May 1, 2011

Yesterday was a day at home except when I went to the post office.  Oh, by the way, they are trying to close our post office again, very frustrating.  Otherwise we were at home, I cleaned out some more and had a fire in the burning barrel to get rid of what I didn't want to see again.  It is getting better, I am leaving the books for you children to decided what you want to keep.  otherwise a good day.  We have snow this morning.   This devotions fits well with a book that I am reading. 

Satan Schemes, God Redeems


"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now
 being done, the saving of many lives."

-Genesis 50:20

God always exploits Satan's evil intentions and uses them in His own

service - just one more example of God's ability to work "out everything in conformity
with the purpose of his will" (Ephesians 1:11).

Satan intends the rain that ruins a church picnic to cause Christians to grumble
 against their Lord; God uses the rain to develop their patience. Satan plans to
 hinder the work of an effective missionary by arranging for him to trip in the
jungle and break a leg; God allows the accident so that the missionary's godly response
to pain and discomfort will bring glory to Himself. Satan brews a hurricane to kill
thousands in a small village in Bangladesh; God uses the storm to display His awesome
power, to show people the awful consequences that sin has brought to the world,
to drive some to search for Him, to harden others in their sin, and to remind us
 that He is free to do as He pleases. We will never figure Him out.

Satan schemed that a seventeen-year-old girl named Joni would break her neck, hoping
to ruin her life; God sent the broken neck in answer to her prayer for a closer
walk with Him.

As a friend once said, "God sends things, but Satan often brings them. Praise God
that when Satan causes calamity, we can answer him with the words that Joseph answered
his brothers with when they sold him into slavery, 'You meant evil against me, but
God meant it for good.'"

Sovereign Lord, You are all-wise and powerful, able to abort devilish schemes always
to serve Your own ends and purposes. Suffering is a mystery but not so much a mystery
that I cannot trust You.