"LIGHT SHINING IN DARKNESS"

William Cowper penned the following lines:

God moves in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform;

He plants His footsteps in the sea,

And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines,

With never-failing skill,

He treasures up His bright designs,

And works His sovereign will.Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;

The clouds ye so much dread

Are big with mercy, and shall break

In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

But trust Him for His grace;

Behind a frowning providence

He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,

Unfolding every hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,

But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,

And scan His work in vain;

God is His own interpreter,

And He will make it plain.

While driving to Lower Brule this morning, Ray and I were discussing some of the aspects of our lives that we don't fully understand. We both agreed, however, that God has worked His plan in our lives in ways that we would not have thought; and we are satisfied with His Plan. The path to the place where we stand in the last half of our lives has not been easy; and many times it seemed that the 'frowning providence' and the 'bud ...' with the 'bitter taste' was our destiny. We have found that 'His purposes...ripen fast' if we did not 'judge...the Lord by feeble sense, but trust[ed] Him for...grace.' We have allowed God to be 'His own interpreter' and He has made 'it plain.'

Today was enjoyable, as usual; and we had the morning service and the afternoon Sunday School. Since we do not have too many children some Sundays, I have taught a couple of the little girls how to play some of the songs that we sing in Sunday School. They, of course, love it; and they learn quickly. I tried to video one girl playing a song this morning, but my tech ability seems to have limitations so I cannot seem to transfer it to this blog.

The little guy in the picture below was waiting by the church door to greet us this morning. We resisted the impulse to take a dog home. :)

Thank you for your interest in Lower Brule, and may the 'clouds...break in blessings on your head.'