“Sufficient Unto the Day Is the Evil Thereof.”

 Why borrow tomorrow’s trouble today?

That I think is the simplest explanation of Jesus saying to His disciples, “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof”. Indeed why borrow tomorrow’s worries, today’s are quite enough to cope with!

Grace sufficient is ONLY given for today. 

Not tomorrow - which may or may not happen, or more likely, will not be at all as we imagine. Yet Jesus wasn’t saying don’t prepare and be aware.

The wise man who built his house on the rock was aware and prepared well. So when Jesus said take no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for itself.. He was simply saying:

TRUST Me, don’t worry about tomorrow’s burden, be aware it may happen. 

Yes, be prepared, but do NOT worry, TODAY is the focus.

I thought of a well-known Christian Corrie ten Boom, who suffered much in WW2.

Many at the time supported Jews against the Nazi Race Apartheid - Corrie was Dutch, she and her family hid those of the Jewish race. In Nazi eyes, Jews were an inferior race of people. They were to be shunned, were blamed for disease (link here - typhus), made to wear “identifying armbands” (link, star of David) and said to be “the scapegoat for economic and social problems” (see here). I can’t help wondering what Corrie would think of today? 

Perhaps this above might be her thoughts for today? “Worry does not empty tomorrow of sorrow, it empties today of strength.”

Note: Apartheid - the definition or etymology is not in relation to race, although it was originally used that way.

Simply it means in Dutch and Afrikaans, “separateness” and “held apart” see link. Are there a lesser class of people proposed thus in your country perhaps today?

Here in Aust. in current events, it seems another form of apartheid, division, separation is appearing. No longer is there really democratic governance, for how many current rules are discussed or voted upon in parliament? None here that I’m aware, regarding ever-changing restrictions and instructions, which constantly polarise and alarm. No democratic decisions on this. It is rule by bureaucrats, seemingly directing elected leaders. Yes, I know the powers enacted, however I’ve read that the Aust. constitution says such extra-ordinary powers are to be for weeks in duration, not years.

A leader is only as wise as advice given. Perhaps that’s part of the problem. Eg our current NSW medical Advisor, K. Chant, a double medical degree, completed in 1987, + two Master degrees, been in bureaucratic role in NSW health, 1991 - thirty years, acc to Wikipedia. Only actual experience in medical practice seems to be in time of training over forty years ago. Been in research, health dept., since then, now telling Drs what or what not to do. 

However decisions are not all on one person, but many. So as a simple servant of the living God, I don’t really know, God ALONE truly knows, and is able by faith to SOLVE IT. 

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

So what do we do today as believers? (Link hymn here)

Prayer is the key, prayer WILL prevail.

Praying without ceasing, for all men everywhere to repent, and also for wise and Godly governance in all matters in our lands. 

It’s curious that the rich countries are perhaps missing the solution to this current dilemma that some poorer countries are finding. Time alone will tell on this, and so will history speak, as with Corrie and her friends!

I believe, “God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the mighty, the foolish things of the world to confound the wise,...” 1 Cor. 1:27, etc verses here.

“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools”. Rom.1:22 (Verses here)

God chose the foolish, weak, base things of the world…

That NO flesh should glory in His presence.

 In writing this post I pray it encourages us to NOT be FEARFUL. 

“For God hath NOT given us the spirit of fear; 

but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”. 2 Tim. 1:7

May we all be aware, and PRAY. 

There is obviously an amazing spiritual battle going on today, we truly are in end times, the Lord’s coming is drawing ever so near with each passing moment. “Maranatha, Lo, He cometh”. 1 Cor. 16:22

Of course, much in this battle is against God’s rules, full of the work of the father of lies, Satan, the Deceiver of mankind, the ruler of this world, Jesus said. 

We are to be salt and light as believers, Christ-followers. 

“Be ye kind one to another, ”… Eph.4:32

We are called to do as Jesus said, to love thy neighbour as thyself.

 If we own a business, by proposed laws, here in NSW Aust., they will soon require you to bar certain people. Business owners are fighting to earn a living in troubled times, yet they’re forced to be the state’s policemen on this matter, and if they fail to obey? 

Massive fines and loss of business, so it’s a lose-lose situation! 😥 Cruel+ And it will be detected, as tracking is everywhere. What caring business owner wants to turn away their customers? How I pray for them.😔😥❤️🙏

Let us step into each day with the eye of Faith, trusting totally, completely utterly in the El Shaddai, God Almighty.

Love the Lord thy God with ALL thy heart ❤️.. 

Love thy neighbour as thyself.

Loving my neighbour as myself, means I love unconditionally. 

No blocks, bars to that love. 

We do not blame another as being the cause of anything, as Hitler did. 

This is the Pandemic of Fear. Yet Jesus said WHO are we to fear? 

Fear the LORD, Who “is able to destroy both soul and body”. Matt 10:28

REMEMBER, nothing happens to children of God without His permission (Job 1 link here).

 However bad things may happen as Corrie ten Boom found out in WW2, and we may also discover. (See her story here, it’s very uplifting)

God’s Grace is sufficient for the Day,

God’s Strength is given for the Way.

I pray this has encouraged your heart as it has mine!

This post came unexpectedly as result of communion with my Father over recent events. It greatly encouraged me to think of these thoughts - to NOT to borrow tomorrow’s trouble, for sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.. and also to be prepared, to cover and wholly bathe those possibilities in prayer, but not stress.

Praying without ceasing. 1 Thess 5:17

NOTE - if leaving a comment (please do, as I deeply appreciate them), please remember this blog is run by Google. I’ve carefully avoided all use of the C. or V. word, or any terms which incur wrath of media, lest search engines hide this post. Believe me, they do. It’s humbling and amazing how widely it is read (Initial use is okay).

Thanks to all who pop across to read this blog and Thank YOU, too if you’re able to leave some love and encouragement.

Prayer hugs,🙏🤗

Shaz in Oz. X

1. if this has challenged you, and you are not sure if you are a Christian, a Christ follower, please read this post here - Who or What is a Christian?

2. If you have any questions please contact me privately, or email on CONTACT ME box on sidebar here. You’re really appreciated.

PS If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ...  link HERE.  Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on. 😊

If you'd like these posts in your inbox, you can add your email to email link option on side bar. If you're on a mobile device on which there is no sidebar, then scroll down and select "View Web Version" at very bottom of post. This will bring up sidebar and "follow by email" link, which is on the top of sidebar. Thank YOU

Measure of Grace with Faith

A portion of scripture from Daily Light really spoke to me.. truly we are in everything enriched… by Him! 

God’s grace is SO VERY NEEDFUL, especially TODAY.🙏😢🙏❤️

In everything ye are enriched by him. 1 Cor. 1:5

When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Rom. 5:6

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Rom. 8:32

In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power. Col. 2:9, 10

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:4, 5

 Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Eph. 4:7  

 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John 15:7  

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. Col. 3:16  

 I think most of us forget or do not live realising the reality of this verse: "Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Eph. 4:7

"Every one .. given grace according to the measure.."  

Grace is measured out, not in ounces or pounds, grams or kilos, but according to our faith!

Grace and faith are interlocked, and are measured. This is mentioned in more than one place.. 

Romans 12:3, 5, 6a 

"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.  

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.  

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,..."   

So faith grace are measured out, sufficient for us..  It is there to be appropriated, or taken and used as Paul did in 2 Cor 12.

Here Paul exclaimed with real conviction as one who had tested this: 

 "My grace is sufficient for thee, My strength is made perfect in weakness.."  

"When I am weak then I am strong.."   

GOD's grace is sufficient  ALL SUFFICIENT, for our need as we appropriate it, take it, use it … believing in faith, as we did with the gift of salvation.  Our faith maybe weak.. but as  Paul said THEN we are strong.  

Hymn here if not showing. 

REJOICE, dear ones. 😃 How blessed!  

Rich in measure.   May we have cause to remember this richness in Christ Jesus our Saviour and LORD. 

No matter what is taken from us in this life, the riches we have through faith in our LORD Jesus Christ are ours for all eternity… 

Lord knows, He cares, He sees our every cry heartache and pain amd feels with us in it.. 

No-one cares for me like Jesus!

Hardship of this life is but a moment! We are not exactly stoned for our faith, however it does hurt the body when one parts hurt .. 🙏😢🙏

By God’s grace, we look to the ETERNAL, unseen, believing with eyes of FAITH! 

Perhaps separated, not allowed to attend God’s house together in the physical at the moment - we are always as ONE in Christ in the spiritual realm! 

Dear ones, we ARE so incredibly blessed. It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.

May God help us to walk in true His light today, no matter how the storm clouds may gather around us.

He will carry us through. How this cheers my heart! 😍❤️🙏

And another cheering thought… perhaps He may come today?! 

 For as Jesus Himself said, only the Father knows the hour of His coming, not even His Son on earth knew it! “Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.” (Matt. 24:32-46)

Beautiful, very beautiful word of God, let us fix our heart upon it.

 TODAY appropriating our loving Father’s grace in full measure by faith.   

Thanks to all who pop across to read this blog and Thank YOU, too if you’re able to leave some love and encouragement.

Prayer hugs,🙏🤗

Shaz in Oz. X

PS If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ...  link HERE.  Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on. 😊

If you'd like these posts in your inbox, you can add your email to email link option on side bar. If you're on a mobile device on which there is no sidebar, then scroll down and select "View Web Version" at very bottom of post. This will bring up sidebar and "follow by email" link, which is on the top of sidebar. Thank YOU! 

This Too Shall Pass

Dear ones, does it feel all dark, so overwhelming at times? 

When you go to pray, does it feel empty, you know not  where to start?

We live in such a sad, broken world. 

Saints before us have trod this path, as Jesus Himself said: "These things have I spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have PEACE. 

In the world ye shall have tribulation, but BUT be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Below is a prayer by a German in World War 2, fighting for the right, in prison for Christ, weak, feeble.. in the Bonhoeffer movie this was a prayer he prayed with a young man weeping inconsolably in the cell next door. Bonhoeffer cried out to him, the guard remonstrated at first, then allowed him to speak. Dietrich put his outstretched arms raised on the wall, he told the young man to do likewise,  and prayed this prayer he'd written with him. 

"In me there is darkness,
But with You there is light;
I am lonely, but You do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart, but with You there is help;
I am restless, but with You there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with You there is patience;
I do not understand Your ways,
But You know the way for me.”

“Lord Jesus Christ,
You were poor
And in distress, a captive and forsaken as I am.
You know all man’s troubles;
You abide with me
When all men fail me;
You remember and seek me;
It is Your will that I should know You
And turn to You.
Lord, I hear Your call and follow;
Help me.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison.

The youth was quiet after praying that prayer, line by line repeating Pastor Bonhoeffer’s words, at peace at his death. Impressed, the guard asked that a copy might be given to help the other prisoners. 

Bonhoeffer died one month before war's end, like other good Germans who tried to bring down Hitler. (For brief moving biography, see this link here).

This too shall pass, or more truly as the bible says, it "..is but for a moment”. 

The persecution in first century believers by Caligula, Nero, then onto Tyndale, Wycliffe for bible translation: the dark depths of Dark ages, with many plagues, the fire of London, which purged the mice causing the plague! All is God at work.

God alone brings good from bad.

 What seemingly is trial upon trial, all of it has a higher Heavenly purpose!

We serve a suffering Saviour, as He suffered, so do we. The servant is not greater than his Master.

Moving on into 20th century, the war to end all wars, World War 1. Followed swiftly by the Spanish flu which killed 50+ million worldwide. Many more than current Covid-19 deaths of 4 million worldwide (world average death rate of approx 1 to 2% of those infected from Covid-19). Aust. as of today has had 965 deaths (820 in Victoria) from Covid-19. In a much smaller 1918 Aust population - 55,000 died with 1918/19 influenza, and 40% of population fell ill with it. History truly gives us a clearer perspective than the daily news.

Then in World War 2 came such dreadful minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years of overwhelming darkness.

 Yes! 

Now though for some is deep darkness, praying much for the grief of poor nations like Afghanistan, that is real sorrow of heart.. but such grief, despair surely drives the spiritually hungry to seek the One Who alone is truth. 

We, who believe in the Living God, it should cause us to pray more earnestly for them, all of them, their salvation and for ourselves. 

Look not in, but wholeheartedly out and up.. that is a Godward look. 

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Gal 6:3

"This too shall pass" can be said of it all, till Christ comes. Hallelujah! What a Saviour!

Paul knew well that fact,  as he penned these words, it "..is but for a moment"...

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 

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.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

In Pauline fashion we are pointed to Christ, our Saviour, and to the Heavenlies where, by salvation we are now seated (link to Eph 2:4-6) and thus to ETERNITY.

Yes, let us keep our eyes 👀 on ETERNAL things. 

"Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith.." Heb 12:2

This flesh and the place we physically inhabit, mercifully it is a temporary thing, "it is but for a moment", it will pass .. in the twinkling of an eye! (see 1 Cor 15:52)

So when you enter the closet of your heart to pray ... and your heart fails you for fear! 

Go to the living Word, praying as Jesus' disciples did, "Lord, teach us to pray". Therein read, feed, heed and pray the scriptures you love, or those which challenge you! I have many prayers in notes in my online bible, all are based on a verse or scripture passage, which daily I pray as able. 

God's Word is our very foundation, it must be the woven into the very fabric of our Christian walk. It is the basis for all our communication in prayer with our Heavenly Father.

Start simply as a stumbling little child, as Dietrich did.. stating the obvious THEN looking to what we have in Christ.. Our Lord, our Anchor, our Stronghold in time of trouble. God loves it when we cling to Him.

If not showing. Hymn link here.

Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A weary land, a weary land,
Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A shelter in the time of storm.

The Lord's our Rock, in him we hide,
A shelter in the time of storm;
Secure whatever ill betide,
A shelter in the time of storm

A shade by day, defense by night,
A shelter in the time of storm;
No fears alarm, no foes affright,
A shelter in the time of storm.

O Rock Divine, O Refuge dear,
A shelter in the time of storm;
Be thou our helper ever near,
A shelter in the time of storm.

Hymn by Vernon J. Charlesworth

So as we go to pray, in the constant, frequent moments of our day, let us remember to pray, simply as a child, resting in, clinging to our Rock, our Hope of salvation. 

Without Christ, the world is a scary place (as that young weeping prisoner found). 

Christ is HOPE fulfilled. 

Praying for you today, in whatever you maybe facing in your life, or in the lives of those you love, remembering with you that our wonderful Father God is only ever a prayer away! Surely He giveth more grace!

Grace for the day, and strength for the way!

Thanks to all who pop across to read this blog and Thank YOU, too if you’re able to leave some love and encouragement.

Prayer hugs,🙏🤗

Shaz in Oz. X

PS. Bonhoeffer movie link Here.

Below is a prayer from the Common Book of Prayer. Those who penned these prayers gave their blood for their faith: as applicable now as then. Note how scripture is woven in, as it was in Bonhoeffer’s prayer.

For those who've subscribed and are wondering why you've two different subscription in your inbox? 

It’s because Feedburner hasn’t made up it’s mind what it’s doing it seems. I don’t want to cancel it and just keep follow.it, as I really prefer Feedburner’s simpler format, with no adds.

Nor do I want to cancel follow.it as took ages to set up. Not sure what Feedburner will do, so just will wait and see?!... apologies. 

*****

PS If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ...  link HERE.  Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on. 😊

If you'd like these posts in your inbox, you can add your email to email link option on side bar. If you're on a mobile device on which there is no sidebar, then scroll down and select "View Web Version" at very bottom of post. This will bring up sidebar and "follow by email" link, which is on the top of sidebar. Thank YOU! 

.. yet a little while - Watch unto Prayer

A day seems more fleeting the longer we live,.

We need to daily live in the light of:

 “Perhaps today,” yes, dear ones, perhaps today!

Glory! the Lord will return for His own. 

Oh, yes, to catch us up together in the air to be with HIM!

THEN we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever o be with the Lord. 1 Thess 4:17

This excerpt below from Daily Light meditates on this. 

Brethren, the time is short. I Cor. 7:29

Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. Job 14:1, 2

The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. I John 2:17

As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Death is swallowed up in victory. I Cor. 15:22, 54

Whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's, Rom. 14:8

To live is Christ, and to die is gain. Phil. 1:21

Cast not away . . . your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Heb. 10:35-37

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Rom. 13:12

The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. I Pet. 4:7

How precious is the theme carried through these verses, starting with "the time is short "...

To "The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer."

Prayer something I'm doing more these days, which is why I’m not blogging much.

*** We're the watchmen of the night, dear ones!

The very MOST important thing, (apart from sharing the gospel) which we can do is “watch unto prayer”!

Oh, may our loving Heavenly Father help us to be truly serving, watching unto prayer.
As I started to read, Heb 10:37 flashed into my mind..  marvellous, there it was!
Who else but God?
I've  Hebrews on CD, listened to it hundreds of times. Played once or twice a night in sleepless patches.

Verse 37 is my current joy:

".. a little while,

 and he that shall come 

will come, 

and will not tarry."

Amen! Glory! hallelujah! 

Even so come, Lord Jesus!

Link here https://youtu.be/lkvSJHC3v5M, if not showing 

Isn't that thrilling.. a little while!

Yet a day with the lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as a day. It's been two thousand years, so it must be soon! Soon, Lord Jesus.

Thanks to all who pop across to read this blog and Thank YOU, too if you’re able to leave some love and encouragement.

Prayer hugs,🙏🤗

Shaz in Oz. X

PS If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ...  link HERE.  Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on. 😊

If you'd like these posts in your inbox, you can add your email to email link option on side bar. If you're on a mobile device on which there is no sidebar, then scroll down and select "View Web Version" at very bottom of post. This will bring up sidebar and "follow by email" link, which is on the top of sidebar. Thank YOU! 

Learning in Suffering - Annie Johnson Flint

Annie Johnson Flint - a great hymn writer. 

Truly the crucible of suffering brings forth pure gold!

Video link here is not showing. 

Most of this post is a direct quote with some summarising taken from this post HERE. See link for more details. 

Annie Johnson was born in Vineland, New Jersey USA on Christmas Eve 1866. Nearly three years later, Annie’s mother died at the age of 23, soon after giving birth to Annie’s sister. Her Father was not well and for two years the bereaved family of three lived with a widow friend. She had children of her own and it became evident that Annie and her sister were not really welcome in the home, they were simply an added burden.

By a remarkable providence, a childless Christian couple in the town, Mr and Mrs Flint, adopted them as their own. The father was willing to do this on two counts, firstly his serious illness, which resulted in his own death not long afterwards and secondly the fact that they were Christians!

The couple offered a loving and warm-hearted Christian home to the two girls and after the adoption, their surname was added to Annie’s. Through their childhood years the girls were taught the Christian gospel and the teaching of the Bible framed every aspect of life.

At the age of eight, two great changes took place in the young life of Annie. The Flints moved from their rural home in the countryside, into the small town nearby. Despite this, Annie always retained her love for the natural world around her and it coloured the rest of her life. In God’s providence, the move coincided with a number of evangelistic meetings taking place in the town. She was taken along by her adopted parents, and there, at the age of eight, she was brought to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In later life she testified of the reality of that experience and although she was so young, she was convinced that God had truly saved her that day.

Before she became a teenager, Annie began to develop a keen interest in reading and writing – particularly poetry. This was fuelled by Mr Flint’s extensive library. She and her friend from school formed a two-member literary society! Every Saturday afternoon they met together to read material by their favourite poets; and then attempted to write poems themselves.

Her powers of observation were particularly keen. One contemporary speaks of her comment much later in life that Annie had noticed that the robin outside her window had changed its song. “We are going to have rain today. My robin has just changed his note. He never sings in that tone unless the rain is coming”. Sure enough, the rain came!

The Lord was working in her heart, sanctifying her through her life’s experiences. She did have troubles with a flaring temper at times but over the years learned the lessons of grace in overcoming this sinful tendency. She speaks of her impatience and her tendency to persist at something without waiting patiently for the outcome in the appointed time. The Lord would need to teach her much in this area of her character. Deeper trials were to come which would test both persistence and patience to the extreme.

An indication of those trials manifested itself quite soon into her working life. She began her first position as a school teacher in her home town, teaching at the school where she had once been a pupil. There, symptoms of arthritis began to appear. These grew steadily worse, causing her to have to give up her post, as she was almost unable to walk.

Then tragedy struck again when both of her adopted parents died within a few months of each other. Annie was left overwhelmed with sadness and loss. Her own health continued to deteriorate rapidly and it was not long before the Doctors sadly had to tell her that she would soon become a helpless invalid, crippled by the advancing arthritis running through her body. In her sadness, her illness and her desperate financial predicament, Annie was cast upon God.

A contemporary writer says, “Annie was in a condition where she was compelled to be dependent upon the care of others… In after-years she always stated that her poems were born of the need of others and not from her own need; but one knows full well that she never could have written as she did for the comfort and help of thousands of others if she had not had the background of facing those very crises in her own life”.

Those poems, notes and letters were wonderfully the means of her sustaining by the Lord. The very best of her God-given gifts of writing, poetry and prose were drawn out of her in her deep trial. She could not properly hold or use a pen, but her dogged determination forced her to somehow push her pen into her swollen and bent fingers and despite her wrists being in great pain she wrote of her deepest spiritual experiences. At first it was for her own solace but she began to make hand lettered cards, gift books, and cards with verses beautifully written on them.

Many of these poems, etc. were published during her own lifetime. (Most of this post is a direct quote taken from this post HERE, see link for more details. I have read an excellent biography on Annie, several decades ago, I think it’s the one below.)

Annie became thoroughly convinced that God intended to glorify Himself through her – in her weak, earthen vessel. Like the Apostle Paul there came to her, with real assurance, the promise which said, “My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” She reached the place where she could also say with Paul, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me”. (2 Cor 12:9)

No one can tell what suffering she endured as the disease became worse with the passing of the years, but through it all her faith in the goodness and mercy of God never wavered. There were many times, no doubt, when her soul would be burdened with the mystery of it all and the “why?” of what she was called to endure. For more than forty years there was scarcely a day when she did not suffer pain and she became increasingly helpless. Her joints had become rigid, although she was still just able to turn her head. In great pain she could write a few lines on paper. 

On September 8th 1932, her last words before she died were to her doctor in front of a visiting couple who knew her well. He asked if there was anything she wished to say before he gave her a painkilling injection. “I have nothing to say, it’s all right” she said. 

In a few minutes, she had gone to be with the Saviour, Whom she loved and served so well. In a life that seemed to have so much “all wrong”, she was given remarkable grace and strength to proclaim, in fact it was, “all right”.

Among her collection of poems that remain, “He giveth more grace” stands out as a wonderful statement of her Biblical theology of pain, trial and suffering and of the boundless store of grace that is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

When Paul urges Timothy, his son in the faith, to “be strong” (2 Timothy 2v1), it is in this grace alone that he will be able to endure the hardships that he will face. It is no different for us as Christians today, Annie’s lovely hymn has a timeless message! Not often is the third stanza used though, sadly.

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labours increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again. 

Fear not that your need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father, both you and your load will upbear.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

Video link here is not showing. 

Praying for you today, in whatever you maybe facing in your life, or in the lives of those you love, remembering with you, that our wonderful Father God is only ever a prayer away! Surely He giveth more grace!

Grace for the day, and strength for the way!

Thanks to all who pop across to read this blog and Thank YOU, too if you’re able to leave some love and encouragement.

Prayer hugs,🙏🤗

Shaz in Oz. X

PS If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ...  link HERE.  Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on. 😊

If you'd like these posts in your inbox, you can add your email to email link option on side bar. If you're on a mobile device on which there is no sidebar, then scroll down and select "View Web Version" at very bottom of post. This will bring up sidebar and "follow by email" link, which is on the top of sidebar. Thank YOU!