C.H. Spurgeon's Evening Devotional
Saturday June 14, 2025

"O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face . . . because we have sinned against Thee."-Daniel 9:8
    
    A deep sense and clear sight of sin, its heinousness, and the punishment which it deserves, should make us lie low before the throne. We have sinned as Christians. Alas! that it should be so. Favoured as we have been, we have yet been ungrateful: privileged beyond most, we have not brought forth fruit in proportion. Who is there, although he may long have been engaged in the Christian warfare, that will not blush when he looks back upon the past? As for our days before we were regenerated, may they be forgiven and forgotten; but since then, though we have not sinned as before, yet we have sinned against light and against love-light which has really penetrated our minds, and love in which we have rejoiced. Oh, the atrocity of the sin of a pardoned soul! An unpardoned sinner sins cheaply compared with the sin of one of God's own elect ones, who has had communion with Christ and leaned his head upon Jesus' bosom. Look at David! Many will talk of his sin, but I pray you look at his repentance, and hear his broken bones, as each one of them moans out its dolorous confession! Mark his tears, as they fall upon the ground, and the deep sighs with which he accompanies the softened music of his harp! We have erred: let us, therefore, seek the spirit of penitence. Look, again, at Peter! We speak much of Peter's denying his Master. Remember, it is written, "He wept bitterly." Have we no denials of our Lord to be lamented with tears? Alas! these sins of ours, before and after conversion, would consign us to the place of inextinguishable fire if it were not for the sovereign mercy which has made us to differ, snatching us like brands from the burning. My soul, bow down under a sense of thy natural sinfulness, and worship thy God. Admire the grace which saves thee-the mercy which spares thee-the love which pardons thee!
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Wednesday, January 28, 2015

guest post by author Karen Kilpatrick


From The Heart

I recently went to the movies with my two little girls, and per usual, I made sure we arrived early so we wouldn’t miss any of the previews.  I love stories, and relish the opportunity to watch highlights of upcoming movies so I know what to look forward to next!  This time, I saw a preview for Disney’s Cinderella.  The Cinderella story has been knocked around a bit lately for portraying the standard damsel in distress character rescued by a prince.  But there was a line in the preview that made me think that I wanted to see this movie: "Have courage, and be kind," Cinderella’s mother says. "Where there is kindness, there is goodness and where there is goodness, there is magic."

I sat there, popcorn halfway up to mouth, and thought, “yes!”  Because this is exactly the sort of concept I address in the Pumpkinheads® books: kindness, courage, empathy, compassion, tolerance… many of the qualities that sometimes get forgotten or overlooked in our fast-paced and material driven society.  There is magic that occurs when people are kind and courageous, loving and generous, thoughtful and appreciative –a magic that is even more beautiful than turning a pumpkin into a coach or rags into a beautiful blue dress.  It is the magic that happens when people connect, care for and love one another. 

Pumpkinheads® is a series that comes straight from the heart. As a writer, I wanted to create stories that would serve as examples of the kind of behaviors I hoped my children would exhibit in life.  The vessel for these lessons became characters that are fun and relatable, so that for kids reading about the characters, their dilemmas, and the solution to their problems, it would be like learning from friends!

There is magic to be found in loving oneself, others, and the world around us, and I hope that my stories are as enchanting to kids as a little bit of fairytale magic too!


Karen Kilpatrick is the author and co-illustrator of the award winning children’s books series, Pumpkinheads® (Carmin Cares, Ella’s Toys, Love Monster Lulu, Sage’s Song and Danza’s Message). She currently is working on new Pumpkinheads® titles and other books for children. Karen also writes adult short stories, and is a winning author in the Florida Writer’s Association’s collection contest, with her short story, The Envelope, published October 2014. She lives with her husband and three children in Parkland, Florida. To learn more about Pumpkinheads ® books and for fun art activities, games, and stories, you can visit www.pumpkinheads.com.

For More Information


http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2014/12/21/pump-up-your-book-presents-pumpkinheads-childrens-books-virtual-book-publicity-tour/


a copy of Karen's books were provided in exchange for hosting this tour by....
Pump Up Your Book

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