" I can see the throne set up within the heart of man. Who shall sit on it? It cannot be empty; who shall fill it? This sin, that sin, or the other? Nay, Lord, help me to keep every intruder out of it."
--Charles Spurgeon (HT:CHALLIES)
The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. --Psalm 37:39, ESV
You can find out more about the free Bible application (ios/android) from John MacArthur's ministry at http://www.gtybibleapp.com. I have started using it and will report back after a few days.
'But what is not so generally appreciated is that the principle of caveat emptor should be kept in mind when one is buying ideas, that is, when he is reading articles or books that are trying to "sell" him on a certain viewpoint, philosophy, or religious idea. Writers of such articles or books may, for reasons of their own, be just as likely to be tempted to take liberties with the truth. This may be done very subtly, at times simply by ignoring certain pertinent facts in discussing a certain subject. '(The Watchtower; 5/15/1963; pp. 293)
"It should not be overlooked that we tend to regard predestination as a part of a philosophical theory. For us it is the answer to the question, 'Are all things determined or not?' For Paul it is the answer to quite another question, 'How much of our salvation is due to God?' It is part of man's make-up that he likes to think that he earns his salvation. When he sees that the cross rules out the way of human merit and that he is saved by grace, by God's free gift, he tries to salvage something from the wreck. He thinks that at any rate he deserves some credit. He made the right decision. He decided to be a Christian. He chose God. The doctrine of predestination takes this last prop from under him. He could not decide this, left to himself. The reason he is a believer is not that he chose God but that God chose him. Predestination is the assurance that all of our salvation, from the very beginning to the end, is of God. We ought never to think of it other than in relation to salvation. That is where Paul sets it. It assures me that my salvation is no improvised affair, brought into being by a more or less fortuitous decision of my own. I am saved because none less than God willed it and predestined me before all the ages. Nothing at all can give the believer assurance like this great truth."
The Perfect One bears imperfection.
The Spotless One bears the stain.
The Living One enters the tomb.
The Dying One lives again.
The One who created me
bids me to come.
Come to the cross.
Come to His Son.
All of my life without Him is vain.
All of eternity with Him is my gain.
The One who created the sun and the moon,
is wonderfully formed in the virgin's womb.
The One who sees all as but dust on the scales,
stoops down and stutters, He suffers the nails.
Wrath is poured out, we never will fathom
the depth of the love of our Perfect Ransom.
The One who created me
bids me to come.
Come to the cross.
Come to His Son.
All of my life without Him is vain.
All of eternity with Him is my gain.
The One who will judge gives grace ever flowing.
The Pure One will judge in truth, fully knowing.
Where will you stand on that fateful day?
Will you stand in His light, or be cast away?
The One who created me
bids me to come.
Come to the cross.
Come to His Son.
All of my life without Him is vain.
All of eternity with Him is my gain.
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I wrote this on the occasion of my 10th wedding anniversary. Is there a musician out there willing to bend their talents and compose a tune?
Writing. It's hard. I never think that's the case when I'm reading. I read, and read, and read. Somewhere along the line I get the notion that I might have something to say. So I sit down with the intention of writing something, usually something specific that sparks my interest.
I sit down to write. and... nothing.
To write well, you must write regularly, repeatedly, consistently, and constantly. I hear that, and I want to write.
I sit down to write. and... nothing.
For a very long time, I've pictured a future time when I'll be able to focus, to concentrate, to come up with an idea and develop it. I don't think that future time will ever come. Years, and now decades have marched by. My reading list continues to grow. Others need my help. I must spend my energy while I can, doing what I must do in this phase of life, which is to help others.
I sit down to write. and... nothing.
Ten thousand thoughts running rambunctiously through my imagination all scatter like the wind when I decide to pluck one from the flock.
I sit down to write. and... nothing.
I read books by incredibly gifted, talented, and educated people. They make it look easy, effortless, like strolling down a leaf-strewn lane. I want to write.
I sit down to write. and... nothing.
Someday...
