~ * LIGHT through Trials !! ~

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him
(ROMANS 8:28).

"THERE is an African Proverb that says, "That which blinds the blind man also feeds him." Its literal meaning is that those who are blind are expected to beg to gain their daily food. FOR me, that proverb has a very precious spiritual application. Difficult things may come to us during our lifetime, and the world may see those things as being very destructive and cruel. IF however, those things are accepted as part of His sovereign will, then, because of the growth and depth we gain in the Lord Jesus, they WILL have an opposite effect!

The husband of a young Christian woman was shot as he fled from their mud house during border disputes in our area of West Africa. He had just completed one month's study in literacy training so that he would be able to read the New Testament in Red Bobo. JUST two days earlier, he had been baptized and had given public testimony that he was a new creature in Christ and was obeying His command to be baptized. WHAT a difficult thing for his family and those village church people to accept the death of this zealous new believer in Christ.

THREE months after his death, his wife attended one of our women's conferences. SHE told of God's sufficiency in her life and of the assurance she had that God loved her, would provide for her and never leave her comfortless!

What a testimony to all of us! Those "blinding" blows that may touch us will, in the hands of our loving Father, nurture and "feed" us and bring new life to those around us.

May God help us to always be fed and not just blinded by our trials and afflictions."
Barbara Sorenson

~ WHERE Is Our Faith ? ! ~

'He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples' (LUKE 8: 24-25a).

Where is our faith when the things we want most in life seem always to elude us? Where is our faith when a loved one is snatched away, when sorrow comes and tears fill our eyes?

Where is our faith when our world seems to be tumbling in? Where is our faith when others look to us for strength, and we are weak? Where is our faith when we cannot see beyond our trials to know the whys and wherefores?

Where is our faith when doubts come, and we feel that God has forsaken us? Where is our faith when our hearts break with the realization that our dreams are not coming true? Where is our faith when we have prayed and our answers seem so long in coming?

Is it in the One who holds the future in His hands, the One who can calm the mighty winds? Do we trust Him when we cannot see or do we walk blindly as others do? Help us, Lord, when our faith is weak. Take our hands and lead us gently.

When trying days come our way, let us cling to the only thing in life that is steadfast and sure. He will dry the tears from our eyes, set our hearts aglow and fill us with His joy.

JUDY FREELAND

** 'STRENGTH through TRIALS' ! ! **

"But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold (Job 23:10)".

"I had just listened to my friend Linda's sad story. A young man seemed to like her. They worked in the same office, and he often stopped by to visit, watched for her arrival and spent as much time as he could over lunch break and after hours talking with her.

Then suddenly it all stopped. She could not think of anything she had said to offend him. He did not act as though he disliked her; he just had excuses for leaving early and no longer sought out her company.

Most of us at some time have been on the receiving end of that kind of pain and have felt as Linda. Her pride prevented her from asking him what happened or from causing a scene. She probably wished she could throw herself at him, burst into tears and accusations and beg him to like her again. INSTEAD, she waits in silence.

I doubt that this young man will come back to Linda. She has no claims on him. In a few weeks, she will recover from the hurt and shame and will go on with her life. BUT how sad if she does not grow from this bitter experience.

The other day I saw a poster of a winter scene. A bare, black tree stood alone in a canyon with icy white mountains behind it. The caption: "Do not pray for an easy life. Pray to be a strong person."

These wintry blasts can break us, or they can help to make us strong. Pray that God will make you a stronger person".

DEBBIE COWLES

** ENDURING promises .. !! **

God permits personal trials so that we can see Him working in our life !! k.

"God's Word tells us that His mercies and compassions are "new every morning" (Lamentations Chapter 3:22-23) Just as each new day presents us with a different challenge, the Lord reveals the beauty of His character, the fulfillment of His promises, and the tender provision of His grace.

We don't know what today may bring. BUT we do know this: God will amaze us with His unfailing, ever-new compassions. The depths of the valleys just make His mountainpeaks that much more breathtaking". DCE

'WHERE GOD GUIDES, GOD PROVIDES'.