Day 6 of 31 Days of October – Roses Among The Thorns
After a beautiful Sunday of fellowship and food and this house filled with the laughter and chatter of adults and children, I went to bed feeling refreshed and filled. Having our big table full is rare these days.
Now it is Monday. Pain and suffering invade us. Reality sets in again. This is our road to travel.
I read my morning devotion, a book loan from a friend, and I’m reminded that Sweet William and I are here in this place because God has allowed it. Even Job’s suffering came by permission only. If the Lord has allowed it, then there must be a good reason.
So I share the words that encourage me today, words from a little book called The Red Sea Rules by Robert Morgan. He writes,
There are no mistakes in God’s plan; Jesus does all things well. A. W. Tozer said, “To the child of God, there is no such thing as an accident. He travels an appointed way . . . Accidents may indeed appear to befall him and misfortune stalk his way; but these evils will be so in appearance only and will seem evil only because we cannot read the secret script of God’s hidden providence.”
Morgan quotes Andrew Murray who pastored in South Africa . . .
First, He brought me here, it is by His will that I am in this strait place; in that fact I will rest. Next, He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace to behave as His child. Then, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow. Last, in His good time He can bring me out again–how and when He knows.
Murray sums it up like this:
- By God’s appointment
- In His keeping
- Under His training
- For His time.
Good words for this traveler who sometimes stumbles under the load, trips up on the rocks, gets snagged by the bramble bushes grabbing at me. There are flowers along the way. Yesterday I saw them clearly. I will keep them in my memory and let them refresh me again.
For a list of the days of October, go here please.
Peggy's Journal 
Dear Peggy, I wanted to share my new blog with you. http://shirleybarker.wordpress.com/ I am struggling a bit knowing how to do everything, but slowly learning.
I pray that the joy of the Lord will be your strength each and everyday.
Shirley, thank you for sharing you blog with me. I feel like I’m still a beginner to the blogging world though I’ve been doing it for a couple of years. I have a lot to learn. Your grandson may be a good resource. The young are fearless about technology. WordPress offers lots of help to new bloggers at http://en.support.wordpress.com/. You may want to read good bloggers and see how they do it, how they write. Some of my favorites are AHolyExperience, HolleyGerth.com, TheNester.com, ChattingattheSky.com. If I read good writing, it helps me write better I think. Best wishes on your blogging adventure. It can be quite a ride. I do appreciate your comments during my 31 days of October. Blessings to you.