"Salvation is of the LORD." -Jonah 2:9

"Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked." -PSALM 82:3-4 [KJV] “ ...he that hath no sword, LET HIM SELL HIS GARMENT, AND BUY ONE.” -LUKE 22:36 [KJV] Hello friends, I found a write-up of interest on a certain discussion forum and thought to share it with you: "In personal protection class I was taught that legally (and as a rule morally ), there must be three elements present before you meet the “ What would a reasonable person do?” standard to justify using lethal force ... 1) The “actor” who presents a threat must have the CAPABILITY to cause you death or serious bodily injury. 2) The actor must have the 0PPORTUNITY to cause you death or serious bodily injury. 3) The actor must ACT in a fashion which would cause you death or serious bodily injury. Those are my “ Unlock Codes." If I reasonably believe those criteria are met, the ...

" …Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" -R OMANS 5:20 [KJV] March 18 th , 1767 A.D. Dear friend, You have one hard lesson to learn, that is--the evil of your own heart. You know something of it, but it is needful that you should know more; for the more we know of ourselves--the more we shall prize and love Jesus and His wondrous salvation. The more you know Him--the better you will trust Him. The more you trust Him--the better you will love Him. The more you love Him--the better you will serve Him. This is God's way. He is teaching you these things, and I trust He will teach you to the end. Do not be surprised to find yourself to be poor, helpless, and vile. All whom God favors and teaches--will find themselves so. The more grace increases--the more we shall see in ourselves to abase us in our own eyes! I hope what you find in yourself by daily experience, will humble you--but not discourage you. For if our Physician is God almighty--o...

“ Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me: for Thou art the God of my salvation; on Thee do I wait all the day.” -P SALM 25:5 [KJV] What a mercy it is, in the midst of prevailing errors, to possess the truth of God--the sure word of His testimony--the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make us wise unto salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. May we read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the truth--that we may find it profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and instruction in righteousness. Too frequently the Word of God is read with little profit, because it is read with little prayer. We need Divine illumination! We need the teaching of the Great Expositor, in order rightly to understand the Word of God, and to receive it in the love of it. May the prayer of the psalmist be my prayer: “Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me!” Lead me into the knowledge and experience of it--let it dwell in my heart, and influence my life. Lead me into the enjoyme...

"Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." -P SALM 81:10 [KJV] When the Lord favours your soul with sweet access at a throne of grace, make the most of it. What should we think of the master of a vessel coming up the river, if, when the wind was favourable and the tide served, he would not heave her anchor, or hoisted but her fore-sail to the breeze, and would not take full advantage of wind and tide? Now it is so sometimes with our souls; a gale blows, a gale of grace on the soul, and the tide of faith rises. Is it not our wisdom, and is it not our mercy, at such a rare season, to make the most of it? If the Lord deign to give us an ear, is it not our mercy to tell him all that our souls desire?   Do you recollect what the prophet said to the king who only struck his arrows three times on the ground, and then stayed? "The man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till t...

“ He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness.” -I SAIAH 61:10 [KJV] We do not think it strange, or preposterous, to wear clothes, the materials of which we borrow from other creatures. And why should it be deemed absurd, that we should hide our spiritual shame, by appearing before God in the garment of another, EVEN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST. -Gospel report by preacher Augustus Toplady [1740–1778 A.D.]

  O may the praises of the Lord, From every heart arise; Declare the glories of our God, Who rules o’er earth and skies. Sing of His great creative work, By Him the heav’ns were made; Proclaim the wonders of His might, Who earth’s foundation laid. Adore mysterious providence, By Him all things consist; Extol His purpose, wise and good, Whose will none can resist. Behold Jehovah’s greatest work, Salvation by His grace; He gave His Son, the ransom Price, To save a chosen race. Declare the praises of our God, Let none refuse to sing; Affirm the greatness of the Lord, Give glory to the King! Tune: “ O God, Our Help in Ages Past, ” p. 10 (CM) Words by preacher Jim Byrd

"That I may glory with T hine inheritance." -P SALM 106:5 [KJV]   The Church is Christ's inheritance. He purchased it by His own blood. He went into captivity for it, and He redeemed it by pouring out His precious blood for it. Now this inheritance glories:  "That I may glory with T hine inheritance."   And in whom does it glory? It glories in its covenant Head. It does not glory in itself—in its pious self, righteous self, strong self, religious self; "let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches, but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth M e" [JEREMIAH 9:23-24] . "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" [I CORINTHIANS 1:31] . The glory of the Church is to glory in her covenant Head—to glory in Christ and in Christ alone; to glory in His strength, love, blood, grace, and righteousness; and to glory i...