Tuesday, February 28, 2006 at 12:52PM 
This week's Carnival of Beauty is being hosted at Just Marla. I can't wait to read all the entries! If you haven't submitted yours, you better get busy! They need to be submitted by 3 pm. today. Whether you submit anything or not, be sure to go and read the entries on The Beauty of the Bible.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006 at 10:21AM 
This week's topic in the Carnival of Beauty is one that I could not resist, for it is something that I think about often, something that I hold in my hand daily, something that thrills my heart like little else, and this is why.
The Beauty of the Bible is a very tangible expression of the Beauty of God Himself, for it is His self-revelation, expressed in His own Words. All that we may know of what we are to believe about Who He is, of His Purposes and Plans for His creation and for man is contained in the Scriptures. All that we need to know about our duty before God is contained in the Scriptures. Both the Westminster Confession of Faith and the London Baptist Confession of Faith begin with the Scriptures, for without His Word contained in the Scriptures, we have nothing sure to confess.
While it is true that all creation proves the existence of God, it is within the revealed, unchanging, inerrant Word of God that we may know and understand the great salvation that He has accomplished in Christ. It is sufficient for all of man's needs, and for all times, places, and cultures. All can come to a saving knowledge through the reading of His Word; young or old, rich or poor, educated or uneducated, wise or foolish, for it clear in the matter of salvation. And yet the depths of His Scripture are unfathomable for even the most spiritual, the most highly educated, the most deeply committed Christian, for the depths of His Word reveal the depths of our Holy God! We can go to His Word each day and learn something new about our God, our salvation, ourselves, and our eternal destiny.
And, oh!--the wisdom of God in revealing Himself and His ways in written form! Being written, it is preserved, set, defended from alteration or modification. Being written, we can study it, meditate upon it, hold it in our hands, take it along with us, share it, give it, rely upon it's familiar and comfortable passages, be forced to face the difficult and convicting challenges.
Had He left it for us to re-tell by word of mouth, who would want to face up to the truth of the certainty of death, the certainty of judgment, the wrath of a Holy God? Who would remember or place value on every aspect of God's revelation of Himself? Left to ourselves, our understanding of God would quickly descend to tradition and superstition, for as the Puritan, Thomas Adams said, devotion without instruction winds itself into superstition. And that instruction resides within the pages of God's Holy Word.
We have His Word. He has revealed it to men, inspired by His Spirit, and we have the Holy Spirit of God to help us as we read.
Do you love God? Then love His Word. Drink from it deeply. Meditate upon it. Let it be your constant companion. Meet Him there.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006 at 06:39AM 
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.--Revelation 3:19, 20, 21
O LORD, Thou art ever knocking at the door of our souls, seeking entrance into our lives. Help us to recognize Thy knockings, and to open to Thine entrance.
We would have our hearts open to Thee at all times--in sunshine or in shadow, in joy or in sorrow. Whether Thou comest in the time of the singing of birds or in winter's chilling blasts, may we receive Thee joyfully.
Show us that we need Thee more than anything that Thou mayst give us, and that Thou, Thyself, art more than all Thy gifts. So, when Thou knockest, Lord may we open to Thee, and receive Thee as an abiding guest.
Amen.
H. H. Beattys, D.D.,
New Rochelle, New York
Monday, February 27, 2006 at 08:35AM 
Randi, at I Have to Say, has asked us to come clean and get real. As you can see, there is nothing clean about my "real" kitchen this morning. We had friends in for dinner last night and this is the scene that greeted me when I got to the kitchen to make my coffee this morning. I've been up for several hours and it still looks like that (blame that on Lauren, whose post on RSS feeds has challenged me to go out and try to find out all about feeds. So far all I've learned is that mine isn't validated. . .feedburner, here I come!)
Monday, February 27, 2006 at 06:57AM The Lord looseth the prisoners; The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind; The Lord raiseth them that are bowed down; The Lord loveth the righteous: The Lord preserveth the strangers; He relieveth the fatherless and widow; but the way of the wicked He turneth upside down. The Lord shall reign for ever, even thy God. O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord.--Psalm 146:7-10
OH GOD, our Father! How precious to us is the privilege of having Thy Name linger on our lips, giving us new assurance of the fact that we are in the circle of Thy love and care. May this confidence drive away all fear and anxiety, and help to keep out of this day all other enemies of our souls. In the moment of our temptation, may we realize Thy promise and Thy presence. When burdens become heavy, may we find the strength necessary in Thee. In face of all difficulty and every problem, may we be brave because of our faith. For whatever these hours bring, may Thy grace be sufficient.Whatever we do, may we do it all to Thy glory. May this day bear the divine mark in the calendar on earth, and in Heaven.
We leave our prayers where all prayer belongs--in the shadow of the Cross.
Amen.
Cortland Myers, A.B., D.D.,
Boston, Massachusetts