Faith's Checkbook

 Over the years one of my favorite daily devotional books has been Faith's Checkbook by Charles Spurgeon. When I was growing up my mom would often read aloud from her own worn copy of Faith's Checkbook to my sisters and I. When I married mom gave me a copy of my own, and it has continued to encourage me with God's promises throughout the years.

Faith's Checkbook is a collection of 366 promises from God's Word, one for each day of the year, including leap years. In each reading Charles Spurgeon will expound upon the promise for that day in a brief devotion. I have been blessed time and again to be reminded of God's precious promises though this devotional. 

**********************************************************

Below is the reading for December 28th:

Absolute Assurance 
"He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee"   (Hebrews 13:5).

Several times in the Scriptures the LORD hath said this. He has often repeated it to make our assurance doubly sure. Let us never harbor a doubt about it. In itself the promise is specially emphatic. In the Greek it has five negatives, each one definitely shutting out the possibility of the LORD's ever leaving one of His people so that he can justly feel forsaken of his God. This priceless Scripture does not promise us exemption from trouble, but it does secure us against desertion. We may be called to traverse strange ways, but we shall always have our LORD's company, assistance, and provision. We need not covet money, for we shall always have our God, and God is better than gold; His favor is better than fortune. 

 

We ought surely to be content with such things as we have, for he who has God has more than all the world besides. What can we have beyond the Infinite? What more can we desire than almighty Goodness. 

 

Come, my heart; if God says He will never leave thee nor forsake thee, be thou much in prayer for grace that thou mayest never leave thy LORD, nor even for a moment forsake His ways. 

************************************************************

As the new year approaches it is good to remember God's goodness and His promises through His Word. If you are considering a new daily devotional for 2021 I would highly recommend Faith's Checkbook. 

"As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him."

Psalm 18:30

Fixing My Eyes on Jesus - Review

This beautiful, daily devotional by Anne Graham Lotz will help you start each morning with a focus on Jesus. Fixing My Eyes on Jesus will encourage, uplift, renew, and challenge you on your spiritual walk.
Trusted Bible teacher, bestselling author, and CEO of AnGel Ministries Anne Graham Lotz understands how easy it is to lose focus on Jesus and stray off course. Stay on the right path with this beautiful, daily devotional that is perfect for new believers as well as those more seasoned in the faith. Selections from Scripture coupled with Anne’s insightful meditations help you stay connected to the Lord all week. This edition has large type for ease of reading and makes a beautiful gift for a friend or family member of any age.
**********************************************************************************
 Fixing My Eyes on Jesus
Daily Moments in His Word
By: Anne Graham Lotz

Each year I enjoy adding a new devotional to my morning quiet time. This year I was delighted to have the opportunity to receive a copy of Fixing My Eyes on Jesus by Anne Graham Lotz. Over the years I have read a couple of her books, including similar daily devotionals. 

This volume includes 365 daily devotions. Each devotion begins with a Bible verse and is followed with a few paragraphs to apply the truth of the verse to our daily lives. Though short in length I find there is much to consider in each devotion. I love the theme of Fixing My Eyes on Jesus - what better way could we start our day or year? Anne Graham Lotz shares way we can fix our eyes and thoughts on Jesus in a way that is easy to understand and apply.

Fixing My Eyes on Jesus is truly a beautiful book. When I opened my copy I was expecting a smaller book, it measures a generous 6 5/8" wide by 8 3/4" long. The cover is faux leather and embossed with gold lettering. On the back cover Hebrews 12:2 is embossed in gold lettering, I thought that was a uniquely special touch.

Fixing My Eyes on Jesus would make a lovely gift! It is definitely a book I would share with loved ones. Throughout the year ahead I look forward to being further inspired to fix my eyes on Jesus!

*I received a complimentary copy of Fixing My Eyes on Jesus from Book Look Blogger in exchange for my honest review*

I love how Hebrews 12:2 is imprinted on the back of this book!

^" Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

The Savior of the World

I recently read this devotional by David Jeremiah from his daily devotional Greater Purpose.

The Savior of the World

And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

Luke 2:16

There's no one like Christ the Lord. He's the Savior of the world, the Lamb of God, the Wonderful Counselor, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

The Bible uses more than 300 names and titles to describe Him, but Jesus can no more be contained in His names and titles than the ocean can be bottled in a collection of containers, however beautiful. He is timeless and boundless, and His infinity extends through the universe into perpetual depths of forever-ness.

Charles Spurgeon confessed, "I know my words cannot honor Him according to His merits: I wish they could. Indeed, I grow less and less satisfied with my thoughts and language concerning Him. He is too glorious for my feeble language to describe Him. If I could speak with the tongues of men and of angels, I could not speak worthily of Him. If I could borrow all the harmonies of heaven, and enlist every harp and song of the glorified, yet were not the music sweet enough for His praises."

We've made Christmas into a complicated affair; but Jesus Himself, though incomprehensible, is as simple as a humble manger and as loving as an innocent Babe. Come with haste... and adore Him.

-David Jeremiah from Greater Purpose 

" Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, 'I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'" John 8:12

May you all have a blessed Christmas celebrating the amazing gift of Jesus our Savior! 

Little Book of Thanks- Review

It happens every autumn. As soon as the leaves begin to turn bright, beautiful colors, the year sprints ahead on fast-forward! Take a few moments out of the hustle and bustle of the season to sink into a cozy chair with your little one and thank God for everything He’s given us with Precious Moments® Little Book of Thanks.
In the sweet, enduring art style of Precious Moments, this timeless book will help your children recognize all the wonderful things God has given them! Read along, and you will remember to enjoy the simple things, like singing silly songs, jumping in a pile of leaves, and watching the seasons change. The short, rhyming verses in this classic Precious Moments book don’t take much time to read at all, and they will create memories that last forever.
Precious Moments Little Book of Thanks offers you the chance to be thankful for all that you have and for the ones with whom you get to share every precious moment.
*******************************************



Little Book of Thanks
By Jean Fisher

We have a couple of other seasonal Precious Moments books, so when I saw Little Book of Thanks I knew it would be the perfect addition to collection! 

Little Book of Thanks is a sturdy board book filled with charming illustrations of Precious Moments characters celebrating the simple things of life. Each page features a prayer of thanksgiving. The topics vary from family, to God's creativity in creating us, thanksgiving for laughter, healthy food- just to name a few. The prayer is then followed by a poem and Scripture verse. I was pleased to see lines from some classic autumnal poems included too.

It seems that Thanksgiving is often over looked, especially when it comes to children's books. Therefore I am pleased to have Little Book of Thanks to share with my daughter. It is a wonderful reminder to be grateful for all the many blessing God gives us each and every day, including something so simple as laughter!

The combination of the illustrations, prayers, poems and Scripture make it a special treasure that I am sure we will look forward to revisiting every autumn.

*I received a complimentary copy of Little Book of Thanks from Book Look Blogger in exchange for my honest review*

God's Blessings Day by Day -Review

God’s Blessing Day by Day is a trustworthy devotional compiled by renowned pastors and church leaders. Edited by Johnny Hunt, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, this devotional is the perfect way to introduce your children and grandchildren to a legacy of faith.
One of the greatest gifts - and greatest challenges - of raising children is introducing them to the ways of God. As parents and grandparents, we want to impart our faith to the children we love so dearly, and it can feel more difficult than ever in the fast-moving, instant-access culture in which we find ourselves.
God’s Blessing Day by Day,compiled by Johnny Hunt and more than 50 pastors and church leaders, is the perfect way to build faith through gratitude.
This easy-to-understand, child-friendly devotional is the perfect way to engage your family. Each devotion is written on topics children care about and includes great prayers and takeaways that will spark conversation as the timeless Word of God instructs and inspires your children.
Impart a deeper connection with the Lord in your children, help them establish healthy habits of devotion and prayer, and equip them with the tools they need to grow their faith.
*****************************************************************************
God's Blessings Day by Day
By Johnny Hunt

Growing up I remember my mom sharing with me the importance of time spent daily in Bible reading and devotions. As a little girl my mom gave me a set of devotionals, one for each month of the year. I read and re-read them throughout my childhood. This helped me begin a life long habit of seeking God at the start of each and every day. I am grateful for this lesson my mom taught me at a young age, and I am hoping to share this lesson with my daughter too!

God's Blessings Day by Day is a wonderful way to introduce the idea of daily devotions to your children. Each devotion includes a verse for the day, an easy to understand illustration of how the verse may apply to the child's life and a short prayer for the day. There are six devotions per week, one per weekday and one per weekend. The weeks are numbered and the book may be started at any time of the year. The book includes a ribbon bookmark, which is very helpful for keeping your place.

One feature of the book my daughter has especially enjoyed are the adorable illustrations of animals throughout the book. They are truly precious. God's Blessings Day by Day is hard cover and of excellent quality. It would make a beautiful gift for children of varying ages. It is easy enough for toddlers to understand, but would be perfect for older children to read to themselves.

I am grateful to have this devotional to share with my daughter. Many times after reading one of the devotions she has asked me a question regarding what we read, which has been a great way to start a conversation about God's truths and how they apply to her life.

*I received a complimentary copy of God's Blessings Day by Day from Book Look Blogger in exchange for my honest review*

Be Still My Soul- Review

"Be Still My Soul" by Randy Peterson is a beautiful treasury of 175 best loved hymns and the stories behind the hymns. Plus individual biographies of 12 hymn writers such as the Wesley brothers, Fanny Crosby and Isaac Watts.

I found this volume a real pleasure to read. As a lover of history and the beautiful hymns of our Christian heritage I can honestly say this is a book I would read over and over again throughout the years to come. The stories behind each and every song were such a blessing to read. I enjoyed how the author wove together the history behind how the hymns were inspired, and how they impacted believers in the years to follow. For example "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" written by Helen Lemmel was inspired by a quote Lemmel had read by Lilias Trotter. Though little is know about Katharina von Schlegel, the writer of the hymn "Be Still My Soul", this book explores how the hymn impacted the life of Eric Liddell, the famous missionary and athlete. There are so many touching stories within the pages of this book, it was very hard to put down.

I also found the quality of the book itself to be worth mentioning. The cover art and rough cut pages were a real treat! Plus each hymn is presented on the left hand page with the story behind the hymn on the corresponding right hand page.

Overall I would highly recommend this book. It is a real treasure. Well written and researched.

"Let me exhort you to "sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, as you praise the LORD with all your heart" (Ephesians 5:19). Keep hymns and spiritual songs by your bedside with your Bible and carry them with you to read. They will enrich your faith, invigorate your hope, and keep warm and tender your love." Samuel Logan Brengle

You can find more information about "Be Still My Soul" HERE.

*I received a complimentary copy of Be Still My Soul from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest review*

The Great Unveiling

"His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

We look unto the Bethlehem manger, and see that that Child is our help, and that "the government shall be upon His shoulder" (Isaiah 9:6). Then, repenting and believing on Him, we find pardon, peace, and cleansing in His blood, and we cry out "Wonderful!"

Life is a labyrinth, the universe is a riddle. The wisest philosophers cannot solve the problems of evil, pain, and death. But we discover that in Him "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). He resolves our riddles. We rest in Him as our "Counselor".

We are oppressed with our utter littleness and weakness, and in our despair we look again, and we see Him stilling the storm, raising the dead, calming people's fierce, wild passions, and we cry out, 'the mighty God!"

Bereft and lonely, we cry like an orphaned child in the night. There is none to help, and no one understands. Then He draws nigh with fathomless consolations of love. And we nestle close and whisper, "The everlasting Father! The Prince of Peace!"

This is Jesus. We saw Him first as a helpless Child. But oh, how He has grown as we have looked! Yet He stooped to our lowly condition and humbled Himself, and suffered and died for us, and made atonement for our sins.

From "Take Time To Be Holy" by Samuel Logan Brengle

*********************************************************************

Hope you all had a blessed and joyous Christmas!

"Silent Night"

It was Christmas Eve in the Austrian Alps. At the newly constructed Church of St. Nicholas in Oberndorf, a Tyrol village near Salzburg, Father Joseph Mohr prepared for the midnight service. He was distraught because the church organ was broken, ruining prospects for that evening’s carefully planned music. But Father Joseph was about to learn that our problems are God’s opportunities, that the LORD causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him. It came into Father Joseph’s mind to write a new song, one that could be sung without the organ. Hastily, he wrote the words, “Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright…” Taking the text to his organist Franz Gruber, he explained the situation and asked Franz to compose a simple tune.

That night, December 24, 1818, “Silent Night” was sung for the first time as a duet accompanied by a guitar at the aptly named Church of St. Nicholas in Oberdorf.

Shortly afterward, as Karl Mauracher came to repair the organ, he heard about the near-disaster on Christmas Eve. Acquiring a copy of the text and tune, he spread the hymn throughout the Alpine region of Austria, referring to it as “Trioler Volkslied.”

The song came to the attention of the Strasser family, makers of chamois-skin gloves. To drum up business at various fairs and festivals, the four Strasser children would sing in front of their parents’ booth. Like the Von Trapp children a century later, they became popular folk singers throughout the Alps.

When the children- Caroline, Joseph, Andreas, and Amalie- began singing “Trioler Volkslied” at their performances, audiences were charmed. It seemed perfect for the snow-clad region and perfect for the Christian heart. “Silent Night” even came to the attention of the king and queen, and the Strasser children were asked to give a royal performance, assuring the carol’s fame.

“Silent Night” was first published for the congregational singing in 1838 in the German hymnbook Katholisches Gesang- und Gebetbuch fur den offentlichen and hauslichen Gottesdienst zunachst zum Gebrauche der katholischen Gereinden im Konigreiche Sachsen. It was used in America by German-speaking congregations, then appeared in its current English form in a book of Sunday school songs in 1863.

Were in not for a broken organ, there never would have been a “Silent Night.”

From “Come Let Us Adore Him” by Robert J. Morgan

Why The Incarnation

This morning I read this devotional during my quiet time, and thought it was too beautiful not to share.
*****************************************************************************

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." John 1:14

Our heavenly Father yearned through the centuries and the rise and fall of civilizations to redeem His needy people. He never ceased to reach out to His prodigal family. He did this in every possible way: through the glories of His creation, through the immeasurable gifts He gave them: through the words of the prophets and teachers. He dispatched His servants with countless messages that said the same thing in ten thousand ways: "Come home, come home! You are loved now and forever."

In the end and at long last, in the fulness of time, God himself made the journey. He poured His Godhead into flesh and blood and visited the earth as a man. He walked among us- a King in disguise, the Creator among His creatures. He entered our world through a doorway called Bethlehem and the world was changed forever.

That's something to celebrate! That's the reason it's a merry Christmas. The Word became flesh and dwelled among us. He is your Emmanuel today- God with us... God with you.

From "Discovery" by David Jeremiah.

He is God incarnate: not man becoming God, but God coming into human flesh, coming into it from the outside. His Life is the Highest and the Holiest entering in at the lowliest door

-Oswald Chambers 

Take Time To Be Holy

"Take Time to Be Holy" by Samuel Logan Brengle is an inspirational 365 day devotional. Each daily devotion begins with a scripture verse followed by an excerpt from one of Brengle's nine books on holiness.

Brengle, born in 1860, spent his life in serving the LORD as a pastor and officer in the Salvation Army. The book begins with a brief biography explaining how Samuel Brengle felt called to live a life totally devoted to serving God and seeking holiness.

Though most of the writings in this volume are over 100 years old, I found the message of this little devotional to be very timely. Once we have accepted Jesus as our LORD and Savior it is so important to seek His will for our lives- to seek a life of holiness, wholly unto to God. A word not often used today is sanctification. Sanctification is the transformation that occurs in our hearts and lives once we have accepted Jesus as Savior, the casting off of the old self and the working of the Holy Spirit within us to make us a new creation.

Sanctification truly is the theme of this book - how to submit our naturally sinful will unto God's better plan of living a life of purity and holiness. The book emphasizes that we should not become discouraged in our quest, as it is only through the power of God's Holy Spirit we can be holy.

I would highly recommend this devotional to anyone seeking to draw closer to Jesus. I have not yet finished reading this book, but already I have been so very blessed and encouraged. I find myself reflecting on the devotion I read in the morning throughout the day, and praying that the LORD would help me to live a life of holiness!

You can find more information about Samuel Logan Brengle as well as "Take Time to Be Holy" HERE.

*I was given a copy of "Take Time To Be Holy" by Tyndale Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:16

The Lost Art of Letter Writing

In today's society of e-mail, text and the like, writing letters really has become a lost art. Recently I read a devotional by Dr. David Jeremiah from his book "Discovery" that I really enjoyed and thought I would share it!
   *******************************************************************

"Paul.... to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints." Romans 1:1, 7

It's no accident that God chose the written form of epistles or letters to convey the teachings of the Christen life to the earliest believers. Paul, Peter, John, Jude and others wrote personal letters to churches and individuals, and this body of correspondence makes up the richest source of our understanding of the Christian way and walk. Paul could have compiled volumes of sermons or books of systematic teachings. But instead the LORD lead him to use the medium of letter writing to leave a lasting legacy for all of Christian history. Letters are personal, readable, informal, enduring, and quotable.

Though our correspondence isn't inspired in the scriptural sense, don't underestimate the power of the written note. It's easy to pat someone on the back and say, "Good job." We need to fequently do that. But there is great value in taking the time to write encouraging words. They are durable and distance-proof.

Rediscover the lost art of letter writing.

Letter writing, in its ideal form, is really nothing else but indirect conversation. C.H. Charles

  *****************************************************************************


May you have a blessed weekend!