Wednesday, November 8, 2023

                                                                                     

                                                                                                     November 8, 2023


Understanding Who You Are In God’s Eyes

 

Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me (Isaiah 49:16).

 

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her

 

womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you” (vs 15).

           

            The children of Israel thought God had forgotten about them. Has that thought ever crossed your mind?

            Sometimes it seems as if we give greater confidence in the ability of a mother to care for her child than for God to cares for us. What foolish thoughts cross our minds.

            God does not forsake those who belong to him. Israel sinned over and over again, yet God did not forget them.

Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.”

            God engraved Israel in the palm of his hand. How can you forget someone that you have taken the time to engrave them in your hand? This engraving was not just of their names but of their images, their needs, their circumstances, their weaknesses, everything about them was engraved in his hands. He could not forget them.

            How much more for us who have given him our lives. We are united with him in every way; He is in us and we are in him. We are members of the household of God. We belong to Him. Our Identity is in Christ.   

            When the next trial comes upon you, do not foolishly think that God has forgotten you. He cannot forget his own. He cannot forget you.

God Bless. 

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

 

Encouragement                                                                                             10/24/2023

 

What Can Jesus Do?

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side,” 

(Mark 4:35).

 

            What can happen to twelve disciples, traveling in a ship, in the midst of a great storm, with the Son of God sleeping below?

Nothing. For Jesus said to them, before they left, “Let us go across to the other side.” Nothing could stop Jesus from the appointment he had on the other side. They were in charge of the boat, and Jesus was in charge of them.

What happens when we trust in His promises to us?

We get to the other side.

There will be hinderances along the way, our prayers may seem to go unanswered. We may even think that God has forgotten about us, but let it not be said of us, “Oh ye of little faith.”

            How can he forget about us? We are in him, and he is in us. We cannot go anyplace without him. He knows when our heart beats quicken, when the sweat runs down our faces, and when it is a time for rest. We are inseparably joined to him.

Our Lord is not sleeping below. He commands our ship and the winds, and the waves await his instructions. We belong to him.  

Trust in him. Fortify yourself in prayer before you start your day, when the winds blow, and of course at its end.

And see the salvation of our Lord at work in your life today.   

                                                                                                                        L.W.

 

 

 

 

Encouragement                                                                                             10/17/2023

 

My Soul Waits for God Alone

      For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation (Psalm 62:1).

 

            When my thoughts are quiet, and my soul is at rest, he speaks to me through his Word.

 

I listen; for from him comes my salvation.

 

Nicodemus went to see Jesus one night. I guess he wanted to speak to him alone, without the crowds. There was much he wanted to ask him, but Jesus cut to the most important issue for him, “You must be born again.” When we come to our Lord, he cuts to the most important issue facing our lives. If your salvation is sure, then he will speak to us about our new life in him. Salvation secures us in the body of Christ. We belong to him. Our life, our identity, our purpose is in him.

The time Nicodemus spent with Jesus changed him forever. Our salvation changed our lives forever. Time spent with our Lord in his Word and in prayer makes us more like him in the eyes of the world.  

Jesus spoke and Nicodemus listened. The descriptions Jesus used Jesus explained. Jesus knew what Nicodemus needed to know and believe. God does that for us. He knows what we need to hear and what settles our heart.  

            Plan to wait for the Lord to speak to you. He will. Carry his word with you. He will take your worries, your cares and lift your burdens if you ask him. Trust him always; let your tears fall on him. 

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.

Amen.

 

 

 

                                                                        L. White

 

Encouragement

Are the Lions More Ferocious Today?

Daniel 6

 

            Daniel did not hesitate, “he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously (vs 10). 

            “Gocha,” His enemies were delighted. Daniel had fallen right into their hands. They knew he would pray. They knew he would not disappoint his God. “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”

It matters how we live.

The lions were hungry, and Daniel was ready. He had been involved with God on many occasions. He and his friends separated themselves from the other captives in the king’s palace. They refused to disobey God’s dietary laws. God came through for them (Dan.1). God revealed King Hezekiah’s dream to him when no one else could (Daniel 2). He was not there, but he heard of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego’s experience in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3), and he revealed the meaning of the handwriting on the wall and the fall of the Babylonian empire

Daniel 4). Yes, Daniel knew God, and he believed God was able to deliver him now.  

The lions were hungry; Daniel was ready.

Are the lions of this age more ferocious? No, and neither has the power of God waned.  

“he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions” (vs 27).

Our Lord God has work for us to do. He has equipped us with everything we need. He has promised to be with us every step of the way. Let us not fear the lions.                                  L. W.

Friday, November 20, 2020

 

November 21, 2020


                                                    Do Not Regret Difficult Times

 

Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence—as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil—to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence!  Isaiah 64:1,2

 

            I want to see God at work in my life.

 

When life becomes difficult, I want God to tear through my difficulties and come to my rescue. I may be acting a bit dramatic, but that is at least partially true. In other words, I want to see the hand of God touching my situation and giving me good results.

 

             Most of us tend to choose paths that keep us safe, provide us with protection and assure us success. When problems arrive and take us off that comfortable path, we want our heavenly Father to answer our prayers and clear the path of obstacles. We want to be able to move forward toward our goals.

 

            God works spectacularly in difficult times. There are blessings that only come to us in the most challenging situations. We do not have to regret hardships.

 

            Our Father is always well - aware of where we are and the events happening in our lives. Our prayers ought to reflect this fact as we pray. He does not act on behalf of our anxious behavior. When we look to Him [reading His Word] and remain in prayer, we will see Him at work.

           

We must remember to keep a check on our lives, confess our sins to Him and live our lives according to what He has taught us.   

 

           

            Dear Father, thank you for all that you are doing in our lives. May our lives give glory and honor to your name.