@FirstChurchofJerusalem
Today's Early Church Wisdom
“I shall not hesitate also to put into ordered form for you, along with the interpretations, everything I learned carefully in the past from the elders and noted down carefully, for the truth of which I vouch. For unlike most people, I took no pleasure in those who told many different stories, but only in those who taught the truth. Nor did I take pleasure in those who reported their memory of someone else’s commandments, but only in those who reported their memory of the commandments given by the Lord to the faith and proceeding from the Truth itself. And if by chance anyone who had been in attendance on the elders arrived, I made enquiries about the words of the elders—what Andrew or Peter had said, or Philip or Thomas or James or John or Matthew or any other of the Lord’s disciples, and whatever Aristion and John the Elder, the Lord’s disciples, were saying. For I did not think that information from the books would profit me as much as information from a living and surviving voice.
~ Papias of Hierapolis (c. 60–130 AD) From the Preface to his lost ‘Expositions of the Sayings of the Lord’
This week's Psalm is Psalm 31 'My Rock, My Shield, My Song'

Thank Him on Rising & Retiring

Let me share with you something I have observed about people’s going to bed and rising in the morning. Those who retire reflecting on God’s goodness and His blessings, particularly those they have experienced during the day, generally sleep better, and those who rise with thoughts of His loving kindness to them and the fact that they are blessed by Him, generally have a better day than others. Powerful spiritual and psychological laws influence our rising and retiring, which is why the Psalmist advises us, “To declare Your loving kindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night” (Psalm 92:2). If you want a troubled night, take your troubles to bed. If you want a bad day, breakfast on bad things. Sadly, that’s what many do, and then they wonder why they don’t feel too good! If I am so stupid as to eat rotten food, I have only myself to blame for the food poisoning! The best food for your soul will always be God’s word to you. If you’re new to giving thanks on rising and retiring, you’ll need to practice it for a while until it becomes automatic. Stop now and give thanks