The omnipotent God is your God!

from grace Gems

(James Smith, "The Believer's Companion in Seasons of Affliction and Trouble" 1842)

"With God all things are possible!" Matthew 19:26

The omnipotence of Jehovah is ruled by His wisdom and holiness, His justice and love. He can do everything consistent with those attributes--but nothing contrary to them.

God's omnipotence is altogether on the believer's side. All that God consistently can do--He will do for His people. Nothing is too hard for the Lord.

He can make us contented in the most trying circumstances--and happy in the deepest affliction. He can so bring down our minds to our condition--that we shall glory in tribulation. He can turn darkness into light, and bitter into sweet; and bring the richest joy out of the deepest sorrow.

The omnipotent God is your God! His omnipotence is engaged for you!

Do not look at your difficulties--but at the omnipotent God as engaged for you!

Do not look too much at what you are--but at what your God can make you!

Do not dwell on your own weakness--but on the Lord's strength!

Call nothing impossible. "Is anything too hard for Me? Do not I fill Heaven and earth, says the Lord?" His ways are in the sea, His paths in the mighty waters, and His footsteps are not known! It is possible for God to hold you fast . . .
  in the most slippery path,
  when surrounded by the most determined foes,
  and feeling the greatest weakness--and He will do so!
None shall be able to pluck you out of His hand!

It is possible for God to supply all your needs, in the most trying times; as He did Elijah by the ravens, and the poor widow by the increase of the oil and meal. And He will do so! Only seek the Lord, trust in the Lord, leave difficulties with the Lord--and you shall not lack any good thing. He will display His wisdom, sovereignty, pity, and power in dealing with you; and perhaps fill you with wonder, surprise, and love, at His ways.

All that God is--He is to you!

All He has--He has for you!

All He has promised--He will fulfill in you!

Ever, ever remember that all things are possible to . . .
   your God,
   your Father,
   your Savior,
   and your Friend!

"I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength!" Philippians 4:13

Do Not Be Surprised at Trials and Afflictions

If we know anything of growth in grace and desire to know more, let us not be surprised if we have to go through much trial and affliction in this world. I firmly believe it is the experience of nearly all the most eminent saints. Like their blessed Master, they have been men of sorrows, acquainted with grief, and perfected through sufferings (Isa. 53:3; Heb. 2:10). It is a striking saying of our Lord, "Every branch in Me that bears fruit [my Father] purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit" (John 15:2).

It is a melancholy fact, that constant temporal prosperity, as a general rule, is injurious to a believer’s soul. We cannot stand it. Sicknesses, losses, crosses, anxieties and disappointments seem absolutely needful to keep us humble, watchful and spiritual–minded. They are as needful as the pruning knife to the vine and the refiner’s furnace to the gold. They are not pleasant to flesh and blood. We do not like them and often do not see their meaning. "No chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness" (Heb. 12:11).

We shall find that all worked for our good when we reach heaven. Let these thoughts abide in our minds, if we love growth in grace. When days of darkness come upon us, let us not count it a strange thing. Rather let us remember that lessons are learned on such days, which would never have been learned in sunshine. Let us say to ourselves, "This also is for my profit, that I may be a partaker of God’s holiness. It is sent in love. I am in God’s best school. Correction is instruction. This is meant to make me grow."

~ J.C. Ryle

 

Our tears...(from Grace Gems)

Bottled in Heaven!

(Charles Orr, "Incense from Golden Vials")

"The Lord has heard the voice of my weeping!" Psalm 6:8. There is a prayer of tears. What speaks more loudly to our hearts, than tears?

Israel's sweet psalm-singer once said when in earnest, tearful prayer, "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle! You have recorded each one in your book!" Psalm 56:8. Tears add much to the fragrance of prayer. The tears which are set flowing by the emotions of the heart--are bottled in Heaven and written in God's book!

O dear praying saint, pray on! Never will one tear be lost! It is too precious! Diamonds and pearls are mere trifles--compared with your tears! Never a word of your prayer, however feeble it may seem to be--will fail to reach the ear of God! Amid the many prayers that are ascending to the throne of grace from this lower world, and amid the noise of angels' shouts and songs--He will catch the sweet strain of your feeble heart-cry, and record it in Heaven! The perfume of a prayer is never lost!

Life in all it's fullness...

Isaiah 12  verse 2, "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. vs 3 "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation, ..."

2 Peter 1:3-11 (ESV)

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Family fun...

My apologies to family and dear friends back 'home' for getting so few photographs up for you in the last few months???year! (this was the whole point of starting this blog in the first place! And I just get a bit carried away with words!) Here are a few snapshots of the past 7 months or so. The kids love messing around with the photos, although some kids pull such funny faces of course that there is no need to 'doctor' their photograph to make it funny! Yes, that is Jon with the beard!  And a pet mouse (not ours) in Emma's hair! No we do not have goats. Swimming, beach trips, fishing, sunsets, Barbecues or braais, bonfires, visiting friends, our church family, going to parks, birthdays, and just laughing together and being together are just some of the many blessings that God has showered upon us, thanks be to God for these precious comforts in our time of sorrows. Hopefully I will get some more photographs loaded up in the next few days for you all.

 

God's love is a gift, it is free, Dit Komos Niks

Sorry, I am not even going to try and translate properly! It is beautifully told in Afrikaans, and there is a play of words that just cannot be translated by the likes of me. But basically it is saying Comos do not need to be planted as they are self seeding (they grow in South African paddocks like weeds) and so is our heavenly Father's love.... we need no works to earn His love, it costs nothing and is given generously with much beauty and joy for us! Thank the Lord for the very breath you have and for the many other gifts He showers upon you this day. This precious story was sent to my Mother by my lovely cousin in New Zealand. Baie mooi, dankie!

Author unknown

Jeremiah 29:11 Ek ken die plan wat Ek vir jou het, verklaar die Here.  Liewe vriende, wees vir n oomblik stil en prys God vir Sy Goedheid en Sy liefdevolheid! Aan HOM alle eer, lof en prysing vir al SY goedheid, genade en seninge in my lewe.  Elke dag staan ek op met die sening dat ek asem kan haal sonder enige probleme, dat ek kan sien, hoor, praat, loop, eet en my daaglikse take kan verrig.   Dit opsig self spreek van SY kosbare genade.  Here, vergewe MY asb dat ek in die verlede nie my dankbaarheid teenoor U verklaar het vir die eenvoudige maar tog belangrike seninge nie.  Dankie dat ek kan hoor, praat, loop, eet en dat ek nie afhanklik is van ander om dinge vir myself te doen nie.   Dankie vir my geliefdes wat elke dag deel is van my lewe en dat hulle almal gesond is.  Dankie vir U hand van bewaring wat ons elke dag oorskadu. Amen. Mag julle almal vandag iets besonders in julle lewe vind waarvoor julle ons Hemelse Vader voor kan dank. BLESSINGS en baie liefde aan julle almal