God's Minute

December 1

I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee.--Isaiah 48:17

O GOD and Father of all the families of the earth, Thou art worthy of our daily love and constant gratitude. Thou knowest we can never be other than children crying to Thee for food, raiment, and shelter for our sustenance and protection. We stretch our hands toward Thee to be lead through paths we cannot know, beside which temptations lurk and snares are set. Deliver us, we beseech Thee, from the evil one.

Help us to appreciate our earthly family relations, established and wondrously blssed by Thee. Grant that our home may be kept in peace and goodwill among all of its members by that love for one another which casts out suspicion and fear. We consecrate it with all its interests to Thy care and service, that the yearning of our hearts for Thy approval and indwelling may bring to us godliness with contentment.

Today, in our family worship, we confess our sins that He Who is faithful may forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. As we go forth to our individual tasks, give us courage, strength, patience and that wisdom which cometh down from above, which is first gentle, peaceable, easily to be entreated, full of good works. All of these blessings we ask in the name of Christ Jesus our Lord.

Amen.

President I.N. McCash, LL.D.,
Spokane, Washington

JE's caveat

Jonathan Edwards (JE from now on) began his resolutions with this caveat (or explanation to prevent a misinterpretation):

BEING SENSIBLE THAT I AM UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING WITHOUT GOD'S HELP, I DO HUMBLY ENTREAT HIM BY HIS GRACE TO ENABLE ME TO KEEP THESE RESOLUTIONS, SO FAR AS THEY ARE AGREEABLE TO HIS WILL, FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

In it, he admits several things which we would do well to remember as well.

He realizes that he is unable to do ANYTHING without God's help, not just the keeping of the resolutions.

He needs the enabling of God's grace to help him keep them, and seeks it.

He realizes that his resolutions must be agreeable to His will, and

His keeping of the resolutions must be for Christ's sake.

Wish I'd said that!

If I remember correctly, I think I've already "wished I'd said" something Kim, from the Upward Call, said but today's post on anti-intellectualism is just too good not to bring to your attention. If you follow the links in her post, you'll find some more good reading on the subject, too.

Tis the Season

I've been thinking about resolutions. I've been making some resolutions lately, some I've kept better than others. With the holidays here, some are simply resolutions to get things done and be more organized. (Like really bake all the Christmas cookies I imagine I will bake and not let the yard "pile up with doggy doo" once it gets snowy and cold). I've resolved to entertain friends more this Christmas and be less concerned about how well the house is decorated or how well the table is set or how well the food is prepared and more concerned about just having fun and enjoying the time spent with friends. I've resolved to make this Christmas special for my son, John, who will be spending his last Christmas with us before he gets married and begins to start his own family traditions.

But not all my resolutions have been organizational. Some have been spiritual. I've resolved to spend the month of December meditating upon my life in Christ and how it is to be spent to the glory of God. To help me think this through I will be reading through Jonathan Edwards Resolutions.

Maybe you'd like to join me. I'll be reading through all 70 on his list today and then daily focusing on one or two and sharing my thoughts and some insight from some of JE's other writings as the month unfolds and spills into the New Year. Maybe you'd like to share your thoughts here as well.

SDG

God's Minute

November 30

I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever--John 6:51

WE render Thee grateful thanks, Thou source of every blessing, for the rest of the past night under the mighty shadow of Thy wings, for the daily bread of Thy providing, and for new opportunities of welcome service, each in our appointed calling. We thank Thee for Thy revelation in Jesus Christ and for "the bread of life" so abundantly provided in Thy Holy Word for our spiritual sustenance. O make us truly mindful of all Thy many blessings, and let our lives show forth Thy praise. We pray Thee for grace to employ the hours of this day aright. Grant us strength of body, mind and soul to perform our tasks acceptably in Thy sight. Shield us from harm and give us victory in the hour of temptation. Sanctify our homes and make them nurseries of Thy kingdom. May Thy Spirit rest upon all institutions of learning. Remember in mercy the laborers in the harvest fields abroad. Let Thy name be hallowed and Thy will be done in our homeland. Breathe Thy quickening Spirit upon Thy Church. Grant each of us grace to bear faithful testimony in word and deed to the saving power of the cross. And when we have finished our allotted task here below, receive us into that perfect world above with Thee and the innumerable multitude of those who have come out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. We ask it all in the name of our blessed Redeemer.

Amen.

C.J. Sodergren, A.M., D.D.,
Minneapolis, Minnesota