Friday, November 15, 2013

Eucharisteo-God’s Protection




“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
 when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
 When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
 the flames will not set you ablaze.”
Isaiah 43:2


God protects those He calls His own. Throughout the Old Testament, we have stories of God protected when He Daniel (Daniel 6). We know God protected Shadrack and his two friends (Daniel 3).

God protects his people even today. We ask God to take care of a condition in our lives and He works things out according to His will, not ours. I have friends going through this phase of kind of God’s protection.
Sometimes, God puts us to the test to teach us that we can trust Him. He allows hard experiences into our lives to show us what we need to do about certain circumstances in our lives. We don’t always like the way events unfold for us but God has to get our attention in ways we never thought possible. At the same time He protects us.

When Job went through his terrible experience, God told the enemy he could not touch Job. It took God Himself to explain to Job how things were. God is sovereign. He chooses what He chooses to happen. He doesn’t need us to advise Him what to do about circumstances in our lives. But, in the past, I have tried to be an advisor to God. The young girl was healed of her internal injury but I don’t believe God’s plan for her came to completion. Had I not stepped in and told Him what to do, I believe the outcome would have brought Him more glory.


When God allows something to happen to a person, we have to rely on Him to protect that person from further harm. Our prayers should not necessarily be for that person to have that circumstance be removed from their life because God might want to use that condition to further His kingdom. We can pray God’s protection over him or her as God leads the way through the trial.

Graphic: howard-carter.blogspot.com

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Eucharisteo: God’s Leading


     


The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.
Psalm 23:1-3a


As we, God’s children, venture through life, we have to rely on God to help us navigate the path we travel. We have times when it seems easy to follow what God wants for us. Other times we have to obey Him, even when that obedience runs counter to what those around us would have us do.

When we choose to live for God, we live in relationship with Him- in the center of His will. We even deal with daily issues by asking for His guidance.

God leads us through difficult times, teaching us as we progress from one step to another.   A friend of mine says she and her husband ‘are on a journey’ as they go through life. Right now, she is dealing with a complication from a surgical procedure from this past July. The newest turn for them may bring her home for a while-until she is ready for more surgery and possibly more rehab, again, away from home.  But she knows God is leading them.
Father God:

Thank you for your leading us through our lives. Thank you for guiding each of us through the tough times. You do this with such grace that we learn to love you more. We thank you for all you do for us. In the name of Jesus, we pray. AMEN 

Monday, November 11, 2013

Eucharisteo-Heartfelt Joy



”The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him,
 and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoices;
 and with my song will I praise him”
 Psalm 28:7 (KJV)



“The Lord is my strength. . .”  God allows difficult circumstances to enter our lives in order 1.) to cause us to look to Him, 2.) to reveal something to us about ourselves, 3.) to help us realize how great his love for us is, and 4.) to make us stronger.

“. . . and my shield.” God protects His children from harm. He is Jehovah Jirah, the Lord who provides. He builds a hedge around those who call out to Him and protects them from danger. When we realize we have been protected by God, we can’t thank Him enough.
“. . . my heart trusted in him. . .” We learn to rely on God by looking to him when times are good as well as when times are not so good. When times are good, we should thank Him for them. When times are not so good, we should thank Him for being with us while we go through them.

When winter comes, I have to bundle up in preparation of going outside. In my last job, I always grabbed my coat and scarf and gloves before I went to perform one of my outdoor tasks. The others tried to poke fun at me but I responded with, “I’m taking care of myself.” Or, “I am trying to stay healthy.” In our living room have an afghan and a blanket on our couch to wrap up in. I also praise the Lord for central heat and a strong roof over our heads. 

“. . . and I am helped. . .” Our plight is seen by God and he guides us through the difficulties, no matter what the cause. Sometimes all we can do is send up an “SOS” to heaven and wait for the Father to act on our behalf.

“.  .  . therefore my heart greatly rejoices. . .” God receives our praises and lightens our hearts. When I hear wonderful news, My heart fills with joy to the point that all I can do is praise Him.

“. . . with my song will I praise him.” After God parted the Red Sea, Miriam led the Israelite women in singing and giving praise to God.

“Sing to the Lord
                 For he is highly exalted,
                 The horse and its rider
                 He has hurled into the sea.”
               (Ex15:21)               



                                                                                                                                                                                     graphic: anextraordinaryday.net                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

God Alone

  Jesus and the children at our church's prayer walk.          I will both lie down in peace and sleep;  For You alone, O LORD make ...