DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 17:32 to 18:5; Isaiah 58; Romans 4:1-22
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18
Contrary to what many think, we are not told to pray or ask for the Holy Spirit to fill us! Rather it is an instruction for me to obey. To understand what it means, Paul gives us the illustration of being drunk with wine. If I decide to imbibe wine and get drunk I have chosen to allow wine to completely control me. Instead of that, I must daily make the decision to allow the Holy Spirit to completely control my mind; my heart; my life, indeed my all. I am then “filled with the Spirit”. I may not realize it but others will see it is true and my consequent actions will bring glory to the Lord Jesus. —David Croudace
I need to be filled with the Spirit, each moment of every day, I need to be filled in the morning, ere starting upon my way. —Habershon
Not My Will By: Ghislaine Spence Order now! The inspiring true story of a French-Canadian girl’s struggles with submission to the Lord’s Will On the voyage of life we’re often fearful, confused, and question the Lord’s dealings with us. Ghislaine Spence—a wife, mother and grandmother, has felt the same.
Not My Will is Spence’s autobiographical account of her journey on the pathway of life. Beginning with her early childhood in Quebec, it traces her upbringing, relationships, life experiences, and times of grief and tragedy. It also chronicles the struggles that ultimately carried her and her husband to a prison ministry. An incredibly inspiring story, it shows how the Lord sends adversity in our lives—not only to reshape us, but also to teach us the enjoyment of His love, fellowship and peace that can only come through submission to His will. “…Who teacheth like him?” (Job 36:22). Reviews of Not My Will: “I read the whole book almost in a day. I truly enjoyed it. My husband is reading it now.” (D.B. – Ontario, Canada) “I can’t remember if I ever thanked you for your inspiring, encouraging, moving book called, Not My Will. I enjoyed reading it very much. It made me laugh, smile, weep, and thank the Lord. It is great to see the Lord’s loving hand at work and to say, “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” Ps. 118:23. Like in the Choice Gleanings calendar this morning ~ suffering is part of life, but for the believer it can be an opportunity to deliver an incredible message. You have an incredible message in your book, a message about His love and peace.” (J.B. – Kentucky) “I loved how the Lord revealed His will in your life… It made me want that same thing for my life.” (N.H. – Iowa) “…I read it straight through and cried and cried… I know the Lord’s timing was absolutely perfect as I soaked in the encouragement that many of the scriptures offered. The Lord’s words endure and are applicable through so many of our trials. I needed it all just then.” (E.C. – Illinois) “An inspiring story of faith being tested to the extreme, and the deep faith in her Lord that kept her going on…I can assure you that it will touch your heart and inspire you to live a life devoted to Jesus Christ.”
DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 17:1-31; Isaiah 56:9 to 57:21; Romans 3
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:6
The unbeliever clings to life, fearing the dark unknown, knowing he must face God in his sins. How different it is when you know the Lord and His love. A woman who is 92 years old prays daily, “Lord, I want to go home. I want to be with you. Please take me. I love you.” Because of health problems this life has become very burdensome. She wants to go home, to go to heaven where a loving Saviour awaits her. Are you saved? Do you know your sins forgiven? Have you received Christ as your Lord and Saviour? If so, you too are ready for heaven. —Donald L. Norbie
Some day the silver cord will break, and I no more as now shall sing, But, O the joy when I shall wake, within the palace of the King. —Crosby
DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 16; Isaiah 55 to 56:8; Romans 2
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands…but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. Hebrews 9:24
The high priest of old, celebrating the Day of Atonement, entered the Holiest of all carrying a censor full of burning coals with his hands full of incense (Lev. 16:12-16). When he put the incense on the fire it emitted a cloud which covered the mercy seat, shielding him from the great glory cloud representing the presence of God, “lest he die”. What a contrast to our great High Priest who stands face to face, no cloud intervening. His saving work at Calvary is now fully accomplished. Marvel of marvel, it is “for us”.—Drew Craig
Without a cloud between; to see him face to face; Not struck with dire amazement dumb, but triumphing in grace. —Albert Midlane
DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 15; Isaiah 54; Romans 1:18-32
The Lord is thy keeper… Psalm 121:5
Our keeper. What a grand title for the Lord. It means that He is tending, guarding and protecting us. His eyes are constantly upon us and His ears are continually open to our cry (Ps. 34:15). He is never weary in His care over us (Isa. 40:28). He neither slumbers nor sleeps (Ps. 121:4). In other words, He is ever aware, always alert and eternally awake. Why has He taken this work upon Himself? His great redeeming love is everlasting. —Rex Trogdon
Keep Thou my all, O Lord, hide my life in Thine; O let Thy sacred light over my pathway shine; Kept by Thy tender care, gladly the cross I’ll bear; Hear Thou and grant my prayer, hide my life in Thine. —Fanny J. Crosby
DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 14; Isaiah 52:13 to 53:12; Romans 1:1-17
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. Revelation 12:10 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb… Revelation 12:11
Often the loudest voice a downcast Christian hears is the voice of the accuser. His constant reminders of our failures, shortcomings and past sins only beat us down and keep us fruitless and discouraged. That is of course only until we look again into heaven and appreciate afresh the sufficiency of the blood of the Lamb. Sufficient to cleanse but also sufficient to silence the accuser.—Sid Halsband
I hear the accuser roar, of ills that I have done; I know them well, and thousands more; Jehovah findeth none. —S. Gandy
DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 13; Isaiah 52:1-12; 2 Cor. 12:14 to 13:14
Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth… Psalm 60:4
Solomon tells us that God’s banner is love (Song 2:4). Jesus taught that love should characterize those that are His. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church” (Eph. 5:25). “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another” (John 13:34). “And I have declared unto them thy name…that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them” (John 17:26). Display the banner of God’s love in your life. Let all around you learn something of the love of God through you. May the love of God truly be shed abroad in your heart. —D. Pickup
The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell; It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell. —F. Lehman
DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 11-12; Isaiah 51:9-23; 2 Cor. 12:1-13
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
Have you ever received wrong directions when travelling and ended up totally lost? The same thing will happen if you follow man’s directions as to how to get to heaven—eternally lost. So, don’t gamble with your eternal destination. God’s Word says that Jesus is the “only” way. You can rely on Him. —E. V.
If you would meet in heaven, Those that you miss today, The Blessèd One must lead you— He is the only way. —F. Glen
DAILY?READINGS: 1 Samuel 9:15 to 10:27; Isaiah 50 to 51:8; 2 Cor. 11
By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. Hebrews 11:29
As the children of Israel walked through the Red Sea, the enormous wall of water and the possibility of it crashing down on them could well have crossed their minds. However, they all ventured forth in faith. Why? They had seen God’s power at work in their own lives in the past and realised He could do it again. The obstacles and possibility of defeat may loom large, but if the Lord tells us to do something—let’s do it!—Brian Russell
When Israel by divine command; The pathless desert trod, They found through all the barren land; A sure resource in God. —J. Newton
Christ Loved the Church By: William MacDonald Published by: Gospel Folio Press (reprint 2008) “The author of this little book shows himself to be firmly committed to the New Testament’s teaching on the church universal and local and believes that these principles hold good for the twenty-first century. “The book consists of seventeen chapters which divide into two sections: chapters 1-9 cover the essential principles, while chapters 10-16 deal with their application in the life of the local church. A final chapter is an exhortation to the reader to put this teaching into practice in today’s hostile world. The chapters are concise, easy to read and understand and their tone is Christ-exalting. As the author states, ‘The general approach will be to review the great unchangeable verities concerning the church universal, and to show how each local assembly is responsible to witness to these truths in life and practice’. Appropriately, at the very beginning of the book, there is a timely word of caution that correctness of church position must never be divorced from correctness of condition. “Although the book is relatively short, the writer has managed to cover a great deal of ground. Having offered a definition of the church universal and local and having succinctly described the relationship between the two, he deals with the truth of the one body, the headship of Christ, reception into the assembly, the Holy Spirit in the church, discipline, the proclamation of the gospel, and the priesthood of all believers. Scripture references encourage the reader to go back to the word of God in order to confirm the teaching. The practical chapters cover baptism, the Lord’s supper, the prayer meeting, elders, deacons, finance, and the ministry of sisters. Works on these subjects are not always free from the noise of ‘grinding axes’. This book, however, is thoroughly scripture-based. It is a book which may act as a primer for young believers or a revision course for others. It is largehearted in its approach while holding firmly to the New Testament.” -Ed Hotchin, Hucknall, Nottingham, UK (Precious Seed magazine, Volume 64, Issue 1) Available in paperback and eBook formats.
