“Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world“– Acts 15:18

Perhaps you have known, even recently, the unsettling and sorrowful experience of receiving a phone call, or a doctor’s report, or an employer’s notice that delivered unexpected and tragic news — “You have cancer.” “We’re letting you go.” “Your loved one has been in an accident.” No matter what form these moments take in our particular situation, they always remind us of our personal frailty and inability to control the details of our lives.

The great consolation from God’s Word, however, is that God never has such moments. He is never surprised by calamity that befalls us, He is never taken back by sudden tragedy, His plans are never disrupted by the unexpected. In short, He is never at a loss for a solution to any problem…or for the power to implement it… or for the wisdom to make sure it is the right solution.

God knows all His works (and subsequently, obviously, the events those works will be connected with) from the beginning of the world. It is for this reason that God can, and does, give us such rock-solid assurances in the midst of earth-shattering catastrophes. “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5); “my grace is sufficient for thee” (2 Corinthians 12:9); “all things work together for good to them that love God” (Romans 8:28); “trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:3).

Beloved, in your moments of overwhelming pain, or grief, or disappointment, flee to the God Who is never disappointed or surprised, but is touched by the feelings of your infirmities. Rush to Him, rest in Him, believe on Him.–Baptist Bible Hour

What matters supremely is not, in the last analysis, the fact that I know God, but the larger fact which underlies it–the fact that he knows me. I am graven on the palms of his hands. I am never out of his mind.

All my knowledge of him depends on his sustained initiative in knowing me. I know him because he first knew me, and continues to know me. He knows me as a friend, one who loves me; and there is not a moment when his eye is off me, or his attention distracted from me, and no moment, therefore, when his care falters.

This is momentous knowledge. There is unspeakable comfort–the sort of comfort that energizes, be it said, not enervates–in knowing that God is constantly taking knowledge of me in love and watching over me for my good. There is tremendous relief in knowing that his love to me is utterly realistic, based at every point on prior knowledge of the worst about me, so that no discovery now can disillusion him about me, in the way I am so often disillusioned about myself, and quench his determination to bless me.–J. I. Packer

Maybe someone ought to write a song called, “Jesus knows me this I love”—think about it!

We speak a lot about the need to “speak-up” and there is occasion for it, but maybe we ought to speak-up more about the need to “shut-up”. Silence can be cowardly or golden. “A fool uttereth all his mind..”(Prov. 29:11) and some folks are in the habit of doing just that.One of our young ladies (Cassie Mannon) recently posted the poem below on this subject. I don’t know the author, but I’m sure glad he spoke- up about the need to shut- up. As Solomon said,“In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.“-Prov. 10:19.

Silence Is Never Misquoted. He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Proverbs 17:27 Some things along life’s journey noted-Silence is never misquoted. Sealed lips are never accused By hasty words that hurt and abuse. Let it be said and let it show, That angry words, you will not bestow. Keep your mouth closed, let them think what they will. Don’t be provoked, leave your tongue ever still. The tongue is hot and fiery red, An unruly member, trouble to spread. In a pool of water, behind ivory bars, It is a world of iniquity-with ugly scars. When your temper is hot and your wagon loaded, Just try to remember, silence is never misquoted.

“Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understating .” Proverbs 17:28.

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain“– Philippians 1:21

We read about heaven, we hear sermons about heaven, we sing about heaven; but still we are apprehensive about death. God has built into us a desire to live, and it should be our goal to be able to say with the Apostle, “to live is Christ.” Even with the remarkable experiences Paul had with the Lord he was still pressing toward the mark and desired to know Christ more intimately. May we each day in our fellowship with our Savior become more like Him in our walk and more dedicated in His service.

But as Paul continued to labor zealously in the kingdom of God, he thought and wrote a lot about heaven. He wrote that our present sufferings are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to come. He informs us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord and that we shall forever be with Him. No wonder, then, he would write, “to die is gain.”

It meant to gain freedom from the weaknesses of the flesh so that he would never again have to say, “O wretched man that I am!” He would gain the joy of living with Christ forever; he would gain the benefits of the inheritance which is reserved for all the saints.

He felt, though, a conflict. He had a desire to depart and to be with Christ but also saw it was needful to remain and minister to the churches. Surely, as God’s children, we should long to be with the Lord, but see there is work to be done here and want to labor faithfully until we are called home.( Baptist Bible Hour)

This might be a good time to get the hymn book out and sing the old song, “We’ll work til Jesus comes”.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Cor. 12:9

Charles Spurgeon wrote: