Good morning,
On 1 June 2026, the Daily Devotion will begin new content. Grace Gems will appear Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Wednesday, will be my Bible study notes.
What are Grace Gems?
Our purpose is to humble the pride of man, to exalt the grace of God in salvation and to promote real holiness in heart and life.
Our desire is that the Holy Spirit, who is the Divine Revealer and Interpreter of Christ and His truth, may impart to your hearts a sober, spiritual and sanctifying receptivity of His Word—abasing self, and exalting Christ!
Our intention is to unfold and illustrate the Lord Jesus Christ in the relation in which He stands to His people—to unveil His glory, beauty, and fullness—to define the close bond of union that unites all His people to Him, and to bring you into a more personal realization of what Christ is to you, and of what you are to Christ.” (Octavius Winslow)
Our objective is to set before the Christian pilgrim some reflections which may prove challenging, consolatory and encouraging—as he journeys up from this bleak, arid, wilderness world, leaning on his Beloved.
May God’s blessing attend our humble effort to minister comfort to the downcast, strength to the weak, and courage to those who have set their faces towards their glorious eternal home. (https://www.gracegems.org/)
Complaining Christian
James Smith, “Bread from Heaven!” 1857
(Be sure to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
“Do you have a father?” Genesis 44:19
Standing at my window one day, while the cholera was raging in London, I saw two corpses carried by, followed by one little child, walking alone next to the coffins, with a few neighbors behind. That child was now an orphan. Both parents had been carried off by the pestilence. The sight of that child produced deep emotions, and awakened painful sympathy in my heart.
I was led to think of the sorrows and privations of orphanhood, and then of the happiness of the Lord’s people to whom Jesus has said, “I will not leave you as orphans” John 14:18. A believer can never be an orphan! He has an ever-living, ever-loving, ever-present Father! But many of the Lord’s people do not realize this, therefore they do not live and act under its influence.
There are believers who are always complaining of their circumstances:
they are worked too hard,
they are tried more than others,
they have such a vexing family,
they have such a demanding job,
they have such financial losses,
they have no end of things to vex, harass, and distress them!
Complaining Christian, “Do you have a father?”
If so, had your Father anything to do with fixing your lot?
Did He place you where you are?
Is He wise?
Is He good?
Has He ever told you, that all things shall work together for your good?
Does He know what is best for you?
Has He left things to ‘chance’–or has He arranged all in His own infinite mind, and does He work all by His unerring providence? If He does, then are you justified in complaining?
Have you any real cause to complain?
Will it better your circumstances?
Will it please your Father?
Will it any way help you?
If not, leave off complaining, and “having food and clothing, let us be content with these!”
Seek grace from God, that you may . . .
do all that is required,
bear all that is sent,
and endure all that is to be suffered, to His glory!
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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4005 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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