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J.R. Miller

James Russell Miller (1840 - 1912). American Presbyterian pastor, author, and editor born near Frankfort Springs, Pennsylvania, to Irish-Scottish parents. Educated at Westminster College and Allegheny Theological Seminary, he was ordained in 1867, serving First United Presbyterian Church in New Wilmington. He pastored Bethany Presbyterian in Philadelphia, growing it from 75 to 1,200 members by 1878, then led churches in Illinois and at Hollond Mission and St. Paul Church in Philadelphia, reaching 1,397 members by 1912. Miller served as a U.S. Christian Commission agent during the Civil War, later becoming Editorial Superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication in 1880. He authored over 80 books, including In Green Pastures, selling over two million copies in his lifetime. Married to Louise King in 1870, they had three children. His devotional writings, emphasizing practical faith and pastoral care, influenced millions globally.
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Sermon Summary
J.R. Miller emphasizes the transformative power of God's Word in his sermon, urging believers to revere and internalize the Scriptures as a source of strength and guidance. He prays for God's blessings on the Word read, asking for it to inspire and shape lives, providing comfort and direction in times of need. Miller also intercedes for the health and peace of loved ones, the sick, and those facing challenges, highlighting the importance of community and compassion. He acknowledges human frailty and the need for forgiveness, seeking God's mercy and strength to live a life that glorifies Him and blesses others. The sermon concludes with a heartfelt plea for God to use our imperfect lives for His glory and the good of the world.
Prayer - Father, Bless to Us the Word We Have Read
Father, bless to us the word we have read this morning together. We thank You that here in this world we can read the very words of Heaven, and hear the voice of our Father speaking to us in human speech. Help us to reverence Your word and love it. Help us to hide its truths away in our heart, and may they then bless and transform our whole life. Help us to lean upon the words of promise as one leans upon a staff. Help us to hide away in them, as one fleeing from danger would hide in the cleft of a rock. Help us to find in Your word, lamps to shine upon our pathway, to show us how to go. Help us to take Your word as a counselor, and may it always guide us in life's paths. May our morning lesson touch and bless all the day's life. May its holy truths be inspiration, and strength, and life to us. May they be blessed impulses, stirring within us and quickening us. May they build us up in all holy character, and show us our duty at every point. We cannot live without You. We need Your presence every passing moment. May we receive Your strength, to make us strong for every task and every conflict. We pray for all of our household. We pray for the homes where our loved ones are, that they may be kept in health and peace. We pray for those who are sick. We pray for the poor and the troubled, for those who go upon the sea, for those who are exposed to danger, for the orphan children. We pray for those who must endure sore temptation, that You will keep them from falling. We beseech You to forgive all our sins, and to give us grace to live this day sweetly and beautifully, glorifying You, and blessing every life that our lives touch. We ask all in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ WEDNESDAY EVENING O God our Father, we come now at the close of this day to Your feet with our evening sacrifice. Please accept us and our worship, and grant to us Your mercy. We gave ourselves into Your hand in the morning, and You have kept us through all the experiences of the day. We bring You our day's work. It is not what it should have been. We have not lived as well as we knew how to live. We have done many things we did not mean to do — and we have failed to do many things we meant to do. Our own hearts condemn us, and You are greater than our hearts, and Your holy eye has seen much sin in our day, that even we ourselves have not seen. We plead with You for forgiveness. Yet we beseech You to accept what we bring to You, imperfect and stained as it is. You know how frail we are. You remember that we are dust. Pity our weakness, and teach us how to grow strong. Accept, therefore, the mere fragments of living which we bring You tonight, and use them for the honoring of Your own name, and the blessing of the world. Whatever has been acceptable in our life and work this day — may You take from our hands and use so that it may become a blessing to others. Bless to others the influences that have gone forth from our lives. If we have done hurt to any of Your children, may You forgive us, and heal the wounds we have made. If we have discouraged others by word or act, or by example, making life harder for them — we plead for forgiveness, and may we be enabled so to live that our lives shall be a constant help and inspiration to others. We ask all in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. Amen.
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James Russell Miller (1840 - 1912). American Presbyterian pastor, author, and editor born near Frankfort Springs, Pennsylvania, to Irish-Scottish parents. Educated at Westminster College and Allegheny Theological Seminary, he was ordained in 1867, serving First United Presbyterian Church in New Wilmington. He pastored Bethany Presbyterian in Philadelphia, growing it from 75 to 1,200 members by 1878, then led churches in Illinois and at Hollond Mission and St. Paul Church in Philadelphia, reaching 1,397 members by 1912. Miller served as a U.S. Christian Commission agent during the Civil War, later becoming Editorial Superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication in 1880. He authored over 80 books, including In Green Pastures, selling over two million copies in his lifetime. Married to Louise King in 1870, they had three children. His devotional writings, emphasizing practical faith and pastoral care, influenced millions globally.