Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

May 28
Friday


OUR TIMES--
IS HANDS

READ:
Psalm 31:1-16
____________________________________________________________

"You are my God." My
times are in Your hand.
__Psalm 31:4-15
____________________________________________________________

In a message to The 2002 graduates of Cedarville University, Dr. Paul Dixon encouraged them with these words: "Your times are in God's hands." Our family listened and thought it was appropriate for the graduates, which included our daughter Julie.

We had no idea that in 5 days our 17-year-old Melissa would graduate to heaven through a car accident--and we would be left to recall with new meaning that thought from Psalm 31:15.

Over the years, we have become painfully aware that in God's mysterious ways, He has planned for some Christians a life that is short. I think of one young Christian girl, the kind with a smile for everyone, who had a sore finger--and a week later was dead from a raging infection. Or the young believer who was killed while playing softball when a ball hit her in the neck. Or the teen boy who loved Jesus and fishing--and died when a car hit him as he rode his bike home from the fishing hole. Melissa, Heather, Maggie, and Thomas. In their short lives, they created a legacy of faith in Jesus and love for others. They were ready when His time for them had come.

"I trust in You," the psalmist said, recognizing that his life was in God's hands alone (vv. 14-15). Are you trusting God for whatever comes next on your calendar? __Dave Branon
_____________________________________________________________

``````````````````````Sovereign Ruler of the skies.```````````````
```````````````````````Ever gracious, ever wise,`````````````````
`````````````````````All my times are in Your hand,```````````````
`````````````````All events at Your command. __Ryland```````````
_____________________________________________________________

OUr times are in God's hands;
our souls are in His keeping.

****************Today's Bible Reading __ Psalm 31:1-16**********

1 In You, O LORD, I put my
trust; let me never be
ashamed; deliver me in Your
righteousness. 2 Bow down
Your ear to me, deliver me
speedily; be my rock of
refuge, a fortress of defense
to save me.

3 For You are my rock and
my fortress; therefore, for
Your name's sake, lead me
and guide me. 4 Pull me out
of the net which they have
secretly laid for me, for You
are my strength. 5 Into Your
hand I commit my spirit; You
have redeemed me, O LORD
God of truth....

9 Have mercy on me, O
LORD, for I am in trouble;
my eye wastes away with
grief, yes, my soul and my
body! 10 For my life is spent
with grief, and my years with
sighing; my strength fails
because of my iniquity, and
my bones waste away. 11 I
am a reproach among all my
enemies, but especially
among my neighbors, and
am repulsive to my
acquaintances; those who see
me outside flee from me.

12 I am forgotten like a dead
man, out of mind; I am like a
broken vessel. 13 For I hear
the slander of many; fear is
on every side; while they
take counsel together against
me, they scheme to take
away m life.

14 But as for me, I trust in
You, O LORD; I say, "You are
my God." 15 My times are in
Your hand; deliver me from
the hand of my enemies, and
from those who persecute
me. 16 Make Your face shine
upon Your servant; save me
for Your mercies' sake.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Psalm 31 was penned during a time of great need and danger
(vv.4,8,11,13,15). David wrote of the strength and safety he found in
God as his "rock and fortress" (vv.2-3), an image used of God often
in the Psalms (Ps. 18:2; 71:3). __SIM KAY TEE