this God-given knowledge with them. The Lord said that they would be hated, and they are. Everywhere you go people dislike them. Look at the hatred and crime which recently erupted in one of the suburbs of New York City. One final eivdence is the very Word of God. Through the centuries the critics have hated it, burned it, de spised it, but still God has wonder fully preserved it. How unfortunate that so many people merely take it for granted when it alone can give us the assurance of peace and joy here and now, and eternal life after death. Trust the Lord Jesus with your life. Let the Holy Spirit be your Guide day by day. You will be come a new person in every area of your life: home, neighborhood, and office. God can do it, because He has given us the evidence of His power and matchless grace. HOW TO BE THANKFUL Have you ever known anyone who always seemed to be “down in the mouth?” They can’t seem to discover that for which they can be truly thankful. How many frustrated and confused people there are in the world, going through life defeated and dis couraged. A thief one day broke into the modest dwelling of that great Bible scholar, Matthew Henry. He tried to find some money, or anything of possible value which he could steal. The next morning the cheerful elderly saint turned to his Bible and penned these words, “Let me be thankful to Thee, O God, first, because I have never been robbed before. Second, be cause although the thief took my purse, he did not take my life. Third, because although he took all that I possessed, it was not very much. And fourth, because it was I who was robbed and not I who resorted to rob bery.” What an objective observation. There is much in life for which we can all be grateful as the Scripture exhorts, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I watched a painter deftly dip his brush And place a color here, another there. And as I watched, before my eyes there grew A sunset full of wondrous beauty rare. He'd captured all the col'ring of the sky: The pinks, the gold, the salmon tints and blues. And there on canvas for all men to see A man had placed a sunset's match less hues. I watched a poet as he took just words! Just common little words of ev'ry day And wove those words around a com mon thought In such a metered, rhythmic, pat terned way, That when at last he'd finished with his work, The finished manuscript I took and read. I found not just a thought and com mon words, I found a poem on the page instead. I watched a potter as he plied his trade, An ugly, unresponsive chunk of clay Was what he held within his hands. I watched. With skill those hands would move in such a way That there before my eyes a vessel grew, Until at last 'twas finished. I could see No longer just a lump of clay. A work of art he placed in front of me. I watched God take a man— a way ward man, A man with heart and life made black with sin. I watched Him change that heart and make it clean, And give that man a peace and joy within. No work of man, however great and fine, Can e'en compare with what our God can do, For He is PAINTER, POTTER, POET — ALL! When through His Son He makes a life anew!
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