Hymn of the Week

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

SDG

Infant Baptism

Found these two broadcasts interesting regarding infant baptism:

John MacArthur defending Believers Baptism

http://www.ligonier.org/rym/broadcasts/audio/baptism-case-believers-baptism/

R.C. Sproul defending Infant Baptism

http://www.ligonier.org/rym/broadcasts/audio/baptism-the-case-for-infant-baptism/

Feel free to give your comments...

A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections

One of the books I am currently reading is A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections by Jonathan "The Man" Edwards. I figured I could jot down one or two lines from what I read each day, so here we go:

5/21 - If our inward spiritual joys are greater than our outward sufferings, these joys will support us and allow us to suffer with cheerfulness.

5/22 - But yet it is not the body, but the mind only, that is the proper seat of affections. The body of man is no more capable of being really the subject of love or hatred, joy or sorrow, fear or hope, than the body of a tree, or than the same body of a man is capable of thinking and understanding. as it is the soul only that has ideas, so it is the soul only that is pleased or displeased with its ideas. As it is the soul only that thinks, so it is the soul only that loves or hates, rejoices or is grieved at what it thinks of.

Affection is a word that, in its ordinary significance, seems to be something more extensive than passion, being used for all the vigorous lively actings of the will or inclination; but passion for those that are more sudden, and whose effects on the animal spirits are more violent, and the mind more overpowered, and less in its own command.

Who will deny that true religion consists in a great measure in vigorous and likely actings of the inclination and will of the soul, or the fervent exercises of the heart?

Romans 12:11

Deuteronomy 10:12, 6:4-5

Deuteronomy 30:6

5/23 - If we be not in good earnest in religion, and our wills and inclinations be strongly exercised, we are nothing. The things of religion are so great, that there can be no suitableness in the exercises of our hearts to their nature and importance, unless they be lively and powerful.

True religion is evermore a powerful thing and the power of it appears, in the first place in the inward exercises of it in the heart, where is the principal and original seat of it.

2 Timothy 3:5

2 Timothy 1:7

The business of religion if from time to time compared to those exercises wherein men are won't to have their hearts and strength greatly exercised and engaged, such as running, wrestling, or agonizing for a great prize or crown, and fighting with strong enemies that seek our lives, and warring as those that by violence take a city or kingdom.

Start to Summer

Alright, so anywho, summer has started and is in full swing. This can either be good or bad... A time to get a lot accomplished or a time of sitting around the house being slothful. Unfortunately, I think my first week was overall the latter. It is interesting when you are getting pounded by a regimented schedule how you oh so need a break; yet when you have a break you oh so want a regimented schedule. My original plans for the summer were to run the Youth for Christ program, work on my thesis research, take some online Economics classes, work at Chick Fil-A, and have some good reading.

The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. ~ Proverbs 16:9

So, let's just say that my plans may not be the ones going down (the Econ and CFA part at least). But I am in full faith that God has my best interest at heart. I am learning to be happy with His will, whatever that may be, as it is through Him alone that I live, move, and breathe. I pray that anyone reading this will keep me accountable for having been doing my reading, for me, reading is not a habit (yet) it is one that I am in the process of cultivating.

Thanks for keeping me accountable!

SDG

Psalm 32

Psalm 32

¹ Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

² Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.

³ When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

⁴ For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

⁵ Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD "— and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

⁶ Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him.

⁷ You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

⁸ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

⁹ Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

¹⁰ Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.

¹¹ Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Hymn of the Week

Before the Throne of God Above

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea:
A great High Priest, whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on his hands,
My name is written on his heart;
I know that while in heaven he stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look, and see him there
Who made an end of all my sin.

Because a sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Behold him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I am,
The King of glory and of grace!

One in himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by his blood
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God
With Christ, my Savior and my God

The Gospel explained with Beautiful Words!

SDG

Lost Shall Be Found

The Parable of the Lost Coin
"Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Praise God that the lost shall be found! I recently misplaced close to $150 and have been worrying about it lately. Low and behold I began praying about it on my ride home from Motown and God directed me to where I had put it! He is faithful.

SDG

Heritage Ball

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen...

Twas a glorious time of Christian fellowship at the Heritage Ball yesterday. God allowed me to participate in the whole event with pain that I could tolerate! The balls are a great time of excitement, entertainment, and exercise, and Lord knows I need the latter. Looking forward to the next! The Kincell's and Powell's do a great job serving us - they even brought me a towel haha...

SDG

Hymn of the Week

His Forever

Jesus, friend of sinners
Loved me ’ere I knew Him
Drew me with His cords of love
Tightly bound me to Him
’Round my heart still closely twined
The ties that none can sever
For I am His and He is mine
Forever and forever

Jesus, friend of sinners
A crown of thorns You wore for me
Bruised for my transgressions
Pierced for my iniquities
The wrath of God that I deserved
Was poured out on the Innocent
He took my place, my soul to save
Now I am His forever

Jesus, friend of sinners
I love to tell the story
Redeeming love has been my theme
And will be when in glory
Not death nor life nor anything
Can ever separate me
O love that will not let me go
Yes, I am His forever

What a Glorious God we serve!
SDG

Semester End

So I just received my grades for this past semester. I earned a 4.0 gpa! This is huge considering the sorry state I was in at the end of last semester. I believe that God was teaching me to rely on Him instead of myself, undergrad was much easier than grad school and I in my pride thought that I earned everything that I achieved in undergrad. But it is only because of the gifts that God has blessed me with that I can accomplish anything! I am honored that He has given me gifts that I might bring Him glory with them, whatever little I achieve He alone receives the glory. This past year was truly a lesson for my ever present fight with pride. I seem to always want the credit that I feel I deserve, when in all honesty, the only thing I deserve are the flames of hell. BUT GOD, being rich in mercy made me alive in Christ even while I was dead in my sin! It is this same grace that purchased my salvation that I want to take hold of on a daily basis! May I never stray far from the cross and so forget the wonderful grace and mercy of Christ my Savior and my God!

SDG

Treasure

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ~ Matthew 6:19-21

My soul I charge you, lay up your treasure in the only secure cabinet; store your jewels where you can never lose them. Put your all in Christ. Set your affections on His person, all your hope in His merit, all your trust in His efficacious blood, and all your joy in His presence, so that you may laugh at loss and defy destruction.

Fear

So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. ~ Hebrews 13:6

He who fears God has nothing else to fear. We should stand in such awe of the Living Lord that all the threats that can be used by the proudest persecutor should have no more effect upon us than the whistling of the wind.