VERSE FOR TODAY

Jeremiah 10:10-13 But the Lord is the only true God, the living God, the everlasting. The whole earth shall tremble at His anger; the world shall hide before His displeasure. Say this to those who worship other gods:  “Your so-called gods, who have not made the heavens & the earth, shall vanish from the earth, but our God formed the earth by His power & wisdom, & by His intelligence He hung the stars in space & stretched out the heavens. It is His voice that echoes in the thunder of the storm clouds. He causes mist to rise upon the earth; He sends the lightning & brings the rain, & from His treasuries He brings the wind. The Living Bible

GOD'S PROMISE

"God never promised to tell me why everything happens the way it does. But He did promise me that anytime I wanted to talk, He would be happy to listen. And in a world where so many people feel they are all alone, that's a pretty great thing to know." Daniel Taylor, Men's Devotional Bible

TEN REASONS JESUS CAME TO DIE *

* Borrowed from a pamphlet written by John Piper [published by Good News Publishers] that was distributed at the Norfolk Area Prayer Breakfast on 5/3.

#1 To give eternal life to all who believe on Him.

#2 To bring us to God.

#3 To take away our condemnation.

#4 To show Jesus' own love for us.

#5 To show God's love for sinners.

#6 To reconcile us to God.

#7 Sos that we would escape the curse of the Law.

#8 To absorb the wrath of God.

#9 To gie marriage its deepest meaning.

#10 To destroy hostility between races.

A LITTLE WHILE

"A little while, & you will see Me no longer, & again a little while, & you will see Me. (John 16:16)  Let's learn to say these words:  'A little while.' Yes, when the shadows of the valley of tears press in upon us, say, 'A little while.' We say, 'A little while,' because we know that in a little while, it will all be over. It will all be over soon because Jesus promises to see us in His kingdom. After a little while, Jesus promises to come back & take us out of this valley of tears. And when He does this, He will wipe away the tears from all eyes, & He will heal all of the hurt. After a little while, He will give eternal joy to us." Matt Richard, Minute Messages

SUFFERING

"We know that suffering creates endurance, endurance creates character, & character creates confidence." (Rom. 5:3-4)  Suffering is a powerful tool in the hand of God. He uses it to shape people & to move them toward Him. If you feel a need to stop the suffering of others & to give them advice that you have no right to be giving them, then you might be putting something between them & the voice of God. You can most certainly give advice to others, but it has to be advice that you come to through discernment & constant prayer. It shouldn't be off the cuff with the sole goal of relieving the other person's pain . . . Let others need God more than they need you, & stop playing God in their lives." Michael DiMarco, Devotions for the God Guy

LIVING FAITH

"Living faith does not doubt that God has a kind & gracious will to do what we ask. Rather, it is to be understood in this way:  faith does not doubt that God has a good will toward the person & wishes & grants him every blessing. But we are unaware whether what faith asks & asserts is good & useful for us. God alone knows that. For that reason, faith asks in such a way that it leaves everything to the gracious will of God. If it serves His glory & our good, do not doubt that God will give it; or, if it is not to be given, then His divine will out of great grace does not give it, because He sees that it is better if not given. Nevertheless, faith remains certain & secure in God's gracious will, whether He gives it or not, as St. Paul also says that we do not know what or how we should pray (Rom. 8:26), & in the Lord's Prayer, He tells us to give preference to His will & to pray for it (Matt. 6:10)." A Year in the Gospels with Martin Luther