Easter by JR Miller

 Easter comes in the calendar only once in a year—but for the Christian, every day is an Easter. Each morning we should rise to newness of life. In midwinter we do not need to wait for the coming of springtime, to get the lessons of Eastertide. Christ arose once for all and the glory of his victory shines everywhere, and the power of his resurrection is felt wherever he is known and loved and followed.

  Easter ought to leave in every Christian heart—new inspirations, a new uplift, new revealing of hope. It ought to be easier for us to live nobly and victoriously after we have enjoyed another Easter with its great lessons. A wave of comfort should roll over the world, as the day bears everywhere its news of resurrection. Death has been conquered. A grave is no longer a hopelessly sealed prison—its doors have been broken. This is the message which Easter carries to every home of sorrow, to every lonely, bereft heart.

  But that is not the whole meaning of the Easter lesson. Perhaps we narrow it too much. We keep its comfort for the days when death is in our home, when we are standing beside the graves of our loved ones. Blessed is its message then! It tells us that what to our blinded eyes seems death—is life; and that the grave is but a little chamber of peace where our dear godly one shall sleep until the morning....

  We pray that you all enjoyed a sweet Resurrection Sunday with family and friends. May those who are dear to us, who have suffered such loss this year, be reminded of the life and hope we have in Jesus. Those who have gone before await us in glory.

Beloved, grow in grace...

(J.C. Ryle, "Growth in Grace" 1879)
"Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" 2 Peter 3:18
One mark of growth in grace, is increased HUMILITY. The man whose soul is growing, feels his own sinfulness and unworthiness more every year.
He is ready to say with Job, "I am vile!"
And with Abraham, "I am dust and ashes!"
And with Jacob, "I am not worthy of the least of all Your mercies!"
And with David, "I am a worm!"

And with Isaiah, "I am a man of unclean lips!"
And with Peter, "I am a sinful man, O Lord!"
The nearer the Christian draws to God, and the more he sees of God's holiness and perfections--the more thoroughly is he sensible of his own countless sins and imperfections. The further he journeys in the way to Heaven--the more he understands what Paul meant when he says,
  "I am not already perfect!"
  "I am not fit to be called an apostle!"
  "I am less than the least of all the saints!"
  "I am the chief of sinners!"
The riper the Christian is for glory, the more, like the ripe corn--he hangs down his head with humility. The brighter and clearer his gospel light--the more he sees of the shortcomings and infirmities of his own heart. When first converted, he would tell you he saw but little of them--compared to what he sees now.

Would anyone know whether he is growing in grace? Be sure that you look within for increased humility

Election....

"For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth." (Romans 9:11)
"What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded." (Romans 11:7)

 "And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained (by God - ed.) to eternal life believed." (Acts 13:48)

"Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace." (Romans 11:5)

"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:10-11)

What verses can you add to these???????