Trusting

It is good advice to have lights on before it gets too dark. Not only for us to see but also to be seen by others.

I would rather walk with God in the dark than to go alone in the light.

"As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried..." (Psalm 18:30)

Trust Him.

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


"The natural mind is prone to reason when we ought to believe, to be at work when we ought to be quiet, or to go our own way when we ought to steadily walk in God's ways." George Muller

Faith and Trials

September 21, 1840. Those who trust in the Lord will never be disappointed. Some who helped us for a while may fall asleep in Jesus, some may grow cold in the service of the Lord, some may be as desirous as ever to help but no longer have the means, and some may have both a willing heart to help and the means but may see it to be the Lord's will to give in another way. If we were to lean upon man, we would surely be disappointed; but in leaning upon the living God alone, we are beyond disappointment and beyond being forsaken for any reason.

December 9, 1840. Our desire, therefore, is not that we may be without trials of faith, but that the Lord wold graciously support us in the trial and that we may not dishonor Him by distrust.

Prove the faithfulness of God by carrying your every want to Him. Only maintain an upright heart. But if you live in sin and if you willfully and habitually do things which you know are contrary to the will of God, then you cannot expect Him to hear you. "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me; But verily God hath heard me ; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer" (Psalm 66: 18-19)

from The Autobiography of George Muller

Heed the Warnings!!

The driver of a new expensive car drove onto a busy highway without being aware that he had entered by the wrong direction. As the cars approached him, his fear and concern did not change because he convinced himself that he was right and the oncoming cars were in the wrong. Several drivers were able to miss hitting him, but the driver of a tractor-trailer could not. Eventually, the self-assured individual died. His death was the result of his failure to follow the warning signs given him.

God gives us several signs of warning! Failure to heed them will result in trouble.

Psalm 25:1-2 "Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in thee, Let me not be ashamed; Let not mine enemies triumph over me."

Unless there is within us that which is above us, we shall soon yield to that which is about us.

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


Jesus therefore said unto them, Yet a little while is the light among you. Walk while ye have the light, that darkness overtake you not: and he that walketh in the darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have the light, believe on the light, that ye may become sons of light. These things spake Jesus, and he departed and hid himself from them. (John 12:35-36)

If you do not heed His warnings to believe while the Light is among you, He will hid himself from you and leave you to your darkness...for eternity.

Actions Speak Louder

"Action speaks louder than words."

This phrase has been around for many, many years. And it is quite true.

People judge you by your actions, not by your intentions. You may have a heart of gold, but so does a hard boiled egg.

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


Talk no more so exceeding proudly; Let not arrogancy come out of your mouth; For Jehovah is a God of knowledge, And by him actions are weighed.
(1 Samuel 2:3)

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord. Servants, be obedient unto them that according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not in the way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as unto the Lord, and not unto men: knowing that whatsoever good thing each one doeth, the same shall he receive again from the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, and forbear threatening: knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons with him. Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, and on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
(Ephesians 6:4-20)

Great Commandment

When the children of Israel went into the "promised" land, two and one half of the tribes wanted to remain on the east side of the Jordan River. Moses and Joshua, the two leaders, gave permission provided that the warriors went across the river and helped the others conquer the territory. When the task was completed and the work finished, these 2 1/2 tribes were ready to go back to their families. Joshua gave them six commandments to follow:

1. Take diligent heed to do the commandments and the law.
2. To love the Lord your God.
3. To walk in all His ways.
4. To keep His commandments.
5. To cleave unto Him.
6. To serve Him with all your heart and soul.

Good advice for them and also for us today!

Have a good day!
Love,
Dad


My oldest child started 3rd grade and my middle child started kindergarten this week. We are truly blessed by the education and sound biblical training and modeling they receive at their school. The teachers don't "preach" the law, they gently teach and model grace, daily. The following two verses (Christ's greatest commandment) have become a central "philosophy" of each classroom and the school as a whole:

and thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deuteronomy 6:5)

And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (Matthew 22:37)

Christian Course, No.17 (and final)

"...some directions how to conduct yourself in your Christian course..."
from the pen of Jonathan Edwards
Northampton, New England
June 3, 1741

Pray much for the ministers and the church of God, especially, that he would carry on his glorious work which he has now begun, till the world shall be full of his glory.

Christian Course, No.16

"...some directions how to conduct yourself in your Christian course..."
from the pen of Jonathan Edwards
Northampton, New England
June 3, 1741

In all your course, walk with God and follow Christ, as a little, poor, helpless child, taking hold of Christ's hand, keeping your eye on the marks of the wounds in his hands and side, whence came the blood that cleanses you from sin, and hiding your nakedness under the skirt of the white shining robes of his righteousness.

Christian Course, No.15

"...some directions how to conduct yourself in your Christian course..."
from the pen of Jonathan Edwards
Northampton, New England
June 3, 1741

Do not let the adversaries of the cross have occasion to reproach religion on your account. How holily should the children of God, the redeemed and the beloved of the Son of God, behave themselves. Therefore, "walk as children of the light" and of the day and "adorn the doctrine of God your Savior." And especially abound in what are called the Christian virtues and make you like the Lamb of God: be meek and lowly of heart, and full of pure, heavenly, and humble love to all; abound in deeds of love to others, and self-denial for others; and let there be in you a disposition to account others better than yourself.

Christian Course, No.13 and 14

"...some directions how to conduct yourself in your Christian course..."
from the pen of Jonathan Edwards
Northampton, New England
June 3, 1741

13. If you would set up religious meetings of young women by yourselves, to be attended once in a while, besides the other meetings that you attend, I should think it would be very proper and profitable.

14. Under special difficulties, or when in great need of or great longings after any particular mercy for yourself or others, set apart a day for secret prayer and fasting by yourself alone; and let the day be spent, not only in petitions for the mercies you desire, but in searching your heart, and in looking over your past life, and confessing your sins before God, not as is wont to be done in public prayer, but by a very particular rehearsal before God of the sins of your past life, from your childhood hitherto, before and after conversion, with the circumstances and aggravations attending them, and spreading all the abominations of your heart very particularly, and fully as possible, before him.

Christian Course, No.12

"...some directions how to conduct yourself in your Christian course..."
from the pen of Jonathan Edwards
Northampton, New England
June 3, 1741

When you counsel and warn others, do it earnestly and affectionately and thoroughly. And when you are speaking to your equals, let your warnings be intermixed with expressions of your sense of your own unworthiness and of the sovereign grace that makes you differ.