That’s What God Does!

“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” (Jeremiah 31:25)

“He restores my soul.”   (Psalm 23:3)

Try as I might I just couldn’t pull myself out of the deepening grip of anxiety and sense of being “spent” earlier this week.  Deep breathing exercises, mindfulness suggestions, spending time walking in a park.  Didn’t work.  I mentioned this to a friend in an email.  And she ‘heard’ my struggle to upright myself.  She sensed that I was tiring of treading– to keep my head above water.  First, came a return email with several songs whose words spoke to my sore soul.  Then came a phone call to say that she would be bringing over some meals for our family later in the week.  And finally came a spoken prayer asking our Savior Jesus Christ to be my strength and my protection from the fiery arrows of doubt and hopelessness shot by our adversary, the Prince of this world, Satan.  God kept His Word to me.  He refreshed my weary and fainting soul.  He restored my weakened body and spirit using a faithful, Christian friend who provided what I needed to finish out the week.  Thanks be to God for this good neighbor who responded to the Holy Spirit’s nudge to reach out to me in a time of need.

“We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

Even If https://g.co/kgs/8e9Jjh

You Say https://g.co/kgs/MSUk2Y

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A Citizen’s Prayer

 

Photo by Laura Jostes

“Purge us, O God,

of cynical distrust,

of party passion,

of the deafness

of our rebellious bent.

Teach us, O Lord, the meekness

that would rather be deceived

than be encrusted

with perpetual distrust.

Teach the charity

that will interpret

all uncertainties

toward the side of goodness.

Create in our world

an air in which

the truth can freely breathe,

a sea on which

the ships of truth can sail,

an earth on which

the feet of truth can walk unhurt.

Your Son, our Lord,

would not speak ill of Caesar

even when Caesar’s power

nailed Him to the cross.

Give us the Spirit of Your Son.”

For Jesus’ sake we pray, Amen

~Prayer by Martin H. Franzmann, Pray For Joy

“Let love be without hypocrisy.  Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good…  Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.  Respect what is right in the sight of all men.  If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men…Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  Romans 12:9, 17-18, 21

 

August 4 Out Of The Blue

Image by Zach Fonville

2 Chronicles 35:1-36:23; 1 Corinthians 1:1-17; Psalm 27:1-6; Proverbs 20:20-21

“The Lord is my light and my salvation,
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life
of whom shall I be afraid?
Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.
For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling.” Psalm 27:1-3,5

Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” 1 Corinthians 1:7-9

Out of the blue
trouble comes,
stirs up the waters
of my life.
“Didn’t see that one coming!”
Life is like that–
this fallen, imperfect world
I live in.
Life isn’t fair,
but that’s OK
because my God is
faithful.
The good work that He
began in me,
that spark of faith life
remains steady because of
His promises to me,
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Trouble will come
in many shapes and forms
but it need not define me.
I am not depression.
I am not joblessness.
I am not broken relationships.
I am not cancer.
I am not addiction.
I am not loneliness.
I am not…
I am faithful
because my God is faithful.
He will not let me be tempted
beyond my ability.
He provides my way of escape
from the enemy that surrounds me.
He hears my prayers.
He is my Light and my Salvation.
Praise His holy name!

Thank you Heavenly Father for defining my life for me–for calling me to be your own–for being with me in times of trouble, for helping me endure. Thank you for your faithfulness in sending the promised Messiah–Jesus Christ, my Lord, who broke the bonds of sin and death and now lives and reigns with you now and forever! Amen!

July 14 Blown Over

Photo by Jared Rarick

1 Chronicles 16:37-18:17;  Romans 2:1-24;  Psalm 10:16-18;  Proverbs 19:8-9

“Thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel…I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off your enemies…I will make for you a name…I will appoint a place for my people…and will plant them…I will subdue your enemies…the Lord will build you a house… I will raise up offspring after you…I will establish his kingdom…I will establish his throne forever.  I will be to him a father and he shall be to me a son.  I will not take away my steadfast love from him…but I will confirm him in my house and my kingdom forever and his throne shall be established forever.”

“Then David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?”  1 Chronicles 18:7-16

 

Sometimes good news just knocks your feet right out from under you and you need to sit down.  Have you ever felt that way?  After hearing God’s Word through the prophet Nathan, David just had to sit down–and he did so before the presence of the Lord.

Who wouldn’t be blown over with news of a never ending dynasty with never ending blessings, of enemies defeated once and for all, of a forever peace?

Listen to the news reports from around the world.  We are still longing, still waiting for peace.  The good news is that the one king able to bring lasting peace is coming again!  Just as he left this world, Jesus Christ will come down riding on the clouds in all His glory.

I think I will have to sit down!

Lord God, who am I to inherit a place in your Heavenly Kingdom?  I’m not a princess.  I don’t even come close.   I am humbled that through the faith given to me through the Holy Spirit and Your Word I will stand (maybe sit) before your  throne.  I thank and praise you for Christ’s blood shed on the cross for me and everyone else that cleansed me of my sins and bestowed on me the robe of righteousness.  All of this you did out of Fatherly divine grace and mercy-thank you.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

 

September 15 Blindside

Photo by Brandon Doss

Isaiah 19:1-21:17;  Galatians 2:1-16;  Psalm 59:1-17;  Proverbs 23:13-14

Nose to nose with the enemy,

getting pushed and tossed around.

I call for help and watch

and listen.

My Strength responds with active voice,

“Be gone” and “leave her be.”

For I am His; sealed with love

and spirit-born,

hidden safe within.

 

Gnash and snarl and slink

around,

but me,  you cannot have.

I am the daughter of the King.

You have no claim on me.

 

My Savior’s got my blind side.

He’s moved death’s line to life.

This side of Heaven He’s got my back.

He’ll never let me down.

 

Thank and praise you, Lord of Lords.

Your love takes hold of me.

Mercy and compassion

lift me up.

Glory, glory be!

Oh Lord, on this day of rest, I worship and adore you!  For you alone are worthy of praise.  You alone are the Lord.  You alone are the Holy One.  You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ!  My Rescuer, my Hiding Place.  In Your name I pray, Amen.

“Deliver me from my enemies, O God;  protect me from those who rise up against me.  O my Strength, I watch for you;  O God you are my fortress, my loving God.  O my Strength, I sing praise to you;  you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God!”  Psalm 59:  1,9,17