Tiny Blossoms:

"He made me like a polished arrow" (Isaiah 49:2).

Pebble Beach, on the California coast, has become quite famous for the beautiful pebbles found there. The raging white surf continually roars, thundering and pounding against the rocks of the shore. These stones are trapped in the arms of the merciless waves. They are tossed, rolled, rubbed together, and ground against the sharp edges of the cliffs. Both day and night, this process of grinding continues relentlessly. And what is the result?

Tourists from around the world flock there to collect the beautiful round stones. They display them in cabinets and use them to decorate their homes. Yet a little farther up the coast, just around the point of the cliff, its a quiet cove. Protected from the face of the ocean, sheltered from the storms, and always in the sun, the sands are covered with an abundance of pebbles never sought by travelers.

So why have these stones been left untouched through all the years? Simply because they have escaped all the turmoil and the grinding of the waves. The quietness and peace have left them as they've always been—rough, unpolished, and devoid of beauty—for polish is the result of difficulties.

Since God knows the niche we are to fill, let us trust Him to shape us to it. And since He knows what works we are to do, let us trust Him to grind us so we will be properly prepared.

by Oswald Chambers

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Nuggets
of Faith

everlasting in scope and revealing the glory of God's personality.

Our Daily Walk

And in doing so, a double blessing is given for both the receiver and upon the one who shares "the good news." For this is in keeping with the attributes of God that we, His people, do share by the "fruit of the spirit" in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22,23 ESV). We are asked to believe and as we learn, to take-on the beautiful character of Jesus through our daily walk with Him. And by doing so, God does smile upon us with a word or testimony about His good and faithful servant.

As it is, this topic seems easier to write and may we have some positive moments by remembering to share rightly through the Holy Spirit. It is my experience that the more time spent in devotion and Bible study helps in grounding us into right thinking and thereby, proper responses to daily events. The soul works like a sponge and absorbs the wholesome and the filthy entertainment or activity which does colour or taint our personality. Besides, I'd much rather the "joy of the Lord."

It would seem that this message is complete, and may the Lord give us an opportunity to share "the good news." Jesus is looking for people to bless with more of His beautiful personality.

by Glenn Morrison (10)

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The Atonement

The angel replied to her: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the holy One to be born will be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35 HCSB).

The tremendous revelation of Christianity is not the fatherhood of God, but the babyhood of God - God became the weakest thing in His own creation, and in flesh and blood He levered it back to where it was intended to be. No one helped Him; it was done absolutely by God manifest in human flesh. God has undertaken not only to repair the damage, but in Jesus Christ the human race is put in a better condition than when it was originally designed. It is necessary to understand these things if you are to be able to battle for your faith.

Adam is called the son of God. There is only one other "Son of God" in the Bible, and He is Jesus Christ. Yet we are called "sons of God," but how? In being reinstated through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

by Oswald Chambers