[Faith-talk] Good Night Message for Tuesday, February 12, 2013 and a Bit About My evening

[Paul]

Well folks, here we are nearing the close of another day.  In some groups it is known as either Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday.  Anyway several days ago I received an email from a local community organization listing events of interest to the residents of northeast Baltimore, and among them was a pancake dinner which included sausage, drinks (nonalcoholic) and desserts.  Naturally, no human can keep me away from an event that involves food, so I had to go.  And man was it great! Not only was the food great, but also the fellowship, even though I may not see people I met ever again, but you never know.  This was the first such event that I attended since the early '70's when I attended one in Quarryville PA in southern Lancaster County.  But anyway I digress.  You want the good night message and you'll get it right away.

Here in the U.S. those of us who are old enough to remember know that on this date in 1809, our 16th U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln, was born in a cabin near Hodgensville KY.  In commemoration of his birthday, here is an article I found several years ago entitled "Lincoln's Testimony," rendered as follows:

Abraham Lincoln was a backwoodsman who rose from humble beginnings to the heights of political power.  During the dark days of the Civil War, he served as a compassionate and resolute president.  Depression and mental pain were his frequent companions.  Yet the terrible emotional suffering he endured drove him to receive Jesus Christ by faith.

Lincoln told a crowd in his hometown in Illinois:  "When I left Sringfield, I asked the people to pray for me; I was not a Christian.  When I buried my son, the severest trial of my life, I was not a Christian.  But when I saw the graves of thousands of our soldiers, I then and there consecrated myself to Christ.  I do love Jesus." Life's most painful tragedies can bring us to a deeper understanding of the Savior.

When two men walked the road to Emmaus, they were dumbfounded by the senseless murder of Jesus of Nazareth.  Then a stranger joined them and gave scriptural insight about the suffering Messiah (Luke 24:27-28).  The stranger was Jesus Himself, and His ministry to them brought comfort.

Heartache has a way of pointing us to the Lord Jesus who has shared in our sufferings and can bring meaning to seemingly senseless pain.

And there you have it for today.  Although short, I hope that this short article brought you some spiritual as well as emotional comfort.

And now may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, throughout this night or day and especially in these last days in which we live.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul