Life is a journey with many twist and turns–and rough places over which we must travel. The good news is that God is always there to guide and help us.H. E. Manning expressed this beautifully in these words:

He has kept and folded us from ten thousand ills when we did not know it:
in the midst of our security we should have perished every hour, but that
He sheltered us “from the terror by night and from the arrow that flieth by
day”–from the powers of evil that walk in darkness, from snares of our own
evil will. He has kept us even against ourselves, and saved us even from
our own undoing. Let us read the traces of His hand in all our ways, in all
the events, the chances, the changes of this troubled state. It is He that
folds and feeds us, that makes us to go in and out,–to be faint, or to
find pasture,–to lie down by the still waters, or to walk by the way that
is parched and desert.

As I was searching for illustrations concerning Christmas, I came across the following story:   A striking Christmas card was once published with the title “If Christ Had Not Come”. It was founded upon our Savior’s words “If I had not come.” The card represented a pastor’s falling into a short sleep in his study on Christmas morning and dreaming of a world into which Jesus had never come.
   In his dream he found himself looking through his home, but there were no little stockings in the chimney corner, no Christmas bells or wreaths of holly, and no Christ to comfort, gladden and save. He walked out to the street, but there was no church with its spire pointing to Heaven. He came back and sat down in his library, but every book about the Savior had disappeared.
   The doorbell rang and a messenger asked the preacher to visit his poor, dying mother. He hastened with the weeping child, and as he reached the home he sat down and said, “I have something here that will comfort you.”  He opened his Bible to look for a familiar promise, but it ended with Malachi. There was no Gospel and no promise of hope and salvation, and he could only bow his head and weep with her in bitter despair.
   Two days later he stood beside her coffin and conducted the funeral service. There was no message of consolation, no hope of heaven.

Thank God “He came”! And His coming has brought help and hope for all those who trust Him! Have you received Him?

Here is good reason to praise the Lord.When we stop praising Him we are out of accord with heaven and life turns sour. But when we praise Him there are blessings in abundance.

The basis of our happiness is found in the fact that we fear the Lord. That’s just the opposite of what most people think. They suppose that happiness is found by ignoring God—throwing off all restraints and doing as they please. They could not be more wrong–“Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD.”

The evidence of this fear of the Lord is found in the next phrase–“that delighteth greatly in his commandments.” Spurgeon wrote, “Holiness is his happiness, devotion is his delight, truth is his treasure.” It should be the same for all of us!

Read the rest of this Psalm and consider the precious promises given to those who fear God and delight in His commandments. They are amazing! But, that shouldn’t surprise us–our God is AMAZING! We should stand in awe of His greatness and praise Him continually for His goodness. Resolve right now that you will do so. It really will make a difference!

That’s not so easy is it? Sometimes it’s really difficult to not express our true feelings. The following article from “Bits & Pieces” (4/2/92) makes a good point:

Have you ever been in a position where someone asks you for a reference to get a job and you find yourself in an awkward position? You don’t want to lie, but you really can’t tell the truth because it will hurt. Robert Thornton, professor of economics at Lehigh University, once composed the ideal letter to fit the situation: I am pleased to say that this candidate is a former colleague of mine. In my opinion you will be fortunate to get this person to work for you. I recommend him with no qualifications whatsoever. No person would be better for the job. I urge you to waste no time in making this candidate an offer of employment. All in all, and without reservation, I cannot say enough good things about him, nor can I recommend him too highly.

Well, that’s one way to deal with it. I’m not going to suggest that you use that approach, but I do want to remind you that we ought to guard our tongue. When we speak evil of another God takes it as a personal offence, because He tells us not to do so. That old adage–“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” can be helpful advice at times. Don’t make the mistake of saying, “I’m thinking it. I might as well say it.”Remember, “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.”(Proverbs 29:11)