It is a joyous thing to hear the very voice of God as He walks in the garden of our hearts.
Most joyful to know, again and again, I am not my own.
To Him be the glory forever for all He has done, and will do for us. 🙏
✦ A Sunday by the Channel
The road has reached Calais, where France looks across the water toward England. And on this Lord's Day, after a week of watchfulness, Spurgeon brings joy — the joy of a sinner forgiven.
Two readings: a voice in the garden saying "your sins are all forgiven," and a psalm that thirsts, sings, and hopes. 🙏
"What a joyous thing it is to have a ray of heavenly sunlight in the soul, and to hear the very voice of God as He walks in the garden of our hearts in the cool of the day, saying to us, 'Child, your sins, which are many, are all forgiven.' The whisper of that heavenly voice may raise our heart to a joy almost divine."
"To receive the divine kiss of acceptance, to be robed in the best robe, to wear the ring on the hand and the shoes on the feet, to hear the heavenly music and celebration with which returning prodigals are welcomed to their Father's house — this, indeed, is joy and blessedness worth worlds to experience."
"But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found."
"Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much... And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven."
✦ "Your Sins, Which Are Many"
Spurgeon's words are the very words Jesus spoke to the woman with the alabaster jar — her sins, which are many, are forgiven. The foundation of this whole journal, spoken again on a Sunday in Calais.
And Spurgeon pictures it as Eden restored: God walking in the garden of our hearts in the cool of the day — not to find us hiding in shame as Adam did, but to whisper: Child, all forgiven.
Then the prodigal's welcome. The father does not offer a servant's place. He runs. He kisses. He brings the best robe, the ring, the shoes — and calls for music. Tuesday's reading said heaven is an inheritance by birth; Friday's said we are adopted. Today we see the homecoming party. 🙏
"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."
✦ Again and Again
Le hears the voice in the garden — and what does it say to her? Not only "you are forgiven," but "you are Mine." Most joyful to know, again and again, I am not my own.
Three days running Le has said it — October 8, have all of me, gladly; October 9, my life is not my own; and today, again and again. What began as Spurgeon's stern claim has become Le's song. The prodigal who came home does not want to be his own again. He wants to stay in the Father's house.
And then the doxology: to Him be the glory forever for all He has done, and will do. Past and future in one breath. What He has done — the pardon, the robe, the ring. What He will do — the house not yet found, the road ahead, the crown already hanging in glory. Paul ends the same way: unto him be glory... throughout all ages, world without end. 🙏
"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.
By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me — a prayer to the God of my life.
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."
✦ Thirst, Song, and Hope
Psalm 42 follows the joy of pardon like a heartbeat. The forgiven soul does not grow less thirsty — it grows more. Having tasted the water, it pants for the stream.
By day His love, at night His song. The day and the night both belong to Him. Love leads by daylight; song keeps watch through the dark. August 30 — His Eye on the Sparrow came as a song. September 14 — I'd Rather Have Jesus came as a song. At night His song is with me.
And the psalmist talks to his own soul: Why are you downcast? Put your hope in God. Not every day feels like the prodigal's feast. But the feast is real even on the downcast days — and the psalmist says I will yet praise Him. Yet. The praise is already on its way. 🙏
"Most joyful to know, again and again, I am not my own. To Him be the glory forever for all He has done, and will do for us."
Le · Calais · Sunday · The joy of pardonThe Voice in the Garden
God walks in the garden of our hearts in the cool of the day — not to find us hiding, but to say, "Child, all forgiven."
Robe, Ring, and Shoes
The prodigal's welcome: the kiss, the best robe, the ring, the shoes, and the music. Joy worth worlds.
As the Deer
The forgiven soul thirsts more, not less. By day His love, at night His song. Put your hope in God — I will yet praise Him.
After the watch, the feast: Yesterday — guard the pearl. Today — remember what the pearl is. It is the joy of hearing your sins, which are many, are forgiven.
At the Channel: Spurgeon's words are Luke 7:47 — the verse at the foundation of Le's story. The joy of Lubbock at midnight is the same joy in Calais on a Sunday.
Le's "again and again": Three days in a row, the same joy — I am not my own. This is no longer a lesson learned; it is a song sung. And it ends where every true song ends: to Him be the glory forever.
Psalm 42 for the road: A song for pilgrims — thirsty, singing at night, talking back to a downcast soul with hope. Put your hope in God. I will yet praise Him. 🙏