AMEN KAYAK AND AMEN ALL!
GRACE TO YOU!
Ps 111:1 Praise the LORD! I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.
2 The works of the LORD are great, Studied by all who have pleasure in them.
3 His work is honorable and glorious, And His righteousness endures forever.
4 He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; The LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
5 He has given food to those who fear Him; He will ever be mindful of His covenant.
6 He has declared to His people the power of His works, In giving them the heritage of the nations.
7 The works of His hands are verity and justice; All His precepts are sure.
8 They stand fast forever and ever, And are done in truth and uprightness.
9 He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.
(NKJV)
"O that I knew where I might find him!"
- Job 23:3
In Job's uttermost extremity he cried after the Lord. The longing desire
of an afflicted child of God is once more to see his Father's face. His
first prayer is not "O that I might be healed of the disease which now
festers in every part of my body!" nor even "O that I might see my
children restored from the jaws of the grave, and my property once more
brought from the hand of the spoiler!" but the first and uppermost cry is,
"O that I knew where I might find HIM, who is my God! that I might come
even to his seat!" God's children run home when the storm comes on. It is
the heaven-born instinct of a gracious soul to seek shelter from all ills
beneath the wings of Jehovah. "He that hath made his refuge God," might
serve as the title of a true believer. A hypocrite, when afflicted by God,
resents the infliction, and, like a slave, would run from the Master who
has scourged him; but not so the true heir of heaven, he kisses the hand
which smote him, and seeks shelter from the rod in the bosom of the God
who frowned upon him. Job's desire to commune with God was intensified by
the failure of all other sources of consolation. The patriarch turned away
from his sorry friends, and looked up to the celestial throne, just as a
traveller turns from his empty skin bottle, and betakes himself with all
speed to the well. He bids farewell to earth-born hopes, and cries, "O
that I knew where I might find my God!" Nothing teaches us so much the
preciousness of the Creator, as when we learn the emptiness of all
besides. Turning away with bitter scorn from earth's hives, where we find
no honey, but many sharp stings, we rejoice in him whose faithful word is
sweeter than honey or the honeycomb.
In every trouble we should first seek to realize God's presence with us.
Only let us enjoy his smile, and we can bear our daily cross with a
willing heart for his dear sake.
C.H.SPURGEON
SOLI DEO GLORIA!!!!!!!!!!
alpha, that Spurgeon was especially powerful.
Lord, the ferocity of the noble battle in Falujah and elsewhere continues. We speak grace to our soldiers, grace to their cause, grace to the good-willed people of that troubled land.
We speak mercy toward the wounded, toward those who have suffered loss. Bind them up and heal them, dear Lord, to Thy glory.
And we speak grace to all who serve honorably, in every capacity, especially those who lead this land. We give special note to the president's safety, for he has many and scurrilous enemies.
Heal our land, dear Lord, and send revival into our hearts and lives.
The patriarch turned away from his sorry friends, and looked up to the celestial throne, just as a traveller turns from his empty skin bottle, and betakes himself with all speed to the well.
And may we also yearn to quench our thirst with Living Water from the Well that never runs dry.