The trials of time were appointed in eternity. He who chose us unto eternal life–also planned the path by which we are to reach it! Nothing ever happens to us by ‘chance’.

Our little trials, our great troubles, our heavy crosses, our painful losses–are all a part of God’s plan!

Nor did He plan afflictions for us merely haphazardly–He planned them because He saw that we needed them. He intended to make them rich blessings to us.

Every cross is a mercy, every loss is a gain, every trouble is a blessing, and every trial is a seed of joy!

We shall be better in the future–for what we suffer now. If we sow in tears–we shall reap in joy. A wet spring will introduce a glorious harvest. Many of our present tears will crystallize into pearls–and will be an ornament to us in glory!

And not only so, but the same love which planned our trials–also provides strength to bear them. Our choicest comforts will flow from them. Time reveals what God planned in eternity–and eternity will reveal what God had in view in all the trials of time!

Let us, then, bear our afflictions with patience, and seek grace to honor God in all that we suffer, as well as by all that we do. If we keep our eye fixed on glorifying God–He will order and arrange everything that happens to us, so that it shall work for our good. Nothing shall by any means hurt us. The darkest clouds shall bring showers of blessings; and our sharpest pains shall only introduce us to the sweetest joys!

Comfort for Christians

by: James Smith

None of us know what tomorrow will bring.

We prepare for "a rainy day,"  We have a "nest egg." We have medical insurance, life insurance, 401Ks, IRAs and monies set aside  for our retirement. We work and save and pinch our pennies to have more assests and fewer liabililties.

But are we like Mary or like Martha?

Have we ~

''sown much, and bring in little; eaten, but have not enough; drank, but  are not filled with drink; clothed, but there is none warm;

Have we ~ earned wages only to put it into a bag with holes." Haggai 1

When a professing believer  never seems to have enough and his money bag seems filled with holes, it is time to consider carefully his ways before the Lord and re-examine his priorities.

Knowing our God owns the cattle on a thousand hills and is well able to supply all our needs, since His Word tells us that "my God shall supply all your need [not greed] according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus"  AND since our heavenly Father knows that we have need [not greed]  of....even before we ask...

Wherein lies the problem?

Do we give of our best to the Master?
Are God’s kingdom and His righteousness our first concern?
Do we grieve over the sin in our lives?
Do we strive to live holy lives before our God and others?

Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10

Think of These Things.

As the 2012 Olympics came to a close, the voice of John Lennon rang out loud and clear for all the world to hear:

Imagine there's no heaven. It's easy if you try
No hell below us; above us only sky
Imagine all the people; living for today.

Imagine there's no countries, It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too
Imagine all the people, living life in peace.

Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger - A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people, sharing all the world...

Imagination, Dreams, Socialism, Utopia: but not reality.

Our sovereign King offers His people something far better in this earthly life: His love and comfort, strength and hope.  Hope that will be fulfilled when He welcomes us into His glorious eternity.

As the world marches onward toward a totalitarian world system, we are likely to face loss, hatred, persecution and suffering. After all, Jesus has called us to share in His suffering. But with the suffering comes an ever sufficient supply of strength, endurance and joy in Him!

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ...in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39

kudos to Crossroads for allowing me to gleen their fields.

Regardless of what surrounds me ~

regardless of what I may see, or think, feel or hear...

My God reigns.

He is faithful, He is true. I can never outlove Him, outgive Him, outlast Him - for He ever walks before me - leading me in paths that I must travel. He was in my past, He is in my present and He waits for me in my future.

"...let  the peace of God rule in your hearts..." Colossians 3:15

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.

Does it?

My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Really?

Do we weep, crying out in ferverent prayers, yearning to be closer to our Father? Do we long to hear His voice in the cool of the day?  Is our heart grieved by our sins, heavy with the reality of the lost and dying among us? Are our lives filled to overflowing with the desire to glorify and honor Him? Do we awaken each morning with a song in our hearts, and end each day with a prayer on our lips?

Or have we become as a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal?

May our Sovereign L-RD and King awaken within us a desire to truly know Him and the power of His might.

"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost." Isaiah 55:1

"I prayed for Faith, and thought that some day Faith would come down and strike me like lightning. But Faith did not seem to come.  One day I read in the tenth chapter of Romans, 'Now Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God'. I had closed my Bible, and prayed for Faith. I now opened my Bible, and began to study, and Faith has been growing ever since. "~D.L. Moody

"And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it." Isaiah 35:8

Untold millions across the nation and around the world profess to be Christians ~

Like the angels who beheld His glory, witnessed the creation, lived amidst the glory of God, choosing instead to follow Lucifer, they too believe the Bible is the Word of God, that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died on the cross. Most believe He is the only way to heaven and commit to live a moral life, go to church, get involved perhaps even in a ministry or in leadership ~ but are they saved?

The Bible is very clear, we must:

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." Matthew 7:13

A belief in the historical resurrection is a beginning - not an end.

Have you as a Christian repented of your sins?  Do you continue to repent, grieving over your failure to be a luminous light instead of a flickering flame to a lost and dying world? Is your hearts desire to bring glory and honor to the Name of our L-RD or get tickets to the Superbowl, a bigger house, a better job, a fatter paycheck...?  

Have you as a Christian surrendered to the lordship of Jesus in your life, giving Him who is the Supreme Authority - supreme authority over all that you are and ever hope to be?  Do you live a life dedicated to our L-RD, our Saviour, and our King, striving, desiring to be conformed to His image?

If not, you are not saved. Do not play games with G-d, you will not win.

Turn from your sin and be saved.

"But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:14