NEVER

God's government will never fail in any part of the world, in any event of life, or in any tumult of the nations. -- William S. Plumer

The LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back? (Isaiah 14:27.)

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God:O Father, You Are Sovereign. Margaret Clarkson, 1982

CHASTENED

Let us learn like Christians to kiss the rod, and love it. -- John Bunyan.

My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. (Hebrews 12:5-6).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Through all the Changing Scenes of Life (From Psalm 34).

ADOPTED

We are adopted into God's family by the resurrection of Christ from the death in which He paid all our obligations to sin, the law, and the devil, in whose family we once lived. Our old status lies in His tomb. A new status is ours through His resurrection (Sinclair Ferguson).

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs --- heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him (Romans 8:16-17).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: A Child of the King (Hattie E. Buell, 1877).

PURPOSE

God will never permit any trouble to come upon us unless He has a specific plan by which great blessing can come out of the difficulty. ---- Peter Marshall

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified (Romans 8:28-30).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: God Will Take Care of You (Civille D. Martin, 1905).  

GODLY FEAR

Christ can never be known without a sense of awe and fear accompanying the knowledge. No one who knows Him intimately can ever be flippant in His presence. ---- A W. Tozer

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power (Hebrews 1:1-4).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness(Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf, 1739).

PERSON

If there is any reality within the whole sphere of human experience that is by its very nature worthy to challenge the mind, charm the heart and bring the total life to a burning focus, it is the reality that revolves around the person of Christ. ---- A. W. Tozer

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:15-17) 

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: O Could I Speak The Matchless Worth (Samuel Medley, 1789).

OBEDIENCE

Jesus has spoken; His is the Word, ours the obedience. ---- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

....from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work (II Timothy 3:15-17).

Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever (Psalm 86:11-12).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Teach Me, O Lord, Thy Holy Way.(William T. Matson, 1856).

TRUST

The more we know of God, the more unreservedly we will trust Him; the greater our progress in theology, the simpler and more childlike will be our faith. ---- J. Gresham Machen

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandment with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding... (Proverbs 2:1-6)

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting (Jean Sophia Pigott, 1876).

PRAYER

Prayer is the very life-breath of true Christianity. ---- J. C. Ryle

On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us (Psalm 62:7-8).

Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:23-24).

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 (Philippians 4:6-7).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Come, my Soul, Thy Suit Prepare.(John Newton, 1779.)

EVANGELIZE

You cannot evangelize in a doctrinal vacuum (Anonymous).

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (Romans 10:13-17).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle to the glory of God:  Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me (Augustus M. Toplady, 1776).

HEAVEN

Heaven is not a conditional reward, but a consummated relationship. ---- John Blanchard

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself with be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away (Revelation 21:1-4).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Majestic Sweetness Sits Enthroned(Samuel Stennett, 1787).

JOY

Joy is the flag that is flown from the citadel of the heart when the King is in residence. ---- Anonymous

The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. There my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:5-6, 8-9, 11).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: All People That on Earth Do Dwell(Psalm 100). -- William Kethe, 1561.

UNTIL

The whole life of man until he is converted to Christ is a ruinous labyrinth of wanderings. --- John Calvin

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience ---- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of he body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath....  But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses , made us alive together with Christ...for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:1- 5, 10).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Grace! 'Tis a Charming Sound (Philip Doddridge, 1755).  

REPENTANCE

We see "gospel repentance" in all those who, made sore by the sting of sin but aroused and refreshed by trust in God's mercy, have turned to the Lord. -- John Calvin

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what earnestness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! (I Corinthians 7:10-11).  

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: O Thou That Hear'st When Sinners Cry (From Psalm 51. Isaac Watts, 1719).

GRATITUDE

Gratitude to God makes even a temporal blessing a taste of heaven -- William Romaine

Those blessings are sweetest that are won with prayers and worn with thanks. -- Thomas Goodwin

O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon His name: make known His deeds among the people. Remember His marvelous works that He has done; His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth...for He has remembered His holy promise.... (Psalm 105:1,5)

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Give Thanks unto the Lord, Jehovah. -- From Psalm 118, ca 1990.