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)

ELECTION

 If God did not choose some men without conditions, no man would ever choose God under any condition. ---- John Blanchard.

 

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide (John 15:16).

 

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).  

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: 'Tis Not That I Did Choose Thee (Josiah Cander, 1836).

LIVE & DIE

All living is preparation for dying. --- John Blanchard

 

It is appointed unto men once to live, then to die (Hebrews 9:27).

 

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

 O Come, My Soul, Bless Thou the Lord (Psalm 103, The Psalter, 1912).

     

We fade and die like flowers that grow in beauty, like tender grass that soon will disappear; but ever more the love of God is changeless, still shown to those who look to Him in fear 

(4th. stanza).

GOSPEL

The gospel is not a human plan for reaching up to God, but a divine plan for reaching down to man. ---- John Blanchard

 

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (I John 4:9-10).

Truth or Error

Those who preach liberal theology are robbers; they rob God of his sovereignty, Jesus of his divinity, the Holy Spirit of his ministry, the miracles of their credibility, Mary of her virginity, the apostles of their authority, the church of its history and the new birth of its necessity. ---- John Blanchard

 

If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign of a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, "Let us go after other gods, which you have not known, and let us serve them, you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your souls. You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him(Deuteronomy 13:1-4). 

 

Beware of the prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits (Matthew 7:7:15-16a).

 

Now I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve (Romans 16:17-18).

 

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

 Break Thou the Bread of Life. Mary A. Lathbury, 1877.  

God's Purposes

God's purposes always have Gods provision.  John Blanchard.

 

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20).

 

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

Who Is On the Lord's Side?

 ---- Fierce may be the conflict, strong may be the foe, but the King's own army none can over throw; round his standards ranging, vic-t'ry is secure; for his truth unchanging makes the triumph sure. Joyfully enlisting by thy grace divine, we are on the Lord's side, Savior, we are thine (fourth stanza). --- Frances R. Havergal, 1877

Creation

Whether special creation is endorsed by every scientist in the world or rejected by all of them is of monumental irrelevance.. The Christian says God created the world because the Bible says so. ---- John Blanchard

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible (Hebrews 11:3). 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of the Creator: I Sing the Almighty Power of God. 

Death

Death puts us all in our place. Heaven, or hell. ---- pgs (after John Blanchard)

The light of the righteous* rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out (Proverbs 13:9).

The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing but the righteous* finds refuge in his death(Proverbs 14:32). 

Hymns to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me. 

Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending. 

Atheism

Good morning!

Atheism is the ultimate ignorance.  John Blanchard

The fool says in his heart, There is no God (Psalm 14:1).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: HOW GOOD IT IS TO THANK THE LORD (Trinity Hymnal 635). 

Prayer

Good morning!

Prayer. The real secret of prayer is secret prayer.---- John Blanchard.

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you(Matthew 6:6).

A hymn to read, sing, hum or whistle to the glory of God: Sweet Hour of Prayer.

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! that calls me from a world of care, and bids me at my Father's throne make all my wants and wishes known. In seasons of distress and grief, my soul has often found relief, and oft escaped the tempter's snare by thy return, sweet hour of prayer! 

Joy

Good morning!

JOY. We are meant to enjoy our salvation, not endure it.  John Blanchard

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. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices (Psalm 16:5-6, 8-9). 

A hymn to read or sing aloud to the glory of God: JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD IS COME.  

(Theological) Liberalism

Good morning!

Liberalism. Liberalism is a miscarriage of truth. ---- John Blanchard.

I appeal to you, brothers, to mark carefully those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet (Romans 16:17-20).

A hymn to read or sing aloud to the glory of God: Teach Me, O Lord, Thy Holy Way.