“Behold, we count them happy who endure.
You have heard of the patience of Job,
And have seen the end of the Lord;…
The Lord is very compassionate, and of tender mercy.”
James 5:11
“And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job,… and gave Job twice as much as he had before.”
Job 42:10
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…” Ecclesiastes 3:1
“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19
“The ordinary acts we practice every day at home
are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest.”
-Thomas Moore
“Have Thine own way, Lord,
Have Thine own way.
Thou art the Potter,
I am the clay.
Mold me and make me,
After Thy will,
While I am waiting,
Yielded and still.”
– Adelaide Pollard
Time goes by so slowly, and yet
“I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits,
and in His word I put my hope.”
Psalm 130:5
“Thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I Corinthians 15:57
The true story of St. Patrick’s Day, is about a simple man of prayer, perseverance, faith, and a genuine concern for others. I really like this story, and I hope that you will too!
Patrick, whose real name was Maewyn Succat, was not Irish, but English. He was born to a wealthy Christian family, and as an early teen, he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland to become a slave. His name was changed to Patrick. As a slave in Ireland, he witnessed the pagan practices of the Irish, but remained true to his Christian faith, and it is said that he prayed up to a 100 times a day.
One day Maewyn escaped and took the long journey back to his home in England. After many years, he developed a deep desire to return to Ireland as a missionary. He taught the people about God and advised them not trust in pagan superstitions. He used the three leafed clover, the shamrock, to explain the Trinity,” Three in One”, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Patrick introduced Christianity to Ireland, and after 30 years of evangelism, he died on March 17, 461 AD. After his death he became known as St. Patrick and March 17th has been named a holiday in honor of him.
St. Patrick’s Day is about the faith and sacrifice of a man who shared his faith, and the love of God, with a nation…
and for that we remember him today. ♣
For as the earth brings forth its bud,
and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth;
so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise
to spring forth before all the nations.
Isaiah 61:11
O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O Joy that seeks me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
O light that follows all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
George Matheson
“Behold, I will do a new thing;
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall ye not know it?
I will even make a way in the wilderness,
And rivers in the desert.”
Isaiah 43:19
“…If I were you, I would appeal to God, and would present my case to Him.
He does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.
He gives rain to the earth and sends water to the fields.
He sets the lowly on high, and mourners are lifted to safety.
He frustrates the schemes of the crafty so that they achieve no success.
He traps the wise in their craftiness so that the plans of the deceptive
Are quickly brought to an end.
They encounter darkness by day, and they grope at noon as if it were night.
He saves the needy from their sharp words and from the clutches of the powerful.
So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.
See how happy the man is God corrects;
So do not reject the discipline of the •Almighty. For He crushes but also binds up;
He strikes, but His hands also heal.
He will rescue you from six calamities; No harm will touch you in seven.
In famine He will redeem you from death, and in battle, from the power of the sword.
You will be safe from slander and not fear destruction when it comes.
You will laugh at destruction and hunger and not fear the animals of the earth.
For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you.
You will know that your tent is secure,
And nothing will be missing when you inspect your home.
You will also know that your offspring will be many
And your descendants like the grass of the earth.
You will approach the grave in full vigor, as a stack of sheaves is gathered in its season.
We have investigated this, and it is true! Hear it and understand it for yourself.”
Job 5:8-27
“A friend loves at all times…”
Proverbs 17:17
“They spread a net for my feet, I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path,
but they have fallen into it themselves.. Stop and think of that” Psalm 57:6
“When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”
Isaiah 59:19
and
“So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai.”
Esther 7:10
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
“Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way,
which leads to life,
and few there be that find it.”
Matthew 7:14
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:14
“As for God, His way is perfect;
the Word of the LORD is tried:
He is a *buckler to all them that trust in Him.”
II Samuel 22:31
*buckler- “a small, round shield, held by a handle or worn on the forearm.”
“The LORD, He it is that does go before you;
He will be with you,
He will not fail you, neither forsake you:
Fear not, neither be dismayed.”
Deuteronomy 31:8
“For we walk by faith and not by sight.”
“Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…”
Isaiah 61:3
Put on the garment of praise
For the spirit of heaviness
Lift up your voice to God
Praise with the Spirit
And with understanding
O magnify the Lord
Lift up the hands that hang down
Lift up the voice now still
Give unto God continuous praise
Sing forth from Zion’s hill
Sing to Yahweh, alleluia
Worship and praise our God
Love and adore Him
Bow down before Him
O magnify the Lord!
David Ingles
Jesus said,
“The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls:
Who, when he had found one pearl of great price,
went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”
Matthew 13
“Come unto me,
all ye that labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest”
Matthew 11:28
“The righteous are bold as a lion.”
“A lion… strongest among beasts,… turns not away for any.”
Proverbs 28:1 and 30:30
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you
in due time…” I Peter 5:6
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9
“Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.” Leviticus 26:4
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I’ve heard it in the chillest land
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.
Emily Dickinson
“No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.”
-Author Unknown
“The LORD will guide you continually,
and satisfy your needs in parched places,
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.”
Isaiah 58:11
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song will I praise Him.”
Psalm 28:7
“Preserve me, O God: for in You do I put my trust…
I will bless the LORD, who has given me counsel: my heart also instructs me
in the night seasons.
I have set the LORD always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices: my flesh also shall rest in hope…
You will show me the path of life:
In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”
From Psalm 16
“Star of wonder, Star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, Still proceeding.
Guide us to thy
Perfect Light“
-John Hopkins Jr.
“Peace I leave with you,
My peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you.
Let not your heart be troubled,
Neither let it be afraid.”
John 14:27
O LORD, how long will You forget me? Forever?
How long will You look the other way?
How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
With sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
Turn and answer me, O LORD my God!
Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.
,,,I trust in Your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because You have rescued me.
I will sing to the LORD because
He is good to me.”
Psalm 13
There can be miracles … when you believe.
Though hope is frail,
Its hard to kill.
Who knows what miracles you will receive
When you believe,
Somehow you will…
You will when you believe
They don’t always happen when you ask
And its easy to give in to your fears
But when you’re blinded by your pain
Can’t see your way safe through the rain
A small, but still resilient voice, says
“Hope is very near”
-Kenneth Edmonds and Stephen Schwartz
“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
I will make the darkness light before thee,
What is wrong I’ll make it right before thee,
All thy battles I will fight before thee,
And the high place I’ll bring down.
When thou walkest by the way I’ll lead thee,
On the fatness of the land I’ll feed thee,
And a mansion in the sky I’ll deed thee,
And the high place I’ll bring down.
With an everlasting love I’ll love thee,
Though with trials deep and sore I’ll prove thee,
But there’s nothing that can hurt or move thee,
And the high place I’ll bring down.
Although Satan in his rage would tear thee,
And with all his winning arts would snare thee,
Even down to thine old age I’ll bear thee,
And the high place I’ll bring down.
I will make the darkness light before thee,
I will make the crooked straight before thee,
I will spread My wings protecting o’er thee,
“And the high place I’ll bring down.”
Charles P. Jones
“…I will make the darkness light before them.” Isaiah 42:16-
“It gives me a deep, comforting sense, that things seen are temporal…
and things unseen are eternal.”
Helen Keller
“When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion,
We were like them that dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the nations,
The LORD has done great things for them.
The LORD has done great things for us; and we are glad.
Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the South.
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”
Psalm 126:1-5
“A smile costs nothing, but gives much”
It takes but a moment, but the memory of it usually lasts forever.
None are so rich that can get along without it-
And none are so poor but that can’t be made rich by it.
It enriches those who receive, without making poor those who give-
It creates sunshine in the home,
Fosters good will in business,
And is the best antidote for trouble
And yet it cannot be begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is of no value
Unless it is given away.
Some people are too busy to give you a smile-
Give them one of yours
For the good Lord knows that no one needs a smile so badly
As he or she who has no more smiles left to give.
Author Unknown
His Name is Wonderful, His Name is Wonderful, His Name is Wonderful, Jesus my Lord
He is the mighty King,
Master of everything,
His name is wonderful, Jesus my Lord.
He’s the Great Shepherd,
The Rock of all ages,
Almighty God is He,
Bow down before Him,
Love and adore Him,
His name is wonderful,
Jesus my Lord.
– Audrey May Mieir
“This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you,
that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.
If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness,
we lie, and do not the truth”
I John 1:56
“As for God, His way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried:
He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him.
For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
It is God that girdes me with strength, and makes my way perfect.
He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up,
… thy gentleness hath made me great.”
Psalm 18:30-35
“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny…”
C.S.Lewis
“Is any thing too hard for God?” Genesis 18:14
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?”
Jeremiah 32:27
ANSWER
“With God nothing shall be impossible.”
Luke 1:37
“If my people,
who are called by my name,
shall humble themselves,
and pray,
and seek my face,
and turn from their wicked ways;
then will I hear from heaven,
and will forgive their sin,
and will heal their land,”
II Chronicles 7:14
I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will show forth all Your marvelous works.
I will be glad and rejoice in You: I will sing praise to Your name, O most High.
… they that know Your Name will put their trust in You:
For You, LORD, have not forsaken them that seek You.”
Psalm 9:1,2 and 10
“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28
“Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.
And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.
Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, Who has been given to us.” -Romans 5:3-5
Quietness and Trust
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength,…”
Isaiah 19:15
“Forget about the past and look forward to what lies ahead,”
Philippians 3″13
“There is therefore now no condemnation
to them who are in Christ Jesus,…”
Romans 8:1
There is none like You…
No one else can touch my heart like You do,
I could search for all eternity long and find
There is none, there is none
There is none like You. -Michael W. Smith
“LORD, there is no one like You!
For You are great, and Your Name is full of power.
Who would not fear You, O King of nations?
That title belongs to You alone!
Among all the wise people of the earth
and in all the kingdoms of the world,
there is no one like You.”
Jeremiah 10:6-7
Sometimes it’s hard to wait but…
“Waiting is a sign of patience and true love.”
♥
“…as it is written, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him.”
I Corinthians 2:9
“For since the beginning of the world no one has heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither has the eye seen, O God, beside thee,what He has prepared for those who wait for Him.”
Isaiah 64:4
“Don’t be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow shall be anxious for itself” Matthew 6:34
“Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it only empties today of its strength.”
Charles Spurgeon
“No person ever ended his eyesight by looking on the bright side.”
Zig Ziglar
Learning to turn my troubles over to the Lord...I surrenderAll to Jesus I surrender; All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live. I surrender all, I surrender all, All to Thee, my Blessed Savior, I surrender all. J.W. Deventer
“…Therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you,
Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
This is the way, walk in it,
when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left.”
Isaiah 30:18-21
“My daughter told me this little story about a video clip she saw at school, and I just had to share it with you, so here it is…”
Alone in a baseball field. A boy swings his bat and says...”I’m the greatest hitter in the world!” Swish! He misses.” Strike One”
He tries again, raising his bat and throwing the ball in the air, as he yells out “I’m the greatest hitter in the world!!” and again he misses. “Strike Two”
He tries again for the third time, screaming with unfeigned enthusiasm ” I’m the greatest hitter in the word!!!” and he misses again. “Strike Three.”
This time he pauses, drops his head to think for a moment, then raises his eyes to the sky as he smiles and shouts with excitement…
“Whoa!!! I’m the greatest pitcher in the world!!!”
Love it! :)
Have a great day.
-Faith
“…Whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just,
whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Philippians 4:8
“The period of the evening between daylight and darkness is called twilight.”
In the days of Elisha, there was a severe famine. Outside the city gates there were four men who were lepers. These four men reasoned among themselves, “Why should we just sit here until we die? If we go into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there, and if we just sit here, we will die also. Let’s go to the camp of the Syrians. Maybe they will save us alive, or if they kill us, we shall but die…
And so they rose up in the twilight, to go to the camp of the Syrians.
When they got to the camp of the Syrians, there was no one there because the Lord had made the entire Syrian army to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, and the noise of a great army approaching, and they thought that the king of Israel had hired other foreign armies to join with him to fight them...So they arose and fled in the twilight... When the lepers arrived they found an abundance of food, silver and gold. They sent word back to the king and the starving people were satisfied.
I love this story. You can find it in II Kings chapter 7. I am always amazed that at precisely the same moment that the lepers decided to step out in faith, God began working on their behalf. As soon as they arose to go at twilight, God allowed the Syrians to hear an illusion at twilight, which scared them out of their wits and caused them to leave their treasures. The lepers were on their way, had probably walked all night, but God had already fought the battle for them, He had already solved their problem.
From famine to feasting, from rags to riches, God turned it all around, at precisely the moment that they believed… in the twilight.
The next morning, with the rising of the sun, came long-awaited joy and deliverance.
“When dreams seem dim,
And you can’t see your way through,
Just rest in Him,
Who is Faithful and True.”
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True,…”
Revelation 19:11
God is our Abba Father
In Scripture, the name “Abba Father” is one of the most significant names of God in understanding how He relates to His people. The word Abba is an Aramaic word that would most closely be translated as “Daddy,” an endearing term that children use to address their fathers. “Abba Father” signifies the close, intimate relationship of God our Father to us, His children, and is an expression of the childlike trust that we have in Him as our Father…
“The Greatest Daddy of All”
“He cuts out rivers among the rocks; and His eye sees every precious thing.”
Job 28:10
“This is the day which the LORD has made; Let’s rejoice and be glad in it!” Psalm 118:24
“When you sense that your dark night is one of pregnancy and oceanic return,
You could react accordingly and be still.
Watch and wonder.
Take the human embryo as your model.
Assume the fetal position, emotionally and intellectually.
Be silent.
Float in your darkness, as if it were the waters of the womb,
And give up trying to fight your way out or make sense of it.”
Thomas Moore
“They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings as eagles;
They shall run, and not be weary;
And they shall walk, and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31
“This morning before dawn, I opened my Bible to the story of Joseph.
Genesis 39 and 40
He was sold into slavery, falsely accused, and forgotten in prison, but…
Because God was with him,
He prospered as a servant in Potiphar’s house.
He was favored in jail by the warden, and
He was promoted by Pharaoh.
So, be encouraged and trust in God.
Because no matter what things looks like…
God is with us. ♥
“Christ the Lord is risen indeed! “
“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.♥
This is holy week, and as I thought about of how Jesus cleansed the temple, I started thinking about how, once we commit our lives to Christ, our bodies become the temple of the Holy Spirit.
In Psalm 51:1, David prays;
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me…”
He asked the LORD to come in and cleanse his temple, (“Create in me a clean heart”), and once his temple, was cleansed, he wanted the LORD to renew a right spirit within him.
This week, as I remember the events leading up to the crucifixion, I reflect on how Christ “cleansed the temple”, and how, because of His love, and by His blood, we too can be made clean, and by His Holy Spirit, a right spirit is renewed within us.
“He was handed over for our transgressions and raised up for the sake of setting us right.”
“He is risen, just as He said!”
Romans 4:25 and Matthew 28:6
TLV
“The Stone which the builders rejected is become the head stone of the corner.
“This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes…”
“Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.”
Psalm 118: 21, 23, 28
“The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.”
Joel 2:31-32
“The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Acts 2:20-21
“And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood…”
Revelation 6:12
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King is coming unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on a donkey…” Zechariah 9:9
Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Hosanna!“… “
And many spread their garments in the road: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strewed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried saying,
“Blessed is He that comes in the name of the LORD!”
Mark 11:7-10
“By perseverance the snail reached the ark.”
Charles Spurgeon
“Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.”
Psalm 30:11-12
“Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer…”
“When my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock
That is higher than I.
For Thou hast been a shelter for me,
and a strong tower from the enemy.
I will abide in Thy tabernacle for ever:
I will trust in the covert of Thy wings…
Selah.”
Psalm 62:1-4
Many years ago, one Sunday morning, we were visiting a new church for the first time, when 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 I talked a little bit about my faith experience. I mentioned how our two children, a son and a daughter, who were very small at the time, had been miracle babies, because I was told that I would never conceive, but 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
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…
Just take a look back and, like David, be fully persuaded that God will do it again!
“…For behold, the winter is past….
The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of singing has come.”
Song of Solomon 2:11-12
The true story of St. Patrick’s Day, is about a simple man of prayer, perseverance, faith, and a genuine concern for others. I really like this story, and I hope that you will too! ♣
Patrick, whose real name was Maewyn Succat, was not Irish, but English. He was born to a wealthy Christian family, and as an early teen, he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland to become a slave. His name was changed to Patrick. As a slave in Ireland, he witnessed the pagan practices of the Irish, but remained true to his Christian faith, and it is said that he prayed up to a 100 times a day.
One day Maewyn escaped and took the long journey back to his home in England. After many years, he developed a deep desire to return to Ireland as a missionary. He taught the people about God and advised them not trust in pagan superstitions. He used the three leafed clover, the shamrock, to explain the Trinity,” Three in One”, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Patrick introduced Christianity to Ireland, and after 30 years of evangelism, he died on March 17, 461 AD. After his death he became known as St. Patrick and March 17th has been named a holiday in honor of him.
St. Patrick’s Day is about the faith and sacrifice of a man who shared his faith, and the love of God, with a nation…
and for that we remember him today!
“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying,
Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love…” Jeremiah 31:3
“My deepest awareness of myself is that I am deeply loved by Jesus Christ
and I have done nothing to earn it or deserve it.”
Brennan Manning
“Faith says that no matter what lies ahead of me…God is already there.”
Author Unknown
“Weeping may endure for a night”
and I’ve learned that the night
can be very long...
but then, I remember
that even though it’s darkest before dawn,
“Joy comes in the morning”
And for that, I can hold on.”
“…Be not anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow shall be anxious for itself”
Matthew 6:34
“Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, it only empties today of its strength.”
Charles Spurgeon
“The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
Arise, and go down to the potter’s house,…
there I will cause thee to hear my words.
Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD.”
“Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand...”
Jeremiah 18:1-6
“The gospel of grace calls out:
“Nothing can ever separate you from the love of God.”
You must be convinced of this, trust it, and never forget to remember.
Everything else will pass away, but the love of Christ is the same
Yesterday, today, and forever.
Faith will become vision, hope will become possession, but
The love of Jesus Christ, that is stronger than death, endures forever.
In the end, it is the one thing you can hang onto,”
-Brennan Manning
“Sometimes good things fall apart so that better things can fall together.”
“O God, my heart is fixed ; I will sing and give praise , even with my glory.” Psalm 108:1
“Praise ye the LORD.
Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
His seed shall be mighty upon earth; the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.
He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever;
his horn shall be exalted with honour. The wicked shall see it, and be grieved;
he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.”
Psalm 112
“What’s holding you back? What’s keeping you down?”
“… This kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting.”
Matthew 17:21
“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope
It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: Great is Thy faithfulness.
The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him.
The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him,
To the soul that seeks Him.
It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.”
“In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.“
Lamentations 3:21-26 and Isaiah 30:15
“God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
-Romans 5:8
Behold, I will do a new thing;
now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?
I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”
Isaiah 43: 18-19
“Forty percent of people surveyed, said that 2013 was not a good year for them, and many of us would agree, so here’s some good news, and I hope that your blessings are double and running over in the coming New Year! “- Faith ♥
There isn’t anything that we go through, that hasn’t first been permitted by God. That may be a little hard to accept sometimes, but it’s true, and in the end we’ll see that it was only allowed for our good… But there’s more. When it’s all over, the Lord will bless you in such a way that you receive “double for your trouble”, and sometimes even more.
Remember when the LORD told Abraham, way back in the beginning before Sarah was even pregnant, that he would be the father of a huge nation and this nation would be slaves in a foreign land, and that they would be there for over 400 years, but He would deliver them with a mighty Hand and they would come out with great substance?( Meaning they would come out with great riches.) Well 400 years of slavery is a long time for people to spend working for no pay, and the bible says that the morning after the first Passover, the Egyptians just started giving the Hebrews anything they wanted and they “spoiled” the Egyptians. Psalm 105:37 says, “He brought them forth also (out of Egypt), with silver and gold.” And we all know the story of Job who, after he had so tremendously suffered, received twice as much of all that he had before.
Think about it. Hasn’t God brought you out of trouble and then blessed you? It could be that He blessed you monetarily, or restored your health, or blessed your family, or even blessed you with wisdom, in preparation for the blessings yet to come. In Isaiah 61:7, the LORD says, ” For your shame you shall have double...” and if God says it, that settles it!
So if you’re going through a rough time right now, be encouraged…
You’re gonna be blessed DOUBLE FOR YOUR TROUBLE!!!!
“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee
When my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For thou hast been a shelter for me,
… a strong tower from the enemy.
I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever:
I will trust in the covert of thy wings.”
Selah.
Psalm 61:4
“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; Ye 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.”
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.” Luke 2:8-29
“And she brought forth her firstborn son,
and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger;
because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Luke 2:7
“Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it.” – Charles Dickens
“And this is the condemnation, that Light is 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!” :)
“Star of wonder, Star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, Still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light”
J. Hopkins Jr.
“Peace I leave with you,
My peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 14:27
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 his 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
“And this shall be a sign unto you;
Ye shall find the babe
Wrapped in swaddling clothes,
Lying in a manger.”
Luke 12:2
“Jesus, The Light of The World”
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
John 8:12
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6
“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
For our light affliction,
which is but for a moment
worketh for us a far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory.
2 Corinthians 4:7
Suffering may endure for a season
And we wonder when relief will come.
Is this for a time of testing
A really deep trial for some?
Day by day we endure our heartaches,
Often questioning why,
We don’t seem to fully understand
And we come before God with a sigh!
“Just quiet yourself in My presence,” He says,
“I have blessings for you in store,
This time with me will be precious,
Even more than ever before.”
The wonderful promises in God’s Holy Word
Bring comfort, encouragement and peace,
And as we nestle up close to Him.
Our Faith brings sweet release.
So let us joyfully praise the Lord,
If, through suffering we can learn,
Truths that will help to guide our way,
And His Word more clearly discern.
Elsie K. Young
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light…”
I Peter 2:9
Today is a gift… That’s why it’s called the present!
“… Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man,
the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.”
I Corinthians 2:9
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and…
“Who forgives all your iniquities;
Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from destruction;
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Who satisfies your mouth with good things;
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Psalm 103:2-5
As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after thee, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
Deep calls unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Psalm 42
We were “in the red“, and Jesus put us “in the black.”
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
George Bernard
Faithrises 