Romans 1:17- For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. *****
Reigning Grace Author: John Newton Tune: “Majestic Sweetness” T. Hastings
1. Now may the Lord reveal His face, And teach our stamm'ring tongues To make His sovereign, reigning grace The subject of our songs. The subject of our songs.
2. No sweeter subject can invite A sinner's heart to sing, Or more display the glorious right Of our exalted King. Of our exalted King.
3. Grace reigns to pardon crimson sins, To melt the hardest hearts; And from the work it once begins, It never once departs. It never once departs.
4. 'Twas grace that called our souls at first, By grace thus far we're come; And grace will help us through the worst, And lead us safely home. And lead us safely home. *****
"Time"
Time is a canvas where, History's written, . . . . . One stroke at a time in the space of a life!
The painting is God's, And His masterpiece of us, . . . . . The colors are happiness sadness and strife!
Why don't we honor the Moments He's given, . . . . . And see in those spaces the strokes of His hand?
Everything painted, Deliberately purposed, . . . . . Divinely governed and expertly planned! Amen --Mike Loveless - July 2016
***** A Local Church A local church is a body of brothers and sisters in Christ. We are one family. One life is ours, one love is ours, and one objective (to know more of and to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and to be found in His righteousness) is ours. This is the comfort and strength of all, that we are all one with Christ in God’s sight. We cannot properly minister the Gospel of Christ without each other. One cannot say, “My presence or absence will not be noticed because I don’t preach, teach, pray publicly nor lead singing.” Your presence in the house of God to worship Him is both desired and much needed. You are a comfort and encouragement to other brethren. Another cannot say, “My gift will not be missed because I cannot give as much as some.” All of God’s people should give whenever and whatever they can give as the Lord blesses them. No gift is too small. What may seem small is great for the cause of Christ. The point is this: We are a family, a body, and the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you.” All brethren are equally loved of God and equally needed by one another. --Henry Mahan
***** A Refuge for My Guilty Soul I must confess that, at least for the present moment, I feel that if Christ is unable or unwilling to save to the uttermost the most wretched and sinful of humanity, then I am lost and without hope. At all times I am aware of the doctrine of my sin, but at some times the truth of it bears upon me with such force that I go down to the depths as did Jonah and cry out, "Salvation is of the Lord," for if it is not, I am surely without any hope of salvation from any other quarter. Youth and its strength are past. In days gone by I had always hoped that there would be some proof of grace, some evidence of the work of God in me in the form of sins conquered and godliness achieved. But at 61 years old I must confess that not one sin has been overcome, and all the evil that ever raged in me rages still. I am as helpless against my inborn nature as ever. A life of pursuing "the ministry" has not provided for me a place of soul rest but, in this matter of my eternal soul, it is nothing more than "a bed too short to stretch out on and a blanket to narrow to wrap up in." That I am called a minister of the gospel does not bring me comfort about my heart's condition, but serves only to accent the wickedness of my nature and add strength to my sense of righteous condemnation. O, blessed Jesus, come fulfill your name in me! for it is written, "You shall call His name 'Jesus' for He shall save His people from their sins." Mark me as among Your people and save me for Your name's sake! What a precious name I have to lean upon and in which to find a refuge for my guilty soul. Yes, in Him there is righteousness greater than my wickedness, saving determination in excess of my stubbornness, grace abounding over my abundant sin. O, Sin, defeat me you will, and often. But never shall you defeat my Savior! O, Satan, you Accuser of the Brethren, pile your accusations as high as you can, I will own them all, yet I will see that it is you and not me who is cast out, for you have been overcome by the blood of the Lamb! What worthlessness in me; what worthiness in Him! What weakness in me; what power in Him! What failure in me; what success in Him. I am poor and needy, but He is rich and generous. Blessed be the name of Jesus both now and evermore! --Joe Terrell
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