Give Me That Old Time Gospel

[islandboy]

God knows each winding way I take,
And every sorrow, pain, and ache;
His children He will not forsake---
He knows and loves His own.     Bosch

[Soldier4Christ]

Blessed are you...

    Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks n all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thes. 5:18).

If we were of the world rather than of God, being blessed would begin and end with ideals of health, wealth and happiness. A good job, a loving spouse and a comfortable lifestyle are certainly things with which we find pleasure. But these things can be gained through good decisions, timely choices and hard work, and often with little thought of God. All in all if our blessings are counted in similar fashion as the rest of the world, we, as Christians, have just as much chance in being blessed as the rest--or not.
So long as we are counting blessings, we might as well count the greatest blessing of all, that being the very thing that separates us from the rest of the world. No, it is not our Christian lifestyle or higher moral standard, it is the indwelling Spirit of the God of the universe.
We are truly blessed above the rest, but it is not in what we have in our success or in our health. Albeit we should express thanks to God for that which we consider good, indeed for all things. For "every good and perfect gift" comes from God. But what of the other blessings--those through which God demonstrates to us that we are His own?
What about the blessing of His correction when we go astray--done with the love of a Father to help His child find the way? How about the way we are allowed to experience a rough time in order to learn and to grow? Or what about God withdrawing His protection in order to allow us to face the consequences of our actions? Do these things sound much like blessings? Probably not the kind of blessings we are used to hearing about. Certainly not the kind we are used to proudly proclaiming at a church prayer meeting.
But these are the blessings of a loving Father, who cares for His children so much more than to see to it that they have a comfortable life--He wants to see that they have a healthy faith, good character and pure hearts. By the world's standards, these are not the blessings that make us comfortable in this life, but they are the blessings that will take us into the next.
We quickly say, "Look how God has blessed me!" when things are going our way--maybe we need to seek the same attitude when things are not exactly as we would have them. And in that moment, we can then look to God who brings good in all things (Rom. 8:28), and we might simply thank Him for how He has so richly blessed us.

[Soldier4Christ]

This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind.... I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:13, 14

Father, I will that they ... whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me. John 17:24

I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. II Tim. 1:12

He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Phil. 1:6

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I Cor. 9:24-25

Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus. Heb 12:1, 2

[Soldier4Christ]

The Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee. Deut. 31:8

If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. Ex. 33:15

O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Jer. 10:23

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. Psa. 37:23, 24

I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Psa. 73:23-24

I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 8:38, 39

[islandboy]

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven,
To His feet thy tribute bring;
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore His praises sing.                    Lyte

[Soldier4Christ]

Sing unto the Lord a new song. Isa. 42:10

Sing aloud unto God our strength; make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery. Psa. 81:1, 2

He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Psa. 40:3

Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Josh. 1:9

The joy of the Lord is your strength. Neh. 8:10

Paul ... thanked God, and took courage. Acts 28:15

Knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is 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 fulfil the lusts thereof. Rom. 13:11-14

[Soldier4Christ]

Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Psa. 141:2

Thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: ... and thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee. And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: . . . and when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations. Ex. 30:1, 6-8

[Jesus] is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Heb. 7:25

The smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. Rev. 8:4

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. I Peter 2:5

Pray without ceasing. I Thess. 5:17

[Soldier4Christ]

He led them forth by the right way. Psa. 107:7

He found [Jacob] in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the LORD alone did lead him. Deut. 32:10-12

Even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. Isa. 46:4

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psa. 23:3, 4

The LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. Isa. 58:11

For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. Psa. 48:14

Who teacheth like him? Job 36:22

[Soldier4Christ]

What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? ... Lord, that I may receive my sight. Luke 18:41

Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Psa. 119:18

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. Luke 24:45

The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name.... shall teach you all things. John 14:26

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights. James 1:17

The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory... give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power. Eph. 1:17-19

[islandboy]

The Bible, O Lord, is just like a mirror
That shows me the need of my heart,
For in it I see an accurate image,
A portrait of me----every part.      Hess

[Soldier4Christ]

Ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the Lord your God giveth you. Deut. 12:9

This is not your rest. Mic. 2:10

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. Heb. 4:9

Within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus. Heb. 6:19, 20

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:2, 3

With Christ; which is far better. Phil. 1:23

God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away. Rev 21:4

There the wicked cease from troubling: and there the weary be at rest. Job 3:17

Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matt. 6:20, 21

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Col. 3:2

[Soldier4Christ]

O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory? I Cor. 15:55

The sting of death is sin. I Cor. 15:56

But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shalt he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Heb. 9:26-28

As the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Heb. 2:14, 15

I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness. II Tim. 4:6-8

[islandboy]

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear.
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer.       Scriven

[Soldier4Christ]

We which have believed do enter into rest. Heb. 4:3

They weary themselves to commit iniquity. Jer. 9:5

I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 0 wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Rom. 7:23, 24

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matt. 11:28

Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Rom. 5:1, 2

He that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works. Heb. 4:10

Not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Phil. 3:9

This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing. Isa 28:12

[Soldier4Christ]

Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Psa. 141:3

If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, 0 Lord, who shall stand? Psa. 130:3

They provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips. Psa 106:33

Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Matt. 15:11

A whisperer separateth chief friends. Prov. 16:28

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Prov. 12:18, 19

The tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. James 3:8-10

Put off ... anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds. Col 3:8, 9

This is the will of God, even your sanctification. I Thess. 4:3

In their mouth was found no guile. Rev. 14:5