http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall Teaching and gospel resources for Christians gathered to the Lord's Name, meeting in gospel halls throughout the world. Links included for direct excerpts from gospel hall web sites, such as www.assemblytestimony.org and others. en dondegr0 dondegr0 Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:21:31 +0200 daily 1 Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Philippians 3:13-14   Pressing On Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark. --PHILIPPIANS 3:13,14 TILL, as each moment wafts us higher, By every gush of pure desire, And high-breathed hopes of joys above, By every sacred sigh we heave, Whole years of folly we outlive, In His unerring sight, who measures Life by Love. --JOHN KEBLE WHAT we can do is a small thing; but we can will and aspire to great things. Thus, if a man cannot be great, he can yet be good in will; and what he, with his whole heart and mind, love and desire, wills to be, that without doubt he most truly is. It is little we can bring to pass; but our will and desire may be large. Nay, they may grow till they lose themselves in the infinite abyss of God. And if ye... Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:21:31 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Pressing-On/40/ http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Pressing-On/40/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Psalm 33:21   Music of the Lord Our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name.   --PSALMS 33:21 ON our way rejoicing as we homeward move, Hearken to our praises, O Thou God of love! Is there grief or sadness? Thine it cannot be! Is our sky beclouded? Clouds are not from Thee! On our way rejoicing as we homeward move, Hearken to our praises, O Thou God of love!   --J. B. S. MONSELL MY position has come to this, Am I living near my Saviour; then I am as happy as the day is long, and as light-hearted as a child. It may be that I have plenty of annoyances, but they don't trouble me when His presence is with me. Am I downcast and worried: then I am away from God.   --JOHN KENNETH MACKENZIE We may sing beforehand, even in our winter storm, in the expectation of a summer sun at the turn of the year; no created powers can mar our Lord Jesus'... Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:44:56 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Music-of-the-Lord/39/ http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Music-of-the-Lord/39/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Proverbs 16:20   Looking to God Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he. --PROVERBS 16:20 THIS world of ours is a happy world, so that God is our end, so that we can say to Him, "Thou art my God." Then everything takes new hues of joy and love. Our daily comforts have a soul in them, for they abound in thanksgiving; our daily infirmities or crosses have a special joy in them, because they are so tenderly fitted to us by the medicinal hand of our God; the commonest acts of life are full of deep interest, because their end is God; daily duties are daily joys, because they are something which God gives us to offer unto Him, to do to our very best, in acknowledgment of His love. It is His earth we walk on; His air, we breathe; His sun, the emblem of His all-penetrating love, which gladdens us. Eternity! Yes, that too is present to us, and is part of our joy on earth. God has given us faith to make our... Mon, 11 Aug 2008 03:52:50 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Look-to-God/38/ http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Look-to-God/38/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Psalm 119:94   1 John 2:17   Abandoning Self He that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 JOHN 2:17 I am Thine, save me. PSALMS 119:94 TAKE, O Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my will, all that I have and possess. Thou hast given it to me; to Thee, O Lord, I restore it; all is Thine, dispose of it according to Thy will. Give me Thy love and Thy grace, for this is enough for me. Are we willing to give ourselves entirely to God; to let Him do with us whatever He pleases; to follow anywhere at His bidding; to renounce anything at His call; asking only, in return, that He will give us Himself, with all His infinite love, to be ours from this time forever? If we are thus willing, let us kneel down this moment and tell Him so. Alone with God, let us give Him ourselves, all we have and are and shall be, to be unreservedly His. WILLIAM R. HUNTINGTON ... Sat, 02 Aug 2008 15:57:29 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Into-God-s-Hands/37/ http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Into-God-s-Hands/37/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Psalm 145:16   Spring of Life Thou openest Thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. PSALMS 145:16 THERE'S not a craving in the mind Thou dost not meet and still; There's not a wish the heart can have Which Thou dost not fulfil. FMERICK W. FABER YOU will see the truth about the eternal life soon; I don't think it is possible to live up to the highest point of duty and of happiness without this. I know, one can go on doing one's duty thoroughly under clouds of doubt, and even in complete unbelief; there are many who do, and they are dear to God, but the duty is done sadly, without the spring of life and joy that we are meant to have. That fountain of life and strength is hid in God. Christ showed us the way to it, and we get it into our souls when we utterly trust Him and give up our hearts, and our lives, and our aspirations to Him as to a faithful Creator, who... Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:21:58 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Satisfaction-in-God/36/ http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Satisfaction-in-God/36/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Judges 10:15   Peace of Heart Do Thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto Thee. JUDGES 10:15 DEAR Lord, whose mercy veileth all That may our coming days befall, Still hide from us the things to be, But rest our troubled hearts in Thee. HARRIET MCEWEN KIMBALL PEACE of heart lies in perfect resignation to the will of God. What you need is true simplicity, a certain calmness of spirit which comes from entire surrender to all that God wills, patience and toleration for your neighbor's faults, and a certain candor and childlike docility in acknowledging your own faults. The trouble you feel about so many things comes from your not accepting everything which may happen to you, with sufficient resignation to God. Put all things, then, in His hands, and offer them beforehand to Him in your heart, as a sacrifice. From the moment when you cease to want things to be according to your own judgment, and... Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:07:37 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Resting-in-God-s-will/35/ http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Resting-in-God-s-will/35/ Source: Streams in the Desert Scripture Reference: 1 John 5:4   Trust in Spite of How it Looks "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (1 John 5:4). It is easy to love Him when the blue is in the sky, When summer winds are blowing, and we smell the roses nigh; There is little effort needed to obey His precious will When it leads through flower-decked valley, or over sun-kissed hill. It is when the rain is falling, or the mist hangs in the air, When the road is dark and rugged, and the wind no longer fair, When the rosy dawn has settled in a shadowland of gray, That we find it hard to trust Him, and are slower to obey. It is easy to trust Him when the singing birds have come, And their canticles are echoed in our heart and in our home; But 'tis when we miss the music, and the days are dull and drear, That we need a faith triumphant over every doubt and fear. ... Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:37:23 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Contrary-to-Appearances/34/ http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Contrary-to-Appearances/34/ Source: Streams in the Desert Scripture Reference: Psalm 68:28   The Lord is My Strength "The Lord hath sent strength for thee" (Ps. 68.28, PBV). The Lord imparts unto us that primary strength of character which makes everything in life work with intensity and decision. We are "strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man." And the strength is continuous; reserves of power come to us which we cannot exhaust. "As thy days, so shall thy strength be"--strength of will, strength of affection, strength of judgment, strength of ideals and achievement. "The Lord is my strength" to go on. He gives us power to tread the dead level, to walk the long lane that seems never to have a turning, to go through those long reaches of life which afford no pleasant surprise, and which depress the spirits in the sameness of a terrible drudgery. "The Lord is my strength" to go up . He... Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:50:49 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Lord-is-my-Strength/33/ http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Lord-is-my-Strength/33/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Psalm 61:4   Comfort in Spirit In God I will praise His word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. PSALMS 56:4 DO not fear circumstances. They cannot hurt us, if we hold fast by God and use them as the voices and ministries of His will. Trust Him about every one and everything, for all times and all needs, earth and heaven, friends and children, the conquest of sin, the growth of holiness, the cross that chafes, the grace that stirs. ANTHONY W. THOROLD I find that it is not the circumstances in which we are placed, but the spirit in which we meet them, that constitutes our comfort; and that this may be undisturbed, if we seek for and cherish a feeling of quiet submission, whatever may be the privations allotted us. ELIZABETH T. KING Wheresoever God may lead you, there you will find Himself, in the most harassing business, as in the most tranquil prayer. ... Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:33:05 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Fear-Not/32/ http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Fear-Not/32/ Author: Charles Haddon Spurgeon Morning: The Lord's Sieve Evening: The Practice of Truth Morning: The Lord's Sieve "For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth." --Amos 9:9 Every sifting comes by divine command and permission. Satan must ask leave before he can lay a finger upon Job. Nay, more, in some sense our siftings are directly the work of heaven, for the text says, "I will sift the house of Israel." Satan, like a drudge, may hold the sieve, hoping to destroy the corn; but the overruling hand of the Master is accomplishing the purity of the grain by the very process which the enemy intended to be destructive. Precious, but much sifted corn of the Lord's floor, be comforted by the blessed fact that the Lord directeth both flail and sieve to His own glory, and to thine... Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:11:14 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/God-s-Direction/31/ http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/God-s-Direction/31/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Luke 19:9   Haggai 2:19   Decide to Rest This day is salvation come to this house. LUKE 19:9 From this day will I bless you. HAGGAI 2:19 EVERY day is a fresh beginning; Listen, my soul, to the glad refrain, And spite of old sorrow and older sinning, And puzzles forecasted and possible pain, Take heart with the day, and begin again. SUSAN COOLIDGE EVERY temptation to evil temper which can assail us to-day will be an opportunity to decide the question whether we shall gain the calmness and the rest of Christ, or whether we shall be tossed by the restlessness and agitation of the world. Nay, the very vicissitudes of the seasons, day and night, heat and cold, affecting us variably, and producing exhilaration or depression, are so contrived as to conduce towards the being which we become, and decide whether we shall be master of ourselves, or whether we shall be swept at the mercy... Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:52:16 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/This-Day/30/ http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/This-Day/30/ Author: Mrs. Charles E. Cowman Source: Streams in the Desert Scripture Reference: Romans 8:28   God Meant It Unto Good "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God" (Rom. 8:28). How wide is this assertion of the Apostle Paul! He does not say, "We know that some things," or "most things," or "joyous things," but "ALL things." From the minutest to the most momentous; from the humblest event in daily providence to the great crisis hours in grace. And all things " work '--they are working; not all things have worked, or shall work; but it is a present operation. At this very moment, when some voice may be saying, "Thy judgments are a great deep," the angels above, who are watching the development of the great plan, are with folded wings exclaiming, "The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all... Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:23:28 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/God-meant-it-for-good/29/ http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/God-meant-it-for-good/29/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: Psalm 119:48   Psalm 119:32   Seek to Please Him I will run the way of Thy commandments, when Thou shalt enlarge my heart. PSALMS 119:32 My hands also will I lift up unto Thy commandments, which I have loved. PSALMS 119:48 LOVE is higher than duty. But the reason is that love in reality contains duty in itself. Love without a sense of duty is a mere delusion, from which we cannot too soon set ourselves free. Love is duty and something more. FREDERICK TEMPLE THINK not anything little, wherein we may fulfil His commandments. It is in the midst of common and ordinary duties that our life is placed; common occupations make up our lives. By faith and love we obey; but by obedience are the faith and love, which God gives us, strengthened. Then shall we indeed love our Lord, when we seek to please Him in all things, speak or are silent, sleep or wake, labor or rest, do or suffer, with... Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:28:46 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Seeking-to-Please-Him/28/ http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Seeking-to-Please-Him/28/ Source: Joy and Strength Scripture Reference: 1 Corinthians 3:21-23   Delight Fully All things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. 1 CORINTHIANS 3:21-23 FOR those who worship Thee there is no death, For all they do is but with Thee to dwell; Now while I take from Thee this passing breath, It is but of Thy glorious name to tell. JONES VERY MARK those men whose life is hidden in God, so that of themselves they make no account. Thus can they delight themselves fully and freely in all that which God is doing, apart from the thought of themselves; and to them therefore it is true that heaven and earth are theirs, and all things are theirs, and fulfil their will, because the will of God is their will. And their cup overfloweth with joy even here below, because in all things they have a joy and delight... Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:30:41 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Delight-Fully/27/ http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Delight-Fully/27/ Morning: Small Things Evening: Why Return? Morning: Small Things "Take us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines." --Song of Solomon 2:15 A little thorn may cause much suffering. A little cloud may hide the sun. Little foxes spoil the vines; and little sins do mischief to the tender heart. These little sins burrow in the soul, and make it so full of that which is hateful to Christ, that He will hold no comfortable fellowship and communion with us. A great sin cannot destroy a Christian, but a little sin can make him miserable. Jesus will not walk with His people unless they drive out every known sin. He says, "If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love." Some Christians very seldom enjoy their Saviour's presence. How is this? Surely it must be an affliction for a tender child to be separated from his father. Art thou a child of God, and yet... Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:13:11 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Small-Things/26/ http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Small-Things/26/ Rejoice in God Serve the Lord with gladness. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations. PSALMS 100:2,5 TEACH me Thy love to know; That this new light which now I see, May both the work and workman show Then by a sunbeam I will climb to Thee. GEORGE HERBERT WHY should we not rejoice in the good things of God? If the day is pure and serene, we enjoy its gladness. Why should we not rejoice in the serene light of truth that shines from Heaven upon us? We find a joy in the presence and cheerful greeting of our friends. Why should we not look up to Heaven, whence so many pure and most loving faces look upon us with divine affection, and with most tender desires to cheer and help us? Having an almighty and most loving Father, in whom we live, and move, and have our being, let us rejoice in Him. Having a most loving Saviour, who has made Himself our brother, and feeds us with His life, we ought surely to rejoice in Him.... Mon, 26 May 2008 19:15:42 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Rejoice-in-God/25/ http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Rejoice-in-God/25/ Living for a Purpose He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. EPHESIANS 1:4 O LOVE, who formedst me to wear The image of Thy Godhead here; Who soughtest me with tender care Through all my wanderings wild and drear; O Love! I give myself to Thee, Thine ever, only Thine to be. JOHANN SCHEFFLER WE live not for ourselves, but for God; for some purpose of His; for some special end to be accomplished, which He has willed to be accomplished by oneself, and not by another; something which will be left undone, if we do it not, or not be done as it would have been done, if the one ordained to it had done it. We live gifted with certain forms of spiritual grace embodied in us, for some purpose of Divine Love to be fulfiled by us, some idea of the Divine Mind to be imaged forth in our creaturely state. To devote oneself to God is to concentrate the powers of one's being to their... Tue, 20 May 2008 19:12:50 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/God-has-a-purpose-for-us/24/ http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/God-has-a-purpose-for-us/24/ Our Citizenship They that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. HEBREWS 11:14 For our citizenship is in heaven. PHILIPPIANS 3:20 (R. V.) GREEN are the fields of the earth, holy and sweet her joys; Take, and taste, and be glad--as fruit and blossom and bird, But still as an exile, Soul; then, hey, with a singing voice, For the stars and sun and sweet heaven, whose ultimate height is the Lord! Ripe, lovely, and glad, you shall grow in the light of His face and His word. KATHERINE TYNAN HINKSON STAND still awhile, and seriously consider the noble end for which thou wast created, and for which God hath placed thee in this world! Thou wast not created for time and the creature, but for God and eternity, and to employ thyself with God and eternity. And thou art in the world, to the end that thou mayest again seek God, and His countenance which giveth blessedness, from which thou hast turned thyself away by sin; in order that thou mayest... Tue, 13 May 2008 18:25:24 +0200 http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Citizenship-in-Heaven/23/ http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Citizenship-in-Heaven/23/ Author: Mrs. Charles E. Cowman Source: Streams in the Desert Scripture Reference: Philippians 4:4-4   Rejoice Evermore "And again I say, Rejoice" (Phil. 4:4). It is a good thing to rejoice in the Lord. Perhaps you have tried this, and the first time seemed to fail. Never mind, keep right on and when you cannot feel any joy, when there is no spring, and no seeming comfort and encouragement, still rejoice, and count it all joy. Even when you fall into divers temptations, reckon it joy and delight and God will make your reckoning good. Do you suppose your Father will let you carry the banner of His victory and His gladness on to the front of the battle, and then coolly stand back and see you captured or beaten back by the enemy? NEVER! The Holy Spirit will sustain you in your bold advance, and fill your heart with gladness and praise, and you will find your heart all exhilarated and refreshed by the fullness within. Lord... Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:45:30 +0100 http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Rejoicing-in-God/22/ http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/Rejoicing-in-God/22/ Author: Mrs. Charles E. Cowman Source: Streams in the Desert Scripture Reference: Isaiah 58:14-14   God's Wind "I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth" (Isa. 58:14). Those who fly through the air in airships tell us that one of the first rules they learn is to turn their ship toward the wind, and fly against it. The wind lifts the ship up to higher heights. Where did they learn that? They learned it from the birds. If a bird is flying for pleasure, it goes with the wind. But if the bird meets danger, it turns right around and faces the wind, in order that it may rise higher; and it flies away towards the very sun. Sufferings are God's winds, His contrary winds, sometimes His strong winds. They are God's hurricanes, but, they take human life and lift it to higher levels and toward God's heavens. You have seen in the summer time a day when the atmosphere was so oppressive... Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:29:38 +0100 http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/God-s-Wind/21/ http://www.blogigo.com/gospelhall/God-s-Wind/21/