II Corinthians 3:16  But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18  And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Ii Corinthians 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not... 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Psalm 84:4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. 5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. 6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. 7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. 8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.

My other letters on assurance and fighting for joy, including:

In darkest place
Where do you go when the world is unlovely? (Psalm 84 & the theology of Biblical counseling)
Hudson Taylor: a man who found rest in the yoke of Christ
but not too hard with Me (calling, doubt & assurance)
ML-J on depression in the ministry
Though beyond all measure I be pressed ~ "the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials"

Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

Photo credit: http://www.dnr.sc.gov/news/Yr2006/dec25/dec25_eagle_pic.html

No glory to me, O my Savior
Bless You, Father, for sovereign favor

Though hell-bent, deserving condemnation
Chosen in Christ, predestined for redemption

O, most precious – the blood of the Lamb
All glory to You, the great I AM

Our good shepherd, dying for Your sheep
To raise us all up out of the ash heap

Only because You chose to favor
Not of our will, nor of our labor

Not of our best works or zealous efforts
Only by the counsel of Your good pleasure

This is the LORD's doing, nothing of us
In our eyes His sovereign grace marvelous!

Not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh
But through faith imputed Christ's righteousness

How can a lifeless soul rise from the grave?
Can holiness be sought by the depraved?

How can the blind see Your delight?
Can a helpless sinner cure sin's blight?

Why would the hostile seek his enemy?
Can the carnal man slay his enmity?

Only because You chose to favor
Not of our will, nor of our labor

Not of our best works or zealous efforts
Only by the counsel of Your good pleasure

This is the LORD's doing, nothing of us
In our eyes His sovereign grace marvelous!

Not at all based on how we have run
But in a holy calling before time was begun

Foreknown of God - trembling at divine election
Nothing in us to earn or merit such selection

Can the leopard make a holy transformation?
Can the dead produce their own resurrection?

Worthy are You, O Lamb who was slain
To receive all blessing and acclaim

Once not Your people, but now beloved
Of Abraham's seed, God's adopted sons

Only because You chose to favor
Not of our will, nor of our labor

Not of our best works or zealous efforts
Only by the counsel of Your good pleasure

This is the LORD's doing, nothing of us
In our eyes His sovereign grace marvelous!

Alpha and Omega, You loved me first
Hung on the cross, for me became a curse

You brought me under the shadow of Your wings
Salvation belongs to You, to You alone I sing

For Your glory, I was chosen and foreordained
To stand in the Holiest, spotless and unstained

A worm raised up from ashes and dust
How can I not exalt You, O, I must!

In Christ I trusted those many years ago
To You I ascribe strength, You I extol

All glory to You, just God and justifier
All praise to You, faith's author and finisher

A vessel of Your mercy, I can only proclaim
Your name alone – JESUS! - for Your fame

Only because You chose to favor
Not of my will, nor of my labor

Not of my best works or zealous efforts
Only by the counsel of Your good pleasure

This is the LORD's doing, nothing of me
In my eyes His sovereign grace marvelous!

~ Soli Deo Gloria for my second birth, November 5, 1982.

John 1:12  But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13  who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Romans 9:14  What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15  For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16  So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17  For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18  So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

Psalm 130
3  If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4  But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.

Ephesians 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4  even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5  he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6  to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8  which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9  making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10  as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

11  In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12  so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13  In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14  who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Revelation 7:9  After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10  and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11  And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12  saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

" Thursday, December 19 [1844].—How sweet the Word to my taste! Enjoyment of fellowship with God in prayer. My peace interrupted by the secret workings of the impatient, restless flesh. ' When I would do good, evil is present with me.' Difficulty of restraining the tendency to impatience under the crosses of the day. The very tendency disabled me to draw, as I should have done, upon the treasures of strengthening, sanctifying grace which are in Christ.

" O to be free from the body of this death! It would gladly, if it could, free itself from the restraints of God's blessed Word and Spirit !  When shall the enemy be slain, and my soul wholly free ! Went with my rankling sore to the throne of grace. Some comfort. I am ashamed to be always, always going back to God stained with guilt; but still I have found God gracious—ready to heap coals of fire upon my head by pouring out on my hell-deserving soul the treasures of His love and pity. ' There is forgiveness with Thee, that thou mayest be feared.' ' Gifts for men, yea, for the rebellious also !' O my soul, bless the Lord, ' who forgiveth all thine iniquities.'

" Lord Jesus, O that I were holy as Thou art holy! ' How long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph ?' They say unto me daily, ' Where is now thy God ?' O Lord, plead in me Thine own cause; shew that, as Thou art my righteousness, Thou art my sanctification also."

Scripture quotations from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.