It is 9:29 AM Wednesday morning here in West Michigan. It is a cold wet gray morning. It has been predicted to get in 50 degrees today, but tomorrow and Friday it is predicted to snow ice rain deadly Winter weather.
I got up this morning around 6:35 AM and when I came upstairs I found my wife getting a cup of toast and a cup of coffee. Carol left this morning to have breakfast with a friend and then go to a grocery store. It is sad to know millions of Ukrainians have seen their grocery stores destroyed by Russians. The Russians want to starve men, women, and children. For what reason? plain demonic hate is the reason for the slaughter of Ukrainians by the Russians.
This morning I have basically written in my paper diary and read from these two volumes for morning worship-
‘Reformed Systematic Theology-Spirit and Salvation’ Volume 3 by Beeke & Smalley
‘Theoretical-Practical Theology: The Works of God and the Fall of Man’ Volume 3 by Petrus Van Manstricht
This afternoon I have an appointment with a therapist at 1 o’clock PM. This day of prayer goes by peacefully. Last night I mainly read till bedtime from a book titled, ‘Literary History Of The United States’ Third Edition: Revised published 1949.
I will close to pray.
“That is offers a just opportunity for the wicked to complain that he did not elect them as he elected others, because reprobation, as with an iron grip, holds them bound that they may not do their duty: I respond: (a). He is not obligated to elect them, because he is the absolute Lord of all, and for this reason they have no right to quarrel (Matt. 20:13-15; Rom. 9:14-16,21). (b) These arguments would perhaps be somewhat valid if through a subtraction of their strength unjustly made or through an impediment of their external actions, with their inclination to these acts nevertheless remaining, they could not do them; but indeed they, both freely and with the greatest delight, both sin and cannot do otherwise: they follow their nature like brute beasts, trampling underfoot the grace of God, and they do not want to have it any other way. For this reason, a complaint such as that of that wicked faultfinding servant (Matt.25:24) proves most unjust” pg. 89 ‘Theoretical-Practical Theology: The Works of God and the Fall of Man’ Volume 3 By Petrus Van Manstricht
56 C.M. Isaac Watts
Gospel Invitation. Song. 5. 1; Isa. 55. 1-3
1 [Let every open ear attend,
And broken heart rejoice;
The trumpet of the gospel sounds
With an inviting voice.]
2 Ho! all ye hungry, starving souls,
That feed upon the wind,
And vainly strive with earthly toys
To fill an empty mind;
3 Eternal Wisdom has prepared
A soul-reviving feast;
And bids your longing appetites
The rich provision taste.
4 Ho! ye that pant for living streams,
And pine away and die;
Here you may quench your raging thirst,
With springs that never dry.
5 Rivers of love and mercy here
In a rich ocean join;
Salvation in abundance flows,
Like floods of milk and wine.
6 [Ye perishing and naked poor,
Who work with mighty pain
To weave a garment of your own
That will not hide your sin;
7 Come naked, and adorn your souls
In robes prepared by God,
Wrought by the labours of his Son,
And dyed in his own blood.]
8 Dear God! the treasures of thy love
Are everlasting mines;
Deep as our helpless miseries are,
And boundless as our sins!
9 The happy gates of gospel grace
Stand open night and day;
Lord, we are come to seek supplies,
And drive our wants away.
The Cloud of Unknowing 