A glowing coal at my heart

by chuckofish

We’re halfway through February and spring is in the air. But don’t be fooled–winter is still here and it will turn cold again. And that’s okay. The end of winter is in sight. Baseball season is just around the corner.

Tonight we finish Pilgrim’s Progress in our community group. I really cannot recommend this great book enough. You will recall that John Bunyan wrote the book while he was in prison–he was imprisoned for twelve years because he was a nonconformist preacher (meaning not licensed by the state church). That he knew his Bible throughly is evident on every page. Charles Spurgeon famously said that Bunyan “is a living Bible! Prick him anywhere; his blood is Bibline, the very essence of the Bible flows from him.”

Coming to the end of the book was very moving as several beloved characters come to the end of their journey and cross over the River of Death to the Celestial City.

The River has been a Terror to many, yea the thoughts of it also have oft frightened me. But now methinks I stand easie, my Foot is fixed upon that, upon which the Feet of the Priests that bare the Ark of the Covenant stood while Israel went over this Jordan. The Waters indeed are to the Palate bitter, and to the Stomack cold; yet the thoughts of what I am going to, and of the Conduct that waits for me on the other side, doth lie as a glowing Coal at my Heart.

I see my self now at the end of my Journey, my toilsome Days are ended. I am going now to see the Head that was Crowned with Thorns, and that Face that was spit upon, for me.

I have formerly lived by Hear-say, and Faith, but now I go where I shall live by sight, and shall be with him, in whose Company I delight my self.

I have loved to hear my Lord spoken of, and wherever I have seen the print of his Shoe in the Earth, there I have coveted to set my Foot too.

–Mr. Stand-fast

Here are ten things you should know about The Pilgrim’s Progress.

And here’s a Valentine bonus pic of Ida B. in a red jumper made by her great-grandmother.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

(Lamentations 3:22-23)