View source for We love the swine-troughs—

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<p>  <strong>We love the swine-troughs—and forget our Father's house!</strong><br><br>
  "With You is <strong>the fountain of life!</strong>" Psalm 36:9 <br>
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  There are times in our spiritual experience, when human counsel or sympathy, or religious ordinances, fail to comfort or help us. <em>Why does our gracious God permit this?</em> Perhaps it is because we have been living too much without Him—and therefore <strong>He takes away every prop</strong> upon which we have been in the habit of depending, that He may drive us to Himself! <br><br>It is a blessed thing to live at the fountain-head. While our water-bottles are full, we are content, like Hagar and Ishmael, to go into the wilderness; but when those are dry—nothing will serve us but our God.<br>
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  We are like the prodigal, <strong>we love the swine-troughs—and forget our Father's house!</strong> Remember, we can make swine-troughs and husks—even out of the forms of religion. They are blessed things—but we may put them in God's place, and then they are of no value. <strong>Anything becomes an IDOL—when it keeps us away from God! </strong><br><br>The prodigal was never safer—than when he was driven to his father's bosom, because he could find sustenance nowhere else. <br>
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  Our Lord favour's us with a <em>famine</em>—that it may make us seek after Himself the more. The best position for a Christian—is living wholly and directly on God's grace! Beloved, when we are brought to a thirsting condition—we are sure to turn to<strong> the fountain of life </strong>with eagerness!
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