As I arise today,
May the strength of God pilot me, the power of God uphold me, the wisdom of God guide me.
May the eye of God look before me, the ear of God hear me, the word of God speak for me. 
May the hand of God protect me, the way of God lie before me, the shield of God defend me, the host of God save me. May Christ shield me today.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit, Christ when I stand,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me. Amen. 
– Adapted from St. Patrick’s Breastplate (387-493).

GENERAL QUESTIONS WHICH A SERIOUS CHRISTIAN MAY PROPOSE TO HIMSELF BEFORE HE BEGINS HIS EVENING DEVOTIONS.

1. With what degree of attention and fervor did I use my morning prayers, public or private?

2. Have I done anything without a present, or at least a previous, perception of its direct or remote tendency to the glory of God?

3. Did I in the morning consider what particular virtue I was to exercise, and what business I had to do, in the day?

4. Have I been zealous to undertake, and active in doing, what good I could?

5. Have I interested myself any farther in the affairs of others than charity required?

6. Have I, before I visited or was visited, considered how I might thereby give or receive improvement?

7. Have I mentioned any failing or fault of any man, when it was not necessary for the good of another?

8. Have I unnecessarily grieved any one by word or deed?

9. Have I before or in every action considered how it might be a means of improving in the virtue of the day?

PARTICULAR QUESTIONS RELATIVE TO THE LOVE OF GOD.

1. Have I set apart some of this day to think upon his perfections and mercies?

2. Have I labored to make this day a day of heavenly rest, sacred to divine love?

3. Have I employed those parts of it in works of necessity and mercy, which were not employed in prayer, reading, and meditation?

GENERAL QUESTIONS, WHICH MAY BE USED EVERY MORNING.
 
1. Did I think of God first and last?

2. Have I examined myself how I behaved since last night’s retirement?

3. Am I resolved to do all the good I can this day, and to be diligent in the business of my calling?

PARTICULAR QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE LOVE OF OUR NEIGHBOR.

1. Have I thought anything but my conscience too dear to part with, to please or serve my neighbor?

2. Have I rejoiced or grieved with him?

3. Have I received his infirmities with pity, not with anger?

4. Have I contradicted anyone, either where I had no good end in view, or where there was no probability of convincing?

5. Have I let him I thought in the wrong (in a trifle) have the last word?

PARTICULAR QUESTIONS RELATING TO HUMILITY.

1. Have I labored to conform all my thoughts, words, and actions to these fundamental maxims: “I am nothing, I have nothing, I can do nothing?”

2. Have I set apart some time this day to think upon my infirmities, follies, and sins?

3. Have I ascribed to myself any part of any good which God did by my hand?

4. Have I said or done anything with a view to the praise of men?

5. Have I desired the praise of men?

6. Have I taken pleasure in it?

7. Have I commended myself, or others, to their faces, unless for God’s sake, and then with fear and trembling?

8. Have I despised anyone’s advice?

9. Have I, when I thought so, said, “I am in the wrong?”

10. Have I received contempt for things indifferent, with meekness? For doing my duty, with joy?

11. Have I omitted justifying myself where the glory of God was not concerned? Have I submitted to be thought in the wrong?

12. Have I, when contemned, First, prayed God it might not discourage or puff me up; Secondly, that it might not be imputed to the condemner; Thirdly, that it might heal my pride?

13. Have I, without some particular good in view, mentioned the contempt I had met with?

PARTICULAR QUESTIONS RELATING TO MORTIFICATION.

1. Have I done anything merely because it was pleasing?

2. Have I not only not done what passion solicited me to, but done just the contrary?

3. Have I received the inconveniences I could not avoid as means of mortification chosen for me by God?

4. Have I contrived pretenses to avoid self-denial? In particular,

5. Have I thought any occasion of denying myself too small to be embraced?

6. Have I submitted my will to the will of every one that opposed it, except where the glory of God was concerned?

7. Have I set apart some time for endeavoring after a lively sense of the sufferings of Christ and my own sins? for deprecating God’s judgment, and thinking how to amend?

PARTICULAR QUESTIONS RELATING TO RESIGNATION AND MEEKNESS.

1. Have I endeavored to will what God wills, and that only?

2. Have I received everything that has befallen me without my choice, as the choice of infinite wisdom and goodness for me, with thanks?

3. Have I (after doing what he requires of me to do concerning them) left all future things absolutely to God’s disposal; that is, have I labored to be wholly indifferent to which soever way he shall ordain for me?

4. Have I resumed my claim to my body, soul, friends, fame, or fortune, which I have made over to God; or repented of my gift, when God accepted any of them at my hands?

5. Have I endeavored to be cheerful, mild, and courteous in whatever I said or did?

6. Have I said anything with a stern look, accent, or gesture? Particularly with regard to religion?

PARTICULAR QUESTIONS RELATING TO THANKFULNESS.

1. Have I allotted some time for thanking God for the blessings of the past week?

2. Have I, in order to be the more sensible of them, seriously and deliberately considered the several circumstances that attended them?

3. Have I considered each of them as an obligation to greater love, and, consequently, to stricter holiness?

Taken from “A Collection of Forms of Prayer, for Every Day in the Week”, 1733.  The Works of Reverend John Wesley, A.M., Vol. VI by John Emory, 1831.

Blessed is he who has in the Lord become completely free of all earthly things in this troublesome life, and who has loved the one good and merciful God.

Blessed is he who has become a doer of good works and, like a fruitful field, brings forth a great abundance of the fruits of life in the Lord.

Blessed is he who stands at prayer in service to God and, like the heavenly angels, at all times has pure thoughts and does not allow the evil one to approach him, that he may not enslave his soul and lead it away from God the Savior.

Blessed is he who loves sanctity (purity) like light, and has not defiled his body before the Lord with shameful acts of the evil one.

Blessed is he who always retains in himself remembrance of God, for such a person on earth is like a heavenly angel, constantly celebrating the Lord with fear and love.

Blessed is he who loves repentance, which saves all sinners, and does not delight in sin, that he might not appear ungrateful before God our Savior.

Blessed is he who, like a courageous warrior defending heavenly treasures, preserves his soul and body without reproach in the Lord.

Blessed is he who like the heavenly angels, has pure thoughts, and who with his lips sings praises to the One who has authority over all that breathes.

Blessed is he who has become like unto the seraphim and cherubim and is never slothful in spiritual service, who ceaselessly glorifies the Lord.

Blessed is he who has illumined the eyes of his heart, and always sees the Lord in himself as in a mirror. Such a man will be relieved of passions and evil thoughts.

Blessed is he who loves good and beautiful speech but hates words that are shameful and corrupting, for he will not be taken captive by the evil one.

Blessed is he who instructs his neighbor in the fear of God and does not seduce his soul, for he is ever wary of the great Pastor’s iron staff.

Blessed is he who is obedient to his neighbor in accordance with God’s will and gratefully suffers offence, for such a man will be crowned as a confessor of the Lord.

Blessed is he who loves abstinence in accordance with God’s will and is not subject to condemnation as a corrupt sensualist on account of his belly, for such a man will be magnified in the Lord.

Blessed is he who does not intoxicate himself with wine, but is ever glad in remembrance of the Lord, in whom all the saints rejoice unceasingly.

Blessed is he who manages his possessions in accordance with God’s will, and does not lay himself open to condemnation from the Savior as a miser lacking compassion for his neighbor.

Blessed is he who is vigilant in prayer, reading and good works; he will be enlightened and will not fall asleep unto death.
 
Blessed is he who has become a marvelous spiritual net and caught many for the good Master; greatly will he be praised in the Lord.

Blessed is he who has become a marvelous example for his neighbor and has not injured the conscience of his fellow servants with indecent acts; he will be blessed in the Lord.

– from, A Spiritual Psalter, #1 Beatitudes. Ephraim the Syrian (ca. 306 – 373) was a Syrian deacon and a prolific Syriac-language hymnographer and theologian.

Inspire repentance for our sin, And free us from our past.

You strove with Satan and You won,Your faithfulness endured;

Lend us Your nerve your skill and trust, In God’s eternal word.

Though parched and hungry yet You prayed, And fixed Your mind above;

So teach us to deny ourselves, Since we have known God’s love.

Be with us through this season Lord, And all our earthly days;

That when the resurrection dawns, We join in heaven’s praise.

Claudia F. Ibotson Hernaman (1838-98), Gilbert E. Doan (1930-  ), Public Domain.

Join us for Worship on Sunday:
8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

THE JOURNEY
255 Wilson Highway
Millsboro, Delaware

Pastor Wes & Patti McCallum
P.O. Box 362
Millsboro, DE 19966

2.  We value The Great Commission to make disciples, to baptize believers, and to teach obedience to Christ’s commands (Mt. 28:19-20).

3.  We value spiritual disciplines of worship, prayer, scriptures, sacraments, and accountability.

4.  We value every person, Christian and non-Christian alike, as loved by God.

5.  We value team ministry as God’s design for effective ministry.

6.  We value every member as a minister with spiritual gifts to discover and develop for service.

7.  We value variety in worship styles to minister to the needs of all people.

8.  We value loving, caring relationships though small group discipleship and fellowship.

9.  We value healthy relationships by protecting the unity of the Spirit in our church.

10. We value effective evangelism through people winning others to Christ, one by one.

11. We value the spiritual formation of kids, youth, and new believers as essential for their future.

12. We value serving our community through compassion, service, and prayer.

Above All
Agnus Dei
All Who are Thirsty
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
Ancient of Days
Be Exalted, O God
Better Is One Day
Blessed Be Your Name 
Breathe
Change My Heart Oh God
Come Now is the Time to Worship
Days of Elijah
Draw Me Close
Give Thanks
Great is the Lord
God of Wonders
He Is Exalted
Here I Am To Worship
Hosanna in the Highest.
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us.
How Great is our God.
I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever
I Stand In Awe
I Worship You
In Christ Alone
In The Secret
Jesus Name Above All Names
Jesus Messiah
Knowing You
Lord I Lift Your Name on High
Lord Reign In Me
Majesty
Mighty To Save
My Life Is In You
Open the Eyes of My Heart
Sanctuary
Shine Jesus Shine
Shout to the Lord
Take my Life (Holiness)
The Heart of Worship
The Potter’s Hand
The Power of Your Love
The Wonderful Cross
There Is a Redeemer
Trading My Sorrows
We are an Offering
We Fall Down
Worthy Is The Lamb
You Are My All In All
You Are My King

* All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
* And Can it be that I Should Gain
Arise my Soul Arise
* Be Thou My Vision
Breathe on Me, Breath of God
Come, Thou Almighty King
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Christ the Lord is Risen Today
Crown Him with Many Crowns
Fairest Lord Jesus
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
* Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty
How Firm a Foundation
* Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee
* Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
My Faith Has Found a Resting Place
My Faith Looks Up to Thee
O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
O Jesus, I Have Promised
O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
* Our Great Savior
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Rejoice, the Lord Is King
Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart
Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us
Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart
* Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated
* The Church’s One Foundation
* When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

* My Top Ten Hymn List.

“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” – Jn. 4:24.  “I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.” – 1 Cor. 14:15b.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”  – Col. 3:17.

Nurturing Faith
My spiritual formation as a child occurred in churches where my father served as pastor.  Similar to Susanna Wesley, my mother raised five kids giving each one of us spiritual guidance. From memory we recited the commandments, beatitudes, Lord’s Prayer, songs, and psalms.  She also taught a youth catechism class at church where we were grounded in the scriptures.

Saving Grace
Both of my parents cultivated my spiritual sensitivity and reverence for God. Daily they prayed with me and often spoke of my need to respond to God’s grace.  This prepared me for my first response to grace at age 10 during a revival service at my father’s church.  My parents nurtured my faith and spiritual commitment.

At age 14, I received an assurance of regeneration during a summer family camp service.  It was here that I became conscious of sin and the need of a Savior. Thereafter, I was baptized by my father and received as a member of the church. My parents faithfully prayed for me through my challenging teenage years.  Even today their prayers continue to encourage me.

Growing Grace
As a young married man my wife became my “spiritual soul mate”.  Together, Patti and I share our spiritual life in Christ.  As a young man, I experienced a distinct revelation of God as one who is as holy and triune.  Later, as a college student I received an assurance of the grace of sanctification and was entirely consecrated to God during a 3 day spiritual fast.  Later, I was ordained a minister by the ”laying on of hands”. Later still, I reaffirmed my baptism by immersion in the Jordan River in Israel to identify with Christ’s death and resurrection.

In Summary
Like Jeremiah, I was consecrated to God at birth by righteous parents.  Similar to young Samuel, I responded to God’s call at 10 years of age. Then at age 14, I was baptized in response to an assurance of regeneration.  Like Paul, I was sanctified in response to a divine revelation as a young adult.  Like young Timothy, I was mentored in ministry by godly leaders.  As a mature man, I reaffirmed my baptism in the Jordan River to fully identify with Christ.  Jesus is my Lord, the Holy Spirit is my Sanctifier, and God is my Father.  I have a continuing assurance of his saving grace.  I am confident that God will continue his work in me until it is fulfilled on the day when Christ returns (Phil 1:6).

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. – Col. 3:1-4.

Christ is my Life!  Christ is my Hope!  Christ is my Joy!
– Wes McCallum, 10/15 2010.