POWER

The fact that Jesus Christ is to come again is not a reason for star-gazing, but for working the power of the Holy Ghost. -- Charles Spurgeon

And while they were gazing into heaven as He went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven (Acts 1:10-11).

If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:1-4).

In Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit(Ephesians 2:22).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum or whistle to the glory of God: Rejoice, All Ye Believers (Laurentius Lourenti), 1700.  

PRAYER

True prayers are like those carrier pigeons which find their way so well; they cannot fail to go to heaven, for it is from heaven that they came; they are only going home. -- C. H. Spurgeon

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time need (Hebrews 4:14-16).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: Approach, My Soul, the Mercy Seat by John Newton, 1779.

PRAYER

Sometimes we think we are too busy to pray. That is a great, mistake, for praying is a saving of time. - C. H. Spurgeon

And Asa cried to the LORD his God, "O LORD, there is none like You to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and to Your name we have come against the multitude. O LORD, You are our God; let no man prevail against You." So the LORD defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah... (II Chronicles 14:11-12).

A hymn to read, sing, play, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Jesus, Where'er Your People Meet (William Cowper, 1769).

EVERYTHING

If the service of God is worth anything, it is worth everything.  -- Charles Spurgeon

 

If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. ...anyone of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple(Luke 14:26-27, 33).

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.   

AFFLICTION

Thou shalt never find a bundle of affliction which has not been bound up in the midst of sufficient grace. ---- CH Spurgeon

 

....a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me (II Corinthians 12:7-9).

COVENANT

As we are under the covenant of grace, we are secured against departing from the living God by the sure declaration of the covenant. ---- Charles Spurgeon

 

And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. I will be their God (Genesis 17:7-8).

 

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people (Hebrews 8:10).  

 

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater that all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one (John 10:27-30).

 

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:20-21).

QUIETUDE

Quietude, which some men cannot abide because it reveals their inward poverty, is as a palace of cedar to the wise, for along its hallowed courts the King in His beauty deigns to walk. ---- Charles H. Spurgeon

 

Trust in the LORD and do good, dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him.... (Psalm 37:3-5a).

 

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You (Isaiah 26:3).

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: Peace, Perfect Peace, Edward H. Bickersteth, 1875.

FAITHFULNESS

God's covenant faithfulness. The mighty grace of God has prevailed even as the waters of the flood prevailed over the earth: breaking over all bounds, it has flowed towards all portions of the multiplied race of man. In Christ Jesus, God has shown mercy mixed with kindness, and that to the very highest degree.

 

He has kept His covenant promise that in the seed of Abraham should all nations of the earth be blessed, and He will eternally keep every single promise of that covenant to all those who put their trust in Him ---- Charles Spurgeon

 

Praise the LORD all nations! Extol Him, all peoples! For great is His steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD! (Psalm 117).

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle, to the glory of God: From All That Dwell Below the Skies, Isaac Watts, 1719.  

Faith

Faith goes up the stairs that love has built and looks out the window which hope has opened. ---- C. H. Spurgeon

 

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

 

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

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of His Spirit washed in His blood. Fanny Crosby, 1873.  

God's mercies

Good morning! 

When we bless God for mercies, we usually prolong them. When we bless God for miseries, we usually end them. Praise is the honey of life which a devout heart extracts from every bloom of providence and grace. ---- C. H. Spurgeon

You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore (meditate upon the whole of Psalm 16).

A hymn to read, sing, hum or whistle to the glory of God: When All Your Mercies, O My  God. 

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!

Home

Good morning! 

Home   When home is ruled according to God's Word, angels might be asked to stay with us, and they would not find themselves out of their element. C. H. Spurgeon.

For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has promised him (Genesis 16:19).

A hymn to be read or sung aloud to the glory of God: A CHRISTIAN HOME.   

Winsomeness

Good morning!

Take care if the world does hate you that it hates you without cause. ---- C. H. Spurgeon

Beloved....if you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet, if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name (I Peter 4:12a, 14-16).

A hymn to read or sing loud to the glory of God:  FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.

Forebearance

Good morning!

FORBEARANCE. Cultivate forbearance until your heart yields a fine crop of it. Pray for a short memory to all unkindnesses. ---- Charles H. Spurgeon.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends (I Corinthians 13:4-8a).-----
A hymn to read or sing aloud to the glory of God: HE LEADETH ME, O BLESSED THOUGHT