Friday, December 28, 2018

Face it with God

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.”

Isaiah 41:10–12

Most of Frances Ridley Havergal’s life was marked by pain. She suffered from ill health most of her life, and died a painful death at just forty-two years old from complications with peritonitis. In the days before antibiotics and effective and widely available pain medication, it was a grueling life. Yet Havergal never lost the faith she learned growing up in her father’s church as a little girl. To celebrate the start of 1874 she wrote this poem:

What shall I wish thee? Treasures of earth?
Songs in the springtime, pleasure and mirth?
Flowers on thy pathway, skies ever clear?
Would this insure thee a happy New Year?

Peace in the Saviour, rest at His feet,
Smile on His countenance, radiant and sweet.
Joy in His presence, Christ ever near!
This will insure thee a happy New Year.

David spent much of his early life ignored, belittled, and rejected even by his own family. Then when he did become known in Israel, he spent years running from Saul who was jealous of David’s popularity with the people. He knew hardship and battle and danger as daily companions. Yet David wrote, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11).

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Those who have true Christian joy do not have it because their lives are easy, but because they have a real awareness of and focus on the presence of God.

CURRENT RADIO SERIES A Life of Purpose   CURRENT TV SERIES Home for the Holidays

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” —Romans 12:18 I heard about a man who went to Jonathan Edwards, the great preacher, wanting to marry his daughter. Now, Edwards had several daughters, and the one this young man was in love with was particularly disagreeable. So the man asked Edwards, “Sir, may I have your daughter’s hand in marriage?” To which Edwards replied, “No, you may not.” So the man quipped back and said, “Why, sir? She is a Christian and I want her to be my wife.” Jonathan Edwards said, “Yes, she is, but the grace of God can live with some people with whom no one else can!” If you’re honest, you can probably think of at least a few people you might say that about today! But the Bible is clear that despite the differences you may have with others, we’re to live at peace with them. In fact, the Scripture goes as far as to tell you to love your enemies (Matthew 5:44). So, as you think about those people in your life who might need a little extra measure of grace, pray that God would work in and through you to show it to them because cultivating good relationships with others will bless you throughout your life!   GOD WANTS YOU TO LIVE AT PEACE WITH ALL PEOPLE, SO PRAY THAT HE WOULD GIVE YOU THE GRACE TO LOVE OTHERS, EVEN YOUR ENEMIES. Proverbs 14:30 A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like​ ​cancer in the bones.