Walk before God

Walk before God, and perfect be, 
Care not for human eyes, 
Which but the outward aspect see - 
To Heaven's standard rise.
Be not afraid to let thy ways - 
Each thought, and word, and deed - 
Be tested in the searching rays
Which from His throne proceed.

Walk before God. Be often where 
No human eye can see,
And all thy heart to Him lay bare:
From secret sins be free.
Thus shall thy actions and thy ways
His own approval meet;
Thy life shall be a life of praise,
Its end a triumph sweet.

Walk before God. Be not at ease
Though saints may think you right;
Be careful that Himself you please - 
Be perfect in His sight.
The fear of man but brings a snare - 
Care not for smile or frown;
Misunderstood, still do and dare,
That no one take thy crown.

Walk before God. Obey His Word,
And yield to His demands;
Beware of calling Jesus Lord,
And slighting His commands.
Live for that moment when unveil'd 
Each secret thing shall be,
Which every eye but His has fail'd
Within the breast to see.

William Blane

O my Saviour, I am weary

Lord, I'll bear Thine indignation
(For my sins have hid Thy face),
Till the joy of Thy salvation
Shall be mine again through grace;
Only let me, while I'm weeping,
Weep, O Saviour, at Thy feet;
For, though sin's sad fruit I'm reaping,
There to grieve make's sorrow sweet.

William Blane

Peace, Perfect Peace

Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.

Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?
To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.

Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?
On Jesus’ bosom naught but calm is found.

Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away?
In Jesus’ keeping we are safe, and they.

Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?
Jesus we know, and He is on the throne.

Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours?
Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers.

It is enough: earth’s struggles soon shall cease,
And Jesus call us to Heaven’s perfect peace.

Peace, perfect peace, ’mid suffering’s sharpest throes?
The sympathy of Jesus breathes repose.

Ed­ward H. Bick­er­steth, Jr.

Psalm 28

Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto Thee...Blessed be Jehovah, for He hath heard the voice of my supplications. - Psalm 28:2, 6

It's beautiful how the psalmist found assurance of answered prayer almost immediately and praises the Lord for it. Oh for my soul to find such assurance when I pray!

Vital Equations

Law = Command + Penalty
Grace = Command + Power

1 John - Declaration of the Witness

The World (1 John 5:4-5)
The Witness (1 John 5:6-13)
The Will (1 John 5:14-17)
The 'We knows' (1 John 5:18-20)
The Warning (1 John 5:21)

1 John - Depths of Love

Listening to the Spirit (1 John 4:1-6)
Loving the Saints (1 John 4:7-5:3)

1 John - Deeds of the Devil

Righteous Living (1 John 2:28-3:10)
Really Loving (1 John 3:10-24)

1 John - Delusion of the World

John's address:
To the Entire group - forgiveness of sin (1 John 2:12)
To the Experienced group - familiarity with Christ (1 John 2:13, 14)
To the Energetic group - fondness of the world (1 John 2:13, 14-17)
To the Enthusiastic group - faltering from the truth (1 John 2:13, 18-27)

1 John - Deception of Darkness

Witnessing about the Life (1 John 1:1-4)
Walking in the Light (1 John 1:5-2:2)
Walking by the Law (1 John 2:3-8)
Working out of Love (1 John 2:9-11)

Outline of 1 John

Deception of Darkness (1 John 1:1-2:11)
Delusion of the World (1 John 2:12-2:29)
Deeds of the Devil (1 John 3:1-4:6)
Depths of Love (1 John 4:7-5:3)
Declaration of the Witness (1 John 5:4-5:21)

I said to the man that stood at the gate of the year, "Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown." And he said to me, "Go forth into the darkness and put your hand in the hand of God; And it shall be to you better than a light and safer than a known way."

Minnie Louise Haskins

Start Over

When you've trusted Jesus and walked His way,
When you've felt His hand lead you day by day,
But your steps now take you another way,
Start over.

When you've made your plans and they've gone awry,
When you've tried your best 'till there's no more try,
When you've failed yourself and you don't know why,
Start over.

When you think you're finished and want to quit,
When you've bottomed out in life's deepest pit,
When you've tried and tried to get out of it,
Start over.

When the year's been long and success few,
When December comes and you're feeling blue,
God gives a January just so you
Start over.

Starting over means victories won,
Starting over means a race well run,
Starting over means the Lord's "well done"
So don't just sit there,
Start over.

Woodrow Kroll