Standard Jet DBnb` Ugr@?~1y0̝cßFN{a7)(,`{6i߱nCS53y[/|*|Z4mf_Љ$g'DeFx -bT4.0dv Y =S  Y   Y cY  Y Y  Y  CY  Y   Y C Y C Y  Y  Y 2CY  Y   Y  Y ConnectDatabaseDateCreateDateUpdate FlagsForeignNameIdLvLvExtraLvModule LvPropName OwnerParentIdRmtInfoLongRmtInfoShortTypeCCCCCCYYIdParentIdName        OYS Y Y Y  Y 2ACMFInheritableObjectIdSID  AtYObjectId YoSY  Y Y Y  Y  Y Y  Y AttributeExpressionFlagLvExtra Name1 Name2ObjectId Ordernzf edY"ObjectIdAttribute -YoSY Y Y  Y  Y  Y  Y  Y ccolumn grbiticolumnszColumnszObject$szReferencedColumn$szReferencedObjectszRelationship ۂ ۂ ۂYYYszObject$szReferencedObjectszRelationshipYv1b N  : k & W  C t/  @@X  @@OJmJLJkQkiQ^JmYdbkWYfkmJL^Qk`kvkJMQk`kvkdL[QMmk`kvkhoQiYQk`kvkiQ^JmYdbkWYfkmdfYMbdmQk`kvkOL  @~  @ @l l l l l lllllllllllll      d k f  #vS@U$vS@Topic Notes@mDDD88888886 @LmvS@LmvS@MSysRelationshipsDDDDDDDDDDB LmvS@LmvS@MSysQueries88888888886 LmvS@LmvS@MSysACEs22222222220 LmvS@LmvS@MSysObjects88888888886 LmvS@LmvS@MSysDb.........., LmvS@LmvS@Relationships<<<<<<<<<<: LmvS@LmvS@Databases44444444442 LmvS@LmvS@Tables.........., jY N Y Y d YID TitleCommentsjkYYIDPrimaryKeyHv1bLVALY{\rtf1\ansi\deff0{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Georgia;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue255;\red0\green0\blue0;} {\*\generator Riched20 5.40.11.2210;}\viewkind4\uc1\pard\sb240\sa60\qc\lang1033\kerning28\b\f0\fs60 In God\rquote s Waiting Room\par \pard\sb120\sa120\qc\kerning0\i\fs40\ldblquote Learning Through Suffering\rdblquote\par \pard\sb60\sa60\qc\i0\fs24 by \line Lehman Strauss, Litt.D., F.R.G.S. \line Biblical Studies Press \line 1997\par \pard\fi720\sb60\sa60\qj\b0\fs20 Dr. Strauss taught Old Testament history for eight years at Philadelphia Bible Institute, and served as pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church, Bristol, Pennsylvania, from 1939 to 1957. He was pastor of Highland Park Baptist Church (Highland Park, Michigan) until the end of 1963 when he resigned to devote full time to an itinerant Bible conference and evangelistic ministry both in the States and abroad. Dr. Strauss was residing in Florida and writing his 19th book at age 86 when the Lord called him home in June 1997. \par This book was originally published in 1984 by Moody Press and is no longer in print. His written materials are used by permission.\par \pard\sb60\sa60\qc\b\scaps\fs22 Trademark and Copyright Information\par \pard\sb60\sa60\b0\fs20 Copyright \'a9 1997 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. and the authors. All rights reserved. For free usage information, please read the BSF Website Copyright Statement for fair use statements.\fs24 \par Electronic Access to this Material\par \pard\sb60\sa60\qc\fs20 This Material is available for use on the internet via an agreement with the Biblical Studies Foundation, a non-Profit Foundation at:\line\fs24{\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "www.bible.org"}}{\fldrslt{\ul\cf1 www.bible.org}}}\f0\fs24\par \pard\sb60\sa60\fs20 Biblical Studies copyrighted by individual authors and the Biblical studies Press are not shareware or public domain and may not be duplicated without permission.\par \pard\sb60\sa60\qc\b\fs24 BSF Website Copyright Stat:LVALJement\par \pard\sb60\sa60\b0\fs20 From our website at {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "www.bible.org"}}{\fldrslt{\ul\cf1 www.bible.org}}}\f0\fs20 , you may download the information and print it for yourself and others as long as you give it away and do not charge for it. In this case, free means free. It cannot be bundled with anything sold, nor can you charge for shipping, handling, or anything. It is provided for personal study or for use in preparation of sermons, Sunday school classes, or other non-commercial study. This release does not apply to other media than paper printed distribution. \par For Free distribution of more than 100 copies, you must obtain written permission and comply with reasonable guidelines of content control and include currently valid BSP copyright and organizational acknowledgments. \par For permission, inquire by E-Mail to \ldblquote head@bible.org\rdblquote or call 800/575-2425.\par \pard\sb400\sa120\qc\b\scaps0\fs32 Contents \par \pard\lang3082\b0\fs20 1: Great Moments in Marriage, and Then--\par 2: God Is in Control\tab\par 3: The Arows of the Almighty\par 4: In Time of Need\tab\par 5: He Cares\par 6: All You Need\tab\par 7: A Soft Pillow for Troubled Hearts and Suffering Bodies\par 8: The God of All Comfort\tab\par 9: That Strange Love of God\par Conclusion\tab\cf2\lang1033\kerning28\f1\fs22\par } e  *O b   10: Conclusion @i." 09: That Strange Love of God\YJ> 08: The God of All ComfortVQYF:07: Soft Pillow Troubled Hearts & Suffering BodiesGYvj06: All You Need=Y2&05: He Careso6Y*04: In Time of Need\0Y8,03: The Arows of the Almighty &YL@02: God Is in Control8Y<001: Great Moments in Marriage, and Then--YdX00 Strauss - Learning through SufferingY`TLVALY{\rtf1\ansi\deff0{\fonttbl{\f0\fswiss\fprq2\fcharset0 Arial;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Georgia;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green128\blue0;\red0\green0\blue0;} {\stylesheet{ Normal;}{\s1 heading 1;}} {\*\generator Riched20 5.40.11.2210;}\viewkind4\uc1\pard\keepn\s1\sb240\sa60\qc\lang1033\kerning28\b\f0\fs28 1: \line Great Moments in Marriage, \line and Then\emdash\par \pard\li720\ri720\sb60\sa60\qj\kerning0\b0\i\fs20 Sickness can be one of life\rquote s most distressing and humbling circumstances, both for the person who is afflicted and for the loved ones who stand on the sidelines. This is particularly true of strokes, when both brain and body are affected. These two are intricately related, for the brain is the power station that controls the members of the body.\par Having spent seventy-six consecutive days in the hospital watching the anguish and frustration of stroke victims, I have learned something of the depths of humiliation and helplessness to which we poor mortals can fall. This personal account is intended to give you understanding and help in responding to any troubling situation the Lord may allow to come into your life.\par \pard\fi720\sb60\sa60\qj\i0 The year 1981 was a magnificent milestone for my wife Elsie and me. It was a year to which we looked forward and one we will never forget. That year marked our golden wedding anniversary. Fifty beautiful years!\par Ours has not been a perfect marriage, of course. There cannot be a perfect marriage where two imperfect people are involved. But having listened to the complaints of hundreds of wives and husbands who have come to me for counsel, I do not hesitate to tell you that our marriage has been far above average. Sure, we have had problems, but we have learned how to resolve them.\par Our marriage has been packed with great moments. We were married June 17, 1931. In preparation for that big event, I had spent just about every dollar I had saved. After the wedding, Elsie had sixty dollars; in fact, be\-tween the two of us we had sixty dollars!LVAL We enjoyed our honeymoon in Atlantic City--one week at the Blackstone Hotel. (In those days you got a lot for your money.) What a week!\par I wish I had the time and space to tell you about some of the wonderful moments we shared during our half \-century together. But our 50th anniversary in 1981 was the best of all. Our families and friends had arranged celebrations, seven of them, from one end of our country to the other: in Escondido, California; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Detroit, Michigan; Middletown, North East, Mary\-land; Bristol, Pennsylvania; Schroon Lake, New York; and Charleston, West Virginia.\par A full schedule of meetings had been planned through that summer and fall. It was without doubt the greatest year of our lives. After it was all over, we both relived with pleasure the joy of those glorious twelve months.\par Meanwhile, we looked ahead to a full schedule of meet\-ings in 1982. During January and February, I spoke forty\- one times in Florida. Then we drove to our home in Escondido, California, for three weeks of rest and study. Our plans were for Elsie to remain home during the latter part of March and April while I journeyed east to resume my ministry.\par Then it happened. On March 27, I arrived in Peoria, Illinois, to begin a one\_week conference on prophecy un\-der the direction of the Moody Bible Institute. I was sit\-ting in the motel room beside the telephone on Sunday afternoon, waiting with joyful anticipation. It was prear\-ranged that Elsie would call me at four o'clock, Illinois time. The telephone had been a vital link between us whenever I was away. A man many miles from the one he loves becomes lonely.\par With the first ring of the telephone, I picked it up and answered. The voice I heard on the other end of the line, however, was not the one I expected. Our son Richard was calling.\par "Dad, the news is not good. Mother had a stroke." He gave me what information he had. I told him I would make flight plans and call him back.\par I put down the telephonLVALe and just sat there stunned. After fifty years of a happy and trial\_free relationship, why should the roof cave in like this? That Sunday in March was the darkest day in all my seventy\_one years. Now, as I write these lines, it is nine months to the day since Elsie was stricken. The severity of the trial has not diminished. At times it has been even more severe.\par I have been teaching the Bible and preaching sermons and writing books for forty\_five years. I have set forth fervently, and sometimes dogmatically, the great doctrines of our historical Christian faith. I sought to comfort, con\-sole, and cheer sorrowing and suffering Christians. But trial and tribulation are now my constant companions. Truths that I once knew intellectually and academically, I am now learning experientially. There is a great difference.\par In this book I am writing the testimony of that which is taking place in my own life during these months of watching my dear Elsie suffer. Her stroke was serious, and her recovery limited. Since her discharge from the hospital in mid\_June, I have been caring for her twenty \-four hours every day. When you watch the one person suffer whom you love more than you love your own life, you reach a turning point. I am at that point now.\par This is not the testimony of a hero who has been living victoriously on the mountaintop. Some days and nights I have been in the valley. Back in the 1940s the young people at the Pinebrook Summer Bible Conference in Pennsylvania used to sing the following chorus:\par \pard\li720\ri720\sb60\sa60 Down in the dumps I'll never go,\line That's where the devil keeps me low, \line So I'll sing with all my might \line And I'll keep my armor bright, \line But, down in the dumps I'll never go. \line (Author Unknown)\par \pard\fi720\sb60\sa60\qj I sang that chorus many times those days, with good intentions. But I won't sing it now. From experience I know better. In recent months I have been in those "dumps" a few times. Thank God, I am not there now!\par LVAL The Word of God has been my stronghold in these difficult days. One of the most significant statements of our Lord was spoken during His confrontation with Satan. He said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (\cf1\ul Mat_4:4\cf0\ulnone ). When Jesus spoke those words He was not minimiz\-ing the importance of food for the body. He was saying that man has needs other than physical and material, needs that call for complete dependence upon God. Paul wrote about the outward man and the inward man (\cf1\ul 2Co_4:16\cf0\ulnone ; see also \cf1\ul Rom_7:22\cf0\ulnone and \cf1\ul Eph_3:16\cf0\ulnone ). Both need to be fed, and each has its own prescribed diet.\par In times of trial it is easy to give in to the weight of the problem. Sorrow, suffering, or loss has a way of drain\-ing us of the strength we need to bear up under the trial. That empty feeling within us cries for a means of finding peace. Some people turn to drink, expecting that the alco\-hol will meet their need. I have a friend who becomes a compulsive eater whenever he faces a serious problem. But what we put into the body, which is the outward man, can never feed the inner man, which Peter calls "the hidden man of the heart" (\cf1\ul 1Pe_3:4\cf0\ulnone ). Our Lord said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." When Satan tempted Him, He went immediately to the Holy Scrip\-tures. Because He had not eaten food for forty days and nights, He was hungry and in need of physical nourish\-ment. The devil, the author of false confidence, tempted our Lord to feed the body. Instead, Christ drew confi\-dently from the Scriptures during His testing.\par As I sat contemplating what my son had told me on the telephone about Elsie, my thoughts went immediately to this passage:\par \pard\li720\ri720\sb60\sa60\qj\i There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above tLVALhat ye are able; but will with the tempta\-tion also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (\cf1\ul 1Co_10:13\cf0\ulnone )\par \pard\fi720\sb60\sa60\qj\i0 I was reminded that nothing unique had happened to Elsie and me. Our trial was a common one. I have learned since then that in the United States more than 500, 000 people each year have a stroke.\par I received a similar reminder from these words of the apostle Peter: "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you" (\cf1\ul 1Pe_4:12\cf0\ulnone ). Because we are God's children, and because He permitted the trial, I knew He would also provide for our every need. His fidelity and faithfulness were my guarantee. This is not the mere fig\-ment of my imagination but the glorious fact that God has been with me to keep me from being overwhelmed by the trial. God is faithful.\par A phone call to the airline ticket office informed me that there were no flights leaving Peoria that Sunday evening that would give me connections to Escondido. I arranged a reservation on the earliest flight Monday morn\-ing, phoned Richard, and began to wait. I found myself in God's waiting room.\par Hospitals have waiting rooms--small enclosures where people go to wait and hope for a favorable change in the condition of a loved one. Many of the people I have seen in hospital waiting rooms were anxious, worried, and frus\-trated.\par I have been in God's waiting room since my wife had her stroke. God in His faithfulness has enabled me to bear the trial. Elsie remains paralyzed, and she needs my love and care twenty\_four hours every day. I too am waiting and hoping for a favorable change; as I wait I am drawing upon the infinite resources of God's grace. This unex\-pected trial has changed my well\_laid plans, but I know that God's plans are far better than mine.\par Even so, this business of waiting is one tough assign\-ment. I had never learned experientially that waiting is a neLVALcessary part of Christian training. This is my first expe\-rience in God's waiting room. If "Waiting 101" were an elective course in God's school, you may be certain I would not choose it. But God didn't give me a choice--it was a required course. He made the choice for me, know\-ing I needed it. So I continue to wait.\par The Scriptures contain many exhortations for Chris\-tians to wait for the Lord to fulfill His plans in His time. David prayed. "Thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day" (\cf1\ul Psa_25:5\cf0\ulnone ). (I could add, all the night.) David learned to wait, and he found it to be a profitable experience. He wrote, "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: Wait, I say, on the Lord" (\cf1\ul Psa_27:14\cf0\ulnone ).\par At times I have found it hard to wait. I get in a hurry, and God seems so slow. But I am learning that "they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (\cf1\ul Isa_40:31\cf0\ulnone ). This verse, as well as others like it, is proving to be blessedly true as I remain in God's waiting room.\par I have always had the ambition and desire to do God's work. Since leaving the pastorate in 1963, I have averaged about 60, 000 miles of travel annually, spoken 400 messages each year before audiences, and taught the Bible twenty\_five minutes each weekday on the national radio program "Bible Study Time." It has been difficult to say no when invitations come to teach and preach God's Word. For the present, I do not have a choice. On April 1, 1982, I canceled all scheduled meetings for the twelve months following. I am thankful for more time to wait before the Lord in prayer. I am also grateful for the privilege of ministering to my dear Elsie.\par Recently I read again the Twenty\_third Psalm. Verse 2 came alive to me with fresh insight: "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures." He maketh me. I had alwaLVALys been active in Christian service, but I now have the feel\-ing that I was busier than God wanted me to be. So I asked myself, "Is it possible that because God loves me, He allowed this painful trial to make me lie down?" Think about it.\par I see a close connection between \cf1\ul Psa_23:2\cf0\ulnone and \cf1\ul Mar_6:31\cf0\ulnone , where our Lord said to His disciples: "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat." This statement of our Lord immediately followed the disciples' return from their first preaching mission. I detect in \cf1\ul Mar_6:30\cf0\ulnone a bit of pride as the disciples reported to Christ all they had accomplished.\par Note the point of likeness between \cf1\ul Psa_23:2\cf0\ulnone and \cf1\ul Mar_6:31\cf0\ulnone . The psalmist said, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures." Mark records that the disciples were too busy to eat. We know Mark was speaking of food for the body, but we may profit from a spiritual application as well. We need to get alone with God and allow the Good Shepherd to lead us to fresh pastures of the Scrip\-tures. If we will not do so voluntarily, then He will make us lie down.\par One of my regrets is that I didn't take more time to lie down in the green pastures of God's Word during those busy years. I did read and study my Bible daily, but much of that reading and studying was to keep up with the demands of my speaking schedule.\par Today I am grateful that God has made me lie down in the fresh green pastures of His Word. During these months of trial He has enabled me to experience the preciousness and power of His truth. My Good Shepherd has fed my soul, and I have not lacked one thing that is necessary and good. The green pastures of the Shepherd's Word are a sharp contrast to the dry desert wastelands of this world.\par Nothing is wrong with sincere ambition and the desire to keep busy in God's work, but we need resting places along the wayLVAL. God said to Elijah, "Hide thyself" (\cf1\ul 1Ki_17:3\cf0\ulnone ), and then He appeared to Elijah saying, "Go, shew thyself" (\cf1\ul 1Ki_18:1\cf0\ulnone ). The prophet needed time alone with God before he could face the wicked Ahab. We all must learn sooner or later that we too need time alone with the Good Shepherd.\par The flight home from Peoria on March 29 was a new experience for me. I have flown more than a million miles in the past fifty years, but this trip was different. At times it seemed that this flight alone was a million miles. There I was, a lonely man sitting in a plane, yet surrounded by people. I did not know the seriousness of Elsie's illness. I only knew that she had a stroke. I couldn't think of any\-thing or anyone except Elsie. I felt bleak and desolate. Never had I known such loneliness. I breathed a weak prayer, "Dear Lord, help me!" I wanted to say more, but I just couldn't articulate. I can't remember when I felt so drained, so utterly weak--too weak to pray.\par But God came to me in a most comforting and consol\-ing way by calling to my mind one of His precious prom\-ises. I had memorized it as a young Christian. "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest" (\cf1\ul Exo_33:14\cf0\ulnone ). I am aware of the fact that some scholars punctu\-ate this verse as a question, and they could be correct. But in my mind, there was no question about God's presence being with me on my flight home. The Holy Spirit minis\-tered assurance and peace as He brought other portions of Scripture to my remembrance. "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee" (\cf1\ul Isa_43:2\cf0\ulnone ). "And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee" (\cf1\ul Deu_31:8\cf0\ulnone ). "Fear thou not; for I am with thee" (\cf1\ul Isa_41:10\cf0\ulnone ). I did not need to ask God to be with me, for He has prom\-ised to be with me. He kept His promise!\par One of the blessings of this trial came to me as I was led from the "He" to the "thou" of Psalm 23--"\i He\i0 maketh me tLVALo lie down.\~.\~. . \i thou\i0 art with me" (italics added). There is a difference between talking about the Lord and speaking directly to Him. In the latter, the waiting room becomes the presence room. The Good Shepherd's pres\-ence continues to comfort and strengthen me. There were days and nights when, looking through these human eyes, I couldn't see any light at the end of the tunnel. But in those darkest moments Christ's presence provided com\-fort and care.\par I am writing these lines on a dull, drab day. Stroke patients can be up one day and down the next. Today is a down day for Elsie. The burden has not lightened, and I have no idea what the outcome will be. But one thing is certain--my heart has found a resting place.\par Our Lord said, "I will never leave thee [not ever, at any time], nor forsake thee" (\cf1\ul Heb_13:5\cf0\ulnone ). That is His \i promise\i0 ! The same verse contains a \i precept\i0 , "Be content with such things as ye have." I do not know if the Lord will heal Elsie, but I do know that He will never leave us nor forsake us.\par The devil has tried to dissuade me, to turn me from Christ, to stir up a spirit of discontent within me. But he has not succeeded! The presence of Christ has made me satisfied with my state. The Christian standard of content\-ment is a lofty one. It would be beyond my reach, if it were not for the presence of my Lord. I have what the world cannot give. I have Christ. No one can improve on that!\par I cannot say with the apostle Paul that "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (\cf1\ul Php_4:11\cf0\ulnone ). But I can testify that I am learning "through Christ which strengtheneth me" (\cf1\ul Php_4:13\cf0\ulnone ).\par The flight from Peoria to California was a lonely one, but I was not alone. I say to my suffering brothers and sisters in Christ--rest assured that our Lord will never desert you.\par \pard\cf2\kerning28\f1\fs22\par } LVALY{\rtf1\ansi\deff0{\fonttbl{\f0\fswiss\fprq2\fcharset0 Arial;}{\f1\fnil\fcharset0 Georgia;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green128\blue0;\red0\green0\blue0;} {\stylesheet{ Normal;}{\s1 heading 1;}{\s2 heading 2;}} {\*\generator Riched20 5.40.11.2210;}\viewkind4\uc1\pard\keepn\s1\sb240\sa60\qc\lang1033\kerning28\b\f0\fs28 2: \line God Is in Control \par \pard\li720\ri720\sb60\sa60\qj\kerning0\b0\i\fs20 God is the creator and controller of the universe and all that is in it, whether animate or inanimate. Any use or disposition He chooses to make of any part of His creation is His sovereign right. God is accountable only to Himself. He reports to no\-body. He is not required at any time to give to any person any explanation for anything He says or does. He is the superpower above all powers in every area of His creation\par We do not expect to understand fully the purpose for our trials until our Lord calls us home to be with Him. But we do know that He loves us too much to harm us, and that He is far more concerned with our welfare than we are. God's choices are always right. He is capable of carry\-ing out any project to a successful conclusion without the possibility of fault or failure. Nothing in His universe hap\-pens by chance or accident. For every effect there is a cause. God "worketh all things after the counsel of His own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory" (\cf1\ul Eph_1:11\cf0\ulnone\_12). Yes, God is in control.\par \pard\fi720\sb60\sa60\qj\i0 It was Wednesday, April 14, 1982. Eighteen days had passed since Elsie's stroke. The neurologist in charge requested that I meet with him. I waited expectantly in the corridor outside Elsie's room. When the doctor appeared his remarks were brief and pointed.\par "We are making arrangements to move your wife to a rehabilitation center in San Diego."\par "What led you to this decision?" I asked.\par He hesitated. I detected a bit of concern in his delayed reply. I was right. His words came slowly.\par "There is nothing more that we can do LVALmedically for Mrs. Strauss." He placed his hand on my shoulder and patted it gently. "I'm sorry," he said, and he walked away.\par For a few seconds I stood motionless, my mind almost blank. Then I walked slowly into the room, kissed Elsie, and sat in the chair beside the bed.\par She spoke first. "What did the doctor tell you?"\par "He said that you will be transferred to a rehabilitation center in San Diego."\par I took her hand in mine. Then I assured her that there was nothing to fear because God was in control.\par But did I really believe that God was in control? The mere thought of questioning the sovereignty of God scared me. But then, the government of the universe is a question with which most of us have grappled at some time. We Christians affirm our belief in the sovereignty of God, but our faith is challenged in times of natural upheaval, national disaster, or personal affliction. Pain and poverty, disease and death, sorrow and suffering all tend to cause us to think seriously about God as creator and controller of the world of which we are a part. It is not always easy to believe that God is in control.\par On that Wednesday in April 1982, my faith was being tested. At that particular moment my mind was not capable of rationalizing the majesty of God's sovereignty. When I was told the seriousness of Elsie's condition, I realized that some cherished plans would have to be canceled. Quite frankly, I could not understand God's reason for this turn of events. But I knew that the Bible contains all we poor mortals need to know. Our Lord said, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (\cf1\ul Mat_4:4\cf0\ulnone ). So I went immediately to the Scriptures for help.\par \pard\keepn\s2\sb180\sa60\qc\b\fs24 God's Sovereignty and the Scriptures\par \pard\fi720\sb60\sa60\qj\b0\fs20 Although the words sovereign and sovereignty do not appear in the King James Version of the Bible, the fact of God's sovereignty is its major mesLVAL sage.\par The word \i sovereign\i0 comes from the Latin word super. It conveys the idea of superior and supreme, primary and paramount, unequaled and unexcelled. The God of the Bible is eternal and self\_existent. He is supreme in excellence and perfect in all His ways. He is the one and only autonomist, self\_contained and self\_controlled, with the right and power of self\_government. God is infinite in His imperial independence. His capacities and capabilities far surpass the scope of human reasons.\par After Elsie had her stroke, someone sent her a book entitled \i Yet Will I Trust Him\i0 by Peg Rankin. The book is nontechnical and nontheological, but we found it to be practical and helpful. It contains this brief definition of God's sovereignty, "God can do anything He wants to do, anytime He wants to do it, anyway He wants to do it, and for any purpose He wants to accomplish." Any use or disposition God chooses to make of any part of His creation, animate or inanimate, is His sovereign right. When God revealed to Abraham that He would destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, the patriarch knew that many people would die. To that frightening revelation Abraham said, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (\cf1\ul Gen_18:25\cf0\ulnone ).\par In addition to being sovereign, God is righteous. This means that He can do no wrong. If God could do wrong, He would cease to be God. When those two cities were destroyed, God was in control. He was doing what He wanted to do, when He wanted to do it, in the way He wanted to do it, and for the purpose He wanted to accomplish. And in so doing, He did right.\par The book of Daniel was written to teach the sovereign rule of God over all nations on earth. Read these excerpts:\par \pard\li720\ri720\sb60\sa60\qj --to the intent that the living may know that the most High rulet