How to deal with the Pain and Darkness in Life?

I really hope and pray that this message meets a need in your life. We are living in difficult and dark times for so many people. If you are one of them, I want you to realize that you are not alone. Maybe God wants to use you to encourage someone else battling the darkness. Know that I will be praying for you and walking with you – over every mountain – through every valley. Hard times will come and the darkness will find each one of us. At some point in life, we all will face some kind of pit. It may be a pit that we have dug with our own hands of wrong choices or it could be a pit that has been uniquely designed for us by the enemy. 

“I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.”~~ Psalm 40:1–3, NIV    

 

What can we do to find hope in the midst of the darkness? We can become bitter and blame God for the pain or we can give up and wallow in the mire and mud of that slimy pit. Some of you maybe guilty of plastering a smile on your face, gritting your teeth and denying that the pit even exists. However, the choice we should make is to trust God, knowing He will deliver us in and from the pit.   

God’s grace turns defeat into victory, tragedy into triumph and weakness into strength by providing real power over circumstances. People without Christ can muster up enough courage and human strength to get through a trial. God will not only enable us to survive the hard times, He wants us to thrive in and because of them.

Joy is not an earthly treasure but a heavenly gift from our loving Father who is committed to the joy of His children. I am convinced that God entrusts the greatest trials to those who will respond to them in the right way. Some of the most joyful people I know have suffered the most because they have learned not to live on explanations but on promises – the promises of God.

Jesus wants to give us a life of joy, pits and all. We need to remember that joy is the deeply-rooted confidence that God is in control and that our inner attitudes do not have to reflect our outer circumstances. We can find joy in the pit.

Please, please, please share this blog with others and help to spread the encouragement and love of the Lord to everyone!  It’s all about Him!  God bless you!

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True Faith

“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen., it gives us assurance about things we can not see.” ~Hebrews 11:1

The beginning point of faith, is believing in God’s character. He is who He says. The end point is believing in God’s promises. He will do what He says. When we believe that God will fulfill His promises even those we don’t see those materializing yet, we demonstrate true faith. In order to experience the power of God, we have to be willing to step out in faith, even when it seems there is no way and no solution to the problem at hand and our strength is gone. God will strengthen us as we go. He is the Way Maker and the only thing that really matters is the fact that God sends us.

A powerful life is fueled by the kind of faith that steps out in obedience and trust and lets God worry about the circumstances. Faith is built upon trust in God, His Son and th Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us ven when nothing makes sense and everything seems wrong. It is easy to trust Him when the seas are calm and the skies are clear but the strength of our faith is measured in the midst of a raging storm. A crisis always reveals what is really inside. What life does to us depends on what life finds in us. Faith is a deliberate choice to believe God, to walk through our fear, knowing we can trust Him every step of the way. Faith is best seen when we are under pressure. It is founded in Jesus and what a foundation that is! Glory Hallelujah!

True faith is found in Jesus, but it is the Word of God that covers that foundation. Faith is not based on how we feel or our experiences, so we need to realize that our feelings affect us ~ We are Human! BUT….if we constantly stay in His presence, seeking His face, and trusting in Him our faith becomes stronger!

True faith:
1) True faith will always move us to action.
2) True faith isn’t easily detoured
3) True faith can always b seen… for example, the wind can not be sen, but we see the result from it…that is how faith is seen….. by the results it brings!

True faith comes to life when it feels the presence of the Lord! Come, spend time in His presence today, build your foundation on and in Jesus!

Posted on September 29, 2013September 29, 2013Categories Encourage othersTags Encouragement, Foundation, God, Jesus, Surrender Completely, True FaithLeave a comment on True Faith

God Intends for you to have Joy in your Circumstances!

God intends for you and I to have joy in your circumstances. But you may be asking, “How can I have joy when everything seems to be falling apart?” I think we all can relate to this. So I believe that this is what God wants to say to us through this passage. Let Him give you His joy by spending quality time with Him! Your problems will pale when you view them in the Light of His presence. 

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights.” ~Habakkuk 3:17-19 

 

When everything from our perspective seems to be going wrong, we need to see that our lives are in the hands of a sovereign God and one way we can do that is by practicing rejoicing.  KNOW that God will see you through! By doing so, we can find God as our strength learning to lean on God rather then on what we see. But in order to find joy, we must practice it.

 

Using this analogy, God will never force us to walk with Him against our will, but He wants beautiful music to flow from our lives. He wants us to develop such a heart of love for Him that we desire to practice joy, no matter what the circumstances may be.

 

Whatever you may be facing, God is bigger than your trouble. So, let His joy be your strength and He will help you surmount obstacles that once would have held you down.

Have a wonderful day saying in the presence of the Lord and let Him fill you with His joy. 

Please share this blog with others and help to reach out to the lost and those who need encouragement….all for the glory of God! 

 

Blessed are those who Wait on God!

Whether you are waiting for physical healing for yourself or for a loved one, for that perfect job opportunity, for your soul mate, for deliverance from a bad circumstance, for freedom from an addiction, a restored marriage, or for a child, it seems that waiting on God is one of the hardest things a Christian is called to do. In fact, we don’t like waiting in any shape or form, but the difference in waiting on God, and waiting on earthly things, is that this holy waiting is not a passive activity, but an active leap of faith. 

Blessed are those who Wait on God!

“So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.” ~Isaiah 30:18

During our waiting period, God calls us to surrender our desires to Him, and to trust that He hears them. We are to trust Him with our whole heart, and pursue Him, even when He seems silent. And we can seek courage and strength by believing that although we do not understand His ways – they are right, and good, and hold a purpose that we may not be able to see right now.

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to “let go, and let God”, especially when what we are letting go is so embedded in our hearts and souls. Yet, through our consistent and heartfelt prayers, even at the risk of sounding like a broken record, we will experience a strengthened faith as we savor God’s promises until the answers come.

Today choose to believe, and know that no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11), and God will make everything  beautiful in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11) . And even though it’s hard, we have to trust that His answer will be nothing less than His very best… right on time. And hope that you feel encouraged to do the same whatever you’re waiting for.

To really KNOW HIM!

 

That I may know Him.” Paul desired to know the Lord Jesus as deeply as a person could. Jesus desires that we know Him on a deep level as well. Where are you at in your “knowing” Jesus? Do you only know about Him based on knowledge? Do you know Him in a relationship? Or do you know Him in intimacy- as a husband and wife would know each other? This is the “knowing” that He desires for us to have. This was the “knowing” that Paul desired to have. 

 

How Do You Know Him?

 

 

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” ~Philippians 3:10

 

Jesus desires it so strongly that He died on the cross so that we could have this type of relationship with Him. He desires it so much that if we refuse it He will say to us on the day when we stand before Him, “Depart from Me, I never knew you”. 

 

 

He offers you so much more than just a knowledge of Himself. He is offering you a relationship with Him, yet He is offering much more, He is offering you Himself. In essence, He is doing the same thing a man does when he proposes to a woman to marry him. Will you accept His offer?

 

 

Do you know Jesus? Do you know about Him, do you have a relationship with Him, or do you know Him intimately? 

 

 

Have a great day in the presence of Jesus!

 

Please share this blog with others for the Glory of God and His Son, my Savior!

 

God ~ Every Step!

There are many Christians that get up each morning facing indescribable problems—physical pain, emotional suffering, and financial struggles. Many are so beset by trouble that they worry, “This is all too much for me to handle. I don’t have the strength to fight these things anymore. How will I ever make it?” Our heavenly Father sees every step of our lives and in spite of all our crises and difficulties, He commands us again and again in Scripture: “Fear not!” We are not to believe that our problems will cast us down and destroy us, because He is our shield. Have a wonderful Christ-centered day and remember He sees every step we take.

No matter what crisis we face, what powerful difficulties lay ahead of us, our victory has been assured: “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Romans 8:37). Does this mean we are to stand by and expect God to send an angel to slay all our enemies? No never! Even though God has proclaimed our victory, He will
not do our part for us.

We still must pick up a sword to fight the enemy. The difference is, we do it believing God has promised to empower us: “Thanks be to God, which given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

The Holy Spirit responds to our faith! When we call on Him, He comes upon us with supernatural power to mortify the deeds of the flesh. Our part is to have faith and then walk in the belief that God’s Spirit will resist the power of evil coming against us.

When God sends Tests

This scripture and message for you is to reflect on and He has these words for you that He is with you and knows exactly where you are going. Right at moment how are you reacting to the problems you face? Have you allowed fear to dominate your life? Are you disappointed? Angry? Frustrated? Worried? Remember that God is with you, all the time-even when the world seems like a dark place and there seems to be no hope. He cares for you-right now. No matter how things may seem on the surface, you can place your hope in Him. Trust in Him! He will deliver you, and you will come forth as pure as gold!

When He Tests me I will Come out as Pure as Gold!

“But he knows where I am going, and when he tests me I will come out as pure as gold.”~ Job 23:10

Are you feeling the weight of some crushing burden or difficult situation? The words that Job’s speak immeasurable comfort in the midst of any trial we are going through.

First, never forget this “He knows where you are going”. God is not unaware of your difficult circumstance, nor is He insensitive to the pain you are feeling, He knows your plan. He is intimately acquainted with your situation and your condition.

And if the all-wise, all-powerful, loving God is allowing one of His precious children to pass through affliction, you can be rest assured that there is a good purpose behind it. You may not as yet see it; and you surely may not now even agree with it. But please rest assure that when He has tried you, you will come out of the trial as refined, purified gold.

My dear friends, rest in this wonderful assurance, that God is right their next to you in your trial and on His throne in heaven. It is through resistance and affliction that our faith is tested. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that when you are tested you are growing more in His likeness.

Please share this blog with others and reach more for Christ all for the Glory of God and His Kingdom!

Love

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love”~~ John 15:9.

I don’t know about you but I surely don’t want to simply know about God and His love. I WANT TO SHARE IN IT. I want to open my heart to God by telling Him about my hurts and my joys. I also want to know what’s on His heart too. I desire to hear from Him instead of doing all the talking myself. (I KNOW THAT’S DIFFICULT FOR US) I want the kind of relationship that Christ had with His Father in heaven while here on earth. And, I can have that through abiding, and you can too.

Our position needs to be to stay in Christ. We don’t just run to Christ when we’re scared or desperate. Abiding in Christ means to remain in His presence daily – during every season and through every turn of life. Abiding takes more than a token prayer, reading a few biblical words, or singing some praise songs on Sunday. Besides, abiding is not about doing more but about seeking God and connecting with Him. Today that connection may be about basking in his unconditional love. Tomorrow, it may be His strength that you relish. Whatever your need may be, you can find it in God’s presence daily.

Trust and Obey God

“Trust and Obey God” sums up God’s purpose for our lives. When we practice these two commands, a beautiful cycle begins. Trusting the Lord makes obedience easier, and obedience produces ever-increasing trust. Can you recall facing a challenge that was difficult or perplexing? If so, you know how important these two commands are. 

 

“Trust and Obey God” 

 

When the Lord calls you to a task that seems unreasonable, you have two options. You can obey Him even though you don’t understand what will happen, or you can become fearful and attempt to find a way out. 

 

The way we respond to God’s challenging assignments reveals our level of commitment. We may feel as if we’re right in step with Him–until He proposes a change of direction. That’s when our resistance kicks in, and with it, the realization we aren’t as close to Him as we thought. At that point, our decision determines whether the Lord will be able to use us as He desires. Because Joshua never lost his commitment, he continued to serve the Lord for the remainder of his life.

 

At times obedience is a struggle, as your mind runs through all the reasons God’s path is illogical. Fear dominates and your will battles to comply when everything within is screaming to run the other way. But obedience is always the best choice, because the Lord is trustworthy and wise.

Overcoming Discouragement!

Everyone experiences disappointment from time to time. But some people tend to wallow in negativity, dwelling on painful memories or situations.  Others quickly recover their joy, sometimes with apparently little effort. King David knew how to overcome feelings of discouragement. Even in the face of tragedy, he “encouraged himself in the LORD his God” (1 Samuel. 30:6). He had learned how to put his hope in God in the midst of adversity. Let’s take a look at a few principles that show us how to encourage ourselves in God.

 

Life can be painful. Godly believers get ill, lose their jobs, and grieve the loss of loved ones. When you feel discouraged, share your true feelings with God: “The Lord is near to all who call on Him; to all who call on Him in truth” (Psalm. 145:18). Talking to Him about your struggles is often the first step to healing.

 

Don’t dwell on the negative. This might seem like a contradiction to “Be honest with God.” But there is a difference between expressing your negative feelings to the Lord and dwelling on them day after day. How do you change your focus? One of the best ways is to thank God for what He has done for you. When you feel discouraged, make a list of everything you’re thankful for. You’ll be surprised at the number of wonderful things the Father has done for you.

 

As believers in Christ, we have incredible spiritual blessings that cannot be taken away or destroyed. When life gets you down, remember to thank God for the benefits you enjoy because of your relationship with Christ.

 

The next time you feel hopeless, ask God to show you how to be encouraged in Him. Place your faith and trust in the Lord, and discouragement will not gain a foothold in your life.

 

Are you tired of being discouraged? You don’t have to stay that way. Whether or not the situation changes, you can experience joy, peace, and contentment. For the believer, circumstances don’t have to dictate emotions. Allow Scripture to permeate your mind and heart. Discouragement will lose its foothold, and you will become joyous and fruitful again.

Have a blessed day in the presence of our Lord and Savior!! 

If you like this blog, please, please, please share with others!!!  God bless you!