~ DAILY Strength .. ~

"PETER says that it is the GOD of GRACE who will make us strong, firm and steadfast (1 PETER 5:10). Our gracious FATHER says over and over, "I will strengthen you," (ISAIAH 41:10). He further adds, "I will strengthen them in the LORD and in his name they will walk" (ZECHARIAH 10:12). WHEN the battle is fierce and our enemy seems to be getting the upper hand, He reminds us, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 CORINTHIANS 12:9), and "your strength will equal your days" (DEUTERONOMY 33:25)." "I can do everything through him who gives me strength (PHILIPPIANS 4:13)." MARJORIE E. JONES

* "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness (2 CORINTHIANS 12:9)."

"ONE of my favorite people was a tiny, energetic missionary in the southern Philippines - Annetta Holsted, our language supervisor. But more than that, she was an excellent role model because of her love for the Filipinos and her devotion to prayer and the reading and memorization of Scripture.

AFTER we had completed our two years of language study, Annetta returned to the United States for a year of furlough and, in God's providence, was near enough to New York City to be on hand when we were evacuated from the Philippines for a medical emergency. BOTH our two-year-old daughter, Debbie, and my husband, Bob, (in the same year the Salk vaccine was released) had contracted polio.

AFTER the ambulance ride from the airport to the hospital, I was driven to the missionary guest house. Completely exhausted from the 36-hour trip, I turned our two other children over to my parents and started down the hall to the bedroom to get some rest. Down that hallway came Annetta. She put out her arms to me and said these words, "The LORD has given me a message for you: 'GRACE is better than healing."

AT the time, I did not realize the importance of the message and even wondered what it meant.
BUT years later when Debbie returned to the Philippines as a missionary, Annetta's words came back to me with full force. In the midst of the most difficult circumstances, it is possible to experience the full measure of GOD'S GRACE and peace in our lives, trusting Him to use our weakness to further His kingdom." MARJORIE COWLES

* See associated post dated 27/11/2010 - ETERNITY!