Truth for Today #161

Thursday September 18th

On Thursdays my posts will include verses that stood out in my readings from the Bible during week. One, two, three or maybe more. If you have a verse/verses that you read during the week and would like to share, leave it/them in the comments and I will add it/them to the post. Let’s dig deep in God’s Truth again this year!

The verses that you share are appreciated and so encouraging, I’m thankful for them and for each of you!

James 3:1-5

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

From Dianna:

“Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not everyone on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” Philippians 2:3-4 KJV

From Vera:

“On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.””
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭25‬:‭6‬-‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

From Karen:

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few. Matthews 9:27

From Nikkipolani:

John 6:29

Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

Adieu to Summer Hodgepodge

A summer sea scape dinner party to celebrate the end of summer from our deck in our former home. This is also a nod to Addy’s creative under the sea outfit at the Feis. (End of post)

It’s time for Wednesday Hodgepodge and Joyce has a fresh batch of questions to prove it.

Dinner parties were mentioned in one of our questions so here are a collection of dinner parties from the past with the Mennonite Girls Can Cook in Canada.

1. Are you more life of the party or more party pooper? If your answer is somewhere in the middle which side of the middle do you lean towards more?

I think I’m a little above middle, more toward life than pooper. 🙂 I might be one of the first ones to say goodnight these days.

Birthday party, beach party, cocktail party, dinner party, charity fundraiser, surprise party, costume party, garden party, Christmas party, reunion...what’s your favorite kind of party?

Dinner party and Christmas Party are my favorites!

2. Cheese, wine, and balsamic vinegar all improve with age. What would you personally add to the list?

Personally I believe human beings, relationships, marriage, and friendships should all improve with age. Most importantly, my faith and trust in Christ should improve with age and I should be more like Christ each new year. This is challenging and humbling and something I’d never attain to without the Holy Spirit, our Helper.

3. How do you feel about your birthday? How do you want to be celebrated? Or don’t you?

I enjoy my birthday regardless of fanfare. I do enjoy having special meals with loved ones to celebrate my birthday. I’m past needing or wanting gifts other than good times with family and friends. A card or note or text is gift enough.

4. What remarkable feat, interesting piece of trivia, or historical event occurred on your birth day and month? Not necessarily your same birth year, just the same date/month.

March 14th: It is Pi (π) day, 3.14.

In 1942 Anne Miller became the first American patient to be treated with Penicillin on this day.

5. Share two good things about your life right now.

Right now my health is good (I do have some typical old lady aches and pains) and my life in the country is good. I’m where I’m supposed to be. It is so good to be in the same town as our grandchildren.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

On Friday I’ll share more about Addy’s first Irish Feis!

This outfit isn’t representative of an Irish Feis but it played a special role in a creative dance challenge (Water, Under the Sea) at the end of the festival (feis).

He Hideth My Soul ~ Hymn

He Hideth My Soul

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
A wonderful Savior to me;
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
Where rivers of pleasure I see.

Refrain

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life with the depths of His love,
And covers me there with His hand,
And covers me there with His hand.

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
He taketh my burden away;
He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved,
He giveth me strength as my day.

Refrain

With numberless blessings each moment He crowns,
And filled with His fullness divine,
I sing in my rapture, oh, glory to God
For such a Redeemer as mine!

Refrain

When clothed in His brightness, transported I rise
To meet Him in clouds of the sky,
His perfect salvation, His wonderful love
I’ll shout with the millions on high.

Refrain

Words: Fanny Crosby

‘Jesus Revolution’

I mentioned ‘Jesus Revolution’ in a post a while back. Living in Southern California in the early 70’s there was no way to miss the buzz of what was going on and how the movement started amongst ‘hippies’ and others. I was not a hippy but I was a young believer (I wore bell-bottoms) and the noise attracted me. I wanted to see what it was all about.

Jesus was NOT a hippie. He was NOT a rebel. He obeyed His Father and did all that His Father asked Him to do, even dying on a cross.

Being born again comes with responsibility and at the point of your repentance and regeneration you are justified, yes, but you are also sanctified and continue to be sanctified. You know Jesus is Lord and you are His follower. I didn’t grow in this movement. I enjoyed some of the experience but I couldn’t stay there and I didn’t stay there. I had to find solid teaching (meat) for my journey.

I am not denying that some come to a saving faith during these movements but for continued growth and stability solid Biblical teaching is necessary. You don’t want to be in a constant ‘tossing about by every wind of doctrine’.

It’s not about just who you are it’s about what Jesus did for you and how He can change you to become more like Him.

God can and will save you but He won’t leave you as you are.

From Alistair Begg, Truth for Life (March 10, 2023):

Whatever your preferred terminology, this much is always true: the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ isn’t simply a free pass that excuses us to do as we please. No, the gospel calls us and empowers us to do what pleases the Lord. The key is that the gospel always turns us back to Jesus. As you look to Christ for your righteousness, He will enable you to “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely” and strengthen you to run the unique race God has set out for you (Hebrews 12:1-2). So today, be sure not to trust in your righteous living to earn you salvation or blessing from the Lord. But equally, be sure not to make the mistake of allowing your salvation to tempt you to be half-hearted in your pursuit of righteous living. You have been made righteous; now go and live righteously.

(I wrote this post in 2023 and never published it so I’m publishing it now)

Christus Victor (Amen) ~ Hymn

Christus Victor (Amen)

O Most High, King of the agesGreat I AM, God of wondersBy the blood You have redeemed usLed us through mighty watersOur strength, our song, our sure salvation

Now to the Lamb upon the throneBe blessing, honor, glory, powerFor the battle You have wonHallelujahAmen

O Most High, dwelling among usSon of Man sent for sinnersBy Your blood You have redeemed usSpotless Lamb, mighty SaviorWho lived, who died, who rose victorious

Now to the Lamb upon the throneBe blessing, honor, glory, powerFor the battle You have wonHallelujah

With every tribe and every tongueWe join the anthem of the angelsIn the triumph of the SonHallelujahAmen

O Most High, King of the nationsRobed in praise, crowned with splendorOn that day who will not tremble?When You stand, Christ the VictorWho was, and is, and is forever

Now to the Lamb upon the throneBe blessing, honor, glory, powerFor the battle You have wonHallelujah

With every tribe and every tongueWe join the anthem of the angelsIn the triumph of the SonHallelujahAmen

Amen, amen, amenAmen, amen, amenAmen, amen, amen

Now to the Lamb upon the throneBe blessing, honor, glory, powerFor the battle You have wonHallelujah

With every tribe and every tongueWe join the anthem of the angelsIn the triumph of the SonHallelujahAmenSing the victory of the LambHallelujah

~Amen

Amen

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Bryan Fowler / Keith Getty / Kristyn Lennox Getty / Matt Boswell Pub Designee Designee / Matt Papa

Christus Victor (Amen) lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing

Truth for Today #160

Thursday September 4th

The verses that you share are appreciated and so encouraging, I’m thankful for them and for each of you!

Note: This is a travel day for me so I’ll be late in adding your verses.

Revelation 2:1-5

To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my names’ sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

From Dianna:

“Retain in the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.” 2 Timothy 1:13-14 NASB

From Jan C:

“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him, God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see-such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.” Colossians 1:15-16 NLT

From Vera:

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭143‬:‭10‬ ‭ESV

The King of Love My Shepherd Is ~ Hymn

The King of Love My Shepherd Is

The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never,
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spread’st a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From Thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever.

Words: Henry W. Baker, 1868.

God Holds the Future In His Hands ~ Hymn

God Holds the Future in His Hands

Dread not the things that are ahead,
The burdens great, the sinking sands,
The thorns that o’er the path are spread,
God holds the future in His hands.

Refrain

God holds the future in His hands
And every heart He understands.
On Him depend,
He is your Friend,
He holds the future in His hands.

We know not what tomorrow hides,
Of sun or storm or good or ill;
We only know His dear hand guides,
And He will be our Father still.

Refrain

His hand created earth and sky,
The zephyrs and the storms that rage,
And years to come and years gone by
To Him are but an open page.

Refrain

Live close to Him and trust His love,
Assured that while on earth we roam,
Whate’er may come, He bends above
To guide His children safely home.

Refrain

Words by James Rowe, 1922.

Zephyrs are west winds in case you were wondering…

John MacArthur 1939-2025

This morning at 10:30 Pacific Time we will be live streaming the Memorial Service for Pastor John MacArthur. He was our first Pastor after Greg and I were married.

The Youtube I shared above is of a song that MacArthur wrote.

You can live stream the service if interested at the Grace Community Church Website.

The Program can be seen here, too.

The Los Angeles Police Department will do the Flag Presentation. A bagpiper will perform Amazing Grace.

It will be a God honoring and Jesus exalting memorial with many participating in the service, Alistair Begg, John Piper, Sinclair Ferguson, the Getty’s, Joni and others. Tune in for a encouraging time.

Truth for Today #158

Thursday August 21st

The verses that you share are appreciated and so encouraging, I’m thankful for them and for each of you!

Romans 8:18-25

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

From Leonard:

Ezekiel 46:1-3

“Prepare buckler and shield, and advance for battle! Harness the horses; mount, O horsemen!
Take your stations with your helmets, polish your spears, put on your armor!” (Also see Ephesians 6)

From Karen:

Romans 12:18

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage

Category Archives: Holy Spirit

Truth for Today #161

Adieu to Summer Hodgepodge

He Hideth My Soul ~ Hymn

‘Jesus Revolution’

Christus Victor (Amen) ~ Hymn

Truth for Today #160

The King of Love My Shepherd Is ~ Hymn

God Holds the Future In His Hands ~ Hymn

God Holds the Future in His Hands

John MacArthur 1939-2025

Truth for Today #158