Establishment!

Establishment consists in holding fast our profession. We profess to believe the gospel all that it says regarding ourselves, our God, our Lord Jesus Christ, our foes, our trials. We profess to obey all that it requires, in the strength that it promises.

Establishment includes, maintaining our character as the disciples of Christ, the holy ones, the children of God who imitate their Father who is in Heaven,

the friends of God and the light of the world.

Establishment involves perseverance in the paths of holiness, pressing toward the mark for the prize of our high calling, abounding in the work of the Lord.

Establishment supposes the enjoyment of our privileges, such as peace with God,

realizing the favor of God, rejoicing in God, walking in sweet fellowship with God,

receiving grace from God and even glorying in tribulation.

Establishment is to include abiding in Christ as the branch in the vine; living with Christ as the wife with her husband; confiding in Christ as one in the friend which is as his own soul; deriving all from Christ as the member from union to the head.

Establishment is to stand, to keep our post, fulfill our duties, adorn our profession,

hold fast our principles, persevere in our work, and be steadfast in the Savior's cause.

Establishment is only by faith. By faith we live. By faith we walk. By faith we overcome. By faith we receive the salvation of our souls.

[James Smith]

2 Corinthians 1:24 ... Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

2 Corinthians 5:7 ... (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) ❤

Vile, Polluted and Wretched Beings!

Those whom Jesus loves, being chosen of God to holiness here on earth, and happiness in eternity are predestined to the adoption of His children, to the praise of the glory of His grace. They are predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son; they are to partake of His nature, receive of His spirit, wear His image, and be associated with Him in honor and glory forever!

Jesus calls them: His brethren, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Himself! Being His redeemed children, they have a saving interest in Him, are eternally loved by Him, are in eternal union with Him, and shall never be separated from Him!

O wondrous mercy! That God should condescend to make up a family of such vile, polluted, and wretched beings as we are!

O wondrous mercy! That He should write our names in His book of life, give us the gift of the Holy Spirit, privilege us as His children at His throne, and associate us with Jesus as fellow heirs.

O wondrous mercy! That all this should have been fixed upon and settled before the beginning of time; and all for the praise of His glorious grace!

[James Smith]

1 John 3:1 ... Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

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Taking His Name in Vain...

This commandment, often overlooked in its full weight, strikes at the very heart of how we regard the holy character of God. It is a solemn warning against treating anything related to God with irreverence or triviality. God should always and only be regarded with deep reverence and awe--with a profound sense of His divine grandeur.

In Scripture, God's name represents all that He is: His majesty, His holiness, His truth, His faithfulness, and his glorious attributes. To take His name in vain is to treat what is sacred, as common. It is to speak of Him without reverence to utter His name lightly, or thoughtlessly, or flippantly.

Such misuse is not hidden from the omniscience of the Almighty. He has declared with unwavering certainty: "The Lord will not leave him unpunished, who takes His name in vain." (Exodus 20:7) This is not an idle threat. It is a fearful reminder of God's holy regard for who He truly is.

Let us examine our hearts. Do we always treat God's name with the awe and reverence that it deserves? May we never drag His name into the dust, by using it without reverence. Instead, may we honor Him with lips and lives that reflect the glory of His holy name.

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

Matthew 6:9 ...  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

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"Forgiveness"

You will know that forgiveness has begun when you recall those who hurt you and feel the power to wish them well. 

[Lewis B. Smedes]

Matthew 5:43-48 ... Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

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Memorial Day 2026

 Honor a veteran. 

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

Day of Pentecost

Today is the day of Pentecost, which means "50th" in Greek. The Feast of Pentecost was a major Jewish celebration, also called "Shavu'ot" or "Feast of Weeks" which happened 50 days after Passover. For Christians, it also marks the day in which the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and started the church. This came after they had been waiting for about 9-10 days after Jesus ascended. I'm sure the prayer of "Come, Holy Spirit" were on the mouths and hearts of the apostles during this time period. That was the inspiration for this piece.

Today is May 24th, which is the 7th Sunday since Easter which only amounts to 49 days. However, if you use inclusive counting (Counting both the day of Easter AND the day of Pentecost), you get 50 days.

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Acts 2:1-4 ...  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. ❤

Seasons of Darkness

The path of the Christian is not always bright with sunshine; he has his seasons of darkness and of storm. True, it is written in God's Word, "Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace;" and it is a great truth, that saving religion is calculated to give a man happiness here below as well as bliss above. Experience tells us that if the course of the just is, "As the shining light that shines more and more unto the perfect day,"(Proverbs 4:18) yet sometimes that light is eclipsed. At certain periods, clouds cover the believer's sun, and he walks in darkness and sees no light.

There are many who have rejoiced in the presence of God for a season. They have basked in the sunshine in the earlier stages of their Christian pilgrimage. They have walked along the "green pastures," by the side of the "still waters." (Psalm 23:2) But suddenly they find that their glorious sky is clouded; and instead of the fertile land of Goshen, they have to tread the barren desert. And in the place of sweet waters they find troubled streams, bitter to their taste. And they say, "Surely if I were a child of God, then this would not happen to me!"

Oh, say not so, you who are walking in darkness. The best of God's saints must drink the wormwood; the dearest of His redeemed children must bear the cross. No Christian has ever enjoyed perpetual prosperity. At times, every believer must hang his harp on the willows.

Perhaps the Lord allotted you a smooth and unclouded path at first, because you were weak and timid. He tempered the harsh north wind, to the shorn lamb. But now that you are stronger in the spiritual life, you must enter upon the riper and rougher experience of God's full-grown children. We need strong winds and tempests:  to exercise our faith, to tear off the rotten bough of self-dependence, and to root us more firmly in Jesus.

The day of evil, reveals to us the value of our glorious hope!

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

Jeremiah 17:17 ...  Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil.

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Yes, The Lord is Coming Again!!

There is a popular belief that the end times happened in 70AD. There is literally NO PROOF Jesus returned already. This is from the enemy to get people relaxed and not looking. Do NOT be deceived by Preterism! 

[William Tyrone Jackson II]

Got Questions? What is the preterist view of the end times? | GotQuestions.org

 

Keep Watching!!

2 Timothy 2:17-18 ... And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.  ❤

The Spirit is Leading

Here is a mark of divine sonship: All who follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit are children of God. "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." (Romans 8:16)

The Spirit leads His followers to the looking glass of Divine truth. There they discover their spiritual deformity and impurity. There they see what they are, and what they need. "When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth." (John 16:13)

The Spirit leads them to the throne of grace, and there He helps their infirmities, and makes intercession for them according to the will of God. "We do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. The Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." (Romans 8:26–27)

The Spirit leads them to the cross! When they see Jesus dying for their sins, atoning for their transgressions, then they lose their burden of guilt. "When the Advocate comes, He will testify about Me." (John 15:26)

The Spirit leads them in the path of loving obedience, and they experience the blessedness of keeping Christ's commands. "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances." (Ezekiel 36:27)

The Spirit leads them in the track of the Good Shepherd and enables them to hear His voice and to follow Him. "My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me." (John 10:27)

Alas, many are following the leadings of a very different spirit, the diabolical spirit who works in the children of disobedience! He leads by paths of unbelief and sin to endless misery and ruin! 

Beloved reader beware of following his leadings and prayerfully yield yourself to the guidance of the Spirit of truth and love.

[Author Unknown]

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Psalm 25:4-5 ... Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

Romans 8:14 ...  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. ❤

Holy Longings

There is no truer test of the state of the soul, than its deepest longings and desires. Outward conduct may be restrained by fear, reputation, or habit. But longing true, inward, unforced longing reveals the condition of the heart. As a person longs in secret, so they truly are.

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When shall I come and appear in God's presence?" (Psalm 42:1-2) This is not casual interest. It is desperation. The deer in a drought-stricken wilderness, will not be distracted by secondary things it must have water or it will die. In the same way, the regenerate soul longs for Jesus. Not merely for blessings, not merely for relief, but for God Himself.

Longing for Jesus. Conversion is not the addition of religion to a busy life; it is the creation of new desires. The Spirit removes the heart of stone and gives a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26-27) Wherever there is saving grace, holy longings are born.

Psalm 63:1 says, "O God, you are my God. Earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You. My body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water." Notice the intensity. Saving faith is not a cold mental assent to doctrine though doctrine is essential; it is a living hunger for the living Jesus.

The believer says, "Whom have I in Heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever!" (Psalm 73:25-26) This is the language of supreme affection. "On earth I desire no one besides You." Jesus is treasured above all competitors. When flesh fails, when earthly joys fade, when strength diminishes then God remains as "the strength of my heart and my portion forever!"

Examine yourself here. What do you most deeply desire? Wealth? Fame? Lust? Or Jesus? One of the surest evidences of regeneration is this: when stripped of everything else, the soul still says, "Give me Jesus!"

Longing for Heaven. The Christian is, in a profound sense, a stranger here in this wilderness world. He is a citizen of Heaven, living temporarily on earth (Philippians 3:20.) This poor world cannot satisfy the renewed heart. "Arise and depart; for this is not your rest, because it is polluted." (Micah 2:10)

Thus, believers groan for glory (Romans 8:23) They do not merely fear Hell; they long for Heaven. They yearn to see the face of the One they now know by faith. Heaven is precious, not because of golden streets, but because Jesus is there. When the heart whispers, "Come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20), it reveals allegiance to another kingdom.

Whenever saving grace comes, it creates heavenly longings; desires which the world cannot understand. The saints crave Heaven, and thirst for the presence of God. Such longing marks them as strangers and pilgrims in this present world. "You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand!"

The righteous long for holy living, because God Himself authors those desires. What He intends to give, He first teaches us to crave. Spiritual desires are the buds of coming fruit. Do you long to conquer sin? That longing is evidence of spiritual life. Do you grieve your remaining corruption? That grief signals regeneration.

May your soul pant for Him. May your heart cry, "Whom have I in heaven but You?" May your deepest desire be Jesus now, Heaven soon, and holiness always.

The unconverted regret the consequences of sin, but they do not hate sin itself. The believer sighs to be free from sin altogether.

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

Proverbs 10:24 ... The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

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Standing Next to Me!!

 He is with you always!!

                                                        www.ChristianPhotoshops.com

Daniel 3:25 .... He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

Isaiah 43:2 ... When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. ❤