God's Promises Are Real

TEARS FROM THE BATTLE-How long, O LORD?

January 5, 2022 in Christian faith, God's power in your life, GOD'S PROMISES, God's unfailing love, HOPE, Jesus, Struggles in life, Trusting God | Tags: difficulties, feeling weary and overwhelmed, hope in difficult situations, peace in trials, storms of life, strength through Christ | 25 comments

“I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.” Psalm 6:6

People who face painful trials and trouble in their lives can feel defeated as they experience the sorrow of weariness. In Scripture, King David wrote Psalm 6 crying out to God, “My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O LORD – how long?”.

I believe most of us have asked God the same question. As time grows short it is obvious that the devil has stepped up his attacks on believers. Popular revivalist, Vance Havner, once wrote that added trouble by the enemy is “evidence that we are making progress and have aroused him”. He adds that in our discouragement, “A sense of things present will come doubly strong and heaven will seem far away“. We will feel more like sighing than shouting.

The truth is that if you don’t have faith in the darkness of trouble, then it is not enough for the light of good times. Our faith is proved to be genuine only when it is tested! We all grow weary in the battles of this life. It may even appear that evil is overcoming the world. We are not in a losing battle. Our victory is guaranteed! The devil already knows that we have been declared conquerors. Once you fully understand that God’s plan was put in place long before he formed the world, you can have peace knowing that he has prepared a way to take you through every bondage and get you to where he wants you to be.

In Scripture, King David had many enemies who attacked him and yet his trust was in his God. In Psalm 31:14-15 he cries out,“But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my God’. My times are in your hand.” David’s strength came from the fact that he understood that his battles were being fought and won by God’s power. He knew he wasn’t alone. That truth kept him in perfect peace.

The world is growing in rebellion to the ways of God. Do not fear the coming darkness. We are told in Matthew 24:12, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold”. Sin is rampant and you need only watch the news to see a new form of iniquity abounding each day. Truth has been replaced by a lie as evil is called good and good evil. The persecution of Christians is surging all over the world. Even in America, Christianity is being marginalized and laws are being made to punish those who believe the Bible is God’s word.

Betsie Ten Boom and her family were put in death camps for hiding Jews in their home during the Nazi occupation in Holland. In that place of misery, she never doubted God. She said to her sister, Corrie, “There are no ‘ifs” in God’s world. And no places are safer than other places. The center of His will is our only safety.” Betsie took God at his word.

My friends, nothing can ever separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. We are covered for each and every pain and struggle that we face. When things seem like they are not working out and that your prayers are not being answered I implore you to put your faith to the test. Let the hope of God fill your heart. He has not allowed anything to happen in your life that will not fulfill his purpose for your good.

It may not seem like it right now but one day it will be the unshakable hope that fills your heart. You will know that you were never forsaken and that each petition and every tear were before the throne of God and answered in his perfect way. His mercy was always with you. You need to understand that the will of God for your life is good. He is preparing you for the royalty of an eternal Kingdom. In I Cor. 2:9, we are promised, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.”

If your struggle is lasting longer than you feel you can bear, please take heart and seek God out in his word. It is there that you will find the peace you need to hold on. You will see that even when God appears silent, he is actually preparing your heart for his perfect answer. The wait has a purpose and is part of the plan. Don’t give up.

FAITH THAT TRANSCENDS FEAR

March 30, 2021 in Christian faith, defeating all fears, God's power in your life, GOD'S PROMISES, God's unfailing love, HOPE, Jesus, Struggles in life, Trusting God | Tags: Faith that endures, feeling overwhelmed and weary, Trusting God in the dark | 4 comments

If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night”, even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. Psalm 139:11-12

How can you stay in perfect peace when, at some point, we will all face trials in this life? No one escapes the storms in this passing world and bad things can happen to good people. So, when trouble happens, do you make more time for worry than you do for prayer? That is a question of faith that you need to ask yourself.

Times of change and uncertainty can bring fear when the days are growing dark and you feel helpless. You may know by faith that Christ is with you in your troubles, but it is hard to stop the doubts that are flooding your mind. We are reminded in the word of God that we need to look beyond what is happening around us and to focus on the truth of God’s unfailing word. We are not promised tomorrow, but God has said that whatever we go through, He will be with us to the end. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor 4:18) To keep going in these times of darkness takes faith that has been tested in the fire. Anyone can trust God in the good times, but Christ is looking for believers that are able to handle the trials that this life brings and who continue to praise God no matter how big the battle becomes.

In the Old Testament, we find what David did when he was in a serious crisis. He had been running from King Saul for years as Saul kept trying to kill him. He was jealous of David because of the success God gave him in the battles he fought. David tried to hide from Saul, and in doing so, he aligned himself with the Philistines. When they went out to battle, David and his men were not trusted by the Philistines to do battle with them, so he and his men returned to Ziklag where they were living. Upon entering the city, they found that the Amalekites had raided and burned down their town, and took their wives, sons, and daughters captive. In 1 Samuel, Chapter 30, we read that David and his men wept until they had no more strength to weep. As if that were not bad enough, in their distress, the men started talking about stoning David. So what did David do? In verse 6 we read “But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God“.

Instead of giving up, David took his strength from the God he trusted. He didn’t allow a shadow of doubt to weaken his faith. David didn’t look at his situation, he looked to his God. He sought the will of God in this battle by asking the priest to inquire of the LORD if they should pursue the Amalekites. When he was told to go after them, David, and four hundred men went to battle the thousands of the enemy soldiers. Because David believed God, not only did he strike down the Amalekites so that only a small number escaped, but he was able to safely get back all their wives and children. David then captured all the flocks and herds and the rest of the spoil that the Amalekites left behind. David understood that victory always comes from seeking God’s will. Even though he was outnumbered by the army of the enemy, David knew that with God on his side he could not lose. That’s a lesson for us all!

Whatever you are going through in these ending times, be assured that if you belong to Christ, you cannot be defeated. Whatever ordeal God allows you to bear, he has promised that all things will work for your good and his divine purpose. We know that God is faithful and just, and filled with love for you. He made a promise to be with you to the end. There is no battle that is stronger than the force of the omnipotence of God. He sets the time for every trial he allows in your life until it has completed its work. Every one of God’s holy attributes are in the difficulties that he allows you to face. Has seen your struggle long before you were born and he has prepared a perfect way through it for your good. You might not undersand his way, but his mercy and love will never fail you.

There is no need to fear the darkness for the nothing is hidden from the eyes of God. In Psalm 139, King David writes, “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of then, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them”. Before he formed you in the womb, he knew you. God is sovereign over every cell in your body and he knows every thought that passes your mind. Nothing escapes him. Jesus died and paid the price for your sins over two thousand years before you were born. He died to give you hope in the stressful times of this life.

Do you really think there is something going on in your life that God can’t handle? Or do you feel he doesn’t love you enough to help you? And because you are going through anxious times when you feel alone, do you really believe that God is not in control? That’s exactly what the enemy wants you to believe. However, if you have the faith to believe that Christ paid the price for your sins to give you eternal life with him in a kingdom, then you must trust that he sees your hurt and grieves with you in your heartache. God is always working on your case even if you can’t see or feel what he is doing. Romans 8:34 (NLV) reminds us, “Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.” Christ is always interceding for believers. You are never alone to fight your painful battles. You have already been delcared a victor in them all.

As the days grow shorter in these days of deception, remember that God’s love is more than enough to see you through because Christ has overcome the world. Be in peace. He is coming back soon to make all things new.

I am praying for all who needed to hear this message. There is always hope in your situation because of Christ.

ENDURING TO THE END IN TROUBLED TIMES

September 23, 2020 in Christian faith, heavy burdens, HOPE, Jesus, Struggles in life, Trusting God | Tags: being overwhelmed in life, Covid -19, ending times, enduring to the end, Jesus is our hope, pain and struggles lifted, problems can't defeat us | 13 comments

And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved (Matt 24:12-13)

Without a doubt, we are living in ending days as this world deals with a pandemic COVID-19 virus that has wreaked havoc on all nations. Crisis situations have a way of bringing out the good and the bad in people. Some people are turning to God and others still turn to their own ways. Facing uncertain times can fill you with fear. You may have lost all that you had in this world but the good news is that you can never lose the benefits of God’s mercy and provision for all that you need. Trials are a way to learn patience and to grow in your faith. Every battle in your life has the power to do a greater work in you and to reveal more of God’s grace and strength.

We may know where this virus started, but are left with unclear reasons as to how and why God allowed it to happen. He had a reason,however, we may never discern that reason this side of heaven.

So what do we know? We read in Scripture that God’s ways are much higher than those of man. He sees the beginning and end of this world and nothing is hidden from him. You were loved even before God formed you in the womb. While we may not understand the purpose of our sufferings, bear in mind that Jesus clearly told us that in his word that we would have many troubles in our lives. Right now, Satan is still the prince over this earth but he knows his time is growing short. Those who are surrendered to Christ are dealing with the same painful trials as the lost as the enemy seeks to take down believers all through this world in order to make them ineffective witnesses.

We are not exempt from pain and persecution. What is promised by God is that He would be with us to the end in our trials and take us through them. He has overcome the world! You are never alone in your struggles nor are you ever without hope. In the midst of your darkest day, there is a light of hope through Christ that leads you to victory. You may be afflicted in every way but you can never be crushed. You may be struck down but you can never be destroyed. The hope of Christ that is with you is your guarantee that all things you endure are working out for your good both in this world and in heaven.

It takes faith and forbearance for all believers as time grows short. Things will get worse. That should not frighten a true believer for we knew this time would come. While we don’t know the day and hour of his return, Christ has given us signs to know when it is near. As we watch every day as the signs converge and evil increases, the darkness is filling this earth. In spite of that, we know that it is signaling the return of our Blessed Hope, Jesus Christ, who is coming to make all things new.

Whatever overwhelming situation you are dealing with in this time of crisis, remember that Christ saw you before he formed you in the womb and he is going to be the strength you need to get through it. Nothing can happen to you apart from his perfect will even when you don’t understand his ways. God is more powerful than this virus.

The last enemy to be destroyed is death. Satan may rule this world for a short time more but our eternal home is secured in a kingdom that will never end. For now, stay in the battle and finish the race that was prepared for you until Jesus returns to take you home. You can’t lose no matter what happens here.

Soon we will be with Christ. Look up, for your Redemption draws near!

LIVING BY FAITH NOT FEAR

March 30, 2020 in Christian faith, defeating all fears, God's power in your life, HOPE, Jesus, Trusting God | Tags: Being strong in faith, believing all that God says, difficulties, feeling weary and overwhelmed, God's power in your life, victory over fear and problems | 5 comments

For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” ( Isaiah 41:13)

Troubles abound for all of us. No one is exempt from the darkness of this fallen world. This is not heaven. We all will face battles that bring pain and suffering but as believers, we are never without hope. For that fact, there is no reason for us to sink into despair as problems mount.

We are told in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose“. Everything God allows in your life has a specific, providential, eternal reason. Everything! There is not a disease, a financial issue, nor any painful affliction that is not being timed and measured by the hand of God with an unfailing purpose to bring you closer to him and stronger in your faith. All that you have been given to endure has been settled in heaven! Although it seems that God is slow in answering your cry for help, know without a doubt that he is working on your life in ways you cannot imagine. He is moving heaven and earth to make straight the path he has destined for you since the foundation of the earth. There are no battles you face that are stronger than the armies of the living God. And though you may feel wounded and weary in your struggle, victory is always the outcome to those who belong to Christ.

To have peace in your trials, you must focus on the truth of God’s word. In 1 Samuel 17, we read of the Philistine army who came to battle the Israelites. Goliath, who stood over 9 feet tall, was a champion fighter for the Philistines. With each threatening step he made toward the men of Israel, they would retreat in fear. When young David saw this, he volunteered to fight Goliath. He knew that Goliath was a strong warrior but more importantly, he knew that his God was stronger. While the army of Israel was acting in fear, David was acting in faith. As Goliath advanced toward young David, the bible tells us that David ran quickly toward him shouting, “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand”. He never hesitated; and by faith, he defeated the giant. David had no doubt that God was bigger than Goliath and the Philistine army. He never let fear make him forget that truth.

We are facing colossal battles in this world and it is easy to withdraw in fear. A pandemic virus is upon us with the power to take many lives. While we don’t understand why God is allowing this to happen, we know that in all things his powerful plan is unfolding. He is completing the work he started in us. Believers have nothing to fear and everything to gain in the troubles of this life. That is a promise Christ died to give us.

The way to victory is to take the first step of faith and pray for the strength to trust that Christ is in total and utmost authority over all you are facing. You are never alone for a second of time and his eyes are always on you. The prophet Habbakuk cried out to God, ” O LORD, how long shall I cry for help and you will not hear?” It seemed to the prophet that God was ignoring his plea. The LORD answered him, “ I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. And the LORD later added “But the righteous shall live by his faith”

Faith that is tested is faith that is proven true. A.W. Tozer, an American Christian Pastor in the 1900s once wrote, ” It is doubtful that God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply”. That may be difficult to understand, but everyone that has been used by God in a mighty way has all been tested by affliction. The testing of your faith produces steadfastness so that you may be complete and lacking in nothing. You are being made ready to live with Christ in a Kingdom that has no end.

Finally, one thing more to remember: “True faith rests upon the character of God and asks no further proof than the moral perfections of the One who cannot lie.” A.W. Tozer

LORD, HELP MY UNBELIEF

March 10, 2020 in Christian faith, God's power in your life, GOD'S PROMISES, God's unfailing love, heavy burdens, Jesus, Struggles in life, Trusting God | Tags: faith, feeling weary and overwhelmed, God's help with fear and doubt, hope in Christ, Jesus will not fail, problems, strength in the battle, Struggles in life, Trusting God | 17 comments

All things are possible to him who believes (Mark 9:23)

All of us face troubles at some time that are out of our control. What you do while you wait on God shows where you stand in your faith.

In Mark, Chapter 9, we read of a father who had a son possessed with a spirit. The disciples were unable to cast it out so the father brought his son to Jesus and implored him saying, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” Jesus answered, “If You can? All things are possible to him who believes”. The man then cried out to Christ and said, ” I do believe; help my unbelief!”With that, Jesus then commanded the spirit to come out of the boy and to never enter him again,”

How many times do we present our requests to God only to take them back and try to work them out ourselves when it seems like the answer is taking too long? The truth is that the timing of God is always perfect even when it appears that it may be too late. Just because you can’t see what God doing in your struggle does not mean he is doing nothing! It only means his plan is higher than yours and it has a greater outcome. The suffering in the life a believer has a deliberate, divine purpose to bring you to a greater knowledge of the God you serve. When you suffer through a painful trial, keep in mind that God knows it. He saw your situation long before you were born and He is with you to the end. You are never without hope if you believe. That is a promise Jesus died to give you.

The Apostle Paul went through many fiery trials and persecutions yet he never lost sight of “the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”(Philippians 3:14) He knew that all he had to endure was getting him ready for eternity with Christ in a Kingdom that is beyond our understanding. For that reason, he learned how to be content in the good times as well as in times of need.

Waiting on God’s timing can stretch your faith to the limit. A nineteenth-century Christian Pastor named, John MacDuff asked the question regarding waiting on God when he said, “Christian, what is your duty?“. He wrote that with God, “It is to trust His Heart – even when you can’t trace His hand; believing that ‘all the paths of the Lord and mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies'”

I have a friend who was blind from birth. She never saw the sun or the sky or any colors, yet she didn’t let that keep her from believing God still had a plan for her life. She worked hard and became a highly respected teacher who touched many lives. Although she was blind, she trusted her life to Christ who showed her more than her physical eyes could ever see. She understood that life’s momentary afflictions were producing an eternal weight of glory that far surpasses any suffering. We are to look not at things that are seen but at things that are unseen. What we can see is temporary but what is unseen is eternal. That is real faith in action.

Whatever struggle you are experiencing, there is a way to stay in the peace of God. The man who wanted Jesus to heal his son knew he needed help with his unbelief. Remember, he had heard that Jesus healed others, but there was doubt over whether he would help him. That was his unbelief. We all face times of uncertainty and it is hard to always believe that God is going to help you. The fact of the matter is that it is God’s promise to help you no matter what you endure. His way of helping may be different than what you think is good, but the answer is always perfect for believers who put their faith in Christ. All things must line up with God’s eternal purpose for your life. And isn’t that what you really want?

Jesus died to leave us His unfailing peace no matter what battle we are in. All you need to do is to surrender daily your struggle, your pain and your unbelief to Christ and ask for his help. He already knows your weakness. His strength is yours for the asking.

Jesus, I want to believe. Help my unbelief!

Make me a captive, Lord, and then I shall be free;

Force me to render up my sword, and I shall conqueror be.

My will is not my own till Thou has made it Thine;

If it would reach the monarch’s throne

It must, its crown resign. By L.E. Maxwell

WHEN YOUR HURT IS BIGGER THAN YOUR HOPE

June 2, 2019 in GOD'S PROMISES, heavy burdens, Jesus, Trusting God | Tags: believing all that God says, faith, feeling weary and overwhelmed, God cares, God's unfailing love and help, having peace despite your problems, impossible situations | 16 comments

Hope deferred makes the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12)

We are told in Scripture that we are not to lose hope in times of trial. We are to have faith and trust that God has everything under his control. To have true faith, you must take God at his word. In 2 Corinthians 4:18 we read that “We look to things that are not seen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal”. Why is that so hard to do when we face pain and struggles that that seem to crush our heart?

I have often wondered why I can trust God with my eternal salvation but yet struggle to trust him in the daily storms of uncertainty. The word of God is abundantly clear that Christ has our future in his hands. Long before we were born, his eyes saw our unformed substance and he numbered our days to align with his perfect plan long before one of them came to be. No believer dies too young. It is all divinely timed. So what is to fear?

The answer to that is there is nothing to fear but what you allow yourself to believe. Your life is in God’s hands, not the devil’s and not the world’s. The eye of God never leaves you for an instant. Even Job understood this truth. He never doubted that God was with him, he just couldn’t understand why God was allowing him to suffer. He got to the point where he wished he was never born alive. I must admit that there were times I felt like Job but I refused to give up. God has shown me love and mercy when I didn’t deserve it. Surrendering to the lies of the enemy was never an option. Christ has promised the crown of life to those who remain steadfast under trial. The disciple James tells us in verse 1 of his letter, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness…..that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing“.

Now joy might not be easy for you to consider in your times of pain but, by faith, you must trust that God has a purpose for it and that he has promised to use all things for your good according to his purpose for you. To believe anything less is to believe the lie of an enemy who wants you to give up.

My friends, the days are growing shorter and the attacks from the devil will increase. You may be facing unbearable pain and suffering now, but my prayer is that you will hold on in hope. The Apostle Paul endured hardship, pain, and suffering to the point of death, but he considered it worth the cost of knowing Christ and his righteousness. There is nothing greater than knowing that your struggles are bringing you to the point in life for which God has purposed for you. Every pain and hardship is bringing you deeper into the knowledge of Christ. He is revealing more of himself to you.

The power that raised Christ from the dead and that calmed the sea is living in the heart of every believer. He knows what he is doing even when you don’t understand his ways. He will never abandon you in your heartache. He is close enough to you to see your tears. He keeps them in a bottle that is next to his heart. You are never alone to fight your battles when you belong to Christ. Most importantly, you can’t be destroyed by your pain no matter how hurtful it seems now.

Can you wait on Christ? Will you trust him to the end? No matter how big your problems are, they cannot stop the future for which Christ died to give you. Your pain will not last forever. His love for you will not fail. Ask God to give you the strength you need to trust him with all that comes against you. He is faithful to guide you to the end. That’s a promise!

GOD STILL HEARS YOUR PRAYERS

August 1, 2018 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, God's unfailing love, HOPE, Jesus, Religion, Struggles in life, Trusting God | Tags: faith, feeling hopeless, feeling weary and overwhelmed, having peace despite your problems, peace in trials, POWER OF PRAYER, Trusting God | 10 comments

This is a repost of a message that I wrote 7 1/2 years ago. At the time I wrote it, I had no idea that one year later I would be going through a divorce and that a few years after that, my beloved brother would die. With that said, I had to face many trials since then and yet this message of hope is more relevant than ever. I could not have gotten through all the pain in my life if Christ were not with me. I have always said that if you knew how effective your prayers were against the powers of darkness, you would never get off your knees. Prayer would be the one stronghold that you relied on for peace and strength in every battle. Life is tough and that is not going to change but God is faithful to the end. Please read this message again and let the truth of God’s amazing love and power fill you will hope despite your struggles. There is always hope because Christ lives to intercede for us. That’s a promise that will never fail.

Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard” (Daniel 10:12)

Probably one of the hardest steps of faith is believing that God hears and will help us when we call on him in prayer. We are still living in a world that has dimensions and boundaries and our finite minds have limits to our understanding in difficult matters. We, therefore, need a measure of faith to see past that which is seen and go deeper into that which is unseen. The only way to please God is by trusting him despite the storms that we face in a world that is literally being destroyed by sin. Although it is not visible to our eyes right now, there is a battle that is taking place all around us in the heavenly realms. Darkness is covering the horizons in every corner of this world as evil is seeking to destroy everything in God’s creation. So when we are faced with a painful trial, it is easier to believe what we can see than what we can’t see. Yet, it is at our lowest point of a struggle that we must lift our eyes in prayer and believe that our God is not going to let us be devoured by the enemy of destruction.

It may seem impossible to live with a heart that is breaking but God has promised us in his word that He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3) He is not slow to help and he will never fail you even when it seems that you are being crushed by the weight of your pain. If you could see the very real battle that is taking place all around you, you would understand that you are being guarded by the forces of heaven. Every step you take as a believer is guided by the hand of God who knows the path you must take to victory. Every prayer that you present to Christ is heard and he knows what is right and perfect for you. Your whole life is before his eyes and he is answering you in ways that for now, you may not understand. The solid truth is that Christ never stops working all things out for your good! When you lift up your prayers and petitions, you are surrendering all of your struggles to the will of God. You are seeking his strength and his power to help you stand in faith believing the God who saw your unformed body in the womb and who numbered all of your days before even one of them came to be. Nothing of your life is hidden from him. Your fear and despair in a trial stem from not understanding the power of God and his unfailing love for you. Never will his eyes leave you for one second! Why can you not understand that you are worrying about things that Jesus already has worked out?

I have been through a lot of pain in my life but I can now rest in the fact that the purpose and plan God has for my life cannot be stopped. I can trust that he is right next to me when I pray and that he always hears. No pain can consume my life because my God will always be bigger than anything I face. I believe that God will go ahead of me in every battle and lead me into victory against my enemies. I know that God is faithful and that I can take him at his word. My future is in his hands and he is the joy of my life. At the moment of Christ’ death, the temple veil that enclosed the holy of holies was torn signifying our new access to the throne of God in every prayer! Believers are right there with Christ in every petition that is made to him. The devil can’t stop our prayers nor can he hinder God from answering them.

My dear friends, I say all this to encourage you through the trials you are facing. You can still have a future despite a broken marriage or a relationship that is not working out. Your financial struggles are not going to be forever. Job situations and serious health issues are still under the sovereignty of God. My greatest lesson in God’s love came when I trusted him at a time when I had no strength of my own in an impossible situation. His power is greater than a painful struggle or addiction. His strength is perfected in any weakness that we surrender to him. We can trust our God in every area of life and we can trust him in death. There is nothing good that he will ever withhold from those who belong to him. Never let the silence make you think that God is not doing something for your cause. Remember that Elijah had to wait on the mountaintop for the quiet whisper of God after he faced the powerful wind, the earthquake, and the great fire. No matter how or when he chooses to do it, never doubt that God will show up and fight against that which is coming against you!

Dear Lord, I am lifting up those who are going through a storm in life that is making them weary. They want to believe that you will show up in time to help them but the enemy has been filling their minds with lies. I pray that you will give them your peace that passes understanding and open their hearts to know that you are with them right now. They don’t have to see you or feel you in order to know that you are there. Show them that their prayers are heard by you and you will resolve the issues they face. Let them know that you will never leave them to fight against the battles of this world alone. I pray that they will listen for that small whisper of hope that you are ready to give them. Lord Jesus, I believe your promises never fail. Amen

Picture above post by Diana Simumpande

ARE YOU TRULY SAVED?

July 30, 2018 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, HOPE, Jesus, Struggles in life, Trusting God | 5 comments

In Christ alone. “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12

We are told in 2 Corinthians 13:5 that we must, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless of course, you fail the test?”

Being saved is not a matter of repeating a prayer and claiming salvation. True salvation is a radical heart change. In Ezekiel 11: 19 God tells us that when we are saved, “I will give them an undivided heart and will put a new spirit in them: I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.” It is a process of learning to follow in those ways because our flesh is constantly battling with our spirit, but it is the power to overcome our sinful nature and to choose to do right. When you are truly saved, you have been set free from the prison of sin. The bible tells us in 2 Corinthian 5:17, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” As a new creation, you are in Christ and his power is moving in your to do good and to choose righteousness. You have a new relationship with sin. You now see it as a detriment to your relationship with Christ. You seek after the light instead of following in the ways of darkness.

Jesus told us in Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Only a few find it! Why is that? The reason is that many people want to get to heaven their own way. They feel that if they are “good” most of the time that they are saved. Others believe that they can continue to sin as they did before and that God will just understand that they are only “human”. Those people are wrong! It doesn’t matter your weakness or how good you think you are; the only thing that matters is have you made Christ your Lord and Savior? Have you surrendered your life to him? No other way will save you. You can’t be half saved. You cannot live with one foot on earth and one in heaven. You must give it all to live in Christ. Even when you fall into sin, a truly saved person will repent and turn from that sin and let God’s power lift them up. When you are saved, the love of Christ compels you to love others and to do what is right.

In 2 Peter 2:19-21, we are told that “…for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.”

Finally, we read in 1 John 3:6 that “No one who lives in him (Christ) keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.” And in verse 9-10 of I John it continues, “No one who is born of God will continue to sin because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning because he has been born of God. This is how we know that we are children of God and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.”

We all have sinned against God and are deserving of hell. Jesus came to give us life and to set us free from our bondage to sin. For that reason, those who follow Christ have been made new. They have been given a future with hope. Their sins have been washed by the blood of Christ and God will remember them no more.

Is Christ living in you? Have you surrendered to him and made his Lord and Savior of your life? In Psalm 139, David prays, “Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts.” Examine yourself! Ask God to search your heart and to lead you to him. That is a prayer He always answers.

THROUGH IT ALL

July 7, 2017 in Christian faith, God's unfailing love, heavy burdens, Jesus, Trusting God | Tags: death of a loved one, feeling weary and overwhelmed, having peace despite your problems, hope in difficult situations, struggles and fears, unfailing love | 19 comments

Knowing without a doubt that Christ is in the midst of all that you are facing and that He will take you through to victory.

I wrote an article five years ago that I called, “Wounded Warriors” and I remember when I wrote it that I wanted to truly believe all that I said. I was going through a painful divorce at the time and while I struggled to make sense of it all, I knew by faith that in the end, my struggle would bring me closer to the truth of Christ. And at that time, it did.

Recently, I lost my brother to cancer. Growing up in a dysfunctional family, my older brother was my guide, my mentor and someone who watched over me. He always protected his sisters. While in my battles, I would seek the will of God first, but sometimes I just needed to hear my brother’s voice encouraging me and standing with me. He was definitely my gift from God.

I prayed for my brother to be healed for over a year. I pleaded and cried to Christ to save him both spiritually and physically. I loved my brother. I truly would have given my life for his. But God had other plans. His ways are higher. I must trust his will. And through my tears, I do. God did answer my prayer, my brother put his trust in Christ.

For some reason, this article of mine came up and I re-read what I wrote five years ago. The words were made alive to me and I felt like I was truly understanding the truth of what I wrote. My pain is in God’s hands. His purpose shall be fulfilled. I pray that if you are going through a struggle that you also will understand that Christ did not leave you nor forsake you. He is with you right now and if you can hold on and trust a little longer, he will give you the crown of life.

Please read this message and let the truth of Christ’s love fill your heart with hope. I am praying for you.

WOUNDED WARRIORS

You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again. (Psalm 71:20)

The battles we face in this world are making all of us weary. The enemy’s attacks are getting stronger as the forces of evil seek to wound and discourage those who belong to Christ. Many believers are crying out for Christ to return soon and save them from all this darkness. We are indeed in the devil’s crosshairs and he is not backing down. His plan is to kill your hope, steal your joy and destroy your future. His arsenal is filled with weapons of lies and discouragement aimed toward every believer. His fiery darts of fear and doubt can pierce the hearts of struggling saints causing some to wonder if God really hears their prayers. We are all suffering the effects of a fallen world as we endure hardship of every kind. As difficult as it may seem, the truth remains that the victory of Christ is at the core of a believer’s every trial.

I read a great quote by Christian singer Wintley Phipps which said:

“It is in the quiet crucible of your personal, private suffering that your noblest dreams are born and God’s greatest gifts are given, in compensation for what you have been through.”

That profound truth should give hope to those who are going through serious trials. Keep in mind that all we fear is under God’s sovereign authority and plan. Our battles have been won, and although we still must fight the good fight, believers are guaranteed the victory. Those who belong to Christ are already standing in the winner’s circle surrounded by God’s angels. We are not alone nor left to fend for ourselves. We are a chosen people who will one day rule with Christ in heaven. The forces of hell and the darkness of this world cannot stop the royal future that Jesus died to give us. He has gone to prepare a place for us so wonderful that our finite minds cannot begin to comprehend the beauty that awaits us.

As great as that promise is, it may sound hollow right now when all you want to do is cry. Your painful trial is causing you to bow your head in sadness. Trouble seems unending. But true believers must trust their God no matter how impossible their situation seems. The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 12:12 that as we face trials we are to “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” That is what sets us apart from the world. We have faith that in all things, our God is enough. He will not leave us alone or allow us to perish. In the book of James, we are told, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. ” You can have peace even when it seems that all hope is gone when you understand in your heart that in the end, God has the plan! He is not waiting for you to be stronger, wiser or holier before he will help you. He already has the plan worked out. Tomorrow is in his hands and he will accomplish his purpose for you.

In Exodus 14, God led Moses and Israelites away from Egypt as Pharaoh and his army pursued them. As the army approached, the people of Israel feared greatly. They had come to the bank of the Red Sea and had no way to cross . Moses saw the enemy too but he told the people, “The Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent”. God then told Moses to lift his staff over the sea and divide it. After that, God did something amazing. All through the desert, the Angel of God, who was Jesus, led the Israelites by going in front of them as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. However, when they got to the Red Sea, the Angel of God, who was in front of the Israelites moved and went behind them. The pillar of fire also stood behind them coming between the army of Egypt and the people of Israel. God had the Israelites back! He protected them as the enemy drew near. There was no way that Pharaoh was going to destroy God’s people. In the end, God led his people to safety from between the parted water and used that same water to destroy the Egyptian army. God made a way where there was none!

Wounded warriors, never doubt that God is going to make a way for you too. He has your back covered! Your impossible situation is under his authority and he knows how to make it work out in his perfect plan for you. I don’t care how bad it seems right now, there is always hope if you will surrender it to Christ to do as he pleases. Be strong and believe. Remember discouragement is a lying spirit which ushers in doubt. Take your thoughts captive and line them up with the truth. We are so close to the glorious appearing of Christ. He is with your right now – you have only to be silent!

Dear Lord, make this truth clear to those who need your help now.

THE ASSURANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR

April 6, 2017 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, God's unfailing love, Jesus, Struggles in life, Trusting God | Tags: believing all that God says, faith, feeling weary and overwhelmed, hope in difficult situations, strength to overcome, victory in troubles | 24 comments

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” Hebrews 11:1

It has been said that the peace of God rests where the peace of God reigns. If you are living a life of wavering faith in the power of Christ to help you, you are selling out your joy to the lie of the enemy. You are believing that your problem is bigger than your God.

The question remains that if Christ just saved us from the flames of hell, then where is the abundant life that he promises to those who put their trust in him?

The truth is that all things in the life of a believer have been ordained and purposed long before the foundation of the world. God is not surprised by the battles that we may face. Christ who calmed the raging sea with just a word can certainly speak peace into your troubled life. He is the Maker of all things new. He is the Restorer of life and the Giver of all things good. He knows what you need and when you need it and for that reason, you can have rest in times of trial. When you surrender all of your fears to God, you are allowing him to take over and work things out according to his perfect plan. Your weakness is overcome by his strength.

Too often we want to have total control of our situation and have it done our way. We want to be assured that the outcome will happen the way we want and in our timing. That, however, is not how God works.

In Judges, Chapter 7 of the Old Testament, we read that Gideon was to lead the Israelites in battle against the Midianites. But God wanted his people to trust that he alone was the one who would give them the victory. He allowed only 300 men to go with Gideon and fight the large army of the Midianites. Even though the enemy was bigger, Gideon’s men carried no weapons! He put trumpets into the hands of all of them and empty jars with torches insides the jars. Imagine having to trust that God could give them the victory with only a few men who had no weapons. Yet God was with them. When Gideon gave the order, the men, stationed on all sides of the camp, blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that were in their hands. They cried out, “A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!” And with that, the enemy fled in great fear. That is the power of God who can use your faith to destroy all that comes against you.

I don’t know what you are dealing with in your life, I only know that our God is bigger. It may seem like your situation is impossible and that you have no way out, but God is not constrained by any limits or boundaries. He sees the beginning and end of your life at this moment and all things have been worked out. He allows you to endure trials so that he can reveal more of himself to you. As painful as it may be at the time, you are sharing in Christ’s sufferings that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.( 1 Peter 4:13)

This life is just a vapor. Keep your focus on the prize for which you were called. Don’t give up when all the strength you need to stay in the race is yours in Christ. He isn’t going to fail you. You can’t lose.

My dear friends, you would have no fears in life if you only understood how much God loves you. He created you for a purpose and your weakness does not stop his plan. He knows how to get you from where you are to where he is. He understands your trouble. His eyes are always on you. If you are struggling to believe that he cares for you in the situation that you are in, I pray you will seek Christ out in Scripture. He will strengthen you and give you hope as he speaks to you through his word. Whatever you are going through now can’t destroy you despite how bad it seems. Even the sting of death has been destroyed. Take joy and remember that Christ has overcome the world. He will help you.

If you are here reading this now, please know that I am praying for you. This message was given by God for you. You are not alone.

LORD I NEED YOU

March 27, 2017 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, heavy burdens, HOPE, Jesus, Struggles in life, Trusting God | Tags: difficulties, feeling weary and overwhelmed, God cares, God's power in your life, having peace despite your problems, hope in difficult situations, peace in trials, victory in trouble | 13 comments

What to do when God takes you to the end of yourself in order to get you to trust him with your life.

In Psalm 139, King David prayed, “O LORD you have searched me and known me!” He fully understood that God had complete knowledge of him inside and out. His weaknesses were not hidden from God yet he proclaimed in verse 14, “I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

Too often we let our circumstances rob us of our joy. It is as though we can only trust that God is with us when things are going good in our life. In Isaiah 43:2, God tells us, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned and the flame shall not consume you.” I can assure you that pretty much covers the pain of everything you can face on this earth. God is telling those who believe in him that he is just as powerful in the darkness as he is in the light. Nothing can defeat you when your hope is in Christ. He can always bring you out of the storm.

We are living in a world that is in great upheaval. Right has been called wrong and evil is replacing good. To stand for truth means persecution and consequence. Your future may seem like a blur when you are uncertain how to take the next step. Take a leap of faith. Now is the time to let the world know to whom you belong. Show your faith in action believing in your heart that God is enough to help you. Anyone can claim to trust God when things are going well. But it is in the time of battle that the worth of your faith is proved genuine.

If you belong to Christ, all that you endure is part of the unspoken plan that has been designed for your victory. You have a reason for hope because Christ lives to intercede for you every second of the day. God will not fail to take you through the troubled seasons of your life. Every one of your tears is precious to him. There is not a step you take or a thought in your mind that is not seen and guided by Christ. He is the light on your path to glory.

The devil of this world cannot overcome God’s authority. Only Christ can complete the number of your days and fulfill your destiny. If he leads you to a mountain or to a raging sea, he has a purpose and he knows how to get you to trust him alone. He is your stronghold and very real help in need. He won’t let you down. Let him finish his work in you. Remember he is getting you ready for royalty in an eternal Kingdom.

When you feel like you have no strength to continue in your life, that is when you must surrender your weakness to Christ and take on his strength.

Lord I come, I confess

Bowing here, I find my rest

Without You, I fall apart

You’re the One that guides my heart

WHY GOD ALLOWS YOUR PAIN

August 16, 2016 in Christian faith, Facing serious illness, God's unfailing love, heavy burdens, HOPE, Jesus, Struggles in life, Trusting God | Tags: feeling weary and overwhelmed, having peace despite your problems, heartache and pain lifted, hope in difficult situations, trusting Christ, trusting God in hardship, will pain ever end? | 36 comments

storms

Believers are set apart for Christ and the work of his kingdom. We have been made holy because the Spirit of God lives and works in us to do good. We have been made righteous. Why is it then that God continues to allow painful trials and distractions in our lives? Wouldn’t it be easier to do his work if he could make our path clear of the same suffering the perishing world endures?

That is something I have thought about many times. I have seen Godly men and women work tirelessly to help bring the lost to Christ only to watch as they suffered hardship and sickness unto death. Persecution of Christians is increasing and believers are being tortured and killed every day. It just doesn’t seem fair. And yet, Scripture tells us that God must allow anything that happens in the life of a believer. In Psalm 84, we are told that “No good does God withhold from those whose lives are righteous”. All those who are in Christ have been made righteous by his blood. So why then is it good that his people suffer?

My friends, I write this message to give hope to those who are facing a battle in life and struggle to believe that Christ is still with them. The enduring love of God never leaves you for a moment in the midst of your trial. He sees your pain and counts your tears. Your cries for help are being heard. He has not forgotten you. He knows how to heal your breaking heart. He can and will make you whole. But, do you trust him enough to let him do it his way and in his timing? It is not easy to hold on in the battle, but to do anything less would be to surrender to the enemy. Don’t sell yourself short. God is sovereign over all. His plan for your life was perfected long before the foundation of the earth. You were bought at a price. He is not going to let you fail after taking you this far.

Every believer in Scripture had to suffer pain and hardship in their walk of faith. They had to trust that God was always with them even through their greatest fears.

In Genesis, Joseph had to endure over 10 years of bondage in a prison which had no light. He had shackles on his neck and feet night and day. And yet he had to trust that his God was still in control. For all those years, he had to wait on God who was preparing him to be the top Commander in the army of Pharaoh. He had no idea God was making him ready for such royalty. He was a young man when he went into prison and for years he mourned the memory of his family. Why did God allow him to withstand such a test? It was because God’s plans for Joseph were greater than any ideas Joseph had for his life. He had to be molded and shaped into the man of God who had the faith needed to do his will. God was going to use him in a mighty way.

And God had a plan. The royal robes that Joseph wore as ruler in Pharaoh’s kingdom were like rags compared to the robes of glory awaiting Joseph when he died.

When Jesus told his disciples what they would have to do to follow him, many of them grumbled and left. Jesus turned to his Apostles and asked them if they were going to leave also. Peter said to Jesus,
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”(John 6:68) Peter was exactly right. Those who stayed with Christ trusted that he was greater than their doubts.

No matter what black cloud is filling your life, there is no one greater than the God who gave you life and who has the power to cause every second of your pain to be used for your good and for his glory. Even if you don’t see God’s hand in your struggle now, you need to know that he is in full control of all that you face. You don’t have to see or feel God to know that he loves you enough to do what is good for you. Let him finish the work he started in you. Don’t doubt him. Those disciples who walked away from Christ had no idea they were leaving their only source of hope in this world. They left the One who could give them everlasting life.

Your situation is timed. Your pain is being monitored. And you are not going to drown in your tears. Christ has a way to take you through your fears and pain. He grieves with you in your trouble. He has a reason for you to face this mountain.

My friends, we are too close to the coming of Christ to give up now and walk away. Cling to the truth. Let your faith be proven genuine. Keep your eyes on Christ. He will never fail you. Even when things are not done your way, trust him with your life! He gave his life for you.

Who can take from you what Christ has died to give you?

I am praying for all who need to believe that Christ is with them in their pain. If you are struggling with your faith, I am praying that you will have the strength to surrender your doubt to Christ and ask for his strength to believe. May you know that He loves you more than you could ever know. He has promised to never leave you, not ever, no matter what you are going through. God is close to the brokenhearted. His word is true. He is with you now. Let him work this out but trust him with the details. Your faith shows the world that you belong to Christ. May God give you his peace and may you know that you are not alone.

SAME POWER THAT RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD IS YOUR STRENGTH!

March 11, 2016 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, heavy burdens, HOPE, Jesus, Religion, Struggles in life, Trusting God | Tags: feeling weary and overwhelmed, having peace despite your problems, hope in difficult situations, impossible situations, purpose in trials, strength to overcome, victory over fear and problems | 31 comments

sky opening

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.(Romans 15:13)

Amidst the chaos of a world that is filled with darkness, it is challenging to focus on the promises of God. In your painful trials, problems can appear insurmountable with the victory through them seemingly unreachable.

The Apostle Paul warned us in 2 Timothy 3 that there will be terrible times in the last days as people become lovers of themselves and not interested in the ways of God. The nightly news is filled with death, destruction and evil as people are turning to their own way of doing things. The enemy is dividing people against each other to cause confusion and doubt and in far too many cases it is working. The hearts of most have abandoned the fear of God. The ways of truth are being blurred by the evil desire of the flesh that is being called “choice”. And as Scripture tells us, lawlessness is on the increase as the hearts of most grow cold.

While that is a sad commentary, we are not without hope. There is a place of rest where you can have the peace of Christ despite your struggle. That promise was given by Christ as he said in John 16:33, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Do you trust that Jesus is true to his word?

Your faith is being tested in every trial you face, but the reward is great to those who do not grow weary and give up. In 2 Kings, the prophet Elisha was surrounded by a great army who wanted to kill him. When Elisha’s servant saw the massive army, he grew greatly alarmed. Elisha addressed his fears saying in verse 6, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” With that, Elisha prayed for his servant’s eyes to be opened and he was amazed to see the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire from God surrounding their enemy. That is the power of God in action. Even now, there is no battle in your life that is stronger than God’s ability to take you through it.

Jesus left us the Holy Spirit to help us in our weakness. The same immense power that raised Christ from the dead lives in the heart of every believer. There is nothing that is able to destroy a child of Christ. All that we face is the driving force bringing us closer to God.

Troubles of this world don’t define us. They are the necessary tools to mold us into the image of Christ and perfect us in the plan he has for our life The evangelist A.W. Tozer once wrote: “It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has wounded him deeply”. Tozer understood that the trials allowed by God are meant to bless and equip the soldier of Christ for victory against the adversary of this perishing world.The believer must die to self in order to have the fullness of God’s power. Whatever weakness you hold onto in your life will become the foothold that Satan uses to take you down.

isaiah The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:17″For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison”.

No matter how bad your situation seems. you must never lose hope. You have no idea what greatness God has planned for your life. You don’t have to feel Christ to know that he is with you. While it is difficult enduring the trials that bring brokenness, God knows the work he must do in your life. He who began a good work in you knows how to complete it. His ways are higher than ours. He knows the length of your days and has your next step prepared for you.

My friends, you need to understand that heaven’s royal army is standing by you right now to protect and defend you. God’s plan for you cannot be hindered by your heartache, struggle, sickness, addiction, divorce or financial problems. You can’t fail. He knew what you would face and the answer to it all is being set into motion even now. His love for you will not stop. Just stand in faith and see what God can do.

THE EXPECTATION OF VICTORY

May 6, 2015 in Christian faith, God's power in your life, HOPE | Tags: feeling weary and overwhelmed, God's power in your life, hope in difficult situations, impossible situations, promise of God's help, purpose in trials | 42 comments

Looking at horizon

But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor.15:57)

It is easy to lose hope when your troubles surround you. Uncertainty and doubt can fill you with fear especially when there seems to be no way out of your pain.

Jesus told us in his world that we would have many troubles here on earth. He knew the times and what was to come. However, Jesus also wanted us to know that despite our problems, we can stand firm knowing that he has overcome the world. He is the Hope of all things impossible. He is the restorer of dreams and the power to overcome. There is nothing that can crush a true believer because all the force of heaven lives in the heart of those who belong to Christ. A royal army stands ready to fight for you.

Jesus is the strength to overcome all that comes against you so it is sad to watch as people turn instead to substance abuse to silence their pain. Many good people have sold out their future to alcohol or drugs. They becomes bonded to the poison that is destroying their lives and that of their families. It can happen to anyone. Some of the nicest people are secretly coping with an addiction. They feel lost and out of control because they are trying to carry this burden on their own. That will never bring victory because Jesus never meant for anyone to fight their battles alone.

We are told in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful;” he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

The truth in this verse is that we are all weak in our flesh but we have hope through Christ. He will provide the way out so that you cannot be destroyed by your struggle. He is always the strength you need to overcome. We are told in Scripture that God’s power is manifested through our weakness. We have been made victors over all of our battles when our trust is in Christ. He is the only power you need to conquer all that comes against you. He will not fail to take you through your pain and bring peace in your life. Nothing is impossible through the One who paid the price to give you an abundant life through every storm.

In Isaiah 26:3 we read. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trust in you”. Your weakness cannot stop your future. There is no impossible situation that can stop his purpose for your life. Jesus gives you victory over all of the obstacles that stand in your way. He has given you life and he will take you to the end of your life according to his perfect plan.

No matter what troubles or addictions that you face in this life, remember that Jesus has indeed overcome the world and all of its struggles. Put your complete trust in him. By surrendering your weakness to the power of Christ, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

My dear friends, I understand that you are facing many painful trials in this life. We all are. Take hope for Jesus has overcome the troubles of this world.. While we are waiting on him to meet us in our struggle, he is working out a deliberate, divine, eternal plan for your life. You are not forgotten nor are you ever without hope. Have faith and stay in peace knowing that in the eternal plan, it is already worked out. Cease striving and rest. Your God will not fail you.

GOD ALWAYS HAS THE WAY TO TAKE YOU THROUGH YOUR TROUBLES

May 1, 2015 in Christian faith | Tags: believing all that God says, faith, feeling weary and overwhelmed, God's unfailing love and help, hope in difficult situations, peace in trials, purpose in trials, storms of life, Trusting God | 34 comments

heavens

Though he slay me, yet will I hope in Him. (Job 13:15)

When all hope seems lost, remember that it is not all lost to the God of the impossible. He can take you through your weariness and pain and bring you to a place of peace. We are in a fallen world and not all things will work out as we hoped. We do not know the future or what is going to happen. Therefore,God has promised that in spite of your struggle, he will work out all things for your good. That is truth.

Your cirucumstance, however painful it might be, is only the path that God is using to reveal more of himself to you. Your troubles cannot defeat you. They may appear to be taking you down but actually they are helping you to rise above them. You are made stronger for having gone through them. Nothing can be taken from you without God’s permission. It is His to give and His to take. But remember, no good will God withhold from those who love him. (Psalm 84:11)

Dear friends, what God removes from your life is part of his plan to give you so much more. You have to learn to trust him. You must stand in faith no matter how great the storm that overwhelms your life. The Lord brings the tide in and he takes it out. He controls the wind and the rain. The sun rises at his command. He certainly can perfect his purpose for your life and provide for what you need.

Don’t let your weariness make you think that God does not care when your prayers seem unanswered. His mercy and love are with you even now. He knows what he is doing in your life. He sees your tears and he holds them in a bottle. He does not forget your name or where you are. He is the God of all possibility and ultimately all things must bow to his will for your life.

The days are growing short and evil is abounding. Take joy knowing that even through the tempest, the hand of God is in full control. He will never fail you nor will he let anything in this world destroy you.

Be strong, my friends. Jesus died to give you peace no matter what happens here. Even the death of a loved one cannot impede the purpose he has for you. He knew your name long before the foundation of the earth. Trust that even in death that God will be with you. That is the hope that separates believers from the rest of the world.

The article below was found posted on the blog Standing for God. A.B. Simpson was a man of God who understood that the problems of this world are the tools to mold the believer into the purpose of God.

THIS IS GOD’S HOUR

by A.B. Simpson

Cast down, but not destroyed—2 Corinthians 4:9

How did God bring about the miracle of the Red Sea? By shutting His people in on every side so that there was no way out but the divine way. The Egyptians were behind them, the sea was in front of them, the mountains were on both sides of them. There was no escape but from above.

Someone has said that the devil can wall us in, but he cannot roof us over. We can always get out at the top. Our difficulties are but God’s challenges, and many times He makes them so hard that we must get above them or go under.

In the Providence of God, such an hour furnishes us with the highest possibilities for faith. We are pushed by the very emergency into God’s best.

Beloved, this is God’s hour. If you will rise to meet it you will get such a hold upon Him that you will never be in extremities again; or if you are, you will learn to call them not extremities, but opportunities. Like Jacob, you will go forth from that night at Peniel, no longer Jacob, but victorious Israel. Let us bring to Him our need and prove Him true.

DEATH CANNOT SEPARATE YOU FROM THE LOVE OF GOD

March 17, 2015 in Christian faith, Jesus, Trusting God | Tags: facing serious or terminal illness, living in faith, overcoming fear, Rob Bohning, trusting God in death | 24 comments

Rob Bohning pic

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

I meet a lot of people on this site and have been blessed in so many ways as God brings some of his best to my blog. In addition, each person that I get to know gives me more insight to the love of God.

One such person, Rob Bohning, was a man of faith who showed his trust in Christ as he battled a terminal thyroid cancer. I talked to Rob and his wife, Lori, via email and phone calls and their faith amazed me. They both believed that God was with them through this cancer and that his will would be done. They both touched my heart.

I write this through tears because last night the Lord took Rob home to be with him.

I remember Rob telling me that he trusted Christ no matter what happened despite all the pain and suffering he endured. His only struggle was that he loved his wife and children so much and he wanted to stay with them as long as he could. For that reason, he valiantly fought the good fight and withstood the treatments and their painful side effects for as long as he could. He never gave up. He lived by his faith until the end touching numerous people with with his faith. He showed all of us that to face death is to fear no evil. He knew that God was with him.

Rob was an extremely gifted photographer among other things. He captured the beauty of God’s creation in a way that I have never seen done. His photos would make me forget the darkness of the times we now live in. He will be missed by so many people all over the world. His story touched a lot of suffering people. He made a difference in this world as he served the Kingdom of God.

I am re-posting the article from 2/18/2012 that I did on him. I pray that you will be blessed by his story and that you understand that God did not fail Rob. His suffering is over and eternity in heaven is his heritage. Rob is in the face of Jesus Christ right now. His work on this earth was done.

TRIED IN THE FURNACE OF AFFLICTION

If we are truly followers of Jesus Christ, we will face trials of every kind. We are a tested people and each trial has been designed for the purposes for which God allows. We are all being made ready to wear the regal robes of eternal royalty. Christ is in each storm we face and it is his power that is causing all things to work for our good.

It is especially trying in these dark days as believers endure trials of every kind marking the countdown to Christ’ return. The faith of all is being put to the fire. None of us are exempt. Are you willing to stand and believe in spite of all that is happening in your life?

The above photo is one of the remarkable works done by a man named Rob Bohning. If you click on the picture, you will see the true majesty of his work. He has captured God’s creation as no one I have ever seen. Rob is a godly, loving husband and father. He is an amazing photographer. He has two gorgeous young children. And, he has a rare incurable cancer called Medullary Thyroid cancer. But Rob is not about to give up! What makes this man stand out is that he has unwavering faith that God cares about his affliction and is more than able to bring him through it. Rob is in the fiery furnace of testing but he knows full well that his Savior, Jesus Christ, is with him!

Rob and his wife, Lori, had emailed me after visiting my blog. I can say from my heart that I am blessed to have them now as friends. When writing to me of his cancer, Rob said, ” All I know is God is good and wastes nothing! That includes this cancer.” It was shortly after his forty-second birthday that Rob received this cancer diagnosis. Sadly, that was not all. The following day, Rob’s dad died from another kind of cancer. How does Rob keep his faith so strong while facing surgeries and treatments that he must endure?

Rob and Lori My dear friends, the reason that Rob can have peace despite his affliction is because his faith has been tested and proven to be real. He understands that God’s will is good no matter what form it takes. He is a man who knows the God who created him and is willing to serve him in any way that he is called to. In his weakness, he has found God’s strength!

True sons and daughters will suffer for Christ. It has been written that blessed is the person whom the storm drives to God. It is only there that you will find true happiness. The worth of a soldier is never known in times of peace. It is only in the battle that the true strength and courage of a believer is revealed. Faith is not faith until it has been tested! Those who draw near to God in times of trials will find that they cannot leave his Presence without receiving his strength.

God has put a lot of wonderful people in my life through this blog. Rob Bohning and Lori have touched my life in such a way that I will never be the same. When I recently wrote about how I was going through some painful struggles of my own, Rob wrote again asking me how he can pray for me! I am humbled by this man’s faith and dedication to God. He has taught me that trusting that God is with us in our problems is the greatest honor we can give to him.

Rob will be having his first chest surgery on February 22nd to remove some nodes. I am humbly asking all of those who come to this site to please pray for Rob’s surgery. Please also keep him, Lori and their children in prayer. We are all in the battle as long as we are on this earth. But God never leaves us to fight alone. I am asking for the army of God’s people to rally for Rob. I am sure that he prays for all of us here on this site too. We are members of Christ’ own body. We cannot be defeated. There are no casualties in God’s army. We are performing the purpose for which he has created us. This body of death will not always be with us. Our victory has been declared. Christ has set us free!

What should you do in times of trouble? Rejoice! Great trials bring out God’s greatness in you.

rob bohning art

Photo by Rob Bohning

SHALL WE ACCEPT THE GOOD FROM GOD AND NOT THE BAD?

April 22, 2014 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, God's unfailing love, HOPE, Jesus | Tags: believing all that God says, having peace despite your problems, hope in difficult situations, impossible situations, peace in trials, storms of life, weary and overwhelmed | 59 comments

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away, blessed be the name of the LORD. (Job 1:21)

job suffering

You can have victory in your life despite the struggles that you face when you understand that God is working all things out for your good and his purpose for your life. Too many times we feel that God is unaware or unconcerned with our painful trials but nothing could be further from the truth. He has a divine eternal reason for each and every thing that you endure. He has a timing for it all and if you belong to Christ, it is all part of the perfect plan.

Understandably, it is easier to trust God when things are going well. How much more difficult is it to believe as God allows unfair trials of every kind to happen when he has the power to stop them. How can he look down on the suffering of his people as seemingly he remains silent. But is that really true?

We look in the Old Testament to the trials of Job. He was a wealthy man with a wife, children and servants. He honored God with all he had and held nothing back from him. Yet God allowed Satan to attack Job and take his children, his wealth, his servants and his own health. Job was reduced to a painful existence living outside of his home since he was deemed unclean because of the infestation of boils that was afflicting his whole body. His own wife told him to ” Curse your God and die”. What did Job say to her remark? He answered, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”(Job 2:10)

That is a questions we all need to ask ourselves. Is it okay with us to take the good from God and then turn away from him in times of trouble? Does God owe us anything? It is by his grace, unmerited favor, that we receive all the good that we have. We are in his hands and he has determined the best way to get us from where we are to where he is. He does not look away from us for a second. We always have hope in the midst of the darkest storms because Christ lives to intercede for us. He commands his angels to guard our path and guide our steps. We are not left to fend for ourselves when darkness comes. With Christ, we have all the hope and peace needed to get through the pain as God works through it to reveal more of himself to us. No battle is too big for him because he has authority over everything. The outcome is always in his hands and his will.

When you grow in faith, you get to a place of victory in your life because you know that you do not have to understand God’s ways in order to trust that he always is working for your best interest. For that reason, you are able to have joy through the many troubles in this world because Christ has overcome the world and your enemies have been rendered powerless to destroy your future. Just because you can’t see how God is working in your life through your trials does not mean that he is doing nothing. Heaven and earth are being moved by a faithful God who has already determined the outcome of your situation.

Your pain grieves the heart of God but we are living in a perishing world and believers are being transformed into the image of Christ. Let God do his work in you. Your struggle will not last forever but the hope you have will last into eternity. Fear and uncertainty are weapons the enemy uses to discourage you. Never let his lies steal your hope or convince you to surrender up your joy. Nothing is impossible for the One who holds eternity in his hands.

Whatever you are going through, stay focused on the fact that God can always make a way to help you. God gives and God takes but it all is part of the plan to give you eternal life in a Kingdom that will have no end. And because of that promise, we can praise God in every situation. Christ is coming back soon to make all things new. That is a Hope that is worth waiting for.

Dear Lord,

You never leave anyone alone to carry their troubles. I pray that you will give hope to those who are overwhelmed with trouble and who feel that they have no strength to go on without your help. I pray that you will heal the pain of those going through marriage problems and financial issues. For those who are suffering through illness and serious health problems, I pray for complete healing, and may you give them peace as they wait on you. I pray for your strength to overcome those who are dealing with addictions of every kind.

May you provide for those who need a job. I pray for favor and blessing on those who are struggling to keep their homes. Bless and heal those who are suffering from mental problems and dementia.

I pray for the persecuted all through the world. May God give them his peace to endure. Protect children everywhere who are hungry and sick. I pray for Saeed Abedini and all those who are imprisoned in other nations for their faith. May God have mercy to bring them home and give them strength to hold on.

I pray for the peace of Jerusalem and protection for Israel. May our Lord guide the hand of their leaders. I pray for America to repent and turn back to God!

For these requests and all those not mentioned, may the power of Christ and his love provide for our needs. Amen

OUR GOD STILL LIVES

January 20, 2014 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, God's unfailing love, Jesus, Struggles in life | Tags: faith, God's unfailing love and help, hope in difficult situations, purpose in trials, strength in the battle, trusting God in hardship, victory over fear and problems | 49 comments

This world is perishing but God still holds your future!

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We are living in times of evil. The hearts of most have grown cold and trouble abounds everywhere. Marriages are disintegrating before our eyes and homes are broken leaving only pain and confusion in its place. Children are being sold down the river with lies from hell being taught in the very schools we support with our taxes. There is no creation, everything just evolved from nothing. Homosexuality has become a choice that you better agree with or face the consequences for your “intolerance”. Sometimes that result may include imprisonment for your belief that homosexuality is an abomination to God, the Creator of mankind! His design for a man and a woman doesn’t fit in with the will of the people who clamor for their “right” to do as they please even when it includes redefining marriage! God is homophobic it has been said. Imagine the audacity of the created to shake their fist at the Creator and tell him to get lost!

Abortion is another choice. It is my body, right? Well, how about the innocent child whose only crime was to be conceived by selfish, irresponsible people who have deemed that this child does not fit in with their agenda. The fetus is just a clump of unformed cells, you might say. The truth is that at the point of impact of the sperm and the egg, all the DNA that the child will ever have is now present! The hair color, the eye color the sex of the child are set at that point. God told Jeremiah in Chapter 1 that, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” That wasn’t just a statement for Jeremiah. That is a truth for all those conceived in the womb. We have decided now that God cannot tell us to keep a child we don’t want. And as unconscionable as that is, there are children who live through the abortion only to be killed off or left to die! I the Old Testament, Gehenna was a valley by Jerusalem, where apostate Israelites and followers of various Baalim and Caananite gods, including Moloch, sacrificed their children by fire. That evil practice of sacrificing their children to the false god, Moloch, is no worse than ripping a child from its mother’s womb during an abortion! That is a fact whether you like it or not.

As nations rise against nations and famines, earthquakes and wars increase, the enemy is spewing hate and lies to make people think that God does not care or else that God is dead! I assure you by the holy word of God that Christ is alive and making ready his plans to return in judgment and to make all things new. Whether you bid him to come or not, He is coming back!

No matter what struggle you are facing, remember that if you belong to Christ, it is all working his purpose and his plan for your victory. It might not seem like it but God has promised to withhold no good from those who love him. Let your heartache and pain work out that for which God has allowed it in your life. He is not uncaring in all that you endure. This world is not heaven. One day you will see the reason for your struggle. You will also know that God was with you every step of every day. His eyes never left you. He grieves with you in your pain but he sees the end result of your suffering. He knows you intimately. He will not fail you. Never surrender up your heritage in the Kingdom of God to a defeated enemy of hell. Christ put all your enemies beneath his feet. He rendered them powerless to defeat you. The devil himself knows that. It is my prayer that you will understand it, too.

My prayer is for all who come to this site. May you know that the peace of Christ is yours for the asking. There is nothing he cannot or will not do to help his people. Your strength may wane but the power of God is always greater than your biggest storm. He is with you right now. No matter what you are facing, he will take you through.

If anyone needs prayer, please know that I am here to pray with you.

JESUS BRINGS HOPE FOR ALL

December 23, 2013 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, HOPE, Jesus | Tags: A reason for hope, God's unfailing love and help, impossible situations, Jesus will never fail you, peace in trials, Trusting God, trusting God in your pain, victory in trouble | 22 comments

Nativity-Picture-14

“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10)

Christmas is the season of joy and peace yet sadly there are many people who are feeling hopeless, weary and alone. During a time when hearts should overflow with love and giving, for some it is just a greater time of pain and sadness. The troubles of this dark and perishing world can overwhelm even the strongest believer.

The joy that the birth of Christ brings can get lost among the commercial aspects of the season. That is truly sad for when God sent his one and only Son to this earth, he did it to bring light and salvation to a lost and dying world. He sent Jesus to walk this earth with us to give us his strength to overcome our problems. Jesus came to give us an abundant life that lacks no good thing. His birth brought us a promise that can never be taken away. It is a promise that those who believe in him would have a life with a purpose and a reward that will never end. Pain and struggles can never destroy those who have been set free through Christ. He alone can open doors to your impossible situations and cause all things to be used for your good.

Believers now have authority in Christ over all obstacles from the enemy. Through Jesus you are now more than a conqueror because he has overcome the world. You only need to trust that he can and will be with you in all of your problems. Your failures do not stop his love and your troubles can never hinder his perfect plan for your life. His birth signified a pledge to bring you peace no matter what you may be going through. Jesus is the Word of God and the light of this world who will never fail you. He willingly left the splendor of heaven to come to this earth knowing that we would reject him. Yet his love was so great that he chose to walk with us and be crucified to bring us peace with God and eternity with him forever.

If the joy of this season is overcome by a heartache or struggle in your life which is causing you pain and sadness, please remember that the hope that Jesus brings is not just for some situations. The peace he promised to leave us is sufficient to meet any need and to take you through any storm in your life. His power is strong enough to safely take you through all circumstances and to give you joy in the midst of your struggle. He knew your name and loved you long before you were born. He has plans to prosper you and give you a future despite your weaknesses. He is faithful to make a way for you even when the road is closed. Most importantly, he will never leave you to carry your burden alone. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus says, “And surely I am with you always, even to the very end of the age”.

Your situation is never hopeless when you have Christ in your heart. He is able to heal any sorrow your have and give you the assurance that his love will comfort you in your pain. This season, keep in your heart the truth that Jesus is the only gift that you need. He is the source of your strength and the power to restore you in all ways. His gift of life is free for the asking. His love will never fail you and his peace will keep you as you begin a new year. Take heart, dear friends, for the Savior of this world is born!

Dear Jesus,

I am lifting up to you those who are suffering the pain of trials of every kind and who are feeling weary and troubled. I know that this time of year is supposed to be one of family and joyful celebrating but there are some who are experiencing heartaches from a broken home, overwhelming financial troubles, or serious health issues. There are those who are dealing with addictions, depression and loneliness. For these and all the troubles that your people are facing, I pray for you to give them peace. Let them know they have hope despite their pain. Lift them up and meet them where they are. Show them your mercy as you give them the strength that they need to stand in faith.

Father, we are living in a time when truth has been exchanged for a lie. There is darkness everywhere and persecution of Christians is increasing. War is imminent as the middle east heats up to a point of no return. Famines, earthquakes and extreme weather is signaling your return. We have a reason to hope. You, dear Jesus, are coming back to make all things new. You have not forgotten us. Our pain and brokenness is preparing us for a kingdom that will never end. Your eyes are always on us. We are never alone and never without your protection. I pray that you will show those who are hurting that you are with them to the end. I pray that they will know that they have a future no matter how bad it may look now. May you have mercy on this country and open the eyes of our leaders to turn back to the God who blessed us and made us a great nation. May you bless and protect Israel and give wisdom to her leaders. I pray for you to comfort and help those who are going through persecution of every kind for their faith. Be with them, Lord Jesus. Protect them and bring them joy that surpasses understanding in the midst of their suffering. I also pray for Pastor Saeed who is imprisoned in Iran. Keep him safe, dear Lord, and please bring him back here to his family.

Keep our eyes on you, dear Jesus. Help us to know that no matter what battle rages in our lives, you are always in complete authority over it all . You alone have suffered the price for our victory. We humbly bow before you in praise and honor for there is no way to repay you for all you have given to us. Amen

Merry Christmas to all of my friends here on this site. I pray for you all and remember that you can email me if you need to talk.

SWALLOWED BY THE DARKNESS

November 2, 2013 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, God's unfailing love, HOPE, Jesus, Religion, Trusting God | Tags: ending days, feeling weary and overwhelmed, having peace despite your problems, impossible situations, power to overcome, promise of hope in all things, purpose in trials, Trusting God | 42 comments

storm

If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night“.

(Psalm 139:11)

These days of evil are growing worse as the light of truth is nowhere to be found. So many people are caught up in the deception as they become lovers of themselves and of the gold of this world. The laws of God are disregarded by those who have given in to the lies. Sin has been dressed up and labeled as choice and tolerance. Abominable acts are not only accepted by this generation, they are now encouraged. And darkness swallows the truth!

As most continue on the wide path to destruction, those who work to stay in the race for the Kingdom of Christ are finding themselves suffering trials and heartache. It is difficult to understand.

We are living in ending times, dear friends. God is allowing believers to be shaken beyond their own strength to find out who truly belongs to him. The days of trouble are bringing to light those who truly belong to Christ. It is for that reason that you must stand your ground and let God do his work of refining you for an eternal kingdom.

In 2 Corinthians, Chapter 1, we read that Paul suffered through depression as he was spreading the gospel of Christ. He said in verse 8-9, “For we do not want you to be unaware brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” Even the apostle Paul had to suffer for Christ to the point of wanting to give up and die. How much more are we struggling in the end times as Christ is coming quickly to take us from this wicked earth? Without a doubt the enemy has stepped up his game as he initiates attacks from all sides upon believers who are shining the light of the kingdom to the lost.

We should not be surprised that we are facing trials of every kind. While the enemy wants to destroy us with his lies and deception, we are being proven to be soldiers of worth in the army of the living God. In the book of James, the disciple tells us that the testing of our faith produces a steadfastness which God is perfecting in us so that we will lack nothing of value. Have no doubt that God’s angels are surrounding you at this moment. They are ministering to you in your heartache and strengthening you in your fears. They have been given orders from the Throne of God to guard your pathway to him. You cannot be defeated.

As the earth gives way to the enemy’s lies, we suffer through financial problems, sickness and disease, marriages failing, addictions and all forms of bondage as danger lurks on every corner. We cannot escape the battle launched by the spiritual forces of darkness; however, believers are guaranteed victory through it all.

Those who don’t give in to the deception of this world have hope that eternity with God will be a reward that will last forever. Don’t allow your painful trials to make you take your focus from the truth. You need to understand that your purpose in God’s plan has been set before the world ever began. You cannot be shifted in your position by the slings and arrows of the enemy. You will never be taken down! Surrender your weariness to the One who always has a way to give you hope through your problems. He can lift you above them all until and hold onto you until he has filled you with his peace.

The darkness is quickly filling up this earth, my friends. The deceiver is leading a brutal attack against believers. He wants you to forget that your destiny has been sealed by the blood of Christ! Stay strong and don’t lose sight of the blessed Hope which never fails. Pick up your shield and let the armor of God be your protection. Nothing of value can ever be taken from you in this perishing world. You have been guaranteed a royal future. The book of life has your name in it! What can flesh do to you?

Take heart, dear friends. This message is for you as well as me. It is the truth from God’s word that he will always be with us in everything and through all the storms we face. We are never alone. We are being sifted like wheat by the enemy but Christ is with us so that we will not fail. No matter what you are going through, it is being seen by the eyes of heaven. You are not alone and never without hope.

Dear Jesus,

I pray for all who need to hear this message. I lift up all who come to this site. May they understand that you care about what they are going through and that you have a plan to help them even if they can’t see it now. May you bring them peace and strength to endure. May you help them to know without a doubt that you are working out the perfect plan for their lives that cannot fail. I pray for those who are facing struggles and who feel like they are alone. Please draw near to them, dear Jesus, and comfort them so that they can feel your Presence with them. Shine your light in this dark world and let your people know that you will soon be with them.

I pray for Israel and her people. May you bring her leaders the wisdom needed in this time of deception. Protect Israel, the apple of your eye, from the evil of her enemies. I pray that the eyes of the Jewish people will be open to the truth of Christ as their Messiah.

May you help our persecuted brothers and sisters who are suffering for their faith. Bring them peace through their pain and help them to stay strong and shine the light of your love. Help them and the families of those who are imprisoned for their faith in you. I pray for Pastor Saeed, imprisoned in Iran, and all those like him to be released and brought safely back to their families.

In all things, I pray for America to turn from the lies that have filled this country. I pray for salvation and blessings on this nation. As you changed the hearts of the people of Nineveh and saved them from destruction, I pray you will pierce the heart of America and let her once again be a great Christian nation. That is our only hope.

In the powerful name of Jesus, I lift up these requests. Amen

God will make a way

God’s Sovereignty Encompasses Everything

August 27, 2013 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, God's unfailing love, HOPE, Jesus | Tags: God's sovereignty, Jonathan Edwards, letting go of fear in your life | 1 comment

This message is the truth of God’s promises for all that you face in this world. Never let your troubles be bigger than your God. He always has the power over them all. Jonathan Edwards says it best:

Already Not Yet

How can we really say God is sovereign over all when there is so much chaos and pain in the world?

Jonathan Edwards:

Nothing shall hinder his great design. God’s great ends will be obtained: all his ends will be obtained, and by his own means.

After all this seeming confusion and vast succession of strange and wonderful revolutions, everything shall come out right at last. There is no confusion in God’s scheme; he understands his own works and every wheel moves right in its place.

Not one mote of dust errs from the path that God has appointed it; he will bring order at last out of confusion. God doesn’t lose himself in the intricate endless moves of events that come to pass. Though men can’t see the whole scheme, God sees. The course and series of events in divine providence is like the course of a great and…

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FAITH THAT DEFIES UNDERSTANDING

August 9, 2013 in Christian faith, God's power in your life, GOD'S PROMISES, God's unfailing love, Jesus, Religion, Trusting God | Tags: feeling weary and overwhelmed, God's unfailing love and help, having peace despite your problems, hope in difficult situations, strength in the battle, trusting God in hardship, victory in troubles | 41 comments

light through the tunnel

Of what value is faith that has not been tested?

It is not always possible to see the light at the end of the tunnel when the darkness of your troubles overwhelms you. How quickly your dreams and hopes can slip away when an impossible situation sends a crushing blow. Will you ever recover? Tough times bring forth tested faith. It is easier to see God in the brightness of day than it is to trust him in the darkness of night.

You are not going to understand why God allows storms and heartache in your life but that should not make you doubt his love. During those times when you are stopped by the furnace of affliction, the sea of trouble and the mountain of despair, remember that it is not a holding place but a resting place. God is keeping you near to his heart and revealing more of himself to you. Only there can you understand that at the end of your weakness is his limitless strength.

In Scripture, we read about the life and struggles of David. Although he was anointed by God to be King, David first had to fight against those who were trying to kill him. For years he was forced to wander throughout the desert and seek shelter in caves. That time of struggle brought David to the understanding that his future was ordained by God and no one could stop him from accomplishing what he started. David wrote in Psalm 28:7, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped.” In the midst of David’s troubles was a faithful God providing all that he needed for victory. The same is true for us today.

God’s plans sometimes work in mysterious ways. A friend and I went to visit a death row inmate this past week whose execution date is set for next month. He told us that he had become a believer shortly after he got to prison. He then explained to us through tears that on the day that the judge imposed a death sentence for his conviction, someone had given him a package. When he opened it he found an engraved bible along with a letter from the mother and sister of a man he had killed.

The writer explained to this inmate that although his actions had taken away her only brother and the only son of her mother, they both had forgiven him. Even while their hearts were still crushed with unbearable pain of loss, they had enough love of Christ within them to not only forgive him but to pray for him to come to the knowledge of salvation! They implored him to seek Christ and receive the gift of eternal life that could never be taken from him.

Imagine the power of that forgiveness! Because of their faith, this family was able to surrender up to God any bitterness toward this man and instead share the hope of Christ with him. It was that amazing love that brought this inmate to his knees, broken and submitted to Christ. For him, he had received a gift of mercy he did not deserve. Such depth of forgiveness can only come through Christ. I cannot remember a more powerful testimony!

When I read the letter that these women had written, it was clear that this all surpassing power was from God working through them. It was faith tested to the limit and yet shining through like light from heaven. That day a new life began in the heart of that inmate all because two believers decided to let the will of God guide them to bring unconditional love to a man who was condemned to death.

There is nothing that God cannot do in your life if you are willing to submit to his will. All the pain and struggles you face are simply the elements God uses to mold you into greatness. He has not forgotten you. Your trial is set for a time and soon your tears will turn to joy. There are no losers in the body of Christ. We are all on a path designed by him long before we were born. He has the plan and it cannot fail. Are you ready to give up your control to get God’s divine blessings? Don’t worry over your circumstance for the outcome has been decided in advance. For believers, the war is won and we are the victors. The devil himself knows that. You now need to know that too.

Dear Lord, I am praying for all who are going through a fiery trial and who may be filled with pain and uncertainty as to whether you will be there for them. I pray that you will draw them near to you and bring them your peace. Please help them to know that their grief is before you and you are working it all out despite the fact that it seems like it will never end. Comfort them, dear Jesus. Show your love to them in a very real way. Give them hope that can only come from you. Amen.

May God’s wisdom and peace be with Israel and her leaders.

FAITH THAT STANDS THE WAIT

April 29, 2013 in Christian faith, God's power in your life, GOD'S PROMISES, Jesus, Religion, Trusting God | Tags: believing all that God says, feeling weary and overwhelmed, God's power in your life, having peace despite your problems, hope in difficult situations, strength in the battle, victory in trouble, victory over fear and problems, when you don't understand God's ways | 57 comments

valley

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.

( Psalm 62:5)

None of us enjoy the prospect of waiting on God’s timing when we are in the midst of a painful trial. It is so hard not to look at our impossible circumstance and still believe that God is working all things out. It is especially difficult when the enemy uses our emotions to make us think that we have no hope and that it is out of our control.

In God’s word, we read that being out of our own control is actually a victory. Every time God led his people to victory, he had to first render them powerless in their own might. Job lost his children, his riches and his health but God was still able to bless the second half of his life more than the first. Gideon’s army of 32,000 was reduced to just 300 men who had no weapons, yet with God’s power they were able to take down the Midian army and make them flee. King Hezekiah was no match for the vast Assyrian army who was coming against the Israelites. However, during the night, the angel of the Lord went through the enemy’s camp and struck down 185,000 Midianites. The Israelites rose the next morning to find that the entire army was defeated by the hand of God. Remember that the outcome of every battle you face is always victory when you are in Christ!

You will still have enemies to fight in this perishing world but they have no power to destroy you. All they will do is reveal that you have been declared a conqueror through the power of your God. Because of what Christ has done for us, you have reason for hope knowing that your future is established in heaven.

When Peter saw Christ walking on the water, he spoke out, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” ( Matthew 14:28) Jesus told him to come, and Peter got out and began walking on top of the water. Yet when he saw the wind, he was afraid and began to sink. What made Peter afraid? The same wind and waves were there when he got out of the boat. Somehow, as he walked on the water toward Christ, Peter took his eyes from him. As the wind blew and waves rose, Peter stopped believing that Christ alone could keep him safe on the water and started to think that he needed to do something to stay up there, too. Once you believe that Christ is not enough for your impossible situation, you begin to sink. You look to your own power and strength to overcome your struggle and it will never be enough. It is only in surrendering completely your weakness that you gain Christ’s strength! Your faith is revealed when you trust that you do not have to see the answer to your prayer to know that it is before the throne of God and under his authority.

Victory over all of your trials comes when you can trust that God’s timing is right and that his will is perfect. Peace comes from knowing that God will never fail you no matter how impossible your situation seems. He takes no pleasure in having you wait but each one of your struggles is a divine appointment with a merciful God who wants to reveal more of himself to you. The testing of your faith produces a steadfastness that will have its complete effect that you may be perfect, complete and lacking in nothing. ( James 1:4) There is a purpose for your pain. It is working out a greater good. It is preparing you to be royalty, reigning with Christ in a kingdom that will never end. Though the days grow dark and filled with evil, believers have nothing to fear for their future is one of power.

We are told in Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the LORD with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding,” “Although God’s ways may be hard to figure out, remember that he took you this far and he is more than able to get you to the finish line!

Don’t let your heart be troubled by the problems of this world. Christ is coming back soon to make all things new. Keep your eyes on Christ and focus on what is true and right. The lies of the enemy have no power to steal your joy so don’t willingly give it up to him. Hold on to the heritage that you have because of what Christ sacrificed for us. Stand strong to the end knowing that God’s plan for you will work out not only for today but for ten thousand years down the way when you shall still find ways to praise him for all he has done. God’s faithfulness will never end.

FEAR NOT FOR GOD IS WITH YOU

March 6, 2013 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, God's unfailing love, heavy burdens, Jesus, Religion, Struggles in life | Tags: feeling weary and overwhelmed, impossible situations, peace in trials, strength in the battle, the One who loves you for you, trusting God in hardship, trusting Jesus, unfailing love, victory over fear and problems, where is God when life hurts? | 51 comments

Looking at horizon

Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ( Isaiah 41:10)

When I first got out of high school, I went into training to become an x-ray technologist. I did not have a relationship with Christ at that time and I constantly believed the worst about myself. I told myself that I probably would never finish my training and be able to pass the registry. I did not consider the notion that my life had any value and so I consistently sold myself short and made many poor choices. The devil couldn’t tell me anything bad about myself that I didn’t already believe. I set myself up for defeat. I felt alone and worthless. Even after I took my test and passed with high marks, it did little to convince me that my life mattered to anyone – much less to God! After all, I thought, where was he when I was going through so much pain in my life growing up and it seemed like no one protected me.

That is a question many people ask. Where is God when life hurts? The truth is that Christ is on the throne with complete authority over all that believers face in this perishing world. That is the most comforting of all truths and yet so many people still are unable to stand in faith in times of trouble and strife.

Without a doubt, we are living in perilous times. The increase of evil puts us all within the range of attack. We are trying to survive in a time when truth of God has been thrown to the ground and trampled. The hearts of most people have grown cold. It seems that everyday brings more heartache and pain as the forces of darkness have increased their effort to destroy lives. Yet, in spite of all this, Christ is still our hope.

Marianne-Jesus cares For believers, the fact remains that we are not alone in our battles. We may be attacked from all sides but the outcome of assured victory was determined before the battle began. It was the price Jesus paid for us to defeat all of our enemies; we have been made more than conquerors. Our pain and our struggles are working out our transformation into the image of Christ. In the midst of darkness, God’s power is near enough to help us overcome every single weapon of warfare. The enemy has been rendered powerless and ineffective to destroy those who put their trust in the cross. Through it all, the presence of Christ is right by your side in every single storm you face. His angels have been commanded to guard your life. He loves you unconditionally just as you are! It is not dependent on what you do or how well you do it. The everlasting mercy of Christ is enough for all your needs.

Your painful trial is temporary. The enemy wants you to believe that things will never change but that is a lie. The truth is that he sees your struggle and is using it for your good. For that reason, you must never let your faith be nearsighted. Trust in God’s long-range plan for your future. You cannot fall so far that the grace of God is not able to restore your life and complete the purpose he began in you.

Sometimes it feels like I am always up against mountains in my life. That might be so but each time God takes me through my troubles, I realize that those mountains never had the power to block my path. My struggles have only served to reveal to me more of the love and power of Christ. I knew without a doubt that I never was alone. All of my battles are being led by the army of God. I am a conqueror because greater is He that is with me than any force that the enemy can ever use against me.

I know that so many of you are also facing problems of every kind. It may feel like you are losing the battle but that will never happen. In the center of each storm is the magnificent power of God who is working all things out for good. He has a divine purpose charted out for everything that touches your life. We read in God’s word in 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose hearts are fully committed to him”. He is looking for those who can trust him in the bad times as well as the good times. That is what defines a true believer.

God’s power is not limited by the impossibility of your situation. He knows how to allow your pain to work out the purpose for which he planned. That is why we never give up and never surrender. We are a royal army who are being trained to rule in a kingdom that will never end. Be mindful that your struggles won’t endure, but through Christ, your eternal future will!

Dear Lord,

I am lifting up those who are facing serious problems and feel that they have no hope. They are dealing with problems that are out of their control and some may wonder if you are even with them in their struggles. I pray that you will touch each and everyone who need your help and counsel. I pray that you will bring them peace and comfort as you draw them near to you. May you touch their hearts with the truth of your love. I pray that they will know that you will help them. I pray for healing from illness and disease. I pray for a restoration of broken marriages and relationships. I pray for those struggling with financial problems and have nowhere to turn. I plead for those who have addiction problems or have family with addictions and need your help. Lord, please show them that your strength is all that they need.

I pray for those in persecuted nations who are suffering for their faith. May you rescue them and give them hope. Protect them and their families. May your light shine through them to those who are lost.

I pray for the protection of Israel and the Jewish people. May you show them mercy and keep them from harm. I pray for their leaders to have wisdom, discernment and your favor against those who come against them for evil. And may you open their eyes to know the truth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

For anyone who is not saved or who has doubts regarding their eternal salvation, I pray that you will open their eyes and hearts to know that Jesus is the only name under heaven by which we can be saved.

To those who belong to you, dear Jesus, I pray that you bring them peace and hope during these dark times. Amen

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LASTING PEACE

December 31, 2012 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, God's unfailing love, Jesus, Religion | Tags: God cares, God will not fail you, God's power in your life, having peace despite your problems, hope in difficult situations, power to overcome, serious illness, storms of life, strength in the battle, Trusting God, victory over fear and problems | 44 comments

“And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people…and I have come down to deliver them..(Exodus.3:7-8)

The snow was accumulating here in Ohio and that meant I had to get out and start shoveling it – and I don’t mean just my sidewalk and drive. In order for my 3 dogs to get out into the backyard, I had to shovel pathways in my grass! That is backbreaking work so you know I have to love them to do it. But then, that is a choice I make to keep them happy.

Our lives are a series of priorities. We choose what we will do and what we are unwilling to do. You usually put your best efforts doing what is important to you. As this year comes to a close, you may reflect on all that has touched your life and how it made a difference. Some things were good and maybe some of it was not so good. You may have gone through a trial that still is giving you pain. You can choose to allow your problems to keep you down or you can surrender them to Christ and allow Him to work them out for your good. In this life filled with trouble, the only way to have true joy in your life is by understanding that you are here for God’s purpose and plan and that he alone holds your future.

Without a doubt, the days are filled with darkness and there is evil all around us. The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Thess. 2:9-10 that, “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved”. My friends, we are witnessing the signs that Christ is getting ready to return. To those who have put their trust in him, there is nothing to fear in this perishing world. You just need to keep your eyes on him and know that he is with you. The redeemed of Christ can never be destroyed. We have the assurance of a lasting peace and joy that will never end.

Those who are struggling and trying to carry their own burdens, I pray that you will not let another day go by without asking Christ to come into your heart. He is the answer to every problem and heartache you face and he has a way to bring you joy in the midst of every conflict. Religion can’t save you. Only a relationship with Christ can give you eternal life. In John 11:25, Jesus said, ” I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” Jesus is the only way! ” There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. “(Acts 4:12) Jesus has broken every bondage and chain that keeps you from having victory over all that comes against you.

The man of God, D.L. Moody wrote, “There isn’t an evil within or without but what He will deliver us from if we let Him. That is what He wants to do. As God said to Moses, “I have come down to deliver.” If He could deliver three million slaves from the hands of the mightiest monarch on earth, don’t you think He can deliver us from every besetting sin, and give us complete victory over ourselves, over our temper, over our dispositions, over our irritableness and peevishness and snappishness? If we want it and desire it above everything else, we can get the victory.” Without a doubt, there is nothing to hinder you from having all that God has for you if you choose to take him at his word.

I don’t know what the future holds for you or for me. I just know one thing and that is that Christ has the plan and He is not going to fail us. I am facing problems in my own life but they have no power to take me down or to destroy my future. I hope you understand that God will always be sovereign and in complete authority over all that happens in your life. It might seem like he is not with you but the truth is that in the silence of your situation, the great power of God is at work and he will bring you through it! Never give up hope.

My love and prayers are always for those who come to this site. May the peace of God give you joy and hope through Jesus Christ. He has made you a victor in all the battles you face. Stand your ground – the armies of God are with you now.

PRAISING GOD IN THE STORM

December 20, 2012 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, Jesus, Religion, Trusting God | Tags: believing all that God says, faith, feeling weary and overwhelmed, God has not failed nor forgotten you, God's power in your life, healing, hope in difficult situations, impossible situations, peace in trials, promise of hope in all things, strength in the battle, victory in your battles | 51 comments

I will praise you in the storm and I will lift my hands; for You are who You are, no matter where I am.

We are literally watching prophecy unfold before our eyes as the recent events with Palestine and the U.N. are setting the stage for the coming apocalyptic storm. Changes are taking place all over this world and the darkness of evil as the hearts of most have grown cold. Is there hope for those who have put their trust in Christ or will we be destroyed along with the rest of the unbelieving world?

The blessed truth is that there is a perfect plan unfolding for those who refuse to be moved from their position in Christ. You may feel like you are too overwhelmed to continue in the battles you face, but the power of God is always the conquering force within you in all of your struggles. There is not a moment that your future is ever compromised by problems in your life. You have been given the guarantee of victory in all things. God is working his divine, eternal destiny through every single one of them.

We read in Isaiah 40:31, “but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles.” Those who can trust that God is still sovereign in their darkest struggle and pain shall not go unrewarded. He will give you the power and hope you need to stay in the race and not give up. It was by his grace that you were taken this far and he will not let you be destroyed now. Surrender your fears and frustrations to God and let him give you his peace to endure.

As the news brings stories of wars, famines, earthquakes, and fierce storms of every kind, we rest in the knowledge that God is using it all to fulfill his plan of salvation to the very end of time. It is a troubling time for everyone but your prayers for help are being heard by Christ who knew your name long before you were ever born. In Daniel 9:18, Daniel lifts his voice to God saying, ” For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness but because of your great mercy.” It is the love of God that we call upon in times of trouble. He sees beyond our weakness and failure and is willing to help us in spite of it all.

Do not be surprised at the evil going on for we are told in God’s word that there will be a spirit of deception that will fill this earth in the ending days. Those who belong to Christ have nothing to be anxious over for your future is secure as God has ordained every one of your days. Jesus told us that we would still be able to have joy despite our many problems because he has overcome the impact of every single one of them. By his authority, all things that come against you must work into the plan that he has for your life. You cannot lose when you belong to Christ. This world may be perishing but believers have a royal heritage that transcends the boundaries of this life. We are being tried and tested as the refining fires are molding us into the image of Christ.

It may seem like your prayer has not been answered or that your struggle is getting worse but the God who calls out each star by name without losing one is certainly not going to lose you in any battle that you face. You are a winner and your destiny is sealed. Don’t let your pain weaken your faith. There is always the hope you need to carry on for your steps are guided by the hand of God. Lift up your eyes to the hills from whence comes your help. Hold on, dear believer! Your God sees where you are and he will rescue you.

We are nearing the end of the race. Christ is coming soon to bring us to our home with him. The increase of evil is a sign that the devil is growing anxious knowing that his time is short. God’s power and authority are unchanging. He is still in control of everything. All things will work out according to his purpose.

My heart and prayers are with all who are going through serious problems and struggles. You may feel like you are alone but you never will be!

I am humbly asking all who visit here to remember and pray for our brothers and sisters in restricted nations who are being persecuted for their faith. We must stand with them for they are one with us in Christ.

GOD ALWAYS HAS A PLAN

November 4, 2012 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, heavy burdens, HOPE, Jesus, Religion, Trusting God | Tags: facing divorce, feeling weary and overwhelmed, God cares, God will not fail you, God's unfailing love and help, healing, healing of a broken heart, heartache, hope in difficult situations, impossible situations, Jesus cares, storms of life, strength through Christ, trusting God's promises in our battles in life, victory despite marriage problems | 167 comments

The heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1)

Whatever you face, God will make a way to take you through it!

God’s word stands true and he fulfills every promise despite the problems we face. This world is not our final destination but only a place of preparation for what is to come. In this life, we are going to endure hardships of every kind until Jesus returns to make all things new. He has defeated death and made us victors in all that we endure. No matter how fierce the battle, believers cannot be defeated by the fiery slings and arrows of the enemy. I trust in the promises of Christ. He is my stronghold and my very present help in time of need. I believe in prayer and know that my God hears my every plea.

With all that said, I have to share with you that my faith has been severely tested and stretched to the limit during these past months as I face a powerful battle in my life. There are times when I feel completely overwhelmed. Yet no matter how weary I may be, God has given me the grace to endure. I will never give up or lose hope. All the trials that I have faced in my life only taught me that God has been my help through every single one of them. He sees my tears and knows my pain. He is not far away leaving me alone. Scripture says, ” The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit”(Psalm 30:18). I don’t have to see Christ or feel him to know that he is my hope and strength to get me through anything I must endure in this world.

Sadly, for quite some time I have been living with the pain of a failing marriage. Despite doing all that I could, it is apparent that I cannot change the outcome. Even though I have been praying night and day for God’s strength and guidance, things have gotten worse. All I can do now is to continue to pray and surrender my will to Christ. He alone knows the outcome. It breaks my heart to say that I cannot make someone stay and love me when he has chosen not to. I feel betrayed and hurt facing an uncertain future. But as difficult as this has been for me, I know that God still has a plan for my life.

I want to make it very clear that without any doubt, God has authority over all that we face. He can and will do mighty things to help his people and that is why I always advise those struggling in failing marriages to pray and not give up. I am still praying for all who are going through troubled marriages. We have good reason to hope that God can reach the wayward or unbelieving spouse. Sometimes he takes them to the end of their own strength so that they have nowhere to turn but to him. However, I know that it is hard to understand the times when that doesn’t happen. It does not mean that God doesn’t care. The truth is that he cares much and he grieves with us in our pain. Unfortunately, we are living in a lost and perishing world and the enemy has blinded most to his schemes. His main target is to break up homes and destroy families evidenced by the fact that over half of all marriages end in divorce. What a sad statistic that is. Yet God still has the power to give you a future with hope.

When you do all that you can and it seems like you are being hard pressed on every side, remember that in Christ, you cannot be crushed. He will take your broken heart and your fallen dreams and use them to build you up for his purpose. It may not seem like you will ever recover from your pain or that your tears will never end – but that is not true. King David wrote in Psalm 69 “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck, I sink in the deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.” And yet David kept trusting his God even when all hope seemed lost.

Our problems and struggles do not dictate our future. It is planned out by Christ Jesus who will not fail to help those who trust in him. I know that my pain has no power to destroy the hope I have through Christ. Despite what I face in this life, my God will always be bigger.

And then, in spite of all I have been going through, I recently discovered that my one cat, Bella, has cancer. I am always rescuing animals and my pets are like family to me. I am tearful and saddened by this diagnosis for I know that she does not have long to live. In a time when my heart is broken over my marriage, this just added more pain to my life. Is the will of Christ even in the death of a pet I love? The answer is “Yes!” Christ has a plan for all things! Nothing happens apart from his knowledge and permission. Each day, the enemy wants me to believe that God has failed me or that he doesn’t care. He tries to convince me that I am alone. Yet, I know by faith that I will never be alone. Psalm 23 reminds us that, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” All of our enemies, our struggles and our pain has been rendered powerless to destroy us. Christ has a way to heal and make us whole no matter how broken we are. I trust him. My Bella may be gone soon, but I know that even then that Christ will be with me and help me through it.

My friends, I pray you understood all that I said. No one wants to go through a divorce but unfortunately that is not always a choice. If you get to that point, you need to draw even closer to Christ and rely on his strength to get you through. All of your trials and struggles were known to God even before you were born. He can use all things and cause them to be used for good and the purpose he has for your life. Nothing is impossible for him. If you can keep trusting him despite your struggle, you will not be conquered. You will have the victory in everything even through your pain.

I am praying for all who are facing a similar situation and don’t know where to turn. You future is uncertain and it is difficult to understand how you are going to ever get through this. It is only in knowing your God that you can have peace despite your heartache. When people ask me what they can do for me during this painful time, I ask for their prayers. I know that this battle is going to be tough but it is not my own strength that is going to take me through it. I take hope from Hebrews 4:16, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need”.

God’s promises of mercy and grace are new to us every morning. He does not fail us and he never leaves us. No matter what trouble you have in life, there is always going to be the help that you need through Christ.

My dear friends, I pray for all of you who come to this site. I thank you for your understanding during this difficult time in my life and I appreciate those who are praying for me. Because I belong to Jesus, I will not drown in my tears. He will help me.

I am humbled that God continues to give me his messages to write. God bless you and please keep his truth in your heart. There is no pain that you have that the touch of his hand cannot heal.

UPDATE ON MY CAT, BELLA

As I wrote, I had found out during the time of my divorce that my cat, Bella, had bi-lateral kidney cancer and would not live long. Kidney cancer like hers kills quickly. I would hold her every night and pray that God would let me keep her just two years longer. I was in the middle of a painful divorce. I was watching my marriage die and at the same time I was watching Bella die. I kept praying but I trusted that God could take me through it. No pain we suffer is beyond God’s ability to help. I knew that and I believed that but I prayed for more time with Bella.

Sadly, my divorce went through. That does not mean God did not answer my prayers. It just meant that in this fallen world, he was allowing my spouse to have free will in his choices. It was tough on me but I never felt that Christ was not with me. I surrendered my brokenness to him daily. He was all I had and he was more than enough. I was not destroyed but made stronger for what I endured.

The strange part is that after I wrote this article, my Bella started to eat again. She gained weight and seem happy and comfortable. Each morning I would go see how she was doing. Each morning I would praise Christ. Two years after my divorce, Bella became ill again and died peacefully in my arms. As sad as I was to lose her, I knew that Christ was the one who gave her the two years more of life that I asked. The Vet said he could offer no explanation as to how she lived that long with cancer. I knew exactly Who allowed her to live two additional years.

The bible says all of our days are numbered before one of them come to be. Jesus said not a sparrow falls to the ground apart from the will of the Father. God has a will and a plan not only for us but for all that he has created. Cancer could not take my Bella until Christ ordained it to happen. He is merciful and he knows what is best. Even the sting of death is under the authority of Christ who conquered its power. He will either heal you or allow you to die to be with him. Either way, if you are a believer, you can’t lose. He has the perfect plan.

Take heart, dear friends. This message is meant for you. I am praying for all who come to this site. You are loved so much more than you could ever know.

AND JESUS STOPPED

September 7, 2012 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, God's unfailing love, heavy burdens, Jesus, Religion | Tags: believing all that God says, feeling weary and overwhelmed, God will not fail you, God's power in your life, help with your problems, hope in difficult situations, impossible situations, peace in trials, power to overcome, promise of hope in all things, strength through Christ, victory, victory in your battles | 90 comments

Jesus said to him,”What do you want me to do for you?”

Sometimes it seems like Jesus will never get around to helping you out of your struggle. You have prayed and waited but nothing seems to have changed. Does he even see your pain? Why is it taking so long? You soon feel lost and alone in the darkness of your troubles.

In Mark 10:46, we read about a blind man named Bartimaeus. He lived in Jericho where all he could do was sit on the side of the road and beg for help. But on this one day, he heard the commotion of a crowd coming by. “What could be causing the people to be so excited?” he probably wondered. Someone then told him that it was Jesus of Nazareth who was heading this way.

Bartimaeus must have been overjoyed knowing that Jesus was nearby. I can only imagine how his breath quickened and his pulse raced as hope began to fill his heart! He had heard about this man. Many were made whole and healed of all their diseases by his touch. Some were set free from demons and others brought back to life. All he knew was that he needed to get to Jesus before it was too late. But Bartimaeus was blind and the crowd sounded large. What could he do? He didn’t have his sight, but he did have a voice. He cried out with all that he had, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”. Many people in the crowd rebuked him, telling him to be silent. Silent? That would never happen! The King of kings was near. This blind man had no intention of letting a chance to be touched by the Great Physician just pass him by. He called all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” The Scripture then tells us that Jesus stopped and he said to those near to call him up. When Bartimaeus heard this, he threw off his cloak and sprang up and came to Jesus! Jesus asked him,” What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Rabbi, let me see.” And Jesus then told him to go his way saying ” Your faith has made you well”. And immediately, Bartimaeus received his sight and followed him on the way. This day had changed his life. He not only received his sight, but he was forgiven of his sins. All this happened because he believed that Jesus was all that he needed.

My friends, do you feel like you are in darkness as your troubles leave no light of hope? The truth is that if you belong to Christ, he will always find a way to meet you in your struggle and draw you to himself. He will reach through the crowd and take you to a place of healing and peace. Nothing is impossible to him who knew you before you were born.

Never lose sight of the truth that in each battle you face, you are completely surrounded by angels dispatched from God to protect and guide you. Your cries do not go unanswered. He hears your every plea and he cares. The redeemed of the Lord cannot be destroyed by the slings and arrows of the enemy. Every single detail of your life from birth to death has been arranged and made perfect. You cannot fail. The enemy may taunt you with oppression and lies but you are protected by heaven’s royal guard! That is the truth that sets you free. Christ became your burden-bearer when he conquered the world and deprived it of its power to crush you.

Whatever trial you are facing, beloved, remember that it is all under the authority of Christ. Let God accomplish the work that he has begun in you. Whatever time he deems necessary for you to continue in your struggle is specifically designed to equip you for the work he has chosen for your life. It is a royal assignment and not without merit. All those whom God has chosen to do his greatest work have received their power as they patiently trusted him during a time when all hope seemed gone. You must remain steadfast and stand the test in order to receive the crown of life that Jesus has promised to those who love him. You are never alone and never without hope!

Dear Lord, we are living in ending days as the enemy increases his efforts to cause trouble and pain in the lives of your people. Help us to hold on even when we feel weary. I pray for blessings and strength for those who are facing hardships and trials of every kind. I pray for marriages and relationships to be restored. I lift up all those who are facing financial struggles and see no end in sight. I pray for you to help those who are under bondage to addictions and sin issues that are draining them of life. I pray for those who are lonely and brokenhearted. May they feel a very real sense of your presence and love. I pray for those who are being persecuted for their faith. May you give them a sense of peace and joy in the midst of their suffering for you, dear Lord. Protect and bless Israel and her leaders. I pray for the eyes of your people to be opened to the truth of Christ as their Messiah. Lord, may you work all things out for good to those who love you. Show them that you are very near and that you will not fail. To those who do not know you as Lord and Savior, dear Jesus, I pray for you to reveal yourself to them in a very personal way. Help us all to stand in faith as we patiently wait for your return . Give us your strength to fight the good fight and stay in the race. Amen

I am praying for all who come to this site. May you take rest knowing that Christ has a message just for you.

SEEKING PEACE IN A TROUBLED WORLD

August 20, 2012 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, God's unfailing love, HOPE, Jesus, Religion, Trusting God | Tags: battles won, faith, feeling helpless and hopeless, feeling weary and overwhelmed, God cares, God will not fail you, God's power in your life, hope through struggles, peace in trials, power to overcome, purpose in trials, trusting God in hardship, victory | 51 comments

He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. (Psalm 23)

There is nothing more painful than to be on your knees pouring out your heart to God only to watch as your dreams being crushed before your eyes. If you are a true believer, you know by faith that God heard your cries for help. He has said in his word that he would never leave you nor abandon you. Yet despite knowing that God is aware of your struggle, you still feel left with nothing but a broken heart, eyes that can’t stop crying and a question within as to why he would allow you to go through this pain.

It is difficult to understand when you are overwhelmed, but your attitude in times of trouble is an indicator of where your faith lies. When you face a trial in your life, it is a struggle to believe that God will be there to help you through it. You feel alone. Yet, the more serious your problem, the more grace he extends to you. You are never left to fight a battle on your own. We can all trust God when we have some control in the situation. But when the problem is impossible for us or anyone else to help, that is when our faith is put to the test.

Jesus told us in John 16:33, ” In this world you will have trials and tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” It doesn’t matter what we face for all things are under the sovereign authority of Christ. It is his will that prevails in the outcome of every problem we face. If you will try to understand that truth, it will bring you peace when all hope seems gone. Your struggle is actually the transforming power that reveals God’s strength. It is always his purpose to bring you through your heartache and reveal more of himself to you. Your battles are won long before they start because Christ paid the price for your victory. That may seem difficult to comprehend when your heart is breaking – but that is the truth.

You were created for God’s glory and his purpose. He has made ready the royal robes that those who trust in Christ shall wear one day in his kingdom. All things are being orchestrated in God’s magnificent plan for your life. As a sparrow does not fall to the ground apart from the will of the Father, I pray that you also know that every tear you shed is before God and subject to his ultimate authority. Your heart cannot be broken beyond our Creator’s hand to heal. It just can’t happen. There is no situation you face that can ever empty out the future God planned for you. Although you may not feel it now, your life is filled to overflow with God’s unending power and purpose. His angels are surrounding those who belong to him. There is nothing that has been left to chance.

You can enjoy quiet peace in spite of your pain when you stop trying to control the way God deals with your situation and let him work it out his way. You can take rest knowing that whatever God allows in your life, he has planned it long before you were born to use it for your good. His ways will always be higher than ours, but his ways are the only path to victory. Surrender your pain to Christ who will heal you and give you back abundant hope from the ashes of your broken dreams. We read in James 1:12, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

We are all going through the battle of our life, dear friends. No one is exempt from the sufferings of this world. Whatever you are facing, there is always hope when you belong to Christ. There will be a time for your trial to end; and if you have held out in faith to the end, you will be rewarded in this life and the next. Why does God allow us to go through heartache and pain? It is only in the crucible that we gain an eternal perspective of the power of the God we serve. It is there that we see that Christ does meet us in every trial causing it all to work according to his perfect plan. It is there that we are strengthened as he draws us near to him.

Finally, believers who can praise Christ through the pain and keep their eyes on him no matter what storm surrounds them are proven to be the true sons and daughters of the King. Remember the words of God in Isaiah 26:3, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.” That is a promise from God.

I am praying for those who need to hear this message. May you know that your tears are not in vain. You still have hope regardless of what you are facing. This world is perishing and yet those who belong to Christ shall never be destroyed. Let him work out your problem and restore your peace. Don’t settle for the lies of the enemy. You were meant for more!

TRUE FREEDOM

July 4, 2012 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, Jesus, Religion, Trusting God | Tags: believing all that God says, feeling weary and overwhelmed, God's power in your life, impossible situations, peace in trials, power to overcome, problems lifted, strength in the battle, trusting God in your pain, victory in trouble | 29 comments

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD (Psalm 33:12a)

I want to say a few words today as we celebrate in America the birth of our nation. We have been a people who have been blessed by our God and he has shed his grace upon us. I am fortunate to live in a nation that was founded by men and women of extreme courage and dedication. I am grateful for all those who are in service to America and who risk their lives so that we may live and worship in freedom . We can never truly thank them enough. I pray God’s blessings and favor upon them all.

With all that said, as we watch as darkness and evil fill this earth, the question still remains “Are you truly set free?“. The bondage of sin can cause havoc and destruction in your life no matter where you live and how much money and power you have. Each day I watch with sadness as people choose to live their life in the chains of the enemy who has blinded them to the fact that they are perishing as they walk the path of death. They are not free. They are deceived! Without Christ, there is no freedom for your life. You can have all you think is good but you will never be truly happy because your hope to be victorious in this world comes only in being surrendered to Christ! He is the one who sets the prisoners free so that we no longer have to be held captive in the trap of sin. Christ is our power over the darkness and our hope when we come to the end of ourselves and have nowhere else to turn. There is always a way for God to help you. You can never fall too far that his grace cannot lift you.

What does it serve you to live in a worldly freedom when you come to the end of your life? It is only when your life is in Christ that you can have peace no matter what you face. He has conquered all of your enemies and death no longer has any power over you. Money, fame and even earthly freedom can never give you that!

I want to include a few quotes from our Founding Fathers that show the heart of those who once led this country with truth. Read them over and ponder how far we have come from this once ideal.

“And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.” Thomas Jefferson, Signer and Principal Author of the Declaration of Independence; Third President of the United States.

“Is it not that in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? – that it forms a leading event in the progress of the Gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer’s mission upon earth? That it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity?” John Quincy Adams: Statesman; Diplomat; Sixth President of the United States.

“One of the beautiful boast of our municipal jurisprudence is that Christianity is part of the Common Law…there never has been a period in which the Common Law did not recognize Christianity as lying at its foundations… I verily believe Christianity necessary to the support of civil society.” Joseph Story: U.S. Supreme Court Justice; “Father of American Jurisprudence,” Placed on the Court by President James Madison.

” We are a Christian people…not because the law demands it, not to gain exclusive benefits or to avoid legal disabilities, but from choice and education; and in a land thus universally Christian, what is to be expected, what desired, but that we shall pay due regard to Christianity?” Senate Judiciary Committee Report, January 19, 1853

Who is fighting for those ideals now? Too many people are being deceived by the enemy. My friends, our freedom has been bought at a price of the blood of Jesus Christ. All that we have and the future with hope that we aspire to has been given to us by Him. You can make a choice today to have real freedom that releases you from the bonds of every pain, addiction and trouble that the earth sends your way. This world is passing away. Only those things that stand the test of fire shall live on. Only that which we surrender to Christ can we keep. Be blessed this day. You no longer have to be sold out to the enemy and live as a puppet of his schemes. You have a choice. Choose to live in the freedom of Christ. No one can take you from his hands or rob you of the destiny he planned for you. That is a freedom you can celebrate!

Dear Father, I lift up to you those who are struggling to be free. I pray for those who are suffering in trials of every kind and who need to know that you can meet them in any situation and that you have the power to take them to victory no matter how impossible their situation seems. Give them your peace this day, dear Jesus. Let them understand that your love is enough and that you will never fail them.

I pray also for those are in restricted nations where to be a Christian is a death sentence. I pray for you to touch those who are persecuted, tortured and imprisoned for their faith. I pray that you will reach them with a joy that surpasses their understanding. May they know that you are with them to the end.

Lord Jesus, show those who come to this site what real freedom in you can mean. Amen

FAITH THAT WITHSTANDS THE TEST

June 3, 2012 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, God's unfailing love, HOPE, Jesus, Religion, Trusting God | Tags: believing all that God says, feeling weary and overwhelmed, having no fear in death, having peace despite your problems, salvation through Christ alone, surrendering to God, Trusting God, victory | 76 comments

Are you willing to surrender all you have to get all that Christ has ?

God has given me a love for all those who visits this site. I believe that He has a purpose for bringing all of you to the messages that he gives me to write. It is for this reason that I take seriously my burden to pray for each of you.

A few weeks ago, a young man visited my site and then emailed me with a question. He seemed troubled and yet I could see that he had faith. I want you to read what he wrote:

“I was on the internet one night and I came across you. I really liked it. My name is Christopher. You see, I don’t understand life. God says He loves us, but yet, he took away the people I love. I only just started going to church. I enjoy it but life is still tough for me. My heart belongs to God. I know that, but it is so hard to walk away from my friends. I want to serve and give my whole life to Him, but I am going to lose my family and friends. Advise please.”

I responded to Chris and explained about the surrendered life to Christ. When you are a believer, Christ is first in your life and you must be willing to give him all that you have and allow him to work in you. I explained a lot of things to him and told him to keep praying for his family and friends but that he must move ahead with his new life in Christ.

I did not hear from him that month, but last week, I received an email from his sister. She told me that her family had no idea that her little brother was going through this. She went on to tell me that Chris was no longer with us. When I asked her what happened, she told me an amazing story. She said that her brother had made a decision to follow Christ. He stood firm in this decision despite the fact that his family and friends did not like it and thought he totally lost his mind. He even left a girlfriend of three years because she chose alcohol and her lifestyle over a relationship with Christ.

About two weeks after writing to me, Chris was driving on his way to church. Just before he arrived, Chris got into a very serious accident which left him dying. His last words to his family was a plea for them to accept Christ as Lord and Savior. He whispered that Jesus was near to him right then and that he was not afraid to die! With that, he left this earth. What a bold testimony of faith he had! Because of his faith, that 20-year-old young man is now with Jesus in heaven.

By the power of Christ alone, Chris was able to choose to do what was right. He made the hard decision to leave all that he had to get all that Christ had to give him. He was willing to go wherever Christ would lead him. That young man had no idea when he wrote to me for advice that he had only a few weeks left to live!

I am humbled that God brought Chris to my blog. I prayed for him and his family. Christopher’s sister wrote that his death changed everything for them. Now the whole family wants to honor Chris and his prayers for them, so they decided to start attending the local church. One young man with the courage of his conviction and a faith that stood the test was able to impact his whole family with the Good News of Jesus Christ!

After his death, the grieving family went through Christopher’s things and found his diary and the email he sent me. I was sent a copy of something that he had written in his diary. It brought me to tears. My dear friends, please read what this young man wrote from a heart that had been radically changed for Christ:

“ I’ve been in love before, but in love with God is nothing I’ve ever experienced in my life. A friend who I didn’t know existed and who was always around anytime 24/7. I don’t regret my decision. I regret not making this decision earlier. I always thought people who went to church are all perfect and holy. But no, they are just as broken as I am. God knows best. I pray that my family and friends will soon experience the love of God. I don’t have a dad. Never met him, never seen or heard from him. But I stopped looking for him and wondering what a father is because I just found a Father of all fathers—-God! “

My beloved friends, I don’t know where you are right now or what you have done. The truth is that Jesus wants you with him. He has known your name long before he formed the world. His love is true and he is faithful. He has a way to bring you to victory no matter how impossible it may seem now. Your weakness is now made strong by his power. Christ can give you a future with hope and an eternity with him if you will surrender your heart to him.

The power of Christ gave a young man the courage to stand for his faith despite the outcome. He gave him hope for a future and an unconditional love that he had never known before. Chris never met his earthly father. But the God of all heaven was a Father to him whose eyes never left this young man for a second. His life was cut short, but Chris made the decision for Christ that would last into eternity!

Have you made that decision to follow Christ? You don’t have to wonder about it anymore. I am praying for you and I am here to talk to you if you have any questions. My hope is that those who need to hear the truth will be open to receive Christ as Savior and Lord. It is a free gift that is yours for the asking.

I am lifting up Christopher’s family in prayer for comfort and healing. I pray that they will continue to seek Christ and surrender to the only truth that matters! Just as Chris was not afraid to die – no believer ever has to fear death.

WOUNDED WARRIORS

April 16, 2012 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, heavy burdens, Jesus, Religion, Trusting God | Tags: feeling weary and overwhelmed, God's unfailing love and help, having peace despite your problems, hope in difficult situations, impossible situations, Israel, Moses, Red Sea, strength to overcome, victory in your battles | 82 comments

You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again. (Psalm 71:20)

I read a great quote by Christian singer Wintley Phipps which said:

“It is in the quiet crucible of your personal, private suffering that your noblest dreams are born and God’s greatest gifts are given, in compensation for what you have been through.”

Dear Lord, make this truth clear to those who need your help now. Give hope to those who are facing battles that leave them wounded and feeling alone. Strengthen those with serious medical issues. Comfort those who are having marriage problems and relationship issues. Bless and provide for those with financial problems. I know, my Lord that you are in every one fo these struggles and you have the plan to work them out according to your purpose. Please Jesus, keep our eyes on you and not on our circumstance. Our hope is in you! Amen

LONELY WHISPERS

October 4, 2011 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, God's unfailing love, Jesus, Religion, Trusting God | Tags: discouragement, end times, feeling weary and overwhelmed, financial problems lifted, God will not fail you, impossible situations, peace in trials, power to overcome, trusting God in hardship, victory despite marriage problems, victory in troubles | 103 comments

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? (Psalm 13:2)

Remembering that God is sovereign while we are in the battles of life can be very difficult. Probably the last thing you think about as you suffer in a trial is that God is working all things out for your good. When you are overwhelmed with problems, it takes all the strength you have to just barely whisper a prayer.

My friends, I write this message to again empathize with so many of you that are feeling literally torn apart by painful trials. I struggle also. We are definitely living in a time of darkness. The laws of God simply don’t matter as the evil spirit of self-righteousness fills the hearts of most. Satan’s main weapon of attack is to destroy families. He works to divide and conquer. If he can break up loved ones, he can use their pain to do his work. I cannot believe how extensively marriages are ending. A marriage vow has just become another way of saying, “I’ll love you until I don’t”. The promise made before God is simply swept under the rug and forgotten. How sad that we have strayed so far.

We read in 2 Timothy 3 that there will be terrible times in the last days. Paul describes a time when people will become lovers of themselves and lovers of money. He goes on to say that they will be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God and have a form of godliness but deny its power. While sin has always been in this world, the extent of evil to which Paul is speaking is much greater. Paul was warning of a time when self-love and entitlement would rule over this earth and God would be considered an intrusion. We are in that prophecy now! Is there any wonder that this whole world is suffering financially, physically, and under the devastation of earthquakes, floods, and storms of every kind? Judgment is upon us! Wars and weapons of mass destruction are being prepared for a battle that could conceivably destroy every living thing. It is evident that the rulers and powers of darkness have geared up efforts to unleash a prodigious force of wickedness on this earth to take down those who are unprepared.

Yet, despite all that is going on in this lost world, there is always hope for those who trust in the finished work of Christ. No situation and trial you face will ever be stronger than the blood of Christ that was shed ensuring that you will always have the future he planned for your life. Sadly, many believers accept the lies of the enemy when a crisis hits instead of holding on to faith. The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 12:12, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer”. In every battle, you must be joyful, patient and faithful knowing without a doubt that God is not going to fail you. You are not alone and the power of Christ that resides in you is greater than the pain you are facing. You have a Living Hope that reigns eternal.

Until the day I die, I will proclaim the truth that Christ is enough for everything you must endure on this earth. Though we all grow weary at times, God knows how to rescue his people in times of need. Christ has promised us his peace despite the trouble in our lives. It is a peace that defies understanding knowing in your heart that God is orchestrating his divine will through every struggle. Each heartache and trial you face is an opportunity for God to reveal more of himself to you. The purpose and plan are guiding you on the path of your destiny!

You will always gain freedom as you surrender your power to his. There is a short poem written by L.E. Maxwell in his book, Born Crucified, that makes this point:

“Make me a captive Lord, and then I shall be free. Force me to render up my sword and I shall conqueror be. My will is not my own, til Thou has made it Thine. If it would reach the monarch’s throne, it must its crown resign!”

We aren’t always going to be in control of our circumstances. There will be times when all we can do is surrender them to Christ and trust that he will work them out for our good. It may be scary to wait in the deep water for Jesus to bring you to safety but that is exactly what you must do! Get your eyes off of the sharks in the waters of life and the storm clouds that are brewing. They are under the authority of God, their Master, and cannot harm you. You may feel weary and alone in the dark sea of trouble but you are not alone and you are never without his strength!

I pray that those who feel God does not hear their prayers will come to know the truth of this message. Don’t let your weariness cloud your judgment. If you belong to Christ, legions of his angels surround you right at this moment. There is not a tear he does not see nor a broken heart he cannot mend! Your lonely whispers are heard. You have been set apart and made ready for him. While you wait in expectation of Christ, understand that your calling is secure. As a child of the King, you have already been declared royalty. Stand firm in your faith for the army of the living God is with you.

“And to the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” ( 1 Peter 5:10)

Be in peace, my friends. I am praying for you.

GOD HEARS YOUR PRAYERS!

February 22, 2011 in Christian faith, God's power in your life, GOD'S PROMISES, God's unfailing love, heavy burdens, Jesus, Religion | Tags: feeling weary and overwhelmed, financial problems lifted, having peace despite your problems, hope in difficult situations, impossible situations, peace in trials, strength to overcome, trusting the power of prayer | 72 comments

Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard” (Daniel 10:12)

GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY!

December 21, 2010 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, Jesus, Religion | Tags: difficulties, God's unfailing love and help, help when you are ovewhelmed and weary, hope in difficult situations, impossible situations, peace in trials, storms of life, strength in the battle, Trusting God, victory in troubles | 12 comments

I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, AND HAVE IT ABUNDANTLY

( John 10:10)

We were all born sinners in a lost and perishing world. Our rebellion made us enemies of God and the price was eternal separation from him. Yet despite our weaknesses, the bible tells us: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal love” (John 3:16) That is love beyond measure! Christ left the splendor of heaven to walk among us and give us hope for a life with him. The night that Christ was born, we read in Luke 2:8-11 :

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

What an awesome message to receive! Imagine being in that lonely field and seeing the the glory of God shining all around. Shepherds were considered low class, they were not trusted as witnesses in a court of law, and they weren’t well educated. They lived and worked outdoors, they typically were not able to keep the ceremonial law the way the priests did in the city. As a result, they had a reputation for being unclean. Yet God deemed them the perfect ones for him to witness the birth of the Savior of this world.

Christ became flesh to walk with his creation. He came to bring hope and joy despite the fact that there are many troubles in this world. His birth was the greatest gift that this world has ever known. Jesus came to defeat death and bring new life. He came to shine a light in a dark world. And he came to show profound, amazing love to a world that would reject him.

There is nothing else that we need in this life for Jesus brought us the free gift of salvation and friendship with God. We no longer have to be imprisoned to sin and destruction. He offered us power over all the storms of this life and the promise of glory in heaven. Struggles and pain can no longer defeat those who accept Christ as Savior. It doesn’t matter where you are or what you have done, Jesus brought forgiveness and abundant life for all who seek him.

The enemy wants you to believe that you can live your life apart from Christ and still be okay. That is a lie from the pit of hell for you will face destruction if you reject Christ as Lord and Savior of your life. You will never have victory any way other than the path that God prepared for you before the foundation of the earth. Jesus is the only way to eternal life.

I pray that you will understand that despite what you have done, you can still have a life with promise if you start now to put your trust in Jesus. You have to want to live according to his ways and to turn from the ways that keep you in bondage. Your weakness can be made strong in Christ, and by his power you can overcome all obstacles in your life. But time is growing short and you need to choose to live for Jesus now!

Let this Christmas be the one where you decide to live in the victory of Jesus! That will be the best gift you could ever get and it is one that will last into eternity!

Merry Christmas to all who read this. Whatever you are going through, your God is already there, willing and able to help. Please know that I am praying for you!

GIVING THANKS FOR ALL THINGS

November 23, 2010 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, Jesus, Religion, Struggles in life | Tags: feeling weary and overwhelmed, financial problems lifted, God's power in your life, having peace despite your problems, promise of God's help, purpose in trials, victory in troubles | 29 comments

Let us be thankful and so worship God acceptably (Hebrews 12:28)

To those of you who visit this site during the holy season of peace, I wish you blessings and happiness. But, I know that it is difficult for some of you to have a spirit of joy during these holidays because you are experiencing struggles and pain in your life. It is not easy to praise God when your world is crumbling around you, but it is then that you must. All that God allows for you will always be for your best interest. I have struggled many times with my problems and yet not one of them defeated me, even when I felt I was literally drowning in a sea of trouble. The truth is that God’s purpose for allowing you to endure this pain is always to bring you higher and to have a greater knowledge of the God you serve. Believers will always find that God was with them in the midst of every storm they faced.

The Apostle Paul knew first hand that when your faith was in Christ, all things that you endured were allowed by Christ for a reason. Because of his faith, he knew that even though he was suffering in jail for witnessing to others, Jesus had a divine plan to work it out for Paul’s good and for the kingdom. Paul understood that nothing was going to happen to him apart from the will of God. Paul wrote:

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7)

God knows what you need and he is able to provide for all that is good for you. So many times you may forget how many things God has taken you through. When a trial in your life takes you down, your attitude in dealing with it depends on whether you trust that God will take you through it. Our hope is secure because God’s promises never fail. That does not stop the devil from trying to fill you mind with lies and fear. Don’t give in to them for they come from an enemy who was defeated by the cross of Christ. All things will work out in God’s way and in his timing. He is not going to let you be destroyed by the storms of this world.

Paul endured a hardship in prison but his God never left him. He knew that he would suffer for a while for the purpose that God planned but that he could not be destroyed by this time of pain – he could only be made better and stronger! That is what happens when you can give thanks in ALL things including those trials that you don’t understand why God would allow. You can give praise and thanksgiving in all things knowing without a doubt that God’s grace is the force that will take you to victory.

You may be feeling weary and overwhelmed right now because your situation may seem hopeless. That is not true. Nothing is beyond the power of God to work out. There are no impossible situations with God. He who spoke the worlds into existence and who breathed into the dust and made man has no boundaries or limitations. He can do all things and he will move heaven and earth in his perfect plan for you. You just need to trust him and put your complete faith in him.

It doesn’t matter what you have done in your life or how far you have run from God. The only thing that matters is that he wants you with him. You have tried every other way to bring happiness in your life but all you were left with was the consequence of bad decisions. Only the path that God set for you will give you peace and joy despite your struggles.

This holiday season and always, give God praise and honor for all things . Be thankful for what God has given you thus far and put your trust in the future he planned for your life long before you were born.

Dear Lord,

This season of peace and joy is also a time when many people are struggling with finances, marriages failing, health issues, sin bondages and thoughts of depression. I am praying for all who are in pain right now. I pray that you will make your presence known to them in a very real way. Please help them to know that you are going to be with them in their struggle and will take them to victory. My prayer, dear Jesus, is that you will meet them where they are right now and take them to your peace. I pray that everyone who is overwhelmed and defeated to know that your perfect plan for their life will not fail. Most importantly, I pray that each one who visits here will know the depth of the love that you have for them. If there are any who do not know you as Savior and LORD, I pray that you will unveil their eyes and give them the knowledge of who you are. I pray this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen

YOU MATTER HERE!

September 23, 2010 in Christian faith, God's power in your life, GOD'S PROMISES, Jesus, Religion, Trusting God | Tags: feeling weary and overwhelmed, financial problems lifted, hope in difficult situations, impossible situations, promise of God's help, strength to overcome, trusting God in your pain, victory in troubles | 29 comments

FOR I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED ( 2 Tim.1:12)

Dear friends and visitors to this blog,

I want everyone who comes to this site to know that I have a burden for those who are in pain, feeling troubled and who come looking for a message from God. I never cease praying for those who have asked for prayer. I take all of your prayer requests very seriously and they stay on my heart. And God cares for each of you through your pain. He is not going to leave you in your struggle.

Remember that no matter what you are going through, God will always be bigger and he cares! He has a way out and above every single situation that you go through. To those who have put their trust in the finished work of Christ at the cross, your future is sealed and the enemy cannot steal it away. Don’t let any of the devil’s lies and frustrations make you doubt God’s perfect plan for your life. If you could see with spiritual eyes, you would know that if God is allowing a trial in the life of a believer, he has a plan to not only take you through it but to make you better for having gone through it.

Most importantly, I want you to remember that no situation is impossible for the true God who spoke the worlds into existence! Never let anyone tell you that you circumstance is beyond all help. That is a lie. There is nothing that God cannot and will not do for those who belong to him.

I care very deeply about all whom God sends to my site. You matter here! It was no coincidence that you stopped by for God has a message in one of these articles just for you. He is the one who has inspired these truths for me to write.

God bless you for now. Stay in peace and take your stand in the battle. Your God is very near and he is fighting for you!

THE END OF YOURSELF- A GOOD PLACE TO BE

September 10, 2010 in Christian faith, God's power in your life, GOD'S PROMISES, Jesus, Religion | Tags: feeling overwhelmed, feeling weary and overwhelmed, God's power in your life, hope in difficult situations, peace in trials, power to overcome, storms of life, trusting God in your pain, victory in your battles | 25 comments

The righteous cry out and the LORD hears them (Psalm 34:17)

It is obvious that so many believers are growing weary in these dark days of oppression that we live. Struggles surround us at every corner and it is hard to stave off the growing fears of uncertainty. We were told in Scripture that these times would come and test the faithful, but how do we keep standing when the ground is trembling and darkness is filling the sky?

Fear is a tool that the enemy uses to take your focus from the truth. When you understand that your hope in Christ is secure, you can cease striving. There is nothing that is going to destroy a believer who is holding onto the promises that Jesus died to give. Your future is never determined by your circumstance. Trials that you face are only the wind that brings you closer to God. Every single one of your struggles are used by God to equip you for the battles that come against you.

Throughout the bible, God allowed his people to be taken to the end of their own strength but yet they were conquerors over all that came against them. It was in the lion’s den that Daniel watched as his God shut the mouths of the lions and brought him safely out. The three Jewish boys were bound and thrown into the furnace for refusing to bow in worship to Nebuchadnezzar.(Daniel 3) Yet it was there that they came face to face with the Son of God who protected them from even the smell of fire and smoke. Young David ran against the giant, Goliath, in the power of the God in whom he trusted. He never doubted that his God could save him as he killed that heathen Philistine with just a stone. King Hezekiah cried out to his God for help when the Assyrian army was surrounding his people on all sides. He had no power to face this mighty army but his God did! We are told in 2 Kings 19:35, ” That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning – there were all dead bodies!” It was God who fought their battle and saved them. You need to understand clearly that when you are in Christ, you are a force to be reckoned with!

Beloved, you must understand that no battle you ever face is hopeless. You don’t need to run from your problems; you just need to turn to your God! Never lose faith when you get to the end of your ability for it is at that point that you discover the all-encompassing power of God. Jesus paid the price for our redemption and to give us a future with hope. The enemy may prowl around trying to rob you of your joy but he can never steal the future that Christ paid with his blood. Death has no sting for Jesus overcame the grave. All of your momentary trials are working out a divine purpose to prepare you for the royalty that awaits you in eternity. Your painful situation has a time to end. God knows how to take you from your distress and into his peace if you will just surrender to him.

We are living in a time like no other. We are watching as wars, famines, floods, severe weather, poverty, sickness of all kinds of evil are permeating this entire world. The hearts of many have grown cold as marriages are failing, evil and violence are increasing and all forms of perversions are becoming common. The only hope we have is the enduring love of Christ who will never fail. He is called Faithful and True and he is ready to return and gather those who love him.

May you know this day that you are never out of God’s sight for a second. Whatever you are suffering is before the eyes of God. Remember, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit”. (Psalm 34:18)

Dear Lord, I am praying for those who are struggling with a painful situation in their lives. They feel like they are losing in the battle that they face. I pray for your peace and strength to fill them. Let them know without a doubt that you are with them to the end. For those who have financial problems – may you meet them and provide for what they need. Those who have marriage and relationship problems – may you join them in peace and restore their families. I pray for you to heal the pain of those who are sick or who have lost a loved one. May you comfort and heal those who are in serious bondage to alcohol or drugs. I pray for your favor in their lives in all that they need. And may they know that you will not fail them no matter how impossible their problem is to them. Amen.

TRUSTING IN GOD’S PEACE

July 18, 2010 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, Jesus, Religion, Trusting God | Tags: feeling weary and overwhelmed, financial problems lifted, God will take you through life's storms, help with your problems, hope in difficult situations, strength to overcome, victory in your battles | 18 comments

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3)

It is hard to release all of our hopes and fears and trust that God has a better way for our lives. When you try to work things out as the world does, you are headed for failure. Charles Spurgeon once wrote: “You cannot grow in grace to any high degree while you are conformed to the world“. That which you won’t surrender to God will be the foothold that the enemy uses to take you down. All that you have that is good has been given you by God. There is nothing that you can keep except that which you give up.

Jesus calls for us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds and yet that is very difficult to do when you let the influences of this lost world cloud your judgment. The darkness of these present times can fill you with fear when it seems like God isn’t showing up in time to help you through a crisis. Some people are suffering with the pain of a serious or terminal illness. Many are facing monumental financial difficulties as they battle to survive past the list of endless bills. Marriages are under attack as Satan has targeted families for destruction. Drugs and alcohol are literally robbing people of their future. Pornography is a deadly addiction that poisons and imprisons its victims. Sadly, lies from hell are being traded for the truth by the lost everywhere. Many in our country and in the world are now accepting evil as good.

Yet, despite the battles that rage all around, Jesus promised believers that he would fill them with the peace that surpasses all understanding. That peace only comes by trusting and following the path of Christ. You cannot seek out the riches and glory of this world and expect that God’s peace will reign in your heart. I can’t put it more clearly than to say outright that if you live in rebellion to God, you will never be happy! You will always be searching and never be satisfied. The true joy that comes only from a relationship with Christ is found nowhere else. Nothing that you can attain on this earth will last forever or prevent you from dying one day. But those who seek Christ and his kingdom, all that is good will be added to their life. As a believer you understand that death has no power except to release you to be with God in his kingdom forever.

While all will suffer in this life, God works everything for the good those who belong to him. The temporary struggles you face have divine ramifications as the hand of God uses them to form and shape you into the image of Jesus. We read in 1 Peter 5:10, “And the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast“. After you have been through your painful trial, God himself lifts you up and restores you to wholeness. You can’t lose in the battle you are in so hang on and know the power that lives in you. Never surrender your joy no matter how dark your situation may appear. God always has a way to take you through it if you will believe and wait on his timing God ‘s power is more than enough for all that you need. You should keep that truth in your heart!

Dear Lord, I know that many are struggling in areas of their lives and they wonder if you truly care about what they are going through. I pray that you draw near to them in their pain and give them the strength they need to believe that you will not fail them. May you give them a very real sense of your peace as you work out all their difficulties and make them strong, firm and steadfast in their faith. I pray this in the power of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen

FINDING STRENGTH IN THE LONELY PLACES

May 26, 2010 in Christian faith, Jesus, Religion, Trusting God | Tags: feeling weary and overwhelmed, financial problems lifted, God's unfailing love and help, healing, hope in difficult situations, impossible situations, promise of God's help, serious illness, victory despite marriage problems, victory in troubles | 28 comments

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life (Psalm 138:7)

Have you ever been in a painful trial in life which made you feel like you were all alone? The storms you face in this world can sometimes make you feel isolated and without hope. And, although well-meaning friends want to help you, there often is little that they can do. You really want to believe that God is with you in that battle, but that may be hard to do when the enemy surrounds you on all sides! When you come to these lonely places, it is then that you must take all thoughts captive to the truth of the promises of Christ!

In Scripture, David told King Saul that he would go against the giant Goliath who was threatening to kill the Israelites. Although he was only a young man alone, David knew that the force and strength of his God would be with him. As David ran toward the giant armed only with a sling and 5 stones, he was confident that he would be victorious against the enemy – and he was. David won this battle before he even started because his hope was steadfast in his faith that God would not fail him. He never hesitated by allowing worry to have entry to his mind. He knew the God that he served enough to take him at his word.

All of the battles that you face as a believer are fought on holy ground because the power of God is with you. You are in the company of the army of heavenly forces who know well how to deal with the enemy. You are never left to fight alone. As David understood that God was giving him his victory, so must you know that you are a conqueror against all that comes against you. You must never let your situation cause you to be anxious. Worry is nothing but the whispers of lies from a defeated enemy! Satan wants you to make you feel alone and hopeless so that he can get a foothold into your mind. Don’t give him access.

The truth is all the force that you need to defeat your feelings of hopelessness. Your financial struggles, marriage problems, health issues, addictions or heartaches are all under the power of a Sovereign God who knows how to take you safely through them. Your weaknesses are not hidden from the eye of an omniscient God who offers you his strength when you have none of your own. He is never limited by the scope of your impossible situation. His power is not confined to boundaries and it supersedes the scientific laws of this world. Most importantly, your painful struggle was seen by God long before you were born and he prepared a way to take you to victory. He has not forgotten you now and he never will.

It is the lonely places that put you next to the heart of your God. For it is when you have nowhere else to turn that you realize that God’s power was all that you ever needed. Jesus paid the price so that those who believed would be made more than a conqueror in all the battles of this world. Never surrender your joy no matter how bad the problems in your life seem. Though you may not understand it now, Christ is working it all out to fit into the perfect plan that he ordained for your life. The One who keeps all your tears in a bottle will not let you drown in despair. Jesus said “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs on your head are numbered. So don’t be afraid: you are worth more than many sparrows”.(Matthew 10:29-31) There is nothing you must face that will not be measured and timed by God’s own hand.

Whatever is overwhelming you in your life right now has a purpose to bring you closer to God. The winds of trouble and the storms of your life must all submit to the will of God for you. Your battle will never be stronger than the refuge and strength of your God! The bible tells us, “Weeping may remain for a night, but joy comes in the morning”. (Psalm 30:5) That means that every painful struggle has a timing for it to end. And it is only then that you will understand the power of God whose love for you never failed.

I pray that those who are struggling or in a painful trial will know the peace of God that surpasses understanding. No matter what is going on in your life, please remember that it will never be bigger than your God!

THE BATTLE IS WON

March 28, 2010 in Christian faith, God's power in your life, Jesus, Religion, Trusting God | Tags: faith to overcome, help when you are overwhelmed, Jesus will never fail you, knowing that Jesus is all you need, problems can't defeat you, trials have no power to destroy you, victory despite marriage problems, weary in struggles with finances and health issues, you can't lose the battle | 26 comments

Those who are with us are more than those who are with them (2 Kings 6:16)

How big does the storm in your life have to get for you to take your eyes off of Christ and put them on your circumstance? Although God may not respond to your prayer the way you thought he should, that surely does not mean that he failed you. Your cries in the night for help are not going unanswered for they are always heard by a God who knows how to provide for your need. He has created a course for your life and the twists and turns you must take are not meant to hinder you but rather to get you ready for something far greater. Scripture is filled with verses where God’s strength is revealed in those who trusted him.

We read in Exodus in the Old Testament where the Israelites were led on a forty-year journey in the desert to get to the land God promised to give them. But because their hearts were hardened and unbelieving, God directed them the long way around. His plan was to give them peace from their enemies and a land that was overflowing with every good thing. However, most of them did nothing but grumble and gripe to God. Their faith was not in God but focused instead on only that which their eyes could see. They did not have faith that God could give them what he promised though every day he provided them with all that they needed. It was for that reason most of them died before they ever got to the land. They thought the giants in the land were bigger than their God! They were dead wrong. Only Joshua and Caleb had faith enough to trust God and they led their people to win over the enemy in the land given them.

In Genesis, Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers and then sold into slavery. As dark as it was in that pit, God was using this injustice against Joseph to get him ready to rule in the palace of Egypt! Joseph had to travel as a slave in chains to Egypt. He was sold to a commander there named Potiphar and forced to work in his house. Joseph then was thrown into prison after being falsely accused of a crime. Here is a man who went from the pit, to chains, to slave and then to prison. Where was his God? As painful as it was for Joseph to endure all this, God was using this trial as training. He was equipping this young man to be the top royal commander second only to Pharaoh. That was quite an elevation for just a young shepherd boy.

The truth is that God will not promote you to a higher calling without first equipping you to succeed. The pain that you are experiencing is the chisel God is using to perfect his plan for you. You are literally becoming a work of art in the kingdom of God! Your struggles never had any power to destroy you. God knows well how to cause all things to work in harmony with the purpose he has ordained for you. All of your troubles are unfolding into his perfect plan to bring you to victory. You are not going to lose this battle if you can keep your eyes on Christ and in his mighty power.

Though you can get weary as the pain of your situation overwhelms you, there is hope knowing that there is a divine purpose for your momentary problems. It should help you to know that God saw these stumbling blocks in your path before you were born. He could have led you around them but instead he has chosen to use them to make you stronger as he takes you over and above in strength and glory. His plan is to make you royalty in a kingdom that will never end. It was for this exact purpose that Christ died so that you might have an abundant life even while facing the wind and the waves of the raging sea of life.

My prayer is that you understand that all God allows in your life, he allows for a specific purpose. He will never send you alone in the battle for he is always with you. Nothing can defeat you. Your marriage problems, health issues, financial crisis or any struggle you face cannot keep his purpose for you from being fulfilled. The days remaining in this perishing world are numbered and known by God. He sees the beginning and the end and all that goes on in between. He is with you right now. You must never let the lies of the enemy make you feel defeated. If you are a child of God, that can never happen! Don’t be like the Israelites wandering in the desert who did not have faith that God could take them where he promised. God can and will do abundantly more than anything you can ask or imagine!

Cease striving, my friends, the battle is won. The enemy knows it and you need to know it too. If your trust is in Christ, he already has your situation worked out. All you have left to do is to have faith and take him at his word!

Dear Lord, I pray that those who are facing trials and pain in their lives right now may know that you are working them out for a purpose that is good. Help them to stand in faith through this storm knowing that you are with them to the end. Amen

PERSEVERING UNDER TRIALS

March 14, 2010 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, God's unfailing love, heavy burdens, Jesus, Religion, Struggles in life | Tags: difficulties, faith, feeling weary and overwhelmed, financial problems lifted, God cares, having peace despite your problems, help with pain and addictions, hope in broken marriages, Hope that won't fail, Jesus can always make a way to help, purpose in trials, storms of life, strength to overcome, trusting God in hardship, victory in troubles | 21 comments

Let not your heart be troubled, neither be afraid

It is way too hard to hold on in this perishing world by your own efforts. Anyone who is trying to do so will fail. All of our force and all of our strength comes only from our relationship with Christ who has promised to give us all that we need. It is for that reason that we can have hope knowing that our life is being worked out by divine hands!

Struggles and storms are filling the lives of everyone. No one is exempt from the dark skies that have filled this world. As time grows short, the enemy has stepped up his attacks and they are brutal. Even the strongest Christians are being tossed by the winds of trouble. There is no air, land or sea to go where the war for souls is not fiercely raging. The enemy is relentless. Yet, the truth remains that there is a place of peace to rest when we are weary from the battle. That is the hiding place of Jesus Christ and in his mighty promise.

I have never witnessed such evil and darkness as I do in this present time. Believers are experiencing testing of all kinds as they are proven to be true sons and daughters of the living God. Jesus left us a promise that needs to be understood. He said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33) Your problems are ALL being worked out in the plan that he has set for you. Nothing you face comes as a surprise to him. You may not understand now why he is allowing you to suffer as you do, but you must continue to trust him despite what you feel. Every word in Scripture is utter truth and written for you to use as the power to stand against the attacks you face. When Jesus was tempted in the desert by Satan, he did not use physical force to defeat him. He could have turned him to ashes with just a look. Instead, he used the powerful, unfailing word of God for which Satan had no power over! Jesus wasn’t just proving his strength to the enemy, he was showing us that we also have that power to overcome all obstacles that stand in our way. As bad as it now appears, the light of Christ is still a consuming fire with power to overcome all obstacles of battle.

There are many people suffering oppressive financial problems all over this world. The forecast is bleak as homes are foreclosed and many have to do without the basic necessities to live. Marriages are collapsing like dominoes as the lie of the enemy fills homes and destroys families. Health issues are increasing as families must deal with loved ones who have serious or terminal illnesses. My heart breaks to watch so many fall into the trap of addictive substances and literally exist to get their next fix. Pornography is destroying many and making slaves to those who are caught in its deadly obsession. Not even Christians aren’t exempt from this trap.

In addition to all this, we are facing wars and threats of wars, earthquakes, severe weather conditions and pandemic diseases. Through it all we may wonder, is Christ still sovereign when bad things are happening to good people? Can we still trust God to get us through all of these problems? The answer is a resounding yes! We can still rely on God to help us no matter what is happening in this world. He will never let the faithful in him be destroyed!

Psalm 34:19 tells us, “ A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.” God will not fail in his promises to us. All circumstances of our lives have been predestined to work out for our good. There are no conditions that Satan puts in our lives that have power enough to take from the promise that Jesus died to give us. It may be tough for you now, but these times will not last. When the purpose for which they were allowed has been fulfilled than God will raise you above the waters and take you up the mountain of victory. You can’t lose if you keep your trust in the One who paid the price for your redemption.

The point is not whether or not you can rely on Christ to take you through these turbulent times. The truth is that you must rely on him and trust him even when all of your hope is gone. Your trials in this life are merely the workings of your transformation into the image of Christ. If God can create the heavens and the earth with just a word, he surely can move the mountains that come against your marriage, finances, health and everything else that stand in the way of what God has promised for you!

Those who wait upon the LORD will never be disappointed. God’s promise says in Psalm 72:26, ” My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” You may be down but you are not out. God still has a plan for your life. It is my prayer that those who are struggling in a trial will know that God will make a way!

LOVE SO AMAZING

January 19, 2010 in GOD'S PROMISES, God's unfailing love, heavy burdens, Jesus, Religion | Tags: feeling overwhelmed and weary, feeling weary and overwhelmed, financial problems lifted, God's unfailing love and help, having hope in our struggles, no strength to even pray, overcoming worry and doubt, peace in trials, trusting that God will work all things out | 42 comments

Knowing that God will rescue you

Where is God in all of our struggles? We are living in unbelievably difficult days and it does not appear to be getting any better. Trying to hold on in faith while the darkness surrounds our situation can literally seem impossible. In our finite minds, it doesn’t make sense that God appears to wait so long to come to our rescue.

The pain of a trial in life can be overwhelming. A troubled marriage can turn your life upside down. Financial problems seem to have no end in sight. A serious illness can interrupt your life in a big way. Addictions to alcohol, drugs, pornography or any bondage can bring total havoc in your life. There are just too many problems to deal with as utter darkness covers the earth. Where is the peace that surpasses understanding that Jesus promised us believers? Sometimes it may take all the effort you have just to get out of bed in the morning and face life. Without a doubt, we are living in troubling times. So what can we do?

We are told in God’s word that then enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking to devour you. He is seeking to kill, steal and destroy all that you have. But, the truth is that the enemy cannot take anything from one whose faith is in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. All that he can do is convince you of a lie that his power to destroy you is bigger than God’s power to rescue you. You must remember that the tomb could not hold back the Holy Spirit’s power to raise Christ from the dead and that same power is living in you! For that reason, you cannot be defeated no matter how wounded you are in the battle you are fighting. Christ has conquered death and the power of evil. Though the enemy can wage war all around you, you will not be a casualty of a battle that has already been won. Don’t look at your circumstances – look at your God! Our weakness comes when we take our eyes off the Source of our power. Jesus does not take cover in the attacks of the enemy. He is our fortress and a very present help to us. The weary can find safety in his shadow and experience peace in his never-ending love.

By knowing and understanding the God you serve, you are able to rest and trust him to get you through the storm. If Jesus tells us to take joy despite our problems, he must have a way for us to do so. We know by all that is true that God cannot lie. In every one of our troubles, God is present and working them out. You don’t have to feel him or see him working to know that he is causing all things to be used for your good. It is by faith, which is greater than silver or gold, that we trust despite our pain. My friends, you must understand that while this earth is not heaven, it is here that God is getting us ready to be royalty in a glorious place that will never end! It is difficult to endure the hardships that surround us each day, but it is not impossible. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross gave us hope that our future is secure. If he has the hairs on your head numbered, he surely is not going to forget to help you when you need him. In his timing, you will understand that he never left you for one second! The Apostle Peter took his eyes off of Jesus when he was walking on the water and began to sink. But understand this – JESUS NEVER TOOK HIS EYES OFF OF PETER! Jesus was able to lift Peter up from the sea because his power did not cease even when Peter doubted him.

God’s love and power for you are real. If you are struggling it is because you are listening to the lies of the enemy and have taken your eyes from Christ. I know that your financial problems are real and that your marriage may be in serious trouble. All that I am saying is that God is not going to fail you. You may think he is not with you now in your pain but the truth is that he is. Even in your fear and weakness, he is not going to abandon you. His love is just so amazing that it will meet you wherever you are. He knows how to lift you from your sea of trouble and he will not let you drown. God can make a way even when there is none.

Let the amazing love that Christ has for you be your strength in the battle you are facing. Get into his word and let him fill you will the knowledge of his power so that you will not be afraid of what the future holds for you. The words that God gave to his people long ago are for you today: “For I am the LORD, your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you”. (Isaiah 41:13)

TRUSTING GOD THROUGH THE STORM

December 1, 2009 in Christian faith, defeating all fears, GOD'S PROMISES, God's unfailing love, Jesus, Religion, Struggles in life, Trusting God | Tags: feeling overwhelmed and weary, feeling weary and overwhelmed, financial problems, God cares, having peace in hardship, promise of hope in all things, purpose in trials, strength in the battle, the enemy cannot defeat you, trusting God in hardship, victory in troubles, victory over fear and problems | 100 comments

Knowing by faith that God will not fail you

Every problem and troubling situation believers face in this life is allowed by God for a specific purpose. He is working out something far greater than what appears to be happening as he guides the process of transforming you into the image of Christ. Your faith is being sharpened as a sword to equip you for the battles of this world. The path of victory has already been set and there is nothing that can destroy a believer who has put his faith in the cross of Jesus. We are commanded to be anxious for nothing and no one. But, is that still possible when the darkness of the storm surrounds us?

The truth is that the strength to endure every painful trial is with you in Christ. If your eyes were opened to view the spiritual battle that is raging, you would see the grand army of the living God totally surrounding and protecting you with powerful weapons far greater than those against you. Though you will still endure the attacks of the enemy, your hope of victory is secure because of the cross of Christ. You may be feeling weary and completely overwhelmed but the bible tells us that God is close to the broken-hearted and he is near to us in our pain. He does not abandon you when your situation is bleak. As you lift up your fears to him in thankfulness and prayer, you allow his power to be unleashed in your life as he takes your struggle and makes it work into his perfect plan for you. God knows your weaknesses and has seen your failures yet his power is more than enough to take you safely through. You may be wounded but you will never be destroyed!

The Apostle Paul knew that each step of his journey was put in place by his Savior. He learned how to wait on God for all that he needed. He was able to be content even in suffering and persecution because he trusted in Christ. He never thought that God forgot about him when he was without food or money. He was willing to endure whatever it took for his purpose in Christ to be fulfilled. The thorn in his side was not to take him down but to remind him that it was all for God’s glory. Paul expressed his trust in 2 Timothy 1:12 when he said, ” For I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that he is more than able to care for that which I give to him for this day“. That is faith in action!

God is not late to help us even when all hope appears to be dwindling down. Even the timing of Christ’ suffering and death on the cross was planned long before the world was formed. It happened at the perfect, precise moment that God chose it to be. There was no detail left undone as Jesus completed the work of redemption for a lost world. Sin and death was overcome by the cross as Jesus uttered this powerful promise saying, “It is finished!”

Take heart, dear beloved, and know without a doubt that your situation is not dead. It is being worked out in the timing of God who already knows the outcome. There is an eternal purpose for your suffering. You are not waiting for God to show up for he already has. You are holding on for the perfection of the plan he is now working out in your life.

The struggles and trials you suffer are always an opportunity for God to reveal his power to you. Each time a painful situation brings you to your knees, use that position to give glory to God! It frustrates the devil when you do. Never let the enemy convince you to surrender in the heat of battle for you are nowhere near being defeated. You have been made more than a conqueror through Christ and he is not about to let you fail.

Dear Lord, I pray that you make your promise and your hope real to those who are struggling in a painful circumstance. Help them to know that you are with them no matter how weary they become. Strengthen them in your will and give them your peace to hold onto the truth. Amen

AT THE WATER’S EDGE

October 22, 2009 in Christian faith | Tags: believing all that God says, feeling weary and overwhelmed, free from fear and worry, impossible situations helped, Jesus will not fail, overcome trouble in life, problems can't defeat us, trusting God's promises in our battles in life | 48 comments

I want to bring a message of truth for those struggling in this lost and perishing world. If you belong to Jesus Christ, you must stop acting as the world does every time a crisis happens in your life. We are children of the Promise and nothing can change that or destroy the purpose God has for our lives. Don’t let a little shaking of the ground or the darkness of the storm around you cause you to take your eyes off the One who ransomed your life for all eternity! It is nothing less than blasphemy against your God to let the enemy see you giving more credence to his lies than to the truth of Jesus Christ! How many rivers and seas does God have to part before we will believe that he has all the power we ever need to fight our battles?

It takes true faith to trust that God is actually going to work your struggles out for your good. God never fails and he is faithful but the silence can be tormenting as you wait on his promises to be fulfilled. The enemy will taunt you to make you doubt God’s faithfulness, but the truth is that he is a defeated foe whose only weapon is his lies. The purpose and plan of God for your life have been settled long before you were created. Every single detail was known by God and he provided a way through every one of them. All it takes is for us to keep our eyes on him and trust him, but so often we forget what he has done for us in the past.

Each trial brings fear and anxious thoughts. The devil always has a way to make you see the worst of each situation. For that reason, you are to take captive every thought and line them up to be obedient to the teachings of Christ. He has told us that he can rescue us from any situation. God’s has already planned in advance to supply the power that is needed for his people to climb the hills and survive the valleys in this life. There is not a single struggle you endure that he has not seen long before the world was created. Why then do we still worry that God is not going to show up in time to help us? Do we actually believe that the Creator of this world and everything in it is going to forget a single detail of our lives? Our hope is secure and the battle is won in every area of our lives. All that we must do is surrender our weaknesses to the one who can work them all out for our good. It means waiting and trusting while the battle rages on knowing that we are victors. There is no such thing as a defeated Christian! Stop carrying around burdens that are not yours. Worry is a tool that the enemy uses to deflect the truth from believers. He can’t steal your joy so don’t just hand it over to him when problems arise.

The fact is that God will always take you to the edge of the water so that his power will be revealed as he makes a way to cross when there is none. You need to get to the end of your own strength before you can understand the immeasurable power that God has. Weary believers need to wake up and realize that God ‘s plan for your life cannot be hindered by your impossible situation. There is never a time when he leaves you to work things out on your own. It is for his good purpose that he allows the storms in your life. He is working out a perfect plan for you that has eternal rewards. You usually won’t understand the reason for all that happens to you but your faith should still not waver. Jesus is truth and he has said he will not forsake you!

Jesus said to his Apostle Thomas in John 20:27, “Stop doubting and believe.” That is his command to us today. Your problems can’t destroy you unless you let them. God still knows how to part the waters, move the mountains and hold back the sun to help you in the battle you are facing. To give up is to give in to the lie of a defeated enemy. That army of the living God has surrounded the camp and is taking back what was stolen from you! You are a force to be reckoned with because Christ is your leader. Never forget that your life was redeemed by the righteous blood of Jesus and he is not ever going to let you lose this fight!

Dear Lord, for those who are struggling and in a painful trial, I pray that you will help them to see that this message is for them!

STANDING ON THE PROMISE

September 20, 2009 in Christian faith, Jesus, Religion, Trusting God | Tags: a promise you can trust, financial problems, God's power in your life, healing in marriages, hope in difficult situations, impossible situations, Jesus has a way to help, nothing is impossible for God, overwhelmed and weary, peace in trials | 19 comments

Being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see!

In Psalm 69:1, David cries out to the LORD , “Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck, I sink in the miry depths where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help.” How many of us feel like that right now?

Even those who have put their faith in the cross of Christ can find it difficult to survive in this fallen world where there is bad news after bad news and each day brings another set of problems. It is truly heartbreaking to watch so many people struggling financially. Those who were once secure in their homes are now facing foreclosure. Disease and sickness is affecting every family in some way. We now have a lethal flu that is threatening to become pandemic. Homes are broken as the enemy seeks to destroy the family and deceive our children. Disasters of every kind are reported in countries all over the world with increasing occurrence and severity. Immorality is rampant and accepted. The ways of God are perverted as we now label sin as “choice”! Paul tells us in Romans 1:25, “They exchanged the truth for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is forever praised.” Sadly, God has been thrown out of decisions made by our government leaders as they give in to the clamor of the lost. Mankind now believes he has a better way than God to do things. That is a lie from Satan himself who somehow convinced one third of the angels in heaven and in the presence of the true and holy God that there was something better! He is the father of lies. Ask yourself, who do you believe when troubles surround you?

The truth is that Jesus died to give us hope with a promise that he will be with us to the end. You may be hard pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted and struck down in your life but you can never be destroyed! There now is no power to defeat those whose trust is in the cross of Jesus Christ. Though the world is darkened as evil fills the sky, believers will always have a light to shine on the path they are to take. It is by faith that we know that God will complete the good work that he started in us. We need unwavering trust to believe and not doubt that Jesus has a plan that cannot be stopped by the problems of this world. It does not matter how impossible your situation is or how painful your heartache, God knows how to move mountains and part the waters of trouble so that you can get to that place in your life that he has ordained for you long before you were born. The trials and struggles that you face are merely the wind that he uses to transform you into the image of Jesus Christ! He can still save your marriage, give you victory over addictions, heal your body, and restore your finances. There is nothing too hard for him who first loved you.

All that you need to survive in this world is within you if you have put your complete trust in Jesus and have made him Master of your life. It is not in saying a certain prayer but by surrendering your life to his perfect will. There is nothing good that you can do to save yourself but Jesus finished the work of our redemption when he gave his life for us. He is alive to intercede on our behalf and he has prepared a place for us in heaven. He did not die and leave us to fend for ourselves. He is with us now. He knows your name. He sees your face. He hears your voice. His strength is always with you. And while others are standing on the sinking sands of a lost earth, you are standing on the promise of Jesus Christ who will not fail to keep you in the victory that he won. You must stand and believe to the end. We have nothing to fear from this world for our citizenship is in heaven, guaranteed by the blood of Christ.

My friends, I give this message because these days are very difficult and painful. There is so much to deal with. I just pray that you can trust that your hope is secure. Christ will never fail you. Even the enemy knows that we are more than conquerors through Jesus. Believe the promise, mighty warrior, for the reward is yours for eternity!

Dear Jesus, there is just so much stress to deal with in our struggle to get through each day. I pray that you will comfort those who read this message and give them your peace that will fill them with hope. I pray that marriages will be healed; sickness cured and bodies made whole; strength to overcome bondage and addiction; healing for those who hurt; and, help in financial struggles. May they understand that the enemy is trying defeat them with his lies but that he has no power to destroy them or take them from you. Help them to know that you are always can find a way for them. I pray for favor for those who need a miracle right now in their life. We humbly bow and trust that you will not fail us. We give thanks and praise in your name. Amen

IS WORRY YOUR GOD?

August 24, 2009 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, Jesus, Religion | Tags: feeling worried and overwhelmed, God's promise to help you, help to overcome, hope in Christ, problems lifted, struggling in your faith, trusting God in your pain | 18 comments

It all comes down to where you put your trust

The promises of God are real and he has a way to work all things in your life for good. He knows what it takes to rescue you from the pain and the struggles of this earth and how to make you stronger for having endured them. He can do all things for he is the Creator of all that is on this earth and the heavens. Nothing is impossible for the Lord. With the knowledge that God ‘s love is enough, why do we still worry and fret when trouble comes upon us?

Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 6:25-27, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”

You are so valuable to God that he gave his only Son to suffer and die for you that you may have everlasting life! There is nothing that he will allow to destroy those who belong to him, so to give in to worry and doubt is sin.

The truth in this verse is that when you worry, you are making your problems bigger than your God. You are saying in effect that God is not strong enough or loving enough to help you through your trial. When you give in to worry and fear, you are falling for the lies of the enemy who wants to destroy you. He knows that God is more than enough to bring you to victory but he wants you to forget that. We serve a risen Savior who came to this earth to bring us hope and to give us a future despite what we may have to endure. He knew our problems and weaknesses long before we were born and he made a way to overcome all of them. He has a perfect plan and a purpose for your life. Even though you may have fallen short and rebelled against him, he can always lift you from your past and restore you to wholeness.

All that it takes is for you to allow Christ to reign in your life. You must make him first over all that you have. In order for him to help you through the bondages that have kept you prisoner for so long, you need to trust him completely. You must never take your eyes off Christ and put them on your problems. Only then will you fall. Jesus is always bigger and stronger than anything the world throws at you. You cannot be defeated for he has destroyed the power of the enemy. Even death no longer holds fear for those who are in Christ for we will not perish but be made whole to live in heaven with God. There is nothing that man can do to you that will crush you for you are protected by the right hand of the King!

When you find yourself worrying and getting anxious about things that are going on in your life, seek Christ out in his word. Let him fill you with peace as you read of his faithful promises to you. Giving in to fear indicates a lack of faith. You must trust that the One who gave you life will be able to sustain you no matter what happens! Jesus died to release you from the prison of fear and worry. Don’t go back into bondage when Jesus paid your bail in full. His blood at Calvary covered your iniquities and made you righteous before God. That is the power you need to cling to and to use when you are weak and weary. Take the yoke of Christ for he will lift your burden and give you the strength you need to continue.

There is always hope when your trust is in Christ. He is the Lifter of your head and the Restorer of things taken from you. He can mend your heartache and bring your family together. He has the power to provide for your financial needs no matter how impossible it seems. He can heal your sickness and break the chains of your addictions. Most importantly, he can give you the force to conquer any battle you must fight. He knows your name. He has numbered your days. His promise is to never leave you or fail to give you all that you need. Give him your worry and anxious thoughts and let him bring you to a place of peace. No matter where you are in your life, Jesus has a way to reach you!

Dear Lord, I pray that you will touch all those who read this message and give them peace in the trouble they are experiencing in their lives. Help them to know that you are with them and that you are bigger than their problem. Give them the strength to walk in faith and not lose sight of the victory that you have given us. Amen

TRUSTING GOD NOT YOUR MONEY

August 1, 2009 in Christian faith, GOD'S PROMISES, God's unfailing love, Jesus, Religion, Struggles in life, Trusting God | Tags: Fear of losing everything, feeling weary and overwhelmed, financial problems, God can work all things out, Jesus has a way to help | 33 comments

He knows how to provide for your need

It is so difficult to watch the television reports each night as bad news just seems to get worse. The economy is grim and has taken its toll on just about everyone. So many people are now without jobs and fear of losing their homes. The struggle of this bleak forecast is causing us all to take a closer look at how we spend our money. People everywhere are now having to worry how they will survive in these dark days.

As tough as things are in this world, we serve a God who is the provider of all that we need. He planned long before the world was formed to take us through every battle and every storm. He knew what we would face and he has a way in his perfect plan to take us through no matter what the economy dictates. But I wonder how many can continue to trust God when the bank is foreclosing on their home?

In Luke 12:22, Jesus said, ” Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.” He then says in verse 31, “ But seek first the kingdom of God and all things will be given to you as well”. Worrying about your finances is not going to change them. It is only going to take years from your life. Jesus did not leave us on this earth helpless and alone for he is with us in every struggle that comes our way. Your faith must not grow weary when times get tough. Our God is the same in the night as he is in the day. The darkness of your situation does not limit his power. He is ruler over all things and he can bring peace into your life with just a word.

Despite your difficulty, it is important to remember that God is always in control. He is working all things out for his purpose. The things of this world are perishing and will not last. Although you may be struggling just to make ends meet, your faith can be earning for you a reward that far outweighs anything you have to endure. The evil of this world will increase but believers have nothing to fear. Jesus paid that ultimate price for our victory and nothing can destroy his plan for us. Christ has overcome the world and the enemy has been defeated. That means that you can have joy despite the storm you are in because we serve the Master over the wind and he will not let you perish.

Never let your problems or financial difficulties make you doubt the power of your God! He owns the sheep on a thousand hills and all that is created is his. He is so much bigger than anything that comes against you. He is limitless and cannot fit within the confines of your finite minds. His will prevails in all situations. It is the enemy of your soul that wants to fill your mind with fear and doubt that God will help you. Don’t give him a foothold. Take those thoughts of defeat captive and line them up with the promises of God. He hasn’t taken you this far in your life just to have you fail now.

Keep in mind that you are alive and breathing right now because of God’s power. Your heart is beating because he tells it to beat. He put the sun in the sky; he tells the waters where to stop; he calls the stars out by name and he spoke the worlds into existence. Do you still think it is too difficult for him to find a way to help you work out your financial problems?

My friend, God cares about the struggles you are facing. Ask him to help you to stand in faith until he has brought you the victory. Don’t give up when the prize is just ahead. Psalm 32:10 tells us, “The Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts him“. That is his promise to you.

Dear Lord, I know that many are having financial problems that seems like it is going to destroy them. I stand in the gap for those who need a touch from you in the area of their finances. I pray for jobs to be restored to those who have lost them. I pray for new and better opportunities to come about. I pray for you to provide homes for those who need them. I pray for you to provide them the food and transportation that they need. I pray that you will be able to keep families together along with their pets. I pray that they will keep their trust in you no matter how hard it gets. Lord, help them to understand that you will not fail them. You will come through for them at the perfect time and in the perfect way. My heart is with them, Lord, and I know that your love will keep them. Amen

KNOW WHOM YOU HAVE BELIEVED

June 20, 2009 in Christian faith, God's unfailing love, Jesus, Religion | Tags: being weary, God is faithful to help, overwhelmed by troubles, peace in heartache, power of Christ, strength in hard times, trusting that God will work all things out, victory despite our problems | 41 comments

Our power is from God

God always has the power to help you overcome

So much is happening in this world and the struggle to survive is getting more difficult. Everyone has been affected in some way by the economy as jobs are scarce and homes are being foreclosed on daily. The increase of broken marriages is staggering even among Christians. And it seems like so many health issues are affecting people everywhere. Though prayers are being offered, some may wonder if God’s power is enough to take us through.

The Apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:12, “For I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that he is able to guard that which I give to him for this day“. That was a powerful statement coming from a man who in his lifetime was beaten, stoned, homeless and imprisoned. How could such faith come from Paul in the midst of all that he had to endure? It seems like God should have made Paul’s life a little easier since he was entrusted with bringing the good news of Christ to the lost. But God’s ways are higher.

The truth lies in the fact that Paul intimately KNEW the God he served. He was confident that he could have peace in his blessings as well as his trials. He understood that in all things, God was working out a perfect plan that would strengthen Paul in this life and earn him reward in heaven. The reality was that God had a purpose in using all that came against Paul to further his kingdom as he transformed Paul into the image of Christ. Paul was ready for the day when he would meet his Savior face to face. For that reason he believed that to die was gain and to go on living was for Christ. Paul was ready to do whatever was asked of him.

The grace that you need to face all of the challenges in your life as a believer is living in you! There is now no mountain of trouble and no sea of tears that can stop you from living an abundant life in Christ Jesus. The enemy can’t do anything to you that God knows will destroy you. You can’t lose the battle when the power of Christ is your force and your strength. You must always remember that God knows your struggles and your pain. It was by his will that you were created and by his word he spoke the universe into existence. There is nothing hidden from the all-knowing, all present God.

God will always be sovereign over all that you go through. In the book of Job, we read that Satan had to first ask permission to come against Job. Satan wanted to destroy Job but God knew that the testing was only going to make Job stronger in his faith and more blessed than before. He knew his power would be more than enough for Job to overcome all of the enemy’s attacks. Do you not know that the same is true for you and in your circumstance? The wind, the waves and every storm and battle that you face must first come before Christ who allows only that which he will cause to be used for your good despite how painful it seems now. Beloved, for that reason you must never give up. Your God is working out blessings in your life that you can’t even imagine! You may feel weak, but God will keep you from sinking if you will just keep your eyes on him.

In my own life, I am experiencing a struggle that is causing me much pain. There are times I also feel overwhelmed and weakened from the battle that never seems to end. It is difficult some mornings for me to just get out of bed. Yet in my heart, I know the God whom I have believed. I can trust through all things that God will not fail me. I may not see or feel him working out my problem, but I know that he is. When I get weary, I turn to his word and seek his strength. I have purposed in my heart to keep my trust in Christ no matter how dark the storm gets. Sometimes I write these posts through my tears. It is difficult but I know my Redeemer lives! He has taken me too far for me to give up now. Each day I grow in the strength that he gives me. All that I am going through has a purpose that God has designed and that he will work out in his perfect way.

It is my prayer that if you are in a difficult situation that you will give your pain to the One who paid the price to give you a future with hope. Jesus overcame all of our enemies and all of our problems by his death on the cross. There is nothing can can hold you in bondage if you will trust that God is bigger. I will be praying with you.

Dear Lord, there is so much darkness in this world and we are all struggling to stay in the battle. I pray for all of those who are just too weary to pray and who feel that you have given up on them. I stand in the gap for those who are hurting and I pray that you will lead them to your perfect peace. Let them feel your presence as you give them the knowledge that nothing will stop your plan and the future that you have ordained for them. You are more than able to guard all the pain and struggles that we give to you for this day. Open their eyes to see that you already have them surrounded by your angels who are greater than the troubles that come against them. Please give them an understanding of your enduring love. Amen

TRUSTING GOD’S POWER

May 4, 2009 in Christian faith, God's unfailing love, Jesus, Religion, Trusting God | Tags: help when you are overwhelmed, Jesus will never fail us, power to overcome, problems lifted, victory in our troubles | 105 comments

devil tempting Fear is a lie from hell

One of the greatest weapons that the enemy uses against us is doubt. The devil himself knows the truth that believers are victors and mighty warriors in the army of God. He knows that God has a plan for us that cannot be stopped by anything or anyone. That means not by our weaknesses, not by our rebellion, not by our past and certainly not by the enemy whose power was overcome by the cross of Jesus Christ!

The strength to walk in victory comes with a realization that God’s power will always be enough. If you can understand that his plan was made long before we were created and he foreknew the struggles that we would face, then you can trust that he can rescue you whatever your situation. Our Savior knew of the plans that the enemy had to destroy us and he knew how to take us through to victory. A painful trial or circumstance in our life has no power except that which you give it. If God already had knowledge of what you would have to endure and gave his power to overcome all things, why would you ever allow your problem to make you anxious? When you give in to fear, you are giving in to the lies from a defeated enemy!

You have to know who your God is. You must seek for an understanding of his love that covers everything. There is no bondage that can stand against the cross. Jesus finished the work of salvation and he is alive and intercedes for us every day. Christ will always be sovereign over all that comes against us. Everything in all of creation must submit to him! Anything that he allows in your life is for a purpose and must conform to the plan that he has for your life. Remember that God made us into his image from the dust. He knows where you are and he knows your pain. He created the 70 million trillion stars and calls them out by name each night. There is no place you can go that can make him forget you. The hairs of your head are numbered by him and he saw the length of your days on this earth before one of them came to be. There is nothing in your life that is impossible for him.

It is not always easy to trust when you are in a battle with the spiritual forces of evil that fill this earth. The days are dismal and filled with more problems. Financial difficulties are hitting everyone. Who can think about the future when it is hard enough to get through a day? Yet that position is right where you need to be. Christ will see you through all things but he will take you through one day at a time, sometimes minute to minute. You won’t be able to see where he is taking you so you must trust him with all of your heart. Jesus did not die to lose you now! Beloved, you will never be destroyed by this lost and crumbling world for you will be taken above it by the Spirit of Christ who lives in you. You aren’t standing on the perishing earth, you are standing on the Promise which is Jesus Christ!

My friends, I want you to understand one very important truth. It does not matter where you are, what problems you have or how low you have fallen. If your hope is in the cross of Jesus, you will come through every battle as a conqueror. The victory has already been won. Never let the enemy or your painful situation convince you that God’s power is not enough. It is more than enough. The enemy of your soul knows this. You need to know it also. If you ever believe anything, believe this: JESUS WILL NEVER FAIL YOU!

Dear Lord, I know the times are hard and people are struggling with the problems that this dark world brings. I pray that you will open their eyes and affirm in their heart the truth that your power and love will take them through all things no matter how impossible it may seem. Jesus, help them to know that you are the light which has conquered the darkness. Let them know that whatever illness, bondage, marriage problem, financial issue or heartache they have, you always have a way to give them your peace. You alone paid the price for our victory. Jesus, I thank you for being all that we need. Amen

GOD WILL FIGHT YOUR BATTLES

October 2, 2017 in Christian faith | 12 comments

Source: GOD WILL FIGHT YOUR BATTLES

SHALL WE ACCEPT THE GOOD FROM GOD AND NOT THE BAD?

September 27, 2017 in Christian faith | 2 comments

Source: SHALL WE ACCEPT THE GOOD FROM GOD AND NOT THE BAD?

Marianne Bernard

I seek first the kingdom of Christ because everything else in this world is perishing. All that I have is from God who is always faithful. I have worked hard all my life and will continue as long as God lends me breath. The mistakes and bad judgments I made in my life all stemmed from me trying to work things out by myself. I have learned the hard way that the victory over all of my problems and the answers to all of my desires lie solely in my Savior, Jesus Christ. It is now my desire to share the words that God gives me to encourage and give hope to others who need the strength that only faith in Christ can give.

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