Bible Gems

January 6

"Thou shalt know the Lord."  (Hosea 2:20)

Not Knowing

I know not what shall befall me, God hangs a mist o'er my eyes;
And so, each step in mine onward path, He makes new scenes to rise,
And every joy He sends me comes As a strange and sweet surprise.

I see not a step before me, As I tread on another year;
But the past is still in God's keeping - The future, His mercy shall clear.
And what looks dark in the distance, May brighten as I draw near.

For perhaps the dreaded future  Has less bitter than I think;
The Lord may sweeten the waters  Before I stoop to drink;
Or, if Marah must be Marah,  He will stand beside the brink.

Oh, restful, blissful ignorance!  'Tis blessed not to know! 
It keeps me so still in those arms  Which will not let me go,
And hushes my soul to rest  On the bosom that loves me so.

So I go on, not knowing - I would not if I might!
I'd rather walk in the dark with God  Than walk alone in the light.
I'd rather walk with him by faith  Than walk alone by sight.

My heart shrinks back from trials  That the future may disclose;
Yet I never had a sorrow  But what the dear Lord chose;
So I send the coming tears back  With the whispered words,  "HE KNOWS."

N.J. Hiebert # 3578

January 7

"Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto His people Israel, according to all that He promised: there hath not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised." (1 Kings 8:56)

So many promises are made and  broken.  Hearts are devastated, relationships are severed and hurts are deep.  Is this your experience today?  Then rest on the many promises given to you and me.

- We have eternal salvation.
- We have the promise that He is with us all through life's journey.
- We have the promise that He will never leave us or forsake us.
- We have the promise that He will meet every need.
- We have the promise of Heaven and "Home."

Claim these promises.  Lean hard upon them.  Not one of them can fail.  (James Comte)

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love's strong cord.

N.J. Hiebert # 3579