"He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.... Surely He has born our griefs and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, smitten of God, and afflicted..." But He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities , The chastisement of our peace was upon Him; And with His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:3-5 † "Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand. The shadow of a mighty Rock within a weary land, A home within the wilderness, a rest up the way, From the burning of the noon-tide heat. And the burden of the day.”   Upon that cross of Jesus Mine eye at times can see the very dying form of One Who suffered there for me; And from my smitten heart with tears two wonders I confess The wonders of His glorious love And my unworthiness.   I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place. I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face; Content to let the world go by To know no gain or loss, My sinful self my only shame, My glory all the cross.  * The melody: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joalt58yQYQ Encouragement from A to Z  Persecution  and  Victory in Christ What it means to be a Christian               Home                      If you would like to receive a Scripture and hymn verse via email three times a week, please write us and we'll add you to our list.

 

PSALM 139: God’s Perfect Knowledge of Man

O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.

Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;
Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

 

And if we love and follow Him, this is true for us as well! 

How blessed we are to belong to Him at a time such as this!

 

†

 

May His beauty rest upon me,

As I seek the lost to win,

And may they forget the channel

Seeing only Him!

 *

The melody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRTLocMzTvs

or:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXUOuzJo1bE

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Encouragement from A to Z

 Persecution  and  Victory in Christ

What it means to be a Christian