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OUR DAILY BREAD             Thurs., Aug. 3, 1995    
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READ: Psalm 65  
 
                
 
                   GOD OF ABUNDANCE  
 
         "You crown the year with Your goodness, 
           and Your paths drip with abundance." 
 
                               -- Psalm 65:11 
 
In a day when we are bombarded with dire warnings about  
over-population, we must remind ourselves that God, who 
created and sustains everything, is a God of abundance. 
The psalmist praised Him for His generous provision for 
His creatures. 
 
A report from the Harvard Center for Population Studies 
attests to the earth's enormous potential to sustain 
life.  The report estimates that about one-fourth of the 
ice-free land areas of the world can produce food suffi- 
cient for 40 billion people. 
 
So how are we to explain the fierce hunger and starvation 
that so many people endure?  Is this tragedy due to God's 
failure to provide?  No!  Such hunger is the result of 
social and political structures that ignore God's  
principles for the care of the earth and its inhabitants. 
 
Christians should join the psalmist in praising God for 
the way He provides.  Because of Him the "pastures are 
clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered with 
grain" (Ps 65:13).  He gives our lives meaning and 
fulfillment. 
 
Our hearts should be filled with praise and thanksgiving 
for all that God has given to us!  Since He provides so 
abundantly for His creatures, let's show our gratitude 
by our willingness to meet the needs of those around us. 
 
                                -- Herbert Vander Lugt 
 
        Bubbling spring and swirling river,  
           Lapping lake and tossing sea, 
        All declare the might and greatness 
            Of the One who cares for me. 
 
                                -- Ball 
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           THOUGHT FOR THE DAY  
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   God's store never has empty shelves. 
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THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Isaiah 22-24

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