Hymn of the Day
(tune: Come We That Love the Lord, p.23)
To God the only wise,
Our Savior and our King,
Let all the saints below the skies
Their humble praises bring.
’Tis His almighty love,
His counsel, and His care,
Preserves us safe from sin and death,
And every hurtful snare.
He will present our souls,
Unblemished and complete,
Before the glory of His face,
With joys divinely great.
Then all the chosen seed,
Shall meet around the throne,
Shall bless the conduct of His grace,
And make His wonders known.
To our Redeemer, God,
Wisdom and power belongs,
Immortal crowns of majesty,
And everlasting songs.
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Today’s Hymns
O Thou, in Whose Presence, #277
Praise to the Lord, #13
I Love to Tell the Story, #431
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Special Dates:
Katie Koedam – 31 ~ James and Maria - 31
Garen and Jean Rozeboom - 1
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A soft answer turneth away wrath:
but grievous words stir up anger.”
-
Proverbs 15:1
When the Lord was reviled, He reviled not again. We need to learn this well. When someone lashes out at you, don’t lash back. It never accomplishes anything and only worsens the situation. In the heat of conflict much is said that is not meant and is later regretted. If only we could bite our tongues. Someone once said: “If you are offended by someone, wait an hour before you respond. If it is really important, sleep on it.” And if by God’s grace, we could only respond with a soft answer. Experience will show that a kind and reasonable answer will often diffuse someone’s anger. -Paul Mahan
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One Sunday morning at a small southern church, the new pastor called on one of his older deacons to lead in the opening prayer. The deacon stood up, bowed his head and said, "Lord, I hate buttermilk." The pastor opened one eye and wondered where this was going.
The deacon continued, "Lord, I hate lard." Now the pastor was totally perplexed. The deacon continued, "Lord, I ain't too crazy about plain flour. But after you mix 'em all together and bake 'em in a hot oven, I just love biscuits."
"Lord help us to realize when life gets hard, when things come up that we don't like, whenever we don't understand what You are doing, that we need to wait and see what You are making. After you get through mixing and baking, it'll probably be something even better than biscuits.” -copied
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The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone.
The LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118.22-24
Nearly 2000 years ago, religious men rejected Christ, as would all men if left to themselves. But God raised Him from death to His right hand, giving Him preeminence over all. A new day was ushered in: the day of God’s favor, the day of grace, the day of salvation. It is a day of God’s making, stamped with God’s approval. Any sinner may, with complete confidence, come to God through Christ, and find favor, grace and salvation from God. Indeed, we have cause to rejoice! Let us do so. Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice! -Joe
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Which is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth?
Is not he that sitteth at meat? But I am among you as he that serveth.
-Luke 22:27
This was the Lord's answer to the strife among the disciples over which one of them should be greatest. Our Lord teaches us that the one who is truly great is also the one who serves. It is interesting to observe how much we are concerned about how others serve us. We are quick to find fault with their lack of service toward us, and consequently, their lack of "Christian character." I suppose it is because we really believe ourselves to be great and are offended at the lack of service others provide us.
This I know--love serves. Self-love seeks to be served, but love serves. In all of our relationships, we should seek to serve, and not to be served! Am I a server or one who seeks to be served? -Todd Nibert
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I will go as far as Martin Luther, where he says, "If any man ascribes anything of salvation, even the very least thing, to the free will of man, he knows nothing of grace, and he has not learned Jesus Christ rightly.” -C.H. Spurgeon
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One great difference between believers and lost religionists is this: lost religionists fit the worship of God into their lives. Believers arrange their lives around the worship of God. -Don Fortner