From: "Beverly French" <frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us>
To: "Heritage" <gheritage.ga@verizon.net>
Subject: Blessings to All
Date: Sunday, September 01, 2002 6:48 AM

Home again!  Missed you all last week.

"This is my comfort in my affliction,
 that Thy word has revived me (preserved me alive).  Psalm 119:50

With all the uncertainties that face us each day it is to God's Word that we
cling, it is what 'preserves me alive'.  For it is Truth and it gives
comfort and hope.  I pray that we have hearts that long to know Christ
Jesus, the Word, more fully.  As we see Him in all things that touch our
lives we come to know Christ and His ways more fully.

Lest we forget, God is the giver of comfort!  Scripture tells us this very
thing:
"Show me a sign for good,
 That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,
 Because You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me."  Psalm 86:17

Here God is indicating the comfort that is to come to His people, Israel:
"In that day you will say:
 'I will praise you, O Lord
 Although you were angry with me,
 Your anger has turned away
 And you have comforted me.'"  Isaiah 12:1

And in Psalm 66:13 still speaking of His people,
"As one whom his mother comforts,
 So I will comfort you..."

For the beloved in Christ this is our reality now:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of
mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation..."
And why?
"...that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the
comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."  2 Corinthians 1:3-4

In 2 Corinthians 2:7 we find the Apostle Paul encouraging forgiveness and
comfort to the one who was censured and punished and has obviously repented,
"...You ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be
swallowed up with too much sorrow."

Paul assures the Thessalonians as he assures us that whether we are awake
or asleep we shall live with Christ, he says,
"Therefore comfort each other and edify one another..."
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Then in verse 14 he says,
"Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the
fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all."

So we are comforted by God that we may give comfort to others in their
tribulation; give comfort in and by forgiving; give comfort to edify or
build up one another -- the church; and to give comfort to those who are
fainthearted and weak.  This not of ourselves, but it is the outflow of
comfort that we have received of God.  Did you notice in the last verse
it says 'be patient with all'.  Those last five words may be the hardest of
all, but without it would there be real comfort or compassion?!

I close with Romans 15:4-6
"For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that
we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.  Now
may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one
another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Amen.