ODB: mell’s smiley face
September 13, 2009
God often digs wells of joy with the spade of sorrow.
READ: Romans 5:1-5
We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance. —Romans 5:3
Some people think you shouldn’t draw in your Bible, but I’m glad my daughter Melissa drew in hers. In the margin next to Romans 5, she used a green ink pen to draw a small, simple smiley face, and circled verse 3.
How could she have known that her family and friends would need this passage when she left us so suddenly in a car accident at age 17? How could she know that these verses would tell her story, while guiding our lives and the lives of others over the past 7 years?
Romans 5 begins by explaining our justification through faith, which gives us peace with God through Jesus (v.1). Melissa had that peace. And right now she is enjoying the fruits of her faith, as verse 2 describes: We “rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Imagine the smiley face she could draw now!
And then there’s the rest of us—all of us left behind when loved ones precede us in death. Somehow, we “rejoice in our sufferings.” Why? Our suffering brings perseverance, which brings character, which brings us hope (vv.3-4).
We feel helpless in times of tragedy, but we are never hopeless. God pours His love into our hearts—and with it the great hope of His glory. It’s all part of God’s mysterious yet marvelous plan. — Dave Branon
Source: Our Daily Bread
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sure is a very good devotion, it teaches me a lot God bless..
On my Sunday solitude, I was read ODB, I just flashback 6 years ago when my dad pass away on September 13, formerly i think we will shattered without him but now we are survive because of Heavenly Father still bless us. What amazing God!
Yesterday, suddenly I got news from my brother, he make mistake, I can’t tell here now, we are crying, we are praying to God for mercy.
I remember this “We feel helpless in times of tragedy, but we are never hopeless. God pours His love into our hearts—and with it the great hope of His glory. It’s all part of God’s mysterious yet marvelous plan”
Thank you ODB.
Thank you JESUS, I love YOU, teach me more and more.
Mell’s smiley face
Hi Dave…
thanks for sharing about the loss of your daughter.. its never easy to overcome the departure of a loved one.. our Lord Jesus too cried openly when he went to the tomb of Lazarus.. and this is what men commented.. “Look.. how He loved him”
and God does cry when we cry.. Jesus was accustomed to sorrow too.. he understood death very well.. but he comforted those who he found grieving that their son or daughter was jus asleep.. when we raided the daughter of Jairus.. he said.. Wake up!!
in the book of Hosea.. we find the prophet admonishing the Children of Israel to repent..
Hosea 14:2.. Return to the Lord..
vs 2 Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him: Forgive us graciously that we may offer the fruit of our lips (Offer our lips as a sacrifice of bulls)
then.. Hosea tells us that all who return to him.. the Lord will grace them with Beauty for Ashes!!
Hosea 14:5-8.. Beauty for Ashes..
vs 5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily.Like a ceder of Lebanon he will send down his roots;
vs 6 his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.
vs 7 Men will dwell again in his shade. He will flourish like grain. He will blossom like a vine, and his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon.
vs 8 I am like a green pine tree; your fruitfulness comes from me..
Jonah’s Prayer:
Jonah 4:2.. a God of Compassion…
vs 2 I know that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and
abiding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity..
Jonah 2:7 & 9 .. Salvation belongs to our Lord..
vs 7 When my life was ebbing away, i remembered you, Lord, my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple..
vs 9 I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What i have vowed i will make good. Salvation comes from the Lord..
God bless u Dave !!