God’s Word

Hymn Devotions Day 20 – How Firm A Foundation

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DAY 20 – HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION

How I love the affirmation of Scripture in the very first verse of this wonderful hymn! We can count on God’s Word. It’s veracity gives us a rock solid foundation for our faith. Everything we need to have a godly life pleasing to Him is found in His Word. It is complete.

I also love the way the author depicts how God is with us, our Rock. We are able to trust Him. Every word, every promise He gives us, is true and we can lean on Him at all times. He will never leave us nor forsake us. There is no place we can go where His presence cannot be with us. How comforting that is.

That truth is also frightening. Whenever I go someplace a Christian ought not to go, whenever I place myself in situations I ought not to be in, I take Christ there with me. I expose Him to shame and grieve His Holy Spirit.

We are even shown, in verse 4, the truth that the fiery trials we encounter are merely to refine us, not destroy us. God lets us go through them not to bring harm to us, but to purify us and make us strong.

What a wise and loving God we serve. No matter what we go through, no matter who or what seeks to conquer us, we can stand firm with the shield of faith, steadfast in the knowledge that the Lord is our refuge and our strength, an ever present help in times of trouble.

 

Lord, what a blessing Your Holy Word is. Thank you so much for giving it to us. Help me to study it and to hide it in my heart, so that I might not sin against You. 

 

HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION – Robert Keen? George Keith?

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord

Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!

What more can He say than to you He has said

To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

 

“Fear not, I am with you, O be not dismayed

For I am Your God and will still give you aid

I’ll strengthen you, help you, and cause thee to stand

Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

 

When through the deep waters I call thee to go

The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow

For I will be with thee, your troubles to bless

And sanctify thee to your deepest distress

 

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie

My grace all sufficient shall be thy supply

The flame shall not hurt thee I only design

Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine

 

The soul that on Jesus, hath leaned for repose

I will not, I will not desert to his foes

That soul though all hell shall endeavor to shake

I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!”

Free Bible Studies

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Ta Ethne’s free downloadable resources are now available. Each study will be posted in PDF format. We hope that these studies will assist you in digging deep into God’s Word. Feel free to copy and use it for our personal bible study or group study.  May they help you spread the good news of God’s Kingdom throughout the world.

Dominos: A Commentary on Jude Introduction
Dominoes – A Dynamic Commentary on Jude Chapter 1 plus Study Guide
 
Commentary on Jude Chapter 2
Chinese Edition of Is Jesus Enough?

2 Peter Study

Colossians

Getting The Most From A Sermon

Resources Coming

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This month will, God willing, see downloadable resources available for our readers use. Both from this site, and from our sister site, http://www.discernmentministries.webs.com, there will be bible studies added on various topics. Sometime in the middle of August, we will make available, free of charge, a Kindle version of our newest book, A Heart Hungry for Worship for a week. When we get firm dates we will post them. If you do not have a Kindle device, you can download a PC version free from Amazon to use on your home computer or laptop. A PDF copy can be emailed also during that time to overseas friends.

More podcasts of sermons and studies will be posted also. We have been asked about posting video teachings and we will be looking into that for later in the fall. When that becomes available it will be posted on our sister site, which has the capability of storing video.

As you can see, it is going to be a busy August. Will you pray about becoming a monthly partner to help us as we grow? Donations are accepted on our sister site. Commit to praying for us and share our podcasts and resources with friends.

Thank you so much for all the support and feedback we have received. May God get the glory and have His word spread to all peoples.

 

Highlights Around The World – #5 Uganda

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Some years ago, when I was teaching at Yellowstone Baptist College, I had the privilege of having Grace Halland in my class. Grace was an exceptional student, with a passion for sharing the gospel and God’s Word. How pleased I was to learn of her plans to follow up Bible school by working with Wycliffe Bible Translators. Grace is now in Entebbe, Uganda, working with the translation teams.

This work is critical. The ability to get God’s Word into the hands of those who need to hear its life-changing message, in their own language, is priceless. I enjoy receiving Grace’s newsletter, as she not only keeps us informed of her work, but also of her life. It is rewarding to see her growth in the Lord, the maturing of her spirituality as she labors for the Kingdom. It is humbling to know that she has given her life to the people of Uganda – not just in translation work, but by adopting children and making a home there. It is satisfying to know that in a very, very small way, I was able to be part of her life, in the time God was speaking to her, calling her to this life of service.

We never know what impact we have on others. We never know how we will influence a person – not just for good or bad, but also in a large way or a small way. God takes all of those influences and works His work in the lives of His children. I am proud of Grace and the work of all Wycliffe translators. I am proud that God enabled me to meet her and spend time with her during her senior year. I do not for a minute take even the smallest part of credit for anything God has done or will do through Grace. It is I that have been influenced by her and her faithfulness.

Lift her up in prayer alongside me. Write to her through wycliffe.org and get to know this amazing person. Look around, God may place you in the path of one of His servants and the relationship you make will be eternal.