Gos is Our Refuge

Is God calling you to come closer to Him?  Does your “relationship” with Him need some quality time?  Are you hurting and just can’t seem to see your way through it?  I know your pain.  I’ve been there, too.  The day I hit my knees and yelled at God is a day that I will remember the rest of my life because it was the day that I realized my total dependence upon Him!  He is in control and I needed to let God be God and allow Him to be my refuge.  The bible says God is our refuge.  This means that He is our shelter and protection from danger.  So when we are going through difficulties in our life we need to remember that He cares and He is there with us protecting us from harm.  He is in control and no matter what; everything is going to be alright.  This is our hope in Him.

This was an amazing realization for me.  That in times of trouble; no matter what I am going through God is my shelter and my strength and He is always present – my refuge.   God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.  Psalm 46:1  I cannot tell you how many times God opened my eyes to His love and mercy through His Word.  It is no wonder that the bible is called the bread of life because without it we would all die from spiritual malnutrition. 

I know I am not the only person on the planet that has pain and suffering in my life.  I also know that every human being that ever lived, will live or is living now is not immune to sorrow, heartache and loss.  The only difference between me and the rest of the world is my relationship with God.  Mine is different from your relationship with God and your relationship is different than everyone else’s relationship with God.  We all serve the same God and He loves all of His children the same but teaches us according to our own understanding.  The more we read His Word the more understanding we have and therefore the more understanding He gives. 

I don’t know about you but I want to know as much about God as I possibly can.  I want Him to fill my heart, mind and spirit with who He is.  The only way He can do this is for me to read His word each day and fill my mind with His goodness, mercy and amazing grace. 

We serve an awesome, powerful Creator who says that He is our refuge and our shelter in times of trouble.  He will never leave us nor forsake us. He is my refuge; my shelter and protector from the storms of life.  My life is in His hands and I trust Him to keep me safe.

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.  Psalm 9:9

My salvation and glory depend on God; Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him.  God is our refuge.  Psalm 62:7-8

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”  Psalm 91: 2

Is God Listening?

During our journey through pain and suffering, we reach a point where we no longer have the strength, the desire or even the words to pray. But we have a desire to connect with God at the same time.  We seek the answers to our prayers and our questions. We long for Him to touch our hearts and our lives and give us the comfort that we just can’t seem to find.  We need to know that he is there and hasn’t left us alone to handle the unbelievably painful events of our life. 

Sometimes we find it difficult to talk to God because we really don’t know what else to say. We’ve prayed our hearts out and yet it seems that God hasn’t heard even one of them.  The Bible says He will NEVER leave us or forsake us, so why haven’t we received the answers to our prayers?  Was God really listening?  Does He really care about our suffering? 

Prayer gets hard for every believer; you are not alone.  It’s so hard when God is quiet and we feel like He isn’t listening.  When prayer is hard for us is when we need to be on our knees and praying the most.  Pray until you feel like praying.  We need that connection to God and we can only get it through prayer.  

Everyone on earth has pain and suffering.  No, not one of us is unique in that manner.  It is how we chose to deal with the painful and sometimes tragic events in our life that makes the difference.  We must give God the opportunity to do what He says He will do.  He is in control and will provide for our every care.  We must put our faith in His Word if we want to do more than just survive. 

I pray that my spiritual journey will bring me to the place that I will be the most effective for the Kingdom.  The pain that I have in my heart and the tragedies in my life will end but His love will never end.  I chose to put my faith and trust in God and in His Word.  This will sustain me for the rest of my days on earth and prepare me for the life everlasting with Him! 

scriptures

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds" Philippians 4:6-7

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” Matthew 6:34

"I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. . . . Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Ephesians 1:17 Matthew 6:25-26

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better" Ephesians 1:17

06/08

We Walk By Faith

I watched a movie this weekend that made me think.  How many movies these days do that?  This movie was both entertaining and thought provoking.  I left the movie theater thinking “Wow, what a great movie”.  It made me think about something that I thought I already knew; The amazing, unmatched power of the bible. 

This movie, “The Book of Eli” is about a man who is searching for a certain book and wants it at any cost and another man who is sworn to protect it.  Because of almost total destruction of the world there is only one of its kind left.  What is this book?  The Holy Bible.  Why so much to do about a bible?  Because they both know of the power it possesses. 

Eli was told by God to take His Book out West where it would be safe and that he would be protected from all harm on his journey.  He obeyed and walked by faith for over 30 years to his final destination.  There were a lot of obstacles in his way but God was faithful and protected him from harm.  I’m not going to tell you how it ended only that it was awesome!  I am so glad that Hollywood produced a thought provoking movie for Christian and the secular world alike. 

I say all of this to ask “How many times are we told by God to do something and we think “it’s all in my head”? 

Well, it is in your head but it is the Holy Spirit speaking.  I have heard the inaudible yet unmistakable voice of God many times.  No, I am not crazy!  God has spoken to me.  If you are His child, He speaks to you, too.  If you don’t hear Him than just be still for a little while and you will. “Be still and know that I am God”.  Psalm 46:10

We are commanded to walk by faith not sight.  Faith that the Lord will guide us and protect us; this is a promise that we can depend on.  God uses the humble to crush the arrogant.  He uses the weak to defeat the strong.  He uses you and me to do His work which will bring Him honor and glory. 

Listen, God is speaking to you right now……be still, close your eyes.  Do you hear Him?  My prayer is that you do.

SCRIPTURE

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”  Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.  2 Corinthians 12:9

God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.  John 4:24

First's

As I mourn the death of my sweet mother in law I think of all of the firsts we shared together. The first time we met; the first time we worked together; our first Thanksgiving and Christmas together.  There are so many wonderful memories that it is hard to recall them all. 

Unfortunately the year ahead will be full of firsts as well.  I will experience her birthday without buying her a gift; Easter without sharing a family dinner that she prepared; mother’s day without her in the pew at church; Thanksgiving without, again, sharing a meal that she prepared and Christmas without her sweet smile when she opens her gifts as all of her children and grandchildren gather around her chair.  Although we experienced Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2009 without her presence it was with the hope that she would get better and be home soon; this sadly did not happen.

I will have many firsts at our office that we have shared for the past 12 years as well. She was such a great help to me in so many ways but most of all she made me feel loved.  In her own special ways she made sure that I knew that I was important to her. My heart is full of memories that I will hold dear for the rest of my life.  Her quick wit and loving ways will be missed by me and all who knew her and our office, our lives, will not be the same without her.

Our lives are full of firsts.  We experience them every day.  The most important first of your life salvation, will determine the first, heaven or hell, of your death.  Where will your eternity begin?  Will it be in the presence of God or in eternal separation from Him?  When the reality of death is forced upon us it is vital to remember that each of us face this certainty.  We will all die but not all will go to heaven.  Please make your decision to follow Jesus today because you don’t know what first you will experience tomorrow. 

SCRIPTURES

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel's voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will always be with the Lord.  1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

God raised up His Servant and sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways."  Acts 3:26

All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on His left.  "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  Matthew 25:32-34

New Year Resolutions

I have a few regrets for 2009 and I have many hopes for 2010.  The beginning of a new year always brings about the feelings of starting a new year over, fresh, anew…….The past behind you and the future ahead; but we are not promised a future.  We are only promised this very second and not a moment longer.  I hope that each of you will look back on 2009 as moments in history not a forecast of your future. 

I have never been one to make New Year resolutions but this year I have decided to make a few. If 2009 was a good one for you, thank God for his blessings and provisions in your life.  If you have been struggling this past year then try to figure out how to make it better in 2010.  Remember, your past does not determine your future. 

                                                                My New Year resolutions

·         To increase my enjoyment of God by spending more time in His word and on my knees

·         I am going to continue in my faith that God is going to heal my grandson, Jason

·         I am going to increase the quality of my marriage by spending more time with my husband

·         I am going to watch less TV and spend more time studying God’s Word

·         I will read through the bible completely by the end of the year

I want 2010 to make a difference in my life and the lives of my family not just in this life but for eternity.  I want to live each day as if it is my last on earth - because it could be.  It is difficult to see past today, tomorrow or next week but I pray that God will bless me with eternal eyes so that I can see beyond this life into eternity. 
When I see God face to face I want Him to say “well done, My good and faithful servant.”  So, in 2010, I will strive to live my life according to His precepts and serve Him to the best of my ability.  I know I will fall short but if I do one thing that brings Him glory than I have succeeded.
I pray God’s blessings on each and every one of you.   

SCRIPTURES

For who can enjoy life apart from Him?  Ecclesiastes 2:25
For nothing will be impossible with God.  Luke 1:37
Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think – according to the power that works in you.  Ephesians 3:20
Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7