Lead me, guide me, and protect me
I will seek Thee, I long for Thee,
You are worthy!
The shadow of Your wing
The comfort that You bring
I'll live for You,
And with my all I'll sing...
You are (oh, You are) The One
You gave Your only Son
To die (yes, You died) for me
From sin You set me free
You are (oh, You are) The One
Hear me, help me, oh deliver me!
I will trust Thee, I'll wait on Thee
For Your glory!
Your matchless grace and love
You send from Heav'n above
I'll fly away to You
With wings just like a dove
You are (oh, You are) The One
You gave Your only Son
To die (yes, You died) for me
From sin You set me free
You are (oh, You are) The One
Be merciful to me
On my knees I cry to Thee
And in the stillness of the night
You answered me!
You are (oh, You are) The One
You gave Your only Son
To die (yes, You died) for me
From sin You set me free
You are (oh, You are) The One
You are (oh, You are) The One
You gave Your only Son
To die (yes, You died) for me
From sin You set me free
You are (oh, You are)
You are (oh, You are)
You are (oh, You are)
The One!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Feeling Useless?
Author: Unknown
The Next Time You Feel Like God Can't Use You, Just Remember:
Noah was a drunk; (Genesis 9:20-22).Abraham was too old; (Genesis 17th chapter).
Isaac was a daydreamer; (Book of Genesis).
Jacob was a liar; (25th chapter of Genesis).
Leah was ugly, (Genesis 29:17).
Joseph was abused; (Genesis 37:24-36).
Moses stuttered; Exdodus 4:10).
Gideon was afraid; (Judges 8).
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer; (Judges 14th chapter).
Rahab was a prostitute; (Joshua 2:1).
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young; (Jere.1:6-7 and Ist Timothy).
David had an affair and was a murderer; (2nd Samuel 11:3-27).
Elijah was suicidal; (1 King 19th chapter).
Isaiah preached naked; (Isaiah 37th chapter).
Jonah ran from God; (The book of Jonah)
Naomi was a widow; (Ruth 1:3).
Job went bankrupt; (The Book of Job).
Peter denied Christ; (Matt.26:69-70).
The Disciples fell asleep while praying; (Matt.14:37).
Martha worried about everything; (Luke 10:40).
Magadalene was well you know, (Mark 16:9).
The Samaritan woman was divorced more than once; (John:4:8).
Zaccheus was too small; (Luke 19:3).
Paul was too religious; (Acts 8:1).
Timothy had an ulcer;...AND...(1Timothy 5:23).
Lazarus was dead! (John 11 chapter).
NOW! No more excuses! God can use you to your full potential.
Besides you aren't the message, you are just the messenger.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Fill In The Blanks
During a very trying time in my life, my mom shared with me Psalm 46:1-3:
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah."
Then she continued to encourage me by telling me to fill in the blanks in verses 2-3 by personalizing it with my own problems: "Therefore will not we fear, though _____, and though _____; Though _______, though _____. Selah."
What are your problems? Compare them with the massive problems noted in Psalm 46:2-3. Don't they look pretty small now? Then, compare them with God. Isn't God much bigger than our problems?
Too often, we think our problems are so great that we end up falling in a depressed state. This happens when we place our focus on our problem and not on God. If we use our problems as a means to draw ourselves closer to God, then we would hit at least two birds with one stone.
"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
Why don't you fill in those blanks with your own problems, today? Then, focus on God and not on your problem...or yourself. Get on your knees and cast your burden at His feet. He will carry you through, and His love will shine brightly through you!
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah."
Then she continued to encourage me by telling me to fill in the blanks in verses 2-3 by personalizing it with my own problems: "Therefore will not we fear, though _____, and though _____; Though _______, though _____. Selah."
What are your problems? Compare them with the massive problems noted in Psalm 46:2-3. Don't they look pretty small now? Then, compare them with God. Isn't God much bigger than our problems?
Too often, we think our problems are so great that we end up falling in a depressed state. This happens when we place our focus on our problem and not on God. If we use our problems as a means to draw ourselves closer to God, then we would hit at least two birds with one stone.
"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
Why don't you fill in those blanks with your own problems, today? Then, focus on God and not on your problem...or yourself. Get on your knees and cast your burden at His feet. He will carry you through, and His love will shine brightly through you!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Matchless Pearl
A friend of mine shared this beautiful story with me today, so I thought I'd also share it with you.
The Matchless Pearl
-- Author Unknown
David Morse - American missionary to India - became great friends there with the pearl-diver, Rambhau. Many an evening he spent in Rambhau's cabin reading to him from the Bible, and explaining to him God's way of salvation.
Rambhau enjoyed listening to the Word of God, but whenever the missionary tried to get Rambhau to accept Christ as his Savior - he would shake his head and reply, "Your Christian way to heaven is too easy for me! I cannot accept it. If ever I should find admittance to heaven in that manner - I would feel like a pauper there...like a beggar who has been let in out of pity. I may be proud - but I want to deserve, I want to earn my place in heaven -- and so I am going to work for it."
Nothing the missionary could say seemed to have any effect on Rambhau's decision, and so quite a few years slipped by. One evening, however, the missionary heard a knock on his door, and on going to open it he found Rambhau there.
"Come in, dear friend," said Morse.
"No," said the pearl-diver. "I want you to come with me to my house, Sahib, for a short time -- I have something to show you. Please do not say 'No'."
"Of course I'll come," replied the missionary. As they neared his house, Rambhau said: "In a week's time I start working for my place in heaven; I am leaving for Delhi -- and I am going there on my knees."
"Man, you are crazy! It's nine hundred miles to Delhi, and the skin will break on your knees, and you will have blood-poisoning or leprosy before you get to Bombay."
"No, I must get to Delhi," affirmed Rambhau, "and the immortals will reward me for it! The suffering will be sweet - for it will purchase heaven for me!"
"Rambhau, my friend - you can't. How can I bear you to do it - when Jesus Christ has suffered and died to purchase heaven for you!"
But the old man could not be moved. "You are my dearest friend on earth, Sahib Morse. Through all these years you have stood by me in sickness, in want - you have been sometimes my only friend. But even you cannot turn me from my desire to purchase eternal bliss...I must go to Delhi!"
Inside the hut Morse was seated in the very chair Rambhau had specially built for him - where on so many occasions he had read to him the Bible.
Rambhau left the room to return soon with a small but heavy English strongbox. "I have had this box for years," said he, "and I keep only one thing in it. Now I will tell you about it, Sahib Morse. I once had a son..."
"A son! Why, Rambhau, you have never before said a word about him!"
"No, Sahib, I couldn't." Even as he spoke the diver's eyes were moistened.
"Now I must tell you, for soon I will leave, and who knows whether I shall ever return? My son was a diver too. He was the best pearl diver on the coasts of India. He had the swiftest dive, the keenest eye, the strongest arm, the longest breath of any man who ever sought for pearls.
What joy he brought to me! Most pearls, as you know, have some defect or blemish only the expert can discern, but my boy always dreamed of finding the 'perfect' pearl - one beyond all that was ever found. One day he found it! But even when he saw it - he had been under water too long... That pearl cost him his life, for he died soon after."
The old pearl diver bowed his head. For a moment his whole body shook, but there was no sound. "All these years," he continued, "I have kept this pearl - but now I am going, not to return, and to you, my best friend - I am giving my pearl."
The old man worked the combination on the strongbox and drew from it a carefully wrapped package. Gently opening the cotton, he picked up a mammoth pearl and placed it in the hand of the missionary.
It was one of the largest pearls ever found off the coast of India, and glowed with a luster and brilliance never seen in cultured pearls. It would have brought a fabulous sum in any market.
For a moment the missionary was speechless and gazed with awe. "Rambhau! What a pearl!"
"That pearl, Sahib, is perfect," replied the Indian quietly. The missionary looked up quickly with a new thought: Was not this the very opportunity and occasion he had prayed for - to make Rambhau understand the value of Christ's sacrifice? So he said, designedly, "Rambhau, this is a wonderful pearl, an amazing pearl. Let me buy it. I would give you ten thousand dollars for it."
"Sahib! What do you mean?"
"Well, I will give you fifteen thousand dollars for it, or if it takes more - I will work for it."
"Sahib," said Rambhau, stiffening his whole body, "this pearl is beyond price. No man in all the world has money enough to pay what this pearl is worth to me. On the market a million dollars could not buy it. I will not sell it to you. You may only have it as a gift."
"No, Rambhau, I cannot accept that. As much as I want the pearl, I cannot accept it that way. Perhaps I am proud, but that is too easy. I must pay for it, or work for it..."
The old pearl-diver was stunned. "You don't understand at all, Sahib. Don't you see. My only son gave his life to get this pearl, and I wouldn't sell it for any money. Its worth is in the life-blood of my son. I cannot sell this - but I can give it to you. Just accept it in token of the love I bear you."
The missionary was choked, and for a moment could not speak. Then he gripped the hand of the old man. "Rambhau," he said in a low voice, "don't you see? My words are just what you have been saying to God all the time."
The diver looked long and searchingly at the missionary, and slowly, slowly he began to understand. "God is offering you salvation as a free gift," said the missionary. "It is so great and priceless that no man on earth can buy it. Millions of dollars are too little. No man on earth could earn it. His life would be millions of years too short. No man is good enough to deserve it. It cost God the life-blood of His only Son to make the entrance for you into heaven. In a million years, in a hundred pilgrimages, you could not earn that entrance. All you can do is to accept it as a token of God's love for you - a sinner.
"Rambhau, of course I will accept the pearl in deep humility, praying God that I may be worthy of your love. Rambhau, won't you accept God's great gift of heaven, too, in deep humility, knowing it cost Him the death of His Son to offer it to you?"
Great tears were now rolling down the cheeks of the old man. The veil was beginning to lift. "Sahib, I see it now. I have believed in the doctrine of Jesus for the last two years, but I could not believe that His salvation was free. Now I understand. Some things are too priceless to be bought or earned. Sahib, I will accept His salvation!"
(Source: http://inspire21.com/site/stories/pearl.html)
The Matchless Pearl
-- Author Unknown
David Morse - American missionary to India - became great friends there with the pearl-diver, Rambhau. Many an evening he spent in Rambhau's cabin reading to him from the Bible, and explaining to him God's way of salvation.
Rambhau enjoyed listening to the Word of God, but whenever the missionary tried to get Rambhau to accept Christ as his Savior - he would shake his head and reply, "Your Christian way to heaven is too easy for me! I cannot accept it. If ever I should find admittance to heaven in that manner - I would feel like a pauper there...like a beggar who has been let in out of pity. I may be proud - but I want to deserve, I want to earn my place in heaven -- and so I am going to work for it."
Nothing the missionary could say seemed to have any effect on Rambhau's decision, and so quite a few years slipped by. One evening, however, the missionary heard a knock on his door, and on going to open it he found Rambhau there.
"Come in, dear friend," said Morse.
"No," said the pearl-diver. "I want you to come with me to my house, Sahib, for a short time -- I have something to show you. Please do not say 'No'."
"Of course I'll come," replied the missionary. As they neared his house, Rambhau said: "In a week's time I start working for my place in heaven; I am leaving for Delhi -- and I am going there on my knees."
"Man, you are crazy! It's nine hundred miles to Delhi, and the skin will break on your knees, and you will have blood-poisoning or leprosy before you get to Bombay."
"No, I must get to Delhi," affirmed Rambhau, "and the immortals will reward me for it! The suffering will be sweet - for it will purchase heaven for me!"
"Rambhau, my friend - you can't. How can I bear you to do it - when Jesus Christ has suffered and died to purchase heaven for you!"
But the old man could not be moved. "You are my dearest friend on earth, Sahib Morse. Through all these years you have stood by me in sickness, in want - you have been sometimes my only friend. But even you cannot turn me from my desire to purchase eternal bliss...I must go to Delhi!"
Inside the hut Morse was seated in the very chair Rambhau had specially built for him - where on so many occasions he had read to him the Bible.
Rambhau left the room to return soon with a small but heavy English strongbox. "I have had this box for years," said he, "and I keep only one thing in it. Now I will tell you about it, Sahib Morse. I once had a son..."
"A son! Why, Rambhau, you have never before said a word about him!"
"No, Sahib, I couldn't." Even as he spoke the diver's eyes were moistened.
"Now I must tell you, for soon I will leave, and who knows whether I shall ever return? My son was a diver too. He was the best pearl diver on the coasts of India. He had the swiftest dive, the keenest eye, the strongest arm, the longest breath of any man who ever sought for pearls.
What joy he brought to me! Most pearls, as you know, have some defect or blemish only the expert can discern, but my boy always dreamed of finding the 'perfect' pearl - one beyond all that was ever found. One day he found it! But even when he saw it - he had been under water too long... That pearl cost him his life, for he died soon after."
The old pearl diver bowed his head. For a moment his whole body shook, but there was no sound. "All these years," he continued, "I have kept this pearl - but now I am going, not to return, and to you, my best friend - I am giving my pearl."
The old man worked the combination on the strongbox and drew from it a carefully wrapped package. Gently opening the cotton, he picked up a mammoth pearl and placed it in the hand of the missionary.
It was one of the largest pearls ever found off the coast of India, and glowed with a luster and brilliance never seen in cultured pearls. It would have brought a fabulous sum in any market.
For a moment the missionary was speechless and gazed with awe. "Rambhau! What a pearl!"
"That pearl, Sahib, is perfect," replied the Indian quietly. The missionary looked up quickly with a new thought: Was not this the very opportunity and occasion he had prayed for - to make Rambhau understand the value of Christ's sacrifice? So he said, designedly, "Rambhau, this is a wonderful pearl, an amazing pearl. Let me buy it. I would give you ten thousand dollars for it."
"Sahib! What do you mean?"
"Well, I will give you fifteen thousand dollars for it, or if it takes more - I will work for it."
"Sahib," said Rambhau, stiffening his whole body, "this pearl is beyond price. No man in all the world has money enough to pay what this pearl is worth to me. On the market a million dollars could not buy it. I will not sell it to you. You may only have it as a gift."
"No, Rambhau, I cannot accept that. As much as I want the pearl, I cannot accept it that way. Perhaps I am proud, but that is too easy. I must pay for it, or work for it..."
The old pearl-diver was stunned. "You don't understand at all, Sahib. Don't you see. My only son gave his life to get this pearl, and I wouldn't sell it for any money. Its worth is in the life-blood of my son. I cannot sell this - but I can give it to you. Just accept it in token of the love I bear you."
The missionary was choked, and for a moment could not speak. Then he gripped the hand of the old man. "Rambhau," he said in a low voice, "don't you see? My words are just what you have been saying to God all the time."
The diver looked long and searchingly at the missionary, and slowly, slowly he began to understand. "God is offering you salvation as a free gift," said the missionary. "It is so great and priceless that no man on earth can buy it. Millions of dollars are too little. No man on earth could earn it. His life would be millions of years too short. No man is good enough to deserve it. It cost God the life-blood of His only Son to make the entrance for you into heaven. In a million years, in a hundred pilgrimages, you could not earn that entrance. All you can do is to accept it as a token of God's love for you - a sinner.
"Rambhau, of course I will accept the pearl in deep humility, praying God that I may be worthy of your love. Rambhau, won't you accept God's great gift of heaven, too, in deep humility, knowing it cost Him the death of His Son to offer it to you?"
Great tears were now rolling down the cheeks of the old man. The veil was beginning to lift. "Sahib, I see it now. I have believed in the doctrine of Jesus for the last two years, but I could not believe that His salvation was free. Now I understand. Some things are too priceless to be bought or earned. Sahib, I will accept His salvation!"
(Source: http://inspire21.com/site/
Emptying My Cup
My brother and I sang this as a duet in church many many years ago, perhaps when I was only 11 years old. I've even recorded it on iTunes as a lullaby to my boys, since I can't keep up with them requesting me to sing it over and over again for them...hence, the lyrics have remained in my head, and it speaks so powerfully to me today. It really seems as if God is emptying my cup so He can fill it up, again.
Channels Only
by Mary E. Maxwell - 1900
How I praise Thee, precious Saviour
That Thy love laid hold of me;
Thou hast saved and cleansed and filled me
That I might Thy channel be.
Emptied that Thou shouldest fill me,
A clean vessel in They hand;
With no pow'r, but as Thou givest
Graciously with each command.
Witnessing Thy pow'r to save me,
Setting free from self and sin;
Thou Who boughtest to possess me,
In Thy fullness, Lord, come in.
Jesus, fill now with Thy Spirit
Hearts that full surrender know;
That the streams of living water
From our inner man may flow.
Chorus:
Channels only, Blessed Master,
But with all Thy wondrous pow'r
Flowing through us, Thou canst use us
Ev'ry day and ev'ry hour.
by Mary E. Maxwell - 1900
How I praise Thee, precious Saviour
That Thy love laid hold of me;
Thou hast saved and cleansed and filled me
That I might Thy channel be.
Emptied that Thou shouldest fill me,
A clean vessel in They hand;
With no pow'r, but as Thou givest
Graciously with each command.
Witnessing Thy pow'r to save me,
Setting free from self and sin;
Thou Who boughtest to possess me,
In Thy fullness, Lord, come in.
Jesus, fill now with Thy Spirit
Hearts that full surrender know;
That the streams of living water
From our inner man may flow.
Chorus:
Channels only, Blessed Master,
But with all Thy wondrous pow'r
Flowing through us, Thou canst use us
Ev'ry day and ev'ry hour.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
A Miracle In April
It's April yet again...the month that has consistently filled my days with high emotions since pretty much the beginning of time. Newsflash: I'm still unemployed, and now I've got 2 condos that are about to be vacated...almost thought it would be 3 when I heard last week that my grandfather wasn't doing well...and my mom and aunt would then have to vacate my place in Orlando to care for my grandfather. By God's grace, he is doing much better.
I can't deny that my heart has been heavy...much heavier today than days before of not having the cash flow that I'm used to. Thankfully, with each new day, God has given me courage, strength, and peace...to adjust...and appreciate His goodness. He never runs out of blessings! I am so thankful that God has given us His Word to meditate upon, His promises to claim...knowing that He hears us, He cares for us, He loves us unconditionally, and that He will never leave us nor forsake us.
Here are some of the verses that He has impressed upon my heart this evening. My own words are not enough to express what I'm going through, and I don't really see the value in sharing my own words, especially tonight. Instead, I feel blessed to be able to use God's Words to express my thoughts and feelings as well as use them as a source of comfort and blessing.
I am really hoping for a miracle in April!
Matthew 6:8b: "For your Heavenly Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask of Him."
Matthew 6:26: "Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?"
Matthew 6:30: "Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?"
Matthew 6:33: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
Matthew 6:34: "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
Matthew 7:7-11: "Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give good things to them that ask Him?"
Matthew 8:26-27: "And He saith unto them, 'Why are ye fearful? O ye of little faith?' Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, 'What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!'"
Matthew 9:28b-29: "'Believe ye that I am able to do this?' They said unto Him, 'Yea Lord.' Then touched He their eyes saying, 'According to your faith be it unto you.'"
Matthew 10:40-41: "He that receiveth you receiveth Me, and he that receiveth Me receiveth Him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall have a righteous man's reward."
Matthew 11:28-30: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Job 1:21b-22: "The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."
Job 6:8: "Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!"
Job 6:24: "Teach me, and I will hold my tonuge: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred."
Job 10:8: "Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me."
Job 10:15c-16: "I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction. For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me."
Job 16:21: 'O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbor!"
Job 19:25: "For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:"
Job 23:10: "But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."
Job 40:4: "Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer Thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth."
Psalm 19:14: "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."
I can't deny that my heart has been heavy...much heavier today than days before of not having the cash flow that I'm used to. Thankfully, with each new day, God has given me courage, strength, and peace...to adjust...and appreciate His goodness. He never runs out of blessings! I am so thankful that God has given us His Word to meditate upon, His promises to claim...knowing that He hears us, He cares for us, He loves us unconditionally, and that He will never leave us nor forsake us.
Here are some of the verses that He has impressed upon my heart this evening. My own words are not enough to express what I'm going through, and I don't really see the value in sharing my own words, especially tonight. Instead, I feel blessed to be able to use God's Words to express my thoughts and feelings as well as use them as a source of comfort and blessing.
I am really hoping for a miracle in April!
Matthew 6:8b: "For your Heavenly Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask of Him."
Matthew 6:26: "Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?"
Matthew 6:30: "Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?"
Matthew 6:33: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
Matthew 6:34: "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
Matthew 7:7-11: "Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give good things to them that ask Him?"
Matthew 8:26-27: "And He saith unto them, 'Why are ye fearful? O ye of little faith?' Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, 'What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!'"
Matthew 9:28b-29: "'Believe ye that I am able to do this?' They said unto Him, 'Yea Lord.' Then touched He their eyes saying, 'According to your faith be it unto you.'"
Matthew 10:40-41: "He that receiveth you receiveth Me, and he that receiveth Me receiveth Him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall have a righteous man's reward."
Matthew 11:28-30: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Job 1:21b-22: "The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."
Job 6:8: "Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!"
Job 6:24: "Teach me, and I will hold my tonuge: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred."
Job 10:8: "Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me."
Job 10:15c-16: "I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction. For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me."
Job 16:21: 'O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbor!"
Job 19:25: "For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:"
Job 23:10: "But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."
Job 40:4: "Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer Thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth."
Psalm 19:14: "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Still Waiting?
What characteristics do you need to possess while learning how to wait?
The most obvious answer would be: patience.
While reading my Bible today, God revealed 2 additional characteristics that are needed while waiting:
1) Strength
2) Courage
Personally, I don't think I'd be able to wait patiently without these two. I'd give up pretty quickly, no doubt about that. It won't be long before I start to worry and frantically take matters into my own hands.
So, WHERE and HOW do you draw strength and courage during the most difficult times while you wait for deliverance?
These are the verses God shared with me today:
"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." Psalm 27:14
"Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD." Psalm 31:24
"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
These verses clearly show that the LORD is our Source for strength and courage. Now that we know WHERE to draw it from, the question is, "HOW?"
"Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you." James 4:8a
I'm not a very patient person. But, as I draw near to God and allow Him to fill me with His Spirit, He gives me the strength and courage needed to face adversity while waiting patiently for His answer or deliverance.
"If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small." Proverbs 24:10
Are you faced with problems that keep coming back and you wonder if there's ever going to be a light at the end of the tunnel? Have you been praying to God to grant your request and it seems like He is never going to answer? Are you sometimes tempted to just take matters into your own hands, regardless of the consequences, just to put an end to all of your pain and suffering? Or, are you waiting and trusting in the LORD? Don't you think He knows exactly what you're going through?
"I will be glad and rejoice in Thy mercy: for Thou hast considered my trouble; Thou hast known my soul in adversities;" Psalm 31:7
God knows, and He cares. He will give us the strength and courage we need to carry on.
"Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7
"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." Psalm 55:22
Don't lose hope! Develop a personal relationship with the LORD, accept Him as your Savior today, and let Him be your guide.
Related Articles:
How Long???
The Waiting Game
The most obvious answer would be: patience.
While reading my Bible today, God revealed 2 additional characteristics that are needed while waiting:
1) Strength
2) Courage
Personally, I don't think I'd be able to wait patiently without these two. I'd give up pretty quickly, no doubt about that. It won't be long before I start to worry and frantically take matters into my own hands.
So, WHERE and HOW do you draw strength and courage during the most difficult times while you wait for deliverance?
These are the verses God shared with me today:
"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." Psalm 27:14
"Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD." Psalm 31:24
"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
These verses clearly show that the LORD is our Source for strength and courage. Now that we know WHERE to draw it from, the question is, "HOW?"
"Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you." James 4:8a
I'm not a very patient person. But, as I draw near to God and allow Him to fill me with His Spirit, He gives me the strength and courage needed to face adversity while waiting patiently for His answer or deliverance.
"If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small." Proverbs 24:10
Are you faced with problems that keep coming back and you wonder if there's ever going to be a light at the end of the tunnel? Have you been praying to God to grant your request and it seems like He is never going to answer? Are you sometimes tempted to just take matters into your own hands, regardless of the consequences, just to put an end to all of your pain and suffering? Or, are you waiting and trusting in the LORD? Don't you think He knows exactly what you're going through?
"I will be glad and rejoice in Thy mercy: for Thou hast considered my trouble; Thou hast known my soul in adversities;" Psalm 31:7
God knows, and He cares. He will give us the strength and courage we need to carry on.
"Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7
"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." Psalm 55:22
Don't lose hope! Develop a personal relationship with the LORD, accept Him as your Savior today, and let Him be your guide.
Related Articles:
How Long???
The Waiting Game
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