II Corinthians 4:5-7
"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."
August 16th
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." James 1:2-3
NOTHING CAN POSSIBLY HAPPEN – just to vex you – IF in FAITH you love God, with your life ATTUNED TO HIS LOVE-TIDE.
Remember that the falling of every sparrow has been okayed by God Almighty, and "every hair of your head is numbered."(!)
EVERY DETAIL has been fitted into the pattern of your life; EVERY FACTOR for – or seemingly against your good
* IS A PART * AND PARCEL * OF HIS LOVE * FOR YOU! *
Wherefore, fume not, neither fret yourself. And above all, get not impatient; nor ever determine in your own mind to "bulldoze it through"!
Our deeds may be roughly classified in two groups; (1) to do good for another, or (2) to do something for SELF.
Things which arise to thwart us are also in two major classifications; one is to cultivate and develop the roots of our faith and patience, and perseverance in well doing, while the second is to dissuade because we are in error. Let us take a few instances that the lesson may become more practicable:
Supposing you are about to do GOOD in the interests of a fellow man. Assuming that it is TRULY GOOD, we may infer that it is pleasing in the sight of God. Next we suppose that on your setting out to do this, the motor of your car refuses to kick over; or maybe you have no purse nor bus tickets with you; or you meet a person who "talks your arm off" – that you cannot be on your way as planned; or any of a dozen or more possible contingencies to DELAY, THWART or even PREVENT your doing what you had in mind.
Tabracana – Joy-wings to Power (continued tomorrow...)