In every fire...

Wonderful snippit from Matthew Henry:

The Lord knows those that are his; the world does not. When the mirth of carnal worldlings ceases, the joy of the saints is as lively as ever, because the covenant of grace, the fountain of their comforts, and the foundation of their hopes, never fails. Those who rejoice in the Lord can rejoice in tribulation, and by faith may triumph when all about them are in tears. They encourage their fellow-sufferers to do likewise, even those who are in the furnace of affliction. Or, in the valleys, low, dark, miry places. In every fire, even the hottest, in every place, even the remotest, let us keep up our good thoughts of God. If none of these trials move us, then we glorify the Lord in the fires.

 It is taken from commentary on Isaiah 24:13-15:

[13] When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done. [14] They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, they shall cry aloud from the sea. [15] Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires, [1] even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles of the sea.

Putting your money where your mouth is

Ezra, we read this morning, did not want a royal escort for the dangerous journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. He says,

I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. 23So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.

It is our great privilege to prove the goodness of God in the midst of this trial, with so many concerned about us, and Pads especially. But, like Ezra, we do not take God's help for granted and continue to seek him, 'looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.' It is wonderful how many have joined hands with us in this.
Today, with his back and op sites still sore, he was yet well enough for a walk in the park and visited Ysgol Mynydd Bychan's summer fayre. It was lovely how the staff were especially pleased to see him and offer their words of encouragement.