Aches and Praise Six Hundred & Fifty Seven

Posted on 2024-04-12 in English |

April 12, 2024
 
 
Dear friends,  
 

How was your week? Or rather, how is your week going, since it is not over? It seems that there are lots of changes all around us, but we can thank the Lord for His steadfast love and amazing grace toward us.

In reviewing messages in emails, I came across a few from people I haven’t seen for many years. Some live far away and others very close, but thanks to changes in technology I can keep in touch with them. Karen and I thank the Lord for giving us wonderful encouragement through the words shared by them.

We recently watched a video in which the late Dr. Frank Humphrey talked about the changes in his body and his love for the Lord. You can see and hear him at:https://www.cybersalt.org/videos/pastor-frank-humphreys-als-testimony. In the introduction to his book entitled “Origins & Redemption” Dr. Humphrey writes: “In July 2005, I was officially diagnosed as having A.L.S. (Lou Gehrig’s disease). This is a neuro-muscular disease considered to be 100% fatal. Yet in the midst of this the Lord has given me great peace.”

We have wonderful memories of Pastor Humphrey’s leadership as senior pastor of Peoples Church of Montreal and his dedicated service as commander of the AWANA club at the High School of Montreal, just a short walk from the church building.

Last month, we were at Peoples Church of Montreal and saw people that we have known for many years and met others for the first time. As we get older, it is more difficult to remember names and other things, but we are confident that the Lord knows our frailty and promises to always care for us.

Our oldest daughter sang the following when she was young:

Little by little everyday                                                                                                   
Little by little in every way                                                                                                  
My Jesus is changing me                                                                                            
Since I made a turnabout face                                                                                   
I’ve been growing in His grace                                                                                 
My Jesus is changing me
 

When her two sons were helping us pull weeds recently, the younger son said “little by little” which brought the song to mind. It is so neat that the Lord encourages us in many ways.

This morning, a brother in Christ phoned to ask us to pray for him as he is scheduled to have an operation next Thursday. Please remember Jimmy in prayer in the days ahead, that he would experience the peace that only the Lord can give. As the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all.”

Scripture for the weekend: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)

Thought for the weekend: “Belief always precedes behavior. For this reason the apostle Paul in each of his epistles addressed convictions before he addressed actions. To change the way a person responds to life, change what a person believes about life. The most important thing about you is your belief system.” – Max Lucado (from his book “Anxious for Nothing”)
 

By His grace,                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Steve

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