He Giveth More Grace

“Many are the troubles of the just man, but out of them all the Lord delivers him.” Psalm 34:19

Annie Johnson Flint (1866-1932) had many troubles. Both her parents died when she was young. In her early twenties, the second year of her teaching career, she began experiencing symptoms of early rheumatoid arthritis. This progressed so severely that at age 30, she could no longer walk. Her body was twisted, her hands disfigured and she barely slept from the pain. 

Her adoptive family taught her the Scriptures from when she was young, and in her agony, she was able to lean on and reflect upon God’s Word and His promises. She started composing many inspirational poems and became known as a Christian writer. Soon her works were published and widely read for its themes of hope, God’s eternal goodness and love in the midst of trials. 

This is one of her well loved poems: 

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,

He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;

To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources

Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,

Our God ever yearns His resources to share;

Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;

The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,

His power no boundary known unto men;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

Standing in the Gap

“Moses, His chosen one, withstood Him in the breach to turn back His destructive wrath.” Psalm 106:23

Moses' job was very difficult. He had to listen to God, and obey Him. He also had to get the Israelites to obey God as well! In spite of the many miracles, signs and wonders the people witnessed and experienced, they were still prone to disobedience, complaining and idolatry. 

Moses left them for 40 days and 40 nights, during which time, God gave him very detailed and intricate instructions about the consecration of Aaron and his sons to the Priesthood, the Bread of Presence, the Holy of Holies, Ark of the Covenant, the Sabbath, etc. (Exodus 25-31). When he came down, Moses' wrath flared because the Israelites were dancing gleefully around a golden calf!!! He threw the calf into the fire, ground it down to powder and made them drink it with water. 

The next day, when his anger abated, he decided to go up the mountain again to plead with God for forgiveness. He stood in the breach, asking God to relent. Who is the elect, the chosen, who can stand in the breach? Can we? Can we stay the wrath of God when He is angry because of our sin? 

In Ezekiel 22:30, we read: "I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn't have to destroy the land, but I found no one." Are we doomed because no one can stand in the gap for us when we sin and are disobedient?

But there is Someone greater than Moses who stands in the gap for us! Dear Jesus, thank You for loving us so much that You gave Your very life for us. You are the perfect, flawless lamb who took our place before God! He sees Your righteousness, not our sin! 

Unfailing Love

The other day, my 4 year old grandchild had a project. He wanted to publish a book on Amazon and we used Procreate to make the pages. 

“Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.” Isaiah 49:15

There are numerous stories of a mother's unfailing love, but this one highlights a mother's love even in death.

36-year old Patsy Lawson left for her teaching job one morning, with her two children. She was planning to drop them off at the baby sitters, but they never got there. 8 1/2 hours later, her husband James found Patsy and their 5 year old daughter Susan dead inside their badly damaged car. The car was submerged, upside down, in a very cold mountain stream. James saw that even if Patsy was dead, she had been holding 2-year old Gerald's head above the 48 degree water. He was barely alive. For hours, his wife had held up the toddler's head so he could breathe, until she froze to death. (Story from Pastor James S. Hewitt's book, Illustrations Unlimited)

Who can measure a mother's love? Who can measure God's love? How inconceivable is it that God, who created us in love, would give His only Son to die for us in love? That kind of love never forgets, always forgives, and is ever faithful.

Our Refuge and Strength

“God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress, Therefore we fear not, though the earth be shaken and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.” Psalm 46:2-3

I was talking to a friend a few days ago and she said that sometimes she felt hopeless, not with her own personal situation but with what is happening around her. I told her I totally understood. It can seem that the world is hurtling towards disaster. Here in our own country we are so divided, I cannot comprehend how we continue to shortchange ourselves in voting for almost the worst leaders possible. In the world stage, the Middle East is a powder keg, and Europe is losing its moral compass. So so sad. This terrible state of affairs can't help but color my prayer time. So many people are distressed and discouraged, and wondering how we got here. 

I enjoyed reading "Fervent", written by Priscilla Shirer, a preacher I always learn from. She also acted in the movie "War Room", which is about strategic prayer. In one of the front pages of her book, this caught me, a passage from "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers":

Theoden: “I will not risk open war.”

Aragon: “Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not."

In page 2, I read and paraphrased this to fit my need: "A very real enemy has been strategizing and scheming against you, assaulting you, coming after your emotions, your mind, your future, your country. In fact, he's doing it right this second. Right where you're sitting. But I say his reign of terror stops here. Stops now. He might keep coming, but he won't have victory anymore. Because it all starts failing when we start praying." 

Yes, Lord, You are our strength and our courage. It doesn't matter what our world is embroiled in. In spite of what is happening, You are still on the throne, and You are in control, and like it says in Prov. 31:25, I can laugh at the days to come, because You will work things for our good.