HOLINESS

We do not suddenly become holy in one moment by making Christ Lord; we are to be holy moment by moment because He is Lord. -- John Blanchard

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." (I Peter 1:14-16).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: That Man Is Blest Who, Fearing God(From Psalm 1, The Psalter, 1912)

JOY UNDER DURESS

Take a saint, and put him into any condition, and he knows how to rejoice in the Lord. ---- Walter Craddock

For the sake of Christ, then, "I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong (II Corinthians 12:10)

 ...for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers... (I Thessalonians 1:6).

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds; for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness (James 1:6).

But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed (I Peter 4:13).

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Be Still My Soul, (Katherina von Schlegel, 1752).

HONESTY

I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man. ---- George Washington

True honesty takes into account the claims of God as well as those of man; it renders to God the things that are God's, as well as to man the things that are man's. ---- C. Simmons

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation (I Peter 2:13-15).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God:  What Kind of Man Can Live in the World (Psalm 15) ---- Jonathan Barnes, 1973).

HOLINESS

Holiness.  Holiness is the architectural plan on which God builds up His living temple. ---- Charles Spurgeon 

But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." (I Peter 1:15-16).

....you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stand in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame" (I Peter 2:4-6).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me. Thomas T. Lynch, 1855.   

FAITH

Strong Son of God, Immortal Love, Whom we, that have not seen thy face, By faith, and faith alone, embrace.
-Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809 - 1892)

The Christian Almanac, p. 33.


....you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith --- more precious than gold that perishes thought it is tested by fire --- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (I Peter 1:6-8).


A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Christ, of All My Hopes the Ground. (Ralph Wardlaw, 1817)

PRESERVED

When the dust of battle dies down we shall hear all sixty-six books declare with the apostle Paul, 'Do thyself no harm, for we are all here.' -- W. H. Griffith Thomas.

....you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God, for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word is the good news that was preached to you (I Peter 1:23b - 25).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Forever Settled in the Heavens (Psalm 119:89-97).

CAUSE

God's cause is never in danger; what He has begun in the soul or in the world He will complete unto the end.--- B. B. Warfield.

I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day (II Timothy 1:12).

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to in inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (I Peter 1:3-4).

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 He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son....in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. 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).  

Q. What are the decrees of God? A. The decrees of God are, His eternal purpose, according to the counsel of His will, whereby, for His own glory, He has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass (Westminster Shorter Catechism 7).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Amazing Grace (John Newton, 1779).

MILK

Godliness is the child of truth, and it must be nursed...with no other milk than that of its own mother. --- William Gurnall

 

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation --- if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good (I Peter 2:2-3). 

SOVEREIGNTY

God writes with a pen that never blots, speaks with a tongue that never skips, and acts with a hand that never fails.  Anonymous.

 

He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are justice; a God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He (Deuteronomy 32:4).

 

This God --  His way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true (Psalm 18:30).

 

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48).

 

According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith...  In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuiness of your faith -- more precious than gold...though it is tested by fire -- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ(I Peter 1:4-7).

Hospitality

Hospitality is threefold: for one's family, this is of necessity; for strangers, this of courtesy; for the poor, this is charity. Thomas Fuller

 

Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.... (I Peter 4:9).

 

Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey  in a manner worthy of God (III John 3:5-6a).

 

Then the King will say to those on His right, come you who are blessed by my Father...for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. As you did it to one of the least o these my brothers, you did it unto me.'  (Matthew 25:34-36, 40).

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum or whistle, to the glory of God: What Kind of Man Can Live in the World. Jonathan Barnes, 1973.

Endurance

When you get in trouble for righteousness, God doesn't send somebody, He shows up Himself. ---- Anonymous

 

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when HIs glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you (I Peter 4:12-14).

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, JEHOVAH. Give thanks unto the Lord, Jehovah. In a large place the Lord has set me; in my distress He heard my cry. I will not fear; the Lord is with me ---- what can man do, when God is nigh? The Lord is chief among my helpers; and I shall see my foes o'er-thrown:  far better than in man or princes, my trust I place in God alone (second stanza). From Psalm 118:1-9, 17-25. Strasbourg Psalter, 1545.

Distresses

When you get in trouble for righteousness, God doesn't send somebody, He shows up Himself. ---- Anonymous

 

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you (I Peter 4:12-14).

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, JEHOVAH. 

Give thanks unto the Lord, Jehovah. In a large place the Lord has set me; in my distress He heard my cry. I will not fear; the Lord is with me ---- what can man do, when God is nigh? The Lord is chief among my helpers; and I shall see my foes o'er-thrown:  far better than in man or princes, my trust I place in God alone (second stanza). From Psalm 118:1-9, 17-25. Strasbourg Psalter, 1545.

Providence

Life's trials are not unnatural barriers to our life with God, but are the appointed way forward to spiritual maturity. ---- Alec Motyer

....though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials, these have come so that your faith --- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire --- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed (I Peter 1:6b-7)

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: A Wonderful Savior is Jesus My Lord -- 

"A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord, he taketh my burden away; he holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved, he giveth me strength as my day (second stanza)."

Self-Control

If you would learn self-mastery, begin by yielding yourself to the One Great Master. ---- Johann F. Lobstein

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive (Colossians 3:12-13). 

It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD (Lamentations 3:26).

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God (I Peter 2:19-20).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God:  Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken.

From RUF/Indelible Grace

No Little Things

Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things --- a chance word, a tap on the shoulder, or a penny dropped on a newstand --- I am tempted to think...there are no little things. Bruce Barton. 

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and You are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all. In Your hand are power and might, and in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we Thank You, our God, and praise Your glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly. For all things come from You, and of Your own have we given You.  (I Chronicles 29:12-14).

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (I Corinthians 10:13).

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 3:17). 

...in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen (I Peter 4:1).   

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of the God of all things, big or little: FATHER, I KNOW THAT ALL MY LIFE. 

Trials and Tribulations

Good morning!

Trials and Tribulations

Even the best Christian drinks from many bitter cups between grace and glory. ---- J. C. Ryle

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed (I Peter 4:12-13). 

A hymn to read, sing, hum or whistle to the glory of God: THY WAY, NOT MINE, O LORD.

Thy way, not mine, O Lord,
However dark it be;
Lead me by Thine own hand,
Choose out the Path for me.

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!

Christlikeness

Good morning!

Christlikeness. A Christian's life should be nothing but a visible representation of Christ. ---- Thomas Brooks.

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son(Romans 8:29). 

As He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy" (I Peter 1:15-16). 

Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked  (I John 2:6). 

A hymn to read, sing, or hum to the glory of God:     LORD, I WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN.