Friday, September 5, 2014

Refuge-a safe place, a Haven RJD Sept 2014


“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” Deuteronomy 33:27

Journal entry May 5, 2010

From time to time, I need a place away from the storms of life. When I am saddened by news I hear or someone causes hurt, or pain has taken over my body. I seek a place where these events can’t bother me.

I seek out God. He knows the news looks bleak, he is aware of what caused that person to say or do that hurtful thing or why the pain has entered my muscles or my joints.

God is my refuge—a place of safety where healing begins. I talk to Him there; He wraps His arms of love around me and draws me close. He speaks words of kindness and caring. He prepares my heart for what will follow.

I feel protected in His presence. 

Update:
God has allowed me to understand the reason for most of the times I need of His comfort. I enjoy fellowship with God any time I enter into His presence. I also gain a special peace when I gain access to Him under times of great stress. For this I am thankful.
                

    

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

I AM With You



“So do not fear; for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
 
I discover something new about this verse every time I study it. The message I receive this time is that God tells Isaiah He is with him, a prophet who the people chose to disrespect.

God tells Isaiah, and tells us “I AM WITH YOU.”
God is with each of His children as they go through illness and recovery, dealing with unforeseen financial issues, or interpersonal issues. Whatever our needs; God stands beside us, ready to give comfort and aid. He is there for the duration of the season. Yes, God is there for each of us as we travel through this life.

I learn from these seasons of issues. These times help me mature in Christ. In retrospect, I thank God for each of those difficult times and the lessons I learned through each one of them.

Some of these issues of life are common to all of us. Others happen to us because of an act we did that we shouldn’t have done. Yet, others come upon us because of something unknown to us.

Whenever an issue comes into our lives, we have a plan we can follow; we can enter our prayer closets and converse with God. We can tell Him our needs; give them over to Him and let Him work it out for us.
  
Dear Lord God:
     I thank You for being with us in the most trying circumstances of this life.  I thank You for always guiding us through these times. I thank You for Your Word which reminds us of Your great and undying love for us. I give You the praise. In the name of Jesus, I pray. AMEN


Monday, September 1, 2014

“I AM”



“God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.
This is what you are to say to the Israelites:
 ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
Exodus 3:14 (NIV)

Moses had some concerns about the task God lay before him. Moses first felt that he was not worthy of doing the job. If someone had asked him he would have said he wasn’t the person to do this gargantuan work. God told Moses that He would be with him as he performed his part in the work to rescue the Israelite people.

Moses used second excuse to try to get shed of this. “If they ask me the name of who sent me, what shall I tell them?” (Exodus 3:13)

God responds with the words of our focus verse. “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ “

What does God say here? His answer tells us a lot about our heavenly Father. He uses simple, direct words—I AM. These show me the strength of God. He uses a thunderous voice to say this. He tells Moses, and later us, that He is in the present—not just the past or the future. He has already told Moses He would go with him when he does this job. God will be with His people in the future as well as the present.

A literal translation of the name God called Himself is God is who He is; the absolute I the self-existent One.1

God makes this statement in such a way as to make His position firm in the minds of those who follow Him.
Sometimes, we get so involved in life and all it brings to us that we forget God’s message here. We forget He told Moses who He was-I AM.
We need to remember Who He is and that his name brings us comfort in our darkest times.

God is Who He says He is—He is I AM. We are blessed to know Him and to know His name and all the meanings of His wonderful name.
  1. The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary © 1957, 1961, 1966, 1985, 1988. Moody Bible Institute. Chicago, p. 600


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 ...