The President in Russia. President Obama met with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin Tuesday, saying they "formed the basis of a good relation" and the President told students at the New Economic School, "There is extraordinary potential for increased cooperation between Americans and Russians" and that "America wants a strong, peaceful, and prosperous Russia." President Obama also met with former President Mikhail Gorbachev, continued meetings with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, and met with Russian opposition leaders.
You called to me in your pain;
I got you out of a bad place.
I answered you from where the thunder hides,
I proved you at Meribah Fountain.
"Listen, dear ones�get this straight;
O Israel, don't take this lightly.
Don't take up with strange gods,
don't worship the latest in gods. (The Message)
"As no man sincerely calls upon him but he who trusts in him for help; this crying ought the more effectually to have convinced them that it was their duty to ascribe to him alone the deliverance which was offered them."
"This...is not less applicable to us than to the Israelites; for God not only heard our groanings when we were afflicted under the tyranny of Satan, but before we were born appointed his only begotten Son to be the price of our redemption; and afterwards, when we were his enemies, he called us to be partakers of his grace, illuminating our minds by his gospel and his Holy Spirit; while we, notwithstanding, continue to indulge in murmuring, yes, even proudly rebel against him."
(Commentary from Heart Aflame: Daily Readings from Calving on the Psalms)
"The Christian's Toil"
1 Timothy 4:10
For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. (ESV)
"The language of toiling and striving is used elsewhere in the New Testament to speak of manual labor (Luke 5:1-5), so Paul is making no bones about the fact that mortifying the flesh and growing in the knowledge of God is exhausting."
Were it not for the Spirit's help and guidance, we would soon give up this fight for Godliness, especially when, with our own distorted vision, we see very little progress. "But we hope in the living God who empowers our feeble efforts to conform us to Jesus."
"Experiencing God's Grace"
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (ESV)
"Why do we not experience more of the endless supply of God's grace? Why do we so often seem to live in spiritual poverty instead of experiencing life to the full as Jesus promised?"
One reason, the author opines, is that we have an "Ebenezer Scrooge" perception of God. We seem to think he makes harsh demands on his people and pays them poorly.
Here are some words from a John Newton hymn:
Thou art coming to a King,
large petitions with thee bring;
for His grace and pow'r are such
none can ever ask too much.
How many of us truly believe those words? Do you believe that we can never ask too much of God? "Rather, we tend in the direction of believing God is reluctant to answer prayer and His grace and power aren't sufficient to fulfill our needs, let alone our requests." My note: I, personally, don't think for a minute that God's grace and power aren't sufficient; it's more that I tend to think he doesn't want to answer my prayers because I'm not worthy for one reason or another.
Satan's first temptation of man was to question God's goodness and generosity. He used the same strategy on Job, and he hasn't changed his strategy today. Satan really isn't very original. We must resist the idea that God is a reluctant giver. He wants us to have life and have it abundantly!
I also pray for the tenacity to not give up the fight, even when, especially when, it seems as though I am standing still, or worse, moving backwards. I must keep on "toiling and striving" for Godliness.
Father, I lift up a special prayer tonight for my brother Randy Knight, who just had back surgery today. May his recovery be speedy. Thank you for a successful surgery.
I also pray for myself, that you would speed the recovery of my back and relieve the pain I am experiencing. I pray that whatever is wrong can be fixed simply.
Grace and peace, friends!