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
29 comments
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November 23, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Pat
Amen,amen!!!! Thank God for he will never leave us,no matter what.Very encouraging post and just in time,I hope many others will enjoy and draw strength from this.
Love you and “Happy Thanksgiving” 😀 😀
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November 23, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Marianne Lordi
Hi Pat, Happy Thanksgiving to you and may God continue to bless you and your ministry!
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November 23, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Linden
How great to hear your “voice” again! What a powerful post.! It certainly struck a chord with me. Thanks for sharing your heart and touching mine! A joyous Thanksgiving to you, my friend!
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November 23, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Marianne Lordi
Thanks for stopping by, Linden and as always for your encouragement! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
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November 23, 2010 at 3:58 pm
lifestreamsflow1
A wonderful word of encouragement, Marianne! May you and your family know the fullness of God’s blessings in this season!
Looking unto JESUS,
Sandy
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November 23, 2010 at 7:53 pm
Marianne Lordi
Hi Sandy, Thanks for visiting and commenting. I pray that you also receive and overflow of God’s blessings during this season to be thankful!
God bless you, my sister!
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November 24, 2010 at 2:51 am
Liz
I was feeling extremely sucidal today untill I found this WONDERFUL message in my inbox. It must be God speaking because no one knows how I feel so well except Him! Thank you God for speaking to me and thank you Marianne for you prayers.
May God bless you mightyly in your ministry.
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November 24, 2010 at 7:25 am
Marianne Lordi
Hi Liz, I want you to know that I will be lifting you up in prayer each night for God to help you through whatever struggle you are facing. Never let the lies of the enemy fill your thoughts and make you think you need to give up. God ALWAYS has a way to take you through the storm and bring you his peace. You have worth and God loves you with an unconditional everlasting love that will not fail you! That is a promise made by Christ in the sacrifice he gave for us. Wherever you are, God is with you through his Son, Jesus. I am going to be praying for you each night and I want you to feel free to stop by anytime and let me know how you are doing. I will be with you, dear friend, for God never has you bear your burdens alone! God bless you and may he bring you to the knowledge of how great his love is for you!!
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November 24, 2010 at 11:42 am
Steve Mitchell
Marianne,
I thank you for being faithful to the calling of Christ, and reminding me and others that God does have a perfect plan for our lives. If we will only keep our eyes on Him then we will finish the journey successfully by His Grace.
The holiday season is usually a difficult time for me. I am single, and I do not have any children. I have a wonderful family and great friends, but still at times I get depressed, and I feel alone. Thank you for reminding me that no matter how alone I feel that God has promised that He will never leave me. Also thank you for reminding me that I am surrounded by fellow believers who care for me even though I may never meet them on earth we will have a great homecoming when we get to Heaven, and bask in His glory forever.
I pray that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! God bless you!!!!!!!!!
Steve Mitchell
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November 24, 2010 at 11:43 am
Frankie
Thank you soooo much for this wonderful message God sent you!!! I often go back and read the messages you have sent me in regards to my struggles. In spite of everything I still have not lost hope and feel that maybe I am getting in the way to my very own victory!! There is always hope with the Lord and I am aware that he is the only one we can truly count on. I am learning that we have to thank him not only for the good times but in the bad times to for that is when he draws us closer to him. I have been praying that He will speak or show me he is near and he has it all under control!!! I believe he does that even through the messages from you.
Happy Holidays!!!
God Bless!!!
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November 24, 2010 at 11:50 am
Marianne Lordi
Hi Steve, I am so glad you stopped by. I visit your site and get your articles sent to me. I really enjoy the way you bring the truth of Christ in such an awesome way. Thank your for your faithfulness.
I know how it is to be lonely on the holidays even though you do have a family who is with you. God has your path set, Steve, and he is going to give you the desires of your heart. You bless so many with your mesages and you also shall be blessed. I am glad that you understand that we are all in the family of believers and we do care for each other. I lift all my blogging friends up each night in prayer. Have a great Thanksgiving, Steve, knowing that you are in a great family of believers. And I am blessed that you are my brother in Christ!
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November 24, 2010 at 12:04 pm
Marianne Lordi
Hi Frankie I am happy to hear from you. I know you are still struggling in some areas and you know that I lift you up in prayer each night! You just made me so proud of you when you said “I am learning that we have to thank him not only for the good times but in the bad times too for tha is when he draws us closer to him”. Wow! You sure have grown in such a wonderful way. God must be doing such a good work in you and it is so good to see. You are special, Frankie. Your problems and pain are not going to destroy you no matter what the enemy says! You have a future guaranteed you as a believer because Jesus paid the price for it! Without a doubt, God is near to you. He sees your pain and he will work it all out for your good. Hang in there, my sister, for God is with you. I will continue to keep you in prayer! Now go and give your God the thanks he deserves!!!
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November 25, 2010 at 4:55 am
rigo c vallescas
thanks God for the message. simply said, but it encourages me more to go on amidst of my present trials. i have learned more on how to fully surrender my life to Jesus Christ.
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November 25, 2010 at 9:21 am
Marianne Lordi
Hi Rigo, You have said it all – once we learn to surrender our lives to Christ, we place our pain and trials in his hands and let him work ALL things out for our good. It is not easy and sometimes we may grow weary; but if we can hold on to what we know to be true in Christ, we will be victorious in everything! Your present trials are working out something so far greater in your life, much more than what you are enduring. For that reason, you can have peace and thanksgiving knowing that your God will never fail you.
God bless you, my friend, and stop back.
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November 25, 2010 at 7:33 pm
Mike Buckley
ah my sister! when I need cheering up I just need to read your blog. You are always so inspiring. Yes, thanks to the Lord Jesus, we have everything to be thankful for.
Have a great Thanksgiving. I am thankful for you also.
Mike
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November 25, 2010 at 9:51 pm
Marianne Lordi
Thanks Mike! You are always an inspiration to me so that means a lot! I am so glad for your faithfulness to present the whole truth of the gospel. Hope your holiday was great.
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November 27, 2010 at 9:33 am
Brother Malachi
Greetings Marianne and thanks for the words of truth. The fact that you have so many readers and friends is a testimony that the Lord is using this ministry to comfort and encourage.
It is the sweet aroma of praise and thanksgiving that permiates through the midst of suffering when one is walking in the Spirit.
God bless as you continue to minister.
Brother Malachi
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November 27, 2010 at 11:43 am
Marianne Lordi
Hi Brother Malachi, I am thrilled that you stopped by! Thanks for your encouraging words to me. I always pray that God’s truth flows through me to help so many who are hurting. It is he who gives his word for me to write and who brings those who are struggling to read and be comforted.
I like what you said about the sweet aroma of praise and thanksgiving because that is exactly what I feel! God bless you, Malachi, for your faithfulness to always give a timely word. I appreciate you and your ministry.
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December 2, 2010 at 1:27 pm
concernedx2
I was very busy at the posting of your message. It had been settled by my wife and myself that we would have Thanksgiving dinner at one of the local restaurants. A call from one of my sons requesting that we all get together at our home changed those plans. I spent about three days cleaning house and making ready for the event; it’s just something that we always do…my wife insists on it!
Thanksgiving Day, my wife came into my room with her cell phone in hand. “Mom just had a massive stroke,” she said. “They are on the way to the hospital and are trying to revive her.”
I was surrounded by family from out of town on one of the most special days of the year, some there to spend their vacation. My mother-in-law lives near Dayton Ohio, several hours drive away. There are times in life when circumstances lay out our plans and we just follow those plans without question; there’s no need to talk about it! We had dinner and spent the remainder of the day as families do, but with greater awareness that the fragile bond that holds us together is so very easily broken.
My son who lives in Columbus Ohio cut his vacation short and departed on Friday. I left very early Saturday morning for Dayton where family members were gathered at the hospital. With a blood clot blocking both sides of her brain, my 85 year old Mother-in Law couldn’t respond to any of those who gathered; no hope is offered by her doctors. With most of her generation waiting on the other side, nothing but hope is offered by her Savior and we pray that her transition will be swift and peaceful.
For about two weeks a year for the past few years, “Mom” has come to spend time with us; we always clean and scrub. Two weeks ago, that 85 year old woman was on her knees at her apartment where she lives alone cleaning her own carpet. No cobwebs on the wall, no dust bunnies under the bed, and no crumbs under the stove…it isn’t allowed. A place was provided for my wife and myself at her apartment but at the last moment, I chose rather to go to my Son’s house in Columbus to spend my time.
When I arrived at my son’s house, the place was immaculate. The floors were shined and Christmas decorations were spread. A fire was burning in the fireplace and supper was on the stove ready to be placed on the table; northern beans with ham, fried potatoes, and cornbread…”my” favorite meal. After watching a movey that I had requested, clean towels awaited in a spotless bathroom followed by a comfortable bed beneath a comforter that really was comforting.
After coming back home to Knoxville, I asked my youngest son and his family to stop by for supper with us. As I rinced the mop to put a few finishing touches on the kitchen floor in anticipation of their arrival, I came to a realization concerning my son’s family in Columbus. “Those kids worked their bottoms off to make me feel at home,” I said to myself…aloud to myself…(old people do that!)
When someone loves you, they will go to great lengths to make you comfortable when you reach your destination. It feels good to be loved like that…it feels good to love like that. Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
Thank you Marianne for writing this post. Your prayers are needed; your prayers are appreciated. I don’t think I need to tell you how you should pray.
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December 2, 2010 at 1:52 pm
Marianne Lordi
Hi Rev. York, I am so sorry for all all that your family has been through. I pray for you nightly now and I will continue to do so. Somehow in the midst of all the unexpected emergencies and plan changes of your Thanksgiving day, God was still working out his perfect plan for you and your family. Life, illness and death all occur as we keep our eyes fastened on the one who is Sovereign over it all! There is a message for you in all that you have been through. And there is hope because our God, who knows beginning and end of our lives, also knows exactly how to get us to the path that he has ordained for us before we were formed in the womb. My heart goes out to your wife and family because we are still suffering in a pershing world. It is just that our suffering has an eternal purpose and outcome to bring us closer to the God we serve. Our ways are in full view of Christ who gives us joy despite what we endure here.
I will keep praying for you, dear friend, and know that it is God who brings you to mind for me to lift up each night. By the way, my daugher also lives in Columbus! We are all closer than we think. God bless you, Rev. York!
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December 3, 2010 at 2:18 pm
Rachel
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving … it is truly a heart of trust to KNOW that God is working all out for good for those that love Him.
God’s ways are not are ways but they are perfect. Looking back I can see the purpose in everything… and that definitely is encouragement for whatever the future may hold.
Rachel
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December 3, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Marianne Lordi
Hi Rachel! So glad you stopped by. You and I both know that despite our struggles, God is working them all out for out good. That is the only way that I can hold on to his peace in my painful trials. God’s ways are perfect and he knows beginning to end of whatever years we have on this earth so I must trust him.
Rachel, you do such a great job getting this message out on your site. I think you need to do even more of the video messages that you have done. Your sincererity just comes through so well and everyone can see that you do believe the truth that you are teaching!
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December 6, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Rachel
Thanks for the encouragement on the videos Marianne — it means a lot. I’ll be praying about the next one.
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December 6, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Marianne Lordi
I look forward to see what message God gives you, Rachel!
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December 18, 2010 at 10:27 am
Mike
I appreciate you stopping by my site. It is good to be reminded every now and then of who all is out here. I have always found your writings to be clear, thorough and accurate.
The verse you used carries a lot of weight when you think of who wrote it and all that he went through. And I think the part, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding”, comes from realizing what you pointed out; “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”.
The enemy will do his best to suggest otherwise. His lies are easy to believe because he uses facts to support them. But, they are merely his version of those facts. God has His version, and for whoever will take the time to listen . . . there is peace.
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December 18, 2010 at 11:24 am
Marianne Lordi
Hi Mike, thank you for stopping by. I enjoy your site and your way of encouraging others.
We all go through trials and storms because this earth is not heaven. It is a dark, perishing world. But, we have hope despite all that we suffer because Christ has overcome the world and he is working all things out for our good. No matter how bad our trial is, God is bigger and, as I said many times, there is nothing impossible for him. He can always provide a way out.
This is something I must learn day by day because it is not always easy to understand. It is something I believe by faith. But the peace of God is one of his greatest gifts to us. We can rest knowing that he is God!!!!
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March 10, 2011 at 11:42 am
Ken
Great post Marianne. It can be very difficult to give thanks when we go through various trials but God is good and we can always rejoice in Him. I did a post last week on this very topic called “Lord, Help Me Understand.”
Thank you for sharing this and for visiting and commenting on my blog. I greatly appreciate it. May God bless you,
Ken
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March 10, 2011 at 12:37 pm
Marianne Lordi
God bless you, also, Ken. Your faithfulness to God in the trials you have been through is just a witness to us all. I was lifting you up in prayer last night and praying for your job situation. I hope it is working out.
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September 8, 2011 at 6:39 am
Anonymous
I thank God for your life mum,your such an inspiration,may our good Lord continue strengthening you and giving you more of his revelations to continue reaching out to souls…be it through encouragement and alter calling too…may you be revived afresh and be annointed more for his own glory…bless you
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