It's Tuesday morning. I just did the laundry and dishes. As I look outside I can tell it's going to be another beautiful day. Earlier this morning, as I was reading my daily devotional (that gets sent to my e-mail) I thought I should put the devotionals at the end of all my blog posts! They are so good and I love sharing them. I have profited from them and I hope you readers will too. I know some of you already get them, but it's good to read them over again. Here is the link to the web site where I get them. http://www.gracegems.org/editor.htm
Recently I've been ruminating about how many hymns I actually know by heart. I was surprised at what I came up with. I only know about 3! I thought that that was pretty sad. I can easily sing all 54 of Taylor Swift's songs, but I can't sing songs that are pleasing and praising God! That's going to change from this day on. I'm even getting the whole family to participate in learning a song a week. The first song I want to learn is Amazing Grace. I only know the first stanza or so. I'll keep you all updated on how I do!
Here are some thoughts that Blaise Pascal wrote, ( I have just finished learning about him in history.)
"God alone is man's true good."
"We do not know of ourselves what we are, we can learn it only from God."
"It is vain that you seek within yourselves the cure for your miseries. All your intelligence can only bring you to realize that it is not within yourselves that you will find either truth or good."
I'm going to start putting in quotes and things like it, so you'll be getting a little knowledge every time you read my blog. It also makes it more interesting. I could probably go on and on about many things, but I have to start school, ( you could count this as school. It's writing :) and I have to go switch over the laundry again. I do my own laundry, but this week I'm helping Mom out with everyone else's.
In Christ,
~ Lydia
The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. Psalm 33:5
Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:
A vexing vanity!
By Thomas Watson, insightful
Play Audio! Download Audio
By Thomas Watson, insightful
Play Audio! Download Audio
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
How long will you love vanity?
(James Smith, "Important Questions" 1858)
"How long will you love vanity?" Psalm 4:2
Vanity represents the light, changeable, carnal, and fading things of time. Upon these things, the natural heart is set; around them, the unsanctified affections gather. What a vanity it is to prefer . . .
human friendship--to divine friendship,
earthly riches--to Heavenly riches,
carnal honors--to spiritual honors, and
the pleasures of a day--to the joys of eternity!
Vanity appears in the intoxicating cup, the mirthful and costly attire, and trifling with God. Surely every worldly man walks in a vain show, like an actor on the stage--and displays the most consummate folly!
Reader! are you in love with vanity? Do you love that which leads from God, keeps Him out of the thoughts, and binds you down to earth? This is vanity! How long will you love it? You have been doing so for years--though warned, convinced, and having promised to reform. You are doing so now, though . . .
mortality is at work within you,
death is very near you,
Hell is open before you, and
eternity is within a step of you!
You love vanity, when you may . . .
obtain divine mercy,
enjoy peace with God,
receive sanctifying grace, and
walk in the way to Heaven.
"How long will you love vanity?" Until . . .
some sudden stroke takes you away;
or some affliction puts you beyond the reach of mercy;
or God's Spirit ceases to strive with you;
or Satan fills your heart as he did the heart of Judas;
or God laughs at your calamity?
How long? God your Creator would ask you. "Why will you die?"
Will you carefully consider this question, and give the Lord an answer? Will you tell Him why you prefer . . .
eternal death--to eternal life,
sin--to holiness, and
Satan--to Himself?
"They who observe lying vanities, forsake their own mercy!" Jonah 2:8
(James Smith, "Important Questions" 1858)
"How long will you love vanity?" Psalm 4:2
Vanity represents the light, changeable, carnal, and fading things of time. Upon these things, the natural heart is set; around them, the unsanctified affections gather. What a vanity it is to prefer . . .
human friendship--to divine friendship,
earthly riches--to Heavenly riches,
carnal honors--to spiritual honors, and
the pleasures of a day--to the joys of eternity!
Vanity appears in the intoxicating cup, the mirthful and costly attire, and trifling with God. Surely every worldly man walks in a vain show, like an actor on the stage--and displays the most consummate folly!
Reader! are you in love with vanity? Do you love that which leads from God, keeps Him out of the thoughts, and binds you down to earth? This is vanity! How long will you love it? You have been doing so for years--though warned, convinced, and having promised to reform. You are doing so now, though . . .
mortality is at work within you,
death is very near you,
Hell is open before you, and
eternity is within a step of you!
You love vanity, when you may . . .
obtain divine mercy,
enjoy peace with God,
receive sanctifying grace, and
walk in the way to Heaven.
"How long will you love vanity?" Until . . .
some sudden stroke takes you away;
or some affliction puts you beyond the reach of mercy;
or God's Spirit ceases to strive with you;
or Satan fills your heart as he did the heart of Judas;
or God laughs at your calamity?
How long? God your Creator would ask you. "Why will you die?"
Will you carefully consider this question, and give the Lord an answer? Will you tell Him why you prefer . . .
eternal death--to eternal life,
sin--to holiness, and
Satan--to Himself?
"They who observe lying vanities, forsake their own mercy!" Jonah 2:8
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