October 13th, 2014

October 10th, 2014

October 8th, 2014

October 6th, 2014

October 4th, 2014

September 28th, 2014

September 27th, 2014

September 24th 2014

September 23rd, 2014

September 22nd, 2014

When my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I." Psalm 61:2

Most of us know what it is to be overwhelmed in heart; emptied as when a man wipeth a dish and turneth it upside down; submerged and thrown on our beam ends like a vessel mastered by the storm. Discoveries of inward corruption will do this, if the Lord permits the great deep of our depravity to become troubled and cast up mire and dirt. Disappointments and heart-breaks will do this when billow after billow rolls over us, and we are like a broken shell hurled to and fro by the surf. Blessed be God, at such seasons we are not without an all-sufficient solace, our God is the harbour of weather-beaten sails, the hospice of forlorn pilgrims. Higher than we are is he, his mercy higher than our sins, his love higher than our thoughts. It is pitiful to see men putting their trust in something lower than themselves; but our confidence is fixed upon an exceeding high and glorious Lord. -Charles Spurgeon

September 21st, 2014

September 19th, 2014

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

whenever trouble comes your way,

let it be an opportunity for joy.

For when your faith is tested,

your endurance has a chance to grow.

James 12:3

September 18th, 2014

September 17th, 2014

September 16th, 2014

"Your Grace Finds Me"

Matt Redman

It’s there in the newborn cry

There in the light of every sunrise

There in the shadows of this life

Your great grace

It’s there on the mountain top

There in the everyday and the mundane

There in the sorrow and the dancing

Your great grace

Oh such grace

From the creation to the cross

There from the cross into eternity

Your grace finds me, yes your grace finds me

It’s there on a wedding day

There in the weeping by the graveside

There in the very breath we breathe

Your great grace

The same for the rich and poor

The same for the saint and for the sinner

Enough for this whole wide world

Your great grace

Oh such grace

There in the darkest night of the soul

There in the sweetest songs of victory

Your grace finds me

Yes your grace finds me

Your great grace

Oh such grace

Your great grace

Oh such grace

So I’m breathing in Your grace

And breathing out Your praise

I’m breathing in Your grace

Forever I’ll be

Your grace finds me

Yes Your grace finds me

September 15th, 2014

"He shall not be afraid of evil tidings." Psalm 112:7

 Christian, you ought not to dread the arrival of evil tidings; because if you are distressed by them, what do you more than other men? Other men have not your God to fly to; they have never proved his faithfulness as you have done, and it is no wonder if they are bowed down with alarm and cowed with fear: but you profess to be of another spirit; you have been begotten again unto a lively hope, and your heart lives in heaven and not on earthly things; now, if you are seen to be distracted as other men, what is the value of that grace which you profess to have received? Where is the dignity of that new nature which you claim to possess? 

 Again, if you should be filled with alarm, as others are, you would, doubtless, be led into the sins so common to others under trying circumstances. The ungodly, when they are overtaken by evil tidings, rebel against God; they murmur, and think that God deals hardly with them. Will you fall into that same sin? Will you provoke the Lord as they do? Moreover, unconverted men often run to wrong means in order to escape from difficulties, and you will be sure to do the same if your mind yields to the present pressure. Trust in the Lord, and wait patiently for him. Your wisest course is to do as Moses did at the Red Sea,

"Stand still and see the salvation of God."

For if you give way to fear when you hear of evil tidings, you will be unable to meet the trouble with that calm composure which nerves for duty, and sustains under adversity. How can you glorify God if you play the coward? Saints have often sung God's high praises in the fires, but will your doubting and desponding, as if you had none to help you, magnify the Most High? Then take courage, and relying in sure confidence upon the faithfulness of your covenant God, "let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
-Charles Spurgeon

September 14th, 2014

September 12th, 2014

September 11th, 2014

 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Isaiah 58:8

September 10th, 2014

We are tired. And when life brings challenges, the little bit of margin we may have is quickly taken up. We find ourselves weary and then wonder why it's so hard to enjoy our lives.

Although we love our independence, the truth is we need someone to watch out for us, to tenderly care for us, and make sure we get our rest. In other words, we're like sheep in need of a shepherd.

Without the care of a shepherd, sheep would soon get in trouble. If sheep followed other sheep, the flock would be worn out, in danger, and deprived of what's needed to survive.

The same thing happens to us. When we let the world around us define our need for rest, we put our hearts at risk.

The good news is we have a Good Shepherd. His Name is Jesus. He doesn't want to drive us so hard that we fall down from exhaustion. He doesn't want to force us to go through life without nourishment and refreshment. When we are exhausted and feel like we're just "doing what we have to do," He invites us to pause and rest.

The Bible speaks of God as our Shepherd. And as I read Psalm 23, my tired heart longs for such tender care: "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul" (Psalm 23:1-3a).

-Holley Gerth

Psalm 62:1-2 says, "Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken." (NIV)

September 8th, 2014

"The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

September 7th, 2014

September 6th, 2014

September 5th, 2014

September 4th, 2014

It’s been another day when it seems like faith eludes me

Everything’s been so confusing

Fear got the best of me

Now I’m lying here worried about tomorrow

‘cause the weight of everything I don’t know

Is so heavy I can’t sleep

But the truth remains the same

Even when I don’t know what to pray

I could throw my fist in the air demanding answers

But in spite of all the questions

I’m still giving You my life

And if it doesn’t turn out like I think it should

It doesn’t change the fact You’re always good

Your ways are higher than mine

And the truth remains the same

Even when I don’t know what to pray

But what I know

Is You, my God are real

No matter how I feel

You’ve never let me go

And what I know

Is there will never be a day

You aren’t just a breath away

And through it all I’ve gotta hold

Tricia Brock "You My God Are Real"

September 2nd, 2014

September 1st, 2014

"I shall never be able to go too fast, if the Lord is in front of me; 

and I can never go too slowly, if I follow Him always, everywhere.  

It is just as dark in advance of God's glorious leading as it is away behind Him. 

 You may be trying to go faster than He is moving.  

Wait till He comes up and then the way will no longer lie in darkness."  

Mrs Charles Cowman  

Not so in haste, my heart!

Have faith in God and wait:

Although He linger long

He never comes too late.

Bayard Talor

August 31st, 2014

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge 

of God! How unsearchable are his judgments 

and how inscrutable his ways! 

- Romans 11:33 ESV

August 30th, 2014

"Careful For Nothing"

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7

Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.  1 Peter 5:7

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.  Isaiah 26:3

"Careful for nothing," 'tis the Shepherd's voice, "Be of good cheer," "forevermore rejoice,'' Precious the truth this message doth impart, Comforts, encourages, and cheers the heart. "Careful for nothing," wondrous love is shown, In His desire expressed thus for His own; Seeking to give them through life's pathway here Freedom from worry, care, or doubt, or fear. "Careful for nothing," for His love would share Every perplexity and every care; "In everything," whate'er the problem be, "Let your requests be made known" unto Me. Bringing thy burden then in simple prayer, Commit it all unto a Father's care; Trusting His love, from doubt and worry cease, For He desires to give thee perfect peace. Peace, rest, and joy, He giveth day by day, His perfect peace, which nought can take away: Peace, that the world can never understand, Peace, that comes only from a Father's hand. What richer portion could one ever find, Than perfect peace of heart, and rest of mind? And 'tis His promise, He will safely keep, Throughout life's pathway, every single sheep. "Careful for nothing," to be then content, All He allows is for thy blessing sent; "In everything give thanks" unto the Lord,— All will work out for good; it is His Word. "Careful for nothing," what is there to fear Since He has promised to be ever near? "Careful for nothing," what-so-e'er betide, Peace is thy portion, with Him at thy side.       —Lois Beckwith

August 29th, 2014

August 27th, 2014

1. God moves in a mysterious way
   His wonders to perform;
   He plants His footsteps in the sea
   And rides upon the storm.
2. Deep in unfathomable mines
   Of never failing skill
   He treasures up His bright designs
   And works His sov’reign will.
3. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
   The clouds ye so much dread
   Are big with mercy and shall break
   In blessings on your head.
4. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
   But trust Him for His grace;
   Behind a frowning providence
   He hides a smiling face.
5. His purposes will ripen fast,
   Unfolding every hour;
   The bud may have a bitter taste,
   But sweet will be the flow’r.
6. Blind unbelief is sure to err
   And scan His work in vain;
   God is His own interpreter,
   And He will make it plain.
7. -William Cowper

August 26th, 2014

IS any thing too hard for the LORD? Gen. 18:14)

God wants us to ask Him for the impossible!  God can do things that man cannot do.  He would not be God if this were not so.  That is why He has graciously made prayer a law of life.  "If ye shall ask...I will do"  This inviting promise from the Lord means that He will do for us what we cannot do for ourselves; He will do for others what we cannot do for them--if we but ask Him.  How little do we avail ourselves of this immense privilege!

Someone spoke this searching word at Edinburgh in 1910: "We have lost the eternal youthfulness of Christianity, and have aged into calculating manhood.  We seldom pray in earnest for the extraordinary, the limitless, the glorious.  We seldom pray with any confidence, for any good to the realization of which we cannot imagine a way.  And yet, we suppose ourselves to believe in an Infinite Father."  The natural man calculates results.  Calculations have no place in our relation with God.

  That matter which has been so burdening us just now, and with which we can see no way of dealing, how are we praying about it?  In anxiety, or with thanksgiving? Worrying prayer defeats its own answer; rejoicing prayer gets through.  "In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."  Then will come the answer "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think."
The more we are cut off from human help, the greater claim we can make on Divine help.  The more impossible a thing is to human or mortal power, the more at peace can we be when we look to Him for deliverance.  "Only those who see the invisible can do the impossible!"

-From Springs in the Valley by Mrs Charles Cowman

August 25th, 2014

August 24th, 2014

August 22nd, 2014

August 21st, 2014

This is a season of discouragement. Disappointments. People who let us down. Situations that didn't pan out like we thought they would. Our own failures. Prayers that were not answered in our time or our desire. Discouragement sets in, and we feel downcast. What happened? It comes down to, quite simply, lack of hope. Hope failed, hope ceased, what we hoped for has not come...sometimes that hope suffered a complete fatality and hopelessness sets in because we realize or at least believe we can never get that person/thing back. 

We all go through times of discouragement.  It is universal among human beings.  When we are low and others are up, it's easy to fall into the comparison trap, which makes discouragement worse.

What happens when we get fixated on our problems is that we get our eyes off Jesus, the only One who really matters. We need to remember that our "faith and hope are in God". I Peter 1:21

When we are looking to people or circumstances or things for our comfort, identity, meaning, etc....we are putting our hope in those and not in God. When we pulls those things out from under us, we realize we have been standing or depending on the wrong things. 

 We want comfort.  Jesus wants growth.  We want things to be easy.  Jesus wants us to have faith and dependence in Him.  We put importance in our ideals and our reputation.  Our Father wants us to seek only His glory.  Especially for women, relationships are what give us identity and meaning.  Jesus wants us to put our relationship with Him first.  We trust in our own abilities and depend on our own strength or accomplishment.  Jesus wants us to depend entirely upon Him. 

It is crucial to have a conscious understanding of this, because it helps us to realize God is actually FOR us.  Growth, change, discomfort, pain, lack of material things, disappointments, and loss are all hard.  But we MUST realize that our Father desires so much more for us than our selfish and earthly desires.  He wants us to pursue Him, to hunger and thirst for Him, to desire to do His will, to live for His honor and glory, to depend entirely on Him.  He wants to literally be our all in all.  And He will not settle for less. When He becomes our whole object, discouragement will cease because He cannot fail or discourage us or leave us. 

So when He allows things in our lives that get us really down, a good thing to ask is, "have I been seeking God with my whole heart?"   Not possessions, or status, or acceptance, or praise, or meaning, or anything else.  Just pursue Jesus with passion and purpose. Then we will be filled with hope.  And joy. And peace.  And abundant life!  

"My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him." Psalm 62:5

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

"....we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul." Hebrews 6:18-19 

August 20th, 2014

August 18th, 2014

"Be silent unto God and let Him mold thee." (Ps.  46:10)

We need every day to be led by the Divine Shepherd into the green pastures and beside the still waters.  

Inner preparation is necessary for out service.

And Jesus said to them: "Come away to some lonely spot and get a little rest.... So they went privately in the boat to a lonely spot."  (Mark 6:31 and 32)  Let us find that spot every day, and the fellowship of silence.

-Mrs Charles Cowman

August 16th, 2014

August 15th, 2014

August 14th, 2014

August 13th, 2014

August 12th, 2014

Thinking of the Christians and children being brutally killed and tortured in Iraq right now.  Their lot is better than those left behind, if they have died in Christ.  They are safe eternally in Jesus.  It is the killers who will give an answer to God on the day of judgment before being thrown into everlasting burning.  The Muslim extremists who think it good to slaughter Christians and beheading their children will have the greater torment to which there will be no end.  They are the ones to be pitied in that day.

"Yonder in the better world, the inhabitants are independent of all creature comforts. They have no need of raiment; their white robes never wear out, neither shall they ever be defiled. They need no medicine to heal diseases, "for the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick." They need no sleep to recruit their frames--they rest not day nor night, but unweariedly praise him in his temple. They need no social relationship to minister comfort, and whatever happiness they may derive from association with their fellows is not essential to their bliss, for their Lord's society is enough for their largest desires. They need no teachers there; they doubtless commune with one another concerning the things of God, but they do not require this by way of instruction; they shall all be taught of the Lord. Ours are the alms at the king's gate, but they feast at the table itself. Here we lean upon the friendly arm, but there they lean upon their Beloved and upon him alone. Here we must have the help of our companions, but there they find all they want in Christ Jesus. Here we look to the meat which perisheth, and to the raiment which decays before the moth, but there they find everything in God. We use the bucket to fetch us water from the well, but there they drink from the fountain head, and put their lips down to the living water. Here the angels bring us blessings, but we shall want no messengers from heaven then. They shall need no Gabriels there to bring their love-notes from God, for there they shall see him face to face. Oh! what a blessed time shall that be when we shall have mounted above every second cause and shall rest upon the bare arm of God! What a glorious hour when God, and not his creatures; the Lord, and not his works, shall be our daily joy! Our souls shall then have attained the perfection of bliss."  -Charles Spurgeon

August 11th, 2014

August 10th, 2014

1. Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
   Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
   Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
   Standing on the promises of God.
   • Refrain:
     Standing, standing,
     Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
     Standing, standing,
     I’m standing on the promises of God.
2. Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
   When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
   By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
   Standing on the promises of God.
3. Standing on the promises I now can see
   Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
   Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
   Standing on the promises of God.
4. Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
   Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
   Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
   Standing on the promises of God.
5. Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
   List’ning every moment to the Spirit’s call,
   Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
   Standing on the promises of God.

August 9th, 2014

August 8th, 2014

Sovereign

Chris Tomlin

Sovereign in the mountain air

Sovereign on the ocean floor

With me in the calm

With me in the storm

Sovereign in my greatest joy

Sovereign in my deepest cry

With me in the dark

With me at the dawn

In your everlasting arms

All the pieces of my life

From beginning to the end

I can trust you

In your never failing love

You work everything for good

God whatever comes my way

I will trust you

Sovereign in the mountain air

Sovereign on the ocean floor

With me in the calm

With me in the storm

Sovereign in my greatest joy

Sovereign in my deepest cry

With me in the dark

With me at the dawn

In your everlasting arms

All the pieces of my life

From beginning to the end

I can trust you

In your never failing love

You work everything for good

God whatever comes my way

I will trust you

God whatever comes my way

I will trust you

All my hopes

All I need

Held in your hands

All my life

All of me

Held in your hands

All my fears

All my dreams

Held in your hands

All my hopes

All I need

Held in your hands

In your everlasting arms

All the pieces of my life

From beginning to the end

I can trust you

In your never failing love

You work everything for good

God whatever comes my way

I will trust you

God whatever comes my way

I will trust you

God whatever comes my way

I will trust you

August 7th, 2014

An excerpt from Ann Voskamp's blog, A Holy Experience. 

When I started following Jesus, and grace hit me on the head like a ton of bricks, I still struggled with letting it permeate every last part of me.

I still thought I had to attain a certain spiritual level of awesomeness before I could really receive grace.

That was until I read Roman 4:5, which I’d read plenty of times before, but that particular night God made it jump out of the page (He has a funny way of doing that at times, huh?): “and to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.” Romans 4:5

Have you ever sat in the weight of that scripture?

Have you ever realized just how scandalous that verse truly is?

Sometimes in our sanitized, sterile, flat readings we can miss out on the completely explosive language the scripture writers are using to get their point across.

It says God justifies the ungodly.

Or in other words, He makes right  — the ones who aren’t right.

He makes holy the filthy.

He purifies the impure.

He calls the wicked blameless.

He justifies the ungodly.

What’s funny is usually if we are ungodly — we hide.

Hiding, is a natural response to sin, just like our long ago parents who once hid behind a bush and covered themselves with fig leaves. But in that same story, God’s heart has been the same. He cries, “Adam, where are you?”

Now, let’s be honest, God is God so I doubt He is really wondering what bush they hid behind.

It’s a call. A beckoning. A plea of the heart—where is my son and daughter? When will they come home?

And it’s true in this verse too, God doesn’t hide whatsoever what He is in the business of doing.

He boasts as bright as the sun that He makes right those who deserve the opposite. In a weird way it seems the only qualification for us to be justified is to be ungodly. How weird is that? It’s like God is saying the only way to qualify is to admit you don’t qualify.

What’s interesting though is what precedes that verse.

To the one who does not work.

Now, let me clarify working isn’t a bad thing. Discipline is not a bad thing.

But in regards to salvation it is a terrible thing.

You can’t work no matter how hard you try. Any amount of work we think we can add to the Cross of Jesus is in essence saying “Jesus, you’re cross wasn’t enough.”

How beautiful is that though?

You don’t have to try harder, you don’t have to be better, you don’t have to do more, you just have to stop working and TRUST in the one who justifies the ungodly!

Do you struggle with porn? Do you think you always have to give up your body to be loved? Are you addicted to the praise and approval of others?

Jesus says CUT THAT OUT! Stop working and trust in Him, who justifies the ungodly.

You don’t have to hide your filth, you don’t have to hide your scars, you don’t have to hide your shame –  because He justifies the ungodly.

Grace is a call to come out of hiding, because God, not us, makes us right and changes our heart.

How does the verse end though? It says if you don’t work, and trust in Him who justifies the ungodly, then your faith is counted as righteousness.

The minute you trust in Jesus your standing becomes His standing.

You no longer represent yourself but Jesus represents you.

Your faith is “counted” as righteousness. It isn’t earned. It’s counted.

When you trust in Jesus, God then looks at you the same way He looks at Jesus. If you are in Jesus He looks at you (even when you fall and mess up) and says “pure, spotless, blameless, perfect, holy, my son, my daughter, you’re free!”

That’s what changes a heart.

That’s what stirs us to worship.

That’s what changes someone’s life.

August 6th, 2014

I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken." Psalm 16:8 (NASB)

August 5th, 2014

August 4th, 2014

"Every believer understands that to know God is the highest and best form of knowledge; and this spiritual knowledge is a source of strength to the Christian. It strengthens his faith. Believers are constantly spoken of in the Scriptures as being persons who are enlightened and taught of the Lord; they are said to "have an unction from the Holy One," and it is the Spirit's peculiar office to lead them into all truth, and all this for the increase and the fostering of their faith. Knowledge strengthens love, as well as faith. Knowledge opens the door, and then through that door we see our Saviour. Or, to use another similitude, knowledge paints the portrait of Jesus, and when we see that portrait then we love him, we cannot love a Christ whom we do not know, at least, in some degree. If we know but little of the excellences of Jesus, what he has done for us, and what he is doing now, we cannot love him much; but the more we know him, the more we shall love him." -Charles Spurgeon

August 3rd, 2014

"We are not to cope with our troubles; we are to give them to God:

“Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully” (1 Peter 5:6-7, Amplified).

If you cope, you hang on to it. If you give it to God, you can let it go.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NASB).

We see here that the Lord will comfort us, and that is what we need. Once we are comforted and pass through our problems, we will be able to help others. Next time trouble knocks at your door, send Jesus to answer it!"

-Cathy Irvin

August 2nd, 2014

August 1st, 2014

July 31st, 2014

July 30th, 2014

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in 

believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of 

the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

July 29th, 2014

Thou always thinkest of me, O God. The bowels of thy love continually yearn towards me. Thou art always making providence work for my good. Thou hast set me as a signet upon thine arm; thy love is strong as death, many waters cannot quench it; neither can the floods drown it. Surprising grace! Thou seest me in Christ, and though in myself abhorred, thou beholdest me as wearing Christ's garments, and washed in his blood, and thus I stand accepted in thy presence. I am thus continually in thy favour--"continually with thee." Here is comfort for the tried and afflicted soul; vexed with the tempest within--look at the calm without. "Nevertheless"--O say it in thy heart, and take the peace it gives. "Nevertheless I am continually with thee."

-Charles Spurgeon

July 28th, 2014

July 27th, 2014

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage." John 14:27

July 25th, 2014

"Praise and service are great healers. When life grows sore and wounding, and it is difficult to be bring, praise God!  Sing something, and you will rally your own heart with the song!  You must learn to swim and hold your head above the water even when the sense of His Presence is not with you to hold up your chin."

-From Springs in the Valley by Mrs Charles Cowman

July 24th, 2014

                          My Heart is Fixed on Jesus

by Lavinia Brauff

My heart is fixed on Jesus, the sun of all my tho’t;

What wondrous work of grace His love within my soul hath wrought!

He found me poor and helpless, by ev’ry sin oppressed,

And died that I might be redeemed, and have eternal rest.

Refrain:

My heart is fixed on Jesus,

No other hope have I;

I could not live without Him,

And without Him dare not die.

 My heart is fixed on Jesus, without Him life is vain;

His promise is thro’ all my days to comfort and sustain;

I love to hear Him whisper – “Be not afraid – ’tis I!’

As o’er the stormy sea I sail beneath a clouded sky. [Refrain]

My heart is fixed on Jesus, since I to Him belong,

For every day He gives me hope, for every night a song;

Thro trial and deep water His promises are sweet,

And, sheltered ’neath His wings of love I find a safe retreat. [Refrain]

July 23, 2014

July 22, 2014

July 21, 2014

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

Psalm 136 ESV

July 20, 2014

“Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not…”Isaiah 35:4

“Nothing is hid from His all-seeing eye,

Never a teardrop nor even a sigh;

Anxious and troubled you never need be--

Trust Him completely and doubtings will flee.”

“Be not afraid of sudden fear…when it cometh.” Proverbs 3:25

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Next time fear knocks at your door, let faith open it.

July 18, 2014

"Why go I mourning?"

Psalm 42:9

Canst thou answer this, believer? Canst thou find any reason why thou art so often mourning instead of rejoicing? Why yield to gloomy anticipations? Who told thee that the night would never end in day? Who told thee that the sea of circumstances would ebb out till there should be nothing left but long leagues of the mud of horrible poverty? Who told thee that the winter of thy discontent would proceed from frost to frost, from snow, and ice, and hail, to deeper snow, and yet more heavy tempest of despair? Knowest thou not that day follows night, that flood comes after ebb, that spring and summer succeed winter? Hope thou then! Hope thou ever! For God fails thee not. Dost thou not know that thy God loves thee in the midst of all this? Mountains, when in darkness hidden, are as real as in day, and God's love is as true to thee now as it was in thy brightest moments. No father chastens always: thy Lord hates the rod as much as thou dost; he only cares to use it for that reason which should make thee willing to receive it, namely, that it works thy lasting good. Thou shalt yet climb Jacob's ladder with the angels, and behold him who sits at the top of it--thy covenant God. Thou shalt yet, amidst the splendours of eternity, forget the trials of time, or only remember them to bless the God who led thee through them, and wrought thy lasting good by them. Come, sing in the midst of tribulation. Rejoice even while passing through the furnace. Make the wilderness to blossom like the rose! Cause the desert to ring with thine exulting joys, for these light afflictions will soon be over, and then "forever with the Lord," thy bliss shall never wane.

"Faint not nor fear, his arms are near,

He changeth not, and thou art dear;

Only believe and thou shalt see,

That Christ is all in all to thee."

-Charles Spurgeon

July 17, 2014

July 16, 2014

Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.

 Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.

But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.

If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.

Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind.

James 1 from the Amplified Bible

July 15th, 2014

July 14, 2014

Like a river glorious, is God’s perfect peace,

Over all victorious, in its bright increase;

Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day,

Perfect, yet it groweth, deeper all the way. 

Refrain 

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest

Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,

Never foe can follow, neve traitor stand;

Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,

Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there. 

Refrain

 Every joy or trial falleth from above,

Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;

We may trust Him fully all for us to do.

They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

-Francis Ridley Havergal

July 11th, 2014

QUITE SUDDENLY

Quite suddenly- it may be at the turning of a lane,

Where I stand to watch a skylark from out the swelling grain,

That the trump of God shall thrill me, with its call so loud and clear,

And I’m called away to meet Him, whom of all I hold most dear.

Quite suddenly- it may be as I tread the busy street,

Strong to endure life’s stress and strain, its very call to meet,

That through the roar of traffic, a trumpet, silvery clear,

Shall stir my startled senses and proclaim His coming near.

Quite suddenly- it may be in His house I bend my knee,

When the kingly voice, long hoped for, comes at last to summon me;

And the fellowship of earth-life that has seemed so passing sweet,

Proves nothing but the shadow of our meeting round His feet.

Quite suddenly- it may be as I lie in dreamless sleep,

God’s gift to many a sorrowing heart, with no more tears to weep,

That a call shall break my slumber and a Voice sound in my ear;

‘ Rise up, my love, and come away! Behold, the Bridegroom’s here!”

~Authur Unknown~

July 9th, 2014

July 8th, 2014

July 6th, 2014

"Faith TESTED is faith STRENGTHENED; it is to have learned your weakness, but to have learned the faithfulness of God, His tender care even in sending the difficulties, that we may be there with HIM." -Pilgrim Portions

"Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator." I Peter 4:19

"Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you...the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." 

I Peter 5:7 & 10

-compiled by Joanna Bartlett from the Joyful Mothers

July 5th, 2014

I think sometimes in life it is easy to stay in our comfort zone, to not act because standing still seems safer.  We stay still because we are afraid of the unknown.  We are afraid of making a mistake.  We are afraid of looking stupid.  We are afraid of failure.

We are afraid to trust God.

Because he gives us the choice.  In fact, in any potential leap of faith there are usually three important choices along the way.   All three require trust.

First, we have to make the choice to listen.   We will never hear the call to action if we don’t take the time to be quiet and just listen to what God might be telling us.  In my own prayer time, as in much of life, I generally like to be the one in control.  I have a list of prayer requests I need to address, and agenda for exactly how I’d like my devotion session to go.  But every once in a while I actually manage to Just. Stop. Talking.   And I listen.  And those are the moments where God is waiting to speak.

Second, we have to make the choice to obey.  When that whisper, that nudge, that deep conviction appears, we can’t push it away.  Our temptation is to argue, or to ignore it, or to tell ourselves we are crazy, that the whisper isn’t real.  But we know, deep down, that we have been called to obey.

And so we must say yes.

Yes without knowing what may happen.  Yes without necessarily having any actions steps in place.  Yes to the plans that he has for us.

Finally, we have to make the choice to follow through.  This is where the rubber meets the road.  We can’t just say yes and keep standing there.  There comes a moment where we have to close our eyes and jump and just trust God.  To let go of the notion that we are in control and instead open ourselves up to all the possibility that comes ahead.  We have to keep going, even when we feel like quitting, and trust that he who begins a good work in us will always, always see it through to completion.

Read more at http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/2014/07/25/leap-of-faith/#IrP2fEA8iWrbwpc8.99 - Ruth Soukup

July 4th, 2014

July 2nd, 2014