Do you love Christ and the Church?
Do you love them both?

#reformationday

THE WAY

~ The Compass:
Not just a needle to be jostled by our whims and circumstances, Christ is the body of the compass, present with markings to define our heading, truer north than our desires, truer north than our North Star on cloudy days.

~ The Course:
Paul said, "I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." (2 Tim 2:7) He also said, "For me to live is Christ." (Phm 1:21) To follow Christ's course by faith is to serve Christ.

~ The Captain:
Wherever we go,
He has already been,
willing and able to turn us again.
From the grave 'neath the wave,
to the clouds in the sky,
by fish or by boat,
He can guide us by eye.

~ The Door:
The door of the sheep (Jhn 10:7,9), the strait gate (Luk 13:24), the only way (Jhn 14:6).

THE TRUTH

~ The Light:
Jhn 1:5, 9 "And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. ... That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."

~ The Rock:
Mat 7:24-25 "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock."

~ The Foundation:
Eph 2:20 "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;"

~ The Fortress:
Psa 91:2 "I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust."

THE LIFE

~ Preserver:
Psa 121:7-8 "The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore." Also, Mat 14:22-33.

~ Provider:
2 Pet 1:3 "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:" Also, Luk 5:4-11.

Nehemiah 8:9-10 KJV
9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

Hebrews 12:1-3 KJV
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, 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,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Psalm 126:1-6 KJV
1 A Song of degrees.
When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.
3 The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.
5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

The simplicity of
surrender to God
by the grace of God
is the antidote to
becoming wise in
our own conceits.

"Be simple concerning evil…" (Rom 16:19) Simply surrender. True wisdom, walking in the fear of the Lord, true goodness, will build from there.

If it is all done in our own strength, how shall God guide our hands? We need the grace of God to guide and guild our paths.

Otherwise, we are otherwise wise, wise in our own conceits, doubling down where we have not surrendered, calling it good as if the Almighty is impressed by our self-congratulations, and in pride and error we go.

No twisting of words can deceive the Most High.
But they may deceive you. So don't lie to yourself.
Hear the Word of the Lord and say,
"It is good, and I will obey."

Thanks for What?

Thanks for what? We often wonder.
What can we be grateful for?
In this land, it’s all for granted,
Then...a knock sounds at our door...

“Alms for orphans,” says the neighbor.
“Doorbell buzzer, get it real!
There’s no orphans in this city;
Ev’ry child here has a meal.”

“I’m an orphan,” says the neighbor,
“So are you, but for God’s grace.
God said, ‘Stop. Remind your neighbor
What it is to seek my face.’”

Thanks for Who? the question stands now.
Thanks for Jesus Christ Your Son.
Thanks for making life worth living.
Sincerely, Grace’s adopted son.

Hope of Seasons

Autumn leaves are gently falling,
and I wish they would not go;
But I know that their great beauty
will be touched by winter snow.

Winter snow comes for a season;
then it swiftly melts away;
But the blossoming of springtime
will erase those shades of gray.

Springtime fades away as summer
brings to life another song;
Summer heat brings forth a harvest
and the cheerful harvest song.

With those seasons quickly passing,
time stands still and I can see;
What we reap will grow tomorrow,
and tomorrow I will see.

Nothing stands at once forever,
nothing goes unchanged by time;
Only God can call the seasons,
only God can call the rhyme.

Without Him, no thing would happen,
without Him, no thing would be;
Without Him, there’d be no Saviour,
without Him, no hope to see.

When Things Go Wrong
As they often will do,
I find that God's hands
Are the gentlest and true.

Whatever will happen,
Whatever will come,
Just hold to that hand—
It's the nail pierced one.

When praying is harder
Than lips can express,
The Spirit's own groaning
Will pine for your rest.

God's ways are beyond us,
But this I am sure,
He knows you; He loves you;
He cries even more.

How ever deep your pain, His grace is deeper still.

Starlight on the Hills,
Shepherds watch their sheep.
Sound of music thrills
Those who vigil keep.

Starlight in the east,
Wise men seek a king;
Greatest and the least
Bring Him ev'rything.

Starlight overhead,
Shining on the Son,
Showing us the way,
To the Holy One.

Starlight ever shine,
Shed your beams of grace,
Cause the blind to see
The Redeemer's face.

Eric Druist 👑 Edify

The Entitlement Razor

When NECESSITIES become a LUXURY, you have POVERTY.
"We can't afford that."

But when LUXURIES become a NECESSITY, you have ENTITLEMENT.
"I gotta have that."

Read - Philippians 4:11-13
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state l am, therewith to be content.
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Pray - Proverbs 30:8
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

Don't Be A Scrooge
Proverbs 3:28 KJV
Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

For Christmas

What do I get for Christmas?
The question has often been asked.
What did I get for Christmas?
The morning the selfish unmasked.

What did God send on Christmas?
A babe in a manger so cold?
Who did God send to Calv'ry?
The half will not ever be told!

So what did we get for Christmas?
T'was but two thousand years ago.
So who did God send on Christmas?
T'was Jesus, you must surely know.

Eric Druist 👑 Edify

Faith is not
faith that the pain is gone,

Faith is
for grace while we carry on,
…today…

and the promise
…on some eternal day…
of no more pain.

https://open.substack.com/pub/ericdruist/p/suffering-in-faith?r=3o6jhx&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

I Have Redeemed Thee

1
It only takes a spark to start a fire,
And soon the forest is in flames.
It only takes a word to make a lie,
And crucify the Best of Names.

2
The gentle rain above turns to a flood,
And takes the labor of our hands.
The murmur of the earth turns to a mob,
And fights for fleeting wealth and lands.

3
The winds of change come as they please;
A gentle breeze turns to a gale.
One constant in the foaming seas,
Our Rock & Anchor will prevail.

Chorus 1 & 2 - A
There is a promise from the Lord:
He will reward all evil in the end;
And those of us who have been true,
He will restore it all ten times again.

Chorus 3 - A
There is a promise from the Lord:
He will preserve us to the end;
And if we trust Him and be true,
He will reward us all ten times again.

Chorus 1-3 - B
I have redeemed thee; I will restore.
Where I am dwelling, it is secure.
I have redeemed thee. Look up to me.
For where your eyes are, your heart will be.

Eric Druist ※ Edify

Would you go with Jesus?
When the path is bright
When the way is cheery
And the burden’s light?

Would you go with Jesus?
When the path is dim
When the way is dreary
Would you trust in Him?

The Gain is greater than the Loss; in Hope, embrace the Cross.

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." - Hebrews 12:2-3 KJV

Eric Druist ※ Edify

By Their Fruit, After Their Kind

In the beginning when God made man,
He gave him a garden as part of the plan.
There were trees bearing fruit,
There were ewes bearing lambs;
Good begat good as a gift of God's hand.

In the beginning when God made Eve,
As from man she was formed, so a man she'd conceive.
There were figs bearing figs,
But no thorns bearing thorns;
Grapes begat grapes, but no sorrows were born.

In the beginning when God made trees,
He gave us a choice of the fruits as we please:
One tree we should eat,
And one tree we should not;
One tree was eternal and one tree was rot.

In the beginning when God made lambs,
He planned for the day when the Son of Man,
Would hang on a tree,
Be pierced by a thorn,
From garden to garden, our sorrows were borne.

In the beginning when God made wine,
He prepared us a way to be joined to the Vine,
To the thief who repents:
From the Lord Jesus Christ,
“Today, you will join me in Paradise.”

In the beginning when God makes new,
When at last death is past, and a new world in view,
Weakness reaps power,
And tears beget joy,
Good begets good when sin is destroyed.

Eric Druist ※ Edify