Our worship service today touched my heart in an unusual way. I'm often amazed at how there are little snippets in the service that so directly meet the needs of my heart.

This morning most of the songs were ones we rarely sing. The second song this morning was:

In Vain Would Boasting Reason Find

In vain would boasting reason find
The path to happiness and God:
Her weak directions leave the mind
Bewildered in a doubtful road.

Jesus, Thy words alone impart
Eternal life; on these I live;
Diviner comforts cheer my heart
Than all the powers of nature give.

Here let my constant feet abide;
Thou art the true, the living way;
Let Thy good Spirit be my guide
To the bright realms of endless day.

The various forms that men devise
To shake my faith with treacherous art,
I scorn as vanity and lies
And bind Thy Gospel to my heart.

I like how clearly the song communicates the fact that we do not come to God through a process of reason - we come to Him in faith, allowing the words of Jesus to comfort our hearts.

Our Sunday School text today was Isaiah 9-10. The first 7 verses of chapter 9 are a beautiful prophecy of the coming Messiah. Imagine what a comfort that promise was to the people to whom it was written, in a time of great distress and pronounced judgments. In much the same way, our promise of the second coming gives us great hope.

David L. Miller preached a sermon from Hebrews 12:1-5. He talked about following God faithfully. One comment stood out to me: "God is able to do the unusual." I needed that reminder right now, as I wait on unanswered prayers.

Our closing song was titled "Lead, Kindly Light". We sang the first verse only.

Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom
Lead Thou me on;
The night is dark, and I am far from home;
Lead Thou me on;
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see....
The distant scene, one step enough for me.

That is the hard thing: being content to see the future one step at a time.