Good day:)
I pray all who visit today are
enjoying the presence and peace of the
Lord within your homes and hearts.
To begin,
I want to thank each
dear lady who comments
and shares kind words.
Even though comments
are kept private,
they are a blessing to my heart.
Thank you:)
Along with sharing a book
and hymn of the week I have been sharing
a tea of the week that I prepare when
company comes for a little visit.
I have had fun mixing various
Summer fruit and tea combinations
which have been a big hit.
This week I mixed lemon, orange
and a flower tea mixture and added
oranges and apples for essence.
Very refreshing!
The book I am sharing this week is
"The Existence & Attributes of God"
by Stephen Charnock.
This book is rich.
Every line is food for the soul.
I call these old gems
lifetime books.
For most folks they are
not a book to sit and read through.
They are read a bit at a
time throughout one's lifetime.
I have been reading this
book since the early 1980's.
It is a masterpiece that
delves deeply into the attributes
the Almighty.
The more we learn and understand
who God is, the deeper and richer our
spiritual lives will be.
These old treasures will
prove to be great blessings in
our lives and the lives of our children.
We have lost the art of concentration
and in depth focused reading.
The Puritan writers had
minds of great spiritual depth.
Their minds were capable of thinking
and writing on a level lost in
our age of mindless scrolling
and quick facts.
Stephen Charnock lived form
1628-1680.
He was a chaplain to Henry Cromwell.
The book was printed after his death,
it is a compilation of lectures delivered to
his followers before his death at age 52.
Stephen Charnock taught believers
of various denominations and differing
classes of society.
I share that to encourage others
not to fear tackling such a book.
Many of the greatest teachers,
like the Lord Himself,
taught God's Word in a manner all
young and old, mighty and meek,
could receive and understand.
Even little children should
be able to glean from the
teaching of the Word.
You will find that taking
a sentence or paragraph at
a time in these older books
brings light and comfort to
even young hearts.
One can only imagine the blessing
of sitting under the rich leadership
of this godly pastor.
Our hymn today is
"The Church's One Foundation"
written by Samuel John Stone
1839-1900
The church's one foundation is
Jesus Christ her Lord;
she is His new creation
by water and the Word;
from heaven He came and sought her
to be His holy bride;
with His own blood He bought her,
and for her life He died.
Elect from every nation,
yet one over all the earth;
her charter of salvation,
one Lord, one faith, one birth;
one holy name she blesses
partakes one holy food;
and to one hope she presses,
with every grace endued.
Mid toil and tribulation
and tumult of her war;
she waits the consummation
of peace forevermore;
till with the vision glorious
her longing eyes are blest;
and the great church victorious
shall be the church at rest.
Yet she on earth hath union
with God the Three in One,
and mystic sweet communion
with those whose rest is won;
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we
Like them, the meek and lowly
on high may dwell with Thee.
