Heidelberg Catechism

Question 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death?

Answer: That I with body and soul, both in life and death, (a) am not my own, (b) but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; (c) who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, (d) and delivered me from all the power of the devil; (e) and so preserves me (f) that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; (g) yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, (h) and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, (i) and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him. (j)

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Sunday's Hymn: O for a Closer Walk with God

O for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heavenly frame,
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb!

Where is the blessedness I knew,
When first I saw the Lord?
Where is the soul refreshing view
Of Jesus and His Word?

What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!
How sweet their memory still!
But they have left an aching void
The world can never fill.

Return, O holy Dove, return,
Sweet messenger of rest!
I hate the sins that made Thee mourn
And drove Thee from my breast.

The dearest idol I have known,
Whate’er that idol be
Help me to tear it from Thy throne,
And worship only Thee.

So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame;
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.

—William Cowper

Other hymns, worship songs, sermons etc. posted today:

• Jehovah, God the Father, Bless at The Happy Wonderer
• Your Great Name at Gospel Grace
• A Mighty Fortress Is Our God at By Grace Alone
• The Puritans: Stephen Charnock at Challies.com
• The Lord’s Prayer: The Second Petition at Tried With Fire 
• Lord’s Day 35, 2013 at The Thirsty Theologian
• You Weekly Dose of Spurgeon at Pyromaniacs: Pull that rope again!

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.

Thankful Thursday

I’m thankful 

• for beautiful late summer days and frost-free nights. (At this point of the year, every frost-free night is a gift.)
• for visits from family—daughters, daughter-in-law, grandchildren and granddogs.
• for anticipation of a free day tomorrow and the hope that I can catch up on some tasks I need to do. 
• for anticipation of a return to regular scheduling as summer ends.
• for anticipation of a visit with Kim.
• for my church and God’s work in it. 
• that God keeps me weak so I must keep trusting him for help. 
• that God provides everything I need, and also teaches me that what he doesn’t provide, I don’t need.
• that God speaks to us through nature, showing us his wisdom, power, and love, but especially that he speaks to us in his word, where we learn what he has done for us in Jesus and what he has promised for us in the future.