Praise to the God of All Comfort

Good afternoon!

God be praised, who, to believing souls, gives light in darkness, comfort in despair. ---- William Shakespeare. 

Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me (Psalm 50:15).

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! (Psalm 84:11). 

For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things (Psalm 107:9). 

A hymn to read, sing, hum or whistle to the glory of God: ALL PRAISE TO GOD, WHO REIGNS ABOVE. 

Sing praise to God Who reigns above, the God of all creation,
The God of power, the God of love, the God of our salvation.
With healing balm my soul is filled and every faithless murmur stilled:
To God all praise and glory.

Worry

Good morning!

Take care if the world hates you it hates you without cause. ---- Charles Spurgeon

For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.  "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth" (I Peter 2:19-22.

A hymn to read, sing, hum or whistle to the glory of God: Faith of Our Fathers. 

Faith of our fathers, living still
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword,
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene’er we hear that glorious word!

Faith of our fathers! holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death!

Christ Alone Saves

Good morning!

In Christ alone God's rich provision of salvation for sinners is treasured up. By Christ alone God's abundant mercies come down from heaven to earth. Christ's blood alone can cleanse us. Christ's righteousness alone can clothe us. Christ's merit alone can give us a title to heaven. Jews and Gentiles,--- learned and unlearned, --- kings and poor men, --- all alike must either be saved by Jesus, or lost forever (J. C. Ryle). 

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). 

A hymn to read, sing, hum or whistle to the glory of God:ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS' NAME

All hail the power of Jesus' name! Let angels prostrate fall; bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all. Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all.

Ye chosen seed of Israel's race, ye ransomed from the fall, hail him who saves you by his grace, and crown him Lord of all. Hail him who saves you by his grace, and crown him Lord of all.

Sinners, whose love can ne'er forget the wormwood and the gall, go spread your trophies at his feet, and crown him Lord of all. Go spread your trophies at his feet, and crown him Lord of all.

Let every kindred, every tribe on this terrestrial ball, to him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all. To him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all.

Crown him, ye martyrs of your God, who from his altar call; extol the Stem of Jesse's Rod, and crown him Lord of all. Extol the Stem of Jesse's Rod, and crown him Lord of all.

O that with yonder sacred throng we at his feet may fall! We'll join the everlasting song, and crown him Lord of all. We'll join the everlasting song, and crown him Lord of all.

Christ Our All and In All

Good morning!

Look not for any blessing outside of Christ; and in and by and from Him look for all blessings. Let Him be your life; and wish not to live longer than you are kept alive by Him. Find Him your wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption; your riches, your strength, your glory. ---- Bishop Hall.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing.... (Ephesians 1:3). 

He is the source of our life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord" (I Corinthians 1:30).

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time, now and forever. Amen (Jude 24-25). 

A hymn to read, sing, hum or whistle to the glory of God: BE THOU MY VISION. 

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Pride in Gifts

Good morning!

Pride of gifts robs us of God's blessing in the use of them. ---- William Gurnall.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them...let love be genuine (Romans 12:3-6a, 9). 

A hymn to read, sing, hum or whistle to the glory of God: RENEW THY CHURCH, HER MINISTRIES RESTORE. 

Renew your church, our ministries restore:
both to serve and adore.
Make us again as salt throughout the land,
and as light from a stand.
'Mid somber shadows of the night,
where greed and hatreds spread their blight,
O send us forth with power endued,
help us, Lord, be renewed.

Be ready for the Judgment

Good morning!

 Now is the time for gathering the bread of life. The day of the Lord is fast drawing near...  The seventh trumpet will soon sound. The kingdoms of this world will soon become the kingdoms of our God and of His Christ. Woe to the house which is found without the scarlet line, and without the mark of blood upon the door!  ---- J. C. Ryle.

Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father's household (Joshua 2:18). 

And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt (Exodus 12:13). 

Therefore, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect(Matthew 24:44). 

A hymn to read, sing, hum or whistle to the glory of God: GREAT GOD, WHAT DO I SEE AND HEAR!

Great God, what do I see and hear?
The end of things created!
The Judge of mankind doth appear,
On clouds of glory seated.
The trumpet sounds, the graves restore,
The dead which they contained before!
Prepare, my soul, to meet Him.

Hopelessness

Good morning!

Hopelessness

Those poor who are without a covering for their bodies are to be pitied; but with what tears should we  lament those --- how rich soever they are in this world --- who are without a covering for souls, and so stand naked in the storm, and under the dreadful droppings of the wrath of God. ---- Joseph Caryl. 1650. 

Jesus...said to those who followed Him, "Truly, I tell you...many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom* will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:9--13). 

A hymn to read, sing, hum or whistle to the glory of God: HOW SWEET THE NAME OF JESUS SOUNDS.

-----

* "Sons of the kingdom..." are natural descendants of Abraham who reject Jesus Christ as Messiah --Lord and Savior.   

How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.

Saving Faith

Good morning!

 Saving Faith. The spiritual hand whereby we receive the sweet offer of our Saviour is faith; which in short, is no other than trusting in the Mediator. Receive peace, and be happy; believe, and you have received. ---- Bishop Hall. 1640. 

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household (Acts 16:31). 

A hymn to read, sing, hum or whistle to the glory of God: CHRIST, OF ALL MY HOPES THE GROUND.

Christ, of all my hopes the Ground;
Christ, the Spring of all my joy;
Still in Thee may I be found,
Still for Thee my powers employ,
Still for Thee my powers employ.

Regeneration

Good morning!

Regeneration. If you have anything less than regeneration, believe me, you can never see heaven. There is no hope of heaven until then ---- until you are born again. ---- Archbishop Usher's Sermons.

Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' (John 3:3, 6. 7).  

A hymn to read, sing, hum or whistle to the glory of God: ROCK OF AGES, CLEFT FOR ME.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee; let the water and the blood, from thy wounded side which flowed, be of sin the double cure; save from wrath and make me pure. 

Sanctification

Sanctification. How wonderfully does the new-born soul differ from his former self. He lives a new life, he walks in a new way, he steers his course by a new compass and towards a new coast. His principle is new, his pattern is new, his practices are new, his projects are new, all is new. He ravels out all he had woven before, and employs himself wholly about another work. George Swinnocke. (1660) 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (II Corinthians 5:17). 

A hymn to read, sing, hum or whistle to the glory of God: JESUS CALLS US

Jesus calls us o'er the tumult of our life's wild, restless sea; day by day his sweet voice soundeth, saying, "Christian, follow me!" 

Sinfulness of our 'Holinesses'

Good morning!

The sinfulness of our 'holiness.' I cannot pray, but I sin: I cannot hear or preach a sermon, but I sin: I cannot give an alms, or receive the sacrament, but I sin: nay, I cannot so much as confess my sins, but my confessions are still aggravations of them. My repentance needs to be repented of, my tears want washing, and the very washing of my tears needs still to be washed over again with the blood of the Redeemer.  ---- William Beveridge

Make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD. It will be on Aaron's forehead, and he will bear the iniquity of the holy things involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be (Exodus 28:36, 38). 

A hymn to read, sing, hum or whistle to the glory of God:  MY SINS, MY SINS, MY SAVIOR!

My sins, my sins, my Savior!
They take such hold on me,
I am not able to look up,
Save only, Christ, on Thee;
In Thee is all forgiveness,
In Thee abundant grace,
My shadow and my sunshine
The brightness of Thy face.

Worldliness

Good morning!

Worldliness. Worldliness and Christianity are two such ends as never meet. Nehemiah Rogers.

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God(James 4:4,9). 

A hymn to read, sing, whistle or hum to the glory of God: TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY. 

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

Worry

Good morning!

Worry. Worry is faith in the negative, trust in the unpleasant, assurance of disaster and belief in defeat. William A. Ward.

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. If there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me -- practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:6-9).

A hymn to read, sing, whistle or hum to the glory of God: IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL.

 When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, 
 when sorrows like sea billows roll; 
 whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, 
 It is well, it is well with my soul. 
Refrain:
 It is well with my soul, 
 it is well, it is well with my soul. 

Worship

Good morning!

Worship. Worship  is the highest function of the human soul. Geoffrey R. King. 

Ascribe to the LORD, the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness(Psalm 29:2).

How lovely is Your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God (Psalm 84:1-20.

O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! (Psalm 95:6). 

But the hour is coming and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. God is spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). 

A hymn to read, sing, whistle or hum to the glory of God: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY. 

Zeal

Good morning!

Zeal. In those things in which all the people of God are agreed, I will spend my zeal; and as for other things about which they differ, I will walk according to the light God has given me, and charitably believe that others do so too. ---- Philip Henry.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:1-3). 

A hymn to read, sing, whistle or hum to the glory of God: 

BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS

Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love;

Meditation

Good morning!

By meditation I can converse with God, solace myself on the bosom of the Saviour, bathe myself in the rivers of divine pleasure, tread the paths of my rest, and view the mansions of eternity. ---- Anonymous.

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful(Joshua 1:8). 

A hymn to read, sing, whistle or hum to the glory of God: YOUR WORD IS LIKE A GARDEN LORD

Thy Word is like a garden, Lord, with flowers bright and fair;
And every one who seeks may pluck a lovely cluster there.
Thy Word is like a deep, deep mine; and jewels rich and rare
Are hidden in its mighty depths for every searcher there.

Holy Spirit

Good morning!

All outward means of grace, if separate from the Spirit of God, cannot profit, or conduce, in any degree, either to the knowledge or love of God.----All outward things, unless He work in them and by them, are in vain. ---- John Wesley

...it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come (John 16:7-8, 13-14). 

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you (John 14:26). 

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).

A hymn to read, sing, whistle or hum to the glory of God: SPIRIT OF GOD, DESCEND UPON MY HEART.

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
Wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art;
And make me love Thee as I ought to love.

Purpose

Good morning!

The older I grow ---- and I now stand on the brink of eternity ---- the more comes back to me that sentence in the Catechism which I learned when a child, and the fuller and deeper its meanings becomes: "What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever." ---- Thomas Carlyle. 

Whether you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God (I Corinthians 10:31).

For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen.(Romans 11:36). 

A hymn to read, sing, whistle or hum to the glory of God: O WORSHIP THE KING.

1.     O worship the King, all glorious above, 

O gratefully sing God's power and God's love; 

our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days, 

pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

Tongue

Good morning!

Learn to hold your tongue; five words cost Zacharias forty weeks of silence. ---- Richard Fuller.

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble (Proverbs 21:23). 

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: ...a time to keep silence, and a time to speak (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7). 

A hymn to read, sing, whistle or hum to the glory of God: LORD SPEAK TO ME THAT I MAY SPEAK. 

Christian Home

Good morning!

The family circle is the most supreme conductor of Christianity. ---- Henry Drummond

Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and His might, and wonders that He has done (Psalm 78:1-4). 

A hymn to read, sing, whistle or hum to the glory of God: A CHRISTIAN HOME.