Visionary Monday ~ A Glimpse of Spurgeon Family Worship

I just happened across a very incredible post through The Resurgence website on Charles Spurgeon and family worship. It's so timely and perfect for 'Visionary Monday' that I am compelled to share it! The post is called, A Glimpse of Spurgeon Family Worship.

We have all likely heard of the public ministry of Charles Haddon Spurgeon. However, his private ministry in his home may be even more compelling as he gives a profound example of what it means to pastor your first church body—your family.

Spurgeon says:

“If we want to bring up a godly family, who shall be a seed to serve God when our heads are under the clods of the valley, let us seek to train them up in the fear of God by meeting together as a family for worship.”

Susannah, his wife, describes the nightly scene at their house:

“After the meal was over, an adjournment was made to the study for family worship, and it was at these seasons that my beloved’s prayers were remarkable for their tender childlikeness, their spiritual pathos and their intense devotion. He seemed to come as near to God as a little child to a loving father, and we were often moved to tears as he talked thus face to face with his Lord.”

A visitor tells of his evening in the Spurgeon home:

One of the most helpful hours of my visits to Westwood was the hour of family prayer. At six o’clock all the household gathered into the study for worship. Usually Mr. Spurgeon would himself lead the devotions. The portion read was invariably accompanied with exposition. How amazingly helpful those homely and gracious comments were. I remember, especially, his reading of the twenty-fourth of Luke: “Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.” How sweetly he talked upon having Jesus with us wherever we go. Not only to have Him draw near at special seasons but to go with us whatever labour we undertake... ...Then, how full of tender pleading, of serene confidence in God, of world-embracing sympathy were his prayers... His public prayers were an inspiration and benediction, but his prayers with the family were to me more wonderful still... Mr. Spurgeon, when bowed before God in family prayer, appeared a grander man even than when holding thousands spellbound by his oratory. Spurgeon, despite a schedule that would crush most and physical ailments that would cause the rest us to tap out, maintained this time with family regardless of his circumstances or company. It was his great joy to do so. May it be the same with us.

Last, but not least, I found this nugget of truth from a post by Blessed Femina, whose blog I absolutely adore!! Thank you, Miss Jen.

"Every Christian family ought to be a little church,

consecrated to Christ and wholly influenced

and governed by His Laws."

-Jonathan Edwards

Treasuring and Admiring the Word

I hope my readers enjoy the new selections of music on my blog. A little of the Hobbits theme, Chopin, and Pride and Prejudice. I thought, perhaps, that lighter melodies would appeal rather than the heavy, dark romantic piano. Although, I still kept those tracks further down on my playlist.

The week has been tiresome, which is strange for one's spring break. My body finally gave way to the continual stress of school and I came down with a very exhausting flu bug. Nevertheless, I am now on the mend! I just need to get my voice back in time for my choral concert next Thursday. The Lord, in all His goodness, has been reviving my spirits as well. Emotionally and spiritually, I have been carrying around some heavy burdens. I tend to place the weight of the world, the souls of those whom I love, the direction of my life, and all my passions upon myself and it leads to nothing but constant vexation. As a result, my family has to suffer for the attitudes that I enter in upon each day. Ah, the discipline of one's character and soul...it is not too much for our Lord to handle and to transform. The reformation of the human heart is exactly His area of expertise! If only we'd humbly receive His grace for daily sanctification.

The devotion-study books from Steve Gallagher that I received for my B-day, has been serving its purpose in bringing me each morning to the Word. I chose to begin the 12 week study on Psalm 119 (A Lamp Unto My Feet) and I'm drawing near the end of Week 2 which has been concentrating on Psalm 119:9-24. The goal of Gallagher's study is not merely just to study this great Psalm, but to encourage a passionate love for the all the words that proceed from God. The aim of the study is actually to build up holy affections and admirations toward the Bible. A word that went straight to my heart was this commentary on Psalm 119 by Charles Spurgeon that Steve quotes:

Some men can perceive no wonders in the gospel, but David felt sure that there were glorious things in the law; he had not half the Bible, but he prized it more than some men prize the whole. He felt that God had laid up great bounties in his word, and he begs for power to perceive, appreciate, and enjoy the same. We need not so much that God should give us more benefits, as the ability to see what he has given.

The prayer implies a conscious darkness, a dimness of spiritual vision, a powerlessness to remove that defect, and a full assurance that God can remove it. It shows also that the writer knew that there were vast treasures in the word which he had not yet fully seen, marvels which he had not yet beheld, mysteries which he had scarcely believed. The Scriptures teem with marvels; the Bible is wonder-land; it not only relates miracles, but it is itself a world of wonders. Yet what are these to closed eyes? And what can man open his own eyes, since he is born blind? God himself must reveal revelation to each heart. Scriptures needs opening, but not one half so much as our eyes do; the veil is not on the book, but on our hearts. What perfect precepts, what precious promises, what priceless privileges are neglected by us because we wander among them like blind men amongst the beauties of nature, and they are to us as a landscape shrouded in darkness!

Are we learning to love God's Word, even the tough parts that we deem "unkind" or "boring"?

When we go to the Word, are we merely just reading it? Or are we reading it prayerfully and in dependence upon God to open the eyes of our heart and incline us towards His holy precepts?

Are there, weekly and daily, affections rising up in our soul for the marvels and wonders found in Scripture?

I want to be so in love with my Lord's Word. But the extent of my desire for it, on most days, seems weak and dull. O Abba, do what you must in my life and in my soul to make room only for desires and longings for You and Your Word.

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law! ~ Psalm 119: 18

Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. ~ Psalm 119:24