Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. Jeremiah 30:7.
The fulfilling of the signs of the times gives evidence that the day of the Lord is near at hand. . . . The crisis is stealing gradually upon us. The sun shines in the heavens, passing over its usual round, and the heavens still declare the glory of God. Men are still eating and drinking, planting and building, marrying and giving in marriage. Merchants are still buying and selling. . . . Pleasure lovers are still crowding to theaters, horse races, gambling hells. The highest excitement prevails, yet probation’s hour is fast closing, and every case is about to be eternally decided. Satan sees that his time is short. He has set all his agents to work, that men may be deceived, deluded, occupied, and entranced until the day of probation shall be ended and the door of mercy be forever shut. . . .
The “time of trouble, such as never was” (Daniel 12:1) is soon to open upon us, and we shall need an experience which many are too indolent to obtain. . . . Now, while our great High Priest is making the atonement for us, we should seek to become perfect in Christ. Not even by a thought could our Saviour be brought to yield to the power of temptation. Satan finds in human hearts some point where he can gain a foothold; some sinful desire is cherished, by means of which his temptations assert their power. But Christ declared of Himself, “The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me” (John 14:30). Satan could find nothing in the Son of God that would enable him to gain the victory. He had kept His Father’s commandments, and there was no sin in Him that Satan could use to his advantage. This is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble.
“Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: . . . He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice” (Psalm 50:3-5). That I May I Know Him p. 354
““““““““““““““““““““
—–Please pray for my great-granddaughter Alexis who has just been diagnosed with scoliosis. M
—–Please pray for my grand-niece Amanda who has serious health issues. Pray that the doctors can find the right treatment for her. Also please pray for my niece Megan who is also having health problems. Rose
—–update— My dad went in for a Heart Cath last night, and the result is he needs a double by-pass and heart valve replacement, at the same time. Thanks to all of you for praying, his surgery will either be on Friday, or Monday they are keeping him in the hospital until then. I am asking for prayers once again for a successful surgery and for peace for my dad, he is afraid of course, anyone would be. Thanks. Kelly and family
—–update— Jan is still giving the rehab all she has. This is OT, PT, and speech rehab. Still has difficulty with some cognitive functions in addition to the total weakness and unresponsiveness of her left side. We do not know what the rehab situation will look like once the post – surgery medical care is done. _____ is a wonderful place that combines the best-in-the-world-medical with kind & caring people. If it is possible to regain functionality, Jan can get it here. Keep her in prayer. Michael
“““““““““““““““““““““
Dear Friends,
From the time I was a teenager until I was in my forties, I suffered with gall bladder problems. Yet I was afraid of going to the hospital and getting my gallbladder removed even though I knew that would take care of the problem. All of the horror stories that I had heard about surgeries gone wrong filled me with dread. Having worked in various hospitals over the years, confirmed that those sorts of things do happen.
By the time I was 43, it was obvious that something had to be done. I could eat nothing. Still I was very sick. The thought of leaving my children and going into the hospital seemed like a trial that I could not bear. I was terrified.
One day, as I was weeding the garden, I felt so very ill, that I knew that I could not go on much longer. I prayed that God would take control of the situation. I fully expected to get better and have no more problems. Surely God would heal me. Instead of being healed, I got much worse. That night my temperature dropped to 94 and I shivered uncontrollably. I felt forsaken. Why hadn’t God answered my prayer?
Ron insisted that I go to the emergency room. Despite my protests, we went. They found that I had a terrible infection in my gallbladder and would have died if I had waited much longer. Thankfully, the doctor on duty that night was a specialist in removing gallbladders and the surgery went well. If I had gone the next night, he would have been on vacation.
Even though my prayers were not answered exactly the way I wanted them to be, our Great Redeemer had answered them in a way that was best for me. Through this and other happenings in my life, I learned that He will take control of any situation if we will ask Him and then allow Him to work “to will and to do of His good pleasure.” He does not force His way into our lives, we must invite Him. He promises us, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Ps 32:8 Think of it! The great Creator of the Universe, He Who upholds “all things by the word of his power,” is willing to guide our life. Heb 1:3 We will get ourselves into trouble if we try to do what we think is best without finding out God’s way. Solomon warns, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Prov 14:12
I learned that in any area of life, nothing can happen unless it is allowed by the One Who loves us more than we love ourselves. Paul assures us, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Rom 8:28 “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor 10:13 With David we can say, “The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.” Ps 145:9
I also learned that our Loving Saviour does not always answer our prayer in just the way we ask, but He answers by giving us what we need. Sometimes, in His wisdom, He allows things to get much worse before they get better; yet He promises, “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” Isa 43:1-3 He knows just what we need to go through to refine us. These trials have a purpose: they draw us into a closer relationship to Him. He says, I “will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.” Zech 13:9
Often through the trials that we experience, we become changed into His likeness. Paul admonishes, “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” Heb 12:5-14
May we trust our Dear Saviour no matter what our circumstances. May we place our hand in His powerful hand and allow Him to lead us on the path that leads to His Great Kingdom above. May we trust fully in the leading of the One Who loves us so.
Rose