Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty One of Israel. Isaiah 30:29.
When the protection of human laws shall be withdrawn from those who honor the law of God, there will be, in different lands, a simultaneous movement for their destruction….
The people of God—some in prison cells, some hidden in solitary retreats in the forests and the mountains—still plead for divine protection, while in every quarter companies of armed men, urged on by hosts of evil angels, are preparing for the work of death….
With shouts of triumph, jeering, and imprecation, throngs of evil men are about to rush upon their prey, when, lo, a dense blackness, deeper than the darkness of the night, falls upon the earth. Then a rainbow … spans the heavens, and seems to encircle each praying company….
By the people of God a voice, clear and melodious, is heard, saying, “Look up,” and lifting their eyes to the heavens, they behold the bow of promise. The black, angry clouds that covered the firmament are parted, and like Stephen they look up steadfastly into heaven, and see the glory of God, and the Son of man seated upon His throne. In His divine form they discern the marks of His humiliation; and from His lips they hear the request, presented before His Father and the holy angels, “I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am.” John 17:24. Again a voice, musical and triumphant, is heard, saying: “They come! they come! holy, harmless, and undefiled. They have kept the word of My patience; they shall walk among the angels;” and the pale, quivering lips of those who have held fast their faith, utter a shout of victory. It is at midnight that God manifests His power for the deliverance of His people. The sun appears, shining in its strength. Signs and wonders follow in quick succession. The wicked look with terror and amazement upon the scene, while the righteous behold with solemn joy the tokens of their deliverance.
The Faith I Live By p. 347
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Kim who is mourning the loss of her father. Rose
—-Please pray for Caleb who is on a mission trip.
—-I have a woman in my congregation who is critically sick and it looks like she will not survive without a miracle. If you can please take a moment to pray for her. JB
—-Please pray with me for an old coworker of mine and her family. Her 16 her old died in a head on car accident this week. Jennifer
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Dear Friends,
When we lived in Alpena, Michigan, we had a pastor’s wife who had a way of getting rid of gossips. When someone would come to her with some gossip about another church member, she would say, “Let’s kneel down right now and pray for that person.” It didn’t take long before she no longer had to deal with the church gossips. Those who were really concerned about someone were more than willing to spend time with her in prayer for that individual.
How much sorrow would be avoided if we vowed never to repeat a even a word of gossip. Even if the story is true and we can relate it just as it happened, others cannot. What started out as fact, tends to grow with the repeating until it is nearly unrecognizable when you hear it again. Its poison grows within until former friends are separated, former brethren ostracized, churches split with infighting. God commands “Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people.” Lev 19:16 Solomon exclaims, “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” “A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.” “He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.” Prov 18:8;11:13; 20:19
Peter also shares some insight, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.” 1 Peter 4:12-14 Notice that the sin of gossip is listed alongside the sins of murder and stealing; and do it should be, for we can verily kill someone with our words. How important it is, then, to keep that unkind word to ourself and refrain from wandering from person to person speaking things which we should keep between ourselves and our Dear Saviour alone. He is the Only One Who has the power to change any situation.
Well does James exclaim, “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” James 3:2-18
Let us determine that we will never spread the poison of gossip, for “where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.” Prov 26:20 Let us “refrain our tongue from evil, and our lips that they speak no guile.” 1 Peter 3:10 Let us make sure that instead of spreading gossip, we take our concerns to the Only One Who can do anything about it.
Rose