GOD'S LOVE

God's love for sinners is very wonderful, but God's patience with ill-natured saints is a deeper mystery [Henry Drummond].

There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the LORD like Ahab...he acted very abominably in going after idols. And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly. And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite saying, "Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son's days I will bring the disaster upon his house." (I Kings 21:17-29).

The servant girl at the door said to Peter, "You also are not one of the this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." (John 18:17).

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, "You also are not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not." One of the servants of the high priest....asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed (John 18:25-27).

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."  He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me? He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."  He said to him, "Tend my sheep."  He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to Him,"Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you."  Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep" (John 21:15-17).  

And after saying this He said to him, "Follow me." (John 21:19b).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: Not Worthy Lord! (Edward Bickersteth, 1872).  

PRESERVES

Even in the desert God pities, protects, and preserves   His people. ---- pgs

 

Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: "Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there" (I Kings 17:1-4).

 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows (Psalm 23:5).

 

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

Showers of Blessing, Daniel W. Whittle, 1883.

Joy

Good morning!

The key to a life of joy is to know that all we receive is a gift of grace in Christ. ---- pgs

The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD that He spoke by Elijah (I Kings 17:16).

For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future ---- all are yours, and you are Christ's and Christ is God's (I Corinthians 3:21-23). 

A hymn to read, sing, hum or whistle to the glory of God: Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts. 

Jesus, Thou Joy of loving hearts,
Thou Fount of life, Thou Light of men,
From the best bliss that earth imparts,
We turn unfilled to Thee again.