some good quotes for a snowy morning

"With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give Him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to Him and accepted by Him. Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all His demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity." Romans 12:1-2 (J.B. Phillips)

"We should be 'jealous'... for the honor of His name - troubled when it remains unknown, hurt when it is ignored, indignant when it is blasphemed. And all the time anxious and determined that it shall be given the honor and glory which are due it." John Stott

"the Word of God that we read and proclaim will fall on deaf ears unless God Himself attends that Word by the Holy Spirit and opens the ears of those who hear it." R.C. Sproul

"The first thing, therefore, that God does when He makes anyone a new creature in Christ, is to send light into his heart, and show him that he is a guilty sinner." J.C. Ryle

the task at hand

from the passage read during the devotions at my first session meeting as an elder in our church...

"and we urge you, brothers,

• admonish the idle,
• encourage the fainthearted,
• help the weak,
• be patient with them all." 1 Thessalonians 5:14

Father, help me to be faithful in Your service.

one oh three

bless the LORD, o my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!
bless the LORD, o my soul, and forget not all His benefits,

• who forgives all your iniquity,
• who heals all your diseases,
• who redeems your life from the pit,
• who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
• who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

the LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the people of Israel.
the LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always chide, nor will He keep His anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our iniquities.

• for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him;
• as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.
• as a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear Him.

for He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.


as for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.
but the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children,
to those who keep His covenant and remember to do His commandments.
the LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all.


bless the LORD, o you his angels, you mighty ones who do His word, obeying the voice of His word!
bless the LORD, all His hosts, His ministers, who do His will!
bless the LORD, all His works, in all places of His dominion.
bless the LORD, o my soul!