For the Lord’s Day – Nearer, Still Nearer

1. Nearer, still nearer, close to Thy heart,
Draw me, my Savior—so precious Thou art!
Fold me, oh, fold me close to Thy breast.
Shelter me safe in that Haven of Rest;
Shelter me safe in that Haven of Rest.

2. Nearer, still nearer, nothing I bring,
Naught as an offering to Jesus, my king;
Only my sinful, now contrite heart.
Grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart.
Grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart.

3. Nearer, still nearer, Lord, to be Thine!
Sin, with its follies, I gladly resign,
All of its pleasures, pomp and its pride,
Give me but Jesus, my Lord, crucified.
Give me but Jesus, my Lord, crucified.

4. Nearer, still nearer, while life shall last.
Till safe in glory my anchor is cast;
Through endless ages ever to be
Nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee;
Nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee!

Author: Mrs. C. H. Morris

Lelia N. Morris. Usage Mrs. C. H. Morris. Born: April 15, 1862, Pennsville, Ohio. Died: July 23, 1929, Auburn, New York (at her daughter’s home). Buried: McConnelsville, Ohio. Leila Naylor Morris(1862-1929) As a child, Leila lived in Malta and McConnelsville, Ohio. In 1881, she married Charles H. Morris. Leila was active in the Methodist church, camp meetings, and song writing, authoring more than 1,000 Gospel songs. When her eyes began to fail in 1913, her son built a 28-foot blackboard with oversized staff lines, so she could continue composing. –hymntime.com/tch

http://www.hymnary.org/text/nearer_still_nearer_close_to_thy_heart

Hebrews 7:19

For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

For the Lord’s Day – I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say

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“I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say”
by Horatius Bonar, 1808-1899

1. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto Me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down,
Thy head upon My breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary and worn and sad;
I found in Him a resting-place,
And He has made me glad.

2. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one,
Stoop down and drink and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life-giving stream.
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in Him.

3. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“I am this dark world’s Light.
Look unto Me; thy morn shall rise
And all thy day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found
In Him my Star, my Sun;
And in that Light of Life I’ll walk
Till traveling days are done.

Words: Horatius Bonar, Hymns Original and Selected 1846.

Music: Vox Dilecti John B. Dykes, 1868 The key change halfway through accents the positive message of the last two lines, I came to Jesus…

The last time that Henry Ward Beecher was in his pulpit—6th March, 1887—he remained for some time at the close of the evening service listening to the choir practising, and was evidently moved by their rendering of this hymn. While sitting and listening he noticed two street arabs coming into the church to enjoy the music also. He came down, and speaking to them tenderly he drew them to his heart and kissed them. Whether this touch of humanity was due to the hymn or simply the response of his deeply emotional nature in seeing two unfortunates before him, with all their undeveloped possibilities, we cannot say, but of this we are sure, that the last grand utterance that he heard in his church was this hymn: I Heard the Voice, etc., for, a few hours afterwards the shadows of the long night fell upon his ethereal spirit; the silver cord that bound him with the outer world was loosed, and though the soul still lingered over the mortal frame which she had filled with abundant life for seventy-four years, as if loath to depart, the eyes, the senses were all but sealed, and the lips on which listening thousands had hung for half a century were silent. It was fitting that he who took such an active part in the emancipation of the slave should close his life under the inspiration of this tender hymn, and take those two street arabs to his heart as representing the humanity he loved so well!

Morrison, pp. 221-2

http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/i/h/e/iheardvj.htm

Matthew 11:28-30

²⁸Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

²⁹Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

³⁰For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.

For the Lord’s Day – Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed?

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Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For sinners such as I?
[originally, For such a worm as I?]

Refrain

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thine—
And bathed in its own blood—
While the firm mark of wrath divine,
His Soul in anguish stood.

Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker died,
For man the creature’s sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.

But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give my self away
’Tis all that I can do.

Words: Isaac Watts, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, 1707;

Music: Martyrdom Hugh Wilson, 1800

[***Note from sage – you may not be familiar with this rendition – but it was the one that Fanny Crosby was referring to in 1880. The music sung in churches today was not written until 1885 when the well known refrain was added]

Hudson, Ralph E. Hudson, Songs of Peace, Love and Joy (Alliance, Ohio: 1885) It is with this tune that the hymn is known as At the Cross.

Fanny Crosby wrote of this hymn:

[In] the autumn of 1850…revival meetings were being held in the Thirtieth Street Methodist Church [, New York City]. Some of us went down every evening; and, on two occasions, I sought peace at the atlar [sic], but did not find the joy I craved, until one evening, November 20, 1850, it seemed to me that the light must indeed come then or never; and so I arose and went to the altar alone. After a prayer was offered, they began to sing the grand old consecration hymn, “Alas, and did my Saviour bleed, And did my Sovereign die?” And when they reached the third line of the fourth [sic] stanza, “Here Lord, I give myself away,” my very soul was flooded with a celestial light. I sprang to my feet, shouting “hallelujah,” and then for the first time I realized that I had been trying to hold the world in one hand and the Lord in the other.

Crosby, p. 24

http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/l/a/alasand.htm

1 Corinthians 1:18

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

For the Lord’s Day – Pass Me Not

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Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Refrain:
Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry,
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief;
Kneeling there in deep contrition,
Help my unbelief.

Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.

Thou the spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee,
Whom in Heav’n but Thee.

Words: Fanny Crosby, 1868; first appeared in Songs of Devotion, by Howard Doane (New York: 1870).

Music: W. Howard Doane, 1870

As earnest Christian pastor told of a young man about whom he had long felt much anxiety, as he had seemed so unconcerned about his soul, and was, in reality, a real cause of disturbance and interruption in classes for other young men. Meeting him one day, the loving pastor sought once more to influence him, urging, “We want you for Christ and his service.” There was a certain change in his manner which did not escape the eye of the prayerful watcher for souls, and—lacking time to do more—he seized the opportunity to secure the presence of his young friend at a Christian Endeavor meeting soon to be held. True to his promise he was there. When an opportunity was given for some of the young men to choose a song, it was seen that he was urging his companion to select some particular hymn. The other, yielding to his request, asked if the hymn, “Pass me not, O gentle Saviour,” might be sung; and both young men joined in the singing with evident interest and heartiness. Later in the evening it was requested that all who were definitely on the Lord’s side would confess their allegiance by standing. Whereupon the one over whom the heart of the pastor was specially yearning rose at once, and with decision.

“Tell me about your conversion,” the thankful pastor requested at the close of the meeting, when hands were clasped in glad, brotherly welcome and recognition.

“Oh, yes,” assented the other. “It was all through that hymn we have just sung. I was working on the canal at G–, and there was a meeting being held at the Mariner’s Chapel, nearby. The words floated out over the water, and from the tug where I was working I could hear them plainly enough. When they were just going to sing those lines—‘While on others Thou are calling, Do not pass me by!’ a great fear came over me, and I thought, ‘Oh, if the Lord were to pass me by, how terrible it would be!’ Then and there, on the tug, I cried out, ‘O Lord, do not pass me by.’ And”—with a bright smile—“he didn’t pass me by. I am saved.’”

Sankey, pp. 218-20

http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/p/a/passment.htm

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

For the Lord’s Day – Thy Way, Not Mine

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Thy way, not mine, O Lord,
However dark it be;
Lead me by Thine own hand,
Choose out the path for me.

Smooth let it be or rough,
It will be still the best;
Winding or straight, it leads
Right onward to Thy rest.

I dare not choose my lot;
I would not, if I might;
Choose Thou for me, my God,
So I shall walk aright.

Take Thou my cup, and it
With joy or sorrow fill,
As best to Thee may seem;
Choose Thou my good and ill.

Choose Thou for me my friends,
My sickness or my health;
Choose Thou my cares for me
My poverty or wealth.

The kingdom that I seek
Is Thine: so let the way
That leads to it be Thine,
Else I must surely stray.

Not mine, not mine the choice
In things or great or small;
Be Thou my Guide, my Strength
My Wisdom, and my All.

Horatius Bonar

Born: December 19, 1808, Old Broughton, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Died: July 31, 1889, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Buried: Canongate churchyard.

Bonar has been called “the prince of Scottish hymn writers.” After graduating from the University of Edinburgh, he was ordained in 1838, and became pastor of the North Parish, Kelso. He joined the Free Church of Scotland after the “Disruption” of 1843, and for a while edited the church’s The Border Watch. Bonar remained in Kelso for 28 years, after which he moved to the Chalmers Memorial church in Edinburgh, where he served the rest of his life. Bonar wrote more than 600 hymns. At a memorial service following his death, his friend, Rev. E. H. Lundie, said:

His hymns were written in very varied circumstances, sometimes timed by the tinkling brook that babbled near him; sometimes attuned to the ordered tramp of the ocean, whose crested waves broke on the beach by which he wandered; sometimes set to the rude music of the railway train that hurried him to the scene of duty; sometimes measured by the silent rhythm of the midnight stars that shone above him.

Luke 16:10

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

Friday Proverb – Praise or Punishment?

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Unruly behavior is one thing – unruly mouths are another. Using our mouths to glorify Him is wisdom, which only comes from Him.

Proverbs 10:13

In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found:

Any wisdom that comes forth from our mouths comes from Him. Having understanding is different than having knowledge. The depth of our understanding will be commensurate to our walk with Him. Many sheeple devote their energies to earning advanced degrees or to studying the evil antics of politicians. From a humanistic perspective, they could be identified as having great knowledge. Yet – they do not have understanding. No passage in Scripture expresses this difference better than the following:

Job 42:5-6

⁵I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee.

⁶Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

In the forty-two chapters of the Book of Job, he makes an arduous journey from the mere knowledge of God – to the true understanding of God. When Job submits – he receives understanding.

but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

At its very essence – the above verse means exactly what it says . . . rejecting Jesus Christ demonstrates a complete void of understanding.

Friday Proverb – Love People, Hate Sin

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Is that a tired and trite old saying – “Hate the sin, love the sinner?” The ecumenical church movement has hijacked the Biblical definition of love, and morphed it into a mushy, weak-willed tolerance. Tolerance is not love! Oh you who say that God is Love, must also recognize that God is Truth – and His Truth can not lie. And His Truth will not allow us to lie to ourselves. We can dig into this even deeper. . .

Proverbs 10:12

Hatred stirreth up strifes:

The infamous Westboro Baptist Church perfectly typifies this Proverb. Their hatred has consumed them, and causes people outside the faith to make assumptions about others who carry the name of Baptist. Hatred blinds us to the Truth – the Truth of the Gospel, which includes the truth of our own sin. Hatred causes families to fall apart, and continuous strife between people for every reason under the sun. If there is no forgiveness – there is hatred, resentment, bitterness, and misery. Often lasting a lifetime.

Do you have someone you hate? Perhaps you were abused or neglected, and have good reason. But the hatred and bitterness you hold for that person or people, will eat away inside you, causing internal strife – and stealing your inner peace.

but love covereth all sins.

Wow. Take a good long look at the above picture. That is an aged parent and adult child clasping hands. It isn’t always a parent that has hurt us – sometimes it’s a sibling, neighbor, employer, teacher, friend, spouse, religious leader, peers, coworker, some corrupt entity or other . . . no matter what the source – the resentment and hatred is the same. It could be something like a visceral hatred of the government – to the girl who made fun of you in 7th grade. Only when you let that go – and allow yourself to forgive (we’re not saying you will forget) and stop holding so tightly to the hatred that is sustaining you – can you experience the Perfect Love that covereth all sins.

You can’t do it on your own, pray to Him for help, and He will relieve you of that burden. Once you are relieved of that terrible canker eating away at you, you will feel the covering of that sin like a soothing blanket, and the terror and anguish and hatred of whoever or whatever was the recipient of that hatred (deserving or not) will fade away like yesterdays clouds on a sunny day.

It is His love, and His love alone, that makes this possible.

1 John 4:17-19

¹⁷Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world.

¹⁸There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

¹⁹We love Him, because He first loved us.

1 Corinthians 13:7

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

If you do not forgive – your unforgiveness will grow and fester into hate.

Let His perfect love cast out that resentment, and feel the freedom of His perfect love. Love does not require you to become someone’s doormat – love frees you from hatred. Your view will change – and you will see the the person you hated – as a miserable sinner who needs salvation. Suddenly, things that seemed really important will diminish, and the Gospel and the sharing of it, will become what is most important to you.

Friday Proverb – A Well of Life or a Cesspool of Violence?

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Oh, the power of the tongue to commit good and evil! Wars have been waged over verbal missteps. Studies show that children parrot what their parents say -good or bad. Throughout Scripture, we are taught to speak with measure and care. The unsaved will judge the entire church and the Godhead by what just one Christian says! It is so important, that there are dozens and dozens of verses relating to what people say with their mouths, not just their actions.

Proverbs 10:11

The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life:

With our words we can encourage, comfort, teach, edify, and otherwise do great things through the Righteousness of Christ. We can ask Him to speak through us – to use us to glorify Him. The only righteousness the believer can possess is the Righteousness of Jesus Christ – it is His Holy Spirit working through us that allows our words to be a well of life. And done in His Spirit – our words can do the work we are here for. We can worship Him – and we can witness about Him. All with words. And at the Judgment Seat of Christ we will be rewarded for what we have done with words.

When we talk about the gospel to the unsaved – we are giving someone a lifeline – we are giving living water from the well of life – Jesus Christ!

The second half of this Proverb must be fairly important, because it is repeated twice in Proverbs 10.

but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

Once again we see that the wicked will not be able to speak to defend themselves. Right now – it seems that the wicked are in great power, and have control of the air waves, and all media. Scripture assures us that this will not last much longer. And these scorners and mockers of Jesus Christ will not be allowed to speak at the Great White Throne Judgment when the charges are made against them. No lawyers to speak for them, or juries to empathize with them. Jesus Christ is the Judge, and Jury.

Revelation 20:11-13

¹¹And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

¹²And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

¹³And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Please don’t delay getting right with the LORD. Now is the right time to find Him – not after you are dead. After this life is over – there is an eternity – and it is up to you to choose how you will spend it. That is the free- will given to man by God. We must choose Him. And we must come to Him by the way He specifies in His Word – the Bible. If you would like to talk to us about it – please email at:

vinevigil@gmail.com

Friday Proverb – Complicity and Foolishness

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Is it enough to worry only about our own sins? So many lovely Christians feel they should not ever judge, and allow people to work out their own misery. But where do we draw the line? Do we let someone drown in water? Do we let someone drown in sin? Is there any difference?

Proverbs 10:10

He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow:

In the true understanding of the 1611 KJV, “winketh with the eye,” quite literally means “turning a blind eye.” This is something that everyone is guilty of, including Christians. We need to speak up, not sit on our hands! Just the fact that Christians as a whole have been cowed into passivity in the past does not mean we need to let it continue. If you see something that is wrong – speak out! Yes – especially if it is in your church. . .

God has “turned a blind eye” intentionally to the world’s free-fall into utter depravity, but He will not always do so!

Acts 17:29-31

²⁹Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

³⁰And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

³¹Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.

but a prating fool shall fall.

We all know them, even at church. Give them a mic and they never want to let go. I am saying this as kindly as possible to my brothers and sisters – listening is a great gift that every believer should try to cultivate within themselves. Let’s not think about ourselves, but let us always have in mind the well-being of others. Many times, the well being of others involves listening to them with hearing, understanding and compassion. The less time we spend thinking and talking about ourselves, the more time we will have for others and even more importantly The LORD, and the more filled and empowered with the Holy Spirit we will be.

Friday Proverb – Staying Out of Harm’s Way

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The title pretty much says it all, but on this blog we like to delve into the “deep things of God.” Most Christians make a cursory pass through the Book of Proverbs, especially the chapters consisting of scores of one verse axioms. Is that really how the Lord wants us to study His precious Word? No, it isn’t. We are admonished over and over again throughout the Bible that His Word is paramount to knowing and serving Him. Each Word. Not just the easy passages which “speak to your heart.”

Proverbs 10:9

**He that walketh uprightly walketh surely:**

Merriam Webster: upright – marked by strong moral rectitude <an upright citizen>

Marked by “strong moral rectitude?” That means it should be observable by others. No one should ever be able to say – “why would I want to be a Christian – you’re no better or different than anyone else!” The public failures of prominent Christians have done great damage to the furtherance of the Gospel. We have a great obligation – famous or not – to walk uprightly. Not only for our own safety and well-being; but for a walking testimony. Christians will be held to a higher standard because we are a target of the evil one. Do not let the lusts of this world spoil your testimony! Walk surely and safely on the narrow path – for your own sake, as well as the sakes of those watching you.

**but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.**

Merriam Webster: pervert

a : to cause to turn aside or away from what is good or true or morally right : corrupt

b : to cause to turn aside or away from what is generally done or accepted : misdirect

This second part of the Proverb is interestingly phrased. How often the sinner thinks that he’s “getting away with it.” The idea of “secret sin” is a misnomer if there ever was one. It is sold to us as a “guilty pleasure,” and that you have a “right to indulge yourself.” One of the most over-used copouts of the porn addict is that “it’s not hurting anyone.” Prominent pastors caught in adultery never go into the affair with the idea that they will be found out!

Famous pervert, Oscar Wilde, gave the practice of “secret sin,” the literary treatment in his classic – The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Wilde and his friends knew the effects of the libertine, perverted lifestyle only too well. In this fantasy novel, the beautiful Dorian Gray makes a deal with the evil one, which would cause all the excesses of his licentious activities to only appear on his portrait – not his own face or body. The catch to this was, that the more his sins were hidden, the more perverted he became, even offending his libertine friends. It has long been a trick of Satan to sell the bills of goods, without revealing the “side effects.” Those most deeply immersed in a sinful lifestyle, are usually the last to know how their choices have caught up with them. There is no hiding it – the Proverb says – “his ways shall be known!”

If you are struggling with an addiction, please realize that it is rooted in sin. And sin is sin is sin. Calling it something else does not change what it is. Face up to it, and call on the Lord Jesus Christ to free you from that bondage. Bondage to sin and perversion is not freedom, even though at the outset – it may seem very freeing to be released from moral constraints. But it is not freedom at all – rather – it is the worst kind of bondage to a very harsh taskmaster known as the Father of Lies. And he does not love you or care whether you live or die. But Jesus Christ loves you so much that He died for all the terrible things you’ve done – so that you can live forever and spend eternity with Him.

John 8:36

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Sage’s Testimony

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My story is not as extraordinary as some of the testimonials we like to hear about. But to me, it is extraordinary to the point that I can barely describe it.

I will start with a short summary of my childhood. My parents were decent parents, not happy, not unhappy. My mother was Lutheran, and my father was Catholic. They made an arrangement regarding how our religious lives would be balanced. The children would attend Catholic School, and attend Lutheran church on Sundays. My mother calculated that to be a good compromise. Neither of my parents were saved at that time.

I will state in the most diplomatic terms that I can – that my ten years of Catholic school (I graduated two years early) were nothing short of hellacious. Ten years of physical and psychological abuse. From hitting us with books, to putting small children into garbage cans and throwing garbage on them. . .

I believe that from before I could even articulate my thoughts – I was aware of God. Even while very young, I was fascinated by nature. Even a leaf impressed me. I’ve always been aware of an intense love for Jesus within me – to the point that my family made fun of me. The irreconcilable teachings between evolutionary science classes and religion Bible stories disturbed me to the point I was challenging the teachers at the age of eight, because it was so contradictory. At my school, we were required to attend chapel every morning, and confession once weekly. During one session, while on my knees at the age of twelve, I told the priest how unhappy I was, and that I wasn’t getting anything out of church or religion classes. He responded that “Faith is an empty shell. You can get nothing out of it unless you put something into it.” So-o-o frustrating.

Years went by, with me feeling more and more unhappy about life in general. I was heavily involved with the performing arts, and had the nagging sensation that something was terribly wrong with it all. My mother had been fairly miserable and self absorbed most of the time. She also had a terrible 35 year smoking habit that she had tried every method known to man .. . Smoke Enders, hypnotism, medical doctors. . . Then one day, when I was 18 years old, my mother’s hair dresser led her to Christ. She came home a different person – and the very visible miracle was her instant deliverance from her addiction to cigarettes. Very impressive to me.

Two years passed, while I lived my life, and watched my mother try to lead all of us to Christ. Her witnessing was rather more like nagging! But the fact was incontrovertible. She was changed! I started reading her Bible – from the back. I don’t know why I started with Revelation, but it spoke to me. I had always known I was a sinner. It was so easy – I held the Bible, closed my eyes, and asked the Lord Jesus to come into my heart and save me from myself. I told Him I didn’t want to live like I was living – pursuing the world. I told Him I wanted peace. I told Him I wanted Him.

I felt like a ten ton weight came off of me right then. It was so incredible, but I actually felt it lifted off! Right at that moment! I spent the entire weekend crying as one sin after another came up into my awareness, as the Holy Spirit convicted me, for me to confess.

I didn’t become the Bible thumper that I am overnight. That was a gradual development! And, by the mercy of God, my very stubborn father got saved two years after I did, and devoted the next thirty years of his life to studying the Word.

Dear Lord, make us worthy vessels like unto Thee.

If you would like to know this kind of peace – it can be yours today. There are four steps to true conversion. If one of them is missing, it will not be complete.

FIRST, admit that you are a sinner – just like me.

Romans 3:10

As it is written. There is none righteous, no, not one.

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

SECOND, realize that you can’t save yourself.

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.

THIRD, believe, and turn (repent) towards Jesus Christ, believing in your heart of hearts that He can deliver you – Jesus Christ – God’s only begotten Son Who died for your sins.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 5:8

But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

FOURTH, call upon Jesus for salvation. Ask Him!

Romans 10:9

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:13

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Won’t you please, take a moment, right now, and pray for God to forgive you of your sins,

and ask Jesus Christ to come into your life?

A Transgendered Man Gets Saved

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Have a hanky ready. . .

There is no dirt that the Blood of Christ can not wash clean.

Titus 3:3-6

³For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

⁴But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

⁵Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

⁶Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour. . .

Woe, Woe, Woe. . .

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Not since ancient times, has immorality been elevated and revered in such a widespread fashion. Day after day, we are deluged with the advance of the gay agenda. Those who love the Lord and His Perfect Word can now identify with Lot – we are now the minority living among them . . .

2 Peter 2

2 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

²And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

³And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

⁴For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

⁵And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

⁶And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

⁷And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

⁸(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

Walmart offers benefits to same sex partners –

(USA Today) In what the largest U.S. gay rights group calls a “historic move,” Walmart told employees Monday that it would extend its health and other benefits to “domestic partners” of employees, including partners of the same sex.

The largest U.S. employer made the announcement quietly in a postcard it sent to employees that listed five other changes in benefits, including a new vision plan.

Research by the Human Rights Campaign shows 62% of Fortune 500 companies already offer domestic partner benefits. But the Supreme Court’s June decision overturning part of a federal law that denied federal benefits to legally married same-sex partners has heightened attention on same-sex benefits.

Read World Net Daily Article here.

And just today, the IRS has announced tax benefits to married gay couples –

“Today’s ruling provides certainty and clear, coherent tax filing guidance for all legally married same-sex couples nationwide. It provides access to benefits, responsibilities and protections under federal tax law that all Americans deserve,” Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said in a written statement.

Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin said that, because of today’s ruling, “committed and loving gay and lesbian married couples will now be treated equally under our nation’s federal tax laws, regardless of what state they call home.”

He added, “These families finally have access to crucial tax benefits and protections previously denied to them under the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act.”

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/08/29/irs-issues-tax-rules-for-married-gay-couples/#ixzz2dPKN8nZ7

Now you see the results of 100 years of progressive education, with each generation becoming more and more liberal, and farther and farther from God. The term “Laodicea,” is derived from the words “laity,” and “dice,” which can mean either justice or vengeance, or both, as the case may be. This is the spirit which is dominating the world, and has been for the latter part of the past century.

At no time in history, has mankind been more obsessed with the rights, or rule of people. Feminists, unions, homosexuals, minorities – and the United Nations “Rights of the Child.”

Our founders believed that our rights came from God. This is an absolute spiritual truth. “Individual rights” is an ideology. The absence of the moral principles found in the Bible, and the selflessness which comes as a result of God’s teachings, has caused our country to become pagan, with everyone clamoring for their rights. This is just how anti-Christ will be able to achieve power. As in the time of Judges, the people will only be concerned with their due – and will demand a king.

Let’s think about what characterizes American life now:

pornography
venereal disease
increase in technology which leads to
affluence
abortion
illegitimate children
occultism
corporate crime
increase in violent crime
homosexuality
materialism

At one time the American church was the treasury for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. From 1700-1900, during our nation’s founding, the dominant church spirit was the Philadelphia Church. Great universities were founded on the Scriptures – Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth, Princeton. Harvard College was founded to train pastors! The president of Yale College, in 1795, said “The Bible is the Word of God.” It was the age of missions, and the First and Second Great Awakenings – in England and America.

Before 1950 – gambling was considered a vice, and pornography and promiscuity were considered disgraceful.

All of these developments point to the soon return of Jesus Christ. If you are not “right” with the Lord, there is no time like the present. Get right with God. Humble yourself. Repent and turn towards your Savior. Stop comparing yourself to others, and compare yourself to Him.

Maybe you don’t think you’re such a bad person, after all – you never did those things. That’s called self justification. Do you think self justification will cover you? It won’t. Only the Blood of Jesus Christ will cover you. He is the only justification available to us. Your good works won’t mean diddly squat. Good deeds do not erase bad ones.

Ask Him now, please Lord Jesus, Please. I am prideful, and I’ve hurt people. I’ve lied, and I’ve stolen. I lust, and I covet. I used Your Name in vain. Forgive me and save me Lord Jesus. Forgive me for even thinking the way I do. I know that I can’t save myself and I want to be free from this terrible burden I’m carrying. Please save me Lord Jesus. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I want to be a new creation in You.

If you already know the Lord Jesus, and have received Him as your Savior, consider rededicating your life to Him right now. We are in a time of tremendous Spiritual battle now. Won’t you cast aside all the vain imaginations and lusts that can plague and weigh you down with the sinful world and its trappings, and prevent you from living fully for Him?

1 John 2:15-16

¹⁵Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

¹⁶For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

The Keepers of His Word

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Bible translations – it’s a mess. If you are anything like me (logical, analytical, likes to read peer-reviewed research for *fun* on the weekends), the confusion surrounding Biblical translations seems to almost invalidate the Bible as a whole. To an external observer with a penchant towards experimental and evidence-based analysis, contradicting results invalidates the authority of the results. Due to the conflicting views on translations of Scripture, I am working to assemble my research to validate the authority of the Scripture in terms of the Authorized King James Version.

When Emperor Constantine took over the Roman Empire thanks to strong connections that were enabled by his father Caesar Constantius of the First Tetrarchy (AD 293 – 305), he sought to unify paganism and Christianity. By unifying them, he would be able to manipulate himself into a position of absolute divine authority and unanimous approval from all classes through an imperial cult, a state religion wherein an emperor or group of emperors are worshipped as demigods or deities. When Emperor Constantine did this, he:

Increased tolerance of Christianity while limiting regulations against Roman polytheism.
Mingled pagan holidays with Christian beliefs.
Called for the Council of Nicaea, establishing the Nicene Creed and deity of Christ.

All of the unified religions established as the official religion of the Roman Empire were called, as a unit, Roman Catholicism. In an effort to unify Christianity and people who had pantheistic views for peace under his “divine leadership,” Constantine played his role carefully after analyzing that the Christians would not be so easily eliminated with simple persecution and massacre as was attempted during the reign of prior Emperor Diocletian and his Tetrarchy. Roman Catholicism embellished Christianity with ritualistic ceremonies, focusing on the value and authority of paganist rituals and ceremony as opposed to the authority of Scripture. Thus, any Scripture which was derived from the influence of that intermingling of Gnosticism, paganism and Arianism that was the result of Constantine’s efforts for a unified religion (Roman Catholicism) and any translation of Scripture which stemmed from that unification and desperate attempt to unite the pagans of the world with Christians uses a translation that:

1.) is anti-Trinitarian

2.) denies the authority of Scripture.

Most English Translations of Scripture come from copies of Greek codices of questionable translational authenticity kept in “the holy city of Catholics” – Vatican City.

Please note the following illustration:

I will be providing more information on this topic as time permits.

Matthew 5:18

¹⁸For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Written by Man or God?

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All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…

…and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Tim. 3: 16-17

_________________________________________________

In the original Greek, the word inspiration, means – breathed. Inspiration of God – quite literally means – God breathed.

While here on earth, in His human form, Jesus Himself said:

The Scripture cannot be broken. John10:35

O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: And beginning in Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. Luke 24: 25;27

These are the Words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me. Luke 24:44

_______________________________________________________

There has been a concerted effort since the Garden of Eden, to diminish and obfuscate the Word of God. Various claims – such as – “Yea, hath God said?”;or – “it is only inspired in the original monographs;” or – “replacement theology” {replacing the word Israel in the New Testament every time it appears, with the word church} Now – a gender neutral “Bible.”

Such devices have brought the church to such an apostate level – it is barely able to testify of Him any longer – let alone hold back the tide of evil.

Yet, despite Satan’s best efforts – we still have the Word of God. And will always have it, because He promised that His Word would never perish.

President George Washington: “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”

President Abraham Lincoln: “I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man.”

____________________________________________________

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Scientific-Proof-of-Bible.php

Scientific Fact or Principle	Bible reference	Date of discovery by man
Both man and woman possess the seed of life	Genesis 3:15	17th Century
There is a place void of stars in the North	Job 26:7	19th Century
Earth is held in place by invisible forces	Job 26:7	1650
Taxonomic classification of matter	Genesis 1	1735
The Earth is round	Isaiah 40:22	15th Century
Certain animals carry diseases harmful to man	Leviticus 11	16th Century
Early diagnosis of leprosy	Leviticus 13	17th Century
Quarantine for disease control	Leviticus 13	17th Century
Blood of animals carries diseases	Leviticus 17	17th Century
Blood is necessary for life	Leviticus 17:11	19th Century
Oceans have natural paths in them	Psalms 8:8	1854
Earth was in nebular form initially	Genesis 1:2	1911
Most seaworthy ship design ratio is 30:5:3	Genesis 6	1860
Light is a particle and has mass (a photon)	Job 38:19	1932
Radio astronomy (stars give off signals)	Job 38:7	1945
Oceans contain fresh water springs	Job 38:16	1920
Snow has material value	Job 38:22	1905, 1966
Infinite number of stars exist	Genesis 15:5	1940
Dust is important to survival	Isaiah 40:12	1935
Hubert Spencer’s scientific principles	Genesis 1	1820
Air has weight	Job 28:25	16th Century
Light can be split up into component colors	Job 38:24	1650
Matter is made up of invisible particles	Romans 1:20	20th Century
Plants use sunlight to manufacture food	Job 8:16	1920
Arcturus and other stars move through space	Job 38:32	19th Century
Water cycle	Ecclesiastes 1:7	17th Century
Life originated in the sea	Genesis 1	19th Century
Lightning and thunder are related	Job 38:25	19th Century
Man was the last animal created	Genesis 1	15th Century

Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of a Book it is written of Me.

Psalm 40:7

For the Lord’s Day – At the Cross

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Click “Watch on YouTube” to hear this classic hymn!

Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For sinners such as I?
[originally, For such a worm as I?]

Refrain

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, Thine—
And bathed in its own blood—
While the firm mark of wrath divine,
His Soul in anguish stood.

Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker died,
For man the creature’s sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.

But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give my self away
’Tis all that I can do.

Issac Watts [1707]

From his birth his father would read the Word of God to him and pray for him. His father was a godly preacher and a Nonconformist to the Church of England. His father was sent to prison twice because of his convictions. His family were Dissenters or Non- conformists. The Dissenters were Protestants who did not think that the Church of England had separated enough from the doctrines of the Roman Catholics and refused to conform to the Church of England.

Isaac was born in 1674 and was the oldest of nine children. At the age of eleven his father addressed a letter to all of his children encouraging them to “frequently to read the Scriptures – get your hearts to delight in them – above all books and writings account the Bible the best and read it most – lay up the truth of it in your hearts”.

Isaac Watts was saved at the age of fifteen and by the age of sixteen he had mastered Latin, Greek, Hebrew and French. When Isaac was about twenty he became dissatisfied with the singing of the Nonconformist Congregation. At that time it was viewed as sinful to sing songs that were not taken from the Scriptures the majority of which were Psalms or metrical Psalters. His major complaint was the quality of the writing, his father challenged him if he did not like what was being sung to do something better. Over the next two years, from the age of Twenty until he was Twenty two, he wrote the majority of his hymns. He was greatly criticized by both the Roman Catholics and the nonconformist who called his hymns “uninspired” because they were not direct quotations from Scripture. His reply to this was “…if we can pray to God in sentences that we have made up ourselves (instead of confining ourselves to the Our Father and other prayers taken directly from the Scriptures), then surely we can sing to God in sentences that we have made up ourselves”.

Isaac Watts wrote Alas and Did My Saviour Bleed in 1707, it originally had six stanzas and no refrain. The original tune as intended by Isaac Watts is not known, but in 1800 Hugh Wilson began using his original music composition entitled Martyrdom. In 1885 Ralph F. Hudson added the refrain and the tune that we know use and know as “At The Cross”.

It is interesting to note before we explore the doctrinal content of Alas and Did My Saviour Bleed, the in the Fall of 1850 at the age of thirty, Fanny J. Crosby went to the altar at the Thirtieth Street Methodist Church in New York City. She had been to the altar twice before by had not received the peace she sought. While at the altar the congregation was singing the hymn “Alas and Did My Saviour Bleed”, according to her own testimony and in her own words she says:
“…it seemed to me that the light must indeed come then or never; and so I arose and went to the altar alone. After a prayer was offered, they began to sing the grand old consecration hymn, ‘Alas, and did my Saviour bleed, And did my Sovereign die?’ And when they reached the third line of the fourth stanza, ‘Here Lord, I give myself away,’ my very soul was flooded with a celestial light. I sprang to my feet, shouting ‘hallelujah,’ and then for the first time I realized that I had been trying to hold the world in one hand and the Lord in the other.”

Isaac Watts was a brilliant young man and because of his intellectual acumen and proclivity to study he was encouraged by his friends and a prominent Southampton physician to go to one of the Universities, at their expense, in hopes that he would eventually be ordained into the Church of England. Because of his background and being raised as a Dissenting Nonconformist, he refused and rather chose a nonconformist academy. He started preaching at the age of twenty-four and pastored his became pastor of a well-know independent congregation in 1702, he died on November 25, 1748.

The doctrinal content of “Alas and Did My Saviour Bleed” could be examined from a plethora of Christian Theology, Justification, Propitiation, Christology, Anthropology, Harmitiology, Soteriology just to name a few, for all of these are contained within the lines of this hymn. We will however, briefly explore the doctrine of propitiation as found in the lines of “Alas and Did My Saviour Bleed”.

http://churchchoirmusic.com/the-story-behind-the-song-alas-and-did-my-savior-bleed

1 Corinthians 1:18

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Secrets in the Covid-19 Vaccines?

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This research, recently published (July 2024), entitled “Real-Time Self-Assembly of Stereo microscopically Visible Artificial Constructions in Incubated Specimens of mRNA Products Mainly from Pfizer and Moderna: A Comprehensive Longitudinal Study,” indicates that everyone who was coerced into taking that Pfizer or Moderna vaccine could very well be infected with some strange unidentifiable nanotech.

Just Read the Highlighted Text:

As we reported here, we have isolated numerous and various unidentified materials — a few μm in
size — beyond the nanoparticles described in FDA reports for the mRNA injectables, in the Pfizer
and even more so in the Moderna products.

Having concluded various experiments and careful observational studies, we infer that the materials
and their observed stages of development are not natural. They are synthetic, and elemental seeming
to govern a well-programmed process of structural self-assembly. That their provisional final
production could be described as artificial has already been suggested in the numerous articles
referenced so far…

…Sasha Latypova, an executive and researcher for the pharmaceutical industry, discovered an extreme
deviation in side effects among the batch-to-batch vials of mRNA COVID-19 injectables. In a
normal world, this sort of wildly uneven deviation would be intolerable in ordinary pharmaceutical
products receiving routine oversight by regulatory bodies adhering strictly to established protocols
and safety guidelines. Nevertheless, as the public has been reminded continually, we are living in a
“new normal”. How, therefore, might we understand more generally this obvious deviation from the
old normal? One way is to consider intentionality. These products were meant to serve foremost as
experimental injections for the whole of humanity — including all ethnicities, sexes, and age groups.

This depiction squares with the FDA approval letter of the Comirnaty (Pfizer product; FDA, 2021),
the post-marketing requirement, in infants under 6 months of age, the study completion of July 31,
2024, and the final report which is to be submitted by October 31, 2024. Worth nothing is that in
the accompanying documents for the injectable products all details referring to the factories where
they were manufactured were conspicuously redacted, which begs larger questions about secrecy
undermining informed consent.
Broudy, Daniel & Lee, Young. (2024). Real-Time Self-Assembly of Stereomicroscopically Visible Artificial Constructions in Incubated Specimens of mRNA Products Mainly from Pfizer and Moderna: A Comprehensive Longitudinal Study. International Journal of Vaccine Theory, Practice, and Research. 3. 1180-1244. 10.56098/586k0043.

…

2 Timothy 3:1-9

3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their’s also was.

Friday Proverb – How Well Do We Receive Instruction?

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If you are a regular reader of these Friday Proverb studies, you will be well grounded in the fact that true wisdom only comes from God. Intelligence is not to be confused with wisdom! Your IQ is largely a combination of genes, whereas Godly wisdom is a gift from our Creator.

James 1:5

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Today’s Proverb demonstrates the stark contrast between the wise and foolish.

Proverbs 10:8

The wise in heart will receive commandments:

How much do you love the Word of God? Do you put it aside for sports, soap operas, or other worldly pursuits? How do you feel about Bible Doctrine? Do you find it wearying? Or edifying? Do you think you know all there is to know about Bible doctrine? Or do you feel you could spend your whole lifetime studying the Word and still never know it all? This discussion brings to my mind a rather infamous intellectual, who is completely devoid of wisdom:

This man, Bill O’ Reilly, claimed on numerous occasions that the Bible, especially the Old Testament, is a collection of allegories. How on earth would he know that? While no one could argue that he is indeed intelligent – he is completely bereft of wisdom, because he is completely bereft of the Holy Spirit. He can not understand doctrine because he does not know the Teacher. Nor can he receive doctrine – because he is not even in the classroom with the students of the Word. And, like many others outside the household of faith – he creates his own doctrine!

but a prating fool shall fall.

Millions upon millions of sheeple mistakenly believe that today is “Good Friday,” or the day that our Lord was crucified. Why do they believe that? Because they took the word of a powerful, organized religion – the Roman Catholic Church – over the Word of God. Rather than searching and studying the Scriptures for themselves – they let the Vatican do it for them. Virtually all organized religions now believe this teaching of the corrupt Roman church. We even follow their calendar!

Whenever we receive our doctrine from something other than the Bible – we are fools.

John 5:39

Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.

Friday Proverb – How Do You Want To Be Remembered?

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It is endlessly fascinating to me, just how specific the Word of God is on virtually every subject. Most thinking people are aware on some level of the basic human desire to be remembered after passing on. Some call it a legacy – some want their name in the history books – some want a nice eulogy at their funeral. However it is expressed – it seems to exist in all people on some level – and that is why it is addressed in the Bible.

What is notable about the Bible and Its treatment of this subject, is that It is only concerned with God’s memory of our legacies. Not things made with human hands, such as plaques, memorials, headstones, charitable trusts, art work etc. . .

Do you know that to God – there are only two kinds of people? Sheep and goats, or saved and unsaved. That’s right – not good, bad, hard working, lazy, selfish, charitable or greedy – it makes no difference. You are either justified and sanctified by the Blood of Christ or you are not.

Proverbs 10:7

The memory of the just is blessed:

Think about that – if you repent and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior He has promised that He will not remember your sins, because God will only see His righteousness – and we achieve justification through Him.

Psalm 103:11-13

¹¹For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear Him.

¹²As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.

¹³Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.

but the name of the wicked shall rot.

No matter how famous, no matter how much charity, no matter how many good works – the promise for the wicked unrepentant is that every idle deed and word is remembered – none of the record of their world famous deeds will stand – none of their riches – not even a bowling trophy! The only thing, the only thing that matters is that you trust in Him today without delay!

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9

⁷And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,

⁸In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

⁹Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power;

Friday Proverb – The Wicked Will Not Always Prosper

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As wickedness grows apace in this world, believers sometimes wonder longingly when the LORD will call them home. The Word of God is implicitly clear – He is keeping track – and He will hold all accountable.

Proverbs 10:6

**Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.**

It is extremely important to understand the meaning of the word “just” in the first section of this Proverb. Who are the just? Those who seek after righteousness through saving faith in God’s Christ! No one can be just on their own – because no one can obtain their own righteousness. And Who is our Head? Jesus Christ of course!

1 Corinthians 11:3

But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

It is evident in this Proverb that blessings come to us only through Jesus Christ – Who is both our Head and our Righteousness. And what blessings they are! Pardon from sin, limitless peace, rest for our souls, every sanctifying grace, adoption, eternal life. . . need I say more? What joy! What bliss! What a Savior!

The second part of this Proverb is sad indeed. We see the wicked prospering in the world, and it “vexes our souls,” as it should! But look closely at that verse – and you will see it says something far more than most think it does. “Violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.” Picture this, because this is what the Word is saying – the unrepentant will NOT be able to answer when the charges are brought against them at the Great White Throne Judgment! Their mouths will be “covered with violence.” There will be no pleading or bargaining involved, such as the courts of law hold today. No negotiating – no reduced sentences – no parole. . .no purgatory!

If you belong to an organized religion or cult, or are an atheist or agnostic – please think carefully about this Proverb – because it tells the future in one short sentence. Think about a trial – where you are not even allowed to speak – and every idle word, deed, and thought you ever had is exposed and read aloud for all to hear. You will have no defense – because your mouth will be covered.

Do not think this is some cruel fate – you have had ample time to repent, and the Lord is not willing that any should perish. Now is the time – not next year, or in a couple of years after you get done “living your life.” The time is never going to get better than right this minute. Turn to Jesus Christ, your Creator and Savior, please do it now because you may not get the chance later.

Luke 12:16-21

¹⁶And He spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

¹⁷And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

¹⁸And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

¹⁹And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

²⁰But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

²¹So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Friday Proverb – Those Lazy Days of Summer

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The ease with which food can be procured in this country, gives us a false sense of security. The entitlement syndrome has left the populace with the idea that they are owed something. Food, clothing, shelter, education – all are deemed “rights” by a sinful and lazy flock of sheeple. The evil shepherd of our nation, is placed in judgment over us – as we demand more and more – the evil shepherd promises more and more. And leads the lazy sheeple to slaughter.

Proverbs 10:5

He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

You need not be involved in agriculture to make a life application out of this particular Proverb. Allow me to give a personal example of how I use it it, and have ignored, it to my great discomfort.

Living in the Great Lakes area guarantees mercurial weather. Thanks to John Coleman, we have the blessings of the Weather Channel, and are able to chart the weather for more than one day. In times past, when looking at the weather, there might have been in winter time, a one or two day window biweekly, where the weather was more amenable to driving (ergo – safer and less stressful.) Did I wisely take advantage of this window? I am ashamed to say that I did not always do so – and found my family on several occasions having to go without some things for days before it was safe to drive again. Shameful and lazy!

When we have plenty, we tend to take it for granted – just as the ancient Hebrews did . . .

Deuteronomy 6:10-15

¹⁰And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which He sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,

¹¹And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;

¹²Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

¹³Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve Him, and shalt swear by His name.

¹⁴Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;

¹⁵(For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.

If you think about it honestly – do you really thing about where your water is coming from? How about your clothing? Do you thank God for every bite of food that goes into your mouth – or do you wish you had something better? How about your shelter? Clothing? Do you take care of and give thanks for what you have? Can you do better at working for the comfort and safety of your loved ones? This could even be applied to shoveling the snow off the roof, sidewalk or driveway – before the ice storm! Or if you live in an arid region – putting out the rain barrels before the rainy season! You’d be surprised how many people put off these things when it is the best time to do them – because of electronic distractions/addictions – like TV, internet, and telephone.

Silly Symphony The Grasshopper And The Ants HD (1934)

Friday Proverb – Working Hard? or Hardly Working?

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The Laodicean church mood of today, promulgates the notion that “God loves me no matter what I do.” While that is a true statement, it is incomplete. Just like our earthly fathers when faced with rebellion, He loves us as children, but hates what we do.

Bible believers are commanded in many places in the Word to do their best. Today’s Proverb follows this theme:

Proverbs 10:4

⁴He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

Living in the greater Detroit Metro area, we are treated to the frequent teacher’s strikes that occur every few years in that crumbling, once great city.

I am forced to wonder why so many of them are overweight, so much to the point that they are wider than the poster boards they brandish!

It is sinful human nature to gravitate towards pleasure and away from pain and discomfort.

This Proverb applies to all of us – from home maker, to bottom rung corporate employee, to the head of a massive organization. We do not work for money – we work to honor the God we serve!

Homemakers – do you have laundry and dishes piled up? Are you allowing food to go to waste? Are you shopping with care and thrift? If not – then you are dealing with a slack hand.

Hourly worker – are you frittering away time when you could be getting things done? Do you spend time thinking about how the managers aren’t working as hard as you are? Do you help yourself to things at your place of work because everyone else does it? Then you are dealing with a slack hand.

CEO – do you spend hours at the golf course now that you’ve “made it?” Do you take advantage of tax exemptions to make your life more cushy with “business expenses” that aren’t really business expenses? Do you take advantage of underlings? Then you are dealing with a slack hand.

Remember brothers and sisters, we are concerned with treasures in heaven – not here on earth! If you are feeling unappreciated, underpaid, and overwhelmed in your sphere of labor, whether in the home or in a factory – so what! So what if you are unappreciated by your boss. If you work with a diligent hand – you are appreciated by Someone much more powerful than your boss, ( or kids or spouse for that matter.)

Please see the studies on the Rewards of Crowns on our apologetics page to see where and how, you, beloveds, will be truly rewarded for your diligence.

Even if you are working in a situation (very likely) that does not allow you to speak about your faith – your life can be a witness!

1 Peter 2:11-17

¹¹Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

¹²Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

¹³Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

¹⁴Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

¹⁵For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

¹⁶As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

¹⁷Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Friday Proverb – The Position of Souls

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So many Christians can not see past this fleshly world, and only focus on the “rewards” in this life, despite the overabundance of teachings in the New Testament stressing just the opposite.

Our LORD has forever been concerned with the condition and future of our souls. All men (not animals!) are born with a soul that lives forever. Forever is a long, long time. It is the choice we make in this temporal, fleshly life that determines where the soul will spend eternity. If you think we just came through an interminable, desolate winter – imagine eternity without any Light.

Proverbs 10:3

The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish:

but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, if you do not know the wonderful knowledge of peace and hope that only He can give, please, right now, ask Him to be your Savior. Tell Him that you know you are a sinner, and that you know that you can not save yourself. Look at those pictures above? Which one do you want? Eternity forever alone, forever desolate and miserable? Or eternity in the Light with your Creator? Many people worry about leaving a legacy, wanting their names to be remembered in history – notice that the incredibly rich man in the following Parable is nameless. . .

Luke 16:19-25

¹⁹There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

²⁰And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

²¹And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

²²And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

²³And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

²⁴And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

²⁵But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

²⁶And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

²⁷Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:

²⁸For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

²⁹Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

³⁰And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

³¹And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though One rose from the dead.

Friday Proverb – Ill Gotten Gains

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Proverbs 10:2

Treasures of wickedness profit nothing:

Some would look at this illustration and think it belongs to another, “less civilized” era. Mankind has not changed, just the dressings have. There are more that will deceive and take advantage of others, than there are that won’t. We all need to be very circumspect in this matter. Even pocketing extra change mistakenly given to you by a cashier constitutes as a “treasure of wickedness.” There may be some people who seem to be “getting away with it,” but they will be judged. Perhaps not in this life, but definitely in the next.

but righteousness delivereth from death.

Not deliverance physical death, perhaps, but deliverance from eternal death in the Lake of Fire – yes. Only those who have admitted their sinfulness, and turned towards Jesus Christ and asked Him into their hearts are considered righteous. In God’s eyes there are only two kinds of people in the world – sheep and goats – or – saved and unsaved.

Matthew 25:31-33

³¹When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory:

³²And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

³³And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

Friday Proverb – Wise and Foolish Sons

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Chapters 10-15 of Proverbs consist entirely of comparisons made between the wise and the foolish. The Lord Who made us, understands how our minds work. We always crave comparisons. It is part of our very nature. Over the next weeks as we look at these comparisons, we should examine ourselves and question honestly – which category do we fall in – wise or foolish?

Proverbs 10:1

The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father:

but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

The pride a man can have in his son is to be expected. Every man wants to make himself over, except “better.” When the son grows up pleasing his father with his behavior and choices, the father’s heart is gladdened in a way that most women have trouble understanding.

At the same time, when a son does things that she deems to be immoral and/or destructive to himself and others, it is a heaviness on the mother’s heart that most men would have trouble understanding. Fathers can usually forgive their son’s moral lapses more easily than mothers can. For her, this child of her body is laying boulders of pressing, hurtful weight. Historically, women have been dependent on their sons, especially in the case of widowhood, which was not an unusual situation.

We can think of the greatest Son who ever lived, Who, in the last few moments of His earthly life, had compassion on His mother, and appointed His most beloved disciple to care for her. He was the wisest Son of all . . .

John 19:25-27

²⁵Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

²⁶When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, Woman, behold thy son!

²⁷Then saith He to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Are you a wise son? Or are you a foolish son? As an adult – any rifts you have with your parents are not worth nurturing. Not in the bigger picture of eternal life. Do the wise thing – and gladden your father’s heart, and relieve your mother’s .

Friday Proverb – Avoid Foolish Women!

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Today’s Proverb is short and heavy hitting. Last week, Wisdom was inviting us in – this week – Wisdom’s polar opposite opens her door and beckons – she is . . .

FOOLISHNESS

Proverbs 9:13-17

¹³A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

¹⁴For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

¹⁵To call passengers who go right on their ways:

(Nowadays – this woman can beckon from cyberspace)

¹⁶Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

¹⁷Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

Secret? Her claim is ludicrous.

(does anyone seriously think they can hide sin from The LORD?)

Numbers 32:23

**. . . behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out.**

Proverbs 9:18

But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

Wisdom and foolishness live right across the street from each other. Indeed – they may even dwell in the same house!

Friday Proverb – Wisdom’s Invitation

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Last week, the lesson for us was that godly wisdom is eternal riches – unlike the fading riches of this world. Today – we learn to listen to wisdom’s call. . .

Proverbs 9:1-12

Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

²She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.

³She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,

⁴Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

⁵Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

⁶Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

Here, wisdom is likened to a home maker, whose house is well kept, and furnished with comforts of food and drink. Hardly anyone can deny the appeal of a well laid table. In vs. 4 – wisdom pleads with “the simple,” to come and eat and drink their fill of the riches of godly wisdom. Wisdom finishes by adjuring the simple ones to forsake foolishness, and LIVE in wisdom.

The Proverb goes on to give an example for living in godly wisdom. I can’t help but think of the recent debate between Bill Nye and Ken Ham in regards to this Proverb. See if you agree with me!

⁷He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

⁸Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

⁹Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

It is unfortunate, but true, that the only thing that was accomplished by that entertaining debate – was funding. Bill Nye is a scorner – he proved that in his ridicule of the Bible. God would call Mr. Nye a fool – yet the world loves him. Scorners are not to be rebuked! If you just look at the eyes of those two men – the difference between the flint hard glare of Mr. Nye and the tender expression of Mr. Ham’s is a good indication of the condition of the heart. Scorners have hearts of stone.

Matthew 7:6
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Ken Ham will be blessed by God for his tenacious defense of the Gospel. Was he shamed? In the eyes of the fallen world – yes. Bill Nye will receive the world’s accolades.

¹⁰The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

¹¹For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

¹²If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

Sodomite Culture of Death

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Bible believing Christians understand that the marriage between one man and one woman was ordained by God, and that it is holy and undefiled. It is the only union of human beings capable of bearing fruit – the blessings of children. Please consider very carefully the sodomite’s obsession with the part of the body designed for eliminating garbage and waste – the dead parts.

Here is the fruit of the sodomite culture of death:

Homosexuals Throw Human Excrement At Christians, And Wipe Their Anuses With Pages Of The Bible

By Ted on April 2, 2014 in General

By Theodore Shoebat

When up to a thousand conservative Christian parents in Germany were protesting against a new pro-homosexual “sexual diversity” curriculum in their schools, homosexuals charged at them and thew human excrement at the Christians. They also ripped pages of the Bible, wiped their anuses with the pages, crumpled them up and threw them at the Christians.

What makes these sodomites so different than Muslims who defecate in churches? The answer is nothing.

According to the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians:

They were spit at, eggs were thrown, and little bags with feces or color. Cables of loud speakers were torn out …Pages were ripped out of the bible and used to wipe backsides, then formed into a ball and thrown at the parents. …Christians were deeply hurt in this process. At least one banner was snatched and destroyed in front of the eyes of the parents. Marshals were target[ed] with pepper sprays. Shouting by counter-demonstrator[s] made the planned public speaking partly impossible.

The police, instead of bringing order, came and took the side of the sodomites, telling the Christian protesters to leave. As the organizers stated:

Police urged the organizers to dissolve the rally, in order ‘to avoid escalation.

This is why we support the current law in Russia in regards to homosexual propaganda. The sodomites must be suppressed in order to prevent their agenda from spreading and taking root in any component of civilized. This is why God gave us this law:

If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. (Leviticus 20:13)

But since the Divine Law has been replaced by the dictates of politicians whose souls are seized by the devil, these sodomites “fill the land with violence and continually arouse” the anger of God (Ezekiel 8:17)

St. Peter described governors as “them that are sent by him [God] for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. (1 Peter 2:14) Evildoers would include sodomites, since St. Peter’s moral code would have been from the Divine Law.

In the words of St. Paul when he addressed the sodomites in his Epistle to the Romans:

Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:32)

The sodomites know they do evil, and we as Christians know that the Divine Law must be imposed upon them, or else they will “continue to do these very things”.

sage

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While I find much of Martin Luther’s writings to be heretical, I doubt he would approve of this. Sweden, once a rock solid bastion of Lutheranism, has gone so far as to take the title of the most progressive nation on earth . . .

Swedish office building tests implanted RFID microchips in workers

Embedded microchips are about 12 mm long

CBC News Posted: Feb 27, 2015 12:59 PM ET

Workers at a new high-technology office building in central Stockholm are doing away with their old ID cards on lanyards, and can now open doors with the swipe of a hand — thanks to a microchip implanted in the body.

The radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips are about 12 mm long and injected with a syringe.

“It’s an identification tool that can communicate with objects around you,” said Patrick Mesterton, CEO of the building, Epicenter Office.

“You can open doors using your chip. You can do secure printing from our printers with the chip, but you can also communicate with your mobile phone, by sending your business card to individuals that you meet,” he said.

Mesterton thinks some of the future uses for implanted chips will be any application that currently requires a pin code, a key or a card, such as payments.

“I think also for health-care reasons … you can sort of communicate with your doctor and you get can data on what you eat and what your physical status is,” Mesterton said.

“You have your own identification code and you’re sending that to something else which you have to grant access to. So there’s no one else that can sort of follow you on your ID, so to say. It’s you who decides who gets access to that ID,” he said.

The implant program is voluntary for the workers in the office complex.

“It felt pretty scary, but at the same time it felt very modern, very 2015,” said Lin Kowalska shortly after she had a microchip implanted in her hand.

Please go here to see the video – http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/swedish-office-building-tests-implanted-rfid-microchips-in-workers-1.2975360

I just have to shake my head at this. How can anyone, ANYONE – think this is a good idea? Frankly, I’m incredulous. Help me out. Please.

1. Nearer, still nearer, close to Thy heart,Draw me, my Savior—so precious Thou art!Fold me, oh, fold me close to Thy breast.Shelter me safe in that Haven of Rest;Shelter me safe in that Haven of Rest.

2. Nearer, still nearer, nothing I bring,Naught as an offering to Jesus, my king;Only my sinful, now contrite heart.Grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart.Grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart.

3. Nearer, still nearer, Lord, to be Thine!Sin, with its follies, I gladly resign,All of its pleasures, pomp and its pride,Give me but Jesus, my Lord, crucified.Give me but Jesus, my Lord, crucified.

4. Nearer, still nearer, while life shall last.Till safe in glory my anchor is cast;Through endless ages ever to beNearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee;Nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee!

Hebrews 7:19

For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

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“I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say”by Horatius Bonar, 1808-1899

1. I heard the voice of Jesus say,“Come unto Me and rest;Lay down, thou weary one, lay down,Thy head upon My breast.”I came to Jesus as I was,Weary and worn and sad;I found in Him a resting-place,And He has made me glad.

2. I heard the voice of Jesus say,“Behold, I freely giveThe living water; thirsty one,Stoop down and drink and live.”I came to Jesus, and I drankOf that life-giving stream.My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,And now I live in Him.

3. I heard the voice of Jesus say,“I am this dark world’s Light.Look unto Me; thy morn shall riseAnd all thy day be bright.”I looked to Jesus, and I foundIn Him my Star, my Sun;And in that Light of Life I’ll walkTill traveling days are done.

Matthew 11:28-30

28 Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.

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1 Corinthians 1:18

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

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Pass me not, O gentle Savior,Hear my humble cry;While on others Thou art calling,Do not pass me by.

Refrain:Savior, Savior,Hear my humble cry,While on others Thou art calling,Do not pass me by.

Let me at Thy throne of mercyFind a sweet relief;Kneeling there in deep contrition,Help my unbelief.

Trusting only in Thy merit,Would I seek Thy face;Heal my wounded, broken spirit,Save me by Thy grace.

Thou the spring of all my comfort,More than life to me,Whom have I on earth beside Thee,Whom in Heav’n but Thee.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

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Thy way, not mine, O Lord,However dark it be;Lead me by Thine own hand,Choose out the path for me.

Smooth let it be or rough,It will be still the best;Winding or straight, it leadsRight onward to Thy rest.

I dare not choose my lot;I would not, if I might;Choose Thou for me, my God,So I shall walk aright.

Take Thou my cup, and itWith joy or sorrow fill,As best to Thee may seem;Choose Thou my good and ill.

Choose Thou for me my friends,My sickness or my health;Choose Thou my cares for meMy poverty or wealth.

The kingdom that I seekIs Thine: so let the wayThat leads to it be Thine,Else I must surely stray.

Not mine, not mine the choiceIn things or great or small;Be Thou my Guide, my StrengthMy Wisdom, and my All.

Luke 16:10

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

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Proverbs 10:13

In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found:

Job 42:5-6

5 I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee.

6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

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Proverbs 10:12

Hatred stirreth up strifes:

but love covereth all sins.

1 John 4:17-19

17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

19 We love Him, because He first loved us.

1 Corinthians 13:7

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

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Proverbs 10:11

The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life:

but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

Revelation 20:11-13

11 And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

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Proverbs 10:10

He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow:

Acts 17:29-31

29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

31 Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.

but a prating fool shall fall.

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Proverbs 10:9

He that walketh uprightly walketh surely:

but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

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Romans 3:10

As it is written. There is none righteous, no, not one.

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

Ephesians 2:8-9

1. Nearer, still nearer, close to Thy heart,
Draw me, my Savior—so precious Thou art!
Fold me, oh, fold me close to Thy breast.
Shelter me safe in that Haven of Rest;
Shelter me safe in that Haven of Rest.

2. Nearer, still nearer, nothing I bring,
Naught as an offering to Jesus, my king;
Only my sinful, now contrite heart.
Grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart.
Grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart.

3. Nearer, still nearer, Lord, to be Thine!
Sin, with its follies, I gladly resign,
All of its pleasures, pomp and its pride,
Give me but Jesus, my Lord, crucified.
Give me but Jesus, my Lord, crucified.

4. Nearer, still nearer, while life shall last.
Till safe in glory my anchor is cast;
Through endless ages ever to be
Nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee;
Nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee!

“I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say”
by Horatius Bonar, 1808-1899

1. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto Me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down,
Thy head upon My breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary and worn and sad;
I found in Him a resting-place,
And He has made me glad.

2. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one,
Stoop down and drink and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life-giving stream.
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in Him.

3. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“I am this dark world’s Light.
Look unto Me; thy morn shall rise
And all thy day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found
In Him my Star, my Sun;
And in that Light of Life I’ll walk
Till traveling days are done.

²⁸Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

²⁹Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

³⁰For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.

Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Refrain:
Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry,
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.

Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief;
Kneeling there in deep contrition,
Help my unbelief.

Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.

Thou the spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee,
Whom in Heav’n but Thee.

Thy way, not mine, O Lord,
However dark it be;
Lead me by Thine own hand,
Choose out the path for me.

Smooth let it be or rough,
It will be still the best;
Winding or straight, it leads
Right onward to Thy rest.

I dare not choose my lot;
I would not, if I might;
Choose Thou for me, my God,
So I shall walk aright.

Take Thou my cup, and it
With joy or sorrow fill,
As best to Thee may seem;
Choose Thou my good and ill.

Choose Thou for me my friends,
My sickness or my health;
Choose Thou my cares for me
My poverty or wealth.

The kingdom that I seek
Is Thine: so let the way
That leads to it be Thine,
Else I must surely stray.

Not mine, not mine the choice
In things or great or small;
Be Thou my Guide, my Strength
My Wisdom, and my All.

⁵I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee.

⁶Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

¹⁷Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world.

¹⁸There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

¹⁹We love Him, because He first loved us.

¹¹And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

¹²And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

¹³And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

²⁹Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

³⁰And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

³¹Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.

**He that walketh uprightly walketh surely:**

**but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.**

³For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

⁴But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

⁵Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

⁶Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour. . .

²And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

³And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

⁴For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

⁵And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

⁶And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

⁷And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

⁸(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

¹⁵Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

¹⁶For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

¹⁸For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.