courage

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

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http://bible.com/12/rom.8.35.asv
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Bible.com/app

Sometimes we feel alienated from God.  Times get really tough.  We anguish over circumstances, broken relationships,  betrayals,  persecution by bullies, political opponents or people that just can’t or refuse to understand us.  When times get rough the first tendency is to cry out “Why me God?!!!”
But God says in every circumstance, whatever we are anguishing over He has never left.  His love burns a steady hot  radiating compassion, love, kindness,  patience and wisdom.

Satan seeks in our misery to break us down and put a wedge between us and God.  He would enslave us in fear and resentment and seeking anything to dull the pain.  While God comes along side and urges us to greater faith, greater strength and patience.  “Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.”  The easy road of complaining and apathy or resentment is self destructive while trusting God to do amazing things in the dark times brings joy and hope and freedom from fear.  Every time we use our faith muscles by saying “God is awesome!  He’s got my back in this! ”  we grow stronger and less easily pushed over when hard times or bad news hits.

Having faith is believing the mountain is still there even though hidden by dense fog.  We know that we know that we know even against “evidence to the contrary.”  Don’t give up on God.   He will never give up on you!

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To everything there is a season

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Are you in the middle of changes and you can’t wait to get to the other side?

It seems renovation is an endless process.  There is so much take down and demolition that has to take place even before starting.   Everything has a time and a purpose.   It’s back breaking, heartbreaking, mind boggling,  overwhelming work.  Thank God  we have a wise builder,  my husband,  who sees the big picture and plans for each next phase of this project.   For me I just want it over so there can be no more dust, working shower and tub, a functioning kitchen, time to get on a with life!

God looks at the big picture too.  He says,  He has plans, amazing and glorious plans for our lives that are good and acceptable and perfect.   These are plans to bless us not curse us.  Plans to restore the years that were robbed from us.   When we were wounded He will heal.  When we were abandoned He vows to never leave but provide a constant Comforter and Guide.  When we were dead He calls LIVE!  Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me shall never die the second death.  He said “Come to me all you who are weary with heavy burdens and I will give you rest.  Take My harness on you for I am humble and gentle of heart and you will find rest for your souls.”  It’s when we hook up with Jesus we can begin the transformation.   He views us, as the One who redeemed us from the curse of the law by paying our debt, as totally cool.   He freed us from the systems that require our time,  commitment,  passion, devotion with strings but cannot enable or secure our future with love and purpose.  He has provided His Word,  the Bible, as the method for straightening our thoughts and attitudes.  When we accept God’s Redemption plan through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus,  for our life, Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit.   Without the Holy Spirit the truths of God are undeciferable, reading the Bible just doesn’t make sense.  All Scripture from the Bible, is God breathed, and God uses it to build His values into us, show us when we are wrong or off base, how to get us back on track, and to equip us completely for every good work.   The Holy Spirit Is our Mentor.   He uses the Bible,  our circumstances,  and other Christians to inspire to change and become who we long to be: free from fear, envy, violence, confusion,  anxiety, worry.  As we press into Jesus and wait on the guidance of  the Holy Spirit we slowly shed those hang ups and values that keep us from true freedom,  from real rest of heart and mind.  We become whole.   This is a neverendng process this side of heaven. Until God says “it is finished!” we  will always be a work in progress. 

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Praise to the Friend who bears our burdens and carries us day by day!

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http://bible.com/8/psa68.19 Blessed be the Lord, Who bears our burdens and carries us day by day, even the God Who is our salvation! Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

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He leads me beside quiet waters.  He is the path to peace.  I don’ t have to struggle for first place because He is my leader and He has my best interest in mind.  He loves delighting me with good and perfect gifts.  He saves each tear and comforts me in my sorrows, pain and disappointments.   When I blunder and do senseless things he always has my back.  He will never chew on me or gloat at my stumbling.  Instead He takes my broken pieces and promises to work everything out for my good.  He is the friend that sticks closer than a brother.  When I offend or turn my back on Him He never gives up on me.  When I say I’m sorry He says I forgive you and never brings it up again.  When I am afraid He says be brave.  I’ m with you.  When I say I am small.  He says He is great.  He is very big.  There is nothing too hard for Him.  He does His best work with the small and the weak.  Isn’t He wonderful?!  His name is Jesus.

Never give up

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What does a mug with the word chocolate written all over it, a fly swatter and a spray bottle have in common? Indulgence, persistence, and innovation. Ingredients to a successful and hopeful future. Winston Churchill addressing the graduating class at Oxford University in response to the question of how to become successful, got up before the eager listeners and in all seriousness, without elaboration said: Never, never, never give up. Then he sat down. The times I have forged ahead despite all reason not to and resisted the temptation to admit my limitations and give up in whiney resignation have become milestones of heroicism that I have celebrated with awe and been able to point to these accomplishments as reasons why I can entertain the possibility of achieving the impossible. Alice in facing the Jaberwocky recited 7 impossible things that were, beyond all reason, true as she proceeded into battle. If those things were true than certainly defeating the dragon was her destiny and she would do it. I must admit, like Alice, I start out arguing and whining and whimpering. Like the time I climbed up my long wobbly ladder to the second story of our home to let myself in since my husband locked me out and would not be
coming back until the end of his work day. I am afraid of heights so I prayed and cried through the whole ordeal. I do a lot of praying and crying but I find when I push through every time I have racked up a whole lot of successes.   Cheers!!  And carry on!!!