“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; Psalm 23:6 NKJV”

“A time to be born, And a time to die; Ecclesiastes 3:2 NKJV”

Several years ago, I was talking to a friend who recently lost her mother. I had not lost my mother yet, so while being concerned for my friend, I also had my own reasons to see how she was dealing with her loss. I always had this fear that when my mother died I would just curl up in a little ball and lie there till I died too. I asked my friend how she found the will to continue with her life. Her response was unique. She smiled, almost shrugging her shoulders, she said, “My mother lived her life without me before I was born. I can live my life without her now that she is gone.” I had never heard a response like that before, but I realized she was right.

Reading this you may think it sounds heartless, but I assure you my friend was not being heartless at all. She was being real and practical. From the day of her birth till the die she died, God’s goodness and mercy was with my friend’s mother all the days of her life. Even before she had a family, God’s goodness and mercy was with my friend’s mother just as much as when she had a family. She enjoyed her life, and every day had purpose with or without a family. God’s goodness and mercy is also with my friend all the days of her life. My friend’s life is filled with purpose the days following her mother’s death just as much as the days which she had a mother. When I am preaching at a funeral I always assure the family that God’s goodness and mercy followed their loved one all the days of his or her life, and I assure them that now that their loved one is resting, God’s goodness and mercy will follow them all the days of their life as well, and not just the days that they had their loved one alive.

by William Earnhardt

Its been seven years now since I did, indeed, lose my own mother. I wrote a post for the week my mother died, and I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciated all the heartwarming comments that followed! I was surprised that I could even write that week. I was surprised I did not curl up in a little ball and lie there till Jesus came. I was surprised at how my life continued. A couple weeks later, after my sermon, a friend commented that she was surprised I could preach so well right after losing my mother. I was just as surprised as she was, but I realized the obvious. As much as I dearly loved my mother, when she died, the reason I did not curl up in a little ball and die with her was because I live for Jesus!

My life continues because I continue living for Jesus. His mercy and goodness follow me all the days of my life. While my mother was living I lived for Jesus. Now that she is resting I live for Jesus. Every day has purpose. My mother would tell me wonderful stories about when she was younger before I was born. I loved hearing her stories. When I meet her again in heaven, I will be telling her wonderful stories about my life while she was resting. When we compare her wonderful stories about her life before I was born, and the wonderful stories about my life while she was resting, we will both joyfully proclaim, God’s goodness and mercy were with both of us all the days of our life!

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/gods-goodness-and-mercy-follow-us-all-the-days-of-our-life/

The beautiful picture on the front of our lesson pamphlet brings us our theme hymn for this quarter with it’s two variations in melody:
Hymn 552/546 – The Lord’s My Shepherd.

 Psalm 101:1  “I will sing of mercy and justice; To You, O Lord, I will sing praises”.

 On Sunday, a verse that stands out is Psalm 79:9 saying “God of our salvation”:
Hymn 339 – God Is My Strong Salvation.

Monday concludes with God’s grace:
Hymn 109 – Marvelous Grace.

There is a wonderful reminder on Tuesday that “He hears them now” so we will ask
Hear Our Prayer, O Lord – Hymn 684 today. It is so refreshing to know the Lord hears:
I Come To The Garden – Hymn 487.

There is a prayer song for Wednesday:
Hymn 682 – As You Have Promised, Lord. Just as “Psalm 77 begins with a plea to God for help”, this is found in
Hymn 103 – O God, Our Help. At the end of the day’s study we are shown “a confirmation of God’s faithfulness and trustworthiness (like Job)”. May we have this faith:
Hymn 583 – O For A Faith.

Our pre-1985 SDA Hymnal has just the hymn for Thursday’s study:
Yield Not To Temptation – number 498, if you are privileged to have this wonderful hymnal.

We are instructed about faith on Friday, just as does
Hymn 533 – O For A Faith. “Give Him your hand in simple faith and let Him lead you”, and pray
Father, Lead Me Day By Day – Hymn 482 so we may then boldly sing
He Leadeth Me – Hymn 537. May our prayer songs end with
Hymn 691 – Lead Me, Lord.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/singing-the-lords-song-in-a-strange-land-sining-with-inspiration/

Daily Lesson for Monday 29th of January 2024

These prayers for salvation from illness and death demonstrate that God’s children are not exempt from the sufferings of this world. The Psalms reveal the psalmist’s terrible afflictions. He is without strength, withering like grass, unable to eat, set apart with the dead, lying like the slain in the grave, repulsive to his friends, suffering and in despair. His bones cling to his skin.

Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com

Many psalms assume the Lord has permitted the trouble because of Israel’s disobedience. The psalmist recognizes that sin can bring sickness; therefore, he refers to the forgiveness that comes before healing (Psalms 41:3-4). However, some psalms, such as Psalms 88:1-18 and Psalms 102:1-28, acknowledge that the innocent suffering of God’s people is a fact of life, no matter how hard to understand.

In Psalms 88:1-18, God is charged with bringing the psalmist to the verge of death (Psalms 88:6-8). Notice, however, that even when the most daring complaints are uttered, the lament is clearly an act of faith, for if the Lord in His sovereignty allowed trouble, He could restore the well-being of His child.

At the grave’s threshold, the psalmist remembers God’s wonders, loving-kindness, faithfulness, and righteousness (Psalms 88:10-12). Despite his sense of being stricken by God, the psalmist clings to God. Although he suffers, he does not deny God’s love and knows that God is his only salvation. These appeals show that the psalmist knows not only suffering but also has an intimate knowledge of God’s grace and that the two do not necessarily exclude each other.

In short, both God’s permitting of suffering and His deliverance are demonstrations of His ultimate sovereignty. Knowing that God is in control inspires hope. When we read Psalms 88:1-18 in the light of Christ’s suffering, we are awed by the depths of His love, in which He was willing to pass through death’s door for the sake of humanity.

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/24a-05-at-deaths-door/