"Common Grace Revisited" By Shane C. Montgomery

Concerning the on-going debate on Common Grace, I think it would be safe to say that yes it is more than a theory, that God does offer blessings to the unregenerate (Reprobate) as well as to the regenerate (Elect).  But the amount of these blessings as well as the extent of God's sovereign control over the believers and non-believers daily lives is often taken to extreme, some might claim God is sovereign and He is, and in His sovereignty He is sovereign over every single aspect of every single living thing in the universe, to a point or extreme as to say He decides when a fly will fly into your window and onto a crumb of food under your kitchen table and all this while you are three thousand miles away on vacation.  This as well as every other action and thought happening every second of every day is decided and manipulated by Sovereign God.  While I agree God is in fact truly sovereign over all things, I believe we sometimes go to extremes concerning His involvement.

"How to Spend the Day With God" By Richard Baxter (115-16910

 The following has been updated for modern day.  It would appear anyway......

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A holy life is inclined to be made easier when we know the usual sequence and method of our duties - with everything falling into its proper place. Therefore, I shall give some brief directions for spending the day in a holy manner.

Sleep

Measure the time of your sleep appropriately so that you do not waste your precious morning hours sluggishly in your bed. Let the time of your sleep be matched to your health and labour, and not to slothful pleasure.

First Thoughts

"The Finger of God" A sermon by J.C. Ryle (1865)

Preface:  When England experienced a major outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 1865, the Suffolk vicar J. C. Ryle (later Bishop of Liverpool) drew attention to a factor which most of his contemporaries had overlooked. The Egyptians in the time of Moses acknowledged 'the finger of God' in their plagues. Ryle called Englishmen to consider their national disaster in the same light.  His address here reprinted, establishes the principle that national calamities might be the judgements of God and examines the causes of such a chastisement. Readers may judge for themselves how far his words apply to more recent outbreaks.

"A vision of unchangeable, free mercy, in sending the means of grace to undeserving sinners" by John Owen

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“And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.”

Acts xvi. 9.

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The kingdom of Jesus Christ is frequently in the Scripture compared to growing things, — small in the beginning and first appearance, but increasing by degrees unto glory and perfection. The shapeless stone cut out without hands, having neither form nor desirable beauty given unto it, becomes a great mountain, filling the whole earth, Dan. ii. 35. The small vine brought out of Egypt quickly covers the hills with her shadow, — her boughs reach unto the sea, and her branches unto the river, Ps. lxxx. 8. The tender plant becomes as the cedars of God; and the grain of mustard-seed to be a tree for the fowls of the air to make their nests in the branches thereof. Mountains are made plains before it, every valley is filled, and the crooked paths made straight, that it may have a passage to its appointed period; — and all this, not only not supported by outward advantages, but in direct opposition to the combined power of this whole creation, as fallen and in subjection to the “god of this world,” the head thereof. As Christ was “a tender plant,” seemingly easy to be broken; and “a root out of a dry ground,” not easily flourishing, yet liveth for ever; so his people and kingdom, — though as a “lily among thorns,” as “sheep among wolves,” as a “turtledove” among a multitude of devourers, — yet stands unshaken, at least unshivered.