Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church
1217 Dillon Dr. (Wake Village) Texarkana, Texas 75501
March 06, 2005 
Elder Randy Johnson, Pastor                               Bro. Ronnie Henderson, Song Director  
Pastor E-Mail: sgmbcpastor@countrybaptist.org          Web Site: www.countrybaptist.org/sgmbc

I am full of confusion!
Job 10:15

God is the great Ruler, Director, and Controller of all things!
We must not look on the varied events that are ever taking place in this world, as a mere matter of 'chance'--a confused medley--as though these multitudinous circumstances were
all thrown like marbles into a bag, and thrown back out without any order or arrangement.
God is a God of order.
In the natural world, the world of creation--all is in order.
In the spiritual world, the world of grace--all is in order.
And in the providential world, the world of providence--all is order also.
To our mind, indeed, all often seems disorder. But this arises from our ignorance, and from not seeing the whole as one definitely arranged plan.
If you were to see a weaver working at a loom, and saw nothing but the threads and needles jumping up in continual motion, you would see nothing but confusion. Nor could you
form the slightest conception of the pattern which was being worked. But when the whole was completed, and the silk taken off the roller--then you would see a pattern arranged in beautiful order--every thread concurring to form one harmonious design. But all this was known beforehand by the artist who designed the pattern, and every arrangement was made in strict subserviency to it.
But if this is the case as to Gods appointments in providence, how much more is it true of His glorious designs in grace. Every . . .
trial,
temptation,
affliction,
sorrow,
are but the result of a definite plan in His eternal mind!
Yet to us how often all seems confusion! This confusion is not so much in the things themselves--as in our mind. Job, when surrounded by trouble, cried out, "I am full of
confusion!" Yet we can see in reading his history that all his trials were working toward an appointed end. So every trial, sorrow, temptation or affliction, which has ever lain, or ever will lie, in your path--has been marked out by infinite, unerring wisdom!
Is not the commonest road laid out according to a definite plan? And does not the surveyor, when he lays it out, put every mile-stone in its proper place?
So, does not the Lord lay out beforehand the road in which His people should walk? And does He not put a trial here and a sorrow there--an affliction at this turning and a cross at that corner? All is definitely planned in His infinite wisdom, to bring the traveler safely home to Zion!

By: (J. C. Philpot, "Joy and Gladness for Mourning Souls")

...School board members from around Louisiana have opened their annual convention with prayer, in defiance of a federal judge who banned public prayer at school board meetings in a district north of New Orleans. The executive director of the Louisiana School Boards Association said, "Let it be known, and let the ACLU know, that this meeting started with the Pledge and a prayer." Last Friday, Judge Ginger Berrigan -- a former president of the Louisiana American Civil Liberties Union -- ruled in favor of a parent who sued to ban school board prayers. An attorney for the state school boards association says it will help the district appeal Berrigan's ruling, which also has been denounced by Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco. [AP]

Source The Agape News Press

Gentleness is a sure result of the Sacred Dove's transforming power: hearts touched by His benign influence are meek and lowly henceforth and for ever. Harmlessness follows, as a matter of course; eagles and ravens may hunt their prey--the turtledove can endure wrong, but cannot inflict it. We must be harmless as doves. The dove is an apt picture of love, the voice of the turtle is full of affection; and so, the soul visited by the blessed Spirit, abounds in love to God, in love to the brethren, and in love to sinners; and above all, in love to Jesus. The brooding of the Spirit of God upon the face of the deep, first produced order and life, and in our hearts, He causes and fosters new life and light. Blessed Spirit, as Thou didst rest upon our dear Redeemer, even so rest upon us from this time forward and for ever.