Hitherto Hath the Lord Helped Us

May our priceless Jesus be ever more real to you, ever more your Help and Guide and Encourager. In this coming year. may we all cling to Christ, abide in Christ, cherish Him as our all in all.

We have had a lovely, quiet Christmas, and we do hope each one of you has been awed, undone, and filled to overflowing with the realization of what our Savior Jesus has done for us and continues to complete in each one of us.  This has been a challenging and painful year to some of you whom we love so much, and we do pray that God's comfort and perfect ordinances will surround you with peace and joy amidst the heart's sorrows.  I drove home alone, a couple of hours on the road in the dark of early morning, today, praying for the many people I love and treasure--some of you will be reading this, and please know you were brought before the Throne this morning with much love--and stepped out of the car to a flush of pink painted in the still-dark eastern sky.  A feast of beauty for several moments standing out in the freezing air, and I've been reflecting on this year past and all that God has planned for us in the year ahead.  This much we do know, He loves us more than we can imagine in our wildest heart-thoughts; He knows our path, and He is able to keep and sustain us.  He has given us many great and precious promises, filled with gospel power.  May we saturate ourselves in them this coming year, that we may know resurrection power, and that we may bring glory to our magnificent Creator and Lord-above-all.

May God's blessings surround you as you enter this new year, you whom I know and love who read here and the many whom I do not now know, from all corners of the world, but who will one day be met and embraced on the other Shore as we begin the Reality, the Home-life, for which we were made.

Today I am posting my favorite entry in the priceless Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Lettie Cowman, and I've read it many a New Years' Eve as we count down the last days of the year.  When I was 14, my closest friend and I began a tradition of praying from the last ten or so minutes of the old year into the first minutes of the new year.  We did this for 5 years until she married. Though we are rarely together now on New Years' Eve, we have carried on this tradition every year since then, regardless of where we are or who we are with.  Who knows all that has been wrought as a result of those prayers!--but it has been a very special way to welcome in a new year, for 33 unbroken years.

"Hitherto hath the Lord helped us" (I Sam. 7:12).

The word "hitherto" seems like a hand pointing in the direction of the past. Twenty years or seventy, and yet "hitherto hath the Lord helped us!" Through poverty, through wealth, through sickness, through health; at home, abroad, on the land, on the sea; in honor, in dishonor, in perplexity, in joy, in trial, in triumph, in prayer, in temptation--"hitherto hath the Lord helped!"

We delight to look down a long avenue of trees. It is delightful to gaze from one end of the long vista, a sort of verdant temple, with its branching pillars and its arches of leaves. Even so look down the long aisles of your years, at the green boughs of mercy overhead, and the strong pillars of lovingkindness and faithfulness which bear up your joys.

Are there no birds in yonder branches singing? Surely, there must be many, and they all sing of mercy received "hitherto."

But the word also points forward. For when a man gets up to a certain mark, and writes "hitherto," he is not yet at the end; there are still distances to be traversed. More trials, more joys; more temptations, more triumphs; more prayers, more answers; more toils, more strength; more fights, more victories; and then come sickness, old age, disease, death.

Is it over now? No! there is more yet--awakening in Jesus' likeness, thrones, harps, songs, psalms, white raiment the face of Jesus, the society of saints, the glory of God, the fullness of eternity, the infinity of bliss. Oh, be of good courage, believer, and with grateful confidence raise thy "Ebenezer," for,

"He who hath helped thee hitherto
Will help thee all thy journey through."

When read in Heaven's light, how glorious and marvelous a prospect will thy "hitherto" unfold to thy grateful eye. --C. H. Spurgeon

The Alpine shepherds have a beautiful custom of ending the day by singing to one another an evening farewell. The air is so crystalline that the song will carry long distances. As the dusk begins to fall, they gather their flocks and begin to lead them down the mountain paths, singing, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. Let us praise His name!"

And at last with a sweet courtesy, they sing to one another the friendly farewell: "Goodnight! Goodnight!" The words are taken up by the echoes, and from side to side the song goes reverberating sweetly and softly until the music dies away in the distance.

So let us call out to one another through the darkness, till the gloom becomes vocal with many voices, encouraging the pilgrim host. Let the echoes gather till a very storm of Hallelujahs break in thundering waves around the sapphire throne, and then as the morning breaks we shall find ourselves at the margin of the sea of glass, crying, with the redeemed host, "Blessing and honor and glory be unto him that sitteth on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever!"

"This my song through endless ages,
Jesus led me all the way."

all photos Geneva, Switzerland

Unwanted Gifts

a wonderful word from Danielle DuRant, RZIM, today:

There’s an amusing commercial airing in Atlanta this Christmas season. Five friends gather around a fireplace to exchange gifts. When one recipient opens her package, she exclaims with a fake beauty contestant smile, “Oh, a kitty book! Now everyone will know I’m still single! Yeah!” Another chimes in enthusiastically about his unwanted gift, “Oh man! This is gonna go straight in the trash!” No one is subtle about their jovial dislike of what they receive, and so the narrator advises, “Give a better gift this year.”


Besides the obvious humor, the advertisement’s appeal highlights our own cognitive dissonance. While we may share similar feelings about certain gifts, few of us would blurt out, “What were you thinking?!” And yet, sometimes we may not hesitate to say such words to God.


I am reminded of the story of Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, which Luke records in the first chapter of his Gospel. Elizabeth is barren and they are both well advanced in years. Unlike Abraham and Sarah—and even Simeon—as far as we know, Zechariah and Elizabeth have not been given any promise of a child. They are living in a period of silence, as some Bible scholars call it: it has been over 400 years since God spoke of a coming Redeemer and his forerunner through the prophet Malachi. Nevertheless, Zechariah and Elizabeth hold onto God; as Luke tells us, “Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly” (Luke 1:6).


Year after year faithful Zechariah serves in the temple, and one day the lots fall to him to perform the evening offering—a once in a lifetime privilege. He is alone at the altar of incense when suddenly the angel Gabriel appears. “When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear,” writes Luke. “But the angel said to him: ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord’” (Luke 1:11-15a). Gabriel adds that John will go before the Lord to “make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (verse 17).


The name John is significant because none of Zechariah’s relatives share this name and, as it is still today, it was customary to name a firstborn son after his father.(1)John is a Greek form of the Hebrew phrase Yohanan, meaning “God is gracious.” Hebrew scholar Skip Moen offers this insight about the word gracious:

This single word describes an elaborate picture. It creates an image of two parties; one who has a gift to give and the other who is in desperate need of the gift. However, the imagery does not convey the idea that the giver patronizes the recipient with the needed gift. There is no suggestion of condescension here. Rather, the picture is one of a deep, heartfelt concern on the part of the giver so that the gift is granted not from anything that the recipient may negotiate or earn but out of compelling mercy. When the Old Testament uses this verb of God, it conveys the idea of God’s unmerited but nevertheless unlimited love for His children. God willingly favors us with His love and blessings entirely because He chooses to pour His mercy upon us.(2)


Strangely, Gabriel’s announcement to Zechariah that God has answered his prayer is met with distrust: “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” Indeed, Zechariah rejects the very gift he has longed for because he is completely focused on wanting tangible proof of this promise. Perhaps this is because he and his wife have lived for decades with disappointment and heartache—barrenness in their culture symbolized shame, scorn, and God’s supposed disapproval. Whatever his reason, he is struck dumb until Elizabeth gives birth and they bring the child to the temple where Zechariah encountered Gabriel. There Zechariah acknowledges God’s gracious gift and “to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, ‘His name is John.’Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.”

The Christmas season and namely, the asking for and receiving of gifts, often taps into our deepest hopes and fears. Maybe you can sympathize with Zechariah’s initial refusal to receive the good that God offers him. You have known disappointment and loss. You may be grateful for untold blessings but still wonder why God doesn’t answer a particular prayer. Or, you may be hesitant or even resistant to hope in a God who is unpredictable.


In such places, the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth—or of Abraham, Hannah, and Joseph—can speak intimately into our lives. And then there are those around us, like quadriplegic Joni Eareckson Tada, who sees her wheelchair and recent cancer as a gift, for they have “pushed her deeper into [God's] embrace…convincing her that she’d rather be in her chair knowing Him, than on her feet without Him.”(3) Those are sobering words and a gift few of us would want to receive. But perhaps, as we consider the Christmas story, we might discover gifts shining with the brightness and magnitude of a God who,

has come to his people and redeemed them…
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of [his] tender mercy…
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.(4)

 photos from Thistledown Cards

Danielle DuRant is director of research and writing at RZIM.



(1) See Luke 1:59-61.
(2) http://skipmoen.com/tag/gracious/
(3) See Joni speaking about her life at http://www.joniandfriends.org/television/id-rather-be-wheelchair-knowing-him/. Regarding her cancer, see Joni & Ken: An Untold Love Story (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013).
(4) Luke 1:68, 77-79.

God Our Refuge

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Psalm 46:1

"A help that is not present when we need it is of small value.  The anchor which is left at home is of no use to the seamen in the hour of storm; the money which he used to have is of no worth to the debtor when a writ is out against him.  Very few earthly helps could be called ‘very present’: they are usually far in the seeking, far in the using, and father still when once used.  But as for the Lord our God, He is present when we seek Him, present when we need Him, and present when we have already enjoyed His aid.

"He is more than ‘present’, he is very present.  More present than the nearest friend can be, for He is in us in our trouble; more present than we are to ourselves, for sometimes we lack presence of mind.  He is always present, effectually present, sympathetically present, altogether present.  He is present now if this is a gloomy season.  Let us rest ourselves upon Him.  He is our refuge, let us hide in Him; He is our strength, let us array ourselves with Him; He is our help, let us lean upon Him;  He is our very present help. Let us repose in Him now.  We need not have a moment’s care, or an instant’s fear.  ‘The Lord of Hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our refuge.’"  --CH Spurgeon

Our Shield and Glory

"For the Lord is present with us; and whenever we are attacked by any severe contest, let us learn to look to Him; for if we hesitate and look hither and thither, we shall never enjoy peace of mind. When He calls Himself our God, He not only mentions His power, but gives proof of His goodness, which He intends to exercise towards us; for it would not be enough to be convinced of the power of God, if we were not equally certain of His love; and even when we are terrified by the mention of His power alone, His goodness is well fitted to give us peace.”  from Calvin’s Commentary on Isaiah 41

“I, even I, am He who comforts you…I am the Lord your God, who divided the sea whose waves roared—I have covered you with the shadow of My hand…”Isaiah 51:12, 15, 16

“My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord who has mercy on you. Isaiah 54:10

“…You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard from His holy hill.” Ps 3:3-4

photo by Thistledown Cards

13 Lessons #9: Feed Their Soul

Last week we watched Dicken’s Hard Times.  One of our party found it terribly dark and depressing in an overwhelming way.  But profound truths do come to light in this movie, imperfect as it is. We are each human souls, replete with overflowing hopes, dreams, unique personalities reflecting some aspect of who God Himself is; with differing callings and loves and passions and interests directing our attentions and gifts across the spectrum of humanity and the world in which we find ourselves.  We also have idiosyncrasies, strengths and weaknesses, and various traits we bring to every relationship that can be helpful or hurtful, but that we need to understand and refine and bring under the Lordship of our Relational Christ, who understands us best of all.  Immersing ourselves in the rich soul food of Creation all around us, whether in admiring a person we love or in watching raindrops diamond-pivoting off pine needles, -- whether relational, art, music, story, nature--it  feeds longings put there by the Creator of all these good things:  the Artist of all Artists, the Musician supreme above all, the One who first conceived of humanities’ need for one another.  And He looked at all He had made and beheld that it was very good.

This week we read, “Schools in America are to drop classic books… in favor of informational texts… American literature classics are to be replaced by insulation manuals and plant inventories in US classrooms by 2014. A new school curriculum which will affect 46 out of 50 states will make it compulsory for at least 70 per cent of books studied to be non-fiction, in an effort to ready pupils for the workplace.…

“ Jamie Highfill, a teacher at Woodland Junior High School in Arkansas, told the Times that the directive was bad for a well-rounded education.

"I'm afraid we are taking out all imaginative reading and creativity in our English classes.

"In the end, education has to be about more than simply ensuring that kids can get a job. Isn't it supposed to be about making well-rounded citizens?"

"Supporters of the directive argue that it will help pupils to develop the ability to write concisely and factually, which will be more useful in the workplace than a knowledge of Shakespeare.”

Brilliant cultural critic  George Grant twittered, “Gradgrind would be proud.  US public schools adopt the Victorian utilitarianism Dickens skewered in Hard Times.” 

We should feel a cold chill.  Ultimately this kind of thinking will remove the soul of a people, mechanistically making them fit only for the “factory work” of existence.  They say they do this so that students will have jobs someday.  Does not something ring eerily diabolic about causing a person to be prepared only to do a job, but not to live a life?  I am sure they would stutter that this is not what they mean to do at all.  Alas, it is what will be accomplished, and it is the diabolic vision for the rabble, the masses.  Dangerous for them to think, to imagine wild dreams, for then they cannot be controlled. 

We understand ourselves and one another through Story; yes, sometimes through the diverse and colorful medium of the classics and their study of human nature, of who God meant for us to be individually and in community.  Scripture itself is largely made up of Story, from which we decipher and discern many things about ourselves and others, about sin, redemption, grace, love; and indeed there is nothing new under the sun.

Weaving Scripture masterfully, colorfully in and out of who our young people are becoming, and the world they inhabit; weaving rich parable and quiet understandings from fiction and non-fiction alike as they begin to discern themselves and others, and the times in which they live; weaving a love for all things beautiful and praiseworthy through their weeks like so many cedar garlands strung with lights and ribbon along the archways of our homes; weaving talks and warm eye contact and hugs into hard discussions and decision-making and growing times, with a felt understanding and camaraderie in the basic business of being human and navigating relationships;  these things feed souls.  Do we know each of them in our home well enough to know what is meaningful to them?  What reaches them?  Are we helping them to read their brothers and sisters, others in their church community, to really know them, so they will know how to bless those around them in ways meaningful to them?

And as we read the writings of the western canon of literature, are we teaching them that any good can be had apart from Christ?  Common grace gives us much, to be sure, but to rely on virtue without godliness is to deny the Cross.  To rely on change by our own power and devices is to build a legalist, not a man or woman dependent on the only source of true change,  Jesus Christ.  What is story doing for us?  Helping us understand who we are before an Almighty God, in need of Christ’s finished work on our behalf?  Or building up our own sense of self-worth and self-reliance, while all the while killing truth and goodness, beauty and joy?

The Soul of the Christ Life

“It is much easier to convince a human soul of its natural impurity, than to convince it of its natural hardness and utter destitution of heavenly and Divine tenderness.  The very essence of the gospel is Divine tenderness and sweetness of spirit.  Even among intensely religious people, nothing is rarer to find than a continuous and all-pervading spirit of tenderness.

“Tenderness of spirit is not the tenderness of mind and manner which result from high culture and a beautiful social training, though these are valuable in life.  No, it is a supernatural work throughout the whole spiritual being.  It is an exquisite interior fountain of God’s own sweetness and tenderness of nature, opened up in the inner spirit to such a degree that it completely inundates the soul, overflowing all the mental faculties and saturating with its sweet waters the manners, expressions, words, and tones of the voice; mellowing the will, softening the judgment, melting the affections, refining the manners, and molding the whole being after the image of Him who was infinitely meek and lowly in heart.

“Tenderness of spirit cannot be borrowed or put on for special occasions; it is emphatically supernatural, and must flow out incessantly from the inner fountains of life.

“Deep tenderness of spirit is the very soul and marrow of the Christ life.  What specific gravity is to the planet, what beauty is to the rainbow, what perfume is to the rose, what marrow is to the bone, what rhythm is to poetry, what the pulse is to the heart, what harmony is to music, what heat is to the human body—all this, and much more, is tenderness of spirit to religion.  It is possible to be very religious and staunch, and persevering in all Christian duties; possible, even, to be sanctified, to be a brave defender and preacher of holiness, to be mathematically orthodox and blameless in outward life, and very zealous in good works, and yet to be greatly lacking in tenderness of spirit—that all-subduing, all-melting love, which is the very cream and quintessence of heaven, and which incessantly streamed out from the voice and eyes of the blessed Jesus.”   --Lettie Cowman

I would that I could be

A wound-dresser

Of souls—

Reaching the aching heart,

The tortured mind, calming them as the night

Calms tired bodies

When she drops the mantle of sleep

Over the world.

As each cold, glittering star

So might I stand in mine,

But with the warmth of a smile

On my face,

And in my eyes

An image of the Soul Divine.

-L.C.

When Men Perceive No Ways

"God has determined to protect and guard His church…He describes Himself as armed with terrible power for the defence of his people…but [also] in proportion to the weakness of any one sheep He shows His carefulness in watching, His gentleness in handling, and His patience in leading it…

"God has no need of outward and natural means for aiding His church, but has at His command secret and wonderful methods, by which He can relieve their necessities, contrary to all hope and outward appearance.  When no means of relief are seen, we quickly fall into despair, and scarcely venture to entertain any hope, but so far as outward aids are presented to our eyes.  Deprived of these, we cannot rest on the Lord.  But the Prophet states that at that time especially they ought to trust, because at that time the Lord has more abundant opportunities of displaying His power, when men perceive no ways or methods, and everything appears to be utterly desperate.  Contrary, then, to the hope and belief of all men, the Lord will assist His people, that we may not suffer ourselves to be driven hither and thither by doubt and hesitation."

John Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah 40