The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. Nahum 1:7.
God is the source of all wisdom. He is infinitely wise and just and good. Apart from Christ, the wisest men that ever lived cannot comprehend Him…. If men could see for a moment beyond the range of finite vision, if they could catch a glimpse of the Eternal, every mouth would be stopped in its boasting. Men living in this little atom of a world are finite; God has unnumbered worlds that are obedient to His laws, and are conducted with reference to His glory.
Nothing can happen in any part of the universe without the knowledge of Him who is omnipresent. Not a single event of human life is unknown to our Maker. While Satan is constantly devising evil, the Lord our God overrules all, so that it will not harm His obedient, trusting children. The same power that controls the boisterous waves of the ocean can hold in check all the power of rebellion and of crime. God says to one as to the other, “Thus far shalt thou go, and no farther.”
What lessons of humility and faith may we not learn as we trace the dealings of God with His creatures. The Lord can do but little for the children of men, because they are so full of pride and vain glory. They exalt self, magnifying their own strength, learning, and wisdom. It is necessary for God to disappoint their hopes and frustrate their plans, that they may learn to trust in Him alone. All our powers are from God; we can do nothing independent of the strength which He has given us. Where is the man or woman or child that God does not sustain? Where is the desolate place which God does not fill? Where is the want that any but God can supply?
We are as ignorant of God as little children, but as little children we may love and obey Him. Instead of speculating in regard to His nature or His prerogatives, let us give heed to the word He has spoken: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10.
The Faith I Live By p. 61
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Prayer Requests
—–I saw my Dr today. He doubled my antibiotics and is referring me to a urologist. Fran
—–Please pray for John who is in the hospital. Pray for his wife also. Eileen
—–My wife is about to go in for surgery for her broken wrist right now, also, I just found out that my dad is diabetic and has to take meds and a friend of mine has a sister who is on death’s door from blood clot issues. Please pray for all, thanks! David
—–pray for my uncle who has pneumonia, and my mom and I who have the flu. A
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Dear Friends,
When Brian and Esther lived with us, they brought their large, overstuffed sofa. It was too heavy to move to their upstairs apartment, so I still have it. Like out old sofa, which I laughingly called “the black hole” because so many items have ended up behind and under it, it is “black hole 2.” Periodically, we have to move it out and remove all the stuff that has fallen behind it although the older we get, the less we do it, but when it does get done, we are always surprised at the accumulated variety of items that have found their way behind and under the sofa.
Just as our sofa needs to be moved sometimes to get rid of the mess, so it is good to do a little spiritual housecleaning from time to time. Many times, things need cleaning inside us, and we need to say as did David, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Ps 139:23, 24 Paul urged us to do that spiritual housecleaning when he said, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Phil 2:12, 13
Jesus is coming soon! Now is the time to clean out from under the “sofa” of our heart that no “clutter” will be found there at His appearing. Now is the time to make the necessary preparations that we “may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:14 Peter advises us, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 1:10, 11
And if we find things within us that must be put out of our hearts, we have the promise, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”1 John 1:9-2:2 Praise God! He offers us the forgiveness we need! We can be cleansed from all iniquity! Our Great Redeemer “shall supply all [our] need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:19,20
Today, He is knocking at your heart’s door pleading for entrance therein. “To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” Heb 3:15 “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. Precious promise! May we allow our Loving Saviour to to come in and do the cleaning in our life that is necessary to make us ready for that Great Day of His Appearing is my prayer.
Rose