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  A CUP OF BITTERS?
  by Anne Dutton
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Summary: God's love sweetens trials, making them a cup of blessing, and
increasing our graces to prepare us for heaven.

Topics: "Suffering And Trials", "Gods Loving Providence"
Scripture References: Psalm 23:1, Romans 8:18, 1 Corinthians 10:13, James 1:2, 1 Peter 4:12

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DESCRIPTION
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Anne Dutton preaches a message of encouragement to a sister in Christ,
reminding her that trials are not strange but are part of God's
preparation and exercise of love towards her. She emphasizes the need to
willingly work and suffer for God, surrendering completely to His will
out of gratitude for His boundless love. Dutton reassures that even in
the midst of bitter experiences, God's love sweetens the cup of trials,
turning curses into blessings that work for the believer's present and
eternal good, testing and increasing their graces for Christ's glory.

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CONTENT
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My Dear Sister in our precious Lord,

I sympathize with you in your trials. Do not think them strange. Your
kind Father well prepared you for these exercises by that abundant love
which He long manifested towards you. He let you rest long in His bosom;
will you not be willing to work for Him now--yes, to suffer whatever He
shall call you to? Oh, remember what obligation His boundless love lays
you under to be entirely His! Remember but His love, in which He has
given you Himself, and you will freely give up yourself to His whole
will, and count nothing too much, either to do or suffer, that so you
may glorify Him.

Has your kind Father given you a cup of bitters? Drink it freely! It is
well sweetened with His love! The curse is taken out of it by Christ
being made a curse for you; and lo! It is no other but a cup of
blessing! Infinite love ordained it and infinite wisdom prepared it, and
infinite power will work with and by it unto your present and eternal
advantage. All your graces are to be tried, and by the trial of them to
be increased here, and found unto praise and honor and glory at Christ's
appearing.

You will not think any of the labors and sorrows of the wilderness too
much when once you reach Canaan's land. You will bless God when you get
to heaven for every step of the way He led you, and see it was all
right. And will you not begin the work of heaven now, and go, not only
patiently and cheerfully, but thankfully also, through all the trials of
the wilderness into your everlasting rest?

Your tender, faithful Shepherd, who gave His life for you, will not
allow you to lack any good thing. Into His arms I commit you; His grace
be with your spirit.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/anne-dutton/a-cup-of-bitters/
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