrace, whatever the particular path He wants you to tread, will you rise up, and say in your heart, "Yes, Lord, I accept it; I submit, I yield, I pledge myself to walk in that path, and to follow that Voice, and to trust Thee with the consequences". ( Catherine Booth

How can we help Haiti ?

How Can I Help the Inhabintants of Haiti?

As many of you have heard on the news, the country of Haiti has experienced what some believe to be the worst occurrence in their country's history. The 7.0 earthquake that struck them on Tueday, January 12th, 2010 has left thousands of people dead, hundreds of thousands without a place to stay, and the entire country crippled in their efforts to help those in need.

Now, for those of you who want to help, and want to make sure your donation goes to the ones that need it this most, here is what I've been able to research.

* Text the American Red Cross <http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.94aae335470e233f6cf911df43181aa0/?vgnextoid=15c0c5a210826210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD> . Text 'haiti' to the number 90999 and 100% of your $10 donation passes thru to @RedCross <http://twitter.com/RedCross> for Haiti relief. Your cell carrier keeps nothing.
* Text Yéle Haiti <http://www.yele.org/> . Text YELE to 501501 ($5 donation)
* Visit CNN's web site for more ways to help. http://www.cnn.com/impact <http://www.cnn.com/impact> for more organizations and ways you can help. There are organizations that will:

* provide basic needs
* provide shelter
* provide medical care
* provide food

* Pray for the families who have yet to begin the mourning process for their loved ones. Once the shock wears off, these families will be faced with great pain and sorrow. They have no where to migrate to. They have no where to bury their loved ones. So, pray for the families as they begin to grieve, because the suffering they are experiencing is something many of us can't imagine, and some of us have experienced (in catastrophes such as Hurricane Katrina).

I am asking everyone who has a blog today to post a way for people to help in the Haiti Relief efforts.


As I was praying today, the Spirit of the Lord spoke to me and told me this. "The earth must respond to the needs of the Haiti people." I am responding to what the Lord wants me to do, not just in giving, but by sharing this information with you.


Today, please ask the Lord what He would have you to do to help those in Haiti.


I praise God for you, and believe you will respond to Him as He leads you.

( Thanks Christine Pemberton for sending this information......)

Lifting up Haiti in prayer

Pray for Haiti,

the land, the people, pray for the devastation that has happen there, pray that the hand of God will move quickly to bring relief, mercy, money, food, shelter, medical care, volunteers, etc what ever is needed to help our hurting brothers and sisters in another land....

Good Samaritans....

its praying time.....this tragic could have been in the USA, thanking God for grace and mercy....

All that can help and donate what you can, most of all pray!

Prayer changes things, prayer touches the heart of God! Be blessed!

We have a lot to be thankful for!

Don't take it for granted...cherish what you have today,

tomorrow it could be all swept away.....

IIChronicles 7:14 ........If my people , which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face , and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Bedroom Blessings

Bedroom Blessing

I bless you doorway to this bedroom as the gate of security of this room

Bed, I bless you with serenity and peace

I bless you as a place of dreams and the Presence of our God

I bless you with the blessings of rest and refreshment

I bless you bed, as a gentle invitation to slumber and sleep, to regenerate Bedroom,

I bless you with quietness I bless you to be a haven that angels watch over

I bless you as a private place, leaving all the cares of the day at the gate

I bless you as the place where we awake, fresh and alive to begin each day

I bless you as a place of beauty I do this blessing in the Name of Jesus,

Who neither slumbers nor sleeps

But gives to us, as His beloved even in our sleep.


( Christian Word Ministries
http://Christianword.org )


© Continue to be blessed from the Well!

WatchNight sermon Part II ( completion of sermon by Mr. Spurgeon )

seeking the Saviour. The clock having struck, Mr Spurgeon continued:] You are now where you never were before; and you never will be again where you have been to-night.Now we have had a solemn meeting, and let us have a cheerful ending of it. As we go away let us sing a sweet hymn to encourage our hearts.Now may the Lord bless you, and lift up the light of his countenance upon you, and give you peace! May you, during this year of grace; receive much grace; and may you proceed onwards towards heaven! And may we as a church, as members of churches, as ministers, as deacons, mutually strive together for the faith of Jesus, and be edified therein! And may the Lord save the ungodly! If the last year is clean gone and they are not yet pardoned and forgiven, let not another year roll away without their finding mercy!



The Lord dismiss you all with his sweet blessing, for his blessed Son's sake, Amen. And may the love of Jesus Christ, the grace of his Father, and the fellowship of his blessed Spirit be yours, my beloved, if ye know Christ, world without end. Amen.Now, my friends, in the highest and best sense, I wish you all a happy new year.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "Spurgeon Collection" by:Tony CapocciaBible Bulletin Board Box 119Columbus, New Jersey, USA, 08022Our websites: http://www.biblebb.com/ and www.gospelgems.comEmail: tony@biblebb.comOnline since 1986.







My desire for you is to have a Happy and prosperous New Year! " We win in 2010"

Watch-Night sermon

Watch-Night Service
December 31, 1855byC. H. SPURGEON(1834-1892)


If it be enquired why I held a Watch-night, let the answer be—because I hoped that the Lord would own the service, and thus souls might be saved. I have preached at all hours the gospel of Jesus, and I see no reason why I may not preach at midnight, if I can obtain hearers. I have not done it from imitation, but for the best of reasons—the hope of doing good, and the wish to be the means of gathering in the outcasts of Israel. God is my witness, I would preach every hour of the day, if body and mind were equal to the task. When I consider how souls are being damned and how few there are who mourn and cry over them, I am constrained to cry with Paul, "Woe is me if I preach not the gospel." Oh, that the new year may be far better than the last.



SERMON
"Arise, cry out in the night; in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord"—Lamentations 2:19.
This was originally spoken to Zion, when in her sad and desolate condition, Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, had wept his eyes dry for the slain of the daughter of his people; and when he had done all he could himself to pour out tears for poor Jerusalem, he then begged Jerusalem to weep for herself. Methinks I might become a Jeremy to-night, and weep as he, for surely the church at large is in almost as evil a condition. O Zion, how hast thou been veiled in a cloud, and how is thy honor trodden in the dust! Arise, ye sons of Zion, and weep for your mother, yea weep bitterly, for she hath given herself to other lovers, and forsaken the Lord that bought her. I bear witness this night, in the midst of this solemn assembly, that the church at large is wickedly departing from the living God; she is leaving the truth which was once her glory, and she is mixing herself among the nations. Ah! beloved, it were well if Zion now could sometimes weep; it were well if there were more who would lay to heart the wound of the daughter of his people. How hath the city become a harlot! how hath the much fine gold become dim! and how hath the glory departed! Zion is under a cloud. Her ministers preach not with the energy and fire that anciently dwelt in the lips of God's servants, neither is pure and undefiled doctrine proclaimed in her streets. Where are her evangelists who with earnest hearts traversed the land with the gospel on their lips. Where are her apostolic preachers who everywhere declared the good tidings of salvation. Alas for the idle shepherds! Alas for the slumbering ministers! Weep sore, O Zion! weep thee sore, until another reformation comes to sweep thy floor. Weep thee, Zion: weep until he shall come whose fan is in his hand, who shall thoroughly purge his floor; for the time is coming when judgment must begin at the house of God. Oh, that now the princes of Israel had wisdom, that they might seek the Lord; but alas, our leaders have given themselves to false doctrine; neither do they love the thing which is right. Therefore I charge thee, "Arise," O Zion, "cry out in the night, in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord."


We leave Zion, however, to speak to those who need exhortation more than Zion does; to speak to those who are Zion's enemies, or followers of Zion, and yet not belonging to her ranks. To them we shall have a word or two to say to-night.
1. First, from our text we gather—that it is never too soon to pray. "Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord." You are lying on your bed; the gracious Spirit whispers—"Arise, and pray to God." Well, there is no reason why you should delay till the morning light; "in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord." We are told there that it is never too soon to pray. How many young persons imagine that religion is a thing for age, or at least for maturity; but they conceive that whilst they are in the bloom of their youth, they need not attend to its admonitions. How many have we found who count religion to be a crutch for old age, who reckon it an ornament to their grey hairs, forgetting that to the young man religion is like a chain of gold around his neck, and like an ornament set with precious jewels, that shall array him with honour. How many there be who think it is yet too soon for them to bear for a single moment the cross of Jesus. They do not want to have their young shoulders galled with an early burden; they do not think it is true that "it is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth;" and they forget that that "yoke is easy," and that "burden is light." Therefore, hour after hour, and day after day, the malicious fiend whispers in their ear—"It is too soon, it is too soon! postpone, postpone, postpone! procrastinate!

" Need we tell you once more that oft-repeated axiom, "Procrastination is the thief of time?" Need we remind you that "delays are dangerous?" Need we tell you that those are the workings of Satan? For the Holy Ghost, when he strives with man, says, "To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart." It is never beloved, too soon to pray. Art thou a child to-night? Thy God heareth children. He called Samuel when he was but a child. "Samuel, Samuel;" and he said, "Here am I." We have had our Josiahs; we have heard of our Timothys; we have seen those in early youth who have been brought to the Saviour. Oh! remember it is not too soon to seek the Saviour, ere you arrive at manhood. If God in his mercy calls you to him, I beseech you think not for a moment that he will not hear you. I trust I know his name; yea, more than that, I know I "do. I know whom I have believed."

But he did not call me too early. Though but a child, I descended into the pool of baptism, there to be buried with my Saviour. Oh! I wish I could say that all those fourteen or fifteen years of my life had not been thrown away. Blessed be his name, he never calls us too soon. If he rises early in the morning, and sends some into his vineyard to labour, he does not send them before they should go—before there is work for them to do. Young man, it is not too soon. "Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord."

2. Again; it is not too late to cry to the Lord; for if the sun be set, and the watches of the night have commenced their round, the mercy seat is open. No shop is open so late as the House of Mercy. The devil has two tricks with men. Sometimes he puts their clock a little backward, and he says, "Stop, there is time enough yet;" and when that does not answer, he turns the hands on, and he cries out, "Too late! too late!" Old man, has the devil said "It is too late?" Convinced sinner, has Satan said "It is too late?" Troubled, distressed one, has the thought risen in thy soul—a bitter and a dark one—"It is too late?" It is not. Within another fifteen minutes another year shall have come; but if the Spirit of God calls you this year, he will not call you too late in the year.If to the last second you should live, if God the Holy Ghost calls you then, he will not have called you too late. Ah! ye desponding ones, who think it is all too late—it is not.
While the lamp holds out to burn,The vilest sinner that returns
shall find mercy and peace. There have been some older than you can be; some as sinful and vile, and heinously wicked, who have provoked God as much, who have sinned against him as frequently, and yet they have found pardon. If he call thee, sinner, if he call thee to-night, 12 o'clock is not too late, as 1 o'clock is not too early. If he call thee, whether it be at midnight, or cock-crowing, or noon-day, we would say to thee, as they did to the blind man, "Arise; he calleth thee." And as sure as ever he calls you, he will not send you away without a blessing. It is not too late to call on God. The darkness of night is gathering; it is coming on, and you are near to death. Arise, sleeper, arise! thou who art now taking the last nap of death. "Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord."


3. Next: we cannot pray too vehemently, for the text says, "Arise, cry out in the night." God loves earnest prayers. He loves impetuous prayers—vehement prayers. Let a man preach if he dare coldly and slowly, but never let him pray so. God loveth crying-out prayers. There is a poor fellow who says—"I don't know how to pray." "Why, sir," He says, "I could not put six or seven words together in English grammar." Tush upon English grammar! God does not care for that, so long as you pour out your heart. That is enough. Cry out before him. "Ah!" says one, "I have been supplicating to God. I think I have asked for mercy." But perhaps you have not cried out. Cry out before God. I have often heard men say they have prayed and have not been heard. But I have known the reason. They have asked amiss if they have asked; and those who cry with weak voices, who do not cry aloud, must not expect to get a blessing. When you go to mercy's gate, let me give you a little advice. Do not go and give a gentle tap, like a lady; do not give a single knock, like a beggar; but take the knocker and wrap hard, till the very door seems to shake. Rap with all your might! and recollect that God loveth those who knock hard at mercy's gate. "Knock, and it shall be opened unto you." I picture the scene at midnight, which our Saviour mentioned in the parable, and it will suit the present occasion. A certain man wanted some bread; a friend of his on a journey had come to his house and was very faint, and needed bread to eat. So off he went to his next door neighbour and rapped at his door, but no one came. He stood beneath the window and called out his friend's name. His friend answered from the top of the house, where he had been lying asleep, "My wife and children are with me in bed, and I cannot rise and give thee." But the man did not care about that. His poor friend wanted bread; so he called out aloud—"It is bread I want, and bread I must have!" I fancy I see the man lying and sleeping there. He says, "I shan't get up; it is very cold to-night. How can you expect me to rise and go down stairs to get bread for you? I won't; I can't;' I shan't." So he wraps himself very comfortably again and lays down to sleep once more. What does the man down below do? Oh! I hear him still. "Awake, sir! I must have it! I will have it! my friend is starving." "Go home, you fellow! Don't disturb me this time of night." "I must have bread! why don't you come and let me have it!" says the other; but the friend vexed and angry lies down again on his bed. Still at the door there comes a heavier and a heavier rap, and the man still shouts—"Bread, sir, bread! you will not sleep all night till you come down and give it me!" And verily I say unto you, though he will not rise and give it to him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as much as he needeth. "Arise, cry out in the night," and God will hear you, if you cry out with all your souls, and pour out your hearts before him.


4. And now our last remark is—we cannot pray too simply. Just hear how the Psalmist has it: "pour out your hearts before him." Not "pour out your fine words," not "pour out your beautiful periods," but "pour out your hearts." "I dare not," says one, "there is black stuff in my heart." Out with it them: it is better out than in. "I cannot," says another, "it would not run freely." Pour it out sir; pour it all out—like water! Do you not notice something in this? Some men say—"I cannot pray as I could wish; my crying out is a feeble one." Well, when you pour out water it does not make much noise. So you can pour out your heart prayer uttered in a garret that nobody has heard—but stop! Gabriel heard it; God himself heard it. There is many a cry down in a cellar, or up in a garret, or some lonely place where the cobbler sits mending his shoes beneath a window, which the world does not hear, but the Lord hears it. Pour out your heart like water. How does water run out? The quickest way it can; that's all. It never stops much about how it runs. That is the way the Lord loves to have it. Some of your gentry offer prayers which are poured out drop after drop, and must be brought to a grand, ecclesiastical, prayer-book shape.

Now, take your heart and pour it out like water. "What!" says one, "with all the oaths in it?" Yes. "With all my old sins in it?" Yes. Pour out your heart like water; pour it out by confessing all your sins; pour it out by begging the Lord to have mercy upon you for Christ's sake; pour it out like water. And when it is all poured out, he will come and fill it again with "wines on the lees, well refined." "Arise, cry out in the night; in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord."
Thus do I speak to all who will acknowledge themselves to be sinners in the sight of God, but even these must have the assistance of the Holy Spirit to enable them to cry out, O my Lord, grant it.



And now, dear friends, may grace be given unto you, that ye may be able to pour out your hearts this night! Remember, my hearers, it may seem a light thing for us to assemble to-night at such an hour, but listen for one moment to the ticking of that clock! [Here the preacher paused, and amid solemn silence every one heard the clock with its tick, tick, tick.] It is the beating of the pulse of eternity. You hear the ticking of that clock!—it is the footstep of death pursuing you. Each time the clock ticks, death's footsteps are falling on the ground close behind you. You will soon enter another year. This year will have gone in a few seconds. 1855 is almost gone; where will the next year be spent, my friends? One has been spent on earth; where will you spend the next? "In heaven!" says one, "I trust." Another murmurs, "Perhaps I shall spend mine in hell!" Ah! solemn is the thought, but before that clock strikes 12, some here may be in hell; and blessed be the name of God! some of us may be in heaven! But O, do you know how to estimate your time, my hearers? do you know how to measure your days?

Oh! I have not words to speak to-night. Do you know that every hour you are nearing the tomb? that every hour you are nearing judgment? that the archangel is flapping his wings every second of your life, and, trumpet at his mouth, is approaching you? that you do not live stationary lives, but always going on, on, on, towards the grave? Do you know where the stream of life is hastening some of you? To the rapids—to the rapids of woe and destruction! What shall the end of those be who obey not the gospel of God? Ye will not have so many years to live as ye had last year! See the man who has but a few shillings in his pocket, how he takes them out and spends them one by one! Now he has but a few coppers, and there is so much for that tiny candle, so much for that piece of bread. He counts the articles out one by one; and so the money goes! You think there is no bottom to your pockets; you think you have a boundless store of time—but you have not! As the Lord liveth, there is a young man here that has not more than one year to live; and yet he is spending all that he is worth of time, in sin, in folly, and vice. Some of you have not that to live; and yet how are you spending your time! O take care! take care!


time is precious! and whenever we have little of it, it is more precious; yea, it is most precious. May God help you to escape from hell and fly to heaven! I feel like the angel, to-night, who put his hand upon Lot, and cried—"Escape! look not behind thee! stay not in all the plain; flee to the mountain, lest thou be consumed!"

And now, I appreciate the power of silence. You will please to observe strict and solemn silence until the striking of that clock; and let each one spend the time as he pleases. [It was now two minutes to twelve, and profound silence reigned, save where sobs and groans could be distinctly heard from penitent lips seeking the Saviour. The clock having struck, Mr Spurgeon continued:] You are now where you never were before; and you never will be again

( Part II is in the next posting....this is long,but has great inspirational preaching that will continue to build us a great foundation for 2010)