The Mourner's Comforter

Where's Your Focus when You Feel Stressed?

2011-05-05T07:53:00.000-07:00

J. Purcell, blogger

"Now more than ever we see the effects of stress," experts may say of loss or desired gains. Yet every generation deals with such things under names like malaise, depression, overload, fatigue, disconnection, burnout, and grief_a few of the many from which to choose.

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote the book Spiritual Depression, and he mentioned too much introspection as a builder of stress. He also mentioned being too hard on ourselves and expecting perfection as major causes of creating and feeding stress.

C.H. Spurgeon (The Mourner's Comforter) focused on paying attention to the self. He said that whether we are aware of it or not we are beloved of God. He wrote many books and sermons to try to wake readers and listeners up, to pay attention to the wonders they were missing.

Dr. Lloyd-Jones and Mr. Spurgeon said almost the same thing about focusing on the self. If the focus leads to too much introspection, then stress increases. If the focus leads us to realize that we are beloved of God as we are, imperfections and all, then how can we live as people ruled and made sick by stress?

When we are most stressed that is when we need to do less introspection and apply more awareness, or focus, of who we are to God. For me, the awareness often starts with simple yet beautiful things of nature. I even enjoy fog! (If I don't have to drive in it.) I find the rare fog we have where I live to be beautiful and mysterious in its misty-ness.

A common denominator needed when stressed is to stop and pay attention to what is happening in our world, right around us. We may enjoy or be surprised if we are open to looking, listening, and opening our minds.

Paying attention feeds our needed sense of awe and wonder. Paying attention asks us to make more time to notice beyond ourselves. God is speaking to ue, aiming to get our attention, often, while we keep looking the other way. I love the psalmist's words, "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24). "Does not wisdom call out..." (Proverbs 8)?

Inescapable Suffering

2011-05-01T09:31:00.000-07:00

Her inescapable sufferings bring hourly questions for one in what should be the prime of her life. They bring questions to those who love her and live in the questions with her. Why this...how will she...when an end...will it end...what cause...what cure...who...where...how?...

Only those close to her can faintly know the great depths of her continuing pain.

They wait restoration of life, as Job received. Job praised God from the pit of suffering. To whom else can she and those who love her turn? All others fail. And God restored to Job all he had lost, and more. --Anonymous

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand

at the latter day upon the earth:

And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my

flesh shall I see God:

Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold,

and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. Job 19: 25-27

And God restored to Job all he had lost, and more.

God promised: I will restore to you the years the locusts have eaten. --Joel 2:25

God of all comfort

2011-02-23T08:56:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

When others suffer and we are able to give help and comfort, we learn more about "the God of all comfort." We are able to comfort "with the comfort with which He comforts us."

Mary Helen Purcell (7/30/1926-2/23/2010) lived with us for 11 years. Her attitudes toward her own blindness opened our eyes to much good, including the importance of "a place for everything and everything in its place." Her other medical needs taught us how quickly wheelchair, oxygen machine, and other apparatus can become part of home routine.

Mary Helen's heart ran its course. As Martin Luther wrote, "The body they may kill; God's truth abideth still; his kingdom is forever." They are not only the evils expressed through human or warring threats, but also through illness, frailty, and suffering.

"His kingdom is forever": God gives an eternal, living hope through His Son, the Redeemer of the world, Jesus. Eternal life is for those who by faith trust Him. And, those who trust Him will meet in heaven. The knowledge of these truths comforts all who believe.

Chapter 6. The Garment of Praise-excerpts

2010-12-08T11:00:00.000-08:00

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness... (Isaiah 61:3d)

"...whereas the first [sacred exchange] adorned the face with beauty, and the second anointed the head with joy, this last and widest covers the whole person with a garment of praise. Man's first garment was of his own making, and it could not cover his shame; but this garment is of God's making, and it makes us comfortable in ourselves and comely in the sight of God and man. Those to whom God gives the garment of praise are better adorned than Solomon in all his glory." (page 113)

The spirit of heaviness..."shall be removed. The blessings that Jesus gives to us are not surface ones, yet they touch the center of our being. At first, we may not perceive their depth, but only know that beauty is given instead of ashes....However, in the words before us, the very spirit of heaviness--the fountain from where the mourning flows, the hearth upon which the ashes are burned--is dealt with and taken away." (page 114)

"Faith, too, that blessed gift of God, works to the clearing away of heaviness, wherever it resides....Faith takes the telescope, looks beyond the narrow range of time into the eternal heavens, and sees a crown laid up for the faithful. ...

"Hope enters, too, with her silver light, borrowed from faithful promises. She expects the future glory....so, again, she drives away the gloom of the heart.

"Love, also, the sweetest of the three, comes in and teaches us to be resigned to the will of God, and then sweetly charms us into acquiescence with all the divine purposes. When we reach that point--and so love God that whatever He may do with us we are resolved to trust Him and praise His name--then the spirit of heaviness must vanish." (page 124)

Faith takes the telescope, looks beyond the narrow range of time into the eternal heavens, and sees a crown laid up for the faithful.

With appreciation, thanks to Bing images for the traditional Christmas scene.

Final, Chapter 7. Trees of Righteousness-excerpts

2010-11-27T10:24:00.000-08:00

TREES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

...that they might be called trees of righteousness,

the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Isaiah 61:3a

[1] The main end and object of the whole system of grace is that the Lord might be glorified.
This will be the ultimate result of all that God has planned and wrought for the salvation of men.
Throughout the whole dispensation of love, His attributes shine forth in their meridian splendor:
His mercy in forgiving the guilty, His justice in the death of their Substitute, His truth in fulfilling His threatening, and His faithfulness in keeping His promise--all will be made manifest to the admiring eyes of the intelligent universe. (page 133)

[1] If the Lord had chosen sages and philosophers, if it had been necessary to pass through various grades of scholarship in order to obtain the favor of God, then human learning would have been considered the cause of holiness, and the university would have monopolized the glory.
This also shall not be.
Neither can riches sway the choice of heaven, nor personal beauty, nor courage, nor favor among men.
Grace, and grace alone, must reign and lift the mourners from the dunghill, while the haughty sons of pride are passed by.

[2] Moreover, the Lord has not made His selection according to natural character; for if He had in every case chosen those who have been excellent in morals from their youth up, then the honor would have been ascribed to good works, and grace would have been elbowed out of the throne.
If the good Shepherd had come only to watch over the ninety and nine that did not stray, and not to seek lost sheep, then it would have been said, "After all, these saved ones owe but little to mercy, for their admirable character lies at the root of it all."
It is all very well to talk of grace, but what sort of grace is it that comes only to the most deserving? (page 135)

Thanks to Bing's free images for the image of the holly tree cutting gracing the little candle, at top of this blog post.
Mahalia Jackson is unparalleled as a singer of gospel songs. She rejected offers to sing popular songs. You can hear her sing "Amazing Grace" via YouTube video embedded in right column.

Appreciation for Two Brothers at Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T06:40:00.000-08:00

The Mourner's Comforter reached me when I most needed its words by a trust-worthy Christian. It was a gift from the older of my two older brothers, Gerald, who was 17 years old when I was born. He hitch-hiked, from the town where he was finishing high school to see me when he got the call about my birth.

The younger of my two older brothers celebrated his 13th birthday about seven weeks after I was born. At that point in his young life, having a baby sister at that was not his idea of something to celebrate. Yet, he became another older brother. I owe to him my early exposure to his love of classical music and also I owe him appreciation for wise words he gave me during the time I was also about to read The Mourner's Comforter. And for many other reasons, I appreciate my brothers for the kind of person each one is.

The younger of my older brothers had a lovely tenor singing voice, I realized as I grew up, and like my other older brother he was handsome and loved good humor. He put up with a lot from me, including the time I scattered his 78 rpm records into little pieces, having toddled across them where they lay on the floor where he sat listening to music. From Bud, as he was called, as a toddler I heard music by Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Mozart, and others, not really knowing details of its beauty.

My brothers and I have ties to each other that become ever stronger as we share faith, hope, and love.

Appreciation Revisited_My Brother

2010-11-02T12:32:00.000-07:00

"...Mr. Primm completed more than 60 fighter-pilot combat missions in his P-38 Lightning and had his share of crash landings as well. He was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for his combat aviation prowess."* Gerald C Primm, of Greensboro, NC, is my oldest brother. He was a college freshman when the USA was attacked at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He left school, joined the army air force, and trained for single-fighter air combat. He served country, community, and family well for many years then and later. Today he is ill and unable to move about as he used to do when always on the go. After WWII, he became a husband, preacher, and father. From a young age, he began faithfully to study, then preach, lead churches, mentor young pastors and others, teach, and comfort sick or hurting ones, and wandering ones with whom he often shared a meal. When we had just finished The Mourner's Comforter new edition, based on his rare edition in his personal library, if I spoke of even minor discouragement he would say, his voice from the other end of the phone connection, "Well, just open the book!" And I could hear the smile in his voice. "It's true," I would tell him, "I can open to almost any page and feel better." He said that was what he would do. He knew of the "brooding darkness that spreads its jealous wings," which Spurgeon wrote about in The Comforter, and which comes at different times to everyone. Although he is now very ill, my brother is in the care of family and others, resting, waiting, and at peace. I am thankful for what his copy of one of his treasured books now means to many readers, through the editions he has published and helped.

*Source: "Ask Veterans to Share Their Stories," Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, Greensboro News & Record, Harry Thetford

The Mourner's Comforter and Dark Memory

2010-11-02T12:11:00.000-07:00

After a nightmare in the midst of mononucleosis sickness, I opened The Mourner's Comforter, and my eyes fell on a beautiful distraction--trees. The words said:

"Trees frequently become marvels of grandeur... What a history is embodied in those gnarls and knots and twisted branches... How they tell of stormy nights and days of heavy snow! All over the bark and the boughs time has with his pencil written records of sunshine and tempest. Now, such is a Christian when God makes him rich in grace: if you could but know him and read him he is a mass of history. His virtues are the results of severe trial, and the records of sublime joys. All the lines of his face mean something; there is not a scar upon his soul, or a dark memory upon his spirit, or a bright recollection in his mind but what it redounds to the glory of God."

What a contrast to the Pit of my nightmare.

Quote from The Mourner's Comforter, C H Spurgeon, Opine Publishing, p. 220. In Not All Roads Lead Home (second ed., p. 106; first ed.,pp. 127, 128), Jane Bullard. Bold font emphasis added.

(c) Jean Purcell 2010

We Wanted to Know

2010-10-28T17:38:00.000-07:00

The first large order for THE MOURNER'S COMFORTER was by phone from a Reformation university and seminary bookstore. The publisher said: "Then you liked our advance copy packet?"

The buyer said, "I don't know anything about a packet."

"How did you know about this book?" the publisher wanted to know.

"Somebody saw a copy lying on the checkout counter and asked for copies. We only had that one," he said. "I don't know where it came from. I got your phone number, and called for more."

Opine Publishing's newest treasure, a comfort classic by C H Spurgeon, caught the attention of a book shopper. The bookstore ordered a large number, as a result, and ordered again at Christmas.

Is your book important? Then be sure to send advance copy packets of it to key reviewers and other places where book lovers, reviewers, and buyers hang out. That's how they learn about special new books...whose copies even might get separated from the publisher's packet and end up in plain sight at the checkout counter.

From the writer of the Foreword

2010-10-25T20:00:00.000-07:00

There is spiritual uplift and strength on the pages of THE MOURNER'S COMFORTER for many, including those who are spiritually hungry or suffering spiritual depression. Here is the cure. Its truths comfort the mind and restore the soul.

This book became a valued companion and help during an uncertain time for me, many years ago. I treasure the copy I saved, full of underlines and highlights from that memorable time. I still return to this book.

Jane Bullard [pen name]

Writer, Foreword, The Mourner's Comforter new edition

The Names Behind the Newest Edition

2010-10-20T07:19:00.000-07:00

Gerald C. Primm of Greensboro NC made possible the newest edition of this treasured book, THE MOURNER'S COMFORTER. As a 20 year old in early days of WWII, Mr. Primm "completed more than 60 fighter-pilot combat missions in his P-38 Lightning and had his share of crash landings as well. He was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for his combat aviation prowess."* After the war, he became aware of God's call to him to preach, a direction he had never anticipated. He felt unable to speak in public, a fear he determined to overcome. As a young pastor, he began to read and collect books and articles by C. H. Spurgeon. He immediately admired Mr. Spurgeon's teaching, humble beginnings, and determined faith. There were life experiences he shared with the London preacher, as well, although separated by two generations and different nations and continents. Mr. Primm's book collection grew beyond expectations, to become the largest known personal collection of original and early C H Spurgeon books and articles. Opine Publishing greatly appreciates and is indebted to Mr. Primm for his help for its edition of THE MOURNER'S COMFORTER-and his Acknowledgments, prepared for the Opine Publishing edition.

Carolyn J. Hesson gave countless days and months to co-edit and format this new edition, a labor or loving care and respect for the work and its effects. Along with Mr. Spurgeon and Mr. Primm, Mrs. Hesson's name is "behind the newest edition."

* "Ask Veterans to Share Their Stories," Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, Greensboro News & Record, Harry Thetford

From The Mourner's Comforter Preface

2010-10-14T16:33:00.000-07:00

Heavy Heart,

This book is meant for you. He who sends forth this volume knows the heart of a mourner by a kindred experience, and is most anxious to be a "son of consolation" to the sorrowing. This little book is meant to scare the night-raven, which Milton tells us sits "where brooding darkness spreads his jealous wings." Most men know it as Religious Melancholy, but we call it by the older and more scriptural name of Mourning in Zion. By whatever name it is called it is none the more pleasant....

Jesus Christ Himself is anointed to comfort the distressed in heart, and fulfills His office by giving Himself to them to meet all their needs. The pages of this book are full of Christ Jesus, the consolation of Israel; and if, in any degree, they cheer the despondent, it will be entirely due to Him, their object and their theme....

No heart, however broken, needs any balm but Jesus to work its perfect cure. Sorrows, which like Noah's flood drown all, are soon assuaged by a word from His lips. Get Him and keep Him, O bruised and bleeding heart, and you are healed. For broken hearts the broken-hearted Saviour died, and for them He lives and pleads. Look to Him, mourner, and the black horror of despair shall end.

Yours heartily,
C H Spurgeon