Dear Friends,

Greetings to all on this first day of Autumn, 2004. I love this time of year, and we've had some beautiful days here in northwest Kentucky. But since we live on a major earthquake fault, and in an area where tornadoes come through way too often, we do not take the good days for granted. Our hearts go out to those who endured the recent hurricanes in the southeast, and the nearby Ohio River is announcing to us that we are not untouched by things that happen far away. One result of the downgraded Hurricane Ivan is that--due to the rains from Ivan that fell on the Northeast in recent days past--the Ohio River is rising and the banks are overflowing, as the Ohio makes its way back to the Gulf of Mexico. Henderson sits on a bluff above the Ohio, and the "motto" that emerged following the 1937 flood which caused headaches and heartaches to towns nearby was that Henderson is "On" the Ohio, not "in" it. Behind the motto, however, is the knowledge that were the earthquake to rumble and shake, we could very well be "in" the Ohio! There is nothing in this world that is sure and for certain except the promises of our God.

Browsing through an antiques/junk store recently (looking for things that might interest my oldest granddaughter who is and has been in a "wilderness" phase for the last few months--e.g. she related to me her excitement over a "washboard" that a lady in their church had given her; I saw her use it joyfully when I was visiting in Mississippi, then watched as she strung her jumpropes across the backyard and hung her clothes) I found an 8x10 frameable "list" titled "Never Again List". There were no names, copyrights, nothing to indicate a source, so I am using it freely as the basis for this week's Jerusalem's Daughters offering. I am adapting it slightly to put forth some "Questions for Consideration". If anyone knows the source of this list, I will gladly give credit.

May God give to us all "ears to hear" and hearts to obey His Word to us, always.

In Him,
Elaine

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How can I claim that "I can't" when God's Word tells me that
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me"? (Philippians 4:13)

When can I ever whine about my "lack" when God's Word tells me that
"My God shall supply all of your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus?" (Philippians 4:19)

What shall cause me to fear when God's Word tells me that
"God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind?" (2 Timothy 1:7)

and consider the testimony of King David when we are reminded in his testimony that . . .

"The Lord is my Light and my Salvation; whom then shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1)

Why would I ever be overwhelmed by worries and frustrations when God's Word tells me that
I am blessed to be in the position of "casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you?" (1 Peter 5:7)

Never again will I confess "lack of wisdom" for God's Word tells me that I can humbly rejoice to be in the position of being in
". . . Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, . . ." (1 Corinthians 1:30)

There are a few other scriptures containing promises from God on this list, but I would rather hear from you . . . what promises have been made sure and certain to you in your lives? What scriptures do you turn to for an "anchor" against the world's attempts to conform you to its mold? What promises do you hold onto in the face of difficulties and testings? Please don't be shy about relating your experiences -- it will be an encouragement to us.

One of my "guiding" scriptures to resist the world's conformity is "You are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men."
Knowing what that "price" was helps to keep me anchored, focused, and balanced in the face of worldly pressures.

May God bless us all to meditate on His words, and to draw comfort and strength from them as the world's hostility to Christianity and Christians increases--sometimes subtlely, and increasingly not so subtle. In the words of an old Bob Dylan song "The times they are a-changing ... "

May God help us to be prepared and equipped for an uncertain future.

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A poem by Amy Carmichael, paraphrased

Take these words in Thy wounded hand,
Jesus, Lord of Calvary;
Let it go forth at Thy command;
Use it as it pleaseth Thee.

Dust of the earth, but Thy dust, Lord;
Blade of grass, in Thy hand a sword--
Nothing, nothing unless it be
Purged and quickened, O Lord, by Thee.

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