ture frequently refers to this subject both in the Old and New Testaments. Our Lord Jesus Christ is spoken of LIFE'S PIECES God's thoughts are above knowledge, He moves in mysterious ways To work out eternity's purpose Through time's short procession of days. While some lives seem favored by fortune. With others misfortune increases, Yet with every life plan that is broken, God knows what to do with the pieces. Fond hopes bloom but for a day, Ambition may flow but soon fade, Joy frequently turns into sorrow And life makes us doubtful, afraid. When a rainbow appears on the storm cloud And our doubting and questioning ceases. Then we know that although life may break us, God knows what to do with the pieces. God can make the four walls of a sick room, Hold sunshine along with the pain, And the spirit within broken bodies inspired again and again. Nature compensates for her short ings, Making up for her lack and decreases; God can take a life shattered, crushed, broken And make heaven inhabit the pieces. It takes faith, vision and will-power To determine the state of a soul, In spite of convictions and courage, One sometimes comes short of the goal; But no matter what have been our failures. Our faith in the future increases. When we let God take over our trou bles, For He knows what to do with the pieces. as “the Rose of Sharon,” “the Lily of the Valley,” and “the Bright and Morning Star.” Paul admonishes us
that we “may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things” (Titus 2:10). It is up to the believer, by his exemplary life, to make the teaching of the Lord Jesus and the presenta tion of the Gospel something beauti ful to behold. The word “adorn” comes from the millinery trade. It is as though one were to decorate a hat in order to make the wearer look beautiful. One of the large women’s publica tions pointed out quite clearly that no female in America is naturally beautiful. For this reason the bur geoning cosmetic industry is constant ly surging forward. In the spiritual realm it is also true that there is no woman in America who is beautiful apart from the robes of Christ’s right eousness. Have you ever stopped to consider the special emphasis of Romans 12:1 and 2 where Paul says, “I beseech you therefore brethren (as well as sis ters) , by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed ot this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” The question I want to an swer is how can we have the super natural beauty of God. The first step is to decide if you really want to be beautiful. There is a difference, too, between desire and having the will to carry it through to a successful conclusion. When people discover there is a price that has to be paid, such as in dieting and exercising, they do not have the will to carry out their fondest desires. God is very definite in'H is Word. If we are to have His spiritual beauty, we must meet His conditions. In Ephesians 1 :7 we read, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” The word “re demption” is interesting since it lit erally means “a release,” “a freeing from.” One purpose of Christ’s death was simply to free us from ourselves.
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