Thursday 8/15 ~ Rest in God

The scripture for today, August 15 (8/15), is Romans 8:15 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.”

I knew someone a long time ago who went through a period of being afraid of everything, something she just could not control. Then she found this scripture and applied it to all her fears. She had read it many times before, but this time was able to apply it to her constant fear. She thought to herself, “Stop being afraid! You are a child of God! He is right there with you. Be brave now. And rest in God.”

Are there times in your life when you are a slave to fear? Perhaps it is fear of the dark. Or fear of losing health. Or fear of strangers. Or of a certain nationality. Or of losing a job or home. Or of losing a loved one.

Stop being afraid! Jesus said we cannot add one hair to our head by worrying.  Write today’s verse on some pieces of paper and tape it to your refrigerator, the dash of your car, the door in and out of your house, your bathroom mirror. Read it until you believe it.  Children of God are not afraid. God is right there with you. Be brave. And rest in God.

 

00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-PAUL: THE UNSTOPPABLE was just that. He purposely set himself up to be beaten, scourged, imprisoned so he could defy the local priests and tell people the only way to escape hell and be saved from Satan.  Each time he was beaten, scourged, imprisoned, he called out, “Jesus!  This is for you!”.  Go along with Paul and live what he lived.  To BUY NOW,  click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2OY5ka3

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Saturday 8/10 ~ In weakness, strengthened by God’s joy

The scripture for today, August 10 (8/10), is Nehemiah 8:10b as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

3 Great Kings Kindle-Thumbnail“This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

After exile over 70 years for forsaking God, the Jews were led by Ezra and Nehemiah back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and rebuild the wall. On a special day, Ezra read the Law of Moses to all the people.

And they wept.

They were so embarrassed and so sorry they had betrayed God. The above scripture quotation is from that occasion.

But many people find it too humiliating to admit to others they were wrong. Others find it easy to repent, but never regroup and pull themselves up so they can try again. Still others say, “What I’ve done is so bad, God could never forgive me.”

God can perform miracles. That means he can forgive the greatest sinner. So grieve. Ask for forgiveness. Then start over fresh ~ innocent in the eyes of God.

Remember, when you feel weak, the joy of the Lord will be your strength and see you through.

 

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Wednesday 7/17 ~ It’s your assignment

The scripture for today, July 17 (7/17), is 1st Corinthians 7:17 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-Joseph-Cover-Thumbnail“Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him.”

In some situations in life, this scripture is hard to accept. Sometimes life gets very, very hard. Sometimes it is difficult to keep smiling, even to keep breathing. When will it end? Will it ever end?

But can it be that this is where God wants you? Can it be that the difficulties in your life right now are your assignments from God? God fights Evil from heaven and it is our place to fight Evil from earth. It is an ongoing battle. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

For some reason that cannot be understood right now, you are where God wants you to be. This is your assignment from God. Remember, we are “ambassadors for Christ” (II Corinthians 5:20). You must show the world that “all things work together for good to those who love the Lord” (Romans 8:28).

As a soldier for Christ, be brave. Think with a clear head. Hold fast, stand firm of faith, strong in spirit, pure of heart.

 

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Tuesday 7/16 ~ Stop and take a breath

The scripture for today, July 16 (7/16), is Genesis 7:16 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

02-Noah-KindleThumbnail“The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord shut him in.”

Does your life sometimes feel like a downpour of unending bad incidents or a flood of tragedies? Whenever that happens, why not just enter an ark of safety and let God shut the door? When God shuts the door on something, try to recognize it, accept his decision, and take advantage of its peace and quiet.

Your ark of safety is in your mind, your heart, your soul. Your ark of safety is quietness in the Lord.

“My heart is not proud, O Lord….I have stilled and quieted my soul” (Psalm 131:1f)

“In quietness and trust is your strength” (Isaiah 30:15b)

“The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever” (Isaiah 32:17).

Today, instead of being angry at God for a closed door, stop, take a deep breath, and rest in the ark of his arms.

 

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Saturday 7/13 ~ When misery ends with gladness

The scripture for today, July 13 (7/13), is in Job 7:13ff in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-Bk3-HeartsAfire-COVER-Kindle.thumbnail-new“When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint, even then you frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions so that I prefer strangling and death, rather than this body of mine. I despise my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone; my days have no meaning.”

Job was extremely depressed. It happens to everyone sometimes. His depression was certainly valid ~ he had lost all his income and all his children in a recent storm. Now he had what the Bible translated as “boils” but the symptoms indicate he had a form of leprosy called Elephantiasis.

This particular form leads to nightmares in addition to the physical problems. Job had every right to be depressed. So depressed was he, that he no longer wanted to live, for his life no longer had meaning.

But, as miserable as Job was, he hung on. Patiently he hung on during the bad times. Sometimes during your bad times, the greatest thing you can do is “hang on” ~ be patient.

Romans 8:28 says all things work together for good to those who love the Lord. Job loved the Lord. Even in his misery and desire to die,  he continued to love God and trust Him.

And, although at such times you may believe your misery will never end and you will never even smile again, it will happen. The misery comes to an end. It did for Job. He got his health and wealth back and more children to comfort him. God will see you through too.

 

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Friday, 7/5 ~ Your ardent concern

The scripture for today, July 5 (7/5), is 2nd Corinthians 7:5ff as found in the New Testament of the Bible.

0-Titus-Cover-Lg Thumb“For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn ~ conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me so that my joy was greater than ever.”

Oh how much we need each other.

Sometimes in life, we go into our own Macedonia where we have no rest and are full of fear. Our Macedonia may be religious or political or medical; or it may be at work, out on the street, or at home.

At such times we need a Titus to help us, to encourage us. Our Titus may be a relative, a neighbor, a friend, or even a stranger.

Have you been a Titus to anyone lately? Look around. Be a Titus to someone today. You are so very needed.

 

0-Titus-Cover-Lg ThumbTITUS: THE ARISTOCRAT grows up privileged, his father is the city magistrate and Titus becomes an arbitrator and lawyer.  He can make the most bitter of enemies think they love each other. So, when Paul meets and converts him, Paul sends him to churches with problems where he uses his expertise to soothe them.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/32bExti

 

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Wednesday 6/12 ~ God loves to answer prayer

The scripture for today, June 12 (6/12), is Luke 6:12 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

Silver Cover-KINDLE-thumbnail“One of those days Jesus went out to a mountain side to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”

How in the world did Jesus think of enough things to say that he could pray all night? Most of us on a good day only manage a 5-minute prayer. The next verse says that the next morning he selected his twelve apostles. Aha! He had a list. He had probably spent at least half an hour each praying about them by name, as well as about others he was considering. Jesus knew what his apostles would be facing someday. Which ones would be loyal enough, stubborn enough, strong-willed enough to someday in the future endure persecution, torture, and martyrdom for him?

Who do you pray for by name? Do you have a prayer list? How about opening the newspaper and praying for all those people in the news ~ perpetrators, victims, causes, governments, situations? Or everyone you work with? Or everyone your children go to school with? Or all their teachers and administrators? Or the clerks in the stores you go to regularly? Or members of an organization you belong to? Or every member of your congregation? What about countries where people become Christians at risk of their freedom and even their lives?

There are always people in need of prayer. And one of the joys of such a prayer life is now and then telling people whom you know that they are in your prayers; or writing a note to someone who is a stranger to you telling them that you pray for them.

Some people have never heard their names in prayer. Some people have never even been told that someone prays for them.

God loves to answer prayer. Do you love prayer?

 

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Tuesday 6/11 ~ A very sick friend

The scripture for today, June 11 (6/11), is Job 6:11 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

0-BK 2-DreamMaker-cover-kindle-new-thumbnail“What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects that I should be patient?”

Many people use the expression, “patience of Job.” But he had on-and-off patience, for he was very sick. By descriptions he gave of himself ~ sores, rancid breath, low voice, partial blindness, skin turned hard and black, bloating, nightmares, extreme pain, unrecognized by his closest friends ~ some believe he had a grotesque form of elephantiasis leprosy.

What did he need from his friends? He surely didn’t get it, for they spent their time trying to prove that he had sinned and God was right to be punishing him. His reply? “I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all! Will your long-winded speeches never end? What ails you that you keep on arguing?” (Job 16:2f).

So how do you comfort someone who feels utterly hopeless? You certainly do not put the blame on them, nor do you tell them it’s “all in your head’ or to “snap out of it”. You can share times when we felt hopeless. You can weep with them. You can hold their hand. You can sit with them in silence. You can pray aloud for them. (Some people have never heard their name mentioned in a prayer.)

And you need to let them talk. Sometimes they will say things they don’t mean in the long run, but at that brief moment, they do. Or sometimes they need to talk through things they are unsure about. They may even say contradictory things.

At one time Job said, “Surely, O God, you have worn me out; you have devastated my entire household….God assails me and tears me in his anger and gnashes his teeth at me” (16:7f). But another time he said, “I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end, he will stand upon the earth….I myself will see him with my own eyes ~ I and not another. How my heart yearns within me” (19:25f).

Do you have a very sick friend?  Let your heart yearn with them.

 

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Sunday 6/9 ~ Satan loses. You win.

The scripture for today, June 9 (6/9), is Job 6:9-8 found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

Pearls Cover-Palms-300dpi-Thumbnail“Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for, that God would be willing to crush me, to let loose his hand and cut me off!”

Job was suffering terribly. The Bible says he had sores all over his body. There were other symptoms listed elsewhere in Job that indicate he had a form of leprosy. Now he just wanted to die.

When you get into a life problem that seems hopeless, do you just give up and say, “God, I can’t go on like this. Just take my life right now. It’s too hard. I can’t do it anymore”?

God knows what you are going through. God knows that Satan is attacking you. When things are desperately low, your job is just to hang on. It often takes God time to shift around a lot of other people’s lives in order to alleviate your pain.

Remember, God hurts just as much when you suffer as when he watched his own Son suffer on the cross. His Son’s suffering accomplished something wonderful for others. So too, someday your suffering will somehow in some way accomplish something good. And ultimately, just by surviving, Satan loses and God wins.

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Thursday 6/6 ~ Are you satisfied?

The scripture for today, June 6 (6/6), is 1st Timothy 6:6f as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

0-Titus-Cover-Lg Thumb“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”

Still, don’t we all do it? Compare what we own with what our neighbor owns? Work and strive to gain more and more stuff?

A long time ago, a man wrote a book called, How to Want What You Have. He emphasized that, to people who are never content with what they have, happiness is always right around the corner. If we could just buy that object, or get that house, obtain that promotion. But once we get it, we are only satisfied briefly before happiness slips away again, and we decide we would truly be happy if we could buy yet another object, or get yet another house, obtain yet another promotion. And so we live our lives.

Dare to look around today and tell yourself, “I have all I need.”

 

0-Titus-Cover-Lg ThumbTITUS: THE ARISTOCRAT was raised in the finest palacia in Antioch a city of elitists who only spoke Latin, not the common Greek.  But his father would hardly speak to him. He vowed when he had children someday, he would give them all the attention they desired.  It happened as he had hoped. Now he had everything. He became a Christian and Paul sent him to help new congregations. Then one day, he gave up all his wealth. Paul sent him to the barbarian lands of Albania. Perfect FATHER’S DAY gift.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  https://amzn.to/2Im8xts

 

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