These two scriptures have crossed my path over and over again these past few weeks. So, I continue to cling to them. Words cannot express the comfort my God provides me on a daily basis.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart."
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
HE HAS PLANS FOR ME (and you!) I HAVE A HOPE AND A FUTURE (and so do you!) HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR ME (and you!) How comforting that we don't have to look any further but to the throne of God.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
When Things Seem Quite Impossible
I woke up this morning with the thought that this day would not be any different than the last few. What kind of faith in God does that attitude portray? I'm reading through the book of Job and have been humbled by the amount of suffering that Job went through on behalf of Christ.
Job 1:13-20 (brief overview): Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking at his oldest son's house when messengers began to come to Job. His oxen, donkeys, sheep, servants and camels were all taken away. And then yet another messenger came to tell him of the mighty wind that came and killed his sons and daughters. What did Job do at this instant? He fell to the ground and began to worship the Lord. "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.
Job 2:7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
Job 2:10 He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
To have the attitude of Job in the midst of suffering..many of our daily sufferings do not seem so impossible to endure in comparison to Job's.
Or to have the faith of Abraham.
Romans 4:18-25 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
I will meditate on this today. As it was said in Mark 9:24 "I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief."
Job 1:13-20 (brief overview): Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking at his oldest son's house when messengers began to come to Job. His oxen, donkeys, sheep, servants and camels were all taken away. And then yet another messenger came to tell him of the mighty wind that came and killed his sons and daughters. What did Job do at this instant? He fell to the ground and began to worship the Lord. "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.
Job 2:7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
Job 2:10 He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
To have the attitude of Job in the midst of suffering..many of our daily sufferings do not seem so impossible to endure in comparison to Job's.
Or to have the faith of Abraham.
Romans 4:18-25 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
I will meditate on this today. As it was said in Mark 9:24 "I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief."
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Lean on Me
I think this post is more a reminder to myself than anything, but I'm sure others could use the reminder also. We need family and friends. The Lord did not intend for us to go this journey alone. We are weak in ourselves, and God has given us the precious gift of being able to lean on those close to us for support. Even Moses grew weak and tired and could not hold his hands up with his own power. So with Aaron on one side and Hur on the other, Moses allowed them to hold his hands steady. I pray that each one reading this has close family and friends to lean on...a support system is necessary in this crazy world we live in.
Moses 17:8-13
8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands."
10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
Moses 17:8-13
8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands."
10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Healed: And Shown Worth
Take a change to read this scripture slowly. Take note of how Jesus interacted with this sick woman. Anyone that has experienced illness has experienced a sense of defeat in the hands of doctors. Thankfully the Lord has provided doctors that follow His calling, and tend gently to the needs of His flock.
Mark 5:21-34
21When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet 23and pleaded earnestly with him, "My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live." 24So Jesus went with him.
A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." 29Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
30At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
31"You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?' "
32But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
She suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors; she spent all she had...yet, she grew worse. How many doctors did she see? 3,5,10,30? What did they tell her? She was terminal? She was unclean? She would get better with time? She needed to take this medicine or that medicine? What hope did this woman hold onto? HER FAITH. She touched Jesus's cloak, and she was healed. But it didn't end there. He felt the power go forth from himself. He desired to know the one he healed. He connected with her. The disciples said, "See all the people crowding against you." But that wasn't enough for Jesus. He kept looking around for his beloved. What healed her? HER FAITH. I imagine Jesus looking into her eyes, possibly even caressing her face as he said, "Daughter, your faith has healed you."
This scripture rests well in my heart today.
Mark 5:21-34
21When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet 23and pleaded earnestly with him, "My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live." 24So Jesus went with him.
A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." 29Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
30At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
31"You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?' "
32But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
She suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors; she spent all she had...yet, she grew worse. How many doctors did she see? 3,5,10,30? What did they tell her? She was terminal? She was unclean? She would get better with time? She needed to take this medicine or that medicine? What hope did this woman hold onto? HER FAITH. She touched Jesus's cloak, and she was healed. But it didn't end there. He felt the power go forth from himself. He desired to know the one he healed. He connected with her. The disciples said, "See all the people crowding against you." But that wasn't enough for Jesus. He kept looking around for his beloved. What healed her? HER FAITH. I imagine Jesus looking into her eyes, possibly even caressing her face as he said, "Daughter, your faith has healed you."
This scripture rests well in my heart today.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Back in Action..We'll see how long this lasts..
By request..I'm back to blogging. I read back through my old blogs and realized how much writing and sharing with others is a way for me to connect. It's been over a year since I blogged last, and I've thought about coming back many times. So here I am.
While I surely can't go back in time over the past year and a half and share the journey God has taken me on, I can start today and share the place He has brought me to.
I've have learned the importance of committing scripture to memory and would encourage all of you to try. I just finished Psalm 23, and I have never found so much comfort in times of uncertainty. Throughout Psalms the word "meditate" is used more than ten times. Meditating day and night (Ps. 1:2), meditating on His unfailing love (Ps. 48:9), meditating on his works and considering his deeds (Ps. 77:12), meditating on his decrees, his statutes, his wonders, his precepts, his promises (Ps. 119:23,27,78,148), and meditating on his works and considering what his hands have done (Ps. 143:5).
So find a scripture, memorize it, and meditate on it.
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
While I surely can't go back in time over the past year and a half and share the journey God has taken me on, I can start today and share the place He has brought me to.
I've have learned the importance of committing scripture to memory and would encourage all of you to try. I just finished Psalm 23, and I have never found so much comfort in times of uncertainty. Throughout Psalms the word "meditate" is used more than ten times. Meditating day and night (Ps. 1:2), meditating on His unfailing love (Ps. 48:9), meditating on his works and considering his deeds (Ps. 77:12), meditating on his decrees, his statutes, his wonders, his precepts, his promises (Ps. 119:23,27,78,148), and meditating on his works and considering what his hands have done (Ps. 143:5).
So find a scripture, memorize it, and meditate on it.
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
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