Eight Pages of JOY

Sometimes, in fact always, it's good to be excited about Heaven! Googling for a new blog layout, I came across this sermon by Charles Spurgeon who was a Pastor in England in the 1800's. I've known about him I guess all my life, my Dad's a big fan and has a shelf in his study pretty much dedicated to him I believe (as in lots of books...not a shrine :P). I'm sure I've heard at least one sermon by him before, my Dad had it in his Bible and read it to us one Sunday morning when we were on holiday in Essex when I was maybe about 12... the roads were flooded to we couldn't get to a church. I don't really remember it though. This is probably the first time I've ever really read one of his sermons for myself, and it pretty much blew me away. You should read it.

I've copied a couple of quotes that I thought seemed apt for me, as someone living in a foreign country at the moment. But it is eight pages of JOY you will read right there, should you follow that iddy biddy little link. :)

"Oh, dear Friends, wherever we wander, we should never forget our beloved land. In Australia, on the other side the world, or in the Cape of Good Hope, or wherever else we may be exiled, surely every Englishman’s eye must turn to this fair island—and with all her faults, we must love her still. And surely let us be where we may, our eyes must turn to Heaven, the happy land unstained by shadow of fault. We love her still and love her more and more, praying for the time when our banishment shall expire, and we shall enter into our Fatherland to dwell there forever and ever."

"Brethren, just as people in a foreign land that love their country always are glad to have plenty of letters from the country, I hope we have much communication with the old fatherland. We send our prayers there as letters to our Father, and we get His letters back in this blessed volume of His Word."

Also, here's one of my favourite hymns on the subject: (although I kind of wish they didn't change key between every verse)



My favourite verse:
"The bride eyes not her garment
But her dear bridegrooms face
I will not gaze at glory
But at my King of grace
Not at the crown he giveth
But on his pierced hand
The Lamb is all the glory
Of Immanuel's Land"

Check out *all* the verses here, along with a catchy midi file so you can sing along. :)