Gratitude ...

Gratitude is a handmaiden of contentment. An ever-growing attitude of gratitude will certainly make us more content since we will be focusing more on what we do have, both spiritually and materially, than on what we do not have. But contentment is more than focusing on what we have. It is focusing on the fact that all we do have; we have by the grace of God. We do not deserve anything we have, materially or spiritually. It is all by His grace.

[Jerry Bridges]

Philippians 4:11 ... Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

1 Corinthians 15:10 ... But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ... In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. ❤

"Marvelous Mercy!"

An excerpt from the diary of James Smith

December 31, 1855. 

The last day of the year 1855-a year characterized by many severe trials, many sore temptations, and innumerable mercies. In some things, it closes differently to what I expected but how differently it may have closed! I might have been in Hell! 

O terrible thought! I might have been on a sick bed, tormented with excruciating pain, or reduced to a state of infantile weakness. I might have been in great and sore troubles, tossed with tempests, and not comforted. I might have been without a pastorate and without a loving people. 

Or I might have been guilty of some heinous sin, lost my character, and been a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth! Blessed forever blessed be the Lord-that such is not my case! My health is good, my hope in Christ is steady, my congregation good, and I trust the Lord will yet work a great work by me. 

And now, Lord, I desire to confess before you the sins of this past year: I have sinned with my tongue-and with my temper. I have sinned in my heart-and in my life. I have omitted duties. I have committed sins. My motives have often been impure. My aims have not been sufficiently high and holy. I have been impatient, fretful, irritable, rash, jealous, envious, discontented and ungrateful. 

O may the blood of Jesus wash out every stain! I renounce all hope-but what centers in Jesus! I have no refuge, no hiding-place, no strong tower, no place of safety-but Jesus. Christ in His person, Christ in His finished work, Christ in His glorious intercession- is all my hope, all my confidence, all my joy! I am His servant-and wish to serve Him alone. I am His subject-and wish to be ruled by Him alone. I am His purchased property-and wish to be consecrated entirely, eternally, and altogether to Him! 

[James Smith]

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"Suffereing"

We are not called to rejoice at suffering in and of itself. Suffering is bad, suffering is hard, and suffering often comes at the hands of wicked people. Therefore, we do not rejoice in suffering because we love the suffering in and of itself. We rejoice in suffering because we look forward to what God is able to do through our suffering. Paul celebrated the fact that through our sufferings and afflictions God is bringing about endurance, proven character, and hope. 

[Heath Lambert] 

Romans 5:1-5 ... Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

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Friends

Friendship, said Christopher Robin, is a very comforting thing to have.

[A.A. Milne]

Proverbs 17:17 ... A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

John 15:13 ...  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Proverbs 27:9 ... Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. ❤

Four Principles ...

There are four principles we need to maintain: 

First, read the Word of God. Second, consume the Word of God until it consumes you. Third believe the Word of God. Fourth, act on the Word. 

[Smith Wigglesworth]

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2 Timothy 2:15 ... Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Psalm 119:103 ...  How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Ephesians 1:13 ...  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

James 1:22 ... But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. ❤

Old Adam, Put in a Better Dress

Natural honesty, moral virtue, prudence, loyalty, liberality, temperance, these are not the new birth. These make a splendid show in the eye of the world, but they differ as much from the new birth, as a stick differs from a star! 

Morality indeed is commendable, and it would be well if there were more of it. Yet morality is but human nature at its best; it does not amount to saving grace. There is nothing of the Gospel, in mere morality. That fruit is sour which does not grow on the root of Jesus! 

Heat water to the highest degree and you still cannot make wine out of it; it is water still. Just so, let morality be raised to the highest it is human nature still. It is but old Adam, put in a better dress. Moral virtue may exist with the hatred of godliness. A moral man hates holiness as much as he does vice! 

[Thomas Watson] 

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John 3:3 ...  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:7 ...  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. ❤

Take Heed of The Company You Keep!!

Beware of unnecessary familiarity with the ungodly.

We cannot catch health from another, but we may soon catch a disease! The disease of sin is very contagious! I should be as afraid of going among the wicked as going among those who have the plague! "They mingled among the pagans and adopted their evil customs." (Psalm 106:35) If we cannot make others better let us take care that they make us no worse.

Lot was a 'miracle' he kept fresh in Sodom's salt-water!

My beloved, take heed of the occasions of sin evil company is a great occasion of sin. The Nazarites in the old law, as they were not to drink wine, so they were also forbidden grapes, from which the wine was made, as you read in Numbers 6. This teaches us, that all occasions of sin must be avoided.

Evil company is the devil's drawnet, by which he draws millions to Hell. How many families, and how many souls have been ruined and undone in this city by evil company? Many there are, who go from a playhouse and from a tavern to the bottomless pit!

[Thomas Watson]

Proverbs 13:20 ... He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. ❤

The Prince of Peace

Peace does not come from circumstances.  Peace comes from Christ. He is the Prince of Peace!

Isaiah 9:6 ... For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Philippians 4:7 ...  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

John 16:33 ... These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. ❤

Unknown Mercies

When I look back over the path the Lord has led me, I can trace certain mercies clearly: answered prayers, near-escapes, unexpected provisions. Yet I often wonder how many more mercies lie hidden in the folds of His providence unseen, but no less real. How many times has His hand turned aside the danger I never sensed, hushed the accusation I never heard, or stilled the storm I never saw gathering? 

The psalmist calls Him "my strength and my shield." (Psalm 28:7) Strength is felt within; the shield guards externally. I feel His strength in the hour of trial, but His shielding is mostly secret. Every peaceful night's rest, every uneventful journey, every quiet day untouched by calamity is the fruit of His invisible mercies. The Lord protects His redeemed people from unknown adversaries: from the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil; from all the arrows that fly by day, and from all the terrors that haunt us by night. 

Knowing as we do that our adversary, the devil, walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; our security from his hostile attacks is this the Lord is our shield. Though earth and Hell should combine their malice they are safe, whom God protects. If I could read the full record of His care, I would find that many a sorrow never came, because He forbade it; and many a snare never closed, because He broke it first. Someday in glory, when the curtain of time is drawn aside, I shall behold the multitude of dangers from which He rescued me and my praise will swell for mercies once unknown. 

Until that day, I would walk quietly under His watchful eye, thankful not only for what I remember, but for what I never knew. The same hand that fashioned the stars, guards my steps upon the earth. The same Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep, now guides and keeps them in paths of peace. 

[Charles H. Spurgeon] 

Psalm 121:7-8 ... The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

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God Has Two Fires!

God has two fires: 

One where He puts His gold, one where He puts His dross. 

The fire where He puts His gold, is the fire of affliction to purify them. 

The fire where He puts His dross, is the fire of damnation - to punish them.

[Thomas Watson]

 Isaiah 48:10 ... Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

Matthew 25:41, 46 ... Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: ...

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

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ALL The Time!

We just don't need God when we are in trouble.  We need God twenty-four hours per day and three-hundred-sixty-five days per year!!  Amen!!

Philippians 4:19 ... But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 13:6 ... So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Psalm 37:3-5 ... Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.  Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Philippians 4:11-13 ... Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

John 15:5 ...  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

1 Peter 5:6-7 ... Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ...  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

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