C.H. Spurgeon's Evening Devotional
Sunday May 18, 2025

"Afterward."-Hebrews 12:11
    
    How happy are tried Christians, afterwards. No calm more deep than that which succeeds a storm. Who has not rejoiced in clear shinings after rain? Victorious banquets are for well-exercised soldiers. After killing the lion we eat the honey; after climbing the Hill Difficulty, we sit down in the arbour to rest; after traversing the Valley of Humiliation, after fighting with Apollyon, the shining one appears, with the healing branch from the tree of life. Our sorrows, like the passing keels of the vessels upon the sea, leave a silver line of holy light behind them "afterwards." It is peace, sweet, deep peace, which follows the horrible turmoil which once reigned in our tormented, guilty souls. See, then, the happy estate of a Christian! He has his best things last, and he therefore in this world receives his worst things first. But even his worst things are "afterward" good things, harsh ploughings yielding joyful harvests. Even now he grows rich by his losses, he rises by his falls, he lives by dying, and becomes full by being emptied; if, then, his grievous afflictions yield him so much peaceable fruit in this life, what shall be the full vintage of joy "afterwards" in heaven? If his dark nights are as bright as the world's days, what shall his days be? If even his starlight is more splendid than the sun, what must his sunlight be? If he can sing in a dungeon, how sweetly will he sing in heaven! If he can praise the Lord in the fires, how will he extol Him before the eternal throne! If evil be good to him now, what will the overflowing goodness of God be to him then? Oh, blessed "afterward!" Who would not be a Christian? Who would not bear the present cross for the crown which cometh afterwards? But herein is work for patience, for the rest is not for to-day, nor the triumph for the present, but "afterward." Wait, O soul, and let patience have her perfect work.
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Tuesday, October 30, 2018

The Nutcracker And The Four Realms with giveaway

The holidays are coming and so is the Nutcracker and the Four Realms in theaters on November 2

https://abis-scrapsoflife.blogspot.com/2014/03/ties-that-bind.html
This quilt I made with love for my mother.  It took 3 &1/2 years from start to finish to make it.  I completed it for Mother's Day 2014.  She asked that I make her the cross-stitch saying so I found a picture to go with the saying.  Then had nieces and nephews each make a block which features the cousins and their offspring to go along with the saying.  My mom had no idea this was being made for her.  She tells me it will be gifted back to me at her memorial service whenever that may be.  Lots of love was put into this quilt.

You can read the full quilt saga at this link


About The Movie (Synopsis)
All Clara (Mackenzie Foy) wants is a key – a one-of-a-kind key that will unlock a box that holds a priceless gift. A golden thread, presented to her at godfather Drosselmeyer’s (Morgan Freeman) annual holiday party, leads her to the coveted key—which promptly disappears into a strange and mysterious parallel world. It’s there that Clara encounters a soldier named Phillip (Jayden Fowora-Knight), a gang of mice and the regents who preside over three Realms: Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers and Land of Sweets. Clara and Phillip must brave the ominous Fourth Realm, home to the tyrant Mother Ginger (Helen Mirren), to retrieve Clara’s key and hopefully return harmony to the unstable world. Starring Keira Knightley as the Sugar Plum Fairy, Disney’s new holiday feature film “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” is directed by Lasse Hallström and Joe Johnston, and inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale.  “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” releases in theaters on November 2.






For more information, please go to:  https://movies.disney.com/the-nutcracker-and-the-four-realms

Please leave a comment to  be entered in a drawing we will be giving away a digital Fandango gift card to see this wonderful holiday movie.  The gift card has a $40 value for you to enjoy this delightful film with your family and/or friends.
 

http://gracehillmedia.com/