Aches and Praise Two Hundred & Forty Five

Posted on 2016-05-19 in English |

Dear friends,

 

This week I have been reading a book written for women entitled “When a Woman Overcomes Life’s Hurts” by Cindi McMenamin. Why am I reading a book written for women? Because I was eager to discover what Karen liked about the book and keen to learn from the experience of an award-winning writer and national speaker. I have been very blessed by the helpful counsel and the true-life examples of the grace of God portrayed in this book. In the chapter entitled “I Can Finally Be Free” the author writes: “… we may sometimes refuse to forgive our offenders because we don’t want to let them off the hook, because they haven’t earned our forgiveness, or because we don’t trust them. But because forgiveness is the key to moving forward from our hurts, let’s look at what it really means to forgive someone. We can do this by debunking the most common misconceptions about forgiveness and stacking them up against what God’s Word has to say about the subject.” Cindi then examines the following misconceptions: (1) Forgiveness Must Be Earned by Our Offender; (2) Forgiveness Is a One-time Act; (3) To Forgive Means to Forget; and (4) Forgiveness Means Restoration or Reunion (Copyright 2012 by Cindi McMenamin; published by Harvest House Publishers; used by permission). To find out more about this book and other helpful resources please visit: http://www.strengthforthesoul.com/.
 

In recent weeks I have been blessed by reading about how God has transformed a number of individuals who were in very difficult circumstances. One of those was a sailor who was on the HMS Bounty in 1789. This ship became famous when Fletcher Christian led a mutiny  against Captain William Bligh, setting him and eighteen loyal sailors adrift before returning to Tahiti. After leaving some sailors there, Christian and eight sailors took some Tahitians to an uninhabited island called Pitcairn. Whiskey made from the native plants led to drunkenness and violent brawls.

In his book “Reason to Rejoice” Ray C. Stedman describes what happened next: “One by one, the mutinous crewmen were either killed in fights or murdered in their sleep. Even Fletcher Christian died violently. Finally, only one of the mutineers was left alive, a sailor named Alexander Smith. As the last man living, he felt responsible to look after the women and fatherless children who remained. Smith regretted the sinfulness of his past, and he knew he lacked wisdom to care for the women and children. He needed guidance from beyond himself.

Looking through a sea-chest, Smith found a Bible. Over the next few weeks, he read it from cover to cover. Then he asked God to take control of his life. He also taught the women and children to read the Bible.

In 1808, the American whaling shipTopaz stopped at Pitcairn. The Americans were the first visitors to the island since the mutiny on the Bounty, eighteen years earlier. The sailors from the Topaz were astounded to find an orderly Christian society in which there was no crime, no disease, no alcoholism, and no illiteracy.”

Would you please pray for J.R. who has been battling a desire for strong drink? Originally from El Salvador, he has lived in Quebec for many years. He first came to our office last fall and has visited several times since then. J.R. is separated from his wife and two sons. He gave me permission to share his story. Let’s pray that he, like Alexander Smith, will find abundant life in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Scripture for the weekend:“Who is a God like Thee, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain his anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love. He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities underfoot. Yes, Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18-19 (NASB)   

Thought for the weekend: “God does not ask men to behave, but to believe. It is faith in Christ that saves the sinner. Eternal life in Christ is one gift that is suitable for all people, no matter what their need may be or what their station in life.” – Warren W. Wiersbe (from his book “Be Right”)

 

By His grace,

 

Steve

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