Some additional thoughts on sanctification

On-going victory requires on-going repentance.

Repentance is both the price and the proof of revival.

The grace of God is the great equalizer.

Obedience is the verb form of faith.

The tie that binds is the bond that releases;
As we become less, our Lord increases.

Three Celebrations

Christmas:
God with us.

Easter:
God for us.

Pentecost:
God within us.

Selections from the Psalms

Psalm 117:
Praise the LORD, all nations!  Extol him, all peoples!  For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.  Praise the LORD!

Psalm 15:
O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?  Who shall dwell on your holy hill?  He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent.  He who does these things shall not be moved.

Psalm 16:5-11:
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.  The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. 
I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. 
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 111:
Praise the LORD!
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them.
Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever,
He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful.
He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.
He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
He sent redemption to his people; he commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name!
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!

A prayer regarding God's comfort
Father God,
I thank You for comfort which You have given me in my past because I know that You will also give me comfort in the future 
You are indeed the God of all comfort and Father of all mercies.  When, like the psalmists, I do not sense Your presence Your comfort, I too look to when I knew Your comfort Your presence, and rely on it once again; even if my feelings are not in line with the facts, the facts prevail and the feelings follow.
How grateful I am to You who are the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts me in all my affliction, so that I may be able to comfort those in any affliction, with the comfort with which I myself am comforted.
You comfort me through Your word and through Your body, the church.
You comfort me in the night when I cannot sleep as You remind me of Your word and of Your words, and the history we have, You and I, of times past when You comforted me.
You comfort me in the day when I think of others who need Your comfort, bringing Scriptures to mind to share with others as You have with me.
You comfort me in crowds and in solitude, in hurricane-like circumstances and those earthquaking moments others feel, which I have felt.
As You are and have been my refuge and strength, grant that through me You become refuge and strength for others, both in and outside of Your extended family.
In no way can I sufficiently express either my thanksgiving or my desire to minister as I have been ministered to.  I can but offer to You all You have graciously provided me, and willingly offer to all who need it the comfort You have graciously given me.
In Christ's name, for Your glory, in awed amazement, amen.

\

Generations
Psalm 89:1:  "I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations."
Psalm 90:1-2: "Lord, you have been our dwelling place to all generations.  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God."
Psalm 78:1-4:  "Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.  I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us.  We will not hide them from their children, but tell them to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done."
Psalm 79:13:  "But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever, from generation to generation."
Psalm 22:30-31:  "Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generations; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it."

Generations.  I am more grateful each day for the generations which preceded me and kept these commandments.

Election Day and after

Scripture selections from the Old and the New Testaments

From Daniel 2:
"Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might.  He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him"

From Daniel 4:
"At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from all generations; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, 'What have you done?'"

From Romans 13:
"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.  Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.  For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.  Would you have no fear of one who is in authority?  Then do what is good and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good."

From 1 Peter 2:
"Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.  For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.  Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.  Honor everyone.  Love the brotherhood.  Fear God.  Honor the emperor."

From 1 Timothy 2:
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.  This is good and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior"