Christian Reflection and Prayer

The eternal God is your refuge,
and underneath are the everlasting
arms. —Deuteronomy 33:27

Have you ever dreamed that you were
falling out of bed or from some great height,
and you awoke in fright? I remember that
as a boy I would often be awakened by
such a terrifying feeling.

I heard about a man who had this
sensation as soon as he slipped into
sleep. He was so rudely awakened by
his sense of falling that he was afraid to
go back to sleep. He feared he would
die, and he imagined he was falling
into a bottomless pit.

Then one evening as he was strolling
through a cemetery, he saw this phrase
engraved on a tombstone:

Underneath Are The Everlasting Arms

These words reminded him that when
believers die, they are safely carried by the
Lord to their home in heaven. He recalled
the assurance of the psalmist, “Yea,
though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for
You are with me” (Ps. 23:4).

The once-fearful man realized that in
life and in death— and even in sleep—
the “everlasting arms” of our loving Lord
are there to catch and hold us. That night
he was able to sing what he was taught
in childhood, “Teach me to live that I may
dread the grave as little as my bed!” At
last he could fall asleep without fear.
— M.R. De Haan

I can trust my loving Savior
When I fear the world’s alarms;
There’s no safer place of resting
Than His everlasting arms. —Hess

You can trust God in the dark as well
as in the light.

Today's Our Daily BreadThe eternal God is your refuge,
and underneath are the everlasting
arms. —Deuteronomy 33:27

Have you ever dreamed that you were
falling out of bed or from some great height,
and you awoke in fright? I remember that
as a boy I would often be awakened by
such a terrifying feeling.

I heard about a man who had this
sensation as soon as he slipped into
sleep. He was so rudely awakened by
his sense of falling that he was afraid to
go back to sleep. He feared he would
die, and he imagined he was falling
into a bottomless pit.

Then one evening as he was strolling
through a cemetery, he saw this phrase
engraved on a tombstone:

Underneath Are The Everlasting Arms

These words reminded him that when
believers die, they are safely carried by the
Lord to their home in heaven. He recalled
the assurance of the psalmist, “Yea,
though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for
You are with me” (Ps. 23:4).

The once-fearful man realized that in
life and in death— and even in sleep—
the “everlasting arms” of our loving Lord
are there to catch and hold us. That night
he was able to sing what he was taught
in childhood, “Teach me to live that I may
dread the grave as little as my bed!” At
last he could fall asleep without fear.
— M.R. De Haan

I can trust my loving Savior
When I fear the world’s alarms;
There’s no safer place of resting
Than His everlasting arms. —Hess

You can trust God in the dark as well
as in the light.

Today's Our Daily Bread

BLIND FANNY THINKS OF OTHERS

Scripture:

Psalm 126

"He that goes forth and weeps, bearing
precious seed, shall doubtless come again
with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

"Rescue the perishing
Care for the dying
Snatch them in pity from sin and
the grave;
Weep o'er the erring one,
Lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus the mighty
to Save."

Frances Jane Crosby was born in
Putnam county, New York on March
24, 1820. Her sight was destroyed at
the age of six weeks because of the
misapplication of a poultice on her
eyes. She was blessed with a
wonderful disposition and accepted
her handicap with an unusual display
of courage.
Franny Crosby was born the second
time in 1851. Seven years later she
married a blind musician, Mr. Alexander
Van Alstyne.
Her cheerfulness and courage coupled
with simple, child like trust in devine watch-
care enabled her to write such heart
warming hymns as "Blessed Assurance",
"Jesus keep me near the Cross", and "Safe
in the Arms of Jesus".

Friday morning, February 12, 1915, just
prior to her ninety fifth birthday, Fanny
Crosby realized to the fullest the words she
had written and recited many times- "and I
shall see HIM face to face".

Reflection:

Here is another example of a person who would
not sit down and feel sorry for herself. In
her blindness she thought constantly of
others. We, like she, can find peace only
as we turn aside to help someone else
and then happiness seems to overtake us.

For God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us
so very much, that even while we were dead
because of our sins, he gave us life when he
raised Christ from the dead.
Ephesians 2:4 NLT

Amazing grace! how sweet the sound—
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.
Amazing Grace , John Newton (1725-1807)

The gift of forgiveness is often best appreciated
by those who need it the most. The Reverend
John Newton experienced this truth firsthand.
His tombstone tells the story: "John Newton,
clerk, once an infidel and Libertine, a servant
of slavers in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, preserved,
restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach
the faith he had so long labored to destroy.
" These words were written by Newton himself,
a testimony to God's transforming power. After
years as a hardened slave trader, that "wretch"
met Jesus Christ and abruptly turned to defend
the gospel he had so long despised.

Throughout Newton's years of ministry, God's
amazing grace remained central to Newton's
thinking. When it was suggested he retire
(at age eighty-two!) due to poor health and a
failing memory, he responded, "My memory
is nearly gone, but I remember two things:
that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is
a great Savior!"

adapted from The One Year® Book of Hymns
by Mark Norton and Robert Brown, Tyndale
House Publishers (1995), entry for March 17
When a friend makes a mistake, don't rub it
in. Rub it out.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN