As we begin another blessed Christmas season, perhaps it would be good for us to take a little time from our busy plans for Christmas and meditate on the thoughts expressed in this poem by Martin Cox.
"It cost Mary and Joseph the comforts of home during a long period of exile in Egypt to protect the little Babe.
It cost mothers in and around Bethlehem the massacre of their babies by the cruel order of Herod.
It cost the shepherds the complacency of their shepherds' life with the call to the manger and to tell the good news.
It cost the wise men a long journey and expensive gifts and changed lives.
It cost the early apostles and the Early Church persecution and sometimes death.
It cost missionaries of the Christ untold suffering and privation to spread the good news.
It cost Korean and other Christian martyrs in all ages their lives for Christ's sake.
More than all --
It cost God the Father His own Son -- He sent Him to the earth to save men.
It cost Jesus a life of sacrifice and service, a death cruel and unmatched in history.
Is Christmas too costly?
It is, if all that it means is exchanges of cards and gifts.
It is, if all that it means is tinsel.
It is, if all that it means is the millions spent in commercialization of Christmas.
It is, if all that it means is a holiday.
It isn't too costly --
If it means the hope of the world!
If it means the forgiveness of sin!
If it means peace among men!
If it means joyous singing!"
Does Christmas cost you and me? What shall I give Thee, Master? Not just a part or half of my heart -- I will give All to Thee!!
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Monday, November 27, 2017
Thanks-living!
Thanksgiving Day has officially ended, but sweet memories of the family gathered around the Thanksgiving table singing the Doxology, bowing our heads and our hearts in humble thanks to the Giver, will linger on in my heart.
Today people have gone back to their jobs -- the holiday is over -- but let us determine that we are going to make every day a day of Thanks-living! Psalm 150, the last Psalm in this marvelous book, speaks about praising our Lord. Prayer and Praise and Thanksgiving go together, so let's just praise the Lord and in everything give thanks!
"Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the firmament of His power.
Praise Him for His mighty acts: praise Him according to His excellent greatness.
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet: praise Him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise Him upon the loud cymbals: praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals,
Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord."
Today people have gone back to their jobs -- the holiday is over -- but let us determine that we are going to make every day a day of Thanks-living! Psalm 150, the last Psalm in this marvelous book, speaks about praising our Lord. Prayer and Praise and Thanksgiving go together, so let's just praise the Lord and in everything give thanks!
"Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the firmament of His power.
Praise Him for His mighty acts: praise Him according to His excellent greatness.
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet: praise Him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise Him upon the loud cymbals: praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals,
Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord."
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Thanksgiving Eve!
Wonderful aromas are filling kitchens across America today as mothers and daughters are preparing wonderful desserts, delicious salads, yummy sweet potatoes with lots of butter and brown sugar, turkeys, hams, and all the Thanksgiving traditions your family enjoys! But the best part will be to have the family gathered together around the Thanksgiving table, and taking time to bow our heads and our hearts to our wonderful Lord, thanking Him for His great love and tender mercies throughout the year!
So as you work in your kitchens today, make sure to take little breaks to praise the Lord, and "In everything, give thanks!"
Best Wishes to you and your loved ones for a blessed Thanksgiving Day!
So as you work in your kitchens today, make sure to take little breaks to praise the Lord, and "In everything, give thanks!"
Best Wishes to you and your loved ones for a blessed Thanksgiving Day!
Monday, November 20, 2017
Thank You, Lord
"Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul. Thank You, Lord for making me whole!
Thank You, Lord, for giving to me---Thy great salvation so full and free!"
"O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.
Sing unto the Lord, bless His name: shew forth His salvation from day to day.
O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms."
"Take nothing for granted -- for whenever you do, the 'joy of enjoying' is lessened for you!
For we rob our own lives much more than we know, when we fail to respond -- or in any way show our thanks for the blessings that daily are ours.
The warmth of the sun -- the fragrance of flowers -- the beauty of twilight -- the freshness of dawn; the coolness of dew on a green velvet lawn -- for the joy of enjoying, and the fullness of living, are found in the heart that is filled with Thanksgiving!!"
--Helen Steiner Rice
So as we go about our preparations for Thanksgiving today, may we do so with hearts full of Thanksgiving and praises on our lips!
God bless you, and remember to "Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart!"
Thank You, Lord, for giving to me---Thy great salvation so full and free!"
"O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.
Sing unto the Lord, bless His name: shew forth His salvation from day to day.
O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms."
"Take nothing for granted -- for whenever you do, the 'joy of enjoying' is lessened for you!
For we rob our own lives much more than we know, when we fail to respond -- or in any way show our thanks for the blessings that daily are ours.
The warmth of the sun -- the fragrance of flowers -- the beauty of twilight -- the freshness of dawn; the coolness of dew on a green velvet lawn -- for the joy of enjoying, and the fullness of living, are found in the heart that is filled with Thanksgiving!!"
--Helen Steiner Rice
So as we go about our preparations for Thanksgiving today, may we do so with hearts full of Thanksgiving and praises on our lips!
God bless you, and remember to "Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart!"
Friday, November 17, 2017
Come, Ye Thankful . . .
The songwriter said, "Come, ye thankful people, Come, Raise the song of harvest home. All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin. God, our Maker, doth provide for our wants to be supplied. Come, to God's own Temple, Come! Raise the song of harvest home."
I also love this beautiful Thanksgiving hymn by Folliott Pierpont:
"For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies.
For the love which from our birth over and around us lies.
For the wonder of each hour of the day and of the night;
Hill and vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon, and stars of light.
For the joy of human love -- Brother, sister, parent, child;
Friends on earth, and friends above; For all gentle thoughts and mild;
For Thy Church that evermore lifteth holy hands above;
Offering up on every shore her pure sacrifice of love.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise."
This coming Sunday is Thanksgiving Sunday. May we prepare our hearts for this holy day and plan to "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise."
I also love this beautiful Thanksgiving hymn by Folliott Pierpont:
"For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies.
For the love which from our birth over and around us lies.
For the wonder of each hour of the day and of the night;
Hill and vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon, and stars of light.
For the joy of human love -- Brother, sister, parent, child;
Friends on earth, and friends above; For all gentle thoughts and mild;
For Thy Church that evermore lifteth holy hands above;
Offering up on every shore her pure sacrifice of love.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise."
This coming Sunday is Thanksgiving Sunday. May we prepare our hearts for this holy day and plan to "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise."
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Give Thanks!
The Book of Psalms is filled with Prayer and Praise! It makes me want to sing --
"Give thanks with a grateful heart: Give thanks to the Holy One --
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son.
And now let the weak say, 'I am strong'! Let the poor say, 'I am rich'!
Because of what the Lord has done for us."
We have so much to give thanks for as we count our blessings throughout this blessed season! The Apostle Paul admonished us to give thanks in everything!
Out of the 150 Psalms, I think Psalm 135 is one of the most lovely Psalms of praise and thanksgiving!
I trust that these verses from this beautiful Psalm will inspire you and draw you closer to the Master throughout this blessed Thanksgiving season!
"Praise ye the Lord! Praise ye the name of the Lord; Praise Him, O ye servants of the Lord.
Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God,
Praise the Lord; for the Lord is good: sing praises unto His name, for it is pleasant.
For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto Himself, and Israel for His peculiar treasure.
For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
He causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; He maketh lightnings for the rain; He bringeth the wind out of His treasuries.
Thy name, O Lord, endureth for ever; and Thy memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations.
The idols of the heathen are silver and gold; the work of men's hands.
They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
They have ears, but they hear not: neither is there any breath in their mouths.
They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.
Bless the Lord, O house of Israel: bless the Lord, O house of Aaron:
Bless the Lord, O house of Levi: ye that fear the Lord, bless the Lord.
Blessed be the Lord out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord."
"Give thanks with a grateful heart: Give thanks to the Holy One --
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son.
And now let the weak say, 'I am strong'! Let the poor say, 'I am rich'!
Because of what the Lord has done for us."
We have so much to give thanks for as we count our blessings throughout this blessed season! The Apostle Paul admonished us to give thanks in everything!
Out of the 150 Psalms, I think Psalm 135 is one of the most lovely Psalms of praise and thanksgiving!
I trust that these verses from this beautiful Psalm will inspire you and draw you closer to the Master throughout this blessed Thanksgiving season!
"Praise ye the Lord! Praise ye the name of the Lord; Praise Him, O ye servants of the Lord.
Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God,
Praise the Lord; for the Lord is good: sing praises unto His name, for it is pleasant.
For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto Himself, and Israel for His peculiar treasure.
For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
He causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; He maketh lightnings for the rain; He bringeth the wind out of His treasuries.
Thy name, O Lord, endureth for ever; and Thy memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations.
The idols of the heathen are silver and gold; the work of men's hands.
They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
They have ears, but they hear not: neither is there any breath in their mouths.
They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.
Bless the Lord, O house of Israel: bless the Lord, O house of Aaron:
Bless the Lord, O house of Levi: ye that fear the Lord, bless the Lord.
Blessed be the Lord out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord."
Monday, November 13, 2017
Let's Spell --
T - TRUST -- "Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength."
--Isaiah 26:4
H -- HOLINESS -- "Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh Thine house, O Lord, forever."
--Psalm 93:5
A -- ASSURANCE -- "Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine!"
N -- NOTHING -- "Nothing sweeter can be known than full surrender . . ."
K -- KINDNESS -- "How excellent is Thy loving-kindness, O God!" -- Psalm 36:7a
S -- SWEETER -- "Richer, fuller, deeper, Jesus' love is sweeter, Sweeter as the years go by."
G -- GREAT -- "Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite."
--Psalm 147:5
I -- I -- "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father. but by Me."
--John 14:6
V -- VICTORY -- "As Jehovah liveth, strength divine He giveth, unto those who know Him victory
all the time!"
I -- IF -- ". . . Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink."
--John 7:37
N -- NO -- "No one ever cared for me like Jesus; There's no other Friend so kind as He. No one else
could take the sin and darkness from me; O how much He cared for me!"
G -- GLORIOUS -- "Glorious freedom! Wonderful freedom! No more in chains of sin I repine!
Jesus, the glorious Emancipator, now and forever He shall be mine."
Perhaps you would like to add something each day to your spelling of Thanksgiving. I doubt that our praises can ever find end!! God bless you!
--Isaiah 26:4
H -- HOLINESS -- "Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh Thine house, O Lord, forever."
--Psalm 93:5
A -- ASSURANCE -- "Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine!"
N -- NOTHING -- "Nothing sweeter can be known than full surrender . . ."
K -- KINDNESS -- "How excellent is Thy loving-kindness, O God!" -- Psalm 36:7a
S -- SWEETER -- "Richer, fuller, deeper, Jesus' love is sweeter, Sweeter as the years go by."
G -- GREAT -- "Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite."
--Psalm 147:5
I -- I -- "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father. but by Me."
--John 14:6
V -- VICTORY -- "As Jehovah liveth, strength divine He giveth, unto those who know Him victory
all the time!"
I -- IF -- ". . . Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink."
--John 7:37
N -- NO -- "No one ever cared for me like Jesus; There's no other Friend so kind as He. No one else
could take the sin and darkness from me; O how much He cared for me!"
G -- GLORIOUS -- "Glorious freedom! Wonderful freedom! No more in chains of sin I repine!
Jesus, the glorious Emancipator, now and forever He shall be mine."
Perhaps you would like to add something each day to your spelling of Thanksgiving. I doubt that our praises can ever find end!! God bless you!
Friday, November 10, 2017
Still Praising?
It is Friday, and I trust your heart is still filled with gladness and singing; with thanksgiving and praise; and with our Lord's wonderful truth that endureth to all generations!
As we look ahead to the Lord's Day, I think of this lovely little verse in Psalm 133:1 -- "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Amen!
Psalm 122:1 says -- "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord." And Hebrews 10:24-25 instructs us:
"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
These verses remind us how thankful we should be for the family of God in our local church -- how blessed it is to love one another; to pray for one another; to encourage each other, and to walk together in sweet harmony and unity. May it be said of your local church and mine:
"Behold, how they love one another"!!
As we look ahead to the Lord's Day, I think of this lovely little verse in Psalm 133:1 -- "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Amen!
Psalm 122:1 says -- "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord." And Hebrews 10:24-25 instructs us:
"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
These verses remind us how thankful we should be for the family of God in our local church -- how blessed it is to love one another; to pray for one another; to encourage each other, and to walk together in sweet harmony and unity. May it be said of your local church and mine:
"Behold, how they love one another"!!
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Praise God!
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost."
"Let's just praise the Lord -- praise the Lord! Let's just lift our hands toward heaven and praise the Lord"!
As I look out my big picture window toward the east this morning, I see the lovely sunshine and the beautiful heavens which declare the glory of God; the firmament which sheweth His handywork, and my heart fills with Thanksgiving and praise! It makes me want to fall on my knees and humbly sing:
"Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul! Thank you, Lord, for making me whole!
Thank you, Lord, for giving to me Thy great salvation so full and free"!
This is the month our nation observes a National Day of Thanksgiving. I trust that we will take a little time each day to reflect upon the many blessings we enjoy from the hand of our Heavenly Father.
Perhaps you would like to memorize this little Psalm of praise and thanksgiving and think upon it often as you prepare for your Thanksgiving holiday.
"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing.
Know ye that the Lord He is God; it is He that hath made us and not we ourselves: we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations."
--Psalm 100
Praise the Lord! It makes me want to sing again -- "Praise God from whom all blessings flow"!!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost."
"Let's just praise the Lord -- praise the Lord! Let's just lift our hands toward heaven and praise the Lord"!
As I look out my big picture window toward the east this morning, I see the lovely sunshine and the beautiful heavens which declare the glory of God; the firmament which sheweth His handywork, and my heart fills with Thanksgiving and praise! It makes me want to fall on my knees and humbly sing:
"Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul! Thank you, Lord, for making me whole!
Thank you, Lord, for giving to me Thy great salvation so full and free"!
This is the month our nation observes a National Day of Thanksgiving. I trust that we will take a little time each day to reflect upon the many blessings we enjoy from the hand of our Heavenly Father.
Perhaps you would like to memorize this little Psalm of praise and thanksgiving and think upon it often as you prepare for your Thanksgiving holiday.
"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing.
Know ye that the Lord He is God; it is He that hath made us and not we ourselves: we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations."
--Psalm 100
Praise the Lord! It makes me want to sing again -- "Praise God from whom all blessings flow"!!
Monday, November 6, 2017
Weeping --
Today our nation is mourning the terrible tragedy in Sutherland Springs, Texas. As my heart is wrung with sadness for the grief-stricken people in this little Texas town, I struggled with what to post on my blog today, but I settled on these sweet and tender words in Micah 6:6-8.
"Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"
Dear Jesus, I love that last verse --help us who profess to know Thee, to walk so humbly with Thee that a watching world will know, beyond doubt, that we have met the Master and belong to Him!!.
"Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"
Dear Jesus, I love that last verse --help us who profess to know Thee, to walk so humbly with Thee that a watching world will know, beyond doubt, that we have met the Master and belong to Him!!.
Friday, November 3, 2017
THANKSGIVING!
I'm sure you are looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with family and friends, the Lord willing, but let's not wait until Thanksgiving Day to give thanks! Let's begin today to praise our wonderful Lord by meditating on the words of this beautiful song by Lelia Morris!
"O magnify the Lord with me, ye people of His choice.
Let all to whom He lendeth breath now in His name rejoice.
For love's blest revelation, for rest from condemnation,
For uttermost salvation, to Him give thanks!
O praise Him for His holiness, His wisdom, and His grace;
Sing praises for His precious blood which ransomed all our race.
In tenderness He sought us; from depths of sin He brought us;
The way of life then taught us, to Him give thanks!
Had I a thousand tongues to sing, the half could never be told
Of love so rich, so full and free; of blessings manifold;
Of grace that faileth never, peace flowing as a river
From God, the Glorious giver. To Him give thanks!
Let all the people praise Thee. Let all the people praise Thee.
Let all the people praise Thy name forever and forever more!"
Amen!! What a beautiful song! Let's fill our days with praise and thanksgiving throughout this blessed season!
"O magnify the Lord with me, ye people of His choice.
Let all to whom He lendeth breath now in His name rejoice.
For love's blest revelation, for rest from condemnation,
For uttermost salvation, to Him give thanks!
O praise Him for His holiness, His wisdom, and His grace;
Sing praises for His precious blood which ransomed all our race.
In tenderness He sought us; from depths of sin He brought us;
The way of life then taught us, to Him give thanks!
Had I a thousand tongues to sing, the half could never be told
Of love so rich, so full and free; of blessings manifold;
Of grace that faileth never, peace flowing as a river
From God, the Glorious giver. To Him give thanks!
Let all the people praise Thee. Let all the people praise Thee.
Let all the people praise Thy name forever and forever more!"
Amen!! What a beautiful song! Let's fill our days with praise and thanksgiving throughout this blessed season!
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
I Must Walk!
It is difficult to believe that today is November 1, It is also difficult to keep our minds from being in a constant whirl as we try to contemplate and grasp all that has transpired in these first 10 months of 2017!
In the midst of tribulations, trials, testings, and turbulence, what a wonderful comfort it is to have God's Holy Word and lean on His sweet promises for instruction and guidance! Proverbs 3:5-6 is one of my favorites:
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."
Let's keep walking with Jesus, and "when the devil comes knocking, let Jesus answer the door!"
In the midst of tribulations, trials, testings, and turbulence, what a wonderful comfort it is to have God's Holy Word and lean on His sweet promises for instruction and guidance! Proverbs 3:5-6 is one of my favorites:
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."
Let's keep walking with Jesus, and "when the devil comes knocking, let Jesus answer the door!"
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