Resting in Christ

My great uncle left this life early Wednesday morning. He had lived 88 years married to a wonderful woman and has beautiful grandchildren from his son and daughter-in-law. He was a quiet man who's trust in the Lord was inspiring. Except for the three years he served as a sailor during World War II in the Pacific theatre, Uncle had always lived in our community I was amazed he returned from war with such gentleness. The Lord granted him grace when he began young to apply the qualities God requires in our lives.

In 2 Peter 1: 2-11 it is written, "Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue; whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in that world by lust. Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge; and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness; and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he that lack these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." A.S.V.

My great uncle was not a complainer. His patience and self-control exhibited exceeding faithfulness in our Saviour. Daily nurses heard him reply "I am fine" when his family knew he was truly in much pain and difficulty. He would laugh and joke giving you his best appearance for the day. Could his agricultural background have given him with his faith in God this wonderful attitude that he was just "fine?"

I would say with confidence his experiences being the child of a widow on a farm during the depression with a large Christian community as a background would help attribute to his faith in our Lord and God. A godly wife with the same values and standards attributed to his being able to reflect on God daily. Oh, I would we all had the same standards and remained true to God in all we do. It is wonderful each of his sisters and brother also appear to have the same steadfastness in their lives.

Pictures: US Naval Shield, Aerial Clark Salyer Refuge--Photograph by James P. Blair

How Firm a Foundation?

I have been listening to YouTube for a while and I heard Dr. Robert Sala quote the following poem/hymn written by Robert Keen in Europe around 1787. I am greatly touched by its message.

1. How firm a foundation ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word;
What more can he say than to you he hath said?
You, who unto Jesus, for refuge have fled.

2. In ev'ry condition - in sickness in health,
In poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth,
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.

3. “Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed!
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

4. “When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o'erflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

5. “When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace all-sufficient shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design,
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

6. “E'en down to old age, all my people shall prove
My sov'reign eternal, unchangeable love;
And then, when grey hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in my bosom be borne.

7. “The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes:
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never - no, never, no, never forsake!”

In the Jewish New Testment, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Sh'aul writes, verse 58) "So, my dear brothers, stand firm and unmovable, always doing the Lord's work as vigourously as you can knowing that united with the Lord your efforts are not in vain."

Also in 2 Timothy 4:5, "But you, remain steady in every situation, enduring suffering, do the work that a proclaimer of the Good News should and do everything your service to God requires."