We must remember that it is God's will, and not our own will...

We must remember that it is God's will, and not our own will, that we must do, for he that doth His will shall abide forever, even as He abideth forever. Therefore, with mind entire, faith firm, courage undaunted, love thorough, let us be ready for whatever God willeth, faithfully keeping the Lord's commandment, having innocency in simplicity; peaceableness in love; modesty in lowliness; in ministering, diligence; in helping them that toil, watchfulness; in succoring the poor, mercifulness; in standing up for the truth, firmness; in keeping of discipline, sternness; lest we be found wanting in every good work. -Venerable Bede Image

For the word of God is living and active...

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. -Hebrews 4:12

As in paradise, God walks in the Holy Scriptures, seeking man.

-St. Ambrose

We have great reason, O Lord, to be humbled before you, on account of the coldness and insensibility of our hearts, the disorder and irregularity of our lives, and the prevalence of worldly affections within us. Too often have we indulged the tempers which we ought to have subdued, and have left our duty unperformed. O Lord, be merciful to us for your Son Jesus Christ’s sake. Produce in us deep repentance, and a lively faith in that Saviour who has died for our sins, and risen again for our justification. Amen. -Henry Thornton

The root of Jesse will come...

And again Isaiah says,

“The root of Jesse will come,

    even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;

in him will the Gentiles hope.”

May the God of hope fill you 

with all joy and peace in believing,

 so that by the power of the Holy Spirit 

you may abound in hope.  

-Romans 15:12-13

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared...

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. -Titus 3:4-7

Rejoice!

 

Rejoice! 

Sovereign Grace

VERSE 1

All the earth rejoice 

Your Creator reigns 

As the only awesome God 

The Alpha and the Omega 

Who was, is, and is to come 

Let the oceans roar and the mountains sing 

He provides for all He has made

So be comforted as He rules with grace

Rejoice, all the earth, rejoice 

VERSE 2

All the world rejoice 

For the baby comes 

As a humble prince in the night

The Word made flesh, Emmanuel 

The Everlasting Light 

Let the warmth of heaven reach the coldest heart 

With the gospel of His grace 

For His heel will bruise the serpent's head 

Rejoice, all the world, rejoice 

VERSE 3

All the church rejoice 

For your King returns 

On a white horse wearing a crown

He will break the sky with the angel's shout 

Descending from the clouds

Then the dead will rise from the land and sea 

All His people will ascend

We will reign with Him for eternity

Rejoice, all the church, rejoice

“Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom..."

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” 

-Jeremiah 9:23-24

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness...

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. -Romans 8:26-27

It is not necessary to maintain a conversation when we are in the presence of God. We can come into His presence and rest our weary souls in quiet contemplation of Him. Our groanings, which cannot be uttered, rise to Him and tell Him better than words how dependent we are upon Him. -O. Hallesby

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father...

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,  that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. -Ephesians 3:14-19 Image

Who is a God like you...

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity

    and passing over transgression

    for the remnant of his inheritance?

He does not retain his anger forever,

    because he delights in steadfast love.

 He will again have compassion on us;

    he will tread our iniquities underfoot.

You will cast all our sins

    into the depths of the sea.

 You will show faithfulness to Jacob

    and steadfast love to Abraham,

as you have sworn to our fathers

    from the days of old.

 -Micah 7:18-20

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel...

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,

    you who lead Joseph like a flock.

You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.

     Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,

stir up your might and come to save us!

 Restore us, O God;

    let your face shine, that we may be saved!

   -Psalm 80:1-3

But my steadfast love shall not depart from you...

For the mountains may depart

    and the hills be removed,

but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,

    and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”

    says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

  -Isaiah 54:10

Salvation is Born

 

Salvation is Born

 Sovereign Grace

VERSE 1

Come let us worship, come let us adore

Jesus, Messiah, our Savior is born

Carol His glory and sing His sweet Name

Offer a life of thanksgiving and praise

VERSE 2

Join with the angels proclaiming to earth

Join with the shepherds in awe of His birth

Join all creation rejoicing this morn

The glory of God-become-man has been born

CHORUS

Come, let us adore Him

Jesus, the hope of the world

Come, worship before Him

Christ, the Messiah has come

Salvation is born

VERSE 3

Prophets foretold Him, the Promise of God

The hope of Salvation and light of the world

Born in a stable and born as a man

Born to fulfill God's redeeming plan

For by grace you have been saved through faith...

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. -Ephesians 2:8-10

“For grace is given not because we have done good works, but in order that we may be able to do them.”  -Augustine