Rejoice and be Glad... (two devotionals)

 From Oasis of Hope ...

Rejoice or Despair?

"Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say rejoice." - Philippians 4:4 NASB

Do you find it easier to rejoice when everything is going well or when things are falling apart?  It is much easier for most of us to be positive and praise God when we're content with our circumstances.

It's much harder to rejoice when a job has been lost.  It is also challenging when we or a loved one has been diagnosed with a life-threatening disease.  Rejoicing in those times is much harder, isn't it?

Rejoicing in the Lord is not optional but is a command.  Even though Paul wrote this instruction, God told him what to write.  Paul didn't have an easy life.  He was imprisoned in a cold, damp cell on several occasions; yet, he chose to rejoice through it all.  We're not to rejoice just when we feel like it.  Through Paul, God said to rejoice in the Lord always.  We are to rejoice in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in.

How can we live this way with all the trials that beset us daily?  First, focus on God.  He is the One Who has allowed the trials into our lives for whatever reason.  His goal, once we have accepted Jesus Christ, is to conform us into His image.  Often, we learn deeper spiritual truths as we go through difficult times.  Second, choose to follow God's instructions.  We can choose to wallow in despair or choose to turn toward God, obey, and rejoice.

Notice Paul says "rejoice" twice for added emphasis.  When something is mentioned twice as this is, we should take special  note of it.  We are to rejoice always.  The good news is God will help us if we ask Him to.  As we choose to focus on God, our gratitude for Him grows.  Then it becomes easier to rejoice.

Which do you typically do, wallow or rejoice?  Has that choice helped or harmed you?  Try following Paul's instructions.  Ask God to help you to rejoice in everything.

- Julie Wilson Smith

From A Lamp Unto My Feet ...

Choose To Be Glad

The Bible is full of commands to be joyful.  the Lord commanded the people of Israel to set aside certain days for celebration, and on those days they were to rejoice.  There was no provision made for any who might not feel like rejoicing.  This was what they were to do, young and old, slaves and free, aliens, orphans and widows - in obedience to the command.  The pilgrim feast of Weeks was celebrated seven weeks after the time "when the sickle is put to the standing corn" (Deuteronomy 16:9).  The people were commanded to bring a freewill offering and to rejoice:  "You shall rejoice in the place which the Lord your God will choose.  You shall rejoice ... You shall keep the feast with joy" (vv. 11, 14-15).

The rhythm of life is one of God's mercies, meant to keep us from sinking into individual ruts.  We are called away from our personal inclination by the dawning of each new day; by the sun's going down so that we may cease from our work; by the changing seasons, which require changes of habit, work and dress; and by the regular occurrences of "feasts" when, without reference to how we happen to feel, we may join with others in purposeful rejoicing.  We may choose to be glad.

"Although the fig tree does not burgeon, the vines bear no fruit, the olive-crop fails ... and there are not cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord and rejoice in the God of my deliverance" (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

- Elisabeth Elliot

I just had a quick look in the concordance at the back of my Bible, and there are many verses that mention 'rejoice' and glad/gladness'. This week, I'm going to do a word search and write them out.

Care to join me?

Here are 2 to get you started...

"This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24 NKJV)

"Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, because great is your reward in heaven" (Matthew 5:12 NKJV).

From Be Still and Know (a devotional) ...

 "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." - Colossians 3:15

There is much talk today of world peace.  World rulers meet together to discuss ways of accomplishing this.  Yet none of their plans have brought a lasting peace.  In the midst of schedule-packed lives individuals are searching for inner peace as a defense against the stress and strain of today's living.  There may not be peace in the world today, but there can be PEACE in the HEART.

The secret of inner peace is letting God's peace rule in our hearts.  "Let the peace of heart which comes from Christ be always present in your heart and lives" (Colossians 3:15, LB).  God has provided peace for us through the person of Jesus Christ.  "He is our peace" (Ephesians 2:14).

The word "rule carries the thought of arbitrating or umpiring, the settling of differences where there is a conflict in thoughts, motives, and attitudes.  When Christ controls our lives, He will settle our problems and differences, giving us inner quietness and calmness.

It doesn't mean we will be free from conflict and disturbances.  They will come; but the Lord Jesus will give quietness in the midst of them.  When we encounter differences of opinions, irritations, and annoyances, He will give His peace.  When frustrations build up, He will give calmness of spirit.  Someone has said, "Let Him be the decider of all things within your heart."

There is peace in the heart for us today through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Drop Thy still dew of quietness

Till all our strivings cease;

Take from our souls the strain and stress

and let our ordered lives confess

The beauty of Thy peace.

(John Greenleaf Whittier)

From A Lamp Unto My Feet (a devotional) ...

 A Safeguard For the Soul

Souls are vulnerable things.  They need safeguards.  It was when Paul was in prison that this idea came to him.  He had just been writing to the Philippians about the benefits that accrued because of his own sufferings and the possible death he might die.  He told them of Epaphroditus's illness and anxiety, and finished with "Finally, my brothers, delight yourselves in the Lord! ...  You will find it a safeguard to your souls" (Philippians 3:1, Phillips).

It would be very easy to allow depression and anxiety to overcome us when we look at the dismal circumstances in which we sometimes find ourselves.  Who had better reason than Paul for depression? (Oh well, but he was Saint Paul!" we counter.)  He had learned by practice how to apply the soul's safeguard, which is not mere enjoyment, it is a delight.  This is a command and therefore an act of will, and it is done in the Lord.  No circumstance is so dismal as to prevent obedience to the command.  No trouble can blast that safeguard.  Do it.  Do it by faith.  Delight yourself in the Lord.  Maybe you will have to get out of bed, get up from your chair, go outdoors and walk, sing a song out loud, bake a pie for somebody or mow the lawn as an offering of praise.  You can do something that will help you to obey that command.  It is amazing how strongly what we do affects how we feel.

- Elisabeth Elliot

Why are you cast down, O my soul?  

And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him 

For the help of His countenance.

Psalm 42:5

From Beside the Still Waters (a devotional) ...

 "One Thing Thou Lackest"

Read: Mark 10:17-31

"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." - Mark 10:25

My friend and I were discussing the financial aspect of life.  "I just don't want to be poor," he said.  I have often thought about those words.  Someone may start pursuing wealth with the good intention of gaining only what is sufficient, but this has been the downfall of many.  Today my friend is far from poor, and I wonder sometimes if that is actually good.  Most of us fathers desire to provide for our families and also to have enough to give away (at least we say that).  But we need to be honest about our intentions and the deceitfulness of riches.

In today's Bible reading, the rich young ruler became very sorrowful when Jesus told him to sell all his possessions and give to the poor.  After all, life was good, and business was going well - but he lacked "one thing" that was necessary to inherit eternal life.  For the natural mind it is very difficult to accept Jesus' words.  It requires understanding the vanity of earthly wealth and the infinite value of spiritual riches.  The people who witnessed this interaction between Jesus and the rich ruler were astonished at what they heard (verse 26).

The important question for us is not, "Might Jesus be asking me to sell all my possessions?"  It is rather, "Why do I want to be rich, and how much do I trust in riches?"  We find some excellent instruction in 1 Timothy 6:17-18: "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God ... that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate [share with others]."  The "one thing" will not be lacking if we do these things.

Levi Baer - Kryvoshyintsi, Ukraine

"Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain."

 - Proverbs 30:8-9

Winter is here!

 Not many leaves left on the tree now...

Yesterday it rained most of the day.  Freya knew the best place to be...

And I wasn't far away, with plenty to keep me busy...

continuing to work on hand quilting a cot quilt panel for new grandson due 21st July

My squares for the fistula blanket are coming along.  Still accompanying Marnie to various medical appointments, so I have opportunity to knit while I wait for her...

I have 26 squares done, need 4 more, then I can start sewing it together.  Yay! Not.

And I'm re-reading Penelope Wilcock's The Hawk and the Dove series 1.  I read it many years ago, but my original copies have since been passed on, so I'm gradually buying the new editions.  I have the first 6 of the 9, and I'm currently reading book 2, and enjoying it very much, perhaps even more so than the first time I read them ...

Pen's blog is HERE if you'd like to visit her.

This morning at church the sermon was on the Sabbath from Matthew 12:1-14

"Rest time is not waste time.  It is economy to gather fresh strength.  In the long run, we shall do more by sometimes doing less." 

- Charles H. Spurgeon

A walk to the river ...

Haven't been to the river in a while, but I took a walk there yesterday morning...

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;

For you are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23

From Amish Peace (a devotional) ...

 Faith Walks

"Don't just listen to God's word.  You must do what it says.  Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves." - James 1:22

In every community there are expectations.  In my neighborhood it's expected that we keep our lawns mowed.  It is expected that we wave when passing a neighbor on the street or chat for a few minutes when passing each other on a walk.  The expectations are different in an Amish community.  When a neighbor has a loss in the family, you show up with food and help with chores.  When there is a hospital bill, the cost is split between all church members.  And when a sermon is preached, the words aren't simply something you should ponder.  Instead you must do your part to give and serve, to fast and pray.

Here is an English translation of an excerpt from an Amish prayer offered up after the sermon: "Beseech Thee, beloved and merciful Father, that Thou wouldst let Thy word, which we have heard and received, be powerful and genuine in the heart of each one of us, and be fruitful, bearing fruit that remains until eternal life.  May we through it be not only born again, but completely turned about, changed, and renewed."

Being born again is being in a state of acceptance with Jesus Christ.  It is also a call to action.  It would be foolish to an Amish person to accept the gift of salvation without acting upon it.  Or, as we read in James 2:27, "Faith by itself isn't enough.  Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless."  Amish people know that they are saved by grace alone, but they are also expected to act as those who are saved.

How do your actions prove your faith?  Do you care for others differently because of the gift of eternal life God has given you?  It's easy to hear God's word, but it's much harder to do what it says.  Yet when you do, your faith shines and people take notice!

Dear heavenly Father, I thank You for Your Word, and I thank You that Your love shines so clearly through people living out their faith.  I long to do the same, walking and talking what my heart believes!

The Peace of Jesus (a devotional) ...

From Oasis of Hope... 

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." - John 12:27

John, the gospel writer, recorded for us the farewell speech Jesus gave to His disciples.  That speech holds a very special tone, every word seems weighty.  First and foremost, Jesus wanted His friends not to be overcome with fear.

Why was there no cause to be fearful even if Jesus was leaving them?  Up to that point, they had been with Jesus daily and the thought of Him leaving shocked and troubled them.  Jesus told them He was giving them a gift.  They would get the very best He had to give: His own peace.  He would send them the Holy Spirit, the Helper and Advocate, who would also bring peace.

"My peace I give to you," Jesus said.  It didn't, and still doesn't, come from anywhere or anyone else.  Is passes understanding and is beyond any previous experience.  And what were the first words Jesus uttered when He appeared to the disciples after His death and resurrection?  "Peace to you."

The apostle Paul linked prayer and peace with each other.  He advised us to leave every concern in prayer to God (Philippians 4:6-7).  We are to bring every single thing that causes helplessness - every fear, every worry - to Him.  Then the Holy Spirit can bring peace and will guard our hearts.  His peace will be ours as we practice this.

Where do you need peace today?  Look for verses in Scripture concerning the subject of your need.  Take those concerns to God, then allow Him to speak peace into your heart through His word.

- Anu Ahonen 

I thought of Psalm 121 ...

I will lift up my eyes to the hills - 

From whence comes my help?

My help comes from the Lord, 

Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved; 

He who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, He who keeps Israel 

Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;

The Lord is your shade at your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

Nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;

He shall preserve your soul.

The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in

From this time forth, and even forevermore.

Do you have a favourite Psalm or Bible verse that gives you peace?

A short hiatus...

 Hello friends!

I'm back after a bit of a break, due to necessity.  My daughter has been quite unwell for the last 6 weeks and most of my time has been taken up with hospital visits and accompanying her for various test and scans.  The short of it is that the doctors think it was an adverse reaction to the medication in an injection she was given. It's been a long process eliminating other causes, but praise God she is starting to improve.  So, I hope to be able to get back to more regular posting.

With all the sitting and waiting while she attended medical appointments, I have been able to get quite a few of my knitted squares for the fistula hospital blanket done.  I learnt to always take my knitting and something to read with me when I went with her as it could end up a long wait.

It's nice to get back to a more regular routine and be able to enjoy the autumn colours in the garden.

Back soon ...Lord willing.

xx

My voice you shall hear in the morning, O Lord;

In the morning I will direct it to You,

And I will look up. - Psalm 5:3

From Oasis of Hope (a devotional)...

 Thorn in the Flesh

"So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelation, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me." - 2 Corinthians 12:7-8 ESV

We don't know the exact thorn Paul endured, but we know it was painful.  It harassed him, nagged him, bothered him.  The original word describes something more like a tent stake, not a tiny rose thorn.

So many people think thorns of illness and pain could never be part of the life of a believer.  According to Scripture, that's a lie.  We know it was given to Paul.  He begged God to remove this thorn, repeatedly.

It's not surprising because Paul was actively sharing the gospel, in a life of active ministry.  His suffering must have made the work even more challenging.

Our chronic, lingering illnesses not only bring physical suffering but emotional and spiritual ones.  Like Paul, we beg God for healing ... and sometimes He says no.  But perhaps, the Lord has a better plan for us, as He did for Paul.

In Paul's case, God's purpose was to keep him from pride, to help Paul experience His constantly sufficient grace to humbly keep going, and to show God's power through Paul's weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

God's answer for us also might be His sufficient grace.  Our thorns may be here to stay, but he encourages us with this verse:

"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:13 ESV).  Maybe our illness is a "thorn" to help us place our hope completely on the day we will see Jesus, by His grace.

Let's pray for healing, but also trust His grace so we might be able to sing, "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound" ("Amazing Grace," Newton, J., 1779).

Do you have a song of trust you could sing today?

- Lauri Hogle

Evening Meditations (a poem)...

'Tis evening - and the weary day

Its curtain draws at last;

Each moment with its trying toil

Is laid to rest, and past.

The good we sought, each seed we sowed,

Has filled its place today;

And with our God, we've trod again

A step of Heaven's way.

He has been faithful, ever true

To comfort, care and guide.

His mercy flowed in bounteous streams,

No drop of grace denied.

So soon tomorrow's sun shall rise

With bright and cheerful ray,

And with its dawn His faithfulness

Again shall balm our day.

by Emily Witmer

Poor But Clean (book excerpt)...

I meet Susan and Peter Hoover on a number of occasions when they were living at Rocky Cape (they now live in Paraguay) and I was living at Stanley (a 15-minute drive away).  They established a Hutterite community there, and it was always a blessing to call in and see them.  On one visit, they gave me this book (Poor but Clean) written by Susan's mother, about her life. Here is an excerpt from the near end of the book...

"... This year, 2012, I am back in Australia, enjoying our lovely Christmas season in the heart of summer.  For several months, with the help of my daughter and son-in-law, I have finally finished writing the story of my life.  And now, at the end of it, I must tell you why.

I do not want my story written because I think it is particularly interesting or important.  To the contrary, what I want you, my children, my grandchildren, and my rapidly growing number of great-grand-children to know, is that nothing in this life is nearly as interesting or important as we often think.

Only one thing is important.  That is to fear (respect) God so we may walk in the Truth, loving and serving him.

I spent my childhood and youth in the Durango Mennonite Colony.  From my parents and schoolteachers, from my grandparents and older relatives that came from Russia to Canada, I first learned about my Father in Heaven.  I learned to fear him and that it matters, forever, whether we take him seriously or not.  Later I learned much more about him, and about our Saviour, Jesus Christ, from the Kleingemeinde, the Wissler and the conservative Mennonites.

Not all of what I heard was quite on track, and not everything I lived through among these, my brothers and sisters on earth, was perfect.  That is because all of us are human, with earthly human problems, just like every church, every community, including God's people in Bible Times, have always had.  But by now, drawing close to the end of my life, with nothing but Jesus and eternity before me, I can see more clearly what matters and what does not.

It no longer matters so much to me what people call themselves, or what they do not, because the only name that saves us is the name of Jesus Christ.  I like the language my parents taught me and that I learned in school (German) but I now understand that the only language that matters is the language of the Kingdom of God, spoken by those that love and serve him around the world.

I have always worn dresses, as befits godly women, and covered my head as the New Testament teaches, but the issue, as I see it, is not in one exact form over another.  It is the issue of modesty, of humility, of true godliness and separation from the world that really matters.  And in the end, I no longer feel it matters so much whether we belong to this group or that, for in every group there can be only two kinds of people.

On one hand we have the proud and the self-confident, boasting of what they have and who they are.  Some boast in their wealth and business.  Others boast of their education, their religion, or their "wonderful experiences with God."  Still others take pride in what they think is sound doctrine and practice.  But the proud always forget God, live for themselves, and bring nothing but unhappiness, strife and confusion, wherever they go.

On the other hand, in every place I have lived from my earliest childhood to now, I have come to know humble people, fearing God, putting others first in the Spirit of Jesus, while reaping for themselves and others immeasurable never-ending joy.

From this I have seen what matters the most - that we walk in the Truth and fear God.  Then we may be simple yet glad.  Living ordinary lives yet fully content.  And like my mother always said, we may be poor but we can be clean..." 

I love a rainy day ...

...and we are certainly having our fair share of those at the moment.  A good opportunity to do a catch-up post...

I've made a start on the baby quilt for my new grandson.  I think Marnie gave me the quilt top years ago, so I'm happy to have an opportunity to use it :)  I bought some tartan flannelette, and was just going to quilt the two layers together, but then decided to use some thin polar fleece in the middle to make is a bit more padded... 

Pinned the three layers together...

And I have started hand quilting it (although you can't really see the quilt stitches in the photo)...

I haven't done any hand quilting for years.  It makes a nice change from the knitting and crocheting :)

I finished the fourth book in this series and really enjoyed them...

Now I'm reading this...

We are off daylight-saving time now, so our evenings are darker earlier.  When I finish my dinner and dishes, I've been continuing to work on my Fistula blanket squares, while watching episodes of the Waltons before bed.

Have you watched this series? 

I only have Season 1, but am enjoying it again :)

Still on track with my 'one chapter a day from the New Testament' Bible reading.  Today it's Acts Chapter 13.

This past week I listened to an interesting audio (although there is also an option to watch on YouTube) from Anabaptist Perspectives. It goes for just under an hour. 

So, take a break, make yourself a cup of tea or coffee, and have a listen. 

 

Here's the link.

Enjoy

xx

Wisdom (devotional)

From Oasis of Hope... 

Wisdom

"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy." - James 3:17 NASB

Have you ever pondered the Old Testament patriarch Abraham's journey from Ur of the Chaldeans to the land of Caanan?  God had called him to start toward the unknown land of promise.  There must have been many problems associated with moving the whole company and all the animals.  It was not at all clear how they would reach their destination.

The New Testament tells us that Abraham did not know where he was going (Hebrews 11:8).  He had to learn to trust God's guidance without knowing or seeing beforehand.  It is this that makes him an example of faith.  How could Abraham know how to solve the problems they faced so that in the end they would reach the right place?

When Abraham and his nephew Lot's herds had grown large, they had to separate.  Without this parting, there would not be enough pastureland for all their animals.  How could the situation be resolved?

Abraham allowed his nephew Lot to choose the land he wanted, and Lot chose the verdant, well-watered Jordan plain.  Abraham simply went in the opposite direction.  Only later did God confirm his decision as correct.

What could we learn from all this?  First, God see's the Christian's daily walk and is interested in his everyday life.  Second, He knows circumstances can be complex and they may demand a new kind of orientation.  He can use every detail in life to guide His children.

If we have come to a turning point in life and cannot see the road ahead, we need wisdom from above to move forward in faith and trust.  Where do you need wisdom today?  Ask God for His perspective, and trust Him to lead in the way He knows is best.

-Anu Ahonen

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Prayer + Praise = Peace (devotional 4 of 4)

 From Be Still and Know ...

"If you do this you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus " (Philippians 4:7, LB).

This verse begins with "If you would do THIS."  Do what?  Pray instead of worrying.  Our problem may not always be removed, but we can have peace instead of anxiety.

It is easy to have peace when we have the security of a home, position, bank account, friends, and health.  But God's peace sustains us when trouble comes and the heart is breaking.

Before Jesus left earth, He promised to leave His peace for us.  He said, "Peace I leave with you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).  This is a supernatural peace, a peace that passeth our understanding, but not our experience.

Satan will do all in his power to keep us worried and upset.  But Jesus keeps our hearts and minds at peace.  In exchange for our problems He gives us His peace.  "And the peace of God which transcends human understanding will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus" (Phillips).  This word "keep" has the thought of acting as a guard over our hearts and minds, preventing anything from upsetting our inner peace.

We can have an inner peace during the storms in our lives.  This peace is Christ Himself, for "HE IS OUR PEACE ..." (Ephesians 2:14).

His peace is personal - it will keep OUR hearts and minds.

God's formula for "peace instead of worry" is: "Be careful for nothing; be prayerful in everything; be thankful for anything; be peaceful through all things."

Easter Thoughts (devotionals)

Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.

But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.

Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?

He is not here, but is risen!  Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,

saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'"

And they remembered His words.

(Luke 24:1-8)

From Behold the Lilies...

"And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: and as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?" - Luke 24:4-5

Why did the women make that unnecessary, early-morning trek to the tomb?  Jesus had told them He would rise again.  Why did they not remember it sooner?  Was it because they were heartbroken and worrying about what would happen now that their beloved Lord was killed?  They could have saved themselves much grief had they not been so slow to believe.

God may view scenes from our lives with the same kind of thoughts we have as we think about the scene at the tomb.  Does he see that the women of today have not changed much from the women at the tomb?

Who of us have not had doubts about our salvation?  We doubt in spite of the promise, "He that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37).  Who of us has not felt anxious when we saw a difficult circumstance ahead?  We are anxious in spite of His promise, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5).  Who of us has not worried about material needs?  We worry in spite of the promise, "Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things" (Matthew 6:32).

We have the same Lord as the women at the tomb had.  His promise to them was fulfilled, and He will fulfill His promises to us as well.

 

Christ hath risen! Hallelujah!

Blessed morn of life and light!

Lo, the grave is rent asunder,

Death is conquered through His might.

Christ is risen! Hallelujah!

Gladness fills the world to-day;

From the tomb that could not hold him, 

See, the stone is rolled away!