Just a Women Trying to Live Well

Good morning to my dearest sisters in the Lord! How is your December going? 


Mine is a lot less frantic as school is now 100% completed for this past semester. I've now had the time to decorate my parent's house for Christmas, made a batch of my own fudge out of Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses, scrubbed my carpets and have nice relaxing moments with my family and best friend, Jeff.


This blogger at Women Living Well has a great idea for relaxing this season–what is usually a time for running around crazy should be a time for rest in our Lord and keeping our eyes focused on Him. We need a mixture of Martha's serving and Mary's listening to her savior's words. I encourage you to make the Lord your priority always! Not just now, not just when things are easy, but always! As you pour out blessings on those around you, be sure to be filling yourself with the Word of the Lord, which does not return void. 


Blessings and love to all!
Christa

What's Going On...

Wow.... Hard to believe all that the Lord has done in my life since the last blog entry! That was April 4th, which happened to be the day of my first date with my amazing man that the Lord has blessed me with! As I look back, I'm blown away by how the Lord has graciously blessed me in that area. I've waited all my life for a Godly man, and my waiting has paid off. I would just like to share some things that we do that keeps us focused on the Lord, growing in sanctification and growing closer together.


Jeff and I read the same chapter in scripture each day and discuss 3 main points of that passage. We try to do this daily, but sometimes the world presses in, so we make it priority to really go over each chapter on Sunday before church. Each morning we see each other and before we say good bye for the day, we read up to two of the Puritan prayers from the little book called "The Valley of Vision". This has been a great way for us to pray out loud with one another and with the saints of old. We have been going through our own individual books for sanctification and growth and share quotes with each other and things we've been learning.


Those are just a few of the many wonderful things that we do to keep each other in the faith, spurring each other on and learning more about each other.


Perhaps in the next post, I will share all the fun little details that God did to bring to sinners together in order that we may glorify Him more together than apart. 


Until then, Blessings and Grace in the Lord,
Christa

Keith and Kristyn Getty - See, What A Morning

See, what a morning, gloriously bright,
With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem;
Folded the grave-clothes, tomb filled with light,
As the angels announce, "Christ is risen!"
See God's salvation plan,
Wrought in love, borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,
Fulfilled in Christ, the Man,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

See Mary weeping, "Where is He laid?"
As in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb;
Hears a voice speaking, calling her name;
It's the Master, the Lord raised to life again!
The voice that spans the years,
Speaking life, stirring hope, bringing peace to us,
Will sound till He appears,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

One with the Father, Ancient of Days,
Through the Spirit who clothes faith with certainty.
Honor and blessing, glory and praise
To the King crowned with pow'r and authority!
And we are raised with Him,
Death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered;
And we shall reign with Him,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead! 

Oh the Ignomy! by Todd Friel

Oh the Ignominy! By Todd Friel www.wretchedradio.com

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Prepare to cringe. There is a rumor spreading around the internet that suggests the sponge that was used to offer Jesus sour wine while He hung on the cross was actually used Roman toilet paper (Matthew 27:48).

It seems that a sponge attached to a stick was indeed used as a personal cleaning apparatus in first century toilets. However, nothing in the Gospel accounts indicates that the sponge used by the Roman soldiers to deliver Jesus a bitter drink was one of those devices.

Regardless, while this particular detail is inclined to make us recoil, this particular ignominy is no greater than the countless other offenses Jesus suffered on our behalf.

Our God is infinitely holy. Any offense against Him is an infinite offense. Whether it is a grotesque gesture like a toilet paper sponge shoved in His face, or failure to bow to Him as King and Lord, any affront is infinite. We blanch at a possible detail like this, but Jesus endured profound humiliations beginning with His conception.

The Royal One of Heaven allowed Himself to dwell in a woman’s womb. He permitted Himself to be delivered in afterbirth. He was circumcised. He insisted on being baptized by a sinful man. He was called a son of the devil. His human heart was broken as the multitudes turned their back on the King of Glory.

The most aggressive attacks against the Kingship of Jesus occurred at the crucifixion. Twenty-six chapters of Matthew’s Gospel demonstrate that Jesus of Nazareth is the King of Kings. When we reach chapter twenty-seven, we see the willful humiliation of the King intensify.

The Jesus who created the world allowed His creation to bind Him with ropes. Absurd. He showed submission to a pathetic ruler who had been given authority over Him. A murderer was chosen to be released instead of Him. The very people He came to rescue chanted, “Crucify Him.” These were the same men and women He had healed and fed.

In derision, the soldiers stripped God and placed a scarlet robe on Him. This was not to acknowledge His kingship, but to mock it. While Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus was portrayed with a wreath on his head on Roman coinage, the true King had a crown of thorns smashed onto His. The very reed the soldiers placed into the hands of Jesus to ridicule His Kingship was then used to smash the King’s head.

The punches and spit flew as the derision climaxed with the mocking chant, “Hail, King of the Jews.” The very King of the Jews who wrote that criminals should be executed outside of the camp allowed Himself to be brought outside of Jerusalem to be completely “cut off” like a criminal (Daniel 9:26).

Was Jesus offered sour wine on a toilet sponge? It doesn’t matter.

No greater shame has been born and no greater love has been demonstrated. All of this, and infinitely more, was endured by the Savior so that you and I might be saved and God might be glorified. Amazing obedience. Amazing humility. Amazing grace.

May you have a contemplative Good Friday.

2 Corinthians 6

1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,

“In a favorable time I listened to you,and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,and I will be their God,and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst,and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you,and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”

O Church Arise!!!

 Today has been an interesting day. But the best part about it was I got some new music by these "modern day hymn writers"!!! I am totally addicted to this one song, "O Church Arise" and every time I listen to that one I get so excited that I am on the Lord's side and we are called to fight for the Gospel and Jesus equips us with the armor to do His work! Just read the lyrics and if you can look them up on youtube to hear the melody. As you read these lyrics, I pray that you too will get such an urgency to preach the Gospel and "fight the good fight, run the good race" all knowing that Jesus is the ultimate Victor and We know that He chose us to fight this battle against all evil in this world!


Blessings Friends!
Christa :)


Keith and Kristyn Getty: "O Church, Arise"

O church, arise and put your armor on;
Hear the call of Christ our captain;
For now the weak can say that they are strong
In the strength that God has given.
With shield of faith and belt of truth
We’ll stand against the devil’s lies;
An army bold whose battle cry is “Love!”
Reaching out to those in darkness.

Our call to war, to love the captive soul,
But to rage against the captor;
And with the sword that makes the wounded whole
We will fight with faith and valor.
When faced with trials on ev’ry side,
We know the outcome is secure,
And Christ will have the prize for which He died—
An inheritance of nations.

Come, see the cross where love and mercy meet,
As the Son of God is stricken;
Then see His foes lie crushed beneath His feet,
For the Conqueror has risen!
And as the stone is rolled away,
And Christ emerges from the grave,
This vict’ry march continues till the day
Ev’ry eye and heart shall see Him.

So Spirit, come, put strength in ev’ry stride,
Give grace for ev’ry hurdle,
That we may run with faith to win the prize
Of a servant good and faithful.
As saints of old still line the way,
Retelling triumphs of His grace,
We hear their calls and hunger for the day
When, with Christ, we stand in glory.

The Love of God

I've been talking with a good friend of late just how awesome is our Great God! Through all our failures time and again, His grace never ceases! His love is never ending! Tonight this Hymn came to mind as we were in conversation. I love the last verse especially! I pray you enjoy these rich words of Truth about our Great and Glorious God!

Blessings Friend!

Christa : )

Frederick M. Lehman wrote the song "The Love of God" in 1917 in Pasadena, California.

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.

When years of time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.

Brothers We Are Not Figure Skaters

Brothers We Are Not Figure Skaters

The Most Romantic Letter in the World

Letter to Mr. Hasseltine Asking for His Daughter's Hand in Marriage 

by Adoniram Judson

"Young Judson, before he had resolved to be a missionary, had made up his mind to the sufferings and privations which he well knew were in store for him. He thus wrote to Mr. Hasseltine, of Bradford, when asking for his daughter's hand:"

"I have now to ask whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in this world? Whether you can consent to her departure to a heathen land, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of a missionary life? Whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean; to the fatal influence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death? Can you consent to all this, for the sake of Him who left His heavenly home and died for her and for you; for the sake of perishing, immortal souls; for the sake of Zion and the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your daughter in the world of glory, with a crown of righteousness brightened by the acclamations of praise which shall redound to her Saviour from heathens saved, through her means, from eternal woe and despair?"

Sigh... This has to be the most romantic letter of all time, even though it's not addressed to the lady. It shows the man's adoration and respect for the father, telling the truth without holding back. Wow. I'm just blown away. I pray that there are still guys like this out there.

Blessings!

Christa :)

Good Ol' Spurgeon!!!

This was posted on the blog "pyromaniacs" and wanted to share it further! Wow. This guy knew the Truth and what it cost those in the past to stand for it!

Remember how your fathers, in times gone by, defended God's truth, and blush, ye cowards, who are afraid to maintain it!

Remember that our Bible is a blood-stained book; the blood of martyrs is on the Bible, the blood of translators and confessors. The pool of holy baptism, in which many of you have been baptized, is a blood-stained pool: full many have had to die for the vindication of that baptism which is "the answer of a good conscience toward God."

The doctrines which we preach to you are doctrines that have been baptized in blood,—swords have been drawn to slay the confessors of them; and there is not a truth which has not been sealed by them at the stake, or the block, or far away on the lofty mountains, where they have been slain by hundreds. It is but a little duty we have to discharge compared with theirs. They were called to maintain the truth when they had to die for it; you only have to maintain the truth when taunt and jeer, ignominious names and contemptuous epithets are all you have to endure for it.

What! do you expect easy lives? While some have led through seas of blood, and have fought to win the prize, are you wearied with a slight skirmish on dry land? What would you do if God should suffer persecuting days to overtake you? O craven spirits, ye would flee away, and disown your profession!

Be ye the pillar and ground of the truth. Let the blood of martyrs, let the voices of confessors, speak to you. Remember how they held fast the truth, how they preserved it, and handed it down to us from generation to generation; and by their noble example, I beseech you, be steadfast and faithful, tread valiantly and firmly in their steps, acquit yourselves like men,—like men of God, I implore you!

Shall we not have some champions, in these times, who will deal sternly with heresies for the love of the truth,—men who will stand like rocks in the center of the sea, so that, when all others shake, they stand invulnerable and invincible? Thou who art tossed about by every wind of doctrine, farewell; I own thee not till God shall give thee grace to stand firm for his truth, and not to be ashamed of him nor of his words in this evil generation.

An Interesting Take on Prayer

At youth group last night, Jeff Lambin did a message on Hypocrisy and how to know how to see it. Oe of the points he made was really amazing. It's about our prayer life. When was the last time you prayed for someone's growth? When was the last you prayed for spiritual growth? When was the last time you praised God for spiritual growth in anyone's life? Usually when we get together and we're like, "OK can you pray for Bob, he's going through a hard time with sin", "Pray for Sally. She's just a slut and I want to be nice to her", "Pray for my friend's cousin's friend's uncle who has cancer". Do we ever think about the fact that 1, yes we are supposed to "cast our care upon Him, for He cares for you" but 2, "In EVERYTHING give thanks". It always bothers me when people never pray for their own sanctification. It's like they are afraid to say, "I'm a sinner and I need Jesus." Yes, we NEED Jesus! EVERYDAY! If I go one day without spending time with the Lord, reading His word and praying for knowledge, I have the hardest times throughout my day keeping my eyes on Jesus. As Christians, we are to have a hunger and a thirst for righteousness. I LOVE reading God's word! I LOVE talking to my Father in Heaven, praising Him, confessing to Him, thanking Him and humbly asking Him for somethings.

On a last note, John MacArthur put this in his footnote on 1 Peter 2:2 - "A Christian develops a desire for the truth of God's word by 1) remembering his life's source, 2) eliminating sin from his life, 3) admitting his need for God's truth, 4) pursuing spiritual growth and 5) surveying his blessings". I just love it because it kind of ties into what I said above about prayer in our lives. I hope that as you, whoever you are, go along and pray for growth in your own life and others and study His word! There's no other way to be sanctified apart from communion with God on a daily basis.

RUN!

A few minutes ago, I watched a Youtube video of Joel Osteen (JO) on "60 MInutes". Wow. I couldn't believe all the things I was hearing. The news reporter actually asked JO about why his books only focus on "self-Improvement" and that looking to yourself was the best way to gain in life. He even asked JO, "Shouldn't Christians be looking to Jesus?" TO which JO replied, "Well, uh, there's some scripture in it..." Some isn't enough dude! It should be permeated, dripping wet with scripture in it's RIGHTFUL context! It should not be you, JO, changing lives! It's ALL GOD! It breaks my heart to see the MILLIONS of people who are being led straight into the lake burning with fire and brimstone every day, every time this false prophet opens his mouth! It makes me sick and I am thrown to the floor in agony of the souls that will not see the glory of God because of this demonic-doctrine! Brothers and sisters, I pray that you will reach out to those who are lost. Show them the Truth! I heard on the radio about a guy that was witnessing and the lady asked him, "What can I believe in? Nothing in this world seems stable." To which he replied, "Well, the only Truth out there is the Word of God." What a great answer! Go out and preach the truth! Run towards the conflict and fight with all you have against the rulers of darkness! Shine the Light of Christ in everything you say and do! Don't be afraid! "If God is for us, who can stand against us!" (Romans 8:31) Below are the videos that I watched today. The first one is JO's interview. Then watch the video "RUN" by an amazing pastor in New York City. Blessings my brethren!

God Saves Bad People

Saw this on "Wretched"'s Facebook this morning. Wow. What a message.

Busy Nothings...

One of my favorite Jane Austen quotes from the book "Mansfield Park" is "Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings". My life feels like that sometimes. Homework. Work. School. But when I really think about it, without Christ these would be busy nothings. With Christ, they are busy somethings - They bring glory to God, as long as I'm walking by His Spirit and not according to the flesh. It never ceases to amaze me as I walk around school and look at my fellow peers and the empty lives they live. It's sad. It's heart breaking the wasted lives that surround me when I know the truth. I ask myself, "Do they know the Truth? They don't live like it." I recently listened to a MacArthur sermon and he brought up an old puritan, whose name escapes my full brain, and he made a covenant with God not to hold any form of conversation that does not bring God glory, so evangelism was in his every thought and conversation with the various people around him! Wow. I yearn for the day I will be able to speak out with boldness and proclaim the Truths of the Gospel. It breaks my heart that I'm not as strong as I want to be. I bring up the subject that I go to church, do missions, yadda, yadda. But what does that say to the world? Nothing as far as they are concerned. To them, it's just stuff I do. They don't really know who I am or who Christ is in me. That all to say that I want to live out this next week to bring all Glory to God. No matter what I do and no matter what others say about me. I pray that I may take a bold stand and proclaim to the lost souls around me that they are damned to hell if they do not repent of their sins and believe in the true Redeemer of all. The creator of the world. So as I go out this week, life will seem to be a quick succession of busy glorifying the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

70 Resolutions by Jonathan Edwards

Jonathan Edwards’ Resolved:

1) Resolved: That I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad's of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.

2) Resolved: To be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things.

3) Resolved: If ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

4) Resolved: Never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul of body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.

5) Resolved: Never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

6) Resolved: To live with all my might, while I do live.

7) Resolved: Never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

8) Resolved: To act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.

9) Resolved: To think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.

10) Resolved: When I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

11) Resolved: When I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don’t hinder.

12) Resolved: If I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.

13) Resolved: To be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.

14) Resolved: Never to do anything our of revenge.

15) Resolved: Never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.

16) Resolved: Never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

17) Resolved: That I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

18) Resolved: To live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.

19) Resolved: Never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.

20) Resolved: To maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.

21) Resolved: Never to do anything, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.

22) Resolved: To endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power;might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.

23) Resolved: Frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God’s glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.

24) Resolved: Whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

25) Resolved: To examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

26) Resolved: To cast away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.

27) Resolved: Never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.

28) Resolved: To study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

29) Resolved: Never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.

30) Resolved: To strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.

31) Resolved: Never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution.

32) Resolved: To be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Proverbs 20:6, “A faithful man who can find?” may not be partly fulfilled in me.

33) Resolved: Always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be without overbalancing detriment in other respects.

34) Resolved: In narration’s never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity.

35) Resolved: Whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved.

36) Resolved: Never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it.

37) Resolved: To inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself; also at the end of every week, month and year.

38) Resolved: Never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord’s day.

39) Resolved: Never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no; except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.

40) Resolved: To inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking.

41) Resolved: To ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherin I could possibly in any respect have done better.

42) Resolved: Frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this day.

43) Resolved: Never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s, agreeable to what is to be found.

44) Resolved: That no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it.

45) Resolved: Never to allow any pleasure of grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion.

46) Resolved: Never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eve: and to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family.

47) Resolved: To endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contended, easy, compassionate, generous, humble meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so.

48) Resolved: Constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of.

49) Resolved: That this never shall be, if I can help it.

50) Resolved: I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world.

51) Resolved: That I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned.

52) Resolved: I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved that I will live just as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age.

53) Resolved: To improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in Him, and consecrate myself wholly to Him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer.

54) Resolved: Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it.

55) Resolved: To endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments.

56) Resolved: Never to give over, not in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

57) Resolved: When I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether I have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin.

58) Resolved: Not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity.

59) Resolved: When I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times.

60) Resolved: Whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the lease irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination.

61) Resolved: That I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc.

62) Resolved: Never to do anything but duty; and then according to Ephesians 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; “Knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.”

63) Resolved: On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time.

64) Resolved: When I find those “groaning which cannot be uttered” Romans 8:26, of which the Apostle speaks, and those “breakings for the soul for the longing it hath,” of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear’, of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness.

65) Resolved: Very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, vis. With the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrow, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton’s 27th sermon on Psalm 119.

66) Resolved: That I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen duty requires otherwise.

67) Resolved: After afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what food I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.

68) Resolved: To confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help.

69) Resolved: Always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it.

70) Resolved: Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak.