Greetings dear friends,
“Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come…” How about you? This life of Amazing Grace in Jesus is a process of recognition that, although circumstances and sudden demands on our time – as well as seasons of sorrow, grievous difficulties or great challenges that we do not welcome and did not foresee come at us – these are not a shock nor a surprise to the One who loved us and gave Himself up for us. Jesus knows. Jesus is preparing us, “…and grace will lead me [us] home.”
Jesus is our great Savior. And “Our Great Savior” is the title of the CD we are highlighting this month. It has 16 piano solos by Rudy Atwood and can be purchased for just $16.50 which includes shipping. However, it’s $18.00 for Californians due to sales tax.
We can learn contentment because: “In all these things we are more than conquerors and we gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us]. For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced –beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39 Amplified Version).
Recently my wife Janene, our son David, and I were considering this together. There is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey. We can actually be provided with contentment and great peace as we realize that whatever Jesus allows into our lives is part of His great plan for us. He is busy getting you and me to the point where we in truth can fully trust Him, assured that He is the Lover of our souls and is perfecting us for a joyous eternity with Him. He knows how to fill you and me with joy unspeakable and full of glory. I have learned that we ourselves do not have the wisdom to get there. So, beloved, lean on Him and let a lifetime of surrender to Him take you places you never dreamed.
As Dr. Fuller guides us through Acts chapters 6 to 9 this month, we shall also see, by yielding to the Lord, what fruit was produced in the lives of Stephen, Philip, Paul and other believers who leaned not on their own understanding but trusted in and relied confidently on the Lord with all their hearts (compare Proverbs 3:5)
Leaning, yielding and rejoicing,
Michael Khanchalian, D.D.S.