
Faith never knows where
it is being led,
but it loves and knows
the One who is leading.
– Oswald Chambers
“Who is like the LORD?….. NOBODY!
Who is like the LORD?…..No- no-no-no-no- NOBODY!
If God is for us?
Who can be against us?
He will keep His promise.
There’s nobody like Him, NOBODY LIKE HIM!
What can separate us from the love of Jesus?
He will keep His promise!
There’s nobody like Him, NOBODY LIKE HIM!
There is none in heaven or earth like You. There is none in heaven or earth like You!
Lord we declare, who can compare?
Who would even dare?
THERE IS NO ONE LIKE YOU!!!!!
Who is like the LORD?
No-no-no-no-no NOBODY!”
Praise and Worship Song, “Who is Like The Lord” -by Israel Houghton
“And I say “Hallelujah!!! and Amen!!!” to that.
“My soul, wait in stillness, only for God —
For from Him comes my expectation.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
My strong tower —
I will never be moved…
My refuge is in God
Trust in Him at all times, you people.
Pour out your heart in His presence.
God is our refuge.” “Selah.” – (which means, pause and think about it. 😊 🍁)
-Psalm 62:6,3,9 TLV
“And even to your old age I am He; and even to gray hairs will I carry you: I have made and I will bear; even I will carry, and deliver you.”
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…”
Isaiah 46:4 and Psalm 23:6
I am Thine, O Lord
I have heard Thy voice
And it told Thy love to me
But I long to rise
In the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee
Consecrate me now
To Thy service Lord
By the power of grace divine.
Let my soul look up
with a steadfast hope
And my will be lost in Thine
Hymn- “I am Tine, O Lord” – by Fanny Crosby / W.H.Doane
May teaching tickle like rain,
My speech distill like dew —
Like gentle rain on new grass,
Like showers on tender plants.
For I proclaim ADONAI’s Name,
Ascribe greatness to our God!
From the “Song of Moses” – Deuteronomy 32:2-3
All the way my Savior leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy
Who through life has been my Guide
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell
For I know whate’er befall me
Jesus doeth all things well.
Yes, I know whate’er befall me
Jesus doeth all things well.
Hymn- “All The Way My Savior Leads Me” by Fanny Crosby
Isn’t This Beautiful!
Blessed be my Lord! Day by day He bears our burdens- the God of our salvation! Selah -Psalm 68:20
via Day by Day — A Lamp & A Light
“When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss And pour contempt on all my pride
Were every realm of nature mine My gift would still be far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
Hymn- “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” by Isaac Watts
“Give, and it shall be given to you– a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, overflowing, will be given into your lap.” – Luke 6:38
“Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for happiness and song;
As the burdens press, And the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?
O Yes, He cares, I know He cares! His heart is touched with my grief;
Though the days are weary, The long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares… O Yes, My Savior cares!”
Hymn- “Does Jesus Care?” –By J. Lincoln Hall and F.E. Graeff
“Humility can be summed up in just two words… “You first.””
– Faith Carr
“The Bible verse that Dr. Martin Luther King quoted most often was Amos 5:24,
“But let justice roll down as waters and righteousness as a mighty stream.”
The prophet Amos was saying,
(As most of the Hebrew prophets were saying)
that what God wants is justice and right living rather than religious ceremonies for their own sake.”
Quote from: Steve Hollaway@Harbor Church
“Rescue those being dragged off to death,
Hold back those stumbling to slaughter.”
“If you say, “Look, we didn’t know this.”
Won’t He who weighs hearts perceive it?
Won’t He who guards your soul know it?
Won’t He repay each one according to his deeds?”
Partiality in judgement is not good.
Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent,”
People curse him
And nations revile him.
But for those who convict the guilty
There will be delight– good blessing will come upon them.”
-Proverbs 24:11-12 and 23-25 Tree of Life Version
“He has told you, humanity, what is good, and what ADONAI is seeking from you:
Only to practice justice,
to love mercy, and to
walk humbly with your God.”
– Micah 6:8 TLV
“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven.”
-Ecclesiastes 3:1
And Jesus answered…
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Mark 12:29-31
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.”
-Psalm 23:6
In All Things, At All Times, I Will Rejoice In You, LORD
“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall there be fruit on the vines..”
“Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
Habakkuk 3:17-18
“See! The winter is past… the season of singing is here.” ~ Song of Solomon 2:11,12
“For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
-2 Timothy 1:7
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
Put on the full armor of God, so that you are able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the worldly forces of this darkness, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places.
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist when the times are evil, and after you have done everything, to stand firm.
Stand firm then!
Buckle the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness.
Strap up your feet in readiness with the Good News of shalom (peace).
Above all, take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Pray in the Ruach (Spirit) on every occasion, with all kinds of prayers and requests.
With this in mind, keep alert with perseverance and supplication for all the kedoshim (saints).”
Ephesians 6:10-18 – (TLV) Tree of Life Version
“There are depths of love
That I cannot know
Til I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy
That I may not reach
Til I rest in peace with Thee.
Draw me nearer, nearer,
Nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer,
Nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.”
Hymn- “I Am Thine, O Lord” – Fanny J. Crosby/ W.H. Doane
“O the pure delight of a single hour, that before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee my God,
I commune as friend with Friend!”
Hymn- “I Am Thine, O Lord” – by Fanny J. Crosby/ W.H. Doane
“I am Thine O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith,
And be closer drawn to Thee.
Consecrate me now to Thy service Lord,
By the power of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.”
Hymn- “I Am Thine, O Lord” – Fanny J. Crosby/ W.H. Doane
“In the beginning… the Spirit of God hovered over the waters…”
“… I have loved you with an everlasting love.
Therefore, with loving kindness,
I have drawn you.”
“He chose us in Christ,
[actually selected us for Himself as His own]
Before the world began…”
-Genesis 1:2 – Jeremiah 31:3 – Ephesians 4:1
“Tho’ the clouds may hover over us, There’s a bright and golden ray,
It’s the promise that in heaven God shall wipe all tears away.
No more sorrow, no more weeping, Peace and joy will hold full sway,
For beside life’s crystal river, God shall wipe all tears away.
Every care will be forgotten, All our burdens we shall lay,
Safe within the walls of jasper, God shall wipe all tears away.
O the joy of meeting Jesus, Mortal tongue cannot portray,
But we know when we behold Him, God shall wipe all tears away.”
Hymn- “God Shall Wipe All Tears Away” by Antonio L. Haskell
“My Lord ADONAI will wipe away tears from every face…” “He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes…”
– Isaiah 25:8- Revelation 21:4
“Father God,
I thank You
that
Your Truth
is
Greater than
my difficulties.”
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE, and I will dwell in the House of ADONAI forever.”
Psalm 23:6
“Let us run the race with endurance
the race that is set before us,
focusing on Yeshua,
the initiator and perfecter of faith…”
Hebrews 12:1-2 ~Tree of Life Version
Have you that something, that burning desire?
Have you that something that never doth tire?
Oh, if you have it –that Heavenly Fire!
Then let the world know there is something within.
Something within me that holdeth the reins,
Something within me that banishes pain,
Something within me I cannot explain,
All that I know there is something within.
Hymn- “Something Within” By L.E. Campbell
“Count it all joy… when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” – James 1:2
“…Boast in suffering — knowing that suffering produces perseverance, and perseverance character, and character hope.” – Romans 5:3-4
“For I consider the sufferings of this present time not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed in us.” – Romans 8:18
“So then, those who suffer according to God’s will — let them trust their souls to a faithful Creator while continuing to do good.” – 1 Peter 4:19
“After you have suffered awhile, the God of grace– who has called you into His eternal glory in Messiah– will Himself restore, support,strengthen, and establish you.“
-1 Peter 5:10
“He was handed over for our transgressions and raised up for the sake of setting us right.” – Romans 4:25
“…Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name,
You are Mine.”
Isaiah 43:1
I know a great Savior, I do; don’t you? I live by His favor, I do; don’t you?
For grace I implore Him, I worship before Him, I love and adore Him, I do; don’t you?
I need Him to lead me, I do; don’t you? Heaven’s manna to feed me, I do; don’t you?
Whatever betide me, I need Him beside me, In mercy to hide me, I do; don’t you?
I love to be near Him, I do; don’t you? He speaks and I hear Him, I do; don’t you?
For me He is caring, The cross I am bearing, I love Him for sharing, I do; don’t you?
I want Him to use me, I do; don’t you; For service to choose me, I do; don’t you?
I want Him to bless me, To own and confess me, Completely possess me, I do; don’t you?
Hymn- “I Do, Don’t You?” by E.O. Exill and M. Miller
I trust in God,
I know He cares for me,
On mountain bleak
Or on the stormy sea;
Tho’ billows roll,
He keeps my soul,
My heav’nly Father watches over me.
Hymn- “My Father Watches Over Me” by C.H. Gabriel and W.C. Martin
“Great faith is the product of great fights. Great testimonies are the outcome of great tests. Great triumphs can only come out of great trials.“
– Smith Wigglesworth
Jesus said… “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”– John 11:25
“But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon Him;
and with His stripes we are healed.”
– Isaiah 53:5
“And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” Luke 22:19-20
There are many traditions, holidays, and ceremonies, that we observe and hold in remembrance, and many of them in the name of Christianity. We celebrate birthdays, and Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter, and that’s fine, they are special days, and it’s good to celebrate, but there is one thing that the Lord has asked us to observe, in remembrance of Him, and the sacrifice that He made to redeem us, saying;
“Do this as oft as you will, in remembrance of me.” II Corinthians 11:25
As we remember the last supper today, we are also reminded of Christ’s sacrificial love for all of us. We are reminded of His tremendous suffering, and the price that He paid to save us. We are reminded that by His grace, through faith, we are saved.
Thank you, Jesus.♥
“A brand plucked from the fire” – Zechariah 3:2
“We went through fire and through water, Yet you brought us out to a place of abundance.” – Psalm 66:12
“The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time.”
– Abraham Lincoln
“Afflictions make the heart more deep,
more experimental, more knowing, and
more profound, and so; more able
to hold, to contain, to beat more.”
– John Bunyan
“God is most glorified in us,
When we,
Are most satisfied,
In Him.”
– John Piper
A study outline is provided for each episode and questions or topic requests, are encouraged and always welcome!
Click HERE to find out more.
Looking forward to meeting you there!
Smiles and Blessings,
– Faith🏝
God rest ye merry gentlemen; Let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our Savior, was born upon this day!
To save us all from satan’s power, when we were gone astray.
Oh- O, tidings of comfort and joy.
Comfort and joy!
Oh- O, tidings of comfort and joy.
We three kings of Orient are. Bearing gifts, we traverse afar.
Field and fountain, moor, and mountain,
Following yonder Star!
Oh- O, Star of wonder, Star of night, Star with royal beauty bright!
Westward leading still proceeding, Guide us to thy Perfect Light.
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain, Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never, Over us all to reign.
Frankincense to offer have I, Incense owns a Deity nigh
Prayer and praising, All men raising, Worship Him, God on High.
Myrrh is mine, it’s bitter perfume, Breathes a life of gathering gloom,
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the cold stone tomb.
Glorious now, behold Him arise, King and God and Sacrifice.
Alleluia!!! Alleluia!!!
Peals thru the earth and skies.
Oh- O Star of wonder Star of night, Star with Royal beauty bright!
Westward leading, Still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light.
-William Hone/John Hopkins
From: “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”, and “We Three Kings”
There was once a man who didn’t believe in God, and he didn’t hesitate to let others know how he felt about religious holidays like Christmas. His wife however, did believe, and she raised their children to also have faith in God and, His Son, Jesus, The Christ, despite her husband’s disparaging comments…
One snowy Christmas Eve, his wife was taking their children to a Christmas Eve service in the farm community in which they lived. She asked him to come, but he refused. “That story is nonsense!” he said. “Why would God lower Himself to come to earth as a man? That’s ridiculous!” So she and the children left, and he stayed home.
A while later, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blizzard. As the man looked out the window, all he saw was a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening. Then he heard a loud thump. Something had hit the window. Then another thump. He looked out, but couldn’t see more than a few feet. When the snow let up a little, he ventured outside to see what could have been beating on his window. In the field near his house he saw a flock of wild geese.
Apparently they had been flying south for the winter when they got caught in the snowstorm and couldn’t go on. They were lost and stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter. They just flapped their wings and flew around the field in low circles, blindly and aimlessly. A couple of them had flown into his window, it seemed.
The man felt sorry for the geese and wanted to help them. The barn would be a great place for them to stay, he thought. It’s warm and safe; surely they could spend the night and wait out the storm. So he walked over to the barn and opened the doors wide, then watched and waited, hoping they would notice the open barn and go inside. But the geese just fluttered around aimlessly and didn’t seem to notice the barn or realize what it could mean for them. The man tried to get their attention, but that just seemed to scare them and they moved further away. He went into the house and came with some bread, broke it up, and made a breadcrumb trail leading to the barn. They still didn’t catch on.
Now he was getting frustrated. He got behind them and tried to shoo them toward the barn, but they only got more scared and scattered in every direction except toward the barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where they would be warm and safe.
“Why don’t they follow me?!” he exclaimed. “Can’t they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm?” He thought for a moment and realized that they just wouldn’t follow a human. “If only I were a goose, then I could save them,” he said out loud.
Then he had an idea. He went into barn, got one of his own geese, and carried it in his arms as he circled around behind the flock of wild geese. He then released it. His goose flew through the flock and straight into the barn–and one by one the other geese followed it to safety.
He stood silently for a moment as the words he had spoken a few minutes earlier replayed in his mind: “If only I were a goose, then I could save them!” Then he thought about what he had said to his wife earlier. “Why would God want to be like us? That’s ridiculous!”
Suddenly it all made sense. That is what God had done. We were like the geese–blind, lost, perishing. God had His Son Jesus, to become like us so He could show us the way and save us. That was the meaning of Christmas, he realized.
As the winds and blinding snow died down, his soul became quiet and pondered this wonderful thought. Suddenly he understood what Christmas was all about, why Christ, the Messiah had come. Years of doubt and disbelief vanished like the passing storm. He fell to his knees in the snow, and prayed his first prayer: “Thank You, Jesus, for coming in human form to get me out of the storm!”
Author Unknown
“Darkness was cheap, and Scrooge liked it.”- Charles Dickens
“And this is the condemnation, that Light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than Light…”-John 3:19
“But even old Scrooge came around, and let the light shine on his ways” :)
“Just to be close,… and cling to You, ADONAI, is enough.” -F.C.
This is brilliant!
“Believe your beliefs and doubt your doubts.”
– Greg Laurie
“Yet I am continually with You.
You hold my right hand.
You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward,
You will take me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but You?
On earth there is none I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalms 73:23-26
This morning,
I checked with Google to find a Bible verse, (it IS the quickest way, you know!😊).
I hit the search bar and typed only two words, that’s right just two words:
“shall supply“.
I was hoping that the scripture address that I was looking for would pop right up
and, to my happiness,… IT DID!!!
In fact, it was the first site on the page.
See? Even Google recognizes what these two words refer to!
And I’m sure you do too.
… “My God shall supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus”
– Philippians 4:19
“At the top of the page… online, and in our hearts.”
Trust In God.
❤️
God is Awesome!
Jesus knows how you feel…
He’s been there.
Once, while recovering from a near death experience, I felt so hurt, and so low, that I actually told my son;
“I feel as though God has forsaken me!… I feel bad about saying it, but that’s just how I feel.”
In the severity of my pain and suffering, I felt that God had abandoned me.
My son looked at me with such compassion and said, “It’s OK mom, Jesus knows how you feel.
He knows what it’s like to feel forsaken, because as He was dying on the cross, He said,
“My God, My God, Why have You forsaken me?”
He knows how you feel, but He has not forsaken you.”
This was a tremendous comfort to me, and I hope this brings comfort to you too.
God loves you, and no matter what you’re going through, He knows just how you feel.
“Reckless Love” by Bethel music, draws you in with it’s pleasant melody and soothing lyrics, and has become very popular song, but…
❤️
The Love of God is Not reckless
Here’s the definition:
reck•less
(describing a person or their actions) as being without thinking or caring about the consequences of an action. as in “reckless driving”
synonyms: rash, careless, thoughtless, heedless, unheeding, hasty, impetuous, impulsive, daredevil, devil-may-care, irresponsible, ill-advised, injudicious, imprudent, unwise, ill-considered, etc.
This is not what the scriptures tell us about the love of God.
God’s love is caring;
“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,”
God’s love is thoughtful;
“So that whosoever believes in Him should not perish,”
God’s love is considerate,
“But have everlasting life.”
He laid down His life for us, not recklessly, but counting and knowing the cost.
Be still my soul-
The Lord is on your side!
Leave to your God
To order and provide-
Be still my soul-
Your best, your heavenly Friend
Thru thorny ways
Leads to a joyful end.
– Jean Sibelius
The love of God is greater far
Then tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest Hell,
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love
Of God above
Would drain the oceans dry;
Nor could the scroll
Contain the whole,
Tho stretched from sky to sky.
Hymn-“The Love of God” by F.M. Lehman
Stayed upon JEHOVAH,
Hearts are fully blessed –
Finding, as He promised,
Perfect peace and rest.
“You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You…”
– Isaiah 26:3
From the Hymn, “Like A River Glorious”
by F.R. Havergai and James Mountain
“… Whatever is true,
whatever is honorable,
whatever is just,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is commendable,
— if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise,
— think on these things.”
Philippians 4:8
“But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon Him;
and with His stripes we are healed.”
– Isaiah 53:5
“To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.”
“A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time of war, and a time of peace.”
Ecclesiastes, 3:1-8
“They don’t have anymore wine.” she said, asking Him to do something about it. “Woman, what does this have to do with you or I?” was His reply.
She turned to the servers and said, “Do whatever He tells you to do.”
They filled the jars with water as He instructed, and took them to the headwaiter, who after tasting it, shouted with excitement to the bridegroom, “…You’ve saved the best wine for last!”
It was the first miracle performed by Jesus, at Mary’s request, turning water into wine during a wedding in Cana; and what was the outcome?
The servants, the wedding guests, the bridegroom, and the disciples, were all astonished and drawn to Him.
“Jesus did this. He revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.” -John 2:11
And all because she just asked. Got a problem? Ask the Lord to do something about it!
Here it is in a nutshell;
“… Anything you ask in My Name I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
– John 14:13
“… Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
who is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you;
You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Luke 2
Here’s a “post from the past” at my daughter’s request. Blessings! – Faith
Once, when my husband and I were visiting a new church for the first time, an elderly lady came up to us and invited us to her house for dinner. We gladly accepted, and followed her home after service. As we sat in her living room, we had a very pleasant conversation, and got to know a little more about each other. She was a long-standing member of her church, and well-loved by the congregation. Although she was elderly, she was vibrant and enthusiastic, and very happy to talk about how much she loved the Lord, and all that He had done for her. She enthusiastically shared some of her many testimonies, and my husband and I talked a little about our faith experience. I mentioned how our two children, a son and a daughter, toddlers at the time, had been miracle babies, because I was told that I would never conceive, and even so, I was still praying and believing God for another baby.
She looked at me, with a smile in her eyes, and said, “You see that hat rack over there on the wall?” I answered, “Yes.” she said, “Whenever the Lord does something for me, I imagine that I’m hanging a hat on a hat rack…and every time he answers I just keep adding a new hat. And the next time I find myself frustrated about something that I’m praying for, I just take a look at that hat rack, and see all those hats hanging there, and I’m reminded of all the prayers that God has answered, (some that I may have even forgotten), and I am encouraged that He did it before and He’ll do it again.”
I really appreciated this example and made an effort to apply it in my own life. In fact the Lord did answer my prayer and blessed me miraculously with another sweet baby girl!
When I think back on this example, it reminds me of what young David said to King Saul, when he volunteered to fight Goliath…
“David said… The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine…” I Samuel 17:37
You see, the lion and the bear were hanging on David’s hat rack!!! He just took a look back, and was fully persuaded, that God would do it again. :)
“Has it been awhile since you took a look at your own hat rack?”
Surely God has blessed you and answered your prayers in the past, and hey, there’s always room for another hat, so
Just take a look back, have faith, and, like David, be fully persuaded that God will do it again!
“Be
joyful in hope,
patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer.”
Romans 12:12
“By perseverance the snail reached the ark.”
Charles Spurgeon
“He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5
“Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.”
Thomas Moore
There is nothing sweeter than the Word of God
.
“Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.”
So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.”
Ezekiel 3:3
Double Rainbow
“Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
and everlasting joy will be yours.”
Isaiah 61:7
“Remember the former days
When, after you were enlightened,
You endured a great struggle with sufferings.
Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten,
Sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things.
You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail,
And when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy.
You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.
So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord.
Remember the great reward it brings you!
Patient endurance is what you need now,
So that you will continue to do God’s will.
Then you will receive all that He has promised.”
Hebrews 10:32-35
Tree of Life Version and New Living Translation
If life seems at its lowest ebb, because a day’s gone wrong,
Let not your heart be troubled, for a new day soon will dawn.
And we can never be quite sure, just what it has in store,
Since each one is so different, than the one just gone before.
As it penetrates the darkness, with its soft and tranquil beams,
It calms even the most restless soul, and brings new hopes and dreams.
So when a day’s been troubled, and the night is dark and long,
Lift up your fallen spirits, for a new day soon will dawn.
-Anonymous
“Why carry the weight of the world on our shoulders,
when the Lord our God carries us on His.”
– Faith Carr
“Cast your cares on Him for He cares for you.”
I Peter 5:7
*Photo- Google Images
ADONAI is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul. He leads 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 comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: You have anointed my head with oil, my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the House of ADONAI forever.”
Psalm 23- TLV
“Come by yourselves apart into a quiet place, and rest a while…”
Mark 6:31
“… I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing;
and I will cause the shower to come down in his season;
there shall be
Showers of Blessing.”
Ezekiel 34:26
“Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, Perfect peace and rest”
“You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You; because he trusts in you.”
Isaiah 26:3
“Remember the wonders He has performed,
His miracles…”
I Chronicles 16:11
“Valentine’s Day is almost here, so here’s a “Post from the Past” just for you!”
I met the man who was to become my husband when I was nineteen years old. At first no one took me seriously, because I had never been serious about anyone before. My closest friends teased me and joked that this new relationship would probably only last for about two weeks and then it would be over, because that’s how it had been for me up until then. But this time was different.
My friends soon became aware of the difference in me as I lit up whenever I talked about him, and talked about him constantly. I began spending less and less time with them, and wanted to spend more and more time with him. When we left campus, for our hometowns in different cities during holiday breaks , I would miss him terribly and couldn’t wait to be with him again. While at home on break, I would curl up in bed with my mother, like two girls at a slumber party, and tell her all about him, talking all night long…
In Revelation 2:4-5, Jesus says to the church at Ephesus, “
... You have left your first love…repent and do the first works…”
I think about the first works or actions of a person experiencing a first love, and I ask myself,
“Am I still doing the first works?” Do I still light up whenever I talk about my Savior? Do I still speak of Him constantly? Am I spending more time with Him than I do with less important activities? If I haven’t read my Bible in a while, do I miss it? Could I stay up all night, talking and sharing about His love and His faithfulness? Asking these questions stirs the heart, generates enthusiasm, and awakens a fresh start.
“May the Lord reignite the spark that fueled our first works, and may we continue
to rekindle our love for Him Who first loved us.”♥
As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples,
“Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”
So they took Jesus in the boat and started out,
And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea,
Insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves:
But Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat…
His disciples came to Him, and awoke Him, saying,
Lord,… “Carest thou not that we perish?”
And He saith unto them,
Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?
Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea;
And there was a great calm.
But the men marveled, saying,
What manner of man is this,
That even the winds and the sea obey Him!”
Matthew 8:25 and Mark 4:38
-As we “cross to the other side”, through the storms and trials of life,
Jesus cares.
He is “in the boat” with us.
He cares
and He will calm the sea.”
“Let all that I am
wait quietly before God,
for my expectation
is from Him.”
Psalm 62:5
“So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
Genesis 22:14
“People often say that motivation doesn’t last.
Well, neither does bathing – that’s why it’s recommended daily.”
– Zig Ziglar
“O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home,” -Isaac Watts
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Psalm 46:1
“You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension
Like nothing seen or heard
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom
Who can fathom the depth of Your love
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty enthroned above
And I stand, I stand in awe of You
I stand, I stand in awe of You
Holy God to whom all praise is due
I stand, I stand in awe of You.”
-Hillsong
Because Jesus said so;
“Let not your heart be troubled:
Ye believe in God, believe also in Me.
In my Father’s house are many mansions:
If it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again, and receive you unto myself;
That where I am, there ye may be also,”
John 14:1-3
Waiting for an answer to prayer can be hard sometimes, but I’d just like to share that although it seems that there may be a delay, it doesn’t mean that your request has been denied. In fact, it has been my experience that after what seemed to be a great delay, I was blessed far and away more than I was asking for in the first place!
Here’s an example from John 11:1-44
A request for healing is brought to Jesus. “…A certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha… Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”
Jesus responds with a delay. ” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.” Then, after finally arriving in Bethany, Lazarus having been dead 3 days,
Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. ” He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”
And he who had died came out,,.. “
“Are you praying for something, and there seems to be a delay in receiving your answer? Just remember that God is working all things together for your good, and He is able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that you may ask or think… So hold on, the answer’s on its way, and it promises to exceed your expectations!” :)
“He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.
Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day;
Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
For He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.”
Psalm 91
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,”
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Luke 2:8-14
“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed…
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.”
Luke 2:1-6
“Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the new born King
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the new born king!”
Charles Wesley
There was once a man who didn’t believe in God, and he didn’t hesitate to let others know how he felt about religious holidays like Christmas. His wife however, did believe, and she raised their children to also have faith in God and, His Son, Jesus, The Christ, despite her husband’s disparaging comments…
One snowy Christmas Eve, his wife was taking their children to a Christmas Eve service in the farm community in which they lived. She asked him to come, but he refused. “That story is nonsense!” he said. “Why would God lower Himself to come to earth as a man? That’s ridiculous!” So she and the children left, and he stayed home.
A while later, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blizzard. As the man looked out the window, all he saw was a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening. Then he heard a loud thump. Something had hit the window. Then another thump. He looked out, but couldn’t see more than a few feet. When the snow let up a little, he ventured outside to see what could have been beating on his window. In the field near his house he saw a flock of wild geese.
Apparently they had been flying south for the winter when they got caught in the snowstorm and couldn’t go on. They were lost and stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter. They just flapped their wings and flew around the field in low circles, blindly and aimlessly. A couple of them had flown into his window, it seemed.
The man felt sorry for the geese and wanted to help them. The barn would be a great place for them to stay, he thought. It’s warm and safe; surely they could spend the night and wait out the storm. So he walked over to the barn and opened the doors wide, then watched and waited, hoping they would notice the open barn and go inside. But the geese just fluttered around aimlessly and didn’t seem to notice the barn or realize what it could mean for them. The man tried to get their attention, but that just seemed to scare them and they moved further away. He went into the house and came with some bread, broke it up, and made a breadcrumb trail leading to the barn. They still didn’t catch on.
Now he was getting frustrated. He got behind them and tried to shoo them toward the barn, but they only got more scared and scattered in every direction except toward the barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where they would be warm and safe.
“Why don’t they follow me?!” he exclaimed. “Can’t they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm?” He thought for a moment and realized that they just wouldn’t follow a human. “If only I were a goose, then I could save them,” he said out loud.
Then he had an idea. He went into barn, got one of his own geese, and carried it in his arms as he circled around behind the flock of wild geese. He then released it. His goose flew through the flock and straight into the barn–and one by one the other geese followed it to safety.
He stood silently for a moment as the words he had spoken a few minutes earlier replayed in his mind: “If only I were a goose, then I could save them!” Then he thought about what he had said to his wife earlier. “Why would God want to be like us? That’s ridiculous!”
Suddenly it all made sense. That is what God had done. We were like the geese–blind, lost, perishing. God had His Son Jesus, to become like us so He could show us the way and save us. That was the meaning of Christmas, he realized.
As the winds and blinding snow died down, his soul became quiet and pondered this wonderful thought. Suddenly he understood what Christmas was all about, why Christ, the Messiah had come. Years of doubt and disbelief vanished like the passing storm. He fell to his knees in the snow, and prayed his first prayer: “Thank You, Jesus, for coming in human form to get me out of the storm!”
Author Unknown
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16
Bundle up: Wednesday marks the winter solstice, the first day of winter and the day with the fewest hours of sunlight for the whole year. And in a few days, two holidays celebrating light will take place during the darkest time of year, when Hanukkah begins on Christmas Eve. The last time that this exact…
via What to Know About This Year’s Overlapping Christmas and Hanukkah Holidays — TIME
“…Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given:…and His Name shall be called
Wonderful,
Counselor,
The mighty God,
The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6
“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 hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
You may not realize
You will often forget
That I have a plan for you
Between now and not yet
I have so much more for you
You focus so much on debt
I have plans for you to prosper
Between now and not yet
You’ll walk through the valleys
And fear to take your next step
My plans are not to harm you
Between the now and the not yet
If you’ll slow down and take a breath
Take time to watch My sun set
It’s My plan to give you hope and a future
Between the now and the not yet
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 forever wilt be.
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!
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.
-Thomas Chisholm
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.
Only through experiences of trial and suffering
Can the soul be strengthened,
Vision cleared,
ambition inspired,
and success achieved.”
Helen Keller
“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
“O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms.
For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth:
the strength of the hills is His also.
The sea is His, and He made it: and His Hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.”
Psalm 95:1-6
“O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endures for ever.”
Psalm 136:10
” You have turned for me my mourning into dancing:
You have put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness.
To the end that my glory may sing praise to You, and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.”
Psalm 30:11-12
“Delight yourself also in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” -Psalm 37:4
“The key is not in chasing the desires of your heart. The key is in chasing the Lord.”
-Charles Spurgeon
Proverbs 28:1 says, “… the righteous are bold as a lion.” and in Hebrews 4:16 we’re told to come boldly before God’s throne in prayer. This is what Caleb did.
You can read about Caleb in Joshua chapter 14 verses 7-14 , and interestingly enough, the name Caleb means “bold”. Here’s his story…
Caleb was 85 years old when the Israelites reached the promised land. He was one of only two men who had survived the 40 year wanderings in the desert. After being freed from slavery in Egypt, he and Joshua were chosen by Moses to spy out the land that God had promised them. There were 12 men in all, one for each tribe. When they returned from their travels, 10 of the spies were terrified, and reported that it would be impossible to defeat these cities because they considered themselves and their own people to be too small in comparison. But Joshua and Caleb believed that God had led them to this good land and had faith that He would give them the victory.
The people believed the 10 spies. God was angry with them and because of their unbelief, they would have to spend the next 40 years walking around the desert until they all died off, leaving only their children and grandchildren to be the ones who would inherit the promised land. But God honored the faith of Caleb and Joshua.
Joshua became the leader of his people after the death of Moses, leading them into the promised land, dividing the Jordan River, and marching onto victory in the battle of Jericho. Caleb now 85 years old had remained strong in faith, and courageous in battle. In the face of battle over the land that Moses had promised would be his inheritance, Caleb boldly responded, saying:
“… the LORD hath kept me alive, as He said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake His word to Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now lo, I am now eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: As my strength was then, even so is my strength now… Now therefore give me this mountain,… the LORD will be with me, then I will be able to drive (the inhabitants) out, as the LORD said…Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb.”
He got what he wanted. Caleb was bold in his faith as a young man, and even as an old man. He knew that there was nothing too big to ask God for, and his boldness is evidence of that faith.
By faith, we are the righteousness of God in Christ, and “the righteous are as bold as a lion.”
“This is love:
Not that we loved God, but that He loved us,
and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
I John 4:10
A few days ago, a friend of mine encouraged me with these words…
She said, “When a pilot is flying and sees turbulence ahead, he approaches it head on. He does not go around it, over it, or under it; he goes right through it. The pilot can’t see beyond the limited view of his cockpit, so he must rely totally on the instrument panel for guidance. He goes right through the turbulence, difficult as it may be, and presses through until he reaches the beautiful clear sky on the other side.”
This life, as we know, can bring us to turbulent times that cannot be avoided. We’d rather go around them, but we must press through. As we rely on and put our complete trust in the LORD, even when it gets rocky, He will lead us through to the beautiful clear skies on the other side.
“Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as ever you can.”
‘The best of it is, God is with us.”
– John Wesley
“…Whosoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he.”
Proverbs 16:20
“I am poured out like water, … all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me.”
“Trust in Him at all times; …
Pour out your heart before Him:
God is a refuge for us.”
Selah.
Psalm 22:14 and 62:8
The bible says that Jabez, a descendant of Judah, was “more honorable than his brothers”and even though his mother named him Jabez (which means pain), he called out to the LORD and God heard him and gave him what he requested.
This is not a story about getting everything we want, it’s actually an example that there’s always hope when we pray because no matter what we’ve been through, or what we’ve been called, as children of God, we have His eye.
Jabez may not be as well known as Abraham or Moses but that’s just the point! God’s love is there for the “little guys”too and the story of Jabez reminds us that in Christ, each of us is special and uniquely significant. He cares for us and will answer when we pray.
“Jabez called out to the God of Israel, saying,
“If only You would greatly bless me, and enlarge my territory. Let Your hand be with me,
and keep me from harm, so that I might not suffer pain.”
And God granted what he asked.”
I Chronicles 4:10-TLV