"The plague is begun."

Manner of Life
Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Psalm 127:1
Daily Meditation
"The plague is begun."
…Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun. Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: Numbers 16:46; Job 36:18; Psalm 49:7

Hymn
"Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God." Ephesians 4:30
Stay, Thou insulted Spirit, stay,
Though I have done Thee such despite,
Nor cast the sinner quite away,
Nor take Thine everlasting flight.

Though I have steeled my stubborn heart,
And still shook off my guilty fears,
And vexed, and urged Thee to depart,
For many long rebellious years;

Though I have most unfaithful been
Of all who e’er Thy grace received,
Ten thousand times Thy goodness seen,
Ten thousand times Thy goodness grieved;

Yet O! the chief of sinners spare,
In honor of my great High Priest,
Nor in Thy righteous anger swear
T’exclude me from Thy people’s rest.

This only woe I deprecate.
This only plague I pray remove;
Nor leave me in my lost estate,
Nor curse me with this want of love.

If yet Thou canst my sins forgive,
From now, O Lord, relieve my woes,
Into Thy rest of love receive,
And bless me with calm repose.

Now, Lord, my weary soul release,
Upraise me with Thy gracious hand.
And guide into Thy perfect peace,
And bring me to the promised land.

Consolation
He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts. Proverbs 6:35

Exhortation
Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn? For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one. I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation. Job 5:1-3

Read The Bible In A Year
Today’s Reading: 1 Chr. 2, 3

Proverbs
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Proverbs 3:21-24

Weekly Verse:
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. James 1:12
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Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:8
Faith's Checkbook
Spiritual Sowing
"He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life Everlasting" (Galatians 6:8).

Sowing looks like a losing business, for we put good corn into the ground never to see it anymore. Sowing to the Spirit seems a very fanciful, dreamy business; for we deny ourselves and apparently get nothing for it. Yet if we sow to the Spirit by studying to live unto God, seeking to obey the will of God, and laying ourselves out to promote His honor, we shall not sow in vain. Life shall be our reward, even everlasting life. This we enjoy here as we enter into the knowledge of God, communion with God, and enjoyment of God. This life flows on like an ever-deepening, ever-widening river till it bears us to the ocean of infinite felicity, where the life of God is ours forever and ever.

Let us not this day sow to our flesh, for the harvest will be corruption, since flesh always tends that way; but with holy self-conquest let us live for the highest, purest, and most spiritual ends, seeking to honor our most holy LORD by obeying His most gracious Spirit. What a harvest will that be when we reap life everlasting! What sheaves of endless bliss will be reaped! What a festival will that harvest be! LORD, make us such reapers, for thy Son's sake. by C. H. Spurgeon

Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
1 Timothy 4:13