Colossians 3-16-17 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him

July 18

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. — Colossians 3:16-17

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OUR gracious Lord, we thank Thee for those who have helped us to know Thee. We bless Thee for the revelation of Thy love in eyes of affection and arms of tenderness to which our baby hearts willingly responded, and for the knowledge of Thy law in persuasive suggestion and stern command, to which we gave obedience.

We praise Thee for lips that taught ours to speak Thy name in reverence; for love that believed in us, and would not let us go; for arms that sheltered and sustained us in time of testing; for eyes of vision that enabled us to see things invisible, but eternal.

We magnify Thee for lives shining with the glory of rectitude and winsomeness; for shoulders divinely strengthened to bear another's burden; for hands beckoning to the blessedness of sacrificial service. Grant unto all these, whether on earth or in the Glory Land, to know the joy of our gratitude and love, and vouchsafe unto us that it may be ours to bless others as we have been so greatly blessed. Amen.

Rev. Frank Otis Erb, Ph.D.,

Portland, Maine