ON SEEKING: Seeking His Face

For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.

… a time to seek, a time to lose; a time to keep, a time to cast away.

Ecclesiastes 3:1,6

ON SEEKING

Seeking His Face

The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. Psalm 14:2

God is omniscient – He is everywhere.  His eyes are always open and always watching us (Proverbs 15:3).  He sees our comings and goings, and everything we do in between.  He hears all our words – things we say in prayer, things we say to others (and ourselves), and every thought that crosses our minds (Psalm 139:1-4).  “…He knows the secrets of the heart” Psalm 44:21.

He speaks to us in various ways; through Scriptures, His work of Creation, other people, just to mention a few.  Then there’s what I call my “inside ears”.  His still, small voice, a gentle whisper, that so often is missed because we don’t pay attention or brush it off as a random thought (1 Kings 19:13). 

He speaks to us during prayer time.  We need to set aside time to be still, with a closed mouth and open heart and mind, and wait for Him to speak.  Prayer should be a conversation, not just a quick dash up to His Throne of Mercy, spouting off a quick thanks and a list of requests, then running back to whatever.  When we approach His Throne of Grace, come to Him in prayer, we’ve got to give Him the respect and honor He is so worthy of.  He is, after all, God Almighty, who through Christ Jesus, created everything seen and unseen (Colossians 1:16).  He abhors sin, totally hates it, and does not allow sin in His presence.  We have to come clean, confess our sins, and ask forgiveness (1 John 1:9). 

Another way He speaks to us is through His indwelling Spirit (that lives within us who received Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior).  Sometimes during prayer time, I think of things – people, events, or situations.  I used to think my mind was wandering off and would get frustrated at my lack of focus, but then I read this phrase, part of Romans 8:27:  “For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit intercedes for us”.  Now I feel that when thoughts of things and people come along, the Holy Spirit is prompting me to pray for them. 

Here’s an easy way to remember:

                        A            adoration

                        C            confession

                        T            thanksgiving

                        S            supplication (requests)

Love on Him, give Him praise and adoration, confess sins, thank Him for what He’s already given us; and then make our requests (Philippians 4:7).  Don’t forget about the quiet time to listen.  

Why do we seek Him?  Because He wants us to.  We have to get to know someone in order for the friendship to develop, grow, and thrive.  Like all relationships, we have to work on it or it falls apart.  He made us; He already knows us.  Now we have to learn to know Him.

Go to your room, shut the door, open your Bible, and experience the awesome adventure of seeking His face.  Here are just a few more Scriptures on this topic. 

Old Testament                                                     New Testament

1 Chronicles 28:9                                                 Matthew 6:16 (praying in private)

2 Chronicles 7:14                                                 Matthew 7:7-8

Psalm 119:2                                                         Hebrews 11:6

Jeremiah 29:13

(Scriptures quoted from the English Standard Version of The Holy Bible)

Sometimes the sprinkling-can; sometimes the flower.

The sprinkling-can is the vessel that holds the water. It has a spout to disperse the water onto the flowers, gently and evenly. It can hold only so much water. It has to be emptied of its previous filling before it can take on more water. When there is yet more water from the barrel and this particular can is still full, the Gardener finds another vessel to fill. If the can sits too long, the water in it becomes stagnant; algae and mosquitoes could grow, and eventually, rust would eat a hole in the bottom. The flower is the recipient. The water nourishes the plant; it thrives and produces food for insects and small animals, and adds beauty to the garden. The water is not intended to benefit the can. The can’s purpose is to carry the water meant for the flowers. Likewise, although we may be the recipients of a blessing, the blessing is intended for others. The Lord uses His people to carry His blessings to others. When we receive from Him, we in turn must pass it on, pouring the blessing out like a sacrifice to the Lord. Otherwise, like water left in a can, it could become harmful to us; we could become greedy, selfish, or even lustful. When we bless others, they thank God and He receives the glory and praise that He is most worthy to receive. The flower drinks in the life-giving water and produces fruit. It blooms beautifully and in its capacity glorifies the Lord by its beauty, His creation. “Three things will last forever-faith, hope, and love-and the greatest of these is love” [1 Corinthians 13:13]. Love is the greatest gift God gives us. Love has to be given away. If you don’t love others, you can love only yourself; if you keep it within, it will die. Keep it alive by keeping it moving. The more love you give, the more you will get to give even more. Don’t let this precious gift go to waste; give it away. Love is especially sweet when it is a sacrifice; giving love to your enemy, to the unlovely, and the unwanted; to those who do not know love. Don’t let the Lord find your vessel full from a previous filling; He won’t give you more if you haven’t used what you already have. “…I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. The trees will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops; the people will be secure in their land…” [Ezekiel 34:26-27 niv] “Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart’.” [John 7:38] “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is Love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” [1 John 4:16] All scriptures quoted from the New Living Translation unless noted otherwise.

Sit, Stay

The long table is spread out; the feast is prepared and presented.
Come in, come in.
You just stand there and look in.
Come. Sit down and enjoy.
Sometimes you walk up to the table, grab a morsel or even a handful, but then your eye wanders and you run off, leaving, still hungry.

Oh my child; sit, stay.
Feast with me.
All this is prepared for your enjoyment and nourishment.
You are weak and weary because you are starved.
Sit down, eat.
Eat your fill and enjoy your time with me.
You’ve tasted and know how sweet it is.

You must not leave hungry.
If you do, it is your own doing.
Stay.
Stay as long as it takes.
Feast and rest.
Then you will be refreshed and prepared to continue.
You will be better use for me and your work will be easier for you.
But first, stay, sit and feast with me.

Layers

My brother-in-law was a very talented man. He had a wealth of talents and abilities, from drawing to building houses. He and my sister bought an older home, a fixer-upper, with beautiful bones. It was a scaled-down version of a “beach house” mansion you would see up in The Hamptons of Long Island. Each room was adorned with beautiful architectural details. Sadly, all the natural beauty was covered. My brother-in-law spent countless hours sanding, scraping, and even burning off the many layers of paint to get to the bare wood. It was tedious, hard and I imagine, frustrating work. But oh, after he stained and varnished everything, the result was spectacular! All the natural grains of the oak were gorgeous. The entire house was truly a work of love. Their labor produced an incredible transformation, turning a neglected structure into a show house. To say the least, he achieved a result to take delight in.

All those layers of paint remind me of all the layers of sin on my soul. Each sin slaps on a layer, like old paint, that conceals true inner beauty and works as a barrier between God and my heart. When I came to Him and confessed my sins, He removed them all. It was not a once and done job; oh no, it’s a work in progress. I need daily confession and daily cleansing.

How about you? Are there layers of sin on your heart? Is there anything blocking your heart from the Lord’s loving touch? If so, then say a prayer something like this:

Lord Jesus, I come to you right now and ask you to forgive my many sins and cleanse me with your blood. Thank you for dying on the cross as payment for my sins, and for rising again and preparing a place for me in Your Father’s house in heaven. Please come into my heart now and be my Lord and Savior. Thank you for loving me. Amen.


1 John 1:9 (gwt)
God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, he forgives them and cleanses us from everything we’ve done wrong.

The Forest

I was walking through a meadow,

bright warm sun rays shining down.

Wildflowers, showing their glorious colors and beauty,

gracefully sway from side to side.

Gentle breezes broadcast their sweet aroma through the air.

I get to the edge of the meadow,

to the tree-line at the entrance to the forest.

At first it does not look that scary,

but the further into the forest I journey,

the thicker and darker it gets.

There are fallen limbs and logs,

all sorts of obstacles I have to climb over,

making travel a challenge.

I wander on and on and instead of making progress,

I’m only going around in circles,

each path bringing me back to the same spot.

Exhausted, I sit down on the rotted log,

and admit I cannot go any further.

It’s dark. 

I’m cold.

I hear noises that frighten me.

I am powerless.

I am lost.

My heart is crushed with fear and despair.

Who can hear my cries for help?

I hear something.

No, it’s not the breeze.

I hear the soft, still voice,

“Let me help you.  Let me guide you out.

I will clear a path for your feet so that you won’t stumble.  Trust me.”

With both of my hands, I clamp onto His outstretched hand,

“I’m so weary, I can’t go on,” I whimper.

“I will carry you,” He promises.

We get to a canyon.

He sets me on my feet.

It’s wide, too wide for me to jump.

Now what?

Do I try to make a bridge with limbs and logs

from the forest floor and try to walk across?

“I brought you safely to this place of decision.

You can stay here, or you can let me help you go forward.”

“The forest is dark, and lonely, and scary,

and I don’t want to stay here.

“I’m so weary, I can’t go on,” I whimper.

“Trust me.  Hold onto me.  I will not let you fall. 

I will carry you,” He promises.

With both of my hands, I clamp onto His outstretched hand.

He lifts me safely over.

The edge of the forest is just ahead.

I see can brightness through the trees!

I don’t know how far it is to the edge of the forest,

so I will stay close to His unfailing love and faithfulness

and trust Him to walk me through.

Square pegs and holes in hearts

I remember back in my little kid days playing with this toy, where you had to match the pegs with their same-shaped holes.  The lesson from this puzzle game is that you can’t fit a square peg into a round hole.  Each piece fit in only one specific space.  As hard as a kid can push and jam, or turn the piece around and around, it will only fit into it’s certain spot.

I see how God’s love works the same way.  I’m convinced that there is a space in each person’s heart that is so unique, only God’s love can fit it exactly.  This empty space is such a noticeable void that we know we just have to fill it.  Some people try and substitute drugs, alcohol, money, possessions, sex, -- all the things this world offers, even in excess – yet they still know something is missing, and spend their days and nights trying to fill the void.  I learned the hard way; none of this stuff can fill the spot reserved for Jesus in my heart.  Once I surrendered completely, God’s Holy Spirit filled all the voids, and my former wants and desires are gone.  Good riddance to them, I don’t miss anything!  I don’t miss cigarettes, hangovers, those feelings of being lost, worthless, and life is pointless; and I certainly don’t miss feeling unloved, unwanted, and the nagging thoughts of suicide.  I don’t have a specific scripture reference to back up my theory, just personal experience, and testimony from others.  I see evidence in radically changed lives.

Scripture tell us that God created us for His own good pleasure.  He loves us no matter what.  God loves us so much that He sent us Jesus, His Son, who willingly took the death penalty, and hung on the cross to pay for our sins so that we could have salvation and spend eternity with Him. (John 3:16:  “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.) 

Seriously think about this:  He loves us so much that He died for us, and all He wants from us is to love Him back.  That’s it.  So, do you want what’s missing?  Open up your heart, and let Him in.  Confess your sins, accept His forgiveness, and start your new life.  That empty spot will be filled-in.  His love will permeate your entire being.  And nothing – no thing, no person, no experience, or substance – can compare.

Romans 3:23:  For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Romans 6:23:  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 10:9-10:  If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

Romans 8:38-39:  And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(all scriptures quoted from The New Living Translation)

Trust

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the rock eternal.  Isaiah 26:4 NLT

Do not trust in created things – trust in Me. 

I am in control of everything. 

I made my throne in the heavens.  From there, I watch everything that’s going on. 

I know every heart because I made them. 

I open my hand and provide for all my creation, everything they need – food, water, air – everything, I made it and I provide it. 

Is there anything too hard for me to do?  I hung the stars in the sky.  I made the boundary for the waves.  I tore the curtain open so you can come to me.  Just come to me. 

Trust in me.  I am faithful.  I keep my promises. 

Everything on earth will disappear.  The earth and the heavens will one day run from my presence. 

I look at the big picture.  I see the future and the past.  I know what you will think next. 

You can trust me alone.  I alone am trustworthy. 

I alone will last forever. 

I created you

I love you

I will never leave you

I will never disappoint you

nor fail you

as long as you trust in me.

Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—for all it’s strength, it cannot save you.  Psalm 33:17 (NLT)

Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no hope for you there.  But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.  Psalm 146:3,5 (NLT)

Forgiven or Indifference?

“and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us…”  Luke 11:4 NLT

Long ago, there was an incredibly deep hurt.  Thanks to the Lord’s gracious gift of forgiving, and time, the wound is healed.  Thoughts are far removed from that dark time; it’s further away than a distant memory.  There is no longer pain, and speaking of it comes rather easily compared to when the hurt was an open, gaping hole.  It was the greatest hurt my heart endured.

This morning I wondered how I would respond if the offender would reappear in my life.  Would I be kind, caring, and hospitable; would I be able to show Christian love?  I believe that if the answer is anything other than a promptly spoken “yes” then true forgiveness has not yet occurred. 

A state of indifference is the lack of emotion.  No love, no hate.  Zero feeling.  Forgiveness means a clean slate.  Forgiveness allows love.  God is love. (1John4:7,8)  God requires forgiveness. (Mark 11:25) 

He is the source of my ability to forgive.  He alone makes it possible for me to promptly reply, “Yes, it is forgiven.”

The Lord is close to the broken hearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Ps 34:18 NLT

The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

Psalm 145:8 NLT

The Stirring of A Heart

Ezra 1:1-6 (New Living Translation)

1 In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the LORD fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom:

2 “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says:
“The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you! 4 Wherever this Jewish remnant is found, let their neighbors contribute toward their expenses by giving them silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock, as well as a voluntary offering for the Temple of God in Jerusalem.”

5 Then God stirred the hearts of the priests and Levites and the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the LORD. 6 And all their neighbors assisted by giving them articles of silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock. They gave them many valuable gifts in addition to all the voluntary offerings.

God stirs the hearts of people He wants to use, so when we feel God stir our hearts, we should pay attention and do as He leads us to do. Do you agree? In the Old Testament book of Ezra, God stirred the heart of King Cyrus, whom He placed as king of “all the kingdoms of the earth.” The Lord stirred Cyrus’ heart to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem in Judah. King Cyrus obeyed God and issued a decree that allowed the Israelite captives in Babylon to return to help build the Temple. He gave them his blessing to do so. “May your God be with you.” In addition, Cyrus, King of Persia, decreed (ordered) the people of the kingdom to contribute generously to the Israelites who were returning to Jerusalem in Judah. The people were to give them articles of gold and silver, livestock, and a free will offering of money for the Temple of the Lord. The Lord also stirred the hearts of the Priests and all the Temple workers to go back to help with the rebuilding. The Lord also stirred King Cyrus to return all the gold and silver articles King Nebuchadnezzar confiscated from the [original] Temple of the Lord many years’ prior, sacred items he then placed into the temples of his pagan gods.

Mighty things come from the response to the stirring the Lord puts upon a heart. Consider what an historical event was birthed at the stirring of King Cyrus’ heart. The Temple of the Lord was rebuilt. What is the Lord stirring your heart to do today? How are you responding? Is He calling you to come to Him today? Will your response echo the psalmist who said, “My heart has heard you say, “Come, and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord I am coming.” Psalm 27:8 (nlt)

Absence of Turmoil

sitting on the sand
looking out to the ocean
where the heavens touch the water,
the setting sun warms my shoulders.
the sound of the tide coming in
captures my thoughts and
carries them out
to the place where the water touches the sky.
then i consider the One who told the ocean,
'you can only go this far'
and peace floods my soul.
this is peace-
absence of turmoil.
this,
is peace.

God On The Mountain, sung by Linda Randle

Life is easy when you're up on the mountain
And you've got peace of mind like you've never known.
But then things change and you're down in the valley.
Don't lose faith for you're never alone.

For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley.
When things go wrong, He'll make it right.
And the God of the good times
is still God in the bad times.
The God of the day is still God in the night.

You talk of faith when you're up on the mountain.
Oh but the talk comes easy when life's at its best.
But it's down in the valley of trials and temptation
That's when faith is really put to the test.

For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley.
When things go wrong, He'll make it right.
And the God of the good times
is still God in the bad times.
The God of the day is still God in the night.

For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley.
When things go wrong, He'll make it right.
And the God of the good times
is still God in the bad times.
The God of the day is still God in the night.
The God of the day is still God in the night.

Psalm 145 (New Living Translation)

A psalm of praise of David.

1 I will exalt you, my God and King,
and praise your name forever and ever.
2 I will praise you every day;
yes, I will praise you forever.
3 Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
No one can measure his greatness.

4 Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts;
let them proclaim your power.
5 I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor
and your wonderful miracles.
6 Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;
I will proclaim your greatness.
7 Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness;
they will sing with joy about your righteousness.

8 The Lord is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
9 The Lord is good to everyone.
He showers compassion on all his creation.
10 All of your works will thank you, Lord,
and your faithful followers will praise you.
11 They will speak of the glory of your kingdom;
they will give examples of your power.
12 They will tell about your mighty deeds
and about the majesty and glory of your reign.
13 For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.
You rule throughout all generations.

The Lord always keeps his promises;
he is gracious in all he does.
14 The Lord helps the fallen
and lifts those bent beneath their loads.
15 The eyes of all look to you in hope;
you give them their food as they need it.
16 When you open your hand,
you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in everything he does;
he is filled with kindness.
18 The Lord is close to all who call on him,
yes, to all who call on him in truth.
19 He grants the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cries for help and rescues them.
20 The Lord protects all those who love him,
but he destroys the wicked.

21 I will praise the Lord,
and may everyone on earth bless his holy name
forever and ever.

My Father, My Dad

(I wrote this a while ago, and thought I'd re-post it in honor of Father's Day)

My Father created me.

Long ago, His plan for me was laid.

My life was part of the creation,

the world He formed by simply the words He said.

In the same way, my Father also created my dad;

the earthly man who loved, and raised, and supported me;

he carried me when I was tired, and held me when I was sad.

Everyone says I look just like my dad.

I have a lot of his traits;

our love for music is one of the best

and less favorable is how we’re both always late.

Dad taught me about life on earth and after.

Before he left, he said we’ll meet up again, when we’re called

to stand before our Lord, our God, our Father.

Dad worried so about his problem child, but I came around after all.

On that glorious day, when there’ll be only joy and no one will ever be sad,

I’ll be there with both of them, my Father and my Dad.

Ephesians 6:1-4

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.  “Honor your father and mother.”  This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth”.  Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them.  Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

PERFECT TIMING?

Scripture:

Judges 6:12-18 (New Living Translation)

The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the LORD is with you!”
“Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The LORD brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the LORD has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.”
Then the LORD turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”
“But Lord,” Gideon replied, “How can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”
The LORD said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”
Gideon replied, “If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the Lord speaking to me. Don’t go away until I come back and bring my offering to you.”
He answered, “I will stay here until you return.”


“God is rarely early, and never late; He is always right on time.” I don’t know if this statement is scriptural, or if it is a phrase repeated by those who have experienced His divine timing in this way.

Since this is how He responds to us, then it only makes sense that we respond to Him in the same way—right on time. The moment He tells us to do something, that is when we should do it; in His time, not when it suits us, when we feel like it or when we can work it into our schedules. The right time is in His time.

He finds us while we’re going about our busyness. Simon (Peter) and Andrew were at work, on their boat, when Jesus called to them. Levi (Matthew) was at his “desk” when He was called. The fellow who wanted to finish up his work at home (bury his father) forfeited his chance. Consider what the shepherds would have missed if they would have decided to wait until tomorrow to go to town, instead of hurrying to see the baby lying in the manger… they might have missed being the first of many to worship Him.

So, we get the message and know we have to act. How do we know it is the Lord speaking to us, that it is He, telling us to do something? Do we ask the Lord for signs, like Gideon did (Judges 6:36 and 6:39)? How can we be certain it is not the evil one trying to trick us into doing something? Satan is very crafty, after all. He can present something to us in a way that, at first glance, seems very good, but in the end, has disastrous results. God does not lead us to do something that does not bring Him glory or that does not benefit others or us. “He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name.” Psalm 23:3(b). Uncertainty should lead us to prayer—to ask God to open the right doors and to close the wrong ones.

I don’t know about you, but I get confused when I don’t understand why He tells me to do something. That is when faith and trust are especially important. Father God, the God who created all, has great things in store for His children. He is not going to prompt us to do something contrary to His word. He is immutable. He does not change. He is the same today as He was yesterday, and will be tomorrow. When in doubt, look it up! Refer to the Bible. He has led me to the right passage more times than I can remember.

Yahweh-Shalom, the Lord is Peace. We will experience a feeling of peace when we commit to do as He says. If we feel uneasiness, or dread, then we can know it’s not the Lord’s plan. We need to take the time to pray first, and avoid making ‘spur of the moment’ decisions. We may experience the same sort of bad feelings if we fail to comply with His commands!

We can feel confident that we’ll be able to accomplish the tasks the Lord assigns us to do. “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13. We don’t need to fear because He is with us. “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses. He knows everything about us. “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He will tell us to do things that challenge us. This will cause us to seek Him for His help, His guidance, and His strength. Just like a high-school teacher (most likely) won’t assign his class to memorize the alphabet as the day’s homework, the Lord is not going to have us do something we’ve already done. His project for us will teach us something new and make us grow in maturity. Maybe it will make us face something we’ve avoided for a long time, or result in a reconciliation with an estranged relative or friend. Maybe He will have us take a stand in an issue that will help to bring about change in a nation. “The LORD said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.” Judges 6:16

Whatever it is that God tells us to do, it is always in our best interest to do it, to do it when He tells us to do it, and to do it in His strength and in His way. We need to see ourselves as God sees us, capable of doing all things through Him, for “Nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37.

You Can Find Blessings In Times Of Difficulty

Always! You just need to look past your eyes and pay attention to what’s going on around you. We get so caught up with the things that are going differently than what we hope; when times are hard, we often fail to see that God is with us, working in us and around us. These are the times we must look past what is in front of our eyes, to God, trusting Him completely, knowing that His promise to carry us through the deep waters and walk us through the fire is for real. He didn’t sacrifice His son Jesus to pay our sin debt then turn His back on us. No way!

Everything we go through serves a purpose. And if we’re all caught up in worry and feeling sorry for ourselves, instead of looking to God, then sure enough, we’ll miss the blessing that is beyond the pain. Just like the angel of death passed over the homes of the Israelites, blessings of peace, joy, and hope will pass over us if we are not available to receive them.

Throughout the exodus from Egypt, complaining and unhappiness was all that the Lord heard from His chosen people. It was so bad that He decided the first generation would all die off before His people received their inheritance, the promised land of Canaan. Those folks were so caught up in self pity and discontentment, even though the Lord provided them with everything they needed—food falling out of the sky each day, their clothes and shoes didn’t wear out, and springs of sweet water for themselves and their livestock. Instead of trusting in God and looking forward to their blessing—a land rich and fertile, flowing with milk and honey—they refused to look past the desert in front of their eyes, therefore missing out on the abundance the Lord wanted to bless them with so badly.

Often, we see a rainbow after a fierce storm. In fact, after a recent storm that included a good pelting of hail, we were blessed with a very rare event: a double-rainbow! Only those who were looking up saw the rainbow.

We all will face times of difficulty throughout our lives. No one is exempt, not even Jesus. During these hard times, we can choose to place our lives in God’s hands and trust Him for the outcome, or we can rely on our own strength and resources. Which do you choose?

Matthew 6:33 (New Living Translation)

Seek the Kingdom of God^a]"> above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (New Living Translation)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Isaiah 43:2 (New Living Translation)

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

… say yes … say yes…

Let Him in

Accept salvation

Accept forgiveness

Accept eternal life

Say yes

Don’t delay

Say yes today

Experience love

Experience peace

Experience joy

Experience freedom

Say yes today

Don’t delay

Today might be your last day

Tonight could be the night

The urgency is real

Don’t spend another day aimlessly wandering around, or toiling in vain for things that don’t last

Don’t spend another night, tossing and turning, unable to sleep because your burdens are too big and your anxiety too high; worried about things you have no control over.

Let Jesus into your heart. Make Him your Lord and Savior.

Give up all your cares and fears to God and trust Him for the outcome.

Come to the cross and lay it all down at Jesus’ feet.

Your worries

Your anxiety

Your addictions

Your fears

Your resentments

Hatred. Prejudice. Anger.

Let go of the worldly things that lead to death.

Surrender to God.

Let Him work within you; ask Him to change your heart.

Confess that you are a sinner in need of a Saviour.

Let Him in.

He’s knocking.

He’s waiting.

Why are you waiting; hesitating?

What’s holding you back? What are you afraid of?

What are you holding on to? Worldly things? Worthless things?

What won’t you let go of?

Wherever you are, just reach up to Him. He’ll meet you there.

His loving arms are extended out to embrace you, His dear child, just like a loving father holds his hands out to his child.

He loves you so much!

He doesn’t want to loose you!

He wants you with Him.

He wants to be with you.

He’s waiting.

Waiting for you.

Open your heart.

Say yes.

Let Him in.

Say yes.

… say yes… … say yes…

JUST A TASTE AND...

"Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!" Psalm 34:8

...you get this unexplainable, indescribable, inexpressible, joyful feeling way deep inside; something so good you want to get up and dance around, shout-out from the highest place, stop strangers on the street and tell them, "Hey, you gotta give this a try". A burning desire to praise Him and pray and give thanks develops because your heart is so over-flowing with thanks and gratitude. All you can think about is God and Jesus and how much He loves us. You develop an insatiable desire to saturate yourself with the Word and pray without ceasing. This is kind-of what a "taste of the Lord" is like; an introduction of how awesome it is to feel God's love in your heart. The more you pursue Him, the stronger this feeling gets. Could this be JOY ?

ADJUSTMENT

Dr. Charles Stanley devotional "Adjusting To The Lord's Plans"

Matthew 4:18-22 (New Living Translation)

The First Disciples

¹⁸ One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. ¹⁹ Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” ²⁰ And they left their nets at once and followed him.

²¹ A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. ²² They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.

Jesus called to the two sets of brothers, Simon(Peter) and Andrew, and James and John, "Come, follow me"; immediately, they responded. They dropped what they were doing, leaving their boats, nets, and even dad, behind to follow in answer to Jesus' call. Jesus was a stranger to them, yet they felt the conviction to trust in Him and leaving everything behind, and go; not knowing where or what to expect.

Immediately, they responded to Jesus call. It took me over thirty years to answer, in earnest. Jesus was no stranger to me. My dad accepted Christ in his early teens and dedicated the rest of his life to serving God; he spent all our years together trying to get me to follow Christ, up until he could no longer speak. He started teaching us about Jesus when we were just babies. I can envision dad telling us about Jesus on the day we were born.

I praise God and thank Him for His mercy, that He still allows me to follow Jesus, even though it took me, what, 80% of my years, to finally commit and accept the invitation with my whole heart.

IN DENIAL

Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

A family is going through a season in their lives. An unfortunate event occurred a while back, and the residual effect is devastating to this couple. It is a serious situation; one that will no doubt affect them the rest of their lives.

They are both dealing with it in different ways. The husband is taking it very hard; he feels responsible for their situation. He, along with many others, lost his job when the factory closed down. He has no experience or training for any other type of work; he started at that job when he was 20 years old. Now, at 57, his age and several health issues are additional strikes against him. His chances of finding a job earning the amount of money he was making are right around zero. He is feeling totally and utterly hopeless, and is his thoughts are consumed with their financial situation. Their savings account is just about depleted and he cannot find a job anywhere, not even as a janitor. Her small salary as a part-time school cafeteria aide barely pays the utilities and the groceries. Soon, they will have to sell their house.

What irritates him the most is his wife. She acts as though nothing is wrong. He’s constantly telling her to get her head out of the clouds and face what’s going on in their lives. He’s angry with her because she does not express the same level of concern that he does. She is calm; he is a nervous wreck. Surely, she is in denial ("the refusal to acknowledge the existence or severity of unpleasant external realities or internal thoughts and feelings [HEALTHLINE.COM]"). She can’t cope with all of this so her mind is just shutting it all out. He’s convinced that’s what’s wrong with her.

She’s not in denial, though. She is very well aware of the state of their affairs. She is walking in faith. Instead of succumbing to the weapons the evil one is firing at them--fear, doubt, depression, anger, envy, jealousy, despair, etc.—she gave up her concerns to the Lord. She is facing life clad with the armor of God. She admits she is powerless and knows God has power over everything. She trusts that as long as she is walking in God’s will, He will cover her. She has peace while her husband is in turmoil. She feels God’s presence and protection; he feels deserted and defeated.

Let useless worry destroy you or be in peace trusting God? Which would you choose?

Scriptures:

Psalm 55:22 (NLT) “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”

Philippians 4:6-8 (NLT) “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus”.

I PRAISE YOU, O LORD

I will praise you all of my days
and honor you in all ways.
My heart desires,
like a burning fire,
to tell others what your word says.
No greater joy
than what you placed inside.
No words are sufficient to employ
in an attempt to describe
how tall and how wide
your arms reach out
to embrace us and draw us to your side.
Praise you in the morning,
praise you at night.
Seek you when I’m mourning,
find you with delight.
Praise you with voice,
praise you with pen and paper.
Every day, every night—rejoice!
You are my God, my redeemer, my maker.

Psalm 86:11-13 NLT
Teach me your ways, O LORD that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. With all my heart I will praise you, O LORD my God. I will give glory to your name forever, for your love for me is very great. You have rescued me from the depths of death.