Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:9.
After the passing of the time in 1844, a number of brethren and sisters were assembled in a meeting. All were very sad, for the disappointment had been sore. Presently a man came in, crying, “Courage in the Lord, brethren; courage in the Lord!” This he repeated again and again, till every face was aglow, and every voice lifted in praise to God.
Today I say to every worker for the Master, “Courage in the Lord!”
Some look always at the objectionable and discouraging features, and therefore discouragement overtakes them. They forget that the heavenly universe is waiting to make them agencies of blessing to the world; and that the Lord Jesus is a never-failing storehouse from which human beings may draw strength and courage. There is no need for despondency and apprehension. The time will never come when the shadow of Satan will not be cast athwart our pathway. Thus the enemy seeks to hide the light shining from the Sun of Righteousness. But our faith should pierce this shadow.
Hope and courage are essential to perfect service for God. These are the fruit of faith. Despondency is sinful and unreasonable. God is able and willing “more abundantly” to bestow upon His servants the strength they need for test and trial….
For the disheartened there is a sure remedy—faith, prayer, work. Faith and activity will impart assurance and satisfaction that will increase day by day…. In the darkest days, when appearances seem most forbidding, fear not. Have faith in God.
Christ did not fail, neither was He discouraged, and His followers are to manifest a faith of the same enduring nature…. They are to despair of nothing, and to hope for everything. With the golden chain of His matchless love Christ has bound them to the throne of God.
The Faith I Live By p. 156
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Prayer Requests
—-Pray for me and my workmates because every night guys come to our apartment and stand there we don’t know their intentions but we’re scared .we don’t have security at all ,no neighbors .pray for divine protection for us. N
—I would like to ask for prayer for my friend’s daughter who has an aneurysm and has just been given little chance of living. The mother needs hope and increased faith. The daughter needs healing from her distrust of God, and healing of her aneurysm. Jared
—-Please pray for David who has mesothelioma and is not doing well. Pray also for his wife. Rose
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Dear Friends,
When we lived in Washington state, we took a vacation to the Ho Rain Forest on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state. It was surprising to see how very different the rain forest was from other parts of Washington. An abundance of rain combined with mild temperatures along with few other conditions makes the Ho rain forest a place of wonder. It was so beautiful—like stepping into a whole different world! Everything was lush and green. Its moss-covered trees grew huge and thick. Countless varieties of ferns grew everywhere. Flowers and strange plants were scattered throughout the area.
As we walked along, we took the time to examine each marvel of creation. We marveled as we saw giant tree trunks lying on the forest floor with young trees growing on them. These young trees were not growing from the fallen tree, but from seeds that fell from a still living one. As the dead tree decayed, seeds that had fallen onto them had germinated and taken root. One of the beauties we had seen in nature films was the lowly banana slug. It was so interesting to get to see one crawling on an old tree stump. Its yellow body contrasted beautifully with the purple-black glistening eggs she was laying. They looked like jewels encrusting the wood.
Just as the rainfall made the Ho Rain Forest as special place, so the “rain” that comes into our lives helps us to develop into a special creation for our Maker. Yet, how often we want to live only in the sunshine without the “rain” of troubles and trials. We do not understand why things go so terribly wrong in our life. It seems that if we had no cares we could grow and prosper, but that is not the case. Our Great Creator allows just the right amount of rain in our lives to develop us into His likeness, “for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:10 Trials and troubles, both great and small, have a part of His instructing, teaching process. “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.” Heb 12:5-11 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:7
Through the “rain” in our life, the Master Gardener assures 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 He calls, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt 11:28-30 “And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” Isa 58:11
May we recognize His Loving Hand in the “rain” that comes to our lives. May we allow Him to work in us and through us that we may be a glorious garden for His glory. May we bear fruit for the Master is my prayer.
Rose
Don’t Get Discouraged!