John 3:16

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We love him, because he first loved us.   

1 John 4:19

Be of good cheer. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.  Mark 2:22 No man puts new wine into old wine-skins; else the wine will burst the skins, and the wine perishes, and the skins: but they put new wine into fresh wine-skins.  The reference is to the custom of using leather bottles, made of skins, for carrying wine, and to the fact that new wine, by its increasing fermentation, would burst "old skins," which were already stretched, or worn thin by age. So, as Jesus suggested, it would be impossible for the old forms and ceremonies of Judaism to contain the spirit of religion as taught by Him.  Christianity cannot be comprehended by any system of rites and observances, it cannot be bound up by any set of rules and requirements, it is not to be confused with any ritual. Its very essence is a new life, imparted by faith in Christ; it controls men, not by rules but by motives; its symbol is not a fast, but a feast, for its pervasive spirit is joy.  If Christianity was to have any forms, they must be new; the followers of Christ could not be bound by the fasts and other observances which had been invented or multiplied by Jewish formalists and Pharisees. The Gospel of Mark - Charles R. Erdman N.J. Hiebert - 8855

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We love him, because he first loved us.   

1 John 4:19

Fwd: Gems From My Reading

And He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.  Psalm 23:2 Have you ever felt discouraged in prayer because words would not come?  Often our Lord Jesus turned Bible words into prayer.  The Psalm book was the prayer book of the early church.  It is ours still.  We cannot ever fathom the depths of the book.  Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.  Is any merry? let him sing psalms.  James 5:13 H. Moule said that a hymnbook was a good prayer book, too.  Real hymns, like real songs, are born only when the soul is very near God.  This is why they have power to help.  They offer words to us when we have none of our own.  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.  (Ephesians 5:19) Thank God for our hymns and songs and books.  Above all, thank God for His Book of books, The Bible.  Is there a need it cannot meet?  Is there a dryness it cannot refresh?  Not one.  In a place of green grass, there He has made me dwell.    Whispers of His Power - Amy Carmichael Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye?  Go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.  And He commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.  And they did all eat and were filled.   (Mark 6:38,39,42) N.J. Hiebert - 8842

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We love him, because he first loved us.   

1 John 4:19

Fwd: Gems From My Reading

Gems From My Reading Be of good cheer. Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.   Psalm 141:3  Let me no wrong or idle word, unthinking say; Set Thou a seal upon my lips--just for today.  Keep still!  When trouble is brewing, keep still!  When slander is getting on its legs, keep still!  When your feelings are hurt, keep still till you recover from your excitement at any rate!  Things look different through and un-agitated eye. In a commotion once I wrote a letter and sent it, and wished I had not.  In my later years I had another commotion and wrote another long letter; my life had rubbed a little sense into me, and I kept that letter in my pocket until I could look it over without agitation, and without tears, and I was glad I did--less and less it seemed necessary to send it.  I was not sure it would do any harm, but in my doubtfulness I learned reticence, and eventually it was destroyed,  Time works wonders!  Wait till you can speak calmly and then perhaps you will not need to speak.  Silence is the most powerful thing conceivable, sometimes.  It is strength in its grandeur; it is like a regiment ordered to stand still in the mad fury of battle.  To plunge in were twice as easy.  Nothing is lost by learning to keep still.  Lord, keep me still, Though stormy winds may blow, And waves my little bark may overflow, or even if in darkness I must go, Yet keep me still, yet keep me still.  Lord, keep me still, the waves are in Thy hand, the roughest winds subside at Thy command. Steer Thou my bark in safety to the land, And keep me still, and keep me still. Lord, keep me still, and may I ever hear Thy still small voice  To comfort and to cheer; so shall I know and feel Thee ever near. And keep me still, and keep me still.  Selected N.J. Hiebert - 8838

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And they rose up the same hour, and returned... Luke 24: 33 "...for he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." Heb. 13: 5