How to let God be your strength

When I was younger and before marriage came along, I thought that being a Christian was to be an easy life. That just shows how naive I was. Because my family struggled with hardship all through my childhood and right up until those in my family passed on.

We think it should be that way. Perfect I mean. And why not if we are truly walking with Jesus, the one that we believed in and who had died for our sins on Calvary.

Is it fair that we have to struggle in life? God does promise to give us life. But not only that, but abundant life. John 10:10.

But along comes the monthly bills, the addictions, the marital problems. And sometimes heartache. 

And it's as if our whole world crumbles before us when we experience any of these situations. And we feel weak and helpless.

But its at these points that God wants to make us strong. And so the question becomes: How do we let God be our strength?

I believe the first thing we must do is to keep our eyes firmly on Jesus.

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Are we any better than He that was despised and rejected during the time he was on earth, only to be put on the cross to endure a cruel death for our sins? 

No. He sure did not have a perfect life.

We need to remember that our weakness is made perfect by His grace.

 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

But how do we do that when we are going through something that has or is having the wind knocked out of our sails?

Believe me. It is not easy. But Paul didn't just leave us there. Read what he goes on to say.

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me

In a church years ago, the minister in his message of this scripture said that the Apostle Paul had demon spirits that were trying to attack him. But the Hebrew word or infirmities is:  An unsound or unhealthy state of the body; weakness; feebleness. Old age is subject to infirmities.

Looking at my own situations of the past, there have been many times I felt weak. Sometime too weak to handle things. Not always using a sound mind in dealing with them. 

And in most, not rejoicing in them.

But the night my daughter came to my door at midnight to tell me of her father's death, once her words sank in, and I began to try to process it, I honestly can say I said, "Bless you Jesus."

The days that came after were not easy and still are not. There have been days that I have not been able to stop crying. There have been days that I could not rejoice. But then there are days that I have been able to see God's hand in this situation and am thankful for the fact that my husband is with Jesus. And it's in those days, I feel His strength because I am not good on mine alone. And one day, He will wipe my tears away and every other believer's eyes as well. And we will worship Him in the Throne room of heaven, praising Him. The cares of the world as we know it now, gone forever.

I have been able to take comfort for those scriptures that I have hid in my heart for such a time as this. And one day I will be able to do this:

But 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

Maybe not today. Maybe not next week. Or next year. But some day, I will mount up with the might wings of God and run into heaven. Not on my strength. But on God's alone. 

Until then, I will have to keep doing the best I can. One day at a time. One step at a time. Maybe even just a crawl at a time. Depending on God my Father to get me to where he wants me to go.

For those that find themselves weak and going through tough time, go to God's word for your strength. It's the BEST place to be.

Thanks for your patience with me. I know maybe that you may be ready for me to move on to something else on this blog. And so, with Christmas coming, I am going to try to do that. I still won't be posting every day. But will as often as I can be. In the meantime, blessings to you and your family. 

.

 

I Though I had....

.... learned this important lesson that Paul was teaching about in Philippians 1. 

He had learned to be content in verse 4:11 in all things. No matter what he was going through. And he had a lot of bad times and so learning to be content was something that got him through those bad times.

But getting back to Chapter 1, he teaches us about being joyful in everything. That really hit home in September when my husband was suddenly gone. How can you be joyful about losing the person that you had just celebrated your fifty second wedding anniversary with?

Until that time, I had thought I had it down. Not that I am perfect. No way. We had had many hard times over the years but gradually I had learned a lot about being joyful. 

And yet, I guess I am not quite there, after all. Not just in that area of my life, but in other areas as well. Daily life can be hard in our relationships with family or those we work with. Paying bills when there is more month at the end of our money can be a real downer. Marriage problems, additions, and more. The list goes on and on.

How can we be joyful when those kinds of things hit us smack in our face?

The answer is, we can't. Not in ourselves. But then how?

Come back tomorrow for some answers that helps us learn to be joyful no matter what we are going through. 

Thanks for coming today. I hope to be back here now most days anyway. It has been a stressful time for our family.  God bless!

Nothing, Absolutely Nothing....

 

 Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing can separate us, as believers from God's love. 

As a family, we were shocked to find our dad and husband had passed away. We didn't get to know ahead of time. Nor did we get to say goodbye to him. 

In our grief it has been overwhelming sadness that wants to wrap its arms around us and smother us in its grips.

But I am reminded of Jesus who wept at the news that his friend had died. He knew about the suffering of Lazarus's sisters who were devastated when their brother had died.

I find myself devastated at my husband's death. But I can take comfort that Jesus knows my own suffering and he is right here with me to rejoice that nothing can separate my husband or myself from his love. 

And he knows your suffering as well. No matter what we are going through, he has us in the palm of his Almighty hands. 

And that someday, he will wipe every tear from our eyes. No more crying, no more death, and no more tears. No more pain. When we ourselves will enter the gates of our Savior. 

Because the former things of this life will be passed away. Revelation 21:4

What a promise to hold onto even in the grips of the death of our loved one. My husband is already there. Waiting for us with others that have gone on before, for those that have been left behind.

Thanks for coming by today, friends. It has been a sad time, but I still plan on going forward with this blog, for as long as I can. 

God bless you and yours!

When I am.....

If I can depend on anything in this world, it is this. If there is anyone that I can depend on this earth, it is surely God. I cannot say it any plainer. 

Life goes on after the deaths of our loved ones. And it will go on for our loved ones after our own deaths.

But because our hope is found in Jesus, it doesn't end there. It goes on into eternity with him and all those that have trusted him as well. 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Thank you, Jesus!

Thanks for coming by today, Friends. I intend to keep coming here as I can. I thank you for checking in when you do. 

Have a blessed day!

Its Getting Faster and Harder

 I found this devotion this morning and it is so true of my life. How about yours?

Dear Christians, Our Race is Getting Faster and Harder - Jeremiah 12:5-6 (Bible Love Notes)

Jeremiah complained (Jeremiah 12:1-4). 

When he faithfully shared God’s truth, he was persecuted and despised, even by family members. 

Have you felt Jeremiah's pain?

People once tolerated immorality; now they applaud it (Romans 1:32). They once tolerated Christian values; now they mock them.

If you lovingly share the Bible’s teaching on homosexuality, fornication, or abortion, you’ll feel Jeremiah’s pain.

If you discuss Biblical accuracy or Christian responsibility with some in the family of God, you feel Jeremiah’s pain (12:6).

How did God answer Jeremiah’s complaints?

“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?”  (12:5)

God understood Jeremiah’s pain, but the race was getting faster and God wanted Jeremiah to pick up the pace and keep running. 

Dear friends, this message applies to us as well.

The race is getting faster and harder, but God's Word will give us speed and endurance.
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Thank God that he gives us what we need to finish the race is ever before us. And when we get to the finish line, we can say with the apostle Paul, 

" I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Thanks for coming by today, Friends. God bless you!

Are there times in your life when.....

...you wish that you had just five more minutes? 

 Once again I read something on Pinterest that I want to share with you. I feel the way this dad does, sometimes. We take life so for granted that we think it will go on the same way forever. At least I am guilty of that. But the truth is, it can instantly change in a second. 

Please read on:

Thanks for coming by today, Friends. May your weekend be blessed!

Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Heaven

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I ran across something that I want to share with you today about Heaven. That seemingly faraway place that believers long for. Especially in times of hardship. When life doesn't make sense. When joy is sometimes hard to come by. When we wonder if God is really listening to us.

Read on:

What will heaven be like?

By Christie Thomas 

Do you live with the end of the story in mind? I’ve been told that when we know the end of a story, we enjoy it more. But what is the end of our story?

When God wins and the forever becomes now and the eternal takes over the temporal, what will that be like? What will heaven be like?

We often talk about streets of gold, pearly gates, and mansions of glory, (and sometimes harps and clouds) but there must be more. Will you read Revelation 22:1-5 with me?

Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. 

Do you see it, hear it, smell it, touch it?
Imagine yourself standing at the edge of a sparking cascade
of the cleanest, purest water imaginable,
flowing from the Living Water himself.
As you reach down to touch it,
your skin tingles with the electricity,
and you smell…vibrancy.
The water tinkles through the rocks near the shore,
and roars through the center of the river.
You taste the water and as it runs down your throat
it brings strength to your eyes and heart T

his torrent pours down the center of the City of God, impossible to missThe entire City is built around the River of Life.

On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.

You stand in the shade of an incredible tree
whose roots grow deep into the crystalline, rushing water.
The air is filled with the smell of sweet exotic fruit,
and as you lean against the rough trunk,
its shade and smell bring peace to your soul.

No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. 

Nothing is cursed.
Not relationships.
Not the land.
Not the weather.
Not our thoughts.

No longer tending toward evil,
free of the shackles that have imprisoned our minds,
made our decisions selfish,
and our relationships shallow.

Free.
Free to be alive.
Empowered to worship the only One deserving of
every ounce of worship

I can ever and forever draw out of myself.

And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads.

No longer ashamed to have his name engraved for all to see
on our foreheads
because he is all we see, hear, touch, taste, and smell.
No longer feeling the need to smudge
the name written in blood
but to touch the name painted on the canvas of our face

 And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.

Do you see it?
No darkness.
No shadows in the soul, heart, or mind.
God shines light into every crevice and rather than shy away with squinted eyes
we will open our eyes wide
and breathe deep of his glory and grace.
We will stand straight and true,
as children of the King of Kings,
Lord of Lords,
the Alpha and Omega,
the Beginning and End.

Do you live with the end of the story in mind? I’ve been told that when we know the end of a story, we enjoy it more. 

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Friends, thankfully the end of our lives here on earth does not mean the end of our lives for eternity. It will be just the beginning of those things to come, and that we long for. Heaven is as glorius as scripture tells us and our minds cannot even imagine. And just as Christie Thomas so wonderfully spells it out for us here, we will worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, forever.

Thanks for coming by today, God bless!