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SUMMER 2016
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bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death,
mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. (Psalm 116:7–8)”
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and co-
meth down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variable-
ness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).
What does God tell me? He tells me that His goodness and
wisdom are always in His plans for His children. Therefore, they
must work hand-in-hand, never arguing or opposing each other.
They are always in perfect harmony and unison.
Thinking back to the Garden, I was recently reminded that the
first sin occurred after Eve doubted God’s perfect wisdom and
goodness. The serpent enticed her to feel as though God was with-
holding goodness from her, keeping back something healthy and
desirable.
“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes
shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil”
(Gen. 3:5).
I often feel the same way when I operate based upon my senses
rather than based upon God’s Word. Yet, the fruit was not hers
for the taking. God had designed that tree to bring Him glory
through another purpose. God has given me an entire garden of
fruit trees to from which to eat—fruit that was designed for me to
enjoy. His blessings are rich.
One of my favorite books of the Bible is Philippians, in which
Paul says, “According to my earnest expectation and my hope,
Homeschooler
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Homeschooler
that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as
always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether
it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die
is gain.” Paul was being persecuted for his faith, and none of us
would call his physical situation a bed of roses—or anything close
to it. But he was full. His contentment came from knowing Christ
and from bringing God glory, both of which (through Christ)
can be successfully accomplished through the most unenviable
circumstances imaginable. True contentment comes from things
which can never be taken away from me. God has poured out
spiritual blessings on me. No matter what I walk through, the joy
of knowing and serving Christ only grows deeper. Why would I
despise His goodness and sabotage my joy by presuming that I
need or deserve more, disbelieving what He has labeled “good”
for me?
Emily Selander
is a 2013 homeschool graduate who lives near Silver
City, Iowa, with her parents and two younger sisters. Her goal is to glo-
rify the Lord each day of her life by serving and loving Him to the fullest.
She spends much of her time helping her family manage their home
and ministry, serving at church, and being involved in the discipleship
of younger girls through various avenues, such as leading a Bright
Lights group. She also spent the past year organizing and facilitating
the home education for a family with younger children.