Only God could use words with such sweet timing as He did in my quiet time this morning with Him. From "My Utmost for His Highest" -- Oswald Chambers preached the sermon penned below by his dear wife. I'm so glad he spoke it all those years ago (what was true then, is still true now), and I'm so thankful for his wife's obedience to put on paper the sermons she had heard her dear husband preach. How she must have missed him as she wrote his words for others to glean truth from. (It was not until after his passing that she began writing the many books we now have from Oswald Chambers - he himself only wrote one book during his lifetime.)

Thank you all for your prayers!
This little soldier is feeling much better - no sore throat now - no headache - and words of strength and courage are finding the marrow of my bones now.
Here was today's dose of truth ---

All Efforts of Worth and Excellence Are Difficult

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Enter by the narrow gate . . . . Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life . . . —Matthew 7:13-14

If we are going to live as disciples of Jesus, we have to remember that all efforts of worth and excellence are difficult. The Christian life is gloriously difficult, but the difficulty does not make us faint and cave in—it stirs us up to overcome. Do we appreciate the miraculous salvation of Jesus Christ enough to be our utmost for His highest—our best for His glory?

God saves people by His sovereign grace through the atonement of Jesus, and "it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" ( Philippians 2:13 ). But we have to "work out" that salvation in our everyday, practical living (Philippians 2:12). If we will only start on the basis of His redemption to do what He commands, then we will find that we can do it. If we fail, it is because we have not yet put into practice what God has placed within us. But a crisis will reveal whether or not we have been putting it into practice. If we will obey the Spirit of God and practice in our physical life what God has placed within us by His Spirit, then when a crisis does come we will find that our own nature, as well as the grace of God, will stand by us.

Thank God that He does give us difficult things to do! His salvation is a joyous thing, but it is also something that requires bravery, courage, and holiness. It tests us for all we are worth. Jesus is "bringing many sons to glory" (Hebrews 2:10 ), and God will not shield us from the requirements of sonship. God’s grace produces men and women with a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ, not pampered, spoiled weaklings. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to live the worthy and excellent life of a disciple of Jesus in the realities of life. And it is always necessary for us to make an effort to live a life of worth and excellence.

God is good to us all the time. He allows me to be weak - and will supply the strength at just the moment it will be needed. If He supplied it to early - then I might become cocky and think too highly of myself (thinking I was capable on my own - God forbid). If He supplied it to late - then I might lose heart and shrink back from the calling completely having no confidence in the reason for the task at hand. But instead He supplies the strength and courage at just the perfect moment -- just after I've realized my complete inability. Then HIS COMPLETE ABILITY shines most beautifully --- even if for no one else but this one daughter. (But I pray it will be seen my MANY).
In my weakness --- HE is strong.
That He would increase and I would decrease.

May we see more of you Father -- and less of ourselves...