I hope I'm not too new to jump in. For those who didn't see my mini-testimony in the Welcome Forum, you might not understand this post of praise...

My world has been turned upside down and I don't have any true Christians around me for fellowship, encouragement, etc., I ache from loneliness. I'm on my face seeking God for salvation. I don't trust myself to make choices in Bible teachers or finding a church. Everything I thought I knew for the last 24 years has been shredded and destroyed. I'm learning a new language, that of True Biblical Christianity and trying to forget that of American Christianity. My heart is so heavy from my sins and I mourn for the wasted years of my life. I'm a little afraid of God right now because how can He bear to tolerate me... nonetheless, I won't stop seeking Him. Right now all I can do is weep and weep.

THIS IS WHY I CAN'T HELP BUT PRAISE GOD WITH MY WHOLE HEART! I didn't die in my sin and end up in hell! Even now, in my intense pain, I have hope! I am in the perfect position to see God move so mightily in my life that nobody around me will be able to deny His power!

I'm exhausted. I'm not wise. I have no more strength. I have no choice but to lean on God. I'm in a position where I must trust and rely on Him for everything - teaching, relationships, comfort, wisdom, direction... everything!

It's hard. It's really hard and it really hurts right now. And it certainly won't be easy. But I think I can honestly say that I would rather be right where I am than anywhere else at the moment. I will trust Him because I MUST! Jesus is ALL I have, nothing else. And I'm wholly sincere when I say that I praise the Father for the privilege of suffering to watch Him move and bring glory to Himself!

_________________
Keith

... sunshine, progress and fellowship



I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”

[i]Refrain[/i]
[i]Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.[/i]

For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim,
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

[i]Refrain[/i]

And now complete in Him
My robe His righteousness,
Close sheltered ’neath His side,
I am divinely blest.

[i]Refrain[/i]

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.

[i]Refrain[/i]

When from my dying bed
My ransomed soul shall rise,
“Jesus died my soul to save,”
Shall rend the vaulted skies.

[i]Refrain[/i]

And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down
All down at Jesus’ feet.

[i]Refrain[/i]



[url=http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/p/jpaidall.htm]http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/p/jpaidall.htm[/url]




Revelation 7:9 - 17
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, 'Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb'.

And all the angels stood round about the throne, and [i]about[/i] the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, 'Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, [i]be[/i] unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.'

And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, 'What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?' And I said unto him, 'Sir, thou knowest'.

And he said to me, 'These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes'.

... the reality of the eternal, invisible, most real kingdom




I hear Thy welcome voice
That calls me, Lord, to Thee,
For cleansing in Thy precious blood
That flowed on Calvary.

[i]Refrain[/i]
[i]I am coming Lord!
Coming now to Thee!
Wash me, cleanse me in the blood
That flowed on Calvary![/i]

[i]Refrain[/i]

Though coming weak and vile,
Thou dost my strength assure;
Thou dost my vileness fully cleanse,
Till spotless all, and pure.

[i]Refrain[/i]

’Tis Jesus calls me on
To perfect faith and love,
To perfect hope and peace and trust,
For earth and Heav’n above.

[i]Refrain[/i]

’Tis Jesus Who confirms
The blessèd work within,
By adding grace to welcomed grace,
Where reigned the power of sin.

[i]Refrain[/i]

And He the witness gives
To loyal hearts and free
That every promise is fulfilled,
If faith but brings the plea.

[i]Refrain[/i]

All hail! atoning blood!
All hail! redeeming grace!
All hail! the gift of Christ our Lord,
Our Strength and Righteousness.

[i]Refrain[/i]



Tune: Welcome Voice
[url=http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/h/iheartwv.htm]http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/h/iheartwv.htm[/url]

[url=http://www.smallchurchmusic.com/MP3/CAM_MP3-IHearThyWelcomeVoice-Pipe-128-CAM_1178938726.mp3]http://www.smallchurchmusic.com/MP3/CAM_MP3-IHearThyWelcomeVoice-Pipe-128-CAM_1178938726.mp3[/url]




Ephesians 2:8 - 22
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [i]it is[/i] the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh -- who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands -- that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, [i]that is,[/i] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man [i]from[/i] the two, [i]thus[/i] making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner[i]stone,[/i] in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Simpleliving:

Thank you, Compliments, for your encouragement. It's kinda funny because as each day goes by, it's getting less and less lonely. When I'm in the Word or listening/watching to one of the sermons here, I'm definitely not lonely!

I just pray that I will one day be able to say, like Paul, that I'm content whether my circumstances abase or abound!

Today I'm grateful that I have unhindered, open and full access to His Word. Father, please be with our brothers and sisters who risk their very lives daily simply for their belief in you, or, for being in possession of even one page of your Word.

_________________
Keith

... the ever-changing context of day-to-day living, within which He is always the same. Amen.




Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!
Sing aloud the Name;
Till it softly, slowly,
Sets all hearts aflame.

Jesus! Name of cleansing,
Washing all our stains;
Jesus! Name of healing,
Balm for all our pains.

Jesus! Name of boldness,
Making cowards brave;
Name! that in the battle,
Certainly must save.

Jesus! Name of victory,
Stretching far away,
Right across earth’s war-fields,
To the plains of day.

Jesus! Name of beauty,
Beauty far too bright
For our earth-born fancy,
For our mortal sight.

Jesus! be our joy-note
In this vale of tears;
Till we reach the homeland,
And th’eternal years.



Tune: Llanthony
[url=http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/e/jj_jesus.htm]http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/e/jj_jesus.htm[/url]



Song of Songs 1:3, 4
Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name [i]is as[/i] ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.


Matthew 25:6 - 13
And at midnight there was a cry made, 'Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him'.

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, 'Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out'. But the wise answered, saying, '[i]Not so[/i]; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves'.And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us'. But he answered and said, 'Verily I say unto you, I know you not'.

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

BE THANKFUL
By Author Unknown

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.


an email recieved by unknown friend thanks for the reminder to have a thankful heart ... a blessing to have

God bless

_________________
Claudette

... His general goodness, and His particular outworking of it to me



Soldiers of the cross, arise!
Gird you with your armor bright!
Mighty are your enemies,
Hard the battle ye must fight.

O’er a faithless fallen world,
Raise your banner in the sky!
Let it float there wide unfurled!
Bear it onward! lift it high!

Mid the homes of want and woe,
Strangers to the living Word,
Let the Savior’s herald go!
Let the voice of hope be heard!

Where the shadows deepest lie,
Carry truth’s unsullied ray!
Where are crimes of blackest dye,
There the saving sign display!

To the weary and the worn
Tell of realms where sorrows cease!
To the outcast and forlorn
Speak of mercy and of peace!

Guard the helpless! seek the strayed!
Comfort troubles! banish grief!
In the might of God arrayed,
Scatter sin and unbelief!

Be the banner still unfurled,
Still unsheathed the Spirit’s sword,
Till the kingdoms of the world
Are the kingdom of the Lord!



Tune: Orientis Partibus (Medieval French melody)
[url=http://www.ccel.org/cceh/0011/x001124.htm]http://www.ccel.org/cceh/0011/x001124.htm[/url]




James 2:1 - 20
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [i]the Lord[/i] of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, 'Sit thou here in a good place'; and say to the poor, 'Stand thou there', or 'sit here under my footstool': are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

Hearken, my beloved brethren; hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself', ye do well: but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one [i]point[/i], he is guilty of all.

For he that said, 'Do not commit adultery', said also, 'Do not kill'. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

What [i]doth it[/i] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, 'Depart in peace, be [i]ye[/i] warmed and filled'; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what [i]doth it[/i] profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, 'Thou hast faith, and I have works': shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?


Romans 13:8, 10 - 14
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law... Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [i]is[/i] the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing the time, that now [i]it is[/i] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [i]is[/i] our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [i]fulfil[/i] the lusts [i]thereof[/i].

... an ever-increasing hope in His word and power



Sing we the King Who is coming to reign,
Glory to Jesus, the Lamb that was slain.
Life and salvation His empire shall bring,
Joy to the nations when Jesus is King.

[i]Refrain[/i]
[i]Come let us sing, praise to our King,
Jesus our King, Jesus our King,
This is our song, who to Jesus belong:
Glory to Jesus, to Jesus our King.[/i]

All men shall dwell in His marvelous light,
Races long severed His love shall unite,
Justice and truth from His scepter shall spring,
Wrong shall be ended when Jesus is King.

[i]Refrain[/i]

All shall be well in His kingdom of peace,
Freedom shall flourish and wisdom increase,
Foe shall be friend when His triumph we sing,
Sword shall be sickle when Jesus is King.

[i]Refrain[/i]

Souls shall be saved from the burden of sin,
Doubt shall not darken His witness within,
Hell hath no terrors, and death hath no sting;
Love is victorious when Jesus is King.

[i]Refrain[/i]

Kingdom of Christ, for thy coming we pray,
Hasten, O Father, the dawn of the day
When this new song Thy creation shall sing,
Satan is vanquished, and Jesus is King.

[i]Refrain[/i]



Tune: Glory Land
[url=http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/i/singking.htm]http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/i/singking.htm[/url]

[url=http://hymns-organ.com/Music.php?P=1&M=1166008192&S=304&U=1191914906]http://hymns-organ.com/Music.php?P=1&M=1166008192&S=304&U=1191914906[/url]



Ephesians 3
For this cause, I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you the nations, if, indeed, ye did hear of the dispensation of the grace of God that was given to me in regard to you, that by revelation He made known to me the secret, according as I wrote before in few [i]words[/i] -- in regard to which ye are able, reading [i]it[/i], to understand my knowledge in the secret of the Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it was now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit-- that the nations be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in the Christ, through the good news, of which I became a ministrant, according to the gift of the grace of God that was given to me, according to the working of His power; to me--the less than the least of all the saints--was given this grace, among the nations to proclaim good news--the untraceable riches of the Christ, and to cause all to see what [i]is[/i] the fellowship of the secret that hath been hid from the ages in God, who the all things did create by Jesus Christ, that there might be made known now to the principalities and the authorities in the heavenly [i]places[/i], through the assembly, the manifold wisdom of God, according to a purpose of the ages, which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have the freedom and the access in confidence through the faith of him, wherefore, I ask [i]you[/i] not to faint in my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in the heavens and on earth is named, that He may give to you, according to the riches of His glory, with might to be strengthened through His Spirit, in regard to the inner man, that the Christ may dwell through the faith in your hearts, in love having been rooted and founded, that ye may be in strength to comprehend, with all the saints, what [i]is[/i] the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, to know also the love of the Christ that is exceeding the knowledge, that ye may be filled--to all the fulness of God; and to Him who is able above all things to do exceeding abundantly what we ask or think, according to the power that is working in us, to Him [i]is[/i] the glory in the assembly in Christ Jesus, to all the generations of the age of the ages. Amen.

[i]Young's Literal Translation[/i]

... the King in His beauty




Spirit of faith, come down, reveal the things of God,
And make to us the Godhead known, and witness with the blood.
’Tis Thine the blood to apply and give us eyes to see,
Who did for every sinner die hath surely died for me.

No man can truly say that Jesus is the Lord,
Unless Thou take the veil away and breathe the living Word.
Then, only then, we feel our interest in His blood,
And cry with joy unspeakable, “Thou art my Lord, my God!”

I know my Saviour lives, He lives who died for me,
My inmost soul His voice recives Who hangs on yonder tree;
Set forth before my eyes, even now I see Him bleed,
And hear His mortal groans and cries while suff'ring in my stead.

O that the world might know the all atoning Lamb!
Spirit of faith, descend and show the virtue of His Name;
The grace which all may find, the saving power, impart,
And testify to all mankind, and speak in every heart.

Inspire the living faith (which whosoever receive,
The witness in themselves they have and consciously believe),
The faith that conquers all, and doth the mountain move,
And saves whoever on Jesus call, and perfects them in love.



Tune: Diademata
[url=http://www.digitalhymnal.org/dhymn.cfm?hymnNumber=223]http://www.digitalhymnal.org/dhymn.cfm?hymnNumber=223[/url]

[url=http://www.ccel.org/cceh/0000/x000052.htm]http://www.ccel.org/cceh/0000/x000052.htm[/url]

[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mxb-nyZLFRU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mxb-nyZLFRU[/url]



1 John 1
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (for the life was manifested, and we have seen [i]it[/i], and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [i]is[/i] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [i]our[/i] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1 John 2:1 - 8
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [i]the sins of[/i] the whole world.

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.