Luke 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem...

57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

I do like what is written at the beginning of Chapter 2 [of II Samuel] after David's lament in chapter 1: "After this David inquired of the Lord, 'Shall I go ....?'" As David did not remain in his lament, I cannot do so either. I cannot disregard and discard my feelings, yet I cannot disregard where God has me to go next. Like David, I need to inquire of Him to know where that place lies and to press on....to move on, like "Barnabas," the frog, "because frogs can only move forward; they can't go backward." That's what my sister would want.

Relying on His grace alone to move forward....and to ask Him, "Shall I go ....?"

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

In death I walked, My vision clouded
Kingdom-Obsessed People don't keep looking in the rear view mirror at past hurts, # 5
My friend's "traveling days are done" but mine aren't
the house of mourning (Ecc. 7) ~ grieving to the glory of God ~ "pleasing pain" (David Brainerd)
By Shimei Cursed, By Jordan Refreshed (II Samuel 16:5-14)
As a deer pants ... Is your soul panting for God? (Psalms 42 & 43)
Where do you go when the world is unlovely? (Psalm 84 & the theology of Biblical counseling)
The Father's Inheritance (Eleven days' journey ~ A lamentation & an exhortation)
when we're being shaken: let us look unto JESUS!
The story of Job: bad luck, God's sovereign will or ?
"And they cast him out." (John 9) ~ Providence is not surprised
Embittered, pricked in heart? Go into the sanctuary of God (Psalm 73)
Do you love the saints . . . ALL the saints? (reflections on church hurts)
"After the death of Moses" ~ will you obey God's command to arise, go?
Bible Reading-Isaiah: When We Think the LORD Has Forsaken and Forgotten Us
All things (even bad things) work together for good...
God's sovereign grace & care in Genesis (the story of Joseph)
Whitefield's prayers: more reminders of God's sovereign grace & care

in your mourning, go to the God of all comfort (Letter 35 on assurance & fighting for joy)
your journey is His journey for your joy (letter 48 on assurance & fighting for joy)
Are you a radiant Christian or a drunken old woman? (letter 82 on assurance & fighting for joy)
year end reflections, # 1: "end of the year ... in the midst of heartache" | Letter 97 on joy
year end reflections, # 2: rejoicing in "The Often Unwanted but Necessary Gift" | Letter 98 on joy
One Friend alone | letter 100 on assurance & fighting for joy
disappointment ~ appointment | letter 119 on assurance & fighting for joy

Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

I Kings 18:42b And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, 43  And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. 44  And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. 45  And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain...

Isaiah 25:4  For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. 5  Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low.

Hebrews 4:14  Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Isaiah 44:1  Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: 2  Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. 3  For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: 4  And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses. 5  One shall say, I am the LORD'S; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.

John 7:37  In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39  (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Luke 11:13  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Ephesians 5:18  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.

The flags unfurled ... Christ's eternal banner | Lloyd-Jones ~ a third type of assurance
Why not pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
As a deer pants ... Is your soul panting for God? (Psalms 42 & 43)
Psalm 131 ~ Lord, calm my soul; Lord, wean my soul in this mephitic air | W.H. Hewitson
Doubting one, do you know Me as a rewarder? | letter 78 on assurance & fighting for joy
the pilgrim's Assurance ~ His Sovereign pouring | letter 110 on assurance & fighting for joy
Can there be more? | letter 113 on assurance & fighting for joy
By the Rivers, a Spark of Grace | Psalm 137:1-6 ~ Letter 125 on assurance & fighting for joy
By Shimei Cursed, By Jordan Refreshed (II Samuel 16:5-14)

Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

 
Genesis 49:3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:  4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

Acts 11:22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 23  Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

From Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on Acts 11:

II Thessalonians 2:1  For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: 2  But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. 3  For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 4  But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 5  For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: 6  Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. 7  But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 8  So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. 9  For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. 10  Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: 11  As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12  That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

John 6:66  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

What is a nominal Christian?
Biblical mourning, assurance and false guilt
His seed (If ye be Christ's ~ He came seeking fruit)
Keep your heart with diligence, Take heed, beware the little foxes
true repentance leads to joy (Letter 37 on assurance & fighting for joy)
"yet you did not return to ME" ~ (Amos 4:6-11) | letter 126 on assurance & joy
In which circle do you take your stand? ~ Are you a true disciple? (Hewitson's holy ambition)
you say you want Jesus
backslidden child (Jeremiah 3)
Remember last year
Be not an Esau (Genesis 25:29-34, Hebrews 12:15-17)
Half a heart, half a heart (How long? If the LORD is God, follow Him)
O Jerusalem! (Every soul which will not hear that prophet) | Acts 3:19-26
Blessed dependence ~ "Leaning upon her beloved"

If I look (looking at him, loved him - Mark 10:17-22) ~ ministry's sorrow
I'm anguished over you (Letter 39 on assurance & fighting for joy)
Why I blog and the only kind of recommendation I should seek
Why I write and minister - My credo for being a godly encourager
dedication 2010 (reflections on God's Word & God's grace)
"I could write a thousand words" (my credo ~ why I preach the Gospel)

Scripture quotations from the King James Version of the Holy Bible, emphasis mine.

"Wasser Neves" found at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wasser_Neves.jpg  / CC BY-SA 3.0