And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16.
In the annals of human history the growth of nations, the rise and fall of empires, appear as dependent on the will and prowess of man. The shaping of events seems, to a great degree, to be determined by his power, ambition, or caprice. But in the Word of God the curtain is drawn aside, and we behold, behind, above, and through all the play and counterplay of human interests and power and passions, the agencies of the all-merciful One, silently, patiently working out the counsels of His own will….
Amidst the strife and tumult of nations, He that sitteth above the cherubim still guides the affairs of the earth…. To every nation and to every individual … God has assigned a place in His great plan…. Men and nations are being measured by the plummet in the hand of Him who makes no mistake. All are by their own choice deciding their destiny, and God is overruling all for the accomplishment of His purposes.
The history which the great I AM has marked out in His Word, uniting link after link in the prophetic chain, from eternity in the past to eternity in the future, tells us where we are today in the procession of the ages, and what may be expected in the time to come.
All that prophecy has foretold as coming to pass, until the present time, has been traced on the pages of history, and we may be assured that all which is yet to come will be fulfilled in its order….
We need to study the working out of God’s purpose in the history of nations and in the revelation of things to come, that we may estimate at their true value things seen and things unseen; that we may learn what is the true aim of life; that, viewing the things of time in the light of eternity, we may put them to their truest and noblest use.
The Faith I Live By p. 168
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray again for my granddaughter Anglique. She is the lady with lupus and is pregnant. Right now her mom and husband is forcing her to go the hospital because she keeps passing out. She cannot eat much because of open ulcers in her mouth and throat. Her hair has been falling out in handfuls and she is now telling her husband she is dying. She is only 24 yrs and has two small boys under 5 and I’m praying for a miracle. I know we are suppose to pray for Gods will but I’m praying Gods will be to heal her. Barbara
—-Please pray for Jerry who has had several strokes right in a row. Also for my mother who had a stroke and is in rehab. Becky
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Dear Friends,
Esther has always enjoyed cooking. Her specialty is healthful desserts. When she was too little to reach the stove, she would climb up on a chair so she could reach. We all enjoy eating what she makes. One day when Esther was in her mid-teens, she decided to make something for her lunch. Since she was the only one home, she looked for something small to cook in. I had glass pans that were specially made for stovetop use, but the flat, glass top to my slow cooker was not. She didn’t realize that. Esther put some food into it, put it on the burner, turned on the stove, and then, without knowing why, left the room. When she came to her senses, she was looking out of the little window in the back door. She said to herself, “What am I doing here.?” At that moment, she heard an explosion. Rushing back to the kitchen, she saw what was left of that glass cover. There were countless pieces everywhere. While she was cleaning up the mess, Esther suddenly realized that if she had not gone into the laundry room and looked out of the door, she would have been badly hurt. As she picked up a large dagger-like piece, she thanked God for His protecting care! Even though our Loving Saviour is “upholding all things by the word of his power,” He is never too busy for us. He cares for even the smallest details of our life. He assures us, “I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee” Jer15:20 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing,and as a thing of nought. For I the LORD thy God will hold thy righthand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” Isa 41:10-13 We can say with confidence as did David, “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.” Ps56:11 “I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.” Ps 73:23-26 “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?….Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy righthand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret…Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which incontinuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.” Ps 139:1-18 How great and good God is! He is so close to us! He watches over us with such tender care! Only when we are in Heaven, will we realize how many times He has delivered us out of the hand of the enemy of souls. Let us trust Him fully. Let us allow Him to have complete control of our lives. Let us give all our love to the One Who loves us so.
Rose
Behind the Scenes of Life