THANKSGIVING

Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!

   Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!

Hail Him! Hail Him! Highest archangels in glory;

   Strength and honor give to His holy name!

Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children,

   In His arms He carries them all day long:

Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!

   For our sins He suffered, and bled, and died;

He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,

   Hail Him! hail Him! Jesus the Crucified.

Sound His Praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,

   Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong:

Praise Him! praise Him!  Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!

   Heavenly portals loud with hosanas ring!

Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever;

   Crown Him! crown Him! Prophet, and Priest, and King!

Christ is coming! over the world victorious,

   Power and glory unto the Lord belong:

Praise Him! praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness;

   Praise Him! praise Him! Ever in joyful song!

– F. J. Crosby

 ILLUMINATED FOR INHERITANCE

Jack Davis

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” Col. 1:12-14.

Oh, what a wonderful Father we have by faith. What marvelous things He has done for His family. Shall we not thank Him forever, and even now? How could we not appreciate being delivered from the dominion and controlling influence of darkness.

WE HAVE REDEMPTION

Our deliverance is spelled redemption through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. In fact the Triune God is involved in our being made meet (fit, qualified, entitled, illuminated) to partake fully of this vast, rich, glorious, eternal inheritance. By Jesus Christ we were bought, by the Father – begot, and by the Holy Spirit we are brought into the revelation and realization of an heirship for His Holy ones, in the realm of light.

BLESSED BY RESURRECTION

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again in unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you…” I Pet. 1:3-4. We, being delivered by redemption, have blood rights, and being translated by resurrection and regeneration we enjoy birth rights. Our wholehearted thanks must ascend to our heavenly Father for transforming us from our former condition. We, who were “sometimes darkness,” are now light in the Lord to walk as children of light. Consider Eph. 5:5-15. Our former conduct was to do the bidding of Satan. Eph. 2:1-3.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” Jas. 1:17-18. Having called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, (I Pet. 2:9) the Father of lights has given unto us many good gifts. He has given us the ministry of the Apostle Paul to turn us from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that we may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by the faith that is in Jesus. Acts. 26:18. So Paul commends unto God and the word of his grace. Acts 20:32.

Therefore the calling, the turning, and deliverance is that we might “show forth” His praises, display His excellence, manifest the virtues of His person.

“God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all…If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.” I Jn. 1:5-6. We manifest our thankfulness to the Father by staying in fellowship with Him. We have a new realm to walk in and a new course to travel since we’ve been –-

“ILLUMINATED”

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them…For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” II  Cor. 4:3-4,6. Being illuminated and walking in the light will bring us into direct conflict with the forces of darkness, set against God being glorified and enriched by our entering into the fullness of our God given inheritance. Therefore when we go after those eternal spiritual things the way is not easy, and we experience a “great fight of afflictions.”

“But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;   For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing  in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.” Heb. 10:32-35.

Divine enlightenment points all God’s family toward full partakership. “He that overcometh shall inherit all things”…Rev. 21:7. Will a full share to those that neglect or reject the provision given to enhance complete appreciation and enable full appropriation in the face of satanic opposition?                                                                                                                

To be continued

 Walk In The Light

   Let us walk in the light of the Lord,

      Let us heed all the truth we have heard;

   ’Tis the goodness of God that has come to abide,

      And reveal wondrous things through the Word.

   To the world we must say one “Goodbye,”

      To the flesh and all sin one “Nay! Nay!”

   Neath the shade of the wings of the Christ we will hide,

      And to Him shout an eternal “Yea.”

   When our friends pass away with disease, 

      Having yielded to flesh and applause;

   And when some turn to selfishness, envy and hate,

      Then we know what’s the deep-seated cause,

   Let us walk in the light of the Lord,

      And with hearts full of gladness press on, 

   Never slacken our gate, Jesus coming await,

      Then in triumph we soon will be gone.

   Thru the ages eternal we’ll prove

      All the marvels of infinite grace,

   And forever rejoice that we walked in the light

      By the Spirit, and quickened our pace.

   In the glory we’ll find a reward,

      We will walk on the evergreen plane,

   And forever  have Jesus our Bridegroom in sight,

      And to Him shout an eternal “Yea.”

– A. S. Copley

 Vitamin G

Gordon Crook, Pastor

Grace Assembly, Wichita, Kansas

When studying human nutrition, we come across something called vitamins. These are necessary for the optimal function of our bodies, and we must get them in the necessary amounts.

If you are worried this is going to be an article on human nutrition, you can relax. There is no Vitamin G amongst those we need for our human body. Vitamin G is just a way to think of Gratitude. It is a necessary part of our spiritual life, and we need a daily dose to stay healthy.

This week, Cathy and I welcomed our grandaughter and a great wave of gratitude has come over us. We are so grateful for God’s faithfulness, and for the miracle that is a child. While it is easy to be grateful for something wonderful like a grandchild being born, we need to be grateful everyday.

We are coming up on the US holiday of Thanksgiving which has mostly become about commerce and excess. However, we can make it into a day where we truly reflect on how much we truly have for which to be grateful. I always feel like we can just take back the holidays that the world has turned into simple commerce. 

We, as God’s precious people, have so much for which to be grateful. Starting with the amazing fact that we are God’s children. If God never did anything for us after salvation, we would still be thanking and praising Him for all eternity. Thankfully, there is so much more prepared for us.

Just as we need to take in vitamins daily for our natural body, we should be taking our spiritual vitamin G daily. Every morning when you wake up, there is reason to be grateful to God. “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,” Psalms 92:1-2. Thankful for the breath to start another day, and grateful to know that God will be with me in that day.

In the night time, we can give thanks. If You wake up in the middle of the night, give thanks for God’s faithfulness through the day. “At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.” Psalms 119:62. At any time, and anywhere, we can get some vitamin G and show gratitude to our Father.

For David, considering God’s holiness was enough to get his vitamin G. “Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.” Psalms 30:4. “Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.” Psalms 97:12. God’s holiness is something we can be grateful for. I’m not sure if people realize the importance of God’s holiness. He is separate from us in a way that benefits those that are His people. It takes the Holy Spirit to reveal to us the beauty of His holiness.

We should be continually reminded that God’s mercies are new every morning. It is His mercies that we are not consumed. Lamentations 3:22. David encourages us to thank God for His mercy. “Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.” Psalms 106:1. Are we truly grateful for God’s mercies? Do we truly understand what God has given us by His grace? The world system encourages us to believe that we deserve better, that we deserve to have more. I think we need to understand what we really deserve is God’s wrath, but He has taken that away because of what Jesus did for us.

David also encourages us to show our gratitude in front of others. “I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.” Psalms 35:18. We often do that in giving a testimony in church, but it could be as simple as telling other people that we are thankful for God. When something good comes in our lives, we tell others that we recognize it is God’s grace and we are grateful.

What about when things are not going so well. When it seems that our life is in upheaval for some reason? We should still be grateful and express that gratitude to our Father. He is working in our lives and that is more valuable than just walking a perfect tranquil path. James 1:2-4. Perhaps this is why David tells us: “I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.” Psalms 116:17. We often think that gratitude should be easy, but sometimes it is not. It might be a sacrifice. It is also a sacrifice in that we are recognizing God is sovereign and all He does is good.

So, have you been getting enough Vitamin G? Just as our natural bodies need their vitamins to function optimally, so do we need our spiritual vitamins to function optimally. We certainly have good reason to get lots of Vitamin G, as our God is so good to us. 

I encourage you to get into God’s Word, and study to know what we have been given in our Lord Jesus Christ. It will amaze you and elicit serious amounts of gratitude from your heart.

 Count It All Joy

Anita Clark, Pastor

Grace Chapel, Carbondale, Kansas

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4.

“Count it all joy” or “Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren” (AMP). When you fall into divers temptations.” The word “temptations” in the original Greek means, “a putting to the proof.” A temptation is any trial that tempts us to complain or lose faith in Who God is, and is perpetrated by the devil. God allows these trials as tests of faith. “Trials are dynamic – they have the ability to work in us and produce growth and greater trust in Christ.

“The trying of your faith works patience,” means ‘trying or proving” of our faith, that testing period when we must wait upon the Lord for Him to work and change the situation we are enduring. God is so very patient with us, and loves this characteristic of patience in His people. He is constantly working so tirelessly to product this beautiful attribute in our lives.

We are reminded of Romans 5:2-5, where Paul says, “We glory in tribulations…knowing that tribulations worketh patience, and patience, experience; and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Tribulation is “pressure, anguish, burdens, persecution, or trouble.” Notice Paul ;says, “Knowing” that these things “work” in us. Through experience with the Lord over time, we learn that trials and tests are doing a work in God’s perfect will for us, “changing us from glory to glory “ (II Cor. 3:17). Romans 8:28 is true, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love  God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

There are some things that every believer in Christ can positively know that should give us confidence in all our trials and tests. (1) II Cor. 1:7 – “Knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.” (2) Col. 3:24 – “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ.” (3) Heb. 10:34 – “Kook joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in your selves, that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.” (4) Ps. 118:6 – Knowing that “The Lord is on our side, what can man do unto me?” And as Paul says, “If God be for  us, who can be against  us.” Rom. 8:31.

James 1:4 says, “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing.” “Let endurance and steadfastness have full play and do a thorough work that you may be fully developed (with no defects), lacking nothing” (AMP. Version).

In II Corinthians 4:16-18, Apostle Paul says, “For which cause we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen, but the things which are snot seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” “We faint not” speaks of failing, being weary and exhausted.

There is no way that we can overcome the trials in our own strength. This is the lesson we must learn. Col. 1:27 says, “Christ in you the hope of glory.” “For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). The “eternal weight of glory” speaks of a “load beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons, and all calculations, a vest and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease.” (AMP. Version). Our part is to let god do the work. 

II Cor. 4:18 says, “While we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen.” The word “look” in the Greek means “to take aim.” Is our “aim set on the trial and the suffering or on the victory and our Lord Jesus Christ. The things of this life, the trials, tests and deaths are just temporary detours. “The things which are seen,” are these “temporal” natural things that only go on for a time before relief comes. “The things which are not seen,” (meaning not seen with our natural eye) are “eternal weights of glory.” There will come a day very soon when He will come again, and we will stand before our Beloved Lord Jesus and enter into the glory there.

Those things we see in Spirit through our Spiritual eyes or vision. Let us press on. The time is short. “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us” Romans 8:18.

 JONAH 

Debra Isenbletter, pastor

Christian Assembly, Springfield, Missouri

Jonah 4:11—”And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than six score thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?”

The City: “And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city.” The Lord reveals His compassion and the justification for that compassion. The Lord reveals to Jonah those that He saw that Jonah did not see. Again the city is called “great,” that cannot be denied. It had a great name. It had great power. It had great wickedness. It had great repentance. Jonah could not see the great repentance but the Lord did.  

The Children: “wherein are more than six score thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and knew the exact number. There were more than 120,000 thousand, apart from the adults. He saw each one of them, He saw their innocence. They had not reached the age of accountability, not old enough to understand. They had “no knowledge between good and evil” (Deu.1:39). The adults had already repented, so they are not mentioned. If there were 120,000 children, what was the total population of Nineveh? Many commentaries say it is generally calculated that the young children of any place are a fifth of the population, so that the whole population of Nineveh would amount to about 600,000.  (Jamieson, Fausset, Brown; Treasury of Scripture knowledge; Ryrie Bible).  If that is true, then the Lord spared at least 600,000 lives. He spared the parents who repented and He spared the children not yet old enough to repent.

The Cattle: “and also much cattle?” The Lord gives another example of His compassion. It was the cattle.  He does not give their number but takes note of their lack of guilt. They are not guilty for what men have done. He cares for all of His creation and if we read what Paul writes in Romans, creation is suffering and waiting for deliverance (Rom.8:22). The lesson and theme seen throughout Jonah is God’s love and pity and His patience and grace. Jonah has experienced it twice. First when he ran away from the Will of God and second when He complained about the Will of God. He saw it in his life, in Israel’s life and now in Nineveh’s life. He is a picture of Israel who has repeatedly seen God’s mercy and grace throughout their history. Who stumble at God’s mercy to the Gentiles. Who will one day be obedient servants when they receive God’s grace through God’s Son, their Messiah. Who will one day fulfill their true destiny and be a light to the nations. But Jonah teaches us the same lesson in God’s patience and grace and mercy. It is a wonderful reminder of how easy it is to be legal and to judge based on what we feel and not what we know, for the Lord knows the heart and sees the heart. I am so grateful and thankful for His grace and love. Let us never forget that. “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us” (Eph.2:4).

 Eternal Life 

Part 1 of 2

Vicky Moots

There are many Scriptures in the New Testament concerning the phrase “eternal life” or “everlasting life.” The most well known one is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

In the Greek, the words which have been translated “eternal” and “everlasting,” relating to life, are the same word.  That word is “aionios.”  What does this word really mean, and what is its significance to us spiritually? According to the Greek lexicon compiled by Zodhiates, “eternal life” means “the life which is God’s and hence not affected by the limitations of time; not belonging to what is transitory; not only during the time of one’s natural life, but through endless ages.”

Eternal life, therefore, is divine life and is not affected by our physical life or by our physical or spiritual limitations or actions.  It is the life of God which has been given to us through His Son, Jesus, as John 5:26 declares: “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.” The life of the Father and the Son are both eternal.

John describes eternal life for us further in I John 1:1-2: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us).”

John is declaring that “eternal life” was manifested in the person of Jesus Christ, Himself, and that they were eye witnesses of that life.  He further clarifies this thought in I John 5:11: “And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” In v.12 he makes it clear that there is no other way to have eternal life: “He that hath the Son hath life [eternal]; and he that hath not the Son hath not life.”

Then, in v.13, he sums up the matter in order to remove all doubt: “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life…” This is intended to give present tense, not simply future, assurance for all Christians that the gift of eternal life is ours the moment we believe. It is not something that we must strive to achieve.  All we have to do is to believe and receive. And because it is eternal, it will never end.

John also stated previously, in chapter 2:25, that the gift was promised to us by Jesus: “And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.” This promise refers back to the words of Jesus in John 10:27-29: “My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  My Father which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”  In these verses, Jesus promises His sheep (all believers) the gift of eternal life, and states emphatically, “They shall never perish.” He then declares that the reason for this security is not based on the merits of the sheep, but on His power as a Shepherd to protect them.  As His sheep, we are not only kept safe in His strong hand, but also in the hand of His Almighty, Omnipotent Father.

Paul reiterates this fact in Col. 3:3 when he states, “…and your life is hid with Christ in God.”

(to be continued)

 The Bible

Earlene Davis

How important is the Bible to the Christian’s daily life? 

II Timothy 3:16-17: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” God speaks to us by His Word, that we might know His purposes, His will for us and His plans for the whole world. He tell us in Proverbs 8, “my voice is to the sons of man, I will speak of excellent things. My mouth shall speak truth. All my words are in righteousness. Receive my instruction… rather than choice gold. I love them that love me.” As children of God we have a responsibility to read what He has to say to us. “Till I come, give attendance to reading the holy Writings” – I Tim. 4:13.

John 5:39, Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” In doing so, we learn about our Lord Jesus Christ and the more we learn of Him, our love for Him deepens. To know Him is to love Him. I always liked reading Lk. 24:32, those disciples hearts burned within them by the words Jesus spoke to them from the written Word. Thank God for the written Word. By it the Holy Spirit convicts hearts of sin, revealing our need of the Savior. When we receive Jesus, we have someone who is real to us and more so, for He dwells within us. Jesus is not visible to our natural eyes, but by feeding on God’s Word our spiritual life is nourished and we are growing in the Lord. 

The Apostle Paul preached the gospel in many cities and he gave special commendation to the Bible students at Berea. Acts 17:11, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” They were “more noble” meaning of superior excellent quality. They were receptive, receiving the Word of God with eagerness, “With all readiness of mind.” Searching the scriptures daily to know if what they were hearing was the truth.

Today, there is so much error preached in Christendom. How do we test their words? By checking them out, do they ring true with the Word of God. We don’t want to be fooled with cleaver words that entertain us intellectually, we want the truth. As we read in I Thess. 3:13, that “he may establish our hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus  Christ with all His saints.” As we follow the Berean example and search the scriptures daily, it may also be said of us that we are “more noble.” That is not a bad testimony. I remember a dear brother, Bill McDaniel, and his wife telling us when we visited her in the hospital, “Old Bill reads his Bible everyday.” It impressed her, but she didn’t follow his example.

As we explore God’s Word, something happens, we grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – II Peter 3:18. We wont remain a baby spiritually, ignorant of God’s Word. As newborn babes in Christ, we desire the pure milk of God’s Word that we may grow up, a spiritual man in Christ (Eph. 4:11-16). God would have us to grow up into Christ. He has given godly teachers to give forth His edifying Word that it may be worked in our lives by the Holy Spirit unto perfection. So we wont be deceived by false teachers.

It is a sad thing in the natural if a baby never grows, God wants to bring us to spiritual maturity. Even in the natural, we need food to grow. Spiritually we need spiritual food, to grow, God’s Word. Heb. 5:12-14, We need the milk of the Word as babes, but then we need to go on to solid nourishment, the strong meat of God’s Word. I Jn. 2:12-14 speaks of the different stages of growth in Christ: little children, young men and fathers. God has spread a great feast before us, His Word, in which thousands never venture. Not desiring to know the Word or else wanting it sugar coated. 

The Bible is the most fascinating book in all the world if you take it in and let the Holy Spirit reveal Christ to you on every page. The Word of God covers every experience of life. Let us consider a few citations from Psalm 119, the longest psalm or chapter in the  Bible, 176 verses using different descriptions for His Word in every verse: such as His law, His judgments, His commandments, His statutes, His testimonies, His precepts, His words, His ordinances, His ways. V. 11 – may we hide His Word in our hearts. V. 89 – thy word is settled in heaven, founded for ever. V. 103 – we find his Word sweeter than honey to our taste (taste and see). V. 105 – His Word is a light unto our path, guiding us. V. 130 – The Word of God gives us understanding, enlightenment. V. 140 – we love the pure words of our God.

Isa. 40:8 – “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” It endures, as we read in Mt. 24:35, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” God sanctifies us through His truth – Jn. 17:17. We are admonished in Col. 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” It is profitable for you and for me, for God’s word is powerful, living and active. Heb. 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

We are comforted by God’s Word that gives us hope in Him, when we receive it by faith (Rom. 15:4). If we have His Word in our hearts, the Holy Spirit will bring it to our remembrance to sustain us at different times (Jn. 14:26). It also cleanses us (Eph: 5:26), being washed in the laver of His Word, that we may be wholly separated from every defiling thing that would mar our fellowship with Christ. We desire that our lives be a sweet smell to the Father of His Son.

 

Let us see ourselves in Christ, that He is walking in us and that others will see Jesus and be drawn to Him. The Spirit will actually work in us God’s prefect will, as we are separated wholly unto Him. I am so glad I know Him, but even more important, I am so glad He knows me. He speaks to me by His Word and sets my heart aflame. The presence of His Holy Spirit is so powerful, that sometimes I feel like I hear an audible voice.

 My Precious Bible

My Bible ‘tis a book divine,

  Where heavenly truth and mercy shine;

  And wisdom speaks in every line,

It speaks to thee and speaks to me.

My Bible here with joy I trace

  The records of redeeming grace -

  Glad tidings for a sinful race, 

Good news for thee, good news for me.

My Bible in this book alone,

  I find God’s holy will made known;

  And here His love to man is shown,

His love to thee, His love to me.

My Bible source of comfort pure

  To those who trials here endure;

  The hope of heaven it renders sure,

Best hope for thee, best hope for me.

I love my Bible; may I ne’er 

  Consult it but with faith and prayer,

That I may find my Savior there;

  Who died for thee, who died for me.

Christ my hope, an anchor sure,

  With-in the vale I am secure;

  Not I, but Christ who doth endure,

‘Tis Christ with-in, ’tis Christ with-in.

– Isaac Baldwin (1851)

 A Wonderful Day

Glorious Day when we stand in His presence.

   All of our heartaches and sorrows are past,

No more burdens too heavy to carry -

   We shall see Jesus at last!

Wonderful day when we shall be like Him,

   Features were marred by sin here below,

Now they are radiant, beautiful, glorious!

   Cleansed by His blood, made whiter than snow.

Marvelous day, all suffering ended,

   Glorious bodies now, like to His own;

We will be kings and priests in God’s kingdom,

   With glory and honor around Christ’s throne.

Radiant day – the day of His crowning –

   The thought of this day is immeasurably sweet;

Then we will stand transformed in His likeness,

   Casting our trophies and crowns at His feet.

Victorious day – the day of the Rapture,

   The Lamb who was slain is now become King!

The Bride of the Lamb in garments all glorious

   I singing sweet songs the Bride only can sing.

Triumphant day – great day  of His power!

   All the kingdoms of earth put under His feet!

The saints of all ages in garments of splendor

   Are crowning Him King to rule over all!

– Unknown 

 The Encouraging Word

 “I wait for the Lord, I expectantly wait, and in His Word do I hope.” Psalm 130:5

“O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving kindness endure forever.” Psalm 118:29

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life – his (blessed) life in the kingdom of God? Or what would a man give as an exchange for his (blessed) life – in the kingdom of God?” Matt. 16:26 [Amp]

“Keep and protect me, O God, for in You I have found refuge, in You do I put my trust and hide myself.” Psalm 16:1

“Love one another with brotherly affection – as members of one family – giving precedence and showing honor to one another.” Romans 12:10 Amp

“Lean on, trust and be confidant in the Lord with all your heart and mind, and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.” Proverbs 3:5

“When I cannot understand my Father’s leading, And it seems to be but hard and cruel fate, still I hear that gentle whisper even pleading, God is working, God is faithful, Only Wait” 

Martha Wainright