Daily Strength for Daily Needs

Daily Strength for Daily Needs by Mary W. Tileston was recommended by my parents as an excellent devotional book. It has been a blessing to me over the past few weeks. Each morning after breakfast, N and I sit in the big leather chair and read the day's selection together. His favorite part is holding the bookmark and hiding it in the pages. Here is an excerpt from today's reading:

But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob,
and he that formed thee, O Israel,
Fear not: for I have redeemed thee,
I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

~Isaiah 43:1

God beholds thee individually, whoever thou art. "He calls thee by thy name." He sees thee, and understands thee. He knows what is in thee, all thy own peculiar feelings and thoughts, thy dispositions and likings, thy strength and thy weakness. He views thee in thy day of rejoicing and thy day of sorrow. He sympathizes in thy hopes and in thy temptations; He interests himself in all thy anxieties and thy remembrances, in all the risings and fallings of thy spirit. He compasses thee round, and bears thee in His arms; He takes thee up and sets thee down. Thou dost not love thyself better than He loves thee. Thou canst not shrink from pain more than He dislikes thy bearing it, and if He puts it on thee, it is as thou wilt put it on thyself, if thou art wise, for a greater good afterwards.

~John Henry Newman

G is traveling this week and these words reminded me that the Lord is with all three of us while he is away.

We also love to read from the book of Bible promises that Auntie L and Uncle R sent for N's baptism. It is a favorite throughout the day. Here we are reading it a few weeks ago.