Dear Customers,

My meditation this week has been on a recent sermon about power made perfect in weakness: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 1 Cor 12:9. I know of two people who died at the end of a long battle with multiple sclerosis. Chris found peace in his difficulties and the other – I’ll call him Tony – didn’t. Tony complained and wondered what he had done to deserve this. Conversation about the sovereignty of God in all circumstances didn’t touch him. There were times when I visited Tony that he was resigned and fairly content, but it seemed that the disease was mostly about him and his misery. As he deteriorated, he moaned about his further lack of freedom and he failed to use the opportunity to witness to and serve others.

Chris, on the other hand, served till the end. I first met Chris many years ago when he visited S.A. to help launch our local homeschool legal defence association. He was senior counsel for and a director of the HSLDA in the States. I heard about his disease and its progress from time to time through the staff of our local association and from HSLDA newsletters. I was amazed at how long he continued to work. Shepherd Press then published a book Power Perfected in Weakness from his journals given to them just before he died. It is a powerful testimony to the grace of God. (Hardcover; 170pp; R123).

Under similar circumstances, would I act like Tony or be at peace like Chris? Here’s a tell-tale story: I hate shopping for clothes. Tops are too short, too tight, too see-through or have logos that are inappropriate for my age. Yes, there are decent clothes available to a conservative, older lady, but they come with a R250-R350 price tag. That’s Ouch! Can’t do it. In the limited time that’s available to me, I have popped into several shops and have come away empty-handed. Clothes are a side issue, and the lack of choice is taking too much of my time. Now I’m just plain irritated. Not majorly so, but enough to know that I’m not taking things in my stride. If I can get riled over such a mundane matter, how will I ever manage with a serious trial or crisis?

We need to analyse our reactions to minor everyday problems – it gives us an idea of how we might manage major ones. For example, if you can’t master road-rage, would you master the consequences of a major car accident? If you blast and fume over a bad driver, how much more will you blast and fume when your car is smashed? You may be right to be angry about your smashed car, but how do you act in your anger? Does it bear witness that you are a child of God? Is God glorified in the outburst? My theory is that when we continuously master the minor struggles, only then can we have any assurance that we will manage the major ones. The measure of our reliance on God to cope with minor issues will be the measure of our reliance of him for major ones.

We tend to think that it’s only the thorn-in-the-side major issues of life that are in need of God’s power, but our biggest issue is the thorn-in-the-side nature we were born with! We are weak by our very nature. If we habitually turn to the Lord for grace for our everyday weakness, then the pattern is set for when major trouble comes. May the Lord enable us to put to death our sinful reactions to the small stuff and to rejoice in his strength when we overcome such sins, to the end that we glorify him in every detail when we face the big stuff.

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Some links: After quoting from Miller’s daily devotional Come Ye Apart, Jane sent the following link to his works:

http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=Miller%2C%20J%2E%20R%2E%20%28James%20Russell%29%2C%201840-1912

And Come Ye Apart:

http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=Miller%2C%20J%2E%20R%2E%20%28James%20Russell%29%2C%201840-1912

New from New Leaf Press:

• Education: Does God have an Opinion? A Biblical Apologetic for Christian Education and Homeschooling by Israel Wayne. Paperback; 238pp; R155.
• The Chronology of the Old Testament by Dr Floyd Nolen Jones. Revised colour edition with free CD included. Hardcover; A4 format; 330pp; R330.

Cheryl Ford version of Pilgrim’s progress now available:

• The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, as retold by Cheryl Ford in today’s English with scripture references. Paperback; 423pp; R190. This is the version of Pilgrim’s Progress that is used for the SMTI and Grace Counselling courses.

Bargain Audiobook:

• How to be filled with the Spirit by A W Tozer. Audiobook; R75.

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Grace Minister’s Conference:

The purpose of the these conferences is to encourage pastors in ministry and their wives through preaching from the Scriptures. Jesus said to His disciples: “Come away by yourselves… and rest a while” (Mark 6:31). This is an opportunity to spend time with the Word of God together with other labourers in the Lord’s harvest field.
Use this opportunity or help your pastor to make use of it!

Gauteng Conference: 8 – 10 January 2018
Venue: Pure Joy Lodge, Kameeldrift, Pretoria
Cape Town Conference: 10 – 12 January 2018
Venue: Stellenbosch Country Lodge, Stellenbosch

Themes:

“Seeing and preaching Christ in the Old Testament”
“The ministry of restoration”

Details and Registration for both Conferences
· Registration: Online only at: www.graceministers.co.za
· Early bird: Register and pay in full before 15 November 2017.
· Normal fee: Register and pay in full before 22 December 2017.
· Closing date: Registration closes on 22 December 2017
· Day visitors: Also have to register. Same dates apply.
· Fees: Day visitors: R800 p.p.
Staying guests. R1,800 (GP) / R2,200 (CPT) p.p. sharing.
See website for Early Bird discount.