In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. Isaiah 54:8.
Through all our trials we have a never-failing Helper. He does not leave us alone to struggle with temptation, to battle with evil, and be finally crushed with burdens and sorrow. Though now He is hidden from mortal sight, the ear of faith can hear His voice saying, Fear not; I am with you…. I have endured your sorrows, experienced your struggles, encountered your temptations. I know your tears; I also have wept. The griefs that lie too deep to be breathed into any human ear, I know. Think not that you are desolate and forsaken. Though your pain touch no responsive chord in any heart on earth, look unto Me, and live….
However much a shepherd may love his sheep, he loves his sons and daughters more. Jesus is not only our shepherd; He is our “everlasting Father,” and He says, “I know Mine own, and Mine own know Me, even as the Father knoweth Me, and I know the Father.” What a statement is this!—the only begotten Son, He who is in the bosom of the Father, He whom God has declared to be “the Man that is my fellow,“—the communion between Him and the eternal God is taken to represent the communion between Christ and His children on the earth!
Because we are the gift of His Father, and the reward of His work, Jesus loves us. He loves us as His children. Reader, He loves you. Heaven itself can bestow nothing greater, nothing better. Therefore trust.—The Desire of Ages, 483.
With God at Dawn p.49
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Prayer Requests
—-My niece has been kidnaped. Please pray for her safe return. Pray for the family too. Dr. I
—-Please pray for all affected by the rolling blackouts. It it 11 degrees below zero here. Rose
—-Please lift my Father-in-law Robert and my Mother-in-law in prayer tonight. My Father-in-law looks like he will be passing away soon. Pray that though this time he has given his heart to Christ and pray for strength for my Mother-in-law. Brieanna
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago while doing some deep cleaning, I found a notebook belonging to Esther when she was thirteen. One of the items in the notebook was her thoughts after her Grandma Hartwell had died of a heart attack. She remembered that a week or two before this, Ron was talking to her on the phone and asked Esther if she wanted to say hi to her grandmother. Esther said that she was busy and would talk to her another time.
Before she had another opportunity, we got a phone call telling us that Ron’s mother had had a heart attack. Immediately, we made arrangements to drive to North Carolina to see her before she had the needed surgery. This took twenty-two hours. We drove straight through in order to get there as quickly as possible. When we crossed the border into North Carolina, we called to see how she was. Ron’s brother said that she seemed much better and that there was no hurry. We were so tired that we were not thinking clearly and decided to take the scenic route. Esther protested. She had the feeling that all was not well. How she wanted us to hurry. How she wanted to talk to her grandmother and tell her how sorry she was that she had not talked to her when she had had the opportunity.
Just as we pulled up to the hospital, they wheeled Ron’s mother into surgery. We never got to see her awake. Her heart was so bad that the doctor never sewed her back up and kept her heavily sedated until she died the next day. Esther cried the hardest of all. She was inconsolable. Until I read what Esther had written in the notebook I had found, I had no idea of this guilt my little girl was carrying.
How important it is to take the opportunity to tell our loved ones that we love them or ask for their forgiveness if we have wronged them. Life is uncertain. We may never have another chance to talk to them again. Even more important is the opportunity we have to accept Jesus as our Saviour. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor 6:2 How vital it is that we spend time with Him, asking forgiveness for the many times we have failed Him, praising Him for His goodness and great sacrifice for us, listening for His guiding voice directing our path. How His Great Heart of Love yearns for us to fellowship with Him. He calls, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Rev 3:20 Think of it! The Great King of the Universe, the One Who died for us, longs for us to learn of Him, to walk with Him, to be with Him where His is, to follow Him whithersoever He goes.
A time is coming when there will be no more opportunity to accept Him as our Saviour. How many in that day will cry, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jer 8:20 How few will be able to look up at Jesus coming in the clouds and exclaim, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa 25:9
May we take every opportunity to fellowship with our dear ones while we have opportunity. May we also take every opportunity to fellowship with our Dear Saviour “giving diligence to make [our] calling and election sure: for if [we] do these things, [we] shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto [us] abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:10, 11 May we “rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” Amen! 1 Thes 5:16-24
Rose

His Kindness Is Everlasting