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Ever Been Disappointed? Health? Job? Self? Friend? Family?

Thomas O. Chisholm School teacher at 16 Changed jobs many times due to health – Newspaper editor/manager – Minister – Insurance sales Wrote 1200 poems; 800+ published; many set to music – O To Be Like Thee – Only in Thee – Great is Thy Faithfulness

Only in Thee Only in Thee, O Savior mine, Dwelleth my soul in peace divine, Peace that the world, though all combine, Never can take from me. Pleasures of earth, so seemingly sweet, Fail at the last my longings to meet; Only in Thee my bliss is complete, Only, dear Lord, in Thee! Only in Thee a radiance bright, Shines like a beacon in the night, Guiding my pilgrim bark aright, Over life’s trackless sea. Only in Thee, when troubles molest, When with temptation I am oppressed, There is a sweet pavilion of rest, Only, dear Lord, in Thee! Only in Thee, when days are drear, When neither sun nor stars appear, Still I can trust and feel no fear, Sing when I cannot see. Only in Thee, whatever betide, All of my need is freely supplied; There is no help nor helper beside, Only, dear Lord, in Thee! Only in Thee, dear Savior, slain, Losing Thy life my own to gain, Trusting, I’m cleansed from ev’ry stain; Thou art my only plea. Only in Thee my heart will delight, Till in that land where cometh no night Faith will be lost in heavenly sight, Only, dear Lord, in Thee! Great is thy faithfulness Great is thy faithfulness, O God my father There is no shadow of turning with Thee Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not As Thou hast been, Thou for ever will be Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest Sun, moon and stars in their courses above Join with all nature in manifold witness To thy great faithfulness, mercy and love Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside Chorus – Great is thy faithfulness Great is thy faithfulness Morning by morning new mercies I see All I have needed thy hand hath provided Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me

"My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me until now. Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness.“ From a letter by Thomas Chisholm, 1941 God is greater than all our challenges!

God’s Greatness Philippeans 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. (5) Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; (6) do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - ESV

Greatness? So many attributes of God’s greatness This sermon only touches on 4 attributes: – God’s Consistency – God’s Faithfulness – God’s Mercy – God’s Love

God’s Consistency Life can be chaotic, filled with uncertainty! Humans desire Stability Where can we find Stability – World? Job? Person / Group? We need to know – A better day is coming! – God is the same as always – He’s the great “I Am” Exo 3:14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.‘” God’s plan is the same; serve Him; He will be our God – Exo 6:7 I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

God’s Faithfulness Has God ever broken a promise? On the contrary – look at these: – Never destroy all flesh by flood (Gen 9) – Abraham & Sarah – promised a son in their old age (Gen 21) – Land promise & rescue from Egypt after 430 years Jos 21:43-45 Thus the LORD gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there. (44) And the LORD gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the LORD had given all their enemies into their hands. (45) Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass. – Promise of the Messiah & Salvation Coming was foretold from Eden (Gen 3)

God’s Mercies Consistent in Mercy – Psa 25:6 Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Mercy for all – unbiased – 2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. What is the value of God’s mercy? – Exo 20:2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. – Psa 32:1-2 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. (2) Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

God’s Love How much Love is required: – To provide constant care over mankind – To hear and respond to countless prayers – To forgive us of Sins – To persistently encourage and strengthen us – To offer us a plan for Eternal life – To give His Son for our sins Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

We have only scratched the surface? God is indeed great! Are you ready to serve Him?