(This picture is the library of C. H. Spurgeon-The Prince of Preachers. Mr. Spurgeon collected twel

(This picture is the library of C. H. Spurgeon-The Prince of Preachers. Mr. Spurgeon collected twel
(This picture is the library of C. H. Spurgeon-The Prince of Preachers. Mr. Spurgeon collected twelve thousands of books. May we also pursue after the spiritual, heavenly and eternal things with our whole heart by God's grace!)

Monday, February 28, 2022

1. Hymn: How Can I Keep From Singing

Hymn: How Can I Keep From Singing
Author: Robert Lowry (1826–1899)

1. My life flows on in endless song;
    Above earth‵s lamentation,
    I hear the sweet, though far-off hymn
    That hails a new creation;
    Through all the tumult and the strife
    I hear the music ringing;
    It finds an echo in my soul—
    How can I keep from singing?

2. What though my joys and comforts die?
    The Lord my Saviour liveth;
    What though the darkness gather round?
    Songs in the night he giveth.
    No storm can shake my inmost calm
    While to that refuge clinging;
    Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,
    How can I keep from singing?

3. I lift my eyes; the cloud grows thin;
    I see the blue above it;
    And day by day this pathway smooths,
    Since first I learned to love it,
    The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
    A fountain ever springing;
    All things are mine since I am his—
    How can I keep from singing?



Saturday, February 5, 2022

1. Hymn: If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee

Hymn: If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee
Author: Georg Neumark (1621-1681)

1. If thou but suffer God to guide thee,
    And hope in Him thro‵ all thy ways,
    He‵ll give thee strength whate‵er betide thee,
    And bear thee thro‵ the evil days;
    Who trusts in God‵s unchanging love
    Builds on the Rock that naught can move.

2. Only be still and wait His leisure,
    In cheerful hope, with heart content,
    To take whate‵er thy Father‵s pleasure
    And all-discerning love hath sent;
    Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
    To Him Who chose us for His own.

3. Sing, pray and keep His ways unswerving,
    In ev‵ry labor faithful be,
    And trust His Word, tho‵ undeserving,
    Thou yet shalt find it true for thee;
    God never yet forsook in need
    The soul that trusts in Him indeed!



Monday, January 17, 2022

1. Hymn: It Is Well with My Soul

Hymn: It Is Well with My Soul
Author: Horatio G. Spafford (1828-1888)

1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
    When sorrows like sea billows roll;
    Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
    It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
    Let this blest assurance control,
    That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
    And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

3. My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
    My sin, not in part but the whole,
    Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
    Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

4. And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
    The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
    The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
    Even so, it is well with my soul.



Thursday, November 18, 2021

1. Devotional: Be Patient

Be Patient
Author: David Jeremiah

I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—
that it is good for a man to remain as he is. (1 Corinthians 7:26)

    We’ve all heard the advice: "Count to ten before doing/saying anything you might regret later." In other words, impulsive, emotionally-based decisions or actions are fraught with the possibility of disappointment. If that is true for everyday decisions, how much more might it be true when making marriage plans? Patience is the watchword when it comes to such life-changing decisions.
    The apostle Paul gave such advice to the Corinthian church when he wrote to them about marriage. He said, given the "present distress," don’t make life-altering decisions. If you are single, remain single; if you are married, remain married. What was the "present distress" of which he wrote? It could have been some sort of crisis in Corinth resulting in hardship, or it might have been simply the challenges of following Christ in an ungodly, antagonistic culture. In other words, sometimes life presents enough "troubles" of its own without making drastic changes impulsively. Marriage is good; singleness is good. Just be patient and seek the Lord’s will and timing.
    This advice about marriage applies to all the Christian life: Be patient, seek the Lord, move deliberately and prayerfully.

Saturday, September 4, 2021

1. Devotional: Let’s Talk about Families

Let’s Talk about Families
Author: Robert A. Cook (1912-1991)

For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him. (1 Sam. 1:27)

    How do you plot a course for your family? Note three crucial elements evident in today’s text: first, prayer; second, commitment; and third, responsibility.
    Hannah prayed earnestly. In agony of soul, she cried out to God. And God answered her prayer beautifully, in the arrival of a baby boy, Samuel. Prayer makes the difference between a family full of God and a family full of self. This has to be more, by the way, than a prayer now and again in formal fashion. It takes that personal intercession where mothers and dads, sons and daughters, are each seeking God.
    Second, commitment. Hannah vowed that Samuel would be lent to the Lord as long as he lived (1:28). Would you be willing to give your child to God—perhaps even for overseas missions service? Would you be willing to give up your home, your financial security, your prestige? My dear friend, the willingness to give your most precious possession to God, and yourself with the gift, makes all the difference.
    The third factor, of course is responsibility. Eli knew that "his sons made themselves vile and he restrained them not" (3:13). Eli was a chief priest, and, as such, it was his responsibility to say who would serve with him in the tabernacle. He could have, and he should have, said, "Boys, if you’re not going to walk with God, you’re not going to work here either."

Small thought here:

    My father said to me on many occasions, "Boy, as long as you have your feet under my table I’m responsible to God for you." And parents, it’s true!