Word for Today, Sat, 24 Sep 2005: He Giveth More Grace
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
Old Gospel songs are frequently special, because whether or not
they directly quote scripture, they very often describe real
truths of the faith. The unworthy songs of the past, just like
the unworthy songs of the present, tend to fade away after a
brief instant of recognition.
A writer who uses the name "Maranatha" sent me the classic words
to the hymn, He Giveth More Grace.
My testimony to you is that these words are true. For every
struggle I have ever had, God's strength has been greater. For
every discouragement I have ever faced, God's encouragement has
exceeded the discouragement. For every tired day, God has given
me the strength to make it through that day and a fresh and
bright hope for tomorrow (which, incidentally, reflect the Words
of ANOTHER great hymn of the faith, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness".
My testimony is NOT that my life has been easy. No, between my
own choices and just the way things go, life has rarely been
easy. I have had good times, but I have faced many rough times,
too. I would be less than honest if I didn't admit to you that
at times, I even wondered if it was worth it all. However, I
quickly realized that my life is not my own. God created me, He
gives and He takes away. He gave His own Son tremendous trials
to go through - even suffering and a painful, humiliating death
to endure, yet He was both faithful and obedient.
As I reflect on these things, my hope is renewed, my strength is
invigorated, for my source of hope and strength most certainly is
NOT in myself. No, as I said, if it were in me, I would have
given up long ago. Instead, whenever I start riding the pity
train, I soon hear a new song instead, one that has been written
permanently on my heart. Then the nonsense stops, I confess my
sin before an Almighty God in privacy with Him, He renews my
strength, sets my focus back on Him, and a sense of hope and
vision is restored.
I now have a good job, things are looking up quite a bit, but
because of the long hardship we just went through, it will be
quite a while before things are "normal" in our finances. My
prayer is that things will be different, too. To me, first place
in everything belongs to God.
For once, I have a decent offering to bring before my Lord. I
tucked an amount aside right away, even before buying food or
paying bills.
I'm not some holier than thou kind of person - I once had that
kind of attitude, but God showed me the utter sin and disgrace of
that. No, I'd rather bare my life before people to show them
what ugly sin is there, and what the grace of God has done for
me.
I urge each one of you to bare your soul before God. You don't
have to make a public spectacle of it, but do be honest before
God. After all, He not only knows your every move, He (alone)
knows your every thought. Satan and his demons can see your
moves, but only God knows the heart. Our friends who knows us
well sometimes can guess what we are thinking or what we want to
do, based on our habits, but we often don't even know ourselves
what our real intent is, yet God knows everything. Since God
knows all and God is good, why don't we put aside our own
agendas, even in the things we think are important, and for once
actually give God first place. I guarantee you that once (and
if) you do, though live will not always be easy, life will be
filled with meaning and purpose, and you will have peace in your
heart, knowing that at last you are doing what God wants you to
do. It will make you happy and content, regardless of your
circumstances.
Yours in Christ,
Brian
___________________________
He Giveth More Grace
He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy;
To multiplied trials, His multiplied 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 limit; His grace has no measure.
His pow'r has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth,
and giveth, and giveth again!
Annie Johnson Flint
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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