Psalm 34:18

Let young persons set out in life with learning the fear of the Lord, if they desire true comfort here, and eternal happiness hereafter. Those will be most happy who begin the soonest to serve so good a Master. All aim to be happy. Surely this must look further than the present world; for man's life on earth consists but of few days, and those full of trouble. What man is he that would see the good of that where all bliss is perfect? Alas! few have this good in their thoughts. That religion promises best which creates watchfulness over the heart and over the tongue. It is not enough not to do hurt, we must study to be useful, and to live to some purpose; we must seek peace and pursue it; be willing to deny ourselves a great deal for peace' sake. It is the constant practice of real believers, when in distress, to cry unto God, and it is their constant comfort that he hears them. The righteous are humbled for sin, and are low in their own eyes. Nothing is more needful to true godliness than a contrite heart, broken off from every self-confidence. In this soil every grace will flourish, and nothing can encourage such a one but the free, rich grace of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The righteous are taken under the special protection of the Lord, yet they have their share of crosses in this world, and there are those that hate them. Both from the mercy of Heaven, and the malice of hell, the afflictions of the righteous must be many. But whatever troubles befall them, shall not hurt their souls, for God keeps them from sinning in troubles. No man is desolate, but he whom God has forsaken.

- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary

Laila Tov

לַיְלָה טוֹב

Good Night.

 

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.  Psalm 4:8 

Impart

He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.  Luke 3:11

Dressed for Service

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.  Colossians 3:12-13

Desire

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.  1 Peter 2:2-3

Abound in Hope

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.  Romans 15:13

Three

And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.  1 John 5:8

Step Out

Jasper Silas Neal ©2016

Sometimes what God is looking for is not so much the act of love, but the step of faith.

- Troi Nelson Cockayne

Pins

The pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords,  The cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office.  Exodus 35:18-19

Be It Known ...

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.  Acts 4:10

Philippians 4:13

Which must not be understood in the greatest latitude, and without any limitation; for the apostle was not omnipotent, either in himself, or by the power of Christ; nor could he do all things that Christ could do; but it must be restrained to the subject matter treated of: the sense is, that he could be content in every state, and could know how to behave himself in adversity and prosperity, amidst both poverty and plenty; yea, it may be extended to all the duties incumbent on him both as a Christian and as an apostle, as to exercise a conscience void of offence towards God and men; to take the care of all the churches; to labor more abundantly than others in preaching the Gospel; and to bear all afflictions, reproaches, and persecutions for the sake of it; yea, he could willingly and cheerfully endure the most cruel and torturing death for the sake of Christ: all these things he could do, not in his own strength, for no man was more conscious of his own weakness than he was, or knew more of the impotency of human nature; and therefore always directed others to be strong in the Lord, and in, the power of his might, and in the grace that is in Christ, on which he himself always depended, and by which he did what he did; as he adds here, through Christ which strengtheneth me.

- John Gills Exposition of The Bible

A Napkin

And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:  Luke 19:20

Faithful God

Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;  Deuteronomy 7:9

Add To Your Faith

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;   And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  2 Peter 1:5-8

Jewel

There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. Proverbs 20:15

Jewel [English] ~ ornament of metal and precious stones. 💗

In Your Hearts

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:  1 Peter 3:15

Holy Calling

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,  2 Timothy 1:9

1 John 5:14

The liberty of access and speech, that if we ask any thing according to his will, that is, which he has promised in his word. His word is a revelation of his will, in the things which concern the salvation of man. All that God has promised we are justified in expecting; and what he has promised, and we expect, we should pray for. Prayer is the language of the children of God. He who is begotten of God speaks this language. He calls God Abba, Father, in the true spirit of supplication. Prayer is the language of dependence on God; where the soul is dumb, there is neither life, love, nor faith. Faith and prayer are not boldly to advance claims upon God; we must take heed that what we ask and believe for is agreeable to the revealed will of God. What we find promised, that we may plead.

- Adam Clark Commentary

Search Me

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24

Listen to God

Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.  Job 22:21

The Paintbrush

If you want some color in your life, give God the paintbrush.

- Unknown

De l’Eternel

Mon âme soupire et même languit après les parvis de l’Eternel.  Tout mon être pousse des cris de joie vers le Dieu vivant.  Psaumes 84:3

The Way I Take

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.  Job 23:10-11

When We Eat An Apple

When we eat an apple, we first cut out the blemishes, then eat what is good, and lastly throw the core away. Such a rule I would observe in reading human authors the best may be defective, and the wisest may be mistaken. We are not only permitted, but enjoined, to call no man master.

- John Newton

Aaron

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. Psalm 133:1-3


Aaron [Hebrew] ~ Mountain of Strength 💙

Deed and Truth

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.  1 John 3:18

Not the Very Image

For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.  Hebrews 10:1

Love the Lord

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  Matthew 22:37

Kindness

If you have kindness in your heart, you offer acts of kindness to touch the hearts of others wherever you go, whether they are random or planned. Kindness becomes a way of life.

- Roy Bennett

Rocks

And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.  Luke 19:40

Golden Christians

Under your greatest troubles lie your greatest treasures! By the greatest affliction God teaches us the greatest instruction. When a believer lies under God’s hand which afflicts him, he lies in God’s heart which loves him. Suppose, Christian, that the furnace is hot, seven times hotter; it is but to make you seven times more holy! Fiery trials make golden Christians!

- William Dyer