The Wife of Noble Character !!!

Proverbs 11:16

New International Version (NIV)

  A kindhearted woman gains honor,
   but ruthless men gain only wealth.

Proverbs 31:10

New International Version (NIV)

A wife of noble character who can find? 

   She is worth far more than rubies.

I am not ashamed of the gospel !!!

Romans 1:16 (NIV).

 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.......

Thoughts on This Verse... 

Are you ashamed? 

Culture tries to make us ashamed about our faith, portraying people of faith as stupid, insensitive, judgmental, and hypocritical. 

Are you ashamed? 

Are you willing to share your faith humbly and gently with those who do not know Jesus as their Lord? 

Are you ashamed? 

Your hero left heaven to come to earth 

and risk everything

so that you could come home to heaven with him. This Gospel is powerful. 

This Gospel is transformational. 

This Gospel, and the salvation it brings, is for all people. So let's not be ashamed; let's be joyous and generous with this incredible gift that we have received. 

"We live unto the Lord."

"We live unto the Lord."

Romans 14:8

If God had willed it, each of us might have entered heaven at the moment of conversion. 

It was not absolutely necessary for our preparation for immortality that we should tarry here. 

It is possible for a man to be taken to heaven, and to be found meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light, though he has but just believed in Jesus. 

It is true that our sanctification is a long and continued process, and we shall not be perfected till we lay aside our bodies and enter within the veil; but nevertheless, had the Lord so willed it, he might have changed us from imperfection to perfection, and have taken us to heaven at once. 

Why then are we here? 

Would God keep his children out of paradise a single moment longer than was necessary? 

Why is the army of the living God still on the battle-field when one charge might give them the victory? 

Why are his children still wandering hither and thither through a maze, when a solitary word from his lips would bring them into the centre of their hopes in heaven? 

The answer is--they are here that they may 

"live unto the Lord," 

and may bring others to know his love. 

We remain on earth as sowers to scatter good seed; as ploughmen to break up the fallow ground; as heralds publishing salvation. We are here as the 

"salt of the earth," 

to be a blessing to the world. We are here to glorify Christ in our daily life. We are here as workers for him, and as "workers together with him." 

Let us see that our life answereth its end. 

Let us live earnest, useful, holy lives, to "the praise of the glory of his grace." Meanwhile we long to be with him, and daily sing--

"My heart is with him on his throne,

And ill can brook delay;

Each moment listening for the voice,

Rise up, and come away."

Today's reading taken from Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening."

The fruit of the Spirit !!!

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV). 

But the fruit of the Spirit is 

love, 

joy, 

peace, 

patience, 

kindness, 

goodness, 

faithfulness, 

gentleness 

and self-control. 

Against such things there is no law....... 

Thoughts on This Verse... 

When the Spirit is alive in our hearts, 

the character of God comes to life in us 

as the Spirit works to conform us 

ever more closely to the image and the character of Christ 

(2 Cor. 3:18). 

"The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad."

"The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad."

Psalm 126:3

Some Christians are sadly prone to look on the dark side of everything, and to dwell more upon what they have gone through than upon what God has done for them. Ask for their impression of the Christian life, and they will describe their continual conflicts, their deep afflictions, their sad adversities, and the sinfulness of their hearts, yet with scarcely any allusion to the mercy and help which God has vouchsafed them. 

But a Christian whose soul is in a healthy state, will come forward joyously, and say, 

"I will speak, not about myself, but to the honour of my God. 

He hath brought me up out of an horrible pit, 

and out of the miry clay, 

and set my feet upon a rock, 

and established my goings: 

and he hath put a new song in my mouth, 

even praise unto our God. 

The Lord hath done great things for me, whereof I am glad." 

Such an abstract of experience as this is the very best that any child of God can present. 

It is true that we endure trials, but it is just as true that we are delivered out of them. 

It is true that we have our corruptions, and mournfully do we know this, but it is quite as true that we have an all-sufficient Saviour, who overcomes these corruptions, and delivers us from their dominion. 

In looking back, it would be wrong to deny that we have been in the Slough of Despond, and have crept along the Valley of Humiliation, but it would be equally wicked to forget that we have been through them safely and profitably; we have not remained in them, thanks to our Almighty Helper and Leader, who has brought us 

"out into a wealthy place."

 The deeper our troubles, the louder our thanks to God, who has led us through all, and preserved us until now. Our griefs cannot mar the melody of our praise, we reckon them to be the bass part of our life's song, 

"He hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad."

Today's reading taken from Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening."

"There fell down many slain, because the war was of God."

"There fell down many slain, because the war was of God."
1 Chronicles 5:22

Warrior, fighting under the banner of the Lord Jesus, observe this verse with holy joy, for as it was in the days of old so is it now, if the war be of God the victory is sure. 
The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh could barely muster five and forty thousand fighting men, and yet in their war with the Hagarites, they slew "men, an hundred thousand," "for they cried to God in the battle, and he was entreated of them, because they put their trust in him." The Lord saveth not by many nor by few; it is ours to go forth in Jehovah's name if we be but a handful of men, for the Lord of Hosts is with us for our Captain. 


They did not neglect buckler, and sword, and bow, neither did they place their trust in these weapons; we must use all fitting means, but our confidence must rest in the Lord alone, for he is the sword and the shield of his people. The great reason of their extraordinary success lay in the fact that "the war was of God." 


Beloved, in fighting with sin without and within, with error doctrinal or practical, with spiritual wickedness in high places or low places, with devils and the devil's allies, you are waging Jehovah's war, and unless he himself can be worsted, you need not fear defeat. Quail not before superior numbers, shrink not from difficulties or impossibilities, flinch not at wounds or death, smite with the two-edged sword of the Spirit, and the slain shall lie in heaps. 


The battle is the Lord's and he will deliver his enemies into our hands. With steadfast foot, strong hand, dauntless heart, and flaming zeal, rush to the conflict, and the hosts of evil shall fly like chaff before the gale.
Stand up! stand up for Jesus!
The strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle,
The next the victor's song:
To him that overcometh,
A crown of life shall be;

He with the King of glory

Shall reign eternally.

'If anyone would come after me !!!

Luke 9:23 (NIV). 

Then he said to them all:

''If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.''...... 

Thoughts on This Verse... 

Offering ourselves to God isn't easy because it means we must first die to our own selfish will. 

Like Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane, we face our own cross and must cry out,

''Not my will, dear Father, but your will be done!'' 

"Ye that love the Lord hate evil."

"Ye that love the Lord hate evil."Psalm 97:10

Thou hast good reason to "hate evil," for only consider what harm it has already wrought thee. Oh, what a world of mischief sin has brought into thy heart! Sin blinded thee so that thou couldst not see the beauty of the Saviour; it made thee deaf so that thou couldst not hear the Redeemer's tender invitations. 

Sin turned thy feet into the way of death, and poured poison into the very fountain of thy being; it tainted thy heart, and made it "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." Oh, what a creature thou wast when evil had done its utmost with thee, before divine grace interposed! Thou wast an heir of wrath even as others; thou didst "run with the multitude to do evil." 

Such were all of us; but Paul reminds us, "but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." We have good reason, indeed, for hating evil when we look back and trace its deadly workings. Such mischief did evil do us, that our souls would have been lost had not omnipotent love interfered to redeem us. 

Even now it is an active enemy, ever watching to do us hurt, and to drag us to perdition. Therefore "hate evil," O Christians, unless you desire trouble. If you would strew your path with thorns, and plant nettles in your death-pillow, then neglect to "hate evil:" but if you would live a happy life, and die a peaceful death, then walk in all the ways of holiness, hating evil, even unto the end. If you truly love your Saviour, and would honour him, then "hate evil." We know of no cure for the love of evil in a Christian like abundant intercourse with the Lord Jesus. 

Dwell much with him, and it is impossible for you to be at peace with sin.

"Order my footsteps by thy Word,

And make my heart sincere;

Let sin have no dominion, Lord,

But keep my conscience clear."

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Today's reading taken from Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening."

"Behold, I am vile."

"Behold, I am vile."Job 40:4

One cheering word, poor lost sinner, for thee! 

You think you must not come to God because you are vile. 

Now, there is not a saint living on earth but has been made to feel that he is vile.

 If Job, and Isaiah, and Paul were all obliged to say 

"I am vile," oh, poor sinner, wilt thou be ashamed to join in the same confession? 

If divine grace does not eradicate all sin from the believer, how dost thou hope to do it thyself? 

and if God loves his people while they are yet vile, dost thou think thy vileness will prevent his loving thee? Believe on Jesus, thou outcast of the world's society! Jesus calls thee, and such as thou art.

"Not the righteous, not the righteous;

Sinners, Jesus came to call."

Even now say, "Thou hast died for sinners; 

I am a sinner, Lord Jesus, 

sprinkle thy blood on me;"

 if thou wilt confess thy sin thou shalt find pardon. 

If, now, with all thy heart, thou wilt say, 

"I am vile, wash me," thou shalt be washed now. 

If the Holy Spirit shall enable thee from thy heart to cry

"Just as I am, without one plea

But that thy blood was shed for me,

And that thou bidd'st me come to thee,

O Lamb of God, I come!"

thou shalt rise from reading this morning's portion with all thy sins pardoned; and though thou didst wake this morning with every sin that man hath ever committed on thy head, thou shalt rest tonight accepted in the Beloved; though once degraded with the rags of sin, thou shalt be adorned with a robe of righteousness, and appear white as the angels are. For "now," mark it, 

"Now is the accepted time." If thou "believest on him who justifieth the ungodly thou art saved." Oh! may the Holy Spirit give thee saving faith in him who receives the vilest.

In nearly every disciple's life, there comes a time of loneliness and doubt.

Psalm 143:8 (NIV). 

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. 

Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul....... 

Thoughts on This Verse... 

In nearly every disciple's life, there comes a time of loneliness and doubt. 

It seems as if our prayer requests just bounce off the ceiling and fall in broken pieces at our feet. 

God seems distant, hiding, asleep, or unsympathetic to our cries for mercy and help. 

Thankfully God gives us the Psalms. 

In the Psalms we can find words for almost all of life's ups and downs. 

When we are down, it is nice to know that others have been there before us and have recovered their faith and vitality. 

But, there are just some moments in life when we need to have God's reminders of his 

love and guidance. 

This psalm and these words are made for such a time.

 If the request in today's Scripture is not relevant to your need, then please, pray these words for someone else. 

If, on the other hand, they speak to you 

then please, pray them for yourself! 

"The Lord shut him in."

"The Lord shut him in."

Genesis 7:16

Noah was shut in away from all the world by the hand of divine love. 

The door of electing purpose interposes between us and the world which lieth in the wicked one. 

We are not of the world even as our Lord Jesus was not of the world. Into the sin, the gaiety, the pursuits of the multitude we cannot enter; we cannot play in the streets of Vanity Fair with the children of darkness, for our heavenly Father has shut us in. 

Noah was shut in with his God. "Come thou into the ark," was the Lord's invitation, by which he clearly showed that he himself intended to dwell in the ark with his servant and his family. Thus all the chosen dwell in God and God in them. Happy people to be enclosed in the same circle which contains God in the Trinity of his persons, Father, Son, and Spirit. Let us never be inattentive to that gracious call, "Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee, and hide thyself as it were for a little moment until the indignation be overpast." Noah was so shut in that no evil could reach him. Floods did but lift him heavenward, and winds did but waft him on his way. 

Outside of the ark all was ruin, but inside all was rest and peace. 

Without Christ we perish, 

but in Christ Jesus there is perfect safety. 

Noah was so shut in that he could not even desire to come out, and those who are in Christ Jesus are in him forever. 

They shall go no more out forever, for eternal faithfulness has shut them in, and infernal malice cannot drag them out. 

The Prince of the house of David shutteth and no man openeth; and when once in the last days as Master of the house he shall rise up and shut the door, it will be in vain for mere professors to knock, and cry Lord, Lord open unto us, for that same door which shuts in the wise virgins will shut out the foolish forever. 

Lord, shut me in by thy grace.

Today's reading taken from Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening."