Author: Gospel Folio Press

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 29; Proverbs 25 to 26:12; Luke 2:22-52

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind. Luke 10:27

 

In our walk with the Lord we are often consumed with serving Him. This is good, because we are to be “doers of the word, not hearers only.” However, we must remember that “Life eternal is to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). A friend once told me, “It is more important to be in love with the Lord of the work than with the work of the Lord.” He comes first! —Bob Cretney

Take my love, my God I pour,
At thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself and I will be,
Ever only, all for Thee. —Frances Ridley Havergal

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 28; Proverbs 24; Luke 2:1-21

 

God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. Revelation 7:17

 

We tend to forget or dismiss how tender God is toward His own. Perhaps it is because the judgement of the world is coming. We think of God as if remnants of His wrath could come our way, instead of enjoying just how good and kind and tenderhearted our Father is to those of His household. Even to prodigals, He is ever watchful of their return, ready to celebrate their repentance. May we approach Him with similar tenderheartedness, and extend it also to others. —Tom Steere

Through the love of God our Saviour, all will be well;
Free and changeless is His favour—all, all is well.
Precious is the blood that healed us, perfect is the grace that sealed us,
Strong the hand stretched forth to shield us, all must be well.—Mary Bowley Peters

 

DAILY?READINGS: Num. 26:52 to 27:23; Prov. 23:12-35; Luke 1:57-80

 

 

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Chirst. Ephesians 5:20

 

It is easy to be thankful in times of blessing. It is much more difficult to be thankful in times of sorrow, trial, or difficulty. Our prayer should be, thank you Lord what for You have given. Thank you for what you have taken away and thank you for what remains. Let us remember that our personal attitude will determine our spiritual altitude.—Robert Gentile

O Thou, whose bounty fills our cup with ev’ry blessing meet!
We give Thee thanks for every drop, the bitter and the sweet.—J. Crewson

 

DAILY?READINGS: Num. 25 to 26:51; Prov. 22:17 to 23:11; Luke 1:26-56

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1

 

The Society of International Law in London recently reported a startling statistic: the world has been at peace for less than eight percent of its history. The study stated that in the past 3,530 years, there have been only 286 years of peace. Over the same period more than 8,000 peace treaties have been made—and broken. In contrast to the world’s shattered peace, true peace with God is found only in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. His will for Believers is to go on to know the peace of God from Him who is the God of peace. Do you possess His peace? —W. Ross Rainey

Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin.
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within. —E. H. Bickersteth

DAILY?READINGS: Num. 23:27-24:25; Prov. 21:12-22:16; Luke 1:1-25

 

For this child I prayed. 1 Samuel 1:27

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is His reward. Psalm 127: 3

 

Today there is a war on mothers and fathers. The media, government legislation and others are constantly redefining the role of the family. Yet God is the one who established the family and defined it as a man and a woman (Gen. 3:24). Only a woman can carry new life, the life of an eternal soul. This is the fruit of the womb. This is a holy gift entrusted to a mother. There is a cost of motherhood, and the price is no small sum to raise that child for God. Mothers, may God give you that needed grace! —Jim Comte

Bound by the grace Your love imparts.
Make me a mother who follows Your heart.—Claire Cloninger

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Num. 22:39-23:26; Prov. 20 to 21:11; James 4:13-5:20

 

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25

 

Do you like to meet with the Lord’s people? What else would I prefer to be doing? Meeting with His people honours the Lord, who bought us. It encourages the other believers, and it encourages you and me. We can look back and see many precious times of fellowship when we have met together with those who love the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us remember those former times of blessing and continue to look for them today. —Mark Fenn

 

“Abba, Father,” we approach Thee in our Saviour’s precious name;
We, Thy children, here assembling, now the promised blessing claim.—J. G. Deck

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 22:1-38; Proverbs 19; James 3 to 4:12

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8

 

Even in drought this tree bore fruit. What was the secret? It was planted by the streams of water. So too, we spiritually need to sink our roots deep into the living water. Even when drought comes, our leaves will be green and our fruit will not fail. —Johannes Bruwer

I’m singing “Hallelujah,” safely anchored in my soul,
I’m planted where the living waters flow;
I’m resting on His promises; the blood has made me whole;
I’m planted where the living waters flow. —Ina D. Ogdon

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 21; Proverbs 18; James 2

 

It is appointed unto men once to die. Hebrews 9:27

 

The Pharisees sought to change the direction of Jesus’ journey by telling Him that Herod would kill Him if He went to Jerusalem. But Jesus responded that He would do God’s will today, tomorrow, and the third day. (Luke 13:32). This incident provides courage and comfort to us when we are faced with threatening things in our lives. We can take solace that we will not die until the appointed time. We can take comfort that our Lord will never leave or forsake us, but will be with us even through the valley of the shadow of death. —D. Pickup

Under His wings, O what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life’s trials are o’re;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me;
Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore. —William Cushing

 

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 20; Proverbs 17; James 1

 

For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God. Ecclesiastes 5:7

 

Although God is sovereign and can choose to speak in many ways, it is very rarely these days through the medium of dreams. Many Christians suffer nightly from negative dreams and bad sleep, which leave them feeling shattered when they wake in the morning. It can be a real “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor. 12:7). Fear God and look to Him and His Word to quieten your thoughts and fears. If you are a person who enjoys a good night’s sleep—be thankful. —Brian Russell

Deep in unfathomable mines,
Of never failing skill;
He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will. —William Cowper

 

 

DAILY?READINGS: Numbers 19; Proverbs 16; 2 Peter 3

 

 

My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me the fountain of living waters, and have hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. Jeremiah 2:13

 

How foolish to exchange the plentiful, pure water of a fountain, for the meagre trickle from a broken cistern! In a figure, this is what Israel had done: they turned from the Lord, and gave their allegiance to false gods. The lesson for us is clear: Shall we go for our spiritual refreshment to the Fountain, or shall we resort to impure, unsatisfying worldly sources? —George Hall

O, what is all that earth can give?
I’m called to share in God’s own joy:
Dead to the world, in Thee I live,
In Thee I’ve bliss without alloy. —Author Unknown