“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18 *** Psalm 11 Author: Unknown Tune: Just As I Am 1. When all bespeaks a Father's love, Oh wherefore, fearful as the dove, Should we in times of peril flee to any refuge, Lord, but Thee? * 2. In vain the wicked bend their bow, and seek to lay the righteous low, Thou from Thine everlasting throne with watchful care regard'st Thine own. * 3. Thy voice shall seal the sinner's fate, just vengeance shall his crimes await; While the bright beams of grace divine, shall on Thy faithful servants shine. **************************************
The Eye of Divine Providence From the Letters of John Newton “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered” Matthew 10:29-30. Let us learn to see and acknowledge God’s hand in all we have, and in all we meet with. Such a deep and abiding persuasion of the Most High God, ordering and over-ruling all our concerns, would, like the light, diffuse a luster and a beauty upon everything around us! To consider every comfort of life, as an effect and proof of God’s mercy towards us, would, like the fabled magic stone-turn all our possessions to gold, and stamp a value upon things which a common eye might judge as insignificant. The eye of Divine Providence is upon every flitting sparrow of the field. Nor can we properly term any circumstance of our lives as small, since such things as seem most trifling in themselves, do often give birth to things which become most important. On the other hand, to be able to discover the wisdom and goodness of our heavenly Father through the darkest cloud of troubles and afflictions; to see all our trials appointed to us in number, weight, and measure; nothing befalling us by chance; nothing without a needs-be; nothing without a support; nothing without a divinely designed advantage, what a support must this be to the soul! Take away this truth of Divine Providence and man is the most forlorn, helpless and miserable object in the world! He would be pining for everything he has not and trembling for everything he has! He would be equally suffering under the pressure of what does happen and the fear of what may happen! He would be liable to thousands of unsuspected dangers, yet unable to guard against those which are most obvious! Let us learn the secret of being content in any and every situation, “Our heavenly Father knows what we have need of, before we ask Him!” “The earth is His, and the fullness thereof;” and His goodness is equal to His power. In Christ, He has already given us more than ten thousand worlds! Are you poor? Be satisfied with the Lord's appointment. It would be as easy to Him to give you a large estate as to supply you with the bread you eat, or to continue the breath in your nostrils. He sees that poverty is best for you --He sees that prosperity might prove your ruin! Therefore, He has appointed you the honor of being in this respect, conformable to your Lord, who, when on earth, “had nowhere to lay His head!” ****************************
And Why Should We? “...as thy days, so shall thy strength be.” Deuteronomy 33:25 God’s storehouses of grace are never opened to us until we really need their blessing. God places them, so to speak, along our life-path - the right supply, at the right point. By the plan of God for His children . . . in every desert - there are oases; at the foot of each sharp, steep hill - there are staffs for climbing; in every dark gorge - there are lighted lamps; at every river of difficulty - there is a bridge. But we find none of these until we come to the place where we need them. And why should we? Will it not be soon enough to see the bridge - when we stand by the river? Will it not be soon enough, when it grows dark - for the lamps to shine out? Will it not be soon enough, when the cupboard is empty - for God to send bread? “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.” Romans 8:28 --J.R. Miller
***************************** Accepted by God in Him The only peace for the sinner’s heart lies in the fact that the success of their eternal salvation depends wholly on another - God’s Son, who has already accomplished it to such a degree that we are both now and for eternity accepted by God in Him. --Pastor Gary Shepard
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