Acknowledge God's Hand at Work in our Sorrows

-Alistair Begg devotion photo

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Below is a section of the devotion for today from Truth for Life. 

It is titled, A Theology of Grief, by Alistair Begg.

*Please read the whole devotion to understand what is happening.*

 ..."Naomi’s honest expression of emotion is matched by her theology. 

She doesn’t attribute all that has happened to chance, but she acknowledges God’s hand at work. 

She declares that God is right in the midst of her pain; she calls Him Shaddai, “Almighty,” the providing, protecting God. 

What does Shaddai mean? 

It’s the characteristic of God that means He’s at His best when we are at our worst.

Naomi had gone through famine, loss, bereavement, doubts, and goodbyes—but because she knew God as Shaddai, she could leave the explanation and the responsibility for such bitter trials with Him."...

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"Shaddai" -I knew this word ment, God Almighty, but the real significance for me came out in this very devotion:

"It’s the characteristic of God that means He’s at His best when we are at our worst."

This really was a powerful thing for me to learn. I personally now know that the LORD God Almighty is at His best for us in our greatest losses! I can leave the explanation and the responsibility for our bitter trials with our great and loving Shaddai!

PRAISE the LORD!!!

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God's Amazing Creation in Birds

--Thank you, Josh Atkinson, Marietta, Ohio

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Matthew 6:25-33

..."I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. 

Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 

Are you not worth much more than they?

And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?

And why are you worried about clothing? 

Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? 

You of little faith!

Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 

For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."...

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Very Thoughtful Wise Words

-Iowa meme

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"Every heart has it's secret sorrows, 

which the world knows not,

and oftentimes we call a man cold,

when he is only sad."

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 

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The LORD carries those who trust in Him

 -Air Force Museum, Dayton Ohio -over flight

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Oh, every year has its winter,

   And every year has its rain---

But a day is always coming

   When the birds go north again.

When new leaves sprout in the forest,

   And grass springs green on the plain,

And tulips boast their blossoms---

   And the birds go north again.

Oh, every heart has its sorrow,

   And every heart has its pain---

But a day is always coming

   When the birds go north again.

It's the sweetest thing to remember,

   If your courage starts to wane,

When the cold, dark days are over---

   That the birds go north again.

-unknown

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Isaiah 30:18

..."Therefore the Lord longs 

to be gracious to you,

And therefore He waits on high 

to have compassion on you.

For the Lord is a God of justice;

How blessed are all those 

who long for Him."...

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"Therefore we do not lose heart..."

-card

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2 Corinthians 4:16-18

..."Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."...

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Christian, you are not alone!

"When God places a burden upon you, 

He places His arms underneath you." 

-unknown

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His eye is on the Sparrow and even you

-meme

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Matthew 10:29-31

..."Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? 

And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.

But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.

Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."...

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