Rest for the Heavy Laden

 

Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV)

Words spoken by Jesus.

In this passage, Jesus invites certain people to Him. Those to whom He extends His hand have fallen into a special group of society.

He addresses those who are overworked, have a lot of responsibility that has been thrust upon them, those who are under a lot of tension. There are those that have issues laid on them by others.

He tells them that He will guide them through to be stronger as they learn of Him.

“In Jesus’ day, taking the yoke of another meant coming under that person's leadership and walking in that person’s footsteps.” ¹

My best friend is going for physical therapy at this time. She goes, gets her treatment and then comes home and rests for a while. We all need to follow Jesus’ invitation when we find ourselves stretched to the limit of our endurance either physically, mentally, or emotionally.

At church this past Sunday, we sang the following hymn. I don't think I ever heard it before. I love the message.

                            

Follow Me

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. . .follow me, . . .and I will make you fishers of men.

Matt. 4:19 (NIV)

Jesus gave this invitation to the brothers, Peter and Andrew. They were fishermen by trade. He also called another pair of brothers who were fishermen, James and John.

All four of these men left ‘lucrative’, vital, and meaningful work to follow Jesus.

These brothers helped support their families by fishing. Their efforts may have helped feed those who lived near them. It was honest work.

These pairs of brothers were willing to step away from their trade, and to leave the comforts of home to accept the call of Jesus.

As I compose this, our nation is under travel restrictions we have not seen before. Only people who work as first responders, health care workers, and grocery store employees are working. All these occupations are vital to our existence as we try to stem the advance of this Coronavirus (COVID-19.)

     

We hear of people, organizations, and businesses working to help others to have food and even jobs in order to get through these social-distancing, shelter-in- place, lock-down mandated times.      

We all must remember that God is in charge. I find it interesting that we have this event happening during the season of Lent when Christians attempt to draw closer to Jesus and learn more about Him.

Like Peter and Andrew, James and John, we must follow Jesus as He leads us through our daily lives.

Freedom: Why I Have Freedom in Christ

Kayso Flags

                                

Recently, I saw a MEME on Facebook that I really liked.

I still believe in Amazing Grace,

God’s grace is truly amazing. Once we accept His Son as our Savior and strive to live for Him, Jesus intercedes before His Father for us.

that there is Power in the Blood 

There is no power equal to God’s power. God can handle any issue that confronts me and will use it for His glory.

that He Walks With Me and Talks With Me

Wherever I go. Jesus is beside me; to the grocery, the pharmacy, the insurance agent, on visitations, on drives, on trips with my husband.

When I pray, God listens. When I pray fervently, He talks to me. We communicate and have fellowship with each other.

that Because He Lives I Can Face Tomorrow 

I should not fear because Jesus lives in my heart. He tells me He has all things under His control.

all because of The Old Rugged Cross

I have freedom from my sin because God allowed His Son Jesus to die a criminal’s death for me and for each of you. Once for all.

The LORD Is...Part 2)

by Gaye Lynne LaGuire

Provider

Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. So Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”

Genesis 22:8, 14 (ESV)

We all have heard the story of Abraham and Isaac and Abraham’s discussion as they journeyed to the mount of God to offer a sacrifice. Isaac noticed they had all the supplies they needed except the animal for the offering. Abraham responded that the LORD would provide.

In each of our lives, the LORD has provided for us. Employment, shelter, food, and friendships. He even provides guidance when we are uncertain of how we should respond to circumstances in our lives.

Hope

 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence

For my hope is from him.

 He only is my rock and my salvation,

 my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

Psalm 65:5-6 (ESV)

David writes this thought twice in this Psalm. When a writer in the Old Testament does this, He chooses to place emphasis on the thought.

What does David say? He reminds himself to wait in silence for God because David trusts him implicitly. David does not waiver from his devotion to God. He praises God for being His protector and his strength.

As we face stressful times, we can call upon the Lord to give us the strength to carry on and know that He will be faithful and true and lead us through the murkiness we face. 

Praise-

I am re-posting this from 2016. In searching for readings to share at a local nursing home I found this in my saved material.

            This is the month we observe the holiday known as Thanksgiving. The pilgrims decided to give thanks to God for bringing them to the New World. But the Bible has numerous passages that speak of His people giving thanks to God as well.

            As I searched through the Psalms for a comforting scripture, my eyes scanned Psalm 34.

            I will extol the LORD at all times, his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the LORD; Let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:1-3

            David wrote these words. He had kept Abimelech from killing him. The shepherd-king acted as if he were insane. (I Samuel 21:31) God spared his life.

            In this three-verse passage, I identify five words and one phrase used for the word praise.

I will extol the LORD at all times. . .”

           

            He tells us he will highly praise God, even in the tough times. Could this mean we are to follow his example and praise God highly, whatever the conditions?

“. . . his praise will always be on my lips.”

In these few words, David confirms that he intends to praise God ALWAYS. When a person states an action and restates it right away, that person means what he or she says. Have we forsaken the value of praising God?

“My soul will boast in the LORD.”

           

            David doesn’t say, I will brag on the LORD when He does something good for him. He praises God even in the bad times. One of my favorite Gospel songs tells me to remember “God of the mountain is still God in the valley, in good times and the bad.”(1)

            God performs many acts that, as humans, we tend to take for granted. A roof over our heads, Central heating, Keeping us safe when we travel, Healthy family members, Positive Life experiences, all these are gifts from God.    

“Let the afflicted hear and rejoice,”

In our society, we see people who once were active cannot do as they once did. David asks God to let those dealing with diseases, illnesses, and disorders give praise to the LORD.

“Glorify the LORD with me. . . ”

Our purpose on this earth is to bring glory to the LORD. We do this in various ways. Seeking His guidance, praying for another person, coming together for worship, Sharing scripture, Inviting Him into our days.

“. . . let us exalt his name together”

I find this phrase interesting. David invites those who will read this down through the ages to corporately lift the name of Jesus up. Do we ask others to help pray for a special need? Do we ask friends to pray for us when we face trying circumstances?

As we this season of Thanksgiving, let us all take the time each day to find something for which to thank God.

_____________

(1.)”God of the Mountain” written by Lynda Randle

The God of the Mountain

We Will Be Made Righteous

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For as by one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience, the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19 (ESV)

All Christian believers know the story of Adam and Eve. God created them perfect to oversee His beautiful Garden of Eden. God gave then permission to partake of the fruit of all the trees in that garden, save one.

This garden had trees that bore fruit throughout the year. They had enough to sustain them. However, a serpent also lived in the garden. This serpent beguiled Eve into taking a bite out of the fruit of the forbidden tree. She chose to share the fruit with Adam.

When God came looking for them at evening, they hid because they realized they were naked. When God asked where they were, Adam told Him, “We hid from You because we were naked.”

When God heard this, He knew what Adam and Eve had done. They sinned against God. They disobeyed Him. He banished them from the garden. They had to work hard for whatever they needed or wanted.

God entered the world as a baby. Jesus came to teach the people about God and His ways. Jesus told His Disciples that He would be killed. They didn’t know what to think. He promised them a helper, the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus came to Jerusalem that last time. He yielded to God’s will as he prayed in Gethsemane. When He hung on the cross, He took the sins of the world into his body. In doing this, Jesus Christ allowed the people, then and now, to become righteous. That righteousness extends to you and me.

How can we convey the message that because of Jesus’ obedience at Calvary we are deemed righteous in God’s eyes?

When We Need Peace

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Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be 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 (KJV)

Be careful for nothing,

 Paul tells believers at Philippi and us not to worry about anything. I know it is hard to follow this advice but let’s see how we can follow his counsel.

but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known unto God

Paul also tells us to pray about everything, no matter how small it may seem. A friend and I pray when we discover we have misplaced our car keys.  We sometimes hear of or face circumstances that we can’t do anything about except pray for that need.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding 

Paul describes God’s peace as being far greater than we can imagine or understand.

shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus

Because we learn to rely on God, that peace we receive will protect our hearts and our minds through His Son, Jesus Christ. When we receive that peace, we feel better about ourselves and those for whom we pray.

The LORD Stands by Us

https://www.ibelieve.com/may-the-strength-of-god-pilot-us.html

 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.

2 Timothy 4:17 (ESV)

Paul writes these words to Timothy. In the context, He relates how a coppersmith did him great harm. He doesn’t go into detail about It.

In this verse, Paul gives praise to the Lord for being there and giving him the strength he needed. In our world today, we hear of people being emotionally hurt by unfaithful spouses. The victims of this behavior need to lean on the Lord Jesus in order to overcome the hurt. I know of one woman who has demonstrated great strength during the aftermath of her being repeatedly hurt.

In our city, we have had two innocent children suffer physical abuse and lose their lives because of what they suffered. In both instances, the mother and a boyfriend have been accused of these acts and face charges. The community recently witnessed two days of protests of a government agency responsible for the safety of children in our state. I am acquainted with several of those who protested on behalf of those two small children. They demonstrated strength in doing this.

Dear Lord Jesus: I ask that you continue to give Your strength to Your children who suffer at the hands of others. I ask that you encompass them with Your love and kindness. Guide them into the life You want them to have.  Keep our small children safe and healthy. In Your Name, I humbly pray. AMEN

The Potter's Hand

We sang this praise song this past Sunday as a part of our Palm Sunday worship. I love the chorus. It is my desire that God will complete the actions in the verse for myself and for all who follow Him.



The Potter's Hand


Beautiful Lord, Wonderful Saviour
I know for sure, all of my days are held in your hands, crafted
into your perfect plan
You gently call me into your presence guiding me by Your Holy Spirit
Teach me, dear Lord, to live all of my life through Your eyes
I'm captured by Your holy calling
Set me apart, I know you're drawing me to yourself
Lead me, Lord, I pray

Chorus:
Take me, Mould me, use me, fill me
I give my life to the Potter's hand
Call me, guide me, lead me, walk beside me
I give my life to the Potter's hand

you gently call me into your presence guidin me by your holy spirit
teach me, dear Lord, to live through your eyes
I'm captured by you holy calling
set me apart, I know you're drawing me to yourself
lead me, Lord, I pray

Repeat Chorus

http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/d/darlene_zschech/the_potters_hand.html

New Thing

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Remember not the former things, nor consider things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV)

The prophet Isaiah speaks a very timely message from God to the people of Israel.

God tells his people that things are going to be different for them. He speaks of sharing things up for the ones who held his people in captivity. He also speaks of refreshing those He has chosen in order that His people might praise Him.

At the end of each monthly prayer list, I have a section where I list one praise for each day of that month. Doing this helps me focus on the positive aspects of life.

One author, Ann Voskamp, learned to be thankful to God by recording three praises each day. I have done that. In less than one year a person would have 1,000 praises for God and His working in his or her life.

Let us all be more aware of God’s working in our lives as we go through this New Year.  

Looking at Scripture with New Eyes

Saint John the Apostle 

                This past weekend, I attended a writing conference at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, about 35 miles from where we live. One of the keynote speakers, Bob Hostetler, spoke on “What If John Had Not Written?”  When I arrived home, I rested, got caught up on what happened while I was away. Went to bed early because I was exhausted. Sunday morning, I stayed home and rested. I decided to read the Gospel of John as a carry-over from the conference. I saw things differently than I had seen them before. What follows is a reflection on John 1:1-12.

“In the Beginning, the Word with God, was God.”   

            John reminds us of God’s presence at the creation of the earth. He tells us that God’s message was also there. Also, that His messenger is God. (V. V.1-2) John continues to extol God as the maker of all things. He states that nothing has been or ever will be made without God and his stamp of approval. (Verse 3) We need to reread the Creation Story in Genesis to fully understand what occurred at that time.

“The Light that Shines in Darkness”

            John gives praise that God’s Son is the light that shines in the darkness. And that the darkness has not overcome the true light. (Verse 5) (I believe the darkness will never blot out Jesus’ light.)

“A Witness to the Light”

            The Apostle John speaks of John the Baptist. The people asked baptizer John if he was the One for whom they had been waiting. He told them no he wasn’t. The one they waited for was so great that John could not even tie His shoe. His role was to tell others about the coming Messiah. (V.V. 7-8) John’s message was simple; he told the people to “Repent.”

“God’s Son Was Rejected by His Own”

            Yes, the Messiah was entering the world. Although He was in the world and He had made the world, those of this world did not know Him. His people did not receive Him. (They even crucified Him.) (V.V. 9-11) The Pharisees and Sadducees and the priests were jealous of Jesus and chose to incite the Jewish people into a frenzy that paved the way for the Crucifixion of Christ.

“God Granted Us the Right of Being His Child”

            To those who accepted Him as the Son of God, the Messiah freely gave the right to become His children. All we have to do is ask Jesus to come into our hearts. This right the Savior bestowed was and still is in accordance with the Will of God. (V. 12)   

Jesus Offers Rest

“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Mark 6:30-31(NIV)

            Jesus and his disciples always drew a crowd. Everyone wanted to see Jesus. In each instant, the throng could have overwhelmed most people.

            I know a lot of people who have issues being in crowds. Some people are comfortable with having large gatherings for the various holiday celebrations. Others prefer to observe those times in peace and quiet. The disciples were bombarded by such an influx of people, they could not take the time to eat, let alone rest.

            I remember when my uncle had passed away, we all gathered at my mother’s home. My uncle’s ex-wife, the mother of his children had been included in the group. As she prepared to leave, I asked her, “You’re not leaving so soon, are you?” She said something that comes to my mind often, “I want to be alone and think for a while.” We all have times where it is better for us to be alone and to rest from what life throws at us.

            Jesus invited the disciples to “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” From time to time he makes the same appeal to us.

Celebrating What God Has Given

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January—Rest, Refreshing

“So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days; the first day is a day of rest and the eighth day is also a day of rest.” Leviticus. 23:39-40 (NIV)

            The Lord God institutes the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles. The Israelites were to pick choice fruits from the trees and give thanks, rejoicing before God for seven days. I find it interesting that God told them to rest on day one of the feast, and on the first day after the festival. ALL those born in Israel were to participate in this celebration.

            This festival was to remind the Israelite people that their ancestors had lived in tents and temporary houses during their wilderness wanderings. It seems the Israelite people, much like people of today, forgot their heritage and the stories of how they came to be where they were. This was to be a lasting ordinance.

            As we opened our Christmas gifts, my husband emptied his stocking and found a big orange in the toe. Our son found one in his as well. He had told me a story about his childhood and getting fruit and a few peanuts in one of his the socks that his dad had hung up for him and his sister. Back then, some people didn’t get very much more than that on Christmas. Hubby related that story to our son.

            The first Christmas I was on my own, I wanted a Christmas tree but I knew I didn’t have money for ornaments. I had the idea of using candy canes and those red stick-in bows on the branches. Some years, I remind myself of that time in my life by purchasing those boxes of a dozen candy canes and giving them to people. When I worked at a library, I gave one cane to each child I waited on. (I asked them to wait until they got home to eat them. But some had their own way of doing things.) This past year, I hung some on our stockings and then on my little tree.  I need to tell others my story about this custom.

            Like the Israelites, we modern people either go through the acts involved with a holiday, remembering why we do them, or we choose to do it but not remember the history at all. But the important issue is that we are rest, remember, and give thanks to the LORD.

God’s Commands abouts the Manna

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January—Rest, Refreshing

            “Each morning everyone gathered as much as he needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers for each person—and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. He said to them, ‘This is what the Lord commanded: Tomorrow is to be a day of rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’” Exodus 16:21-23(NIV)

            God provides for His children. In this chapter, He provides food daily for the Israelites. Moses gives specific instructions that the people are to follow. They can only gather a certain amount of the flakes—one omer per person in their tent—each day. They have to consume each day’s gatherings without saving any for the next day. If they disobey and save any, it would develop bugs and acquire a bad smell.

            On the sixth day, Moses tells them to gather twice as much—two omers for each person.  They can fix it any way they chose but they have to save some for use on the seventh day because it was a Sabbath to the Lord and no manna would appear.

             We who live in our present time might find this passage hard to understand. As we study it, we see God’s provision for His children. We also see how those children disobey and the result of their disobedience. Do we sometimes find it easier to do what we want than to follow God’s guidance and direction? I sometimes I think it is. When I venture off and ‘do my own thing’ I find myself in some trouble with the Lord. Sometimes it takes me a while to realize I am not listening to God and have to tell Him I am sorry.

            I had a friend who said it this way, “We are not to run ahead of the Lord. Neither are we to walk behind Him. We are to walk with Him.”

When God tells me I need to rest from my activities, I know I need to obey. When I rest in Him, I come away more refreshed than I could imagine.

More of the Disciples' Thoughts

Scripture Reading: John 14:15-22

Focus Verses: “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. John 14: 15-17 (NIV)

“If you love me, you will obey me.”

What does the Teacher mean? Of course, we love him. Haven’t we followed him as he traveled through the land and spoke to the people?

“And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.”

Does our leader have that kind of power? Can he really ask His Father and then promise that we will have someone stay with us forever?

The other disciple named Judas listened to the Master and asked, “But Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

##

The disciples still did not understand what they heard. Now, Jesus tells them that He and His Father will send someone new to be with them forever.

We have an advantage over the disciples. We know what Jesus meant by saying He would send someone to them. He sent the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of truth) to guide them. Because He did this for them, and for us, we have an open line of communication to God; we can communicate with Him because of what Christ did on Calvary.

Dear Father God: Thank You. You gave us Your Holy Spirit to guide us through the difficult times of life. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen

God

     

“God grant me the serenity to change the things I can; courage to accept the things I can’t and the wisdom to know the difference.” Reinhold Niebuhr

            

               God: the first word of this prayer, our Creator, the giver of life, the giver of all good things.

               God: the maker of stars, the One who keeps them in balance.

               God: the one responsible for all our growing plants.

              

               “God is great; God is good.” We learned this table grace as children. Yes, God is great and God is good—very great and very good.

               God, our Father, protects us from evil and from willful sin. God, our help in ages past, present and future, help us to work for You; help us to live for You. Help us to share the good news of Your love.

  

              From time to time, we may have doubts about God. We may even find we are angry with Him. These emotions are okay because He created these emotions. But we must deal with them by giving them to Him and allowing Him to guide us through to His peace about the issue that bothers us.

 God, Healer, Heal us from all our infirmities physical, emotional, and spiritual. These things, I ask, believing in You. AMEN

Eucharisteo:The Small Things

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               What are some of the small things, those we take for granted, that we should give thanks for?

 

               A few years ago, I had some heavy burdens that seemed to keep me bothered and, at the same time, stirred up. My prayers seemed to be by rote: “Dear God, please be with that person.” I realized I needed to find things to give praise for.

CENTRAL HEAT

               I found myself praising God for our central heat. Now this might seem strange to you but it wasn’t to me. I am cold natured and have a chronic sinus problem. Also, several years ago, I asked a friend if her mother was coming down for Christmas. My friend’s mother lived 200 miles northwest of us. No, her mother couldn’t come during the winter because her apartment didn’t have central heat. I believe she might have had wall-unit space heaters.

A ROOF OVER OUR HEADS          

               At that same time, I found myself giving praise to God for the fact we had a roof over our heads. In fact, at that time, our roof needed some work done to it. (God allowed us to get the roof repaired a couple of years later.) As I realized my need to give praise, we were warm and dry. 

HELPING ORGANIZATIONS

               I give thanks to God for the organizations that help people in times of need. Our city has a Christian Center which ministers to homeless men. We also have an organization that ministers to homeless veterans, men and women. In the event of a fire wiping out a family’s home, our city has an organization that oversees three temporary houses where the families can stay for two weeks free of charge. We don’t know how blessed we are!

MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES

               Recently, the prayer group I attend on Tuesday mornings, started meeting at an independent living facility associated with the neighboring healthcare campus. The place lent to us for our prayer times is wonderful. For this opportunity to minister to and with others, we give praise to God.

ELECTRICITY

               Have you given much thought that we should give praise to God for electricity? When I see the old movies where the rooms are lighted with gas lights, I realize how careful the people had to be in that era. Yes, it is an inconvenience when a storm goes through, takes out our power, and we have to put things on hold and wait for the repairs to be made. But, there are teams of workers who work long hours to get our community’s issue fixed.

               In a few weeks, women will be cooking Thanksgiving dinners. Whether you cook on a gas or electric stove, think about how you would manage if you had to cook on a wood burning stove. When my dad got called back into the Marine Corps when I was four years old, we lived for a while in part of a farmhouse. Our side had a ‘modern’ stove. The farmer’s wife cooked on one of those wood burning stoves.    It was almost scary to watch her as she lifted the round black pieces on top with the utensil made for that purpose. What I remember is seeing the flames of the fire come up through the hole.

We who live in the 21^st Century have many things to be thankful for; these are but a few.

Eucharisteo: God’s Provision

Burning Bush 

“He provides food for those who fear him;

he remembers his covenant forever.”

Psalm 111:5 (NIV)

               God gives us words to say when he needs us to speak to someone on His behalf. We have a neighbor who feared her son’s departure for basic training for the U. S. Army. She and I had several conversations about what she was feeling. Often times, I reminded her that all she felt went with being a mother. Just before his departure, she received baptism. At one point, early in his training, he was very down-in-spirit. She told him, “Go to church tomorrow.” As she and her family prepared to go to his graduation from basic training, she found out he was planned on also receiving baptism while they were all together just prior to his graduation.

               One of my Spiritual Gifts is encouragement. Sometimes, thoughts for encouraging others come easy and sometimes I really have to pray in order to find them. Either way, I know the LORD gives me the words.

               I follow a gluten-free diet due to intolerance to grains that contain a certain protein (gluten), namely wheat, barley, rye and some oats. When we have had scrambled eggs for a meal, Hubby couldn’t understand why I couldn’t make toast in our toaster the same way he did. I started using our microwave to basically warm the gluten-free bread. Our anniversary is this month. He recently took me out to a store and bought me a toaster oven, for our anniversary. This is something I did not ask for.

               I sometimes have sleepless nights. When I have a good night’s sleep, I know it comes as a gift from God. Even if I can’t fall right to sleep, when I do, I awaken feeling refreshed.

               If each of us were to examine our lives, we would see how God provides for us. He is ready to fulfill any need we have according to His will for our lives. Occasionally, God even takes care of a want we might have. As we go into this season of giving thanks, let’s remember that we can do that all year long. Doesn’t God provide for us every day?

               God lavishes each of us with all we need. 

Eucharisteo: God’s Word

               As I sit here on a dreary rainy November afternoon, I think of God’s Word and how timely it is even for us in the 21st Century.

               The words of Jesus speak to us each day. “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, NIV) “Pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44, NIV)

               David tells us his help comes from the LORD. (Psalm 121:2, NIV) He also tells us God calms him and gives him rest. (Psalm 23, NIV)

               The Apostle Paul tells us to “Pray continually.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17, NIV) Kathy, a lady at our church is very seriously ill. We are all praying for her and her family. She is married and they have two children, a daughter who is 15 and a son who is about 12. This circumstance came about suddenly this past Friday evening.   

               The Apostle John reminds us “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9, NIV) A book I just finished reading spoke of the need for each of us to repent of our sins, even if we believe we are right with God. (The Harbinger, by Jonathan Cahn.)

               God speaks through the prophet Isaiah and tells us we are not to be afraid because He will help us. He goes further and tells us not to be dismayed because He is our God He makes the commitment to make us strong, help us, and uphold us. (Isaiah 41:10)

               I find it wonderful that God continues to speak to us in our times of need. Praise God for his continued caring for us, his children.

“Do not be Afraid”

“I am God, the God of your father,” he said,

“Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt,

for I will make you into a great nation there.”

Gen 46:3 (NIV)

God speaks to Jacob here. He identifies himself as God, the God of Isaac. (Isaac had a relationship with God. Because of this, Isaac had prayed for his wife Rebekah because she was barren.)

Then God promises to make Jacob into a great nation. He also promises to go down to Egypt with Jacob and He will bring Jacob back to his homeland. (46:4)

In the 21st Century, God promises His children that they are not alone, because He, the One True God, is with them.

These are not words to be taken lightly. God is Who He Says He Is. And He is where He says He is—right beside us as we go through our days.

Whatever we go through-times of surgery, times of unemployment and job hunting, times of mourning, times of illness, times of weakness—God is there because he says, “I AM God.”

In our 21st Century world, we see events unfold that are not necessarily from God. These happenings hone in on one particular issue and can try our patience. We, me included, need to discuss these things with God. In fact, I recently needed to repent from the attitude that I had one recent week.