Christ Alone

O God,

Thy main plan, and the end of thy will
is to make Christ glorious and beloved in heaven
where he is now ascended,
where one day all the elect will behold his glory
and love and glorify him for ever.
Though here I love him but little,
may this be my portion at last.
In this world thou hast given me a beginning, one day it will be perfected in the realm above.
Thou hast helped me to see and know Christ, though obsurely,
to take him, receive him,
to possess him, love him,
to bless him in my heart, mouth, life.
Let me study and stand for discipline,
and all the ways of worship,
out of love for Christ;
and to show my thankfulness;
to seek and know his will from love,
to hold it in love,
and daily to care for and keep this state of heart.
Thou hast led me to place all my nature and happiness
in oness with Christ,
in having heart and mind centred only on him,
in being like him in communicating good to others;
this is my heaven on earth,
but I need the force, energy, impulses of thy Spirit
to carry me on the way to my Jerusalem.
Here is my duty...
to be as Christ in this world,
to do what he would do,
to live as he would live,
to walk in love and meekness;
then would he be known,
then would I have peace in death.

LORD...

...help me, for I am often lukewarm and chill;

unbelief mars my confidence,

sin makes me forget Thee.

Let the weeds that grow in my sould be cut at their roots;

Grant me to know that I truly live only when I live to Thee,

that all else is trifling.

Thy presence alone can make me holy, devout, strong and happy.

Abide in me, gracious God.

Today....

Almighty God,
as I cross the threshold of this day
I commit myself, soul, body, affairs, friends, to Thy care.
Watch over, keep, guide, direct, sanctify, bless me.
Incline my heart to thy ways.
Mould me wholly into the image of Jesus,
as a potter forms clay.
May my lips be a well-tuned harp to sound Thy praise.
Let those around see me living by Thy Spirit,
trampling the world underfoot,
unconformed to lying vanities,
transformed by a renewed mind,
clad in the entire armour of God,
shining as a never-dimmed light,
showing holiness in all my doings.
Let no evil this day soil my thoughts, words, hands.
May I travel miry paths with a life pure from spot or stain.
In needful transactions
let my affection be in heaven,
and my love soar upwards in flames of fire,
my gaze fixed on unseen things,
my eyes open to the emptiness, fragility, mockery of earth and its vanities.
May I view all things in the mirror of eternity,
waiting for the coming of my Lord,
listening for the last trumpet call,
hastening unto the new heaven and earth.
Order this day all my communications according to Thy wisdom,
and to the gain of mutual good.
Forbid that I should not be profited or made profitable.
May I speak each word as if my last word,
and walk each step as my final one.
If my life should end today, let this be my best day.

Giving Thanks Friday

I sat at my kitchen table this morning with Superman and T-Rex as we did our "table time" for class. While Superman worked on his spelling I searched the word for "thankful" verses. I read through them letting them sink in and bring my heart and mind to praise. I read part of one to the boys: "Sing praises to the Lord, Oh you His saints, and give thanks to His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment and His favor is for a lifetime." Psalm 30: 30:4-5 Praise flowed. I don't think Superman and T-rex felt the same sweeping gratitude that leaped in my soul but I hope they experienced a glimpse of it through me.

We sat their together reflecting on all of the wonderful blessings that fill our life when my thoughts were turned to our health and I remembered all of the children and mothers who are suffering all over the world from illness or losses from those illnesses. I am thankful for a few of them personally for constantly turning my eyes to the Savior and encouraging my faith greatly.

We got down from the table and visited them and prayed over them...

Sean
Ethan
Noah
Heather

Then we prayed together giving thanks to the One who is in control of these families, who is their Refuge and their Rock. (Psalm 31:1-5) We prayed for His continual presence in their lives and in ours.

I will leave you with a prayer I read this morning that dug deep into me.
(be sure not to pass over it leaving it behind but letting it spill out to God in praise)

O my God,

Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects,
my heart admires, adores, love thee,
for my little vessel is as full as it can be,
and I would pour out all that fullness before thee in ceaseless flow.

When I think upon and converse with thee
ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,
ten thousands sources of pleasure are unsealed,
ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,
crowding into every moment of happiness.

I bless thee for the soul thou hast created,
for adorning it, sanctifying it,
though it is fixed in barren soil;
for the body thou hast given me,
for preserving its strength and vigour,
for providing senses to enjoy delights,
for the ease and freedom of my limbs,
for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding,
for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,
for a full table and overflowing cup,
for appetite, taste, sweetness,
for social joys of relatives and friends,
for ability to serve others,
for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,
for a mind to care for my fellow-men,
for opportunities of spreading happiness around,
for loved ones in the joys of heaven,
for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.

I love thee above the powers of language to express,
for what thou art to thy creatures.

Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity.

Give Thanks to God today for the many blessings that are surrounding you today and then head over to Kelli's to see other Giving Thanks posts!

Meeting God

Great God, in public and private, in sanctuary and home, may my life be steeped in prayer, filled with the spirit of grace and supplication, each prayer perfumed with the incense of atoning blood. Help me, defend me, until from praying ground I pass to the realm of unceasing praise. Urged by my need, invited by Thy promises, called by Thy Spirit, I enter Thy presence, worshipping Thee with godly fear, awed by Thy majesty, greatness, glory, but encouraged by Thy love.

I am all poverty as well as all guilt, having nothing of my own with which to repay Thee, but I bring Jesus to Thee in the arms of faith, pleading His righteousness to offset my iniquities, rejoicing that He will weigh down the scales for me, and satisfy thy justice. I bless Thee that great sin draws out great grace, that, although the lest sin deserves infinite punishment because done against an infinite God, yet there is mercy for me, for where guilt is most terrible, there Thy mercy in Christ is most free and deep. Bless me by revealing to me more of His saving merits, by causing Thy goodness to pass before me, by speaking peace to my contrite heart; strengthen me to give Thee no rest untiI Christ shall reign supreme within me in every thought, word, and deed, in a faith that purifies the heart, overcomes the world, works by love, fastens me to Thee, and ever clings to the cross.