Hymn of the Day
Blest are the dead who die in Christ,
For they are with Him now;
The glories they now share in heav'n,
No mortal here can know.
Soon as the ransomed soul is freed,
From this poor mortal frame;
Before we know it's gone, it is,
With Christ praising His name!
Faith tries but here cannot quite see,
The things God has prepared;
For those He chose, redeemed, and called,
And now in heav'n appear.
We'll now rejoice this much to know,
They are completely blessed;
Freed from all sorrow, pain and sin,
With Jesus Christ they rest.
Our friends their Savior fully see,
And all His glory share;
Let us be foll'wer's of the Lamb,
And we shall join them there.
-----0-----
Today’s Hymns
All the Thrills My Soul – 26
Yesterday, Today, Forever – 283
Hallelujah, God Has Saved Me cb11
-----0-----
This past week, we lost two of our old men, Fred Vlastuin and Bill Koedam. The world is enamored of youth, and to be certain, there are advantages to youth. But with age comes wisdom, and wisdom is to be preferred over the advantages of youth. Their presence among us and their simple faith in Christ and their faithfulness at worship will be missed. Let them be to us an example of the Scripture, “These all died in faith…” How blessed it is to live by faith, but more blessed yet is the experience of dying in faith.
The funerals for both men will be held at Porter Funeral Home.
For Fred Vlastuin, there will be a family visitation for 5:30-7:00 PM on Monday night. The funeral will be at 1:00 PM followed by burial at the Rock Valley Cemetery. Following burial, there will be a lunch at The Lighthouse (next to Pizza Ranch).
For Bill Koedam, there will be a visitation at 1:30 PM on Tuesday followed immediately by a funeral a 2:30 PM and burial at Rock Valley Cemetery. Afterward, there will be a lunch at The Lighthouse.
Special Dates:
Barney and Tricia – 20
Cornell and Shaina – 21
Nevaeh Sandbulte - 22
Jason & Diane – 22
Allen Koedam – 26
Aimee Koedam -27
Jerry & Pat – 30
-----0------
Children are worth something, and I hold them in the highest esteem. You are to be commended for living obedient, truthful, industrious lives. You fathers, don’t always degrade and put down your children (Ephesians6:4). Learn to commend and approve of them, keeping in mind that they must have a Saviour from sin! They are sinners in need of the atoning blood of Christ, but at the same time they have a worth, and we must let them know both of these truths. Our children are ourselves, and that oneness with them causes that great love that molds and melts your heart. Are your children worth anything? More than I can tell. -Jack Shanks
-----0-----
Mr. Spurgeon once said, "I know that however many may preach the Gospel better than I do, there is no one who can preach a better Gospel than I preach; for I preach the Gospel of God's free and sovereign grace in Christ Jesus." Our Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth. Our Gospel gives all the glory to God, for "salvation is of the Lord." Our Gospel is true to the Scriptures, fulfilling every promise, pattern and type. Our Gospel enables God to be just and the Justifier of sinners. Our Gospel can save the "chief of sinners," and our Gospel will not lose one sheep given to Christ, called to Christ, resting in Christ by faith. What a rich glorious Gospel is our Gospel! -Henry Mahan
-----0-----
It is as clear as the noonday sun that The Law is neither the ground of life to the sinner nor the rule of life to the Christian. The Lord Jesus Christ is both the one and the other; He is our life and our rule of life. The Law can only curse and kill, Christ is our life and righteousness. He became our curse by hanging on a tree. He went down into the place of death and judgment and by His death completely discharged all that was or could be against us.
Bless the LORD, O my soul:
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and
forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;
who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies!
~Psalm 103:1-4
-Scott Richardson
-----0-----
“He hath stripped me of my glory,
and taken the crown from my head.” ~Job 19:9.
Job is complaining here in Chapter 19. But when all is said and done, Job will confess what a great mercy it is to be stripped of his glory. He will come to see that the crown never belonged on his head. After Elihu preaches the gospel, Job will hear the voice of God. Then he will confess; “Behold, I am vile”. Like all of God’s children, he will end up happy that the Lord stripped him of his glory. Only then could he see the glory of his Redeemer. He will rejoice in casting his crown before the throne of God an add his voice to all the saints saying; “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power…” (Revelation 4:11a). -Greg Elmquist