SEPARATE

There is no cross or misery that befalls the church of God or any of His children, but it is related to God. --- Samuel Rutherford

I am convinced that neither death nor life...nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39).

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

Loved With Everlasting Love (George W. Robinson 1890).

CHIEF END

A current TV ad declares that "Life is knowing what you live for." I would add that this is true if you know that what you live for is to know God and make Him known. --- pgs

 

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever and ever(Romans 11:36).

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (From Psalm 103. Joachim Neander, 1680.

FORGIVE

(Forgive? Forgiven!)  We need not climb up into heaven to see whether our sins are forgiven; let us look into our hearts, and see if we can forgive others. If we can, we need not doubt but God has forgiven us. --- Thomas Watson.

If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (Matthew 6:14-15).

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors (Matthew  6:12).

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: Forgive Our Sins As We Forgive. Rosamond E. Herklots, 1969) 

SUFFERING

We are called servants, to show how we must obey. We are called soldiers to show how we should suffer. --- Henry Smith. .

Be dressed, ready for service, and keep your lamps burning..." (Luke 12:35-38).

 Endure hardship with us, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus (II Timothy 2:3).

Hymns to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: Take My Life, and Let It Be (Frances R. Havergal, 1874).

Am I a Soldier of the Cross (Isaac Watts, 1724)

WORLDLY

Nothing is more contrary to a heavenly hope than an earthly heart.--- William Gurnall.

 

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world -- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions -- is not from the Father but from the world. And the world is passing  away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever (I John 2:15-17).

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: More Love To Thee (Elizabeth Payson Prentiss, 1869).

INCARNATION

 The early Christians did not say in dismay, 'Look what the world has come to,' but in delight, 'Look what has come to the world!' --- Carl F. H. Henry

 

Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:20-23).

 

A hymn to read, sing, hum, or whistle to the glory of God: Good Christian Men, Rejoice (Medieval Latin carol).

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).