,“ /n the Lord I take refuge” (Ps. 11:1).
~ \ S J E h a v e b e e n propelled into a new age. The doors opening on the frontiers of space are being flung wide before us. The horizons appear to be un limited and opportunities for advancing man’s knowl edge of God’s universe are endless. Are we going to measure up in meeting the re sponsibilities which have been so suddenly thrust upon us? W ill we find the wisdom and the courage to turn to that Source from which our forefathers drew their strength? The men who fixed the foundations and reared the vaulted rafters of this Republic had an indomi table, all-encompassing belief in God. The words they spoke breathed forth their faith. The documents they penned exuded faith. The government they created was based on faith, and the concept which held them to their task was spiritual and idealistic. Surely, they knew the power of prayer, for it was their belief in God which gave them strength to create a free Ameri ca. Our task is to keep America free. Have you been surprised lately? Have you had your adventure today? The commonplace adventures of life are the vitamins of the spirit, as necessary to its health as are nutritional vitamins to the body. Anemic and malnourished is the soul which cannot perceive adven ture in the daily pitch and toss of life. God has a magic tonic to open our eyes to beauties and adventures and inspirations which ever encircle us. Julia Seton said, “We have no more right to put our discordant states of minds into the lives of those around us and rob them of their sunshine and brightness than we have to enter their homes and steal their silverware.” No one likes to hear an “ organ recital” from a disgrunt le d person all the time. Growl all day and you’ll be dog-tired at night. My heart is filled with gratitude — “ Thank You, Lord, for the grace that saves, grace that keeps, trans forms, heals, strengthens, teaches, guides, guards, chal lenges. ‘Oh, to grace how great a debtor, daily I’m con strained to be.’ For the grace that transforms weakness into strength, despair into hope, tragedy into triumph.” Defeat + grace victory; loss + grace = gain. These are advanced spiritual algebraic equations. Paul, in speaking of the Macedonian Christians, gave us the greatest mathematical equation in the world: “ For in the midst of an ordeal of severe tribulation, their abun dance of joy, and their depth of poverty (together) have overflowed in a wealth of lavish generosity on their part” (II Corinthians 8:2 ANT). Severe tribulation -)- joy + poverty — lavish generosity! What an equation! Christ and His grace, are the least common denominator that reduces all fractions and parts into wholes and comple tions. Christ is better with His cross than the world with its crown. For my life, I make this one request — that He will grant me good health to continue to serve Him and others, and grace to walk humbly with Him. From "God Blessed M e W ith a Heart Attack/’. Zonder- van Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
for Your Name’s sake, for my wife and children’s sake, for the good and encouragement of Your people. (So many face discouragement and despair.) Give assurance, unworthy servant as I am, -that You called me to this work, that my life will be a testimony to Thy truth — that a man does not trust God in vain, that a man may know Thy will and do it.” I wouldn’t want to experience again what I did in a million years, but I wouldn’t trade the experience for all the tea in China. I would never want to go back where I was. I just revel in being where I am now, with Him so near and so real. Choice flowers bloom in the garden of affliction. Some of us have there gathered such roses and lilies as grow nowhere else. What precious balm grows in this garden, whose hedge is of thorns. Groanings unutterable lead to joys unspeakable. In deep waters, men find great pearls. Our worst troubles are often our greatest enrichments. “We have this precious treasure in a fragile earthen piece of pottery that the glory might be of God and not of ourselves.” God’s grace is the alchemist that transforms all of life’s base experiences into pure gold. Get out from under the circumstances, climb on top of them and make them your pulpit—to herald His grace and deliverance. Anyone who desires to preside at the birth of souls into the Kingdom of God and to mature spiritual infants to maturity must do this. This is how God sometimes deals with His children. A father and his little boy were walking along together. When they came to a hill, the boy pleaded for his father to carry him. Said the father, “ No, I’ll not carry you up the hill. If you are the boy I think you are, you will use all the strength you have. And son, I’ll promise you one thing — I will hold your hand all the way to the top.” Too many Christians expect to take an escalator to heaven. But God says, “ Take the stairs.” When we finally arrive puffing at the top of the hill, still holding the Father’s hand, the grin on our faces reveal some thing of the thrill of accomplishment.
MARCH, 1962
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