Singing and Making Melody

"speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;" (Ephesians 5:19-20)

How Great Thou Art

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

(Carl Boberg, 1885; Stuart Hine, 1953)

It's Your Lucky Day!

Happy Friday!

It's also Friday the 13th (written November 13, 1992). Some people consider this date unlucky, but it's really no luckier or unluckier than any other day. A lot of it depends upon you.

I remember a Nov. 13 which was also on a Friday back when I was in the 7th grade. My teacher, Mr. Hick's wife, had a baby boy that day.

There is no such thing as a lucky day or an unlucky day - everything is predetermined by God. Does that mean we should sit down and do nothing? No way!

We are commanded to be diligent and work hard. Things seemly do come to those who look for ways to better themselves.

Put forth the effort not only today, but everyday.

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


There are events, people and conversations in our lives that stay with us for our entire lives. I recall an event/conversation on a Saturday afternoon when I was about ten years old with Mrs. Poncer from our church. We were at the church doing our monthly cleaning of the building when we heard a big car crash on the main road in front of the church. We had just passed by that exact spot only a few minutes before. I remarked, "Wow, we sure were lucky. We just missed that." Mrs. Poncer replied, "There is no such thing as luck. Don't you know that the Lord had mercy on you? He kept you from that wreck. But if he wanted you to be in that wreck, he would have had you there at that exact moment. There is no such thing as luck." I don't know that those were her exact words, but I remember that conversation and exactly where we stood looking out Pastor Don's office door at the accident. I now repeat those same words to my children: "There is no such thing as luck." Rest in God's providential care!

Happy Friday to you all!

Satisfaction With Life

By nature we are so selfish and self-centered that we're filled with covetousness and envy. We often feel that we should be blessed and no misfortune should come our way.

True love consists of contentment with what we have and satisfaction with the place in our life where God has us. Rejoicing with others in their blessings and weeping at other's misfortune are good characteristics to have.

Remember, your candle of life will not burn less brightly because another outshines it. Nor will your walk in life be less important because another does or gives more!

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


"Whatever makes us more and more able to enjoy making much of God is a mercy. For there is no greater joy than joy in the greatness of God. And if we must suffer to see this and savor it most deeply, then suffering is a mercy. And Christ's call to take up our cross and join Him on the Calvary road is love."
-John Piper, "Don't Waste Your Life"

Persistence

Occasionally, we are confronted with up-hill struggles in life. Victory comes to those who continue climbing.

There is no failure except in no longer trying.
There is no defeat except from within.
There is no really insurmountable barrier, save our own inherent weakness of purpose.

Never give up!

Life is great, just make the best of it.

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad

When things go wrong as they sometimes will;
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill;
When the funds are low, and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but have to sigh;
When care is pressing you down a bit-
Rest if you must, but do not quit.
Success is failure turned inside out;
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt;
And you can never tell how close you are
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit-
It's when things go wrong that you must not quit.

~ Author Unknown

True Friend

Every now and then, there will be one of the flying geese to go down either because of injury or exhaustion. The "downed" bird never goes by itself.

One or two of the flock will also land and wait for recovery or death of its friend before they continue their own journey. Once they take off, they fly to catch up to their original flock or join up with another.

We could learn from the geese in that we need to be willing to provide help when another is in need.

Even it it means a temporary delay in our journey, always be ready to give a helping hand, a comforting word, or a shoulder upon which to lean.

"Be a true friend."

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


"A friend loveth at all times;" (Proverbs 17:17)

"Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; So doth the sweetness of a man's friend that cometh of hearty counsel." (Proverbs 27:9)

My Friend

How Sweet and Awful is the Place
Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

How sweet and awful is the place
With Christ within the doors,
While everlasting love displays
The choicest of her stores.

While all our hearts and all our songs
Join to admire the feast,
Each of us cry, with thankful tongues,
"Lord, why was I a guest?"

"Why was I made to hear Thy voice,
And enter while there's room,
When thousands make a wretched choice,
And rather starve than come?"

'Twas the same love that spread the feast
That sweetly drew us in;
Else we had still refused to taste,
And perished in our sin.

Pity the nations, O our God,
Constrain the earth to come;
Send Thy victorious Word abroad,
And bring the strangers home.

We long to see Thy churches full,
That all the chosen race
May, with one voice and heart and soul,
Sing Thy redeeming grace.

My friend, why do you still refuse to come to the feast? Aren't you hungry? You have read things of the Lord here. There are links on the right side bar to preaching that will stir your soul, pierce your heart and rattle your comfortable state. You will be held accountable before the Throne one day to answer the gravest of your sins...why you refused to come? Or will you stand before the Lord with blood as white as snow, cleansed by the blood of Christ, with all that you would be held accountable for vanished? The call is there. Christ said in John 6 that anyone who would come to him, he would in no wise cast out. Again, why do you refuse to come? I still ask with an astonished tongue why was I a guest at thy feast? But by thy spirit, you drew me in. Read this hymn, read every word and taste it. Pray that He would open your eyes to see and your ears to hear His voice. Listen to the sermons and read the books posted here, pick up your Bible, for the sake of your eternal soul!

"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Luke 11:9)

Encourage One Another

The southbound flying geese do not fly silently. They are continually honking. We are told that this "honking" is their way of encouragement to their fellow travelers not to quit, not to give up, continue on, our destination is getting closer.

We must continue on traveling our journey and encourage those with whom we come in contact.

Be supportive!

Be helpful!

Be an example to others by "keep on keeping on!"

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


A Psalm of David. I will give thee thanks with my whole heart: Before the gods will I sing praises unto thee. I will worship toward thy holy temple, And give thanks unto thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. In the day that I called thou answeredst me, Thou didst encourage me with strength in my soul. All the kings of the earth shall give thee thanks, O Jehovah, For they have heard the words of thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing of the ways of Jehovah; For great is the glory of Jehovah. For though Jehovah is high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly; But the haughty he knoweth from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me; Thou wilt stretch forth thy hand against the wrath of mine enemies, And thy right hand will save me. Jehovah will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy lovingkindness, O Jehovah, endureth for ever; Forsake not the works of thine own hands. (Psalm 138:1-8)

But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God appointed us not into wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as also ye do. But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them exceeding highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves. And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all. See that none render unto any one evil for evil; but always follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward. Quench not the Spirit; despise not prophesyings; prove all things; hold fast that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:8-24)

Leadership

As the Canadian geese fly south in the winter to warmer climates, they take turns being leader. When one gets tired, it will retreat to the back and another will take over as leader. The lead bird breaks the wind and creates a draft for the remainder of the flock that fly. The burden of the wind is controlled by the leader only.

As we travel through life, we are confronted with situations that require our leadership.

Be ready and willing to lead!

As leader, do what is right at all times!

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


"Good leaders must first become good servants." -Robert Greenleaf

"Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all the things into his hands, and that he came forth from God, and goeth unto God, riseth from supper, and layeth aside his garments; and he took a towel, and girded himself. Then he poureth water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. So he cometh to Simon Peter. He saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt understand hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me." (John 13:3-8)

Of Like-Mind

I know of four places in Lexington where drivers are warned of wildlife near and around the road. Especially at this time of year [written 11-9-92], the Canadian geese are flying south and will stop to feed and rest before they continue their journey.

Have you ever noticed these Canadian geese fly? They always travel together. They fly in a "V" which helps each bird fly longer without getting as tired. When the lead bird gets tired, it simply goes to the back of the pack and another picks up the pace and leads.

Their journey is successful only because of their united goal and willingness to work with each other. They stick together.

We need to learn from the geese and join together with those going our way and travel life's journey jointly. That's what friends and family do.

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


Geese only fly with those going the same way, as should we. A caution to you:

Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you, And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2Co 6:14-18)

I. The caution or exhortation itself, not to mingle with unbelievers, not to be unequally yoked with them, 2Co_6:14. Either, 1. In stated relations. It is wrong for good people to join in affinity with the wicked and profane; these will draw different ways, and that will be galling and grievous. Those relations that are our choice must be chosen by rule; and it is good for those who are themselves the children of God to join with those who are so likewise; for there is more danger that the bad will damage the good than hope that the good will benefit the bad. 2. In common conversation. We should not yoke ourselves in friendship and acquaintance with wicked men and unbelievers. Though we cannot wholly avoid seeing, and hearing, and being with such, yet we should never choose them for our bosom-friends. 3. Much less should we join in religious communion with them; we must not join with them in their idolatrous services, nor concur with them in their false worship, nor any abominations; we must not confound together the table of the Lord and the table of devils, the house of God and the house of Rimmon. The apostle gives several good reasons against this corrupt mixture. (1.) It is a very great absurdity, 2Co_6:14, 2Co_6:15. It is an unequal yoking of things together that will not agree together; as bad as for the Jews to have ploughed with an ox and an ass or to have sown divers sorts of grain intermixed. What an absurdity is it to think of joining righteousness and unrighteousness, or mingling light and darkness, fire and water, together! Believers are, and should be, righteous; but unbelievers are unrighteous. Believers are made light in the Lord, but unbelievers are in darkness; and what comfortable communion can these have together? Christ and Belial are contrary one to the other; they have opposite interests and designs, so that it is impossible there should be any concord or agreement between them. It is absurd, therefore, to think of enlisting under both; and, if the believer has part with an infidel, he does what in him lies to bring Christ and Belial together. (2.) It is a dishonour to the Christian's profession (2Co_6:16); for Christians are by profession, and should be in reality, the temples of the living God - dedicated to, and employed for, the service of God, who has promised to reside in them, to dwell and walk in them, to stand in a special relation to them, and take a special care of them, that he will be their God and they shall be his people. Now there can be no agreement between the temple of God and idols. Idols are rivals with God for his honour, and God is a jealous God, and will not give his glory to another. (3.) There is a great deal of danger in communicating with unbelievers and idolators, danger of being defiled and of being rejected; therefore the exhortation is (2Co_6:17) to come out from among them, and keep at a due distance, to be separate, as one would avoid the society of those who have the leprosy or the plague, for fear of taking infection, and not to touch the unclean thing, lest we be defiled. Who can touch pitch, and not be defiled by it? We must take care not to defile ourselves by converse with those who defile themselves with sin; so is the will of God, as we ever hope to be received, and not rejected, by him. (4.) It is base ingratitude to God for all the favours he has bestowed upon believers and promised to them, 2Co_6:18. God has promised to be a Father to them, and that they shall be his sons and his daughters; and is there a greater honour or happiness than this? How ungrateful a thing then must it be if those who have this dignity and felicity should degrade and debase themselves by mingling with unbelievers! Do we thus requite the Lord, O foolish and unwise? -Matthew Henry (1662-1714)

Shall I

Shall I take from Your hand blessings
Yet not welcome any pain
Shall I thank You for days of sunshine
Yet grumble in days of rain
Shall I love You in times of plenty
Then leave You in days of drought
Shall I trust when I reap a harvest
But when winter winds blow, then doubt

Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorified

Are You good only when I prosper
And true only when I'm filled
Are You King only when I'm carefree
And God only when I'm well
You are good when I'm poor and needy
You are true when I'm parched and dry
You still reign in the deepest valley
You're still God in the darkest night

So quiet my restless heart
Quiet my restless heart
Quiet my restless heart in You


"As Long As You Are Glorified" Mark Altrogge, 2008, Sovereign Grace Praise