8 hints from J.C. Ryle

1. Begin reading your Bible this very day. The way to do a thing is to do it; and the way to read the Bible is actually to read it! It is not merely meaning, or wishing, or resolving, or intending, or thinking about it , which will advance you one step. You must positively read. There is no royal road in this matter, any more than in the matter of prayer. If you cannot read yourself, you must persuade somebody else to read it to you. But one way or another, through eyes or ears, the words of Scripture must actually pass before your mind.

2. Read the Bible with an earnest desire to understand it. Do not think for a moment, that the great object is to turn over a certain quantity of printed paper, and that it matters nothing whether you understand it or not. Some ignorant people seem to imagine, that all is done if they advance so many chapters every day, though they may not have a notion what they are all about, and only know that they have pushed on their bookmark ahead so many pages. This is turning Bible reading into a mere ritual form. Settle it down in your mind as a general principle, that a Bible not understood is a Bible that does no good! Say to yourself often as you read, “What is this all about?” Dig for the meaning like a man digging for gold.

3. Read the Bible with child-like faith and humility. Open your heart as you open God’s book, and say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening!” Resolve to believe implicitly whatever you find there, however much it may run counter to your own desires and prejudices. Resolve to receive heartily every statement of truth, whether you like it or not. Beware of that miserable habit into which some readers of the Bible fall, they receive some doctrines because they like them; and they reject others because they are condemning to themselves, or to some relation, or friend. At this rate, the Bible is useless! Are we to be judges of what ought to be in God’s Word? Do we know better than God? Settle it down in your mind that you will receive all and believe all, and that what you cannot understand, you will take on trust. Remember, when you pray that you are speaking to God, and God hears you. But, remember, when you read Scripture that God is speaking to you, and you are not to “dictate,” but to listen!

4. Read the Bible in a spirit of obedience and self-application. Sit down to the study of it with a daily determination that you will live by its rules, rest on its statements, and act on its commands. Consider, as you travel through every chapter, “How does this affect my thinking and daily conduct? What does this teach me?” It is poor work to read the Bible from mere curiosity, and for speculative purposes in order to fill your head and store your mind with mere opinions; while you do not allow the book to influence your heart and life. That Bible is read best which is practiced most!

5. Read the Bible daily. Make it a part of every day’s business to read and meditate on some portion of God’s Word. Private means of grace are just as needful every day for our souls as food and clothing are for our bodies. Yesterday’s food will not feed the laborer today; and today’s food will not feed the laborer tomorrow. Do as the Israelites did in the wilderness. Gather your manna fresh every morning. Choose your own seasons and hours. Do not scramble over and hurry your reading. Give your Bible the best, and not the worst part of your time! But whatever plan you pursue, let it be a rule of your life to visit the throne of grace and God’s Word every day.

6. Read all of the Bible and read it in an orderly way. I fear there are many parts of the Word which some people never read at all. This is to say at the least, a very presumptuous habit. “All Scripture is profitable.” [2 Timothy 3:16]. To this habit may be traced that lack of well-proportioned views of truth, which is so common in this day. Some people’s Bible-reading is a system of perpetual ‘dipping and picking’. They do not seem to have an idea of regularly going through the whole book.

7. Read the Bible fairly and honestly. Determine to take everything in its plain, obvious meaning and regard all forced interpretations with great suspicion. As a general rule, whatever a verse of the Bible seems to mean it does mean! Cecil’s rule is a very valuable one, “The right way of interpreting Scripture is to take it as we find it, without any attempt to force it into any particular theological system.”

8. Read the Bible with Christ continually in view. The grand primary object of all Scripture, is to testify of Jesus! Old Testament ceremonies are shadows of Christ. Old Testament judges are types of Christ. Old Testament prophecies are full of Christ’s sufferings, and of Christ’s glory yet to come. The first coming and the second; the Lord’s humiliation and His glorious kingdom; His cross and the crown shine forth everywhere in the Bible. Keep fast hold on this clue, if you would read the Bible aright!

I might easily add to these hints, if space permitted. Few and short as they are you will find them most profitable when implemented.

~ J.C. Ryle

Practical Religion, “Bible Reading”

as found here: http://jcrylequotes.com/2012/01/23/8-profitable-ways-to-read-the-bible/

Try it sometime!!

Verse a Day and Prayers and Promises

Verse a Day
Aug 1	But whatever things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Philippians 3:7
2	In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. Psalm 56:11     But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 1 John 2:20
3	…I also count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them filth, so that I may win Christ; Philippians 3:8
4	and be found in Him; not having my own righteousness, which is of the Law, but through the faith of Christ, the righteousness of God by faith, Philippians 3:9
5	Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. Psalm 116:7
6	To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:11
7	For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our King. Psalm 89:18
8	… and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. Colossians 2:10
9	that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death; Philippians 3:10
10	if by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead. Philippians 3:11
11	Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, but I am pressing on, if I may lay hold of that for which I also was taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12
12	My brothers, I do not count myself to have taken possession, but one thing I do, forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things before, Philippians 3:13
13	I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
14	Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be of this mind. And if in anything you are otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this to you. Philippians 3:15
15	To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. Psalm 25:1
16	O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. Psalm 25:2
17	For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we are looking for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, Philippians 3:20
18	Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause. Psalm 25:3
19	Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Psalm 25:4
20	Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day. Psalm 25:5
21	Remember, O LORD, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, For they are from of old. Psalm 25:6
22	Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O LORD. Psalm 25:7
23	…who shall change our body of humiliation so that it may be fashioned like His glorious body, according to the working of His power, even to subdue all things to Himself.  Philippians 3:21
24	Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. Psalm 25:8
25	The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way. Psalm 25:9
26	All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. Psalm 25:10
27	For Your name’s sake, O LORD, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great. Psalm 25:11
28	Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He] teach in the way He chooses. Psalm 25:12
29	Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4
30	Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Philippians 4:5
31	The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant. Psalm 25:14

August 1st	Give me this water, that I thirst not. John 4:15	I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. Revelation 21:6
2nd	Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy. Psalm 82:3	He shall judge the poor of the people, He shall save the children of the needy. Psalm 72:4
3rd	We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord; but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies. 1 Samuel 12:10	The Lord your God, He shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies. 2 Kings 17:39
4th	For Thy Name’s sake lead me, and guide me. Psalm 31:3	This God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even unto death. Psalm 48:14
5th	Give me understanding, that I may learn Thy commandments. Psalm 119:73	What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose. Psalm 25:12
6th	O forsake me not utterly. Psalm 119:8	The Lord thy God is a merciful God, He will not forsake thee. Deuteronomy 4:31
7th	Stir up Thy strength, and come and save us. Psalm 80:2	The afflicted people Thou wilt save. 2 Samuel 22:28
8th	Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee. John 21:17	He that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him. John 14:21
9th	Will He reserve His anger for ever? Will He keep it to the end? Jeremiah 3:5	I will not cause Mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. Jeremiah 3:12
10th	Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins. Psalm 25:18	Son, be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven thee. Matthew 9:2
11th	Wilt Thou not revive us again: that Thy people may rejoice in Thee? Psalm 85:6	After two days will He revive us; in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. Hosea 6:2
12th	Lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death. Psalm 13:3	The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. Psalm 18:28
13th	Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3	I will be with thy mouth. Exodus 4:12
14th	Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean. Matthew 8:2	I will cleanse them from all their iniquity. Jeremiah 33:8
15th	O Lord, Thou hast seen my wrong: judge Thou my cause. Lamentations 3:59	The Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor. Psalm 140:12
16th	Show me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed. Psalm 86:17	The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will shew them His covenant. Psalm 25:14
17th	Purge away our sins, for Thy name’s sake.  Psalm 79:9	I will save you from all your uncleannesses. Ezekiel 36:29
18th	O Lord, spare Thy people. Joel 2:17	I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Malachi 3:17
19th	O Lord God, prosper my way, which I go. Genesis 24:42	The Lord will send His angel, and prosper thy way. Genesis 24:40
20th	O God, my soul thirsteth to see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary. Psalm 63:1,2	I will bring them to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Isaiah 56:7
21st	God save the king. 2 Chronicles 23:11	The king shall joy in Thy strength, O Lord; and in Thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! Psalm 21:1
22nd	Do good in Thy good pleasure unto Zion: build Thou the walls of Jerusalem.  Psalm 51:18	God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah. Psalm 69:35
23rd	Save me, O God, by Thy name, and judge me by Thy strength. Psalm 54:1	The Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; He will save us. Isaiah 33:22
24th	O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee. Psalm 63:1	They that seek Me early shall find Me. Proverbs 8:17
25th	O God, hide not Thyself from my supplication; attend unto me, and hear me. Psalm 55:1+2	Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am. Isaiah 58:9
26th	Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Psalm 60:11	The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee, and send thee help. Psalm 20:1+2
27th	Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles. Psalm 25:22	In His love and in His pity He redeemed them. Isaiah 63:9
28th	O Lord, I am oppressed; undertake for me. Isaiah 38:14	For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. Psalm 12:5
29th	Into Thine hand I commit my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. Psalm 31:5	I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death; O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction. Hosea 13:14
30th	Be Thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. Psalm 31:2	A man shall be as an hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. Isaiah 32:2
31st	Now, O Lord God, the word that Thou hast spoken concerning Thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as Thou hast said. 2 Samuel 7:25	The children of Thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before Thee. Psalm 102:28

I am waiting for the dawning of the bright and blessed day

Here's a great old hymn we sang at Church this evening. I didn't know it very well if at all, but it's a really good one!! 

I am waiting for the dawning
Of the bright and blessèd day,
When the darksome night of sorrow
Shall have vanished far away—
When for ever with the Saviour,
Far beyond this vale of tears,
I shall swell the song of worship
Through the everlasting years.

I am looking at the brightness—
See, it shineth from afar—
Of the clear and joyous beaming
Of the Bright and Morning Star.
Through the dark gray mist of morning
Do I see its glorious light;
Then away with every shadow
Of this sad and weary night.

I am waiting for the coming
Of the Lord who died for me;
Oh, His words have thrilled my spirit,
I will come again for thee.
I can almost hear His footfall,
On the threshold of the door,
And my heart, my heart is longing,
To be with Him evermore.

by Samuel Trevor Francis

Enjoy!!

John Mackay the Creation Guy

Here's a quick preview of a teaching session by John Mackay.

 Here's a snippet of the time Richard Dawkins interviewed John Mackay.

If you want any info/ answered questions on anything regarding Creation, check out John Mackay, the Creation Guy.

I've mentioned the home Creation Research website before and there is a wealth of fascinating information and 3d web museum etc. Definitely worth a good look round. Keep up to date with all the latest news about Dawkins, new fossil finds, polystrate trees,  etc.

http://www.creationresearch.net/

http://www.facebook.com/askjohnmackay

http://askjohnmackay.com/ (Q&A site.)

Are you walking in darkness?

Here's a great little video regarding many things including Salvation and Enthusiasm!!

Enjoy!

Another poem.

A poem I found in Traveling toward Sunrise:

She had a doubt, and buried it before the day was old;
She did not tell it to a friend - what if his love grew cold?
She buried it and turned to Christ. "Lord, Thou hast died for me-
Increase my faith, my feeble faith, and bid me cling to Thee!"


I thought it was a good one to remember, especially, the reminder to turn to Christ in every situation.
If you cling to Him, He holds you securely. 

The Thorn by Martha Snell Nicholson

I heard this poem last night and it is very moving! 

The Thorn

I stood a mendicant of God before His royal throne

And begged him for one priceless gift, which I could call my own.

I took the gift from out His hand, but as I would depart

I cried, “But Lord this is a thorn and it has pierced my heart.

This is a strange, a hurtful gift, which Thou hast given me.”

He said, “My child, I give good gifts and gave My best to thee.”

I took it home and though at first the cruel thorn hurt sore,

As long years passed I learned at last to love it more and more.

I learned He never gives a thorn without this added grace,

He takes the thorn to pin aside the veil which hides His face.

by Martha Snell Nicholson

I have been greatly challenged by this. 

Am I willing to allow God to give me "a thorn"?

Are you?

An e-Sword word study!

E-Sword is a wonderful thing! After hearing some teaching on Holiness (i.e.: it is the basic law of the Temple, and God's people), I decided to do a word study and  it found 43 verses: (listed below). 
The dictionary defines holiness as: "The state of being holy". It really means being separate and set apart. 
It is so important that we live pure and holy lives that are well-pleasing to God. See the last verse (Hebrews 12:14) for proof of that! The only way we can live like that is by allowing the Holy Spirit to be in control of our lives. (Romans 3:23 says we've all sinned and come short of the glory of God). It's a blessed thing to remember that the Lord will keep us as His own treasured possession when we are completely surrendered to Him. We mustn't allow compromise to tempt us away to the ways of the world. We must keep our eyes fixed on Him in His Beauty and Glory!  It's all quite fascinating isn't it! 


Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
(Exodus 15:11) (YES, HE IS SO GLORIOUS!!)

And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
(Exodus 28:36)

And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
(Exodus 39:30)

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
(1 Chronicles 16:29) (REMEMBER: GOD SAYS HOLINESS IS BEAUTIFUL!)

And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.
(2 Chronicles 20:21)

And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness:
(2 Chronicles 31:18)

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
(Psalms 29:2)

Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
(Psalms 30:4)

God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
(Psalms 47:8)

A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
(Psalms 48:1)

God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
(Psalms 60:6) (HE IS SO "OTHER", SO DIFFERENT THAN ANYTHING AND ANYONE ELSE!)

Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.
(Psalms 89:35)

Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.
(Psalms 93:5)

O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
(Psalms 96:9)

Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
(Psalms 97:12)

God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
(Psalms 108:7)

Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
(Psalms 110:3)

And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.
(Isaiah 23:18)

And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
(Isaiah 35:8)

But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness.
(Isaiah 62:9)

Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?
(Isaiah 63:15)

The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.
(Isaiah 63:18)

Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.
(Jeremiah 2:3)

Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness.
(Jeremiah 23:9)

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.
(Jeremiah 31:23)

The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.
(Amos 4:2)

But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
(Obadiah 1:17)

In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD'S house shall be like the bowls before the altar.
(Zechariah 14:20)

Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.
(Zechariah 14:21)

Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.
(Malachi 2:11)

In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
(Luke 1:75) (CAN YOU OR I HONESTLY SAY THAT WE'RE HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS EVERY DAY?)

And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?
(Acts 3:12)

And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
(Romans 1:4)

I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
(Romans 6:19)

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
(Romans 6:22)

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
(2 Corinthians 7:1)

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
(Ephesians 4:24)

To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
(1 Thessalonians 3:13) (HOW WONDERFUL TO BE "UNBLAMEABLE IN HOLINESS" !)

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
(1 Thessalonians 4:7)

Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
(1 Timothy 2:15)

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
(Titus 2:3)

For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
(Hebrews 12:10)

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
(Hebrews 12:14) (ASK JESUS FOR HIS HOLINESS TO BE MANIFESTED IN YOUR LIFE: IT WILL MEAN DEATH TO SELF, A DENYING OF YOUR RIGHTS, BUT HE IS SO WORTH IT!!!!)

On the same theme: Here is a lovely song about it:

Isaiah 26:4

Here's an interesting "God-incidence". On 5 July, the "Verse a Day" was

Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. Isaiah 26:4

and it also cropped up in at least 2 other places on the same day, on Twitter, and in Spurgeon's "Evening by Evening". I guess God really wanted me to sit up and take notice when He said something 3 times in one day! I'm still trying to work out exactly why I needed to be reminded of this 3 times.

Can you think of any times in your life where God has spoken the same thing so often? He often seems to repeat things many times for me (I obviously don't take it in easily the first time!) It's so good to remember He is so Faithful and enduringly strong.

Robert Murray M'Cheyne

Here are a few great quotes from Robert Murray M'Cheyne:

I hope you're as blessed by them as I was!!

"Live near to God, and all things will appear little to you in comparison with eternal realities."

"Unfathomable oceans of grace are in Christ for you. Dive and dive again, you will never come to the bottom of these depths. How many millions of dazzling pearls and gems are at this moment hid in the deep recesses of the ocean caves."

"Our soul should be a mirror of Christ; we should reflect every feature: for every grace in Christ there should be a counterpart in us." 

"You will be incomplete Christians if you do not look for the coming again of the Lord Jesus"  

"One gem from that ocean is worth all the pebbles from earthly streams."    [speaking of the Scriptures]

"Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley. He changes not! Live nearer to Christ than to any person on this earth; so that when they are taken, you may have Him to love and lean upon."

As found on this website along with lots of others: Check it out!

http://www.mcheyne.info/quotes.php

Excerpt from Traveling toward sunrise June 29th.

Ere thou sleepest, gently lay
Every troubled thought away;
Put away worry and distress
As thou puttest off thy dress.
Drop thy burden and thy care
In the quiet arms of prayer.
Lord, thou knowest how I live;
All I've done amiss forgive,
All the good I've tried to do
Strengthen, bless and carry through,
All I love in safety keep
While in Thee I fall asleep.

I thought this was another really nice poem to share with you all.
Enjoy!