HIs GRace ABounds-HIGRAB

Psalms 91:1-16 (KJV) He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

In all thy getting this year, do your best possible to get Jesus.
Happy new year friends

A New Beginning


Numbers 6:22-27 (KJV)
"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them."

May this priestly blessing rest upon each one of us as we begin a new year. A new year brings new beginnings, new resolutions to improve. Many of us will promise to lose weight, get more exercise, stop smoking, drink less, etc.

How many of us will resolve to grow in our knowledge of the Bible, or spend more time in prayer or be more Christ-like in our dealings with others? There's an old saying, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life."

Today is the perfect day to recommit ourselves to following Jesus more closely, acting with love and compassion, forgiving old injuries, and working for justice with renewed vigor. As we have been blessed by God, so must we be a blessing for others. Who are the people in your life, in my life, that need a blessing today? Who are the strangers we meet who just need a smile, a nod, recognition of their existence?

Maybe it's you that needs to look into a mirror and tell yourself that God loves you and has blessed you to his purpose. By committing ourselves to live each day as Jesus would, we are fulfilling the mission that we are called to by God. As we begin this New Year, let us pray.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, you have created us in your image to be your instruments of love in the world. May we recommit ourselves to be blessings to everyone we meet in the coming year, confident that you will poor out your grace into our hearts. Amen.

Forty Eight Hours In Hell.

One of the most interesting cases of resuscitation that ever came to my knowledge was that of George Lennox, a notorious horse thief, in prison for stealing horses in Sedgwick County.

During the winter, while in prison, he worked in the coal mines. The place where he was working seemed dangerous to him. He reported the fact to the officer in charge, who made an examination, and deciding that the room was safe, ordered Lennox back to his work. The convict obeying, had not continued his work more than an hour when the roof fell in and completely buried him. He remained in this condition for fully two hours. He was missing at dinner time, and a search was instituted for the absent convict. He was found under this heap of rubbish. Life was extinct.

He was taken to the top, and on examination by the prison physician was pronounced dead. His remains were carried to the hospital where he was washed and dressed preparatory to interment. His coffin was made and brought into the hospital. The chaplain had arrived to perform the last rites prior to burial. Two of the prisoners were ordered by the hospital steward to lift the co**se from the boards and carry it across the room and place it in the coffin. They obeyed, one at the head and the other at the feet, and were about halfway across the room when the one at the head accidentally stumbled over a cuspidor, lost his balance and dropped the co**se. The head of the man struck the floor, and to the utter surprise and astonishment of all present, a deep groan was heard. Soon the eyes opened and other appearances of life were manifested.

The physician was immediately sent for, and by the time he arrived some thirty minutes later the "dead" man had called for a cup of water and was in the act of drinking. The coffin was at once removed and was later used for the burial of another convict. His burial robes were taken from him, and the prison garb substituted.

On examination he was found to have one of his legs broken in two places, and was otherwise bruised. He remained in the hospital some six months and again went to work. I learned of his experience while apparently dead, soon after, from a fellow miner. Prompted by curiosity, I longed for an acquaintance with Lennox to get his experience from his own lips. This opportunity was not offered for months. At last it came.

After being removed from the mines, I was detailed to one of the prison offices to make out some annual reports. The subject of this man's return to life was being discussed one day when he happened to pass by the door and was pointed out to me. It was not long until I had a note in his hand and asked him to come where I was at work. He did so, and here I got well acquainted with him, and from his own lips received his wonderful story. He is a young man, probably not over thirty years of age. He is not a hardened criminal, is possessed of a very good education and very bright.

Being a shorthand reporter, I took his story from his dictation. "I had a presentiment all morning that something terrible was going to happen. I was so uneasy on account of my feelings that I went to my mining boss, Mr. Grason, and told him how I felt, and asked him if he would come and examine my 'coal room,' the place where I was digging coal. He came and seemed to make a thorough examination and ordered me back to work, saying there was no danger, that he thought I was being 'cranky.'

"I returned to my work and had been digging away for something like an hour when, all of a sudden, it grew dark. Then it seemed as if a great iron door swung open and I passed through it.

"The thought then came to my mind that I was dead and in another world. I could see no one, nor hear a sound of any kind. For some reason unknown to me, I moved away from the doorway and came to the bank of a river. It was not dark, neither was it light.

"I had not remained on the bank of this river very long until I could hear the sound of oars in the water, and soon a person in a boat rowed up to where I was standing. I was speechless. He looked at me for a moment and then he said he had come for me, and told me to get into the boat and row across to the other side. I obeyed. Not a word was spoken. I longed to ask him who he was and where I was. My tongue seemed to cling to the roof of my mouth. I could not say a word. Finally we reached the opposite shore. I got out of the boat, and the boatman vanished from sight.

"Thus left alone, I knew not what to do. Looking out before me, I saw two roads which led through a dark valley. One of these was a broad road, and seemed to be well traveled. The other was a narrow path that led off in another direction. I instinctively followed the well-beaten road. I had not gone far when it seemed to grow darker. Now and then, however, a light would flash up from the distance, and in this manner I was lighted on my journey.

"Presently I was met by a being that it is utterly impossible for me to describe. I can only give you a faint idea of his dreadful appearance. He resembled a man somewhat, but much larger than any human being I ever saw. He must have been at least ten feet high. He had great wings on his back. He was black as the coal I had been digging and in perfectly n**e condition.

"He had a large spear in his hand, the handle of which must have been fully fifteen feet in length. His eyes shone like balls of fire. His teeth, white as pearl, seemed fully an inch long. His nose, if you could call it a nose, was very large, broad and flat. His hair was very coarse, heavy and long. It hung down on his massive shoulders. His voice sounded more like the growls of a lion in a menagerie than anything I can recall.

"It was during one of these flashes of light that I first saw him. I trembled like an aspen leaf at the sight. He had his spear raised as if to send it flying through me. I suddenly stopped. With that terrible voice I seem to hear yet, he bade me follow him—that he had been sent to guide me on my journey. I followed him. What else could I do?

"After he had gone some distance a huge mountain seemed to rise up before us. The part facing us seemed perpendicular, just as if a mountain had been cut in two and one part of it had been taken away. On this perpendicular wall I could read distinctly these words, 'This is hell.' My guide approached this perpendicular wall and with his spear handle gave three loud raps. A large massive door swung back and we passed in. I was then conducted through what appeared to be a passage through this mountain.

"For some time we traveled in Stygian darkness. I could hear the heavy footfalls of my guide and thus could follow him. All along the way I could hear deep groans, as someone dying. Further on these groans increased, and I could distinctly hear the cry for water, water—water! Coming down to another gateway, and passing through, I could hear, it seemed, a million voices in the distance, and the cry was for water!

"Presently another door opened at the knock of my guide, and I found that we had passed through the mountain and now a broad plain lay out before me.

"At this place my guide left me, to direct other lost spirits to the same destination.

"I remained in this open plain for some time, when a being similar to the first one came to me; but instead of a spear he had a large sword. He came to tell me of my future doom. He spoke with a voice that struck terror to my soul. 'Thou art in hell,' said he; 'for thee all hope is fled. As thou passed through the mountain on thy journey hither, thou didst hear groans and shrieks of lost souls as they called for water to cool their parched tongues. Along that passage there is a door that opens into the lake of fire. This is soon to be thy doom. Before thou art conducted to this place of torment, never more to emerge—there is no hope for those who enter there—thou shalt be permitted to remain in this open plain, where it is granted to all the lost to behold what they might have enjoyed, instead of what they must suffer.'

"With this I was left alone. Whether the result of the terrible fright through which I had passed, I know not but now I became stupefied. A dull weakness took possession of my frame. My strength departed from me. My limbs refused longer to support my body. Overcome, I now sank down a helpless mass. Drowsiness now took control of me. Half awake, half asleep, I seemed to dream.

"Far above me and in the distance I saw the beautiful City of which we read in the Bible. How wonderfully beautifully beautiful were its walls of jasper! Stretching out and away in the distance, I saw vast plains covered with beautiful flowers. I, too, beheld the river of life and the sea of glass. Vast multitudes of angels would pass in and out through the gates of the City, singing, oh, such beautiful songs. Among them I saw my dear old mother who had died a few years ago because of my wickedness. She looked toward me and seemed to beckon me to her, but I could not move.

"There appeared to be a great weight upon me that held me down. Now a gentle breeze wafted the fragrance of those flowers to me, and I could now, more plainly than ever, hear the sweet melody of angel voices, and I said, 'Oh, that I might be one of them.'

"As I was drinking of this cup of bliss it was suddenly dashed from my lips. I was aroused from my slumbers. I was brought back from my happy dreamland by an inmate of my dark abode, who said to me that it was now time to enter upon my future career. He bade me follow him.

"Retracing my steps, I again entered the dark passage way, and followed my guide for a time, when we came to a door that opened in the side of the passage, and going along this, we finally found ourselves passing through another door, and lo! I beheld the lake of fire.

"Just before me I could see, as far as the eye could reach, the literal lake of fire and brimstone. Huge billows of fire would roll over, each other, and great waves of fiery flame would dash against each other and leap high in the air like the waves of the sea during a violent storm. On the crest of the waves, I could see human beings rise, but soon to be carried down again to the lowest depths of the lake of fire. When borne on the crest of these awful billows for a time, their curses against a just God would be appalling, and their pitiful cries for water would be heart-rending. This vast region of fire echoed and re-echoed with the wails of these lost spirits.

"Presently I turned my eyes to the door through which I had a few moments before entered, and I read these awful words: 'This is thy doom, eternity never ends.' Shortly I began to feel the ground give way beneath my feet, and I soon found myself sinking down into the lake of fire. An indescribable thirst for water now seized upon me. And calling for water, my eyes opened in the prison hospital.

"I have never told this experience of mine before, for fear the prison officials would get hold of it and think me insane, and lock me up in the crankhouse. I passed through all this, and I'm sure there's a heaven and there is a hell, a regular old-fashioned hell, the kind the Bible tells about. But there is one thing certain, I am never going to that place any more.

"As soon as I opened my eyes in the hospital and found that I was alive and on earth once more, more, I immediately gave my heart to God, and I am going to live and die a Christian. While the terrible sight of hell can never be banished from my memory, neither can the beautiful things of heaven that I saw."

SINCERE MILK: CHILDREN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

THURSDAY DECEMBER 29, 2022

THE HAPPY CHILD

TEXT: JOHN 13:15-17

Key Verse: "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them" (John 13:17).

Friendship with Christ is the way of happiness.

"I'm happy, I'm happy, I'm happy,
The Son of God is my Friend.
I'm happy, I'm happy, I'm happy,
The Son of God is my Friend."

This is the chorus Sally loves singing anytime she is in the fellowship. She is always happy and joyful because she is a real friend of Jesus.

Friendship with God brings joy and gladness. There is no other place to find happiness than with Christ. You can find and enjoy happiness by first surrendering your life to Jesus through repentance. Then you receive forgiveness and cleansing through the blood of Jesus.

The second step is committing yourself to obeying God's word by following the footsteps of Jesus our Master. You will strive to put on all the virtues which include love, humility, obedience, holiness, submission, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, faith, patience and many more.

Jesus Himself pronounced blessings on those who will always obey His word. He says, "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them" (John 13:17). You will be happy here on earth and also rejoice as you get to heaven at last.

Prayer: Lord, accept and make me a happy child.

Further Reading: James 1:25

EXTEND GOD'S MERCY

Psalms 103:8-9 (KJV)
The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.



Are you familiar with the expression, "You need to cut him/her some slack?" Sometimes the hardest people to "cut some slack" for are our family members! God extends his mercy to us all the time. The gift of salvation, of redemption, earned for us by the life, death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus, is the greatest act of mercy. I wonder if we really appreciate this. We often cry out for justice, but what about mercy? Justice would demand that we are punished for our sins; mercy grants us forgiveness. Do we extend that same sense of forgiveness to our family and friends? Are we willing to listen to their side of the story when we are hurt? Family grudges can go on for years; friendships can be ended because of thoughtless actions. I know there were many days when I was teaching when I came home frustrated or upset because of the actions of students and was not a pleasant person to be around. I expected my children to understand and be kind to me! As I look back, I wonder how understanding I was of them when they had had a bad day at school! The fact that it works both ways is easy to forget. Neighborhoods can become war zones when the actions of one or two cause misunderstandings and no one is willing to listen or forgive. We all want others to understand us, to appreciate our differences, to forgive us our faults. As the year comes to a close this week, it's a good time to reflect on our actions over the past year and see what improvements we might want to make in the year to come. It's the year of mercy; let's try to be a little kinder, a little more accepting, a little more merciful in the weeks and months ahead.

Happy birthday, Mma etubom.
May God bless you. Amen.